Tray Bien: The Khantoke Festival at Lotus, The Park

Drop it low before you hit the club  while dining off a Thai-style Khan tok 
Khantoke Meal
Khantoke Meal

In Tamil Nadu, a traditional feast that brings together families is the elai saapadu, while up north it’s called a thali or bhog. Similarly, Thailand has the Khantoke, which The Park’s ongoing food festival is showcasing with nine dishes from a traditional Thai meal. “What is special about this is the way we serve them,” offers Executive Chef Ashutosh Nerlekar, adding, “The khan tok is a round table, usually made from wood, on which small bowls of food are placed. Traditionally, Thai meals were eaten sitting on the ground, and this raised tray was the best way they could enjoy a meal. We had the trays specially made for the ongoing festival, and we are considering making it a part of our regular menu as well."

We begin our meal with some crunchy pumpkin wafers with the hint of sweet, which is best paired with a fragrant lemongrass galangal chutney dip. We follow this up with a perfectly cooked Satay Gai (chicken) that comes pre-coated with peanut sauce. Yet another starter option for non-vegetarians is Krob Haea Hoy Nangrum Prih (crispy lamb in oyster chilli sauce), while vegetarians can opt for the Broccoli Tod Nambauy (deep fried broccoli florets tossed in an apricot glaze).


Moving on to the main course, we try the flavourful Sen Mee Keemao Goong (spicy cilantro 
vermicelli noodles with prawns), which has an option of chicken on request. The star of the meal, however, is the Khao Niew (sticky rice) with the Goong Phad Pong Kari (a prawn curry with eggdrops or celery), which is as aromatic as it is appetising. Vegetarians can opt to eat their rice with the Kari Haeng Pa (authentic Thai jungle curry), which is an interesting mish-mash of flavour. We end on a sweet note, with the deliciously chewy Khanom Tom (glutinous rice balls stuffed with jaggery and coconut), sprinkled with coconut shavings on the outside.

The Khantoke Festival is on till March 12 at Lotus, The Park, for dinner. A meal costs Rs 999+taxes (veg) and Rs 1099+taxes (non-veg) Details: 42676000

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