Let the monsoon fill you up
16 July 2012 4:51 AM GMT
When the skies open up after days of unrelenting sunshine, the city gets ready to celebrate. The gardens bloom, the parks shine and despite the spoilsport traffic jams, Delhiites gear up to make the most of the season that brings them much relief from the mercurial summer.
And for the residents of the city, there is no better way than to celebrate than gorge on food. Reason why we decided to check out the new monsoon menu at Fire to check out if it’s any good.
Well, for all those who feel monsoons are too grey and gloomy, this 60-cover restaurant at The Park has decided to add on some cheer. For one, the colour scheme at the restaurant has changed from beige to orange — widely being touted as the colour of the season.
The menu, too, has undergone a change. Designed by Executive Chef Anurudh Khanna, the menu now is more experimental and innovative. And it’s a good mix for both vegetarians and non vegetarians.
Take the starters menu for instance where the chef has married something as delicate as foie gras with fig murabba. The result — Tandoori Foie Gras with Ajwani Khanta Roti and spiced fig murabba — is quite interesting. For one, even though it is tandoori, don’t expect the regular tandoori that you get elsewhere. This is much softer, almost keeping the texture of the meat in mind, handled delicately. Then there is Gongura Chicken Wings, flavoured with sorrel leaves and served with mint emulsion that’s a welcome break from the boring KFC type chicken wings served all over the town [and with succulent meat for a change].
Worth special mention is the Bhune Makai Ki Bhel which is tangy roasted corn, dried apricot and rice crispies, which tastes like yummy street-food and looks anything but. Best had when it’s pouring outside. The Spinach Corn Tikka, with fenugreek and cumin, was a regular version of normal tikkas though. Nothing extraordinary there!
For main course, you can pick and choose from Narangi Black Cod [Orange scented tandoori black cod with baby vegetables and coriander relish], Achari Keema Kaleji [Mutton mince and liver cooked with pickling spices, served with pao], Gucchi Paneer Korma [Morels and home made cottage cheese in rich saffron gravy] and Khubani Bhare Malai Kofte [Cottage cheese dumplings filled with dry apricot served in flavoured tomato gravy] among others.
I settled for the Achari Keema Kaleji. If you have always loved pao bhaji, then this is the non-vegetarian version for you, served with [no prizes for guessing], pao or bread as we know it in this part of the country. It is as tangy and tasty as the ones the vendors sell in Khao Gully in Mumbai.
Desserts will leave you spoilt for choice. There is everything from some yummy Gulab Ki Kheer [thick, creamy and complete with rose petals], Vanilla Bean Shahi Tukra [an innovative twist to the regular fare along with berry compote and gold dust] and the best of them all — Gandhraj Lemon Ice cream made with gandhraj lemon that’s usually had in the eastern parts of India along with moong dal and rice but it gave a unique flavour to the ice cream here.
Hog as the rains fill up your senses!
DETAILS
AT: Fire, The Park, 15 Parliament Street, Connaught Place
Timings: 12.30pm to 3 pm (lunch) and 7.30 to 11.30 pm (dinner)
Phone: 23743000
Meal for Two: Rs 2,500 + taxes
And for the residents of the city, there is no better way than to celebrate than gorge on food. Reason why we decided to check out the new monsoon menu at Fire to check out if it’s any good.
Well, for all those who feel monsoons are too grey and gloomy, this 60-cover restaurant at The Park has decided to add on some cheer. For one, the colour scheme at the restaurant has changed from beige to orange — widely being touted as the colour of the season.
The menu, too, has undergone a change. Designed by Executive Chef Anurudh Khanna, the menu now is more experimental and innovative. And it’s a good mix for both vegetarians and non vegetarians.
Take the starters menu for instance where the chef has married something as delicate as foie gras with fig murabba. The result — Tandoori Foie Gras with Ajwani Khanta Roti and spiced fig murabba — is quite interesting. For one, even though it is tandoori, don’t expect the regular tandoori that you get elsewhere. This is much softer, almost keeping the texture of the meat in mind, handled delicately. Then there is Gongura Chicken Wings, flavoured with sorrel leaves and served with mint emulsion that’s a welcome break from the boring KFC type chicken wings served all over the town [and with succulent meat for a change].
Worth special mention is the Bhune Makai Ki Bhel which is tangy roasted corn, dried apricot and rice crispies, which tastes like yummy street-food and looks anything but. Best had when it’s pouring outside. The Spinach Corn Tikka, with fenugreek and cumin, was a regular version of normal tikkas though. Nothing extraordinary there!
For main course, you can pick and choose from Narangi Black Cod [Orange scented tandoori black cod with baby vegetables and coriander relish], Achari Keema Kaleji [Mutton mince and liver cooked with pickling spices, served with pao], Gucchi Paneer Korma [Morels and home made cottage cheese in rich saffron gravy] and Khubani Bhare Malai Kofte [Cottage cheese dumplings filled with dry apricot served in flavoured tomato gravy] among others.
I settled for the Achari Keema Kaleji. If you have always loved pao bhaji, then this is the non-vegetarian version for you, served with [no prizes for guessing], pao or bread as we know it in this part of the country. It is as tangy and tasty as the ones the vendors sell in Khao Gully in Mumbai.
Desserts will leave you spoilt for choice. There is everything from some yummy Gulab Ki Kheer [thick, creamy and complete with rose petals], Vanilla Bean Shahi Tukra [an innovative twist to the regular fare along with berry compote and gold dust] and the best of them all — Gandhraj Lemon Ice cream made with gandhraj lemon that’s usually had in the eastern parts of India along with moong dal and rice but it gave a unique flavour to the ice cream here.
Hog as the rains fill up your senses!
DETAILS
AT: Fire, The Park, 15 Parliament Street, Connaught Place
Timings: 12.30pm to 3 pm (lunch) and 7.30 to 11.30 pm (dinner)
Phone: 23743000
Meal for Two: Rs 2,500 + taxes
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