The Humble Vada Pav

Maharashtrians share a love-hate relationship with the humble vada pav. It is fondly termed "India's burger" and seduces all vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike in this pav-loving state. When I first came to Pune I was fascinated by the number of vada pav stalls that filled Pune's busy streets. Every nook and corner boasted "the best vada pav". While at first I was hesitant to try this Maharashtrian delicacy, not so much because I don't like street food, but because I was so sick of pav. Everything here I noticed, is eaten with pav - keema pav, chicken pav, pav bhaji, misal pav, vada pav... 

This simple fried aloo tikki (potato patty) sandwiched in a pav, sprinkled with spices is truly India's vegan burger. It's not only the common man's food but Maharashtra's elite are also known to be fond of it. It's free of every class and caste divide that we find in this rich state. Although not very healthy, it's light on the pocket and takes no more than fifteen minutes to cook and eat. 

This little pav delight, fondly etched in every Maharashtrian's heart, has proudly declared August 23rd "Vada Pav Day". With its humble origins in Mumbai, today we  see it's influences across the country. Globalization too has affected it. Just the other day I remember trying a double cheese vada pav!

Someone summed this snack up very well - "heaven on the tongue and hell on the arteries"!

The Spicy Lure of Southeast Asia

Malaka Spice, Pune

The Basics - Quick service, helpful waiters, good food, expensive, known for cocktails, Southeast Asian cuisine, lovely ambiance. Rs. 1500-2000 for two.
The Address - Lane # 5, Koregaon Park, Pune.
The Verdict - Must go for Asian food.

If you want top-notch Asian food any time of the day, visiting the hugely popular Malaka Spice is probably a good start. It is a chic restaurant located in the happening Koregaon Park and sometimes doubles as an art gallery. Upon entering you are greeted by Southeast Asian spices and their aroma that fills the space. There is a lovely outdoor seating with trendy paintings, lamps, lanterns and plants surrounding you. The atmosphere is romantic with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. 

We were promptly seated, but the later into the night you stroll in, the harder it is to get a table. We were quick to order our food and were happy that the service was good. A let down was the price of the food and drinks, but hey, it is an upmarket restaurant, seducing expats and Pune's high society. 

Prawn tempura with mango sauce

For starters we ordered the Prawn tempura, which was so light on the batter that the wonderful smell of fresh seafood reaped through it. The cold, orange-ish mango sauce that accompanied it was tangy, spicy yet sweet but tasted heavenly with the prawns. If you love seafood and especially prawns, I would highly recommend this dish for you. 

Next came the Steamed Basa fish in basil lemon sauce perfect if you're on a diet. All the way from the rivers of Vietnam, the fish was light, and the distinct lemongrass taste lingered on in my mouth. While most people might find this dish bland and the flavours too subtle, I personally liked it this way. 

If you don't like your meat from the sea, their mutton and chicken concoctions might suit you better. The Mutton pepesan, ground mutton parcels steamed in banana leaves, are a must have. The presentation is so beautiful it felt like Christmas on my plate with the nicely wrapped mutton in banana leaves. 

For those of you who like momos there's an interesting array of them here. Chose from vegetable, tofu, duck, prawn and chicken. While I'm not the biggest fan of their momos - I find them expensive and the sauce bland - they are usually on travelers' wish lists. If this is still not your thing, their pork and lamb chops are succulent and cooked to perfection. Chicken satay and vegetable tempura also score high on the "must have" list here. 

As for their rice, I dig their Pad Thai which was well made and the omelette on top was wonderful and craftily placed. Top this off with their lamb curries, Mutton and pok choy and chili or the red or green Thai curry, perfectly cooked with the right amount of natural coconut milk. 

I would skip deserts and concentrate on starters and main course. While the rest of the food ranked high on creativity, the deserts lacked originality and generally disappointed. 

While a lot of their food may not be absolutely "authentic" they try to keep it real, and generally do. I love the fact that their menu is well designed and provides you with "Goes well with" drink options for every dish you order. They are known for their cocktails and they live up to the hype surrounding them. Finally, there's no better way to sum up my experience here - If I was in Pune for a day, I wouldn't miss Malaka Spice for a thing!

What's hot - Mutton pepesan
What's not - Desserts in general

Your Foodista

  

Typically Mangalorean

Olent, Pune

The Basics - Indoor and outdoor seating, decent service, pricey, great food, good quantities, 11am-11pm. 900-1000 for two.
The Address - Next to Apache Nxt, off F.C Road, by Ghole Road.
The Verdict - If you're in the area and love seafood, I don't know why you're not here!

Located on a by lane of F.C Road, Olent offers both outdoor and indoor seating.  It looks something like a shack or a temporary establishment upon entering and serves some great seafood. Typically Mangalorean, the food is spicy. 

The waiters greeted us and we had the privilege of choosing our table as we were the first customers that night. We sat outside and the pleasant weather added to our overall, good experience here. It's a place you can to go to with your friends or family and stuff the delicious food down your throat. You're safe ordering almost any of the seafood dishes on their extensive menu. 

Their fish is fresh and usually cooked with a lot of spice, but this is like a universal truth about almost anything on their menu. They are, after all, South Indian. The fish tawa, Mangalorean curry with apams or neer dosa, and prawns koliwada are a must try. Perfectly cooked, the fish was soft and melted in my mouth. The prawns were exceptional and soaked in the spices. The Mangalorean curry was flavourful, the smells filling the room. The apams were well made. They were neither thick now too thin, but had the perfect consistency of an authentic apam. The dosas were soft yet crispy on the surface. 

Surprisingly, the kebabs here were piquant and we throughly enjoyed every bite of it. The Tangdi kebab, Rawas chatpata tikka, and chicken malai kebab were unbelievably soft with the right amount of spices and lime and were charred to perfection. Finally, wash down all the spices and authentic Indian food with some beer or liquor of your choice!

Had Olent been cheaper, it would be the perfect place to go to. Despite the quantities being average in size, and the waiters being attentive, though sometimes grabbing their attention can be problematic, Olent is expensive. Or maybe I just feel this way since it doesn't exactly offer you the five-star treatment or ambiance that you would expect for the prices that you're paying. But then again, it's a seafood restaurant, and seafood, come what may, is an expensive affair. 

What's hot - Honestly, all of their seafood. If I had to pick one - Prawns in Mangalorean curry

What's not - Veg shashlik kebab

Your Foodista

Peter's Pan, Pune

The Basics - Small, open from 8:00am-11:00pm, quick service, non-vegetarian available, no bar, cheap. Rs. 400 for two.
The Address - Near Subway, F.C Road
The Verdict - Good only for waffles and pancakes

If you're the kind of person that loves a typical American breakfast of waffles and pancakes and can have it any time of the day, this is the place for you. Brightly lit up with a central theme of yellow and purple, Peter's Pan opens early (8:00 am). It follows a self-service concept and has an open kitchen. The seating in their F.C Road outlet is limited, but that isn't a problem here. 

While their menu is extensive covering dishes from across the globe, such as nachos from Mexico or hot dogs from Germany or USA, whichever you prefer, they have it all. Yet, they haven't mastered the art of making hot dogs or nachos or even a simple fried egg. Nevertheless, Peters Pan's secret waffle and pancake recipe is something of great value. 

The signature waffles may make you go "yumm" and don't be surprised if you find yourself licking every morsel off the plate. The Blueberry, Chocolate and Baked apple waffles are light on the stomach, golden brown and ooze chocolate, blueberry or apples. The whipped cream is just the icing on top! If this is not your thing, the Savory waffles might be of some interest to you. Choose from spinach, cheesy chicken or cheese and corn. However, if you like your waffles crisp, make sure to let the chef know!    

The smell of freshly made pancakes is a delight and if you like yours classic with maple syrup, you're at the right place. For Rs. 80 fill your stomach with these fluffy pancakes, fresh out of the kitchen drooling with sticky maple syrup. Still not your thing? Try their rich and sinful Choco-chip pancake that is sure to have any chocoholic hooked. It's almost like a chocolate overdose, and I love it. 

Come here for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The service is quick and the quantities just right. While the other food on the menu may be just average or even below average, do yourself a favour and get what's already experimented with. You can't go wrong.

What's hot - Waffles and pancakes

What's not - Everything else.

Your Foodista