Cafeholic

WHACKY WAFFLES:

What happens when you first here the word “Whacky”?! One thinks of something that is amusing in a peculiar way or something that is offbeat, right?!! And imagine being served a waffle in an out of the ordinary way. That’s when “Whacky Waffles” should come to your mind. It is Kolkata’s first very own waffle café. It started its journey as a pop up shop in the famous Christmas Carnival of Kolkata and since then its no looking back for them.

A place, one of its kind with bizarre variety of options to go with your waffles. It’s got something for the savoury lovers and it’s got loads of options for the sweet addicted people. You ask for the flavour and they have it on a platter, ready to serve you. It just gets your taste buds tingling with every bite.

The café looks simple and sweet. They have used the colour yellow on one of the walls that adds to the quirkiness of the simple decor, giving it an informal feel to rest, relax and eat at the café. On the other wall, Paris inspired doodled wallpaper adds to the simplicity of the cafe. There are a few board games and books to while away your time. A few posters are hung on the wall that are related to the waffle history.  A red scooty photo spot for the whacky selfie freaks and a board where all the customers can write their views/ opinions or anything they feel.

Talking about waffles, the one which is my favourite of the lot, is the “Cream & Caramel Crunch”. It’s a perfect blend of sweetness and nuttiness. The waffle is light and fluffy which is served with a heavy doze of fresh cream and caramel sauce, and sprinkled with sufficient nuts to get an even crunchy bite, whenever you bite into it. The waffle goes well with a mint cooler, something light and less sweet. Its on you how you place your order to balance out the taste well. Even for the coffee lovers, there is the “Tiramisu Waffle” which is served with a coffee flavor cream cheese on the side.

The most unique item in their menu is the “Waffle Pizza”. When you’re confused what to eat at the café then it is one of the best things to order. It’s a meal to itself. A waffle base and all the basic toppings a pizza can have- cheese, bell peppers, onions, chicken etc. They have a variety to choose from with good flavours of chilli flakes and oregano sprinkled on top. A great concept and something worth a try.

Brickwood- Wood Fire Pizza

Brickwood , as the name suggests is a place with an ambience which is set up mostly with the bricks and wood look. A wall that has the red brick effect giving it the English café look and wooden tables and chairs giving it a contemporary look . It is a petite place situated at Wood Street and well lit up overlooking the busy street with place for you to sit in the inside and the outside.  Inside, they have introduced the concept of communal tables to create a friendly and an informal atmosphere for its customers with long wooden tables made for sharing with random people. There are few smaller tables laid outside for those who want a table to themselves.

Brickwood has an open kitchen with a chalkboard menu which is creatively and differently displayed. It is very artistically done up explaining in brief whatever is there to offer. The thing different about this place is that their pizzas are baked in an open oven. The concept of wood fired pizza oven is that it heats up and cooks up gourmet meals a lot better and faster with its high heat. Quick baking creates a thin crust and nice crispy toppings, with a delicious soft middle. This method produces intense flavours and it also adds an interesting look to your pizza with a crispy crust. Everything here is served on wooden plates giving you an authentic feel.

While there are certainly pizza purists out there who advocate for more and more cheese as their main topping on every slice, but then there’s no denying that adding an extra ingredient to your regular slice once in a while provides for a fun change in your normal pizza routine. Nope I am not talking about the regular capsicum or caramelized onions or other such things as extra toppings. It is about adding those green leaves which they offer. 

The signature dish in their menu and no doubt the bestseller is the “The Brickwood” Pizza. It’s a thin crust pizza base, layered with Greek Feta cheese, sundried tomatoes, sprinkles of olives and ofcourse the extra topping roquette leaves. The leaves and cheese give that sour taste which balances out each ingredient’s flavours well and each bite is sinful and absolutely yum. You have other variety to choose from too, like if you are an “Aglio Olio” spaghetti lover, then imagine having the same ingredients of garlic, olive oil and herbs served in a pizza form. The pizza at Brickwood is absolutely different and it is like having thin crust pizzas with a bit of twist.   As per their menu, the specialty of this place and the main focus is on the pizzas. And when one orders pizza they automatically think of garlic bread. 

Their garlic bread is to die for. It is different, it is cheesy and packed with flavours. The presentation of the “Pulled Cheesy Garlic Bread” is as amazing as its’ taste.You got to try it to believe it.

But, there might be times when you are just not in a mood for a savoury item and you still want to visit a place so calm as Brickwood to chill. You can always order a “Hot Chocolate Delight”, which is yum, light and topped with fresh cream, chocolate sauce and fruit tit bits or the “Café Crème” which is a freshly brewed Lavazza coffee with a dash of cream for adding the sweetness. And, to add more sweetness to your taste buds, their menu even offers a “Chocolate Pizza” with fruit toppings or the “Hot Souffle Duet” which is just out of the oven and hot for you to indulge in.

The Big Chill Café :

The Big Chill Café is a chain of restaurants in New Delhi and one of the best of the lot is the one at Khan Market. It is located in the midst of the hustle bustle of a shopping area at one of the known markets of Delhi and giving it a miss is no chance. As the name suggests it is surely a place to ‘chill’ with your dear ones. There has never been a time I have not waited in a queue to get a table here.

The interior of the café is pretty classic and retro and at the same time colourful. It has old movie posters framed all over the walls from movies like Casablanca to Hitchcock to posters of famous personalities like Audrey Hepburn to Johnny Depp. The music playing in the background is absolutely perky. The seating is spacious and quaint. The place is huge and tables on one side of the café are separated through walls giving the balcony feel. The place is lively and has it’s own charm as it has so much to offer under one roof.

They have ample of choices in their menu and it seems never ending. So every time one visits this café, one can try something new and different for sure. But then again everyone has their favourites’ even after trying new dishes every time. One of my favourites’ is the ‘Cream of Mushroom’. I have never had a perfectly balanced Mushroom Soup before this. It was creamy yet light and the flavours of the mushroom with the tinge of black pepper was amazing. The tiny bits of mushroom pieces in every bite makes it more yummy. The ‘Baked Penne Pasta’ is superb as it’s a balance for the Arabiatta lover who even loves a lot of cheese on their food. It is a superb combination with a plate of Garlic Bread or a plate of Bruschetta.

If one does not want to visit the place for a meal then just a beverage and a dessert visit would do too. The ‘Chocolate Oreo Shake’ and the ‘Blueberry Cheesecake’ are heavenly and sinful. They are an absolute delight for one’s palette/taste buds. The quantity and quality of the food has always been generous.

THEOBROMA

Theobroma, better known as “Theos” is by far one of the best bakeries in Mumbai according to me. As you enter the cafe, the chocolatey caffeine smell just gets into you as the smell of the bakery items is all over the place. The variety of brownies one is looking for can be spotted here, be it the caramel filled heavy chocolate truffle ‘millionaire brownie’ or the spongy chewy ‘marshmallow’ chocolate chip brownie or the ‘Oreo Cookie’ filled brownie and many more to select from. We all have the patented Walnut brownies to look forward to in different cafes we visit around but here you have loads to try from. The place smells soooo chocolatey that it gets into your senses and makes one feel that you have entered chocolate land :)

The bakery has its own charm as the decoration is simple and has a contemporary look with wooden table, chairs and flooring. It’s got minimalistic decoration and this place is just about the freshness and the smell. It’s like you have entered your granny’s kitchen  and something fresh and yummy is being baked and it’s just out of the oven for you to pounce on to treat your tummy.

Apart from the variety of brownies, what is sooo extraordinarily different in the menu is a “Chip Butty”. Theobroma is the the first place where I heard about something known as “butty” existed as a savoury item. So, obviously a sense of excitement built in me as I wanted to try something different and new. And believe it or not since the first time I tried butty there, I surely had a regular affair with it like at least once a month. Anyone who would visit Mumbai for the first time, I somehow managed to convince them to try “butty” and to my surprise every person I know was addicted to it. A Chip Butty is a different version of a burger. It’s got about couple of dozens of French fries between bun slices and Theobroma’s secretive cheesy sauce recipe packed with seasoning makes your mouth water and each bite is heavenly. The look of it is so tempting and it’s a meal to itself. It’s heavy, full of flavour and truly yummilicious. Accompany it with an ice tea and your stomach will be satisfied to the fullest indeed. You can customise the butty by having your favourite add-ons of bacon or chicken.

STARBUCKS: 

I chose 19th October as a date to write about my favourite of the lot "Starbucks” because three years back on this date it entered India and opened its Flagship Store in Mumbai. The excitement and the experience is worth a share as this day marked a special day in my life indeed. 

"Starbucks" as a brand most of us know, so no detail introduction is required for the green white Siren logo which originated in Seattle. The logo is so attractive and the colour is so subtle that it made me do a research on why the colour green and the mermaid with 2 tails was chosen. There are many versions to it but the most inspiring one of the lot is that the logo was created with the siren as it symbolised being the center of attention representing the overpoweringly attractive and most seductive quality of coffee and the colour green was chosen to imply the growth, freshness and uniqueness of the rapidly developing brand. 

The flagship store in Mumbai, India is worth a visit. The store is beautifully decorated and as you enter this two storey coffee shop, you are in for a happy ride. The ambience is divided into different sections, each of it being unique and one of its kind. The decor is contemporary with a mix of traditional and classy looks. As stated by Mr. Howard Schultz, the Chief Executive himself, “It is perhaps the most elegant, beautiful, dynamic store we’ve opened in our history”. Listening to Mr. Schultz and Mr. Ratan Tata live was surely inspirational and convincing that one of the best cafe has arrived in India and I am thankful to them to make 'Starbucks' more accessible to coffee lovers like us. The store is located in a heritage building of the city. There are huge beautiful colourful photographs hanging on walls at one end of the store and huge vases to antique wall hangings & old trunks on the other side to give it a vintage look. There are even coffee beans sacks with “Tata Coffee” stitched on them kept in one section giving the store a personalised look. Something worth noticing is that the Siren logo is engraved on wood just above the takeaway counter. There is high to low seating available, giving a Maharaja look to one section and walls dedicated to books and different types of coffee stored,for our knowledge in another section. Coffee Beans are kept in bowls in different corners so that the aroma fills the customer with happiness and contentment that they have arrived the right place to enjoy their coffee. 

"Starbucks: A Tata Alliance", in India, offers Local Indian Roast from Tata Coffee as well, apart from what is offered in the international outlets, i.e coffee from Indonesia, Kenya, Italian coffee, etc. It has extensive list of beverages to choose from to suit everybody’s liking and mood. Starbucks not only serves coffee, but it has a variety of tea, flavoured frappuccinos, chocolate drinks, etc and some delicious sweet and savoury items to accompany your beverages. My favourites of the lot being the Java Chip Frappucino , Hot Chocolate and the Signature Coffee Latte. Java Chip Frappucino any day tops the list, which is made of freshly brewed dark roast coffee mixed well with milk, crushed ice, chocolate chips and chocolate syrup and then topped with dollops of whipped cream (which is absolutely delicious) and drizzled with more chocolate sauce. It's super heavy and chocolately and ofcourse yummy. Accompany the Frappucino with the all time favourite Blueberry Muffin or Chocolate Chips Cookies or the festive speciality Salted Caramel Tart. There are sandwiches, quiches, Gateaux and other items to chose from as well. 

Paris Cafe:

Taking a few moments out of your busy day to sit with a cup of coffee in one of the cafe’s in Kolkata that makes you feel that you are in France, then there is nothing more French than “Paris Cafe”. What is unique about cafes in Paris is that they are actually proper full time restaurants which serves all day full meals, but the word ‘Cafe’ is used by the French to give it a more traditional feel and it is considered to describe an informal place for people to meet.

“Paris Cafe” has an ambience which is very classic and has it's own charm. It is white and bright with a long antique chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, the furniture all wooden but whitish wood combo giving it that classic look with a colourful pretty painting fixed on each table top giving it a glamorous chick look. You look around there are things decorated in gold, white and green. With bird cages hanging as lamp shades, gold frames/mirrors on the walls to plants at the entrance and floral decorative pieces around. It has a simple yet classic look.

Apart from the great ambience, the food is comforting as well. They have alot of variety in their menu and as suggested by them the Mushroom Crepes, Spinach & Ricotta Cheese Cannelloni, Vegetable Paprika etc are few of their best selling savory items. They have some nice, pretty looking desserts to choose from but something that is absolutely different from the rest of the cafes in the city, is the most famous ‘Rainbow Cake’ slice. It looks spectacular and what is so impressive about it that it is actually a 7 layer cake with each layer differentiating itself from the other with the 7 VIBGYOR colours of the rainbow. Although it’s a huge slice, it’s sinful, tasty, not too sweet and light. You got to have it to believe it. The look of each of their desserts is so appealing and colourful, it just brings happiness to your face seeing it.

For the coffee lovers, it has the regular variety to choose from, but my favourite from their list is the Mocha Coffee. It’s a strong shot of espresso combined with milk and it has a good burst of chocolate flavour in it. It’s truly amazing. The coffee was served with cute little doughnut shaped plain sponge cakes, a good accompaniment instead of the regular cookies that are served at some cafes. And if one needs something more to go with the coffee, a red velvet cupcake with a little bit of cream cheese icing on top, is perfect. Apart from the pastries that they serve, the most famous French Macaroons are served here in different flavours, my favourites being the Rose and Chocolate ones.  It’s soft, crispy and one can taste each flavour with every bite. They even have some fresh baked bread loafs to take along with you and enjoy at home.

“Biker’s Cafe” as the name suggests, is not only a stopover for bikers but for every person around the City of Joy, Kolkata. The decor is so old school kinds, with old rock music playing in the background, something from our 90’s, the seating is all wooden giving it a contemporary look, there is a bike stationed inside the cafe for taking ‘selfie clicks’, the posters & paintings on the walls are something one can associate with and some catchy sayings which we all are aware of. The place gives you a feel that you’re in those bikers zone where things are suppose to be cool, calm and happening with some fantastic rock ‘n’ roll music playing and an ambience which will definitely amuse everyone around. What’s interesting is the detailing of few things around which are totally noticeable, from the tissue holder which is a hammer, to french fries presented in cone-shaped serving bowls, to paper table-mats with a flowchart of a rider’s life-cycle drawn on it, to the courteous staff who are dressed up like bikers, to their food presentation which is so appealing and perfect. They have board games and fooseball table as well for fun gaming times with friends and family.

They have alot of detox drinks options in their menu. The "Eye Opener” is something one should try, it’s surely for the weight watchers and who are conscious about their skin’s health. It has a lot of ingredients in one drink, yet it’s so light and refreshing. And for the non-weight watchers, there is a variety of coffee drinks to choose from, one of my favourite being the “Oreo Desire”. It's like overdose of Oreo blended perfectly well with coffee, which surely is a treat. It’s creamy,it’s chocolaty and it’s heavy. The must try in their menu is the choco chip pancakes, fluffy yet light, with oodles of chocolate sauce poured over it. After having here one should not feel guilty with the drink and the pancakes coupled together as a perfect meal. 

Apart from the sweet stuff they have a menu with a variety to grab from, their burgers being the best seller. They have a variety of salads, steaks, pasta, pizza, etc on their menu. It has something for everyone’s liking.Their Ratatouille with Cottage cheese was light and delicious. They have a lot to offer and early risers usually meet here for all American breakfast meal, which is a wholesome of food. They have different kinds of waffles, pancakes, omelettes, toasts, sandwiches, etc, and a lot of food to choose from to kick start your day.

“Q33” actually stands for Quest 33, as it's located inside the “Quest” Mall, Kolkata and its’ address is at 33rd street. What is appealing about this place is that it is an open cafe in a closed mall, located in the midst of the hustle bustle of the shopaholics, but surely it is unique and it is well planned as it gives one place to relax after a tiring shopping day. Its got hangings and tiles on the walls as if one’s in their ‘90s grandma’s kitchen with fruits and veggies painted on them, it's got big porcelain jars around, which we Indians use for storing “achaar” a.ka. pickle, its got all kind of antique things like cactus plants, watering cans, clocks, etc painted in cute colours to give it a more lively, pleasant, contemporary yet vintage look. 

Q33 has a menu with limited things but still a great variety to choose from. It has some good meals from different cuisines and it is a perfect place to beat your hunger at any time of the day as it serves all day long. It's got Burmese Khow Suey, the Italian favourite aglio-e-olio Pasta & Pizzas, Salads, Sandwiches and a good variety to chose from of coolers and coffee drinks. Their desserts are so alluring from cheesecakes, to mud tarts, to éclairs and pancakes. 

CANDIES : 

The first word that came to my mind was “Treat” when I first heard about “Candies” and it surely was to me in every way when I visited this place, to my taste buds, my eyes, my ears and my mind. It is one of my favourite places in the City of Dreams, Mumbai. It has a very unique ambience with a mix of everything suiting everyone’s mood. It’s subtle, yet colourful, with old school wall decorations, with antique pieces around and so many more things to notice, that it lifts up ones mood with its vintage yet bright looks. Be it the huge villa Candies at Pali Naka or the small cozy one near Lilavati Hospital, it’s just perfect for a full fledged meal at any time of the day or just for a snack on the go, it has something for everybody’s liking. It’s an ideal place for a coffee date, or for gossip session with friends, spending time with your family and loved ones, sometimes to be by yourself or at times no occasion is required to treat oneself. 

 As for my experience, the Candies cold coffee is just so amazing, the strong freshly brewed coffee mixed with milk and crushed ice and not to forget the yummilicious chocolate sauce to make it more satisfying, it’s surely the right thing to order, which you could always accompany it with noodles or lasagne or as one likes it. It’s got favourites of everybody and everything tastes fresh and homely yet so different.