Material Comforts

There is none of the formal hospitality that categorises most luxury hotels: the approach here is both personal and friendly. At both café MoMo and the Red Zen noodle bar,guests can don the apron and accompany the chefs in cooking up a veritable storm in the kitchen. General Manager Matthew Cooper,an Australian who has been in India for five years,points out the set of cookbooks by renowned chefs like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson for guests to browse through. “MoMo does not derive its name from the stuffed dumpling but is an acronym for Modern living,Modern dining,” he chuckles.

Red Zen has 10-seater tables and Chef Piyawat Chatchavanhans from Bangkok chats with guests as he customises their orders for the night. The bar section holds wine-tasting workshops for the budding sommelier and offers wines by the glass for the uninitiated.

Each of these restaurants seem to be positioning themselves as a home away from home for the expat community and for the well-travelled,who appreciate designer aestheticsand good food. Café MoMo,for instance,has swish purple glassware from the Italian brand Ego while its cutlery is from Swiss manufacturers Sola. The Avian water comes in a bottle designed by designer Jean Paul Gaultier. The result is an ambience of effortless luxury. If a guest fancies a particular crockery set,the hotel will make it available at a price.

Cooper,however,is quick to point out that the hotel is in step with Indian sensibilities as well. “For instance,we had a separate section for vegetarians during Navratras,” he adds. A meal at MoMo would cost Rs 1,000 per person and there is also an option of booking the entire restaurant for kitty parties or conference lunches.

Up next is also an art exhibition that promotes young artists: “This is to promote paintings that blend better with high-end décor,” says Cooper. Clearly,here’s one place where you will be spoilt for choice.

CONTACT: 27-B,Sector Road ,Sushant Lok-1 Sector-27,Gurgaon; phone: 0124-4888444