Traveller's Tales: December 2009

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Prego at Westin Pune

A new luxury hotel in town. More importantly, two new restaurants within that hotel to discover! The Westin Pune finally opened its doors in Koregaon Park. They bring to food lovers Prego, an Italian fine-dining restaurant, along with Kangan, which specializes in Indian cuisine.

Prego is a concept that has been fine-tuned by Westin in many of their hotels in Asia. With an open kitchen and modern, contemporary style, this restaurant specializes in regional Italian dishes, home-made pastas, risottos and a wide variety of pizzas. While the setting is definitely upscale, the restaurant has a distinctly casual feel.

The hotel and the restaurant had barely been operational for three weeks and it showed. Their pizza oven wasn't functional so we had to modify our dining plans somewhat. As we selected our drinks, they put out some warm bread with olive oil, vinegar and a chunky tomato dip. The bread was fresh and tasted good - always a good sign; stale bread is an early warning for impending disasters in restaurants.

We ordered a starter of the Melanzane Alla Parmigiana: baked eggplant layers in tomato sauce, basil, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. The starter was good but not particularly a stand-out.

We followed with an interesting variation of home-made gnocchi (pronounced as noh-kee), the Gnocchi di Zucca Tartufati made with truffle flavored pumpkin gnocchi and mascarpone cheese. At our request they also added some grilled chicken on top. The gnocchi was amazingly soft, chewy in a good way, and very tasty indeed.

Then came the Spaghetti Con Mazzancolle: spaghetti with tiger prawn, chilli, garlic, parsley and arugula leaves. Again, this dish was perfectly flavored and tasted very nice. The play of flavors and textures was nicely balanced.

The desserts turned out to be a very good idea. The Zuccotto Al Cioccolato was to die for! This one is a frozen chocolate 'mud pie' with coffee flavored ice cream. Coffee lovers have it good in this restaurant: The other dessert I tried, the Affogato Al Caffe with espresso, vanilla ice cream and sambuca liquor was bitter-sweet heaven.

My advice to you, keep space for the desserts in this restaurant; you won't regret it!

Overall, the restaurant shows promise for those looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in Pune. The portions here aren't very large and therefore dining family-style and sharing dishes can be a challenge. The service in the restaurant was excellent through-out. The hotel itself was looking bright and cheerful with Xmas decorations in the lobby.

La Dolce Vita and Casanova both had their time in the limelight but haven't been consistent over time. I haven't visited La Dolce Vita recently, but Casanova certainly has gone downhill. Hopefully, Prego will now set the standards for good Italian food in Pune. Westin still has to some work to do and iron out its initial kinks and teething trouble; I look forward to sampling some of their pizzas the next time around.

PS: QBA which I earlier thought was a Cuban restaurant is actually going to be a Cuban themed night-club/lounge-bar. It hasn't opened yet.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Beggar's Chicken

During my first trip, I had written about the other interesting dish not many discover in China, Beggar's Chicken. Not as popular as the famous Peking Duck, the serving of this dish is every bit as entertaining in its presentation. Especially so, if you are dining in the critically acclaimed restaurant, Made in China, within the palatial Grant Hyatt Hotel in Beijing.

When the waitress brought me the large ball of clay, I was momentarily confused. Then I noticed the wooden mallet and other instruments more appropriate in a operation theater or a torture chamber. This was getting interesting!

Made in China is designed to seat diners in the middle of bustling show kitchens, impressive wine racks and stacks of kitchenware through a long dining room that also has a separate bar area. This excellent restaurant serves up a variety of northeastern and Beijing delicacies through the evening. I was able to get a seat at a seat in front of one of the show kitchens. The last time I was here, I wasn't able to sample Beggar's Chicken; this dish sells out fast. Today I was luckier!

After giving me a chance to deliver the first honorary blow to crack the baked clay encasing the Beggar's Chicken, my waitress took over. A few more expertly delivered blows with the mallet and much of the clay shell was cracked. She then used a pair of shears to cut through the lotus leaves that were wrapped around the chicken. The chicken itself seemed to be perfected roasted in its juices. The meat was falling of the bones. She used the final instrument to partly pry open the chicken to unveil the pork and mustard green filling. All in all, this dish made for a very interesting entree in terms of quality of experience. The chicken was well done and the mustard greens did enhance the taste of the dish somewhat.

The hot and soup I had ordered before my main course and the dessert that followed of "Made in China" homemade chocolate - Wu Liang Ye coriander mild and Si Chuan pepper chocolate walnut were nice but completely overshadowed by the impressive presentation of my main course.

For those who are interested in the story behind how Beggar's Chicken got its name, check my earlier post here.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Epicurean in Beijing

Even business lunches in China can end up being quite a feast. This time was no different. My hospitable hosts had organized an elaborate lunch at Quanjude, the renowned restaurant that has being serving Peking Duck since 1864 when the Qing dynasty still ruled China.

Like is usual when dining in Asian restaurants, we were seated around a large round table with a revolving platter of exquisitely presented dishes placed in the center.

Dish after dish of fish, meats and fruits appeared. Slices of pear, jello-encased seafood, BBQ pork short ribs, sauteed spinach with peanuts, and much more. I will let the pictures do the talking!

Soups and fried rice were followed by more meats and vegetables in sweet and savory sauces. All exquisitely presented and every one of them delectable. The variety of taste, texture and flavor was a feast for the senses.

It was time for the house speciality - Peking Duck. I was presented with a certificate with the serial number of the duck - a running number from the time they have been serving roast duck to their patrons. This popular restaurant now sells over 2 million roast ducks annually!

The chef expertly carved the duck at the table as we admired their practised deftness of hand. A plate of the famed melt-in-your-mouth slices of the glazed, crispy skin arrived in front of us, followed by the duck meat which we greedily rolled within pancakes with hoisin sauce, sugar and spring onions. Finally came the soup made from the duck. Nothing goes waste here. The Peking Duck was amazing as always.

Finally came an interesting cream-filled dessert, a pastry filled with a sweet tasting meat and a fruit platter. Desserts in China seem to play a minor part in what is usually always a very elaborate dining experience.

In the evening we dined at Zen 1903, an upscale restaurant in Beijing's swish Legation Quarters. This area used to house foreign embassies at one time but now is the destination for gourmets in the capital city. This butterfly-themed restaurant serves upmarket Cantonese cuisine along with Peking Duck and some Sichuan favorites.

We sat under an impressive crystal chandelier as a series of steamed, stir-fried, BBQ and roasted delicacies made their way to our plates. This time there were more exotica such as jellyfish, duck's feet and duck's kidneys and I am happy to say I tried every one of them. We ended with a dessert made of egg yolk along along with a sweetened roll.

As you can see, it was another elaborate and satisfying meal in Beijing. Ming and team, thank you for being the perfect hosts as always!

PS: Posts from my previous visits to China:

Friday, December 18, 2009

Pune Dining: New Hot Spots

I have a lot of catching up to do! With my increasing travel, I have been reviewing more restaurants outside Pune than in this city I call my home. Hopefully, this post will quickly put Pune back on this blog. Let me begin by Momo at the Courtyard in Hingewadi: I went back to try their dinner buffet on a weekend. The live Chinese and Pasta counters enhanced the already elaborate buffet spread. The chef also turns out a mean pizza. And like always, I loved their desserts; they seem to have a very talented pastry chef.

I also visited Kareem's multiple times. In addition to their East Street outlet, they now have one in Dhole Patil Road, right next to Zamu's. The biryanis are robust, served in ample portions, and yet modestly priced. Ph: 26053374

On yet another day, I discovered the Bombay Duck at Rahul in Aundh. Bombay Duck despite its name is not a duck but a fish. This ugly looking fish has a powerful odour when dried; however, the expertly fried fillets at Rahul were excellent and I can recommend it safely to seafood lovers who want to try something different.

While I was away travelling, a host of eating options seem to have emerged in Pune. Here are the ones which are top of my list:

Cafe Maroo, an intimate little Korean restaurant has opened at Westend Plaza on New D.P. Road, Aundh. In addition to Korean green and herbal teas, you can find kimbap - Korean rice and other condiments rolled in seaweed, dduk - rice cakes, and bulgogi in their menu.

Coffee lovers rejoice! Aromas on Dhole Patil Road (opposite Madhuban) has brought gourmet Australian coffee into the city. Aromas is part of the chain popular all over Gold Coast and Brisbane in the Australian continent.

The good news just doesn't end. Pune's first microbrewery, 1st Brewhouse and its brewpub opened with fanfare at the Corinthians. Beer lovers can now sample four varieties of beer with retro rock and a variety of meat and veggie wraps and rolls - if you don't mind driving down the far end of town.

Other new openings and interesting discoveries:

Squisito in Koregaon Park. Yet another vegetarian-only Italian place that also has Mexican and Lebanese on its menu. 1 Jewel Tower, Lane No. 5, Ph: 2605-4005

Tertullia on South Main Road has reopened as a fine-dining restaurant. I love their pastries and coffeee but haven't yet visited them in their new avatar. Lane No. 5, Ph: 26151100

Bombay's popular Cream Center: For those who fondly remember its crowded namesake in Chowpatty, you can now sample their delectible Mexican nachos, ragda-patties and Channa Bhatura in Fern Hotel, Kalyani Nagar.

BBQ Nation opened its second outlet in town, this one open-air on the rooftop of the new Sayaji Hotel. Ph: 42121212

Another international restaurant chain brings Legacy Restaurant to Pune. Known for their Cheese Naan, Hazari Kabab, Chicken Methi Malai and Mutton Biryani in far-flung cities of Africa and the Middle-East, they have even brought their chefs from Dubai to make a good first impression. Lunkad Sky Station, Viman Nagar, Ph: 66410110

Westin finally opened in tony Koregaon Park, bringing with it some upscale dining options as well. Kangan opens daily for dinner and specializes in frontier cuisine. Prego, the fine-dining Italian restaurant looks promising too (Dec 2009: reviewed here). QBA promises to introduce the best Cuban delights to Pune. Mix@36 is the bar for whiskey lovers; they claim to have over 68 different varieties here.

The Great Kabab Factory comes into town in the newly opened Radisson Hotel. Their much imitated and unique concept of unlimited kababs, biryanis and speciality Indian breads in an upscale ambiance has been a personal favorite of mine ever since I first visited the New Delhi Radisson many years ago.

After Galaxy Grill, Corinthians now brings the second Greek dining experience to town with Salsa. However, for those not too adventurous, they have some Indian food on the menu too.

Then we have '96K' for some royal Maratha fare including the fiery mutton rassa with wade and patra fish. Incidentally, '96K' stands for the first 96 Maratha families who had their roots in Rajasthan. Really! What say Thakeray and Thakeray? Located in Sanas Memories, 927 F.C. Road, near Deendayal Hospital. Ph: 25679669

Finally, Cafe Boulevard in Hotel Kapila on Dhole Patil Road is getting good reviews for those out of good options late in the nights when you are desperate food and drinks at non-five-star prices. This restaurant is open 24 hours. Ph: 6644 6644 (Jan 2010: Reviewed here)

I will keep updating this post with links to more detailed reviews. I would like to hear from you too. Bon Apetit!

Other posts on Pune's dining scene: