The 7th Wonder of the World... in Mishawaka?

Okay, so maybe "The Taj" restaurant in Mishawaka isn't the same as the real "Taj" in India, but we're still planning on having a great time next Tuesday when we hang out together there for a little Indian cuisine! I stopped by the place today and spoke with the manager (whose name is Rinco) and his staff about you guys, and they will be delighted to have us join them for some fun authentic food! I ordered ahead of time, and thought you would like to know what to expect. In addition, i'm going to list a "sloppiness factor" for you (1 * = not sloppy at all, *** = practically soup) to help you understand the varying degrees of texture with each component:

Black Bean Dahl***: Think "soupy refried beans". Dahl is made from all sorts of things and comes in various colors (depending on source materials and the geography where it is made) and flavors, but one of the more common in India is made from black beans.
Sambahr***: This is commonly called "pepper water" by "us Westerners" and is quite tasty, though many find it to be a little on the "spicy side" in comparison to some other things. Typically, it's ladled over white rice before serving.
Chicken 65**: I've heard a variety of stories about why "Chicken 65" is called such, but Rajendran's story is that it uses 65 spices... or did at one time. It's very flavorful (and is one of my favorite dishes). Think of it as a "dry rubbed barbecue with bite". It's not very "soupy" (you can eat it like Buffalo Wings), but the spices stick to your fingers "Cheeto" style and you will find yourself either licking (a cultural no-no in India, by the way) or wiping your fingers frequently to rid yourself of the lingering particles of spice.
Dosa*: Dosa is kind of like a potato (or other ingredient) burrito. It's a large, soft bread outer skin with "filling" of some sort. It can be either sliced into sections and served (as it will be at the The Taj), or just served in total where the diner is expected to tear it off in pieces and eat it by handfulls. Click here to see Mark Beeson eating "real dosa" in India last November.
Naan*: Think "tortilla" in Mexican food. Naan (and its close cousin, Roti) are multi-purpose, unleavened, soft breads that are served with many Indian meals. In the deep south (i grew up in Arkansas), the concept would be the same as "soppin' bread", as sections of a Naan are torn off and used to "sop up" other components. Typically, the best way to eat Dahl, for instance, is to form a "scoop" with a section of Naan and then use it to gather some of the Dahl before bringing it to your mouth.
"Chutneys"**: Chutneys ranging from very sweet to very spicy abound in Indian cuisine, and they are usually added supplementally to other components of the meal (usually rice or Naan).
Sticky Rice**: Rice is to Indians what bread is to you and me. It's served with every meal, and is the "base" for most dishes (particularly the "soupy" ones that need something "solid" to grab onto when eating with your hands).
Vegetable Brianni**: Think vegetable fried rice. Brianni can be made with a variety of other ingredients (such as mutton, chicken, pork, or, in some circles, even beef), and is light, pleasant, colorful and tasty.
Chicken Curry***: Curry is by far the most common dish in India, and while it doesn't always have to be made with chicken, no Indian meal would be complete without it. Curries, like pretty much everything else in Indian cuisine, can vary radically based on geography and available materials, and seems (at least to me) to be more a "way" of fixing the ingredients than an expected "end result" flavor.

REMINDER: I specifically requested "no silverware". So prepare to eat "Indian style" (i.e. with your hands).

That said, we'll see you at 6 pm sharp on Tuesday, March 7th, at "The Taj" restaurant in Mishawaka. It's part of our Team Training, so participation is mandatory, and you'll want to be there precisely at 6 as i have asked them to have the food ready ahead of time and prepared for us. If you need directions, The Taj is located at the following:

The Taj
508 W McKinley
Mishawaka, IN

The restaurant is located in the shopping center by Martins and K-Mart at the intersection of Grape and McKinley, and is near the Osco Drugstore within that shopping plaza.

Click here for Google Map directions and map from GCC.

See you guys there!
-samurai jack