Siafa Al Alwani Dates - Crawford Market, Mumbai

It was a hot evening in a chaotic market. Me crew was not as used to land as we are on the seas. Tis Captain had heard of a legendary Date store like none other, so naturally me curiosity got the better of me. Most of the landing party decided to venture out to restaurants leaving me with a new recruit who was quite a shy lad. We finally found the shop which stood out like a golden beacon amongst other shops. I smiled as I knew that me date with Dates has started.

One often associates the Middle East with things like Oil, shopping and you guessed it - Dates. Date Palms once stood as vanguards around Oases. They were the natural barriers against invasive sands and hostile desert winds. They stood and protected the Green islands in a sea of desert. And if that wasn't enough, they also provided sweet Dates. Grown in the tough conditions, this fruit had adapted to become almost a super food. Its sweet, tasty, fiber rich, has ample calories, detoxifies the body and is quite nutritional.

An ancient Ajwa proverb

However, some dates are just better than some others. In India, we are accustomed to consuming local grown varieties, Iraqi, Irani or Egyptian dates. In the Middle East and North Africa, these dates have lesser popularity. Some of these are even used as animal feed.

Then the question one must ask is why do we import these to India? The answer is simple, they are cheap.

Saudi Arabian dates are almost like the treasure of the sands. They are considered superior and perhaps the best Dates in the world. However, Indians seldom get to taste these. Only one type of these fine Saudi dates are imported in India and that is only during Ramadan. Ajwa Al Madinah is often used to break the fast. And they are not that widespread among the general public.Well that is about to change.

This is where Siafa's comes in. Also known as Al-Alwani, the company has re-branded itself and landed in India. Their first store has recently opened near Crawford Market in Mumbai. Now, it was quite difficult to believe that Saudi Dates could be so superior that all other Dates would taste like animal fodder in comparison. But this was no exaggeration.

A recent meet organized by Food Bloggers Association of India saw the arrival of Bloggers, journalists and even a professional Chef. Everyone wanted to see and taste these Dates themselves. Were these really that good? The answer in short - Yes, they were.

The store is new and has an ambiance that makes it feel more like a jeweler's shop. The wares make it appear like a Chocolate shop and the presence of a small lounge upstairs makes it feel like a cafe. But let's not get mesmerized by the euphoria. This is a Dates shop, a very special Dates shop at that.

Before giving us a guided tour of the establishment, the management treated us to Arabic Coffee served in a shot glass. Arabic Coffee is much different from our traditional notion of milk coffee. It is made with ground virgin coffee beans with no preservatives or chemical additives. The mix is then further enhanced with cardamon and saffron. Each sip fills your nose with the heavenly aroma of these rich spices. Its an entirely different beverage, yet a coffee.

Being refreshed, our date with the Dates began. We first tried the Safawi Dates, which tasted rich and juicy. These were indeed better than the common dates sold in India but not that better. Our hosts smiled as they notified us that these were the common varieties of dates and nowhere near their best merchandise.

Up next were the famed Ajwa dates. Upon tasting, I realized that the earlier comparison was no misnomer. These dates are indeed superior. The comparison of Saudi Dates to Dates sold in India is akin to comparing a Palace to a Shanty.

Sukkari Dates tasted very different from Ajwa. These blonde colored beauties have a candy like flavor and a soft chewy flesh. It is almost akin to growing soft chewy candies on a tree. Unlike regular dates, these don't even feel fibery and almost melt in the mouth. It is hard to believe that this a fruit.

While Ajwas are grown in Medina, Sukkari are grown in Qassim in Saudi Arabia. These are some of the most expensive dates in the world. Its surprising how location and weather while harvesting can affect the taste and appearance so much. However, its money well spent for these Golden dates. And Siafa's variants are amongst the finest out there.

Captain : Look at these Golden Dates. Its almost like, I have found treasure in the sands of Arabia.

Crewmate : Ah...ok. These are quite sweet and nice. Maybe we should get some for the crew.

Captain : Nonsense, those lads abandoned me for this trip. They shall get none of this.

The shop advertizes itself as a Chocolates shop too. And there are treats like none other sold over here. Resembling Chocolate Truffles, these little beauties were a completely special experience. This piece for example is coated with white chocolate that gives way to a sweet date layer within. The Date's core is filled with a rose flavored sweet stuffing making the complete alchemy truly divine.

Many flavors of these Chocolate-Date hybrids are sold at Siafas like Orange, Hazelnut, Arabic Coffee, Coconut and my personal favorite-The Lemon-Mint. Move over Mint Truffles, Siafa's Date truffles are the newest trend in the game. These are sweet Dates coated with a dark chocolate shell. Beneath the soft Date lies a candied filling of mint with a lemony hint. These easily surpassed some of my favorite mint truffles like After Dinner mints. Its indeed nice to discover that these delights exist in our world too.

Captain : This is mintilicious.

Crewmate : Ye..yes, I liked the Hazelnut flavor a lot.

Captain : Aw, stop being shy lad. Try everything. Just leave the mint for your Captain.

These flavored Dates are sold like chocolates in premium tin boxes. They make a great treat for gifting or a worthy replacement for Mithais during Diwali. I would certainly enjoy a box of Siafa's Lemon-Mint Dates more than a box of Kaju Katri.

And just when I thought that the store had showed me its most special product, I was proven wrong. If this picture feels delicious then trust me, the real thing is Divine. This particular treat is made of Ajwa Dates filled with a stuffing made of Cardamom and Nuts. These are then soaked in Honey and topped with saffron. Due to the presence of liquid Honey, this product must be leveled at all times. The taste resulting from the addition of different treats into the concoction was well balanced and suggested that the ingredients were in a sweet harmony with each other.

This special range has other varieties too. There is Sagai Dates with Honey, Nuts, Cardamom and saffron. And then there is Ikhlas Dates with Honey, Nuts, Cardamom and Saffron. The reader must excuse me a bit here, its hard for me to describe everything given the sheer range of things sold here. But its safe to say that there is enough special stuff to have you making several sorties to the store. These things are largely unheard of in India, let alone be sold. These are truly some of finest treasures of Saudi Arabia.

Captain : This is a Date Heaven.

Crewmate : Uh, can I try one too Captain?

Captain : Sure lad, just one though.

The shop also offers assorted Tamaria which feel like a mix of Italian Ferroro Rochers and Indian ladoos with an Arabian Twist. These balled up goodies are made of Dates, Honeys, Nuts coconuts and ice cream sparkles. If you are bored with the same old Mithais, chocolates and Dry fruits - Give these a try. Be careful while buying these as gifts as one may just end up eating these themselves.

Whether it is for self consumption, personal gifts, Valentine's Gifts (Because a date with dates sounds too awesome) or corporate gifting - there are options for everyone. Siafa's is truly a unique addition to Mumbai's vibrant food and dessert culture. Visit Siafa to experience a sweet paradise that you never even imagined about.

To end this on a sweet note - Here is a picture of what I call the King's chalice. This is amongst the most stellar offerings of Siafa. It attracted attention from both inside and outside the store.

The Captain's Score : 9/10

"Ha, I laugh at those fools who chose to not join me for this trip. Maybe we could tease them with our eventful tales from the Arabian Ni..dates."

Map Co-Ordinates
Siafa
Below Federal Bank,
Lokmanya Tilak Marg, Near Crawford Market,
Fort, Mumbai.
https://twitter.com/Siafaindia

-This was a special meet arranged by Food Bloggers association of India-

Eat Around the Corner - Bandra, Mumbai

There were so many ships in these coastal seas. It was a difficult time steering the helm lest I collide into one of them ruffians in the sea. With a few of me mates, we carefully studied the map and zeroed in on our destination. With some clever navigation, we managed to make it to an inlet sea lane which was empty. And soon enough we saw our destination around the corner.

Bandra is a region with so many eateries hidden in lanes that its just not possible to find all of them.
Eat Around the Corner is one of them. It brought to you by the same people who are behind Pizza by the Bay.  Far from the busy Linking road, nestled in little known lanes and opposite Theresa's School is Eat Around the Corner(EATC). True to its name, its a L shaped restaurant located around a corner.

EATC has a large outdoor area and a cafe sized indoor area. The Al Fresco is known to host colorful events from time to time. The Spanish Night Market, for example recently happened here. This gives the Cafe a special feel. The indoor area has an atypical architecture with mirrored pillars blocking view and making the cafe appear smaller than it actually is.

The ambiance feels spartan with additions of mirrors and lights. However the seating is quite cozy, which works very well for patrons. EATC boasts itself as a Cafe plus Bakery and lives to that role quite well.

With a vibrant display case of pastries, food and Italian delicacies - it does offer more than the standard Cafe-Bakery types like Moshe's or Theobroma. It also offers a lot of healthy food as part of its breakfast options.

Now to make a note - I was invited to EATC as part of an event with other food writers. We sampled some of their newest grub offerings.

I chose a Virgin Mojito to start out with. Surprisingly for a cafe, EATC seems to have a limited beverage menu. The drink looked great visually but its flavor was overpowered by mint. The saccharine flavor was atypical of a Mojito. It lacked the tangy-zesty flavor which is expected in a virgin Mojito.

Tapas Platter was served with Hummus, Greek Yoghurt, Baba Ghanoush and Taboulleh. Tapas is something that differs from place to place. EATC offers simple and true Tapas. This little appetizer is meant to be eaten with the supplied dips and olives to get the right flavor. Different palates prefer different dips. I found the Taboulleh and Baba Ghanoush to be a mismatch while the Tapas tasted great with the Hummus and Greek Yoghurt.

Veg Empanadas with Spinach and Feta cheese was served without the Feta so it was basically cooked Spinach wrapped with flour. The greenness of the Spinach was visible through the dumpling shell as well. Fair to say that it wasn't a hit with the crowd and it requires improvement.

Captain : I feel that Popeye would love these Empanadas. But I would have preferred the Feta.

Crewmate : I love Spinach. Its my favorite food after working out.

Captain : I love Feta, Its my favorite cheese eating out.

Grilled Cottage Cheese Cubano is a Cuban(Cubano is Spanish for Cuban) Sandwich using Baguette bread and stuffed with Bell peppers, Mayonnaise, Aubergine mashing, cottage cheese and caramelized onions. The taste was decent with the mashing and cottage cheese dominating the flavor.

Grilled chicken Cubano is the carnivore variant of the above. Cuban Sandwich is usually supposed to be filled with Glazed Ham, so I was a little skeptical at the start. But this was an acceptable imitation of the original minus the ham and plus the chicken. Thin slices of chicken breast were paired with cheese and caramelized onions. And was served with a Mayonnaise dressing and Olives. The grilling could have been a lot better as it felt very little and uneven.

Brown Rice Risotto with roasted Squash and Arugula was an authentic Risotto which got the flavors right. The brown rice added a rich texture and the Arugula topping went well. The Squash was a little lesser than expected but I didn't find an issue with that. Was plated splendidly and tasted well. It is quite a delight for the pure vegetarian.

Captain : Brown Arborio is a nice treat.

Crewmate : Tis be my first time wit it, Cappy.

Captain : You really need to see the world more.

Crewmate : But I have been with the crew ever since its first day.

Penne Alfredo with Broccoli and herb crusted Chicken was by far the best serving of the evening. It was a generous portion of tender chicken breast marinated with herbs and served with Penne Pasta mixed with Alfredo Sauce. There was also a slice of toasted Focaccia. The flavors of Oregano and Basil were prominent on the pasta with a hint of Thyme. For a Cafe type installation, this was a dish of good quality.

Captain : I love the Chicken. 

Crewmate : Y u no love Pasta?

Captain :  Oh, don't worry lad. I have already taken a nice serving of Pasta to go with the chicken.

Crewmate : Oh...hey where did all the grub go.

EATC's Churros is a different take on the classical Churros. These were extremely light with very little oiliness. Rather than being hard and crunchy, these were quite soft and chewy. It may not be the traditional Churro but the flavor was quite balanced and had permeated to the very core of each stick. The generous addition of Cinnamon sugar provided the right balance. This went well with the chocolate sauce provided. Apart from its great taste, it also had a gratifying aroma.

Since the meal was on the house, I cannot comment much on the prices. I just feel that the cafe can do much better by shaving its prices a bit.

The service is professional and polite. It's consistent with all MARS Hospitality installations. The servers know what they are talking about and can describe most of the dishes accurately.

Wrapping this up, I'll say that Eat Around the Corner is a great part of the Bandra food district. A place worthy of going again and again. And truly a gem for those living nearby. It offers good breakfasts and its events make it a fun place to be. However, it does need to iron out glitches so that it can achieve its full potential.

The Captain's Score : 7/10

"All Right lads, we will surely eat around the corner again. For now we have a long night ahead. With the winds and under the stars, its back to high seas for us."

Map Co-Ordinates
Eat Around The Corner
24th & 30th Road Junction,
Opposite St Theresa's School, Pali Hill, 
Bandra West, Mumbai
Phone :+91 9867072226

-I was invited to a Chef's Table event to sample some of their newest offerings. Thanks go to Chandni Tolani and Boomerang Media for inviting me.-

Chili's - Vashi, Mumbai

It was high noon. The heat of the summers could be felt in every cell of me body. Even the sea breeze was menacingly hot. We had been traveling for many days without a shore in sight. These were far off seas we had never been to. Tis be the frontier life. However, traveling in the frontier often reveals rewards unheard and lands never seen. This was much farther and much different than any place we had ever been too. However, me lads we overjoyed at seeing land finally. We had arrived at a far off land full of restaurants. However, we wanted our travel to be worth it. We needed a winner. And that's how we discovered Chili's in Vashi.

Feels very western with this modified picture.

Do you feel lucky punk? Well do Ya? Traveling far and wide from Mumbai to Vashi can be a daunting task. And the humid Summers don't make the journey any easier. Having a great experience in Chili's Powai was reason enough for me to travel all the way to Vashi for the Chili's experience there. It was a two hour long journey and and at the end of the day, it was totally worth it. I was in my most skeptical mood when I arrived and the restaurant easily impressed me with its themes and grub.

Chili's Vashi has a mix of energetic and rustic Texan diner themes. I chose my table at a spot which felt very Texan. Chili's Vashi is remarkably different when compared to the Powai outlet. The food court in the mall can get chaotic especially on the weekend and on such times its cool to find refuge in Chili's. Two seaters, Four seaters, Six seaters and communal tables. The establishment has several kinds of tables and can accommodate any group up for grub.

This outlet has recently opened shop and welcomes patrons with several additions to its standard menu.

Since I was a stranger in a strange land, I tried to go sober this time. I decided to hydrate myself with a Fruit Cooler Mocktail and thus came the deliciously red Evolution. This is flavored with Passion fruit and pineapple. Its sweet, tangy and extremely effective against thirst. It restored all my lost energy just like a health portion in a video game. Do note that Chili's does have a large range of wines and drinks for those in the mood for celebrating or partying.


Chili's has one of the largest menus that I have seen. Pastas, Burgers, Nachos, Seafood, Quesadillas, Rice etc. (I could go on for an entire paragraph). Its easy to get lost and in such times do ask the server for help. The service at Chili's is decent. The servers can sometimes appear clueless but they are still professional. They also have this peculiar tradition of going on their knees while taking your order. It can be both pleasing and embarrassing(Dude that's the propose pose) at the times but this seems to be their standard practice all across the world.

To the vegetarian folks out there, a large portion of Chili's grub is veggie so you won't feel left out.

With my grub choices sorted out, it was time to eat.

Boneless Chicken Wings - I really loved this item when I went to Chili's, Powai. So it was only natural for me to order this again over here. Start the meal on a good familiar note as they say. The Chicken Wings go well with the ranch dip provided. The restaurant also wraps these in Honey Chipotle sauce or BBQ Sauce upon request. While these were quite juicy and tasty, I did feel that the salt levels were a bit more than normal. It didn't affect the overall taste or cause an annoyance though. The Ranch dip counters the salt in the chicken pretty well.

Chili's is bringing the real Chicken Wings back. Time to forget the conveyer belt abomination that one eats at food court joints.

Captain : Lad, lets have a fair deal. I'll have the chicken and you can have the carrots. Fifty-Fifty.

Crewmate : That does not sound fair to me, Captain.

Captain : Well it is fair. For me anyway. 

Bolder Nachos looked unlike anything I have ever seen before. True to their name they look like big rough fellas who can thrash up regular nachos. The Cheddar cheese coating the nachos provides em the trademark colors. The plating was very beautiful with the cilantro sauce patterns. Although in terms of taste, the sauce felt a bit dull and like an insignificant background actor in the whole act. A generous amount of Sour Cream was provided which paired well with the Nachos. I loved this item, as I was quite bored of regular Nachos and really wanted to try something new.

Captain : These Boulders would roll over Regular Nachos.

Crewmate : Its Bolder, not Boulder.

Captain : But the latter sounds more fun. 

Crewmate : But its incorrect.

Captain : You are doing a week long duty of deck sweeping, grammar maniac.

Jalapeno Chicken Quesadillas was the item recommended to me when I asked for a good Quesadilla. Quesadillas are my favorite Mexican item and I wanted to see Chili's take on it. Do note that they serve eight pieces per plate, I however asked them to customize it to four in order to save space for more grub. Each piece contained a generous portion of Fajita marinated chicken in quality butter toasted tortillas. Its flavor was further enhanced with Jalapenos and Monterey Jack Cheese.

The sour cream and the pico de gallo(Mexican Salad for laymen) are good pairing options but I think I found the pairing with the chipotle ranch dip to be the best. The dip was so addicting that once I had a bite of the Quesadilla with it, I just couldn't stop.

Turning towards a little diversity, I chose Chipotle Salmon as a main. After all, having only Tacos, Nachos and Quesadilla would have been food stereotyping.

This is a classical Tex Mex fusion. Fish is not something that one often finds in Mexican installations in India. This dish not only appeared appetizing, it was rather sumptuous. The Chipotle is strong on this one. The rice is Chipotle flavored and the creamy sauce provided with the salmon is a smoky Chipotle sauce mixed with cream. Since, the sauce with the salmon is not purely Chipotle, one can sometimes feel the fattiness of the cream. It feels a bit like egg yolk. The roasted Jalapeno Corn salad appears like a strange and vibrant mixture. But a morsel of the salmon coated with the sauce and some rice along with the salad makes a perfect bite.

Mango Chile chicken has a rather confusing name. It refers to the country but the taste positively suggests Chili rubbed chicken breasts. A new addition to their menu under the category of Lighter options, this is one of Chili's relatively less calorie foods. Do note that I said relatively. However, when I go dining outside, I leave my calorie meter at home.

This was definitely the best item of this Chili's experience. It had everything I want in a good dish. It had a balance of meat, greens and carbs. It was plated beautifully. There was so much happening with this dish.
The Chicken breast is marinated with a six pepper blend and coated with a Habanero-Mango mixture. Then topped with diced fresh Avocado. Served with greens and Chipotle rice, this dish has many flavors. The bite begins with a sweet tangy flavor which evolves into spicy-salty as one chews down the morsel. This dish has the potential to be a future crowd favorite.

Captain : Mango and Chicken sound so strange together.

Crewmate : Well the sea does hold many mysteries.

Captain : Indeed, but sometimes strangeness is fun as is this chicken.

Crewmate : But where has the Chicken gone...hey!

Cinnamon Molten Cake is like the distant fancy cousin of Molten Lava cake. It's a new addition to Chili's menu (At the time of this post) and it aims to please. This is quite a treat for the cinnamon lover. A light colored cake filled with Cinnamon cream forms the mountain below. Regular snow is boring but Vanilla Ice cream as snow is awesome. And then its sprayed with cinnamon sugar and wrapped with a ribbon of caramel sauce. This dish was lovingly plated and it tasted as much flavorful. Chunks of cake with cream, a spoonful of Ice cream, a bit of caramel and lots of love may not make the Powerpuff girls but it surely makes an awesome dessert.

Captain : The cake is like gold, the ice cream jewels.

Crewmate : Here it comes.

Captain : Wrapped in Caramel Elixir, this is truly a treasure.

Crewmate : High and Poetic.

Chili's pricing is par with what is expected of quality casual dining places. One might feel that its on the higher side but in an age where Casual Dining restaurants are trending across the nation, its pricing feels quite affordable. That plus the American sized large portions make Chili's well worth the money.

Do note that Tex-Mex is not the same as Mexican. If you live in Vashi or nearby, a trip to Chili's makes a great Tex-Mex experience. Good Food, Decent service and reasonably priced large portions - That pretty much describes Chili's.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"The Super sized fun is over lads, now back on the seas for a Super sized adventure. "

Map Co-Ordinates
Chili's

2nd Floor, Inorbit Mall,
Sector 30A,
Vashi, Navi Mumbai

-I was invited to sample the grub at Chili's in their first week of operation.-

Auriga Restobar - Mahalaxmi, Mumbai

While we were still celebrating our Tonician adventure, some of me crew wanted more grub. Those Greedy lads! A restaurant on top of a watering hole is a curious thing though and me lads wanted to try it out before we set for the sea. Thus, we went up the stairs and watched the worlds change from Tonic to Auriga.

After my early evening grub and grog in Tonic, I moved up to Auriga. The old Auriga re-branded itself as Tonic which sits in the bottom and Auriga which floats on the top. The usage "floats on the top" works well if one thinks of Auriga as the star constellation of the same name. I walked up the stairs and it was like moving through a stargate. Leaving the neon lit and loud club atmosphere behind; and entering the relatively quieter and darker Auriga.

In terms of Ambiance, Auriga borrows some elements from Tonic like the caged lights but it still retains most of it's old architecture. The irregular wood work on the walls and ceiling create a sense of mystery and adventure. Combined with the dark atmosphere, it feels as if one is sitting secluded from civilization in a tree house deep in a jungle. If you come here to get away from the busy city life then I assure you that you really get away.  Though, the glass barriers do not completely mute the music from below, it brings it down considerably.

So in short, Tonic is for the active party types while Auriga is for the quiet diners. It won't be wrong to say that you sat under the Auriga constellation while dining. It's quite dark and the clever placement of the few lights create quite an atmosphere.

The seats are comfortable for the most part. There is even a large communal table in the middle, should one come here with a big bunch of people. To me, the large screen feels a little out of place but Mumbaites love their IPL and English premier league games.

Auriga offers a large variety of pastas, pizzas, Risottos and burgers. It also has a fair number of popular main dishes like Chicken Cordon Bleu and Ratatouille. It is a restaurant with an expanded Italian fare. These are the mains that I sampled out.

Burnt Garlic Cottage cheese burger is comfort food for the purely vegetarian types. These were served as sliders. These look rather appealing and taste equally good. The culture of sliders is slowly catching on in Mumbai but often a smaller burger means smaller patties and lesser effect on taste buds. Chef Ameya overcame those obstacles and gave us power packed small burgers. The flavor was great and it reminded me of the Good Ol' Veg Burger in the late 90s before McDonalds changed people's burger perceptions. The Burnt Garlic and cottage cheese blend well to provide a rather addicting taste.

Captain : These look fancy, eh lad?

Crewmate : They taste fancy too.

Captain : Oh! Let me try.

Crewmate : You are trying three at a time Cappy?

Grilled Veggie Tortellini uses the belly button shaped pasta called Tortellini. In Italian cuisines, it is usually stuffed with meat but in India it is of course customary to have a veggie variant. Auriga does well with it's veggie adaption. The spicy and oily flavor reminds me of Schezwan noodles. There is also a hint of Oregon and Thyme. Although I would have preferred a chicken stuffing, the vegetarian variant works quite well too.

Mini Chorizo Pizzas were without a doubt the best item of the evening. Chorizo is my favorite ham and I love any pizza with a generous Chorizo topping. Now mini pizzas again run the risk of losing out on flavor but thankfully these small morsels just had a large chunk of ham and cheese on them. Very meaty and full of flavor, this is quite a treat for a carnivore. The only issue I found was that a large Chorizo ham pizza has room for more ingredients and cheese, thus making a diverse and complete pizza.

Captain : This is literally a coin sized pizza.

Crewmate : Can we toss these for heads and tails?

Captain : Sure lad. Heads I win, Tails you lose.

Basa Spiced Orange would literally melt in the mouth. It was softer than a bubble. The flavor of the meat was the typical gooey basa that I have found in many other places. Thankfully the spices and the mustard sauce provided a tangy and savory flavor. Overall though, I felt that this was a basic dish and missed the zing that I had expected it to have.

Chocolate Gooey Cake was a rich, sumptuous and a heavy dessert. Each bit had lots of sticky rich chocolate in the cake. A hint of basil could be felt too. While I enjoyed this dessert, I felt that Auriga currently has a very limited Dessert menu. It would be nice if they could increase the offerings by a bit. Since they specialize on Italian fare, some Gelato or Panna Cotta won't be bad on the menu.

Captain : This is tasty but I would have loved some Cheesecake or Panna Cotta instead.

Crewmate : I assume you didn't like it because it didn't make you high.

Captain : I don't remember getting high on dessert before.

The serving staff is the same for both Tonic and Auriga. Hence, once again I found the servers to be cordial and knowledgeable. Although, there was a fair bit of chaos and confusion around the communal table at the beginning and the folk at the distant end of the table only saw the dishes when they were almost served out.

The pricing at Auriga seems to be on par with most restropubs and Lounges around town. For an uptown eatery, I felt that the prices were well balanced and affordable. It would come around 1300 INR on an average for a person having one drink, appetizer, main and dessert. Given the quality of the food, I felt that it's quite satisfactory.

Finally the evening reached its end and it was time for me to come out of man made Auriga to go under the Universe made Auriga. Reflecting upon the overall event, I would say that Auriga was a well balanced and memorable experience. Although, I did feel that they could have had a larger Dessert menu.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"Its late lads, you had yer fun. There be more stars waiting for us out there. Out with the sails and back on the seas."

Map Co-Ordinates
Auriga

Dr B E Moses Road, 

Famous Studio Lane, 

Mahalaxmi, Mumbai.

-This was a continuation of my Tonic Experience and the meal was on the house.-

Cheval Bar & Restaurant - Fort, Mumbai

It was the call of the Brethren court. Food Captains from all over were planning a grand meet at a chosen island. How could I miss it for the world? With sails and me crew in full swing, we journeyed for a long time in the hot seas. As we neared our destination, I adjusted me hat and coat. Tis be an important meeting after all. As we approached land, me and my first mate got ready to land. I would be needing my best crewmate for this event after all.

I have to be honest and admit that I had not heard of this place until my friends mentioned it to me. They had planned a meet over here. I decided to make a voyage for food and for food company(I meant good company, honest.). The advantage of such a trip is that it spares one from the embarrassment that they get while taking pictures of food in a restaurant. Food Photography often wins hostile stares from everybody including the staff and the little baby in his mother's arms. Oh yes its great to be in good company.

We met at Cheval as a "Hungry Dozen" of some sort with a determination to make our own tasting menu out of the grub offered. Cheval is a high horse that I wouldn't want to get off from. It feels very European in its decor. There are three sections to the restaurant. The classy pub, the old Villa and the smokers den.

Our bunch sat in the classy pub. It has a bright appearance, a mix of European and Industrial decor(Thanks to the Air conditioning Ducts overhead). There is also a flashy gallery like wall with a few art pieces. One must admit that it sets the mood quite high for a lunch on a hot day. The Old Villa had a very Mediterranean cafe like appearance to it. Given choice, I would have preferred to eat here but there was some sort of an event going on, which made this area off limits for us. The smoker's den is a small strip of space betwixt the restaurant's inner parameter and the old building's wall. Its good to have a drink and a smoke while looking at the hypnotic lights and traffic of downtown Mumbai. Good place to be at night, I reckon.

Being a little late, I missed the drink's party but was just in time for the entrée. Though, they do have a rather great Wine menu.

My first stop along the Rider's trail was the Warm fried Brie. While the item was acceptable and quite tasty, it wasn't quite Brie. It was too crumby and less Brie-y. The cheese within needed some work. The crust was too thick and the cheese lacking the appropriate viscosity.

The BBQ Rubbed Ribs had a very tropical setting to them. They screamed Mango republic due to the Mango paste draped over them. A truly interesting flavor. While a bit too well done for perfection, these still tasted great. The flavors were sweet, tangy and salty. I had to chew the meat off the bone with a little bit of an effort.

Captain : Ribs with Mango. Now that's something new. 

First mate : Quite true buddy, something different than the regular ribs.

Captain : This could have been a bit rarer though.

Lamb Chips with Romesco sauce made me feel that we had been served with the wrong item. More than chips, these looked like chops in the literal sense. But eh, I would be fine calling these croquettes due to the visual similarity. Nice, crunchy and with a fair amount of meat to it - this item was quite tasty. Its pairing went well with the Romesco dip although this dip lacked the essential spice and color to be genuinely Romesco.

Golden Squid Rings sounded like a very ordinary name for Calamari. One simply does not call Focaccia as bread or Gelato as Ice cream. Naming aside, this little appetizer was quite crunchy, tasty and less rubbery. Though not the best Calamari that I have had, it certainly was a decent little morsel. And the sweet red chilli provided an excellent combination. The savory smooth Calamari, with the crunchy golden crust dipped in sweet red chilli, made an excellent alchemy. Quite a ditsy rhyme.

First Mate : I could slip one of these on each of me fingers and then dip in the Chilli.

Captain : Oye, I usually start the dialog over here.

First Mate : Aw, dont get salty mate. Lets enjoy the grub.

Ajilo Prawns are Cheval's take on the Spanish Gambas Al Ajilo. Usually made with Shrimps, this recipe does extend to prawns too. However, I felt that Cheval's variant missed its mark. Its almost as if one Prawn called Caesar said a loud "NO" to the dominating sauce and then lead a successful resistance against it. The dish had the typical garlicky flavor expected of it but it lacked the spice and sweetness. The prawns weren't sauteed to perfection as well and felt as a mismatch.

Done with the self customized tasting menu of appetizers, it was time to move on to the mains.

Stuffed Chicken was a rather grand looking dish served with Polenta and Garlic cream sauce. The plating was excellent. The chicken itself was addicting and stuffed with sun dried tomatoes plus pesto. But often a single offbeat musician can ruin an otherwise perfect symphony. The unruly musician in this case was the Polenta. Far from the soft item that it was billed to be, Signore. Polenta was quite hard, grainy and felt out of place. As long as I had the chicken and the stuffing alone, the dish was fine but pairing it with the Polenta was a mistake.

This was perhaps the most peculiar Fish N Chips that I have ever seen. Few irregular and unequal pieces of fish were coated with batter and deep fried. These were then served with Pea Puree, Caper Salad and Tartare sauce. Almost everything tastes good with Tartare for me. I took one of the fishy nuggets and enjoyed its pairing with the dip. Although the pea puree seemed to only have aesthetic purposes as it did not contribute to the taste at all. The fish was deliciously soft but the atypical shape made the coating uneven in certain areas.

Captain : Is this even Fish N Chips?

First Mate: That's what the menu says, eh?

Captain : More Like Chunks N Chips.

Jumbo Bay Prawns with Crab Mousse is a long name but nothing compared to the size of the prawns.The prawns were probably retired commandos given their size. These were plated beautifully with a fine sprinkle of spices for added texture. And as I chewed through these, I was acquainted with Crab Mousse for the first time. Not usually fond of Crab, its mousse was a totally different experience for me. And I positively have found a Crab based item that I can devour without hindrance. The dish was a flawless combination of flavors with some of the best prawns I have ever had. Would really recommend this to the reader.

Parma Ham with Buffalo Mozzarella and Parmesan. I admit that I do not know half as much about Cheeses as I know about Pizzas. So it was difficult for me to distinguish between the two cheeses billed on the pizza. I vaguely consider Parmesan as a slight savory, meaty and slightly sour cheese which is best described as Umami in the food world. Buffalo Mozzarella felt much superior to the regular Mozzarella used in typical pizza joints. These flavors combined with the generous amounts of Parma ham made for a very sumptuous and flavorsome pizza. The crust was good but not the best in my experience. This however was a true Gourmet pizza.

The pizza had a slightly more sour taste than expected but nothing that intruded into my experience.

Captain : This pizza is parma-nently tasty.

First Mate : Do you mean the Parma ham or the Parmesan with that quip?

Captain : Lad, you are dampening my humour faster than rain on gunpowder.

With the mains done, we ordered a large platter of desserts. After all who doesn't love desserts?

Chocolate Crumble Ganache tasted as good as it appeared. It had a perfect mixture of milk and dark chocolates and had a rich flavor. With an appearance that resembled a cheesecake, it tasted like a classical ganache and its team up with the hazelnut ice cream was great. This is a dessert that truly pleases the eyes and the tongue.

Crème brûlée with shortbread wafers. This was a very average dessert. The flavor was a little off and it lacked any depth and sweetness. Its safe to say that it wasn't a good choice.

Sticky Toffee Pudding is sometimes referred as the flagship piece for the establishment by epicures. The sponge cake is perfect in consistency and soaked well with the Toffee sauce. The appearance is smooth and sticky at the same time. And thankfully it doesn't appear spongy and aerated. The appearance is best described as a castle of cake surrounded by a toffee moat.

Have a sip of the toffee moat, a bite of the toffee soaked castle and a spoon of the Vanilla ice cream which stands like a tower on top of this sweet citadel.

Vanilla Panna Cotta was an aesthetically pleasing, gustatory elevating and aromatically charming dessert. For me this was the dessert of the day. Surrounded by islands of Cherry compote and Basil for aesthetic enhancements, this was the perfect dessert. It was mostly sweet with a teeny weeny hint of tartness. This milky jelly was a paradigm of what a good dessert should be like. Went great with the spoon fulls of compote. It was a shame that this one got over so fast. But that tends to happen if you drop a dollop of dessert in between food lovers. It gets over faster than a piece of meat between hungry wolves.

Captain : Oye, Stop hogging the dessert and save some for your Captain.

First Mate : Easy there Captain, at least I have a smaller appetite than the cannoneer.

Captain : That be true but save me some dessert will ya?

The service was satisfactory and ordinary. It started off with glitches but resolved in time. Though definitely not something I find myself raving about. The crew needs a fair bit of more training.

The pricing in Cheval's could definitely be on the upper side. Although between our bunch, we managed to mitigate the costs to 1100-1150 a head. But an appetizer, a drink, a main and a dessert will definitely offset a single person in the North of 1500 INR.

To conclude, I will say that Cheval is a great choice for fine dining uptown. Given the opportunity, I will definitely want to come here again. Although, it does need a superstar attraction to put it on the map of food enthusiasts. As of now, my post will have to suffice. (Cheesy self promotion)

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"We have a long way back lads, time to get busy on the sails. Set the direction to North and let's go. To the Horizon and beyond!"

Map Co-Ordinates
Cheval Bar & Restaurant

145, Near Rhythm House,

Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda,

Fort, Mumbai.

-I paid for my own meal. -