Taste of Heaven

CEBU, Philippines - Bland food is a big no-no for me. In Taste of India, the food is the exact opposite. Of course this is a given. Since when did Indian cuisine ever become bland, anyway? To add to that, I am not a big fan of sweet food. I'd pick salt and spice any day, which makes this little resto bar perfect for my taste.

In Taste of India, my favorite is their Beef Masala – fully cooked boneless beef blade roast, smothered in authentic Indian sauce. There, this flavorful dish, served in a medium-size bowl is good for up to three people at P295. Of course, if you order a variety of food, then even four people can share it. That's partly because it's the kind of food, with its rich and savory sauce, that satisfies your taste buds after the first few bites. You don't need a lot to silence that growling tummy either.

Of course, let's not forget the rice! I don't know if I ever want to eat an Indian dish without it. The Chicken Biryani is a buttery rice dish that uses boiled long grain rice mixed with spices and tender chunks of chicken. The sauce of the masala, on top of the spicy biryani, is heaven in the mouth. Served on a large platter in Taste of India, again good for up to three people, the chicken biryani is only P320. Totally worth it.

However, if you just want a snack, then you can opt for the Beef Samosa or the Potato Tikki, which are both essentially made of potatoes. The samosa – ground beef, mashed potatoes, and some seasoning, looks similar to the Philippines' empanada, but tastes a thousand times better. These fried or baked triangles, which can be both a snack and an appetizer, might as well be a meal too. Once, I had it while waiting for the actual meal and already, I felt like half of my tummy was filled. The Tikki was good too, except maybe they could take it easy on the mayo, or whatever it was that tasted like mayo. But like I said, both snacks are filling, and healthy too!

Especially because we're talking about spicy food here, you're gonna need some beverage. Water will do, but iced tea would be nice. I'm not a soda person, so I usually go for the alternatives. There are no shakes in Taste of India, but there are juices, milk-based drinks, and I suppose Indian ones, by the sound of them. Next time, I might give those foreign-sounding drinks a try.

For dessert, they only have one available, the Gulab Jamun, which the waitress described as Indian milk rolled into a ball with flour, deep fried, and bathed in syrup, made and packaged in India. It didn't sound like my cup of tea, but I'm always open to trying something new. Just like the main course, the order took quite a while. When I finally had a taste of the Gulab Jamun, I realized it wasn't worth the wait and the price. Not that it was expensive at all. A serving of two warm, spongy, munchkin-size balls that tasted like milk and caramel, were only P60. I have no way of comparing, because I never tasted Gulab Jamun from anywhere else. It just wasn't my type of dessert, that's all. But it was worth the try.

For non-Indian or non-food expert customers like me, it's kind of a hassle to keep asking what’s this or that, so I think one of the things Taste of India needs to work on is providing a description of each entree in the menu, just like in other restaurants. I also think smoking should not be allowed inside, for the sake of people who don't want to be exposed to secondhand smoke or just don't like the smell.

Overall, I highly recommend Taste of India, located at the second floor of The Forum (the building beside the Cebu Grand Convention Center), Archbishop Reyes St. For reservations, you can reach them through telephone number (032) 5164499. Open every day, from 5 p.m. until dawn. This authentic Indian restaurant would be ideal for casual dinners, and late-night gatherings. In this dimly-lit, traditionally-furnished restaurant, you can sit back with some drinks, talk louder than you usually would in typical food places, enjoy the Bollywood songs and flicks on TV- have a real taste of India. (FREEMAN)