Lana in India: Christmas lunch

Not fancying the idea of cooking Christmas lunch with my limited kitchen utensils, nor knowing where to find a turkey, we decided to eat out again this year. I'd heard of a restaurant, Cafe Oz, which was advertising a Christmas lunch menu. Rod and I went to check up on the menu on Tuesday because, well because it's India! It looked so promising, as we went down the Middle Lane of upmarket Khan Market. Cafe Oz had a sign on the door saying they were having a Christmas buffet, booking advisable. So we climbed the stairs and asked if we could see the Christmas Menu. Yes, they assured us, they would have a special Christmas Menu. The waiter didn't know what it would contain, but it would be special. He was sure of that. We asked if there would be turkey. I don't know Ma'am, he said, but there would be salads and fish and other things. We told him we needed to be certain there would be turkey. If there wasn't turkey we did not want to eat in his establishment. He said he'd go and check with the manager. I was hoping the manager would know whether they were going to serve turkey at Christmas or not, what with it being three days before Christmas...

The waiter came back with two A4 sheets of paper, outlining the menu. We scanned down, past delicious sounding salads, cheesy ravioli, and the traditionally festive lemon pepper sole (?), and found turkey breast and cranberry sauce. Further still, plum pudding, rum balls, tiramisu, icecream. We were happy. Can we reserve a table, says Rod. We can, the waiter tells us, and smiles. Do you want to get the reservations book?, suggests Rod. The waiter looks a little bemused. I don't think they have a reservations book. I'm so pleased "bookings advisable" was on the door...So Rod wrote on the sheet of A4 paper, confirmed table for six, Fairweather, and got the waiter to sign it. The waiter gave it back to Rod. So we had a confirmed booking for six...we knew it, but the restaurant didn't really...

So on Christmas day, armed with our sheet of paper showing we thought we had a confirmed booking, we stepped into the Middle Lane of upmarket Khan Market.

It looks even more upmarket in this picture, because you can't see the broken manhole covers... The waiter recognised us when we got there, and had to make a table of six for us. Weren't we glad we'd booked ahead! But the food was lovely, and plentiful, as was the wine. And we didn't have to cook or wash up afterwards! Result!