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Blogger’s Table @ Varq, Taj Mahal Palace, New Delhi

August 18, 2013 by TheWhiteRamekins

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

I get really picky when it comes to Indian cuisine, while eating out. There are very few places, which do all the traditional recipes really well. The heavily cream laden curries, is something I don’t care about. I loath it the most, when the kitchen tries to hide the blunders of unbalanced flavors under a greasy thick and spicy curry. And mostly, while I am celebrating with friends and family, I try not to take chances with new setups and stick to my favorites only. So, while I got to know about Blogger’s Table gathering at Varq, a contemporary Indian cuisine  restaurant at Taj Mahal Palace, New Delhi, I initially was a bit hesistant to go. But when I got to know, that the Blogger’s Table is giving farewell to it’s charmingly sweet Cookaroo, I could not resist. I had to attend this for her.  She’s following her husband for his work assignment abroad.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

Talking about Varq, the restaurant has featured in the top 50 restaurants in the Eleventh annual listing of The S. Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants Asia List. The menu at the restaurant is Grand Master Chef Hemant Oberoi’s masterpiece, wherein he has taken food to a different dimension with his new techniques, innovative presentations and usage of organic produce and spices.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

Varq’s interiors are studded with the art work of celebrated Indian artist Anjolie Ela Menon, which was done 35 years ago. With limited cover, restaurant offers a private dinning area also to it’s patrons, where we were seated.

The menu at Varq is a rich accumulation of Indian recipes evolved to the next level. retaining the Indian traditional way of cooking while using exotic ingredients like sea bass, sand crab, black cod, morels and Iranian berries.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

So, for the evening, chef had designed a special menu, which started off with an interesting amuse bouche. Indian Chaat Style. Interestingly, innovative! It took me to the street food heaven of Delhi!

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

In the first course, we were served Varqi Khumb, mushrooms stir fried in Indian spices, layered between thin filo pastry sheets, topped with a morel. I didn’t care about the morel. I found this a bit heavy to start a meal with. Flavors were okay, though over spiced. I liked it’s idea and the presentation more than the taste.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

Second course, was something which I dream about even today. The Kebab platter, consisting of Haleem, Chicken Gandheri and Galaouti Kebab. Haleem was very well done, all the flavors of meat, grains and spices nicely blended into and perfectly spiced. Galaouti was excellent and so was Chicken Gandheri (chicken lollipop on a sugarcane stick). Chicken Gandheri was served with a sweet and sour mango chutney, which nicely paired the spicy chicken meat. I wiped through the bottom of shot glass, in which it was served!

Third course offered a Lobster Rassa or a Kale Chane Ka Cappuccino, and without giving any second thought, I asked for Lobster Rassa.  Goan curry inspired seafood broth served along with prawn crackers. It had all the fresh flavors from sea. Really wonderful. I sipped Kale Chane Ka Cappuccino from Sid’s cup, and I didn’t like it in the first sip itself. Boring and having no flavors at all, though it was a nice makeover!

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

Then came the palate cleanser, a ginger and lime sorbet. Interesting flavors, but I did find it out of place. Ginger, too strong flavor to be a palate cleanser, rather the sharp flavor of Japanese ginger stayed in my mouth for quite sometime. Very overwhelming and sharp! But again, the presentation was nice and dramatic, served in a ceramic pot, with dry ice creating voodoo sort of thing at the bottom.

Next course offered Kali Mirch Mugh or Sea Bass on Spiced Potato Dauphinoise. I went for Kali Mirch Mugh. It was uninteresting in the very first bite. Nothing to be written home about, Ruchira, offered me some Sea Bass from her plate, which was pretty decent.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

Next served was Martbaan Ka Meat served along with Jaituni Naan. Again a disappointment, not by the presentation, but by the flavors. Nothing exciting, in fact mutton was average sort of, with no distinct flavors of pickling spices, as mentioned in the menu.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

Finally, an array of disappointing dishes came to an end (except for amuse bouche and Kebab Platter), with a fabulous dessert platter. It had a serving of Apple Kheer, a Jalebi standing on a Khoa (reduced milk) chunk, and Khas Malpua. All three were excellent. Right on spot! The dessert platter all made up for the lost experience.

Varq, Taj Mahal Palace

While all this food was being served throughout the evening, the attentive staff took care of us all very well. I guess, that is the best thing about properties like Taj, their unmatched hospitality and the warm welcome stands them out. It was an interesting journey through the beautiful and innovative creations of Chef Hemant Oberoi, though some of the dished lacked on flavors. Thank you Taj for having us over. Others who were present on the table were Sid, Charis, Sangeeta, Sushmita, Rekha, Mukta, Parul, Ruchira, Deeba & Nachiketa.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: blogger's table, food, India, new delhi, restaurant review, Taj Mahal Hotel, Varq

Blogger’s Table @ Thai Pavilion, Vivanta By Taj, Gurgaon

July 23, 2013 by TheWhiteRamekins

Thai Pavillion, Taj Vivanta Gurgaon

Chef Ananda Solomon picture courtesy, The Hindu

Few days back, young property of Vivanta By Taj in Gurgaon, hosted a Blogger’s Table at their recently launched Thai Pavilion. It was a dinner, the day Thai Pavilion was launched here. It was quite a memorable dinner, as we all got to meet legendary chef Ananda Solomon, who brought Thai Pavilion to Vivanta, Mumbai during early 90’s.

It started with a brief introduction to Thai cuisine, by the executive chef, explaining how important it is to get the balance of flavors right in Thai cuisine. According to chef, Thai cuisine has got more vegetarian options than non-vegetarians, perhaps a biggest myth buster about the south east Asian cuisine in particular.

The grub extravaganza kicked-off with amuse bouche, for which chef selected galangal flavored compressed watermelon, which was quite crisp and a tidy affair, as much like an amuse bouche is supposed to be.

Thai Pavillion, Taj Vivanta Gurgaon 1

And then came an array of appetizers, one by one. Young papaya salad with sweet & spicy sauce and lots of crushed peanuts was something quite unusual. If hadn’t been told earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to tell about the papaya.

Tempura prawns and marinated chicken morsels wrapped in pandan leaves were served next. Tempura prawns nice and soft from inside while crunchy on the outside, I almost found them addictive and asked for the second helping and gave chicken morsels a pass.

Mushroom parcels blended with thai herbs, which were served next, were a little unflavored, somewhere lacking a character, rather nothing exciting to write home about.

Thai Pavillion, Taj Vivanta Gurgaon 3

Corn cakes and Thai dim sum were some other appetizers, which I really didn’t care about. All because, the food came in pretty quick, so much so that I was concentrating on my prawn tempura and let other things pass.

Thai Pavillion, Taj Vivanta Gurgaon 4

Main course, included crispy fried fish with tangy sauce, grilled lamb with mint and cucumber, water chestnuts and cashew nuts with red chilli paste, Thai chicken red curry and Thai vegetable green curry with some jasmine rice. All of them were pretty awesome, scoring high above their appetizer counterparts. Each one of the dishes tasted pretty decent and there was nothing in main course, of which I felt dissatisfied at all. I enjoyed almost all of them equally.

Thai Pavillion, Taj Vivanta Gurgaon 5

I feel that there is enough wide gap between a south east Asian cuisine and their European or American counterparts, when it comes to dessert in most of the restaurants. But this dessert platter completely blew me off. I was super impressed, how gracefully chef Ananda Solomon has succeeded in making such a refreshing dessert out of tender coconut milk and tapioca coated diced water chestnut. I did finish it to last bits and I still dream about that sometimes.

Thai Pavillion, Taj Vivanta Gurgaon 2

I found the overall meal an average, all because some of the appetizers failed to impress me {I wish, the flavors had been given importance than the numbers}, while main course and the dessert saved the day {definitely, a winner}. Will I go back, yes for the grilled lamb and some other main course and of course the coconut milk dessert.

See, what others have to say about:

  • Parul @ The Shirazine
  • Ruchira @ The Great Cookaroo
  • Mukta @ Bake-a-mania
  • Sid @ Chef at Large
  • Rekha @ My Tasty Curry

Filed Under: review Tagged With: blogger's table, food, Gurgaon, restaurant review, Thai Pavilion, Vivanta by Taj

Blogger’s Table @ Kingdom of Dreams, Gurgaon

February 25, 2013 by TheWhiteRamekins

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 14

It was indeed a dream, which us bloggers from Blogger’s Table got to live a few days back. Visiting Kingdom of Dreams, which is located in my own city, on a Friday evening was something which was highly coveted.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 15

Especially, when I have been so busy at work. It couldn’t have been better to get all my energy revived and get charged up for the weekend to come. So right after work, I headed straight to experience this extravaganza of Indian tradition, food and culture.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 3

As soon as you enter the complex, the lavish palace like facade enthralls you and you are welcomed by the live heartwarming music being played by musicians and percussionists dressed up in traditional Indian attire. And it feels so much home.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 6

A magnificent entrance to the Culture Gully opens up into a very deep alley with food pavilions of various states of India. Each pavilion has got it’s specific identity which perfectly epitomizes the state’s culture, people, tradition and food.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon

If there is Ma Kaali’s ravenous statue symbolizing West Bengal on one side, it is a truck on the other side, which pictures Punjab perfectly.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 5

Assam displays the tea lounge, with a cup and saucer embellished wall, where Madras boasts of it’s coffee house with old fashioned benches.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 7

Mumbai has got it’s beautiful Victoria terminus and a train bogie turned into a craft shop.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 18

A beautiful bridge and a real looking sky, where there is always an evening time, reminded me of Venetian in Las Vegas.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 16

The use of such bold colors on murals all over makes it a place that has come out straight from a  story book.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 4

After we were done visiting various pavilions, we sat down for a meal at Rajasthan’s. A low seating with individual dining tables for each one of us, made the experience so special.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 9

It started with a warm welcome by the most humble and happy chef, or more popularly Maharaj, I have ever met. He is so down to earth and such a nice story teller. He would take you through the narratives of food and how the recipes like Raj Kachori, Ker Sangri came into existence.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 11

He brought us Raj Kachori and an executive thali, of which I enjoyed the very bit. No ostentatious display of complex recipes, yet simple and flavorful food.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 12

A real food of real people, oblivious from the jazzy stuff which chefs hurl into the kitchens of five stars of world.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 10

Servers were so humble that they would teach us to eat Dal Baati Choorma, the way they do it traditionally in Rajasthan. Everything is so personalized that you would feel the true hospitality of Rajasthan.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 13

It reminded me of my various trips to different cities of the state in past and the their famous welcoming one liner; Padharo Mahare Des {welcome to our region}.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 1

All in all, Kingdom of Dreams is a place, where I would want to come back again and again to experience the diversity of Indian food, which is reasonably priced. There is so much to be experienced and absorbed, that one visit isn’t enough.

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 2

Kingdom Of Dreams, Gurgaon 8

And Culture Gully is just a part of Kingdom of Dreams, that I have taken you through. There are Bollywood themed Musicals and a lot more to it.

Others on table that evening:

  • Sangeeta Khanna of Banaras Ka Khana
  • Sushmita Sarkar of My Unfinshed Life

Filed Under: review Tagged With: blogger's table, food, Gurgaon, kingdom of dreams, restaurant review

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Hi! I'm Himanshu - a home chef who loves to cook, bake, style and photo shoot... Read More…

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