CELEBRATION - 2 ::

SOMETHING FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT GEM PARK 

BY P S SUNDAR

              Christmas celebrations at Gem Park Hotels and Resorts Ooty had something for everyone -- Santa Claus made children happy as he danced and gave gifts to them. All the same, he made elders happy by presenting mementos to them as our photos show.

              Santa Claus at Gem Park is special .. He is P Sekar, a staff who had excelled in entertaining guests as Santa Claus every Christmas for the past 15 years!   

              And, there were fun games for both children and elders with bonfire. 

              The Turkey Dinner for Christmas at Toda Cafe was by itself a great attraction.  "We spread six types of each veg and non-veg salads, Dong Woo lamb soup and ginger pumpkin soup, chicken pepperoni, beef Wellington and vegetarian pate", Food Beverages Manager B R Pradeep Kumar told me. 

              "We kept open live counter to serve noodle bar, pesarattu and chilli Fritata", he noted. 

              "There were three counters for main course. Topping them was Continental counter with Roast Turkey crowning the Christmas menu.  Beef medallions with sauce Burgundy, spinach and corn tartlets, butter and honey glazed vegetables and Pommes Delmonico were the partners in this counter", Executive Chef R Surendran detailed. 

                "In the oriental counter, crab cakes, Malaysian -style shredded chicken, Cantonese water chestnuts, vegetables in red chilli sauce, ginger capsicum fried rice and egg fried rice tested guests' tougue-holding ability", he noted. 

              "And in our own Desi counter, gosht Noormahal Pulao, Nizamuddin Tangri, Royya Iguru, Mawa Mutter, Benarsai Aloo, Shalgam Ka Aalan, Figs Pulao, steamed rice and bdami dal gave the guests an opportunity to taste different Indian dishes", Surendran detailed.  

               "The guests were lost in the spread of desserts and puddings -- plum pudding, strawberry pie, steamed apple cheese cake, twin chocolate mousse, ghevar, khajoor ka halwa, cut fruits and assorted jelly", Pradeep Kumar noted. 

               Gem Park's Resident Director Ismail Khan is known for his expertise in theme decorations at the hotel.  He is a master craftsman who works exceedingly well with thermocol, paper, saree, satin and silk and the result is enviable presentation of decor.  He creates themes to transport guests into the Utopian world. 

               Herewith, a sample Christmas Crib :: 

               

 
              Santa Claus with the children::

                And, Santa Claus presenting memento to elders ::

                  

                 and, some food display sample::