Dubai- This month sees popular modern Indian restaurant, The Crossing, celebrate its first anniversary. To mark the special occasion, the concept launched by hospitality group Lemon Butter, is inviting guests to join them on a journey down memory lane.
Esteemed executive chef and founder Ankur Chakraborty is going back to his roots with a nostalgic new tasting menu inspired by traditional Indian cuisine with contemporary twists. Aptly named The Chef’s Menu (Dhs250pp including soft beverages), the six courses are a journey through Ankur’s life, drawing inspiration from significant food moments in his 17-year career and flavours from his childhood.
Each dish tells its own story, highlights of the menu include Kalimpong (chicken broth & dumplings) named after the quaint little town in the Himalayan foothills of West Bengal, and inspired by Ankur’s time discovering their delicious street food. Kosha (Bengali curried kid goat, khichudi, bhaja) is reminiscent of Ankur’s childhood, one bite of this dish transports him back to being a young boy, celebrating the Durga Puja festival with his family and helping his nani cook in the kitchen.
A vegan version of the menu is also available, highlights include Phal (tender coconut cream with a passion fruit and lemon sorbet) and Phulka (thin puffed flatbread filled with chettinadu & spiced pulled jackfruit). The latter Ankur remembers eating for the first time at the beginning of his career, in an employee cafeteria in Madras (now called Chennai). After being blown away by the flavours, he spent the next few years refining his own version of the dish.
Ankur Chakraborty, Chef and Founder of The Crossing commented, “The Crossing is not your typical Indian restaurant – on our menu you will find dishes from the larger regional Indian gastronomy, and not just commercially successful recipes and tired renditions of them. We are a modern concept offering elevated Indian cuisine without the use of eye-popping plating. Our menu is a humble celebration of the Indian subcontinent’s diversity, right here in Dubai. Our dishes showcase flavours and recipes from across India and foreign influences that have historically found their way into Indian cuisine. The new tasting menu is a celebration of my food memories, including time spent travelling around India, as well as some fond Chakraborty family tales.”
Talented sommelier Benjamin Cracknell has curated a wine flight to enhance the dining experience, with six perfectly paired glasses of vino (Dhs150pp).
