(Gerry Furth-Sides) BananaLeafLa now serves the valley by popular demand at Banana Leaf Express. The authentic Indian food menu is available by pick-up, delivery and in the small, cozy sit-down cafe.
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Owner-Chef Sri Sambangi of Banana Leaf Cafe in Culver City continues his mission to introduce authentic, exclusive Southern Indian regional specialties to those already familiar with the cuisine. Word-of-mouth and the media has also encouraged new customers who have become fans.
The southern area is best known for the revered Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, made with meats marinated overnight, special rice and seasonings, then slowly simmered in a sealed pot for 25 to 50 minutes. “Dum,” in fact means “simmer.”
Sri’s menu of inviting dishes, many with home grown herbs, is packed with the fresh, bold flavors that have made this regional cuisine so beloved in India for centuries and made Southern Indian chefs so proud. It is lively and colorful eating, filled with unusual combinations of home and street food.
Southern India regions include Andwa (Andhra Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Karnataka. (KA). Their dishes are based primarily around rice, lentils, and stews.
The cuisine is lighter and more vegetarian-focused than the meat-based fare in the colder north. Unusual veggie dishes include Tindora, (stuffed okra), and Bharwa baingan (stuffed eggplant). These representative dishes, guaranteed to win over the most skeptical of eaters with varied tender and crunchy textures and seasonings.
Specialty mainstay dishes include the ever popular Southern Style Sag Paneer (minced, specially seasoned, without cream); and Chicken Tikka Masala. There are over 20 Biryanis including: Chicken 65, goat and Dindigul (Chennai Style).
On the appetizer list: Hyderabadi Boneless fish fry, Andrea Halal Chicken Fry; Vegetarian and protein Manchurian Gobis with a sweet-sour, Indo-China influence). In the curry section are: Organic Chicken and Lamb Tikka Masala, Mango Dal.
Homestyle dishes include comfort-food, idly (steamed lentil-rice cakes, like a savory doughnut), and accompanying and huli/sambar (a spicy lentil and vegetable stew) and saaru/rasam (a tomato, tamarind, and lentil soup.
Desserts include the Classic Gulab Jamun individual and in a cake! Lassi’s are also on the menu.
Sri also continues the idea that “the guest is equivalent to God” and Hindu philosophy of Atithi. Banana Leaf offers five full meals daily to those customers unable to pay.
Banana Leaf, 6159 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401, (818) 453-8223
For more information on the locations, please see: (bananaleafla.com)
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