Perfect balance of goodness and flavour

Based on the concept of eating fresh, seasonal produce, Royal Vega at the newly opened ITC Royal Bengal offers delectable vegetarian fare that delights the senses

- SHAFQUAT ALI

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of vegetarian restaurants? Bland food, boring green blends and a teetotal drinks menus? Vegetarian restaurants have had a makeover and the plant-based haunts are now a chic hangout in their own right, offering delicious meat-free fare that’s tasty and healthy. Leading the pack is ITC Royal Bengal’s Royal Vega, a new vegetarian haunt in Kolkata that boasts an elegant decor and a menu full of foods from the royal kitchens of India. The new venture will give those who like their food green many reasons to cheer.

Regal spread

But this might be ITC’s most bold move till date. The idea of opening up a vegetarian outlet in the city of joy is bold because Kolkata is largely nonvegetarian. It is, in fact, one of the few cities where KFC completely outnumbers McDonald’s. The menu has been curated with three primary considerations – the rasa or taste of the dish, the availability of ingredients all year round, and opportunity to use seasonal produce. The vegetarian menu is the perfect blend of the familiar and the exotic. The highlight here is the ‘Sheherwali’, the royal vegetarian cuisine of Murshidabad – a town in West Bengal. Centred on the concept of eating fresh and seasonal produce, the food of the Sheherwali Jains is one of the most fascinating vegetarian cuisines of the country.