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Chane, chhole, arbi... going vegetarian
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Vegetarianism might be the latest fad but at Delhi's Oberoi Maidens they take it seriously. Decide for yourself by having a bite at the hotel's vegetarian food festival, says SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY... .
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WITH SO much happening in Delhi's food world, the prospects of dining on a vegetarian spread somewhat do not excite you at once. However much the votaries of vegetarianism profess that most people these days are going veggie; that, going green gives back health; there are interesting varieties too in vegetarian food; etc, unless you are cut out for it, these alibis do not entice you immediately. But for a change, dipping your fingers into the evening buffet of Indian and continental vegetarian food at the Oberoi Maidens Hotel in Delhi this month will not be a bad idea. More so, because the month-long spread is laid out in the over-century-old hotel's majestic Curzon Room.
Perched amid over hundred photo imprints of British viceroy Lord Curzon along with people important, it will take you back to the British Raj. Anyway, the hotel's chef Amit Behl is spreading for his guests an interesting fare, including starters like seekh kebak made of soyabean and arbi. That rough looking arbi becomes so soft in your mouth and tasty too, it is unbelievable! A word of praise can be saved for the soya seekh too.
Besides a choice of five varieties of salad, the buffet has main course of Nilgiri Korma, Anardane wale chhole, adraki champe, oven cooked vegetable tian, cabbage roll, fetuccini with saffron sauce and cilantro oil to count a few. However, before touching anything else, try the soup. Prepared from spinach and flavoured with fresh fennel, it has the power to make you feel light unlike the usual heaviness soups tend to give to your stomach.
Chef Behl says the idea is to "celebrate vegetarianism" as most people these days are turning towards it. But, the real idea is to tap the market for vegetarian food around the area. The chef says, "I have used very less oil in most dishes, keeping in mind people's growing preference for health food. Also, most dishes are eggless, which makes an extra point, specially in summer."
But, the rich dessert spread definitely does not fall into this categorisation. Never mind, for, when you stand in front of the four types of interesting looking sweet dishes staring at you, sweet tooth or not, you just cannot refuse yourself a bite. Fruit cones, coffee gateaux, mango flan and the most inviting chocolate pears.
At the end of it, somewhere, you do miss a bit of spice, but for a change, one must agree that it is a yummy fare. More so, as everything comes for only Rs. 300 per person. In case, all these dishes do not kill that non-vegetarian urge in you, Behl also has two dishes made of chicken and lamb for Rs 50 extra.
So then, give your taste buds a veggie ride but do not miss the oft-missed turn to the edifice of the colonial era due to the ongoing construction of the Metro railway right in front of it. Bon appetit.
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