Tigers Experience of Wokamama Pan Asian

How did this happen ? couple of months back went for a foodie event with the full family to Wokamama  - had a really mediocre buffet lunch – actually its got more to do with my allergy to buffets , the mood was only put off . hence kept complaining about the restaurant .

Suddenly last week got a call from one of Delhi Leading PR companies,inviting me to the tasters menu bloggers meet at Wokamama – I flatly said no  - then did nakhra ,oh who all are coming etc etc … eventually they convinced me to attend the same and I took it up also to give the restaurant another chance before being ruled out from my list of eating out . Plus on the side did a full study on the net about the reviews of Wokamama and found everyone praising the food – so all out together I decided to be there at the Bloggers Tasting menu meet .

Wokamama actually is located quite close to Delhi ,as you cross the border ,in a small village called Nathupur which is the right turn opp Pullman Hotel , sort of village complex with a couple of shops in the compound and the very famous Spoonful Soul as the neighbor. 

Now starts the Experience – Attentive Valet service , Elevator to take you to the third floor –otherwise I wud have climbed up chanting Jai Mata Dee and cursing the agency which invited me . Out of the elevator you land into a open terrace on the right with terracotta tiling nice lil huts like a lounge to sit out and enjoy the Sunday winter afternoon or to have a party . On the left two steps up is the Restaurant Wokamama. Dim Lighting Orange walls  dark furniture – well a bit gloomy for my liking but anyways no opinions as yet . There is a Bar on the left side with stools , they are proud of the cocktails they make - no drinking during the day so will have to go again lol.

I enter only to be greeted by two of my Old buddies  - MP Singh and Sameer  Puri – my connect with them is that they run the Ranch Catering services and had this stud farm on MG road called the Ranch – and they hosted my wedding reception 19 years ago with Brian Silas playing live. Ranch used to be iconic and a lnadmark on MG road, besides them and the small restaurant Sip n Bite there was nothing else on MG road – forget Gurgaon LOL . We actually did think twice before heading on MG roads that time . Well anyways  MP and Sameer own Wokamama , Lotus pond, Bamboo shoot etc etc  and they recognized me and major jhuppy puppy happened back slapping Punjabi style . It was indeed  a pleasure to meet old friends – a bit about them M.P. Singh, A commerce graduate with an MBA, he went on to do his Hotel Management, (specializing in kitchen) from Hotel Institute Caesar Ritz, Le Bouveret, Switzerland in 1985. With over five years experience in managerial capacities with Le Meridien and Hyatt Regency hotels in New Delhi. And Sameer Puri, A commerce graduate with a three year diploma in Hotel Management from IHM, Pusa, New Delhi, he has worked in various managerial capacities with Le Meridien & Maurya Sheraton Hotels in the Food & Beverage department and Indian Air lines catering for over six years. With so many years of experience behind they cant ever go wrong .

Ranch Catering was one of the first in the farm house party scenes - they started it all for delhi . Their catering has always been par excellence . Besides running a couple of restaurants they have now gone biog in the institutional kitchen arena.

So now I knew I was in good hands over lunch , there a few other bloggers on the table , average age 22 lol ,anyways they said they were bloggers so I believe them .

Both Sameer and MP sat with us on the round table center of the restaurant . MP was the master of ceremonies who wud announce and explain each dish before being served . 

The Menu 

Starters

Sate Lilit Ayam  

Canadian Pork Valley

Butter Pepper Garlic Squid

Vegetable Tempura

Salmon Nigri or Tuna Nigri

Chilly Pepper Corn

Prawn Tempura / Veg Tempura

Soup and Salad

Tom kha Soup

Chicken Pesto Salad

Sum Tham Salad

Main Course

Pla pad Karcha

Crispy Sweet Chilly Duck

Chicken Waterchestnuts Black Pepper

Mince Lamb with Crispy Rice

Fiery Ming’s Chicken

Guilin Egg Plant

Chinese Greens Superior Soya Sauce

Vegetable Sticky Rice

Chicken Green Curry Noodle with Basil

Dessert

Coconut Pan Cake

Mocca Rage 

A well Balanced Menu with Flavors from Bali , Malaysia, Thailand  and some originals from China.

Starters:

Sate Lilit Ayam  (Balinese Chicken Satay With Explosive Aromas Of Bird Eye Chilli, Kafir Lime On A Lemon Grass Stick)  - can i start praising the food - well this was something new for me - Satay in this shape and specially on a lemon grass stick which added immense flavor to the meat . For the first time i did not jump up and ask for the sauces lol . Very well made dish.Indeed.

Vegetable / Prawn Tempura- (Japanese Style Fritters Accompanied By Pineapple Chilli Sauce, Tempura Sauce, Radish And Pickled Ginger) Well honestly speaking im not a big fan of Tempura - i find it very bland but yet Crisp. The pineapple sauce served along with this was something unusual - very nice sweetness of the pineapple and the tingeof the chillies to tickle the tongue . 

Butter Pepper Garlic Squid ( Innovative Mix of Butter, Szechuan Pepper, Burnt Chilli & Garlic) - Squids in butter are always a winner - the innovation was in the Burnt garlic and chilli flavor - Just Yum and fresh .

Salmon Nigri or Tuna Nigri - Shushi with Raddish And Pickled Ginger / Wasabi

Soups and Salads:

Tom kha Soup (Spicy Soup With Coconut Milk And Galangal. Choice Of Prawn/ Chicken/ Vegetables/ Tofu And Enoki Mushroom)  Very nicely made not thats spicy - full of rainbow flavors .  I did order a small portion of Khao Suey soup to check the difference - HUGE LOL 

Chicken Pesto Salad (Spicy Thai Salad With Roasted Rice, Chilli And Lemon) Why Pesto suddenly the east was missing the west is it hahahahaha, well it was a nice fusion well played by the chef. Nicely marinated and cured chicken served on salad leaves.

Sum Tham Salad (Spicy Papaya, Tamarind & Peanut Salad) Nice salad - I loved the cherry tomatoes int he spicy thai sauce . I eat this regularly at home when on a diet :)

Canadian Pork Valley (Japanese Chargrilled Skewers with Mirin, Sake and Japanese Soya) Hmm Pork Belly expecting this to be a riot anmongst all was a let down - was hard to chew - guess a bit over cooked . 

Main Course: 

Steamed Fish in banana Leaf with Red chilly and Kafir - Loved It  -(Health conscious hahahahaha)

Guilin Egg Plant - hahaha MP will laugh at this - when i heard egg plant the nose went up and said noooo  but Mp insisted for his sake to try one piece - which i did - crisp eggplant no kucchha falvor of baigon perfectly cooked in tangy sauce .

Pla pad Karcha (Quick Fry Fish Fillet with Thai Ginger, Kaffir Lime and Chilli) - Everything was nice the flavors of Gingers etc etc but the fish per se let me down was hard .

Mince Lamb on crispy rice - Innovative for sure - a must try  The crispiness of the rice merged excellently with the Lamb which was juicy and made in a spicy sauce .

Quick Fry Chinese Veggies - Steamed with Burnt Garlic on top . - Fresh Veggies and the burnt garlic on top made my day - I love garlic .

Chicken Green Curry Noodle with Basil - Yes a great way to eat noodles - or shud i say thats the way i like it . Good combination for sure.

Vegetable Sticky Rice - the usual 

Mocca Rage - MP insisted that we try this desert on a full Up tummy - Actually a delicious Mocha Cake served with coffee and chocolate ice cream - Love it with the coffee ice cream and finished it hahahahahaha shameless me.

Coconut Rolls with Pickles Raisins and Cinnamon - Steamed so happy to eat .

Mp Explaining the making of the rolls .

Special Mention - The sauces served along with most of the dishes were just amazing - i loved the spicy tangy innovative sauces .

Overall Experience: Wonderful . It was a pleasure to sit with two well experienced highly educated pundits of the Kitchen and Hospitality industry – the way MP described each dish – its origin , its flavor combinations , the textures – a beautiful painting kept being made in  the mind  even before the food could actually reach the palate .  Well I would not rate this as fine dining but yes good quality  Pan Asian food for sure .

And my dear friend Sameer ensured the service quotient was perfect .

Was tired eating and relishing each dish and its ingredients individually . Tasters menu’s are not easy believe me .

Ambiance – Needs improvement specially inside , more light , more brightness. 

Service – Good

Food Freshness and Quality – excellent

Presentation – Hmmm they might get upset with me but I hate the silly Leaves , Beetroot , carrots on the side they just fil the plate that’s it never ever have eaten them nor have seen anyone eating them – If you have to plate up do it with something from the ingredients in the dish .

Flavors : Very original

Quantity: Perfect for two.

Value for money – 600 to 800 per head . Yes they have a bar to suck your blood hahahahahaah

Going Back again – For sure , for their Khao Suey and to check if they did what I told them to do .