A New Website Offers Deals On Meals

Hakkasan.

Cynical foodies on the look out for something “different” may find some of what they’re seeking in Gourmet It Up, a website that has partnered with stand-alone and five star restaurants across Mumbai to offer deals on meals and other food experiences such as masterclasses, food and wine pairing sessions and chef’s tables. The websites’s founders, Deepa and Kunal Jain, say they consult chefs and restaurant owners to draw up menus that “highlight the restaurant’s culinary strengths and signature dishes”. The partners frequently dine out and select dishes based on their experiences. They also sit through tastings before finalising the menu. “We’re working on offering more personalised experiences,” said Kunal Jain. For instance, among the 20 deals on offer currently is a “bespoke dinner” by chef Alex Sanchez of The Table, who will even offer interested customers a tour of the restaurant’s kitchen. “The menu may also feature an off-the-menu dish or be experimental in nature depending on the chef’s creativity and our price considerations,” said Jain.

From the current list of deals, you can choose from a tasting menu at Hakkasan (Rs1,800 per person excluding taxes); an unlimited dim sum dinner at Royal China (Rs1,300 per person); a masterclass at Ziya, the fine dining Indian restaurant at The Oberoi (Rs2,250 per person), in which participants will be taught how to prepare two of chef Vineet Bhatia’s signature dishes and will also be served a meal after the class; and a grappa tasting at Botticino, the Italian fine dining restaurant at The Trident, Nariman Point. The majority of deals featured on the neatly designed and easy to navigate website are valid for up to three months. A thoughtful (and much-needed) touch is the ability to browse menus, and terms and conditions, which are listed alongside each deal.

Visit Gourmetitup.com for more details. Registration is free.