For Infinite Gratification

The innovative food and wine pairing menu at Infinity, the all-day dining restaurant at Double Tree by Hilton, looks like a crowd-pleaser.

The first thing that hits you when you enter Infinity is tons of natural light (obviously this is only applicable in the afternoons). Since we were really excited about the menu on this assignment, we didn't pay much attention to the décor, though we have vague recollections of "50 shades of brown" in the furnishings and blinds. The polite staff ushered us to our comfortable seats and handed us the reason behind our glee: the four-course food and wine menu. Each of the courses is from a different country, coupled with a wine from that region. While the entire point of this exercise is to sample the food and wine pairings, teetotalers can enjoy the same bill of fare sans the wine, at about half the price.

Apart from the prix fixe menu, there is also a buffet option, with mostly Italian overtones. There is a cheese board, several bottles of olive oils and dressings, and myriad shakers full of herbs. Platters in different shapes, piled with various dishes, complete the set up.

The starter is from the sun-drenched provinces of Northern Italy, comprising Fried Calamari Rings in a Parmesan and Semolina Coat, accompanied by a Soave wine by Masi Levarie, considered one of the finest examples of Italian white wine. Dry and crisp, the wine is supposed to act as a great foil to the calamari frites, as it cuts through the layers of cheese, flour and cephalopod.

The next course is Marseille's most treasured culinary treat, the famous seafood Bouillabaisse, accompanied by the formidable Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet Blanc from the celebrated Bordeaux region. At Infinity, they serve the Bouillabaisse as it's meant to be eaten. A bowl with pieces of sundry seafood is placed in front of you, following the pouring of the liquid golden broth from a receptacle into the bowl. For mains, there is Beef Medallions grilled in Jazzy Herb Butter, accompanied by D' Arenberg Football Shiraz from Australia.

... contd.

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