Food Event/ Brunch at Claridges, Surajkund

"A Sunday well slept and well fed is a Sunday well spent."
Whether it's a special occasion, an opportunity to catch up with friends, or a pleasant start to a lazy weekend day, Sunday Brunch is a meal for relaxation and good company.

Two weeks back, when I received a call from Sid Khullar of "Chef at Large" to ask if I was free to attend the afternoon brunch at the Claridges, Surajkund on the 2nd of December, I was besides myself with excitement. Been avidly following the events of "The Bloggers Table" I was insanely jealous when I read these guys had the privilege of having breakfast with Gary and George, the judges of  "Masterchef Australia", a popular culinary show, which not only me, but my entire family religiously follows. And now that I was getting a golden opportunity to be a part of their wonderful team, no way was I going to miss it. As a newly inducted member of  "The Bloggers Table", it would be my first time at such an event where I was required  to dine and review an restaurant, so both excitement and anxiousness were apparent.

The Claridges, located at Surajkund, where the world famous Surajkund Handicrafts Mela takes place every year in February, is a newly built 5 star hotel, just 40 km from the Delhi airport. Its tranquil ambiance, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with its plush green open surroundings provides you with an idyllic setting for a calm and relaxed weekend. 
On reaching the Claridges dining restaurant, Oasis, as per the scheduled 12:30 time, I met Sid Khullar and a beaming smiling face besides him, who was introduced as Chef Gurjyoti Sethi.  

Chef Gurjyoti Sethi  carving a slice of ham.

Looking around the plush restaurant, in spite of having an elegant and stylish decor, it reflected warm and comfortable settings. Its big floor to ceiling windows provided you with an amazing view of the beautifully landscaped inner courtyard, which also had provision for dining outside,  where there were already quite a few diners having their meal. Just imagine yourself, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, enjoying a scrumptious brunch while soaking in the warmth of the winter sun!!  What could be more heavenly than this?

Once I had taken in the lovely ambiance, my attention turned towards the lavish buffet that was set up inside - a delectable food spread with an equally spectacular presentation. Totally confused, as there was so much to choose from, I just couldn't decide which side to start my  journey from. The menu offered a wide selection of soups, appetizers, main course in three cuisines - Indian, Italian and Chinese and  wide array of desserts  They even had a separate menu  for kids where they served Mini burgers, potato wedges, chicken nuggets and smileys. It was totally a food lovers paradise !!
What attracted me most was the live station for making salads where they had a lavish choice of ingredients. They had fresh ingredients like celery, iceberg lettuce, mozzarella cheese balls, assorted vegetables and meats (like baby octopus, shrimps, grilled chicken to name a delectable few), kalamata olives with a various sort of dressings to put in your salad.

For a salad lover like me this was no less than a feast. 
They also had buffet salads served in individual platters which were perfect portion sizes. Plenty of options available both for the non-vegetarians as well as the vegetarians. Amongst all, the dishes that grabbed my attention were  "Roasted corn and pepper salad with beef tenderloin",  "lime marinated chicken salad", "Garlic flavored courgette and mushroom with fresh mint", and a "Pesto marinated pasta salad".

The brunch also featured a variety of breads to go with your appetizers and salad.

                           

The Sushi platter was another one of my favorites. They were artistically done up, presented so beautifully that you did not feel like eating them.

For the main course, looking at the wide selection I had in front of me, I decided to first head  for my favorite - continental food. I chose to try the Herb Crusted Tenderloin and the Salmon cake with Saffron Puree - both were exquisite. They were delicately flavored and cooked to perfection. 

Herb crusted tenderloin

Stuffed to the brim, I decided to give the  Indian and  Chinese section a miss (though some of my other friends were gushing about the Lal Maas on the Indian menu) and headed straight for the desserts. 

The dessert were plentiful and looked interesting, so I decided to try a little bit of each. There was a selection of chilled Raspberry Cheese Cake, Creme Caramel, White Wine Jelly with Strawberry Cream, Fresh Fruit  Gateau, Chocolate Mousse, Brownies and a few Indian sweets. They tasted as good as they looked.
 Also on showcase was a chocolate fountain, which would be a surefire attraction for kids. Another thing that impressed me was they had a sugar-free "Vanilla and Prune Panacotta" on the menu. Both my in-laws being diabetic, I know how difficult it is to find a sugar free dessert on  a regular menu.

We summed up our gastronomic adventure with a lovely cup of coffee and some oatmeal cookies, which being my first time with the group, I had baked (recipe to follow soon) for my friends. 

 I had a wonderful time, meeting and connecting with the other bloggers.

Overall, it was an Sunday afternoon well spent. Stomachs filled, hearts full, we all left on a happy note !!

Also with me were my fellow  bloggers Parul, Sid, Antara and Charis.