Triple D: Decadent, delectable, and dazzling!

The Food Network is probably my all-time favorite channel to watch. Ever.

I can sit at the TV for hours, watching Giada de Laurentiis create a mascarpone-filled chocolate-covered confection (while somehow keeping her hair perfectly in place the whole time) while Duff goes absolutely and wholly mad, making a cake that resembles the Hogwarts Express and even blows steam! In fact, I think my parents sometimes judge me for how much Food Network I really do watch. Somehow, it's hard for me to explain to them that I'm not just watching someone cook, I'm watching them create art! Food Network is able to take some of the finest chefs and show them in their element, one of pure genius!

Photo Credit: [smallbusinessphoto.com]

 Now, while I don't agree with all of their choices regarding who they put on the network (Paula Deen and Sandra Lee, anyone?), I thoroughly enjoy watching some of my favorite culinary connoisseurs challenge themselves on national television and, not surprisingly, come out successful! More enjoyable than watching these individuals create their masterpieces, however, are the slightly off-kilter, 'unique' programs, born from zany and fun concepts that most would not think to turn into a TV show: Best Thing I Ever Ate, Iron Chef America, and the star of the show, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!

Photo Credit: [broadwaydiner1.com]

Photo Credit: [thechive.com]

Hosted by Guy Fieri, possibly one of the most enthusiastic and insane people I've ever seen on TV, the show takes viewers around the United States, looking for, in Guy's words, 'the greatest Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives!' While there are not many of Guy's 'choice locations' in around Indianapolis, one eccentric joint is located right in the heart of Carmel: Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream. This restaurant, while known for its great down-home, American food, has become infamous for the one dish that brought Guy Fieri to its home: the Big Ugly.

 

*Cue dramatic music here...*

The 'Big Ugly' is a one-pound burger that many diners attempt to take on, although some fail. While it's a pretty awesome (and somewhat scary) dish, people often forget about Bub's other contribution to Carmel--Bub's Cafe.

Located right off the Monon Trail, Bub's Cafe is a small, quiet spot where you and your family can go grab a nice relaxed brunch. From sweet treats to savory delights, it's got something for practically everyone!

During the summer, a group of us got together to have a wonderful brunch experience at Bub's Cafe. On the menu:

 

Chocolate Chip Pancake with Fruits and Fresh Whipped Cream

(There are chocolate chip inside the pancake, too :)



 

Cinnamon Croissant French Toast with Fresh Fruit

 

 

Creme Brûlée French Toast with Rhubarb Compote--Seasonal Special

*I was skeptical about the rhubarb, but if you like candied sugar, this is definitely for you*

 

And, for those of you who are a little tired of sweet meals (though I'm pretty sure that's not possible),

 

 

Root Vegetable Hash with Poached Eggs and a Biscuit--Seasonal Special

 

So next time you're taking a stroll on the Monon, make sure to stop by Bub's Cafe.

It's definitely the perfect way to start off your Lazy Sunday.

 



Photo Credit: [ebay.com]

The Trojan Horse: Review

Eating ethnic food is always an adventure, whether you're journeying through the East with aromatic spices and herbs or nibbling your way through Europe's creamy sweet confections. One of the benefits of living in Bloomington is the overabundance of ethnic restaurants available and easily accessible. Whether you're walking down 4th Street or Kirkwood Avenue, you're bound to run into at least one restaurant that tickles your tastebuds, just a bit. For us, that restaurant was called 'The Trojan Horse.'

Located off of Kirkwood and Walnut, The Trojan Horse is a nice formal Greek restaurant, offering all the authentic flavors of Greece, from spanakopita to the best
Greek dish ever created, saganaki.

I had the pleasure of visiting the restaurant with three of my friends, one of whom comes from a Greek family and eats Greek food on a daily basis back at home.

Yes, I'm kind of jealous...but I get Indian food everyday at home so...I win! :)                 Photo Credit:[breadedtenderloin.wordpress.com]

Going with friends also means that you get to share dishes, a concept that is VERY appealing when you want to try everything on the menu.

We started off with some saganaki, an appetizer consisting of flaming (yes, you heard right) cheese and warm pita wedges. After cooking the cheese, the waiter serves it tableside, first lighting it on fire by using a little brandy, then dousing it in lemon juice, giving the cheese a tart, yet pleasant, flavor.

Even better than this, however, is the enthusiasm with which the server brings OUT the dish. Not only does she light it on fire, but she also convinces us to yell Opa! with her and cheer when the flames catch. This, my friends, is dedication to the art.

 After devouring our saganaki, we moved onto our entrees. I was overjoyed at the fact that the menu of The Trojan Horse boasts of many, many delicious vegetarian entrees and a decent amount of non-vegetarian entrees.

My friend and I decided to split the Falafel sandwich, an item consisting of "a spicy blend of chickpeas and bulgur wheat, deep-fried and wrapped in pita with lettuce, onion, tomato, and Tahini sauce." Although heavy on the tahini, the sandwich did NOT disappoint, delivering a power-packed flavor punch. Slightly disappointing, however, was the portion size. Alhough, I admit, deciding to split one sandwich was probably not a smart idea.
 

 

And of course, we had to end with some dessert! The dessert menu is an interesting mix of desserts, some drawing from their Grecian roots, like baklava, and others maintaining their role of mainstream, 'feel-good' desserts. To get the best of both worlds, we decided to go with two desserts: one complex and unique, the other simple and elegant.

 

First up? Pitas and Cream:

 

 A beautiful vanilla bean ice cream swirled with chunks of crunchy and sweet baklava, topped with lightly toasted elephant ear-like pita wedges...

One word: WOW.

Hands down, the BEST part of the whole meal...that's right, even better than the saganaki.
Perfectly balanced and slightly addicting, this dessert lives up to its description.

And to finish things off?

Cheesecake: Creamy, crunchy, and ever-so sweet, cheesecake is an easy dessert to fall in love with.



 

The Trojan Horse is definitely worth a visit. Don't know what to get? Start with the saganaki, and be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth with the subtle 'Pitas and Cream.'

You won't regret it. :)



Waffle Bar at Read Bistro

　
While IU is not often touted as a college with fine dining options, it does have some hidden food gems that are worth visiting. One of these unexpected delights is El Bistro. Located in the easily accessible Southeast neighborhood, the 'Bistro,' as it is fondly called, is known for its sandwiches, burritos, and make-your-own waffles, a little pleasure that only it provides to IU's hungry scholars.

 

　

Pleasantly out of place in comparison with IU's other dining options (considering that most foods are processed and either frozen/packaged), the 'Bistro' is cherished by many students. The fact that it accepts 'I-Bucks' only adds to its magic, mystery, and popularity. In fact, it's one of the reasons that I am willing to even make the trek all the way to Read...Actually, it's pretty close, but over-dramatizing everything IS my thing, after all :).

Even more amazing than the concept of a waffle bar is the system by which it runs. The dining hall has made the process as simple as can be, adding even more to its already sky-high reputation. The steps are as follows:

1. Choose your waffle

2. Pick your topping

3. Want some ice cream? (Why not?)--Gotta' pick a flavor!

4. WHIPPED CREAM!

5. Pay at the counter

6. Get ready for the arrival of sheer genius. (That's right, you heard me).

Some tried-and-tested combinations include:
1) Brownie Waffle + Strawberry Topping + Cookies & Cream Ice Cream + Whipped Topping

(Be warned: The brownie waffle contains absolutely no chocolate whatsoever. It's just whimsical :) )

　
2) Vanilla Waffle + Blueberry Topping + Chocolate Ice Cream

 

And, my personal favorite (drum roll, please!) :

3) Vanilla Waffle + Strawberry Topping + Cookies & Cream Ice Cream + Whipped Topping

　

Oh, yeah ;)

IU may not have gourmet ethnic nights or fancy private chefs, but when it comes to Belgian waffles, you can't deny we've got style.

Making History, One Step at a Time

Four years ago, we witnessed one of the greatest presidential elections ever, when Illinois Senator Barack Obama made history by becoming America's first African American president. I remember the election vividly, from the amicable fight between Obama and (Hillary) Clinton to become the Democratic candidate for the presidency, to Obama's actual victory and its impact on our nation. As an 8th grader, I knew very little (if anything) about politics. I remember watching in awe as friends and family rejoiced in this 'great change.'

Throughout the past four years, President Obama has achieved many 'firsts' for our nation. From appointing Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice to proposing groundbreaking healthcare reform, President Obama has created an America that many had only dreamed of. Equally impressive, however, was his wife, Michelle's, initiatives in reducing the obesity rate and taking America back to its roots in real, farm-fresh food. Regardless of the impact, it is evident that there is more work to be done, more change to be had, and more progress to be made. While I am most concerned with how the president will address rising tuition fees and the unemployment rate, I simply cannot wait to see what the next four years holds.

Photo Credit: [documentarystorm.com]

Celebrate Navarathri with...Chocolate?

Fall semester brings with it lots of beautiful perks: gorgeous fall weather, soothing fall flavors (pumpkin spice latte, anyone?), and LOTS of Indian festivals, like Deepavali and Navarathri!

 

Any Indian you ask will tell you that Indian celebrations, of ANY type of event, are grand and over-the-top (in a good way of course.) From weddings to first birthdays, Indians really know how to throw a good party, and Navarathri is no different :).

Although celebrated differently in the varying regions of India, Navarathri is known as the festival of 'nine nights,' in which good battles, and eventually triumphs over, evil. That's probably the simplest explanation I can give in a nutshell, but to read a wonderfully written article about Navarathri and its significance in our lives today, visit:

 

http://www.htci.org/images/Navaratri.pdf

 

 

With this festival comes joyous merrymaking and tons of delicious food. As is customary, guests are usually offered special food when visiting one's house for this festival. While everyone rushes to make their specialties that will be appreciated by adults and children alike, my grandmother and mother put together a feast of mango punch, cabbage bake, upma, puttu, badusha, and a crowd favorite, Madras filter coffee. Whle I absolutely adore every item on this menu, I always feel that the kids should also get something special to eat, something that makes their eyes go wide and their mouths water. Hence: Nutella Topped Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecakes.

 

 

A perfect combination of my three favorite dessert ingredients, these cheesecakes are perfect for kids and adults! While they appear gourmet because of the distinct layers and colors, they are super easy to make! All credit goes to Miss Lauren at Lauren's Latest:

http://www.laurenslatest.com/nutella-topped-red-velvet-oreo-cheesecakes/

 

While some people like to stick to completely traditional fare, I love seeing people's faces when they walk in and notice that they get an unexpected bonus dessert this year! And after all, what's a celebration without some chocolate to top it all off?

 

Noodles & Company: Fast Food or Gourmet Fare?

In today's society, the term 'fast food' is often associated with greasy, fried, unhealthy food. Companies like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's quickly capitalized on this term and often prided themselves on having the highest-calorie item ever, not to mention the one most likely to give someone a heart-attack just by looking at it.

 

Photo Credit: [Free Is My Life]

While many families in America consume an incredibly large amount of fast food, I was lucky enough to grow up with daily varied home-cooked meals, from decadent Italian delicacies to traditional South Indian specialties. Fast food was special, something we only got our hands on during an evening outing or a road trip (complete with gummy bears and Kit-Kats). Even then, my parents would ensure that we were eating our fruits and vegetables, taking us to Subway or Burger King, where we would order veggie whoppers with extra lettuce and tomatoes.

Photo Credit: [FindTheBest]

 

The beginning of the 21st century brought with it a whole new philosophy in America--fresh, organic, local food. Restaurants had to up their ante if they wanted business any more. In came, the sandwiches at Subway with less than 6 grams of fat, the low calorie parfaits at McDonald's, and my personal favorite, the frozen yogurt craze.

 

Photo Credit: [timesunion.com]

 

Soon, restaurants started opening that had a new philosophy altogether. Instead of customizing certain items to fit healthy lifestyles, why not just make every item on the menu a 'healthy' one? From this thought, new generation 'fast food' restaurants like Chipotle and Noodles & Company were born: restaurants where every item was guaranteed to feel fresh and taste amazing. Considering that every main dish was vegetarian, I was the first one in line :).

 

Best Noodles & Co in town--Carmel, IN

 Photo Credit: [Noodles & Co.]--noodles.com             

I've traversed the globe in this restaurant, trying dishes from the far East and the far West. But after about four visits, I was hooked to one particular concoction that I've ordered every visit since:

 

Bangkok Curry with Organic Tofu

 

 

 

Now before you come and tell me that there is NO WAY that a fast food restaurant could make something so healthy and fresh, I'm going to have to tell you that what you see here, is true. Every dish on the menu contains fresh, unique ingredients, from colorful bell peppers to herbacious basil pesto.

 

Some other items to check out while you're stopping by?

 

 

Thai Curry Soup: Spicy and Tangy, with a little kick

 

 

Creamy feta, kalamata olives, and crunchy red onions

 

 

While Noodles & Company definitely classifies as 'fast food' by cranking out their dishes in precisely 7 minutes or less, it manages to bring gourmet food to its tables, slowly closing the gap and bringing quality food one step closer to the people of America.

Diwali and Crimson Creamery

To say this weekend was crazy would be quite the understatement. This past Friday, the Indian Student Association at IU threw a fantastic Diwali bash, with tons of performances, free food and henna, and an open dance floor! From the initial flyers to everyone's outfits, we couldn't have asked for better. The highlight, however, was Hoosier Rangila's first performance! Even though we were all super nervous, we had a great time, laughing and cheering with the audience as they cheered us on. Congratulations girls, love you all!

 

We also made a trip to Crimson Creamery, a cute little ice cream parlor located in the basement of Gresham Food Court in Northwest Neighborhood. And yes, it WAS crazy to go get ice cream in 36 degrees, but hey: sometimes, a girl just needs her ice cream! And anyways, we took the bus :).

 

 

Photo Credit: [IU RPS]

 

The beauty of ice cream lies in its ability to excel in simplicity. Whether you're chowing down on a scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough, digging through to find the little cookie dough chunks, or devouring a mound of perfectly balanced cookies-and-cream, the simplest flavors can often be the most palatable. Although some stores tend to experiment with flavors such as olive oil and basil, I think when it comes to ice cream, simpler = better. Luckily, Crimson Creamery seems to agree with me :).

 

After scrutinizing the menu containing gelato, ice cream, frozen yogurt, smoothies, milkshakes, and so much more, I finally decided on my order: a scoop of cookies & cream and a scoop of peanut butter moosetracks in a waffle cone. Creamy and crunchy with a slight smokiness from the peanuts, this would be the perfect combination!

 

 

While the cookies & cream was perfect (because really, how can you screw up anything Oreo?), the peanut butter moosetracks was sickeningly sweet. As in, headache-inducing sweet. While the peanut butter flavor definitely came through, it tasted strangely like a Splenda-sweetened version of JIF, and I was left craving a slice of pizza to wash it all down. Don't get me wrong, Crimson Creamery is awesome, especially since it takes meal points!

 

When visiting a little later on, I tried a newer, slightly more interesting combination:

 

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough + Blueberry Waffle Cone

 

It. Was. Delicious. The thick blueberry syrup, paired with crunchy waffle bits (coated in a swirl of creamy hand-dipped ice cream) is enough to make anyone take notice.

 

 Lesson to be learned: order wisely. Oh, and stop with one scoop. Believe me, you'll be grateful you did ;).

Blog Away and Bollywood Love!

Starting a blog is always a daunting task.

First, you have to commit, putting the blog near the top of your priority list (barring school, of course :)--that's for you, mom). Then, there's the struggle of deciding exactly WHAT you want to write about! While I do plan for a majority of this blog to be dedicated to the many food adventures that I partake in, I feel like I have so many different topics that are just dying to be addressed!

Since I tend to be the most indecisive person in the word, I plan to format my blog a little differently than any other food blog. While I will always write about something I have either eaten or made (and therefore reflect on it), I will most probably throw in a video of a song that I'm currently addicted to, a recap of the last few days, or a quick note about the next big thing coming up in my life.

Considering this was (hopefully) the most BORING yet necessary blog post I will ever write, here's a song that'll change up the pace a little: Senorita--Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Possibly one of the most entertaining, offbeat, and successful Hindi movies that has emerged from the industry in the last couple years, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was one movie that left me wanting more. Give the song a try--you rarely go wrong with Shankar, Ehsaan, and Loy!*

Picture Credit: [Wikipedia]

 

*Although I absolutely adore Bollywood movies, I have come to terms with the people who believe that each Bollywood movie has the same story: poor, dishwasher boy meets rich girl, they fall in love, their parents oppose their relationship, then they either elope and live without their parents' blessings or die (not true at ALL, by the way). One of my best friends just happens to be one of these people. Regardless, the music is most always a delight to listen to, so give it a try!*

About Me and Desi Bytes

Hello and welcome to Desi Bytes!

My name is Lavi and I love photographing, creating, and eating some of the most delicious and interesting foods out there! Born a vegetarian to Indian parents, I have been introduced to all sorts of yummy veggie delights since I was little. Having seen my mom and grandmother cook all sorts of delicacies in the kitchen, I can definitely say that my life has revolved around food for a LONG time.

While I am a desi at heart and am always up for a good masala dosai, I love trying new and interesting (vegetarian) foods all the time, from sweet corn polenta to chili-spiced dark chocolate truffles. One day, I hope to be able to travel all around the world, tasting the unique flavors of different ethnic groups and regions.

A little bit about myself: I'm currently a freshman at Indiana University studying Public Health and Nutrition Science. Originally from Carmel, IN, I tend to make gazillions of trips home in order to spend time with friends and family over delicious, home-cooked food (what else?) !
At IU, I'm involved in tons of different organizations and clubs, including IU's first ever South Asian fusion dance group, Hoosier Rangila!





However, no matter what I'm doing, the conversation tends to come back to one topic: food.

Why start a blog?
Well, I've asked myself this about a million times. For a long time, I've avoided it, simply because so many people seem to be blogging these days. However, after sharing tons of pictures of my food adventures on Facebook and receiving lots and lots of positive feedback (and some requests for cupcake deliveries :D ), I figure, why not?

Living in a dorm proves tough for this foodie, as options are limited and, well, sometimes pretty gross. But with the help of some fellow foodie friends and a stocked fridge, I strive to create tons of college masterpieces that blow even the toughest critics away. Since a lot of my meals are eaten in cafeterias or restaurants, I also try to find the prettiest (and tastiest) dishes here in Bloomington. Sometimes, they're only a phone call away :).

**Note: I'd like to dedicate this blog to my fellow foodie, best friend, and 'sister', Shreeya. Although we chose to go to rival schools, we still somehow make time to have 3-hour skype dates (where at least 1 hour is dedicated to all of our food adventures ;).