Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey – My Favourite “Indian-Chinese” Combination – Food Blog

Sometime ago – my son wanted to take me out for lunch.  

“I want to eat Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey...” I said.

So – we ate Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey at a “non-authentic” Chinese Restaurant famous for its improvised “Indian-Chinese” cuisine.

And – after a long time – I enjoyed my favourite medley of Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey. 

Both dishes comprise a variety of meats and seafood – and – I especially like prawns in both the Fried-Rice and Chopsuey. 

Here is a picture I clicked that day: 

Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey

This delicious lunch reminded me of a foodie post I had written some time ago on My Favourite “Chinese” Food.

Let me delve into my blog and pull it out for you...

MY FAVOURITE “CHINESE” FOOD

MIXED FRIED RICE AND AMERICAN CHOPSUEY

Irresistible Food Combination

Foodie Musings

By

VIKRAM KARVE

CHOP-SUEY

I do not profess to be a culinary expert.

Nor do I claim to be “highfalutin” connoisseur or snooty gourmand.

I am no authority on the “finer” aspects of “fine dining”.

I am simple trencherman who loves eating.

I live to eat (and not eat merely to live).

I believe in the dictum: 

THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THE LOVE OF EATING 

I don’t believe in “starters”.

“Starters” ruin your appetite

I don’t believe in drinking alcohol while eating. 

Yes – I do not believe in drinking alcohol – especially before a delicious meal.

Alcohol dulls the taste buds.

I believe in getting down to eating the main course of the meal straightaway.

That is why when I go to a Chinese Restaurant – I don’t waste time looking at the menu card.

I just sit down and order right away:

“Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey...”

If “Mixed Fried Rice” is not available – I may settle for “Chicken Fried Rice and American Chopsuey...”

But – if “American Chopsuey” is not on the menu – I prefer to walk out of the restaurant.

MOUTHWATERING MEMORIES OF “KAMLING” RESTAURANT PUNE

My first memory of Chinese Food is in the Poona of the 1960’s – when there was a famous quintessential Chinese Restaurant called KAMLING on East Street (General Thimayya Road) in Pune Camp 

Those days Pune was called Poona – and – there were 3 iconic restaurants on East Street – Latif’s for Mughlai – Kwality for Continental – and – Kamling for Chinese.

Now – only Kwality is still going strong – and they have diversified into all kinds of cuisine – “multi-cuisine” – as they call it.

Kamling shut down a few years ago.

Later – there was a popular vegetarian thali restaurant called Mayur in its place.

(Someone told me that even Mayur has relocated).

As Pune transformed from a salubrious pensioner’s paradise into a cosmopolitan metropolis – the food scene has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. 

Nowadays – there are many other eateries in Pune which serve Chinese Food.

But those days – as far as food was concerned – in Pune – Chinese Cuisine was synonymous with Kamling.

Whenever we were in a mood for Chinese Food – we visited Kamling.

Those days there was no concept of “starters” which ruin your appetite.

We got down to eating the main-course straightaway.

The order was simple: 

“MIXED FRIED RICE and AMERICAN CHOP-SUEY...”

As far as Chinese Food was concerned – this combination was matchless – and the most popular too.

The “Mixed” Fried Rice was embellished with a variety of vegetables and meats – there were boneless pieces of stir fried Red Meats, White Meats and an assortment of Seafood.

Yes – there were delicious crisply fried pieces of tasty chicken, mutton, pork, fish, prawns – it had a bit of everything – and nourishing pieces of scrambled eggs too.

Nowadays – you don’t get the same high standard of Mixed Fried Rice anymore – so sometimes – I have to make do with Chicken Fried Rice.

And – to combine with the Fried Rice – there is nothing to beat American Chop-Suey.  

“American Chopsuey” is a delicious stew – comprising a variety of stir fried meats, seafood and vegetables – blended into a sweet and sour tasting tangy vegetable sauce – and then spread over crispy fried noodles – topped with a fried egg.

It is a spectacular looking colourful dish – which whets your appetite – and is truly scrumptious. 

Just looking at the appealing dish – and breathing in the appetizing aroma of its alluring flavours – makes your mouth water in anticipation.

I love American Chopsuey.

I find the delicious “Umami” taste most irresistible – and American Chopsuey combines perfectly with Fried Rice.

Like I said – some people say that Chop-Suey is not “authentic” Chinese Cuisine – but it is actually an improvised Chinese-American Fusion Dish.

After liberalization and with the advent of globalization – there have opened in Pune – a number of highbrow “gourmet” Chinese restaurants serving “authentic” Chinese Cuisine.

Many of these “highfalutin” restaurants do not even feature American Chopsuey on the menu.

But let me tell you – that way back in the 1960’s and 1970’s – in those good old “socialist” days of the “Licence Permit Quota Raj” – American Chopsuey featured prominently on the menu of every Chinese Restaurant.

American Chopsuey was the most popular dish – and – in fact – in those good old days – those nostalgic glorious “unliberalized” and “unglobalized” “Licence Permit Quota Raj” “socialist” days of the 1960’s and 1970’s – American Chopsuey was a “benchmark” or yardstick by which to evaluate a Chinese Restaurant.

Yes – we rated a Chinese restaurant based on the quality of the American Chopsuey they served.

Like I told you – sadly – the inimitable Kamling has shut down many years ago – and the so-called “authentic” Chinese restaurants do not have this dish on their menus.

Well – if you are a fine dining connoisseur – you may say that “Chop-Suey” is “fake” Chinese Cuisine.

But – for a hungry trencherman like me – there is nothing to beat a piping hot combination of Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey.

Before I end – let me post another picture I clicked sometime ago of the quintessential delicious combination of Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey that I always enjoy eating...

Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey

Tell me – Dear Reader – Do you like this delicious combination of Mixed Fried Rice and American Chopsuey – and – where do you eat it...? 

Happy Eating...!!! 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Updated Version of My Earlier Blog Post First Posted by me Vikram Karve at 2/09/2013 09:02:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/02/chinese-fried-rice-and-american-chopsuey.html and later reposted at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/12/my-favourite-chinese-food-mixed-fried.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/09/birthday-lunch-mixed-fried-rice-and.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/05/my-favourite-indian-chinese-combination.html etc 

How to Judge a Biryani – Tasting and Testing

A Foodie “Girlfriend” has invited us for a “Biryani Date” at a famous iconic restaurant of Pune which she claims serves the best Biryani in Pune. 

As they say – “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” – so I will tell you if it is indeed a good Biryani after tasting and testing it. 

Did I say “Testing”...? 

Will this Biryani pass all the 5 “Tests” of an Authentic Biryani...?

Dear Reader – Do you what are the five basic Authenticity Tests you must carry out to evaluate a Biryani...?

Read on...

ARE YOU BEING SERVED FAKE BIRYANI ...?

If you walk around Pune – you will find that a “Biryani House” has mushroomed at every nook and corner.

Of course – it is debatable whether the “meat-rice mixture” they serve would qualify as a “Biryani”. 

If you walk around Pune – you will find that a “Biryani House” has mushroomed at every nook and corner.

Most of these eateries serve a spicy medley of meat and rice which they pass off as “Biryani”. 

Earlier – there a few eateries which served decent Biryani – but sadly – even these restaurants have succumbed to “popular demand” – and have “spiced up” their Biryani. 

Nowadays – instead of authentic Biryani – I have seen many restaurants and caterers try to pass off pulaos (and various other medleys and potpourris of meat and rice) as Biryani.

Pulao is not Biryani.

Pulao is prepared by cooking the ingredients together.

In a Biryani the rice and meat are cooked separately – then assembled in layers – and given a “Dum”.

How do you evaluate a Biryani?

What are the qualities of a good Biryani? 

How do you test a Biryani to see whether you are being served a fake Biryani.

Let me delve into my Foodie Writing Archives and pull out this article I wrote more than 17 years ago – in the year 2000 – during my Mumbai days – on TESTING and TASTING a BIRYANI – and post it once more for your perusal.

So – next time you eat a Biryani – test it – to see if it is a Good Biryani – or – whether you are being served a Fake Biryani.

BIRYANI

Five Essential Qualities of a Good Biryani

Foodie Self-Help

By

VIKRAM KARVE

A plate of mouthwatering Biryani is placed in front of you.

On first impressions – how do you judge a Biryani…?

Well – as far as I am concerned – there are five basic tests you must carry out to assess a Biryani.

FIVE TESTS TO JUDGE A BIRYANI

Test No. 1

SPREAD TEST

First try the “Spread Test”.

Pick up a little Biryani in your fingers and sprinkle it on the side dish.

The grains of rice must not stick together but remain separate. 

The pieces of meat must be succulent – clear and dry – not greasy – and the meat must easily separate from the rice.

A good Biryani will easily qualify the spread test.

Test No. 2

AROMA TEST

Lift the plate of Biryani – and smell the pieces of meat. 

The Biryani must be pleasantly aromatic – and you must be able to discern the delicate sweetish fragrance and appetizing mouthwatering aroma of marinated spices.

The aroma must not be overpowering, sharp or piquant. 

The Biryani must pass the “aroma test” with flying colours as there is nothing more appetizing than a mouthwatering aroma…!

Test No. 3

TASTE TEST

Taste the meat – ideally mutton. 

The meat must be well-cooked, flavoursome, succulent, delicious.

Then roll some rice on your tongue – the subtle flavour and taste of the spices must mildly and pleasantly come through – and the Biryani must not be overpoweringly spicy, greasy or pungent.

Test No. 4

POTATO TEST

Now you come to the fourth test – the “Potato Test”.

Dig deep – and search for the Potato in the Biryani.

The potatoes must taste as scrumptious as the meat – that is the hallmark of a superlative Biryani.

And – if there is no potato – well dear fellow foodie – tell me – can there be a perfect Biryani without a potato which tastes as delicious as the meat…?

Test No. 5

TEMPERATURE TEST

Finally – here is the fifth test for Biryani. 

Has it been served at the right temperature with light aromatic steam coming out from the rice?

Do you feel the warmth on your tongue when you eat the inner part of the mutton?

 

THE PERFECT BIRYANI

 

So – the next time a plate of Biryani is put in front of you – before you eat it – do carry out these five simple tests – and tell us all about it.

Did the Biryani pass all the tests with flying colours? 

Is it a Perfect Biryani...? 

Or – is it a greasy potpourri of rice and meat – a Fake Biryani – or a Pulao – masquerading as an authentic Biryani...?

HAPPY BIRYANI EATING

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. These are my personal views based on my personal experience. Please do your own due diligence while testing a Biryani.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

This is an updated and revised version of my article on HOW TO JUDGE A BIRYANI written be me Vikram Karve more than 17 years ago in the year 2000 and posted online earlier in my Academic and Creative Writing Journal Blog on 30 Nov 2010 at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2010/11/biryani-how-to-judge-biryani-four-tests.html and reposted a number of times in my various blogs at urls http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/05/perfect-biryani-tasting-and-testing.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/12/what-is-good-biryani-5-tests.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/are-you-being-served-fake-biryani.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/12/how-to-judge-biryani-5-basic-tests.html etc 

This popular Foodie Article written by me has also been carried by a number of magazines, ezines, blogs, forums and websites and online foodie portals.