In the belly of the ‘Elephant’

‘Celebration of the culinary senses’, ‘multi-sensory experiences’, ‘definitely worth a visit’, were some of the phrases swirling in my head as I thought about what I had heard about The Flying Elephant, on my way to have dinner at the restaurant in Park Hyatt. I was about to find out that what awaited me inside was much more than what mere words can possibly portray.

Decor

As I walked into the restaurant, I found that the adventurous and swanky place was filled with festive cheer. My host, like a proud father showing off his rebellious, yet compliant child, took me around the restaurant. And, when I say around the restaurant I do not mean two floors and a few rooms. The grandeur of the restaurant cannot be simplified into one slot. Covering a total of five floors and seven levels, the vast, culinary beauty lies like a true testimony to some God of ambience. This vertical, architectural marvel can seat more than 200 guests, without them rubbing shoulders in any manner.

The dramatic design comprises chocolate-coloured walls near the stairs, which get darker as we go up. If on one level, the walls are orange adorned with intricate Jaipuri cut glass designs, the other level would have a glass window overlooking the pool, enhancing the vibrancy of the restaurant. In these seven floors, the restaurant has everything ranging from the Den, which includes a selection of books you can pick up to read while sipping a glass of chardonnay (think Robert Langdon’s abode), to the Bedroom, a private area complete with 72-inch TV and cozy sofas to lounge on. With a total of five live kitchens, ranging from Indian, Turkish, Teppan, and Western to Southeast Asian styles, the restaurant churns out cuisines, which include North Indian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Southeast Asian and Western. The best part? You can order any cuisine while sitting anywhere in the restaurant, as the seating is not arranged according to the live kitchens.

As I sat down to wait for the food, I noticed the music for the first time because till then the architecture and ambience had taken my breath away. The music varied from pop to rock to jazz of the 80s and 90s, magically setting the mood for a delightful culinary experience. When asked about what I would like to eat, I decided to handover my culinary preferences to the suggestions of the chef, Grzegorz Odolak. What followed was a delectable hoopla in my mouth.

Delightful delicacies

First, I was served with the salad which had six different kinds of lettuce and a passion fruit base. Being light and not having an overdose of mayonnaise, the salad was, sorry for the cliché, a perfect start. Then came the grilled asparagus that was garnished with truffle oil. Cooked to perfection, the spring vegetable was soft and a bit crunchy at the same time. I was then presented with the most delighting cheese and cheery combination. The dish was sinful and made me want to have more and more of it, till I burst.

Even before the main course arrived, I was lulled into a comatose state and wanted to lay my head on the comfy sofa and travel to the land of delicious cheese and asparagus. For the main course, the chef had dished out sea bass and lamb satay. Yes, it does taste as piquant as it sounds. The sea bass was succulent and fluffy, with the sauce in it making the flavour not too overpowering and just right. Then, I broke into the lamb satay, which was definitely a winner. Boiled and then added to the concoction, the lamb was perfect to the T. So far, the food had pampered my taste palates to submission.

I felt I was bursting at the seams and thought I could not eat even a bite more, but every mortal knows that no meal is complete without the sweet tooth being satiated. Little did I know about the delights waiting for me in the form of dessert! A cocktail of desserts were presented to me. One bite into the chocolate brownie was enough to transport me to another world. The éclairs loaded with whipped crème and strawberries had a whole new story to tell, about how they fell right out of heaven and onto my plate.

The soft music, post dinner lull in conversation, the light-headedness after a delightful meal and the restaurant’s perfect amalgamation of old world charm and eclectic made me vow — yes, another visit is definitely on the cards. Soon!