For small talks & grape vines !!

As the name says, 'Di Bella', this coffee place sure is charming, exotic and fashionable. This Coffee Chain has an Australian origin and serves a range of signature blends. And a few of such retail outlets have even found their way to Mumbai. Di Bella serves a wide range of aromatic coffees with tempting gourmet desserts, authentic hot chocolates and inviting tea leaves.

Di Bella is an exclusive place with a good lively formal ambiance, a typical coffee place in its own way. The menu is elaborate. The signature blends are creamy and delicious. Well, when I was here with a couple of friends, I got a chance to experience the exquisiteness of this place. I tasted the Macchiato, which is a black espresso  with a dollop of milk which believe me tastes great. There are various other coffee here which taste and look awesome with extra shots of different flavors such as caramel, mint, hazelnut, irish creme, vanilla etc.

There are various hot chocolates served here., These drinks are made from rich belgian chocolate to which crunchy waffle balls, chocolate delights, melting marshmellows, coconut overtones, soft toffee notes of your choice are added as per your choice. I basically have described the entire hot chocolate section for you guys here. :). Allll these hot chocolates are garnished with shavings of dark chocolate which gives a different tone to the hot chocolate altogether.

Moving on to the Coolers available here, the classic cold coffees and iced teas are a compulsion to any coffee place. The icy shakes are AWESOME. lol.. I tried out the Danish Toffee Chocolate Frappe. I won't say much on it.You just have to go and try this one.Its a blend of rich Belgian chocolate, Danish toffee and cold milk. The taste of Danish toffee is more or less like that of caramel, but the Danish toffee is more gooey and thick which you can feel in every sip you take.
I've also tried the Cookie Shake, Its made of white Belgian chocolate, oreo cookies, icy cold milk and caramelized pecans. Its rich with oreo cookies. So if you're a big fan, then you shouldn't miss out on this one as well.

They have various desserts on their menu which look delicious. I'm going to try one soon.. The gourmet is as typical as it gets. A wide range.. Am guessing they're good by the looks of it.. :D

Di Bella is a good coffee place to hang out at. Am sure people who have visited this place are not disappointed. Well.. I wasn't.!!! The place has a digital interactive platform. They give you tablets on which you have to place your order. And then you just await your drink/chow. You have access to internet browsing and emails here as well on the tablet. The services are good. Good drinks and desserts. Maybe a little pricey, but not soo much for a once in a while tour. You guys should give a chance to this coffee chain. For me its a Thumbs Up..!!! :D

P.S.: Their motto is : Quality Coffee
                                Unparalleled Service
                                Inspiring Passion
Am sure they're living up to this..!!

Outlets: BKC, Shivaji Park, Phoenix Market City, Colaba, Versova & Andheri

Breakfast on the Go !!!

There existed a term named 'Fast food' which enticed people all over a decade back but it simply meant that the time from kitchen to plate would reduce and it would be more of a sit down affair. Times have changed and the food has become more 'fast'. Mumbai was a city full of hustle and bustle and things just got even more hectic and cramped. Although some traits never die. One of which is to have that same delicious food no matter how much you are in a hurry.

The Gen X of Mumbai seems to be having anything and everything on the go !! Be it the breakfast,  the lunch or even the snacks !! Dinner seems to be the only 'sit down - have peacefully - chew 32 times' activity of the day. Its a food tailspin I say. But lets focus on the most important meal of the day - The Breakfast.

Ideal breakfast for an average Mumbaikar is the old traditional pohas and the upmas. Barely getting time to shit-shave-shower who has the time to prepare the more traditional delicacies Maharashtra has to offer. Behold .. at every nook and corner there is a new story developing and that is of the poha-upma guy. He is middle life crisis man devoid of any other business standing with two huge containers having the yummiest poha and upma at 10 bucks. Yeah the value for money is important. Well equiped with small plates and spoons, he is a favorite of the bachelors and the PGs who often have a monthly account with him.

Then there is the horn clad, huge vessel atop the head, mustache styling guy who provides the not so hygienic but at the same time fast and awesome idlis and medu wadas for a buck or two each. This on the move kind will always be seen on busy streets, playgrounds, around schools & offices etc. He has this stationary sibling who operates on busy streets especially the station and bus terminus areas tickling the taste buds of the early snackers. The chutney is slimy and the sambhar is watery but who cares if you have to gobble your breakfast in 2 mins flat.

Then there are the typical poli bhaji kendras and the restaurants who offer service but surely that is not on the go. Its more of 'A waste of time' nowadays !!

Then there are those morning bakeries where caring aunties bake nice croissants and rolls for the foodies to have one on the go. Such bakeries are omnipresent in small sections of the city and are difficult to find out with the only exception of Bandra. In Bandra, every fourth shop will be either an established or a makeshift bakery for sure. The chicken and the plain varieties are always a must have but it requires one to be on time. Limited batches you see. 

Not far behind are the McDonalds and the bigger chains who have these breakfast menus. Luxury breakfast items at not so affordable rates but a big thumbs up for the working and pancakes craving kind. The Pancakes with butter and maple syrup stands out although degradation of quality with time is bound to be there. The Sausage Egg Muffin is delectable too but its not quite there. Hash browns are getting smaller and smaller by each passing day.

Coffee is reasonably good when you consider its coming from McDs. Order, pack it and have it in the cab seems to be the new mantra !!

All in all such is the status of a metropolitian city that people are finding it difficult even to sit down peacefully and have breakfast with their loved ones. 'On the Go' seems to get the nod. So what next ?? Maybe a pill for breakfast and each delicacy will have a separate one. 3-4 pills popped and you are good to go Mister !!

P.S: Keep Hogging !!!

Vada Pav .. Ashok Vada Pav - The Mumbai Burger

The 'national' food of Mumbai is the Vada Pav and it would be very cruel if the food blog related to Mumbai does not start with it. Hence the Vada Pav or the Mumbai Burger arrives.

The mention of Vada Pav cannot be complete without the name of Ashok Vada Pav which serves one of the best vada pavs in the city. Voted the best of the lot for so many years, one of the scrumptious delicacy day in day out. I was and am still blessed to be in the vicinity of this savoury delight. This eatery is located near Prabhadevi, off Cadel road near Kirti College.

The vada pav is the best item on the list and it is an explosion of all tastes trapped under the pav or the bun. The intricately cut pav is splattered with two chutneys one spicy and other sweet. The spicy green chutney is the usual one with lots of green chillies, coriander & mint. The brown tamarind variety is the sweet one but this unlike other vada pav is a bit sticky which is the only downside for me personally. There is also a third dry red chilli powder in bits here and there which adds nice flavour to the entire delicacy. Then comes the vada which is mashed potatoes with spicy concoction fried in gram flour. However the main ingredient is the 'chura' or the small crumbs which remain wayside in the kadhai after the vada is deep fried. They are added to the mix to give that extra edge.

You can actually get the chura pav too which is the same except the vada. Trust me, its a heaven in itself. There is an interesting story behind it or atleast what the people say it is. Owing to large demand of vadas and 'frequent getting over as soon as they come out of kadhai' syndrome, people were even game for the chura pav as it gave them the same satisfaction. Yeah its true !!!

There is also Samosa and Bhajji pav but the vada pav stands out. But if you are at the counter at Ashok's anything coming out of the kadhai is divine.

If you are a true Mumbaikar then a visit here is a must and with the rains arriving now is the time people. I would suggest one Vada pav and one Chura pav should do the trick.

How to reach here:

Ashok Wada Pav Stall, Off Cadel Road, Kirti College Lane,  Prabhadevi , Mumbai