Aangan, which translates as 'courtyard' in English, opened earlier this month and is described as taking 'a contemporary approach to traditional Indian cuisine', with Ghai taking inspiration from his personal and professional culinary experiences from across the globe.
“I wanted to bring the spirit of ‘aangan’ to Oman and inspire diners to celebrate special moments together while enjoying the diverse flavours of Indian cuisine,” says the chef.
“Indian food is complex and steeped in tradition, but through Aangan, I’m able to showcase Indian food in a new light. Using locally grown fresh produce, authentic Indian spices and innovative cooking techniques, I’ve evolved and tweaked the very best of the cuisine to create a contemporary menu that is truly unique.”
The sharing menu features street food favourites including aloo tikki, a crispy potato cake with tamarind, lentils, fresh mint and honey yoghurt; and masala prawns cooked with sesame, peanut and tamarind, and dusted with desiccated coconut.
Larger plates include rogan josh lamb shank, which is slow-cooked for eight hours and accompanied by a sautéed onion base, green and Kashmiri chili, cumin, coriander, and ginger.
“When the opportunity arose to work with Chef Rohit Ghai, it was an easy decision,” says René Egle, area general manager, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa and Shangri-La Al Husn Resort & Spa.
“Aangan is an exciting addition to our portfolio of premium restaurants at Shangri-La Al Husn and we are thrilled to bring this new dining destination to our guests and the local community of Muscat. Our talented team are hugely passionate about delivering memorable experiences and with its alluring fragrant spices and distinctly different dishes, Aangan is set to be one of a kind.”
Ghai launched modern Indian restaurant Kutir in London's Chelsea 2018, having previously spent more than a decade at the helm of various Michelin-starred kitchens, primarily based in the capital. They include Bombay Bustle; Jamavar, where he earned a Michelin-star in under a year; Gymkhana; Hoppers; Trishna; and Benares.
He launched Manthan in Mayfair last year.