The concept of a corporate lunch is meant to be quick and light. And being in the heart of the south Delhi business district, Parkroyal, decided to use the vast space at its night club, Float, to offer a unique buffet for power lunchers.For Rs 250 a head, the hotel has laid out a buffet with a difference. There is a long line up of vegetables from the exotic zucchinis to down-to-earth beans (I counted almost 25 different vegetables) that you can pile on to your plate, add a servings or two of a choice of meats and then queue up to get the chef stir-fry your meal in a style of your choice. There is a choice of three Thai sauces, three Chinese and three Indian sauces to get the food cooked with. The serving is then given to you with either hakka noodles, biryani or rotis. And a beer or a soft drink in throw in for free.
Float started this offer last week and since then the queues have been growing longer and longer. Last week there were a huge party of kitty women, sporting their finery and French manicured hands, lining up for the food.
And that's the problem with this buffet. So while your food may be cooked in three minutes by half a dozen chefs in the kitchen, you have to wait in line for five minutes. I took the easy way out by seeking a back door entry into kitchen using my clout with the chef. But altogether is does not take more than 10 minutes to eat the meal of your choice.
Except for my table, which had two persons, almost all tables had persons in double digits. In the week that this lunch has been running, even Tuesday has run full, I am told, as there is no shortage of vegetables for those who keep off meat on Tuesdays.
The buffet does not have a starter or a dessert (`How much can we give for such a low price? asks the PR manager) but you can get a deal on the dessert by ordering from the tent-cards placed on the table for Rs 60 a piece. The buffet is unlimited and you can eat as much as you want. The meat portions are kept in small dishes, but you are allowed to take as many helpings as you want. You can also rejoin the other end of the queue after you finish, for another helping.
There is a DJ in attendance, but no one was dancing at lunch time. It sure is a good way of putting all tat space to use and for the price, it's a good bargain.
Vidya Deshpande
Copyright © 2001 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
