as the weekend slips through, commencing a new week with a lazy sunday morning, you might happen to skip breakfast. to chase down those mid morning hunger pangs, a perfect sunday brunch is what will set the right mood for the day. so if you have no plans for your sunday afternoons head to under the jamun tree at jehan numa retreat for an elaborate sunday brunch.
with a refreshing view over lush green lawns, jehan numa retreat is the place to start the perfect sunday with a delectable and exquisite brunch. guests have a plethora of choices, including live grills, unlimited drinks and a lavish buffet spread.
sunday brunches at jehan numa retreat is a destination in itself. bathed in the winter sun, under the jamun tree's alfresco dinning is bhopal’s best destination for a pleasant and relaxing sunday afternoon while sipping your favourite drink with not a worry in the world and nowhere to rush to.
as soon as i entered the restaurant i was welcomed with drinks and street food live station standing right at the entrance. typical indian chat theela serving mind boggling chats such as dahi puri, pani puri shots, chole tikki, papdi chat etc. while the other live stations had international cuisine such as burritos and omelette with romesko sauce.
salads: the salads and cold cuts are my favourite way to start on a buffet and jehan numa retreat does not disappoint in both. i started with cesar salad, a salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, and black pepper. some other salads worth trying are spring pea, pepper & goat cheese and sprouts salad.
drinks: what is a brunch without some good drinks? often the onset of making a brunch a success lies equally on the shoulders of the bartender as it does on the chef.
the bar tender presented its signature drink named retreat lime cooler and blue lagoon. the retreat lime cooler was made with cranberry juice fresh lime and soda. the real essence was the mix of flavours that came out really well. blue lagoon, was made with blue syrup, crushed ice and limca. if you wish to consume alcohol, you can try the varieties of mojitos, martini's or can go in for single malts or beer.
the mediterranean spread included some really good pita bread and all of the classic dips of tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, hummus.
starters: my favourite part of the brunch is starters. a few things you can look forward to are:
green peas veloute shots, cheese olive pineapple stick, acchari paneer tikka & tandoori sabzi:
the kebabs are cooked using high temperatures in the tandoor which is a traditional clay pot heated with coal fire. the flavours which emerge are a delicious combination of smoky yet subtle while the textures are rich, soft and succulent. good on taste and made to perfection.
main course:
palak paneer ke kofte: fried spinach dumpling balls cooked in thick tomato gravy. cottage cheese balls surrounded by spinach roundels gives a very eye pleasing look to a dish. a must try for vegetarians.
rajasthani gatta curry: rajasthan cooking in general has its own unique flavour where the simplest and the most basic of ingredients go into the preparation of delicious dishes. the bold spices & flavours are enough to take you back to rajasthan.
alloo gobi adraki: a ginger flavoured vegetable recipe, alloo gobi adraki has the just right flavour of ginger embedded in the cauliflowers and potatoes.
baigan methi: sometimes it is magical how even simple ingredients can be transformed into splendid delicacies by using the right combinations and methods. in the baingan methi ki subzi, the humble brinjal combines with methi and indian spices makes it a scrumptious dry subzi.
dal panchrattan: a delightful combination of five dals, simmered with aromatic spices. the dal panchrattan gets the right amount of tanginess from curd and tomatoes, which complements the spiciness very well.
masala pulav: the rice was cooked on low flame and therefore the aroma & strong flavours along with spices did the magic.
dessert:
no better way to end the feast with exquisite and alluring desserts, which were handcrafted to perfection.
mini cup cakes: these cute looking chocolate & vanilla cupcakes had butter cream frosting and were served in earthenware bowls .
coffee mousse: served in a cutting chai glass!! chocolate mousse is for those who like the sweet and indulgent smell of cocoa, while this mousse is for those who love the rich, invigorating aroma of coffee. this was one dreamy dessert. the rich aromatic flavours of coffee is an absolute hit for the taste buds.
tough i was a little disheartened with the variety of bakery items. but, chef mentioned that with time they're going to include many more desserts.
paan & gulkand phirni: this dessert is a twist to the traditional phirni. it is gulkand flavoured infused with pan patta's (betel leaf) fresh smell. wonderful light dessert that won't let you feel bloated!
some other desserts worth trying are: malpua with rabri and moongdal halwa.
few things i would like to see at this brunch: more variety of cuisines. :)
happy hogging!
pricing: the brunch is priced at inr - 1,099 (non alcoholic) & inr - 1,399 (alcoholic) . (unlimited food & beverages)
timings: 1 pm to 5 pm every sunday.