I was extremely honoured to be invited last evening, to the launch event for: Tulsi Restaurant, 51 High Street, Holywood, BT18 9AB Tulsi is also known as Holy Basil and can be found all over the Sub Continent. It is cultivated for religious, medicinal and essential oil use especially in Auyurvedic medicine and is also used in traditional Hindu ceremonies. The Tulsi plant is not uncommon in many Hindu households- it is truly an elixir of life. The very name Tulsi personifies purity and authenticity and this was very evident in the whole experience, right from the decor, the welcome and hospitality to the intimacy of surrounds and of course the traditional and very authentic North Indian cuisine. There was also some fantastic live music by Noel. The four partners have certainly put a lot of love and effort into bringing Tulsi to our shores, having been in N Ireland for over ten years. Indeed Chef Ram is a seasoned campaigner and in race horse terms is a pure thoroughbred when it comes to professional and superb chef skills. He has had extensive training in major 5 Star Hotels in New Delhi and Hong Kong before coming to Belfast over ten years ago. His ethos is perfection in quality ingredients and cooking methods, always seeking out genuine, authentic menus. After a meet and greet drinks reception we were seated and served a sharing non veg platter consisting of: Samosa, mint chutney, malai chicken, chicken skewers with sweet chilli sauce, mixed vegetable pakora and lettuce-my mouth is watering as I write this!!!! This selection showed me that Chef had it spot on and that this was as good and genuine as the food I've eaten in India!! Roll on the mains.... For our main course it was buffet service and again we were spoilt for choice: Clockwise (viz picture) from the soft, fragrant garlic nan I had Thai vegetable curry, cucumber salad, butter chicken, ghosth bhuna, daal makhani, aloo gobhi all served on aromatic pilau rice. This was pure and wholesome with none of the excess oil, artificial colours and sugar which is evident in many restaurants near and far. We had a rich and delicious Gajar Ka halva, which is a carrot dessert and topped off the meal fittingly. In short the food was delicious, true and authentic.......so enough said pay them a visit and experience the real Indian Cuisine. I would argue that this is certainly in the top 5 proper Indian restaurants in Northern Ireland and has a huge thumbs up from me!!! read more