Because we had a Labor Day Barbecue to attend on Monday, my parents treated me to a birthday dinner Sunday night. Hey, I was born in England, so technically, it was my birthday at the exact time we celebrated… Not that I didn’t celebrate on Monday as well. Two birthdays are better than one.
Tell me if any of you have this problem: You’re such a good cook that you don’t normally like to eat out, because the entire time, you’re sitting there thinking, “I could make this better.” When I do eat out, I try to go to places that offer food I can’t easily make myself, such as Indian (like this past Sunday’s dinner) or Korean (think Hangawi in NYC) or Ethiopian, like my vegan Ethiopian post of a few years ago.
This weekend, we decided to try a new restaurant, called Clay Pit. Well it’s not really new, but it’s new to us. They have a separate section specifically for vegetarian items, so I was a happy camper. Plus, when I called ahead of time (to ensure that the vegetarian items could be made with oil, not butter), the manager told me that they can even change some of their non-vegan dishes to accommodate my needs if I so desire, such as leaving the cream out of the dahl. A lovely offer, but I didn’t even need to take advantage of it, as there were plenty of already-vegan options at my disposal. Sometimes it’s actually simpler if there aren’t; it’s easier to decide! That night, I went with Aloo Ghobi, a traditional Indian cauliflower-potato dish. However, since I’m not the biggest potato freak (I think they’re mushy and bland), I asked for mixed-veggie Aloo Ghobi instead.
Above, my no-potato Aloo Ghobi, alongside an order of roti bread. This was so good! You bet your socks I licked the dish clean (when no one was watching, of course). The whole-wheat roti bread was a perfect accompaniment for the saucy curry. Ingredients: whole wheat flour, oil, water, and salt. That’s it. Oh, it was so soft and flavorful… I must learn how to make this!
Curry close up. The veggies were cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, peas, and broccoli.
jananib says
Happy birthday Katie! The roti in restaurants is made in a super high-temp tandoor and often with leavening of some sort…but you can make it at home yourself very easily: http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2007/03/21/roti-chapati-flat-indian-bread/
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Thanks!! I am seriously going to get my roti-making on :).
Namaste Gurl says
You look very pretty– and not to mention that great looking meal, too :)!
spoonfulofsugarfree says
Once again, Happy Birthday!!!! You lucky girl! Two back to back days of celebration! (That dinner looks fabulous by the way!)
BroccoliHut says
Beautiful birthday dinner for a beautiful girl:)
Alexis says
Happy belated birthday, Katie! I admire your vegan-ordering skills. You always seem to know how to figure things out to suit your social life and eating preferances!
Indian food is the best 🙂 You have great taste.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Thanks, Alexis! Haha what can I say? I’m a food lover… there’s no way I am going to a restaurant and just ordering an iceberg salad! Bor-ring ;).
Vanilla says
Oh no I didn’t send you birthday wishes…:(
…I was too busy eating your Bug-A-Boo bulgur pilaf, will this be an acceptable excuse???
*Happy Birthday* <3 <3
Ilana says
Happy birthday to my beautiful friend (albeit a couple days late)! May this year be the BEST ONE YET, because you totally deserve it!!
Indian food is almost always a good idea for vegan dining – it’s the one thing my boyfriend and I agree on when we go out to eat! There are so many vegetarian and vegan Indian food places here in the city that I can always talk him into it 😉
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh dearest Ilana! I am sending you a comment in response to your college comment as soooooooon as I get a chance!!
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
What a pretty picture of you! glad you had a wonderful bday dinner 🙂
Marianne says
If cooked correctly (as in not over done), potatoes shouldn’t be mushy, and should be seasoned correctly as to not be bland 😉 Not that your curry doesn’t look delicious…I’m just sayin’. Glad you had a great dinner out for your birthday!
Justine says
I tried to make Aloo Ghobi once, and I think I just didn’t get the spices right or something because it just wasn’t all that great. Maybe it was the potatoes….? 🙂
I love that you are more celebrating a birth-week rather than a birth-day; there’s nothing wrong with that! 🙂
Helen Kopp says
So, that huge plate of curry made me crave curry! So I made my first Indian curry dish last night! Also, having just found your blog, I added chocolate chips to my steel cut oatmeal with blueberries yesterday morning. It was like dessert for breakfast! Happy Late Birthday!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oooh yay! Chocolate chips in oatmeal are the best, because they get all melty… so yummy!
Samantha says
Happy belated birthday!
This has been bothering me for a while so I thought I should share…aloo is hindi for potato and gobi is hindi for cauliflower. So when you exchanged the potatoes for other veggies you changed the dish from aloo gobi (meaning literally potatoes and cauliflower) to sabji (pronounced sub-gee). Sorry but I feel better now.
Samantha says
After re-reading my post I realized that I sounded like a complete jerk. Sorry. I do love Indian food and I’m glad they’ll make it without dairy so you can enjoy it, too.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
No way are you a jerk! I’m a language nerd; I love learning about word meanings/origins! 🙂 🙂
Katie says
FIRST OFF HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im sorry Im late on the happy birthday, I have been away and soooooooooooooooooooooo crazy busy! I love ya girl and it looks like you had a great birthday for sure!!!!!
The pic of you and your dad is so nice! U are so beautiful Katie! Just love that pic!
love you! xoxo