Quattro Ristorante: A birthday dinner

I’m no stranger to the soul-satisfying charms of Quattro Ristorante, an Italian and Mexican vegetarian restaurant employing the fine techniques of molecular gastronomy. I’ve been here a few times and always been bowled over by the quantity and quality of food served. The Lower Parel outlet seems small on entering but as you go beyond the corridor, the restaurant opens out into a swanky space with plush black tables and red high stools in the centre. The maître d’ is obviously passionate about the hotel and the new additions to its menu, which are the reason for my review. It also happens to be my birthday and getting an excellent corner table and the personal attention of the serving staff makes it truly special.

Appetizers

Corn Cookies: 5/5

The first dish turns out to be the best dish of the entire meal. The corn cookies are crumbly, sweet and salty and are topped with a layer of soft black beans, broccoli, fresh jalapenos and cheese, which is topped with a pink dollop of beetroot cream. The beetroot cream melts in the mouth and the varied textures are a winning combination.

Formaggio Di Patate: 4/5

The dish looks substantial when it comes to our table. There is a huge plate of tossed baby potatoes on a bed of lettuce, along with a serving of cheese sauce, to be poured over the potatoes and most curiously, two white balls that turn out to be ‘cheese ice-cream’. I like the fact that we get to pour as much warm cheese sauce on the potatoes as we like. The potatoes are mildly flavoured with garlic and oil and the cool and cheesy ice-cream is the winner of the dish.

Jalapeno Queso: 3.5/5

After two splendid starters, the Jalapeno Queso is slightly disappointing though by no means, unpalatable. Covered in a foamy cloud, the batter-fried spheres are simplistic, consisting mainly of a soft stuffing of Jalapeno and cheese. It’s nothing outstanding but reasonably tasty.

Mains

Pizza Margherita with Olive Burst: 5/5

An Italian (and Mexican) restaurant needs to ace its pizzas and Quattro Ristorante does exactly that. Their 12 inch Margherita pizzas are the epitome of excellence in themselves – thin crust bases with a tomato and cheese topping that oozes with the flavour and fragrance of extra virgin olive oil. And this one comes with the additional genius of their signature olive burst. The waiter proceeds to ladle quivering, large olives on to each slice and when I have a bite, I am amazed at the softness that fills my mouth. How do they transform olives into something like this? The process is called spherification, the maître d’ tells me.

Dessert

Chocolate Cigars with Vanilla Ice-Cream: 5/5

My heart is set on the Chocolate Saturn but the server convinces us to try the new chocolate cigars. After an impatient (but short) wait, two cigars come arranged on a wooden box along with a serving of vanilla ice-cream. One cigar is filled with Nutella cream while the other is stuffed with sea salt caramel. We are given a small contraption to snap each cigar into two. I’m unable to decide which one is better – both are visual and sensory perfection. But the real icing on the cake is the discovery that the cigar cup (made of chocolate) and the ice-cream bowl (made of wafer) are edible as well! The maître d’ jokes that some customers even want to eat the wooden box!

Cocktails

Beer Mule: 5/5

Out of the three cocktails we try, this one is the best. Served in a copper glass to keep it cold till the last sip, the beer is flavoured with orange peel and mint. The result is a refreshing, zesty drink.

Wine Mule: 4/5

The original Moscow Mule is made with vodka but if you swap that with white wine, you get the Wine Mule. I don’t like it as much as the Beer Mule but it’s still a great way to have wine, if you don’t mind the bitter aftertaste due to the lime.

Michelada: 4/5

The Michelada is a work of art, served in a tall glass with tabasco sauce at the bottom and spicy salt on the rim. The waiter pours in nearly 330 ml of Kingfisher Ultra beer which mingles with the orange flavoured smoke from the ice to become the Michelada. It is the spiciest beer I’ve ever had and as someone who dislikes spicy cocktails, I don’t take to it much. But it’s definitely innovative and a great choice for lovers of Bloody Mark and its ilk.

The dishes are well complemented by a platter of eight Mexican dips and sauces. The restaurant is ideal for large families as well as groups of friends. Couples can always seek some privacy in the undisturbed corners. So if it’s filling, gourmet vegetarian food you seek, Quattro Ristorante is a must-visit.

Address: 7, Janta India Estate, Senapati Bapat Marg, Opposite Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Phone number: 022 67496444
Opening hours: 12 Noon to 4 PM, 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM (all days)

Review: Grandmama's Cafe, Mumbai

The fragrance of hot, melted cheese has never failed to perk my spirits. After gorging on bowls of creamy fondue and bread in the picturesque Alps of Switzerland, I was elated to receive an invite to sample the same dish at Mumbai’s Grandmama’s Café. I decided to visit the Lower Parel outlet as it’s closer to my workplace and give their Monsoon Fondue Fest a go. Of course, it being lunch, we couldn’t possibly ignore the other sections of the menu. So a light and delicious meal was had in the cheerful environs of Grandmama’s Café, located opposite Smash in Kamala Mills Compound, best accessed from Gate 4.

Although the area is dusty and heavily industrialised, the café’s entrance is colourful and inviting. Inside, the restaurant is spacious and well-lit with lots of interesting elements such as writings and chandeliers on the walls and the ceiling. I loved the predominance of green and white in the décor. At the end of the restaurant, you have the bar and dessert counter. I was quite surprised to see that the café serves a variety of cocktails though we didn’t try any. We also skipped dessert in favour of the thick shakes. Here’s a lowdown.

Monsoon Fondue fest: Four Cheese fondue

The fondues on the menu range from spicy, meaty to classically cheesy. Being a vegetarian who can’t get enough of cheese, I chose the Four Cheese Fondue, a divine mix of Emmental, Parmesan, Mozzarella and Cheddar. It came served in an earthen bowl with a little candle at its base to keep the fondue warm, multigrain bread to dip in the fondue and a spinach fritter (there was just one!). The portion was just right for two people and the fondue was splendid. It had just a hint of spice and the consistency was creamy but not overwhelming. A great idea would be to include a variety of dips apart from bread. If you like spicy fondue, go for the Jalapeno, Paprika or Roasted Red Pepper Fondue. And if you want some bite in your fondue, there are the Grandmama's Special Chopped Macaroni Fondue and Bacon Fondue to choose from. 

Grandmama’s Special Pizza

My friend ordered the Grandmama’s Special Pizza, a thin crust 10 inch pizza with eight slices. It was basically a cheese pizza (but not too cheesy) with sun-fried tomatoes, olives, onions and bell peppers. It was slightly bland without tomato ketchup (served on a bicycle no less!) but I have to say, the pizza was very close to the authentic Italian ones and a far cry from the thick crust fast food outlet pizzas.

Caesar Salad

Before moving on to our liquid dessert, we wanted just a bit more to feel replete. So we chose the Caesar Salad, a mix of romaine and iceberg lettuce, caper berries, sun-dried tomatoes, herb croutons and parmesan. I loved the creamy Caesar dressing but I couldn’t spot any parmesan in the salad. Nevertheless, it was very tasty and a great way to fill up on greens.

Belgian Chocolate Shake

I love Belgian Chocolate in any form. Be it ice-cream, pastry or a thick shake, this is the flavour I’d go for without missing a beat. However, the shake was heavier on milk than chocolate and wasn’t as chocolatey as I’d have liked it to be. But perhaps, I should’ve asked the server exactly how it would be before ordering. Some chocolate sauce and crunchy elements might make this shake more wonderful.

Brownie Shake

Surprisingly, the brownie shake turned out to be far better than the Belgian Chocolate Shake, although sweeter. There was one small brownie in the shake and the flavour was wonderful. I’d recommend adding another brownie.

If you frequent Lower Parel or Dadar often, this café should be your go-to joint for breakfast (they have a great breakfast menu) and light lunches as it’s very easy on the pocket. The total damages for our meal wouldn’t have been more than Rs 1500 for two people. According to the manager, the Rajma Chawal and sandwiches are also worth a try. Also, despite being really crowded for a weekday afternoon, the service was seamless and prompt. All portions are meant for two people only.

Address: Next to Gate 4, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai

Opening hours: 9 AM to 12 Midnight everyday

Phone number: 022 30151615

Review: Burgundy Box's DIY

The brain child of two bankers and a marketer, Burgundy Box has long been serving ready-made and DIY (Do it Yourself) gourmet meals, appetisers and desserts. The DIY (Do it Yourself) variety requires a bit more time and effort but judging from my experience, it's worth it. So without much ado, there are three steps to enjoying a DIY Burgundy Box (Do it Yourself):

1. Order it

My motive for doing the review was to give my mother a much-needed break and my family a nice Sunday treat. Since we are a family of four, I chose two main courses for lunch - Vegetable Thai Red Curry with Steamed Rice and Aloo Bhukhara Kofte with 4 Laccha Parathas. The DIY boxes are not cheap (ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 500) but when you see the quality and quantity, you'll know why. There is a good selection of Indian and international appetisers, side dishes, mains and desserts to choose from.

2. Cook it

Ingredients for Thai Curry

Ingredients for Aloo Bukhara Kofte

I asked for the boxes to be delivered at 1, completely overlooking the fact that we'd need time to prepare the dishes! And on top of that, there was a delay due to the weather and the fact that my residence is far away from Goregaon. The boxes arrived at 1:45 and I was feeling really guilty about making my family wait. But all our faces broke out in smiles when we opened the boxes and saw the neatly packed ingredients, all measured, chopped and numbered as per the steps in the recipe card. The Burgundy Box team had done everything possible to simplify the cooking process.

Preparing the Vegetable Red Thai Curry

For the Vegetable Thai Curry, they had provided everything from the curry paste, coconut milk and vegetables to the little items like stock and oil. All we had to do was roast the items and put them together in a pan in the right order. The rice was already cooked but I sprinkled some water on it and microwaved it for a minute as per the instructions. The result was a beautiful large bowl of fragrant Thai Curry and rice that was as good as freshly cooked.

Cooking the Kofta curry

The Kofta Curry didn't go as smoothly as the first dish, probably because we switched to a non-stick pan which tends to heat very quickly. The box contained the gravy, the koftas and packets of spice powder, a carton of ghee and seasoning consisting of cream and coriander. What we had to do was roast the gravy in ghee, add the koftas, simmer and then season with cream and coriander. The only problem was the instructions said "roast the ghee for 30 seconds" and on the non-stick pan, the ghee browned in mere seconds. A burning smell rent the air and my mom and I went into hysterics. We rushed through the rest of the steps. The koftas were excellent but the gravy didn't taste as good as expected. The Burgundy Box team had done a great job with the laccha parathas - all we had to do was cook them some more on both sides and apply some ghee.

3. Eat it

Final dish: Vegetable Thai Red Curry with Steamed Rice

We managed to have both dishes ready (even with all my photography) by 3 PM. It was late but the food was so scrumptious and filling that all was forgiven. I rate the Thai Curry and Rice 5/5. Be it the taste, quantity or freshness, this dish was perfect and as good as any A-grade Thai restaurant. Following the recipe card served as a great trial in case we wanted to make it again on our own. I was afraid that the red curry would be too spicy but it was just right.

Final dish: Aloo Bukhara Kofte with Laccha Paratha

It was with some trepidation that we ladled the kofta curry and parathas on to our plates. But the koftas were dreamily perfect - full of creamy cottage cheese and rich dry fruit filling. The parathas were crisp and delicious too. But the gravy was a bit of a let-down. I don't know if it was because of our over-roasting the ghee or the gravy itself. But the experience proved to me that if you're an absolute novice, you might end up making errors even with all the assistance provided.

The quantities were gigantic and we were completely full with the meal. It's tough to get that feeling in a restaurant without paying through your nose. And if you attempted complicated dishes like aloo bukhara from scratch, you'd take really long.

So, there you have it. You have a gourmet meal ready in 30 minutes at half the price of a restaurant item (since the quantity is equal to two portions). Do I recommend it? Certainly. I only have two suggestions for Burgundy Box - change the preparation time from 10-15 to 20-30 minutes because it does take that much time. Secondly, provide boxes made of water-resistant material during the monsoons. Ready to order?

Product review: Himalaya's Purifying Neem Scrub & Fairness Kesar Face Pack

Are you someone who likes experimenting with the products they use on their skin or hair? Or do you like me, tend to stick with brands you’ve had a positive experience with? A while ago, I got my hands on two lovely products from one of my favourite herbal beauty brands – Himalaya. They were:

• Himalaya's Purifying Neem Scrub
• Himalaya Fairness Kesar Face Pack

The products come in 100gm packs in sturdy tubes with the familiar Himalaya logo. Here is a detailed review of the efficacy, texture and fragrance of both products.

Himalaya's Purifying Neem Scrub 

I’m a huge fan of scrubs given that I have slightly oily skin. I love the way good scrubs will soften the skin along with purifying it - something that face wash doesn’t accomplish. Himalaya’s Purifying Neem Scrub smells lovely, doesn’t feel exceedingly rough and has a creamy soft consistency while washing off. The result is soft skin and a smoother complexion. The scrub blends the goodness of anti-bacterial neem and exfoliating apricot.

Efficacy: A scrub is meant to exfoliate your skin gently and leave it feeling fresher, brighter and cleaner than it was before use. Himalaya’s Purifying Neem Scrub accomplishes this with aplomb.

Efficacy rating: 5/5

Texture: The scrub is both creamy and granular, making it a delight to apply and wash off. While washing off, there is a foamy sensation so I think this scrub works as a face wash as well.

Texture rating: 5/5

Fragrance: The product smells really, really good. The fragrance of apricot dominates and dulls the bitterness of neem.

Fragrance rating: 5/5

Value for money: At Rs 130 for a 100gm tube, this product is more affordable than many others in its category and a real steal. You can get the 50gm tube for Rs 70. However, you do need a good amount of scrub for the entire face and neck.

Value for money: 5/5

All in all, I have no negatives to cite for this beautiful scrub.

Total: 5/5

Himalaya Fairness Kesar Face Pack

I don’t obsess over the colour of my skin but I certainly see the benefits of de-tanning and brightening. The Himalaya Fairness Kesar Face Pack does well on both accounts. It smells heavenly and has a thin consistency unlike the thick pastes you end up with while concocting homemade packs. So, it’s easy to apply and dries in mere minutes. Washing it off isn’t a pain either - it’s not like a stringy pack; rather it melts away from the skin, leaving you with a rosier complexion. Along with saffron, the pack contains a wealth of ingredients including turmeric, Indian aloe and walnut.

Efficacy: It’s simple – a fairness face pack should visibly lighten your skin tone immediately after use. This pack definitely does that and the fairness is a becoming glow rather than a synthetic chemical-induced bleaching.

Efficacy rating: 5/5

Texture: This is a fast-drying face pack and the texture is light and thin. Once dry, the pack is powdery rather than plasticky and comes off easily. The only issue is that the pack is difficult to squeeze out of the tube and I think I may have to cut the tube at some point.

Texture rating: 4.5/5

Fragrance: The divine perfume of saffron and walnut infuse this face pack with a mesmerising fragrance. But it’s quite faint and not at all overpowering.

Fragrance rating: 5/5

Value for money: All the Himalaya products are fairly priced and this one is no exception. At Rs 130 for a 100gm tube and Rs 70 for a 50gm tube, the pricing is extremely competitive. And you don’t need too much of the pack for a good glow so it will last a while.

Value for money: 5/5

Total: 4.8/5

There is a face wash, scrub and face pack range in both categories – purifying and fairness. So if you don’t prefer to mix and match, you can get the entire range of one kind depending on your need. If you have acne-prone skin, I suggest you go for the neem-based routine. But if you have great skin and just want to keep tan at bay, go for the fairness range. Either way, you’ll be happy with what you get – that much I guarantee.

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