Mumbai is the city where rich and poor live in harmony just few steps
away from each other.
One can eat a nice cheese toast at a street corner for
just Rs20 or go across the road, enter a fancy restaurant and order a cheese
toast of Rs200. The toast may taste the same, but the difference is in the use
of cutlery, the plating, the ambience and the service. Moreover, you don’t see
the dishes being rinsed in front of you, nor the spray of dust settling on your
plate from a passing vehicle, like you witness it at a street corner.
It maybe hygienic or non-hygienic, you survive and come back with a
happy smile.
This week, dodging the traffic, trying to keep my balance, I walked
along the narrow dirt path inside the Mathurdas mill compound at lower Parel.
The small houses on the either side of the street had pauperized and blemished
facade, but a glance through some glass windows told a different successful
story behind those closed doors. There are many offices and corporate houses
inside the compound and there are many restaurants that cater to these elite
crowds.
Café Zoe is one such venue. I would never have guessed the interior from
its humble exterior of painted colorful metal chairs and ordinary narrow
passage with plants begging for attention.
But once you walk in through a huge glass door, you are transported into
a different world. It is a place where one can spend hours munching on food and
drinks. There are wooden community tables that can be arranged to accommodate
large groups for an evening supper or one can sit at leisure, alone, sipping
coffee/fresh juice, stretched on comfortable sofas. The ceiling is quite high
with rustic look on walls, black and white photographs relate the story of its
construction. Part of the room is divided into two levels, with a small library
at the upper level. The baking station and fresh juice/drinks station occupy
the lower level with a small shelf covering one wall that stocks exotic
sauces/pastas/books for sale.
Why would I go there in the middle of the day to a fancy restaurant in an unknown street?
Good question!
I was invited, courtesy Splenda, who is introducing
no-calorie sweetener Splenda in Indian market. Personally speaking, I do trust
Splenda and have been using it for several years, but purchasing in Mumbai is
difficult sometimes. The alternate choice, bought in desperation, has not been
satisfying because of the horrible bitter after-taste of different brands.
Therefore I was only too happy to accept the invitation and listen to what they
had to offer.
The Splenda event was coupled with ‘tea ceremony’ conducted by Radhika
Batra, who took us on a tea journey from tea gardens to teacups, while Naina
Setalvad, the health consultant, explained the benefits of using right brand of
sweetener.
A spoonful of salad containing feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, black n
green olives, lettuce n salad leaves and a dash of vinegar n olive oil was
paired with Longjing tea.
As the session progressed, five exotic teas and tisane were brewed and
complimented with food.
I was avoiding non-veg that day, therefore I did not taste all the
dishes, but I was tempted to try the shrimp cutlets that looked crispy and
appetizing. Friend informed me that it contained minced shrimps, eggs, herbs
and was coated with bread crumbs.
The food was tasty and visually appetizing. Restaurant is good for
pastas and cakes. Maybe some other day I might visit Café Zoe to try its shrimp
cutlets and those exotic pastries.
My special thanks to Shruti Amin and Romil Zaveri for the warm
afternoon.
