If you have ever been to Delhi in India, you know there are two things that one cannot afford to miss in this beautiful place – its rich heritage and its delicious mouth watering food. Delhi is the melting pot of various cultures and traditions and this makes the food culture of this city unique and intriguing.
From Mughal delicacies and North Indian flavors to Punjabi spices and a wide range of vegetarian delicacies, Delhi has a lot to offer especially in terms of culinary delights.
So in order to celebrate the culinary heritage of Delhi, The Café at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu is organizing a food festival under the theme, ‘Dus Din Dilli Ke.’ This is their attempt to create a mini-Delhi in Kathmandu itself. During the food festival, The Café at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu will be hosting a lavish buffet and will also put up a huge variety of Delhi street food like ‘chaat’, ‘pani puri’ and bread ‘pakoda’.
A bunch of extremely talented designers have also worked together to transform the space of this café into an interesting one. With the help of some props and creativity, they hope to create an environment where the guests can experience the true essence of Delhi.
Date: June 15-24, 2018
Rate: NPR 2,200 per person + taxes for
unlimited buffet
Time: 6:30 pm to 10:00pm
From the executive chef : Santosh Koradi
We have been working for this food festival for almost six months now. Organizing a food festival requires a lot of dedication and thought process. From deciding which small ingredient to use to placing big decorations, we, as organizers, need to make sure that everything is perfect. After a lot of hard work, everything is finally in place and I’m very excited about this food festival.
Eating junk food is bad for health!
For this festival, we have not imported ingredients from India. Since Nepal also has a wide variety of similar ingredients, as a team, we have tried to promote the local market.
We do conduct various festivals every month but this festival is extremely special for me because we are changing the entire setup of our café. From the taste of our food, background music to interiors, every corner is going to give our customers a complete Delhi experience. Also, there are as many vegetarian items as there are non-vegetarian dishes. So there is something for everyone at this festival.
A glimpse of what ‘Dus Din Dilli Ke’ has to offer
Chicken biryani
There may be 15-20 varieties of biryani made and sold in India but Delhi biryani is undoubtedly one of the best in the country. This dish was extremely popular among the Mughal rulers who ruled most of Northern India for many years. Withstanding the test of time, Delhi biryani is now enjoyed by people across India and it has been able to win the hearts of people all over the world.
If you are looking forward to having good Biryani in Kathmandu, then you must visit this food festival and enjoy the dish in its authentic form. The Café at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu has been able to do complete justice to this dish that is served in an earthen pot. The aroma of saffron, ‘gulab jal’, spices and freshly chopped coriander is what makes this dish even more appealing.
Gilafi seekh kebab
Gilafi seekh kebab is grilled and marinated meat cooked in a tandoor for about eight to 10 minutes. It is again one of those dishes introduced by the Mughals in India. It is said that this dish used to be an integral part of Mughal royalty’s daily diet.
These days, kebabs are found almost everywhere in Delhi. From the streets to fine dining restaurants there are all kind of places, to suit all kinds of budgets, where you can enjoy this mouthwatering delicacy. At the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu food festival, this dish is a must try. The soft texture of the kebabs makes it melt in your mouth and the aroma of this dish is simply irresistible. And the best part is that there will be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebabs and both of the varieties taste equally good.
Lal paneer tikka
This dish made of paneer cubes, yellow turmeric, chili, garlic paste and cream is definitely the highlight of the food festival. It has a unique taste and it’s something you have never ever tasted at any other restaurants around the valley. The uniqueness and authenticity of this dish is maintained at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu by cooking it in a tandoor. This delicious dish may also be called a vegetarian alternative to chicken tikka. This flavorsome dish will perfectly complement your biryani or your Indian bread.
Tandoori chicken
You can’t help but be drawn towards the aroma of this tempting and one of the most famous dishes of Delhi. If you are a non-vegetarian, do not forget to try this dish at the festival. Also be careful because once you start eating this beautiful dish you are unlikely to stop very soon. The outstanding, luscious taste of this dish is definitely a result of extravagant preparation and hard work that goes behind making it. According to the chef, the chicken that is rubbed and marinated in malt vinegar, lemon juice, spices, and ginger, garlic paste for 30 minutes has to be refrigerated for about eight hours before being cooked in the tandoor.
Mutton hussaini korma
This tender meat cooked in hussaini curry is a delight for all mutton lovers. The perfect blend of mild spices in hot mutton curry is what makes the dish so perfect. The best part about this dish is that it does not have an overwhelming amount of oil like most North Indian mutton cuisines. The meat is soft and easy to chew and the aroma of saffron, cumin powder, and coriander powder is simply very tempting.
Matar paneer
Matar paneer is a dish that is enjoyed by many Indians across the sub-continent. It is known for enhancing the taste of your main course and is a compatible with almost any kind of Indian bread including roti, naan, or paratha. This dish also tastes delicious with biryani or rice. Matar paneer is a vegetarian dish that comprises of peas, garam masala, onion, tomatoes and turmeric powder. At the food festival, you will be able to sample the authentic matar paneer of Delhi that is usually a tad bit sweet.
Kesar rasmalai
This spongy, soft, and sweet dish that just simply melts in your mouth is the ultimate indulgence of many North Indian sweet lovers. Also, it is one of the best sweet dishes served at the food festival for all those who have a sweet tooth. Kesar rasmalai at The Café has definitely done justice to the actual dish found in the streets of Delhi. This sweet dish is as authentic as it can get.
