The City of Joys culinary and hospitality scenario has received a huge shot of adrenalin with the launch of the glittering and elegant JW Marriott. The Marriott Group has almost 6000 hotels and resorts in over a 100 countries globally and it’s made a statement entry into Eastern India with the Kolkata JW Marriott. I was privileged to be invited for the opening graced by the Honorable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the who’s who of Kolkata held in their stunning Ballroom, the largest in the city and was delighted to be a part of JWM’s first foray into our very own Kolkata.

A few days later I was invited by the Management for a preview dinner at JW Kitchen before the property threw open its doors to its guests. I had been looking forward to the evening as I have stayed in a few of their properties but that did not however prepare for my absolute surprise for the JW Kitchen is absolutely beautiful. The interiors are modern and elegant but without compromising on the feeling of warmth and hospitality. The imposing glass façade lets you enjoy the natural light during the day and is all things bright and beautiful. The modern and cosmopolitan design paired with rustic textured touches creates a harmonious balance and you find that you are immediately relaxed and comfortable. The open interactive kitchens are beautiful and it always delights the gastronome in me to be able to see the Chef’s at work in their element.

The team headed by Executive Chef Raheel Ahmad are passionate about their craft and want to showcase their art. They go out of their way to understand their guest’s palate and customize dishes accordingly. Chef Ahmad is one of JWM’S finest Chef’s and his dedication and passion to serve up the best of cuisine was apparent during our conversation. He loves to innovate and promises to explore local markets and produce along with serving up Malaysian, Vietnamese, Middle-Eastern cuisine as well. Chef’s Raheel brings to JWM almost two decades of global and national experience. He won the prestigious Marriott Global Chef of the Year Award in 2013. However when you speak to him he comes across as a warm , down to earth person whose passion for food burns bright and this is great news for all the epicures of the city.

JW Kitchen serves a world-class buffet featuring Indian, Continental and Asian favorites and a fabulous Dessert Studio. I sampled their Buffet which was very very good, I eat out often so I usually stick with A-la-Carte but this time I am glad I had the buffet. It was one of the best I have had in Kolkata in a while.  With four interactive hubs it has a wide variety on offer. The first hub houses South-east Asian cuisine, including freshly steamed Dimsums, and grilled and pan seared Asian skewers. The second station has Western comfort food on offer- a mix of Mediterranean, European and Italian. The third hub has a selection of Indian , it has an upscale ‘chaat’ station for all our ‘phuckha’, ‘jhaal muri’ and ‘tikiya chaat’ cravings. The indian starters and gravy dishes were also really good. The Khade Masale ka Ghosht and the Chicken Kebas were exceptional. I have a feeling that the fourth hub The Desert studio is going to create quite a stir. It will houses an Ice cream station & soft-serve machine, a first in any star property in the city. Also on offer is a Mithai shop, for the traditional Indian sweets. In addition to these 4 interactive kitchen hubs, there is a Cold station & Antipasti bar serving tapas, mezze, selection of international cheese and cold cut meat where you can toss up your own salad or prawn cocktail. I absolutely loved the Cheese and Cold Cuts that were there and if there was not so much on offer I would have happily made a meal out of them alone.  Not to forget, there is a pickle cart with an extensive variety of ‘achaars’ and ‘chutneys’ that taste as good as they look.

The all-day dining also offers its patrons a A-la-carte selection. Signature Dishes include Indian dishes such as Chingri Malai curry and Chooza Makhni ; Western ones like Classical Mamma Rosa ; wholesome salads like the Scottish Salmon with Quinoa and the perfect deserts to end the meal like Berry Classico which I got a chance to sample and it was absolutely outstanding. Also on offer are bowl meals like the Burmese Khow Suey.

A wide selection of beverages is on offer all day long – flowering tea, jasmine tea, green teas. I am told that their Masala Chai is prepared with their secret recipe and served in rustic earthenware pots. I look forward to trying that once it’s a wee bit cooler. Personally though I am more a Coffee person so the lure of their Caramel Cappuccino is calling out to me. However that evening I was in the mood for a cold beverage and so I asked them to surprise me. I was served up a glass of a delicious watermelon mocktail that was very refreshing and I loved the subtle hint of ginger in it. So perhaps you should ask them to surprise you too!

Overall I had an outstanding evening filled with lovely interactions with their wonderfully dedicated Team. The food was excellent, service was impeccable and the ambiance undoubtedly one of the finest in the City of Joy. I look forward to visiting often. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of the JW Kitchen Experience!

About JW Kitchen   

Phone : 033- 66330000

Open 24 hours.

Breakfast: 7:00 am – 10:30 am; Lunch: 12:30 – 3:00 pm; Dinner: 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm

Buffet charges: Lunch: Rs.899++; Dinner: Rs.999++ all days

 

DISCLAIMER: The Culinary Commentator was invited as a guest of the management for both the Opening and a Preview Dinner. However the views expressed are entirely their own.

Picture Credits : Suneha Saha