Hot, steaming, steak served with an assortment of vegetables, baguettes, rice and sauce; the perfect barbecue recipe that evokes the taste buds of many a gastronome. Steaks are the highlight of the 'Sizzlers' fete at the Smoke on the Water restaurant at Vivanta by Taj, Vazhuthacaud.
"We have arranged an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian barbecue dishes for the event," says Jose Thomas, executive chef at Vivanta by Taj. "Needless to say, all are delicacies with an international flavour and are prepared live," he mentions. "The barbecued dishes, along with the ambience of the open-air restaurant make the event ideal for couples on a date or for families," he adds.
The menu offers an eclectic assortment of dishes. The three vegetarian dishes are 'Curried Cottage Cheese Steak', 'Spiced Vegetable and Cheese Skewers' and 'Creamy Smoked Aubergines and Pimento Crepes'. Non-vegetarians have a more elaborate fare. 'Minced Chicken Tenders and Cheese Filled Chicken Breast', 'Migomette Pepper Crusted Tenderloin Steak', 'Lime and Fresh Thyme Rubbed Kingfish Darnes' are the highlights. In addition, prawn and lamb steaks are also available. All the dishes are served with accompaniments that include baked jacket potatoes, glazed vegetables, arborio filled tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic baguettes, herb butter rice and sauce.
I decide to go for the ‘Tenderloin Steak’ while my wife decides to go vegetarian for the day and chooses the 'Spiced Vegetable and Cheese Skewers'. We start off with a soup and an amuse-bouche (a bite-sized appetiser). Without much delay, our main course arrives. My steak is meaty and quite delicious. The migonette pepper sauce made the dish all the more appealing - I simply could not have enough of it! My wife too enjoys her The garlic baguettes and the cranberry sauce adds flavour to the dish. We also taste some Kingfish Darnes Steak and Curried Cottage Steak. Both are delicious. The fete takes place at the Smoke on the Water restaurant on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of February. The timing is between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. The dishes are priced between Rs. 800 and Rs. 1,450 each.
