Spice Spice, Baby!

There’s nothing like a nice hot meal mixed with some exotic spices. Ever since I started living with my roommates three years ago, I have gathered this newfound love for spices. And its not coming to and end anytime soon!

So the big question is… how did spices come along? According to Mccormick Science Institute, the founding of spices dates back to the time of the hunters and gatherers. The enhanced taste that would soon be discovered after the food would be wrapped in leaves and bark, allowing for the discovery of spices and their purposes.

It is a well known fact that spices are used in our foods to take out the blandness in the taste, while throwing in this exotic sensation to our taste buds. Spices would be used to preserve foods, take away unpleasant odors, and bring a special “umph” to the taste of foods. However, this is not all that spices can and have been used for. Spices have over the past many years been used for healing purposes from the ancient Indians. Some of the most impactful and highly used spices by ancient Indians are black pepper, cardamom, ginger, cumin, and many other combinations of spices. One that has often caught my attention over the last few years has been the combination of cloves and cardamom being wrapped in betel-but leaves. This very useful mix of spices is implemented after a meal to increase the working of ones saliva glands and help the process of ones digestion.

With this new found knowledge of spices and thee beautifully combined taste that are because of said spices, I want to introduce to you another one of my favorite authentic hole in the wall family owned Indian food restaurants located right here in Kennesaw.

Let’s start with my newfound love of Indian food. Now these are some spices that ones mouth simply does not forget after that first initial bite. This food category is filled with so many types of interesting spices that can range from “What were people talking about, this isn’t spicy?” to “Oh my god, help!”. When it comes to picking your spices, which you will usually be asked mild, medium, or hot, always play it safe if you are at a new restaurant and go with the mild spice level.

My favorite Indian joint to go to while I am hankering that spicy mouthful is located just off of Cherokee street in Kennesaw, GA called Curry Village Indian restaurant. This restaurant is a family owned Indian restaurant with some of the friendliest, engaging workers I have had a dinning experience with. From the outside, this place does not grab the eye in the slightest. It has a very bland and almost “out of business” feel to the look of the outside, but bland and out of business is nothing what you will discover inside of this local hole in the wall. Once you walk into Curry Indian Village, you are greeted by one of the owners. I find it to be a special restaurant when the owners are the ones there working and really getting to know their customers trying out their establishment… but now to the important things, the food.

This restaurant offers a variety of spiced up Indian foods for one to indulge in. They offer the classic appetizers, from samosa, a Crispy triangular pastry turnover filled with meat for $3.50, to the famous chicken 65, which is a Chicken marinated in ginger garlic; then butter fried and tempered with green chilies cilantro and curry leaves for a low $5.95. They really bring out the authentic Indian food spices with the appetizers they offer on their menu. Dinner specials are also offered at Curry Village, which include, seafood, vegetarian, NON-VEG, and a combination plate ranging in prices from $20.95 to $47.95. Not bad when trying to feed a family of two or more! Now, for the single person dishes, there are an endless amount of different spices to choose from with all different meats, or non-meats. Additionally, there are many specials that come with the option of chicken, lamb, goat, fish, vegetarian, and seafood to meet everyone’s dietary needs. If you know anything about Indian specialties, tandoori is a big yes for Indian food fans. There are some of the best tandoori dishes offered here, which is meat marinated in a yogurt along with some other Indian spices, a personal must from me if you are new to Indian food. Now, if you aren’t a fan of the idea of yogurt being a main ingredient in your meal, there are many other flavors that you cant go wrong with. These spices include, bhuna; herbs, tamatos, bell peppers, and lemon juice, sag; spinach cooked in a curry sauce with onions, garlic, spices, and herbs, vindaloo; a curry sauce with onions, garlic, and herbs, pasanda, another dish that has yogury as the main in=grediant, and the most popular dish to all indiaan food goers, tikka masala; a special creamy tomato sauce cooked in spices and herbs.

The biggest hook to this restaurant is their lunch time special that is a sure attraction for college students who have a need for spicy authentic foods. The Curry Village Indian restaurant is a sure treasure when you are a student balling on a budget and looking for an easy bite for lunch. Curry Village Indian Restaurant offers a daily lunch buffet, with large portions of all you can eat items. They offer Over 15 different dishes during this lunch buffet for only $9.95, who wouldn’t give it a try!

If next time you are feeling adventurous, and are sick of eating that same old chick-fil-a lunch that its cheap, healthy and on every corner, you should think about making your way to Curry Village Indian restaurant give it a go. Show the local family owned restaurants some love, while also giving your taste buds some new excitement!

Curry Village Indian Restaurant Hours:

Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:30am – 2:30pm (Buffet)

Dinner: 5:00pm- 10:00

Saturday – Sunday

Lunch: 12:00pm-3:00pm (Buffet)

Dinner: 3:00pm-10:00pm

xo - Rach