New Bombay Restaurant, Again

Sunday, February 15, 2009

To paraphrase the Broadway title, A funny thing happened on the way to Nirvana …

And next time I get an Indian food craving, I’ll make sure I have cash.  It was the last day of Photoworld 2009, and after a day shooting at Casa Manila with a huge pack of fellow camera buffs (thanks Lito and Mrs Huang!) Cat and I arrived in Makati hungry.  After taking a few last shots at the Canon booth and saying hi to the Kodak people, I told Cat I needed food.  And I was craving Indian. 

Now there’s a back story to this – and it ties with the Balloon Festival and my apparently acidic butt.  For the past few months I’d been intending to have my credit and ATM cards replaced, as both had acquired cracks and nicks in their magnetic strips over years of use (and being kept all day beside an acidic butt).  Anticipating much use of the credit card on our trip to Clark, I decided I had to go and get it done. So the day before this, I  visit my bank and request the replacements – conveniently forgetting that the existing cards are cancelled once the request is filed. 

So here we are in the New Bombay, and to my great delight the food is exactly the same great quality as before.  We ordered the buttery Vegetable Korma again, plus a plate of Samosas and the Murgh Tikka Resmi.  The samosas were crisp and very flavorful, and to my surprise contained some whole peanuts which added a very satisfying crunch that contrasted with the mashed vegetable filling.  It was the first time I tasted samosas with peanuts.

The Murgh Tikka Resmi was also fantastic, chunks of chicken marinated in yogurt, spices, and cashew nut paste then cooked in a tandoor.  I could’ve finished two or three orders on my own, it was that good (mind you, New Bombay’s servings are on the generous side).  Cat was at first reluctant to order it because it was described as chicken breast, a cut that all too often gets served dry and tough, but the yogurt marinade made the tikka really tender.

Now comes the funny part.  Remember, I’ve neither a working ATM nor credit card.  And the other card I have is one that has frustratingly low acceptance.  Big embarrassment when I call for the check.  So Cat and I wait for the manager, Mihir Khanchandani, and talk to him.  Again, he was very genial and understanding, and allowed us to pay the day after. 

Wonder if he knew I liked the food so much I would’ve been glad to wash dishes for it?  Or do kitchen work.  Then again, I don’t think I can be trusted in an Indian restaurant’s kitchen …