CELEBRATIONS -- 15:

NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT TAJ SAVOY OOTY GAVE NEW EXPERIENCE TO GUESTS..

BY P S SUNDAR.

New Year celebrations at Taj Savoy Hotel Ooty this year were different from the usual for various reasons.  The hotel wore a new look not just for the festivities but because of the massive improvements done to the infrastructure enhancing the guests’ delight. 

These include refurbishing the rooms with attractive flooring, ceiling, furniture and re-positioning the amenities to suit the modern taste and requirements of the international and national travellers;  the creation of a brand new ‘Canterbury Bar’, only the name and the service quality are the same – all others including the location of the bar has changed for better;  everything in the ‘Dining Room’ is new – the flooring, ceiling, wall decoration, cutlery, tables, chairs, buffet counters, some items on the Menu;   a new facility for intimate dining experience with mood light has been created adjacent to the main Dining Room;  and, a new open air lobby overlooking the expansive lawn on the one side and the heritage main building of the hotel on the other side is the first attraction the guest gets arriving at the 178 year-old campus of the hotel.

Added to these, two young Heads led the New Year celebrations for the first time after their moving over to Savoy hotel on recent transfer – General Manager Ritesh Choudhary (36) and Executive Chef Arun Mohanraj (40).

“All the rooms are full.   We have many non-resident guests also for the New Year celebrations”, Front Office Manager Thameemul Ansari told me.     

And, for the New Year celebrations per se, the campus wore a festive countenance with colourful illumination right from the entrance and decoration of all sorts.

The festive events were created in the specially erected enclosure on the lawn.  “We have created the festive tent with multi-layers to keep the inside warm and prevent noise pollution outside.   The heaters kept the inside quite warm even as the temperature outside dropped to single digit”, Ritesh told me.

The festive tent had adequate space for everything required for the occasion.  Comfortable seating and each table with flowers in vase, festival caps, masks and whistle for children;  adequate moving space;  the spread of dinner buffet accommodating nearly 100 items including several live counters; a bar serving unlimited drinks;  a platform for guests to dance and for the event presenter to stage fun activities as also centre-space for the DJ and his equipments. 

Right from the start of the festivities at 8 pm, event presenter Ayisha Abbas kept the audience engaged with many games for children, young couple, teenagers and the elderly guests.   Admittedly, with her matured approach, dashing look and captivating voice, Ayisha enlisted the participation of guests – international, national as also local residents.

Ritesh and his team of executives distributed many hampers including free stay in different Taj hotels to winners of these games as also those who won in the lucky draw contests.

And, for most part of the night, the DJ Abbu did magic with his dexterity in music presentation and motivating the guests of all ages to dance and enjoy their own performance which made the guests forget their worries and wait eagerly to usher in 2019 with energy and expectations.

That the guests enjoyed the music-mix was clearly evident from their incessant dancing.  And, Ritesh and his team of executives honoured periodically the best dancers – children, couple, adolescents etc.

Learning and Development Manager V Titus led his team in ensuring that the stage performances were in order.

Santa Claus went around presenting gifts to children..

Nearing the midnight, a huge clock appeared on the screen with DJ Abu scaling up the fever to bid farewell to 2018 and welcome 2019 with .. yes, “Happy 2019” rent the air all through, the guests, known and unknown, hugging each other and wishing for a happier year ahead with the employees of Savoy joining hands with them.

And, Executive Chef Arun Mohanraj presented an impressive New Year Cake::

The dinner buffet was so elaborate that guests could hardly taste everything on display.  There were not less than 100 items covering South India, North India, western, Chinese and continental cuisine.   

Food and Beverage Manager Om Prakash took care for pleasing display of the buffet.   

Executive Chef Arun Mohanraj and his team of Chefs not only monitored the various counters but helped the guests understand the ingredients and choose the dishes that would suit their taste and health the best.

Interestingly, there was a separate ‘kids buffet’ with ‘Panchu mittai’ (cotton candy) inviting the kids!    “We have kept this at lower height to enable kids take their food by themselves”, said Ritesh.

Arun Mohanraj captivated the buffet display with as many as 8 live counters or stations –  vegetarian, pasta, Tandoor, Madurai Mess, seafood, meat grill, suckling pig and Turkey.

The following is the Menu of the dishes on New Year buffet dinner prepared by Executive Chef Arun Mohanraj::

Salads

Vegetable Crudités with Cheese and garlic dip,  Melon and feta salad with balsamic, Grilled Vegetable Salad, Quinoa and pomegranate tabbouleh , Spinach apple and walnut salad,  Spring Vegetable salad with basil cilantro pesto, Gazpacho Salad,  Thai Cucumber salad,  Plantain and coconut salad with curried mayo, Roasted beet and sprout salad

Chicken Caesar salad, grilled lamb salad with pepper honey & sesame, Seafood cocktail salad, Tuna Salad

Olives, Rolls, Grissini, Lavas, Pickles, Raita, Pappadum, Roasted papad, chips, gherkins

Soups

Broccoli and roasted almond soup

Prawn corn basil soup

Chicken clear soup with burnt Garlic

Chaffers

Butter chicken masala

Malabari Prawn Curry

Elaichi Ghost

Rosemary Roasted chicken with jus

Singapore Chilli crab

Paneer Rizzalla

Bharwan Baingan Masala

Ramnadu Vegetable Kuruma

Methi Kofta Palak

Carrot and beans porial

Saiva Meen Kozhambu

Thakkali Murungakkai Curry

Parmesan Baked zucchini cups with chilli tomato coulis

Mushroom Paprikash

Stir fried Exotic Vegetable with ginger and green tea leaves

Cripy tofu in black pepper sauce

Dal Makhani

Rice and Breads

Onion and Mint Pulao

Vegetable Hakka Noodles

Steamed rice

Puliyodharai

Naan/ Roti/ Kerala Paratha/ Chapathi

Kids Buffet

Mini Vegetable Spring rolls

Vegetable croquettes

Chicken nuggets

Cashew fried fish

Maggi Noodles

Sugar Cotton Candy

Pass around snacks

Falafel with hummus

Paneer Amristary

Chicken 65

Fish Fingers with tartare sauce

Live Counters

Pasta Station

Choice of penne, spagattie, fuissili, with choice of cream sauce, tomato sauce, pesto sauce and bolognaise

Tandoor Station

Tandoori Quail

Makhmalai Murgh Kebab

Bhirbali Paneer Kebab

Tandoori Subzi

Madurai Mess Station

Choice of Masala Veg Dosa

Choice of Chicken and Lamb Kari Dosa

Seafood Station

Grilled Tiger Prawns

Grilled Squid

Grilled Sole fish

Grilled Baby Octopus

Fish Fillet

With choice of local, teriyaki and lemon garlic marinade

Vegetarian Station

Pav Bhaaji

Broccoli corn and cheddar quesadillas with mango and chili salsa

Meat grill station

Satay Chicken with peanut Sauce

Lamb Chops with rosemary jus and mint sauce

Suckling Pig Station 

With cranberry sauce

Turkey Station 

Roasted stuffed turkey

With jus sauce, cranberry sauce

Desserts

Gajar Halwa,  Ada Pradhaman,   Jelabi with rabadi,  Pazham Neraichadhu     pineapple tarte tatin,  Sticky Toffee Pudding, Double Ka Meetha, Apple Crumble, Chocolate brownie, Banoffee Pie, Crème Caramel,  Strawberry cheese Bavarian, Ginger and honey tartlets, Happy New Year Cake,  Cut fruits, 2 types Ice cream

Ritesh used the occasion for an interaction with the families of his executives.  “We have invited the family members to enjoy the evening.  On top of it, we have encouraged our employees to dance if they wish!’ said Ritesh who himself activated the audience and the employees with his periodical dances!

And, an young lady staff of the wellness centre, Ayurveda massage outfit at Savoy, Mol, attired in her saree uniform was the cynosure of dancing, stealing the show and receiving loud applause from the guests. 

Admittedly, Savoy gave a well-rounded beginning for a happy, prosperous and healthy 2019 ..  

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)