The Californian Retreat: Food Festival by Shivaji House

The Californian Retreat Food Festival conducted by Shivaji house OVERALL HEAD: Mr. AYUSH MELWANI & Ms. SEEMA MIRZA OVERALL UNDERSTUDY: Mr. VEDANT ARYAN Introduction about the theme of food festival: Menu inspired by popular food culture in the state of California, USA Canape Tacos from the Mexico, Fish n Chips from San Francisco and German influence on Roast Chicken with a Bavarian Touch. Popular food in CA. Keeping in mind the theme for the fest, the decor was minimalistic, infused with the colors of black, white and red, with the students involved also dressed in formals in an effort to give customers a complete fine dining experience. Diners could get glimpses of Hollywood from the paintings as well as the live music performed by the music club. The fest’s menu was carefully chosen, prepared and served so as to put forth popular food items from California. The five-course meal for the evening began with a choice of beverage where diners could choose between Hollywood Sunset , a strawberry consommé topped with fresh pineapple juice and ginger ale, or Silver Lining, a vanilla tea milkshake with a hint of cinnamon and topped off with whipped cream, both of which are prepared at the ‘Grizzly’s Bar’ counter. Drinks were followed by a small bite called Sheen’s Love Bite, an amuse-bouche taco with a relish, which in turn paved way for a deconstructed smoked tomato soup which was uniquely presented to guests in a delicate round flask. For the same value, guests could make a choice between vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers and main course based on their preference. Taking inspiration from Hollywood, the veg appetizer was named Napa’s Veggie Sliders, which is an Italian bun served alongside chips and fresh salad, while the spinach pappardelle cooked in a burnt garlic and mushroom sauce along with its accompaniments served as main course was aptly called Al Pacino’s Feast. The non-vegetarian section offered batter fried fish and onion rings, whereas the Django’s Bavarian Meal for the main course comprised of roasted chicken rubbed in three spices served with mustard gravy and herbed rice. For desert, there was Seth Rogen’s Climax – a compilation of peanut butter chocolate brownie, toasted marshmallows and caramelized popcorns topped with a sinful fudge sauce.