Prakash: The Sunshine of Authentic Maharashtrian food

This particular topic of discussion is very close to the author's heart as almost all the 26 or so years of it have gone in hogging at this gourmet heaven. Located in the heart of Shivaji Park-Dadar area, it is the holy place for many a Maharashtrian when it comes to quality food. Although they have a branch in Girgaum too. Infact that was the first and the Dadar one came later. This place is one to look out for if one has not been here as it dishes out one of the best savories when it comes to authentic Maharashtrian food.

Although this place has seen an epic change. From the era of lots of attitude given by staff and the dingy interiors with slightly fixed benches to somewhat open to change staff and slightly colorful and light interiors with more sturdy and clean benches. The glasses (half of which used to break while handling) have been replaced by steel counterparts. There is an overhaul in the cutlery too. However the light pink uniforms of the waiters remain the same together with the Gandhi cap. Once upon a time the service and the takeouts were a serious problem not that it has improved a lot but still the people rush in. That speaks for the quality of food Prakash has to offer. Over the past several decades people have benn thronging at this place be it sportsmen or politicians and even filmstars. The list is endless.

The fare is strictly vegetarian and can be categorized more as of a breakfast place or a place for snacks in the evening. Although it also dishes out mini meals which help satisfy the cravings for certain Maharashtrian delicacies. They do serve the likes of Potato bhaji with Puri and Dalimbi (Field beans preparation) with Puri. Then there is also Pulav and Masala Bhat (Spicy Masala rice) among others.

But the highlight of this place has to be the snacks or the breakfast items served day in day out. The Sheeras, the Upmas and the Pohas are all very traditionally made and the usual self. The speacialities start with Sabudana Wada (Sago Fritters) which are spicy fritters made from Sago, Peanuts and Potato - an ideal preparation for people who are fasting or even otherwise. Truly the cult dish of this gourmet heaven it also has a slight variety with Sabudana Puri which is slightly flattened variety sans the peanuts. Both are extremely tasty and depict the richness of Maharashtrian cuisine till the very last bite.

Then there is Batata Wada (Potato fritters) which is a super spicy fritter made from potato mixture fried in chickpea batter. The normal chutney is peanut based and stands out as an experience in itself. The Thalipeeth (Multi flour pancakes) are made with a mixture of flours and herbs with onions and served with a different chutney made from chillies and curds. Then there is Misal which is a concoction of various foodstuffs put together to create this unique spicy sprouts preparation which has a spicy curry base of sprouts along with potatoes, onions and other spices and condiments.


There are many more dishes and just describing them in words wont do justice to their existence. In terms of drinks one particular drink stands out is the Piyush which is a yogurt based drink which possesses all things nice like sweet pedhas and even shrikhand with oodles of Kesar. They have a small wing were various sweets are on display and all are worth a try. The one I would really suggest is the Narali Paak which is a coconut based barfi with dry fruits and kesar.

All in all its a rich experience and any true Mumbaikar should not miss on it. The place where it currently hold fort might go for renovation and it is scheduled to open just across the road. So all those foodies wont miss the taste one bit. The best bit of it is that those long benches cater to one and all so the next time you enter in and have your food you dont know who the person next to you is. Meet new people seems to be the motive here !!

P.S: The author was so busy in all the eating that never in the 26 years he found the chance to take photographs. Special thanks to Google.

How to get here: A 10 min walk from Dadar station to the West towards Shivaji Park.

Address: Off Gokhale road, Dadar Mumbai 400028

Indulge

Nothing is more alluring than the taste and the aroma of a freshly baked cake. And Indulge specializes in cakes for all occasions. Whether you desire an elegant, classic cake for an anniversary or an elaborate theme based creation, Indulge will accommodate it for us. It is run by a lady named Fey, and she does an excellent job. Right from excellently beautified cakes to the perfect customer service. She herself along with her helpers designs the cakes, who will guide you through the perfect creation of your made-to-order cake. For my taste, perfect is light, moist, creamy and the right amount of sweetness, which Indulge promises to cater to.

Indulge, being a gourmet bakery, caters to a wide range of daily indulgence and the celebration needs. This place is a haven for desserts, offering freshly prepared treats ranging from the traditional chocolate cakes to the ‘made-to-order’ recipes. The confectionery’s menu offers an abundance of a variety of cakes and chocolates. Cream cakes, cheesecakes, Mousse cakes, Tea cakes, Cupcakes, Chocolate cakes, chocolates (with filings) are some of the irresistible products here.

I just ordered a Red Velvet cake from here a couple of days back. And man, it was indeed awesome. The legendary ruby colored cake looked beautiful, was rich, delicious and to a moralist, it was sinful!! Various other treats were also ordered by me from here such as the Blueberry Cheesecake. This decadent cheesecake had a swirl of fresh blueberry puree over the cake for a double shot of a delicious berry flavor. I’ve also Indulged in many other chocolate cakes, Walnut Fudge Cake and Ferrero Rocher Cake being the other best. The Walnut fudge filled cake was delicious, which was my birthday treat! It was delicious as I’ve always had a thing for fudge’s and brownies. The Ferrero Rocher was killer in itself. Being the best chocolate (for me), the cake was delicious and finger-lickin good!! :D

If you’re throwing a theme party and want a cake to go with it, Fey will do it just about right. Her ideas combined with your theme will give you the perfect ornamented cake. You have a particular theme on your mind and you’ll have that. Here are a couple of pictures for the same. J

The custom made chocolates are made from the finest of the Belgian Chocolate, with a choice of filings which are exclusive. Not being a big fan of the home-made or custom made chocolates, I haven’t tried any of the chocolates made here. But I can promise you chocolate lovers, that Fey will definitely give you the best of her lot.

All the cakes and chocolates are neatly and fabulously decorated, addressed as per the occasion. The quality and the ingredients used are good. Also this confectionery is not at all over-priced. Here, they take care of everything. Fey makes sure that you get your money’s worth and you get what you wanted.

Indulge in Sinfulness!! 

Call: 02265025050 / 9819787328

e-mail: info@indulgecakes.in

Facebook page: Indulge Custom Cakes

Ray's Cafe & Pizzeria

Ray's Cafe & Pizzeria certainly did impress me!! This one's a beautiful lil joint!! Can't imagine how tiny a place it is.. Has barely 10 tables and the food (from how much of it I've tasted) is mind boggling.!! I know am writing about pizzas again, but I just visited this place a couple of days back and thought that you'll must know about it.

Ray's is a cafe which comes out of nowhere behind Godrej Nature's basket in Bandra and is adorned with beautiful Christmas lights & creepers.. Once you enter here, you'll feel that you're in some other place altogether.. I really liked the ambience as it is peaceful and nice with good RnB tracks playing in the background. And to add to it, the wooden staircase connecting to Moshes and the wine cellar at Godrej Nature's Basket adds to its charm!!

I'll start with what I ate here and then mention about the other dishes served here. We chose to have the thin crust 12" pizzas were delicious and baked in the typical Italiano way!! The one pizza which we had ordered was topped with cheese and sundried tomatoes (which I love on the pizza, as it adds a tangy flavor to it) and the other one was a nice pizza with all kinds of toppings a jain foodie can indulge in. We also ordered the cheese and jalapeno fondue, which got us to new levels of #FoodOrgasms. Delicious would be an understatement for the Fondue. Simply Amazing!!
The pizzas were coupled with drinks. I had the cranberry juice which was good. The taste of the typical cranberry was increasing with every sip taken!! The chcocolate milkshake was a lil too sweet and chocolaty, but a few sips were heaven. The Mojito was great with just the right mix taste of lemon and mint!!

The eatery serves pizzas,salads, pastas, raviolli, risottos,sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs, desserts and drinks and many more on the non-vegetarian side which did look promising as well. Too much to serve for too small a place. The pizzas are also served by the slice. Also you get to choose you own preference of the pizza crusts. :). The portions served for every dish are generous giving it an international poise.

Am sure you might just miss this Pizzeria if you pass by walking in a haste! A lil pricy, but you'll get you're money's worth here!! #NotExaggerating.

P.S: I'd like to thank my cousin Naman, who introduced me to this place!!

Enjoi Indulging!! :)

Address:

Gazebo House, 133 Hill Road, Behind Godrej Nature’s Basket, Bandra. Mumbai-50

Website: www.rayscafeandpizzeria.in

Email:- rayscafeandpizzeria@gmail.com

Quattro Ristorante

"One of the finest places in the city"- that's what I had heard about Quattros from a lot of people around me & so i decided to dine there one Sunday evening with a group of 10 people!! And i wasn't disappointed, plus was worth the wait..

If you're looking for some good Italian and Mexican cuisines, vegetarian food and good ambiance, Quattros is the place to go. A place at par with Little Italy, it has made quite a good reputation  amongst all the Gujus  and vegetarians in the city!! The setting is very contemporary and elegant, giving a very European feel. 

Well, the Ristorante has given a lot of thought to the menu which consists of a variety of soups & appetizers, a wide array of salads, pizzas, pastas, risottos and desserts. Every dish we tried here was amazing and all of us couldn't get enough of it. I'm one of the persons who likes to experiment with different cuisines and dishes, so we ordered different dishes starting with soups right up til the desserts. We had ordered the Minestrone soup which had chunks of vegetables and pasta in it. It tasted quite nice. Appetizers such as Bruschettas and Crostini della Casa were topped with Garlic sauce, sundried tomatoes, bell peppers, cheese, etc etc..were a delight. It gave a good taste with lots of cheese on it. 

The thin crust pizzas are baked the Traditional Italian way in a wood -fired (brick) oven. The taste of the pizzas  (which is very good)  is very different from the ones you usually have at the Dominos and Pizza Huts of the town. The pizzas were baked to perfection. To top it all, they say that they use special Italian tomatoes for the authentic taste, which I apparently am ready to believe owing to the fabulous taste. Here we had the Margherita (plain mozerella cheese with olive oil) and the Mediterranean Pizza (just for the sundried tomatoes, which i really like). The pastas were a perfect blend of rich cheese and sauce. We had the Primavera followed by risottos which was again creamy and the taste of the typical Italian herbs was perfect. Just imagine how the Fondue turned out..!!! The plate was wiped out in 2 mins..!!  

The Mexican Mainfare comprises of Burritos, Quesadillas and a few more dishes, were great too. The condiments added were simply spicy, creamy and acidic for which the Mexican cuisine is known worldwide.

As you'll know that I have a deep love affair with desserts and chocolates, I couldn't have left the restaurant without having tried atleast 2-3 of them. What actually tempted me more was, as soon as I entered the Ristorante they have showcased all the desserts available there. The showcasing was soo tempting that you're bound to save some space for the delicious looking desserts (A good strategy used to have the customers stay back for desserts too!! #JustSaying). We all shared a Tiramisu which was yuummmmmm. It had the right amount of coffee, and was topped with whipped cream and powdered coffee. The picture on the right is the Tiramisu. We also indulged in chocolate fudge with vanilla ice-cream which had a chocolate made cage around it. I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you if you choose to try this invade this place. 

One must visit this place especially the pure veggies. The ambiance is elegant and good. the services so far so good. The food taste & quality- I give a thumbs up. There's lots more to this place which I havn't described and which I havn't discovered. :D

Keep Hogging!! 

Address:

Janata Industrial Estate, 162, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai.

Tele : 022 6749 6444

Britannia & Co - Legacy of Parsi Cuisine

Britannia & Co. is one of the last remnants of the once thriving rich Parsi cuisine. Now the Parsi & Irani cuisine is left only in the Parsi households of Cusrow Baug. However this small paradise is in the heart of the busy business end of Mumbai - Ballard Estate area !!!

So how do I even begin ... the place which looks very old school right from the outset is your typical Parsi/Irani place with slightly chipped interiors and the typical old polished furniture. The furniture itself has a unique story behind it and so has the old wall clock at the centre of the huge dining area. The slick white board displays the todays specials and the refrigerators stock up the scrumptious desserts and the cold drinks.

Mr. Boman Kohinoor, the ever young almost 90 year old owner and proprietor of this Parsi heaven is an omnipresent figure and is always a delight when it comes with his one liners or with his huge treasure chests of experiences and stories. If you come to Britannia & Co. and not exchange pleasantries with Mr. Kohinoor then the entire trip is not worth it. Period.

The food is legendary. Be it the Mutton Kheema or the Sali Boti. The Dhansak is fairly reasonable as I have tasted better. The Fish Patra is nice and refreshing especially the chutney part. 

The Biryani takes a back seat as the 'King of the Parsi Paace' arrives. Presenting the Berry Pulav. It comes in all sorts of varieties: Chicken, Mutton, Kheema, Egg and even the Herbivore type. Yours truly went for the Chicken variety and attained the level of gourmet divinity. The goodness just oozes out in the form of those glazed berries, red and pink in color. The pulav is a perfect blend of nice juicy chicken portions accompanied by the rich gravy and high quality cooked rice. Two small cutlets/kebabs make this dish complete. Bon Apetit !!!

The Sali chicken is also very nice and the rich creamy chicken along with sali supplemented by roti or chappatis make a nice start to the meal. The Kheema is also a welcome change but stick to the specialities is my piece of advice.

Along with the main course, you ought to indulge in the fruity beverages on offer. The Fresh Lime Soda is the normal variant but the Raspberry & the Ginger ones in those retro bottles are the ones to die for. I for one slurped and slurped till the very end into raspberry liquid heaven.

Not much to say about the desserts. There is the Mishti Dohi and the Mousse but the one dish which stands out is the Caramel Custard. Its just the adept end to this gastronomic journey down the Parsi memory lane.

This place is just not about food, it is about an experience. Right from Mr. Kohinoor to the interiors, right from the food till the antiques hanging on the walls, and from those soda bottles till the working hours everything has a story which one must experience on its own.

Britannia & Co. is truly iconic in nature and such places must be preserved not just for its gourmet delights but also for the rich heritage it brings along.

However the only sad part is that the place is open only for lunch and its closed on Sundays. Thats the only dampener to an otherwise awesome experience. #Goosebumps

How to get here: Wakefield House, 11, Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai, 400038
                           Walking distance from nearest station i.e. CST