The inaugural fiesta on April 7, 2015 set the tone for the celebration. To the lively music of salsa and Caribbean beats recreated by the band from Columbia, guests were beckoned to live "La Vida Bonita", if only for a fortnight. We had
Chef Gerardo Vazquez Lugo from Mexico here for the second time, enticing us with his buttery, crunchy guacamole and cold prawns in hot green salsa. The genial
Chef Juan Pablo de la Torre from Peru served a mean Quinoa salad and succulent Steamed Red Snapper in bell pepper sauce.
In addition to the resident Chilean
Chef Christian Caberra of
Zanotta, the famous Italian restaurant of Leela's, we had his compatriot
Chef Alberto Mardones whose Seafood ceviche was out of the world. The excellent salmon, prawn, squids, red snapper etc., mixed with vegetables and drenched in citrusy, lip smacking, lemon juice had us going for repeats again and again. The tasty Empanadas, the astounding Crab and cheese bake were mere samples of the richness of the regional cuisine.
Chef Christian, not wanting to be left out of the festivities, cooked up his famous Raviolis - pumpkin, lamb and lobster with his signature aromatic sauce. The resident
Executive Pastry Chef Pablo Moralis delighted us with his mouth watering desserts while
Chef Ramon Salto, the towering - both in aspect and mastery- Executive Chef of the hotel, orchestrated the festivities ably.
The tipplers amongst us were not disappointed. There was the liquid gold
Mexican Tequila, the refreshing wines of
Chile and
Guatemalan Rums like the smooth and suave Zacapa to round off a fascinating meal. But what caught our fancy was the Peruvian cocktail with an oddly disconcerting name,
Pisco Sour. Made with a grape based liqueur called Pisco (named after a Peruvian port), lemon juice, sweetener, vigorously beaten egg white and finished with angostura bitters, it was truly a celebration of renaissance. The sweet and citrusy drink is very appealing to the palate but is a potent inebriate. It is so much a part of the Peruvian culture that the country celebrates a yearly public holiday in honour of the cocktail on the first Saturday of February. Do not hesitate to try a few.
The festival shall bring together various other events like Mexican tequila dinner, Peruvian cooking class and exciting, authentic Guatemalan cuisine on
16th April, 2015, showcasing their famous rums. Not to leave the wine connoisseurs behind, a signature-styled Chilean wine dinner is being prepared by the celebrity chef on
17th April 2014.
So go forth and celebrate life the Latin way with a healthy balance of life-sustaining quinoa salad, the refreshing ceviches, the smooth guacamole, the sumptuous seafood, and delicious raviolis, sipping a wine or two and downing warm tequila. Let your hair down by raising a toast or two with fascinating Pisco Sour. Make that five, for good measure.
Address: The Leela Ambience Gurgaon Hotel and Residences Ambience Island, National Highway 8, Gurgaon, Haryana 122002 | Tel: 0124 477 1234
Spring sees the celebration of renaissance everywhere. What better way than to do so with the diverse and vibrant Latin American Cuisine with a bit of culture thrown in. That is exactly what Hotel Leela, Gurgaon is attempting to repeat for the second year running. Their all-day dining restaurant, Spectra is showcasing from April 6-19, 2015, the eclectic cuisines of Peru, Mexico and Chile in addition to connoisseurs' favourites - tequila, wines and cocktails from the region.
