314 5th Ave. San Diego Ca 92101 - 619.232.INDI / 619.232.5050
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India has long been known as the spice bowl of the world. The use of premium quality spices in these sun-drenched, monsoon-fed lands was an established way of life long before traders, among them Arab, English, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish came to the area lured by the valuable spices, spectacular geography, fascinating ancient customs and glorious food, all continue to draw foreigners to this magical land.
The key to successful Indian cooking lies in the art of blending spices and herbs rather than sophisticated cooking technique.
Herbs are added to a dish during the cooking to add flavor and aroma, but spices including those used mainly for taste or for aroma perform a more complex role almost all spices have great use in culinary art.
Indian food is based on the six tastes (RASA in SANSKRIT) sweet, sour, salty, punjent, bitter astringent. Everyone needs a certain amount of each amount of six tastes. Sweet for nourishment and harmonage of the mind. Sour stimulates the digestive fire and enzymes. Salty tastes stimulates digestions, clears abstractions in the channels in the body, causes sweating and increase the power of digestion.
Pungent taste as in onion, pepper, garlic, ginger which improve metabolism and dilates channel in the body. Food with bitter taste eliminates bacterial elements,purifies the blood and light and digestion. Astringent taste such as bettelnut leaf, green vegetables, turmeric, and food containing; tannin like tea pauses the properties to heal inner ulcers and wounds.
Indian cuisine is usual in its flexibility, there are no rigid recipes. Traditional dishes such as curries not written down but passed on through generations, the cooks adding and altering each time.
At different points in its history India was influenced by many foreign cuisines as a result of invasions and ruled by invaders. Another major influence on Indian cuisine apart from these cultures in India, has been the ancient Hindu treaties on health the AYURVADA.
Curry means a dish with thin or thick gravy especially to combine with rice or to be eaten with different kind of Indian breads.
Masala (not marsala, in Italy ) meaning the herb and spices which makes curry a delicious full body robust complete dish to tickle your tummy.
Masala makes someone to enjoy the aroma of that heavenly food. Hundreds of secret spices mixed together to make a specific masala like Gara masala or curry masala can be the chef`s secret blend of spices.
The traditional way of eating the Indian food by fingers makes you more satisfied than eating it with fork and knife. Itīs same as having a flying kiss or deep French kiss. The touch of all five fingers to your lips or mouth is so heavenly not because of the food but because our five fingers represents the elements of universe there presence in your five fingers.
We welcome you to our culturally inspired experience in the exploration of all the 5 senses and we hope that your journey is both fulfilling and spiritual. We urge you to experiment in all avenues of dining from our extensive water and wine menus, imported beers and exotic flavors of our cuisine to enhance all of your senses . As we begin to grow in our early stages we look for all our guests comments on your time spent at MASALA. Please feel to help guide us in our knowledge in both culture and cuisine by sending all comments to info@masalarestaurant.com. We constantly search for newer ways to heighten your experience as well a ours. Namaste...
With Love, Chef Ashley Popat
Rakesh "Rick" Popat, another gifted entrepreneur who parlayed Hillcrest beginnings (Bombay) into a major Gaslamp presence with Monsoon and Blue Ginger, bought Octopus Garden on Fifth near K to open a third Indian venture, Masala. The name refers to mixed spices, and Popat consistently spices his restaurants with enormous visual appeal .
"Monsoon Restaurants are increasing with popularity as the International cuisine rises in popularity. Executive Chef Sameer Gupta have created a menu that takes your sense on a journey. Masala is destined to be one of Gaslamps best!"
Monsoon restaurant group sponsors sumeet gupta to help him in his win for mr. India america 2005.
Monsoon restaurant group choosen by manchester grand hyatt to cater it's week long 2006 rotery international fuctions in san diego for the next seven years.
Monsoon restaurant group sweeps san diego magazines best restaurant awards for the 5th year in a row in it's catagory. With thier stunning selection of restaurants and unbeatable cuisine, we can not wait to see whats next from these talented restauranturs.
Giving back to the community has always been a top priority of the monsoon restaurant group. The latest is thier partnership with the taste at the cove 2006 benefiting san diego sports medicine foundation.
Monsoon restaurant group purchases it's 5th restaurant location in the hilcrest area and has begun discussions on three more locations by 2008.
OWNER
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314 5th Ave. San Diego, CA 92101 - Phone: 619.232.5050
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