Morselo, Mumbai

Morselo, Powai

Powai is considered to be one of the most posh location of the city, what with it being designed by seeking inspiration from Venice. Glamorous as it is, I some how don't always find myself very keen to pay visit here. I like Colaba for it'd old alleys and Bandra for it's shopping and night life, it's always buzzing with life. So is Andheri for that matter. Powai? A cross over between a Corporate Jungle and a Residential town doesn't have much to offer to some one like me. Maybe I find myself out of place here. And still, I find myself coming back here at least once in a month. 

Mostly, when I am in the vicinity, I drop by Theobroma, but this time I decided to skip it and I try something new. Morselo, is what caught my eye upon browsing through Zomato, seemed economical as well. 

It's a small joint and you might almost miss it since it's situated in Galleria's Food Court. But Thank God that it isn't actually situated in the Food Court. (Here is where the parallel dies between the likes of Italy, everything in the Food Court Area is unkempt and unhygienic, I would much rather go to a Dhaba than have food here). Morselo, however, is a smal outlet with it's own dining area and hence you can manage to have a meal here. Though, I would still recommend getting a take away as it's pretty tiny and can seat maybe 4 people. 

The service is quick and warm, as should be the case of fast food joints and you can see they are eager to please. The concept they have is of serving baked bread with fillings inside. You can make an entire meal out of it and they seem to have quite a few options from Indian to Continental. They have ranges from light to full meal and you can decide as per you appetite, what would you want to go for. We went for one Full Meal which comprises of Brownie, Potato Wedges, Chicken Nuggets (for lack of another name), a micro salad and the Baked Fill of your choice. The other one we ordered was the light meal which had hasselback potatoes, baked fill and a micro salad. The two also comes with a refreshing drink called the Lemon Twist. I had ordered the Chicken Florentine and my friend ordered the Exotic Italian Veg. The Chicken Florentine had a mix of spinach, corn and Chicken with creamy sauce. The Exotic Italian Veg had assorted veggies topped with cheese and had more tomato tangy type sauce. Even though both were equally good, I personally can't have too much of sauce, I like it being balanced with bread, but here since it was the filling, there was more filing than bread and it becomes a little too much for me. Hence, it is a good thing that I had other stuff to change taste in between. The wedges seemed a little dry in flavor and even though I prefer wedges always, this is one time I didn't find it up to the mark. The hasselback potatoes which came with the other meal was what I attacked. To anyone it would seem like these are just boiled and sprinkled with some spices on top. But in it's simplicity lied it's magic. I wish I could recreate them at home. The chicken nuggets were good too and the brownie was exactly how I like it, not over sweetened, topped with chocolate sprinkles (the kind that look like Hershey). 

If you are in the neighborhood or if you are simply looking for something different for your office lunch (After all Corporate Hub), then you should give this place a shot and give the Burger-Fries Combo a miss.

WHAT WE HAD - Exotic Italian Veg Combo (Yumness)                

                           Chicken Florentine Full Meal (Yumness)

DAMAGES - Rs 800/- (Approx)

WHERE -  Morselo., 164, First Floor, Galleria Shopping Mall, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai

Breakfast at Candies, Mumbai

Breakfast at Candies, Bandra

There are so many new places opening up (and closing as well) that it's hard to keep up. There was a time in between I was trying to keep up and going to every new place if I could help it. I have stopped. The whole point of going out and having these meals was an experience that I looked forward to, not a competition. I had made it into one (I want to be there everywhere). Though I still want to try most places out there in this city at least, I am doing it at my own pace and also paying visits to places I love! Candies is one of them. 

I had actually been inspired to come here for breakfast after seeing frequent posts from a food blogger, one of my favorites, Mr. Kalyan Karmakar and even though I had paid several visits to this legendary place over the years, never really for breakfast and I was pretty tempted to after all the scrumptious posts by the one and only.

I already knew what I wanted to have but my friend decided to add an extra zing to our meal by ordering items, which I generally wouldn't call "Breakfast". But who I am to judge because have had Biryani for breakfast as well. I had ordered the mushroom cheese omelet with a side of persian chicken sausages, masala chai and a plain croissant to go with it. My Friend chose the Chicken Club Sandwich. Also, he want for the non-traditional Tandoori Chicken Afghan Style, Macaroni salad and a peach Iced Tea. I will start off with the omelet which seemed like sorcery because never have I seen cheese ooze out of inside the two sides of the omelet. I now wish all omelets were made like this. I had my reservations with the Persian sausages because my favorite forever remains the one that I have grown up on in Bahrai, which have more reddish color to it and these looked white in comparison. But guess what? They were anything but bland. I almost wanted to bring them home and have some for my next morning's breakfast. The croissant was flaky on the outside and soft on the inside and it is this exact description that had made me want to order it and I was happier than happy. The masala chai served in a kulhad made my morning and this is a pleasant surprise as anywhere I go and order chai with an English breakfast of sorts is never really well the kind of chai that makes my mornings. The Club sandwich that my friend ordered, in his own words were indeed amazing and a good start to his day. The Tandoori Chicken was good, and even though Tandoori chicken happens to be on my Top 5, I didn't really understand the Afghani infusion in it. The macaroni salad came as a side with this and even if it hadn't, I would have still made a bee line for it. When ever I pay visit to Candies, this is the default thing I will always order. Nothing quite like it. The Ices Tea had pureed peaches at the bottom of the drink which lent authenticity and made it even more refreshing.

Candies is one place where everyone will find something to their liking. And it doesn't pinch your pocket. This is one place where all food runs out by 5-6 pm and if you go post this, then you are most likely to find only left overs. Though if you want to just chill and grab coffee, nothing better.

WHAT WE HAD - Cheese & Mushroom Omelet (Yumness Personified)

                           Plain Croissant (Yumness Personified)

                           Persian Chicken Sausages (Heaven)

                           Non Veg Club Sandiwch (Yumness Personified)

                           Afghan Tandoor Chicken (Yumness)

                           Macaroni Salad (Heaven)

                           Peach Iced Tea (Refreshing)

                           Masala Chai (Yumness0)

DAMAGES - Rs 800/- (Approx)

WHERE -  Candies Mac Ronells, Next to Learners Academy School, Pali Hill, Bandra West

Busago, Mumbai

Busago, BKC

I have a love-not like (hate is too strong a word, and for food? Never ) with Pan Asian Cuisine, some of it I absolutely love and some of it is I just can't manage to stuff down my throat. I guess, it's about development of taste buds and what you are and aren't used to. If it is a little too authentic with clear broths, or has no spices what so ever, then I can't eat it. If it has some hint of spices whether it is the use of coconut, coconut milk or tangy Chinese style sauces, I will devour it. Like is the case of Lemon Leaf, I was fascinated with it for a long time but when I finally did try the food there, not my cup of tea. But that doesn't mean the food was bad, I could tell it was qualitative, just not suitable for my taste buds. And hence, even though I had been pay visit to this place, I always had second thoughts but like always I made it! Der aaye, durust aaye! 

This place is pretty near by to home and hence became a lunch spot for catch up session with a dear friend who worked in the vicinity and I having an off. I was almost doubtful if even she would like it. It's a small joint, so expect it to be full, but you will find a table just as quickly. Basic interiors but I loved the little wall hangings. Quirky. Simplicity some times works wonders.

You will find the staff to be very pleasant and accommodating. However, be prepared for a good wait when you place your orders. We had wanted to try the baos as my friend hadn't had it before but it was unavailable on the day and they didn't have many options in the Appetizers section and hence, we were left no choice but to order the Tibetan Momos. But turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because these were definitely the best I have had yet. It looked so delicate, I had thought it would break apart if you so much touch it but not so much. It was made of stronger stuff and even beautiful flavors. Then for the mains we ordered the Cambodian Chicken Curry and from their Specials menu - Spicy Prawns Curry. Both were served with steamed rice on the side and were delectable. The Cambodian curry had made use of coconut milk and seemed a little borrowed from Thai food or at least the Thai food I have had before. If I had to choose my pick between the two, even though it's pretty darn difficult, i would go for the Cambodian curry, it makes your heart warm. However, there is one thing that takes away from it, is the chicken pieces used. We only ate the veggies from the curry and avoided the chicken pieces as it seemed under cooked. Way under cooked. I am thinking this was an honest mistake because the same was not the case with either the momos or the prawns. The Prawns were perfectly cooked and very spicy. So spicy it will make smoke come out of your ears. Probably why steamed rice works best in combination with it. My friend though favored the Prawns dish over the curry. Though we both loved all the items as such, but don't we all have our preferences. For the dessert we went for the Flour-less Chocolate cake  because I needed some chocolate in my life right then and it was so good that if I wasn't full already, I would have wanted to order another one. Dark dark chocolate, melted away, and oozing with chocolaty goodness. I was truly in heaven. If all chocolate cake tasted like that, it would give tough competition to my obsession with Cheese cakes.

Also, this place won't pinch your pockets. What more reason do you need?! I would definitely be paying more visits to this one.

WHAT WE HAD  - Tibetian Momos (Heaven)

                            Cambodian Chicken Curry (Yumness minus the chicken)

                            Spicy Prawns Curry (Yumness)

                            Flourless Chocolate Cake (Heaven)

                            Peach Iced Teas (Refreshing)

DAMAGES - Rs 1200/- (Approx)

WHERE - Ground Floor, FIFC Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai

                            

Le 15 Cafe, Mumbai

Le 15 Cafe, Colaba

This place has been on my list since the day it opened it's doors and honestly, I had wanted to go back then itself. But it being on the other side of the city, made it a tad bit difficult, not that I didn't try. After several failed plans I arrived here actually out of the blue. A lazy Monday morning when me and a friend were tired of staying indoors (As lazy as I am, there is only so much of staying in bed and watchin tv can I take), and so when I suggested Le 15, it was met with a Why Not, and I was here! HURRAH! 

Like I have said earlier, I have been following this place for quite some time, that I know the great designer Masaba Gupta has a little hand in the designing of the place, the cushions, the materials used in the seating around, Masaba Magic. (I was secretly hoping one of the two Chefs - Pablo Naranjo or Pooja Dhingra would have been here, an autograph or even better a selfie would have made my Year, but better luck next time ) Yeah, I am a little star struck. The place is uber chic and I was kind of surprised to find that it is actually pretty spacious, I had always assumed it would be a quaint little cafe. I love the sofa seatings attached to the French type window and that's the place I attacked. Though it would have made more sense if you could seat side ways and see the bustling crowd and not have your back to it. 

I had already made up my mind on what I had wanted to have a year ago. Well, the first thing I would want to try i.e. But unfortunately it wasn't available on this sunny day. I had wanted to try the Savory Parmesan Waffles, but their waffle machine wasn't working (How can you have just one waffle maker, or did all of them stop functioning on the same day? I don't know how this works). Well, gives me reason to come back again. So we instead ordered the Truffle Tagliatelle (I didn't even know Tagliatelle was a type of pasta until informed by the staff, which is a good thing because the staff knew the menu well enough) and a Chicken Burger. The Pasta, if I may say so, is the best I have had in Mumbai till date and I have to put everything else I have had and appreciated second to this. I like my pasta to be cheesy, but not an over dose of it. It shouldn't just be cheese, the other ingredients should also talk to you and how it did here! I was floating in Heaven in my head. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from the burger, I mean how creative can you get with a burger. I wasn't prepared to be blown over and blown over I was. I should be talking about the bun used in the burger, what sorcery was it. Why? Because I could probably have the bun by itself sans everything else, with a cup of chai on the side. It was that delicious. Also, I am not always a fan of mustard sauce and it is something I almost never use as a dressing in anything, but it went really well with the burger and the mushrooms here. Also, I am not sure but it seemed like they had served Magic Masala Lays (The blue one) on the side. It definitely tasted like that. I wish they had serv\ed fries or wedges or onion rings or something along those lines instead. It's much more filling and satisfying. I almost can't choose between the two dishes and that's very rare. There is always a clear winner. Here, I just couldn't make up my mind. On the side I had ordered an iced tea and my friend had placed and order for Elder Flower Lemonade. Both were great to beat the heat. 

This place is grand and for that reason I at least would buy their pastries and macaroons on special occasions. One, they can be a little expensive and the size of most of their off the shelf desserts are quite small, if I may say so. So for me it's reserved for special occasions only and I do so. If the size of their cup cakes and desserts were increased a little, you still wouldn't feel the pinch on your wallet. Though, you should make it a point to have them. I have had almost everything over time and there is a reason why I don't mind splurging on them on some days. 

All I can say is GO! GO! GO! I am going to be back for the waffles!! 

WHAT WE HAD - Chicken Burger (Heaven)

                           Truffle Tagliatelle (Heaven)

                            Elder Flower Lemonade (Refreshing)

                            Iced tea (Refreshing)

DAMAGES - Rs 1600/- (Approx)

WHERE -  Le 15 Cafe Colaba., Shop 18, Lansdowne House Building, MB Marg, Near Regal Cinema, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai