Feast While You Fast

Try the surprisingly scrumptious broccoli ka bharta and kacche kele ka rassa being dished out by the team at The Lobby,a chic multi-cuisine restaurant in Sector 26. The names of the dishes may sound unfamiliar,but the flavours are light and appetising. “We have put together a new menu for each day of the Navratra. The aim was to infuse new flavours keeping the spiritual sentiments in place,” says Ashish Manchanda,owner of The Lobby. So you also have the likes of aloo-moongphali ka bharta,tawa dabi arbi and cheeku kulfi finding place in the special menu.

An equal portion of thought has gone into the Navratra spread on offer at Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s the Yellow Chilli restaurant in Panchkula. Here,diners are relishing the meals put together by a speciality chef Sanjay Kumar,who has been flown in from Mumbai for the nine days. A thali here comes with an assortment of satvik fare,but it’s the sabudana tikkis and kuttu ke pakode served with a tangy tamatar aur til ki chutney that could give shammi kebabs some stiff competition. While at most places,the desserts for the day are a bowl of fruits,Kumar has prepared kesari kheer,using special Navratra rice flavoured with kesar. “Initially,we had planned just a Navratra thali,but given the response to the snacks like tikkis and pakodas,we decided to offer snack platters as well,” informs Yellow Chilli Manager Naveen Nischal.

While Navratra time is perceived to be slow in the restaurant business,the dining-out numbers in Chandigarh haven’t dwindled this time around. “There’s been no noticeable change,” says Kava’s general manager Rishi Talwar. Going by the schedule of bookings,kitty parties and get-togethers are set to make the most of the Navratra fare available here. “Some of our kitty members keep a fast during Navratras but because most restaurants offer sumptuous fare,we didn’t think of postponing our monthly get-together,” says entrepreneur Nirmal Chawla,who hosted a kitty party at Kava on Tuesday afternoon. The group of ten ladies made the most of the buffet spread that offered special dishes like sitafal ki sabzi and dhoodhia paneer.

The buffet at Café 17 at Taj Chandigarh,otherwise popular for its fiery Thai curries and baked trouts,is also in step with the Navratra time. Those keeping away from non-vegetarian meals,can opt for their Navratra Thali,which brings in offbeat versions like kache papite ki sabzi and anjeer badam ka halwa. It’s this spread during the month of abstinence,which brings Nidhi Arora,a 33-year-old,mother of two and her friends to savour the satvik spread at Taj. “We happened to be here for an exhibition recently. As all my friends fast during the Navratras,we decided to try the Navratra platter here. It was a welcome change,” mentions Arora.

So this Navratra,don’t worry if you are fasting or are spending the day out,there is enough on offer to help you through your day.