The 1,622 km long national highway that connects Kanyakumari to Panvel in Maharashtra, have to tickle your taste buds at the Best of West Coast food festival at the Shangri-La Eros hotel in the heart of the national capital. Being a multi-cuisine pan-Asian restaurant its always on the lookout for something different, hence festivals like these. As one walked in through the wide and innovatively designed entrance of the Tamra fine diner, with an amply stocked bar on the left and an equally tempting dessert counter on the right.
The Restuarant offers Southeast Asian, Thai, European and Japanese cuisine from our five interactive live kitchens and also want the guests to sample the best there is of Indian cuisine, a panakam as served up in an imitation “Khullar” with a distinct earthy flavour coming through. The diner is very appropriately named as it harkens back to the time when copper vessels were the key to dishing up a perfect meal. It recreates the rustic and earthy environment of the trading markets of yore when Indian spices, jute, copper, silk, leather and the like were a rage in different corners of the world. There is much that is contemporary too.
It was then time for the appetisers and they came in quick succession – delicately flavoured baked prawns, lightly-spiced cheese balls, a crunchy Malabar pomfret, an innovative banana dosa and an extremely soft Bombay duck. Along with the Mohito that had appeared for a table, all this made for a spectrum of flavours that complemented each other.
Up next were two starters, Kuzhi Paniyaram and the Attirachi Kurumelagu, which constituted a meal by themselves but one was determined to soldier on. The non-vegetarian mains were an absolute delight, starting with a Maasa Ajadina and Kozhi Seeragam. The mix-and-match paid off – and how. A short break and another mojito and one were ready for the rest — this time the Goan Pomfret curry and Nandu Chops. Both being of the seafood variety, blended perfectly. Given this repast, it was quite natural that one would pick a “desi” desert in spite of the vast variety on offer. Thus, it was the black rice halwa liberally sprinkled with nuts that got the nod and the sweetness was just right.
Best of West Coast food festival at the Shangri-La Eros hotel, till February 8.
Timings: 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.
Cost for two: Rs 5,000 plus taxes (Without alcohol)
