A Coastal Treat..."Abhishek" Chiplun

For sea food lovers, visit to Konkan region is a real treat. We are no exception! Just when we start planning our trip to Konkan, our first thoughts are about fish, fish and fish! 

Recently we were heading to Ratnagiri on NH 17. As usual our Eating Stops were decided before the actual Journey started. On our agenda was Hotel “Abhishek” in Chiplun. This place was highly recommended for its coastal delicacies. 

The hotel is situated in a small lane off the highway. But as this place is quite famous, can be quickly found.  The ambiance is ok but the service is prompt and efficient. If you go there during peak dining hours, there are good chances of you being on the waiting list.

Luckily we didn’t have to wait and ordered, which seemed, heaps of food, but nothing was left on the plate except bones. One can imagine how tasty it was!  

Any coastal cuisine starts with an appetizer drink “solkadhi”. We were served an authentic solkadhi which promised us that the coming courses also would be as good.

As starters, we opted for fish fry. Amongst which we tried Bombil Fry (Bombay Duck) , Pomfret Fry and Bangada (Silver Fish) Fry. The fish was so fresh as if it was straight out of the sea and on our table! All were crispy and cooked to perfection, which is crucial for any fish preparations. 

The Pomfret was coated in delicate malvani masala, which enhanced the original flavour of the fish. Size wise also, the Pomfret was a good catch!

The Bombil (Ola Bombil) in crunchy batter was superb. There was no masala on the fish , it was fresh and  needed just a dash of flavours. We like Bombil to be flattened and deep fried as this brings out the best flavours and one can actually eat the complete fish along with the bones. 

The best part of Fried fish was the Bangda (Silver Fish). For many, Bangada seems to be the level two fish! First level being Surmai and Prompfret which are easy to eat.

‘More the bones tastier the fish’ say the experts and it is sure correct when it comes to Bangda. Bangda has a bit strong flavour (many people don’t like it in first go but 4 yr old Asmi ate the complete fish in first attempt!), it needs proper amount of Masala stuffed in, to dilute the taste a bit. Bangda takes good patient time to cook properly, if overdone t it is not a great sight and taste. This one was perfectly cooked throughout. This Bangda was cooked along with its head which is unusual, we generally don’t get to see the Head.

The main course menu offered Thalis ( Fish/Chicken/mutton/veg). 

Fish thali consisted of one piece of fried fish, curry, chapatti or rice flour bhakri, rice and solkadhi. Chicken and Mutton thali offered an accompaniment of special malvani preparation called ‘vada’ (also known as dish called Kombdi Vada). These vadas are actually like Puris made of fermented batter of rice and urad dal. This combination of chicken and vada is the speciality of malvani cuisine and a must try. Other preparations like chicken/mutton fry/masala, egg dishes were also on the menu.

We opted for an ‘a la carte’ menu in which we ordered Prawns masala and Tisrya masala fry (shimple). Both were cooked in malvani spieces and lots of coconut of course. One of the most flavour full preparations we have ever tasted!

Usually most of the restaurants serve different kinds of fish in similar gravy / masala ; with Abhishek it was different! Every fish had its own masala which brought out the flavor of the Fish. The masalas were complementing the fish rather than overpowering it. 

Vegetarians can go for a Veg Thali or other usual options like Panjabi dishes. No malvani veg specialties on the offer.

Rates are also reasonable considering the quality of food. Non veg thalies are in the range of 200 to 250/- and veg is 150/-. If you go for other options also, it will cost you around 100/- per head extra. 

Overall, full marks to flavours!  A must visit place if you are off to Konkan and looking forward to eating fish! 

Adding Location Map for Hotel Abhishek ; It is Off Mumbai Goa Highway ,
There is one more Hotel Named "Subh Abhishek" which is on the High Way but don't be confused due to similar names.

Most prominent Landmark is "Shivaji Nagar Bus Station Chiplun" , take first right after bus Station.

The Kolahapuri "Opal"

This Blog was in Draft for a long time , just could not finish it through we tried it a lot.

(Every time we sat to write about it the taste of Spicy food just hits you and then you are hungry…)

The Hotel in Discussion is “The Opal” from Kolhapur City. The Hotel is there since 1968 (46 Years !!)

Kolhapur  - famous for Malalaxmi Mandir , Misal and Spicy food , was just a stop in our Tarkarli Holidays.

We are glad that we took the decision of staying a night at Kolhapur otherwise our taste buds would have cursed us for not getting to know “the OPAL” food.

The First look of the Hotel was not very promising they were currently in process of some civil work in front of the Hotel and it made just entering the facility a difficult task. We had a good feedback from friends which lead us to overcome these initial hiccups.

The Hotel has been awarded “The Times Foodie Award” in 2012.

Once you are in the Hotel it is not like what you expect it to be, it looked more like a Dinning Halls commonly found near ST Stations. But then the smell and Sight of Food hits you no more hiccups post that.

It is kind of preset Menu where you have Big Thali’s arranged just like any Thali Restaurant. The Choice just has to be made between Chicken , Mutton and Veg (Although the Menu Card offers ala-carte selection from Punjabi and also Chinese)

We usually get enquire about Recommendations from the Captain himself so that we don’t have to feel like we are on a blind date. If the Captain is enthusiastic it makes your dining experience must more memorable (that’s what I feel) in this case the captain was experience guy and looking at us he just got what we might be looking for.

He almost placed the Order himself just inquiring one or two times about Chicken or mutton preferences. And rest is History (Check the Photo of Dishes at the Top)

All dishes came simultaneously , I was looking forward to tasting Pandhara Rassa and Tambda Rassa (both are kind of Soups one should try at least once in your life and that too at a good place , if you eat it at a wrong place they it will be difficult to get over the shock and try it again elsewhere)

The Chicken was cooked to perfection and more than that the Mutton was superb in taste (though I thought a little more meat sections would have been helpful, most of Mutton Dish was with lots of Bones)

Main issue observed at such restaurant is service and not breaking the momentum of eating (We call it “Mausam”). In this case there was no such obstacle while eating. Chapatis (Poli in Marathi) just kept on coming like ordered almost instantaneously.

Green Chicken , Sukka Chicken / Mutton and Chicken / Mutton Curries were the entourage ; supported by the two Champion Rassas - Pandhara and Tambda Rassa. Green Chicken was the only dish which was a little less spicy and almost a cream based gravy specially for younger foodies. My personal favorite was Pandhara Rassa all the way , it has a lot of spices and surprisingly goes very well with other Spicy Flavors.

Pandhara Rassa was the Star performer for me in the complete meal followed closely by Mutton Dish.

Good thing about the hotel is that Vegetarian people can also enjoy Rassa and Spicy food much like Non Vegetarians (Though we did not order any Veg still thalis of people near by were looking good).

Though the Hotel offers selection of Punjabi , Chinese and Other regular preparations (ala-carte choice) but it will be strongly recommended to stick to Kolhapuri Special in this Hotel.  Specially the Pandhara Rassa.

All the food is flavoured with accurate amount of Spices with minimum amount of Oil.

It is very rare to find Spicy food which is not HOT. Current equation of Spicy food  is that it has to be Very Hot (almost uneatable) and submerged with Oil. This was an very good example which others can follow in cooking.

Hotel is not too heavy on the Pocket too ( around 400 per head)

It is a must visit Hotel during Kolhapur stay…