Tempting Tidbits
Truth & Tales Of Dinging In The Capital Region
Fear Not The Mango Chicken
When it comes to ethnic foods are you menu challenged? Do your
friends mock you for always ordering the hamburger? If it’s time for you
to expand your horizons, Passage To India is your best bet to have a
pleasurable dining experience while impressing your friends.
When you enter the restaurant, say “nam-is-stay,” which means hello. (You
can figure out the real spelling yourself.) You’ll get a raised eyebrow
and a smile from the server. Don’t worry about a flurry of Hindi coming
back from the staff, they would never assume you’re fluent. (They want to
make you look good, too.)
When you get to the table, immediately order Papads and Naan. Papads are
thin crispy “cracker-like” breads with a peppery lentil flavor. This is a
semi-safe tryout, but if you’re not crazy about the Papads, you can fall
back on the Naan. As a matter of fact, if you can’t stand anything exotic,
you should love the Tandoori baked Naan bread. It’s soft, painted with a
sweet butter, and guaranteed delicious.
Knowing full well that you’re completely out of your element (but you want
to appear calm and entirely willing to “try this out”), order the Mango
Chicken. This is a new menu item recently added by owner Vishnu Shenoy and
an easy “first-timer’s” dish to enjoy. The Mango Chicken is absolutely
authentic Indian, but it’s sweeter and a little more “mainstream,” dare I
say, for those who shy away from ethnic foods.
Finish the meal off with a cup of Chai tea. Don’t be surprised when the
small steaming carafe arrives and you see bits of spices and a chunk of
ginger root at the bottom. Ask for honey. Once you’ve poured some tea in
your cup, put a heaping spoonful of honey in with it. Close your eyes,
take a sip, and learn to love it. It’s delicious, good for you, and
clearly illustrates that you’re willing to try new things.
Jingles’ 24-Year-Old Secret
Fall is here and that means Coakley’s Famous Chili is back on
the menu. Dick Coakley always seems reluctant to talk about his incredible
chili, artfully changing the subject to his incredible Prime Rib or
Pittsburgh Steak Salad. But it’s the Chili that you’ve got to try.
Created almost 25 years ago by chef and friend Harriet “Jingles” Farling,
Coakley’s Irish Chili sports a sweet, aromatic first sensation, followed
up by a smart spicy lick that commands an icy Irish pint be on hand.
When ordering the Chili, always ask for either some of Coakley’s fresh
baked bread, or a side of rice. A neutral starch may help if the Chili is
a “bit racy” for you.
Never fear though, as Dick himself says, “If you have anything wrong with
you, this will cure it.” And that’s no lie. There are lots of chilis out
there, but there’s only one Coakley’s Irish Chili. And if the incredible
and unique taste doesn’t impress you, revel in the fact that, for over two
decades, Jingles has refused to tell Dick what’s in the recipe for her
one-of-a-kind Irish chili.
Roxy’s Pizza On The Horizon
Brothers Richard and Norman Hanna, owners of Roxy’s Cafe on
Third Street in Harrisburg, recently purchased Santo’s East, the
restaurant and pizzeria on Parkview Lane off Paxton Street, near the Rusty
Nail.
“It’s a really nice menu, offering salads, subs, burgers, pastas, and of
course pizza, so we haven’t changed it much,” says Richard Hanna.
But the news isn’t that the great food has gotten better since the Hannas
took over, it’s that a name change is on the horizon. Santo’s East is soon
to become Roxy’s Pizza, or something very similar. The Hanna brothers feel
the Roxy’s name carries a truly positive association and they would like
to expand that success to the new business.
Even more exciting is the Hannas’ plans to open an original Hershey’s Ice
Cream store next door. Offering an extensive selection in a traditional
ice cream parlor atmosphere, the new endeavor will compliment the
restaurant completely and allow the brothers to offer an even greater
variety dining to their loyal customers.
AN OPEN INVITATION!
This is an open invitation to all those restaurant owners and
managers who are too busy to take care of their own marketing and
promotions. WE WANT TO KNOW what’s going on at your place!
Are you hiring a new chef? Have a new desert to die for? Planning a big
anniversary celebration? Here’s your chance for a FREE plug. Just send us
the “head’s up” by fax to: 236-0886, Attn: Tidbits, or by e-mail to:
Tidbits@MODEweekly.com.
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