Shangri-La Bengaluru embarks on a journey through the heartland of Assam with a special pop-up featuring chef Santa Sarmah. Guests can savour a feast that celebrates the essence of Assamese cuisine at b Café from May 23 to 27, 2024. The expansive menu showcases Assamese delicacies with fresh ingredients, authentic recipes, and modern cooking techniques and is available for lunch and dinner.
Having captured hearts and taste buds alike with her exquisite dish ‘Maandhaniya Masor Tenga’ on the hit television show, Santa brings her prowess to the city, offering a glimpse into the heritage of Assam. The pop-up menu unfolds over five days at b Café, offering a selection of starters, mains, chutneys, and desserts, highlighting the region’s earthy and aromatic yet sharp flavours.
The menu features an array of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Diners can begin their exploration with refreshing salads like Prakhad But Mogu Narikol Ada—a mix of sprouts, blackgram, cucumber, coconut, and flavoured with ginger—and Prakhand—a seasonal salad with fluffy rice, cucumber, and pomegranate.
Appetisers include Masoor Dal Bor, Red Lentil Fritters, Chicken with Bamboo Shoots, a fermented preparation of Mas Patot Dia, bite-sized fish wrapped in fresh banana leaves.
The main course features the comforting textures of Tupula Bhat, sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaf, or guests can opt for steaming Joha rice. Explore the depth of the cuisine in Mati Dali by enjoying black lentils and indulging in seasonal vegetables like Khak Bhaji and Papaya Khar, papaya cooked in alkaline water. Non-vegetarian options include Hah Kumura, succulent pieces of duck with ash gourd; Masor Tenga, fish in sour curry; and Khahi Mankho Bhoja, crispy fried mutton.
Complementing the dishes are a selection of chutneys like Roasted Tomato Chutney and Kordoi Tok, a tangy and sweet star fruit chutney. Ending the meal on a sweet note are traditional Assamese desserts like Ghol, a raw rice flour pudding with banana, milk, honey, and ghee, and Til Pitha, a sticky rice cake stuffed with sesame and jaggery.
