THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If a trip to China is on your cards then this might be the best time to be there especially if you are a Malayali for you will instantly notice the similarities between the two places in traditions though they are miles apart. Just like ‘Chingam’ is the harvest season for us, a time of prosperity and wealth the Chinese have something they call the Harvest festival that falls mid-August. It is a time when families come together and spend time with their loved ones, celebrate and of course savour the sumptuous food. But thanks to Hotel Vivanta by Taj, Vazhuthacaud, one may not have to travel all the way to China after all at least where the food department is concerned. For the hotel on the sidelines of the Harvest Festival is oraganising an Autumn Moon food fest at its Chinapolis restaurant.
So this time it is double bonanza for the city folks, for we get the best of both places.
“This is something we had last year also and we got a pretty good response. Our chef Wang Wen when he was back from home this time he brought back with him a new set of ingredients. And with these he has put together some entirely new dishes for the fest this time,” says Chef Jose.
“The restaurant will also have the regular menu in addition to the fest menu, when a customer comes he can choose from either of the two,” says manager Prem.
The fest which began on Friday will be on till September 8. So while you are out enjoying with your family and if you feel you need some change from the regular Onam flavours, drop in to Vivanta by Taj in the city to get some taste of the Chinese exotica.
The a la carte menu would please both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike for the choices are aplenty in both sections. With the soups, dim sums, poultry, lamb, flavoured rice varieties you wouldn’t regret your little Onam detour.
We start our festive journey with a seafood clear soup. The spicy and tangy soup with its specially imported pickled spinach prepared us to set on an exotic food trail.
The soup was just the tip of the ice-berg for what came rolling into our plate one after the other was China on a plate.
What we dug into next was the lamb dim sums with special sauces for accompaniments, spicy barbecued squid, lamb ribs with whole cumin and hot bean coriander to name a few attractive starters.
The well cooked lambs soaked in bean coriander almost melting in your mouth turned out to be a treat in itself. You could order just that be content if nothing else.
As we proceed further we notice that the spice level of most dishes is quite spicy for an average Chinese dish. Asked the reason behind this, Chef Jose says, “Chef Wang has been with us for almost two years now and he has actually had an understanding of how we Malayalis actually like our food. So now he gives an extra spiciness to most of his dishes with bell peppers, ginger and the like so that the flavour is not lost but at the same time it gives that extra punch to the dish as we like it.”
In the main course you are almost spoilt for choices, with endless options to choose from. The special fried rice steamed in lotus leaf opens up your senses. The seafood flat rice noodles with crushed peanuts though not as stimulating as the rest is nothing like the regular noodles that you usually order on your Chinese expeditions. What makes it interesting is, first the flat rice noodles, and second the crushed peanuts that gives it s crunchy effect.
Soon the man who put up such an exquisite meal comes out smiling, holding the final item the moon cake the special harvest festival dessert. Ask him about the moon cake and harvest festival Wang is only too eager to fill in the details in his broken English. “The moon cake actually represents the full moon which signifies the family unity or coming together of your loved ones. These cakes are specially made and shared among your loved ones during this festival,” he says.
“Though it looks rather simple a lot of time goes into the making of the moon cake which is made in special moulds,” adds Chef Jose.
The moon cake with its floral design could remind you of our own floral carpets. Though exotic it is not quite exciting as the rest of the meal. If you want something equally exiting you could try some fried ice cream or apple pancake which is on the menu. Lunch is from 12.30 pm to 3 pm and dinner is from 7.30 pm to 11 pm.