On a Persian Food Trail at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park

The Persian Food Festival called A Persian Feast at Seasonal Tastes at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park will delight you with its authentic tastes. Rush now as it lasts till July 24

Persian cuisine has come to town for a few days. Known for its diversity, many Asian cuisines have borrowed dishes and cooking styles from the grand Persian kitchen. And bringing that to the Puneri table is The Westin Pune Koregaon Park which has its Persian food fest going on titled A Persian Feast. You need to rush in to their restaurant Seasonal Tastes as the festival gets over by July 24. Special guest chef has been called from Grand Sheraton Bangalore – Chef Subimon.

Vegetarians & non-vegetarians are in for a treat as the menu has sufficient dishes to delight your taste buds. The special bloggers table organised started with the middle-eastern staple – Mezze. We were served the basic – Hummus & Babaganoush, while others – Burani Spinach, Kashka Badanjan, Mutabla, Muhamara and Kashkabadigan – too were presented. While the Hummus & Babaganoush were as authentic as ever, the Kashka Badanjan (also made from Brinjal), Mutabla and Muhamara (rep pepper & walnut dip) were simply superb. It was served with superbly prepared pita bread. Ashe Adas which is an amazingly prepared Lentil Soup could be a meal in its own.

The starters were better too. The Joojhe Kebab, though well-made, tasted similar to a well-made chicken kebab. The Falafal & Kibbeh were just the way it should taste like – delicately spicy. The Paneer Sabsi Kebab tasted just like any normal well-prepared Paneer Tikka. Fatayer had to be the pick of the Kebabs. This small pie for easy eating had an interesting filling of spinach and feta cheese. Mahi Kebab (Deep Fried Fish Kebab) was as tender as it gets but could do with less salt. The Iranian Chicken Shawarma was so soft and had chicken, yoghurt and spices deftly mixed.

We turned to the main course which had delicious & fragrant Saffron Rice & Baghali Polo Veg as the base. The Ghormeh Sabzi, an Iranian veggie dish, happens to be Iran’s national dish and has leafy veggie with spices. Other dishes like Ghereh Badanjan, Khoresh Maigo & Veg Salona worked well.

Time for some desserts! The very popular Baklava was the winner – rich with dry fruits and sweet but not too much. Omali which is the Iranian rice pudding was good but pale as compared to Baklava.

Do visit the Persian Food Festival at Seasonal Tastes at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, if you want to taste some enjoyably genuine Persian delights.  

VENUE: Season Tastes, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park

DATE: Till July 24, 2016

TIMING: 24 Hours

FOR RESERVATION, CALL: 020 30189766

Moroccan Food Festival at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park

Morocco stays in Pune till November 8^th at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, as an interesting Moroccan Food Festival is underway at the hotel known also for its exquisite food at its different restaurants. Held at Seasonal Tastes and planned by Chef de Cuisine, Prasad Metrani, it was definitely a peep into the food which smells of authenticity. Chef Metrani has had experience of getting to know the cuisine when he had visited the country quite a few years back. He personally saw how it is prepared and has brought ingredients straight from the North African country to give it a touch of reality. It had everything from tagines, salads, and soups to wraps, grills, hot spreads, typical breads and the works. A taste of authenticity marks the eating experience here, as I was witness to it.

Amidst the Moroccan cold salads like Zaalouk- Aubergine Dip, Ispinaki Limone Salade (Spinach And Pickled Lemon Salad), Serouda (Chickpea & Tomato Sauce Salad), Taktouka (Tomato & Green Pepper Salad), Beetroot With Yoghurt & Oranges and Fegguos Salade (Chopped Cucumber & Tomato Salad), I loved trying Hummus with Green Harrisa, Berber Salade (Country Style Salad From Marrakech) and Onion Mezgueldi (Caramelised Onions With Butter). The spiciness in the hummus might appeal to the Indian palate. While one shifted to the one veg and one non-veg soup, the Lamb Harira might tempt you with its lightly spicy and tangy soup with hints of lamb.

Sure, there were starters like Kasbah or Spicy Chicken Bites, Sesame Halloumi Bites, Puffed Moroccan Pizza, wraps and grills, the Grilled Merguez Sausages or Lamb Sausages were simple ones. It was main course which called for the attention with Samak Chermoula (Pan Fried Moroccan Fish), Vegetable Tagine, Maakouda Batata (Moroccan Potato Cakes), Cous Cous and Mograbieh (Semolina Dumplings With Cumin). I personally loved tasting the subtle flavours of Dijaj N’Quallu (Pot-roasted Whole Chicken) and the well-cooked & spicy Arin M’Qualli (Braised Lamb Leg with Cayenne Pepper).

One had to try out the desserts which consisted of B’stilla Au Lait (Layered Pastry With Almond Cream), Fresh Fruit Briouates (Fresh Fruit Triangles), Almond Gharibiya (Biscuits from Casablanca), Fakkas (Morrocan Rusks), Almond & Cloves Cookies, etc. One could give the Fez Style Rice Pudding a miss for being too typical. Try the Chakbkia (Fried Pastries drizzled with Honey & Sesame), Chocolate M’nancha (Chocolate Rolls) and the very delicately flavoured Orange Flower Blossom & Pistachio Ice Cream. My favourite in the whole lot was the B’stilla Dijaj (Chicken cooked with Eggs wrapped in Pastry & Baked in Pots, served with Relish or Salads). It felt like a lighter version of scrambled eggs with chicken in it inside a bun. One could it gobble a few in one go, if you are too hungry.

The special Moroccan spread is quite wide to let everyone’s taste buds feel happy. I felt the veg and non-veg options were quite vast to satisfy everyone. Yes, Moroccan cuisine might sound like something for the meat lovers but veggies do have space here. Try it if you want.

Date: till November 8^th 2014

Time: 7.00pm

Venue: Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park