for Party Animals

Sapna Kumar is the Delhi girl who rules the ramp beneath her stilettos. But she confesses to being distracted at the Kolkata Fashion Week.

Sapna Kumar is the Delhi girl who rules the ramp beneath her stilettos. But she confesses to being distracted at the Kolkata Fashion Week. While the fashionable bhadralok was rooting for her in September last year,she was worried about The Zoo,the lounge bar being readied at the Garden of Five Senses in Delhi. In the last week of December,Kumar and good friend and former model Michelle Innes opened their place for party animals.

For three years,we have been toying with the idea of opening a lounge bar and then this opportunity came up at the Garden of Five Senses, says Kumar. They have made most of the indoors and outdoors. On the porch are tables glittering with mirror work and pots of narcissus. I am finicky about flowers, says Innes,who walks to the Mehrauli flower market every morning to pick fresh bunches.

The indoors are in shades of red and blue,with a part-modern,part-retro look. There are baroque patterns on the sofa and mirrors with intricately carved frames,some of which have been innovatively turned into tabletops. Mirror work is everywhere,even on the domed roof,which is quite a spectacle. A wall is converted into a projection screen and Kumar plans to screen Hollywood classics there. For now we are experimenting with this space. In future,we plan to introduce art installations,and even turn this into a platform for stand-up comedians and DJs, she says.

When it comes to food,the duo want to maintain it as a pre-dinner hotspot. The menu,which lists Tequila Zoo Shot (Rs 400) and Bombay Sapphire Beefeater Cognac (Rs 350),is short on drinks,but the bar isnt. We are keeping the menu simple,but bartenders are instructed to offer customised drinks as per the guests request. So you can order a Bloody Mary although the menu does not list it. We will also roll out fruit and vegetable cocktails, says Innes. The eats are tame though: chicken burgers (Rs 300),potato wedges (Rs 200),marinated olives (Rs 200) and omelettes (Rs 200). We attempted the potato wedges that were strongly recommended. Close to a disappointment,the fried wedges were pale on flavours and the miserly sprinkle of cheese on top could barely do any wonders. Tiny rings of crispy calamari (Rs 250) and a healthy yoghurt dip did more to lift the evening. There is a cheese platter too (Rs 350) that offers smoked Gouda,Gruyère and Edam along with crackers and olives.

Contact: 011-65576198

Location: 83 Garden of Five Senses

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