Teri moonh dekhai karni hain. Rohit Khattar announces the coming of age of chef Rijul Gulati
Chef Rijul Gulati is a product of the legendary Indian Accent restaurant’s culinary nursery. He began his career ten years ago and was deputed to open the Mumbai branch last year. This was a massive leap of faith from the management, as Mumbai is India’s most challenging dining-out market to crack. The restaurant faced a tectonic shift recently when Manish Malhotra, its widely respected founding chef, decided to move on.
With a justifiably proud Rohit Khattar and jubilant Rijul Gulati
Founder-owner. Rohit Khattar, trusted his homegrown talent to fill the gap left. Chef Manish’s longtime deputy, Shantanu Mehrotra, took on the responsibility of the Delhi branch, while Rijul was asked to helm Mumbai. Chef Rijul was given the opportunity to create his menu, for the first time without the Mehrotras’ support. Rohit Khattar invited us to preview his creations, beaming like a proud father at what his protege had created.
Dilli shwarma
It’s been four days since the dinner and I can still taste some of the dishes that we had that night…the sweet, savoury and crunchy mini jalebi fafda from the chaat platter; his take on the shwarma where the chicken filling had a near creamy texture and was wrapped in a rumali roti spiked with traditional Indian pickles; crab ghee roast (juicy meat in a delicately flavoured masala) served in a light rasam; sliced Mahaballeswar strawberries served on a very petite layer kalakhand with very restrained sweetness levels.
Crab ghee roast in rasam
Making individual courses stand out in a tasting menu is the true test of the chef’s skills and the diner’s enjoyment of the meal. Oh, don’t worry—the Indian Accent classics such as the blue cheese kulcha, bacon kulcha, and kali daal are not going anywhere.
As Mumbaikars, we are privileged to witness the ‘coming of age’ of this talented chef—the beginning of another chapter in the legend of Indian Accent.
Mumbai welcomes the Delhi boy who has fallen in love with Mumbai
Note: This was a hosted meal.
