At Loya, dining is not just dining, it’s unwrapping poetry. The Taj’s monumental heritage is the setting, yes, but Loya breathes stories from a bygone era straight into your senses. A cocktail of aromas, frankincense mingling with turmeric’s earthiness, brushes against you, teasing curiosity. It’s as if the air itself whispers secrets from spice-trodden caravan trails.
A ROMANCE WITH FLAVOUR
Seated beneath chandeliers that look like jewels stolen from an emperor’s treasury, you’re never merely a spectator; you’re a character in its narrative. Your first encounter arrives in a cool shot of jal jeera, reverberating with notes of cumin and lemon, refreshing as a monsoon kiss. Then there’s the cutlery, raw and grounded, forged by Moradabad artisans, reminding you that even the tiniest detail demands reverence. The entire experience feels like a courtship of flavours and stories as servers decode age old techniques like dhungar and sigdi with the zeal of history professors. It’s surprising how simple gestures hold such profound romance. If a glance exchanged over drinks feels like serendipity, imagine the significance when those drinks draw their soul from the five rivers of northern India and the philosophical elements that tie everything together. As you sip on Loya Paanch, the weight of history, harmony, and devotion settles like a lover’s promise.
WHERE FLAVOURS TELL STORIES
The ‘Gulab’ aperitif arrives quietly, like romance itself, a whisper rather than a shout, its beauty lying in the subtleties of its existence. It’s named after the Hindi word for rose, evoking poetry, blush, and the soft flutter of first love. When it finally graces the table, the cocktail is deceptively simple, vodka meeting pineapple, cardamom, a sprinkle of citrus, and oh, that fleeting veil of rose. Each sip is a slow revelation; the kind you savour, the kind Chef Wadhwa insists upon. “Let the ingredients speak for themselves,” he says with an accent that suggests precision as much as philosophy. Between bites, there’s a game on the table, a guessing contest with each flavour unfurling differently with every morsel. The Kangra Khodiya Gosht steals the spotlight, where mutton carries the richness of hand ground charred walnut ink. Yes, walnut ink, dark, smoky, achingly earthy. It pairs beautifully with fennel and dried mango, an unexpected marriage of opposites, the kind great storytelling (and great recipes) demand.
The night feels less like a dining experience and more like an unfolding narrative. By the time the Gosht Ki Pasliyan and the Bhangjeer Murgh arrive, it’s clear this is a place where flavours have a pulse, where the dishes breathe life into time honoured traditions. Loya doesn’t just serve food, it serves moments, etched deep.
FACT BOX
Where? Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai
Call: 022 6665 3278
Meal for two: Approximately Rs6500 + taxes, without alcohol
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