TUSKERS - VEGETARIAN DINING BAR — Restaurant in Mumbai

Sofitel is an elite 5 star located in heart of Mumbai at BKC.Tuskers is located on level 1 of this hotel..This restaurant is known for dishing out quality and tasty vegetarian dishes.Its a pure vegetarian restaurant .Probably the only pure veg restaurant in 5 star property i can think of in Bandra.80% of their dishes are also prepared in Jain options too. They serve Southindian dishes,marwadi food ,gujarati food and have Veg Thali options too.

Currently they are running with Marwar food festival at Tuskers from 4th May 2018 to 13th May 2018..Chef Vinod Sharma and Chef Rakesh Baghel from Fairmont Jaipur have specially flown in for this food festival.They have got few speciality ingredients with them from Jaipur to make Mumbaikars taste authentic Marwar cuisine.This is one of a kind..Hats off to Sofitel management for giving mumbaikars a great oppurtunity to try these different local cuisines every now and then in mumbai itself .I could see the buzz and excitement amongst food lovers present yesterday at Tuskers.

The Marwar festival started well with cultural folk dance performance of Marwar.It was an amazing dance performance.A visual treat for the guests i must say.

At Tuskers i could feel as if Rajasthan has come to Mumbai. Interiors of this restaurant are beautifully done,this place is very spacious.Staff service is courteous.They had live performers who were entertaining guests with their Rajasthani song live performance.They also had a bangle making section where women could get a Rajasthani bangle made for themselves .

Coming to variety of dishes i tried from Marwar food festival

Aam panna -Its summers in Mumbai.No drink can be better than Aam panna .Green mangoes,black salt,mint leaves,salt and water used in preparation.I loved the taste

Makaai ki Raab-A soothing option.Its one of most popular drink from Rajasthani cuisine.Raab is basically made from corns and buttermilk.It had a tangy taste.Authentic preparation i must say.Try it out

Appetizers /Starters

Surkh laal Dahi bhalla -A popular marwar dish.Its urad dal dumpling dunked in creamy whipped yogurt.Topped with some chutney.

Shekhawati subz achaari tikka-A veg dish marinated in yogurt and achaari masala .A lipsmacking preparation.Served with mint chutney

Paneer ke sule -Soft cubes of pameer served with cruncy veggies marinated in aromatic spices.Grilled to perfection.Must try dish.

Dal baati churma -Rajasthani food is incomplete without trying out their signature dish.It has baati(flaky round bread) baked over fire wood .Dipped in ghee and accompanied with panch kutti daal and churma.The three together make a very filling meal option.Simple and tasty

Jalebi chaat -Chaat is very popular variety of rajasthan.This dish had unique combination of unsweetened jalebi,curd,green chutney and spices .Very impressive and innovative i must say

Main course

Dal angaara -Fully laden with ghee with some aamchur taste in it .A little sour in taste

Govind Gatta -A nice spicy curry.Cottage cheese,gram flour used and its preparation is made in rich onion,yogurt gravy .Fun to eat with plain chapatti

Bikaneri paratha -Red chilli pepper,dhaniya powder,channa dal,garam masala used in its preparation.A treat to eat with curries

Ker sangri -A traditional Rajasthani dish made with dried ker berry and sangri beans.A star dish of marwad where beans grow in sand

Mango shrikhand -hung curd added to mago puree .nicely blended with crushed cardamom,saffron and some sugar.Tasty.Do try it

Panchratan dahi sabzi -Chawli,capsicum,cucumber,gavarfali with spices and low fat yogurt.A perfect blend of 5 veggies with dahi

Dessert

Ghevar -A popular rajasthani dessert.A disc shape sweet cake made with flour,sugar syrup.Well garnished with some nut .Thick and heavy.Sweet in taste

Overall i had a hearty desi Marwar meal at Tuskers.A treat for people who love desi food .Must try for food and culture lovers of India

Check it out 4th May to 13th May 2018 at...

Food is not just fuel. Food is about family, about bonding. Food is about togetherness, food is also an identity. And we cherish all those moments and memories when we eat well.

Mewar cuisine can also be called Rajasthani food. The food in Rajasthan is diverse and a mix of a whole lot of variants. The length and breadth of Rajasthan boasts of various culinary extremes. At certain places the food is simple and very basic and at some it is extremely grand and elaborate. Most of the ingredients used to prepare a simple or an extravagant meal is just the basic spices and condiments as per availability. Rajasthan is all about bright coloured clothing and a lot of dance and music. It is also the land of forts and havelis and the Land of the Royal, hence the profile of the cuisines were also rich and flavourful and one that can be remembered for not just days, but more.

Our experience at the Tuskers, Sofitel for the ‘Mewar Food Festival’ was royal and majestic. A thali is always a preferred option when such events are hosted. We have the privilege to try various options and not feel too guilty about it. But being Guiltless Foodies we just don’t calorie care if its food and its delicious.

We started with some Farsans, the best part of any meal and of course second in line to desserts. We were served the ‘Mini Samosas’, ‘Dhokla’ and ‘Mirchi Pakoda’. Our favourites in order of preference were the Mirchi ke pakode followed by Samosa and then dhokla. These were served with some lip smacking green chutney and the sweet and sour tamarind chutney. The Mirchi ke pakode were the large Bhavnagari chilies slit and stuffed with an amazing spicy mix of potato. This dish had various elements to it. The outer layer was crispy and the inner soft yet not soggy. This was deep fried to perfection to get the right colour. A happy start to the meal.

The next attractive looking dish on the platter was the ‘Dahi Vada’. Soft melt in the mouth vada in a cold creamy thick curd and topped with various chutneys, masalas and the Sev gave it the crunch. A nice comforting dish to beat the heat.

Next to it sat the ‘Methi Malai Paneer’. The chef, as we were informed, insisted on using the fresh fenugreek leaves to give this dish its authenticity. He said dry leaves could never give this flavor and we agreed. More so we ended up ordering twice more of the same. There was something about the paneer which made this dish notches higher than the rest. Very soft, creamy and smooth chunks of paneer refused to stay more than a few second more and just melted in our mouth. A definite recommendation for one and all.

Sitting next to it was the basic ‘Bhindi Subzi’. Not too fancy but just the kinds one would call as comfort food. A stir fry variant with just some salt and chilly sprinkle. It is a matter of serious concern how a simple Okra be so flavourful and tasty. But the conclusion was simple food always tastes good.

Carrot has never been our favorite. When we saw it served as part of the thali there was a little disappointment. But we were wrong. The carrot was again a very simple dish with a dash of turmeric, salt and some very basic spices. Thank god to the green peas which not only made the dish a saviuor but also improvised on the taste.

Then came the star of the thali. A’ Rajasthani Mix Vegetable’. This dish had a healthy mix of vegetables all of which were cooked to perfection. Each of them retained their colour, texture and distinct taste. The crunch of the beans and carrot, the soft potatoes, the squish of the green peas was a total riot in our mouth. Anything written or said about this dish would be an injustice. One definitely need to savor the flavours to understand the euphoria we were in with every bite.

Our meal came to an end with the notion in mind that it needn’t be grand to be remembered. Even simple preps done with love are appreciated and...

Every couple of months, I always look forward to what food festival is Sofitel BKC hosting! Its almost become like a routine for me to head to this Elite property and try different cuisines and delicacies across their amazing restaurants. I have been lucky enough to witness the Moroccan and Malaysian Food Festivals at Pondichery Cafe. They also have "Tuskers" which is located on Level 1 of Sofitel BKC. Tuskers - another word for Elephants is a vegetarian only restaurant.

Heading straight to what I was treated to, at this amazing Royal Cuisine of Marwar at Tuskars especially curated by the amazing chefs -

We started our meal with Makai Ki Raab (Makki ki Raab) - Presented in a soup form, Makai Ki Raab is a hot beverage made of corn and buttermilk / curd. A unique tangy preparation and one of the most loved and preferred drink in Rajastha, especially during winters! Superb I must say!

Moving to the Appetisers, we started with the Shekhavati Subz Achari Tikka - Vegetable Tikkis with overtones of Mango Pickle which melt in your mouth! Fantastic, loved it! Next we had the Surkh Lal Dahi Bhalla - Urad Dal dumpling minced with Surkh Lal Chilli Powder. Spicy! But it is toned down with some creamy yoghurt! Lastly we had the Paneer Ke Sule - Grilled Cottage Cheese cubes which have a strong flavor of clove. Unique taste and very different from what you will have anywhere else!

Post the starters, we tried Dal Baati Churma - one of the most famous Rajasthani preparations! A signature dish! It isn't a part of the chef's special curated menu, but we tried this. We got 3 separate bowls, 1 with the Dal - with tadkas in ghee, 1 with Baatis (Flaky Round Breads) dipped / fried in ghee and 1 bowl with Churma - with sugar and jaggery! The right way to have this is, take the baati, break it, put some Dal and have it with Churma! The three together, make a very filling and satisfying meal. Simply amazing and miss this at your own risk! Must have!

Next what we tried was very unique and something that I couldn't think of! Jalebi Chaat! We all know Jalebi are Indian sweets and sweet mixed with chaat? Un-sweetened Jalebi served with curd, Mint Chutney, Imli Chutney and lots of spices! Unique combination, must have and must try again!

Moving to the Mains, we were presented with a Rajasthani Thali with Dal, Vegetables, Assorted Breads, and Rice!  Getting into details -

Dal & Vegetables / Curries -

Dal Angara - Black Lentils with tadka of Clove and Jeera Angoori Rasgulle Ki Subzi - Un-sweetened angoori rasgulle tossed in onion-tomato gravy Govind Gatta - Royal texture of besan gatta given by shaping it into stuffed balls and cooked in a rich curry made with mawa and curd Ker Sangri - Traditional Rajasthani Dish made of Berries and beans, cooked with a variety of masalas Panchratan Dahi Subzi - Blend of 5 selected vegetables - Gawar, Chawli, Cucumber, Capsicum and Turai cooked in curd, tomato and indian spices Paneer Chutney Masala -  Cottage Cheese Cubes mixed with green chutney, yoghurt with cashew paste!

Assorted Breads - Bikaneri Paratha - A mix of coriander powder, red chilli powder, asafeotida, dried mango powder, garam masala powder and Bengal gram put in whole wheat flour to prepare a Bikaneri Paratha.

Til Kalonji Paratha - Til and Black Seeds (Kalonji) used in Wheat and Maida flour!

Rice Preparation -

Ker Aur Mawe Ka Pulao - Saffron tempered Basmati Rice with Ker Berries from Rajasthan Bajre Ki Khichdi - A warm and comforting khichdi made with bajra and moong dal

Finally for desserts, we tried the Mango Shrikhand which came with the Thali. Yummy! And to end, the Malai Ghevar - extremely popular Rajasthani dessert - disc shaped sweet cake topped with fresh malai. Perfect way to end our scrumptious...