Look out for organic delicacies at Punjab Grill

Nutritious platter

The name of the restaurant stands for itself. When it comes to heart-throbbing north Indian cuisine, Punjab Grill has been serving foodies with one of the best Paneer tikkas, butter chickens and tandoori rotis for years now.

However, to be a little different, and to add that regular tinge of innovation, the restaurant has launched an organic food menu at its outlet in Select Citywalk, Saket.

The brainchild of Rohit Aggarwal, director, Little Food Bites, organic menu majorly includes dishes from the regular menu, but made with seasonal and locally sourced fresh produce.

“People who eat out increasingly want healthier and more nutritious food. The food at our chain has always been satisfying but by adding a special organic menu, the patrons will get an option to have a more balanced and nutritious meal,” says Aggarwal.

But, does organic food taste different? “There’s no way of recognising that the food is organic. While we ensure that the minutest ingredient like a spice is also organic,” says Pradeep Khullar, brand chef.

“It is only with the trust that we have built with our customers that we serve them our organic food,” he adds.

With Punjab Grill endorsing the farm-to-table movement by bringing in the organic menu, it presents a win-win situation for all stakeholders as it benefits the consumers and farm communities who practice organic food-production. It comes in more or less concurrently with recent changes in attitude about food safety,freshness, seasonality and small-farm economics.

Available for lunch and dinner, the dishes served under the menu include Chargrilled Afghani Chicken in the main course; the starters include Bhatti Da MurghTikka and Pineapple Slaw.

The other stars of this menu include Dal Panjratani; Mixed Sprout Chaat, Bajra Puffs, and refreshing drinks such as Beet and Carrot Mojito in ginger, mint and lime flavours. The dessert delicacies include Apple Panjiri Crumble and Jaggery Fennel Caramel. Regarded as a healthier alternative to conventional, organic food — as per Metrolife — will give a slight sour taste, which can often go unnoticed.
 In a restaurant serving authentic north Indian/Punjabi cuisine, will people opt for organic food in place of the regular one?

“Our Select Citywalk Saket outlet has a very niche clientele and over the years, we always have people calling us before they leave their house, about whatever speciality they wish to have that day. And we do have people informing us beforehand that they want to have organic Biryani (which takes a lot of time to be prepared),” says Khullar.

He continues, “we have a special market organised right opposite the restaurant by the mall every Sunday, selling organic vegetables.” So the procedure of suppliers is reduced and hence preparing entirely organic food becomes easy.

Above all, the restaurant plays a risky bet by pricing the dishes at Rs. 799 for a vegetarian meal and Rs. 899 for a non-vegetarian meal per person (exclusive of taxes).

Given the whims and fancies of organic food, the attempt seems to be a welcome twist to glamourise regular food and give guests a different experience. And if successful, do they plan to make their regular menu organic too?

“Given the commercial liabilities, it doesn’t make sense to do this at this point of time. But since it’s a great initiative, maybe we consider making everything organic after six months or a year,” Khullar tells Metrolife.