Navratri Food Festival at Zeera, Conrad

Zeera is the Indian restaurant at Conrad, Pune and serves both Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian food. But with the Navratri days of fasting and celebrations kicking off this weekend, Zeera has decided to go vegetarian for the 9 days during its Navratri Food Festival.

Zeera and Chef Mandar have an exciting new menu for those who feel limited by the food options during Navratri. During the Navratri Food Festival, the restaurant is offering a fixed menu from fizzy mocktails to mouthwatering Indian desserts to give you a grand, festive dinner. With preparations from Maharashtra, Gujarat and flavors from the East, you will enjoy the variations in taste. Visitors also have a choice of no onion, no garlic dishes and can get on with celebrating the festivities at one of the best restaurants in Pune.

So what is the Navratri Food Festival at Zeera, Conrad offering?

There’s a lot and believe me you will be high on the food by the time you finish your meals. You get a choice of five mocktails: there’s a tangy Tamarind drink, you can test the Southern flavors in a curry flavored drink.

But what we liked the most was the Gulkand Mojito with its subtle rose flavor and fizzy feel.

With six appetizers – most of these are not on the regular menu – you get a mix of paneer and veggies. The Shaami  kebab is heavy on onion, but is very close to what you non-vegetarians must be used to. There is sweet potato chaat and yellow chilli paneer tikka if you want to stay safe.

But the most exciting appetizer that you have to try is the Jimikand Ke Gullar which is a slow cooked yam patty stuffed with sweet pickle.

And if you do not like spicy food, then you have the Malai Tandoori Aaloo which stuffs a gooey paneer and cream mixture in a tandoor crisp potatoes.

As with appetizers, the main course too is a vegetarian feast. With a mix of traditional veggies and a touch of new, each preparations has a unique taste that you will not want to miss. Whew! there’s so much to try, isn’t there?

Gujratis love Gavaar or cluster beans. So here you have the traditional Cluster Beans tossed with roughly chopped peanuts and tomatoes. Although this might seem like the regular fare, the taste of peanuts to the whole subzi is something you will want to experience.

There’s Pinidi Chole with remarkable Punjabi taste and also Punjabi Wadi to try something new, not found on the restaurant menus in Pune, usually.

What is a celebration without some good desserts? Loosen your belts and get ready for the Fruit Rabdi and Anjeer Phirni. With huge portion sizes, you will have to make an effort to reach here with some space to finish off this filling dessert.

With flowers, Diyas and servers in traditional attire, extend your Dandiya/Garbha experience and get ready to gorge on these awesome dishes after you sweat it out dancing into the night. There’s a lot to look forward to.