The Starry Date with BBQ at ITC Sonar Kolkata

December 16, 2015

What can be the most perfect way to celebrate this winter under the starry sky amidst the lily water bodies, soulful music and the aroma of freshly barbequed delicacies? Well, I think the ‘Barbeque under the stars’ at ITC Sonar, Eden Pavilion left my heart and soul with some everlasting memories to cherish forever. I was invited for a special preview last Saturday and fell in love with the concept.

The Starry Date with BBQ!

We arrived at about 7:30 p.m. with the cool breeze of air mixed with the smell of freshly grilled barbeques; the weather was absolutely perfect for the evening. As we were waiting for the fellow bloggers to arrive in the meantime we decided to take a walk along the pavilion to witness the eternal beauty of the venue. The hotel pays tribute to the beauty of Bengal through its landscaped fish-filled water gardens full of exotic lilies. Bathed in the moonlight under the starlit sky with the smoke covering the serene surroundings amidst the lily water bodies, the beauty of the mesmerizing ambiance was something which made us totally engrossed.

Eden Pavilion Lawn : Venue for the lovely date!

As the clock struck 8 and all the fellow bloggers arrived finally, we began our journey to the delicious land of barbeques. The guests were greeted by the neatly laid out buffet line which forms part of the Barbeque. We were accompanied by Arundhati, our wonderful hostess for the evening and the Chef who gave us a brief about the various cuisines, their specialties and how they were prepared. There were salad station, soup station, dessert station and even a curry station. With such a great variety of Indian, Iranian and Continental dishes available, we were spoiled for choice.

The Salad Station : Our first stoppage!

Next Station : Sea Food!

The Alcohol Station : Wanna take a sip?

The Kebab Station : Loved the Tangri Kebab!

Final Station for the evening : Desserts!

I decided for some chicken Sausage platter and Chicken Shawarma along with a sip of Champagne while my friend tried Sunshine Snapper fish with lime juice and cilantro. I have tasted Chicken Shawarma before, but this time it was really a different experience. I am sure there must be some magic in the hands of the chef. The chef told us that out of all the dishes, Tangri Kebab and Tandoor Pomphret are something one should must try and indeed we fell in love with both the platters. Apart from these, I also felt that the among the non-veg dishes Arbi Ghosht-ka-salan, Silver Promphet, Mutton Seekh, Prawn marinated with garlic and tahina, mutton seekh and among the Veg Subz Biryani, smashed sweet potato and makkai di roti accompanied by paneer tikka are some dishes which pampered by taste buds in true sense. The food was so well grilled and delicious!

The Enticing Buffet Spread!

Your personal BBQ Chef!

The buffet spread was enticing too, especially since I spied some of my favourite dishes on the line. Meanwhile, the BBQ Chefs were working on the some of the orders for early dinners. The aroma interspersed with the cool breeze amidst the lily ponds was absolutely delightful. Makes me feel like I was in some beach resort.

Kudos to the chefs for making such delicious dishes!

It was getting pretty chilly by then. As the night descended, the place took on an almost magical, surreal hue. For a while, I couldn’t stop to question myself "Really we are in Kolkata?"

The Mesmerizing ambiance : Really we are in Kolkata?

I remember there runs a popular adage ‘All’s well that ends well’ and as I tasted those mouth watering desserts I understood how true those lines were. Whether it’s the chocolaty cakes or the baked sandesh, nolengurer rosogolla or mango pudding, kesari rabri or lengcha, sandesh or the yummy-flavoured ice-creams served with hot chocolate, the desserts made me go crazy. Oh God! I can still feel that hot chocolaty mud pie melting in my mouth. It was indeed a chocolaty affair!

Assortment of Desserts! (Loved the Mango Pudding)

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It could be the relaxed vibe of Eden Pavilion or the unhurried Saturday laid back pace, It could be the exquisite taste of the delicacies or the warm hospitality offered by all the ITC staffs especially Arundhati, It could be the heavenly ambiance or the soulful music. I find myself enjoying the Barbeque under the stars more than expected and I wish we had lingered longer. It was a fantastic idea by ITC Sonar to reinvent itself this winter by giving opportunities to friends and family to spend some good time together ‘Under the Stars’.

Hey still thinking? Book your reservations now.We are waiting for you!

ITC Sonar, Kolkata will be hosting Barbeque under the stars at Eden Pavilion lawns from 13 th December till 12 th January 2015. There’s a lots of good food from a buffet spread salad of starters and salads to a wide variety of Barbecued mains and free flow deserts to sweeten the entire experience. Walk in every evening 7:30 pm onwards to savour culinary masterpieces from the grill including shawarma, harleem, roast leg of Lamb, kebabs, grilled seafood and vegetables, to name a few paired with a selection of wines, whiskies and cocktails.

BBQ under the Stars: -

Date : 13th Dec – 12th Jan 2015

Time : Everyday 7.30 pm onwards

Venue : Eden Pavilion lawns, Its Sonar Kolkata

Price : INR 2250 plus applicable taxes.

It does not matter whether you are a veggie or non veg, at ‘BBQ under the Stars’ we have arrangements for all. So, what are you waiting for?

Come and enjoy. Trust me, it’s a lifetime opportunity!

Signing off for now.Catch you next year. :)

I would like to express my heartfelt sincere gratitude to Arundhati Ghosh of ITC Hotels for her wonderful company throughout the event, all other ITC Staffs for the lovely hospitality, my friend Sammyabrata and last but not the least to Sam for clicking the photos.