We guess Hyatt’s chefs have got a penchant for preparing food that’s obscurely subtle. While that was an issue at some of the earlier food fests, we’re definitely not complaining this time for the German Food Fest which is being headed by Chef Paul Hoffman, who’s flown in from Hyatt Cologne.

With staple dishes from various regions of Germany on the buffet – for example, you’ve got red cabbage apple salad from the east, potato salad from the west (the east tends to use mayo with it), fish with fennel from the north and, spetzel with peas and bread dumplings with mushrooms from the south – Chef Hoffman has a good job of covering the classic German dishes. When asked about cooking with beer, Hoffman wondered “Why waste beer on cooking?”

The ten-day festival that wraps up on 20th May has a circulating menu for its lunch and dinner buffets. One cannot go wrong with salmon and the hint of lime brought out the flavour of the fish. The thick soup with minced pork paired with some bread and mashed potatoes & roasted onions makes for a good start as you settle down for the delicate flavours throughout the menu. The bread dumplings with mushroom were our favourite. On the day we were served Nürnberger Bratwürste sausages, again light on the flavouring to let the meat’s taste stand out. If you’re looking for some body with sausages, help yourself to some spetzel.

The chicken breast with cabbages was a slight crisp on the outside but felt rather dry from the inside. We’d say skip it for the fish and pork chops. Some of the chops had an extra bit tissue along with the meat, so you might want to be a bit choosy on your pieces.

Apart from the vast expanse of desserts on the buffet, there was the German chocolate slice or as they call it, the Schokoladenschnitte. Nothing different from our regular one that we’re all used to. It’s chocolate at the end of the day, so go for it.

Venue: The Café, Hyatt Regency, Nagar Road
Date: Till 20th May, 2012
Price: Rs 700 + taxes for Lunch, Rs 950 + taxes for Dinner