They say smell transports you back to a place, a moment or a time. And I believe that taste does too. Last week, I was transported back to my host family’s dining room table in Nepal, I was transported back to a tea hut in Bodh Gaya and I was transported back to train journeys around Northern India. Really, I was sat in an Indian restuarant in London for my birthday.
I had heard of Dishoom from so many people, I had also heard of it because every time I walked past, there was a huge queue snaking from the entrance. So, when is a better time to go to this popular restuarant than for my birthday? Especially because Indian food is one of my favourites. So, I booked in advance (for a big group you must book in advance) and we were lead downstairs to a booth for the six of us. The atmosphere was buzzing, the lighting was perfect and the smells from the kitchen were beautiful.
But first, chai! The chai menu was the biggest selcetion I’d seen but I settled with the house chai to begin, and was instantly transported back to my trip to India and Nepal in 2008. Before this and despite being English, I’d never drunk a cup of tea before heading to Nepal but chai was a different story; the warmth, the hint of spice, the milkiness. Chai was the first thing we drank in the morning, it was the drink that we were given whenever we visited somebody’s house and it was what we stopped for when on journeys.
And to finish, because I had to try more than one; the chocolate chai. It had the same spiced kick as the house chai but with a hint of chocolate too. The perfect way to end the meal. It just means I’ll have to go back to try the others from the menu 🙂
But of course, the meal isn’t just about the drinks. The food was amazing, it was real Indian food. We ordered sharing plates and got stuck in.Now I can’t wait to go back again!
Which tastes transport you back?
Marcella xx
WhatAWonderfulWorld 
Absolutely love Chai! I’m so jealous about your time in Nepal- I wanna go 🙂
Nepal is so beautiful 🙂 A place that will stay with me forever!
I’ve never been a big chai fan, but now that I know you can get chocolate chai, I’m going to have to rethink things 🙂 Now, I’m craving curry too. Looks like it was declicious!
Chocolate chai was another level of great 🙂 Hope I didn’t leave you too hungry!
I think I’m more of a smell person – smells can transport me instantly. It can be kind of overwhelming sometimes, but I love scent memories. They’re so primal. I loved this post, thanks for sharing! And happy belated birthday! Looks like the perfect way to celebrate.
Totally agree, there is one suncream I use and every time I apply it, it takes me back to Nepal too as it’s the first place I used it. It amazes me how our brains can pinpoint the smells to memories, pretty clever!
Yay for Dishoom! I love that place 🙂 I’ve actually only somewhat recently been for dinner, which I really enjoyed. That’s because I usually go for breakfast! I love having the chai, and one of their breakfast naan sandwiches. Next time give it a try in the morning (it also seems to be less crowded then)!
Don’t worry… I already have a breakfast trip planned, ha 😉 Can’t wait to try it as I’ve heard really great things! Yum! 😀
So many chai, so little time! lol I totally agree with you, taste and smell totally takes me back to places I’ve been. Most recently, when I drink German beer here in the States, it immediately takes me back!
Indeed indeed! Love all the good memories that are associated with taste 🙂
This all looks so delicious! I would try all of it, but especially the chocolate chai, yum!
It was so good! Can’t wait to try it again 🙂
I LOVE chai! It transports me back to Uganda which is where I enjoyed it for the first time. Sooooo good!
Yum! So good 🙂
I feel this way about a lot of food! There’s a Korean restaurant across the street from where I work, and sometimes when I catch whiffs of it I’m instantly transported back to Korea! And a good cappuccino always makes me think of Italy 🙂
That’s the best! Like travelling but while walking around local streets, how cool 🙂
You know what I’ve only recently discovered chai and I loved it right away! I think I had been a bit afraid of it cause I had only heard of Chai lattes, etc. and I don’t do coffee lol. But I was going to say when I saw on that menu, I would have loved to taste that chocolate chai and then your photo appeared! It looks amazing! And so did the food. Happy belated birthday 🙂
What a great discovery chai is 😉 I don’t like coffee either but despite the name, chai lattes are just milky chai and don’t contain coffee (all of the ones I have had anyway!) Thanks for the birthday wishes, it was great! 😀
Now I want to have one too, just looking at your photos makes my mouth water!
Oops! If only they did chai to deliver 😉 hehe.
Yum I love Dishoom. Totally worth the queue – but even better if you don’t have to!
It’s so good, isn’t it? Can’t believe I didn’t go until last week!!
Taste transports me back too! I’ve never been great at picking up on smells, lol. Mmmm chai! I fell in love with chai in Singapore, actually! Because there’s a huge Indian population there, so we went out for Indian food a lot. I’ve nevernhad chocolate chai though and it sounds DELICIOUS!!! I must find some!
Ohh yum! I’m not even sure if chocolate chai is a real thing, I mean dishoom have quite a few fusion drinks and I think it might be one of those! Either way, it was A.Mazing!!