Food and Wine

On a rainy afternoon, we troop into Veranda, a recently opened fine dining restaurant located on the first floor of Hotel Executive Enclave, Bandra West. My first reaction is that it’s incredibly beautiful. Walls adorned with Indian art, classic white interiors set off by multi-coloured, floral chair cushions, lots of indoor plants and pretty lamps and a refreshing view of the rainy landscape outside the large windows do create the illusion of a veranda. Chef Monish Rohra greets us immediately upon our arrival and leads us to a corner table beside a window.

Bandra is the go-to ‘cool’ haunt for practically everyone in Bombay. Whether it’s the sea you seek or a drink at a swanky restaurant, this artsy Catholic suburb never fails you. But it isn’t often that you come across a place you’ve never heard of. Asado the Cocktail Street has an exotic ring to it …

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What is an Irani cafe set-up doing in the middle of Mumbai’s swankiest five star hotel, I wonder. I ought to be glimpsing Salade Nicoise and asparagus quiche; not brun maska and paneer akuri in a place like Pondichery Cafe, Sofitel Mumbai BKC! And then it dawns upon me. The Parsi New Year is almost upon us and the good folks at Sofitel want me to have my dinner “Khavanu, pivanu, majjani life” style.

Going on a hike through Lavaux’s terraced vineyards was never part of the plan. But one afternoon, during our idyllic stay at the quiet, French-speaking Swiss town of Lausanne, we realised that we wanted more of the beautiful Swiss wine we’d been having at every meal.

Over the years, Q Bar has donned many names and avatars (Behind Bars, Jalsa Bar) but its current form is particularly pleasing, ensconced in a shadowy space next to the pool. The energetic dance music, purple lights and combination of sofa tables, bar stools and dance floor seek to achieve the quintessential lounge ambience. Residents of the area and suited corporates looking for a breather after a long day at work compose the lion’s share of Q Bar’s customers. But the real draw here is their ‘club’ concept.

Gaylord symbolises old world elegance and one automatically feels like lowering one’s voice in the presence of the other stately guests. But Chef Zaheer’s master strokes ensured that we couldn’t stay dignified as we stuffed our faces with dahi cheese rolls, kulhar ki tangdi and khumani ka meetha.

After eating and drinking my way through a substantial part of their menu, I can say with confidence that Tea Trails is the best tea café in Mumbai, as per my experience. Like wine, tea can also be paired with various food items and so for each course, we had something to sip and something to bite into.

Home bakers have really come of age, what with positive reception and word-of-mouth publicity resulting in them luring a substantial number of foodies away from the larger establishments. And when the sweet craving strikes in the comfort of your home, the best thing you can do is pick up the phone and dial a homemade …

Brownies that leave you content Read More »

Bandra Kurla Complex and I – we seem to be destined for dreamy dinners that make the restlessness of Bombay fade away into the cool night breeze. At least, that’s what conspired on Friday evening in the subtly lit, sophisticated Café Infinito, located near ICICI Bank. The moment you enter, an attentive concierge ushers you in and you have the pick of ethereal outdoor tables or a seat in the swanky interiors, where you can watch the live band in action. A speaker outside ensures that the al fresco diners don’t miss out on the charms of the Bollywood favourites being belted out by Mihir Joshi and Vedant.

The Nutcracker is cosy with only five or six tables and noise levels can get a little high. This is not a place for intimate conversations. But it IS a place for stellar breakfasts. After admiring the wooden walls, interesting paintings and odd little knick knacks gracing unexpected corners (they included an upturned yellow stool, the painting of a brown chair and a ceramic bird on the mantelpiece), we opened the menu. I ordered Eggs Kejriwal and Belgian Hot Chocolate while my companion opted for The Anytime Wrap, Belgian Hot Chocolate and a side of potato wedges.