ANU(ChandigarhCityNews)
Black Lotus, the fine dining Chinese restaurant at Taj Chandigarh has undergone a stylish renovation. The entire concept flows into a visual and culinary narrative picking up from the central theme of the space, as well as from the iconic scripture of the Ming Era, titled, Golden Lotus. The newly refurbished space includes a contemporary and comfortable bar area along with an effervescent alfresco, thematic interiors and an all new menu.
One of the first fine dining Chinese restaurants to have opened up in City Beautiful, Black Lotus already enjoyed a prestigious status. Known to serve specialties like crispy corn kernels, Peking duck, chicken chilli mountain and tiger prawn sesame chilli sauce, this was a place that saw its fair share of diners for both lunch and dinner.
As the space undergoes a transformation, it brings in a strong thematic tie-in with the cuisine service style and de décor, to create a unique experience. Accents from innovated textures from the lifestyle during this era have been used. The pairing of three dimensional fabrics woven specially for the occasion seek inspiration in the architecture of the location. The cuisine story is of contemporary Chinese with a focus on modern flavors and plating. It also reflects the traditional cultural motifs, from China, albeit, given a modern and contemporary appeal.
The central theme, takes its name from the restaurant, thus picking up the motif of the Lotus. The key elements from a design stand point will be the three dimensional artworks created in metal, which talk about the growth of a lotus and how it slowly takes over the pond. The strategic use of privacy screens complements the space while making the overall ambience more intimate but yet open. The color scheme in the tones of grey accentuated with rose gold and claret add intrigue while bringing a sophisticated and muted touch to the entire space.
Having served for almost a dozen years, the restaurant welcomed the comprehensive renovation that it has received with a freshness of the menu. Black Lotus, in its new avatar brings to the table some very authentic dishes from the Schezwan belt of China. Expat Chef Wang, joins hands with Chef Gaurav to come up with a menu that flaunts some very unique additions.
Grills featuring almost all kinds of meats and sea food bring in an all new perspective when it comes to Chinese dining. Presented on a hot plate, these dishes focus on retaining the flavor of the meats, with minimalistic use of sauces.
Another interesting section that has been added to the menu is clay pots. Here the food has been cooked in UN-glazed pots and is served in a mix of rice/noodles and the made to tailor sauces, of the guest’s choice.
Other sections that are wining flavor with the diners are wontons and baozi. Dishes like stir fried lobster garlic pepper; Haricot beans with dry chilli in black bean sauce and steamed tofu on a bed of bok choy are definitely set to wow the guests.
The desserts, usually a neglected section in Chinese menus, have been given a lot of attention and some unique sweets like lemon grass crème brule or clove triangle pineapple with chilli and coconut milk, can be tried here. Old time favorites have been retained and given their place of honor in the new menu, which works wonderfully for Black Lotus patrons.
The service style of the restaurant has brought in some very interesting themes from China and adapted these to cater to the guests here. Right from the Ni Hao greeting to the elaborate jasmine tea serving style, all of it is in keeping with the oriental aura. The wet towel, welcome drink and palate cleansingsorbet combine to add to the dining experience in the restaurant. Sumit Sharma, the restaurant manager has managed the art of service with perfection, by paying attention to detail and maintaining the Taj luxury benchmarks.
With a private dining room, split level seating, casual lounge area and an alfresco, Black Lotus now offers a seating capacity of 80 people. Be it a choice from formal to casual dining, a sophisticated serving module or an elaborate and authentic menu, Black Lotus offers it all. Open from 1 pm to midnight, seven days a week, it is clear that the restaurant is all set to change the course of Chinese fine dining in Chandigarh.
