Although an independent cuisine, Malvani cuisine is an amalgamation of the cuisines of Maharashtra, Goa and some northern parts of West Karnataka. Moreover, what makes it unique is that it is a combo of the fieriness of its masala, vinegary pungency of Goan food, the use of freshly grated coconut from the Karwar belt and the sweet and sour mix of the Sarawat Goud community. Recently, Pondichéry Café at Sofitel Mumbai BKC hosted a sumptuous Malvani Food Festival.
Specialty home chefs Prathishta and Praja drove the food festival along with Vividh Patil, Chef de Cuisine at the luxury property. Numerous delectable dishes were on offer to tantalize food connoisseurs at the 10-day long coastal delight.
For us, we loved the Jawla Cutlet, Mutton Hirwa Masala, Rawasachi Kadhi, Kolambi Bhaat, and Fodnicha Varan. Also worth mentioning are Batata, Palebhaji, Kombdi cha Rassa, Vade, Gobhi Chana, Valache Birde and Sukya Bomblachi Chutney.
We found these flavour-bomb of dishes to be characterized by the use of liberal quantities of coconut in all its form- dried, grated, paste and milk – combined with generous portions of dried chillies, coriander seeds, cardamom, ginger, kokum, tamarind and garam masala spices.
We wrapped up our meal with a glass of chilled Solkhadi, a kokum-infused coconut milk, the digestive we needed in generous doses as we feasted on the coastal cuisine- a culinary heaven.
Time: Lunch: 12:30 p.m. onwards | Dinner: 07:00 p.m. onwards
Date: 15th to 24th November 2019
Note– The critic was hosted by the restaurant but all the opinions expressed herewith are her own.
Venue: Pondichéry Café, Sofitel Mumbai
BKCC-57, Bandra Kurla Complex,
Bandra East, Mumbai – 400 051, India
Phone: +91 (22) 6117 5115 / 5116
