Potions for Pleasure

As Hotmess takes its first steps towards making a name for itself in the food market, the owner is already ideating over his next venture.
Potions for Pleasure

It’s a 6,000 sqft newly launched restaurant in Connaught Place, but it’s owner Akshay Anand wishes he had more space. There is so much more he could have done, but with real estate in central Delhi touching the sky, Anand knew he had to keep his aspirations under check. As Hotmess takes its first steps towards making a name for itself in the fiercely competitive food market, the owner is already ideating over his next venture which will allow him even more flexibility to investigate and experiment on all the things he would like to include next time. In chase of more, however, we hope he gets to enjoy what he’s put out for now, for it seems like it’s a good effort.

A short walk from the entrance, a long bar called aphrodisiac lays out the choicest pleasures. “It serves cocktail and food that puts you in good mood. We’ve played around with some ingredients, which encourages your senses to drown into an ocean of happiness,” says Anand, whose personal favourite ingredients are honey and red wines. Some of the other aphrodisiacs used widely in the offerings on the counter are pomegranate, tamarind, watermelon and coffee.

The same are also included in the food menu. Hot Chillies, asparagus, avocados, bananas, chocolates, vanilla and more are commonly incorporated. “It’s all about appeasing your palate with portions of delectable creations that will make you come back for more. That’s the kind of craving we want to all our guests to experience,” he says.

Follow his lead and try out some of the restaurant’s aphrodisiac specials such as Cranberry Chicken Salad with Spinach, Muhammara, Grilled Broccoli with Pine Nuts, Dark Chocolate Crouton Cake, Bourbon Smoke Honey Chicken, Chilli Coriander Chutney Soya Chaap, and Grilled Jumbo Prawns with Herbed Rice. But, it’s not food that comes to Anand’s rescue when he feels the stresses of the day weighing him down. It’s also drinks such as Aphrodisiac (fresh ginger, vanilla-infused vodka, green apple, apple juice and Sauvignon Blanc), Mayday Martini (vodka, lime, cinnamom and strawberry), Red Velvet (strawberry-infused gin, orange liqueur, lime vanilla syrup, mint and grapefruit bitter), Pencillin (scotch, lime, honey-ginger syrup and candied ginger) and others.

Now, that’s an order one wouldn’t mind chasing.

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