Saravaana Bhojan Shala with the folks and friends

Saravaana Bhojan Shala was a hit with both our friends from NZ and my parents. Once again the food was immaculately presented, and unbelievably delicious. I couldn't resist the ghee roast for a second time. It sounds terribly unhealthy (and maybe it is) but it is so incredibly tasty. It is a masala dosa (massive pancake type crepe filled with potato curry) which has obviously been fried in ghee beforehand (ok that does sound unhealthy!). However, the taste is amazing, so can be forgiven.

Our friends and their kids were fearless and were up to trying some new dishes so we ordered idli, (steamed semolina cakes, which incidentally my kids adore), puri masala, South Indian parathas, and vada. And then we settled for some less fearless stuff such as butter paneer, vegetable biryani and aloo paratha. And a little off the Indian beaten track was some Chinese cuisine which we were able to order such as vegetable fried noodles and rice and Manchurian cauliflower which was out of this world.

We finished our meals off with masala milk which is hot milk with a little turmeric, cardamom, pistachio nuts and almonds. Absolutely divine and I imagine with that combination of spices and nuts, to be rather good for you. We also had gulab jamun (milk balls in a sweet syrup), and basundi, which like the milk masala was superb. Basundi is a milky dessert, very similar to the North Indian rabdi, with again cardamom and pistachio. The milk is boiled and then left to simmer until it is thickened. I believe this is a typical Maharashtrian dish and one that I have not attempted to make but one that I intend to do and will get back to you!