The Wandering Gourmet

 

 

It egged me on to visit the restaurant one lunch time and investigate how miniscule the said Bento Box would be and where the hidden costs were! I am sure some of you seeing the initial promo offer thought as much. But surpise, surprise, I sat down for a large substantial bento box lunch. And the bill WAS indeed Rs 2,500 AI. To drink? Try mizu (that’s Japanese for plain water) and of course sip the soup that comes with the box.

 

My box (which you have some control to customise) had a couple of pieces of sashimi, grilled pork belly, miso soup, tofu soy shoga, a salad, sushi, a savoury custard, pickles, steamed rice, fruit balls for a healthy dessert and green tea. Much too much for you to finish. The offer is on for lunch every day of the week.

 

Now when the Travertino first opened at The Oberoi, New Delhi, it had phenomenally good food. But I think their dishes were a bit too evolved for the public. Intelligently, the food was made more modern European and the restaurant became one of my favourite spots for lunch in town (you will soon realise eating out in the afternoon is something I much prefer over dinner). With the coming of a new chef, the much vaunted Vincenzo di Tuoro at its helm, I think I am falling back in love with the restaurant. Tuoro comes from Naples originally and I think it is his light touch with delicate flavours that really hit the spot. Also, the fact that you can have a three-course meal for Rs 21,00 (plus taxes) is a good thing — their two course meal at Rs 1700 is even better.

 

My meal, started off with a delicate organic mesclun salad, a flavour filled mouthful, followed by a small heap of light olive oil rubbed perfectly cooked of pasta with little cubes of tuna in an orange sauce. But there is plenty more to choose from, starting from the incredibly delicious sounding (since I didn’t have it) Green pea and ricotta ravioli prawn sauce and fresh mint to a much more substantial Slow roast lamb shoulder, saute potatoes, Roman artichokes, rosemary sauce. Dessert at Travertino for me at least, can only be Tiramisu (they even have a sugar free version, God only knows why!). If you’re there on a week day, after lunch, I suggest you don’t have any active meetings.

 

It’s always a real pleasure to have someone pull out all the stops and cook for you. When I was invited to the Taj Mahal Hotel (the one at Man Singh Road), to have a little taste of the Goan food buffet which has been introduce at the Machaan every Saturday, I didn’t think it was going to happen. An Executive Chef in India actually getting among the pots and pans and cooking dishes is a rarity, so it was a privileged to sit for a delicious meal cooked by Chef Arun Sundararaj, who made me everything from Sorpotel to Xacuti, Chicken Cafreal, Assado, Balchao and of course Calamari. Chef Sundararaj has plenty of experience in Goan food, since he was the Exec at Taj Exotica, Goa and re-launched the lobster shack there. But you only need to have the food to know this man knows what he is cooking.

 

I also found out, one of the dishes served to me (and available on the buffet as well) was the clam masala, with is a GSB dish, was something he learnt from his wife’s family. I have a sneaky feeling Chef Sundararaj is earning brownie points with this festival!

 

My meal came sans any music or alcohol, but for those interested, Machaan also has a selection of feni based cocktails and of course port wine (too sweet) which you can try out. The buffet is priced at Rs 2600 plus taxes, but the music is free.

 

 

And finally, it’s time for me to tell you about one of my favourite places to eat… when I can afford it, which I can’t, which is a good thing, since I eat too much every time I go there. Phew. I am speaking about Artusi, the Italian restaurant in GK 2’s M Block market in New Delhi. This is the only non-five star restaurant I am putting in my column, but it’s earned a place in my heart.

 

It’s truffle time again at Artusi. This time, they are celebrating the autumn season with the turtufo uncinato, the stronger, more intense sibling of the black summer truffle. This is also the most popular and most eaten variety of truffles, for those who can afford it.

 

For the festival specially, the restaurant has introduced three dishes, the Tajarin pasta, which are thin, refined home-made noodles finished in a very mild butter sauce with a pinch of parmesan cheese and of course autumn truffles; a white risotto finished simply with parmesan cheese also highlighting the truffles added over it (both for Rs 790) and what the divine scrambled eggs with truffles or a truffle omelette which will cost you Rs 420. You can also get one shaving of truffle on your dish for Rs 390.