An Ode to Summer @ The Fatty Bao - It's a Summer Special Menu

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It's been really really long since I wrote about a restaurant in Bangalore and when I heard about the Summer Collection menu at The Fatty Bao; I was really excited and looked forward to it. 

Paying an ode to the summer that's going by leading to the monsoons; The Fatty Bao has sketched out an interesting Asian Summer collection menu of food and cocktails that are refreshing for the summers, fantastic on the palate and easy on the stomach. 

We started with the international sensation Thai Summer Salad which exuded freshness coming from ingredients like fresh watermelon, radish herbs and the fragrant and flavourful dressing of Sriracha, honey, lime, salt and pepper. Very classy, very summery (Is it even a word?) and a perfect start to wet the appetite for the courses to come.

The joy of eating sushi is incomparable and since I love Sushi, it had to be on the table. On this menu was caterpillar sushi. Don't go be the name, it's just the  form of presentation. The sushi roll within contained tempura prawns and was topped with poached shrimp and a dressing of black, wasabi and Chili mayo. This was fresh and the balance of flavours perfect. 

There are a few drinks specially concocted to ease the summer time madness. Our pick was the cucumber cooler, Sunny Margarita and litchi fizz. The cucumber cooler is a gin based drink with cucumber juice and fresh lime which hit the right notes to kick start the afternoon. 

There was a sunny Margharita; a tribute to the king of fruits mango. This was made with tequila, fresh mango, passion fruit syrup and fresh lime. Being a huge fan of mangoes, I was happy to see it on the menu and my pick was made easy. A lovely drink but I'd have preferred the flavor of the mango to be more upfront. The drink looked lovely and through the afternoon it was clear that this was the crowd favourite.  

The rice paper roll came next with a Thai sweet Chili sauce. Dip the roll in the sauce and dig into it; Viola! The balance was perfect, texture crunchy and light on the palate. The sweetness of the Thai sweet Chili sauce to begin with and the spicy notes to finish really elevated the joy of eating a summer roll. For starters, we also had the Korean Fried chicken which did not really appeal to either of us. I thought the breadcrumb casing was either too thick or the chicken within the casing was too little. The flavour profile too was nothing exceptional and something I'll really not recommend you to venture into for the menu has a whole lot of other offering that is fantastic and an experience in terms of flavours and textures.

The third drink was litchi Fizz. I was hesitant to get one for litchi cocktail can many a times be really sweet. This was unlike what I imagined; it was aromatic thanks to the star anise. The favouring was perfect; not so sweet, not really sour and the star anise crept in as though the wells infused with it. 

For the mains, we were pre-decided from the start. It had to be chicken rice which was 'The Fatty Bao's' take on Singapore's famous Chicken Hainanese Rice. This came plated with a salad, two sauces - Hoisin and red chili-garlic sauce, a lovely chicken broth to go along and of course the chicken and rice. Eat just the chicken and rice or with a drizzle of the two sauces, the flavors were bang on and only got more enjoyable as I continued to relish this food. It was a celebration on flavors and it spoke why Chicken Hainanese Rice is considered one of the national dishes of Singapore and the reason for it being among the 50 delicious foods in the world.

Next up was the Malacca Asam Pedas aka 'Hot & Sour Malaysian curry with pomfret and vegetables'. The gravy was rich in consistency, spicy (well, not so spicy) and sour to taste; is best enjoyed with rice. Adding to the flavors and textures were accompaniments like fried onion slivers, peanuts and fries. 

I'm not really a dessert person but I did look forward to trying the rainbow cake only to witness the gorgeous presentation and plating of the desserts usually seen at 'The Fatty Bao'. This was nothing short of expectations. Needless to say, going by the name the cake was colourful, placed on a bed of pistachio and cinnamon crumble and candy floss spread around. In this case, I really enjoyed the dessert as much as I did witnessing the presentation. Why so? Because, it was riot of not just flavors but also textures. The cake was basically layers of flavoured sponge and ice cream. The crumble added a lovely crunch and enhanced the experience of enjoying this plated delight. 

A meal for two with two starters, two mains and a dessert each will cost around Rs. 1800 plus taxes and charges. Add a round of drinks each and you will shell out around Rs. 2500++ which is absolutely fair for a lovely weekend dinner or a pleasant and relaxed Sunday lunch. 

Verdict:

We really enjoyed almost everything we had for lunch that afternoon and I highly recommend you visit 'The Fatty Bao' to try out this special edition Summer Collection Menu that is on for the next 2 days (hoping it gets extended) till 29th May for lunch and dinner. Go there to try out the food that uses seasonal ingredients in a setting perfect for either lunch or dinner. The cocktails are lovely too and do try the limited listing of concoctions created specially to celebrate summer. 

Overall, it was a perfect ode to summer and trust me you'll love it.  

Address: #610, 3rd Floor, 12th Main Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Opp. State Bank of India, Indiranagar, Bangalore

Phone Number: +91 80 4411 4499

Note: This visit to The Fatty Bao was on invitation but the opinions expressed are solely mine and are absolutely unbiased nor influenced by the brand in any way.

New Menu @ The Fatty Bao

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Normally, innovation is something you don't expect in most cases but with Manu Chandra, innovation is the least you can expect. The bar set by him is already high and yet you walk out post a meal which has easily surpassed these expectation. When 'The Fatty Bao launched last year, I was excited to visit this restaurant and again at this time of the year I was really excited to get to preview the new menu that was recently launched.

The new menu has a lot of interesting and innovative stuff. While I really love things from their old menu; I kept focus on just the new offerings. And the good news is; there's plenty of new stuff on the menu and even better there's plenty for the vegetarians as well.

Puja and I visited one Sunday afternoon and unlike my prior visits, we chose to take a table on the 3rd floor instead of the Rooftop bar. We walked in pretty early to just find a couple of tables taken and in no time we realized the restaurant was packed to full capacity and the wait list began to grow. Bringing focus back to the food and drinks, we spent a leisurely afternoon over loads of great food and a few drinks.

We cruised through the menu starting with Sushi rolls - 'Spicy Salmon and Dill roll' for me in non-vegetarian and 'Asparagus Tempura and Cream Cheese Roll' in vegetarian for Puja.

Next up was Bao - Sheng Jian Bao which was first steamed and then seared on a cast iron pan. On the vegetarian pan it was the 'Spicy Tofu and Spring Onion Bao' and on my non-vegetarian side, it was the 'Lamb with Oyster Sauce Bao'. The bao's both tofu and lamb were so delicious; we reserved the last piece of it for the end of the meal.

We tried two new dim-sums off the menu - 'Spicy pumpkin and Radish dim-sum' and the 'Prawn and Garlic Chive dim-sum' from the non-vegetarian segment.They came served in small steamer baskets in the company of an assortment of dips which included the black bean dip, soy with herbs dip and spicy tomato dip. The dips made for really nice accompaniments but neither the bao not the dim-sums needed them to be enjoyed. They were so good all by themselves.

Drinks always kept company as we ate, I tried the 'Green Kimino' - A drink of Absolut Pepper, fresh pineapple blended with curry leaves and lemongrass and garnished with a celery stick which added to the freshness in flavor. A very Asian drink taking me down memory lane to a recent holiday in Asia. 'Ho Gin Min' has been on the menu since the start and the combination of Aniseed and ginger did not really appeal to my palate. 'The Fatty Sour' is a twist to the classic ad I've always enjoyed this Jameson Irish Whisky drink.

We also tried a mocktail called 'Señorita Sangria' which was a cranberry based drink with fruits soaked in it.

I love Baos right from the time I ate them for the first time in US way back in 2007. In Bangalore, I am confident that the best bao available is at 'The Fatty Bao' followed by 'Monkey Bar'. After some great dimsums, we were back at eating bao. This time, it was the open-faced bao with a filling of 'Miso-Eggplant' in one and 'Chicken Katsu' in another. So yes, one was the vegetarian and the other non-vegetarian. Both were scrumptious and specifically in the non-vegetarian Char Sui Bao takes the top spot. But if pork belly is not your preferred choice of meat the Chicken Katsu is clearly the way to go. Like I've said it earlier, this bao is best enjoyed in about 3 mouthful bites.

In small plates,  it was 'Stir Fried Pork Neck' that I really enjoyed. It was stir fried with Asian greens, ginger and basil in chili bean sauce. The sauce was well balanced and married well with the succulent pork meat without really trying to over power it.

Ramen at The Fatty Bao have been a delight in my previous visits. This time, we tried a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian ramen which clearly are meals in a bowl. Puja enjoyed the 'Stir Fried Kimchi Ramen with Spicy Tofu' and for me it was 'Lamb Tsukune Ramen'. Just going by the description of 'Lamb Tsukune Ramen' on the menu; I looked forward to relish this bowl of ramen and when it arrived, it had my favorite right on top - minced lamb meatballs. It was a Miso-Korean Chili paste broth with works like sauteed spinach, sweet corn, sprouts and pickled egg. Portions are great and a bowl of ramen is best shared among two especially if you have gone in for various courses.

Having eaten so much, we did not have any space left for either trying anything from the large plates section or desserts and decided to skip it during this meal.

It was a fantastic Sunday afternoon with the atmosphere at The Fatty Bao filled with a wonderful vibrancy and loads of new dishes on the menu for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Cocktails here are interesting with 'The Fatty Sour' being my favorite here since my previous visits followed by Green Kimino which I tried on this visit. A meal experience for two including food and a cocktail each will average at Rs 2500 plus taxes and charges.

Whether you are looking for a quick lunch or spending a leisurely afternoon or an evening with friends over some after-work drinks, a fun Asian rooftop bar; The Fatty Bao is the perfect destination.

Address: #610, 3rd Floor, 12th Main Road, HAL 2nd Stage, Opp. State Bank of India, Indiranagar, Bangalore

Phone Number: +91 80 4411 4499

Event Alert!!! Citi Chef's Table Week 2014 is Back, Bangalore

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It's that time of the year when Citi Chef's Table Week makes a comeback. This week long festival features Chef's 6 course tasting menu at 10 of the city's (Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi finest restaurants. This format works wonderfully as it not only facilitates you to savor the signature dishes from Chef's kitchen but also prevents you from the hassle of deciding what to order. Of course your dietary preferences are well cared about.

Citi Chef's Table Week is a dinner only event and will be on from the 14th to 20th July. Reservations open on 9th July and guess what? It is 9th July meaning, reservations are Now Open.

One cuisine just doesn't work for me and it is a joy to see the diversity of cuisines on offer which is evident from the restaurant listing. What's also nice is that I have visited 5 of the participating restaurants and each of them cover a very distinct cuisine ranging from Italian to my West, Indian/Lucknowi at the epicenter to Japanese on the extreme East. Here's sharing with you a list of participating restaurants from Bangalore that I have visited:

1. Blue Ginger, Taj West End

Having celebrated its 10th anniversary this Vietnamese restaurant is known not just for it's ambiance, service and food but also for holding the title of being the oldest Vietnamese restaurant of India. I have been here a couple of times and undoubtedly this restaurant figures as my best Vietnamese dining experience. 

Leaving you with some images from my dining experience here and also a link to the reservations page.

2. Dum Pukht Jolly Nabobs, ITC Windsor

A power house of indulgence, exquisiteness, extravagance and elegance, Dum Pukht Jolly Nabobs is an experience to be lived. Serving the finest of the Lucknowi cuisine in a setting that's  unmatched thus far, Chef's Table Week is a perfect time to make a visit to this restaurant that is housed in ITC Windsor Hotel.

Again, some images from my dining experience here and also a link to the reservations page.

3. Edo, ITC Gardenia

Edo the fabulous Japanese restaurant at ITC Gardenia is an institution of sorts for Japanese cuisine. The resident master chef 'Sensai Kikuta San' lays high emphasis on procuring ingredients fresh and of the highest quality and this emphasis is clearly evident from its taste. The interiors here are really simple yet very elegant and make for a wonderful dining experience. Japanese food paired with their tradition drink 'Sake' only completes the experience of dining at Edo. I cannot think of a better time to make a visit to this restaurant.

4. Ottimo - Cuicina Italiana, ITC Gardenia

Translating to 'Excellent' in english, Ottimo is the most recent restaurant offering from ITC Hotels in Bangalore. Resident Chef Vittorio Greco of Italy, takes centre stage in the kitchen of Ottimo. Inclined towards traditional Italian cuisine, Chef Greco at Ottimo offers a rare fusion of traditional Italian with emphasis on both nutrition and fresh ingredients which are sourced both locally and internationally. While maintaining simplicity and keeping food at its authentic best, plating of food at Ottimo is exquisite and in true sense signifies 'food porn'. 

Leaving you with some images from my dining experience here and also a link to the reservations page.

Yauatcha, 1 MG Mall

A London based dim-sum tea house serves up the finest dim-sums I have had thus far. Be it their Chicken and Prawn Shui Mai, Crispy Prawn Cheung fun, Crispy Duck Rolls, mains, or the Raspberry Delice for dessert - This place has stolen my heart. 

Leaving you with some images from my dining experience here and also a link to the reservations page.

What I look forward to from this event is being able to visit at least one of the remaining 5 restaurants that I have not paid a visit so far:

Alba, JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru

For me, it has been Italian cuisine for quite a long time. Having eaten this cuisine extensively I only geo fonder of the same with every passing day. I'm definitely spoiled for choice and am only curious now to see if Alba; housed in JW Marriott on Lavelle road makes it tougher for me? Yes, it is a speciality restaurant of one of the worlds most famous cuisines - Italian and here's the page I'd go to for a reservation.

Oko, The Lalit Ashok
Off lateA Pan-Asian restaurant close to home is nestled on the roof top of The Lalit Ashok. The food and ambiance are much spoken about and is on my list of places to visit.

Rim Naam, The Oberoi

Known to be one of the oldest Thai restaurants in Bangalore, Rim Naam is not only famous for its delicious and mouthwatering food but also very popular for its alfresco dining set up. If you love Thai food, Rim Naam is surely a name that instantly rings the bell. If you wish to reserve the table I'm sure you know where to click.

Riwaz, The Ritz-Carlton

On my wish list? Of course it is. The food of the North-Western Frontier has always intrigued me. It has the appeal to get me hungry even after a really satisfying meal. Is it because of my love for food or the character of this cuisine? I don't know myself. Anyway, Riwaz at the much spoken about The Ritz-Carlton serves up exactly the cuisine being spoken about. Looks like now's the time to make a visit.

Zen, The Leela Palace

I've been to Citrus at Leela a couple of times and en route to Citrus have spotted this wonderful looking restaurant that serves Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Korean cuisines in a setting that is heavenly. A restaurant that needs no introduction, is a place I look forward to visit and experience the goodness that has been doing the buzz. 

This specially crafted tasting menu is on offer at Rs. 2000 plus taxes and charges in Bangalore at each of the above restaurants only from 14 July to 20th July, 2014.

High on 'HIGH Ultra Lounge', Bangalore

Lets say, "you are high on an altitude of 421FT.."

Lets say, "It is the tallest commercial building of South India.."

Lets say, "sippin' on some fantastic cocktails straight from GuruPrashanth's bar.."

Lets say, "Enjoyin' a fabulous Pan-Asian meal under the starry sky.."

Nice thought!!! Isn't it? Okay.. This is exactly what I want you to experience...

Never mind if you have missed the Signature lounge in Chicago or the famous rooftop lounge in Mumbai; there is something better that Brigade Group has to offer - HIGH Ultra Lounge. Yes, located on the 39th storey of the Brigade World Trade Center, this place  is the highest point in south India and boasts of breathtaking views of the city, the sunset and more. An open roof top, glass walls all around make HIGH a perfect place to celebrate the weather of Bangalore.

Menu:

A new menu has been introduced and is very impressive in terms of its offerings. It boasts of grills, hot and cold appetizers, salads, soups, sushi and maki, mains, desserts and more. Of course there is a special menu for beverages both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. This menu comes in after much thought and research transitioning from a smaller select menu. This new menu spans from from various countries across the length and breadth of Asia making the menu itself a delicious read. A preview of this menu resulted in a joyous evening with spouse, blogger friends and the team and people responsible for High Ultra Lounge.

What We Ate:

As we entered we were welcomed by a drink called 'Why GOA' by mixologist Guru. This drink gets its name from Guava being the key ingredient and for some Pun intended. It was a refreshing one topped with some pickles and pepper for the taste.

As we sipped our drink, we walked around and took a tour of the venue. While doing so, I learnt - High is segmented into 4 sections; each suiting ones own needs. Here, I write about 'High Mix' - As the name suggests; it is a section of HIGH from where the DJ swings some music, Guru and team mix some of the best cocktail concoctions and also where one get to mix with the crowd.

We spent our early evening here with Guru taking charge of his bar from the other side of the counter. He and his team in no time presented to us the first cocktail of the evening - 'Walk the talk'. A whisky based cocktail which also involved the use of house made bitters. A sip and we were all in love with this cocktail. Unlike many other whiskey based cocktails, this one did a fantastic job of retaining the flavors of the whiskey and also brought in an added smokiness to the drink. The secret behind this was the bitters used were smoked over a period of time.

Right on, I was not leaving the bar counter. I only looked forward to more from the other side. Next was Guru's Love Portion - A brilliant twist to the classic 'Cosmo' with Carbon-dioxide infused into the drink through special shakers called all the way from New York City. This drink is so very fresh and out of the world. What's equally interesting, if not more is the making of the cocktail. Easily the best cocktail of the evening.

And in no time we get our third cocktail which was more like a cocktail dessert. It came topped with foam and silver crystal balls. A delight to drink and definitely worth having a round off.

Before we moved to the next section, we got a sneak-peak into the kitchen at HIGH where the chef was kind enough to allow us to take a shot at making our own Vietnamese Rice Paper wraps.

Soon, we were settled in the comforts of our table in HIGH Dine - a section dedicated for diners who love Pan-Asian cuisine and would love to eat in a beautiful outdoor setting; 421 feet above ground level. Once we settled down, it was a long session of conversations, loads of food and some more drinks.

There was a lot of sushi on the table. It was a medley of vegetarian and non-vegetarian sushi and maki with at least 4 in each category. I love sushi and it is a delight to begin a meal where the taste buds liven up from this wonderful preparation. Each was different in its own way and taste. What better accompaniment than Kikkoman soy, wasabi and pickled ginger?

Sesame cheese rolls were like spring rolls stuffed with philly cheese served with a dipping sauce of strawberries, jalepeno and peanut. The cheese was gooey and the outer crust of the roll gave a nice crunch to the preparation.

Moving on to dumplings, Puja enjoyed the 'Chinese Cabbage and Tofu Dumpling' and also the 'Pok Choy and Shittake Mushroom dumpling'. The mushroom dumpling specifically needs a mention as Puja; not a mushroom fan really enjoyed this dish. My love sea food always takes precedence over chicken. Yes, for me on the non-vegetarian front, Har Gau (prawn and bamboo shoots dim sum) takes the first spot for its sheer freshness and a light, jelly like; yet firm outer casing. Eat it hot to enjoy the true flavors of this dish. Chicken gyonza (chicken and shittake mushrooms) which was both steamed and pan fried followed close.

Diakon Soup was really light and nice on the palate. It was a Korean chili broth of fresh pineapples and vegetables like white radish and mushrooms. AS we sipped on more starters were in store.

This time around it was'Rock Shrimp Tempura', 'Stir Fried Chicken in Black Bean sauce' and Grilled Scallops with Pickled Plum'. The crunchy shrimp tempura was tossed in a house special Japanese spicy mayo and sichimi. The tempura remained crunchy and the sauce fabulously married with the tempura and shrimp. Best eaten hot, this dish I must say rocked my world.

Chicken stir fried in black bean sauce was succulent and delicious. I first decided to to savor this with the jasmine rice in the mains but one bite of it and I could resist finishing it up. Thank fully I did for there was a lots that came in the mains as well.

Grilled Scallops was a simple preparation and came topped with Japanese pickled plum and scallion. It not only tasted very good but was really well presented coming placed on a shell.

On to the mains, it was another fabulous food ride. We tried the 'Thai Green Curry',  'Long Beans in a Black Bean sauce', 'Assorted veggies in Sambal Oelek in vegetarian and 'San Bei Chicken', 'Steamed Fish with Ginger Scallions', 'Prawns with Asparagus' in non-vegetarian. All of this deliciousness was devoured with Japanese Steamed Rice. Eating all this in one evening at 421 feet above ground level of the Brigade WTC was like being in food heaven (Haven). While each of the dish was delicious but I have to make a hard choice to pick my favorite, it will have to be - the steamed fish dish, the prawns with asparagus and the Thai green curry.

It was not all, for dessert we had Tiramisu and Lemongrass ice cream. Of the two, I'd easily go with the lemongrass ice cream.

Verdict:

I'm in absolute love with the place, the food, the ambiance and of course the cocktails. the mix of indoor and outdoor spaces with different mood settings makes it a perfect destination for lounging, dining, partying and celebrating special occasions. I was here on a cloudy day and missed the views of the sunset. Hopefully, the weather plays sport and allows me to enjoy a drink in the company of good food the next time around.

A meal for two with a drink each will cost an average of Rs. 2500 + taxes and charges. To me its  neat pricing and a real value for the overall experience HIGH offers.

Quick Tips:

Make sure you focus on both food and drinks.. None of them can be ignored. The ambiance is fabulous and the Bangalore weather can surely be your best friend.

Address: 39th Floor, World Trade Center @ Brigade Gateway, Malleshwaram - Rajajinagar, Bangalore 560011

Phone Number: +91 80 4567 4567