An Anglo-Indian Gastronomic Sojourn...

Indian food is known across the world for its sheer variety and is characterized by its elaborate use of different ingredients and cooking techniques. But little do we realize that many of our acclaimed cuisines are a by-product of our unique history. 

For centuries, the Indian subcontinent attracted immense interest from all parts of the world, particularly that of contemporary European traders, who coveted the one cargo which was literally worth its weight in gold, spices.  In a welcome but rather unexpected twist of irony, the very spices which drove The British Empire to undertake this mammoth responsibility of colonial subjugation also became a reason for bridging two different cultures and winning over the hearts and minds of the 'masters', instead of the intended another way around. 

Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth Century, British and other European settlers would often be enthralled by the spectacular assortment of food and spices from the myriad regions of the Indian subcontinent. The flavours were exciting and the aromas enchanting, unlike anything they had ever tasted before. But to be truly palatable to most British settlers, these centuries-old recipes needed to be 're-imagined' with a little bit of good old British 'flavour fundamentals'. 

Here lay the foundations of what we now know as 'Anglo-Indian' cuisine, a hallmark of India's culture of acceptance and co-existence. 

The British essentially mellowed down and anglicised certain Indian dishes with acceptable levels of spice and tweaked some of their signature English meals with Indian flavours. The resulting cuisine was relished in formal settings and on evenings when English Sahibs, Indian Princes and bejewelled ladies would gather together to enjoy the finest whiskeys and wines, and the elaborate and extensive menus each night, prepared laboriously by the cooks were only outdone by others the next night. Their fare was honed to perfection at quintessential colonial institutions like gentleman’s clubs, railway kitchens and Army messes. 

The fairly new Anglow is a one of its kind Anglo-Indian Themed Whiskey Bar and Kitchen that embodies the spirit of this culture for its sentimental patrons who still reminisce about the glorious days of the British Raj. Situated in central Delhi's Khan Market (often compared to the famous Regent Street in London), Anglow is the brainchild of Ajit Singh and Arpan Gupta, two seasoned restaurateurs who have curated a one-of-a-kind Anglo-Indian dining experience. Anglow goes beyond its exquisite food and whiskeys, it's a deep dive into our shared cultural history and the way it shaped our cuisines of today, a unique tradition handed down over generations.

Anglow pays tribute to the Khansamas, the Indian cooks of the Memsahibs of the British era. Inspired by the tales of well-kept secrets of the Anglo-Indian kitchens that only a few from the previous generations have managed to keep alive, Anglow promises to bring us the stunning flavours from our past in a setting which is inspired by the grandeur of our colonial heritage. 

Offering an array of options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diners, the restaurant specializes in distinctly Anglo-Indian fare ranging from the aesthetic Deviled Scotch Eggs, to the dish that became legendary among European settlers here in India, the Fish Fingers, which the classically panko fried River Sole strips. The kitchen also serves up a popular Anglo-Indian dish that owes its origins to a north Indian staple we all know as Khichri, made to include a few 'western-world' herbs and ingredients like parsley and flaked fish and lovingly called Kedegree by its growing base of fans back in England. Sweet conclusions like Tipsy Pudding layered with cake, custard, and fruit chunks make the meal worthwhile. 

To complement this one-of-a-kind food experience, Anglow offers a carefully curated selection of beverages to ensure that even the most rigid connoisseurs end up with a sly grin of satisfaction when they enter the elegant surroundings of Anglow, namely Ginger Smoke with the distinct subtlety of nutmeg and the authentic Virgin Mary served in a salt-rimmed glass. 

The setting is elegant and posh, evocative of Drinking Parlours and Clubs of colonial India with memorabilia predating Independence, collected and unassumingly displayed for the keen observer. Anglow exudes old-world charm fused unequivocally with present-day India to bring forth a wholehearted celebration of our rich Anglo-Indian cultural inheritance.  :)