 When was the last time you took your mother out for dinner? Or stole some time from your crazy work schedule to spend time with the woman who adores you to no limits? Well, if you have done neither, it’s high time you emerged out of your office and gotten on to this job. And what better opportunity than Mother’s Day?
But before you just buy her a random gift and pick her up to go to any eatery down the lane, we say, stop. Research before you head out, better still follow our gourmet guide.
So let’s start by planning the special day for your mom. It goes without saying that you should order flowers like dandelions and roses to sweep her off her feet early in the morning. When it’s time for breakfast, make something special even if you don’t know how to cook.
When it’s time for lunch, lock your kitchen and head out. Why? Because Delhi has an ocean of culinary options. But first zero in on what your mom relishes. So here are a few options:
PURE INDULGENCE: Now who doesn’t like to be indulged? Especially mothers who have pampered us like nobody else in the world. So draw out some cool cash from the ATM and step out for her grand meal of the day. First stop, The Imperial at Janpath. As the name suggests, the hotel is nothing short of a royal edifice that’s probably stood the test of time and taste. It’s as grand as it can get! And when their Italian restaurant Sam Gimignano has an ongoing asparagus promotion, we don’t think you can avoid it. From raw white asparagus salad with lettuce, raspberry vinaigrette and parma ham to steamed salmon fillet infused with fresh herbs and lemon grass (served on marinated-grilled white asparagus spears) - you can treat her to these gourmet preparations. Even though it’s hot outside, you can take her to a place that creates a rainy picture. We’re talking about Monsoon at Le Meridien. The food is interesting fusion and the lighting, dim and beautiful. Oh! And there’s also CaVa at Defence Colony if she craves some thincrust lamb bolognese pizza with sausage and leg of lamb with coconut-saffron sauce teamed with a mesmerising mango mojito. But if you’re in Gurgaon, do head to threesixtyone at the Oberoi Trident for its authentic sushi and other dishes.
MIRCH MASALA: If fancy food is not your mother’s idea of eating, and she likes to keep it simple, there are a range of options that she can choose from. So, how about some interesting Indian food like biryani with meatballs and paan kulfi? Well, at Marut Sikka’s Kainoosh you can be assured that you will be able to have an Indian fine-dining experience. And there is Indian Accent where chef Manish Mehrotra mixes magic with ordinary and a lot of extraordinary ingredients to create a culinary wizardy of a new sort. Mom and you can eat a foie gras galouti or even achari tiger prawns, dal chawal risotto and aloo papad. And in the fusion-food category, there’s another place that you can check out. Tucked away in the Uphaar Cinema Complex, this fairly-new eatery called, It’s About Us serves some interesting food as well. The uttapam lasagne and tamarind chicken chaat are to die for. But if mom’s in the mood for buttery butter chicken with those huge naans and the ‘maa-ki-dal,’ there’s no better place in Delhi than Pandara Road. Feast at Havemore or Chicken Inn - they are both the talk of the town when it comes to Indian khaana.
NEIGHBOUR’S PRIDE: While Indian food is omnipresent in Delhi, there are varied cuisines from neighbouring countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal and Morocco that have established a firm culinary foothold in the city. So you could even think of taking your dear mother to one of these places. Like the Iraqi restaurant in Lajpat Nagar where the qosi on rice (lamb on rice) is pretty good. Or the Afghan restaurant at Bhogal that offers an assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Oh! And mummy and you shouldn’t forget to try out the qabli pulao and the repertoire of kebabs. One of the newest entrants is an all-Nepalese and Tibetan restaurant in Hauz Khas called Yeti - The Himalayan Kitchen. It’s not a shack selling momos, but a beautifully done up restaurant where your mom and you can sample traditional Nepalese dishes and, of course, the Tibetan thukpa and momos. But my all-time favourite is Fez dining bar, that serves amazing Moroccan kibbeh, platters and a heavenly rose-cinnamon ice cream.
ORDER IN: Now that Delhi has been engulfed by a heat wave, there is a fair possiblity that your mom doesn’t want to step out. So you can organise a surprise for her. Call a caterer and either go and pick up your food or have it delievered. Will you be spoilt for choice? Yes, of course! Erna’s Gourmet’s Maya Shanker can make some mean pate and a whole lot of Austrian goodies for you. For those of you who love mustard, Mother’s Kitchen at CR Park is a one-stop shop for Bengali bhojan replete with shukto and lau-moong (moong dal with bottle gourd).
SWEET ENDINGS: After the main course is over, it’s definitely time for some sinful dessert. But instead of settling for the staid vanilla and fruit combo, pick up macaroons from Khan Market’s newest dessert destination, L’Opera. Or plunk yourself at the Oberoi Patisserie for the best desserts in the city. You could also try out the pastries and tarts at Defence Colony’s Defence Bakery or the brownies at Angels In My Kitchen. If you want to give a surprise that will be etched in your mother’s heart forever, order a cake. The city’s cakesmiths, Arshi Dhupia, Kishi Arora and cake company, Two Little Birds will ensure your mother has the sweetest time of her life. You can even ask them to create a cake in the shape of her favourite bag, vegetable or perfume. Whatever you do, just make sure your mother feels even more important than the Duchess of Cambridge. After all, no mother is less than the queen of a household.
Make an easy Breakfast for Mom!
Summer mango smoothie
Ingredients: Canned mango puree/ mango crush, 1 cup; mango/vanilla ice cream, 2 scoops; milk, 1 cup; sugar, 2 tsp; mint leaves and few ice cubes.
Method: Put all of the above ingredients in a kitchen mixer and spin to a delicious frothy smoothie!
Yummy Tomato Toasties
Ingredients: Sliced French bread roundels; 8; butter to spread; paneer cut in small cubes, 4 tsp; ketchup, 4 tsp and cheese, 4 tsp
Method: Mix the paneer and cheese with the ketchup. Spread equally on the breads that have a fair amount of butter on them. Put them on a steel plate and grill in a home otg till the cheese melts. Serve warm.
Choco-Peanut Butter Lollies
Ingredients: Sliced white bread, 4 slices; peanut butter to spread; chocolate, 1 cup and 1 cup milk
Method: Cut the sides of the bread and toast them. Lavishly apply peanut butter on each side. Stick the buttered sides together. Cut into 01 inch sized cubes. Skewer the breads on one side of wooden sticks (lollies). Melt the chocolate and milk slowly, dip the lollies very well in the chocolate soup. You can set them in the refrigerator before serving and serve.
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Yummy Food For Mummies