Coffee and more…

Offering coffee aficionados a range of well-made bean to cup iterations of the beverage, this friendly neighbourhood coffee shop is great for those quick-fix, perk-me-up moments.

By Raul Dias

Sitting snugly sandwiched between a beauty salon and a grocery store on a restaurant-infested stretch like Bandra West’s busy 16th Road, it is very easy to miss Easy Cappuccino’s nondescript storefront at first. It’s only when one’s olfactory senses are treated to the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans, does this new coffee shop assert its presence.
Living up to the first part of its name, everything here is easy and relaxed. Mainly so thanks to its minimal, almost Scandi-chic interiors with plenty of blonde cedar wood and comfortable banquette style seating along one wall. Here one will find none of those in-your-face coffee shop décor tropes like sacks of coffee beans, quirky coffee quote posters etc. It makes up for this visual quietude with an intensely flavourful and robust coffee drinks’ selection of both the hot and cold varieties, along with a few food items.
We start off our inning here with a single shot of the punchy Americano (Rs 190) where the smoky roast of the Arabica bean is amply evident in every satisfying sip. We chase this with an Irish coffee (Rs 140) with a thick head of cream and imbued with the taste of (non-alcoholic) Irish Whiskey syrup. We also call for a frappuccino version of the Irish coffee (Rs 190) that is even better tasting in its cold avatar, coming to our table in a generously proportioned glass that’s filled to the brim with the blended drink.
Interestingly, none of this apparent generosity in portion size is reflected in the food items we sample. Though freshly made (we saw the counter staff whisking the batter) and scrumptious till the last crumb, the quartet of peanut butter topped pancake cassettes (Rs 100) are barely larger than a coin each and had us almost call for more. Restraining ourselves, we instead order a rather overpriced nasty Nutella (yes, that’s the name!) croissant (Rs 160), that’s once again woefully under-endowed, but buttery and soft to the taste. Bursting with the freshness of basil that complements the woodiness of the mushrooms perfectly, our only savoury order of the six-inch basil and mushroom pizza (Rs 195) makes for messy satisfaction.
Back to our afternoon’s raison d’etre i.e. coffee, the cappuccino (Rs 110)—that we request to be made with almond milk (Rs 70 extra)—is another winner with the barista managing to give it a thick foamy head, despite the presence of the notoriously-difficult-to-froth almond milk. We end our caffeine-dominated session with one of Easy Cappuccino’s non-coffee blended drinks in the form of a Jim Jam cheesecake biscuit shake (Rs 190) that takes us back down nostalgia lane when our school tiffin boxes would almost always have the jam-centered biscuits in them.
If like us, well-priced, honest-to-goodness coffee is your scene, then we’d suggest giving this place a whirl soon!
         
AT: Easy Cappuccino, Shop No. 6, Shiv Asthan Housing Society Ltd., 16th Road, Bandra West.
TIME: 7 am to 9 pm
CALL: 8657393549

(An edited version of this review appeared in the 29th November 2019 issue of the Mid-Day newspaper, India on page 25 https://m.mid-day.com/articles/full-of-beans/22178185)

Flour Power!

While it may not be anything to look at with its uninspired décor and simple appearance, this cozy new Bandra café offers up a menu with some simple fast food staples done right   

By Raul Dias

In a dynamic ‘culinaryscape’ like that of Mumbai’s—one that’s constantly being populated by shiny new cafés, each trying to outdo the other in terms of spiffy décor and all exuding a cool, hipster-chic vibe—we very rarely come across those that go against the grain. Speaking of grain, La Farina (which means ‘wheat grain flour’ in Italian) is one such brand new café that reinforces the adage of “never judge a book by its cover” with all its might.
Occupying the same space along Bandra West’s meandering Waroda Road in Ranwar Village that once housed a branch of the very popular Kakori House, this tiny, rather bland-looking café proves that it truly is (and should be!) all about the food. Ignoring the only other ‘company’ we have that afternoon that take the form of a swarm of pesky flies, we settle down at one the al fresco café’s tomato red tables and call for a range of fast food perennials from the rather small and concise menu.
Tough it does take a while to prepare, the La Farina special (Rs 385 for a 12 inch) is a well-priced, delicious pizza. We go for the thin crust regular flour one that comes heaped with a trio of chicken sausage, shrimp and juicy roasted chicken morsels—all enrobed by a light tomato sauce and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese.
The mild mozzarella once again shows up in the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich (Rs 195) that’s served with fries that are sadly of the frozen, store-bought variety and not homemade as we’d have liked. But this does not take away from the fresh burst of flavour the tomato slices and basil leaves lend to the sandwich that is in reality a fresh Caprese salad between two grilled slices of bread.
Served with an interesting range of Middle Eastern torshi-style of pickle made from radish, bell peppers and carrots, the generously stuffed chicken salami sandwich (Rs 205) is worth its weight in gold. A yummy sum of its crisp lettuce, crusty garlic croutons and grilled chicken parts, the Caesar salad with chicken (Rs 225) is another winner.
We wash it all down with a dense vegan shake (Rs 120) made with the nutty-tasting soy milk, with a slight hint of coffee flavour peeking through at the end of each sip. Perfectly straightforward, our cappuccino (Rs 100) comes to the table with a thick foamy top and does its job of perking up our lazy Sunday afternoon well.
While we were first told that their blender was out of order, and hence no blended frozen drinks were available that day, our attentive server made sure to quickly inform us when the kitchen snafu was finally sorted out, that he was ready to serve us our first choice of the crunchy frappe (Rs 130). A tall glass of just-the-right-sweet chocolate milk blended with ice and Oreo biscuits and topped with a whipped cream crown, our frappe is worth the initial stress of uncertainty.
We bookend our afternoon fast food session with another one of La Farina’s thin crust pizzas—the al funghi (Rs 320 for a 12 inch). However, this one disappoints as we miss the generosity in both the sparsely scattered mushroom slices and the barely-there sprinkling of mozzarella cheese we had earlier enjoyed heaps of in the pizza’s non-vegetarian counterpart.
But with a whole lot more hits than misses, our preference scales are clearly tipped in favour of this tiny café that’s big on promise. 
   
AT: La Farina Cafe, 5 Dunhill Apartments, A-Wing, 26 Waroda Road, Bandra West.
TIME: 11 am to 11 pm
CALL: 8070661144, 8070661155

(An edited version of this review appeared in the 20th November 2019 issue of the Mid-Day newspaper, India on page 21 https://www.mid-day.com/articles/flour-power/22119188)
                                                                 

Themed Bites!

Cashing in on the recent international trend of the ‘Themed Restaurant’ are a host of interesting eateries across India where everything from a vintage train-themed restaurant to one where you can buy the plate you’re eating on are drawing in those seeking to dine with a difference.

By Raul Dias

Who amongst us doesn’t like an evening peppered with loads of fun, laughs and great food and drink thrown into the mix? Enter the themed restaurant where dining out is coupled with some true-blue innovation. All this, in a setting that is almost phantasmagorical and deliciously thematic. A worldwide phenomenon for the last few years, India is finally witnessing a mighty surge in the themed restaurant.
The latest to come knocking on India’s doors is the robot restaurant that has become a sort of mainstay in places like Tokyo and Seoul. Staffed by a posse of humanoids with names like Arya, Ramya and Zoey, and simply called ‘Robot Restaurant’, this eatery in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar neighbourhood is drawing in diners by the drove since it opened in August this year.
We take a look at a few other such themed restaurants across the country. Places where there sure is a lot of dining room drama—both on and off the plate!    

Frontier Mail
Turbaned servers dressed like train attendants help you climb onto your designated carriage from the mock ‘railway station’ recreated below, as they stack your coats and bags onto the overhead shelves. Said carriage is an exact replica—if a tad larger—of an actual train dining car, embellished with all the grandeur and glamour that was associated with train travel in the early 1900s. Yes, providing a unique dining experience, Frontier Mail at the majestic Noor Mahal Hotel in Karnal has been designed recreating the legendry Frontier Mail train that operated between Mumbai and Peshawar during pre-independence days. Wood panelled walls gleam in the light of crystal sconces, while you sit on richly-upholstered chairs facing a polished wooden table. Interestingly, the wooden planks one sees under the mock train compartment are the actual ones over which the Frontier Mail once used to run. Even the menu at Frontier Mail comprises of dishes from the regions through which the train made its initial journey. Here is where you get to indulge in everything from fragrant biryanis of the erstwhile North West Frontier Province to Indo-Western fusion dishes like blue cheese stuffed fish kebabs to even a Mumbai-style prawn curry. For afters, make sure to end your meal with a serving of the sublime paan-flavoured ice cream.

Noor Mahal Hotel, NH1, Sector-32, Karnal (NCR).
Tel: 09996787884 / 891 / 892

Plum by Bentchair
This new Mumbai restaurants takes the whole themed restaurant idea to another stratosphere with its sheer innovative brilliance. The result of the coupling between a hospitality and a furniture brand, Plum by Bentchair, which along with its sister restaurant of the same name in New Delhi’s plush Aerocity enclave, bills itself as India’s first true ‘retail restaurant’. Here the diner has the option of buying whatever catches their fancy in the breathtakingly beautiful and eclectic space nestled in city’s Kamala Mills restaurant super hub. From the furniture to the lights to the plates, everything is on sale. From the design aspect, the entire restaurant is a display area of different collections and is all about the minute details, which are colourful, kitsch and eye-catching. Every dimension is well-kept and blends into each other rather than being distinctive. As for the food, the Pan-Asian cuisine menu is composed of signature dishes like the black fungus and bamboo shoot salad, edamame truffle wontons and the divine East Asian curry pot, among scores of other yummies like their extensive range of sushi. Speaking of which, upping the ante as far as innovation in food is concerned, Plum sends out the wacky-yet-yum Nutella banana sushi for dessert.

3^rd Floor Trade View Building, Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
Tel: 022-61344237

The Bedroom at The Flying Elephant
With an oddly incongruous name like ‘The Bedroom’, this themed section at the even more strangely named multi-leveled The Flying Elephant restaurant in Chennai revels in its rather playful nature. We’re informed that the reason it is called The Bedroom is because it is the most private portion of the otherwise high-energy restaurant. Precariously perched at the topmost level with a vertigo-inducing view of the rest of the gargantuan restaurant down below, this section seats up to 20 diners and is kitted out with silver-gold accents on the luxuriant upholstery and a bright red table. The space exudes a quiet luxury and makes a sophisticated style statement with a sparkling chandelier that is its focal point. Menus at The Bedroom are specially curated for the space. So that one can expect everything from succulent andana kebabs or hot pizzas from the wood-fired pizza oven to the decadent pork belly—a signature dish at The Flying Elephant. Some of the other creature comforts diners can indulge in here include both a private butler and a private bar dispensing yummy ‘Prohibition Era’ cocktails that hark back to America’s swinging 1920s.

Park Hyatt Chennai, 39 Velachery Main Rd, Guindy, Chennai.
Tel: 044-71771655

Prankster
Calling itself India’s first food and brewery campus—all inspired by the collegiate way of life—the rather playful and whimsical Prankster in Gurugram packs a mighty punch with an unbridled feeling of youthful energy, all thanks to its campus-like theme. The cuisine at this cool-n-casual first-storied restaurant can best be described as ‘progressive nostalgic’ where the chefs attempt to fuse numerous indigenous dishes with contemporary techniques and a twist. The extensive menu is peppered with innovative dishes like the choley kulche doughnut which is served with a gaajar achaar mousse, sambhar cappuccino and the nitro dahi bhalla savoury ice cream that not only evoke childhood memories but gives the diner of today a creative and innovative experience which one won’t forget in a hurry. Choose to spend your evening seated at one of the many campus zones like the library, the mixology lab, the amphitheatre or perhaps at the hostel room that is perfect for a private party with its bunk beds and study tables.

8-9-10, Sector 29, Main Market, Gurugram (NCR).
Tel: 0124-4266653

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the November 2019 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

The Magical Christmas Quintet!

From a traditional white Christmas in Finland to an Aussie one where having a beach barbeque is the norm and a whole lot more exotic experiences in between, Raul Dias celebrates the diversity in Yuletide festivities from five unique parts of the world. 

By Raul Dias 

Celebrating with Santa
Rovaniemi in Finland
There is probably no other place in the world than Rovaniemi, Finland to spend the ultimate Christmas Day of your life. For it is this snow-blanketed, tiny town, neatly tucked away in the far north of the country’s Lapland that is considered the ‘Official Hometown of Santa Claus’. A month before Christmas, the festivities are put into full throttle here as Santa Claus declares the Christmas season open in Santa Claus Village. Another highlight of the year is December 23rd, when Santa departs on his mission to hand out presents to children all around the globe. And not to forget good old Rudolf, for Rovaniemi is also home to countless reindeer that one can interact with and even go on a sledge ride with. For those travelling with children, SantaPark is a must visit. It is at this underground toy factory where Santa’s elves create all the presents for children around the world. It’s a wonderful place for children to explore and a fantastic place to get in the spirit of Christmas in Lapland.

Tacos, Tamales, Tequila, anyone?
Mexico City in Mexico
It is in mid-November each year, when the Christmas festivities are kickstarted in bustling, colourful Mexico City. This takes place with the lighting of the Christmas tree in the Liverpool Insurgentes mega store on the third Saturday in November. It is THE most visited store during Yuletide season by Mexican families, for its Christmas village is one of the most spectacular and entertaining of the city. Besides the impressive Christmas tree, it features an ice slide and activities for children to write their letters to the Three Wise Men. From then on, families begin to prepare for the holidays where plenty of food, fun and colour define the fiesta. Think copious amounts of traditional Christmas delicacies like a large fritter known as a buñuelo, ponche navideño (a Christmas fruit punch) along with the usual Mexican cuisine staples of tacos and tamales stuffed with turkey—all washed down with some tequila. Christmas markets like the one organised in the Coyoacan Market or the Grand Christmas Bazaar in the Lázaro Cardenas Market are also wonderful places to get the festive vibe going. Another magical place in Mexico City during Christmas is the Zocalo square in the heart of the city where a giant ice rink is set up for people to skate and make merry.

Christmas in January
Lalibela in Ethiopia
Probably the most unique Christmas celebrations, and not just on this list, but in the world, Lalibela in Ethiopia does its version of the festivities very, very differently. For starters, Ethiopia celebrates Christmas on January 7th, not December 25th. Called Ganna, Christmas here is preceded by a special Advent fast for 43 days before Christmas. It starts on 25th November and is known as the ‘Fast of the Prophets’ or Tsome Nebiyat. During this time, traditionally only one vegan meal is eaten each day. On the day of Ganna, people get dressed in white, wearing a traditional shawl-like garment called a netela. It is a thin white cotton piece of cloth with brightly coloured stripes across the ends. People go to mass on Christmas Eve (called the Gahad of Christmas) at 6.00 pm and the service finishes about 3.00 am on Christmas Day, making it one of the longest and yes, most fascinating Christmas services! This is followed by a traditional Christmas feast that includes a thick stew called wat which can be made with meat, vegetables and eggs. The stew is eaten with roll of injera which is a flat fermented bread made from an indigenous Ethiopian grain called teff.

Joyeaux Noël
Montreal in Canada
Infused with a deliciously French flavour, given the city’s deep French conection, Christmas in Montreal is celebrated very differently than it is in other parts of Canada. Simply called ‘Noël’, it begins with the Défilé du Père Noël, aka the Montreal Santa Claus Parade that has been a tradition since 1925 with about 15 to 20 floats proceeding along the downtown artery and top shopping destination, Ste. Catherine Street, from Fort to St. Urbain. Another beautiful way that Christmas is celebrated here is with the Montreal Christmas Parade (Marche de Noël aux flambeaux) where one can join in the candlelight procession with over 10,000 other people to celebrate the season along with Christmas carolers who walk along the route from the city’s L’Avenue du Mont-Royal. As for those all-important Yuletide treats, you can indulge in an array of goodies like the ‘Bûche de Noël’ Yule log, pork pies called tourtières and yummy gruyère gougères, bursting with the goodness of cheese.

Beaches, BBQs and Bikinis
Sydney in Australia
Surprising as it may sound, but some of the best Christmas Day feasts in Sydney involve going to the city’s many beaches, donning bikinis, board shorts, thongs (as flip-flops are called in Australia) and indulging in a grand barbeque feast with family and friends, where plenty of grilled turkey, burgers and ice-cold beer take center stage. Iconic beaches like Bondi, Tamarama and Manly are the most popular ones to hang out at and enjoy the blazing Christmas summer sun while working on that festive tan. But this is not to say that some of the more typical trappings of a ‘traditional’ Christmas are totally ignored by our friends down under. In fact, the Yuletide festivities are kicked off on the last Saturday of November when Santa Claus and Sydney’s Lord Mayor light the giant Christmas Tree at a family concert in Martin Place. Another popular thing to do during the season is to check out the beautifully decorated Christmas window display dioramas at the David Jones store opposite St James Station, which each year tell a different Yuletide story.

(A shorter, edited version of this article first appeared in the Oct-Nov-Dec 2019 issue of HDFC Imperia magazine)