Frankie enjoys the house of tiffin....

Mel's foodie friend Frankie enjoys the treat in street food...

Street food (noun) perfectly portioned tidbits of delicious, home cooked goodness. Big enough to satisfy a craving, small enough to enable you to eat several portions...does it really get much better than that?

Oh it does my friend, it does. Rather than battling against bustling market stalls, unpredictable weather and attempt to assure yourself you really are having a good time as you ignore the rain water seeping through your jeans, you can be stationed inside the warm and inviting Mowgli at the Corn Exchange; where the furniture is earthy, fairy lights are used in abundance and authentic Indian food comes by the tiffin-full...literally.

My dining compadre and I decided to escape the hustle and bustle of Manchester’s busy Saturday high street and sought sanctuary in the new idyllic Corn Exchange, a foodie’s paradise if you will; where our bellies were rumbling for something hot and exotic. With promises of fresh, authentic Indian home-cooking, our appetites took us marching straight into Mowgli where we were greeted by friendly staff and a flurry of warm and inviting smells.

Taking our drinks order, the server’s enthusiasm for the menu was infectious as we pored over the possibilities on offer. Spoilt for choice, we ordered an array of tantalising delights whilst mentally noting the dishes we would return for.



Not long did we wait for our first round of Himalayan Cheese on Toast, Bombay Chip Butty and Yoghurt Chat Bombs to be placed gloriously in front of us, evoking watering-mouths from fellow diners who had followed the scent-trail of our fresh-from-the-kitchen plates to our table.



A million miles away from your standard Cathedral City on limp brown Hovis was the Himalayan Cheese on Toast; gooey, tangy melted cheddar dressed with red onion and green chilli on a sturdy, carb base. One bite is all it takes as you sink your teeth into a gloriously glutinous, thick cheesy layer which combines a wonderful home comfort with a dazzling addition of Eastern pizzazz, a perfect winter warmer. Be prepared to have sudden urge to up your future toastie game whilst trying to recreate this bad boy at home.

Now, onto the Yoghurt Chat Bombs. Nothing could prepare me for the sheer burst of aromatic joy which erupted from the yoghurt chat bomb as I placed it wholly in my mouth (this is the advised way to devour these little babies, you’ll look ridiculous but it’s hella tasty.) Crushing it gently with my teeth demolished the crisp wall separating my taste buds from the incredibly pleasing flavours of chickpeas, mint and cooling yoghurt packed with a hidden after-spice. Like a pimped-out-poppadom with a new fresh taste, I was enveloped in these addictive bite-sized delights instantly as I tried to refrain ordering a second batch.



Having had an obsession with chips since a young age (gaining me the ever-present nickname Chippy at home,) I couldn’t resist ordering the self-proclaimed “flavour grenade” Bombay Chip Butty to see what the fuss was about. A roti wrap generously stuffed with fried turmeric potato fries, subtly seasoned with a kiss of fenugreek and complimented with condiments of relish, chilli pickle, red onion to name a few; a far cry from your standard Heinz accompaniments these additions only add flavour to the butty, rather than distract from it.

A fabulously filling and unique variation of the English classic snack, the crisp yet fluffy potatoes soften beautifully against the roti whilst still maintaining a delicious bite. This is a perfect option for those who don’t like to stray too far from what they know, and a sure-fire way to please carb-lovers everywhere.

The mains were delivered in an organised fashion; cleverly stacking the interlocked tiffins allowed our server to deliver our next course with ease, unshackling and laying out our bountiful feast where the aromas promised a course just as richly-flavoured and relishing as the last.



We dished steaming spoonfuls of Mother Butter Chicken and Tea Steeped Chickpeas onto gleaming silver, pinterest-worthy plates (which I resisted to take for my own,) along with fluffy heaps of rice. Using a rooti as an edible spoon (is there a better kind?) We scooped chunks of tender chicken in its deliciously deep red sauce onto our makeshift cutlery and topped with a small mountain of rice.

The first bite of Butter Chicken welcomes glorious flavours of spiced tomato mixed with rich tandoori and an unexpected air of sweetness are onto the palette. With a wonderful wave of mild heat, mouthfuls are balanced by uncomplicated but nethertheless tasty basmati rice and chunk of soft and floury flatbread.

The Tea Steeped Chickpeas were an oxymoron of flavours, combining a delicate Darjeeling taste with a zingy tomato and soft spinach sauce. Silky chickpeas give this dish the bulkiness your hunger craves without leaving you feeling like an overfilled chat bomb, a delight for both the taste buds and your trouser waistband.

As the bottom of the tiffins became apparent, we used the final triangles of our rooti to clean up the remaining sauce as the final spices danced along our tongue like the last hurrah in a parade.

In a country where you can’t swing a naan bread without it hitting an Indian eatery, whether it be fine dining, takeaway or restaurant; it is wonderfully refreshing to find Indian food with a difference, that holds a slight edge against the Balti Houses that we all admittedly love but can often be samey and predictable.

For those wanting to stretch their legs and dip their toe into the revived world of tiffin and bodacious Indian tapas, Mowgli should most definitely be your first port of call – just one request? Please bring me back some of those delicious chat bombs.

Follow Frankie on Twitter @FrankAboutFoods!

---

Posted: Wednesday 23rd December 2015
ID: 11357 - 1510