Effingut Brewerkz – A Hard Punch To My Gut & Soul!

I never ever imagined I would be penning a review as the one I am penning right now. I contemplated for days whether I should write this review, but I had to be fair to the work I put out for people who read my reviews hence…. If I write when the food is stellar, then it’s only right that I pen when the food isn’t up to the mark. 

Effingut Brewerkz has been on my list of favourite restaurants for as long as it’s been around. On a recent trip to Mumbai, (this was a ‘mein aur meri tanhai’ kinda trip where I chose to meet up with merely one or two close friends - #ILoveMySolitude ) knowing that Apru Effy had begun operations in Mumbai, I opted to eat lunch there with my friend, Chetna. I chose Effingut over all other restaurants in SoBo.

After we reached, I clicked a couple of photographs of the restaurant interiors and got down to ordering food. I had been itching to try the Hot Wings that I had heard so much about. My friend and I were too chicken to try the Bhut Jolakia and Spicy Harrisa, hence we opted for the Mango Habanero Wings and our all-time Pune favourite, Prawns Mustard Chili. The Mango Habanero Wings were to die for. The flavours were excellent! Spicy, quite spicy, but not to the extent that it would blow a hole in your gut. It is very unfair that we, Punekars, do not have these stellar babies on the Pune menu. *wicked grin with the hope that they get added to the menu*

This is where everything positive about this meal ends…

Mustard Chili Prawns at Effingut Brewerkz - Mumbai Colaba

The Prawns Mustard Chili is a dish I never tire of. I have to have this whenever I step into Effy. This time was no different but, unfortunately, the dish served was very different to what is served in Pune. I cannot complain about the chili quotient, but the mustard and the prawns were all wrong. Instead of the beautifully subtle mustard I am used to, the mustard here was potent and the prawns were rubbery and overcooked. Such a big disappointment this!

Mustard Chili Prawns at Effingut Brewerkz - Pune (for comparison with regard to the delicate mustard coating)

Nasi Goreng at Effingut Brewerkz - Pune (for comparison with regard to the spice quotient of the rice and prawns)

We chose to order one main and share. Once again, I opt for a Pune favourite; Prawn Nasi Goreng. The dish was very well presented. We took a skewer each of prawn that was on the platter and shared the rice. 

When we tried to de-skewer the prawns they were stuck to the skewer like their lives depended on it; little did we realize at the time they were very dead (read on to know why I say this). We finally pried them loose on to our respective plates. I ate precisely one morsel of rice and it was nothing like the one we have at Pune. Chefs differ? Yes! Recipes may differ a tad bit? Yes! But these flavours were just not Nasi Goreng. The rice looked and felt like Masala Bhaat. That’s the only way I can describe what I was served. 

I decided to munch on the skewered prawn. I picked up the prawn and bit into it. I gagged! I literally gagged! The stench was of a prawn gone so bad, it was inedible: it had probably been dead for decades. (Decade is, of course, an exaggeration but you get my drift) I spat out the prawn into a tissue, called the server and told him about the issue. 

I've pixel-ated the morsel I spat out as it's not a pretty sight :( 

He took the platter and my plate into the kitchen and came back with a very sheepish look. He agreed, the prawns had gone bad. Only those who have ever have the misfortune of biting into disgusting rotten seafood would know what I mean and what I went through for those few minutes. The putrid taste and smell lingered on my senses for what seemed like a very long time. Even Diet Coke could not wash it away. I was gutted at this experience!

My friend had to head back into the city for work hence we quickly ordered a Chicken Nachos. Though it looked very pretty, this too turned out to be a very average dish. The nachos were nothing to write home about. The melted cheese felt like a diluted, thin cheese sauce. I’d made a mental note to not to judge the new dish based on my earlier experience but truly, this dish was very mediocre!

By this time, with the kind of experience we’d had with the food, all we wanted to do was wind up the lunch and leave hence we skipped dessert.

Do I forgive the chef for having a bad day? I do not! I understand a bad day when the food sent out is spicy, salty, oily or overcooked, but when a knowledgeable chef sends out putrid food to my table which could well have landed me at a doctor’s doorstep, or at a hospital, then that is not the kind of bad day I will excuse. If he was having such a bad day, he should have simply taken the off day and stayed home. By the way, even a home cook like me only has to handle a prawn and sniff it once, to know it’s gone bad so absolutely no excuses there.

Four staff members (servers and manager) came over to apologize for the kind of lunch we’d been served. All four requested that I allow them to waive off the entire bill. It was, truly, a very sweet and kind gesture, but I saw no reason why an establishment should bear the cost of what I’d eaten hence each server got politely but sternly sent back to get the bill. Haan, bahut ziddi hu! They, of course, did not charge me for the Nasi Goreng. The Pune Eat Outs (PEO) food discount card got me a 33% discount and the damages for the afternoon were 1095…. and a very sad, broken heart! ☹

Address: Dhanraj Mahal, Next to the Bentley Showroom, Colaba, Mumbai

Tel: +91 8657440661 / +91 8657440664

Plan A Meal At Plancha, Pronto!

Plancha is hosting a Yin Traditional Pan-Asian Three Course Menu this week; Thursday, 30^th August 2018 and Friday, 31^st August 2018. They invited me for a pre-launch trial. As a regular patron of Plancha, I know they serve awesome European and Continental cuisine, but I was a tad apprehensive about them getting Asian flavours right, more so, as I love Asian food. They did not disappoint!! 

We began with soups: Tom Kha Gai (non-veg chicken) and Tom Kha Het (veg mushroom). The base of both soups is coconut milk, kaffir lime, galangal and cilantro. 

While the Tom Kha Het was slightly on the thinner side, the Tom Kha Gai was thicker and a tad creamier. Both soups, though, were extremely flavorful. The combination of fresh herbs and coconut milk was superb! These soups are not to be missed!

For the starter/appetizer, because I am a hardcore carnivore, I gave the veg starter a miss and chose the Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce and the Twice Cooked Pork Belly. 

The chicken was beautifully marinated, and the peanut sauce further elevated the flavor of the chicken. My friend, who was accompanying me, could not stop raving about the cabbage salad served with the satay. She loved it; I, of course, did not touch it (tasting event or otherwise, I will not eat raw foods). :P 

The Twice Cooked Pork Belly was tossed in a sweet soy ginger glaze. We simply could not stop eating it. It was so darn yum! The portion of each starter was good enough to share between two people (unless you have a voracious appetite).

For the mains we chose the Kung Pao Chicken with Flat Noodles and the Crackling Pork Belly with Scented Sticky Rice. 

The Kung Pao Chicken was luscious and perfectly cooked. The chicken was spicy and tangy. The dish, though, could have done with a few more peanuts for that added crunch. 

The Crackling Pork Belly with the fragrant sticky rice was gorgeously rich and toothsome. The ‘oink’ was tossed in spicy black bean and hoisin glaze. Both the mains were served with sunny side up eggs and julienned veggies, stir-fried. The veggies were delish! (Yes, they were so beautifully stir-fried that this carnivore dug in with gusto 😊) The rice and veggies help cut through the richness of the pork belly and, as a morsel it all came together harmoniously.

The three-course Yin Traditional Pan-Asian Three Course Menu for two (consists of two soups, a starter and a main) and is priced at INR 699*. They also plan to have a dessert on offer at a nominal extra charge. The festival is on for merely two days (Thursday, 30^th August 2018 and Friday, 31^st August 2018) so lock those dates right now if you wish to experience some awesome Asian goodness in a bowl.

Address: 2407 East Street, Near Corporation Bank, East Street, Pune

Tel: +91 9860580412

The Secret Chef Next Door – A Secret No More!

A long read but I promise you'll drool..

I’ve written about Sajjani Nair (The Secret Chef Next Door) earlier and even though I order from her time and again, I don’t always write about it. It would get too repetitive. In the past few months I have tried various new goodies which is why it is time to pen again.

To make for an easier read, I have used point format for this write up.

- Focaccia Bread: Simply the best in town. Period! I usually order this with stews or gravies and I always buy extra bread. I gently warm it, grate some cheese and warm it for a minute more when I have it for brekkie the next day.  😉 

- Bacon Sausage Casserole: The quality of sausage and bacon used is superb and that immediately comes across. The beautiful smokiness of the bacon with the luscious gravy is a carnivore’s dream come true. That gravy is to die for! Focaccia dunked in gravy, with a forkful of sausage and bacon… ummm!

- Slow Cooker Beef Stew: I could write odes to this one. Anyone who knows their food, knows that stews are ideally cooked a day ahead and eaten the next day. Reason being, the flavours always intensify. The stew goes on from being a great stew to an excellent one. Sajjani always cooks this a day ahead and sends this dish cold. She does not re-heat it because that would overcook the beef. She leaves that to the client to ensure the texture of the meat remains intact. You have to eat this to believe how stellar it is in quality.

- Potato Mash: I’m the Bawi who perpetually drives Sajjani bonkers because I want a very buttery potato mash with all my stews and gravies. She very kindly obliges. A silken buttery mash, that dad and I simply cannot get enough of, is what I get from her kitchen. 😊

- Kerala Beef Chili Fry: Close your eyes and perceive with your mind's eye chunks beef cooked with beautifully roasted spices, coconut slivers, curry leaves and peppercorns; all sautéed to perfection in aromatic coconut oil. The aroma of the coconut oil hits your olfactory senses at each bite and all you want to do is take another bite and another and another. Sigh! God’s own dish from God’s own country; that’s how I term this. 😊

- Broccoli Parmesan Soup: Yes, you read right, broccoli soup. I hate broccoli, I will not eat it, but I love creamy broccoli soup. More so, when it’s paired with cheese. Hearty, velvety and ever so fulfilling for the soul; I loved it!

- Steak-Stout-Smoked Cheese & Caramelized Onions Pie: Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? The combination is a killer! I’m a teetotaler but I don’t mind alcohol when used in food. The flavours of steak and stout come together like a match made in heaven. The smoked cheese gives off a fabulous ‘bacon-y’ whiff and the sweet caramelized onions cuts through all the rich flavours balancing them to perfection. The beautiful pie crust, too, plays its part and gently cocoons the pie filling. Such a gorgeous pie, this!

- Barbeque Beef: Sajjani happened to mention that she had barbequed a rump of beef. The glutton in me immediately requested her for a portion. My mind wandered into the world of BBQ Beef & Cheese sandwiches and that is exactly what I made for brekkie the next day. Breakfast for a carnivore does not get any better than this!

When Sajjani cooks for her clients she usually makes a wee bit extra. I, invariably, pester her to sell the extra to me when I’m in the mood for gourmet meals. Actually, I do that quite often. :P At times when I go the glutton route I can actually hear the nun from GOT ring the bell in me ear and chant, ‘shame-shame-shame’. *shameless evil grin*

- Lemon Tartlets: These are one bite tartlets and are like no other available anywhere in the city. The lemon curd for these tarts is hand beaten and no corn flour is used to thicken it. The beating process thickens the lemon curd. When you bite into these golden babies the lemon curd melts on your palate. Do not expect any decorative frills with regard to these babies. These babies are pretty enough by themselves. The bright shiny lemon curd sits prettily in the light, flaky pie tartlet and simply beckons you to bite into it. Sublime, truly sublime!

- Pigs In A Blanket: ‘Oinky’ sausages cozily cuddled in flaky pastry. Such simple flavours and yet, once again, because of the quality of sausages used, such a stunning appetizer.

- Barbeque Chicken Smoked Cheese Tarts and Broccoli Walnut Tarts: I’ve tried both these savoury tarts from Sajjani’s kitchen and for the bloody life of me, I can’t decide which one I like better. There have been times when this carnivore (yours truly) has ended up ordering more Broccoli Walnuts tarts than Barbeque Chicken tarts. You get my drift, right? While the chicken tarts are full-bodied in flavor, the creamy cheesy broccoli with the intermittent crunch of walnuts is sheer harmony to the palate.

Every dish that comes out of Sajjani’s kitchen is a chef-d’oeuvre. She has no fixed menu, and nor does she enjoy cooking a fixed menu day in and day out. I have never known her to sting on quality or quantity. She cooks with heart which is why my family patronize's Sajjani’s kitchen so often. 

Heartfelt thanks, Sajjani, for sharing the radiance so selflessly. There are so many known to me who are sure to join in, in extending their warm thanks to you for the work you so caringly put out for them. 

If ever you are in the mood for tarts, pies, classic soups, gourmet appetizers, roasts and more, reach out to Sajjani and experience the radiance that emits from her kitchen. Her contact number is +91 9960938121.

Some more photographs to drool over..

Sorriso – Cibo Eccellente!

My bestie and I hadn’t met up in ages because of work commitments. When we finally found the time to catch up we decided it had to be a place that allowed us the liberty to sit peacefully for hours and gab. Another important factor was food; it had to be a place that served very good food. It was no wonder then, that we opted for Sorriso, Marriott Suites.

Sorriso has a very classy indoor section and a beautifully done up garden seating. We chose the garden seating as the weather was lovely that evening. We immediately ordered our regular drink; Diet Coke with a wedge of lime.

We started off with Antipasto alla Italiana. This was a platter of imported cold cuts and cheeses. The cold cuts served that evening were, Parma Ham, Coppa, Bresaola and Salami Milano. As for the cheeses, our selection was, Parmesan, Pecorino (this one had a bit of sharpness - I loved it but my bestie wasn’t a fan), Cheddar and the beautifully smoked Scarmoza. They served us green and black marinated olives and Focaccia. 

On request they brought me a spoonful of pesto sauce as I love dipping Focaccia in pesto. The cold cuts were of stellar quality as were the cheeses. 

For our main course we opted for Pizza Fiorentina. We had had this before and loved it hence decided to re-order the same pizza. The toppings were, Tomato, Mozzarella, Bacon, Baby Spinach, Eggs and shaved Parmesan; what’s not to love about that, right? 😉 

We, of course, could not finish the pizza as we were quite full; besides, we did not want to end our meal without dessert.

For dessert we chose the Chocolate Hazelnut Tarte, a combination of Orange Liqueur, Hazelnut Sponge and decadent Chocolate Mousse. Beautifully decorated with gold foil, hazelnut sponge and roasted hazelnuts, this dessert is a chocolate lovers dream come true. Every bite is so effin’ sinful.

Adding a few details from a previous visit..

On an earlier visit, we had ordered the Frittura Mista and the Tart Citron. 

The Frittura Mista was a variety of seafood dusted with semolina and deep fried, served with tartare sauce and lemon wedges. We loved the way they had fried the seafood, especially the prawns and the squid; they were fried to a perfect texture. 

As for the Tart Citron, the lemon creameaux (cream) was one of the best I have ever had; sweet and tangy. The meringues on the tart were beautifully blow torched and the tart crust was done just right. Try as I may, I cannot find fault with something made so perfectly.

I’ve been to Sorriso quite often in the past few years and I have to say, they never disappoint. The servers give you your space if you wish to while away time and gab and yet when you need their attention they are by your side in a jiffy. The food served here is excellent! If your heart craves Italian food, look no further than Sorriso.

Our damages for that evening was INR 3416. They did not levy any SC hence for the superb service we did our bit with 10%er.

Did I mention, they comped a drink and very sweetly gifted us a Basil plant when we were on our way out? Well, they did. Truly, love the service and food at Sorriso and of course, I shall return for more Italian food time and time again.

Food 5/5

Service 5/5

Ambience 5/5

Address: Marriott Suites Pune, 81 Mundhwa, Koregaon Park Annex, Mundhwa, Pune

Tel: 020 71966506

Some more photographs...