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 .
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 .
Great piece of information, Thank you for sharing the updated one... pan asian
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