Surya
Alive with Indian Sunlight
The
room is alive with sophisticated color, and so is the food.
Sheel Joshi, who spent over fifteen years with Gaylord
of India, has opened an airly, colorful and inviting restaurant
at 8048 W. 3rd Street in Los Angeles, with the assistance of
his lovely partner Sap...a. This attractive duo also
provide a menu which is equally creative and colorful. Skylights
fill the room with sunlight during the day, and an intricate
lighting system transforms the spacious dining room into the
perfect rendezvous spot for a memorable dinner.
This
is the most comfortable Indian restaurant I have ever dined in,
and according to Sheel it was his wish to create an Indian restaurant
that featured fusion food selections, to be enjoyed with Jazz.
"I like Jazz, and wanted a change from the traditional sitar
music people associate with Indian dining."
The
food items are simply delicious and beautifully presented, but
are also
amazingly light. Many times after enjoying an Indian meal I could
barely get up from the table I felt so full, however, this is
not the case at Surya. "Our food items represent a fusion
of many of my mother's recipes, she is Italian, and traditional
Indian dishes that are from my father's family. The cuisine is
light and the spices are used skillfully to create specific flavors
that compliment the dishes that precede and follow" said
Joshi.
Among
the items that my guest and I especially enjoyed were an assortment
of samosas and pakoras, vegetarian hors d'oeuvres; New
Zealand lamb marinated in rosemary, ginger and spices; spinach
stuffed paratha, wonderful whole wheat with spinach and herbs;
chicken vindaloo served with potatoes in a hot spicy sauce;
Channa Masala, beautifully presented garbonzo beans in
a blend of spices; vegetable biriyani, a saffron flavored
basmati rice with vegetables and nuts and I also loved the raita,
yogurt and cucumber salad and the signature dessert of bread
pudding and spumoni ice cream surrounded by caramel sun rays,
a recipe of Joshi's mother.
Indian
food has been a favorite of mine since I discovered it in London
in the mid-seventies, and I found the fusion recipes that Joshi
presents an inspired transgression from the stereotypical faire
one might expect, even the mango lassi was the most unique
I've ever tasted.
It
you crave a more modern experience of the unforgettable tastes
of India, treat yourself to dinner at Surya with Sheel and Sapna.
For reservations call 323-653-5151.
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