Lunching At Ziya With Chef Vineet Bhatia

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It isn’t everyday that you eat a five course meal specially in Mumbai but when you get the opportunity to do so, it’s one you should cherish. There is a lot of mediocre food in the city and a lot of good food as well. What’s rare is a stellar meal and thanks to superstar chef Vineet Bhatia, you can enjoy a great one at his restaurant Ziya at The Oberoi Hotel at Nariman Point.

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A meal here is an experience as all meals should be and with simple classy decor and the dramatic backdrop of the Arabian Sea, Ziya is an elegant restaurant that focuses on displaying chef Vineet’s creativity. Chef is a true master with multiple award winning restaurants all over the globe. He’s constantly jetting in and out of the city but if you happen to catch a glimpse of him when he’s in town, consider yourself privileged.

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Chef Vineet Bhatia is a Bombay boy that worked at the Oberoi before he went to London in the late 80’s and then became a celebrity over the years. With multiple awards, Michelin Stars, his own book and even tv shows he’s a brand in itself but when you meet him you realise that every single accomplishment and accolade is well deserved. He’s humble, funny and his no nonsense approach to food is refreshing. We chatted about his culinary journey, how awards don’t mean much ( as they really never should ) how guests enjoy certain things, how he never ever replicates any recipe, how he enjoys cooking at home but can not serve anything even at home unless it’s well plated and much more.

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I shyly ask him if he thinks of the city as Bombay or Mumbai and promptly replies Bombay and then firmly repeats himself in case I didn’t pick up on it. I laugh because when I met chef Marco Pierre White and told him I’m from Mumbai he said ” Bombay you mean.. my good friend Vineet Bhatia always says its Bombay not Mumbai ” and when I narrate the story to chef he peels into laughter. Chef Vineet tells me his friendship with Marco spans a few decades and began in nearly 1993 where Marco would often pop in for deliveries from Vineet’s then restaurant. It was only when Vineet once met Marco when he was in his chef whites did he realise Marco was a chef himself. Marco praised Vineet and told him his food was exceptional and Vineet politely thanked him on many occasions still not realising who he was till the very same year he read his name in the papers as Marco had won his third Michelin Star that year.

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While my interaction with chef was a beautiful one I can’t forget the Gourmand Tasting Menu for the afternoon. It is exceptionally hard to review a restaurant where I enjoyed everything and the focus here isn’t about splitting hairs and saying this taste better than that, It was about enjoy some fine elegant food  but I will highlight what I really enjoyed.

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The Saunf and Cinnamon Spiced Martini which is now officially my favourite drink. It actually felt like I was drinking a mithai. Just beautiful.
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Grilled Curry Leaf Prawn, Idli Fry and Coconut Chutney
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Galauti Gallore, from top to bottom – Mushroom, Spinach and Beetroot. My personal preference was the mushroom one.
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Dilli Chaat or the Chef’s Interpretation of street food from Delhi , An almond and green pea tikki on a base of chickpea masala , quenelle of Tamarind sorbet Which melts like a chutney . Dahi Bhalla with dahi Bhalla ice cream
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Tamarind Margharita with Tequila , tamarind chutney and spiced mint rim
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Macadamia Machi which is Spiced macadamia crusted fish on a base of green pea Upma , beetroot Saar , Jeera tossed green peas and cress for garnish. Not something I would really order on my own but turned out to be very interesting and except for the peas I enjoyed it.

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Bombay style chow party Bhaji , Sesame crusted garlic chicken tikkas ,and a common breakfast item idiyappam which is ideally steamed but we fry and use it as a garnish to add the crisp . I really liked this one but there was too much sesame for me personally. The crisps remind me of saaria which is what we Parsis eat during a feast.
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Saffron Sorbet with Champagne as a palate cleanser mid way through the menu. Again absolutely lovely I’d eat this for a dessert even.
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Burnt butter chili garlic grilled lobster , Crab and red pepper chutney , chick pea and spring onion tava pulav , tadka dahi sauce .
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Raan Mussallam which is a leg of lamb marinated with spices , cooked nearly for 24 hours including various cooking stages like broiling , cooking over the heat of the coal and finally in the tandoor.
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This wasn’t part of the set menu but it’s one of their best sellers, came highly recommended from other diners and is served with roomali roti, tadka dahi and dal makhani. All just outstanding accompaniments to the lamb.
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Ginger lamb chops with saunf makhni , Raiwale aloo and spinach Tikki. It’s an Indian take on the infamous lamb chops cooked in the tandoor.
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The Signature Ziya Chocolate Block
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Mausam E Gajar which has cream cheese and carrot kulfi , gajrella cream , gajar halwa , cinnamon soil , carrot cake basically depicting all the favourite carrot deserts in one platter , different seasons with carrot
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This was the dessert on the Gourmad Menu – The idea is to combine Paan and chocolate , both act as a digestive / post meal refreshments. Edible betel leaf , with chocolate and Paan kulfi , rose caviar, Litchi and Gulukand cheesecake, Rose rasmalai with pistachio crumble

While my post meal chat with Chef was lovely, I asked him about his take on restaurants in the city and even recommended some of my personal favoruites which I really hope he manages to visit. I had many more questions and would have loved to listen to more of his stories but alas he’s a wanted man and pulled in several directions. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to sample his food in his other restaurants across the world but till then.. there’s always Ziya 🙂

Disclaimer : I was invited by the restaurant to dine and meet the chef but all thoughts and opinions are my own 🙂

3 COMMENTS

  1. Plating of food developed into a fine art
    Cooking of food from deep within the heart
    Lunching at Ziya
    With Chef Vineet Bhatia
    Is one hellava a privilege apart!

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