Dear Diary,
I just hit "publish" on a brand-new reel, and my thumbs are exhausted, but my tastebuds are still doing the Bhangra.
Today, your favorite Punjabi Binger decided to get a little fancy. I put on a chic tan blazer, oversized sunglasses indoors (because why not?), and — most importantly — a flowy pleated skirt. Elastic waistbands, Diary! That is the secret of a seasoned foodie. While amateurs wear stiff denim to a feast, I came prepared for battle.
And talk about a grand entrance: the wonderful team at ITC Kakatiya greeted me with a gorgeous royal blue stole with gold thread work! Suddenly, paired with my shades, I wasn't just a guest; I looked like a visiting dignitary on an official kebab inspection tour.
We were there to celebrate 30 iconic years of culinary excellence at Kebabs & Kurries. They are running a special tribute called "1995: An Ode to Hyderabad."
To put that into perspective: back in 1995, while the ITC chefs were already busy perfecting their marinations and mastering slow-cooked perfection, I was just a tiny kid crying over stolen toys and probably eating mud. Safe to say, they were doing much better things with their time.
And oh, the food! The kebabs were so melt-in-your-mouth tender and rich that I almost apologized to them before eating. They even walked one over on a smoking skewer, presented with more ceremony than I've received at most weddings. Then came the legendary Dal Bukhara. Diary, you know my relationship with dal, but Dal Bukhara? That isn't just food; that's a spiritual experience. It's so creamy and rich that if it were socially acceptable, I would have asked for a straw.
Just when I thought my skirt's elastic was testing its absolute limits, out came the Dum Pukht Biryani. Aromatic, royal, and overflowing with heritage. I ate like royalty who hadn't seen a meal in a week.
Here is the best part (and the part that speaks directly to my Punjabi soul): they are offering these specially curated chef's menus at Dakshin and Kebabs & Kurries starting at just ₹1,995. For dishes inspired by Peshawri, Bukhara, Dum Pukht, and ITC Kakatiya's own iconic hits, that is cheaper than a single session of retail therapy — and infinitely more satisfying.
It was an afternoon filled with royal treatment, impeccable service, and three decades of culinary legacy served on a silver platter.
If you want to see me looking glamorous in my shades and blue sash while shed-testing my skirt over incredible kebabs, go watch my latest reel here! (And drop a like, because the food coma I endured to film this for you was very real.)
Until next time, keep binging!
— The Punjabi Binger