To spread the festive cheer while keeping everyone warm in the chilly weather, Smoke House Deli recently paired up with Paul John Whisky, for a four-course dinner paired with their exclusive whiskies. Read on to know more.
PAUL JOHN WHISKY:
Paul John is a rare breed of whisky- the homegrown single malt. Exclusively made in Goa since 1996, this finely-milled drink offers a distinct flavor that comes with being made in India. By using indigenous barley, water and yeast, the whiskies serve an Indian palate. They offer different variants to appeal to numerous tastes, and preferences in strength. The whiskies are reasonably priced, yet at par with their international competitors in taste.
SMOKE HOUSE DELI:
Stemming from the Impresario brand of restaurants, this chain of delicatessens has captured a strong foothold in the competitive Delhi food market. By consistently serving delicious food at mid-range pricing with impeccable service, it has grown in numbers and popularity. All the Smoke House Deli branches are a fail-safe option for me, and I visit them often. In fact, I’ve even been invited for ‘Members Nights’ (read more here) in the past!
The branch in Connaught Place, located next to Odeon cinema, has a large space. The walls are decorated with images of iconic stores from CP, which make the ambiance charming.
SMOKE HOUSE DELI X PAUL JOHN WHISKEY EVENT:
What better way to promote a whiskey than by hosting a whiskey paired dinner? Paul John Whiskey and Smoke House Deli invited a select bunch of people, for a four-course dinner on Boxing Day (December 26 for the uninitiated).
We were greeted with a delicious hot toddy, (whiskey mixed with honey, herbs and spices, served hot) by the affable crew at Paul John Whiskey and the team of Smoke House Deli. The attendees mingled, while sipping on their delicious cocktails. We were served the spicy and flavorful Peri Peri chicken skewers, as appetizers.
On being seated, we were served whisky snifters, to taste each of the whiskies that would be served as cocktails with every course. The talented mixologist, Vijay Prakash, led the tasting by encouraging us to glean the notes of each fine whiskey ourselves.
Starters/ First Course:
For the first course, we could choose between Crumbed Brie Bites with balsamic beetroot and mango emulsion; or Avocado, Smoked Salmon and Prawn Salad with starfruit. As my heart was set on the seafood option for the main course, I chose the cheese starter instead of the salad. I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious burst of cheesy goodness in my mouth. This was aptly paired with a cocktail named Celery Brilliance, which consisted of celery bitters, Paul John Brilliance, cherries, Drambuie, Lavender and Green Tea. You can imagine from its notes how deliciously sweet and subtle it was.
Main Course/ Second Course:
The options included Mushroom Rendition with stuffed morels, sautéed wild mushrooms and risotto; Fermented Chilli Marinated Salmon with cauliflower puree, wilted pok choi, and mashed potatoes; and Lamb Ossobuco with seasonal greens, saffron pilaf and mezzuna. I chose the delicately spiced Salmon and paired it with the fabulous Smoky Elegance cocktail which was made with Paul John Edited, spices, vanilla, mojito, mint syrup, raspberry syrup, cinnamon, Framboise, Triple Sec, creole bitters and avocado garnish.
Palate Cleanser/ Third Course:
We were served a lovely fruit sorbet with whiskey, the ideal bridge between dinner and dessert.
Dessert/ Fourth Course:
The dessert was a beautifully plated and filling Dark Chocolate Cake with a Passion Fruit Emulsion. This delectable sweet was paired with a Floral Fusion cocktail made with Paul John Bold, grapefruit, elderflower, passion fruit and orange finish. For this, the mixologist used a Prohibito vessel to infuse the whiskey with the floral ingredients, which was stored in a deep freezer for seven days. The chef also sourced the ingredients locally, and Indian elements were strewn through the meal; as they were being served with Indian whiskies.
With the team of Smoke House Deli
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY PAUL JOHN WHISKEY AND SMOKE HOUSE DELI:
People who know me are aware that I’m not much of a whiskey drinker. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the smooth taste of each whisky I tried from Paul John’s label. Some were undoubtedly stronger than others, ensuring there’s one to match everyone’s taste. My favorite was the Bold with its intensely smokey flavor. I highly recommend this brand of whiskies to all single malt lovers. You won’t be disappointed.
As I’ve said earlier, Smoke House Deli is a wonderful place to get a delicious meal at a pocket-friendly price, with family, friends or even for date night. Chef Shamsul Wahid has an impeccable flair for designing recipes and mixing flavors that are completely unique and rarely disappoint. If you still haven’t visited it yet, put it on your to-do list for 2019!
Wishing you all a wonderful and happy new year 2019! Do follow my blog, there’s lots in store this coming year 🙂
*All pictures have been taken on my phone. Copyright belongs to nooranandchawla.
**This is not a sponsored post. I was invited for the event and wanted to share my experience with everyone.