Under
the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas there are many restaurants specializing in
all kinds of cuisine. An outstanding one among them is Tamba Indian Cuisine
located on the second floor of the Hawaiian Marketplace, a plaza on the Las
Vegas Strip between Tropicana and Harmon near the Polo Towers.
Not all
Indian-style restaurants are the same style cooking, and the chefs have their
own individual flair with ingredients. I recently wrote
about
another Indian restaurant (Gandhi, also located in Las Vegas), which is owned by
the same family. Both are excellent, and Tamba’s chefs execute a contemporary
flair while keeping the flavorful Indian traditions.
Tamba
has a unique presentation that sets it apart from other eateries. Its décor is
rich in brown and orange colors with beautiful teak floors and murals that
depict the culture of India. The overall setting is predominantly contemporary
with high-back booths and the atmosphere is enhanced with contemporary music and
soft lighting. It makes for a wonderful evening, especially with its staff being
so very cordial and accommodating.
On our
culinary journey, we’ll start with the breads that are traditional in Indian
cuisine, served along with condiments. Plain Naan is white flour Tandoori bread.
This is very popular with dishes seasoned with curry, the backbone of Indian
spices. Other types of bread include Garlic Naan, and Kabuli Naan, which is
garnished with sweet cherries and cashews.
Aloo
Naan is moist bread stuffed with lightly spiced potatoes. The Onion Kulcha is a
softer version of the bread, and it’s stuffed with onions and herbs. Parantha is
flat bread, wrapped around in layers then glazed with butter. The Tandoori Roti
is whole wheat bread baked in a clay oven.
The
accompaniments are Cucumber Raita, a yogurt dish often used to cool the palate
with spicier dishes; Punjabi Salad of sliced onion, tomatoes, cucumber and
carrots served with lemon.
The
appetizers at Tamba, to say the least, are very intriguing. Onion Bhaji is a
dish that is a great hit in London, where Indian food is very popular. This dish
consists of chopped onions seasoned with herbs, and deep fried in chick pea
batter.
Another
favorite of mine is Chicken Pakora, which is fish marinated in yogurt with herb
butter. If you are new to Indian food, a good way to get introduced is to try a
buffet in order to get a chance to try a taste of all the flavors. Definitely
try the lamb and chicken cooked in a clay oven, along with the curries.
Chicken
Tikka is boneless chicken marinated with herbs and lime. Seekh Kabob is fresh
ginger-flavored, grilled, ground lamb roll. Karahi Chicken is stir-fired poultry
on a thick blend of onions, tomatoes and cilantro.
Indian
food should always be accompanied by a rice side such as Basmati or Jasmine
varieties, which are the norm. You can also try a rice mixture such as Lamb
Biryani--spiced lamb with medley of vegetables cooked together with nuts and
raisins--or enjoy the prawn, chicken or all-vegetable version.
To top
off your dining, try one of the wonderful desserts, such as the Mango Ice Cream.
For
more information, go to
www.tambalounge.com, or call (702) 798-7889. The hours are 11:30 until 3
p.m. for lunch and 6 – 11 p.m. for dinner. CSN rates Tamba a 10.
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My book of poetry
entitled "Messages" was inspired by my dear friends C.J. Cansler along
with Victoria Boone and Beryl Warren.
The group of poems
along with some beautiful photographs are to inspire the reader.
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