The refurbishing work has been going on at a break neck speed ever since the permission was granted over a month ago to de-seal the urban villages in Delhi for commercial use; it included the Hauz Khas complex as well as the Mehrauli stretch, One Style Mile, including the Ambawatta Complex and all the restaurants there.
Sanjeev Batra, owner of the complex where Olive was located confirms the move. ‘We had been given all permissions for the commercial use of the property earlier but the Monitoring Committee appointed by Supreme Court did not take cognisance of the same and sealed our property. We had to go to the court where DDA, MCD and various bodies all gave an affidavit in our favour. The government had also passed an Act last year which notified the desealing of all villages. The committee insisted since ours was in an urban village, the Act did not apply to us.’
‘The Act expired in December last year but was extended for another year-with the stipulation that the urban villages were to be a part of the notification too. Based on the Act, the go-ahead was finally given to us on 22nd May. I informed AD who flew in from Mumbai on 25th. Both of us were very positive as we have had amicable relationship in which both of us had suffered unfairly in the hand of the authorities. So it took no time to agree on our mutual arrangement. The fashion store Kimaya, in our property, is also opening up next month.’
Anirban Sarkar, who was the restaurant manager at Olive earlier and is now supervising the refurbishing work, admits it is colossal task since practically everything has to be re-done including the purchase of kitchen equipment. But he is optimistic that the restaurant should re-open by end-August; at any rate before the Shradhs which start on around 5th September.
The management prefers to keep low-key about the re-opening as the concept for the restaurant is being planned for the new avatar. Olive Beach has been opened in Chanakyapuri in the meantime and is doing quite well. Business will continue as usual here, ‘although we shall probably make it a fine-dining gourmet restaurant, and make Olive at Mehrauli a more experimental and smart casual place,’ feels Chef Saby who is known for his vibrancy and flexibility in his cooking style and will be overlooking both the kitchens.
The earlier concept was so successful at Olive that barring a few changes being considered including a minor tweaking of the Menu, no major changes are being contemplated at this point, even for the wine list. Since its closing, Olive has been able to procure the duty free license for imported wines and one hopes the cost reduction will be reflected in the new price list, though.
Saby was quick to point out that his first love is cooking and he would like to focus on one restaurant where he can cook for the guests-perhaps the Olive. Returning recently from London and Louisiana where he had gone for a sponsored training in Cajun cooking, he has devised the Menu for the French Cuisine that was introduced at the ‘French Week-end’ on 10-12 July at the Olive Beach. This was so successful that the restaurant has decided to extend it, at least till July 21. He even conducted a successful workshop for a ladies’ group where he taught about making a 3-course French meal.
Good times ahead for the Delhi gourmets and connoisseurs!
Subhash Arora |