MUSCAT — Indian Embassy, in association with Crowne Plaza Hotel, will hold an Indian Celebration Week, which will go on from October 6 to 13.

This was announced at a press conference held at the Indian embassy yesterday.

As part of this celebration India’s rich and diverse cuisine will be brought to the tables of the popular Tropicana restaurant, located at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Muscat.

Speaking on the occasion Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa said: “We are pleased to be associated with Crowne Plaza in this venture. The Indian festival will offer an exciting blend of dishes and flavours from all over India. Guest-starring two of India’s finest chefs, Amit Gothwal and Nand Kishore, diners will be treated to a fusion of Indian tastes inspired by Muglai, Frontier and Awadhi cuisine. We have the support of the Indian Tourism Development Corporation and Ministry of Tourism, India”.

“Diners will experience a unique week of India at its finest, at the restaurant’s Indian Festival,” said David Todd, general manager, Crowne Plaza.

The week-long festival will kick off with a VIP reception attended by the Indian Ambassador to Oman on October 6 and will be open to the public from October 7. Supported by the Indian Embassy, Muscat, the Indian Ministry of Tourism, and A&E Muscat, each evening will feature live cooking stations offering a wide range of tandoori kebabs, traditional Indian bread and an extensive chaat counter, not to mention a selection of delicious desserts and drinks.

“We all know about the colourful culture of India, whether we have seen the country at first hand, or have simply read about its rich and varied history. The Indian festival plans to bring the overall India experience to diners in the Sultanate, with stunning food and beautiful music. We are honoured to have two of the finest Indian chefs visiting us for the week, to give you an authentic taste of Indian cuisine at its very best. This is the beginning of several festivals we will be having,” explained Todd.

All preparation and cooking of food will be led by guest chefs Gothwal and Kishore, utilising their extensive experience as renowned chefs in their homeland of India. Having been instrumental in the launch of top restaurants, as well as catering for banquets at the Indian Prime Minister’s residence, Gothwal is currently head chef at Hotel Ashok in New Delhi, while Kishore brings with him almost 30 years of experience, including a stint working in Moscow and as caterer to VVIP heads of state at Vigyan Bhawan. Responsible for popularising Indian kebabs and curries at the Indian Food Festival in Tashkent, Kishore is considered an expert in his field in New Delhi.

Adding to the overall authentic Indian ambience, guests will also be treated to the sounds of classical India with entertainment from ghazal singers, complemented by the instrumental fusion of tabla, guitar and flute.

Chef Gireesh Nair, from Crowne Plaza Muscat, added, “Amit Gothwal and Nand Kishore are celebrity chefs in their own right, both promising to give our diners the ultimate Indian experience. Such is the expected popularity of the Festival that we plan to hold a weekly Indian theme night at Tropicana every Tuesday onwards.”

The Indian Festival takes place at the Tropicana restaurant from 6th – 13th October. From 1930hrs every evening, guests can enjoy dinner for RO15 (incl. tax and service charge), and reservations are highly recommended. The weekly Indian Night, starting from 14th October, will be every Tuesday for RO13++ (dinner only). Reservations can be made by contacting the Crowne Plaza on 24 660 660 ext 4511.