Courtyard by Marriott, Hinjawadi – Asian Grills Festival — Reviewed!

Courtyard by Marriott, Hinjawadi is organizing a ten day Asian Grills Festival that will leave your palates tickling. Indulge in some yummy grub during the Asian Grills at Ignite under the cozy cabanas with lively music and quirky drinks keeping you and your friends or loved ones happy. "The idea of organizing the fest is to showcase uncommon asian grills from south east asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. We have selected best of the local places that is also suitable to Indian palate", says Chef Vikram.

The festival has some unusual, boldest, scrumptious dishes that have been crafted by Chef Vikram, Chef Bhushan and his team who invites guests to sample the traditional flavours of Asia to relish authentic Asian grills. First impression of Asian grills is street food; but they have tried to introduce menu apart from the street and present the patrons with something never tasted before. Few of the signature dishes include fine spiced duck with honey and soy, san tya prawns, crispy vegetable tempura, Asian pork ribs, sticky chicken wings.

Choice of meats and veggies are available for the customers and they can choose from 6 different marinades, like Teriyaki, Hoisin, Sambal Oelek, Khimtchee paste, Lemon grass and hot garlic for the main course and the serving will be done." "Teriyaki is a sweet marinade and goes well with the sea food, Sambal Oek is bit spicier and tastes best on tiger prawns, Hoisin glaze is salty, sweeter and is used for marinating chicken and ducks, while Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime is sharp, versatile and goes well with any meat/veggies of your choice," said Gakkan briefing the marinades.

The three course dinner meal is a pre set menu with a choice of veg and non-veg samplers, main course and chef's special dessert. We started with our Vegetarian Sampler which had Teriyaki Pineapple, Sambal Oelek Tofu, Asian Garden Vegetables and Veg Tempura. Best part is each dish is presented to the guest for the feel, taste, enjoy every single dish and can repeat order it. Samplers are accompanied by three sauces— Wasabi Mayo, Sriracha, Soya sauce.

Teriyaki Pineapple was juicy, sweet and crunchy with bell peppers and pineapple chunks. A must try!
Japanese speciality Veg Tempura is a deep fried crispy dish and a wonderful way to eat vegetables. Adding to it was mango salsa,


Coming on main course, each dish is plated with sticky rice, pickled veggie salad, gadogado sauce and meat/veggie as per the preference. We ordered Soy Chunks and Cottage Cheese and Pineapple. Soy Chunks is meat mock dish infused with hoisin glaze and lemongrass and Kaffir lime. Chewy in texture, however, full of flavours. Never thought Sticky rice would ever taste sooo good. It did not need any accompaniments to finish. So flavourful. Gadogado sauce was perfectly made with balance of peanut and a dash of jaggery. Awesome! Hands down!!

Ooh that Cottage cheese and Pineapple with rich marination was one of the best dish of the evening. Sweet, tangy, spicy, burst of all the flavours in your mouth.

Alike other dishes, dessert is also very unusual and everyday chef's special will be there on the set meal. When asked about the desserts, Chef Bhushan said, "We are incorporating desserts which are quite rare to get." He said, "Apart from Sticky Date Pudding, all other desserts like Honey Glazed Noodles, Mango Rice Pudding and Grilled Fruit are plated with in-house made Coconut Icecream." We had Mango Rice Pudding with Coconut Icecream and it was just WOW! Silky soft ice cream with mango rice was a deadly combo.

And the happiest part is you can eat as much as you like as each dish has been prepared with the utmost precision to ensure all the flavours and authenticity.

Recommendations::

• Teriyaki Pineapple
• Prawn Satay
• Dragon Wings
• Vegetable tempura 
• Asian pork ribs
• Cottage Cheese and Pineapple
• Pork Ribs
• Duck Breasts
• Tiger Prawns

What: Asian Grills Festival

Where: Ignite, Courtyard by Marriott, Hinjawadi
When: 16th May - 26th May 2016 (dinner only)
Cost: Rs. 1299+taxes.