Regional Specialties From A Culinary Journey...

The G.T. Road is a restaurant modelled around the concept of Asia's well-known trade route by the same name - linking four countries and leaving its traces through three empires beginning from the Mauryan Empire.

Spanning across the length and breadth of the massive 2600 km, the Grand Trunk Road still facilitates transportation for commoners and traders alike. And hence, The G.T. Road is a culinary journey that traverses 2600 km to bring the best of dishes from Kabul to Chittagong. 

Spinning off on the concept of dining like a prince but paying like a pauper, G.T. Road caters to the variation of spoilt-for-choice buffet with the local specialties of the countries that the roadway passes through being brought to the table.

The G.T. Road spells vintage like no other, with the customary vintage car at the entrance, coins, rifles, artefacts, photographs and archaic utensils perfecting the ambiance.

On a recent visit to Chandigarh over the long weekend, one of the restaurants we chose to dine at was this one, and pleasantly, the Delhi outlet and this outlet could be said to be the mirror images of each other as far as the overall experience is concerned.

From on-table grills to the live kitchen counter vested in the preparation of the choicest of street foods and also crisp Jalebi, to the extensive variety in Main Course and cheat meal kind of indulgence as far as the Desserts are concerned, this place is for patrons who like being spoiled for choice.

Also, do try their Bunta served in the 'glass bottle with a marble' especially the Lychee variant, and the Kala Khatta mocktail.

As always, a meal here concludes with a handful of सौंफ-मिश्री.

Continuing The Culinary Legacy At Daryaganj...

Daryaganj is one of the most iconic outlets on the culinary map of the capital city. Named after the place in Delhi where founder Kundan Lal Jaggi set up his restaurant in 1951 - at a time when Daryaganj was a part of the newer areas in Delhi, the same restaurant Daryaganj has now come to Aerocity at Worldmark One, helmed by his grandson.

Daryaganj Aerocity is in the nascent stages of its establishment being a mere eight-month-old outlet, but from nowhere does it look so, rather feels like a seventy-year-old legendary one, and rightfully so.

Each facet of the establishment, from ambiance to décor, to service, and most importantly food, is taken care of meticulously and with a smile too. The restaurant is chock-a-block at all times thanks to its popularity, especially on weekends with stewards on their toes, but it all seems effortless.

Done up in pastel tones, with beige and red dominating, the outlet has memorabilia of the vintage era lining the walls - be it monochrome photographs, old-school cameras, or antique phones. Even the menu has Mr. Jaggi's story engraved on its pages with fun facts like his pop-up restaurant at the trade fair in Russia and a tandoor being flown in straight from Peshawar making for a great read while browsing through.

All things aside, flavour is placed on the throne at Daryaganj with Mr. Jaggi being the father of Tandoori Cuisine and the inventor of Dal Makhani and Butter Chicken - two dishes that are a staple at every Indian restaurant across the globe.

Relying on closely guarded recipes to bring out robust flavours, Daryaganj is a place of rich culinary legacy where each dish is perfected to the tee.

Coming to what all is must-relish when at Daryaganj…

Begin the meal with tangy Aam Panna or sweet Thandai served in a tall glass, whilst munching on Tandoori Fruit Chaat, perfectly grilled and coated with tangy tamarind.

A number of dishes are marked as 'The Original' and the aesthetic as well as preparation of those reflects the same. One of those is the Paneer Tikka or cottage cheese char grilled with bell peppers and stuffed with cream cheese.

Apart from that, the Kurkuri Mushroom is a crispy delight and the Hara Bhara Kebab is soft and simply melt-in-mouth.

Even the Tamatar Adrak Ka Rassa is, for a pleasant change, served with crisp Ajwain Mathri and the subtle flavour of black pepper dominating, instead of the usual bread crumbs that are served usually with Tomato Soup.

Also, for Mains, none of the dishes are overly oily or creamy, instead the flavour of Ghee is prominently palatable. I would suggest to try the Subz Biryani paired with Boondi Raita, and the Dal Makhani and Malai Kofta with breads of choice.

The desserts are prepared to perfection and for anyone who has a sweet tooth, it is a delight. The Rasmalai and Kala Jamun are special recommendations, though the Phirni is nice too, and the Kulfi is prepared in flavours of Paan and Kesar Pista.

All in all, Daryaganj, under the patronage of KL Jaggi is the name that taught Delhi to dine out, coming at a time when there was no trace of restaurant culture, and it is this place that is absolute must-visit in Delhi. :)

All About Plumazing Vibes...

Plum By Bent Chair is one of India's unique establishments in the F&B space if I were to say so. Retail Therapy and Comfort Food at one place would be a dream come true for many, and Plum has arrived to make that dream come true indeed.

First set in Mumbai, Plum arrived in Aerocity late last year and opened its doors for a second time to Delhiites last month, this time at Janpath, right opposite Le Meridien.

Plum by Bent Chair is a haven for Pan Asian lovers and Interior Décor enthusiasts alike, and it is no secret that everything at Plum outlets across the country is for sale - from the food to the plate the food is being served in, from the couch and table you are seated at to the quirky décor adorning the place.

Opt for Ginger and Rosemary or the classic Cappuccino Freddo to begin the meal by beating the heat.

Follow it up with an authentic and refreshing Raw Papaya Salad prepared Plum Style - with Asian herbs, crispy scallions, and cherry tomatoes.

The Tuna and Roast Quinoa Ceviche would be a tangy and crunchy serving to get the taste buds going  while keeping the nutritional values in check.

On one hand, while the Spicy Barbecued Chicken Bao adds the spice to the dining experience and the Three Mushroom Brioche Toast is a crunchy and filling handful of delight, on the other hand, the Mix Veg Tempura presented an assorted platter of veggies paired with mayo.

While the Salmon Truffle Cream Cheese Sushi was a vibrant orange hue and delightfully melt-in-mouth, the Prawn Tempura Uramaki is an in-house specialty with crispy prawn and condiment glaze.

Another couple of classics done to perfection are the nicely glazed Pan Fried Gyoza and the silken and oozing Cream Cheese and Truffle Dumplings.

To wrap up the meal, go with Emmet Chair that has vibrant and soft marshmallows sprinkled with cinnamon dust and paired with a brownie chunk and some hot chocolate on the side.

Overall, the dining experience at Plum has been a great one. :)

Flavorful Symphony At Imperfecto Shor Cafe...

Delhi's first 24x7 cafe in the Capital, The Imperfecto Shor Cafe has recently made its way to Aerocity and is the newest addition to the culinary map of the area. Operating 24x7, Imperfecto Shor is a cafe by the day that morphs into a nightclub over the weekends.

Themed around the Romanesque and the Gothic era with the interiors curated by Nuria Rodreguis Parra, Imperfecto Shor exudes a rustic charm, going both by the looks and the fine indulgence in Akanksha Dean's comfort food.

Nuria has created a beautiful balance between Romanesque architecture which was succeeded by Renaissance architecture. Everything in the café is handmade, with eclectic charpoy ceilings and the stunningly rustic chandeliers and wall lamps.

On the other hand, Akanksha's culinary prowess as the Chef Manager at Imperfecto Shor is subtly evident, having trained under Massimo Bottura. I recently had a chance to visit Imperfecto Shor and the finesse yet simplicity is clearly evident.

To begin with, opt for Atomic Cat, that is a refreshing melange of pineapple, peach, and honey-ginger in this humid weather or the classic Expresso Smoothie for the chocolate-coffee combination.

The Imperial Crown Salad marked an apt start to our meal, being prepared with the super grain - Red and White Quinoa tossed with julienned bell peppers, layered with a honey lime dressing and topped with a zucchini crisp.

Further ahead, the Veg Philadelphia Roll which is the classic preparation with a twist, replacing salmon with avocado and cream cheese, a trio of bell peppers for the crunch and roasted sesame as a topping, paired with wasabi mayo.

Do try Luciana's Gumbo that is a warm broth of herbed rice and veggies pairing well with a garlic bread crisp on the side.

On the other hand, was Queen Sophia's Ribbed Vault comprising grilled river sole skewers paired with charred mandarin and a champagne leek sauce that had all the flavors blend together nicely.

As for the Mains, we opted for Cimabue's Expression that was a creamy prawn risotto served in a seashell-shaped platter, with crunchy prawns complementing the velvety preparation.

For the sweet conclusion to our meal, we went ahead with Custard Dry Fruits Gateaux which is unmistakably brilliant.

On the whole, Imperfecto Shor impresses as a concept on the whole, while Akanksha's meticulous preparations come shining through too. :)