I
AM ALWAYS READY TO TAKE A TRIP AND I AM SURE THAT
GOING ON A CULINARY EXCURSION IS EVEN MORE OF AN
ADVENTURE. AS A COOK I AM ALWAYS PREPARED TO EXPERIENCE
NEW AND EXOTIC DISHES, BUT QUITE FRANKLY MY PREFERENCE IS
A SETTING WHERE I CAN ENJOY GREAT FOOD WHILST MINGLING
WITH FRIENDS OR EVEN ENGAGING STRANGERS. THE MASALA
GRILL IS THE PERFECT SPOT TO DO THIS.
When we think about Indian cuisine, we think roti, curry and
lots of spices. However, the range of Indian food is almost neverending and incorporates ingredients that are familiar to most of us.
NASIM DEGIA
12 | BIM ROCK | FOOD ROCKs
Here in Barbados, there isn’t a wide availability of authentic
Indian cuisine, so to find somewhere that brings this to the average
Barbadian palate is nothing short of amazing. We managed to
stumble upon a true gem, bringing us cuisine from the other side
of the world, in a way that is accessible, unconventional and simply
delicious.
On a beautiful Sunday morning we found ourselves at the
Holders Farmers Market, where FoodRocks met up with Nasim Degia
- proud owner of The Masala Grill. Nasim is no stranger to food, as
he began cooking as a child in his mother’s kitchen and food has
remained his passion. Well versed in all things Indian, he is a wealth
of information and prides himself on building more awareness of
Indian-fusion delicacies.
The Masala Grill has taken the street food concept to another
level. Their Indie-Burger Nite, which is usually on Fridays, includes
freshly made beef burgers, lamb burgers and fish burgers, all served
with a side of your choice. Wednesday is Indie-Steak Nite and platters
consist of grilled steak, lamb or fish. Sundays however, the wings of
the Masala Grill spread even wider and customers are taken from
the sub-continental region over to Southeast Asia and everywhere
in between, with dishes like Gaeng Gai Bama (curried chicken
kebabs with tomatoes) Patra ni Machchi (coconut and cumin spiced
fish) Tamatar Chawal (tomato rice), Palak Mataar Paneer (spiced
spinach and green peas with Indian creamed cheese) and Am Ka
Achar (mango pickle). Just the exotic sounds of these dishes make
me hungry!