The Spill

How Distance Brought Me Closer to the Cuisine of My Disappearing Minority

I once ditched dhandar for dumplings and sidestepped saas-ni-macchi for steak, but the culture of Parsi Zoroastrians lives through me - and through the food I brought with me

The Afternoon DC

Turning Point Sangria

Tart green apples with a hint of fruity
white wine... swirls of orange mixed
with robust reds... you’ve suddenly
got a craving for sangria. However, going
out to a restaurant just to order a glass is
not something you want to do — forget
making one at home. Well, Turning Point
comes to a quick rescue, with its newly
launched sangria — available in colourful
bottles with youth-friendly graffiti prints.

The Afternoon DC

Poush

With outlets dotting the city that promise a Kashmiri experience, Rhea Dhanbhoora tells you whether the food at Poush is up to the mark

The Afternoon DC

Nico Bombay

Bombay seems to have a new obsession with the
Jazz Age, what with 20s movies, jazz festivals and a
sudden foray of jazz bar-esque restaurants in the
city. Nico Bombay is the latest entrant, complete with
warm lights, low slung chairs (very uncomfortable for
shorter people), bar stools, pretty candles and suited up
staff. It’s chic and modern with a heady antique vibe and
the menu, though just a single page, looks appetising

The Afternoon DC

Schokolaade

They believe sugarfree desserts are an oxymoron and that tea
can help you indulge. Rhea Dhanbhoora tells you why Anita
Dongre’s designer café, Schokolaade in Khar is a must-visit

The Afternoon DC

Bhonu

It’s not often that you get to eat a good, wholesome Parsi meal in the city unless of course you’re at someone’s house or can cook it. While you can hop from Chinese to Italian in a matter of minutes anywhere in the city, craving Lagan and Navjote specials often means spending a good amount of time wondering where to go...

The Afternoon DC

Sindhful

No, that’s not our attempt to create a quirky new word; it’s the name of a delivery joint in the city that focuses on Sindhi meals. Rhea Dhanbhoora tries a few dishes from Sindhful to see what they’ve got to offer

The Afternoon DC

Mirzaghalib

Empty restaurants usually mean one of
two things. Either the food is not upto
the mark or the restaurant is so new that
no one has really had the chance to
sample the fare yet. Mirzaghalib, Unicontinental
Hotel’s latest offering, is the second of the lot.
Barely two weeks old, the place is still in its
growing stage, but the only way you will know
that is if they tell you or by the lack of customers
dining there.

The Afternoon DC

Mia Cucina

As expected from Mia Cucina, the service was well informed and
willing to take over. So, I decided to trust our waiter’s advice and
ordered the Bombil Fritto (Rs. 175) and Bruschetta Caponata (Rs. 175), both dishes I would never have ordered myself. Don’t underestimate their ability to serve up a surprise with the humble Bombay Duck, as the little pieces were deliciously coated, accompanied by a light salsa that didn’t overpower the flavour of the fish. The bruschetta was another surprise, loaded with Sicilian eggplant relish and mozzarella that melted in my mouth.

The Afternoon DC

Melange

Mélange is not a top-notch, fancy café but we
love the friendly service and unique dishes. We’re
adding it to our list of regulars and we
recommend that you do the same.

The Afternoon DC

Le Pain Quotidien

While bread aficionados hold Le Pain Quotidien in awe
because of its delectable offerings and freshly baked
loaves, there’s more than meets the eye when you visit
the bakery. From set breakfasts to an extensive wine list and a
variety of options that include organic, vegetarian and eggless
options, LPQ’s menu helps you get in the mood for a feast.

The Afternoon DC

Le15

Visit Le15 for macarons and cupcakes that are pure indulgence, says Rhea Dhanbhoora

The Afternoon DC

Le Mangii

We helped ourselves to their Lemon Cheese Pie (Rs. 245) for
dessert, which was slightly heavy on gelatin, but the buttery
base completely made up for it. Service at Le Mangii is as
warm as their décor and helpful, but they lack a bit of coordination that would make it excellent. The restaurant is a
great place to kickstart your weekend sitting by the bar and an
even better place for a scrumptious after-work meal.

The Afternoon DC

LaFolie

Gâteau Français
If you're still pondering over the title, it means French cake!
Bringing Parisian sparkle to Bombay, Sanjana Patel's new patisserie is home to treats she’s perfected, while adding a good dose of French to her vocabulary, as you can see from the menu that’s replete with French terms and phrases that only two types of people will be able to decipher — those familiar with French terms and those familiar with patisserie terms. For the rest, the friendly staff are ready to take you through the menu, so don't despair.

The Afternoon DC

Kailash Parbhat

The food at Kailash Parbat
surprised us, in a good way. There was
one thing that stood out… the chaat.
From the chutney to the sev and puris,
everything was top notch. It might be
more expensive than your local
bhelwalla, but you can be assured of
the hygiene and quality

The Afternoon DC

Indulge... Cakes, Chocolates & More

Thin black lines veined across the glossy top. The
colours stared at me, perfectly blended, and
reminiscent of a window in an old, glass house. I
could have been staring at a sheet of stained glass — so, of
course, I had to poke my finger in, just to check. A gooey,
sticky ganache was lifted off the top of the massive, layered
cake, which was decorated to resemble (you guessed it)
stained glass

The Afternoon DC

Imbiss

Imbiss’ new joint at Colaba takes the term
meat lover to a new level and is definitely
not for the squeamish. Rhea Dhanbhoora
tells you what makes it stand out

The Afternoon DC

Icing on Top

When the chocolate brown bags with a soft pink
logo found their way into our office, our entire staff
was pulled out of their afternoon slump with the
promise of a sugar high. Presentation and
packaging is lovely and Icing on Top delivers its
goodies in specially created boxes that are as
appealing as the goodies inside!

The Afternoon DC

iChef

When the 48hrs Team heard of iChef, we were elated.
But, did the new concept really make cooking that much
simpler for us? We tested it out...

The Afternoon DC

Skky

Newly opened Skky at the Ramada Hotel & Convention Centre in
Powai is a lounge that promises private dining and delectable food...

The Afternoon DC

Waterstone Bar and Grill

When you walk towards the hotel, the alley leading up to it is dark and desolate and the hotel looks fairly unimpressive from the outside. But then, you step into the lobby with its swinging chandeliers and water installations and all your distaste for small Andheri East lanes disappear.

The Afternoon DC

Yogurtbay

Yogurt at Yogurtbay is the same as it’s been anywhere else in the city but the seating space inside Chai Coffee gives it an added boost. We suggest saving the yogurt for your second visit and
starting off with one of their delicious smoothies.

The Afternoon DC

Paperboat

Paperboat’s new website and additions to its refreshing juice menu make it even easier to fill up your online shopping cart. Rhea Dhanbhooragives you a flavour breakdown

The Afternoon DC

n Bar & Grill

The one dish that stole the spotlight was the unassuming Dal Makhani(Rs. 355). While we didn't give it a second glance when it was first brought to the table, the dal, cooked for 12 hours, is utterly, butterly delicious. Have it with the flaky kulchas...