On the tiger trail

During the time of the British Raj, they went on trails across India to hunt the elusive tiger.  Those trips across the subcontinent formed patterns which came to be known as ‘tiger trails’.

In honour this majestic creature, a new restaurant has opened up at Royal Orchids Hotel called ‘Tiger Trails’, and it takes a diner on a gastronomical trail of India’s tastiest dishes.

The journey takes foodies from the swamplands of the Sunderbans in the East, to the deep forests of the Ranthambore in the West, and from the undulations of Dudwa in the North to the depths of Nagarhole in the South. In order to create the menu, chefs waited amidst the greenery and the frolicking animals.

They followed the tiger trails that were created by the Britishers and embarked on a journey that took them through various regions and cuisines.

There are kebabs like ‘tandoori jhinga’, which is tiger prawns marinated with spices and charred over a coal grill, mutton chops, ‘tunde kebab’, an Awadh classic primed with minced lamb patty, ‘kakori kebab’, ‘Ajwaini bekti’, which is tender flakey cubes of barramundi marinated with spices and flavoured with carom seeds and ‘tarana kebab’, which is babycorn, broccoli, cottage cheese and a trio of bell pepper marinated with yoghurt and spices.

There are ‘shorbhas’ like ‘murgh yakhani shorba’, which is rich chicken broth, flavoured with cardamom and spices and salads like ‘kachumber’, which is a combination of freshly shredded vegetables, tossed with lemon coriander and chilli dressing.

For curries, there is a variety like ‘chaap noorani’, spiced lamb chops slowly simmered in rich cashew, cream and butter gravy or ‘mahi kofta’, which is soft fish dumplings stewed in fenugreek gravy. A tasty collection of rices, India breads and desserts are also available. With manicured greens and under the open sky, with lanterns, ‘Tiger Trails’ is located at Hotel Royal Orchid, 1, Golf Avenue, Adjoining KGA Golf Course, HAL Airport Road.