The most complete day ever!!

C's Non-Street Food Diary: 2. Vaishali

Monsoons in India can be depressing or uplifting. It all depends on your state of mind. If you're with that special someone, taking a walk on a beautiful winding road with only trees around you, and the only sound you hear is not that of traffic but of birds chirping, chances are that the monsoon is your favorite time of the year. Add to this scrumptious South Indian fare followed by steaming filter coffee and you couldn't find a better day to spend with someone. Oh, and did I mention that we did all this in Pune, a city that is a 3-hour drive away from Mumbai? Yes, we travelled to another city for food (and even though not acknowledged at the time, to spend some quality time alone)!

We left home at about 6 am, with nothing on the agenda other than Vaishali (honest!). The train ride was uneventful with T being her usual morning self (grumpy, hungry and sleepy). We reached Pune at 9:30 and the weather couldn't have been better. It was overcast, wet and cool....hmmm...i was looking forward to Idlis already. We headed straight to Vaishali, which is on Fergusson College Road. The place was packed. 10 am on a Sunday morning, the wait time was about 45 minutes. But as soon as we entered the premises, we knew the wait would be worth it. The aroma of hot Sambar, fresh Idlis and filter coffee transported us to gastronomic heaven (however cliched that might sound).

We sat down and decided to stick to the basics. Idlis and Sada dosas. Mmmmmmmmmm!!!! The food left me speechless...seriously! I wasn't even ooohing and aahing...I was just stunned! The softest Idlis I've ever had with the perfect texture. Texture is very important in Idlis. It can make or break a South Indian dining experience. These were just purrrfect. We then come to the Dosa. The remarkable thing about the Dosa was the quantity of butter used. My goodness me!! I could literally feel my arteries clogging up. It was the kind of dosa which could give you a heart attack if eaten for 10 consecutive days...but it was SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOD!!!!

T loved the food too...and we had a great time. The ambience of Vaishali just adds so much to the experience, especially the courtyard seating. I want to go back there once I get back to India...I still have to try their SPDP which, according to T, is a disappointment.

Once done with breakfast, we went for a walk in the rain :) We walked from Fergusson to Symbiosis through a neighborhood called Shivaji Nagar. This has been my best walk with T...by far. Lush green trees, the rain, the breeze and T with me...it couldn't have been better. Even though I was pretty jolly at the start of this walk, most of the time was spent in silence. The chemistry was palpable (I should've just done somethin there and then :( ). I decided something during that walk. When I want to pop THE question, that street in Pune on a rainy Sunday morning is where I'm taking T :D

Butter idlis and F.R.I.E.N.D.S

C's Street Food Diary: 2. Amar Juice Centre

This is a very famous place for street food. Very popular with college students and with the late-night party crowd. Located right outside Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle, it's a great place to go for some hot idlis and spicy pav-bhaji.S2 did not like this place. It was quite unsettling that he actually tried a street food joint before I did. He had the usual issues with it: not hygienic enough, too greasy, etc etc.

T wanted me to try Amar for really long. I was game. So one winter's night, after watching a hilarious play at Prithvi, we went to Amar Juice Centre. T recommended the Butter Idli and I went for it. What I got was out-of-this-world, piping hot, melt-in-the-mouth idlis with a humungousoid dollop of butter on the side. I spread the butter on the idlis and tried a bite. I love idlis and I love hot idlis even more. Combine that with butter and you have definitely won me over. The combination worked like a charm. It was soooo good!!! I can still taste it! We also tried the Masala Pao and watermelon juice. It was all quality stuff.

What really amazes me about this place is the fact that it is ALWAYS crowded. There is usually a waiting time to get a table. Even if you want to eat in your car, the waiters do take quite a while to come to you. But I think we're digressing...

The second time I went with T, S1 was with us. She ordered a Chilli Cheese Toasted Sandwich. I would rate this as one of the best items at Amar, second only to the Butter Idlis.

The third time I went with T was the most memorable outing ever. It was totally impromptu. T was supposed to be at a play (for which she was late) and she couldn't get in because the doors had been shut. She called me and I suggested we go for a drive. I picked her up and we ended up going for a walk in the alleys of Juhu. One of the many momentous walks that we have had. Of course, once the walk was done with, hunger struck and we decided to go to Amar.

Now that I think about it, the Amar evenings have played a major role in our relationship. There was something which happened on that night in February 2008 which changed us forever.

T's Pages: Chapter 3

Oh well, Amar just brings back a lot of memories. I’ve spent more time here in my first year of engineering than I have attending classes. Quite a bit of madness has happened here with some really dear friends, including a mad dash across to college and someone actually taking home the Amar menu. More madness followed so many years later with C, including some very famous imitations. This is where it all began.

So going back to the subject, Amar Juice Centre is famous in the area for the Pao Bhaji and Masala Pao they serve, which are quite yummy, but their South Indian fare is really good. Typically udipi style chutney-sambar, with awesome idlis and dosas. They even do some fancy, schezwan and noodles type of dosas, which I’m not too fond of, in general, but their Paneer Mysore Dosa is worth a mention. What is really awesome is their Butter Idlis. They have contributed a lot to my weight gain in engineering. They’re just amazing as 2^nd breakfast at 11 in the morning, especially on a wintry or rainy morning. It’s a killer combination, giving you a warm comforting feeling, but doesnt go down too well with South Indians, or so a half south Indian friend tells me.

The chaat here is just ok, but the grilled sandwiches are really good. Like C said, the Chilli Cheese Toast is really yummy, so is the Corn And Cheese toast. The frankies are also quite nice and zingy, but a little on the expensive side. Other regular fare includes juices and milkshakes, udipi pizza (don’t try the fancy ones, only the regular veg. or cheese is good).

On any day, and especially at nights, you’ll find the pavement and road outside Amar lined with cars and waiters running helter skelter trying to meet rush hour demands. It’s one of the few places in the area open till late at night. Every time I pass by makes me miss the butter idlis with C in dhanno…sigh!

T's Pages: Chapter X

I know C is going to kill me for writing this one alone.

Sometime back. we went to Zerza, at the Tunga Regale, Andheri.

We were fine dining after a long time. As usual, trying out a new place. This time however, I had just randomly come across it in newspaper review. Internet reviews supported positive reviews. What the hey, who better to try it with than C. The place promised a different ambience and a menu that covered an eclectic variety of Indian, Thai and Mediterranean cuisine.

After a hectic day, C picked me up. He'd made reservations (on a weeknight at a completely new place, relatively unheard of, I thought there he is, being his usual compulsive self). Not surprisingly, we got lost on our way, so it took us an hour to reach someplace 20 minutes away. Some more awesome conversation happened, with incessant teasing and "dude, cover!" phone calls were made (yes S1 - you again). And then we finally reached...

Rooftop. Poolside. Table for two. The place was empty except for the 2 of us because firstly, we were really early in the evening, and secondly it was a weeknight. But the place was mesmerising. Mauve interiors with white trims and open barbeque counter, and a semi enclosed bar. The tables are widely set apart and almost all of them have a view of the pool.

The menu was very different. The food here is completely fusion based. Everything was a mix of Mediterranean and Indian, and some things on the menu were even a fusion of Thai and Mediterranean. Even the pasta wasn’t purely Italian. They dint have a lot of items, but there was variety.

We started with a Bruschetta Basket, which had very yummy bruschettas. One Mexican, one Lebanese and a regular cheesy one. My favourite was the Lebanese. We had that and pizza for starters. The pizza didn’t meet my expectation though. It was regular fare. Some very fruity mocktails were served to us on the house. They were mixed well but were a little essence-y.

Main course was a paneer platter with rice. It was not the usual paneer gravy with steamed rice. The paneer was barbequed and served on skewers. The marination was tangy and spicy and the gravy was definitely thai based served with butter rice. We were so stuffed that it was one of the rare occasions when we didn’t have place for dessert. However, the chef tempted us with a delicious Flourless Chocolate Cake, freshly baked for us. This was definitely the best I have ever tasted EVER!!!

After a few nibbles and a doggy bag full of cake, we were good to go. It was a special night for more reasons than one. It was…Our First Date.

Happy Anniversary C…

My Temple, Our God

C’s Non-Street Food Diary: 1. Theobroma

If it were up to me, this would be the first post. But for reasons sentimental and for chronicling accuracy purposes, it’s the second.

Okay, first off, time from plan to actual visit was 2.5 YEARS!! I kid you not!! T was the last of my friends to come to this place with me. I mean I’ve taken relative strangers to this place before her! Not that I didn’t want her to come but it just never worked out.

Secondly, I have to inform you about my feelings for this place…yes! I’m serious…FEELINGS!!

Theobroma is MY TEMPLE. It’s a tribute to the Chocolate God. I know you think I’m crazy but you have to experience it to believe it. Had I been living in South Bombay, my folks would be bankrupt by now and the Uncle and Aunty who own this place would have bought out the Taj Group of Hotels….all because of me!!

Okay…now onto the place, the story and of course the food.

Theobroma literally means “Food of the Gods” (which I have no doubt IT IS!!). It also is the name of a genus of the plant kingdom (sorry T, it’s the nerd in me waking up I guess :-) One of the major plants included in this genus is the cacao plant, source of cocoa and chocolate.

It is located at Colaba Causeway in Mumbai and can be very easily missed. Owned by an old Parsi couple, this 3-year old place is quaint and homely. On the inside, it’s got red brick walls with shelves of their wares on display. The place is a little small…I’ve waited for a table about 20 minutes once, which is a lot for a bakery cum coffee shop.

As I’ve already mentioned, I had been trying to take T to this place for really long. The day we did go will always be etched in my memory. It was the day that T interviewed for her first job (which she got, btw). We left in the afternoon, got to Colaba Causeway and entered Theo’s. I still remember the expression on her face when we entered. Complete bliss is what it showed….even before we sat down. Now onto what we had…

Veggie Sandwich with Arabiatta

Veggie Sandwich with Pesto

Mango iced tea

Cold coffee

Caramel Pudding

Chocolate Chip Brownie

(another cake which I don’t remember)

Needless to say, we were stuffed. The sandwiches were out-of-this-world, one of the best concoctions of pesto I’ve had. The mango iced tea was unique and I quite enjoyed it. The caramel pudding was a little too eggy. The chocolate chip brownie needs special mention here. It’s the BEST in Mumbai. However narcissistic it may sound, that’s the certificate I have given it. All my friends know how much I love brownies and am always on the look-out for the perfect one. THIS IS IT!!!

We left satiated. It took us 3 hours in rush hour traffic to get back. I was a little annoyed about not taking the right road, etc. but still enjoyed it. The conversation flowed, the leg-pulling happened….one of the best evenings T and I spent.

We of course had to go back, which we did, TWICE!!

The second time we went there, T had a chocolate and orange cake (not my kinda combination, but she liked it) and I ordered Chocoholic. It is this 3-layered, eggless, cheese-cake kind of dessert. The notable thing, other than it being delicious and all, is its texture. It’s smooth and really silky at that. Completely melt-in-the-mouth kinds.

The third trip was most noteworthy. T was compiling a goody bag for one of her friend’s birthdays. We had 2 hours to go to Theo’s, eat, shop and get back (impossible feat btw). So we rushed. I was so distracted by the desserts on display that I couldn’t help her pick out the chocolates :P We didn’t have time to sit and eat so we picked up a Hazelnut mousse cake and a Tiramisu for the road. We opened the box in the train’s second-class compartment after a sprint which left us both breathless (remember the fact that you were more out-of-shape than me, T ;) We got a lot of stares from people. Coz the only thing that we were saying was AAHHH!!! We lucked out when we picked our desserts. I rate these two as the Best of Theo’s. The tiramisu especially….again the best of Mumbai. We decided that the impromptu trip would happen again…hasn’t happened yet but I’m hopeful…it’ll be one of our plans which’ll probably take a REALLLLY long time.

ENOUGH SAID :P

T’s Pages: Chapter 2

Two and A Half Years!!! It took us two and a half years to get to the “promised land” (actually just me, he’d been here loads of times before and managed to convert himself and many others before). That’s the longest. Our career best to Theo’s and back (from SantaCruz) is Two and A Half HOURS.

Anyways, the baap of all long pending plans finally happened, I was almost kidnapped and re-introduced to the world of chocolate (imagine what that can do to a girl!) and I was hooked! One of the best brownies in the city (he’s going kill me for not saying they’re the best), especially the Chocolate Chip Brownie, really yummy Pesto Sandwiches, and Mango Iced Tea (!) was part of my first rendezvous with Theobroma. I also tried the Caramel Pudding, which wasn’t the best I’ve had, but better than most. Very good texture but the flavor needs improvement. Well, the chocolate got us buzzing and we had some great conversation on the 3 hour drive back home. In fact we dint mind the traffic one bit, so chocolate happy were we!

To be honest, inspite of C’s superlative reviews, I wasn’t really expecting such awesome dessert, and least of all snack time junk. But I’ll give to you C, what a find! This exactly where I’m going after my shopping sprees right across the road at Colaba Causeway. It almost justifies C’s decision to worship chocolate and call Theo’s his temple. Well, almost. I still thinks its unnatural. :-p

Our next trip here was a binge fest to release my GD/PI session stress, and I ate this girly looking ( it had chocolate hearts on it, what else am I supposed to call it ) chocolate pastry flavoured with cherry and oranges with a hint of rum. Quite nice and fruity. We also had an awesome chocolate cheesecake, Chocoholic, which has three layers of chocolate, milk, white and coffee flavoured, and it was pretty good.

But if you really want to try Theo’s best, try their Tiramisu…it mind blowing!!!!! We picked it up (quite randomly that too, cause I was busy picking out chocolates for a friend and since their display was well stocked that day, C was bedazzled) in a hurry, and ooohed and aaahed our way through it in a 2^nd class compartment of Bombay’s local train at 9.30 p.m. The Hazelnut Mousse Cake, our other pick for that evening, was also the cream of what Theo’s has to offer. C tells me their Devil’s Mousse Cake is also of the same category, but I have yet to try it. Theo’s is also quite famous for its regular cheesecake, but honestly, I find the non-standard stuff there much better. Also on my things-to-try-next list is Chilli Vodka Cheesecake. Will apprise the audience on that experience as and when.

By the way, friend who got chocolates from Theo’s in giftbag ( let’s call her S1, cause I’m sure she’ll be part of this blog pretty often now on ) absolutely loved them, and as a thank you, she did give me an entire piece, and finished the rest in one night. Must say they’re really nice, and the price is pretty much the market average, unlike your regular Theo’s stuff. Two trips in a month can send your monthly budget for a toss. As they say, quality at a price. Just have to add, critic that I am, the service here is as bad as superlative the food here is.

Anyhoo, needless to say, I’ve been converted too.

T

It all started with Pao Bhaji.....

T 's Pages: Chapter 1

It was a long pending plan.

Before I go ahead with our first story let me give you a small background check…In our long years of knowing each other, we made plans and wishlists, things we’d love to do and places we’d long to visit. The only obstacle was the mismatch in our lives. If I was free for a month, he’d be poring his head into books for upcoming exams and when he’d call to ask if I wanted to try out a new restaurant he’d heard of, I’d be too busy with some submission or viva to go ahead. But this we knew, the other person would the love the new place each was trying out. Hence we had a mental checklist (which almost got transferred onto paper, courtesy a nerd I know ;-) ) of places we wanted to go eat at with each other. And the end of his 5 year long course gave us the green flag. We were set loose.

So back to our long pending plan, well because this guy is a doctor and everything, I was sure he’d turn up his nose at this place I was suggesting, a street side pao bhaji place- "Maruti", very famous in Vile Parle-Andheri-Juhu, for its “different” version of the notoriously popular Mumbai dish. Its run by an old uncle who's been doing this for years now.

Because it was close to my college, I’d been here loads of times. The guy comes in at about 8 pm and you just can’t wait for him to finish setting up, even if you’re in the building across the road. The aroma is just irresistible.The bhaji here is completely different from anything you’ve ever tasted. For starters, it’s BLACK. And then it has this melt in the mouth kind of texture. And to top it off, it’s SPICY!!! Spicy like nothing you’ve ever had before. Spicy that doesn’t make you want to stop eating, it makes you want to eat more. And if you’re one of those who like leftovers, this bhaji tastes even better the next day. Its when the spices have actually kicked in. It’s served piping hot in old style ceramic plates with generously sprinkled butter and coriander, a side dish of spiced onions and tomatoes, and heavily buttered hot pao.

Hmm well, that basically covered the basics of our first food outing, which ended with a nice big slice of Mocha’s Vertigo, which C was generous enough to share (he was curbing his appetite then you see) and an almost invisible dent on our pockets.

We both went home well stuffed and satiated, unbeknownst to the fact that we had embarked on this whole crazy journey, complete with drama, hysterics, cover-ups and mauling…basically the works.

C's Street Food Diary: 1. Maruti Pao Bhaji

Hmmm…Pao Bhaji from the street?!! Although I agreed in a jiffy when she asked me, I must admit that I was apprehensive. Never done it before, had never heard of this joint before but decided to go with it anyway. A million more micro-organisms wouldn’t make too much difference to my alimentary tract.

And it was a decision well made. I was in heaven. The dollop of butter, the flavor, the aroma…all mesmerizing to the senses. It’s called “Black pao bhaji”…and it really was darker than any concoction of the famous bhaji that I had ever had.

Ok…at this point I have to describe what the guy does on the pan. He takes pre-prepared bhaji, adds heaps of coriander and butter to it (which I love) and mixes it all up together. What comes off the pan is fabulous. It’s spicy…though not too much…just right. The pao is also heated on the pan with butter and oil and served piping hot.

Then of course came the eating bit. …I can still taste it. The various flavours just came together so harmoniously. There was a zing to it which I don’t think I have experienced in pao bhaji made by anyone else. Of course, we gobbled it up within minutes. :-)

Then came the Masala Pao. Now this fellow does Masala Pao differently. He doesn’t take the normal bhaji, dry it a bit and coat the pao with it, he doesn’t use the bhaji at all in fact. Instead, he uses garam masala, lal mirchi powder, coriander leaves and loads of butter on the pao and serves it as is. It’s a brilliant idea…because it works so well!!! It’s almost melt-in-the-mouth!

At 35 bucks a pop for Pao Bhaji, it’s a great meal.

All in all, a great experience. One that I’m sure will remain with me for a long time. Thank you T :-)

P.S. There was no craziness, no drama, no story with this outing…but believe you me, as we go along, the stories and the drama happen and just keep getting better. Both of us are drama magnets. Not a day goes by that something extraordinary doesn’t happen. Keep visiting…..