One of the earliest users of mock meat in Delhi’s culinary landscape, Chi Ni at The Roseate is one of the hidden gems. This tented restaurant at one of Delhi’s most picturesque hotels spellbounds you both visually and gustatory. Built on the concept of the Michelin starred restaurant Kai at the Mayfair hotel in London, Chef Lauh Ah Ban presents an oriental menu with a western influence. The Chinese new year of Rooster holds tremendous significance in the Oriental world and the new menu does proper justice to it. Restaurant manager Neeraj Sharma also gets his chopsticks ready as we discuss the lucky charm of number 8 on the menu.
Salad
We start off with the Salmon Lohe. With 25 different ingredients, this salad is a melange of flavours, aroma and textures. In the Chinese families the tossing of this 
salad is associated with wish making. The umami flavour of the Salmon combines with the sour of lime and the extreme sweet of an orange marmalade. Some crisps gives it a crunch while the cinnamon powder imparts a heavenly aroma.
Appetizers
Neeraj sets out a menu for me. The Prawn Har Gaw retains the sweet juiciness of the prawn in a sweet and spicy sauce. The Wasabi Prawns on the other hand are fried up in a potato starch giving it a surprisingly crispy texture. The Wasabi mayo lathered on it gives out it’s pungency but in a controlled manner. The Salt and Pepper Bean Curd with a net of eggs on top virtually dissolves on your palate.
Mains
For the mains, we try out a nutty egg fried rice. Along with that, there is some Seaweed Chicken and Roasted garlic vegetables. The Chicken with it’s fiery taste is apt for Delhi’s palate. Chef Ban serves me a Chilean Sea Bass done in typical Singaporean style. The sweetness of the fat with tangy sauce gives it a perfect flavour.
Desserts
We end off with a Sweet Potato Cake and a Coconut Cake. With a base made like pounded rice, these moderately sweet desserts don’t leave you feeling heavy. Pastry Chef Anand Panwar comes out with one of his specialities, Splendid Yoghurt.
Do try out Chi Ni’s eclectic new menu if you’re in mood for authentic Oriental chow.
