EXTENSIVE WINE LIST • LUNCH & DINNER

Shalimar Removes The Mexican
Influence From Its Indian Cuisine

I

a

92

KITCHEN OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT FRI & SAT
LUNCH MON - FRI
DINNER TUES - SAT

f you can't imagine the combi-
I had two types of bread, the vegetable oil and nothing from a
nation of Indian and Mexican basic naan and naan stuffed can.
food, you will well understand with chopped onions ... Both
Shalimar makes its own yo-
the confusion it created.
were made in less than three gurt, paneer cheese (like a farm-
Was it an Indian restaurant minutes ... baked on both sides ers cheese), mango ice cream,
or a Mexican restaurant?
and coming out light and fluffy. rice pudding (kheer) and spiced
And so the change ... the em-
The healthy cooking is inter- tea.
phasis now strictly on authentic esting in tandoor ovens ... What-
Tandoori specialties are rec-
north Indian food, which owners ever can be broiled is
ommended for low-fat
Pam and Jeet Reen know best, able to be prepared in a
diets.
at their Shalimar restaurant on tandoor oven.
Only fresh garlic is
Orchard Lake Road, just south
Shalimar is the only
used, plus more than 20
of 13 Mile.
restaurant of its kind
different spices in the
It opened back in September with an Indian chef
various foods ... Use of
1988, with the Mexican influ- who does nothing but
fresh spices is a basic
ence supplied by Armando make tandoori dishes.
specialty in north Indi-
Galan, who formerly had Ar-
It has three cooks
an cooking.
mando's at the present site and plus Jeet, who has DANNY RASKIN
About the curry ...
LOC AL
after selling stayed on as a part- spent 18 years as an In-
This is not a hot spice ...
COLUM NIST
ner.
dian chef and is in
Simply a sauce to en-
It remained Indian and Mex- charge of the kitchen ...
hance the flavors of
ican even after he left, and a also overseeing all the inside and foods ... Curry sauces are usual-
measure of success was retained outside catering done by Shali- ly blended with other spices.
... However, confusion still kept mar.
If you don't want your food
many people away.
Best sellers at Shalimar are spicy, just make sure the chef
Now as a full-fledged north- the tandoori chicken and fish doesn't put in hot pepper ... If you
em Indian restaurant where na- items.
do, let your server know and the
tives come because of the
Northern Indian natives come chef will put in as much as you
authenticity, Pam
and Jeet are with-
in their complete
realm of dining
knowledge.
Last September,
it was closed for
seven weeks ... re-
opening the end of
October with a new
face ... seating 140
plus a banquet
room for another
65.
The more inti-
mate look gives a
cozier feeling, and
the menu is much
more appetizing
with its bevy of au-
thentic northern
Indian food.
Northern Indian
cuisine has been a
favorite in the Unit- Pam and Jeet Reen of Shalimar.
ed States longer
than any other Indian culture ... from everywhere to taste dishes can stand.
Tandoori menu selections are they can't get elsewhere ... Like
Southern Indian cooking uti-
among the longest established the lamb Hyderabadi and chick- lizes curry, red hot peppers, a lot
and most popular meals.
en Hyderabadi ... both cooked in of coconut, much rice and lentils
Shalimar has two clay tandoor a poppyseed and cashew nut in most of the dishes prepared.
ovens ... One for the seven dif- creamy white sauce.
Northern Indian restaurants
ferent breads it makes ... and an-
A rare specialty at Shalimar like Shalimar use less spices ...
other for the chicken, shrimp, is the vegetable dish of nargisi with main items being tomatoes,
lamb and fish entrees.
aloo .. potatoes stuffed with nuts fresh ginger, fresh garlic and
The charcoal-fired tandoor, or and cheese and cooked in a some of the dry spices which
clay oven, dates back to when in- creamy sauce with fresh herbs. change according to the dish be-
troduced by the Persians who
A big vegetarian seller is the ing prepared.
ruled India before the British navrattan (which means nine of
Shalimar is closed between 3
took over ... Wood charcoal is anything) korma, mixed vegeta- p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through
heated up to 800 degrees bles cooked with fresh herbs and Thursday, otherwise open from
Fahrenheit ... With food cooked spices.
11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on these
fast there is no need to rotate the
No meat fat is used in north- days ... Friday 11:30 p.m. to 11
meat or fish like it is done on a ern Indian cookin at Shalimar ... p.m.; Saturday noon to 11 p.m.;
rotisserie.
No skin on any meats ... Only Sunday noon to 10 p.m.

'N/