A taste of global cuisine in desi style (Foodie Trail New Delhi) (Lead, correcting last para)

What if your tart is filled with kesar phirni? Or your pasta is served in spiced makhani gravy? And fish in plum sauce? Sample these unique concoctions - a fusion of eastern and western delicacies, each with a distinct desi twist, at a forthcoming food fest in the capital.

Casual dining restaurant chain Barbeque Nation's forthcoming Global Cuisine Indian Style Food Festival from Aug 1 to 17, is being hosted across nine of its outlets in Delhi-NCR in conjuction with Independence Day celebrations.

From a pre-fixed buffet menu of 22 items, I was in a tizzy over where to begin at the Jangpura outlet.

I jumped at the restaurant's USP - its barbeque picks.

The meal began with tandoori roasted wings, but it was the prawns in Indian sauce and steamed lamb rice balls which caught my fancy more as the rice stuck on the balls was in the tricolour.

It gelled with the I-Day theme, which the restaurant plans to celebrate by accordingly decorating the outlets, Vijay Anand Bakshi, head (Culinary Operations), Barbeque Nation, told IANS.

"There was a time when everyone - all restaurants - wanted to do fusion food, but it didn't sustain for too long. That's why we thought of doing it for an occasion and it took us a good amount of research and trial for this fest," said Bakshi, who has flown in for the fest here from Bangalore.

The chefs have cooked up a mix of predominantly fusion items with a range of desi favourites like Dal Peshawari, Kadai Rajma Masala, Paneer Shashlik and Chicken Shawarma. Among the snacks, the grilled chicken breast in potli gravy tasted good, while the cheese chilli mushroom was almost a melt in the mouth.

Of the main course, the fish in plum sauce eaten with rice is a winner, and so is the roasted lamb in thai curry.

Do try the pasta and, yes, the Manchurian Baked Kofta - made using a Chinese Manchurian Ball cooked in Indian gravy and then baked with cheese.

The desserts aren't to be missed - the Phirni Tart, the Moong Dal Cake and the Spiced Brownie.

Also, ask for a 'Paan Shot'! It's not part of the buffet menu, but it will leave you with a different 'high'.

A word of advice - if you want to savour this unlimited food fiesta to the hilt, walk around a bit and take breaks before jumping to each item.The buffet will be available during lunch and dinner hours for an average cost of Rs.1,600 for two persons (prices may vary on different days).

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)