The Buffet Bites T minus 0 review: A Travelxp docuseries on behind the kitchen scenes of an elaborate food affair

4/5

Story:

The first episode of the docuseries The Buffet Bites T minus 0 shows the high-end restaurant of Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel gearing up to prepare a lavish feast for over 400 guests. With 100 staff members, they are always in a race against time to prepare 300 items, just in time for the Sunday brunch.

Review:

As you walk into a restaurant for brunch, the elaborate spread of scrumptious food looks like a visual treat with different sections and several options in cuisines, plated and garnished to appeal to your eyes. But it is never as easy as it looks. The docuseries shows what goes behind presenting such a sumptuous repast with chefs clocking in hours washing, cutting and cooking over 500 kilograms of the produce for hundreds of guests.  

Presenting a buffet is not just an art but also science and math. It involves intricate planning and great strategies. The chefs follow a 20:12 ratio for a buffet preparation, with 20 minutes to prepare for 12 servings. Amid all the madness in the kitchen, the news of the raw materials or produce arriving late is unwelcome. The head chef has to deal with all logistic and administrative issues while also ensuring to deliver a grand buffet on time. Cost control is also an art. The way the buffet spread is presented - what goes into each item, their portions and positions on the table - is also well planned and meticulously calculated. The protein-rich food is introduced with a few vegetables, giving the look of an ample portion. Many other minute details are looked into showcasing an elegant buffet fare that the docuseries delves into.  

The editing, background score and camerawork by Abhishek Jain, Amit Barthe are worth a mention. The episode is well-paced and timed with seamless transitions and no jarring or boring shots. It keeps you engaged. The sequence of scenes showing the contrast between the chaos inside the kitchen and calm at the buffet area is interesting and well-thought.

The host Rohan Anil Patoley presents the show well with a commendable script. He gives an instant food review, tasting some exotic items on the menu, and also shares some good tips like starting brunch with the most exotic or expensive item on the menu, perhaps something meaty, so that you can partake of a well-plated buffet before you fill yourself with bread and soup. The show tries to add some fun with witty dialogues but its delivery looks too scripted. Also, a few brief interviews of the customers could have been added to offer a complete package of a buffet experience. But these minor shortcomings can be overlooked especially because of the brilliant camerawork and the sophisticated look and feel of the episode.

Verdict:

The docuseries makes for a good watch, not just for its beautiful shots of food and stunning camera angles, but also to understand the discipline and efforts of the team in putting forth a rich and splendid expanse of meals.