Each dish comes with a couple of kulchas

With time on their hands to finally get the show on the road, the trio decided to use Buch's kitchen set-up at BKC. Last week, they rolled out the menu of 12 to 15 items that embody the spirit that "you can never take India out of an Indian," Gidwani shares. We spot common favourites like paneer makhani, dum ka jhinga, chicken and paneer tikka biryanis, and dal makhani, among other items that one never usually says a no to. The dishes are priced weight-wise, from 250 gms to 1 kg, each served with burhani raita, kulchas, sirkewala pyaaz, achaar and mukhwas.

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Gidwani — the one slaving over the hot stove, stirring in experiences from his travels, 20-year-old work life and his mother's meals — shares that ingredients and processes are both key to authenticity. "For instance, the dal makhani is not a jhatkaa one; it's prepared for over 24 hours like it's supposed to be. Similarly, for the dehati aloo gobi, the masala is prepared in a sil-batta [mortar-pestle]. That's how you get the characteristic dardarapan [course texture] in the masala."

Phirni

Even before we properly unpack the dishes that Gidwani has delivered, the aromas work up our appetite. There are 250-gm portions of dal makhani (R250), pindi chhole (R250), butter chicken (R380), tariwala murg (R380), phirni (R99) with a couple of kulchas, sirkewala pyaaz and mukhwas. The food, we find, has a very dhaba-meets-ghar ka khana feel. The dal makhani is buttery, with a chulha-esque aroma; the chhole is spicy, rustic, and compliments the cotton-soft kulchas. The butter chicken is creamy, without being sweet, while the tariwala murg reminds us of the peppery chicken curry that's a Sunday staple at home. The phirni, too, is the right amount of sweet and is a light way to end the meal. We realise what Gidwani means when he talks about "food tickling memory and taking us to our happy place."

Indian Aroma is currently accepting orders across the city, and will soon be available on food aggregator apps. But, we are curious to know if Gidwani will expand the menu. "Yes. From time to time, we'll add hyper-local preparations from regions like Vidarbha and Karwar, so that we can offer glimpses of food from across the country," he signs off.

Chef Gaurav Gidwani

Call 9324846597 to place an order

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