Product Review: Fried Onions

I've been shopping at the Asian Markets around Long Island for time now. There are a few products I like to keep on hand in my spice cabinet. One of them is fried onions. Now these are a lot different from the french fried onions you put over your string bean casserole. Those are more like onion flavored chips. This products is real fried onions, that's it. There's not even salt in it.

I use this product for a variety of things. Its in my secret meatball recipe for instance. Also great for a salad topping. While there is no substitute for the real thing I have also been lazy and used thesein place of real onions. They are really cheap too and last forever.

*Tips

- if you use in place of real onion just add them at the end of your recipe
-Asian markets also sell fried shallots. I have used both products and I cant really tell the difference.

Restaurant Review: Kiran Palace, Hicksville NY

You know sometimes I wish I could just pitch a tent on Rt.107 and eat at all the Indian Restaurants everyday? Does that sound crazy? Maybe not as crazy as you think. People have done much more extreme things to have access to the spices and flavors of the east. Take Christopher Columbus. He was hired to find the spices of of India. He took a wrong turn somewhere and wound up in the Caribbean but at least he tried. Nowadays to experience such flavors one does not have to cross the ocean, just get on the LIE(which can be just as tedious as sailing a ship across the Atlantic) or the Southern State and get off at 107.One of the more older and established Indian Restaurants in the Hicksville area is Kiran Palace. A pretty small and casual place located in the Delco Plaza at the Corner of 107 and Old Country Rd.

Once seated a bowl of chips(Khakhra) with two types of dipping sauces are waiting for you. The menu has the an array of Tandoor items,vegetarian, chicken,seafood,goat and lamb options.
Start of with the fish pakora(fried fish,pictured below). Spicy strips of tender white fish and extra large Samoa's deep fried filled with curried potatoes and peas. Aslo good is the paneer pakors which is India's answer to mozzarella sticks but made with a homemade cottage cheese.

For a main course the Chicken Mikhani comes in a sweet and spicy sauce filled with boneless chicken. Goat dishes excel at Kiran Palace. Get your hands dirty eating the Goat Masala or even better is the Achari Goat which is similar to the thick spicy sauce of the Goat Masala but is laced with pungent Indian pickles. Tandoori items are also a good choice. Also be sure to order some Naan which is so fresh and delicious and great for dipping into our plates.

Save room for dessert. I like the Gulab Jamun which are these little honey balls. They remind of balls of pancakes soaked in syrup. Very good ending to offset the spicy meal.

To sample Kiran Palace's dishes check out their lunch buffet 7 days a week from 11:30-3. For under $10 you can try multiple items from their menu for a cheap price tag.

If you are not familiar with Indian food feel free to ask the servers for help. They go out the the way to make your experience as pleasant as possible.


Kiran Palace
67-75 E Old Country Road
Hicksville NY 11801
Phone: (516) 932-519
http://www.kiranpalacehicksville.net/

Chefs will ajust the level of spice apon request
Handicap accessible
Full Bar
Good Parking
Take out available for $25+ if you live with in a 3 mile radius.

Restaurant Review: La Candela in Hicksville

Man as a food lover I am lucky to be working in Hicksville. At my fingertips I have some of the best ethnic food(especially Indian) in 3 mile stretch of Route 107. My new favorite spot in La Candela a Peruvian restaurant previously occupied by the short lived Fusion Wraps. Besides La Candela the only Peruvian cuisine I have tried is a rotisserie chicken place in Bay Shore called LAS BRASAS which is good but its more of a take out joint. La Candela on the other hand is very inviting sit down restaurant from the decor to the service. You are greeted my smiling faces that lead you to your table. As a added treat you are givin some pieces of toasted corn kernels to snack on while you browse the extensive menu. One can tell the owners really but their time and effort into their restaurant.

La Candela offers a wide variety of Ceviche. Ceviche is raw fish marinated in citrus which 'cooks' the fish. My first time I tried the Ceviche Triple with has Tirdito(fish strips in a yellow pepper sauce), Ceviche Pescado(Chunks of fish in lemon juice) and a mixture of Shrimp and Calamari. The waitress asked me how spicy I wanted it I told her medium because I wanted to see what I was getting into. It was spicy but not unbearable. If you are new to this type of cuisine this what I suggest trying.

Ceviche Triple

Out of the three I liked the Tiradito the best. Next I time I went I just asked for an order of that. This time I told her I wanted it spicy. It was so good that I after the fish was gone I was sipping the juices(which is also called Leche Di Tiger, or milk of the tiger, because it enhances ones stamina in the sack).

Tiradito

If it is too spicy have a sip of a Chicha Morada. This is a native drink made with purple corn and various spices.

Chicha Morada

There are some really nice seafood choices on the menu as well. The waitress recommended that I try the Pescado a lo Macho. This dish consists of a fried fish fillet topped with Calamari, Mussels and Shrimp in a special seafood sauce. Good stuff. Fish was fried perfectly and not over cooked. Calamari was a little tough but the mussels and shrimp were good. The sauce while not spicy is very good and ties everything together.

Pescado a lo Macho

I was curious to compare their chicken to the place in Bay Shore I spoke about before. Pollado is fried chicken pieces in a Peruvian Sauce. This was really good. Crispy, juicy and flavorful The chicken was not drowned in sauce like I pictured in my head but rather lightly tossed. I sensed some pepper and cumin flavors. Served with a salad and fried potatoes I highly recommend this dish.

Pollado

There are also some beef dishes on the menu. Bisket a lo Pobre is a thin steak serves with fries,white rice,plantains and a fried egg. The piece of beef while well seasoned is a little on the chewy side. I've had similar beef dishes like this in other Latino restaurants so I was not surprised by this. The egg over the rice is a nice touch though especially if you let the yolk fall into the rice

Bistek a lo Pombre

I really like this place a lot. Most dishes are $10-$12 so you get a lot of tasty home cooked food for your money.

There are also pasta, soups,Chinese Peruvian and desert dishes on the menu


Notes:

Good Parking
Handicap accessible
No alcohol served, dont know if the honor BYOB
Open for lunch m-f
Delivery available
Private Party Room

www.La-Candela.com
495 South Broadway
Hicksville, NY 11801
516-470-0805