When this is done, let’s make love !

Sunday mornings really are a reminder of what is most important in life. A good night’s sleep, food and a lover. This particular Sunday I woke up well rested, with 9 hours of blissful slumber behind me. With sleep checked off my list of needs, I proceeded to fulfill need no2. What followed was a half hour of beating, buttering and frying that produced Banana French Toast, topped with Cane Sugar syrup and Fresh strawberries. Now let me clarify here that it isn’t just men that have that oft’ spoken off path that leads from the belly to the heart. Two bites into my decadent breakfast, I was already in thinking when this is done, let’s make love…..

Recipe for Banana French Toast – very very easy (Serves2)

Beat together 2 eggs, an overripe banana, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and a couple of table spoons of milk. Soak 6 slices of bread one at a time in the resulting batter and shallow fry with butter. Serve with any fresh fruit and/0r syrup.

The recipe can be as indulgent or as healthy as you want. You can avoid the sugar in the batter as banana is a natural sweetner, add chopped walnuts / flax seeds for additional nutrition and use whole grain bread. Use olive oil  instead of butter and a non stick pan. Cane sugar/ Maple syrup/ Golden syrup can all be replaced with a frugal smudge of honey. It’s just as decadent and will make a great Sunday Breakfast.

photograph © Salonee Gadgil 

Woodside (Oshiwara, Andheri west)

A happy heart! ***

I felt like being rewarded for a productive week, you know, felt like giving myself the proverbial pat on the back for a week spent in the glorious routine of urban survival. I’m usually indifferent to this weekly cycle; week long mundanity followed by social celebratory outbursts on Friday night. However this Friday, I joined the herd that flocked to the nearest waterhole, where the world would be forgotten in a heady mix of intoxication, loud music and pretty-people.

Woodside provides the perfect backdrop for a night out. As soon as I walked in, I felt happy. The staff is warm and pleasant, everyone from the concierge to the housekeeping lady in the bathroom met me with a smile. But it’s something more than the staff. The place seems to have it’s heart in the right place.

We decided to order off the season’s special menu, and settled for a Mandarin Pork Salad followed by Slow Cooked pork with a red wine jus. Both the dishes were delicious. My accompanying drink, a white wine Sangria was particularly well made. The Red Velvet cake that brought the meal to a close wasn’t bad either, but could’ve definitely been more refined.

I will be back, I have no doubt. Maybe for breakfast, maybe with some friends, maybe for coffee.

Damages: approx Rs.1000 for 2, without alcohol

Location : Near Oshiwara Police Station, New Link Road.

Café Mangii (J.P.Road, Versova)

Sigh! **

For about a month I’d been tryin to peep in through Café Mangi’s large windows, and catch a glimpse of what promised to be elegant interiors. I subtly sighed everytime I drove past hoping my hints would prompt a date night. Finally my sighs were heard and I can drive by in peace without straining my respiratory system.

On a cold winter’s evening, the first floor dining space was perfectly warm and cosy. The open air dining space on the roof was definitely tempting, but I just wasn’t ready to brave the cold. It certainly is charming though, with a visible pizza oven emitting mouth waiting aromas.

Unfortunately, here’s when I began to sigh again. This time they were sighs of exasperation. We started with a plate of Mushroom Aglio Olio e Pepperoncino; nothing spectacular and unexpectedly spicy. We were expecting a salad, but our Alla Fiama pizza came out first. Since the place boasts of its pizzas we really had our hopes up. However, it was mediocre at best, the topping was sparse and the base a little burnt. The pizza too was spicier than we expected.

Now here’s where it got downright disappointing, the Caprese salad was a neatly arranged line of tomato slices and buffalo cheese, topped with pesto sauce. I was promised “field greens” ! Somehow the elaborate description on the menu did not lead me to expect what I was served. Lastly, we ordered a medium-rare Minute Steak, which was served to us well done, with partially uncooked potato wedges and almost rare broccoli florets. By this point I was ready to cry, partly from rage and partly because of the big hole this disappointing meal was about to burn in my pocket.

Since we were still hungry, we ordered a Caramel Banana pie, in a last feeble attempt to redeem the meal. We didn’t have our hopes up, but we were finally served something delicious. It didn’t save the meal, and I certainly won’t be visiting Café Mangii again, but at least I know where to get a damn good Caramel Banana pie.

Damages: Rs.2500 for a meal for two, without drinks.