I remember this Paradise Biryani from my good old school days. Those days travelling to Secundrabad to have a meal was a great deal. In fact going to a restaurant itself was a huge event. However I used to hear some of my non-vegetarian friends talk about a biryani shop with drooling mouths and dreamy eyes.
When I reached college, I said enough is enough. Even if they don't serve vegetarian stuff, I am going once. I felt left out! When I reached the place with my entourage, and got seated, then the reality stuck me. What am I going to do when all are feasting on their chickens and muttons? I decided to take a chance and called the waiter and softly asked him if he can get me something, ANYTHING vegetarian. He got puzzeled and asked why I don't order Biryani? I said, I cannot. He got more puzzled and confused. Then I blurted out that I am a vegetarian and cannot eat Biryani. Then he asked if I have a problem with the Biryani or being a vegetarian. This was my turn to get confused. I said neither. This so called puzzling and confusing and talking went on for a few mnts. Finally it was he who got it and simply said, Would you like to order Vegetarian Biryani? I took a moment before saying Yes.
I was under the impression that Biryani was made only with chicken or mutton. Our vegetarian biryani was made at home by mom and grandmother. Restaurants were relatively few and far, I had no idea that they could serve biryani. That too at the famous Paradise Biryani.
Those days and even today, Paradise is famous for its Dum Biryani , Chicken or Mutton. For vegetarian version, there is no Dum as it is not required for the vegetables to cook.
After the first encounter, my perception of biryani changed. Wherever I went, and was offered vegetarian biryani, at the first spoonful, my mind checks it with the Paradise Biryani. Nah! till now I didn't find equal to it. A different version I had was at Asha's in Dubai. Thats a different story.
Recently Paradise Biryani opened many outlets. Thanks to McDonald's virus culture. Paradise Biryani is now not only available at Paradise, Secunderabad, it is available at many places in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad. I have to check if it is in any other city too.
A couple of weeks ago as I stepped into the Paradise Biryani, I started wondering if the Biryani tastes same. Do they still make it as fresh as it can be? or like any other franchise outlet, the taste and the service are diluted?
We ordered Vegetarian Biryani and waited for its arrival with a sort of excitement as a kid waiting for his birthday cake. At the first sight, ok, the version changed but still looked good. As it was served, the aroma from the freshly cooked spices and vegetables touched my nostrils and made me salivated.
The first spoon into my mouth confirmed that it is the Paradise Biryani. Yeah I found less vegetables in the portion. But the masala paste felt sooooooo good that I got ready to finish the entire portion without sharing with my husband. OK. Finally I couldn't. The portion was simply enough for both of us. The cloves, cardamoms, Anise, dalchini were generously added.
Usually now a days any restaurant is adding extra chillies to "spice" up the dish or put some more oil to make the spices sizzle a little more. However, we found the biryani almost "oil-less"! As we all know that it is not possible to make biryani without oil, what i meant to say is that, the oil and the chillies used were very balanced!
Do I go ago again? Of Course!
