Kiara Soul Kitchen: Head here for re-imagined, eclectic vegetarian food

If you have always thought that there’s no life without meat, this fine dining restaurant can make you unlearn your bias forever. Kiara Soul Kitchen (God’s precious gift in Hindi) breaks all myths about vegetarian fare as it serves you mood-lifting, flavourful Asian food, topped with a big helping of culinary imagination. Club this with chic, no-fuss, welcoming interiors and cheerful staff and you have a place where you can have a vegetarian meal which is not predictable or unimaginative. Some of the stars on Kiara’s menu can make the most celebrated non-vegetarian dishes burn with jealousy.

As the hors d’œuvre came dainty wasabi topped Japanese rice balls that had enough zest to prepare us for an eclectic meal that was to follow. Our first pick from the menu was the very fairytale-esque Fruity Salad in which fresh strawberries hobnobbed with luxe dates stuffed with goat cheese and honey roasted walnuts, tossed in an invigorating citrusy dressing. We also tried the Virgin Sangria which had a medley of fruits swimming in refreshing grapefruit juice.

Among the starters, we picked up the Vietnamese Rolls - farm fresh vegetables rolled in rice sheets, served with a delicious peanut dip. Delicate and fresh, and with enough colours and flavours, styled as cute little planters, they tasted as good as they looked. Among the mains, we selected Red Rice in Thai Flavour, a delicious rice dish flavoured with fragrant herbs. We loved it for its nutty taste and the perfect chewy texture.

The Gobhi Parantha with pumpkin curry made us look at gobhi and pumpkin in new light. We were served steamed rolls stuffed with cauliflower, floating in a charming curry. We wrapped the meal with the Eclectic Asian Kulfi that clubbed the flavours of pan, coffee and lemon-grass.

We also liked the fact that the kitchen doesn’t use artificial taste enhancers, and the dishes are filling but light with oil and spices used sparingly. The chef also prepares the dressings and sauces in-house, and a number of dishes on the menu are made from Kiara’s farm-plucked vegetables. Dining at Kiara is a very JK Rowling meets Mark Twain kind of experience; this is where flights of fantasy meet culinary realities, where fusion doesn’t lead to confusion, and a creative mélange of flavours weave a tale of beautiful surprises.