Neel, tote on the turf
Mahalaxmi Race Course
What: Chilgozhe ka Shorba: A lightly spiced pine nut soup.
Taste: The soup, considered a rich man’s food in Kashmir, is absolutely delicious. The roasted pine nuts, blended with some pumpkin, are spiced perfectly. Just a tiny bit of the black cardamom pops up happily to say hello with each sip. Our only complaint — the cup it is served in is too small.
Price: Rs 285
SMD score:u00a0****

What: Gucchi Dum Biryani
Gucchi mushrooms are the star in this biryani, made in the typical dum-style.
Taste: You can’t get more Kashmiri than having gucchi in your Dum Biryani. The hills in the northern state are one of the few places in the world where Gucchi mushrooms, or morels, are grown. The Dum Biryani needs only a tiny bit of the mushrooms to lend it the desired flavour. Jacketed under a sheet of dough, this biryani is marked with a sprinkle of pepper pods to set it apart from its mutton cousin. While the subtle flavours of the biryani are near faultless, they are not entirely unfamiliar.
Price: Rs 885
SMD score:u00a0***