Bukhara: A culinary icon that has stood the test of time

Consistency. That is what makes Bukhara the culinary icon that it is. Everything it delivers – quality of food, experience, ambience and even the menu – has same consistency as it had 30 years ago when it was started. Over these years it has created for itself a royal fan case including the likes of Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Vladimir Putin. 

Photo Courtesy: ITC Maurya

Bukhara serves you the cuisine of Northwest Frontier, now the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is credited for playing a major role in exposing a section of North Indian cuisine to the world. It was, in fact, one of the first entrants in that kind of cuisine. The waiters too wear the same distinctive Pathan suits, jackets embellished with gold braid and Peshawari sandals on their feet to add to the feel.

The 30-Year Old Menu

Bukhara has the most limited bill of fare you can get in a high-end restaurant. The variety seems limited as compared to the usual four page menus available at other restaurants. But then you don’t go to Bukhara looking for variety.

The menu looks unique, painted on a wooden plank that has the vegetarian options on one side and non-vegetarian choices on the other.

The Celebrated Food

A meat lover is spoiled for choice when at Bukhara. The best way to experience Bukhara’s celebrated cuisine is to order an assorted kebab platter. From Murgh Malai Kebab and the tender Sikandari Raan (marinated leg of lamb) to Murgh Tandoori and Barrah Kebab, all the delicacies are marinated and grilled to perfection. Have these with different varieties of naan.  

For vegetarians options are limited but are a treat. The grilled vegetarian platter comprises cottage cheese, bell peppers, tomatoes & pineapple; then there are Tandoori Aloo, Cauliflower and Bell Peppers. Breads included Stuffed Kulchas, Naans and Khasta Rotis. Then of course, there is the famous Dal Bukhara, which itself has become a brand within a brand. Rice lovers would be disappointed as there are no rice dishes.

You also get the much famous Clinton, Hillary, Obama and Chelsea Platters. You wouldn’t see them on the menu but can order and pride yourself in having ‘what the President had’. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, phirni is a must try.  Kulfi with hot Gulab Jamun is also highly recommended. Sip in a cup of green tea to end the meal perfectly.

The Ambience

 



Stone walls, cushioned stools, wood beams, undersized tables, copper urns – all make for an upscale dhaba setting! And when sitting her you don’t eat with forks and knives at Bukhara. In contrast, to the ‘high-end, upper-scale’ positioning, you sit on cushioned stools, tie an apron around and enjoy the delicacies with your hands the desi way. You can see the delectable cuisine being prepared in the ‘open kitchen’.



Don’t feel embarrassed about using the apron and relishing food sans the cutlery. That is the Bukhara way of eating! Even Bill Clinton, the then President of America, during his visit did not hesitate in doing so.



The restaurant prides itself in serving hosts of royal guests. Just a day before I visited, John Key, Prime Minister of New Zealand enjoyed a meal here. Such an unmatched experience at Bukhara comes at a price but is worth every penny.

Loation:  ITC Maurya, Delhi

Timings: 12.30 p.m.-1.45 p.m. and 7 p.m-11.45 p.m

For Reservation call: 011-26112233

Meal for two: Rs 4,000

Discover Goa sans the sun

Goans know the secret: Goa is best during monsoons. You might doubt the statement and go for the proverbial sun-soaked Goa during October to March season if you haven’t seen Goa in the rains. But you have to see it to believe it! Designer Wendell Rodricks, a Goan, puts it aptly: “…The pace slows down due to the downpour. But for us Goans, it is the best season. We see a green Goa (the garbage is in the undergrowth) and for a few months it looks like the Goa of yore… I do love the rains indeed!”
There are plenty of reasons for you to experience a different Goa and there are several things to do. For starters, you can experience the original charms of Goa sans the crowd you find during the peak season. Nature is at its beast with lush greenery, easier air to breathe and the sea raging with unending fury, which is a spectacle to see. However, most beaches are inaccessible and you will not be able to swim. But the rain-washed landscape wouldn’t let you regret that. You must instead take a walk through the Goan countryside to soothe your senses and feel the romance.

That’s what Dr Varun Carvalho, the popular dentist and a singer from Goa, likes to do. “Go to the countryside and walk around. Goa is extremely green and vibrant during this time of the year,” he says.
The rains make Goa all the more enchanting, making it a peaceful refuge for those seeking respite from the concrete jungles of the urban world. Naturally localites feel blessed. Interestingly, there are some averse to ‘sharing’ Goa in its unadulterated form during the rains. Goa’s very own Remo Fernandes likes to see Goa sans tourists. “I don’t believe in promoting more visitors in Goa especially during the rains,” says Remo. “Goans stop selling Goa…non-Goans stop buying Goa,” he asserts curtly. Of course the local government and the hospitality industry wouldn’t agree. Tourism, after all, is the mainstay for Goa’s economy. In fact, they are now promoting Goa as a 365-day holiday destination rather than just a ‘beach holiday’ destination during October-March period.

Monsoon Tourism

Currently, only 10% of total tourist arrivals to Goa occur during the monsoon period. To attract more tourists, Goa government started the ‘Raindrop Tourism’ campaign which targets travelers especially from West Asia, where rains are sparse. Pascal Dupuis, General Manager, The Leela Kempinski Goa says, “I would recommend traveling to Goa during monsoons to those who are tired of the daily hustle & bustle of their regular corporate lives and would like to explore pristine nature for once with a touch of beaches & rich culture. Goa has everything that a customer requires – beaches, mountains, historical monuments, night life etc…. The list is endless.”

Offers Galore
The shacks are missing but the good news for you is that this romantic experience is very easy on pocket. Restaurants, shops and hotels feeling the pinch during the quiet season have scores of offers and discounts during this season. Almost all hotels offer discounted rates or packages for the monsoons too. These include offers like 3 nights with buffet breakfast for the price of two nights on double occupancy, and can be extended with every third night fee. Offers also include free wine, food and beverage credit, gifts and the use of recreational facilities. Not to forget cheap air tickets to Goa during the monsoons.

Revel in the Festivites
Other important flavors of Goa you’d miss during the peak tourist season are the festivals that make the state come alive. San Joao, the traditional 'rain dance' festival, which is celebrated on June 24th every year, is the most popular. Tradition has it that it was on this day that unborn St. John the Baptist gave a 'leap of joy' in his mother Elizabeth's womb, as Mary, the mother of Jesus visited her.
You’d see a procession of village youth wearing crowns of leaves, carrying bottles full of Feni dancing through the village, ultimately arriving at a well of pond into which they jump. Shrikant of Hotel Lalit feels the festival reflects the spirit of the state. “There’s so much energy and revelry during the festival… Be it to welcome newly weds to the maternal home or just to guzzle a drink, dance, sing, make merry and jump into wells and ponds.” Besides, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, at the end of June, sees people sailing up river on rafts performing plays and songs. Another festival being marketed now is the carnival-like Bonderam flag festival is held end of August on tiny Divar Island, off the coast from Panaji.

Take a long walk in the rain along the beach, enjoy the wildlife, revel in celebrations and more importantly relish cleaner air, greener scenery and a less-crowded Goa. There’s something for everyone even during the rains. Just pick up your umbrellas and experience the rainy side of sun-soaked Goa!


(Published in a travel magazine)