Fun Bites

At the Japanese restaurant Ai,a leafy plate displays a trio of sushi rolls nestled on a pretty bamboo tray. Between two sushi rolls,if you notice carefully,stands a measuring tape rolled like a sushi. It is chef Saby’s interpretation of healthy lunches that his afternoon customers,mostly women,are opting for these days. “We host a kitty luncheon almost daily at Ai,” says Saby,“and the women attending these parties look out for low-calorie and uncomplicated food.” Bite-size dishes go well with these partying groups and the chef’s are rolling out dishes which can be eaten easily. “Nobody wants to be seen running their fingers through bones or spoil their designer wear with a greasy curry. And when it’s a women-only group,table etiquettes are followed to the T,” he adds.

At Indian Accent,the contemporary Indian diner at The Manor,an additional menu called Chef’s Lite Tasting Menu is on offer for lunch at Rs 875 (if the group has more than 12 ladies). “It is important for us to maintain a light-meal menu. Indian Accent gets regular bookings for kitty parties and the ladies want the food to be exotic and easy on calories,” says Samrat Banerjee,manager,The Manor. “We also do a three-course menu with a cocktail for Rs 650 if there are six or more women dining in a group.”

A prior discussion about the menu is a must at Chutney and Patio,located in Metropolitan Hotel. “The way food trends are changing in the kitty parties,we will soon hear of wine tasting and cheese samplings at these gatherings,” quips Rajesh Khanna,head of operations – Food & Beverages of Metropolitan Hotel. At Chutney,a new menu with calorie count is on offer too. At a calorie count of 421.57,a vegetarian meal will fetch you brown rice pulao with mushrooms,palak dal,veg shammi and mixed vegetables. A non-vegetarian meal,however,lists 458.62 calories and consists of fish curry and chicken tikka. “We get regular bookings in our restaurants but often the group prefers to settle for a small banqueting room when the numbers are above fifty.” The food requests can be demanding and many lunches serve vintage wines and aged cheeses. However,Khanna also adds that the traditional games like Tambola are often skipped at these kitties and lunch is kept buzzing with tarot card readers,foot masseurs and nail artists. “They are more like luncheons and meet-over-meal sort of events and games have clearly are no longer an important part of such gatherings here.”

Contact:
Indian Accent,The Manor:
43235151Chutney,The Metropolitan Hotel: 42500200
Ai,MFG mall,Saket: 40654567