WRITING CULTURE 2012: Film, Food & Beyond

To be fair, Chote Nawab was not our initial destination, but it turned out to be an incredibly afternoon of deliciousness.  The restaurant we intended to eat at (whose name I will with-hold since we didn’t actually eat a bite there) did not have even one thing on the menu that was gluten and/or dairy free, meaning I would not be able to eat.  So on we went, and a few moments later walked into Chote Nawab.  This was the best accident we could have had happen.  Upon walking in, we were very warmly welcomed and seated right away.  The restaurant is very new and has a chic modern decor, that was comfortable and warm.  We were brought menus and water right away.  We also were offered drink menus, which due to the fact that it was still mid-afternoon and we all had classes were politely declined.
We quickly decided on what we would order, myself going for the chicken saag – a delicious mix of cubed chicken and heavily spiced spinach, very similar to creamed spinach (minus the cream).  Along with that I had some rice, and dal, made of lentils.  They also brought naan bread to the table, but sadly I was not able to eat any of that due to it being gluten laden.  It looked just as delightful as everything else that was on the table.
I have eaten at my fair share of Indian restaurants in the city and have to say, Chote Nawab is high on the list of them.  The quality was very high, the flavors awesome, and the atmosphere and service equally great.  I will definitely be going back, and I will be bringing friends!

I was luckier then a lot of other people when Hurricane Sandy finally hit. My neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn was a respectable distance inland and rested on top of a hill, giving it the elevated ground needed to avoid any real danger of flooding. By and large all the storm really did to me was ensure I was locked up at home for two days, with all the amenities like water, heat, electricity, and internet (though very spotty at times) still readily available. But as unaffected as I was by Sandy itself, the scars it left behind are all too real for me. 

Despite the wind strength, my neighborhood was fortunate in avoiding the hazards of fallen trees. But even then it’s hard not to notice the contrast in the landscape Sandy created whenever I walk down the block and see branches stripped clean of their bark or a sign turned on completely on its head.

Walking down a bit further and past the local supermarket and you can see an even more telling example as work crews work daily to repair a missing banister that was torn right off.

Still, all these things are minor inconveniences at worse, it’s only walking down even further that you can see where the real impact is being felt.

Unlike the image above my local BP gas station was still completely empty of patrons because it’s still completely empty of actual gas, even several weeks after Sandy’s passing. I can only be thankful that, despite the long delays and only partial restoration at the time, this city has an extensive subway system that I can get by on, otherwise I’d have be like some of the poor suckers I’ve seen who have to carry their own fuel canisters like the ones above to fill up their cars and hope its barely enough to get them wherever they need to go.

Having several internships with government offices keep me in tune of just how much bigger these problems are in other parts of the city though, especially in the areas of lower Manhattan and Staten Island. I don’t even want to get into the stories I still hear outside of the city, where my aunt’s family on Long Island are still without power and heat in the middle of winter!

And so I’ve been doing what I can to help victims that have had it much harder then myself, which I am extremely thankful for. Just this week after Thanksgiving, I was inviting community board leaders to attend and contribute to a food drive, coordinating and setting up the venue in the American Museum of Natural History, and moving an entire truckload of cartons of dehydrated milk and water to be shipped off to the NYC Food Bank. Even now though, while it helps to know I’ve done something to help alleviate the difficulties of others in this trying time, its still disheartening to know it probably isn’t enough, and likely won’t be for some time yet. Life may go on, but the scars still linger.

Bright, stylish, comforting, contentment… but also disconnect. These are the words that come to mind as I reflect back on my visit to one Chote Nawab, an Indian Restaurant nestled on the corner of 28th and Lexington.

*Image by roshan b. at yelp.com

As soon as I walk through the doors I was struck by the layout of the place. Bold colors line the outer walls, while rustic murals painted the rest. Ornate modern hangers line them and the industrial piped ceiling up top. Its such a festive and exciting combination and contrast, tied together by the wood trimmed furniture which adds a homey feeling to the space.

Needless to say I got swept up in the atmosphere almost immediately, and my enthusiasm did not diminish thanks to the impeccable service and attention I received. My waters were refilled at a constantly, never reaching the bottom of the glass. Orders and dishes were taken and delivered swiftly, all with a cordial smile and polite questions asking me if I needed anything else. So to all my readers make sure your tip is astounding, because with service like that your waiter deserves nothing less.

*Image from madrasrecipe.com

Yet for all the glowing praise I’m giving Chote Nawab right now, it pains me more then anything to say that it fell short of the most important aspect of any restaurant,  the food. Scanning the menu my enthusiasm was not diminished as I saw categories for all types of different entree, from seafood to vegetables, chicken, lamb, beef, the list went on. I chose the Lamb Madras lunch special, coming in at only $11 at a steal. A mix of Lamb curry, and coconut I was looking for a flavorful blend of sweet and spicy. Yet upon taking a bite out of my dish I soon realized I had only received twice the amount of the latter and none of the former, the coconut flavor having been almost completely killed off by the heat . Mixed with an unlimited refill of rice, a container bean dip, and Naan bread on the side the meal itself was quite filling, but it just lacked the same spark of sophisticated spark as the decor, relying on the staple of Indian spices like American dishes do with meat and potatoes, simple but uninspired.

While I believe anyone  who visits Chote Nawab can appreciate the simplistic novelty of its cuisine, it still feels as though the restaurant has a ways to go before they can reach that next new and invigorating modern mix of flavors that its physical design at least, aspires to.