Gary does it with flair and finesse
Assortment of canapés
It was a Michelin-style five course dinner from Down Under that Gary Mehigan, former Australian Masterchef judge and celebrity chef, pulled out all the stops to produce at the Cinnamon Grand’s Atrium on Friday, December 1, as part of his culinary presentation here with Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts.
Seated under the gigantic chandeliers in the dramatic stage-like setting harking back to the palmy Oberoi days, the diners were treated to food created with finesse and crested with flair.
The canapés began with a basket of crusty sourdough that was eaten with generous lashings of whipped Knorr curry cube infused butter. Then followed a parade of exotic elements: Jamon croquetta, Romesco sauce, smoked salmon cream and salmon caviar to name but a few.
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The lagoon crab with coconut, sweet Nelna mango and coriander salad with crispy fish took one back to the pristine childhood taste of crab with more than a soupcon of sweetness. The River prawn ravioli (succulent meat and buttery soft pasta) and the olive oil poached prawn with bouillabaisse sauce and aioli were a treat.
The succulent slow-roasted rump of Australian lamb went well with the Ras al hanout, haloumi, Yemeni hot sauce and jus gras, all evidence of the map-hopping Mehigan’s affair with exotic Eastern cuisine (having travelled in India and all over Asia).
In between courses, the celebrity chef would crack a joke to keep up the appetite. The dishes were served by an army of waiters who smartly paraded in – some fifty at a time – with impressive synchronization.
A local touch to table setting. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The pudding was the queen of the evening. A dark jaggery caramel with a taste that took you back to grandmother’s kitchen – watalappan and kitul hakuru but also some dark chocolate element, served alongside delicious hazelnut cream and an 18k gold coffee flan: quite decadent!
Afterwards there was tea and coffee with friandises (in this case assorted chocolates)… And Colombo seemed very happy indeed! There was a huge round of applause, and selfies with the celebrity aplenty.
Gary Mehigan also hosted a dinner at the London Grill, a carvery brunch at the Cheers Pub and a high tea also at the atrium.
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