CELEBRATIONS -- 22:

USHERING IN 2020 AT SAVOY OOTY..

BY P S SUNDAR

What is special about the New Year celebrations at Savoy IHCL SeleQtions, a Hotel from the Taj calibre, in Ooty? 

Everything is so special particularly having been crafted by the professionals led by Ritesh Choudhary, young and energetic General Manager with managerial maturity, to cater to a cream segment of the guests coming from different parts of the country and a few abroad as well.

Nevertheless, a highlight, in keeping with the tradition of the Taj group to care for the deprived segment of the community around right on New Year day, was Ritesh leading his team to the Mizpah Home in Ooty.  

The New Year dawned with excitement and encouragement to the children from deprived families staying in this Home, thanks to the star-studded Savoy celebrating the birth of the new decade with them in their Home.  

“We used the occasion to reiterate to Mizpah Home’s Managing Trustees Mohandass and Jennifer our commitment to help these underprivileged children to the extent possible all through the year”, Savoy General Manager Ritesh Choudhary told me. 

The executives of Human Resources department of Savoy, A Manoharan, Titus Vinod Kumar and Evelyn, meticulously executed a series of fun-filled activities for these children to enjoy.

Ritesh led his executives in personally serving to these children an elaborate lunch comprising Indian and Chinese dishes specially prepared for them by Savoy’s Executive Chef Arun Mohan Raj.

 

He made the children cut a ‘Celebration Cake’ specially baked for them by Sonam Choudhary of “The Wishin’ Oven”. 

The children were awestruck to see the two-tier cake weighing four kg crafted with the theme ‘Frozen Princess’, with Devil’s Dark Chocolate – to make each inmate feel that he or she is a prince or princess and not a deserted or orphaned child.

Likewise, Ritesh ensured a child-friendly approach at the New Year celebrations.  

“The New Year celebrations are for all, including children but mostly when the elders go out for the party, their children suffer;  also, the parents are less comfortable at the celebrations when they realise that their children are not happy”, Ritesh Choudhary, General Manager, Savoy IHCL SeleQtions in Ooty told me. 

“We have created children buffet in the same New Year dinner venue.  Here, the buffet will be kept at low height for the children to reach the rich spread of cuisines which they generally like the most”, Ritesh said.

The children can go for self-service.  If they need help, there will be staff to get them the dishes they like; of course, parents can always help their children take the food or eat the items.

“To engage the children in a festive ambience, we have established a ‘children fun activity’ room where the children can spend hours playing with a variety of toys and enjoy companionship with other children”, Ritesh said.

“We have retained attendants who will ensure the safety of the children and even enhance their New Year playing pleasure”, he noted.

“And, whenever the children decide to call it a day even as their parents are enjoying the New Year party, the children can move over to the adjacent well-appointed luxurious ‘sleeping room’.  They can comfortably indulge in sleep until the parents decide to take their children with them”, he explained.

“Collectively, both the children and their parents ushered in 2020 in their own style and comfort”, Ritesh observed. 

Savoy will strengthen its care for the children in 2020.  “We began our special care for children when we staged the Christmas Carols by the inmates of Mizpah Home in Ooty for deserted children. Hearing about our child-friendly approach, former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe joined these children at the Christmas Carols”, Ritesh shared.

“For the New Year celebrations per se, we have created a warm enclosure to beat the Ooty cold with one-shelter dine-dance-drink facility supported with lLED display of video along with music from DJ and MC”, Savoy Front Office Manager Thameemul Ansari said.

The guests enjoyed dancing periodically and of course to usher in 2020 !! 

There were many fun activities to engage them.

Several prizes including stay in various Taj properties in India and abroad were distributed.

And, the New Year dinner was elaborate.  “We have as many as ten live counters at our expansive dinner spread with dishes suitable to every taste”, Executive Chef Arun Mohanraj added.

He himself led the chefs in the preparations at the live counter.

The elaborate Menu prepared by Chef Arun Mohanraj was as follows:

New Year’s Eve Dinner Menu 31.12.2019

Salads

Vegetable Crudités with Avacado Dip, Ratatouille Vegetable Salad, Mango and Coconut Chat, Cucumber and Yoghurt Cups, Potato and scallion Salad , Vegetarian Caesar Salad, Spring Vegetable salad with basil cilantro pesto, Gazpacho Salad,  Waldorf Salad,  sesame cabbage Kimchi , Spinach roasted beet and feta salad, Sallas

Deviled Egg Salad, Chicken and Crouton Salad, Mediterranean tuna salad, Seafood and pasta salad

Rolls, Grissini, Focaccia , Pickles, Raita, Vadam, Roasted papad,

Soups

Zucchini and spinach soup with roasted almonds

Chicken and corn Chowder

Tom yum Kung Soup

Chaffers

Cajun Roasted Chicken with rosemary jus

Jinga Masala

Aadu Badu Curry

Murgh Lababdhar

Crab Thermidor

Paneer Mutter Curry

Baingan Masala

Pachakari manga curry

Aloo Dum Kashmiri

Beans Ussili

Pindi Chole

Methi Kofta Palak

Mushroom stroganoff

Parmesan Baked Zucchini Cups

Stir-fried exotic vegetables with sesame soy sauce

Crispy lotus stem in honey chili sauce

Dal Makhani

Rice and Breads

Vegetable Pulao

Singapore rice noodles

Steamed rice

Tomato Rice

Naan/ Roti/ Kerala Paratha/ Chapathi

Kids Buffet

Mini Vegetable Spring rolls

Mini Vegetable Burgers

Kentucky fried chicken

Fish n Chips

Maggie Noodles

Sugar Cotton Candy

Live Counters

Pasta Station

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

Tandoor Station

Tandoori Quail

Hariyali Murgh Kebab

Mutton sheek kebab

Paneer Tikka

Tandoori Aloo

Chaat Station

Choice of Pani Poori,

Papdi Chat

Bhel puri

Dhai Papdi

Misal Pav

Samosa

Kothu Paratha Station

Choice of Vegetable Kothu paratha with salna

Choice of Chicken and Egg Kothu paratha with salna

Seafood Station

Grilled Tiger Prawns

Medium Prawns

Grilled Baby Octopus

Grilled Squid

Grilled Sole fish

With choice of local, teriyaki and lemon garlic marinade

Vegetarian Grill and fry  Station

Mozarella Stuffed Arancini Balls

Grilled Quesadillas with choice of creamy corn and refried beans

Grilled Stuffed Chili Rellenos

Grilled Sweet Potatoes with herbed butter

Rajma Galouti Kebab

Grill  meat and Poultry Station

Grilled Satay Chicken skewers with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Grilled Lamb Chops

Grilled Tenderloin

Sukling Pig Station

Turkey Station

Roasted stuffed turkey

With jus sauce, cranberry sauce

Desserts

Moong Dal Halwa, Gil e Firdaus, Paruppu Payasam, Jelabi with rabadi, Lemon meringue tart, Dates and Walnut Pie, Shaai Tukra , Apple Struddle, Bread Butter Pudding, Avocado mousse , Chocolate mint brulee,  Strawberry Pannacotta , Chocolate brownie, Happy New Year Cake,  Cut fruits, Ice cream

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