Disclaimer: Tresind Studio has successfully outdone its predecessors. It is more than food, it’s the thought, careful pacing out of meals and bringing together iconic flavors of Indian cuisine in bite-size portion. There is theatrics, drama, magnifying glasses to see your food and lots of dry ice. And, it definitely is worthy of the hype it has achieved.
Tucked behind the bar area of the famed Tresind, a small little elusive dining world that is compact, yet spacious; minimalistic yet modernistic welcomes you to enjoy the chef’s degustation menu. It can accommodate about 20 guests at a given time, and the neatly laid out tables and subtle music, void of noise and chatter, more than makeup for an exclusive dining experience. A special mention to the warm and attentive hospitality by Mr. Vippin and Chef Sahil, that made our experience memorable.
Could you imagine a restaurant closing down the blinds, making the entire dining area pitch black and then serving a classic Daulat ki chaat enclosed in magnifying glassware with a torch? I couldn’t, and my mind was blown to fragments to think of a dish being recreated in this manner and presented in this form.
It is these ideas that add to the dining experience, reflecting the craft of the famed
chef Himanshu Siana and thoughtful selection of ingredients that goes behind curating a menu where the classic flavor profiles remain undisturbed. Anyone can reinvent, but not everyone can reimagine to create the same dishes with the same taste but differently. Tresind Studio does it and does an awesome job at it too.
It would be impossible to describe each of the dishes in detail as we opted for a 16-course menu, but here are a few highlights from Chapter 1:-
Deconstructed Pani Puri: Breaking down the Indian street side famous gol Gappa into a little bubble ball, that when consumed in one go explodes inside the mouth, exuding the classic sweet and savory combination the dish is known for. It comes on a bed of an ice bowl that has coriander infused in it, now that’s a sight to the eyes and a treat to the mouth.
Chickpea + Butter: Having make ki roti with solidified butter reminded me of home. The little chili pickle smeared on the roti added a kick of tanginess. One bite into the roti with the makkhan (butter), will leave you asking for more, but don’t, as your mains are en route.
Watermelon Rasam: The feta cheese, watermelon cubes, and orange when combined with the rasam effuse a spicy fruity flavor. Mind you, the taste of the rasam is authentic. The piping hot tangy concoction that Rasam is, it will a bold flavor lingering on your palate for a while, until of course, the next course comes in.
Papdi Tart: The canape tartlets served in a bold striking golden plate with a mirror in between on which the tarts are placed, is a dish that strongly resonates with the Papdi Chat. The tartlets, channa patty, fried spinach shavings on top when consumed in one go packs a punch
The Lotus Root steak kebab is a colorful combination of sauces neatly poured around the steak by the chef at the table. The saffron, cashew, pepper, and green sauce produce different flavors that when eaten in one bite blend well.
Well, the best is always kept until the last, and the 11th course was our humble Khichdi. Consumed across India, this comforting dish was given a twist as all the guests were invited to the kitchen counter. Sitting on the counter was a marble, meticulously cut in the shape of India, where each state had a bowl of spice for which they are famed. From Karnataka’s curry leaves to Kashmir’s saffron, Mumbai’s techa to Odhissa’s cottage cheese and even spring onions from Arunachal, this dish was the chef’s way of paying homage to the nation by including at least one element from each state. Classic in taste and unmatched in comfort, the khichdi was delicious.
From the ravioli mushroom whose broth was soaked in Morales to the cylindrically shaped yogurt kebabs and air-dried beetroot powder sprinkled across the Tikki, the food here surprises you at every step.
The last dessert course comes in a briefcase that showcases the classic desserts. While you’re at it, relish a mouthful of the carrot pudding and betel nut flavored portions that end the degustation menu on a digestive note. Of course, you have tea and coffee too and many options even in this category to choose from.
To conclude Chapter 1: Don’t just relish the food, relish the experience :)
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