The Die-Hard Biryani Lover: Karthik Gandhi

The most loved foodie of India, Karthik Gandhi, is one of the most famous food bloggers and keeps giving us reasons to fall in love with food, again and again. If you are a biryani lover and want to know where to get the best biryani in Hyderabad, his blog is the key. He still calls himself a biryani virgin who hasn’t tried some of the well-known places like Mohini’s, Bawarchi RTC X-roads and few more.

View this post on Instagram

*********** READ & LET ME KNOW WHICH TRIP MADE YOU A TRAVEL BUG ******* As a food blogger, I was always a contented person to explore within the city, but Dubai trip on my 10th Anniversary with my partner changed the whole ideology of traveling. From then I make a mandate to travel every 6 months once minimum because I realized travel and food exploration go hand in hand and travel adds on memories as well. My favorite day in Dubai trip was visiting @thedubaimall and @burjkhalifa (the iconic stellar skyscraper) and I could see my wife heartfully smiling at this marvel and meant that she was already stung by the travel bug. After long years, I could see my partner feeling she is in a place where she feels HERSELF !!! The magnanimity of the building, the humongous water fountain setup, and JUST US !!! What else can a man ask? Thanks, Dubai for such a beautiful memory and Thanks to @klookindia to giving us amazing deals on this trip <3 #klook #klookindia #klookittofreedom #dubai #dubaitourism @klookindia @hyderabad.food.diaries @the.gastrophile @thatgirlwithapron @mrsfoodieglobetrotter @from_vodka_to_nappies Guess what? Klook is running an amazing contest to make such experiences. Here's your chance to win a travel voucher of Rs.6000 from Klook😍 All you gotta do is – 1) Share an image of you from your favorite vacation 2) Tag 5 of your travel buddies 3) Use #klookittofreedom 4) Tag @klookindia #natgeo #dubai #burjkhalifa #traveldairies #travel #natgeotravel #dubaimall #instagram #travelphotography #burjkhalifadubai #travelholic #travelgram #nature #burjkhalifaview #instatravel #natgeoyourshot #dubaimallaquarium #burjkhalifatower #travelling

A post shared by ⒼⒶⓈⓉⓇⓄⒽⓄⒼⒼⒺⓇ © (@gastrohogger) on

He was exposed to a multiple cuisines during his stay in USA. It was difficult for him to connect to the city when he came back to Hyderabad in 2012. However, he found his bonding love in food that helped him connect and add to his exceptional gastronomic journey. He believes that there is no love purer than the love for food and shares his gastronomic hogging experiences with the mantra: Keep Hogging, Keep Blogging!

View this post on Instagram

#GastroHogger #LetsHog #Peshawar #PakistaniMarvel If you are bored of regular cuisines and want to indulge in some unique unexplored cuisines of the Pashtun and Baloch, then Peshawar Restaurant. Lakdi Ka Pul is the restaurant is your destination. Though both the cuisines are less on spice and are loads of cream, ghee and butter, their subtle flavor and distinct taste pack a punch and have some close resemblance to Mughlai and Punjabi delicacies. Nothing much to speak about its ambiance as its typical lakdipul area set up but hygienic and clean to a good level. We started with their signature "Balauchi Chaap". It consists of lamb chops marinated in simple spices and kept for several hours before being cooked in a charcoal tandoor. Finally served after a good toss with a cream-based sauce. Seems to be crowd favorite. Next came "Sajid-a-raan-Laham", another popular item on the menu, the dish serves a marinated lamb leg cooked in a tandoor. After the meat becomes juicy and tender, it is deboned and tossed in chef’s special sauce prepared using selected spices and cream. This was my pick of the day some serious foodgasm here. We also tried their "Peshawari Nalla Barra" which is closely resembling nalli gosht more tossed in a completely tomato based sauce and cream and the flavor it packs is top notch. I literally licked off the plate with this dish. So delicious. We also tried their Mutton Chaapli Kebab which was good but not top notch like the other 3 starters we had. With completely stocked up with mutton over mutton, we only had an appetite to try their "Mutton Biryani", it again proved this place is top notch for the classics. A slightly different style of fragrance from it than our traditional dum biryani and also had subtle flavors. The salan that came with it was beyond this world. One of the best and must try. We then wrapped it with "Badam Kund" which was like almost badam halwa while I expected to be more sweeter based on what I have heard about kund. Overall, a complete no-nonsense place that is one of the best picks for eating some delicious soulful good and come out with a happy tummy and smile in your face !!!! #GastroHogger #food #yummy #food52

A post shared by ⒼⒶⓈⓉⓇⓄⒽⓄⒼⒼⒺⓇ © (@gastrohogger) on

His blog, Gastro Hogger (https://www.gastrohogger.com/about) has all the content to satiate your hunger (pun intended) with street food from the nook and corners of the country, homemade delicacies, desserts, and quick fix cooking. As a food blogger, Karthik Gandhi has brought in more business by reaching out to the target audience and enhancing customer engagement. He also has a massive following on his Instagram handle @gastrohogger (https://www.instagram.com/gastrohogger/?hl=en) of 61.5k and an audience that is loyal and ever-increasing.

View this post on Instagram

No matter how many other state cuisines try to showcase in this city, the city of biryani always has an affinity to Hyderabadi and south Indian cuisine. And you can never see a downtrend in a number of south Indian restaurants. But many come and go without a trace. You even get to hear many names after they disappear as well. Such is the competition and customer response which is purely on "GOOD FOOD – FIRST. EVERYTHING ELSE – REST" . But when an established brand like Kavanah, comes with the idea of south Indian cuisine, you know for sure they would do all their homework right. Post my dinner, I could say @naatugagaatuga , brainchild from Venkat Thrinath Endla bro is unlike other wannabe restaurants but simply put servers damn delicious food PERIOD. Miryala rasam, Nannari, and crispy appalams set a perfect tone to indicate what we had in the pipeline. The array of starters – karuvepakku kodi vepudu, royyala igguru, paneer pakoda, masala garalu with natu kodi pulusu , miryala uppu guddu and much more were still stellar. from the mains we tried Gongura chicken pulao and prawns pulav, both were super-rich, subtle flavors and absolutely mouth-watering. The home favorite "palli podi ghee annam" was as comforting as it gets on a otherwise boring day. To end on a perfect note, Saggubiyyam payasam was served which looked otherwise simple but on tasting, it was the perfect finale. Apt sweetness and super guey Saggubiyyam made it desirable again and again. It was so apt that I ended up having it 3 times back to back shamelessly OVERALL Naatuga Gaatuga – TOP STAR #food #yummy #blogger #foodporn #foodclick #foodgasm #hyderabadi #foodstagram #instalike #instafoodgram #indianfoodbloggers #indianbloggers #food52 #desifoodie #indiafood #foodofinsta #foodofinstagram #foodies #foodmaniacindia #foodlovers #instafoodporn #follow #followforfollow #gastrohogger #foodlovers

A post shared by ⒼⒶⓈⓉⓇⓄⒽⓄⒼⒼⒺⓇ © (@gastrohogger) on

Being a hardcore biryani lover, he gives us all some serious biryani goals. When he was asked about his favorite dish, he said that Dum Biryani is undeniably delicious. He compared it to his bloodline of blogging and said that at the end of the day, when his craving goes high, it is only for biryani. His blood boils when someone says ‘veg biryani’ because pulao is definitely not biryani and a true lover will always know the difference between a biryani and a wannabe biryani pulao. For any queries/collaborations/reviews/events, do reach out to him at Karthik.gandhi@gmail.com!