Sep 06, 2011 12:20 AM
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It must have been a decade or more since I first heard about Shabeena Naseem's kitchen. And even though I had quite forgotten about the name, I for some odd reason never forgot reading about her work. The reason I remembered was quite quirky. She sells food by the Kg!
Now however logical, economical, justifiable this may seem, I distinctly remember the euphoria at that time(somewhere in 1998) of imagining a kilo of delectable hot and steaming mutton biryani(especially in days when the staples were bread omelet and 5 rupee dosas at D'School canteen) placed before me and my gluttons of roomies!
Nevertheless after now 13 years(somehow my lucky number) when on the way back from work the wife mentioned good biryani pangs, Google rescued by pointing out that in Delhi the 2 places for Biryani of any salt, were Babu Khans at Matka Peer, or Shabeena Naseems at Saket. A quick search on Facebook thankfully threw up a number and a quick call(to her daughters number somehoe) elicited response that such Biryani and other delights were indeed available and yes they were still by the Kg! albeit now we could order for 1/2 a kg as well! Hallelujah!
Having quickly sorted out the orders for 1/2 kg Mutton Biryani and the equivalent in Korma, we patiently waited the three hours till serving. They do not prepare anything before hand hence on weekdays a 3 hour notice is needed, and on weekends a day before to book your slot is advisable. She is quite busy, and I can vouch for that now.
So after a wait of 13 years, we laid hands on the now famed Biryani, and must I insist it was one of the most outstanding works of art ever. The meat was perfect and very soft, and did not have the slightest inkling of staleness of any sort. The rice was good, and well balanced, though I felt the color could have been more neutral. Unlike most places in Jama Masjid this Biryani was quite oil free and not greasy. Overall an aromatic, well cooked, and well done piece of work!
The mutton biryani is about 620 Rs a kg and can feed 8 / 10 people. Do the maths people! Do the maths!