[Rated: 4.0/5]
Blue Ginger, the only Vietnamese outpost in Delhi has great news for individuals seeking a super tasty and super quick lunch option in Delhi-NCR. The offering is a lavish, Vietnamese version of a bento box, complete with its three courses. Pawan and I have been invited to taste this box at the restaurant. I am quite eager to try this on, but Pawan, having had a terrible experience here on his anniversary dinner hesitates. Finally after some cajoling, he does join in.
“The bento box meal has been designed keeping in mind individual diners who are rushed for time but still may want to have a gourmet experience” says Ananya Sinha, the charming Director of Sales for the Taj Palace hotel.
We start the meal with súp gà mang tây (chicken and asparagus soup) which turns out to be under-seasoned and lacking in any flavor per se. Undeterred, we bravely soldier on with the prawn crackers till the main course arrives, and so does the excitement. What we get on the table is a banquet fit for a King.
The main course has goi du voì chanh dây (raw papaya salad with passion fruit dressing) which more than makes up for any lack of flavor of the soup. The other greens are rau cai xào thâp câm (stir fried kailan, choysum, pakchoi, white asparagus and brocolli with galangal and birds eye chilli) which add a crunchy, vitamin-full touch to the meal. I fall in love with cuù sóc tiêu (peppered lamb morsels) which is cooked to melt-in-mouth perfection. The only dissonance is the mini oil slick accompanying the lamb, very unlike the original Vietnamese dish. The càri cá basa (Vietnamese basa fish in yellow cari) is similar to its Thai cousin, but does have a distinct flavor and delicately textured chunks of basa.
Accompanying the main course are mi xào mêm chay (stir fried soft noodles with vegetables) which are nice, but regretfully have a similar oil slick happening, and xôi chay trong thô (sticky rice with vegetable topping in clay pot) which is pleasant and perfectly complements the meal.
We end the meal with kem dua (coconut ice cream) which is coconut icecream at tis perfection. It is creamy with a rough texture and an amazingly smokey taste. It is a perfect end to a great meal.
Pawan too is forced to forget his earlier misadventure at the hotel, and concede that the bento box lunch is worth a visit to Blue Ginger at the Taj Palace.
Rating out of 5
Food: 3.5 | Ambience: 4.0 | Service: 4.5 | Overall: 4.0
Meal for two: Rs. 2400| Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes | Timings: 12:30 PM to 2:45 PM, 6:30 PM to 11:45 PM (Available for both Lunch and Dinner)
Address: Blue Ginger, Taj Palace Hotel, Diplomatic Enclave, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi | Telephone: 011 26110202
