It was an interesting afternoon where it was difficult to decipher whether the topic of perfumes  dominated the delicious lunch or the specially prepared cuisine dwarfed the sensory whiff that floated around the legendary Orient Express restaurant at the Taj Palace hotel.The lunch hosted by the Taj Palace with Master Perfumer Nicolas De Barry was a unique concept wherein De Barry took the specially handpicked media guests on a perfume trail while exploring exotic and luxurious fragrances inspired by or evocative of their cultures.  De Barry nostalgically visited his early perfume days speaking at length about flowers, spices and other ingredients that provide the specific notes to a perfume.

  Nicolas De Barry with Tejinder Singh, General Manager, Taj Palace.                       Violet infused lamb rack, ricotta gnocchi, broad bean, tomato  Complementing the perfumes the Olfactory menu was infused with the delicate fragrance of Jasmine that gave a fragrant start with Hors-d'oeuvre which was beautifully plated sandalwood smoked Salmon, compressed watermelon and avocado. Keeping in mind the ongoing religious week the vegetarians were treated to artichoke barigoule, grilled zucchini with tomato and thyme essence.Following it was pan smeared goose liver, mandarin, apricot, pumpkin black truffle and pine butter after which the delicately powder sugar smeared single rose petal found its way and perched itself on a raspberry sorbet.Next came the infused lamb rack, ricotta gnocchi, flat beans, tomato Schufnudel, asparagus among others finally ending with the most tempting desert that was a harmony of Alphonso mango and chocolate mousse. The sensory whiff of vanilla, Jasmine, Rose mingled to seduce the palate that only got heightened with each course.

   Duo of alphonso mango and chocolate mousse, jasmine tea sorbet                                      Raspberry and rose petal sorbet 

The masterful culinary creations brought together by De Barry captured the romance of the Orient Express Restaurant, as ageless and timeless as the tempting first whiff of a scent.