The 24-Hour Diner Has Emerged As The Star Of Experiential Dining

The quiet transformation of all-day dining from a classic coffee shop, which belonged to the 1970s, to a culinary theatre of sensory dining and how it redefined indulgence

- Madhulika Dash

Last month, the twin Westin properties in Delhi NCR — The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi and The Westin Sohna Resort and Spa — played host to ‘Marvels of Culinaire Sunday’ brunch. Curated by their multi-property executive chef Anurudh Khanna, it was an extravagant showcase by the hotel’s six culinary maestros, who exhibited their selective signature dishes from five different cuisines and their speciality restaurants, EEST and Prego, all under one roof. Each of the five master chefs was given their own kitchen hub to display their food philosophy through dishes that could easily rival the menu of any specially curated bespoke dining experience.

For those who attended, it was the best showcase of the food philosophy (and offerings) of brand Westin in India. For Chef Khanna, however, it was the next phase of what is to become of the all-day diners. It was, says the curator, “my interpretation of what all-day dining, once a glamourised version of 24/7 coffee shops”, have finally transformed into — a platform that not only showcases the evolving world of dining, but also the ever-transforming culinary philosophy of the chefs who run it. The Marvels of Culinaire Sunday Brunch redefined the all-day dining space from another F&B outlet to a destination within the hotel.”

Chef Khanna, in his brief eventful stint at the Westin Hotel, has not only managed to infuse Seasonal Tastes, the group’s all-day diner, with a lot of character through his various initiatives that include the ‘Sleep Well Menu’ targeted at corporates, and a ‘Eat Well Menu’ for kids which encourages them to relish a balanced meal, but helped ​shape attitudes towards responsible dining with Westin Fresh — a dedicated station for thoughtfully curated wellness menu. He calls the all-day diner “his culinary pitch where I score and grow”.