Set in an Exton shopping center, Lovminder Gill and his family have created one authentic Indian dining experience.
Since Jas Himalyan opened in October 2010, word has spread about their exotic Indian cuisine and their economical lunch buffet. I recently stopped in to try lunch and to chat with Lovminder about his last year, Indian cooking and the levels of spiciness. The lunch buffet at Jas Himalyan includes several classic Indian dishes, a selection of desserts and even mango lassi. The buffet is $7.95 per person.
I sampled the classic Chicken Tikka Masala first. The curry sauce – yogurt, tomato, onion, and chili powder was all balanced nicely so the chicken was spicy but not overpowering. I love how the creaminess takes the edge off in this dish.
My sampling of the Goat Curry was very spicy. Set in a brown sauce, I found myself reaching for the water glass frequently while enjoy this. Lovminder explained “the goat curry is very popular in India, it’s a standard.” He told me the Goat Curry is made to the Indian standard, which is spicy!
As I sampled the Chicken Tandoori, Lovminder explained that the preparations for this dish start the day before, when the chicken is prepared and set in the yogurt sauce overnight. The morning it is to be served, the chicken is cooked on the grill about halfway, and then placed in the tandoor – a clay brick oven – to finish the cooking process.
The buffet included other choices, including naan and a vegetarian mix pakora.
I asked Lovminder about the spiciness of Indian dishes. “During the day, with the buffet, we make everything medium hot. In the night time, customers choose how hot they would like it. They are sweating and they enjoy it.” He said with a smile, before explaining how everyone has a preference. “My father likes it hot. One gets used to it. I am a medium person.”
Lovminder encouraged me to sample the mango lassi, so I poured myself a cup of this unique Indian drink. A lassi has the thick creaminess of a milkshake with a tinge of the mango sweetness added. It was a very soothing accompaniment to the spiciness of the dishes I had sampled.
For dessert, I tried the Gulab Jaman – deep fried cheese balls that are served in a syrup. They look like donut holes with a gooey cheese center, and were a decadent finish to the meal. Lovminder told me the Gulab Jaman is very popular with the American customers. “We love anything deep fried,” I joked. He laughed. “The rice pudding is also popular.”
Lovminder and his wife greet customers at the door and insure the customers are well taken care of. Other family members do the cooking. The restaurant is named Jas after Lovminder’s daughter. Lovminder is from the Punjab region in Northern India. He told me most of the dishes we think of as Indian do come from the north, though some come from the south.
Traditional Indian music played on the speakers, loud enough to add ambience without being distracting. The day I was there, it appeared several people were holding business lunches. Off to one side, a long table was filled with Indian women who appeared to be having a party.
“Actually, they are planning a party today,” Lovminder said. “The party will be here in November!”
One Comment