Stress Free Cooking
by
Barbara Seelig Brown's
Lifestyle Designs

RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Moghul
Fine Indian Cuisine
35 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
973-631-1100

    Dining at Moghul Indian Restaurant in Morristown is a remarkable experience. I looked forward to this assignment as I have dined at Moghul on numerous occasions and was satisfied each and every time.

    One of the many remarkable things about Moghul is the service and hospitality of the entire staff. When you enter, you see not only a lovely dining space with a beautiful tandoor oven, but are greeted by a well dressed staff member who will escort you to one of the many inviting tables. The dining room is generously sized and tables are more than adequately spaced. There are enough comfortable booths surrounding the large dining room that it is very likely parties of 2-6 will be seated in a booth. The tables are set with a china service plate bearing the Moghul logo along with a velvety red rose, a candle and all the necessary utensils necessary to suggest elegance and style. A plate of papadoms, which are thin crispy crackers, is placed on the table with the traditional accompaniments of tamarind and mint sauces. The expertly prepared dishes are presented in individual copper pots, the sauces and chutneys are graciously displayed in special condiment dishes, and silverware is replaced when needed. You don't have to keep your fork! (One of my pet peeves.)

    The front of the menu reads "Fine Indian Cuisine" and it is just that. Moghul offers an elegantly presented lunch buffet. I would encourage anyone who is hesitant to try Indian food to take the plunge and sample some of the perfectly prepared luncheon dishes at Moghul. A buffet is a safe way to try a new type of cuisine; there is always something appealing to even the most finicky eater. One of my favorites is the Saag Paneer, which is fresh spinach and paneer (Indian style cottage cheese), with a special combination of herbs and spices. This is a very pleasantly seasoned dish. Vegetarians can enjoy a variety of foods which include chickpeas, potatoes, rice and lentils. The unusual blends of herbs and spices used here are aromatic as well as mouth watering. There are many ways of making food interesting and Moghul demonstrates this on a first class level.

    My dinner companion and I sampled an appetizer recommended by our waiter, Aloo Papri Chat ($3.95), which is a combination of flour crispies (mini papadoms), chopped potatoes, chickpeas and lentil fritters in a yogurt-based sauce which is topped by a drizzle of tamarind sauce. This dish was presented beautifully and each "crispy" arrived crispy, and not so over sauced that it became soggy. The lentil fritter was extremely light and fluffy. We also tried the Dal Shorba ($3.95) which is a delicately seasoned lentil soup served with lemon. The soup was served piping hot and was a very soothing dish with mild flavors that blended like the notes of a symphony. If you think all Indian food is hot, think again. The menu is gives very detailed descriptions of each dish so that you can order according to your palate.

    Our main course was a Vegetable Biryani ($9.95) and Keema Hara Masala ($14.95). The Biryani was a mildly seasoned rice dish served with Raita, which is a yogurt sauce to cool the palate. This went well with the Keema Hara Masala, a finely minced lamb cooked with fresh coriander and mint. The dish was somewhat hot, however very well balanced with the Biryani and Raita. The main course also included some extra touches, and I love extra touches! There was a carrot salad made of shredded fresh carrots and kalonji, or onion seeds, on a lettuce leaf that made a lovely addition to the already beautiful table. Indian pickles, which can be very hot, were also included and are in abundance on the lunch buffet. All of these extras make quite a difference in truly experiencing Indian cuisine.

    The wine list is adequate albeit hard to select a wine to complement this cuisine. Beer would be a good choice and there are ample Indian selections on the menu. I selected a Pinot Grigio which was light and fresh enough to go with all of the spices and take the heat. If you insist on red you would probably want a fruity Beaujolais, nothing too complex for this food.

    After all this food, we barely had room for dessert, but felt we had to try something. We decided on the Kulfi Falooda, a traditional Indian ice cream flavored with saffron and pistachio and served with falooda, which our waiter described as "similar to angel hair pasta." The falooda was a rosy color and complimented the white ice cream beautifully. The ice cream had a very creamy and satisfying consistency (probably bad for the figure), and tasted as if it also contained rose water. The saffron and pistachio flavors were just right, not too overpowering so that you couldn't taste the rose water. It was a great choice and worth every calorie.

    I invited a friend who was unfamiliar with Indian cuisine to join me so this review would benefit from my fondness for Indian food and her new experience. She found the food quite interesting, just as I had hoped and was very glad she was encouraged to be brave and try something very unfamiliar to her. She would go to Moghul again. I guess that says it all. Or maybe it was the candy coated fennel seeds which are provided to freshen your breath.

    The excellent service, beautiful dining room and expertly prepared food certainly make for a pleasant evening. Moghul is also a nice spot for a romantic dinner, especially if you reserve a booth. You can learn more about Moghul by visiting their website at www.Moghul.com, but don't stop there, visit this fine restaurant and experience it for yourself! Bon Appetit!

Stress Free Cooking by Barbara Seelig Brown's Lifestyle Designs

RESTAURANT REVIEWS

Stress Free Cooking
by
Barbara Seelig Brown's
Lifestyle Designs