Awadhi Food Festival (Royal) @ Baluchi - The Lalit, Mumbai

 Nawabi Experience

Awadh a region that has seen a lot of rich history and has a legacy that dates back really longtime. Awadh is a part of multiple areas which include Lucknow, faizabad till Kanpur every part of town and city has a really rich history and Adab / Lehja. A lot can be known about a place an its history through its food (As food makes the people and culture of an place to what it is and lot can happen over food).

Array of Spices on Display

Having said and done this Awadh region has had a royal influence owing to its strategic location at the crucial juncture of Indian subcontinent (Easily accessible along the mighty Ganges and position of power). Owing to this the region has seen lot of upheavals along the millennia with each empire influencing the lifestyle and culture here.. Food has also been influenced a lot.. Awadhi cuisine has a fab touch of royalty and finesse (Royal Mughal and then the nawabi influence)..You do find the traces of Persian cuisine and a lot of innovations happening due to Food tastes of the Nawabs. Having said about such a rich food history experiencing it on Friday evening meant it had to have the class and finesse to keep our tired taste buds on the move.

Baluchi

The Lalit Mumbai offered the Awadhi food festival (Priced at 2500/- for a veg experience and 2800/- for the non veg one + taxes) at Baluchi (a restaurant with Baluchistan & Iranian themed Indian restaurant).
#Letseatfbai Meal started with the entire experience of entering a maykhana of a Nawab fb(the sights, smell and the soft Indian music) called for a tired soul (moi) to be refreshed and entertained nawabi style. I could feel the Adab the Lehja right from the greetings of the service staff to the songs sung by the classical singers at the restaurant. Entirely transporting me to Lucknow nawab ki haveli (Aao haveli pe seems so apt here ;)).

Aptly Dressed Staff

Table Served Royally - Copper Plate & Glass

Next the smells of the rose kevda enthralled my senses making them alert (refreshed). The tables were having copper vessels (another traditional touch) with copper glass (wish my granny had seen this..she always preached and use of copper ware for staying healthy). Service staff knew I was quenched after coming from the maddening traffic just outside near airport and voila I was served this maddeningly pick me up and off ur refreshed drink (Can go on record and say I preferred this over Alcohol on such a day to just make my tired ass stay awake and even a little high) Rose shot as they say (Made with Rose extract + Sprite) what more can one want (except I had couple err maybe more..till I got a sugar rush).

Menu on Display

Rose drink did tell me that Royalty was to be served.. So before my fellow foodies joined me I decided to check the kitchen for myself (now those who know I haven't stepped in a professional kitchen since a year and in Indian section almost 10yrs considering my love was in Indian kitchens cooking) nostalgia set in when Vishal the Marketing manager and Chef Parimal allowed me in their kitchen to view how the authentic meal is made (I almost yelped with joy). 

Meat in its cooking glory

Hot Coals ready to cook food!

Tandoori Murg

Seekh Getting ready for me ;)

They do have live tandoor kitchen for the display for the restaurant patrons (Knowing me I had to talk to commi chefs at back to see how the good stuff is made).. After a few mins of talking to chefs and rekindling my memories of kitchen I did happen to enter the live tandoor section to see seekh kababs and marinated chicken being cooked to perfection). The heat in the section reminded me of the good old times and also that its not easy to work let alone cook a great meal at such temperatures (kudos to chefs and thanks to chef for allowing me reexperience it all Nawabi style).

Rose Shot

I was all set for a royal meal.. And I was Served Mezban (starters):

 A mention about the home made chutneys.. Raw papaya, Mirchi chutney, Garlic Chutney and green chilly coriander chutney are so yummy (They are fresh and totally appetizing)

Traditional Chutneys

Pristine Lighting

Gosht zaffrani seekh kabab: A seekh kebab with saffron minced meat a melting in the mouth kebab. (Ek se kam nahi chalega)

Gosht Zaffrani Seekh Kabab

Mawa aur Mawey ki seekh: a creative veggie seekh that's yummy sweetness with dry fruits. Perfect for veggie lovers.

Mawa ki Seekh - An Yummy innovation

Murg Parchay: a tender chicken breast flavoured with cardamom cream, cheese roasted to perfection.

Murgh Pachay

Masgool dastarkhan (Main course)

Bhuney pyaaz aur pyaaz ka murgh: Royal stuff truly with chicken well cooked, Marinated in spices and cooked in a rich onion tomato gravy. Succulent chicken a lovely experience on the palate.

Bhuney Pyaaz aur pyaaz ka Murg

Sahi Nihari: a truly traditional Nihari with lamb cooked to perfection. Royal Nihari with meat cooked to tender perfection and full of taste flavoured with kevda (although I felt it overpowering the dish).

Sahi Nihari

Begum Hajrat mahal subz korma
Fresh seasonal. Vegetables cooked in Royal velvety tomato gravy with mawa and cream makes it a total royal dish for veggie lovers

Begum Hajrat Mahal Subz Korma

Dal Baluchi
A signature dish of the restaurant black lentils cooked overnight with ginger garlic and topped with cream making it the best dal you would want to eat (I loved it)

House Speciality - Dal Baluchi

Rotiyon ki tokri
Assorted breads including Gilafi Kulcha (Herb covered Kulcha), Sheermal, Varqi Paratha (A meal in itself a Multilayered Paratha), Khameeri Roti (Sour Dough bread of India),  Roomali Roti and Ijaat Ki Roti (Multigrain bread sprinkled with seasoning). All of them went perfectly with the main courses served.

Khameeri Roti

Zauk e sahi

Desserts fit for a king!!

Gulkand firnee
Indian souflee or as I call it heavenly dessert flavoured with gulkand decorated with rose petals (something which royals wouldn't have missed)

Gulkand Firnee

Shahi Tukra
A royal dish and something I highly recommend.. I almost had a foodgasm(if it was a feeling) bread fried and dipped in milk and cream..made to sheer perfection that the bread almost was like a kingly sweet sponge which had soaked all the Goodness.

Shahi Tukra (Royal Orgasmic Dessert) perfectly made!

We were also served their Pan shot after our kingly meal (deconstructed pan made into a beverage with gulkand cherry et all) just perfect to end the meal. 

Pan Shot (Brilliant as always)

There is also a pan counter with 2 humongous pan served for those who love their nawabi pan ( I tried their sweet pan and man it refreshed my palate.. Not to mention keeping it in mouth was a trick considering its size).

Mouth Freshners

Pan Mixings

 

Nonetheless the meal and experience at Baluchi was worth it and at price of 2500 + taxes for veg experience and 2800+ taxes for non veg one it is truly worth it. 

The food festival is on till 30th of this month. If you haven't had Awadhi cuisine which is authentic and you want to try it all I highly recommend it for the experience food and a perfect experience located at centre of the city.

Location: The Lalit Mumbai.
Restaurant: Baluchi
Website: http://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-mumbai/eat-and-drink/baluchi/
Map: https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/The+LaLiT+Mumbai/@19.1053238,72.8736905,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3be7c86a85f28959:0x2b1e48b3c1675b87!8m2!3d19.1053238!4d72.8758792
Time: 

Lunch 12:30:pm to 03:00:pm

Dinner 07:00:pm to 11:45:pm 

To book Kindly call: +91 22 66992222 - Extension - 3142 or walk-in or book online.