Cooking with Coley

Tandoor Chef has added even more new Indian classics to its robust line up of frozen meals and treats. This time it’s a Lamb Vindaloo with tumeric-infused basmati rice dish. Once again, I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of flavors and authenticity that the company can pack into a freezer box.

For the most “authentic” experience, I’d recommend eating it outside of the plastic container. After microwaving the package, I poured the warmed rice in a bowl and then topped it with the marinated lamb and spicy sauce.  Served like that, you would have never known it came from a package and not the Indian restaurant on the corner.  The dish was rich and flavorful, while the meat was extremely tender and fell apart with a fork.

However, be sure not to overlook the pepper and the “Hot” indication on the top right of the box. They’re not messing around. While I’m a fan of hot and spicy, this is no joke.  I enjoyed the heat, but for those who are less daring, consider this a warning.

It comes in at 360 calories and 15 grams of fat. It’s decently filling, so as a lunch you might be content, or with a side of veggies, you could enjoy it for dinner. Check out the website for the full nutrition facts.

The SRP is $3.99. For a full list of products and retailers, visit the Tandoor chef website. If you can’t find Tandoor Chef in your local grocer, it is also sold on Amazon.com.

Stay tuned for a Tandoor Chef Masala Burger review coming soon!

An engagement calls for lots of celebrating. And that’s precisely what we’ve been doing! From coast to coast, we have been not only toasting with our friends and family, but we’ve been eating some amazing food.

In case you’re planning on some traveling or just want to brush up on your west coast food knowledge, here are yummy highlights of our recent trip to San Fran and Whistler:

San Francisco, CA

• Like Boston’s North End and NYC’s Little Italy, San Fran has North Beach–a quaint Italian historic district. And situated within the plethora of Italian restaurants, bakeries and bars, Ristorante Ideale is a reasonably priced dinner hot spot. Packed with people and sweet aromas of garlic and sauce, we enjoyed a delicious meal and bottle of wine. Four of us shared a burrata mozzarella appetizer, one pizza al prosciutto and an order of bucatini with pancetta.  Happily satisfied, yet not overstuffed, the trio of menu items went a long way for a small price.
• You can’t go to California and not eat Mexican food.  Our friends (aka guides) insisted we drive a bit down the coast to Happy Taco in Half Moon Bay to get “the best” burrito. The beautifully scenic drive coupled with various photo opp stops along the way, helped us work up a big appetite just in time for an even bigger burrito.  I (or should I say my “guides”) recommend the Carnitas Super Burrito with all the fixins’. And in addition to the massive, you-can’t-even-finish-them burritos, this hidden gem also offers traditional Mexican soda and cervezas, cheap chips and the salsa bar–an essential asset to any Mexican meal.
• See you later Maryland crab, Dungeness crab from Fisherman’s Wharf is where it’s at.  If you have kitchen access, pick a couple of these up for dinner along with a side of chowder and heat them up at home.  They cook and crack them for you, so you can save your energy for just picking out the meat and reveling in the delicious sweet and buttery flavor.

Whistler, BC

• I’m a sucker for grilled calamari, so Caramba Restaurante had me at hello (or when I looked at the menu anyways).  From pastas to wood oven pizzas, the menu packs a variety of Mediterranean dishes with a lot of flair. The ambiance is funky, fun and relaxed.  And with delicious sangria, this is an excellent choice after a day on the slopes.
• If you’re up for leaving the village and are looking for intimate and cozy, Edgewater Lodge is a must see and dine spot.  Overlooking Green Lake, the restaurant offers spectacular  views, inspired menu options and charming ambiance. From bison flank steak to sable fish, the menu boasts unique spins on BC classics.  The service is excellent and wine list impressive–you definitely want to check this place out.

Headed to Detroit tomorrow and then straight to New Orleans for the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games. Any good food/restaurant recommendations?