Eating saag paneer in Delhi

Food is on my mind (again).  I am still full from Sunday lunch today at Gifto's in Southall - the first visit for ages.  I start thinking of other restaurants frequented, and the Hyatt in Delhi came to mind.  This is why my diet never works and I never seem to return to the slim size 12 I was during my 20s.

This was Easter 2011.  I couldn't take much time off work (note to self: never ever do another job with only the minimum 20 days holiday/year - nightmare with a child), so Susen and me planned a short 5 day trip to Delhi.  It was a bit mad to go for just a short time, but enough to meet up with some friends and relatives, stock up on books, magazines and CDs and kurta tops and scarves from Fab India.

For me, I travel basic and light (through both choice and necessity).  The first time I went to India, it was hostels, second and third class rail travel and (very) cheap hotels.  The second time I went slightly up-market with the occasional internal plane trip and 2-3 star hotels.  With Susen, used to the finer comforts in life, it was nothing less than a 5 star, together with car and driver (fortunately arranged via a cousin who worked for the mighty Tata Corporation).

We arrived, jet-lagged late at night.  We needed to eat, so at around 3am Indian time (around 9.30pm UK time) we went to their 24 hour cafe.  Susen ordered the club sandwich and I ordered saag paneer (my favourite) with naan.  The saag paneer turned out, unexpectedly, to be a delight.  It was the creamiest spinach puree with the lightest paneer. Truly (and I don't think I was hallucinating through lack of sleep), it was almost as if you could taste the individual spices in the spinach.  The flavouring was incredibly light, delicate and yet flavourful all at the same time - a far cry from the overpowering chilli spiced offerings at many of the UK's restaurants.  Truly amazing - and to this day I haven't forgotten it (maybe I should get out more).

The breakfasts carried on in the same fashion.  Every type of breakfast catered for, buffet style, as these days you might come to expect from a 5 star - from fresh fruit juices, continental croissants and pastries, English eggs and bacon to South Indian idlis and sambhar with coriander and coconut chutney.

One afternoon, we were still too full up from breakfast for a proper lunch, so opted for a high tea, Delhi style.  This arrived on a traditional English-style 3-tiered stand: the top tier contained the smallest, most perfect samosas you had ever come across: the second tier a savoury lentil cake and the bottom tier sandwiches filled with grilled vegetables.  All accompanied by perfect [English] tea.  Followed by as much cake from their buffet selection as the room in your stomach would allow.  Amazing.

The trouble is now, I was totally spoiled at the Hyatt.  A bit like when I travelled business class from London to Hong Kong.  Suddenly everything else seems a bit of a let down.

So, back to my diet, as best as I can.  And dream of the time (after I win the lottery) of being served food as every bit as good.