The present pandemic has made us conscious of what we eat. Today, it is all about eating healthy foods that boost our immunity. The Chambers at Taj Mansingh in the Capital offers a ray of dishes that are filled with vital nutrients, says SHALINI SAKSENA
The COVID-19 has instilled in us fear, anxiety and stress. We are also extremely careful of what we eat and where we are eating. Foods that are high on nutrients and Vitamins are high on our list of must eat. So, for many of us eating in a restaurant is a no-no. We don’t want to end up eating the wrong kind of food however tasty and mouth-watering they may look. But what if there is a restaurant that is offering you just that — a meal that is full of Vitamins and minerals. What if the restaurant is offering you veggies that boost the immunity? What if they energise you and help you fight the virus? All this and much more is possible at Albero-The Chambers, Taj Mansingh in the Capital.
The Chambers, itself is an exclusive place only for its members but the restaurant is open to all patrons and the food that it serves will definitely revitalise you; it is a shot of an elixir and heaven in the mouth. Whoever said that health and taste don’t go hand-in-hand need to visit this place to be proved wrong.
There is a bit of a downer with this menu. It is all about boosting your immunity therefore, all the dishes on the fixed menu that comes in a thali are vegetarian. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the restaurant doesn’t serve non-vegetarian food. It is just that is it not part of the set menu. In case you are a diehard non-vegetarian, one can order as a separate dish. But Executive Sous Chef B Rajesh Kumar Singh recommends that you stick to the fixed menu to enjoy all the dishes that it has to offer.
He tells you that the idea to introduce this menu was always on the cards but COVID-19 just pushed it up a bit early. People, he tells you have become particular about what they eat. It is all about eating healthy food. But they also think that healthy and tasty don’t mix well. We are here to prove this wrong,” Singh says.
And he is not wrong. It begins with pumpkin cappuccino with sunflower seed dust. Pumpkin one is told has Vitamin A, promotes weight loss and has potassium and full of anti-oxidant. One can call this soup as well. There are many people who are not fans of pumpkin but this cappuccino will change their mind forever. The frothy drink will whet your appetite.
There are two options; either one can go for the set menu or one can even order al carte. A thali with a set menu is a better idea since one can get a taste of all the things.
The appetiser begins with kala chana and mint shikhampuri; kala chana is a rich source of protein and regulates the blood sugar, stimulates weight loss and heals jaundice. Looking at the fixed menu, each dish will tell you what the benefits are. This way when you dig into the deliciousness, one will not feel guilty.
The broccoli and singara ki gilawat is perhaps the best part of the entire menu. These melt in your mouth kebabs make for a must eat. Though they look very appetising as the original galouti kebabs are, they sure give them a run for their money. The rajma and badam ki seekh and morel cholia are just as good, not only in taste but also because of their powerful nutrients and anti-oxidant properties.
The huge silver coloured thali that comes has nadru anjeer kofta, arhar poi dal, chickpea and brown rice pulao, amla and honey chutney, dry fruit chaat, mandua roti and bajra ki missi. The helpings are huge and after eating all the appetisers, it is a bit difficult to wade through all this food. But whatever dent that you can make, it is worth every bite. It is definitely a heaven-sent food for the vegetarians. For the non-vegetarians, it is an eye-opener that veg food can be tasty. The adage: Health bhi, taste bhi aptly applies here.
To end things on a sweet note, there is orange quinoa kheer. If you didn’t know what that it was quinoa, it would taste like you were eating chawal ki kheer. The orange zest adds a burst of freshness.
With perfect sweetness, it is the best healthy dessert that you would have eaten. Quinoa, the chef tells you is rich in amino acid and a great source of fibr. It is the prefect sweet dish for those who are gluten intolerant. The khajur laddu strengthens the bones.