An Indian Lunch: An adventure in Cuisine

 

Anita, Jordan, and I had lunch at Saffron's on West Main. The restaurant is family owned and had a personalized appeal. Their $10 lunch buffet was fantastic, featuring a variety of authentic dishes, including  meat, vegetarian, and vegan selections.This dish above is call Navrathan Korma, a delicious blend of vegetables and spices in a coconut milk sauce that the three of us were simply delighted with. The flat bread or Plain Naan was home made and liberally sprinkled with herbs. 

The spices are arresting and sophisticated to a Western palate, as most sauces and dishes feature over 30 spices. 

Also highly unusual to a person used to American cuisine was the salad that featured both fruit and vegetables in a vinegar sauce. I never would have thought that combination would prove good, but it was probably our favorite dish, judging by the number of times we went back for more.  In addition to quality food, the servers were very friendly; I didn't even have to ask the waiter to answer some questions, he saw my notebook, handed me a menu and asked me what I would like to know. When asked, Abhi told us that the food is carefully selected, especially the meat. The chicken is procured in Grand Rapids, where the chickens are slaughtered in a more humane way than the typical slaughterhouse. The owner of the restaurant is deeply invested in the quality of the food and is responsible for purchasing, preparing, and supervising the food. If he is not able to be present at the restaurant, then it is closed until he returns.  This really impressed me and draws a sharp contrast to the fast food corporations that have taken over our diets. The sauce that is used in many of the dishes takes three days to make, adding the spices  and simmering the vegetables, a very involved process. Once you taste it though, you understand why. Saffron's started ten years ago when the owner decided to start a restaurant like the one his brother owns in Boston, also called Saffrons. Since then, this restaurant has been serving quality Indian cuisine.                               

In addition to telling us about the restaurant itself, Abhi outlined a typical Indian diet for us, explaining that meat consumption is much lower in his culture and that they eat a variety of beans and grains. While this sort of diet seems unusual or even impossible to many Americans, this restaurant is proof that it is both healthy, ethical, and delicious!