Roll models

The Guide goes in search of the perfect roll at two new joints and comes back with a report card

Not on a roll
Chakum Chukum is a new roll joint in Indiranagar that brings the taste of the Kolkata-style kathi rolls to Bangalore. The name Chakum Chukum is a Bengali onomatopoetic term for the sound made while eating something delicious. This tiny roll joint is more of a takeaway, the only seating available are a couple of chairs or a place under a tree. The menu lists all possible kinds of rolls both vegetarian and non vegetarian along with Moghlai Parota, a Bengali style Mughal dish. We began with a Double Mutton Egg Roll (Rs 65), a floury paratha layered with eggs and stuffed with mutton tikkas, finely sliced onions, green chillies and finished off with a dash of lime. The tikkas were well cooked and the paratha not too greasy.



Apart from the usual chicken and mutton rolls available, the eatery has taken a leap in terms of creating some rolls of their own such as the shammi, liver and even vegetarian rolls. We decided to try the Mutton Shammi Roll (Rs 60) that came stuffed withu00a0 mutton mince, onions and green chillies. We didn't catch a hint of the chana dal in the mutton mince (an essential ingredient in a Shammi Kabab) filling and found it too salty and spicy for our liking.u00a0u00a0

As a hardcore Bengali foodie, I would ideally scoff at any roll with a vegetarian filling but trying out everything once is a call of duty you just can't avoid. The Palak Paneer Roll (Rs 60) came with a filling of cooked spinach and paneer tikkas. The tikkas were cooked well, the spinach a nice touch and the roll quite appealing to the palate.

We were looking forward to the Chicken Moghlai Parota (Rs 90), a very tricky business usually. The parathas have to be flaky and light; the filling should melt in your mouth and should compliment the crispness of the parathas. This version turned out to be thick overfried parathas with a chicken tikka filling instead of the finely minced chicken cooked with spices and onions we were looking for.u00a0

The service is a tad slow but those are teething problems of a tiny start up perhaps where the demand is much more than the supply. However we wish everything meaty here did not have that angry red food colouring and the authencity factor was worked upon a bit.u00a0u00a0

At 7th Main Road, 4th cross Indiranagar
Call 4211 5536
Meal for two Rs 250

Roll baby roll

Walk down a bustling lane outside Jyoti Nivas College and you will see endless rows of new stores and food joints that have sprung up in every nook and cranny in this part of Koramangala. Lazeez Express is one such eatery.

Known mainly for its rolls, which is quite evident from the Bihari chef busy rolling out atleast six maida rotis on the huge tava with dollops of ghee mixed in oil. Next to him sits the cashier. If you're in a rush you just pay up, wait for about ten minutes, pick up your rolls and scoot. If you're in one of those moods to sit down with a bunch of friends, then step upstairs and choose from a handful of chairs and tables.

It won't take you long to flip through the tiny menu. I tried the Chicken Egg Roll (Rs 50), a safe bet generally. The maida roti, draped with egg, had dry and slightly burnt chunks of chicken and lots of chopped onions didn't do anything to tantalize my palate. I did have a bite of the Mutton Roll (Rs 47) too. If you're a veggie, you might like to try the Aloo Paneer Roll (Rs 50), which has two fried aloo tikkis rolled into a roti with lots of onion again.

There's also some curries and kebabs on the menu. For vegetarians there's only Paneer Butter Masala (Rs 80) and Paneer Lahsuni Kebab (Rs 90), which they can cook in a curry style if you wish and are fairly decent to taste.

Sadly though none of the dishes on the menu could bring out the glutton in me.

At Lazeez Express, 50/1, Opp Jyoti Nivas College, 5th Block, KHB Colony, Koramangala.
Call 5079 6475/ 903587139.
Meal for two Rs 250.

Chakum Chukum and Lazeez Express didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals.