Smoke House Deli, Kolkata, has come up with a summer cooler afternoon platter to beat the heat and humidity and enjoy a rather simple yet soothing summer-themed food. So, they have put a little twist on the traditional English Tea platter, replacing the hot tea with cold, icy drinks, and an array of tempting treats which are bound to relax you and enjoy the lazy Kolkata afternoons with a few friends.
I loved the way the platter looked: going by the high-tea tradition, the dishes are stacked into neat rows of temptation. The lower rack consists of two sandwiches (pick from the selections provided) , slaw and fries, while on top, you get scones with marmalade and cream, thin breadsticks and lavash bread served with dips, and a glass of iced tea/coffee or cucumber basil lavender mojito. The platter is great for one, but can be shared as well.
The sandwich fillings include curried egg and mayo, citrus marinated chicken, Greek salad, as well as zucchini and ricotta, and I have to admit, the Greek Salad sandwich, with the generous helping of Feta cheese and olives in it, would be perfect for anyone who loves salty feta and crunchy cucumbers. The other favourite for me turned out to be, surprisingly, the lightly creamy zucchini and ricotta, the ricotta lending some creamy sweetness to the zucchini which had been cooked lightly.
Slathering some sweetened cream and marmalade on the split scones seemed to be the way to go, and I liked the fact that they were light and flaky, nicely pairing with the not overly sweet iced tea (my iced coffee came in a huge cup as requested by me, and yes, it was exactly how I wanted – extra strong). They also had a mojito option which sounded great, but I was too busy with my coffee to think of it.
I was quite surprised to see the lavash and breadsticks served – but, as it turned out, the pink curried dip became my favourite, and I surreptitiously balanced as much as I could of it on one end of a breadstick, and took vicarious pleasure in crunching on the crisp batons which shattered gleefully. This would be the perfect snack for me to return to with friends, and while away the lazy, late afternoon hours, lingering long after our food is over and we switch to a drink or a few. The Smoke House Summer – Four by Seven is on from 1st June, and it will continue till the end of monsoon, between 4 and 7 pm on weekdays. It is priced very reasonably at INR 295/-, all inclusive.
Disclaimer: Poorna Banerjee was invited to a preview of the platter by the management.
