Taj of India
Oct 19, 2016
Taj is Persian for “crown.” And so this is a fitting name. Taj of India is the gilded crown
of downtown. It is owned by the same
family who owns Taste of India and opened less than a month ago in the hot spot
beside Jess’ on Court Square.
Before I describe the buffet for you, I feel the need to cover two topics:
Topic Number One: Nutrition.
This blog is a collection of my reviews of and experiences in restaurants. The food that I order in restaraunts is not indicative
of my everyday diet. I am aware that restaurant food is full of sugar and GMO’s
and processed foods and factory meats. Some
people tell me that it is pointless to eat healthy only some of the time, that it
is either all or nothing. And there may
be truth to that. But I would not want
to die tomorrow having never gone out to eat for fear of the food. Going to restaurants brings me great joy, as
does writing these reviews, and let me say for the record: As soon as there is
a local, organic place that serves delicious grub, I will be their biggest fan.
Next topic!
Topic Number Two: If you do not
know me in real life, feel free to skip this paragraph. It is going to be quite big. The topic here is The People
I Have Loved. I have been greatly
blessed to have had many people, places, and things in my life, as I know many
of us have. I do not keep up with the
people I love as well as I should and these restaurant reviews are not written by a different me than you have known.
They are just a fun outlet for my creativity. I will never forget you people. All the people I have met and known, you have
shaped me, you have changed me, and I think about you and pray for you
everyday. You are always on my
mind. My coworkers at Brethren Woods and
on the YPTT – you taught me how to live in community and have fun in
nature. My high school friends, you know
who you are, you taught me how to be a friend and listened when I talked. Peeps from JMU, thanks for hanging around
when I was a miserable wreck and never giving up on me. Special shout out to Jon. Sorry I didn’t call you on your
birthday. Friends at Pancho Villa,
muchas gracias! I will talk more about
that in the next review. To all the
teachers I’ve had and children I’ve taught, there will always be a thread of truth
between us. To my BVS buddies, those
brave souls who gave and give so much of themselves, I love you. You are some of the best people on
Earth. Germans! What up! You taught me culture, you made me laugh, what a time to be alive. Natalie, thank you for your
friendship. A special, genuine, colorful
and deep thank you to Peace Church of the Brethren and Camp Myrtlewood. Your love and acceptance changed my
life. I remember the moment Merry Titus
opened my third eye with a flick of her finger.
I remember Lou and Peggy driving us around and watching after us. I remember Jan and Doug goofing off together. The honor I had being in Kerby Lauderdale’s
presence when he spoke I will remember forever. Eileen and Patrick's trust and friendship. Laura Seull telling me like it is.
Everyone. Sol and Treena and John
and Margaret treating me like family.
Serving me hot coffee in front of a fireplace and offering nonjudgmental
ears. My friends in Portland, Wayne, Ellen and Darrell, Clarissa, and Alexander, LeeAnne, thank you for taking me in. Andrew, who showed me the beauty in myself
for the first time, I wouldn’t be the same if I had never met you. To the ex-boyfriends and men whose lives I’ve
shaken up, thank you for all the lessons and love.
Andy, I still think of you. Thank
you for being with me. Vonnie, I still
want to call you when there’s good news.
Thank you for always listening.
Gramma and Grampa, thank you for all that you have given me. To my fellow mariners at Trackers, you are
some of the most inspirational and cool people I have ever met; thanks for all
the fun on the shore. To my family,
thank you for all your help my whole life.
Friends at Jess,’ it was such a good time. My Mennonite buddies, you taught me about
hard work and living off the land and keeping a thankful smile everyday. And new friends at the farmers market, you
all teach me something new every time we talk; each of you is a wellspring of
information. To my roommates: I have never felt more comfortable at home
than I do right now. Who am I without
you all? All of you wonderful souls not
only encouraged me but you taught me.
You not only taught me, but you loved me. You gifted me with the strength and wisdom I have today. I think of you and I bless you and I cannot
wait to reunite with you one day some day.
I love you.
Boy, what a softy. She’s probably
crying. Back to Indian Food. Back to the Best Buffet in Town.
We were early birds, Gramma and I.
The place opened at eleven and it was ten til. We walked around the block. When we were almost there, we ran into
Angeliki, who said we look so much alike.
“I don’t even know her,” Gramma said.
We arrived just as they were opening the doors. And some doors!
The inside of Taj is, just, like, wow.
The gorgeous chandeliers are the tip of the iceburg. The tables and chairs are ornate, the music
is classical flute, everything is noice.
Ice water is served in aluminum goblets. And then there is the buffet.
Platters set out for royalty.
Fruits galore. So much food. And we were the only ones there.
The waitstaff were helping themselves to the feast and it reminded me of
last winter when Tom or Angeliki would ask if I was hungry and then make me
whatever I wanted for breakfast.
I remembered the last time I had eaten at Taj, a few weeks prior. It had been my first buffet in a while and I
thought my stomach was the same size it had always been. Wrong.
Four plate-fulls and four hours of complaining before Angeliki spotted me
and beamed so bright because she literally thought I was pregnant. I wouldn’t do that again.
We hit the buffet. I set down a
base of saffron-stained rice and vegetable pakora (fried vegetables. fried.). Then I spooned sauces with no deliberation,
wanting to try each one. Grabbed some
naan, just two to start, remember last time.
Gramma got a little sample of everything. Our plates were piled high and we sat down.
I said it before and I’ll say it again, this is The Best Buffet in
Town. The food is to die for. The naan was chewy and delicious. The sauces were creamy and exotic. The food wasn’t too spicy or too salty. So many of the dishes are based around vegetables which is pretty cool. It was perfect. Gramma
noted that all the waiters were men. She
would . . .
Damn! I was full after the first plate.
I went up for more rice topped with chicken tikka masala, and a little
bowl of Kheer (rice pudding) and Gulab Jamun (best dessert name I know).
We drank our hot chai teas. They
tasted like Christmas and I thought maybe I should get some chai tea for Christmastime. As Gramma chased a rather rowdy sweetball
around her plate with a knife, we talked with the waiters who were from Nepal and Mumbai. The more dark people you
introduce your grandparents to, if they are country people like mine, the
better. Gramma even flirted a
little.
I overheard a customer ask about vegan dishes and the waiter pointed out
three or four options from the buffet, which isn’t bad, as far as vegan choices
in Harrisonburg go.
Conclusion: Both prince and pauper will love Taj of India. The buffet was only $9 and the chai was $3,
and worth every penny.
What a classy, beautiful place. And
right downtown, too! I highly recommend it. Amanda Out!
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