Bite Size

Chutney and Sakura,the specialty restaurants at The Metropolitan Hotel,too have tasting menus that offers a mind-boggling variety of starters,soups,main-course dishes,several dessert items and wines — but all are in small portions. The Royal Degustation Menu (priced at Rs 1,600 plus taxes) at Chutney defines the new rules of fine dining,where the thrust is on sampling and appreciating a large number of dishes rather than binging out on a few. A degustation or tasting menu might contain a slender strip of mutton seekh served on palm-size sweetened bread or a few nuggets of chicken yakitori thrown on a shrunken bed of noodles. “The menu puts together a combination of popular dishes of the restaurant and some of chef’s creations. We change the tasting menus every month and if given a day’s notice we can roll out a degustation menu according to the guests’ needs,” says Rajesh Khanna,Operations Head,F&B. “The market has matured to tasting menus that do not offer a quick fix of comfort food but takes gastronomy to a different level,” says food consultant Sonia Mohindra.

The Frontier restaurant at The Ashok offers a degustation menu,especially to its foreign guests. For Rs 2,000 (plus tax) for a non-vegetarian meal and Rs 1,800 (plus tax) for a vegetarian meal,you can settle down for a taster’s menu that contains kebabs and steaming curries in small portions—- just enough for a few bites.

Chefs can finally serve the food as they want to,with all the finesse and flair,and even control what you eat. “Specialty restaurants can easily showcase their food and familiarise people to the cuisine with a degustation menu. The presentation of each dish is clearly distinctive and calls for an extra effort but it also helps the chefs to put in their artistic expression rather than worry about commercial constraints,” adds Mohindra.

Ai at MGF Metropolitan Mall,dedicates Tuesdays to rustling up a tasting menu that is devoted to sumptuous vegetarian food. The six course spread (Rs 999 plus tax) begins with almond-crusted seaweed croquettes,and graduates to sushi rolls,Teppanyaki vegetables and tofu steak. For desserts there is mini chocolate fondant and carrot cake. “We introduced the vegetarian tasting menu over a month ago for dinners and it has been popular among our guests. These menus help in maintaining a surprise element and do away with the hassles of choosing dishes,” says Vikram Khatri,chef de cuisine,Ai.

The Naoki counter at The Lodhi,Aman Hotel,offers a mix of four sampling menus. The Kaiseki style of cooking,that combines the best of French and Japanese cuisine,is best served with a taster’s menu rather than allowing the guests a pick their choice. So,grab your seat and the chef will skillfully craft out delicious conconctions,sensibly sized,to pamper your tastebuds.

Contact:
Ai: 40654567
Indian Accent: 26925151
Chutney,The Metropolitan Hotel: 42500 200
Lodhi,Aman New Delhi: 43633333
Frontier,The Ashok: 26110101