WRITING CULTURE 2012: Film, Food & Beyond

Like to indulge your tongue in spice? When my three friends choose to have chicken tikka masala, chicken saag and shrimp curry, I dare to go for chicken vindaloo at the Chote Nawab restaurant. It is a Goan special chicken curry with red chilies and vinegar that makes the curry really spicy and juicy. While I order the chicken vindaloo ($9.00) from the lunch menu, the host alarms me about the dangerous level of spice. As a Bengali, raised on spicy food, I think that I will be able to handle the spice. After the first bite of the creamy chicken vindaloo, my tongue and eyes are burning with saliva and tears. However, I could not resist eating the scrumptious chicken vindaloo because of its authentic Indian flavor and piquant aroma.

The main course, chicken vindaloo, is served with small pots of snowy basmati rice, thick brown dal, and freshly made hot garlic naan. When the waiters serve the vindaloo curry in a pot, I know it is going to be a spicy rock star from its red color. Light steam from the dish is flying all over the table and the smell takes me away to Kolkata, India where I visited last summer. Curios to explore the Indian culture, I went to Kolkata, and had the opportunity to taste a spicy chicken dish similar to the vindaloo. The small chicken pieces of vindaloo are so softly hugged by the red chili pastes that the pieces blush. It is the perfect curry during the cold to make you feel warm much like a hot cup of coffee on a gloomy rainy day.

Besides the vindaloo, the four month old Chote Nawab is a great place for lunch. When all the Indian restaurants in the Curry Hill area on Lexington Avenue are packed during lunch hour, mostly Nepali waitresses are ready to open the door with big smiles on their faces for the guests at Chote Nawab. They are ready to serve its delectable food within 15 minutes after the order is placed. After sitting at the corner table and feeling thirsty, I notice that glasses full of water are already on the table.

While you are waiting for your food to come, you will not be bored by looking at the decor and paintings in the restaurants. Traditional Indian touches in the paintings make the atmosphere of the Chote Nawab really connected to its root. Chote meaning young child and Nawab meaning prince, the name of the restaurant represents a young or last prince of a kingdom.  The large and multi-colored wall paintings introduce the ancient Indian king’s rule. Eventually, I explained the theme of the paintings to my friends and this is what I love about Indian restaurants.  They like to create a traditional touch in their décor to reflect the culture. I feel even more special when the owner of the restaurant comes to me and talks in Bengali, because he is from Kolkata, where people speak in Bengali as well. He approaches me in a friendly way to find out how we like the food.

Although ninety percent of American customers may not understand the Bollywood music that is playing in the background, however, you will not feel disturbed by its soft melody. If you would like to enjoy the traditional Indian Tempe experience, Chote Nawab will be a perfect place to visit, with reasonable prices.