Gourmet 24 ⃰ 7

A world of delight for gourmet lovers

 Not many of us are aware about the existence of Gourmet 24 ⃰ 7, the all-day vibrant dining outlet of The Aananda Imperial based in Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. During my visit to the hotel sometime in June, this year, I had a chance to sample the elaborate list of menu that was laid out on the buffet table.  The 52-seater restaurant was opened to public on November 14, 2010 and sprawls over an area of 2,000 sq. ft. The restaurant specializes in authentic Indian flavours from almost every state of India followed by Continental and Oriental fare. The outlet has the widest offerings in the land of Chhattisgarh. 

 A view of the restaurant

The interiors of the outlet have floral décor flaunting pastel shades. Gourmet lovers can enjoy an elaborate, buffet dinner and the menu is colourful with a balanced consistency and ingredients. In other words, the menu is in sync with the state’s rich biodiversity. I had my dinner and in a bid to satiate my hunger pangs, my culinary journey began with Vegetable Croquettes and Jafrani Paneer Tikka.

Vegetable Croquets and Jafrani Paneer Tikka

 There was a live Golgappa counter and I relished the yummy Golgappas to satiate my taste buds. Very soon, I moved on with vegetable salad, fruit salad and Cucumber Canope that were an indulgent affair.

 Chaat counter

 

 Cucumber Canape

Vegetable Salad

 

 

Monaco Biscuit Canape

 I picked up the Pakoda Chaat but was not satisfied. I switched off to the main course with plain rice and Vegetable Malabari comprising cauliflower gravy tempered with Malabar spices. I wished to have more but keeping in mind, the host of items that were on offer, I reluctantly moved on to other counters. There were a slew of dishes in the main course like Paneer Roll in Makhani Gravy, Vegetable Thai Red Curry, Hakka Noodles, Goan Fish Curry, Dhania Murgh, Burhani Raita and Mango Raita but I was craving to savour dessert delights. 

Vegetable Thai Red Curry and Hakka Noodles

The dessert platter is offered with a wide array of sweet bites and believe it or not, the chef had cooked up a storm on the dinner table. On offer were as many as nine delectable dessert offerings like Dates Clafoutis, Chandana Kheer (rice pudding with bananas and sprinkled with dry fruits), Cream Cham Cham and Chocolate Pistachio Macarons.

 Chandana Kheer

 

Cream Cham Cham

 Chocolate Pistachio Macarons

 I wanted to have some new dessert items like Cardamom Pine Apple Panacotta- an Italian delight rustled up with cooked cream that is moulded, baked and served with pine apple candy with a twist of cardamom flavour.

Cardamom Pine Apple Panacotta

  The dessert-Bitter Sweet Chocolate Flower Pie was quite heavy on the stomach that is made of chocolate tart, filled with crumb brown sponge and done up with gum paste flower, chocolate twister and pancake syrup. 

Bitter Sweet Chocolate Pie

If you’re a true foodie, then you should savour Apple Jalebi and Orange Cremeux that constitutes gelatinized orange paste that is crushed and served on a bed of crumbled white sponge. 

There are sweet dishes from Chhattisgarh like Mawabati- made of ghee, refined flour and milk powder and Dehrori.

One can try the lavish Sunday brunch spread with 10 live counters that should not be missed-out.  Foodies should not leave the outlet without trying the desserts.

Address: Gourmet 24^* 7,

                         The Aananda Imperial,

                        Vyapar Vihar Road,

                        Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh- 495001

           

Phone:  +91 7752425500

Food for two: Rs 1,298 approximately on week days inclusive of taxes. One can order alcohol.

The Westin Langkawi Beach Resort & Spa

Pride of Langkawi

Here’s one luxury property in the island getaway of Langkawi that beckons me and it is none other than The Westin Langkawi Beach Resort and Spa. I have dropped in at the sprawling property twice that provides wonderful glimpses of the rolling hills on the Andaman Sea. The property took shape sometime in 2007 and has a lot to entice luxury travellers. Located at a stone’s throw distance from Eagle Square and from Kuah Jetty Terminal, the property has an unspoilt beach. 

 A view of Andaman Sea from the hotel

 Scenic view of Andaman Sea

One has to take a short trip to view the entire property. There are beach facing rooms, garden rooms, deluxe suites and spacious villas.

 A typical luxury villa

  

  A luxury suite

 

A well-furnished suite 

 I had lunched at Seasonal Tastes – the all-day dining outlet of the property. The offerings at the food outlet would make gourmet lovers drool. 

Lunch spread at Seasonal Tastes

I was offered Avocado grilled water melon with lime honey. There was the starter- Vegetable Tom Yam soup served in Westin branded coconut. The other recipes were Buttered asparagus spears, confit tomato fettucine and candid carrots spice shallot juice. The dessert was a delectable one- fresh mango, Gula Melaka ice cream, coconut bavaroise and pearl sago.

Before winding up, I had a look at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC) that opened in 2015 and boasts of three ball rooms. LICC is a perfect venue for MICE travellers to host meets and conventions.    

Langkawi International Convention Centre

 Ball Room at LICC

Address: The Westin Langkawi Beach Resort & Spa,

    Jalan Pantai, Jalan Dato Syed Omar,             

                    Kedah, 07000 Langkawi, Malaysia

Zende

Variety is the spice of life

I had a one-night stay at the luxury Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur sometime in April, this year. The all-day dining food outlet of the property- Zende derived from Arabic word implies happiness and serves great Continental and Oriental delights. The 200-seater restaurant was set up in 2011 and provides a plethora of choices in Malaysian, Western and Indian cuisine.  

Entrance of Zende

  

Open space at the outlet

 

 An illuminated outlet

The dining outlet rests on the 3^rd floor at the lobby level and is done up in Arabic style with flora and paintings. There is a lot of open space and mostly, it is lined with a steady stream of guests. There are three live stations including egg station, porridge station and noodle station. Nearly 60 per cent of the dishes served are Malaysian food. The outlet serves around 15 vegetarian dishes and 30 non-vegetarian platters. Prawn curry and Nyona curry or noodle soup are highly popular among foodies.

I had my pick of Brown Hash Potato, Vegetarian Samosa, Vadai, Upma and Paratha relished with Potato Masala and Brinjal. The outlet is open from 6.30 AM to 11 PM Sunday brunch is on from 12.30 PM to 4 P. Diners have pay RM 75 for a single person and the charges are affordable.