Sizzle Desi- Some Sizzlers, Some Desi

Sizzle Desi in Thane is one of the newest restaurants on the block. I was invited by my friend on behalf of the restaurant to review it. And though the food was paid for by the restaurant, the opinions aren’t! 🙂

Sizzle Desi Thane

Sizzle Desi is the brainchild of Chef Parag Joglekar, an industry veteran. We met him at the restaurant while having dinner and it was fantastic chatting with him. Chef Joglekar has 25 years of experience and is currently the Executive Chef at the Barking Deer. The first thought that comes to my mind when I think back on our food experience and interaction with him is innovation. He’s bringing new concepts to the food scene in Thane by bringing continental food with a desi twist for our spice-loving tongues. He also brings a continental twist to some of our traditional dishes which I will talk about too!

Menu of Sizzle Desi Thane

At Sizzle Desi, the presentation of the menu sets the note for the meal. It’s been designed like a sizzler plate on a wooden base. I found it pretty interesting!

Sizzle Desi offers a variety of dishes on the menu- pastas, burgers, Indian, wraps, sandwiches and of course their house specialty sizzlers. The restaurant has kept limited options under each to manage quality given the limited kitchen space available to them.

Ambience at Sizzle Desi Thane

The ambience at Sizler Desi Thane is quite relaxed and casual. Quirky colours contrast with off-white on the walls. The tables are mostly for family-style seating with cushioned comfortable chairs. Interesting metal artefacts adorn some of the walls too.

Now let’s talk about what we ate!

Fries Animal Style at Sizzle Desi Thane

1. Fries Animal Style

It was the name and description on the menu that made hubby order this dish. While we’ve had fries with other meats, we’ve never had fries with chicken. This dish has french fries topped with chicken in a spiced barbecue sauce and cheese sauce. The french fries were nice and crisp even after all the sauces had been poured on it. I found the spiced version of the usually sweet barbecue sauce very nicely done. All in all, it’s a dish we’d definitely recommend.

Cajun Spiced Baby Potatoes at Sizzle Desi Thane

2. Cajun Spiced Baby Potatoes

I love Cajun spice, so I had to order this! In this dish boiled potatoes are smashed slightly and fried. Then they’re tossed in a cajun seasoning. To add a little bit of Indian twist, they’re topped with lime, chopped onions and corriander kind of like in our chaats. The potato skins were nice and crispy and the cajun spice was quite flavourful. The only glitch in this dish was that the potatoes were served slightly cold on our table.

Cumin Mayo at Sizzle Desi

The potatoes  were served with a cumin mayo dip on the side. This one is Chef Parag’s invention. The flavour of roasted cumin worked perfectly with the creamy mayo. I can have this mayo dip with anything!

Chicken Harrissa Sizzler at Sizzle Desi Thane

3. Grilled Harrissa Chicken Sizzlers

We ordered this dish on the recommendation of Chef Parag. Harrissa is an African sauce made of roasted peppers and spices. The sizzler had spicy grilled chicken marinated in harrissa with rice. Sauteed vegetables and potato skins made for the sides on this sizzler. This sizzler made for a great dish for us. Hubby, who doesn’t like bell peppers much actually liked the harrissa sauce! I also found the potato skins a great idea for a side as it added so much more crunchiness and spice to the sizzler than your regular fries.

Mutton Biryani at Sizzle Desi Thane

4. Mutton Biryani

Mutton biryani at a sizzler restaurant? Well we went with the chef’s recommendation and were absolutely delighted. He told us order it and I will personally go make it for you! And what a lovely biryani it was. The fragrance of the spices and the meat reached our noses even before the dough on top was completely opened.

Mutton Dum Biryani at Sizzle Desi Thane

Fluffy and fragrant basmati, the aroma of caramelised onions, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and rose water, perfectly cooked tender meat made this dish a fantastic order. I took seconds of the biryani with the meat though I don’t like mutton much!

Sizzling Chocolate Brownie at Sizzle Desi Thane

5. Sizzling Chocolate Brownie

My friend Yashad, who had joined us for the dinner, warned us, “Save space for dinner, we HAVE to have the brownie!” After so much food, we ordered one sizzling brownie for the three of us just for Yashad’s recommendation. The minute we took our spoons to cut into the brownie, we knew why we’d ordered it. It was moist and not crumbly at all! And it was such a decadence- dark chocolate and a moist, rich melt-in-your-mouth brownie. The brownie is Chef Parag’s own recipe and is made in the kitchen itself.

My recommendation- go for this dessert first so that you don’t have to worry about not having enough dessert space! Oh, and good news for the vegetarians… it’s an eggless brownie!

Paan Shots at Sizzle Desi Thane

We ended our experience of good food, conversations and catching up with some paan shots for a mouth freshener.

Some notes:-

Chef Parag creates very interesting season special sizzlers. Right now for Shraavani Somvar they have Upvaasache Sizzlers on Mondays .

Upvasache Sizzler at Sizzle Desi Thane

These sizzlers serve traditional faraal items like sabudaana khichdi, saabudana wade, faraalachi kachori etc with a sizzler twist.

Another dessert sizzler Chef told us about was puranpoli rolled with Milkmaid spread and then served with chocolate sauce on top.

How much will it cost me: Rs 1000 for 2

Verdict: Chef Parag’s innovative take on food both Indian and continental is interesting. I’ll go there again to some more sizzlers and seasonal specials. And yes, the sizzling brownie!!

Rating: ****

Address: 1 Trishul Apt, West Panch Pakhadi, West 400602, Eastern Express Hwy, Panch Pakhadi, Thane.

Bombay Blue: For a Range of Cuisines

Bombay Blue, Mumbai India

Bombay Blue, located at the ground floor Skyzone in High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel, serves a mind-boggling range of dishes from various cuisines. They serve Mumbai street food, kebabs and north Indian dishes, Parsi food, Lebanese food, Italian pizzas and pastas and Mexican food… phew! This makes it a good place to visit when you’re in a large group in which everyone has a different taste preference.

Ambience at Bombay Blue Mumbai India

Bombay Blue’s theme is the colour blue and Mumbai city. The ambience, the walls and the designs on them, the furniture, the menu, and the serveware are all done up with this theme in blue and it’s contrasting colours.

Ambience at Bombay Blue, Mumbai India

Various sketches and motifs in blues and yellows relating to landmarks of Mumbai adorn the walls. These further extend the blue and Mumbai city themes of the decor.

We went to Bombay Blue in group of four and were able to sample a wide range of dishes.

Cream of Mushroom Soup at Bambay Blue Mumbai India

1. Cream of Mushroom Soup 

The cream of mushroom soup is your classic soup with button mushrooms in a white cream based soup. This delicate soup was simmered with hints of nutmeg which complimented the taste of the button mushrooms.

Bombay Blue Nachos With Beans at Bombay Blue Mumbai India

2. Bombay Blue Nachos With Beans

This addictive dish has a bed of fried nachos topped with refried beans, peppers and their creamy house-made cheese sauce. The pleasure of this dish begins with your eyes when you see the red beans and green peppers contrast with the beautiful rich white cheese sauce. Each delectable bite of this dish has the textures and flavours of crunchy nachos, soft tangy tomato-ey beans and a savoury rich cheese sauce playing with each other.

Onion Rings at Bombay Blue Mumbai India

3. Onion Rings

When this tall stack of golden onion rings that comes to your table, it definitely makes your day! It’s a dish made of separated onion slices dipped in a seasoned refined flour and fried. The onion rings at Bombay Blue were well-seasoned and sprinkled with chaat masala for the bit of tang. They were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, just like well-made onion rings are.

Garlic Bread With Cheese at Bombay Blue Mumbai India

4. Garlic Bread with Cheese

Yes, we ordered three appetizers for four people. And yes, it was because we couldn’t resist them. The Bombay Blue garlic bread with cheese took the humdrum cheese topped garlic bread and added a pungent twist to it. The fluffy garlicky bread was toasted crisply. The melted soft cheese on top with hints of peppery chilly would appeal to our chilly addicted Indian palate. The garlic bread was served with herbed potato wedges which were also quite a treat by themselves.

Pollo Al’ Italia at Bombay Blue Mumbai India

5. Pollo Al’ Italia

The description of this pasta dish on the menu was tempting enough for us to order it. It was like a sampling platter of pastas with three kinds of pastas in different sauces with complimentary chicken preparations added to it. The red pasta with the full-bodied tomato sauce had chunks of spicy sausage and olives to go with it. The piquant pesto cream sauce of the green pasta had a seasoned roasted chicken addition that absorbed the flavours of the sauce. The delicate white cream sauce pasta was enhanced by the delicately smoked chicken chunks in it.

 

Chicken Shaslik Sizzler at Bombay Blue Mumbai India

6. Chicken Shaslik Sizzler at Bombay Blue Mumbai

A sizzler is a dish that announces it’s own entrance to your table and the tables around you. The sizzler was a generous dish that can be easily shared by two. Skewered and barbecued chicken is served on a bed or rice and roasted vegetables and caramelised onions in a sizzling hot plate. All of this is topped with an appetizingly spiced brown sauce.

While the dish was a wonderful mish-mash of textures and flavours, I felt that it could have been better plated. The brown sauce topping all over the dish hides the colours and textures of the vegetables and the chicken. The presentation of the dish makes it seem hurried and less appealing despite it’s good taste.

 

How much will it cost me: Rs 1000 for 2

Verdict: Will I visit this place again? Yes, for the nachos, the onion rings and the pasta.

Rating: ***1/2

Address: Ground floor, Skyzone, High Street Phoenix, Sneapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai

Banana Leaf: Authentic Vegetarian South Indian Cuisine

It has been some time since I have written on the blog… it has been a very interesting month. My exams, engagement and my younger brother’s last month at home, along with some throat infection (thanks to the rapidly changing weather in Mumbai), have kept me busy. I have missed writing (though not eating out, because how can I stop myself from doing that?!) But now I am back and with a bang!

Banana Leaf is a franchise restaurant serving vegetarian South Indian cuisine. It has six outlets around Mumbai of which two are in Thane, which makes me happy, because I do not have to go too far to enjoy some good South Indian dishes! Banana Leaf is my preferred go-to restaurant on Tuesdays when I eat vegetarian and my fiance ( a hard core non-vegetarian eater) indulges me by accompanying me to this place. We really enjoy the extensive variety of dishes this place offers, especially since they go beyond the usual idli and dosa fare.

All Banana Leaf restaurants in Mumbai have a similar ambience. The brick facade walls are done up with South Indian knick-knacks like the wall hangings of Tirupati Balaji and statues of Kathakalis. The restaurant always has traditional Carnatic instrumental music (recorded) playing and the fragrance of sandalwood incense sticks.

And now I shall come to all the food that we usually eat here:

Rasam Wada at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

1. Rasam Wada

Rasam wada is a preparation of fried udad dal wadas served dunked in tomato-pepper rasam. The rasam is a beautiful concoction of tangy tomatoes, pungent black pepper with some more spice from the tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. The wadas have a great taste of the udad dal and soak up the spicy and sour rasam beautifully in the dish. The rasam by itself is a good substitute for soup and feels great on a rainy or wintery day or if you have a cold!

 

Vengaya Pakora at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

2. Vengaya Pakora (Onion Pakoras)

They are served hot, crispy and with a generous sprinkle of chaat masala – what more do you need in your pakoras? The vengaya pakoras or onion pakoras have thinly sliced onions dipped in a spiced gram flour (besan) fried to golden brown crispness. The crisp tangily spiced outer coating gives way to soft slices of onion that are slightly caramelised and sweet. A good combination of different textures and complementary tastes makes it a dish I would definitely recommend!

 

Rawa Dosa at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

3. Rawa Sada Dosa

Rawa sada dosa is a crepe-like preparation made from a soaked semolina batter with green chilly slices added for some taste. It is prepared on a flat iron girdle and served with two types of coconut chutneys and sambhar. The rawa sada dosa is about 90% there according to me as it needs a little more crispness, but that again is because of personal preference and some people may like it softer. The white coconut chutney and the red coconut chutney with onions, red chilly and garlic flavour are fresh (you do not get the stale coconut smell) and the sambhar has good consistency perfectly spiced. They make for good accompaniments to the lightly flavoured dosa.

 

Idli Chilly Andhra Style at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

4. Idli Chilly Andhra Style

This dish has been the only dish till date we’ve not enjoyed at Banana Leaf, simply because it is very pungent (we should’ve probably guessed from the words ‘Andhra Style’!) and we cannot eat much pungent food. So if you do not eat really pungent food, steer clear of this one. For people who like their food really spicy, this actually is a good dish with a twist on the classic idli chilly. Steamed rice idlis are cut up into pieces and tossed in a dry gravy style masala that is flavoured with lots of red chilly, garlic, onions, coconut, curry leaves and traditional spice powder. It has a good taste, but for me the pungency levels were off-putting.

Roasted Onion Garlic Uttapam at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

5. Roasted Onion Garlic Uttapam

This is another interesting Banana Leaf twist on the classic onion uttapam. It is a fluffy uttapam with the taste of caramelised onions and browned garlic with hints of freshness from corriander leaves. The texture of the uttapam and the flavours from the onion and garlic make this dish worth recommending.

 

Banana Leaf Special Thali at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

6. The Banana Leaf Thali

The Banana Leaf Thali (a plated meal) is my go-to dish most days. It offers rasam wada as a starter, four kinds of vegetable preparations, one sweet dish, chutney and papadum, and a choice of accompaniments from appams, idiyappams, Kerala parotha (flaky parothas like lachcha parothas), chapatis and once rice dish – either steamed rice or bisibelle bhaath (tempered rice cooked with spices, in the picture above). The thali has generous portions, despite being a limited thali, and can easily be shared by two after having one starter dish like an idli preparation, wadas, pakoras or a dosa.

The rasam wada in the dish is cooked to perfection with the right amounts of tangy pepperiness in the rasam. I have always found the vegetable preparations – dry (beetroot poriyal in the picture above) and with coconut or yoghurt based gravies (veg masala, pattani masala, and kai kary korma in the picture above) well-spiced and quite flavourful – they have managed to make me eat vegetables that I do not eat at home!

 

Filter Coffee at Banana Leaf Viviana Mall Thane

7. Filter Coffee

We cannot go to Banana Leaf and not have this! Whatever the time of the day, we have filter coffee at Banana Leaf and often at times when we’ve been roaming around at the Viviana mall or Korum mall (where the other Thane outlet of Banana Leaf is located), we drop in just for the coffee and have nothing else! The filter coffee has a decoction of coffee powder that is mixed with water by slowly dripping through a filter. Just enough boiling milk and sugar are then added to this decoction to take away from the bitterness of the coffee. The filter coffee at Banana Leaf is made of good, fragrant coffee powder (which makes a great difference to the taste of the coffee) and has the right balance of water, milk and sugar.

Other Suggestions:

We have eaten quite often at Banana Leaf and here are some other dishes I would definitely suggest-

1. Kara Sada Dosa is a rice and udad dal dosa on which a spicy, tangy, garlicky kara chutney is spread while making. We love Mysore Sada Dosa and it is our go-to dish in other South Indian restaurants, but here we only have the Kara Sada Dosa… it has replaced Mysore Sada for us!

2. Malabar Style Stew Idli has steamed rice idli cut into pieces and served in a coconut milk based vegetable gravy with spices like garlic, turmeric, onion, red chilly, curry leaves etc. The mildly flavoured rich gravy makes for a really good accompaniment with the idli. This dish by itself is very filling as the portion is quite huge – I usually eat about 60% of it and pack the rest of it to go home with me.

3. Rajni Dosa is a dish that captured our interest because on reading the name we pictured Rajnikanth (the Thalaiva!) in our heads. This dosa has a filling of potatoes, paneer and cheese tossed in onion, garlic, chillies and curry leaves. It is a very interesting take on the usual masala dosa.

4. Mains- There are two mains dishes that I would definitely recommend to all: the Veg. Malabar Curry and the Vendakai Moor Kachiyathu (ladiesfinger in a yogurt gravy).

The Veg Malabar Curry is a coconut milk based mixed vegetable gravy dish that even my fiance who doesn’t like coconut milk enjoyed. Like the Malabar Style Stew Idli, it has amazing flavours from onions, garlic, the vegetables, and traditional spices like turmeric, red chilly, curry leaves, cumin etc.

The Vendakai Moor Kachiyathu is this beautiful dish of ladiesfingers cooked in a yogurt gravy that has been tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, udad dal, onions and green chillies. This dish has hints of spice that are smoothed over by the yogurt and make for and interesting taste and texture combination in the mouth!

How much will it cost me: Rs 800 for 2

Verdict: I have been there about 5 times in the last three months. They serve tasty and authentic South Indian fare that goes beyond idlis and dosas. The extensive menu and the Banana Leaf take on classic dishes are a big winner for me!

Rating: ****

Address: 1st Floor, Viviana Mall, Eastern Express Highway, Next to Jupiter Hospital, Thane (W)-400606.

 

 

Mainland China Thane: Some Hits, Some Misses

Mainland China is a famous brand of Chinese food restaurants in Mumbai. I have eaten at their Powai outlet and enjoyed their food. So when an outlet opened in Thane and offered lunch buffets, we put it on our list to visit and went there recently.

Mainland China Viviana Mall Thane

The ambience at the Viviana Mall outlet runs along the theme of its other outlets. There is dark wood furniture and sections are demarcated using wooden walls with lattice work. Asian-themed statues of Budhdha and dragons and other such knick knacks add to the theme of the decor of the restaurant.

Ambience at Mainland China Thane

They also have some interesting lighting at the front of the bar which I couldn’t resist clicking!

 

Bar at Mainland China Thane

 

Now let’s come to the food of the buffet. Simply put, there were some hits and some misses. The misses however were pretty serious enough to ensure that I wouldn’t go back for their buffet and might just for the a-la-carte menu.

Here’s a review of the dishes we ate-

Chicken Shangsi Soup at Mainland China Thane

1. Chicken Shangsi Soup 

The chicken shangsi soup was quite flavourful. It had shredded chicken and egg white drops in a thick clear soup which had hints of flavour from garlic and ginger. All in all a decent (albeit typically flavoured) start to the meal.

 

Khimchi Salad at Mainland China Thane

 

2. Khimchi Salad

Though this was the complementary salad that Mainland China serves at every table while you are ordering, it was worth a mention. This spicy cabbage salad with sweet, sour and pungent notes adds a zing to set the note for the meal. I could easily eat a large bowl of this salad just by myself!

 

Crispy Vegetables with Curry Leaves and Red Chilly at Mainland China Thane

3. Crispy Vegetables with Curry Leaves and Red Chilly

There is Indian Chinese- the spicy kind of Chinese that we all love, and then there is this. This dish was a big letdown especially since it tried to be a fusion of flavours that I feel simply cannot match. Vegetables were deep fried in a cornflour batter and then tossed with curry leaves and red chilly. A dish that completely missed the point and it had no real flavour from either of the cuisines.

Chicken Drums Shandong Style at Mainland China Thane

4. Chicken Drums Shandong Style

While the vegetables disappointed, the chicken drums really pleased. These hot and tangy chicken legs cooked in a sticky-ish sauce were simply wow! It is a dish I would definitely order from their a la carte menu if I go there again. These ‘drums of heaven’ (as the menu describes them) were a total hit!

Crispy Tofu Pockets at Mainland China Thane

5. Crispy Tofu Pockets

These were another miss. Rice and cornflour pockets were filled with a lightly spiced tofu mixture and deep fried. Neither the tofu mixture nor the flour pocket had much flavour. Also, the pocket turned out to be too thick and therefore had absorbed a lot of oil while frying. All in all, a dish to definitely avoid!

 

Chicken and Basil Dumplings at Mainland China Thane

6. Chicken and Basil Dumplings

The chicken and basil dumpling are one of the best dumplings I’ve had around Mumbai. Thin rice-flour pockets filled with a succulent chicken laced with a basil leaf were steamed and served juicy hot on the table. This dish made up some for the disappointing ones earlier.

 

Wok Tossed Lime and Spicy Fish at Mainland China Thane

7. Wok Tossed Lime and Spicy Fish 

This was a great dish! Basa fish fillets were coated and deep fried and then tossed in a pan with lime and sweet and spicy sauces. The fish was perfectly cooked and moist. The crisp coating with balanced notes of lemon, spice and sweetness brought out the flavour of the fish without overpowering it. This is a dish worth ordering off the a la carte menu.

Pot Rice with Star Anise at Mainland China Thane

8. Pot Rice with Star Anise

The pot rice with star anise was a simple dish of steamed rice flavoured with root vegetables like carrots and onions. The hero of this dish was the star anise which was used just right, as if used too much its sweet licorice taste can actually kill a dish and put you off the rest of your meal too. This was a hit because of its simplicity and right amounts of star anise flavour.

 

Hakka Noodles at Mainland China Thane

9. Hakka Noodles

The Hakka noodles were clearly a safe dish. Though they did not lack in flavour in any sense, I did feel I’ve had better ones before, maybe from my experience of more garlic and more quantities of soy sauce and vinegar. All in all a safe dish that kids will go to in the buffet.

 

Kung Pao Chicken at Mainland China Thane

 

10. Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao chicken is quite a popular and favoured dish in India. At Mainland China, this dish had diced chicken breasts (boneless) cooked in Kung Pao sauce with saltiness from soya sauce and flavour from red chillies, peanuts and cashewnuts. This made for a good combination with the pot rice.

 

Chilly Garlic Potatoes at Mainland China Thane

11. Chilly Garlic Potatoes

Chilly garlic potatoes were fries tossed in a gravy flavoured with diced garlic, green chillies and pepper. The fries were well-cooked and the gravy was safe, but I personally would have preferred a little more pungency in the dish as chilly garlic potatoes are always a dish I associate with some pungency. This was neither a miss nor a hit, it just played safe.

 

Desserts at Mainland China Thane

12. Desserts

Mainland China offers a selection of five to six desserts as a part of their buffet menu. This also includes a chocolate fountain which has some good quality melted chocolate that can be poured over the accompaniments like sponge cake and chocolate brownies (top right of the photo of the dessert plate). We were also served an okayish fruit salad that had some really dense custard and vanilla ice-cream. Of the lot, we enjoyed the good quality of the chocolate from the chocolate fountain and the way it went with the yummy chocolate brownie that it was served with.

How much will it cost me: The buffet is priced at Rs 850 per head. The a la carte menu can cost upto Rs 1500 for 2.

Verdict: The buffet? I am not going back for it. There were too many misses in the spread and quality of the dishes. I do enjoy dishes from the a la carte menu and I would recommend it for trying out.

Rating: Buffet **1/2, A la carte ***1/2

Address: 1st Floor, Viviana Mall, Eastern Express Highway, Next to Jupiter Hospital, Thane (W)-400606.

 

Aroma’s Cafe Powai: Great Beverages, Great Food

Aroma’s cafe, centrally located in Powai, is a delightful cafe open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s central location, extensive menu, great coffees and teas and well-done food make it a good place for a quick meal for office goers or a great place to lazily hang out for those not in a hurry.

Aroma’s Cafe- Powai, Mumbai

The first time I went to (and fell in love with) Aroma’s Cafe was at their Thane franchise which I kept visiting again and again. However, for some reason, the Thane franchise closed down a few months ago and I was missing a good place for breakfast and hanging out lazily for hours. Recently, when my fiance and I were at Powai for a day off, we decided to go to Aroma’s for lunch, for old time’s sake! And I enjoyed the meal as much as I used to enjoy at the Thane cafe.

Aroma’s Cafe has two seating sections, one inside the Cafe and one outside for those days when the weather is really pleasant. The decor is a mixture of their signature brown and white with some lovely muted lighting in yellows. One of my favourite features of their ambiance is the very comfortable seating – couches of brown leather that you can just sink into and not get up for hours! They literally invite you to laze in them!

Here are the dishes I would recommend at Aroma’s Cafe:

Grilled Chicken Salad with Mango Salsa at Aroma’s Cafe Mumbai

1. Grilled Chicken Salad with Mango Salsa

Yes, you read that right. It is a salad with chicken and mango salsa.

This unique salad is a beautiful dish of grilled chicken, iceberg lettuce and garlicky croutons served with a dressing of a spicy mango salsa that has alphonso mango puree, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and chilly. The chicken was fresh and moist, the iceberg as crisp as it should be and the salsa had a strong punch of chilly and the slight tang of tomatoes layered with the velvety sweetness of the mango puree.

This is a dish I recommended to my non-salad-loving fiance and he enjoyed it, and so I would recommend it to you!

 

Grilled Fish in a Honey Mustard Sauce at Aroma’s Cafe MumbaiGrilled Fish in a Honey Mustard Sauce at Aroma’s Cafe Mumbai

2. Grilled Fish in a Honey Mustard Sauce

I had ordered this dish as I was in the mood to have some good fish, and I was not disappointed. The fish used is basa fish and a boneless filet of it is grilled with a coating of honey mustard sauce on it. It is served on a bed of roasted vegetables with potato mash and a tomato-based ragout sauce.

The fish was very fresh, and was well-cooked and neither under-done or over-done. The honey-mustard sauce with notes of both pungency and sweetness brought wasn’t overpowering and brought out the delicate flavours of the fish. The herbed roasted vegetables were a delight and the taste of each of the vegetables added to it. The mash was rich, smooth and creamy, just as mash should be! And the show-stealer (after the fish, of course!) was the tomato-ey, garlicky, spiced chunky ragout that was bursting with taste in every mouthful.

Overall, the elements of this dish were great to eat individually and were in harmony when eaten together.

 

Monk’s Blend Tea at Aroma’s Cafe Mumbai

3. Monk’s Blend Tea at Aroma’s Cafe

Aroma’s Cafe has an extensive tea and coffee menu with some really unique blends of both. My all-time favourite at Aroma’s Cafe has been the very ‘mysterious’ Monk’s Blend tea and even though it was lunch-time, I couldn’t stop myself from ordering it!

Monk’s Blend Tea in a French Press at Aroma’s Cafe Mumbai

The Monk’s Blend Tea is served in a French press and it has a mixture of Darjeeling tea with some secret spices and dried petals of the marigold flower. Best had very lightly brewed (I pour it out as soon as it is brought to my table), this tea has a very interesting combination of spice, vanilla and floral tones that every tea lover will enjoy! And the small butter cookie served with it is melt-in-your-mouth delightful!

Other Recommendations

1. Aroma’s has a great breakfast menu of which I would definitely recommend their chicken cheese omlette. It’s a large, cheesy omlette with chunks of roasted chicken and herbs. Beware, you will have a late lunch after this one and you might get hooked to it too!

2. Their strawberry lemonade with the sweet-tartness of strawberry syrup added to the regular lemonade makes for a very refreshing beverage that we like in summers.

3. Their spicy fries are another all-time favourite of ours that we can have at any time of the day.

Aroma’s also serves a wide range of Indian and international beers and wine.

How much will it cost me: Rs 800 for 2

Verdict: Aroma’s Cafe has an extensive menu and well-done food and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a good place to hang out with friends, sit by yourself and read for hours or have a lovely relaxed meal with your family.

Rating: ***1/2

Address: Ground floor, Ventura Building, Hiranandani Gardens, Opp D-Mart, Powai, Mumbai- 400076

 

 

 

 

Tea Centre: It’s Another Era!

Tea Centre run by the Tea Board of India is Mumbai’s favourite tea shop! If you are a tea lover (like me!) living in Mumbai, chances are you’ve already been here and love it! If not, what are you waiting for?!

Tea Centre, Mumbai, India

It serves the really great premium teas like first flush and second flush Darjeeling, Nilgiri,  Darjeeling Blooming Tea which are all produced in India but are primarily exported so you do not get them easily here. Apart from this there are great flavoured teas like rose tea (with dried rose petals), hot buttered apple tea (apple flavoured with hints of butter for a smooth tea) and Banana Caramel tea (with sweet caramel that goes with banana).

Ambience at Tea Centre, Mumbai, India

The tagline of this post ‘it’s another era’ will now be clearer when I talk of the ambience of this place. If I had to describe the ambience in one word, it would be ‘colonial’. The heavy wooden furniture with pristine white tablecloths, the servers in uniforms with cummerbands, the silver bells on the table to beckon them, Victorian lamps and huge pillars are similar to the tea clubs of old European plantations.

Tea Bar at Tea Centre, Mumbai, India

One of my favourite features here is the ‘tea bar’ at one end of Tea Centre. Like in a regular bar at pubs where spirits take center stage, here various kinds of teas are displayed and made for serving to the customers.

Now let’s get to the most important things- tea and food!

Darjeeling Blooming Tea at Tea Centre, Mumbai India

1. Darjeeling Blooming Tea: Darjeeling blooming tea is aptly named for what happens to the tea leaves when they are put in hot water. These tea leaves are hand-picked, pressed and sewn by hand into a bulb. When put in hot water the bulb opens up like a flower releasing flavours into the water. Simply put, this tea blooms! The Darjeeling blooming tea, like other Darjeeling teas, is very light. It has light spice and floral notes that are very soothing. Other Tea Recommendations- Being a tea lover who has tried quite a bit of the teas from the Tea Centre menu, I would definitely suggest having the hot buttered apple tea, the Maharani of Darjeeling Tea and the oolong tea. For those who like their tea to be spicy the Kashmiri Kahwa is a great choice and for those who like their tea spicy, strong and milky the Kulhad Masala Chai is perfect!

Tomato Soup at Tea Centre, Mumbai

2. Tomato Soup The tomato soup at Tea Centre is strictly okay. It is quite thick and rich and flavoured with garlic, basil and dried oregano. The flavours go well together, however, overall, I’ve had better tomato soups.

Chilly Garlic Fries at Tea Centre, Mumbai, India

3. Chilly Garlic Fries Oh man! These beauties were our latest find at Tea Centre. Really crisp well-made fries flavoured with red chilly flakes, fried finely-chopped garlic with a fresh corriander twist. This dish had a great crunch from the perfectly fried french fries paired with a spice punch from the garlic, chilly and corriander. Yes, they taste as good as they look!

Aloo Kheema Tikki at Tea Centre, Mumbai, India

4. Aloo Kheema Tikki The aloo kheema tikki are cutlets made of mashed potatoes and kheema which is a spiced minced mutton preparation. This is a good dish to have. The tikkis are fried till they are crunchy on the outside and moist and soft on the inside. They are spiced just right with hints of ginger, garlic, chilly and dried spices.

Cottage Cheese Steak at Tea Centre, Mumbai

5. Cottage Cheese Steaks I had this dish on a day when I was eating vegetarian food. This dish consists of steaks of cottage cheese (paneer) served with sauteed vegetables in a sauce that is a combination of arabiatta and bechamel sauces. This dish is a creamy, tangy dish with flavours of chilly flakes and oregano. The cottage cheese was very soft and there was a great crunchy texture from the vegetables. All in all, it is a great main course option for those who prefer vegetarian food.

Chicken in Red Wine Sauce at Tea Centre, Mumbai, India

6. Roast Chicken in Red Wine Sauce

This dish is a must-have for non-vegetarian food lovers. Succulent roasted chicken is served with a red wine sauce that complements the flavour of the chicken with mashed potatoes and herbed sauteed vegetables on the side. This dish bursts with flavours and textures and can make for a great meal by itself!

Other Food Recommendations –

1. They open at 8 in the morning and serve some great breakfast options like a continental breakfast, egg preparations or baked goods.

2. For lunch and dinner, I would definitely recommend their cream of chicken soup and dhansak with brown rice (Parsi meat preparation with a gravy of lentils and vegetables) as mains.

3. For those who wish to go there for afternoon tea they serve very traditional tea accompaniments like scones and apple crumble or our Indian pakoras and samosas. The pakoras here are also very well done!

How much will it cost me: A single cup of tea here can cost between Rs. 60-100 whereas teas that are served in two cup pots cost Rs. 150-200.

The food can cost upto Rs 600 for 2

Verdict: I keep going back to Tea Centre for three things – the variety and quality of teas that I cannot find anywhere else in Mumbai, the reasonably priced good food from breakfast and tea snacks to lunch and dinner options and the old-world colonial feel of the ambience.

Rating: ****1/2

Address: Ground floor, Resham Bhavan, 78, Veer Nariman Road,Churchgate, Mumbai – 400020

Budget Eats: Al Bake’s Chicken Shawarma-Kalina

I am currently doing my M.A. in Psychology at the University of Mumbai Kalina campus. As students, we are always in search of tasty food at very reasonable prices to suit our student budgets. Hence, I have gathered a list of restaurants and food joints in an around Mumbai where you can eat great food on a budget.

Al Bake, Kalina Mumbai

Al Bake in the lane opposite the main gate of the Kalina campus of University of Mumbai is one of our preferred places to eat when we are bored with canteen food. We go here for their filling and succulent chicken shawarma which puts a dent of only Rs 70 on our pockets!

Chicken shawarma is a Lebanese dish – a roll made of pita bread with a filling of marinated and spiced roasted chicken, Lebanese yogurt dips and other fillings like potato chips and pickles.

Shawarma Chicken Cooking on a Vertical Rotisserie at Al Bake

It is indeed a pleasure to watch the chicken shawarma being made at Al Bake. The chicken breasts marinated in yogurt and traditional Lebanese spices are piled and skewered on a vertical skewer. These are then roasted using a vertical rotisserie that turns around slowly so that the heat reaches all the sides of the chicken pile.

Cooked Chicken Flavoured with Yogurt Garlic Dip at Al Bake

The chef then cuts the chicken from the sides as it cooks to get the filling for the shawarma. This is then mixed with a yogurt and garlic sauce to add flavour and make the cooked chicken more succulent and moist.

Pita Bread with Dips and Toppings at Al Bake

While the chicken filling is being prepared, the chef also prepares the pita bread for making the roll. First, the yogurt and garlic sauce is liberally spread on the pita bread. Then it is topped with some raw shredded cabbage for the crunch. Then the chef adds some potato fries and some traditional Lebanese pickled beetroot.

Chicken Shawarma Roll at Al Bake

The rotisserie roasted chicken is then added to the roll and it is folded, wrapped and served ready to eat! Each bite of this roll is a burst of tastes and textures- a mild spicy succulent pungency from the chicken, sour tanginess from the pickles, crunch from the shredded cabbage and a mild garlicky flavour and smoothness from the yoghurt dip. All of these combine to make the roll a treat to eat!

Food Options at Al Bake

Al Bake also serves a variety of other chicken and vegetarian food items like cutlets, chicken lollipop, rolls, burgers and frankies which are priced quite reasonably. However, we always go there for the chicken shawarma – a dish best made for savouring slowly!

How much will it cost me: Rs 200 for 2

Verdict: We keep going back quite often for the chicken shawarma. It is a very filling dish and makes for a quick lunch on-the-go for those days when you are really crunched for time.  Priced at Rs. 70, it is indeed a treat for the pocket too.

Rating: ***

Address: Manipada Road, Opposite University of Mumbai Main Gate, Vidya Nagari, Kalina, Mumbai – 400098

Jimmy Boy – Delightful Parsi Food

My fiance and I were at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival that concluded very recently. After listening to two wonderful concerts, we were trying to figure out where to eat. He wanted to eat Britannia’s very famous Berry Pulao, but to our surprise we found that the eatery closes down at 4 pm. Then I remembered walking past Jimmy Boy when we were walking towards the concert. I had read some good reviews about the Parsi food it serves just two days back, so we decided to drop in here.

A little background about me before I write about Jimmy Boy and Parsi food – one of my two best friends is Parsi and having been with her for so long, I have acquired a soft corner for Parsi food and quite some knowledge of it. Whatever I can ate there and am writing about here is from all my experience of the world of Parsis through her.

Jimmy Boy Mumbai

This little eatery’s ambience is as Parsi as its name sounds! Old style dark wood furniture and bright yellow tables have the very Parsi characteristic of being loud and sober at the same time. I found it pretty charming!

Ambience at Jimmy Boy

Then there is the ornate wood railing to the air conditioned seating section on the mezzanine floor.

Railing at Jimmy Boy

Oh and of course, I had such a big smile on my face when the server put down the plates on our table – they were very very typically old fashioned Parsi!

Very Parsi Plate and Cutlery at Jimmy Boy

Heavy, thick, off white China plates with a red/ brown rim, just like the ones at my best friend’s bungalow at Matheran (a hill station pretty close to Mumbai).

Another endearing part of the ambience was the old English songs that were being played in the restaurant that reminded me of English clubs of old times. I may not have known the words to most of them but the tunes were familiar enough for me to hum along.

Our Parsi meal at Jimmy Boy’s was –

Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda at Jimmy Boy

1. Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda

No Parsi ‘lagan nu bhonu’ (wedding meal) is complete without the accompanying Pallonji’s Raspberry Soda. I had only heard about it and because my friend hated it, I never had it before. This time we thought we’d try it at least once. 

For me the excitement was just in trying the soda. It had a nice raspberry flavour but had just a slight cough-syrupy aftertaste. Have it only if you’re truly adventurous (like us) and want to have the authentic Parsi meal experience.

Mutton Cutlet at Jimmy Boy

2. Mutton Cutlet

The Parsi mutton cutlet has a mixture of mashed potatoes and mince mutton cooked with traditional spices, shaped into cutlets and deep fried. The mutton cutlet at Jimmy Boy was very well made that even someone like me who doesn’t like the taste of mutton could easily eat and enjoy it! The crunchy outer coating of the cutlet gave way to a very soft and moist filling that was very well spiced. For my fiance who loves mutton, this was a really enjoyable dish!

Chicken Farcha at Jimmy Boy

3. Chicken Farcha

Chicken farcha has always been my go-to snack at the Ratan Tata Institute Parsi eateries. Simply put, a farcha is either the breast piece or leg piece of chicken (or mutton) dipped in a spiced egg wash, coated with all purpose flour and deep fried. Yes, it is the Parsi version of fried chicken!

The chicken farcha at Jimmy Boy was a bit of a let-down. Though the taste was good and the spices were well-balanced, the chicken was slightly dry and not as moist as the chicken in the chicken farcha I’ve had usually is.

Chicken Berry Pulao at Jimmy Boy

4. Chicken Berry Pulao

Yes, Jimmy Boy also serves the very famous Berry Pulao – my fiance did have the dish he wished for! The Chicken Berry Pulao has many complementary components – there is a rice cooked with spices, a flavourful chicken gravy, fried chicken nuggets, fried onions and cashews and the very famous zeereshk berries that give this dish its unique flavour and name.

As expected this dish is a carnival of flavours and textures. There is soft fluffy basmati rice spiced with the pungent and spicy gravy that has tender chicken in it  and bits from the crispy chicken nuggets. Then there is the crunchy rich nuttiness from the cashews, the sweetness from the fried onions with a unique tanginess and sweetness from the berry.

I haven’t had the very popular Berry Pulao from Britannia, but my fiance has had it and he was quite satisfied with this version too. The only thing that we felt about this dish was that there were (surprisingly) too many chicken pieces in it – we removed and kept some aside in our plates to get to the rice in the pulao.

Choco Lava Cup at Jimmy Boy

4. Choco Lava Cup

This one was an “oooooohhhh” dish. A warm, dense sinful dark chocolate cake that you just can’t wait to get your spoon into and when you do –

Choco Lava Cup Oozing Chocolate at Jimmy Boy

a thick, gooey stream of chocolate flows out. The good quality of the chocolate and the outer layer of cake make this a must-have dish at Jimmy Boy. It was a perfect way to end the meal.

Some more suggestions of food orders though I have not eaten them at Jimmy Boy –

1. They serve a meal of lagan nu bhonu (the wedding meal) with very traditional dishes like patra ni machchi (whole pomfret marinated with a Parsi corriander chutney and steamed in banana leaves), Chicken salli (chicken with crispy potato sticks), dhansak (mutton or chicken in a lentil and vegetable gravy), mutton pulao and lagan nu custard. I might go for a lagan nu bhonu meal next time I am here. There is a vegetarian version of it available here also.

2. Parsis make some wonderful egg preparations like salli par eedu (half fried eggs served on a bed of potato sticks and masala) and akuri (Parsi style scrambled eggs)- do try them if you are an egg lover.

3. You also can’t go wrong with dhansak which is meat in a lentil and vegetable puree gravy served with rice browned by caramelised onions.

4. Salli boti/ Jerdaloo Salli chicken are mutton and chicken dishes with a sweetish Parsi gravy served with crispy potato sticks that make for some interesting eating.

The things that stand out for me at Jimmy Boy were the very traditional Parsi decor and ambience, the crispy, soft and well-spiced mutton cutlet and the interesting flavours and textures of the Berry Pulao.

How much will it cost me: Rs 500 for 2

Verdict: Go there for some good, old-fashioned Parsi food served in a traditional manner. Steer clear of the rest of the menu. We saw some other tables order it and I found the gravies to have too much food colour in them- a sign of substandard food to me.

Rating: ***

Address: Jimmy Boy, Vikas Building, 11 Bank Street, Near Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai-400001

PizzaExpress: Live, Fresh Pizzas

The recently opened Viviana mall at Thane (a suburb of Mumbai) has added some interesting brands to the food scene here. One of the latest additions is PizzaExpress – an international chain of over 400 pizza restaurants that has established its presence in 13 countries, including India. The Viviana mall outlet of PizzaExpress is its second outlet in India.

PizzaExpress at Viviana Mall Thane

The USP of PizzaExpress is that it makes the pizzas fresh after you place your order. You will see their Pizzaiolos (that’s what pizza chefs are actually called!) rolling out the dough, flipping the pizza, applying the sauces, sprinkling the toppings and cheese right in front of you. And it is all centered around the ovens in the live kitchen.

Live Kitchen at PizzaExpress

My fiance and I, two big foodies, had heard a lot about PizzaExpress. The idea of having international quality, fresh pizzas really appealed to us so we went there very recently to celebrate a very special occasion. I can happily say that PizzaExpress did add a great touch of good pizzas to our celebrations!

Black and White Themed Ambience at PizzaExpress

The ambience at PizzaExpress can be simply described as lively and modern. The live kitchen (where all the action is!) is placed such that it is visible from all tables in the restaurant. The black and white theme runs throughout the restaurant – the floor, the kitchen, the tables and chairs, the plates, the paper napkins, the signs etc.

Jazzy Lighting at PizzaExpress

It is then well contrasted by some very jazzy lighting in the restaurant. Just have a look at the light above! All in all it sets a fun, friendly tone for the meal up ahead.

Here is the meal we had (and would recommend) at PizzaExpress –

Dough Balls “PizzaExpress” at PizzaExpress

1. Dough Balls “PizzaExpress”

The story behind why I ordered these dough balls is because I had read about them in a book! I had loved the idea then, and I have loved the dish now after tasting it.

These crisp-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside dough balls were served hot straight from the oven. The dough used to make them was very fresh and they went very well with garlic butter dip that they were served with. A very interesting alternative to the garlic bread we usually eat at pizzerias.

 

Etna Pizza at PizzaExpress

2. Etna Pizza 

The Etna Pizza is from the Romana range of thin-crust pizzas at PizzaExpress. The first thing my fiance said after he bit into this was that it reminded him of the classic and fresh Italian pizzas he had eaten in Rome on his trip last year.

Slice of Etna Pizza at PizzaExpress

The Etna Pizza is a crisp, spicy pizza topped with a well made Italian sausage, ham, pungent pickled jalapenos and emilgrana cheese (which is like parmesan cheese) that binds together the different tastes of the toppings. The pizza is like an explosion of beautiful flavours in your mouth. It has a great tangy, pungent spiciness from the sausage and the sauce that the Indian palate with really enjoy.

The restaurant has a wide range of salads, appetizers, pastas, and desserts on their menu. For people who’d love a glass of beer or wine with their meal, the restaurant had not gotten permission to serve alcohol when we went there two weeks back, so you might want to ask before you go in. We got to know this because they can’t even serve the Tiramisu that we wanted to try because they do not have the necessary license! My suggestion would be to go in anyways for the pizzas!

The things that stood out for me are the straight-out-of-oven freshness of the dishes and the great sauce-toppings-cheese combination of the Etna pizza.

How much will it cost me: Rs 1000 for 2

Verdict: Just-out-of-the-oven hot pizzas with all the fresh ingredients have ensured that I will revisit the place again when I am in the mood for pizzas.

Rating: ****

Address: 2nd Floor, Viviana Mall, Eastern Express Highway, Next to Jupiter Hospital, Thane (W)-400606.

 

Soam – Great, Authentic Gujarati Food

Vegetarians… Gujarati food lovers… this one is for you!

Soam is an insitution of authentic Gujarati food located right opposite the main entrance of the Babulnath temple near Girgaon Chowpatty in South Mumbai. It is a pure vegetarian restaurant that serves Gujarati cuisine along with some Marwari dishes and some Mumbai street food.

Soam
Photo Courtesy: http://rushinamunshawghildiyal.blogspot.in/2011/01/january-in-shades-of-green.html

The ambience at Soam creates a relaxed atmosphere with light coloured walls and simple furniture. It is like any normal restaurant that has been well-maintained. However, it is their serveware, a motley of traditional brass plates and bowls, wicker utensils and clay pots and placemats made of dried leaves stitched together that set the right tone for the meal.

Here is what we ate.

Masala Chhas and Guava Panha at Soam

1. Coolers at Soam 

Having travelled in the Mumbai heat to reach Soam, some thirst-quenching coolers sounded appealing to begin our meal with.

a. Masala Chhas (Spice Buttermilk, to the left in the picture)

Gujaratis always serve chhas at the beginning of the meal: it is very traditional as it increases appetite and aids digestion. In keeping with this tradition, we ordered the Masala Chhas as one of the coolers to begin with. Soam’s Masala Chhas is a great version of this Gujarati favourite – a tall, chilled glass of salty and slightly sour buttermilk flavoured with ginger, chillies, cumin, mint and corriander. It is a great way to begin the meal.

b. Guava Panha (to the right in the picture)

I am big guava fan. Any dish with guava in it has my attention immediately! Panha is a cooling drink made in summers of seasonal fruits like raw mangoes or spices like dried fennel seeds (made at my native place). The Guava Panha at Soam is a take on the traditional raw mango panha. It was  well-made cool drink with the right amount of tanginess and sweetness of guavas and a hint of spices: panha as it should be!

Panki at Soam

2. Panki

This was hands down the dish of the day for me! Panki is made by steaming a thin layer of a mixture of rice flour spiced with turmeric, garlic, green chillies and cumin seeds between banana leaves. The dish is served in the banana leaf and is a fun experience to eat. When you open the banana leaf, a gush of scented steam is released that makes your mouth water. Then, you use your fingers and quickly scrape off as much of the pliant panki you can from the steaming hot leaf and pop it in your mouth. It just melts there leaving lovely flavours on your tongue. And you repeat and repeat and just can’t stop.

Farsaan Platter at Soam

3. Farsaan Platter

The Farsaan platter at Soam consists of four savoury snacks served two apiece and makes for a perfect starter for two people to share.

a. Palak Cheese Patti Samosa (to the extreme right of the basket)

This beauty of a snack has sauteed spinach and cheese stuffed in a patti samosa that is fried till they’re golden brown. The first thing that happens when you bite into this crispy samosa is the the melted cheese gushes into your mouth followed by the flavour of the spinach that goes amazingly well with the cheese. This is an interesting twist to the usual patti samosas.

b. Ghugra (top and bottom of the basket) 

Ghugra can be sweet or savoury. The savoury version of ghugra is a fried flour pastry stuffed with a filling of ground peas cooked with sesame seeds, salt, green chillies, ginger, turmeric and lemon juice and sugar. The sweet-sour-savoury flavours of the ghugra were authentically Gujarati.

c. Makai Wadi (to the extreme left of the basket)

Makai wadi is like the Maharastrian kothimbir wadi. Crushed corn kernels are mixed with gram flour and Gujarati spices. These are then steamed, cut into chunks and shallow fried to get a crispy exterior. The makai wadi had a lovely combination of texture – crispy outside and soft inside with a nice amount of spices.

d. Khatta Dhokla (at the center of the basket)

A Gujarati farsaan platter is incomplete without some form of dhokla. Khatta dhokla (sour dhoklas) are so called because of the slight sour flavour that is the result of fermentation of the rice and dal batter that is used to make this dhokla. I am not a big fan of any kind of dhoklas except Moog Dal Dhoklas, but I have eaten enough of dhoklas to know that these soft, spongy, and lightly spiced dhoklas were well-made and were like those made at home.

Papad Ki Churi at Soam

3. Papad ki Churi

Papad churi is a Rajasthani dish that has found its way into Gujarati cuisine too. It consists of roasted or fried papad crushed into small pieces (churi) and served mixed with ghee or oil, salt and red chilly powder, fried peanuts and a little sugar. This dish was a big letdown for my friend who loves papad ki churi and hence ordered it with great enthusiasm. It had too much ghee that even my ghee-loving friend couldn’t stand. The fried onions (not found in papad churi traditionally) added too much sweetness to the dish and felt soggy in the mouth instead of crispy (as they should be) because of having soaked up all the ghee added additionally to the papad. I would steer clear of this dish as I’ve had better papad churi.

Palak Fada ni Khichdi with Kadhi at Soam

4. Palak Fada ni Khichdi with Kadhi

This was a great main course option and can form a very healthy meal by itself for one person. A soupy, rich, thick khichdi made of broken wheat (fada) and spinach gravy cooked to a fantastic texture with great spices. The kadhi was sweet, tangy and slightly spicy and a Gujarati kadhi worth it’s name. The crunchy udad papad was a great accompaniment to the meal.

There are some other great food options that are worth a mention at Soam:

1. They serve Handvo – a traditionally Gujarati spiced cake and Khichyu – steamed rice flour with very little spices served with oil to dip in; dishes that I haven’t seen being made outside Gujarati homes.

2. They have a special fast menu and faraal menu that also has items made from kand (purple yam) that is served on Mondays, Saturdays, Sankashti and Ekadashi days.

3. Soam also serves low cal Gujarati snacks (yes I know it sounds ironical, but no I kid you not) like Moong Dal Chillas and Masala Poodlas for the calorie conscious. So don’t be afraid, go indulge!

The things that will stand out for me at Soam are the fantastically pliant panki served steaming in a banana leaf, the crisp cheesy palak patti samosas and the rich, thick, healthy and tasty palak fada ni khichdi.

How much will it cost me: Rs 800 for 2

Verdict: Go there for the Gujarati food, and you will not be disappointed. Being a Gujju who eats very little and selective Gujarati food, I can totally recommend this place as I would want to go back and eat there. The food here is healthy and like home-made food.

Rating: ****

Address: Soam, Opposite Babulnath Temple, Girgaon Chowpatty, Mumbai- 400007