

Here is that menu sans dessert courtesy of Peter:
* Dahl.
* Palak Paneer which is spinach combined with paneer. Paneer is a milk-based protein made from curd after it has been separated from the whey somewhat similar to tofu in texture and appearance but actually a cousin of cheese. They boiled the milk, added buttermilk and goat's yogurt.
* Gobhi, which is cauliflower in a sauce made with jalapeno, cumin, mustard seeds and ginger.
* Basmati rice.
* Chapatis, which Barbara bought at a shop on Venice Blvd (the only pre-bought item with the relishes below).
* Coriander chutney
* Mango chutney
They made this feast completely from scratch, including the paneer (see pic above) which is an elaborate process in itself. Palak paneer is a favorite of mine at Indian restaurants and such establishments often make it in advance to keep it on hand but I have never eaten it in total fresh. The difference is immense partly because the spinach retains its rich viridian color and correspondingly clean flavor, and the paneer its own mildness, whereas in restaurants the spinach is often browned from age, and the paneer is too, having soaked up that same brown "flavor" with time. The whole thing usually tastes, texturally or flavorly, like bad risotto: a mush. Not the case this night.
A prep heavy dinner in itself, The Huck and The Drake must have been slaving for half a day or more to put it all together and the results were obviously special and delicious. Their Dahl, anyplace a favorite of mine, could easily have been a meal in itself with a couple of dabs of their piquant chutneys on the side. I would advise them to look into the possibility of packaging the Dahl. I'll negotiate my cut for the suggestion later.
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