Meet-up with
Rohini Dey & I Bar Review
The
IPL season is finally over! I particularly am very happy. First of all I don’t
understand why cricket is played? Secondly you come up with a series called the IPL by the ICC, the great Indian Cricket Circus, the basis of which is ‘entertaining’,
money-making and selling. I am surprised at the public outrage over spot
fixing. The IPL is a form of ‘reality show’, which by the way is fixed, the
outcome pre-decided. Hype factors are weaved in everyday to make it entertaining.
Sad reality, but the truth. Let’s accept and move on....
On
a more cheerful front, I had the opportunity to meet Rohini Dey – ex World Banker,
ex McKinsey economist, who left the corporate world (which by the way is
treating women like shit #Phaneesh case) to start her own restaurant. Not just
any other run-of-the-mill Lassi the Parothe, Chinese or Japenese but a Latin-Indian
restaurant. Yes where Latin America’s fiery sauces meets India’s gravies, where
tandoori meets steak & where kheer meets pudding! Sounds like a east meets
west story but Rohini actually pointed out a lot of similarities in the
cuisines – use of fiery spices, need for coconut stew or a gravy-like base and and
use of peculiar ingredients like tamarind (imli)
 |
| Rohini talking animatedly about her cook-off |
Rohini
had come to India to host a cook-off, the winners of which will be work at her
restaurant Vermilion (New York, Chicago) and get pay packet of upto $70,000 to
start with.
She
spoke to us about her journey of becoming a restaurateur, the Bengali and Mallu
dishes that inspire her menu at Vermillion and how she now wants to put Indian
cuisine on the world map. But not in its stereotypical curry & biryani way
but with twist of Latin flavours to it. On being asked whether she looks at
getting Vermillion to India. She almost naturally quips, if you finance it! Ah
well, Rohini, I am anyways loosing monthly salary to Mumbai’s ever increasing
and ever so expensive restaurants. Don’t push it, I say!
Moving
on to the pub we met up at – I Bar.
Located in the ‘sacred’ galli of Bandra Reclamation, (sacred cause it also houses Candies, yes THE
CANDIES) I BAR is this hip new joint with interactive tables and I Pads for
menus. Hence the name – Interactive Bar!
The
Menu at IBAR sports some really tempting concoctions, bar food along with some
mains.
We
start with the -
 |
| Fries |
Fries with 5
dips:
Crispy potatoes with 5 kinds of dip. The dips are refreshing from the otherwise
boring options of mustard & tomato. A must try at this place
Pesto Prawns: While the
prawns were fresh, there was something very off about the colour – hulk green
& taste. A definite no no
 |
| Tequila Prawns |
The Tequila
Prawns
– beautiful king sized prawns marinated in potent liquor. Beautiful silky
taste!
 |
| Coconut Crusted Chicken |
The Coconut
Crusted Chicken
– chicken strips served in a fancy martini glass drizzled with mustard, the
chicken can get a bit soggy, but not a bad dish
 |
| Salmon Sushi |
The Salmon
& Cream Cheese Sushi – this is one of the best sushi’s I have tasted
so far in Mumbai. Beautiful balmy smoked chicken rolled in sushi rice.
 |
| Cajun Spiced Potato |
Crispy Cajun
Potato
– Umm I didn’t like this at all. A bad version of what Sindhi’s make called
‘Tuk’. Totally avoid
 |
| Kebabs |
Special Kebab - An Iranian
preparation of kheema pattice, this was smooth & melt in the mouth!
Camembert
Jalapeno
– Literally cheesy, melt-in-the-mouth again
Mushroom Focassia – Beautiful
crunchy bread topped loads of mushroom pate. Delectable
 |
| Veg Wrap |
Vegetarian Mexican
Wrap
– Extremely sweet. Must stay away to avoid diabetes
Prawn Tempura – crispy,
crunchy & yum! All you would expect from a tempura!
In
the drinks –
 |
| Chocolate Martini |
Chocolate
Martini
– Was yum! But I don’t know how the liquid nitrogen added any flavor to it
Mai Tai – Puke. TOO
STRONG. HAVE AT OWN RISK
Kamikaze- Lemony &
refreshing
Black Grape
Mohito
– Yum yum yum!
Apple Sangria with black
grape caviar with strawberry and tequila infused jelly – too fancy Naam Bade,
Darshan Chote
.jpg) |
| Gimlet |
Gimlet – My favorite,
zesty, rejuvenating
We
end our meal on an extremely sweet with
the Chocolate Cake – again stay away
to avoid diabetes!
On an average
one starter & one drink would cost around Rs 500 – Rs 700 at I Bar. Quite a
steal I say!
Verdict:
Food:
Good
Ambience:
Fun in a party way
Service:
Very Confused
Quick
Tip: I Bar is a great place to have some innovative drinks & finger food.
Must have the sushi, tequila prawns & chips with 5 dips & the Gimlet
The
Co-ordinates:
I BAR
Where: 7, 8, Gelekia, ONGC
Colony, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra West, Mumbai
Tring Tring: 022 26400288
Timings: 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM
(12.00pm To 1.00am On Sundays)
Food
Type: Mixology, Bar Food
Payment
Methods: Visa, Master, Cash, Credit Card
Accepted
Wow, the pictures and descriptions you provide of the menu items have left my mouth watering for more! As a restaurant blogger, I am familiar with the rise of fusion trends, but Latin-Indian has to kick it up a notch! Vermillion sounds very intriguing. As for I Bar, I'd be willing to risk diabetes for a bite of that Vegetarian Mexican Wrap...perhaps chased by a chocolate martini! The hip restaurant furniture in your picture creates a chill lounge feel that is so inviting. Thanks for sharing your review!
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