DELIZIOSO - Italian Food Fest @Bene Sheraton Bangalore

I was invited to review the Delizioso - The Italian Food fest which is already running since November 9th, 2012 and will go on till November 18th, 2012. Italian Cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. While Italian cuisine is generally associated with pastas and rich, heavy foods, each region of Italy--including the central-northern region of Lombardy--is distinct in its "staple" foods and quintessential dishes which is what this Fest is featuring. The Lombardy region is best known for its dairy products, including the region's world-famous Gorgonzola cheese.Lombardy is bordered by Switzerland to the north, and it includes part of the Alps. 

Lombardy cuisine consists primarily of rice as the foundation of hearty dishes. Risotto, an Italian rice dish, originated a typical Milanese dish (Milan is the major city of the Lombard region), and has gained international recognition as a main entree across a wide variety of menus outside of the Italian gastronomical scope.At Bene the menu is crafted by the Celebrity Chef Enrico Fiorentini with popular dishes from the regular menu at Sheraton Milan Malpensa.

So while waiting for my rendezvous with the Chef, I scanned through the menu trying to figure out the dishes which of course most of it I couldn't quite decipher. And just when I was  thinking what would be best to order, the Chef arrives with a bang, and before you know I was enjoying tales of his experience. It's simple with Chef Enrico, he's got the humor with some sarcasm along with it, but we were enjoying some hearty laughs and Oh! did we. Chef then departs temporarily saying "I'm gonna cook you something, and all you have to do is eat alright?". Well that's a deal alright. - indeed a fine one I thought to myself.

The first meal was an Antipasti Platter which set the stage to the meal, as colourful and delicious as it should be was a medley of a Insalatina d’orzo con verdurine e cappesante dorate - Barley salad with garden vegetables sprigs & pan seared sea scallops and Tartare di Porcini trifolati e quenelle di ricotta alle erbe, piadinetta (V) - Tartare of sautéed cepes mushrooms with a herbed ricotta cheese quenelle with  a portion of Il pesce d’acqua dolce in 3 modi Marinato, Leggermente Affumicato e tartare - Three different ways we do serve the “Salmon” in Lombardy Sea salt & sugar marinated, lightly smoked & quite raw. 

Gli Anti Pasti  - Appetisers

Then came the Primi Piatti Di Pasta which is the Pasta course which again was a brilliant. Creamy Risotto, fresh ravioli and to die for saffron flavoured potatoes with the cheese foam.(Tortelli di zucca alla Mantovana con gli amaretti e la mostarda (V) - Pumpkin ravioli with a touch of amaretti cookies & candied-spiced fruits, Gnocchetti di patate allo zafferano sulla loro terra, germogli e schiuma al Parmigiano (V) - Saffron flavored potato dumplings served on their own soil, sprouts and Parmesan cheese foam and the Carnaroli ai funghi, infuso di porcini e tartara di gamberoni all’erba ciopollina - Mushroom risotto, cepes infusion and chives prawn tartare).

The next course of course was the Le Carni - the Meat Mains, by then I was stuffed and Chef mockingly asks "Your already full??, but I have just begun"....with a laugh. I was tantalized with L’ossobuco in gremolada secondo la ricetta originale “MA” di tacchino con risotto alla Milanese - Stewed turkey ossobuco with tomato and vegetable sauce, served with saffron risotto and a portion of the Costolette d’agnello in panuria di polenta al Parmigiano - Butter pan fried lamb chops in a herbed polenta crumbing.

The glorious meal came to end with the Lombardy Sweet Cuddles, another platter of the desserts hosting Chestnut flour, air dried fruits and nuts cake served with chocolate ice cream, Red wine poached pear served with double cream & Parmesan cheese ice cream and anise egg free biscuit,Double chocolate & mascarpone cheese mousse with “Brutti e Buoni” hazelnut crunchy bisquit and Polenta & Dark chocolate timbale with bitter orange marmalade. These tasting portions of the dessert were insanly brilliant. But my story doesn't end here. The Chef came back to the table, and we continued on his tales and traveled right across from Milan to Egypt to Syria to Dubai to Korea and now at India to realise I had spent a good three hours chatting and full on the belly.

I bid my good bye to the Chef and he surprises me with a parting gift, a box of Srbisolona - A typical Italian Tart to be had with tea or coffe and a little something for the journey back home.  And I was obviosly aww-ed!!

So in short my experience was worth it and Chef Enrico knows how to entertain his gifts for sure.  So head out to the Bene and make the most out of the weekend while it lasts.

Bene

Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway

26/1 Dr. Raj Kumar Road, Malleshwaram - Rajajinagar

Bangalore - 55

Tel: 080-42521000

Valet Parking Available

Celebrate Oktoberfest 2012 at the Sheraton Bangalore Hotel

It's the 12th year of the Oktoberfest making way to Bangalore. Sheraton Bangalore Hotel opens the season at their Multi Cuisine All Day Dining Restaurant Feast in all its festivity. The place is all set with the blue and white checkered flags, the pretzels and German ginger hearts hanging and of course the food.

Bratwurst

The Exective Chef Bela Reick walked me through the menu and the buffet starts with a assortment of breads to be tried with the authentic Obatzda Cheese dip. Then comes in the salad section wtih some bavarian delights such as the Munich style Sausage salad with cheese,  Pasta Salad with Peas and Cooked Ham. A must try is the Mini German Meat Patties with some hot mustard, two kinds of Potato salads, a pickled Cucumber and Dill salad and also a Tomato Salad. Moving onto the soups the famous Sweet and Sour Lentil Soup with Sausages and the Potato and Leek Soup with  croutons is a warmer. 

Pretzels, Salads, Obatzda Cheese Dip and the Meat Patty

The mains are the main attractions which are a delicately soft Braised Confit of Duck with a Marjorman sauce, Crunchy Schnitzel with some Lemon, Juicy Sauerkraut with Red Cabbage, the Bratwurst with some Mustard, a delicious Meatloaf with Boiled Egg and Creamy Sauce, and the Baked Cheese with some Cranberry Compote and some delicately soft Potato Dumpling with Buttered Breadcrumbs.

Braised Confit of Duck with Marjoram Sauce

There is a different menu for each day so be rest assured that your not going to leave the place half empty or half full, but for certain happy on the belly. There is always a happy ending to a meal,so end it nice and sweet, indulge in some German goodies such as the Crumble Cake, Bavarian Mousse, Strudle with the vanilla Sauce and a Black Forrest Cake, Freshly Baked Waffles with compote or vanilla sauce.

Waffles with Vanilla Sauce

Bavarian Mousse

The Oktoberfest is on till the 23rd of September, so be sure to revel in some of the festivity.The Dinner buffet is priced at INR1495 plus taxes with unlimited beer and the Lunch Buffet without alcohol at INR995 plus taxes. I would highly recommend going for the dinner because the mood sets in for celebration with the live music and the general ambiance and of course good company if your going with one. So get going while it lasts at the Feast, Sheraton Bangalore.

Potato Dumpling with Buttered Breadcrumbs

Timings: Lunch - 12:00 noon - 15:30hrs

Dinner - 18:30hrs - 23:30 hrs

Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway

26/1 Dr. Rajkumar Raod, Malleshwaram - Rajajinagar

Bangalore-560055

Tel: 080- 42521000

Valet Parking Available

Amazing Thailand~ Thai Food Fest at Sheraton Hotel Brigade Gateway Bangalore

With the Bangalore skies overcast with the chill in the air its warm food that beckons the tummy. The Amazing Thailand - Thai Festival comes at no better than time than this to scintillate your palates this season. And before you sit down to have your meals, as a part of the fest we (my husband and myself)
got pampered to a 10 minute Thai head and neck massage , especially after a rush in traffic; which was so required.

Chef Sumet - T Rex

Chef Sumet  or T REX (meaning little boy in Thai) brings to you his finest and some authentic style Thai food to you on request. The Thai food is essentially known to have the four main seasoning which is salty, sweet, spicy and sour. The dishes that were brought had every element being in it. We were definitely wooed by his two main dishes that were Pad Thai, which comes packaged in an omelette. The Pad Thai was stir fried with prawns in a fish sauce, wrapped in a delicate omelette and topped with some fresh crunchy bean sprouts and served along with the condiments of chili flakes, sugar, crushed peanuts and lime. 

Pad Thai

The looks of the Pad Thai itself make you salivate. Next up the Chef treated us to another one of his live creations which was the Pad Kra Prao topped with the Kai Khai Dao, a chicken stri fry with basil leaves served with rice and a thai style fried egg. To describe the dish I would say - Sumptuous .The Buffet holds store some other fantastic dishes such as the Keany Curry Pla which is a Yellow Fish Curry and Keang Pad Je which is a Spicy Red Vegetable Curry in the Mains.

Pad Kra Prao

There is the soups sections which offers two really hot and spicy options such as Seafood Galangal Soup and a Thai Hot and Sour Soup. Not to mention there is a live station where the guests can meet their craving of meat or seafood along with their noodles. For Dessert there was the Warm Sago and Corn Kernals in a sweet coconut milk which I found a tad too sweet. Never the less to bring down that sweetness you need a bite of the Khanom Mo Kaeng which is Mung Bean Custard topped with savory fried onions. 

Mung Bean Custard with Fried Onions

The subtleness of this custard and the savoriness of the fried onions just brings about a perfect harmony. A perfect ending to a good meal. What I liked about the dish was that what seemed like a garnish is so vital and elemental to the custard. So get going to a feisty cuisine at the Feast Sheraton Bangalore located at Brigade Gateway for a Lunch Buffet priced at INR995 or for Dinner Buffet at INR1145 exclusive of taxes respectively until 26th July, 2012. So hurry while the festivity lasts!

A special mention for Akhil the Restaurant Manager at Sheraton, Praveen and Nithya of Sales at Sheraton Bangalore, the most patient the waiter Manish for having hosted us.

Sago in Thai Coconut Milk

Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway
26/1 Dr. Rajkumar Raod, Malleshwaram - Rajajinagar
Bangalore-560055

Tel: 080- 42521000

Valet Parking Available