Going Thai

Check out the special Songkran menu at Red Zen
u00a0
Songkranu00a0 can be best described to laymen as the Thai New year and Thai Holi. Indians and the Thai have few things in common -- among them would be a love for food and colours. Keeping with the mood perhaps, the Red Zen, which is celebrating SongKran, is all red and Thai these days with traditional Thai food being served in red dishes.



On a bad Delhi summer day, a peaceful Thai lunch in its soft interiors seemed like a luxury. The mild-looking soup Poh Teak Talay is how you should get things started. This spicy seafood soup with Thai herbs and basil is hot and light, yet rich. Though not spicy at all, the soup does something to the tastebuds and makes you very hungry at the same time.

Making a good start
It was time for some good starters now and the Tofu Thord seemed to go with the mood. The bright yellow deep fried Tofu laced in tamarind sauce tasted quite unlike regular tofu and was sweet. According to Piyavat, the Thai master chef, during this festival the tofu is made as a sweet delicacy in Thailand.

Chicken ka chamatkar
The Satay Kai, which looked delicious, was served on a soft banana leaf. It was grilled marinated chicken in sticks offered with special Thai sauce. Chicken had never tasted that great. And everyone at the table got busyu00a0 wolfing down the yellow-brown spicy chicken sticks greedily.

While the waiter announced main course, I was done. For those who don't know how to use chopsticks, like me, it is best to stick to the fork, else you can really create a mess. While I was busy in such thoughts, the food appeared. It was a huge meal, consisting of Kai phad khing, which is stir-fried chicken with ginger,onion and mushrooms in soya sauce. The light gravy chicken was to be eaten with steamed, flavoured jasmine rice. The rice had a different aroma and was sticky. The main course, though refreshing, was just average.If you are here, the Thai starters would be a better deal.u00a0

As cool as it can get
Dessert was as cool as it looked on the plate. Tab Tim Grob is a combination of water chestnut in chilled coconut syrup. It tasted just right after lunch, also made up fully for the not-so-great fried chicken meal.

At: Courtyard by Marriott, Gurgaon, Plot no - 27 B, Sector Road, B Block, Sushant Lok - 1, Sector 27 ufffd Gurgaon
On: Till April 17
Timings: 6.30 pm to 11pm
Ring: 0124 4888444
Price: Rs 1,295 + taxes (vegetarian), Rs 1495 + taxes (non-vegetarian)