Terrific Takeout: Minar Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Our friend owner Inder Singh; his father, Mohan Singh, is in the background picture
Inder holds the Tandoori Fish
Fresh Origins is America’s leading producer of Microgreens and Edible Flowers. Combining the benefits of an ideal climate with a deep passion for quality and innovation, Fresh Origins products are sought after by the finest restaurants and top chefs. The farm is located in the picturesque rolling hills of San Diego County, where the near perfect weather allows for production and harvest all year. Fresh Origins produces almost 400 Microgreens, Petitegreens, Edible Flowers, Shoots, Tiny Veggies™ and related items. Many are not available anywhere else, with new introductions nearly every month. Fresh Origins products are on top of the finest cuisine in the world! Fresh Origins supplies distributors of specialty produce who serve fine dining restaurants and resorts nationwide. There are also a few online sources of their products available to private chefs and home cooks. Read our first Culinary Queen interview with Kelly Sasuga:
For more information about Fresh Origins, visit their website at
If you are hungry near the Empire State Building, there is some fantastic Indian comfort food that will hit the spot at Minar! We recently visited this venue for the first time and were really impressed. In 1978, the late Mohan Singh began in the New York restaurant business with the restaruant Poonam, at 26th and Broadway, and later Mohan opened Minar in 1983 on 27th Street and 5th Avenue. Inspired by his father, Inder Singh took over Minar in 1990 and moved it to its current location that we visited at 5 West 31st Street. (There are also two other current locations of Minar: 44th St and Third Avenue and 138 West 46th Street.) Inder is also not too far from MSG and he tells us he likes the Rangers (if you see a Ranger give them a hug. They need it right now.)
Inder suggested we begin with the Masala Dosa: Lentil crepe filled with potatoes, onions and nuts. It arrives to you in style with two side components: Coconut Chutney and Sambar. We felt like we were on an edible vacation to India already. This is found in the Dosa section of the menu and all under this heading come with these two side features.
Peachy Deegan feels like she is already being adventurous eating Indian, so she always orders the same thing because of its great past success record: Chicken Tikka Masala. Minar's edition did not disappoint and this delicious roasted boneless chicken rejoices in a fresh tomato sauce with bell peppers. You should know that Minar takes all their spices very seriously and everything is spiced with their own proprietary spices. You can taste their excellence in every bite. Of course, rice comes with this. We really love the cream going through this dish!
As you know we always look for a fresh green salad, however, the closest thing to it is the Saag Paneer at Minar. This means spinach! We love spinach and this is enhanced with homemade cheese cubes, and in spices bien sur! Another amazing comfort food by Inder. We really loved everything we tried and we cannot say that for too many Indian places and cannot say that for too many new places at all. (Often we like a lot but not everything.)
Given our clearcut enthusiasm for Chicken Tikka Masala, Inder Singh pointed out to us that there is another dish with chicken and cream that we might try: Chicken Shahi Korma. We do not recall trying this before anywhere. This is also boneless chicken, and it's mildly spiced and cooked in cream sauce. This homestyle wonder also had notes of curry and cashew nuts and if you like chicken and cream, you ought to try this for a change. We might have liked this even better than our standard!
We are very big fans of garlic, and garlic bread, no matter what the nationality. You have to try the garlic naan! It is so soft and chewy and honestly addictive. This did not last five blocks from Minar and was the first thing gone!
The Tandoori fish is perhaps the most impressive, and it is a Wednesday special at all three Minar locations. It has a depth of flavor that is of course from the Indian spices in conjunction with the freshness of the fish itself. It's not too spicy we are happy to say (firebreathing Peachy can be scary.)
Finally, our drink. We can't drink this and not think of a collie. If anything is too spicy for you this will put out the fire. Personally, we were not literally on fire in the sense that Peachy needed to drink a lake or an ocean, but we are ablaze with enthusiasm for this place.
A Mango Lassi, and our first Minar experience was complete!
Minar is definitely Terrific Takeout!
