Shikaar menu at Line of No Control

Tiger-spotting time ends in March. The shooting season did too, in the days of the Raj and the rajahs.

Holidaying in a forest cottage has me musing about those hunting trips of a century ago. From which your mustachioed, sola topi-ed grandfather returned with a full bag of game — and tall tales from the fireside. Now it’s your man who’s hungry for the kill.

This is what I told him. These days, jungli expeditions call for passes and permits. The game’s up, and no longer afoot. But it is in the bag — at Line of No Control, Hotel Qutab. And I’ve found it on the only shikaar menu in town.

No stalking through field and forest. Just my bench in the sun, with the wind ripping across the Ridge. Oh alright, there’s cushy indoor seats at this popular Frontier/tandoori joint too — under coloured-glass lanterns, beside old-world alcoves framing antique-d utensils.

Young quails, plump turkey, tender rabbits. Spit-roasted to a turn. Deboned, rolled and stuffed. Rubbed with spices no khansama could find in the woods. Slid into tandoor. Making for a royal repast.

I chose rich, sweet breads — baqarkhani, sheermal — to bank the fire of that masala marinade. You can hunt down gently stewed quarry camouflaged among the regular dishes instead. Hint: Keep your eyes peeled for ‘bater’ (quail to the angrez).

That should keep stout hearts (and adventure-hungry stomachs) purring as happily as any big cat!

Line of No Control, Qutab Hotel, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi; ph: 41688963 Shikaar items: Rs 775 onwards; available February-March.