Talk about feasting for a Nordic eternity This week Mukul is all set to give us info about a catering outfit which has hit the city recently. It is known as Bon Appetit. They cater to everyone from six to 60 and above - inclusive of either age and number. They basically cater to parties, office get-togethers and conventions and they have different menu styles for each whether continental, Indian or the Chinese.
However, strictly speaking continental. But alas, takers it seems are few even now for a soup, appetiser, salad, main course and dessert consisting of say the Scotch Broth, Chicken Vol-Au-Vents, Salad Nicoise, Veal Schnitzel and Chocolate Mousse which they offer.
No, the menu card says it all, instead. Consider the buffet menu for instance, which is separated from the a la carte one. Here now it's possible to order Tomato Mint Shorba, Aloo Chaat, Murg Tikka Makkanwala, Biryani, Pickles, Papad and Gajar Halwa. (Not to worry though, the continental lurks in there too.)
Which is a pity and a ground reality, in that order. "Unless you're established," says a member of the management, "you just can't afford to be exclusive". (The pity.) And by the time you have, I think to myself, you're going to be branded as `non-exclusive' anyway. (The ground reality.) In other words, to break even when you've just managed to break out, you have to compromise. Then years pass; and you make it; and all sorts of people go around wondering how come there aren't any exclusively continental catering joint.
So why do I bring this all up even before touching the meal? Maybe because I want to stick my neck out and say that this city's probably still not ready for it. In spite of the inflow of NRIs and MNCs and etc. I mean considering it' hard enough to pull off this stunt even in a Mumbai or New Delhi without a year or two of deep wound licking.
On the other hand, why I definitely don't bring this up is in any way demean the quality of their food orits presentation. That's excellent. We were given Fish Cakes with Tartare Sauce (minced fished patties served with a chopped gherkin mayonnaise sauce) even though for once I had hungered for a Cream of Chicken soup to ruin my appetite and this is going to sound scandalous I know but I liked the sauce better than the fish.
The Coleslaw Salad was good for the only reason it isn't so when a fast-fooder slops it in with the hamburgers because it was crisp. It's what a coleslaw is meant to be. A Macaroni Cheese was okay but now we come to the Valhalla of wantonness - the Beef Stroganoff. In this I too, like the slain mythical Norse heroes of yore, could have feasted for an eternity. (My Till-death-do-us-apartner says I did in fact; keeping morsels tucked away in cunning corners of the fridge for days on end.) Obviously there was no place for the Fruit Trifle anymore.
Address:
Bon Appetit
Contact Maya Oberoi/Jennifer Sippy at 569160
Ashley & John Gotting at 5465804 for catering details.In case you have to throw a party or a have a get together at a short notice, don't fret just dial the number and you have the food ready.
