CHENNAI: The Taj Coromandel, with its newly updated luxury rooms and lobby, has played host to various personalities and Heads of State from across the globe in its recent past including President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, and iconic actor Jackie Chan, among many others.It’s no surprise that US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, chose to stay at the Taj Coromandel as well. The Hotel accorded a resplendent traditional red carpet welcome for the US Secretary of State with a grand poo kolam, which read vanakkam. The ceremonious lighting of the kuttuvilakku was followed by aarti and tikka. The highlight of this experience was the Bharatnatyam dance performance in front of the stunning bronze Nataraja, accompanied by musicians. Overwhelmed by the thillana, the diplomat enthusiastically posed for a photograph with the performers. Enthralled by the entire welcome experience, the US Secretary of State exclaimed, “No one organises a welcome better than the Taj!”The hotel designated two highly-attentive and personalised lady butlers and a specialist masseuse from Jiva Spa, and curated the experiences for this occasion. The suite was prepared with personalised towels, bed linen and natural handmade soap bars, much to the liking of the US Secretary of State. To provide the entire experience a South Indian touch, the terrace sit-out was beautifully decorated with terracotta figurines, wooden antique lady musicians, Tanjore dolls, urulis with while lotuses and tall palm leaves in terracotta urns. The Hotel’s restaurants have proven to be the dining destinations of choice for fine-dining connoisseurs of the city. During her stay at the Hotel, Taj Coromandel offered the US Secretary of State authentic cuisine from Golden Dragon. The dinner prepared by Master Chinese Chef William Ho included Har Gao, Shumai, Chicken Bao, Mantao, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Prawn Wantons, Vegetable Dumplings, Tenderloin Cabbage Roll, Peking Duck, Sweet and Sour Pork, Fish with Black Bean Chilli, Stir Fried Greens, Fried Rice, Rice Noodles and Nest of Dragon.The South Indian breakfast menu, served on a silver banana leaf platter, included mini idlis, vadas, masala and rava dosas, pongal and other specialties of the South, paired with sambar and chutneys. Besides this extravagant menu, the hotel also had a variety of yoghurt and beverages. The departure was as dramatic and grand as the welcome, as the US Secretary of State was bid adieu with a symphony by the talavaadya ensemble (percussion). The musical instruments were accompanied by a konakul (vocal percussion) artiste, who added a unique element to the festive spirit. The flower rangoli which read ‘Au Revoir’ caught the US Secretary of State’s attention, who simply said, “Wow.”In this fitting farewell, the staff of the hotel thanked the US Secretary of State for choosing Taj Coromandel as her preferred place of stay in Chennai.On her departure, the US Secretary of State signed the Visitor’s Book: “Thanks to the gracious hospitality and warm welcome of the Taj Coromandel and its attentive staff. You have made our first trip to Chennai even more memorable.”
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