12 January,2011 09:50 AM IST | | Namita Gupta
At Pink Poppadom, the new restaurant you will get Indian cuisine with a modern twist that will keep you tickled pink
What wonderful captivating images a name can conjure up. At least for me it did. What else do you make out when you hear a name like Pink Poppadom? Especially for someone like me, who's always had this pink fetish, when someone understands the need for pink in the food space (even though it might seem absurd to many), I'm more than game to call the shots. This innovative fine dining restaurant whipping up Indian cuisine with a modern twist has a menu that's as culinary captivating as its moniker.
Pink poppadom
Food: class apartu00a0
Service: brisk
Ambience: elegant
Bring it on, I say, with a privy pride like that of almost owning a small corner in my own kingdom with flimsy pink sheer curtains and pink rimmed plates. Is it because it's pink? 'How inane', my grey cells tell me, but then, the pink mood takes over and I begin my food trail, as I sit at a table where I can clearly see the chef's open show kitchen. A complementary papad basket is served on the table and yes, the papad is pink in colour. I'm quite intrigued and find out that the colour thankfully is not due to any artificial seasonings, but from the beetroot extract.
I begin with the Foie-Gras Galouti Fair (Rs 750), a Galouti kebab served atop a small Ulta Tawa Parantha, plated with pan-seared foie-gras, topped with a fruity Philadelphia relish. The fine minced and ground lamb and duck liver melt in the mouth, just the way they are meant to. On Chef Suprabhat's recommendation, I also tried the Chicken Tapenade (Rs 300), which were chicken chops with olive tapenade served with a tzatziki shooter.
Taking a quick sip, I leave the shooter apart, and fork in the chops with olives that lend it a distinctive fruity, tad bitter and induced with olive flavour. Vegetarians might like to try the Ricotta Kebab (Rs 225) out of the many vegetarian options, for this tweaked paneer tikka version. These kebabs are pan seared yoghurt-ricotta medallions, with minced chilli flakes, ginger and served with fresh tomato salsa and zucchini carpaccio.
For the mains, my dining companion and I shared the Coorg Chicken (Rs 500), which were chunks of mild spicy, dry chicken cooked in Coorgi style served on a potato tikki base. We followed it with a small share of the Flamb ufffded Raan (Rs 1,100), which you must order if you're trying to impress your boss or your girlfriend.
The chef will flambe the lamb leg right on your table, which has been cooked with fresh spices and glazed on the hearth. The raan had an overpowering flavour of dark rum and can easily be the highpoint of any meal. If you're a vegetarian, try the Paneer Mille Feuille (Rs 375), which is basically just a paneer sandwich, with a layer of tomato, mint and cashew korma sauce served on a bed of rice, and ranks average on our score card.
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I wonder how things like khichdi find space on the menu in the form of Khichdi Parmigiano. Or how about taking fancy to something like a Pumpkin Masala Lasagna? For dessert, I tried the Chocolate Degustation (Rs 250), which was a rectangle plate with a chocolate samosa, star anise scented chocolate mud cake and a bailey's shooter. With such unconventional fare on the menu, there is enough fodder for a second visit. And there is of course, my evergreen reason: the colour pink.
At: The Pink Poppadam, Hotel Ista, 4th Floor, 1/1, Swami Vivekananda Road, Ulsoor
Call: 2555 8888
Open: only for dinner 7 to 11.30 pm
Meal for two: Rs 2,500
