The COVID phenomenon and reluctance of food lovers to dine out has really provided a fillip to a different breed of food entrepreneurs. Every city including Hyderabad has them offering different cuisines, often with a s short menu and signature dishes. I have been experimenting with from many home chefs in the city during the last ten months. These are some of my favourite dishes across the home chef spectrum in the city. The dishes are in no particular order.
1. Mutton Glassy – The Kitchen Table (77310 76662)
This is a special and uncommon dish from Bangladesh, which is supposedly adapted from a British recipe. A milk based mutton preparation this goes well with both rice and rotis. Roshni Nathan of The Kitchen Table is a talented home chef and what I like about her offerings is that she brings forward niche food from different regions with frequent menu changes.
2. Whole Grilled Chicken – Rassasie (91544 22459)
This setup from Jubilee Hills has a few variants of their Grilled chicken prepared in different marinades. I have had a tandoori version which was served with corn cobs, broccoli and baby potatoes. Some other marinade choices include barbeque and oregano.
3. Chicken Rezala – Sharmi’s Kitchen (95025 50993)
The Kolkata Rezala is part of the Muslim cuisine from the city that has gained widespread acceptance all over the country. Rezala from “Sabir” an old favourite from Chandni Chowk in Central Kolkata has won many hearts, and is a must do for a foodie in the city. The sublime white gravy with cashew and poppy seeds can be enjoyed in Hyderabad from Sharmi’s Kitchen in Domalguda. You can also try her Kolkata style biryani.
4. Pork Curry – The Pork Affair (98499 60070)
Hyderabad is not very well-known for its pork dishes, as many restaurants avoid cooking the meat which is not consumed by Muslims. I rely on Deepak Kumar’s “The Pork Affair” for my pork staple. He has two signature dishes, but that pork curry cooked in local style is my out-and-out favourite. I usually ask my pork to be bought as only meat (minimum lard), but you can choose from the various other options he has available on his menu.
5. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice – Devils Pot (79958 64607)
There are hardly any home chefs promoting food from Thailand in the city. Devil’s Pot in Banjara Hills has a number of Thai dishes on their menu, and most of them taste very authentic. But Thai style Pineapple Fried Rice with abundant prawns was the dish that impressed me most. Not to speak of their Tom Kha Gai and Pineapple skewers.
6. Sofiyani Biryani – Anjum’s Kitchen (99082 43017)
Naaz Anjum’s Kitchen is definitely one of the top places to order Hyderabadi food from. She is one of the most successful home chefs in Hyderabad with a vast repertoire of local dishes. It is but natural that her biryani is sought after. Among her trademark biryanis, I prefer the not-so-common Sofiyani Biryani from her rich in curd, cream and cashew paste. It is something which is available in very few places commercially.
7. Dhokar Dalna – PeekNCook (99856 77336)
There are many Bengali home chefs in this city, but perhaps the most accomplished of them is Moumita Ghosh of PeekNCook. Her Bengali vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies are in huge demand, and her Bengali sweets are just unputdownable. Dhokar Dalna, a Bengali style gravy of fried lentil cakes is something I would like you to specially try from her. Who says vegetarian Bengali cuisine does not have blockbuster dishes?
.8. Dum ka Murgh – Dakhni Dastarkhan (99896 00054)
The slow-cooked Chicken dish is the most popular gravy dish in Hyderabadi cuisine. For tasting the best quality Dum ka Murgh I recommend Dakhni Dastarkhan, a venture of Home Chef Aqsa who is from a well-known Hyderabadi family known for their culinary expertise. Other dishes like Shikampur and Talawa as well can be ordered from here.