Jolly Indian Bistro Surprise Pt I

I was driving along West 4th a couple of months ago when I noted -- with dismay -- that Jolly's Indian Bistro looked as though it had closed. I had always liked the lighter interpretation of Indian food served up there, and made a mental note to find another place that could do the same thing.

Just a week later, I got an email informing me Jolly's had simply moved from 4th and MacDonald to Fourth and Bayswater, a block down the street. Don't know how I missed it.

Anyhoo, I'll post pictures later this week of the delicious dinner I had, but I did want to point out the fun and remarkably inexpensive drinks menu. I started off with an "Indian Temple", a sweet version of a Shirley Temple made smoky with the addition of whiskey, and served in a fresh coconut. Easily worth $10 in a different restaurant, it was just $5. I also sipped away on refreshing ginger lemonade, made from fresh ginger, salt, simple syrup, and Seven Up, and spicy smooth chai helped me digest after all was said and done.

Worth revisiting for sure, and not too difficult to make at home if you want to try.

Indian Temple

1 oz whiskey

1 oz grenadine

orange juice

Seven Up

Peel off the exterior of a fresh coconut and remove most of the interior (save it for adding to a curry or something like that.) Pour in the whiskey and grenadine, and top with equal parts orange juice and Seven Up until the coconut's full.

If you find this a little too sweet for your taste, you can substitute soda water in for the Seven Up and add in a little more whiskey to boost the undertones of the drink.