ambrosia – The Temple Feast, Lotus Cafe, JW Marriott Hotel, Juhu
When I received an invitation to go celebrate Lotus Café’s new food festival
titled ambrosia last weekend, I could not be any more happy; the invitation
looked attractive and the tag line, Deities wouldn’t settle for anything less,
really made look forward to it!
titled ambrosia last weekend, I could not be any more happy; the invitation
looked attractive and the tag line, Deities wouldn’t settle for anything less,
really made look forward to it!
The vegetarian in me was jumping in joy at the sight of a 100% vegetarian
buffet at a 5 star after a long, long time!
The little diya’s on the table, the wonderful vibes,
the happiness that one gets from a restaurant filled with people (yes, a
restaurant filled with loads of people, talking amongst themselves gives me
loads of happiness); and the soothing ambiance, all played up to get me in the
perfect mood to thoroughly enjoy my meal!
the happiness that one gets from a restaurant filled with people (yes, a
restaurant filled with loads of people, talking amongst themselves gives me
loads of happiness); and the soothing ambiance, all played up to get me in the
perfect mood to thoroughly enjoy my meal!
Apart from the regular buffet spread, ambrosia – the
temple feast focuses on five traditional cuisines from five regions of the
country, and they have also brought in chefs from each region!
temple feast focuses on five traditional cuisines from five regions of the
country, and they have also brought in chefs from each region!
What our Feast (literally!!) included:
From
Gujarat
Gujarat
The Gujju in me has genuinely got fed up of Gujju food,
but the sight of bateta nu shaak, till date, simply melts me!
but the sight of bateta nu shaak, till date, simply melts me!
What I had:
Mirchi
Wada: Not very spicy and bang on flavours; but the very
thick layer of besan and the fact they had gone cold were the biggest downfalls!
Wada: Not very spicy and bang on flavours; but the very
thick layer of besan and the fact they had gone cold were the biggest downfalls!
Safed
Dhokda (white dhoklas): Good, but then again, the
heat was a concern!
Dhokda (white dhoklas): Good, but then again, the
heat was a concern!
Undhyu:
Good,
but not great! But I guess any Gujju who has grown up eating his/her grandma’s
haath ka undhyu will always agree to the fact that nothing beats that one!
Good,
but not great! But I guess any Gujju who has grown up eating his/her grandma’s
haath ka undhyu will always agree to the fact that nothing beats that one!
Kerala
Karela nu Shaak: Yes, this was part of the buffet, NO! I
did not even taste this one!
Karela nu Shaak: Yes, this was part of the buffet, NO! I
did not even taste this one!
Ringna
no Odo (baingan bharta): Decent enough is all I
can say!
no Odo (baingan bharta): Decent enough is all I
can say!
Bateta
Tameta nu Shaak: Which Gujju does not love betata tameta nu
rassa waadu shaak? Team it up with ghee loaded just off the gas phulkas or some
theplas or just plain simple rice and you are good to go but this, NOOO!
Tameta nu Shaak: Which Gujju does not love betata tameta nu
rassa waadu shaak? Team it up with ghee loaded just off the gas phulkas or some
theplas or just plain simple rice and you are good to go but this, NOOO!
From
Punjab
Punjab
Chowk
Ki Tikki and Pethewaali Tikki: While was peas and elaichi
and not enjoyable; the other was simply brilliant!
Ki Tikki and Pethewaali Tikki: While was peas and elaichi
and not enjoyable; the other was simply brilliant!
Paneer
Jalandhari: Yum, but on the sweeter side! Still YUM!
Jalandhari: Yum, but on the sweeter side! Still YUM!
Petha
Khatta Meetha and Kaju Mattar Makhana: Tried these two for
the first time and they were surprisingly delicious!
Khatta Meetha and Kaju Mattar Makhana: Tried these two for
the first time and they were surprisingly delicious!
Dal
Makhani and Rice and Amritsari Kulchas: Okay, so I love
this combination, and can literally live off it, and I have always maintained
that ITC has always had the best Dal Makhani but after having this at both the JW’s,
I guess I take back my words! JW Mumbai has the best Dal Makhani EVER, and
those Kulchas, what can I say of them soft, and loaded with butter; thank God I
was the only one eating those!
Makhani and Rice and Amritsari Kulchas: Okay, so I love
this combination, and can literally live off it, and I have always maintained
that ITC has always had the best Dal Makhani but after having this at both the JW’s,
I guess I take back my words! JW Mumbai has the best Dal Makhani EVER, and
those Kulchas, what can I say of them soft, and loaded with butter; thank God I
was the only one eating those!
From
the South
the South
Malabari
Porotta: Ever since my trip down south last year,
when I happened to try Malabari Porotta for the first time and fell in love
with it, and ever since, I have been searching for the perfect one here in
Bombay and always failed, but luckily, not anymore, for I have finally got it
at the Lotus Cafe!
Porotta: Ever since my trip down south last year,
when I happened to try Malabari Porotta for the first time and fell in love
with it, and ever since, I have been searching for the perfect one here in
Bombay and always failed, but luckily, not anymore, for I have finally got it
at the Lotus Cafe!
There were three gravies that accompanied the Porotta,
one was a channa sabji that was really delicious with a base flavour of
curry leaves; one was a khatta meetha gravy (sorry I have
forgotten the names) and one was a dish similar to the Avial but it wasn’t the avial!!
one was a channa sabji that was really delicious with a base flavour of
curry leaves; one was a khatta meetha gravy (sorry I have
forgotten the names) and one was a dish similar to the Avial but it wasn’t the avial!!
There was also a Thai counter, with some very pretty
looking stuff but I didn’t try them, somehow not a HUGE fan of Pan Asian
Cuisine!
looking stuff but I didn’t try them, somehow not a HUGE fan of Pan Asian
Cuisine!
They also has a live CHAAT counter and they
had amongst the best ragda pattice’s that I have ever had; and made just to the
way I enjoy it, loads of salad, less ragda, sev and a very very spicy tikki! Oh
Heaven!
had amongst the best ragda pattice’s that I have ever had; and made just to the
way I enjoy it, loads of salad, less ragda, sev and a very very spicy tikki! Oh
Heaven!
Pizzas!
Off late, I have observed that the pizza counter at
these various buffets at 5 stars have some really depressing pizza, but this
one, was surprisingly delicious and simply perfect! There is nothing that I can
say about this one except the fact that I was in love with it!
these various buffets at 5 stars have some really depressing pizza, but this
one, was surprisingly delicious and simply perfect! There is nothing that I can
say about this one except the fact that I was in love with it!
DESSERT!!!
Who does not love desserts? And when you see a spread
like this one, you are sure to go weak in the knees! Mousse, Pastries, Chocolate
Toffee Meringue tart (this was delicious), Chocolate Lamington, Caramel Cake, Basil
Mascarpone, Lauki Halwa, Gulab Jamuns, Kesar Kaju Rolls, Malai Chop, Choco
Badam Bati, Kesar Sandesh, Besan ke Laddoo, Sevaiyan kheer, Rasgullas, assorted
ice creams and what not!
like this one, you are sure to go weak in the knees! Mousse, Pastries, Chocolate
Toffee Meringue tart (this was delicious), Chocolate Lamington, Caramel Cake, Basil
Mascarpone, Lauki Halwa, Gulab Jamuns, Kesar Kaju Rolls, Malai Chop, Choco
Badam Bati, Kesar Sandesh, Besan ke Laddoo, Sevaiyan kheer, Rasgullas, assorted
ice creams and what not!
See how happy I was as I
relished the meal! |
Except a few things here and there, I have thoroughly enjoyed
the feast at Lotus Café and it sure will be etched in memory for a really long
time to come!
the feast at Lotus Café and it sure will be etched in memory for a really long
time to come!
Thank You, JW Marriott, Juhu for having us over!
Ambrosia is on till the 21st and is priced
at INR 2000++ per head on weekdays and INR 2400++ per head on weekends!
at INR 2000++ per head on weekdays and INR 2400++ per head on weekends!
Hi suchetaji , afyer going through all I feel like hv to justify by going at Lotus cafe…its yummie the way I can c u satisfied. …I will try karela nu saak fr sure. .thanks
Kalpana aunty, you must visit, it is great place to relax and spend some quality time with near and dear ones; the ambiance, vibes, hospitality and food are un-matchable!