Latest news with #TusheetaKhanna
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Encanto In Gurugram Is A Delicious Mexican Escape We All Need
Stepping into EnCanto feels like leaving behind the chaos of the city and entering a warm corner of Tulum. A beautiful blend of rustic Mexican charm and contemporary Indian vibrance, this new Latin restaurant is the brainchild of Anant Bali and Tusheeta Khanna. The earthy textures, ivory walls, terracotta hues, and pops of bougainvillea add a soft, floral touch. By evening, the space takes on a moody glow with amber lighting, deep green accents, and a large bar that becomes the focal point. But the real magic happens on the plate Encanto's menu is a celebration of Mexican soul food with a modern twist. I liked almost every dish I tried. My absolute favourite was the Slow-Braised Lamb Tlacoyas - tender, juicy, and packed with flavour in every bite. Another standout was the Shrimp Quesadilla, soft and bursting with flavour. The Grilled Butter Prawns Tostada may have just been the best thing on the table - crisp, fresh, and generously loaded. The Blackened Grilled Chicken Burrito Bowl was hearty and comforting, while the Coloradita Chicken stood out for its rich, mayo-chilli sauce that added a creamy kick. Presentation is clearly important here, from the artfully plated food to the stunning cutlery and cocktail glasses with intricate floral designs. Speaking of cocktails, Encanto Picante stole the show. A fiery number with just the right amount of heat, it pairs beautifully with the bold dishes. The Morella - a gin-based cocktail with a hint of sweetness - was also a refreshing pick. If you're up for something fun and quirky, try something from the Bongo-Bongo section. These tropical cocktails come in playful, flask-style bongs with flavours like coconut, mango, and berries. While the food and drinks impressed me, the service - not so much. To be fair, it was still early days for the restaurant when I visited, so I'm hopeful this will improve with time. All in all, Encanto delivers where it matters - flavour and flair. Go for the food if you are a fan of Mexican cuisine.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Bite into the plot: How movies are stirring up the menus
Once confined to screens, cinematic storytelling has now spilled over into our plates and glasses. Across India and beyond, restaurants and cafés are embracing the trend of OTT-inspired dining — crafting immersive menus that blur the lines between food and film. Whether it's a glitter-dusted mocktail echoing Disney's Encanto (2021 )or a tasting menu that channels the spirit of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), this isn't just about themed meals — it's about eating emotions, tasting plotlines and sipping cinematic nostalgia. The phenomenon gained traction earlier this year when Netflix launched Netflix Bites at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (USA). On the menu? Squid Game-style snacks and Bridgerton-inspired brunches. It wasn't long before restaurants around the world followed suit. Viewers didn't just want to binge-watch anymore but also binge-eat their favourite shows. As Josh Simon, Vice President of Consumer Products at Netflix, puts it: 'Fans don't just want merch anymore. They want experiences.' This genre of dining goes beyond clever names. A dish isn't just tasty — it's dramatic, poetic, even bittersweet. Menus read like screenplays; a salad might serve as the emotional reset of Act Two. The goal? To evoke the narrative through taste. At EnCanto, a Gurugram café named after the 2021 Disney film, food becomes pure sensory magic. 'OTT shows are no longer something we just binge,' says director Tusheeta Khanna, adding, 'They're part of our emotional vocabulary.' Their star drink, the Casita Cooler — a shimmering mocktail of coconut water, pineapple, and passionfruit — is designed to feel like stepping inside the film's enchanted house of the same name. In Bengaluru, ParTTwo channels the essence of Endless Summer (1966), a surf documentary that celebrates eternal sunshine and travel. Chef Karan Upmanyu crafts dishes like the Wai-Wai Salad, a grown-up spin on the beloved Nepali snack. With cold shrimp, pomelo, crispy noodles, and cabbage, it captures both nostalgia and freshness. 'Summer is about joy, boldness, and friendships,' he says. 'That's what we've tried to plate.' Seasonal ingredients like mango and pumpkin get unexpected, playful treatments — culinary nods to carefree memories and sun-drenched wanderlust. Taking the idea even further, Sunset Cinema Club and The Piano Man group in Delhi teamed up to create a night where films and food come together in a full-blown sensory celebration. Arjun Sagar Gupta from The Piano Man says, 'This initiative lets us take storytelling to a new level with curated menus and drinks.' Their first pick, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, feels just right. With its vibrant Spanish setting and emotionally charged travel narrative, the film offered plenty to work with. Chef Manoj designed a Spanish-inspired tasting menu with cocktails named after the film's characters to match its mood and key scenes. 'All the dishes are linked to specific moments in the film,' explains Sahil. 'The menu features churros con patatas, bruschettas, hearty stews, and tapas-style bites, along with table snacks like truffle popcorn. Each one is designed to echo a scene or emotion from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.' At Taste Cinemas — with locations across India — the cinematic dining experience is literal. Their recent Twilight-inspired event featured a nine-course menu, from blood-red shots to edible baseballs, recreating the film's love story bite by bite.
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Mexican magic in India: Eateries offer special menus for Cinco de Mayo celebrations
If Monday blues are setting in, let Cinco de Mayo spice things up this week. This Mexican celebration has made its way to India, and restaurants are dialling up the fiesta with special menus and experiences. Cinco de Mayo, which falls on May 5, commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when a small Mexican army won against French forces. It's not Mexico's Independence Day, but it's now a worldwide celebration of Mexican culture. Head to EnCanto in Gurugram with a vibrant Mexican street-style evening where flame-grilled BBQ, spiced street snacks, and fresh fruit carts await. 'Guests can also settle in for a special screening of the film Coco (2017),' says EnCanto director Tusheeta Khanna. Meanwhile, chef Sumit Choudhary at Monkey Bar in Delhi has a special menu featuring Elote Style Street Corn, Mushroom Mexicana, Prawn al Pastor, and tequila-based drinks like Pina Picante, Tomatini and Daisy Dia 'We've embraced the diversity of Mexican chillies such as chipotle, guajillo, ancho, arbol and habanero. We're using also locally sourced ingredients as homage to fresh, handmade salsas,' he shares. Over at Someplace Else, Mumbai, golden, crispy tostadas loaded with fresh toppings, smoky chipotle chicken skewers, Indo-Mexican fusions such as Mutton Kakori Tacos, and a Tex-Mex flatbread are setting the festive tone. Wrapping it up all neatly are classic margaritas and a bold and fiery Picante. Carnival by Trèsind in Mumbai is curating a special food festival with highlights such as Pani Puri Aguachile, Marinated Tuna, Papas a la Diabla, Corn Chaat, Portobello Steak and Champaran Style Carnitas, among others. 'The inspiration comes from Mexico's rich culinary heritage, and how it combines earthy ingredients with fresh herbs and spices. We chose ingredients that are authentic but also resonate with our guests' palates,' shares chef Sarfaraz Ahmed. While at Someplace Else in Mumbai, chef Parikshit Joshi has incorporated the Indian flavours and given a twist to Mexican cuisine, maintaining the culture and heritage of Mexican food. 'We have prepared several dishes for the occasion, such as Charred Chipotle Skewers with spicy, vibrant flavours of Adobo Chillies and Sour-Cream. The Crispy Tostadas and Loaded Nachos are fan favourites, and we looked to amalgamate Indian flavours while retaining Mexican Heritage, with our Mutton Kakori Tacos, which features an Awadhi flavour-packed Seekh Kebab, served with Red cabbage slaw and Charred Red Bell Pepper Chutney on a soft-shell Taco,' he adds. Marièta in Gurugram also introduced a special cocktail menu featuring zesty Margaritas, refreshing Palomas, and fiery Picantes, which capture the bold and spirited flavours of Mexico.
