PUNJABI CUISINE AT RAAZ MAHAL

A previous post was made regarding this restaurant’s beautiful interiors.  It’s time for the food experience.

http://thebutcherswifey.com/2011/03/16/beautiful-interiors-found-in-raaz-mahal/

Punjabi cuisine is from Punjab region of northwestern India and eastern Pakistan.  At Raaz Mahal, Punjabi cuisine is the specialty so expect to have Indian and Pakistani dishes on the menu.  The dishes must be authentic in taste since owner, Shala Arshad-Remo is half Pakistani  and her father who is pure Pakistani is the chef.

Parts of the menu…

For starters we had vegetable samosa with a sweet tangy tamarind sauce.  Yum!

Upon Shala’s recommendation, we ordered their house specialty Beef Nihari. Beef slow cooked for 20 hours in a curry sauce.

Squeeze some lemon or calamansi for added zest

What Tina, Janina and I really, really liked was the goat korma.  Everything on the serving bowl was eaten except the bones =)

The favorite! Tender young goat meat cooked in spicy marsala & yoghurt sauce

Of course we devoured everything with Naan bread.  It was no ordinary naan bread though…..we had the butter and garlic flavored one.  This we used like a sponge to absorb all the goodness of well prepared sauces.  Perfect with Beef Nihari and Goat Korma.

Butter & garlic naan bread

We had lassi which is a refreshing yoghurt based drink that not only quenched our thirsts but also provided our palate a respite from the deliciously spiced food. It also served as “dessert”. =)

Strawberry Lassi

Aside from the food and interiors, a good  compilation of relaxing chill music is heard throughout the place which gives it an exciting hip feel.  Surmise it to say, Raaz Mahal is a feast for three important senses…..sight, taste, and sound.

BEAUTIFUL INTERIORS FOUND IN RAAZ MAHAL

It is not everyday that one finds walls painted in the richest palette of colors, luxurious chair upholstery fabric, one-of-a-kind ceiling lamps, lovely hand painted designs that resemble tiles and wooden accents well put together  inside a restaurant in the South.  In addition, it is uncommon to chance upon a dining place that serves Punjabi cuisine (Indian and Pakistani dishes) with a very attractive facade that instantly stops traffic on Aguirre st.

TBW together with girlfriends Bond Lady and Makeup Expert discovered all these at Raaz Mahal.

Raaz Mahal's facade. Photo does not do justice at all =)

The walls….

Outside "smoking area"

Upholstery….

Ceiling lamps….

My favorite

Hand painted designs that appear to look like tiles….magnifique!

Yes...painted by hand!

Ceramic floor tiles not hand painted but painstakingly selected nonetheless.

Very well put together….

That's a deep plum color painted wall on the right. Like!

by a very stylish and pretty woman…

Owner & decorator Shala Arshad-Remo

TBW apologizes for the photo(s) taken as Shala’s beauty and sense of style can’t be seen. Well my dear readers, you will have to check out the place and see her in person =)  Raaz Mahal is located along Aguirre st. in BF.  You won’t miss it.  It’s near the traffic light at the intersection of Elizalde and Aguirre streets.

Raaz Mahal’s furniture, wooden and wrought iron wall decorations and accent pieces are all available at the furniture and carpet shop, Orientique with branches at Westgate Alabang, #2 Pines St. Mandaluyong and #52 Katipunan Avenue Whiteplains Quezon City.  Website:  http://www.orientique.net.  Why?  Because Shala and family also own Orientique!

Lest I forget, Raaz Mahal is a restaurant.  TBW was clearly fascinated by its beautiful interiors.  Rest assured, the food experience shall be shared so watch out for it in a forthcoming entry =)