Bloggers Table | The Leela, Gurgaon … excellence in everything they do!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
The Bloggers Table was privileged indeed to be hosted at the award winning Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon for a memorable Italian meal at Zanotta a few nights ago. It’s one thing having a philosophy of “Atithi devo Bhava – Our Guest is God”, and it’s another thing delivering it in every sense of the word. The Leela did just that! Hospitality and culture so seamless that in many ways it felt surreal!The Leela culture is noticeable in every employee. You can see the deep rooted Indian tradition, the entire team that works seamlessly to deliver the promise. Enter the lobby and look around, magically a genie appears; helpful, polite yet completely unobtrusive. It’s a beautiful hotel but more importantly run by outstanding folk!That was pretty much the ‘experience’ through the evening enjoyed in excellent company – GM Leela Roger Wright, Head – PR & Marketing Communications Vinay Narang, F & B Manager Shisheer Manohar and Exceutive Chef Emmanuel Guemonl from France.
It was a pleasure to share the table with Roger Wright. His stories that ranged from Fiji, Down Under {a New Zealander}, his family, his commitment to staff training and motivation … and of course his tempting invite for a dosa Sunday brunch the next day {We sadly declined as ‘the table’ was off to Rose Cafe the next afternoon. That turned out to be another story altogether}
The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon was presented the Best 5-Star Deluxe Hotel (India) award, March 2011 & 2012. Zanotta was Times Food Award’s pick for Best Italian in the Region in both 2010 and 2011. If they hadn’t picked it for its outstanding Italian cooking it would have won awards for architecture and ambiance. The open display kitchen and private dining rooms are surrounded by the see-through wine cellar of breathtaking proportions.
Zanotta did not disappoint. From the welcome drinks served in the retro lounge that adjoins the restaurant on the 6th floor, to the company, the evening was delightful.What a memorable meal. We found ourselves reaching out for the bread basket time and again. I opted for the vegetarian selection and absolutely LOVED it! The soft mozzarella and arugula salad with tomato, orange and basil pesto had everything right. The Minestrone alla Zanotta with pumpkin and rice was amazing too. I am not ‘soup person’, but was transformed rapidly into one! The next course was common for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Home made ravioli stuffed with wild mushrooms floating in a silky smooth tomato sauce. A sprinkling of freshly ground pepper and you could sense how nicely the flavours married! Perfect again. Then came the show stopper, something Roger introduced to Leela from Down Under – a sorbet but not just any sorbet! It was dramatic sorbet served in a snow globe of sorts, sitting on a bed of ice. You could hear a loud collective gasp when the very delicious sorbet appeared. A work of art!Crespelle with spinach & ricotta {♥♥♥} followed. These were ‘Florentine style’ pancakes stuffed with ricotta and spinach, served with tomato and parmesan. Amazing, cheesy and to die for! The portion sizes were just right and fresh produce brought out the best flavours in each dish!Excellent wines were paired with each course. They included Chardonay from New Zealand and another from France, Allegrini from Italy, and a Cabernet Shiraz from Australia. Time for dessert and once again a winner! Bitter chocolate semifreddo with candied orange peel. Really nice!! {I had to finally abandon the camera because the light was really low!}The NCR has some beautiful luxury properties, and The Leela is one of the finest examples. The group takes pride in it’s people, the ‘bedrock of the organisation‘. Warmth, positivity, camaraderie; the ease of relationships up and down the hierarchy is so visible and so comfortable.
Couldn’t have asked for anything better! Thank you Roger Wright and your wonderful team!
The other bloggers at The Leela that night were
Sid @ Chef at Large
Rekha @ My Tasty Curry
Himnashu @ White Ramekins
Charis @ Culinary Storm
Parul @ Shirazine
Sangeeta Khanna @ Banaras Khana
Ruchira @ Cookaroo
Antara @ Antypasti
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Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India
10 Comments
Charis
Beautifully written Deeba! What a fun night! Wish I was sitting closer to you though- hardly spoke to you at all through dinner.
sangeeta khanna
Lovely post it makes 🙂
Beautiful place and nice people chatting like we have known each other for ever.
shooting star
it makes me sad..to have not come here and gone to rose cafe instead!!!
Deeba @ PAB
LOL, don’t be sad. We were at Rose together. Be sad that you left early!!! Missed you at Leela. You would have LOVED it!
Sally - My Custard Pie
It’s always challenging to take good pics in that sort of lighting – you’ve done it beautifully.
gloria
Dear Deeba all look beautiful and as always I enjoyed your pics so much dear:))
Meatloaf Recipes
It’s make me so hungry! I can’t wait to eat this 🙂
Ruchira
How lovely. How fun. How just perfect