All hail 'monsoon'
26 May 2012 2:34 AM GMT
When the city is sizzling at temperatures that are threatening to cross 45 degrees soon, the word 'monsoon' sounds inviting enough. Not surprising then that when I walked into Eau de Monsoon in Le Meridien, I immediately felt a sense of relief (and not just because a rush of cold air greeted me at the entrance). This 132-cover restaurant is plush as plush can be with two private dining rooms, cellar and the works. The private dining rooms can seat 20 and 12 guests, respectively.
The seating is comfortable and in most parts, the restaurant overlooks a green Lutyen's Delhi. Total pleasure for the eyes. The restaurant serves Indian cuisine 'with a twist'. The menu, which has been designed Australian chef Opel Khan, is exhaustive with enough to choose from for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
As I entered, I was served a tangy sweet corn cappuccino. The restaurant serves different flavours of this chilled drink everyday, all of which are made using natural ingredients. That served as quite a refresher, true to the spirit of monsoons, which are sadly, quite far away in reality.
The sheer number of dishes is mind boggling. The restaurant has given each dish, which is essentially Indian, an 'international' makeover. So tandoori mustard sole is served with shrimp upma, crispy okra and tamarind glaze. The chicken tikka is layered with poori bread and cucumber raita jelly, there is a deconstructed samosa with green peas, and more. The ingredients are essentially Indian, the way the food is cooked and presented is international.
While I was lost in the menu, I decided to order myself a wine. Eau de Monsoon has a sommelier who assists guests and helps them pair the wine with the dishes. The bar stocks everything from 21-year-old Balvenies to 25-year-old Chivas Regals, beers, bourbon, cognacs, tequilas, wines and more. I asked for a red wine and was served a Beaujolais, a light-bodied red wine that paired perfectly with the food I ordered.
The wine was good, but instead of losing myself in it (and since the prospect of stepping out of the hotel seemed positively scary), I finally ordered myself a Norwegian salmon with carom seed spice rub, curry leaf and mustard tempered potato mash (imagine my shock when I was told it was actually an upma), chilli lime coconut sauce and crisp rice tulip (another shock, dosa). The salmon was fresh, and nothing gave away the upma/potato mash till I was told about it. That though, didn't take away from the experience. Â
Other choices in the avant garde section included pan seared lobster served with lentil and broccoli risotto, spiced lobster emulsion, duck breast with star anise, smoked roast leg confit, polenta and spiced orange reduction. For vegetarians, there was eggplant stack with marinated zucchini, cottage cheese, artichoke, makhani glaze, parmesan and chilly tulip.
Being strictly non-vegetarian, I gave the vegetarian section a glance, surprisingly got tempted but managed to keep a check on the sudden impulse and instead asked for a tandoori chicken with potato terrine, tomato and cucumber jelly. It looked nothing like what tandoori chicken normally does and was stuffed with cheese, minced chicken and dry fruits, and tasted heavenly. Â
The portions were good and filling, I'd suggest take along a large group if you want a taste of every dish.
DETAILS
At: Eau de Monsoon, Le Meridien New Delhi, Windsor Place
Timings: 11 am to 3 pm (lunch), 7 to 11 pm (dinner)
Phone: 23710101
Meal for two: Rs 5,000
The seating is comfortable and in most parts, the restaurant overlooks a green Lutyen's Delhi. Total pleasure for the eyes. The restaurant serves Indian cuisine 'with a twist'. The menu, which has been designed Australian chef Opel Khan, is exhaustive with enough to choose from for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
As I entered, I was served a tangy sweet corn cappuccino. The restaurant serves different flavours of this chilled drink everyday, all of which are made using natural ingredients. That served as quite a refresher, true to the spirit of monsoons, which are sadly, quite far away in reality.
The sheer number of dishes is mind boggling. The restaurant has given each dish, which is essentially Indian, an 'international' makeover. So tandoori mustard sole is served with shrimp upma, crispy okra and tamarind glaze. The chicken tikka is layered with poori bread and cucumber raita jelly, there is a deconstructed samosa with green peas, and more. The ingredients are essentially Indian, the way the food is cooked and presented is international.
While I was lost in the menu, I decided to order myself a wine. Eau de Monsoon has a sommelier who assists guests and helps them pair the wine with the dishes. The bar stocks everything from 21-year-old Balvenies to 25-year-old Chivas Regals, beers, bourbon, cognacs, tequilas, wines and more. I asked for a red wine and was served a Beaujolais, a light-bodied red wine that paired perfectly with the food I ordered.
The wine was good, but instead of losing myself in it (and since the prospect of stepping out of the hotel seemed positively scary), I finally ordered myself a Norwegian salmon with carom seed spice rub, curry leaf and mustard tempered potato mash (imagine my shock when I was told it was actually an upma), chilli lime coconut sauce and crisp rice tulip (another shock, dosa). The salmon was fresh, and nothing gave away the upma/potato mash till I was told about it. That though, didn't take away from the experience. Â
Other choices in the avant garde section included pan seared lobster served with lentil and broccoli risotto, spiced lobster emulsion, duck breast with star anise, smoked roast leg confit, polenta and spiced orange reduction. For vegetarians, there was eggplant stack with marinated zucchini, cottage cheese, artichoke, makhani glaze, parmesan and chilly tulip.
Being strictly non-vegetarian, I gave the vegetarian section a glance, surprisingly got tempted but managed to keep a check on the sudden impulse and instead asked for a tandoori chicken with potato terrine, tomato and cucumber jelly. It looked nothing like what tandoori chicken normally does and was stuffed with cheese, minced chicken and dry fruits, and tasted heavenly. Â
The portions were good and filling, I'd suggest take along a large group if you want a taste of every dish.
DETAILS
At: Eau de Monsoon, Le Meridien New Delhi, Windsor Place
Timings: 11 am to 3 pm (lunch), 7 to 11 pm (dinner)
Phone: 23710101
Meal for two: Rs 5,000
Next Story
