'Myanmar on my plate': Come, join 'The Ten-Year Trail' of Burma Burma’s culinary legacy

Hyderabad: 'Burma Burma', the Burmese specialty restaurant and tea room, is marking its 10th anniversary with a special, limited-edition menu titled ‘The Ten-Year Trail.’

This unique dining experience, available from August 12 to September 30, 2024, across all Burma Burma locations in India, pays homage to the restaurant’s journey through Burma’s diverse culinary landscape over the past decade.

Founded in 2014 with its first location in Fort, Mumbai, Burma Burma has since expanded to thirteen restaurants and delivery kitchens across major cities like Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.

The restaurant’s co-founder and culinary team have spent years exploring the rich and varied culinary traditions of Burma, bringing back to India not just recipes, but stories and cultural insights that have shaped their offerings.

The Ten-Year Trail: A Culinary Travelogue

The ‘Ten-Year Trail’ menu is a testament to Burma Burma’s decade-long journey through the heart of Burma, from the hilly terrains of Kachin to the bustling streets of Yangon, and the borderlands of Kokang.

The limited-edition menu features dishes that reflect the traditional flavors and innovative culinary practices discovered by the team during their explorations.

“Every trip to Burma has been a unique experience for our culinary team. A different recipe, a unique story, now all culminated into one amazing menu,” the Burma Burma team shared, highlighting the depth and authenticity of the dishes on offer.

Savoring Regional Delicacies

The menu is a curated collection of regional dishes that bring to life the culinary diversity of Burma.

Highlights include the Highway Meal Parcel from Yangon, a commuter’s meal of steamed rice and curry, accompanied by salad and fresh herbs, and Siman Thoke, a salad from the Prom tribe in the Shan region, made with chickpea tofu shreds and raw papaya. Another standout is the Kho Poong with Pebok Chet, a one-pot dish inspired by sustainable practices from the monasteries of Bago, featuring a white pea and roselle curry with a spicy fermented soybean relish and rice.

Other notable dishes include the Tar La Baw, a fermented and sun-dried bamboo broth from the Karen tribe in Kachin, infused with pounded ginger and basil, served with red pumpkin and rice vermicelli noodles, and the Sarbuthi, a corn soup with pickled mushrooms from the Chin hills.

The menu also features home-style communal meals like the Sar Hype, wok-tossed rice noodles with seared mock meat, and tofu in a tamarind and sawtooth coriander sauce, reflecting the flavors of Kachin. The Split Gill Mushroom Rice from Kachin is another must-try, featuring foraged split gill mushrooms with rice, flavored with roasted mushroom extract, garlic, and soy, topped with Burmese pounded tomato.

Refreshing Beverages to Complement the Experience

To complement the rich flavors of the food, Burma Burma has introduced a selection of unique beverages inspired by traditional Burmese drinks. The Mont Let Saung, a cooler from Inle town, combines palm jaggery, coconut milk, and toasted coconut shavings. Another refreshing option is the Kan Lan Yay, a blend of fresh sugarcane juice with raspberry purée, lime, and nori salt. For those looking for something more adventurous, the Durian Float offers a blend of durian banana milk, black grass jelly, and nata de coco.

Indulgent Desserts to End the Meal

No celebration is complete without a sweet ending, and Burma Burma’s anniversary menu delivers indulgent desserts that are as unique as they are delicious.

The Burmese Milk Tea Cheesecake is infused with Burmese tea and topped with brown butter streusel, stewed roasted apple confit, cinnamon ice cream, and cinnamon caramel. The Burmese Tropical Fruit Pavlova features coconut Chantilly, tropical fruit salsa, mango gel, ginger coconut ice cream, and mango passion caviar. Another standout dessert is the Citrus Tea Leaf a tea leaf financier with lemon fermented tea foam, kaffir lime curd, honey chantilly, honey gel, almond streusel, and citrus mango ice cream.

Honoring Burma’s Culinary Legacy

“Burma Burma’s ‘The Ten-Year Trail’ is more than just a menu; it’s a celebration of the restaurant’s commitment to bringing the essence of Burma to Indian diners. Despite sharing its borders with culturally significant countries, Burma has stayed true to its unique identity. This menu honors that legacy, offering a treasure trove of recipes ranging from family heirlooms to tribal cooking” the Burma Burma team remarked.

For those who appreciate the richness of Burmese culture and cuisine, ‘The Ten-Year Trail’ offers an opportunity to experience the heart and soul of Burma through its food. Join Burma Burma in celebrating a decade of discovery and culinary excellence.