There’s a silver glimmer about Royal
Vega: a restaurant that hopes to capture not just India’s royal
legacy but also it’s rich culinary legacy.
Silver thalis and embossed bowls
glimmer in mellow light, bouncing off crystal chandeliers. The damask
table cloths, polished cutlery, gilded chairs and napkin holders
shaped like jewel encrusted sarpech add to the aura and mystique of
this spanking new restaurant in Chennai, yet to formally open
its gilded doors!
The new all vegetarian restaurant
at ITC Grand Chola is not about tandoori, South Indian or North Indian cuisine at all! It boasts of being the only restaurant to
serve authentic Indian food, cooked according to the principles of
Ayurveda. The “royal” in Royal Vega translates as rajsik bhojan
(food which energizes) or ritu bhojan (seasonal dishes).
The serving platters are ceremonial
with a dash of drama as the large silver lids are removed to set free
distinct aromas and the choicest flavours. Begin on a sweet note with
churma, and move on to pineapple raita dusted with freshly ground
cumin. Sample koftas filled with coconut, Krishna til wale aloo,
paneer with ajvain, kadhi pakodi and chonke hue matar.
Savour pithi wali poori, bajre ki roti,
hari mirchi achari roti, jasmine infused rice or the divine guchchi
pulao. End the meal on a sweet note with stewed apricots with a
dollop of cream, chilled kulfi or warm kheer. The accent here is not
just on food, but also on textures, flavour, taste and aromas. Dining
at Royal Vega is a true holistic experience, and goes way beyond the
palate.
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