A new restaurant Rang Punjab celebrating the rich glorious culture of Pind has recently opened in the heart of Amritsar, in close vicinity to the Golden temple.
When one thinks of Punjab, the mind immediately conjures up visions of the Golden Temple, lush fields with farmers taking pride in their hard work, appetising, wholesome food and of course the benevolent hospitality of the Punjabi folk. No trip to Punjab is ever complete without feeling that warmth, love and generosity that is very often expressed through the medium of lip-smacking, honest food. Exactly this spirit of Punjab has been recaptured by designer Kiran Dhillon and famed chef Gurpreet Gehdu in their brainchild and labour of love –Rang Punjab.
Located in a beautiful heritage building in the heart of Amritsar, only a few minutes away from the Golden Temple, Rang Punjab offers visitors a slice of Punjab, showcasing the very best of it, from traditional Punjabi recipes to the most authentic papad, wadi and aam papad as well as homemade sweets, street food and desserts served in an ambience redolent with old-world charm and nostalgia. Located in a restored administrative building of British Raj from 1866, the 350 covers restaurant consists of three parts, the main restaurant floor, a food souk and a party hall including a capacity of 100. This is surrounded by a veranda with outdoor seating and access to their Grill Bike and Kulfi Bike. The ambiance is carefully constructed to make guests & visitors feel they are walking through the markets of old Amritsar with tiny shops. The interiors also incorporate a lot of polished wood along with crystal and brass origami chandeliers commissioned from India’s top origami artist. “The idea was to keep the place rustic, true to the roots and yet upmarket and stylish,” said Dhillon. “My roots in rural Punjab and our international exposure helped us create the balance between old-world charm and modern comfort. We didn’t want anything to overpower, instead it had to be in sync with the name, British architecture of the building as well as Punjabi elements of that era.”
The menu is simple and not too complicated, reminiscent of the true flavours of the Pind of Punjab. As a result, the menu consists of heirloom Punjabi recipes, from rustic homemade meals to bikes with hot and spicy street food, cold and creamy kulfi as well as a sharbat bar with a host of traditional beverages (the only one of its kinds) like the Badaam Brahmi and Bazoori. The restaurant also includes a traditional marketplace (food souk) selling Amritsari specialities like aam papad, laddoos and wadi.
Sustainability is something both Kiran Dhillon and Gurpreet Gehdu see a need for and hold close to their hearts, prompting them to start a farm resort project based on agri-tourism alongside the restaurant. All ingredients are sourced directly from the farmers, from the best produce to the freshest dairy.
Every dish on the menu here is flawless whether it be a platter of scrumptious Amritsari Chole and kulche or something as unique as a Lachha palak Soya.
The Rang Punjab tasting platter comprises Aloo wadi pulao, Kujje wali dal, Loon ajwain paratha to name a few dishes and is literally like tasting Punjab on a plate.
Rang Punjab hopes to show visitors to the city a detailed cross section of Punjabi food and culture, a one-stop-shop for all things Punjab.
Read More: Quicklly, Cumin Club introduce vegetarian meal kits that deliver authentic taste of India
