The Phone Voice, Live and in Person

A dedicated fan -- Leslie Morgan Steiner

At the Georgetown restaurant, we were thrilled to meet the person behind a familiar voice. We talk – sometimes weekly (or more) – to regular guests like Leslie Morgan Steiner to take their orders over the phone. We go for months or years with just a friendly phone rapport before we see the face behind the voice.

Mrs. Steiner came into our dining room this weekend and, happily, she introduced herself to us. We learned that her favorite dishes are Murgh Tikka Masala and Sag Paneer. Having ordered from us once or twice a week for the past four years, she told us she came to regard the delivery driver as her “second husband!” Call it what you will, we’re delighted to sustain this foodie relationship. Wonderful to meet you!

Specials for the Week of Jan. 27 - Feb. 3

Here are the weekly specials at Heritage India Georgetown.

Bartender’s Specials

Fresh Strawberry Mint Mojito
Fresh strawberries and ginger with Triple Sec and simple syrup. Also available with fresh blueberries.



Starter

Aloo Pyaz Bhajiya
Potato and onion fritters with a date and tamarind sauce.


Entrées

Tulsi Reshmi Kabab
A grilled chicken and basil kabab served with mint raita.

Murgh Kofta Makhmali
Chicken dumplings in a rich velvety tomato sauce.

Olive Cheese Nan
Nan filled with olives and cottage cheese topped with a light dusting of rock salt. Also available with whole wheat.


Special Teas

Grapefruit iced tea: a refreshing iced tea flavored with fresh grapefruit juice.

Finnish Dance on Indian Republic Day

India’s Republic Day was Thursday. A solemn parade and other formalities took place to mark the 62nd year since India became a constitutionally-governed republic. These photos illustrate the official proceedings.

It was a different situation entirely on the Jan. 26 Finnair flight from Helsinki to Delhi, when flight attendants entertained passengers with an Indian dance performance!

The YouTube video has been viewed more than 1,700,000 times. Read the backstory here on the Finnair blog.

Groupon!

One day left to buy our Groupon. And when you do, you won't be the only one. We're proud that Heritage India was named a Groupon Best of 2011.

Behind the Kitchen Door: The Art of Nan

We take you behind the scenes to show how our Dupont Circle chef prepares everybody’s favorite nans in the Tandoori oven. Hand-stretching is an important step to prepare an authentic nan. Then it’s baked in the Tandoori oven until it’s just right. Out it comes, cut into quarters and rushed to your table, ready to dip in your favorite curries. Waiter, more nan, please!

Royally Sweet

We peeked ahead at the February calendar and saw Valentine’s Day! That day is obviously focused on chocolate and we have some chocolate desserts at Dupont Circle with suitably romantic names like Exotic Passion and a Tryst for Two. We’ll talk more about that next month.

While we have the time here in January, let us show you something else on our dessert menu. This is Shahi Tukra, a rich bread pudding with pistachio, raisins and almonds. Shahi means royal and Tukra means morsel or piece, so the name translates to Royal Morsel. Treat yourself to a royally scrumptious dessert truly fit for a king or queen!

Get a Coupon that Gives to Charity

Heritage India is proud to announce two offers from Recoup.com that give you discounts at our restaurants while supporting local charities here in the Washington area.

So, what’s Recoup?

“Recoup is the first cause shopping channel where millions of people support causes they care about by connecting with businesses that want to do good.  Our innovative and patent-pending system empowers customers to choose which organizations they want to support, how much of their discount they want to give as a tax deductible contribution, and invite their friends to join instant fundraisers.”

Here’s how it works.

You purchase a product or service at a discount. A charity benefits. How much is up to you. The minimum charitable donation appears below the “buy now” box. You can choose to give more by adjusting the “save what you want” calculator. You’d pay more for the offer and your payment above the base amount is a tax-deductible contribution to the charity.

There are only three days left to buy the offer for Heritage Asia, our Thai and Pan-Asian restaurant in Glover Park. This terrific offer benefits Bread for the City, whose mission is to “provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC, with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.” Click here to view the offer.

We also suggest that you seize the opportunity to try Fiesta Tex-Mex Restaurant and Lounge, a sister restaurant to Heritage India and Heritage Asia. Owned by the Heritage India family, this upbeat Dupont Circle restaurant hosts a daily happy hour with two-for-one tapas and numerous drink specials. The menu features a fusion of Latin-inspired and Continental tapas as well as tacos, enchiladas, fajitas and other Mexican classics. The Fiesta offer benefits the Latin American Youth Center, a “nationally recognized multi-cultural, multi-service agency serving all low-income youth across the District of Columbia and in Maryland’s Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.”

Thank you for supporting our efforts to aid worthy charities while offering you a taste of our distinctive international cuisine.

Specials for the Week of Jan. 20-27

Here are the weekly specials at Heritage India Georgetown.

Bartender’s Specials

Hurricane Slush
Ruby red grapefruit juice, flavored vodka and grenadine, shaken and poured over ice with a twist of lime and cherry.



Starter

Mushroom Masala Fry
Fresh mushroom buttons rolled in freshly ground spices and pan seared. Served with a spicy dipping sauce.


Entrées

Pudina Tandoori Chicken
The traditional Tandoori chicken marinated in fresh mint and cilantro and grilled in the Indian oven. Served with a side of mint yogurt sauce.

Murgh Haleem
Originating from Persia and literally meaning “patient and merciful,” this wonderful dish takes more than 12 hours to cook. Made popular by the Nizam of Hyderabad, it is made with ground chicken, crushed wheat, lentils and spices. Best eaten with a garlic nan.

Dal palak
Lentils in fresh whole spinach leaves (vegan)


Special Teas

Ginseng tea: an ideal herbal tea for a chilly winter’s day. Sit back, relax and let this cup of tea energize you.

Paneer is Patriotic. It’s National Cheese Lover’s Day!

Today is National Cheese Lover’s Day.

For a Western perspective, check out this story from CNN’s food blog.

For an Eastern take … you know where this is going. We have just one thing to say:

Paneer!

sag paneer via Wikipedia

This soul-satisfying Indian cheese is the star of our sag paneer, one of the most popular vegetarian dishes on our menu. It also shines in paneer makhni, cheese cubes in a velvety tomato sauce. (Insider hint: paneer makhni is not printed on the Dupont Circle menu, but can be prepared on request.)

The Dupont Circle menu also offers some East-West fusion options, such as Tandoori smoked mozzarella with a tomato basil balsamic glaze. For a traditional taste of street food, order the frankie (kathi roll) with paneer. Both Heritage India locations also serve cheese kulcha, a bread stuffed with paneer.

Happy National Cheese Lover’s Day, however you choose to celebrate it.

Going Global

Our Dupont circle restaurant hosted the International Club of DC for a standing-room-only happy hour celebration yesterday. The dues-free membership organization hosts a wide range of activities, including events at our sister restaurant, Fiesta Tapas Restaurant and Lounge.

Young and Tasteful

Our Georgetown restaurant was pleased to host the Clark family twice during the holiday season. Elizabeth, 8, Julia, 10, and Andrew, 5, like Indian food and helping to light the candles. We like to welcome young diners with such sophisticated gourmet tastes.

What’s All the Buzz About? Look Here

More than one person has praised the polenta cake on our Dupont Circle menu recently, so we’re taking the opportunity to picture it. The dish is one of our Spice Route blends, combining a soft polenta cake with a spicy chicken curry ragout. Yes, of course, we’ll save one for you. :)

Specials for the Week of Jan. 13-20

Here are the weekly specials at Heritage India Georgetown.

Bartender’s Specials

Pomamintini
Pomegranate juice, flavored vodka and fresh mint shaken and poured over ice with a twist of lime.



Starter

Machhi tikka -- spicy tuna cakes

Machhi Tikka
Tuna fish cakes with roasted spices, coriander root and potatoes served with an Indianized version of a tomato jam -- lively and spicy-sweet.


Entrées

Indian spice ajwain © Petrina Verma Sarkar, About.com 

Benarasi Tandoori Jhinga
Juicy shrimp marinated in yogurt, paprika, gram (chickpea) flour and mint and grilled in the Tandoori oven. See if you can taste the distinctive flavor of ajwain, a thyme-like spice.

Benarasi Gobi ke Phool
A vegetarian version of the above with cauliflower.

Saunfiyana Murgh
Boneless chicken in a light fennel sauce


Special Teas

Ruby red grapefruit iced tea
Peach passion hot tea: an ideal herbal tea for a chilly winter’s day. Sit back, relax and enjoy this “cuppa.”

The Burger, Desi-Style

East meets West in our desi-syle burgers. The special menu is offered only at our Dupont Circle bar and includes these options:

sag paneer burger

Sag Paneer Burger
Spiced spinach and cottage cheese patties

Garam Masala Chicken Burger
Cilantro and onion minced chicken burger with freshly ground garam masala spices

Aloo Patties
Tamarind and jalapeño flavored potato burgers

Lamb Burger
Lamb minced burgers flavored with mango chutney


Add fries for $2 and enjoy this creative East-West flavor combination!

New Year’s at Heritage India Makes Anjali Smile

Anjali, now 3½, was among our New Year’s dinner guests in Georgetown. Her parents tell us Heritage India was her first restaurant when she was just two months old. Her first food was “green balls,” otherwise known as peas. Anjali continues to favor pillau rice with peas, plus nan and makidal.