Sometimes I feel that instead of choosing a hotel to dine it’s better to choose a chef. Where I would at least be sure that whatever he serves would taste good. But what better if both are worth choosing. This was the case when I went to review the recently operational Mei Kun, the Southeast Asian restaurant of Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi headed by Executive Chef Rohit Tokhi.
Last time I visited Kempinski it was for their Indian restaurant Dilli 32, which mesmerised me with its ambience as well as food. Having fond memories I entered Mei Kun and again the set up hit the bull’s eye. Ambience conveyed the warmth which a Southeast Asian restaurant should do. A round table was reserved for me. I was looking at the live kitchen and in came Chef Rohit Tokhi. A look at him reminded me of vegetarian haleem which he prepared for me last time.
He greeted me warmly and took me through the new menu. Selection of dishes in the menu reflected Rohit’s travelling experiences. I started with a curry laksa, which was quite a complete meal in itself. It was delicious. I enjoyed the burst of flavours in every sip. The aroma of prawns and coconut broth blended together was divine. Yam Sam O, a spicy pomelo salad with peanut was quite refreshing. I had pomelo after a long time and it tasted good.
Lotus root fritters tasted good but was quite ordinary having the taste which I can also have at my local roadside Chinese van. As I showed interest in seafood Chef served me Singaporean chilli crab and what a delicacy it was! The in-house sauce was delicious and went well with the tender and juicy crab. It was definitely the dish of the day for me. Fish curry and rendang with roti canai tasted yummy and was worth trying.
I made it a point to taste the roasted duck as well. I imagined it to be presented full and to be cut in front of me but it came post cutting. Duck was quite tender and moist but still I would have preferred it to be a little crispier on the outer. I ended my gastronomic journey with coconut stuffed sweet potato pan cake and a colourful and refreshing ice kacang.
Meal for two: Rs.3000 plus taxes
