Moonee Ponds Indian restaurant Haldi Puckle St opens

A new Moonee Ponds restaurant’s chefs are challenging foodies to try “unexplored” Mumbai street dishes.

Rachel Clayton

less than 2 min read

December 8, 2018 - 12:00AM

Moonee Valley Leader

Haldi Indian’s special Dum Biryani with basmati rice casserole, flavoured with spices, saffron, rose water and your choice of chicken, lamb, or vegetables.

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A new Indian restaurant with a flair for “unexplored” dishes has opened in Moonee Ponds.

Haldi Indian restaurant chefs want Melbourne foodies to explore the tastes and textures of the Mumbai street food most travellers are afraid to try.

Co-owner DJ Singh, originally from Delhi, said many travellers in India avoided street food for hygiene reasons.

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“We are planning to change the menu every four months and put dishes from every corner of India on the menu,” Mr Singh said.

“There’s a lot of places in India that are not well known in Australia, we are going to bring those here.”

One item on the menu is a chicken vindaloo tikka — Haldi’s speciality dish — consisting of smoky, 12 hour marinated chicken with fenugreek seeds and cassia sticks.

Haldi’s lamb seek kebabs.

Mr Singh said most Australians had heard of a beef or lamb vindaloo but not one with poultry.

And for those who want a lighter meal, Haldi serves a tandoori chicken salad with quinoa, chickpeas and house salad.

Haldi Indian restaurant’s Chef Atar Singh and owner Raj Singh. Picture: Ellen Smith

Head chef Atar Singh trained with master chefs in India, including the masterminds behind the butter chicken, before heading to Japan for five years, then Tasmania, and finally Melbourne where he became head chef at Atta Restaurant in Albert Park.

The well-travelled chef has achieved his lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant to bring together the culinary techniques and ideas learnt from years of experience.

Mr Singh said the chefs could cater to all dietary requirements as long as they were given two days notice.