Spice Trades: The Road to Gurgaon Starts At The Cafe

The Cafe at Hyatt City of Dreams Manila features authentic Indian cuisine as part of its sumptuous buffet spread starting July 17 to 24, 2016 with Road to Gurgaon. The week-long festival of Indian cuisine will highlight traditional Indian dishes prepared by Chef Ajith Kumar from Hyatt Regency Gurgaon, India. 

At The Cafe, the center island (L) is laid out with authentic Indian dishes using the very best spice blends from India for the Road to Gurgaon festival (more on The Cafe at Hyatt City of Dreams Manila and the special preview on Road to Gurgaon on my previous post, Eastern Culinary Journeys at The Cafe), with Chef Ajith Kumar (R) at the helm. 

The unique aroma of the exotic spice blends from the east trigger your senses for the coming feast, as the station chefs led by guest Chef Ajith Kumar make the final touches on the impressive spread.

At the station, you'll find the signature Indian dishes like the Vegetable Samosa, the iconic baked flour pocket stuffed with a savory filling; the Dal Vadai, a crisp fried patty made from lentils; assorted Vegetable Fritters, and Aloo Tikka, potato croquettes from Northern India.  Each delicacy is paired with a special sauce to complete the traditional flavors.

At the Raita Station (L), create your own raita blend with fresh yogurt, mint, chili, cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes for starters, along with other vegetable dishes. Like a dip or condiment, the raita adds a soothing and cooling effect to balance the bold notes from the spices in Indian cuisine, best paired with... 

...freshly prepared Roasted and Pan-Fried Papadam, Naan Bread, and Bhattura.

For the mains, fill your plate with a heaping serving of Chicken Biryani (L) or Vegetable Biryani (R), the traditional long-grained mixed rice dish with spices, lentils, meats, vegetables, and Ghee, or clarified butter adding both flavor and the distinct bright yellow tint to the dish.

Drape your biryani with Dal Makhani (L), made with whole black lentils, kidney beans, clarified butter and spices; and Aloo Jeera (R), a vegetarian dish made with potatoes, cumin seeds and a rich blend of Indian spices. With Indian cuisine, it's all about building layers of flavors with spices without overwhelming the palate.

Chicken Tikka, tender chunks of chicken marinated in spices and yogurt and baked in a tandoor oven, is another must-try dish at The Cafe's Road to Gurgaon Indian festival. The delicate notes of the juicy chicken are kicked up a notch by the complex spice blend and yogurt marinade, finished by the bright tomato, paprika, and tomato puree-based sauce.

A variety of curry dishes were served at the station, including Chicken Curry...

...the Prawn Curry with Mango, combining the distinct sweetness of mango with the bold notes of the spices...

...and the Mutton Gosht Rogan, a hearty and comforting dish with tender chunks of mutton in a rich curry sauce.

A mound of Chicken Biryani soaks up all the flavors from the Chicken Curry, the Mutton Gosht Rogan, and Aloo Jeera, with the fresh Raita and Dal Makhani completing the flavors. The rich curry, sauces, and spice blends combine for layers of intense notes, building on complex flavors with every bite.

Guest Chef Ajith Kumar recreates authentic Indian dishes for the week-long festival, including Paneer Makhani, cottage cheese simmered in tomatoes and spices; Maas ke Sooley or smoked lamb with raw papaya, and Kerala Prawn Masala, plump tiger prawns with coconut curry, ginger, and chili. 

The richness of Indian cuisine is among one of the world's most distinct, and you can have a taste of it at The Cafe's Road to Gurgaon Indian food festival.  At the Cafe, you can also enjoy sumptuous dishes from the impressive Live Stations, including The Italian Station with its pasta, pizza, and other Italian classics; The Grill and Griddle with the carvery, grill, teppan griddle, satay, kebab, and yakitori; The Deli, with sushi and sashimi, charcuterie, pate, cheese, salads, fresh-baked bread, terrine, and chilled seafood; The Asian, with its assortment of fresh dim sum, Chinese barbecue, wok, noodles, and rice; The Comfort and Favorites Station, a frying station with tempura, fried dim sum, pressure fried dishes, and other delectable fried food from around the world; and The Pastry Station, with soft-serve ice cream, pancakes, waffles, crepes, Halo-Halo, pastries, and cakes.  At the Fresh Seafood Station, go for some fresh oysters on ice, always a hands-down favorite at The Cafe.

We also got a glimpse of the impressive Mayura Wagyu Beef, dubbed "The Beast," at The Grill and Griddle Station, just a preview of the upcoming The Big Surf and Big Turf special at The Cafe set for July 30 and 31, 2016.

After a few more rounds back at the main station, guest chef Ajith Kumar and his assistant were introduced to the appreciative guests and diners, as the station was replenished with fresh new dishes. For dessert, classic Indian specialties like Rice Kheer, Barfi, and Carrot Halwa (R) were served.   

Chocolate with curry? Why not. It's just one of the many flavorful surprises at The Cafe's Road to Gurgaon (more on The Cafe's exotic and indulgent chocolate creations on my previous post, Sweet Spice: Chocolate Indulgence with Eastern Spices).

Cap your feast with The Cafe's indulgent dessert selection, including the Baked Cheesecake topped with fresh strawberry and Creme Brulee. Ready for authentic Indian flavors at The Cafe's impressive lunch and dinner buffet spread? The Road to Gurgaon starts at The Cafe until July 24, 2016. Buffet rates starts at P 1,388 net for lunch and P 1,888 net for dinner.