In a culinary world which is becoming more and more stereotyped and franchised, newly opened, cheap, cheerful and 100% independent Jay’s Café & Restaurant in Karama is like a breath of cool fresh air in a stuffy sweatshop. Owned and managed by Chef Jay, himself (despite his young age) a veteran of the corporate world, Jay’s Café is all about authentic, Rajasthani homecooked food and grassroots family values. When I visited, Jay’s mum was on hand to strut, pose and moonwalk around her wonderful beta, proudly singing his praises at every opportunity. In fact, watching mother and son interact with one another was simply the cutest thing in the world. As a consequence, and I actually believe this, the food at Jay’s is full of love; none more so than the superb Dal Baati Churma, the tri-pulse, double-tempered dal of which is the best I have had in a long time. In fact, I would be happy with a bowl of their baati dal, some of their amazing, crispy bhindi and aloo fry and a couple of chapattis – culinary minimalism at its best, which just about sums up Jay’s – well worth a visit.
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Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue.
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