THE BEST BIRYANI IN PUNE

THE BEST BIRYANI IN PUNE

Lucky Mutton Biryani

By

VIKRAM KARVE

The best Biryani in Pune comes from Mumbai.

You think I am joking?

Well, I am not joking. Just read on.

You do not get good Biryani in Pune.

You don’t agree?

Then prove me wrong and tell me where you get good Biryani in Pune.

As far as I am concerned, even the much celebrated Dorabjee, Blue Nile and Good Luck Biryanies are a bit too oily and spicy for my taste.

And most other places in Pune pass off greasy and spicy Pulao as Biryani.

You know the difference between a Pulao and a Biryani, don’t you?

No?

Let me tell you.

When you cook the rice and the meat together it becomes a Pulao.

When you cook the rice separately and the meat separately and then layer them alternately, it becomes a Biryani.

Now let’s talk of Lucky Biryani.

No. No. Don’t get me wrong. I am not living in the past and talking of the long disappeared Lucky Restaurant in Deccan Gymkhana Pune where the late Dev Anand used to enjoy Biryani. I am talking of the Lucky Restaurant in Mumbai.

When I lived in Churchgate I mainly relished Biryani at many of my favourite restaurants in South Mumbai – like Olympia in Colaba, Delhi Darbar on Falkland Road (Patthe Bapurao Marg) off Grant Road (or its branch near Metro on Marine Street) or Shalimar in Bhendi Bazar or Noorani near Haji Ali.

(For Pulao there is nothing to beat the famed Berry Pulao of Britannia of Ballard Estate)

In the suburbs my favourite place for Biryani was Lucky Restaurant in Bandra.

Lucky is on the junction of Main Road and Hill Road – just get out of Bandra Railway Station on the western side and walk straight to the main SV Road and you will see Lucky on the opposite side.

Now let me tell you where I found Lucky Biryani in Pune.

Every Saturday we go for shopping to Aundh. Now if you live in a godforsaken place like Wakad the nearest civilisation is Aundh, so that’s where we go for our weekly shopping.

(I wonder why no one has thought of opening a mall and multiplex in Wakad – the way Wakad and Hinjewadi are expanding there will be no dearth of customers)

A few weeks back when we were walking around in Reliance Mart and stopped for a bite at the food stall I saw a non-veg freezer section and ventured in. I was pleasantly surprised to see cartons of Lucky Biryani under the counter. A little sceptical about how the “frozen” Biryani would taste, I nevertheless got a pack home, warmed it in my microwave, and let me tell you that the Biryani tasted almost as good as the original. Now whenever I go to Aundh, I pick up Lucky Biryani from Reliance Mart.

There are four tests to judge a Biryani and let us see how Lucky Biryani performs in these tests. (By very definition Biryani means Mutton Biryani and terms like Chicken Biryani, Fish Biryani and Vegetable Biryani are misnomers).

Test No. 1

SPREAD TEST

First I try the “Spread Test”.

I pick up a little Biryani in my fingers and sprinkle it on the side dish. The grains of rice do not stick together but remain separate. The pieces of mutton are succulent, clear and dry. The Biryani is not greasy and the mutton pieces easily separate from the rice.

Lucky Biryani will easily qualifies the spread test.

Test No. 2

AROMA TEST

I lift the plate of Biryani and smell the rice and pieces of mutton. The Biryani is pleasantly aromatic. I can discern the delicate sweetish fragrance of curds and bouquet of appetizing mouth-watering aroma of marinated spices. The aroma is not overpowering, sharp or piquant.

The Biryani passes the “aroma test” with flying colours

Test No. 3

TASTE TEST

I taste the mutton. It is well-cooked, flavoursome, succulent, delicious – the distinctive attribute of well marinated meat. The I roll some rice on my tongue – the subtle flavour and mild taste of the spices comes through – the Biryani is not overpoweringly spicy, greasy or pungent. It is exactly how a good Biryani must be.

Test No. 4

POTATO TEST

Now I come to the fourth and final test – the “Potato Test”.

I dig deep and search for the potato in the Biryani and pop a piece of potato in my mouth. The potato tastes as scrumptious as the meat – the hallmark of a superlative Biryani.

Lucky Biryani has qualified all the four “Biryani Tests” with flying colours. Now it is time to relish and savour the Biryani.

I once again say that you don’t get good Biryani in Pune. Will some Punekar prove me wrong. Till then I’ll keep picking up Lucky Biryani on my weekly visits to Reliance Mart.

Happy Eating.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

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