Most folks are aware that Hyderabad is awesome for a
number of reasons. But let us leave aside for a moment the Charminar, Golkonda
fort, Taj Faluknama palace, Ramoji film city and the Telugu film industry
hotties like Prabhas, Allu Arjun and Vijay Deverakonda, though they must by no
means be forgotten and certainly checked out. After all, it is the incredible
array of culinary choices which is absolutely to die for that makes Hyderabad
the ideal place for all who love to hog without worrying about silly things
like burgeoning waistlines and way too much junk in the trunk. After all you
live only once and what is life without a decent meal right?
The foodies with Varsoo! |
Traditionally, Hyderabad is famed for the opulent
culinary offerings of the Nizams, particularly the mildly spiced yet intensely
flavoursome biriyani and with good reason. This is a biriyani lover’s paradise.
The savoury meat and rice dish guarantees a foodgasm and is so good all who
have tried it will most certainly choose it for a last meal. I kid you not! The
discerning foodie and biriyani aficionados will do well not to google the best
biriyani places in Hyderabad and head there directly though these
establishments are usually deserving of their reputation. It is far more fun to
wander around, taking in the sights and sounds of the city and allowing it to
guide you to charming, lesser known joints that lure you in with their quaint
décor and tantalizing aromas. And trust me, in Hyderabad, they all seem to know
how to make heavenly biriyani.
I recommend Ulavucharu, Jubilee Hills for those who
can boast of a cast iron stomach and like their food hot and spicy. The
hospitality of the serving staff makes you feel like you are being feasted by a
particularly benevolent monarch and the flavours are unbeatable. Be sure to try
the scrumptious vepudula (starters) particularly the bamboo kodi (chicken) and
chilli prawns. If you are with friends, guard your portion because those seated
next to you may not be able to resist the temptation to steal some succulent
morsels off your plate. They have a smorgasbord of biriyani and pulao options
to choose from whether you favour the milder Hyderabadi version or the spicy
Andhra style. Irrespective of your choice be prepared to enter foodie heaven.
The Gongura kodi vepudu and grilled tandoori fish are smart choices as well.
For those who can’t stand the heat, it may be a good
idea to order their yummy lassi to wash it down with. The dessert options are
pretty decent too, and I am partial to junnu, a delicate and delectable milk
pudding made with colostrum, produced by lactating cows just after birthing their calves. If you haven’t tried it before, prepare yourself for a treat!
You may be tempted to bury yourself in biriyani, but
if you need a breather there is a quaint bakery named Labonel at Banjara hills,
that serves the most decadent chocolate cake in the world. And trust me that is
hardly an exaggeration and more of an understatement. It is one of those
charming places that makes you feel like you have stepped out of the real world
and into an Enid Blyton eatery where you can expect to be served google buns,
pop biscuits and shock toffee. And you will not be disappointed because the
yumminess quotient of the goodies served at this place is through the roof.
It is hard to choose from an array of classics like
red velvet cake, chocolate Victoria sponge, midnight fudge and chocolate walnut
since they all taste amazing but do close your eyes and blindly opt for
Labonel’s signature chocolate cake, a marvel in dark chocolate, semi – sweet
ganache and chocolate flakes. It is the definitive cake that put the chocolate
in death by chocolate. Incidentally they have death by chocolate too! How
incredible is this place? Some nights I dream of this cake, and wake up with
hunger pangs so great, I am tempted to move to Hyderabad and spend my days at
Labonel. Sighs! Oh and did I mention that the little cupcakes melt in your
mouth, the brownies are something special and while you wait, you can sample
bite – sized treats? I insist you try this place, dear reader. Thank me later!
Labonel's sinful signature chocolate cake! |
Doing
the clichéd thing in Hyderabad is a lot of fun. Therefore, it makes sense to
hit the streets if only to try tasty treats like keema (minced meat) samosas,
lukhmi (deep fried maida squares with a meat filling), chaat and idlis with
paaya (spicy goat trotters gravy). For those with a sweet tooth, regional
delicacies include ariselu made with rice flour and jaggery (they are
particularly good in temples during festivals!), payasams, sheer kurma and
shahi tukdas.
If
like me, you are the sort of person who develops a hankering for continental
food, even while on Indian shores, never fear, you are likely to be spoilt for
choice. Do yourself a favour though and steer clear of those ubiquitous fast
food chains and head towards, La Vantage Café in Jubilee hills. They have tasty
short eats like quesadillas, buffalo chicken wings, bruschetta, garlic loaves,
and nachos. The steaks, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and pastas are yummy too.
The chilled out ambience of the place is its USP. It is a great place to relax
and unwind with friends.
For
travellers who would like to dress up and check out fine dining options,
needless to say there are a number of choices. I daresay, all the five star
establishments in Hyderabad can cook up a storm but the Thai pavilion at
Vivanta by Taj, Begumpet, the Dining and Living room at the Park Hyatt are
personal favourites.
Each
time, I head out to Hyderabad, I make a mental note to try the famous haleem
but am yet to do so. But this is just another reason to visit the city asap.
And I can hear the siren call of Labonel! I can hardly wait to visit Hyderabad again!
Really enjoyed writing this piece for AirAsia's Travel360.
Really enjoyed writing this piece for AirAsia's Travel360.
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