Nouvelle cuisine at Basil Ikon

It’s Thursday and I have a problem. One of my talents lies in combining people and places for truly memorable evenings that celebrate friends, food and fun. But it’s going to be hard beating my super-successful party last Saturday.

Let me tell you about it. The guest list included a corporate hot-shot, an incendiary journalist, a well-known doc, a serial entrepreneur and an investment banker. People, you’d think, who had nothing in common. But then, my winning card was Portabella, the new nouvelle cuisine restaurant at the Basil Ikon three-star hotel, where I hosted them. After all, who doesn’t like good food?

Certainly not my eclectic friends. As rising stars in their firmaments, they’re all aware of what they eat and the philosophy of Portabella hit the sweet spot instantly: Natural flavours, shorter cooking times, fresh ingredients, light seasonings et al.

The vegetarians in the group flipped over the Spaghetti in Sauce l’orange (spaghetti tossed in a tangy orange sauce, accompanied by the day’s vegetables). The carnivores were spoilt for choice: the Magred of Duck (duck breasts served with spring veggies and a reduction sauce) or the Poulet Confit (chicken cooked in jus, glazed with honey and baked)? Seer fish in a ginger-garlic confit or creamed chicken with pineapple jus?

The menu made for a heated debate, but the palate-pleasers ensured there was no smoke pouring out of anyone’s ears. Indeed, the intimate blue-and-white interiors induced warm conversations, the superior service encouraged congeniality and the excellent dessert choices (blueberry cheese cake? Or chocolate mousse?) ensured everyone dispersed with a sweet taste in their mouth.

How to beat that, this Saturday?

Portabella. At Hotel Basil Ikon, 1215, 100 Feet road, Indiranagar, Bangalore 560008. Tel: 4040 1313. Email: nouveau.india@gmail.com. Prices: Rs 1000 for a meal for two without alcohol.