Hotel festival offers flavors of India

The dinner buffet offers such delicacies as butter chicken, aloo jeera potatoes and freshly made naan flatbread. [Photo by Matt Prichard/China Daily]

The idea to hold an Indian food event at the Jianguo Hotel Cafe in Beijing's Central Business District was born after travelers kept asking hotel staff where to find some good Indian food in the area.

The staff recommended The Taj Pavilion, located at the nearby China Overseas Pavilion. It is one of three outlets of the restaurant group, which has been serving the subcontinent's delicacies in Beijing since 1998.

Jasmeet Singh, deputy general manager of The Taj Pavilion, says he got to know the staff, and as they talked, they decided to bring the restaurant's food to the hotel for 10 days in April.

Opening night on Friday was crowded, with officials from India's embassy in attendance, as well as musicians and dancers, Singh says. We visited a little on the late side on the next night, and while things were more sedate, it still was a stimulating experience for the eyes and palate.

There is a reasonably complete a la carte menu for lunch and dinner through Sunday. But we chose the buffet, available only at dinner, which features a variety of Indian dishes, an array of Western items, beverages and a delectable fruit and dessert display with yummy pastries and a chocolate fountain for 188 yuan ($29) plus a 15 percent service fee. Indian teas also are available.