New menu at Rodeo

Getting a man to agree with you is next to impossible, so I was pleasantly surprised when my other half willingly signed up to accompany me to a food review. Was it my new perfume, the dress, or the killer chandelier topaz earrings? Fat chance. It was the enticing prospect of a plump, juicy steak, picked off the new menu at Rodeo, one of the capital’s oldest steakhouses.

Rodeo has been around since 1994 (yeah, it’s been a long time) and what keeps people going back to this Mexican restaurant for more is their constant revision of the menu (every six months). So even though they have a huge bank of dishes, they introduce only about 30 at any given point. The latest changes have resulted in a dazzling array of savouries and sweets — great on the eye, and the palate.

We began with Glazed Tex-Mex wings (chicken wings barbecued in a glazed sauce with a hint of honey), and Camarones Fritos (fried shrimps) with a crunchy peach sauce; the combination was refreshing. And then moved on to Camarones Itzae (shrimps marinated in balsamic vinegar, Mexican chillies and parsley sauce, and served with rice). Steak lovers like my spouse can close their eyes and order Fille De Barbacua, a Cajun- flavoured tenderloin steak barbecue in a peppery Chile Colorado sauce. This steak is a mean version of the regular one and worth every bit(e). But the highlight of the meal, surprisingly, since we are happy meat eaters, was the Grilled Cottage Cheese Tian, a paneer steak with a layer of spinach and tomato petal served with bell pepper and a cashew nut sauce. I just couldn’t get enough.

Before I forget, my feeble attempts at resisting dessert came to naught when a flambeed Coffee Brulee, a delicious twist on the standard Creme Brulee, was placed in front of my nose.

As always, I succumbed.

Rodeo, A-12 Connaught Place. Phone: 011-23713780/81; MGF Metropolitan Mall, 3rd Floor, MG Road, Gurgaon, Phone: 0124-4012198/99; Meal for two without alcohol: Rs 1,000.