Roti enews:: AUGUST '06

1. SPECIALS FOR AUGUST

Appetizer: Goa Prawn Curry - Goa is on the coast of India, and there are many great seafood dishes that originate from this area. The sauce for this dish is made with coconut milk, tamarind, onions, ginger, garlic, and a fragrant blend of spices including dry red chiles, coriander, cumin, and paprika. The prawns are lightly sauteed and served in the simmering sauce. The dish is finished off with a garnish of Kari leaves. $16

Vegetable dish: Miloni Sabzi - In Hindi it means 'mixed vegetables'. What makes this colorful dish different from other mixed vegetable medleys is the unique sauce. It is made with pureed spinach which has been cooked with tomatoes, onions, coconut milk, fenugreek herb, ground cashews and a spice blend of coriander, cumin, turmeric and paprika. The chef uses a variety of fresh seasonal vegetables including cauliflower, green beans, broccoli, carrots and peas. These are sauteed to al dente and served in the uniquely textured sauce. This is a tasty south Indian dish from Hyderabad. $10

Due to the great reception you gave our July specials, we will continue to offer them through the month of August, in addition to the new August specials. To remind you, the July specials were:

Appetizer:
Tandoori Tilapia Salad $8

Main Course Lamb dish:
Karahai Gosht $17

Vegetable dish:
Mushroom Mattar $10

Coffee: Served in French press style right at your table. Decaffeinated coffee is also available. $5

2. WINNER The winner of a complimentary dinner for 2 valued at $60 for the month of July '06 is: Raj Fry

CONGRATULATIONS, and please continue to add your business cards to the collection bowl at the front of the restaurant, and fill out the feedback forms in the guest check envelope after you complete your dining experience. This will insure your chances for future monthly draws of a Roti dinner for 2 valued at $60.

These complimentary dinner prizes need to be used within the month following the draw, so the July '06 winners should call in and reserve their table within the month of August '06. We will notify winners by phone as well as by adding their names to the newsletter.

3. RESERVATIONS REMINDER Many of you have already made your reservations by accessing Open Table. It is very convenient and you can make your reservation online, in real time, at any time. It is also a seating management system, so please bare with us when you arrive at the restaurant as we get up to speed on the system and thus ensure everyones comfort and satisfaction. You can also call in and leave a reservation request before 4pm on our main telephone number 415 665 ROTI (7684).

4. TASTES OF INDIA Our first tasting of bite size portions of food complimented with a 2 oz. tasting of selected wines was held on Saturday, July 15th and was very enthusiastically received by our customers. I think it is fair to say that fun was had by all. We will continue these tasting sessions on a quarterly basis and will start them at 4pm. The next one scheduled is Saturday October 14 '06.

5. RECIPE RELEASE Due to some magical computer glitch, most of you were unable to download the July recipe so we are resending it this month. Now it is time for the gourmet cooks among you to download the PDF file of our recipe for Mint Chutney and to take it directly to the kitchen and get cooking... It is a versatile chutney that can be used as a baste on fish, or as a base for a dressing on your favorite seasonal greens. Click here to download the recipe.

6. INDIAN IMMERSION a. How many countries share a land border with India?
b. What is the most popular sport in India?
c. What color are fresh Kari leaves?
(see answers below)

Indian cultural activities out and about town... in addition to Roti being the cultural experience of great Indian Cuisine in the West Portal 'Village':

• Yakshi, a concert featuring Sarod and Guitar, at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, Samsung Hall, Thursday August 17 @ 7pm.
• Kathak at the Crossroads-Innovation Within Tradition at Yerba Buena Center For The Arts September 28th - 30th. Individual performance tickets go on sale August 15, 2006.
  
  The critically acclaimed Chitresh Das Dance Company/Chhandam School of Kathak Dance (CDDC/Chhandam) presents Kathak at the Crossroads-Innovation Within Tradition, a three day international festival including performances, lecture demonstrations and panel discussions relating to the history, evolution and current ecology of Kathak in its artistic, cultural and global contexts. The festival and symposium will include artists, scholars, teachers, presenters, critics, sponsors, students and other dance enthusiasts from around the world. CDDC/Chhandam was founded in 1980 by renowned Kathak master Pandit Chitresh Das, and is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and education of Kathak dance and Indian Culture. Based in San Francisco, the company performs internationally and most frequently throughout the United States, Canada and India.

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS Gautam Malkani, the author of Londonstani, whom we mentioned in the July newsletter, came in and dined at Roti on Monday the 17th. His book signing tour of the US was very successful and he and his wife thoroughly enjoyed meeting people all around the country. However, he has a very favourable impression of San Francisco, and enjoying some really good Indian food helped entrench that view. Having a native of London enjoy our food is a great compliment indeed.

 

To send us your suggestions and comments for future newsletters, please email us at rotinews@yahoo.com . Please do not use that email to unsubscribe from the newsletter. The link at the end of this newsletter will be the most automatic, immediate, and effective way to unsubscribe.

We look forward to seeing you at Roti in the near future. Warm regards, Susan Gujral On behalf of our family, the Executive Chef and the great staff members of Roti Indian Bistro, West Portal.

Answers to Indian Immersion Questions a. 6. Pakistan to the west, Nepal, the People's Republic of China and Bhutan to the north-east, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east ( Reference Wikipedia).
b. Cricket. ( Reference Wikipedia).
c. Green. ( Reference Nandyala).