Dear Pasta Lady.....

Home-based chefs, where have you been all my li(i-i-i-i)fe? No, seriously… Where were you?

We, “delhi walas”, have extremely stubborn taste buds and there’s no compromise when it comes to food, like being served ginger that is 1mm thicker than it’s supposed to be is no less than a sin. Oh, and we don’t believe other people’s reviews about food either because I mean, what do they know?

I have this extremely specific flavor for pastas stuck in my palate and even though Karachi is pretty good with Italian varieties, it lacks the knack of perfecting a Spaghetti Bolognese or Lasagna.

Unlike my usual self, today I decided to lift my egoistic, self imposed food standards and order from the most talked about “lasagna girl” in town. Yes, I jumped on the Maria Khan-Syed bandwagon.

 I was guilty of sending my car later than the time I had promised her, but she was sweet enough to give me heating instructions. I wasn’t too eager to taste the lasagna initially to be honest; I had bet it would be like the home/bakery mini “peezas” served at my first 11 birthdays!

My heart melted at the first look and okay fine, my mouth did water a bit (read: dog drool). I was able to cut a perfect square piece for myself without it slopping out of control and bit into my first, still doubtful, bite. Damn! This isn’t me being all Taylor Swift on food, but I think that piece of lasagna really was why I had waited all these years – totally writing a song about it. 

                               (For the first time, the actual thing was exactly as shown on the eatery's page)

The endless cheese oozed out from the layers every time I cut a bite out and every layer had a different flavorful story to tell. I’m not lying, this pasta lady really knows her way with the trickiest of flavors. I’m still staring at the leftovers wondering why my stomach won’t allow just ONE more bite. I’ve never appreciated minced chicken this much being a “gosht-khor”.  

These ladies are setting a trend - first Saniya’s Khao Suay and then this masterpiece of a lasagna by the Pasta Factory.

Splendid days beginneth.

Dat cheese tho.

Khao Suay To Remember

When I get mad cravings for Khao Suay, I always want them homemade. Let’s face it, no matter what new tastes and variations exotic eateries bring to the dish – it doesn’t have that kick of “ammi ke haath wala” flavor, just like iftar pakoras.

Anyway, so with the mother goose out of town, I somehow needed to cater to my stomach growls that were hankering for some memoni delicacies! I have already tried all the famous Khao Suay deliveries and take-outs but wasn’t too satisfied with life. From a recent socialist food festival in Karachi, I had heard of this girl Saniya and her famous homemade Khao Suay that apparently sold out like hotcakes!

                          Side Note: Couldn’t have agreed more…LOL

                                     

Placed my order to this girl with the sweetest voice ever, and confirmed to pick it up in the evening. I kept my expectations low, even though all our honorary critics raved about it in the “qaumi” food bickering page on Facebook. This page has become delight of every Karachiite in the past 2 years including mine – not gonna lie, I’m in the “creepy likers” department.

Everything included in the Khao Suay was packed neatly in separate, plastic containers. One yellow curry, one chicken curry, a foil box of noodles, and very generous amounts of assorted condiments packed in small Ziploc bags.

The exceptionally aromatic curry got me pumped to quickly mix everything together to my liking and devour into the flavors.

OMG! Did I want “Ammi wale khao suay”? Eureka!! What a flavorful mix of ingredients – I don’t know what she used but it was divine. This is what Khao Suay’s should taste like – they don’t need variations, they just need that zest. I inhaled my first, decently portioned serving bowl and went dog-nuts for the second one. I love that it’s served in different containers so I could prepare it according to my taste buds.

I don’t know how authentic the flavor is to its Burmese origin, but the best of the lot in the Khao Suay culture in Karachi for sure. I think I can do more without my mom, now that my hunger pangs have been treated.

I added the boiled eggs myself by the way, you know, because I’m the infamous new “self proclaimed foodie” in town ;).