FOOD -- 3::

NOW, NORTH INDIAN VEGETARIANS HAVE EXCLUSIVE FACILITY IN OOTY

 BY P S SUNDAR

In the context of North Indian tourists visiting the Nilgiris in large numbers not only during summer but throughout the year, hoteliers are focussing on specialised North Indian meals.

“The latest happening this summer is dedicating exclusive vegetarian North Indian restaurant facility to relevant tourists”, Rohit Jain, President, Ooty Citizens’ Forum, told  me.

Nitesh (left) & Rohit

“North Indian tourists account for nearly half the over 15 lakh domestic visitors to Nilgiris annually.   Many of them suffer for want of exclusive North Indian vegetarian food.   Instances of self-cooking and carrying packed dry food by such visitors surface underlying the need to create eateries to cater to them”, he noted.

"in this context, Pakwan Restaurant centrally located in Commercial Road is a welcome addition for quality North Indian vegetarian cuisine from 12 noon to 3 pm and 7 to 10.30 pm", Rohit said. 

“After year-long survey of tourists’ requirements, we have launched for this summer North Indian vegetarian Thali in our exclusive North Indian vegetarian restaurant”, disclosed Nitesh Jain, Managing Partner, Pakwan Restaurant, Ooty.

“Priced ` 199, the Pakwan Thali is unlimited with over 10 cuisines to complement varieties of roti/Naan/Kulcha.  There is ala carta service as well with Jain food variant for each”, said General Manager Ranu Das. 

“Tourists also enjoy our vegetarian  kabas, Mughlai, Lucknow and Punjabi delicacies.  We also give a touch of Italian and Chinese vegetarian cuisine”, Chef Ganesh Prasad noted. 

His signature dish is Potli Biriyani, vegetables deep fried but covered with Roomali to give a totally different look and taste.

We enjoyed Fatuse Salad comprising bread, lettuce, capsicum bathed in vinegar, vegetbale-laced Longe Fong soup, Roomali Chaa, Aloo soyabean ki tikki, corn capsicum masala, paneer bhurji, dal Maharani, veg Pujlao, curd rice and semiya kheerbesides roti, Naan and pappad. 

"We change the Thali menu every day to afford variety to  guests.  We are also on the expansion mode.. this June, we intend opening our restaurant in Royapettah, Chennai.. Our next restaurant is in Bangalore", Nitesh Jain said.