Sweetened Tea Trail At Café Zoe

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.

Power Lunch

Gone are the days when power lunch was all about dining in a restaurant that had buffets tables set with variety of food of every imaginable cuisine. We used to have too much variety and were not able to decide what is good, little portion of each and your tummy is full with mixed flavors that had a war in the tummy starting from mouth. We hopped from our dining table to the food station for every course, meeting friends on the way, chatting with random people and sometimes eating while standing. Many times, we were not able to enjoy the best of dishes because by the time we reached that dessert station, we were too full already and so missed out the best options.

But things are changing for the better perhaps.

Two days ago, I was invited by Verve Magazine for a book reading of ‘The Reluctant detective’  by Kiran Manral at an Italian restaurant, Botticino, named after ‘Petra di Botticino’ the beautifully veined marble, that has been used extensively giving an artistically  shiny look to the hotel at Bandra-Kurla complex called Trident.

After the reading, and familiarizing with each other,  we headed towards the dining room, bright, well lighted with high ceiling that seemed as though it was hanging by the ceiling. The dining table had just fixed number of chairs for confirmed guests that were planned after the personalized invitations were sent and the number of guest confirmed.

There was a fixed menu with the assorted dishes specially prepared by Chef Vikas Vichare. We gave our order according to our preference and sat down to relish each dish as it arrived.

The freshly baked bread, straight from the kitchen is the good way to start any meal.

While we waited for our order to arrive, Chef Vikas Vichare came out to greet us bringing with him his specialty of diced mangoes topped with steamed asparagus.

The hard board menu card had the choice, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, On Saturdays I am strictly non-vegetarian, so wild Mushroom were out of my list...... I chose Pear and Pecorino salad with arugula and balsamic dressing from the list of Soup and Appetizer.

The sweet sour taste of fruits mingled with thinly sliced cheese and rocket leaves, topped with caramelized nuts....it was a happy beginning...

For the Main it was snapper for me....Chilli and Fennel crusted snapper with olives, potatoes and orange juice.

No, this is not Snapper but I am peeping on the side...attracted by the plating..thinking if he learnt the plating from TV program called Master Chef Australia?

The Herb encrusted Snapper swimming in the plate full of orange sauce and the colorful crunchy array of finely chopped fried potatoes, olives and carrots was up for Mains. The sweet and sour taste with crunchy vegetables floating in the orange sauce and the perfectly cooked fish, it was the dish to die for.....

Different stories are shared at the lunch table which is impossible during buffet,  I like the table setting where each person is seated and the dish arrives at regular interval one dish at a time which is tasted and relished slowly, wine glasses are refilled and as the conversation progresses, strangers become friends.....

The hours tick tock faster and the dessert time arrives. I choose Tiramisu with berry sorbet...

We rounded up the meal with a cupful of tiramisu, which has always been my favorite and I was happy to see it served specially for us. I bit into the thin crispy chocolate wafer that melted instantly into my mouth.

Once again I am mesmerized with the plating of this dessert wherein a thin chocolate wafer dips into the cup and a spiral chocolates reaches the berry sorbet making the dish visually appealing...

Also shared this content with the members of GBE2 on prompt "Two days Ago"

DimSum at ChurchGate Station

Large crowd of people pass through Churchgate station at all hours of the day. During the peak hours, there is just enough space to walk in the same lane where the crowd is moving, it is not possible to stand or even to bend down to scratch your knee. However there are quite a few kiosks tucked on the side of the passage that sell fast food like Frankie, Batatawadas, samosas, puri bhajji and other fried stuff and there is also one tiny room that sells Dim sum, fried rice, noodles and some delicious soup.

Many years ago, on my visit to Cantonese restaurant in Hongkong, I was highly impressed by a waitress, who carted around from table to table with assorted dim sum, and we had the freedom to select our preference, and take as many as we wanted. “How do they bill us?” I had asked my cousin and she told me she counted the plates on my table and charged according to the size and the number of the plates. I will never forget that evening when I had the tastiest dim sums of different fillings that ranged from stir fried vegetables to minced meat, fish, pork, chicken and many other variety, that was the first time that I had ever tasted something so slimy that melted in my mouth leaving behind the delicious taste.

Image source

"Originally a Cantonese custom, dim sum is inextricably linked to the Chinese tradition of "yum cha" or drinking tea. Teahouses sprung up to accommodate weary travelers journeying along the famous Silk Road. Rural farmers, exhausted after long hours working in the fields, would also head to the local teahouse for an afternoon of tea and relaxing conversation.

 Still, it took several centuries for the culinary art of dim sum to develop. At one time it was considered inappropriate to combine tea with food: a famous 3rd century Imperial physician claimed this would lead to excessive weight gain. As tea's ability to aid in digestion and cleanse the palate became known, tea house proprietors began adding a variety of snacks, and the tradition of dim sum was born." (Source)

In Mumbai, people have developed taste for this dish mainly because it is nutritious and it is steamed. Many stalls just specializing in dim sum have sprung up in different parts of Mumbai, so it’s no surprise that there is one at Churchgate station too.

What attracts you is the sign outside the restaurant that says Dim Sum and more. Many people stop by the little window and pack the steamed Dimsum with garlic sauce for their long train journey, but for those who decide to eat inside the tiny room, there are high bar stools and tables where one can comfortably dine. It’s a tiny room which can seat just 10 persons, shoulder to shoulder and if you are lucky to find a seat, then it’s worth it, because you can sit and enjoy the hot delicious Chinese meal which is cooked in small portions just for you.

The menu card has limited dishes but they are worth it. At Rs50 a plate of 6 pieces of Dimsum and Rs28 for a bowl of soup, it makes a fair bargain. The place is quite clean and food quite satisfying.

The Restaurant Review - Govinda

When I call up my aunt announcing my visit to her, she complains that her maid has gone to her village for her holiday and since she has no helper at home, she would like to take me out for lunch.

No issues.

We drive down the Altamount road, pass through Pedder road, drive behind  Bharatiys Vidya Bhaavan and enter a tiny lane  just next to Mehta House  is the restaurant called Govinda

First impression

The first thing that impressed me was the fast food stall outside the restaurant that had Samosas, Pani Puri, sweets and vegetarian cakes and pastries,  a perfect place to have an evening snack. Inside the restaurant, there were the pictures of Lord Krishna Leela on every wall, it was small restaurant with dull lighting and most of the tables were occupied by lunch diners, some of them sharing one dish between the two persons.

We sat down next to the window which overlooked HareRamaHareKrishna temple which had a beautiful  intricately carved architecture. 

The food

The menu-card had large list of dishes, all vegetarian and mainly fusion food. It promised delightful experience that would harmonize body, mind and soul. Since we were just three of us, ordering too much variety was out of question. We ordered 2 plates of Chole batoorey, vegetarian Pizza and stir fried vegetable Dosa

The verdict

The food was awesome, and the quantity was good but the waiter did not warn us about the quantity and one plate of Cholebatoore was left untouched. Service was good and spontaneous. We didn't have to wait for too long.

Chlole Bature had serving bucket for serving chana, and I was so impressed that I am planning to buy this bucket for my collection of utensils.

Yummicious Pizza, I was really floored by melt-in-the-mouth Pizza which had exotic vegetables with olives and parsley as toppings. 

The stir fried vegetables of chopped carrots, onions, cabbage and sprouts with a crisp dosa covering gave the feeling of eating spring rolls, only the Sambar and the chutney was deceiving, but then I wouldn't touch that.

The bill

At Rs350 per head for heavy lunch, I found this restaurant quite reasonable.

There were no finger bowls at the end of the meals, which is quite disappointing.

I would surely love to come back again and also would recommend it to my vegetarian friends.

One evening at 'Le Pain Quotidien'

“Give us today, our daily bread”

While you pray, besides your God, somebody else is also listening…” the best bread maker at ‘Le Pain Quotidien’  at one of coziest Belgian chain, who is baking the most flavorful rustic bread that are crunchy from outside and soft and fresh from inside, which are not only scrumptious on their own but make great base to the delightful Tartines that I would taste later during the meals.

This was one of those places where I could freely click pictures of the food that I ate and nobody seemed to mind, and all this because I was in the company of food bloggers, who care too much about food (as much as I do) and will not let go of their memories, to be invited for such food-bloggers-meet is an opportunity I wouldn’t want to miss.

For that I am grateful to Rushina for extending her invitation and including me in the company of twenty more food blogger to enjoy the meal at 'Le Pain Quotidien'.

Le Pain Quotidien might seem like bakery with a display of big-sized bread on the wall shelf and a tart-studded dessert counter, but enter inside and it’s a new world.

I walked up the spiral wooden steps to join the company of food bloggers with an empty stomach all ready to enjoy the refill.

I was greeted with a glass of mint lemonade, cool and refreshing, a perfect drink to start the evening.

The meeting was all about introduction, getting to know each other, talking about food, clicking pictures and then the best part of the game…eating.

The fun part started with making of our tarts, sweet and savories, using our imaginations. The table was laid with bowls containing assorted boiled vegetables, shredded chicken, burnt garlic,and also assorted fruit marmalade,  chocolates and jars of custard.

I made only one with savories like chicken, mixed vegetables, burnt garlic, soya sauce, olive oil and black pepper. I did not make the sweet one, for which I was to repent later when I feasted on other sweeter tarts.

While bloggers worked on imagination, I started the feast on starters that included Vegetarian Bruschetta and Mediterrian platter.

The enjoyable part of the evening was relishing the Tartines, One by one, they arrived, bite-sized, easy to pop into the mouth, not caring about the calories nor their quantity and loved them all- the big range that included the grilled Asparagus with ricotta cheese, shaved parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella with olive spread and marinated tomatoes, roasted chicken&smoked mozzarella with granny Smithe apple, tomatoes and basil pesto, toasted Belgian ham and cheddar with olive and basil, and the most tastiest of all,-the roast Tenderloin tartine with grain mustard, confit onions and cornichons.

We ate and clicked pictures of everything we ate, we listened, we chatted and ate again and clicked more pictures of the food, of the ambiance, of rustic décor, of the shelf containing a big range of exotic food bottles on sale,etc

You would think we should feel full to the brim at this point after having eaten so much but nah!, there was more- main course to select from the options of various dishes on the menu card.

I chose chicken stuffed with spinach and chevre served with herb potatoes and mushroom sauce and we sat down on a long table to share a meal together. I added a bit of soya sauce and lotsa red chillie flakes and enjoyed my portion -The most yummicious chicken that I have tasted.

Everybody had ordered dish to their own taste and preference, those who had Quiche Vegetarienne with roasted leeks, onions and asparagus, were praising that dish a lot. The Vegetable Lasagne with ricotta cheese and mushrooms was a huge portion and many of them couldn’t finish it, later they told me that fish plate, pan seared basa fish with burghul risotto, mushroom, chilli and balsamic sauce was divine but I was too full to try other dishes. There was also Green Asparagus Risotto with Parmesan cheese and quiche Lorraine with ham, gruyere and roasted leeks which was enjoyed by some of them.

Then came the tarts (that we had made earlier) which were placed in front of Rushina to judge and pass her expert comments. Like Matt/George of 'Masterchef Austrailia', she dutifully tasted each dish and expressed her delight. Since I had made tarts of savories, it sat there on the table-neglected (sniff! sniff!) but who would eat savories after meals? so the best ones were the one that contained custards with chocolates, or blueberry sauce and/or combinations of different sweet sauces and winner, Prathibha (The Chef and her Kitchen) got praise, recognition and lotsa claps.

The tarts were yummy and we have our food blogger Nikhil Merchant who shares his recipe for tarts on his blog..

The meals ended with the cup of chocolate milk and it was time to collect a take-away gift of cookies and breads. Lovely evening, will remember till the memory fades with yet another food-bloggers meet.

Do drop by even if you are not a blogger. The staff is friendly and food is absolutely delicious. The average prices: Rs. 250-450 a plate

The place was full, even though it was late evening.

Hop on to tutorials to know more about Le Pain Quotidien
Do visit, at Dhanraj Mahal
C.S.M. Road, Apollo Bunder
Near the Gateway of India
Colaba, Mumbai 400001

Phone: 022 6615 0202

OPENING HOURS
8am – 11:30pm