Smoke House Grill opened in 2006 in Greater Kailash II, with the sole idea of serving contemporary European cuisine, and with an accent on smoked food. Smoke House Grill is a sister restaurant to the Smoke Houses in Mumbai and Pune. Smoke House, Delhi, followed Smoke House Grill, and now we have the Smoke House Room, the recently opened newbie, at Crescent Mall, overlooking the Qutub Minar, offering a new style of dining in India.
Riyaaz Amlani, MD & CEO Smoke House, says, “The difference in all three restaurants is very clearly demarcated. Smoke House Grill serves modern European cuisine, Smoke House, Delhi, serves comfort food, and what we are doing with Smoke House Room is that we are creating a platform for some really progressive, dynamic cooking.”
‘Progressive' cooking is a new concept in Delhi, but with the top restaurants around the world adopting the method, people are sure to take notice. “Progressive cooking means you keep discovering new techniques, treating food like a scientific process. We only have one small cooking range in our kitchen. The rest of the cooking is all done by using a method called ‘Sharratt', which is basically cooking in a hot water bath. We use dehydrators, we change textures, bring in different flavours. It's an evolving technique, therefore it is progressive,” adds Riyaaz. Smoke House Room is built around chef Gresham Fernandes' cooking.
Sensory journey
A tasting menu, “The Hunter”, is served, which in the words of Riyaaz, is a sensory journey, and I am the pilgrim. The meal starts with a series of Amuse Bouches, something to build the appetite, and let's be honest, it does give you the kick! A Gathering of Mushrooms, served with prune-porcini chutney, garlic olive-oil pudding, and coffee olive soil, follows. Cinnamon Honey Marinated Quail and Chorizo Cream Cheese Ravioli, served with tamarind juice, guava reduction and pine nut butter, deserves praise. The meal ends with Porcini Ice Cream and Coffee Marshrooms, and yes, Beet Cake — one awesome dessert that is sure to lure you back one more time, if not more!
The ambience deserves a special mention, for right from the pillars and the walls to the lighting, everything being custom-made in-house, the effect is soothing to the eye. Smoke House Room, Crescent Mall, is well worth the try. Approximate cost for a couple's meal is around Rs.5000.
