Dumpling Diaries & New Bar Launch

Radio Bar

Bandra gets a new bar – The Radio Bar. Decorated with old school radios, jukeboxes and cassettes, this new hip bar is the latest edition to Linking road alongside the likes of The Daily

The place has some quirks – a wall full of old radios almost telling you a story of the genesis of this machine; a basement where you have a corner for live band performances and another wall, this time full of cassettes. Do you remember those rectangles with two holes in the middle and a thin black tape running inside it? Most of you would not even have been born at the time when these things were a craze

This place is almost like a museum for audio systems!

The drinks were interesting I had the Mojito and Radio Special Cocktail. Quite nice but the food needs some definite working!

Mamagoto

Meanwhile Mamagoto, the fun Asian place gets an all new dumpling menu! “We were being questioned” said a spokesperson, “How can you be an Asian restaurant and not have a dumpling menu? So Voila”

The restaurant turns 5 this month as well and is on an expansion spree. Sources say that after Delhi, Mumbai & Bangalore they are headed to Pune

Mango Cocktail

I first tried the Mango Cocktail - the hint of vanilla and subtle flavour of mango just make this cocktail right to beat the heat this season. Mamagoto infuses their own cocktails

Prawn Crackers

Prawn crackers - beautiful things come in crunchy! I could eat this all along!

Chinese Chicken Puff

The Chinese Chicken Puff - was horrible, you rather eat this at Hersh! They are the best

Gyoza

Street Style Dumpling

The Street Style Spicy Dumpling was nice, silky and melt in the mouth and so was the Old school Gyoza

Tokyo Metro Mantau

The Tokyo Metro Mantau again needed some working. It just tasted like a limp burger

Porky Apple Mantau

The Porky Apple Mantau Makeover was sweet as hell. It might as well be on the dessert menu

Muse Tip: Drinking plan with office colleagues head to Radio Bar and then hop into Mamagoto to eat yummy dimsums and fight the hangover!

The Co-ordinates

Radio Bar - Ground Floor, Hotel New Castle, Linking Road Bandra

Mamagoto - 133, Ground Floor, Gazebo House Hill Road Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Hoppiness!

Review: Hoppipola

It’s been some time since I wrote. 6 months more like it! In between I got married, shifted to another town, got back to work and I am now dealing with the pl/reasures of marital bliss.

I have to admit, I had my apprehensions. Managing a chaos called the wedding, leaving my home, more importantly my bed, moving to a place called ‘khopat’ from a place called ‘colaba’, living in a different house and most of all living with a boy!  A boy I had no doubts about loving but nevertheless a boy. I didn't think this would survive without any of us getting hurt. But I was wrong. Completely, thoroughly, perfectly, fully wrong!

This boy and his mom take care of me like no one else. From waking me up in the morning, to redefining their living as per my notions, to eating mushrooms (Mushrooms never entered the Vaidya household, they were thought to be by products of dog pee. Ridiculous I know.)

Marriage isn’t a nightmare after all, or am I making this statement too early? Nevertheless, am willing to take a chance. Learning to share your life with someone is the greatest gift or curse, depends on what you work towards making it.

So today, I officially get back to my promise of bringing to you the yummy, the delicious and the most extra-ordinary food experiences.

My latest discovery is Hoppipola - Icelandic: jumping in puddles. With outlets in Mumbai & Pune, Hoppipola is this quirky place that has slate boards as tables and games to keep your brain occupied.

Blaring loud music greets you on entering and you can’t help but notice the ‘Greek’ feel to this place with white washed walls and blue rims

The menu too, is pretty quirky with dishes named like ‘Lambada, Fishful thinking’. A lot of thought seems to have gone into designing the idea behind this place.

Watermelon & Basil Mojito

We begin with the Watermelon & Basil Mojito – quite a refreshing drink, but I would vote the one at Mamagoto is better any day

Aila Aioli Chicken Skewers

The Aila Aioli – Chicken skewers topped with aioli was brilliant & succulent

Harissian

Next was Harissian – I personally don’t prefer Basa, find it quite tasteless but the this dish of fish skewers generously rubbed with spices tasted beautiful

Fishful Thinking – the regular fish fingers

Chiseled Prawns

Chiseled Prawns – now this was a show stopper! Prawns cooked in garlic and spices with beautiful tangy flavour. A must try

Lambada

Lambada – soft lamb kebabs on pita. Again a must try

On the whole, I really liked the place & its vibe

Muse Tip: Go there on the weekend with a group of friends, enjoy the music and play some board games while you enjoy your drinks and starters

Co-ordinates

Hoppipola

Address: 136 & 138 A, Galleria Shopping Centre, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai

Phone: 022 40150436

Cuisine: Snacks, Finger food, Continental

Credit Cards: Accepted

The Sushegad Life (2)

Review: Sushegad Gomantak

Once in a while you discover an unassuming restaurant that makes you want to kiss the chef’s hands. Sushegad Gomantak is one of those. Owned & managed by a mother and son duo, the chef here is the mother – a lady who seemed to be in her mid 50’s.

My boss, a proud Goan, decided to treat me and a few other colleagues to this place. A stout man, my boss has had access to the best of ‘Goan’ food in his life so if he recommends something I’ll go with it blindly. But that is only limited to ‘Goan’ food, his choices for other things? Well let’s not get there, high possibilities of me losing my job

A hole in the wall, Sushegad Gomantak barely can accommodate 20 people at one time. With the famous Sneha (Mallu cuisine) & Kakori House as its neighbours this place may just go unnoticed.

My boss begins talking to the lady in full Konkani while ordering our food. It’s quite amusing to hear this man, who yells at the top of his lungs in office, to speak in this saccharine tone. I savour the moment; it’s very rare after all!

Rava Prawns

We begin with the Rava Prawns – a traditional goan delicacy, these are simply batter fried prawns. You can’t go wrong with this and aunty does full justice.

Tisrya Masala

We move on to the Tisrya Masala – clams cooked in freshly ground spicy coconut masala. Finger-licking goodness!

Stuffed Bombil

We move on to the Stuffed Bombil – This is the best I have ever tasted. Bombil batter fried in rava and stuffed with some really delicious masala. This is a #MuseMustEat

Prawn Cutlets

We then had the Prawn Cutlets – melt in the mouth patties of shrimp. Again yummy in my tummy!

Prawn Curry

Crab Masala

We ended the meal with Prawn Curry and Crab Masala  – both flavoured with the tanginess of kokum and the balminess of coconut. Pair these with bhakri (rice flour pancakes/dosas), Vade (multigrain puris) or just some steamed rice and you will know no other love. Eat it with your hands and experience the myriad of flavours with all your senses.

The Co-ordinates

Sushegad Gomantak

Shop No. A 11, Shiv Sagar Society, L J Road, Mahim, Opposite Paradise Cinema, Mumbai

02224445555

No Credit/Debit Cards facility

Goan Cuisine, Seafood

Swadeeka - Welcome (Thai)

Review: O:h Cha

I always claimed that restaurants in Mumbai don’t do justice to two cuisines – Thai & Mexican. So when O:h Cha, which derives its name from the Thai word for delicious, opened, CM was quite inquisitive to see whether it proved her theory right or wrong.

Brainchild of Sanat Patel who has been behind the fancy (read: overpriced) Two One Two bar and Grill and the ‘still to make its mark’ Burgs, O:h Cha is tucked inside Mathuradas Mills, famous amongst Mumbai’s ‘once bustling now dead’ mill scene at Lower Parel, which has now become a hub for youngsters and office goers who throng to places like Blue Frog, Busaba, Barking Dear and Cafe Zoe.

The decor of this restaurant is contemporary Thai - wooden, spacious with green hues.

The menu contains some famous Thai dishes known and devoured by most of us who have travelled to the land of curry & massages (ahem... i meant foot massage control your mind).

We begin with the Tom Kha Kai soup – the balmy flavour of lemongrass, galangal & coconut milk create the best concoction in your mouth. A must try here

Also before I go ahead let me make it clear, the menu specifically illustrates the level of spice one can go upto. The more the chillies the more the spice and this has to be taken seriously. Don’t go with the notion of little spicy or medium spicy!

Next came the Tom Yum Kai soup– now unless and until you are strong hearted do not go for this one. It’s extremely charged!

The next was the Som Tam – delicate slivers of raw papaya tossed in chilli, lime, castor sugar, peanuts. A delicious yet healthy dish. Stick to the first level of spice.

Chicken Satay

In the appetisers we tried the Poh Pia Sod – a kind of thai spring roll – not too great in my opinion. The Chicken Satay was served cold! Again not recommended

Green Thai curry

Then came the real test – the Kang Kaew Waan – Green Thai curry with prawns – Beautiful, delicate broth, not too sweet, not too milky like the one’s served at Thai Pavilion and Koh. This was just the perfect balance of spice, sweetness and sour. One of the best thai currys I have tasted in Mumbai.

The Pla Kow Nong Ma Nao – Steamed trouper with garlic chilly sauce was immaculate. Like spa in my mouth!

Stir Fried Chicken with Holy Basil

The Stir Fried Chicken with Holy Basil too was delicious.

In the deserts we try the Lemon Grass Creme Brulee – no sign, smell or sight of lemon grass but the dish was delicious

 Water Chestnut with fresh coconut spirit

The Tum Tim Krob - Water Chestnut with fresh coconut spirit is heaven in summers. Must try!

After the meal, with an extremely satisfied (and heavy) stomach, I think to myself at last Mumbai has lost its ‘Good Thai Food’ Virginity! Take a bow Mr. Patel.

O:h Cha is not too kind to your pocket though. A meal for 2 would cost between Rs.3000 - 3500/- without alcohol

Verdict:

Food: Amazing

Ambience: Serene

Service: Catching up

Quick Tip: If you missed a trip to Thailand this year, head to O:h Cha to satisfy your thai food craving.

The Co-ordinates:

O:h Cha

Where: Mathuradas Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai

Tring Tring: 022 66334455

Timings: O:h Cha is now open for lunch as well and has introduced a prix fixe menu

Food Type: Thai

Payment Methods: Credit cards accepted

*Note the review spans over food eaten on 2 occasions

Swadika... Welcome to Thailand

Review: Spices, JW Marriott

CM personally feels that there are two cuisines that Mumbai restaurants have not been able to do justice to – Thai & Mexican. While we have made some headway in Mexican, moving away from the fusion Gujarati sev & rajma tacos with restaurants like Sanchos & Sammy Sosa, Thai is something we still haven’t mastered.

Yes I know we have the likes of Thai Pavilion by the Taj Group & Koh by Kittichai. But if you have ever been to Thailand and had even the moderate street Thai curry you will know that the sweet gravy served in the guise of Thai curry here is bullshit. Not many Mumbai restaurants have got the intricacies of this beautiful and flavourful cuisine right. So when I got an invite for JW Marriott’s Asian restaurant – Spices, I went without any expectations.

As Vir Sanghvi puts it, our definition of fast food is limited to the crap that American chains serve us. If you want to know what yummy & nutritious fast food is, one that does not taste like the tire of your car or the eraser of your pencil – then Thai street food it is. Even the most moderate, small roadside Thai hawker will serve you some of the most amazing dishes. Every vendor specializes in that one dish – Som Tam (papaya salad) or Baked Fish, which will linger in your tastebuds forever.

JW Marriott has this Thai Street Food Festival going on. Did it fit in Culinary Muse’ quest for authentic Thai Food in Mumbai, you are about to find out...

I begin with the Som Tam – nutritious, healthy, cholesterol free papaya salad. The solace of the chef making it fresh, right in front of you is brilliant. You have to consume this fresh, immediately after it’s made. The one at Spices matched all my check points. Fresh ingredients, dried shrimp (yup this will tell you the authenticity of the dish) ground peanuts that added the crunch. Sweet, sour, spicy tangy all in one bite!

Next were the starters –

Pandan Chicken

Pandan Chicken- succulent pieces of chicken wrapped in pandan leaf. Yummy and perfumed with lemon grass

Lemon grass chicken

Lemon grass chicken – Had beautiful flavours to it

Prawn Sesame seed – a tad oily but delicious at the same time

Prawn Sesame seed 

Banana fritters – well done banana bhajjis, thai style

Then came the soups –

I had the Prawn Tom Yum – this was extremely fiery, would pass of as sambhar so stay away from it

The live stations –

They had 2 live stations, one for Phad Thai & The other one for Thai barbeque

Thai Barbeque Station

The Phad Thai was delectable. Silky flat noodle sheets stir fried with veggies, meat of your choices, yummy flavor sauces, topped with egg. CM could’nt get enough of this

Phad Thai 

The Barbequed Meat

The Barbeque Station too was brilliant – beautiful fresh rock lobsters, mackerel, baby pomfret, & chicken sate. Nom Nom

Then came the Thai Curry Station-

Green Thai Curry With  Prawns 

Beautiful baskets of fresh ingredients – galangal, lemongrass, kafir leaves lay infront and you can direct the chef to make your curry with the meat & veggies of your choice. Now this is my ultimate test. If a restaurant can get its Thai curry right, there is no doubt on their thai food capabilities.

I tried the Green Thai Curry With  Prawns – it was ------ wait------ for------it – Immaculate! Not to sweet, not too tangy, full of balanced yet bold flavours. This definitely falls under one of the best thai curries I have tasted in Mumbai. Even if you don’t come here for the festival you must not miss the thai curry at Spices

Lobster Ka Prao with Thai Basil Rice

Pair it with their sticky rice and you know what it’s like to have a spa in your mouth.

In the main course they also had the Lobster Ka Prao – beautiful lobster pieces cooked in thai basil sauce was delectable too.

For the desserts –

The Rambutan a delicious lichi like fruit. The Egg Custard was yummy. The rest of the desserts were very ok, not great!

The Thai Street Food Festival is on till December 01^st & costs approximately 2300/- with unlimited beers.

But I would suggest you go to Spices even for an a la cart meal if you can't catch the festival. On an average a meal would cost Rs 2000 for 1 without alcohol.

Verdict:

Food: Yummy

Ambiance:  Serene                                 

Service: Good

Quick Tip: Go there for the Phad Thai & Thai Curry with Sticky Rice

The Co-ordinates:

Spices, JW Marriott

Where: Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai, Mumbai

Tring Tring: 022 30932030

Timings: 7 PM to 12 Midnight

Food Type: Asian, Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese

Payment Methods: Credit Card Accepted