A couple recent meals.
First comes one from Kutty Leaf, a newish Indian restaurant here in Madison on the far northeast side. According to a Wisconsin State Journal article that resides behind a paywall, "kutty" is Tamil for small. My companion ordered Chicken 65 to begin our meal.
It was right out of the fryer hot. Tasty too. I think those are lime leaves atop the pile of chicken pieces. Why yes, I did eat them.
Although it bills itself as a South Indian kitchen, there was a North Indian curry on offer and, for whatever reason, it piqued my palate. And so I ordered the Kadai Chicken curry.
While I wish it had had a bit more heat to it, I found it very good. It had a more earthy flavor than the curries I am used to. I'm not sure what gave it that taste. It didn't have the more sprightly flavors of fenugreek and fennel.
The next day I asked my Indian co-worker if he had ever eaten at Kutty Leaf and, if so, what his impressions were. He had indeed eaten there (I think the Indian folks in town are tired of having to go to Chicagoland for the good stuff and try every new Indian restaurant in hope that it has a marked degree of authenticity) and gave it an overall mediocre rating but felt that there were a few items they do well.
He remarked that the Andhra style Chicken 65 and poori with Aloo Masala were good while the chitti punugulu, a common breakfast dish, he helpfully noted, was the real deal. Duly noted.
My conversation with my co-worker happened at Imperial Garden in Middleton. For lunch I had the Lettuce Wraps with tofu but before that was a bowl of hot and sour soup.
The soup was not particularly impressive as it was neither particularly hot nor sour. Edible, to be sure, but on the bland side. My co-worker from China also ordered the hot and sour soup and was surprised to find shredded pork in it.
Although billed as an appetizer, there was more than enough to the wraps to make a meal. The tofu had a nice grilled-soy taste to it and I generously applied hot mustard leftover from the dumplings. I enjoyed being able to use my hands in eating them instead of utensils.
My Chinese co-worker ordered the Mongolian beef (or was it chicken?) and said it was very good. She offered some to me as meals back at home were always shared. I, in turn, offered her a lettuce leaf and free reign over the tofu.
Hopefully my next meal report shall be of a home cooked one.
