DINER'S CLUB
Healthy, fresh and organic approach sets Piquant apart

Melissa Fleming
H.P. Mirror staff

Piquant Grill & Bread Bar
349A George St, New Brunswick
732.246-2468

Location, location, location. Smack in the heart of downtown New Brunswick, Piquant has become a regular lunch and dinner stop for local workers, students, and visitors to the city. Piquant has been open for two years in May, and with their original new age style they have only good things coming to them.

It is not your traditional, run of the mill Indian restaurant. Operated and owned by Kirti Rahi, Piquant's "New Age" cuisine has established a solid connection with vegetarian and vegan clientele. They do not have your "standard buffet," as Kirti calls it, "with a layer of oil sitting on top of all the trays." They instead have a knowledgeable friendly staff made up of local students.

Kirti's story is a dream come true for many. During nearly fifteen years in the bustling field of information technology, she kept finding her true passion has been cooking and feeding those around her. She changed her entire life around, tapping her rainy day fund to enroll in culinary school at the Natural Gourmet Institute of New York, researching the restaurant industry, and soon after graduation opening Piquant.

Since the inception, Piquant has received sterling reviews, and is already honored as the Best Vegetarian Restaurant by NJ Monthly magazine. The atmosphere alone makes Piquant such a special place: their spacious setup, with earthy tones, music and aroma, is somehow equally welcoming for an intimate dinner or a banquet for forty.

Most of their dishes have purely organic materials. Whenever possible, they work to support our local farms. Spices are bought wholesale, then roasted and ground in the kitchen. The dishes are not as spicy as one would typically expect; Kirti offers that this is because when a dish is too spicy, it takes away from the flavors intended. My Cauliflower Manchurian had a delicious mix, not overbearingly hot, of flavor and spice.

The Chicken Tandoor is out of this world! Mixed with a bit of Basmati rice, this moist and tender chicken melts in your mouth like butter. Their naan is fresh and fluffy with a caramelized onion center. Their bread bar is extensive: try the Haree Roti Vegan (whole wheat bread with fresh fenugreek leaves, coriander seeds and garlic), Tandoori Mint Paratha Vegan (a whole wheat bread with dried mint & extra virgin olive oil), and many more.

All of the desserts are homemade and many are vegan and gluten free. Kirti's Vegan Baklava replaces butter with coconut oil, honey with brown sugar and cinnamon. Even the drinks are a homemade blend including mango shakes and organic teas.

Piquant also hosts an array of community-oriented events. Local businesses can bring their employees to Kirti for team-building sessions in which everyone works together to prepare various dishes. Kirti offers a monthly cooking class and is currently working on hosting vegan and gluten-free nights in which buffets will be set up for your healthy eating pleasure.

Kirti offers, "Once you come, you come again!" If you haven't been, give it a go. The food is delicious and the experience is enlightening.