Known to surprise guests with their Indian and Continental grill delicacies, Smoke On Water by Vivanta by Taj Surya, Coimbatore is hosting their debut sea food festival. This restaurant is known to serve dishes and desserts that are grilled, smoked or roasted.

“The monsoon period is over. The water bodies are safe for fishing. The catch that is available in the sea is fresh. We would like to take advantage of the best quality raw material that is available.” says H.N. Vijayan, Executive Chef, Vivanta by Taj Surya, Coimbatore. This makes it the perfect time to host a sea food festival. This one is rightly called Aqua Grills (fresh catch of seafood BBQ grills).

The food festival is on from 11 to 20 September and sea food delicacies will be available for dinner only. The menu is a la carte and it includes a wide choice of soups, salads, main sea food grills and desserts comprising both Indian and international options. This food festival will not disappoint the vegetarians as a few vegetarian choices are included and are individually priced.

The types of sea foods offered are Lobster, Tiger prawn, Shrimp, Crab, Clams, Pomfret, Squid, Salmon, Sea bass, King fish, Lady fish, Red Snapper, Mackerel, Tuna and Anchovy. Chef Vijayan recommends that we try their Prawn bisque Prawn soup and Fire-roasted Crab Shooters salad.

For the main course we gave their Chimichuri pan-fried pomfret a try. This one is made from ingredients like fresh coriander leaves, parsley, green chilli, oregano, garlic, olive oil, white vinegar, salt and pepper. We were also served the Lucknowi dum seafood biryani. This one the chef tells us is prepared the traditional way. It was served straight from the kitchen and it tasted good all by itself. Other dishes that are a must try are sizzling Lobster that is served with caper beurre blanc, citrus and parmesan crusted salmon and their basil pesto that is made from fresh basil leaves, parsley, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil and parmesan cheese. For the Indian cuisine lovers there is Tulsi Mahi tikka, Peshawari Jhinga, Tandoori pomfret and Hariyali snapper.

“Marinated Lobsters, jumbo prawns, whole pomfret fish, King fish darnes, whole red snapper fish are generally grilled over lava stone grills under the direct flame whereas small bony fishes like sardines, anchovy, mackerels are grilled over hot blue metal stone.” Chef Vijayan says.

Smoke On Water is the open air roof top restaurant located on the second floor of Vivanta by Taj Surya, Coimbatore. This place offers a breath taking view of Coimbatore city.

Aqua grills sea food festival is on from 11 to 20 September and dinner will be served between 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm.