I am a huge fan of Indian cuisine. Usually,
the top 3 cuisine favorites of people close to me are Italian, Japanese, and
American. But if you would ask me, it would go in this manner: Indian,
Mediterranean, Thai, and Japanese.
Aloo Bhujia, P 95 Harmen's Indian Minimart
There’s really just something about Indian
cuisine that I still can’t figure out why I like it so much. Perhaps it has
something to do with the way the spicy aftertaste lingers in my mouth; not too
harsh or overbearing.
So when I came home to Bacolod last
February, I was very excited to discover that we already have 2 Indian
restaurants in town. I thought that leaving Manila and all the Indian
restaurant options I had would be a difficult choice but with the 2 new
restaurants, I wouldn’t miss Manila at all… Well, that’s what I thought.
I tried visiting the two Indian restaurants
on separate occasions and did not enjoy the food as much as I did in Manila.
One of them (I will not mention), even served me Dal that was oily—too oily
that the soup was already setting on the bottom part of the container. The
other restaurant served a liquid-y version of my favorite Dal dish. Bad.
Five months later and I’m still craving for
my usual favorites: Naan, Papadum, Aloo Bonda, Samosa, Dal, and so much more. Today, while my
siblings and I were looking for a place where J-Pan Cakes could transfer to, we stopped in front of an Indian
Mini Mart called Harmen’s Indian
Minimart. I’ve always wanted to drop by but I never had the opportunity, so
I made sure not to waste it.
I was in search for a particular snack,
something my Indian ‘mom’/friend served me with before leaving Manila.
Thankfully, I was able to find some and hurriedly bought it. It’s called Aloo Bhujia—they’re small spicy potato
noodles that are a lot of fun to eat! Best paired with a glass of Coke
err, Pepsi; they make for a delicious midnight snack minus the cholesterol. So
while I await for my next trip to Manila, Aloo Bhujia will have to suffice for
my Indian cuisine cravings.
A bit messy to eat though...
Wait for my next blog post where I’ll talk
about my Indian ‘mom’ and her delicious cooking!
Harmen's Indian Minimart is located in the building right after Riverside Hospital.
