Akbar Palace serves up Indian cuisine in Randallstown. (VoB photo/Eddie Applefeld)
OWNER C.K. NIGAM ANSWERS QUESTIONS,
REMOVES MYSTERY FROM INDIAN CUISINE
By Eddie Applefeld
Over the years the Akbar Palace restaurant in Randallstown has become one of my five favorite Baltimore area eateries. And it’s not what you might think.
You’re probably thinking, he likes the food, which admittedly is a very good reason.
And maybe it’s the location, close to his home. (It’s actually just four miles away — but that’s not the reason.)
Okay, so it must be the atmosphere, right? Another good reason, but not the right one here.
Give up? …proceed to the next paragraph.
It’s because of C.K. (Chandra) Nigam, president, owner and operator of the restaurant.
His wife Kalpana is of course also involved.
C.K. makes it a point to visit every table — and not just for the typical “Is everything okay?” question. If you’re willing, he’ll spend as much time with you as you might like.
It could be answering questions about the Indian cuisine. I’ve noticed diners not familiar with Indian cuisine asking him lots of questions.
I like to talk with him about almost anything, especially Indian traditions, customs and the history of not just the country but the entire region.
Akbar Palace is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. I
definitely recommend the lunch buffet, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays ($8.95) and noon to 3 on weekends ($10.95).
You have your choice of about a dozen items on the buffet. My favorite is the tandoori chicken. There’s seating for over 100 diners and you’re surrounded by pictures and artifacts of India.
By the way, my favorite dish for dinner at Akbar is the shrimp jalfrezi.
The Nigam family is from Mumbai, the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra, and the most populous; at least C.K. is from there. He came to the U.S. in 1997 and opened the restaurant in Randallstown the next year.
BEFORE ARRIVING ON OUR SHORES
Not sure if he had restaurant experience before arriving on our shores, but he certainly made a success of Akbar Palace very quickly.
The exact location is 3541 Brenbrook Drive in Randallstown. There’s catering for all occasions, including a full bar. All meals are
halal (permissible for Muslims) and you can even take cooking classes.
I asked C..K. about the health benefits of certain Indian foods and he explained about turmeric and cumin.
Tumeric seems to be the most common spice used in Indian food, and is said by some to be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence.
It is actually a dried powdered root which C.K. tells me definitely has antioxidant powers. It incorporates a powerful medicinal compound called curcumin that also gives curry its traditional yellow color.
Cumin is seeds and powder. Both are imported to the restaurant from India.
Other Akbar menu items I would recommend include the lamb seekh kebab, lamb chops, chicken Madras, chicken vindaloo, vegetarian thali and the special tandoori mix grill. Over the years I have experimented with various other dishes, but I ultimately return to the chicken tandoori and shrimp jalfrezi.
WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE…
Listen, when you find something you like… stick with it.
During my last visit, C.K. recommended an Indian movie he thought I’d like. It’s “Daawat-e-Ishq” (“Feast of Love”), a Bollywood comedy drama released last month to mostly positive reviews.
It’s subtitled, “A Mouth-Watering Love Story.” Perhaps I’ll have to wait for the DVD.
So my final thought is: If you like Indian food; not sure if you will; or if you’ve never had it — at least give Akbar Palace a try. You won’t be disappointed.
You can reach the restaurant at 410.655.1600 or online at www.AkbarPalace.com.
And when you go there, be sure to have some good questions ready for C.K.
mistermedia@comcast.net
Editor’s note: A Marylander since day one, Towson University graduate and member of the local media for over 30 years, Eddie Applefeld is currently handling promotions at WCBM TalkRadio (680AM). This is his third contribution to Voice of Baltimore.
