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For variety and taste

At Raaj Aroma Food Court is like going on an international gourmet trek

DELICACIES Culinary delights Photo: K. Ganesan

If you wish to breakaway from traditional food and are willing to try out different cuisines, then the newly opened Raaj Aroma Food Court is just the place for you.

Minimalist in its décor, this joint offers you an awesome hundred varieties of Indian, Chinese and Continental food.

The owners have rightly chosen the name of their restaurant. The aroma indeed wafts across as the food you order approaches your table. "We want to ensure that all our food preparations have a pleasing flavour and should click well with each of our customer," says the bubbling proprietor, G.H. Sulaiman.

Scanning the menu, you realize for every non-vegetarian dish there is an equally good vegetarian alternative. "We don't rely solely on non-vegetarian customers. Every family these days tends to have one or two vegetarian members and we can not let them down," he adds justifying the equal treatment he has given to veg and non-veg items.

With a post graduation degree in hotel management from Paris and work experience in places like Monaco, Paris, Mr. Sulaiman has a fair idea of the different cuisines offered world over. He also has worked with Hilton Group in London. "Though I have spent most part of my studies in hotel management, I also have a fair knowledge of catering. As a native of Madurai, it has been my childhood dream to establish a restaurant and introduce the local people to good food," mentions Mr.Sulaiman, not forgetting to express his gratitude to his partner A.L. Ayub Navin, for "backing me in every difficult situation."

Wide choice

The salads on offer at Aroma include Mexican, Chinese and green while there are scores of non-vegetarian and vegetarian soups to flatter your taste buds.

Given the wide choice, it takes not less than 20 minutes to go through the entire menu card! Here is a peek into the delicious platter of Indian non-vegetarian items from `tandoori murg' (half chicken marinated in special spices hung curd and fresh herbs, cooked in tandoor), `murg achari tikka' (boneless chicken pieces marinated with hung curd, masala, spices, flavoured with pickles), `haryali tangri kebab' (a chicken drum stick kebab marinated with mint).

Some vegetarian equivalents are `aloo tikki' (a baby potato marinated with chef special sauce), `veg seekh kebab' (a mixture of minced tender vegetables garnished with spices. Cooked in the tandoor), `ajwain paneer tikka' (ajwain flavoured cottage cheese marinated with a blend of spices and a touch of pure mustard oil), `tandoori khumb' (marinated stuffed mushroom cooked in tandoor and drizzled with kebab masala).

Chinese varieties

The Chinese mastery include `dragon chicken' (cubes of chicken pieces sauted with cashew nuts, sweet and spicy sauce) `crispy lamb Szechwan style (shredded lamb deep friend crisp tossed with spicy chilli sauce'. Some of the vegetarian equivalents are `Szechwan cauliflower dry' (spicy, batter fried cauliflower tossed with spring onion and Szechwan sauce), `popiya' (Malaysian mini spring roll served with sweet chilly garlic sauce).

Continental specialities have `salsa chicken nachos' (tortilla chips served with chicken melted cheese, Mexican salsa and sour cream), `fish finger' (crumb fried sheer fingers served along with fries and tartar sauce). For the veggies, there is `prime veg nachos' (tortilla chips with melted cheese served with spicy salsa and sour cream), `French fries' (golden brown western fries served with ketchup).Aroma does not offer any buffet, but entertains outdoor catering.

However, combo meals have been introduced for the lunch hour.

These are the `Indian", `Chinese" and `Continental combo' containing both non-vegetarian and vegetarian items.

Then there is a list of mouth-watering burgers, pastas and sandwiches to woo the customers. Scores of desserts and mocktails are also on offer.

"We also entertain suggestions from our customers and modify or make a new dish if the customer asks for," says a beaming Mr. Sulaiman.

It is his passion for the profession, which carries him forward gustily and he certainly wishes to create an impact in his chosen field.

Aroma is located near the Anna Bus Stand and is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. with a break between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

T. SARAVANAN

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