Enjoy low calorie delicacies

Rakesh Kumar Dhingra displays some of the salad specials available at the Tonic, the lounge bar at the Village Restaurant.

Summers may be hard to live in, but it has its own way of churning out delights that are best enjoyed, well, in summer. Like the Cool Summer Lite Treat – a series of delectable luncheon introduced by Tonic, the lounge bar at the Village Restaurant Complex.

So what’s on offer? Appetizers that include flavoursome soups and fresh assorted breads, cheese platter to be followed by eight different type of vegetarian and non-vegetarian salads. As you move on to the main course, it is aromatic flavours from Italy that catches your nose. Pastas cooked in live cooking counters, sandwiches, pan cakes, roasted chicken, lamb carvings and more. Then there is the spread of desserts complimented with fresh fruits and creamy ice creams. All for Rs. 225 plus taxes.

Of course, the focus is on lightness. Says Executive Chef Rakesh Kumar Dhingra who is armed with 14 years of experience in the Le Meridian hotel, “Our clients consists of office goers. Since they have to go back to work, we have made sure that the lunch buffet is light and nutritious.”

No wonder, we saw many corporate types enjoying the grub as much as the kitty party ladies seating on the table adjacent. The spread will change every day ranging from Tex max to Sri Lankan to Tunisian cuisines.

We tried the Italian Minestrone soup (a mix of tomatoes and herbs) which was excellent and moved on to a garlic cheese platter. There are also Tuna delights. Needless to say, after a hearty and yes light meal, we are back on our office desk full of energy with not an ounce of lethargy that Indian food induces.

Meanwhile, Dhruv Lamba, the Executive Director of Kwality Group that owns the Village Restaurant Complex, was full of his expansion plans. “Why should the lower middle class be deprived of an a la carte meal? We are tying up with various malls to set up food courts where the same dish which sells for Rs. 125 in a restaurant will be available for Rs. 25,” says the Switzerland’s Lesroches Institute of Catering graduate. Novel thought indeed!

HT Image