Sunday Snippets
By Venkatesh Raghavan
I recall my days with The Free Press Journal when in addition to covering the civic beat; I also got roped in to cover foodie write-ups. My initial venture was with Bastani Irani restaurant bang opposite Metro theatre in South Mumbai. It was an enjoyable experience as I ordered cakes. The waiter kept all varieties of cake on my plate and informed me that the ones I left behind on the plate will be taken back. It was actually my first essay writing about food. I also penned on the variety of baked biscuits that went along with an Irani palate.
A week later, I received a call at my office from a lady who spoke about my write-up. She told me that she was the owner of Britannia Irani at Ballard Pier. She invited me to come and taste the food at her joint. I entered Irani with paper and pen in hand. She and her husband Boman narrated a tale about how there used to be a rooster at the entrance which used to attract the attention of her regular customers. After chatting about her family ties that included the late Bejan Daruwalla who used to pen the astrology column for the Times Group, she suggested that I try out their “Chicken Berry Pulav.”
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“It’s the favourite of many among our regular customers. You must give it a bite,” the host suggested. I obligingly used my spoon and fork to taste the yummy dish. The food dish was subsequently followed by refreshments before I thanked my host and left. After my experience with Britannia hit the print, I was in store for another surprise. The Indian Summer, an up-market restaurant near Churchgate station in South Mumbai invited me over for drinks and dinner. I reached the spot at around 7 p.m. on a Sunday evening. From the array of spirits stacked on the bar shelf, I chose Baccardi White rum. I gulped it in along with chicken chop sticks. Later, after my third peg was well underway, I ordered roast lamb with naan for dinner. It turned out to be a wholesome meal.
Yet one more was ready on my palate before I departed from The Free Press Journal to The Business & Political Observer. This time it was another up-market corner by the name Revival housed near Charni Road station. It again was a mixture of drinks and dinner. The red wine served there was fabulous. This was before the times when Sula wines were introduced in the market. In those days, the exquisite flavours used to be Chantilli and Riviera. I chose the latter as it was known for its right blend of sweet, sourness and bitterness. For a change, my spirit consumption was followed by a pure vegetarian meal. It was Chole Bature that tasted yummy.
As I bow out of playing a foodie owing to my joining a business newspaper, I am reminded of a tip given to me by my long time friend and ally in investigative reporting, namely Edrich Miranda. He told me, “Please check out Noor Mohammadi at Masjid Bunder. It’s very delicious for those who enjoy non-veg cuisine.” However, my journeys as a business reporter took me far from South Mumbai venues and I am yet to catch up on his choice of palate.
