Hot Dish Review

Bhojanic is just around the corner from B’s house, so she has become a regular, especially since the owners have started showcasing live music on Wednesday nights. Gauruv, one of the owners, is a musician, and can often be found sitting behind his bongos, playing with several of the acoustic bands that have performed there.

B’s impromptu dinner invitation was perfect, both because I wanted to wish her happy birthday in person, and also because I thought the spicy Indian food might help relieve the congestion left from the cold I had a few days before. Not surprisingly, I was the first to arrive so I ordered a glass of red zin at the bar and watched the band set up.

Bhojanic’s menu is unique in that it offers a variety of tapas-size plates including the traditional samosas and chat, which is great for those of us that like to try several dishes without getting fat….or going broke.

B came with her friend AV and we took the table closest to the stage. It was getting late and I was ravenous so I took it upon myself to order some naan with tamarind chutney and raita for dipping. Raita, much like Greek tzatziki sauce, is made of yogurt and cucumber…a curious craving for me since I detest cucumber. Weird? Very.

We nibbled on the naan and listened to the band while discussing dinner options, deciding to share one appetizer and two entrees. For our starter we chose the Bhojanic shrimp, five huge ones flavored with tomato, garlic, and Indian spices.

AV wanted to try the chicken tikka masala. I laughed to myself remembering the frozen chicken tikka masala dinner from Ethnic Gourmet in my freezer that I would probably have eaten if I didn’t end up at Bhojanic. B suggested the lamb curry. We all agreed and raised our glasses for a toast to the birthday girl.

Two bowls arrived, their contents piping hot. The three of us scooped a bit of rice onto our plates, adding a spoonful of chicken first. Tender chunks of chicken were bathed in the creamy red sauce, fragrant with cardamom, cumin, and garlic. The lamb was even better with a darker, richer sauce that had a bit more kick….unfortunately not enough to clear up my sinuses!

With a second location opening soon next to Lenox Mall, Bhojanic’s homestyle Indian cuisine is becoming a staple in Atlanta.

1363 Clairmont Road, Decatur 404-633-9233

Friday was my first TV appearance for Hot Dish Review! Having just celebrated a year of blogging, I was thrilled to be asked to do a segment on CBS Atlanta’s 4:00 news hour about inexpensive girls’ night out ideas.

Still in my studio make-up, B met me at Abattoir for a toast to my on-air interview. Arriving first, I was offered a seat at the bar by a kind gentleman. BS poured a glass of red while I waited. It was a hot day so I was thinking champagne or a refreshing white. Everyone’s talking about vinho verde these days so I asked for a taste. Light, clear, boring. BS was right, of course. I stuck with the red.

Seated beneath the famous bulb with the slaughterhouse hook, I snapped a couple of photos. Take a closer look and you’ll see a pair of rubber chickens in the rafters…..hilarious!

B arrived and we proceeded to chat and drink. Cheers! Yes, the hours leading up to the interview with Kim Fettig were nerve-jangling but once I was on set I had about two minutes to clip on my microphone and figure out how to weave the contraption between my blouse and cardigan to hide the wire.

A light dinner was in order. We ordered two cheeses, a goat and a blue, served with the perfect accompaniments of nuts and jams. Regretably, I can’t remember the fruits….fig perhaps? Maybe the other was apricot? As always, the baguette was crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, with a dish of unsalted butter. So simple. It’s amazing how most restaurants can’t even get this right. Quatrano always does.

B insisted on getting the fried chicken livers. I hate liver. When I was a kid I would cry when my Mom made liver. Regardless, they looked pretty and photographed well so I took a bite. At first the crispy coating had me fooled. I thought they were good, then I realized they tasted like….chicken livers. Funny how I love foie gras!

I ordered the babaganoush. It came with wafer thin toasted flatbread, a tiny jar of chutney, and another jar of pickled vegetables. The babaganoush was smooth and sublime, but not as smoky as I like, although the sweet chutney and vinegary veggies added another dimension to the dish that made it memorable.

As we finished off the bottle of wine I contemplated dessert options. There is always temptation at Abattoir.

1170 Howell Mill Road 404-892-3335