Jungle Jamboree Revisited...

My first visit to Jungle Jamboree was for a dinner spree at their outlet in Connaught Place, which I had chronicled here, but if you haven't read it, do so after you read about the second one, to their newest outlet in Rajouri Garden.

Jungle Jamboree in Rajouri Garden is the newest kid on the food scene in West Delhi and has quite a few similarities and differences to and from its sibling in CP.

While the outlet in CP was spread across three floors, this one is on one, but the space is duly utilized to replicate the theme, ambiance and concept with a similar division into Jungle and Aqua, with animal and water sounds playing in the background respectively.

While the Kids' Area encompassed an entire floor in CP, here it is still underway, and there is a separate section on the same floor, adjoining the dining area.

I had visited this outlet barely a week into its launch and so the place was decked with green and blue balloons too, to celebrate the launch. Yet another point that works in this outlet's favor is its prominent location - right on the main Rajouri Garden crossing. It is this fact that will add to their patronage as it is here, that an establishment cannot be visually missed.

The staff here was cordial and prompt, as had been the case in CP. We were led to the restaurant premises through an elevator. Ala Carte, however has not been formally introduced here yet, so we decided to proceed with the seven-course buffet.

In line with their theme and appeal, it is a family restaurant, and even though we visited on a weekday for lunch, the place was gradually house full by the time we left. Chef Narayan Singh was really attentive and open to all bouquets and brickbats. There were a few dishes prepared better here than at CP outlet and vice versa also held true.

The format of service for the buffet remains similar - Indian Chaats, Soups & Salads, Indian Appetizers, Global Appetizers, Indian Main Course, Global Main Course, Desserts, and Paired Drinks - some courses served by stewards, rest for self-service to a laid out buffet, and an on-table grill for skewered appetizers.

The laid-out buffet was as extensive as the one in CP, with a wide variety and nice taste lent to all dishes. Additionally, also tried their Pizza which did not have your regular cheese and run-of-the-mill toppings but was light and crisp.

Pink Lady, Blue Lagoon, and Virgin Mojito were drinks that were a bit savory in nature. Their Jungle Jamboree themed mocktails and shakes here, however, take the cake. While Jamboree Special was served in a hollow pineapple shell, and was on the sweeter side, Jungle Kick was served in a hollow coconut shell and provided a literal kick, as it was all spiced up with Ginger Ale, Tobasco Sauce and ground spices and the Kiwi Shake came in a tall glass and was thick and flavorful on the palate.

The dessert spread was elaborate too, with the Paan Ice-cream stealing the show as always. Also, their mousses are smooth on the palate. 

Here's hoping that Jungle Jamboree will be able to create a roar in Rajouri Garden too, as it has successfully done in Connaught Place. :)

Gastronomic Delights At This Jungle...

Jungle Jamboree, located in Connaught Place is a wilderness hideout. It's a wild world out there, but with sobriety in their food and a knack for on-spot service up their sleeve, this Jungle is here to delight. I had a chance to visit this outlet of Jungle Jamboree on a dinner spree earlier this month.

While their life-size mascot statuette reminded me of Commonwealth Games' Shera and Baloo right at the entrance, I was also reminded of Pai Vista's Jungle - The Restaurant, which I had been to, in the past during my stay in Mysore, that had a similar theme.

Jungle Jamboree incorporates the best of Mowgli's Jungle and Ariel's Aqua World on its first of three floors. It also has demarcated, the ambience for each floor.

While the first one is a Buffet, with spacious seating for catering to patrons, the second one has a dedicated Kids' Area equipped with swings, games and lots of free space to roam, jump, and hop around - basically have fun. This floor also caters to Ala Carte preferences.

The third one is a lounge which one could probably pick for partying with friends or family because Jungle Jamboree's ambience ensures that you have a good time, with good company and good food, not to mention light music that keeps playing in the background.

While there has been a mushrooming of party places in Delhi quite lately, in the food sector, Jungle Jamboree is one of the few places where you can see families having a good time with jolly, goofy, ecstatic children and banter over great food.

As for the food, patrons can either opt for an all-you-can-eat buffet or Ala Carte as per their liking. But, one thing's for sure - with a number of similar outlets as far as their food concept is concerned, like Pirates of Grill or Barbeque Nation - I've had food at all three places now - and Jungle Jamboree is a clear winner with their variety in food and bang for the buck.

What appealed to me was their concept of a seven-course buffet (Indian Chaats, Soups & Salads, Indian Appetizers, Global Appetizers, Indian Main Course, Global Main Course, Desserts, and Paired Drinks) with quite a lot of variety, quick service and good taste. While a couple of courses were duly served by stewards, rest of them were self-service to a laid out buffet. There was also an on-table grill for skewered appetisers.

I would love to recommend their Lasagne and Paan Shots and Ice-cream. Lovely preparation with the Lasagne, the right number of layers and the perfect veggies stuffed, while the Paan dishes were nice on the Gulkand flavour.

The presentation and quality of the food were up to the mark and I had a nice time. Looking forward to a second visit, next time probably to their newly opening Rajouri Garden outlet. :)

Believing In Magic, With #ColgateMagicalStories...

Children are bundles of curiosity. Add to that, creativity, and you'll have an unbeatable combination. Kids always have stories to tell, and an intrinsic curiosity and creativity fuels the budding storyteller in them. More often than not, they come up with imaginative accounts of the most unimaginative scenarios, incomprehensible to us as adults. What I most like about kids when they turn storytellers is that all such stories have the twinkle of innocence in them. Such stories are accounts of mischief, albeit with a message. It is always a joy to enjoy and appreciate a story coming from a child, as opposed to narration from a childish storybook, isn't it? 
It was no different when my six-year-old niece came home a couple of weeks back, on a long weekend. After an hour of her arrival, the doorbell rang for a second time, that day. Being her chirpy self, she ran to the door, prompting me to receive whatever had been brought forth by the person delivering couriers. 

The package was from Colgate and it aimed at inviting #ColgateMagicalStories. The moment she saw the word Colgate, she excitedly proclaimed that it was a gift from her toothpaste brand because she had been wreathing in pain from an aching milk tooth, the previous day at my cousin's place. She liked to believe that it was a surprise for her, to soothe her pain and proclaim the Tooth Fairy's arrival. 

Indeed, the entire package was coming her way, and ensured for her, a fun evening with art 'n' craft and stories. I cut open all the packs for her (that was 'Parental Guidance' for her) and her excitement grew gradually. The next moment she was jumping in joy on seeing all the cute sea animals drawn on the four different packs and it piqued her curiosity to derive meaning out of the titles of the packs, namely Coral Reef, Treasure Hunt, Sea Magic, and Pirate Ship. 
So, here goes the #ColgateMagicalStories she created, that evening. Enjoy it as I did.  She recognized Blackbeard's ship that was analogical to the huge cruise she had been on, last month, on her vacation.  

She read and analysed that Sadie was an adventurous soul helping Blackbeard discover a hidden treasure. 
One of her school friends has a pet parrot and she began squawking on seeing one drawn on the pack too. She also had a story to tell on how that pet of her friend's had learnt to mimic her. 
She established a connect as to how the comical parrot could guide Blackbeard through rough waters by alerting him against approaching enemies. 
Upon seeing the mermaid, she was awestruck as to how we could assume half-human - half-fish form. Nonetheless, I thought I'll have to tell her about Disney's Mermaid some other day. 
She made the mermaid live in the sea castle with her best friend, Dolphin by her side, also making her own the treasure chest Blackbeard was looking for. Blackbeard successfully reached the treasure by following the Treasure Map that he had charted, with help of his sea friends, Shark and Crab. 
Killer Whale and String Ray blocked his way to the castle to protect the mermaid and her treasure. In the ensuing tussle, the ship hits a big rock and is transformed into wreckage in no time. 

Meanwhile, two of his other friends, Star Fish and Puffer Fish help Blackbeard steal the Treasure from the Mermaid. Having nowhere else to go, Blackbeard returned to the wreckage with Sadie and his Parrot waiting for him. While he narrates to Sadie, the episode that ensued at the Castle, their Treasure is taken custody of, by an Octopus. 

The Octopus is successful in scaring the Puffer Fish, that defends itself by filling water in its stomach and called out to the Sword Fish passing by. It helped Puffer by lifting it on its sword-shaped bill, placing her on the huge Sea Turtle's shell and together, they all disappeared into the deep sea. But, the Star Fish faced the Octopus bravely, as it could regrow its limbs. 
While the Octopus was busy keeping Star Fish at bay, Blackbeard and Sadie returned to land, with their cherished treasure. 
I ended up asking my niece about Sea Horse's role and this is what she had to say. She told me that the male sea horse was carrying eggs in its pouch so it was resting in the coral reef. 

Meanwhile, a clever Lion Fish, with its needle-like spines aimed to harm Sea Horse. In the nick of time, however, Barracuda made a quick move and surprised the Lion Fish thus distracting it and foiling its intention to harm. All the animals that had helped Blackbeard, his parrot and Sadie, also returned to the Reef by evening. 
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Everyone clapped for her as the story ended on this note and she felt elated. Kudos to Colgate for encouraging the imaginative souls that our kids are! :)

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