The Best Of Everything

"WHERE
THE TROPICS
COME ALIVE"

Experience and international input at Moti

Mahal.

chilies, ginger, turmeric and other
tomatoes, onions and green peppers.
spices ... It is reasonably hot, not
In Indian cooking, the use of
DANNY RASKIN
overly so, and does much to warm a
spices is very important ... and much
Local Columnist
person's innards.
goodness is dependent on their uti
With Abdul at Moti Mahal is his
Tan-
or
f being a chip off the
lization and mixture ... East Indian
son Joshem, who works as a waiter ...
doori block is any indication of
cuisine in particular, as mainly served
And his wife Momotaz,
continued goodness, no wonder
by Moti Mahal, requires pru-
helping in the kitchen Fri-
there has been so much in store
dent care in the blending of
days, Saturdays and Sun-
for lovers of Indian cuisine.
spices.
days.
When Abdul Ullah came to Amer-
Not too many places have
No work on Mondays ...
ica from Bangladesh with his father
the Vindaloo dishes served by
but the restaurant is open for
Mohammed in 1973, he was taught
Moti Mahal ... chicken, beef,
lunch Tuesday through Satur-
how to cook, using many of dad's
day, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ...
lamb, shrimp or vegetable
Pasta • Seafood
noted recipes.
and dinner Tuesday through
and very hot.
In 1975, Mohammed opened Taj
Also hot are the Madras
Sunday, 4:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Gourmet Pizza • Ribs
Mahal on 12 Mile in Berkley, and
Best seller is the chicken
dishes of curry prepared with
DANNY
Abdul was at his side learning ...
Nova Lox
extra red chilies in the Madras
tikka massala, marinated
RASKIN
Mohammed's Taj Mahal became a
or southern Indian style ...
breasts cut into pieces and
"Jerk" Chicken & More
Local
Columnist broiled with spices.
favorite among aficionados of Indian
Dhansak dishes (chicken, beef,
shrimp, lamb or vegetable) are
Indian food is very
food.
00 0
Abdul went out on his own in
Persian style ... fairly hot ...
healthy ... Moti Mahal uses no lard in
1982, opening Moti Mahal in Royal
with sweet and sour and hot curry
its low-fat cooking ... Vegetarians have
Oak ... In 1985, Abdul opened in
prepared with lentils.
a field day because so many dishes can
Canada ... and then returned to Royal
Not all Indian dishes are hot ... or
also be gotten without meat.
even have the semblance of spiciness
Oak.
It's always fun and satisfying to try
He moved his Mod Mahal to
Korma selections are mild with
several dishes and share them with
Rochester Hills, Aug. 15, 1997 ... on
curry and yogurt bringing about a
your friends ... Vegetarians especially
the corner of Crooks Road and
distinctive sweet, mild flavor ... Also
enjoy this treat.
Auburn Road in the Auburn Place
You also won't find pasa-
shopping sector ... It is the
da anywhere ... interestingly
former location of Latatas Ital-
made with chicken, beef or
ian Cafe, a small place, and
lamb.
Mod Mahal, with its
seats only 46 co mfortably ...
Royal Oak's seating was 55.
subtly spiced tandoori dish-
Mohammed retired and
es, few disappointments and
lives in Bangladesh ... He
loyal following, is a treat.
spends much of his time
IT WAS HIS first New
Dance Weekends To
between the restaurants owned
Year's Eve and Chance, 1-
by his two sons ... Abdul
year-old wire-haired terrier
70's, 80's, 90's Music
Mukith, who owns An Baba
(and a bit of Lhasa apso,
in Watford, England, will be
etc.) of Linda and Barry
here Jan. 25, visiting brother
Solomon, had reason to be
Abdul Ullah for about six
happy.
months ... and working with
He has a wonderful
6041 Haggerty
him in Rochester Hills ... New
home now with Linda and
recipes he's bringing with him
Barry, after she fell in love
Between 15 Mile & Pontiac Tr.
will be served along with the
with Chance while doing a
West Bloomfield
Mother's Day dog adoption
regular menu.
Two of the recipes that
TV show for the Michigan
were previously sent by Abdul Abdul Ullah of Moti Mahal.
Humane Society ... and
Mukith from England are
brought him for her mom,
ones that nobody, as far as I
Mona Rappaport.
know, provide hereabouts ... fish tan-
the Biryani fried rice dishes with veg-
But Mona couldn't handle two
etable curry sauce, raisins, nuts and
doori and shrimp balti.
dogs (she has Angus, a West Highland
Fish tandoori, which takes about
terrier) so Linda kept him for herself
coconut.
20 minutes to prepare, is a delicate
One of the nights I went there was
and Barry.
and tasty dish with a whole pomfret
very cold out ... and the Mod Mahal
Until getting all tuckered out from
fish from the Indian Ocean marinated
mulligatawny soup was a hearty wel-
eating and playing so much, Chance
in secret spices and broiled ... Shrimp
come ... chock full of lentils, red
balti is combined with special spices,

AHEZICAN AND
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