Anniversary menu

CELEBRATED Michelin-starred Chef Vineet Bhatia has conjured up a special anniversary set menu to mark the fourth birthday of his award-winning restaurant at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa.
It’s a sizzling selection of the finest Indian cuisine – available only until Saturday and delivered with style and grace by his head chef of Rasoi by Vineet – Bahrain, Tej Bahadur Thapa Magar and his team.
Now, in the all the many years I’ve been writing Eating Out reviews I have never mentioned the price so high up in an article but rules are there to be broken because this amazing fine-dining experience can be snapped up for a mere BD9.900+++.
I’m told the restaurant wanted to mark the occasion as a ‘thank you’ to its many devoted regular diners with a selection of some of the celebrity chef’s most popular dishes … and it’s also offered a chance for those who haven’t yet sampled his delights to put the cuisine to the taste test.
The restaurant was buzzing on Saturday evening, the first day of the offer, and outlet manager Srinivas Maloth and his front of house colleagues were on top of their game offering a warm welcome and an impeccable standard of swift and informative service.
Rasoi in Hindi means ‘kitchen’ and the reputation of Vineet’s operation in the kingdom continues to shine brightly. During its first four years, Rasoi by Vineet – Bahrain has deservedly picked up accolade after accolade, not only being voted best Indian restaurant but also taking the plumb prize of ‘Best Restaurant’ in the kingdom at the Bahrain Food and Travel Awards.
“People often ask me what our signature dish is,” said Chef Vineet, who is busy preparing for the opening of his latest restaurant venture, Indya by Vineet, at La Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai, “and I tell them that we haven’t got a signature dish, we have a signature approach to elevate the cuisine to a very high standard.
“I’m so pleased to be celebrating our fourth anniversary on this wonderful island of Bahrain and I hope to continue to excite the palates of our guests. Thank you for all your support over the years.”
Born in India in 1967, Chef Vineet added: “The wonderful thing about growing up in Bombay was the eclectic influence all around you. It is a melting pot of culinary delights from all over the many different regions of India.”
The anniversary menu bears witness to that with dishes from both the north and south of India to enjoy … and ‘excite the palate’ they certainly do.
A triple taste treat was delivered to the table first consisting of Konkani chicken fry, Lamb galauti and Malai broccoli.
The chicken was tender, the lamb melted in the mouth and, I’ve always thought that cauliflower was my favourite vegetable in Indian cuisine but I stand corrected, the broccoli was brilliant.
Baked to perfection, I’m told the florets on this dish come covered with cream, a cashew and walnut mix, cheese, lemon juice and a ginger-garlic paste to produce a very rich taste which combines superbly with the freshness of the broccoli.
The main courses swiftly followed with Chicken chettinad, an Indian classic consisting of meat marinated in yogurt, turmeric and a paste of red chillies, kalpasi, coconut, poppy, coriander, cumin and fennel seeds, black pepper, ground nuts, onions, garlic and gingelly oil and everyone’s favourite Dal tadka, plus, what I considered to be the masterpiece on the menu, a magical Jhinga masala. A nice balance between tangy and spicy with prawns cooked to perfection.
This was such a ‘wow’ dish my fellow guests on my table all said they would have happily come for a night out at this destination for this offering alone!
All the dishes were superbly accompanied by naan breads, coriander rice and cucumber cumin raita.
But, of course, there was more to come in the form of another triple treat – desserts featuring steamed yoghurt, a tri-flavoured cheesecake and Chef Vineet’s signature overture, a chocolate délice, a truly delicious creation delivering a great chocolate experience and a taste-sensation to conclude a culinary night to savour and long remember.
And, talking of remembering, remember readers, you read about the anniversary set menu here first. Book that table now before it’s too late by calling 17713000.

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