The past few months have been flying by, and before we know it 2018 would have dawned upon us. Inspite of a crazy work schedule and an even crazier wedding planning schedule (Ohh yes, I’m getting married!) lots of food was consumed. Bridal diets be damned! This included attending new restaurant launches, ordering in from delivery joints on the days we were flooded in, and a mild attempt at making healthier choices while eating out. Read on to know which restaurants and dishes made the cut – 

1. Your favourite Andheri diner now in Bandra – Jamjar Diner, Bandra

The new Jam Jar outlet on Hill Road surpasses its predecessor in the prettiness quotient with it’s detailed ambiance. I spent the first ten minutes walking around aimlessly in the restaurant appreciating the decor and admiring the little knick knacks that are placed around. Plenty of colour, a sun roof that streams in tons of light makes this the perfect brunch place. And let’s not forget the trademark Jam Jar Jukebox! 

Their menu is not only exhaustive with plenty of diner food options, but also such a visual treat to go through. Colourful and filled with illustrations, you feel you’re going through a comic book.

Among their breakfast menu we tried their Eggs Benedict that came seated on a base of BBQ pulled pork atop a brioche. Their Brioche French Toasts are really exceptional as well. For the mains I’d recommend you try their Slow Braised Pork Pappardelle  especially if you’re a porkaholic. Everything we tried was top notch, including the ambiance and music. Can’t wait to return!

Jam Jar Diner, 133, 1st Floor, Gazebo House, Sayed Wadi, Hill Road, Bandra West.

2. When you’re looking to get ‘delight’ed – Bun Maska Cheese Omelette at Cafe Delight, Bandra

Sometimes it is the simplest of dishes that please your taste buds and evoke happiness from within. Case in point – the comforting Bun Maska Cheese Omelette I had during our Bandra Irani Cafe walk with Sodabottleopenerwala one Sunday morning. Let me paint you a little picture here. Imagine a greasy cheese omelette stuffed within a sweet bun studded with ‘tutti frutti’ with butter slathered on liberally within. Your first bite is a happiness inducing combination of childhood flavours – oozing cheeze, well cooked eggs, a bun moistened with butter, and the occasional sweetness when you bite into that ‘tutti frutti’.

I, self proclaimed queen of Bandra, was pleasantly surprised to discover the nondescript Cafe Delight having passed by it a million times before. What the place lacks for in hygiene and ambiance, they make up for with their fabulous Bun Maska Cheese Omelette dish.

Cafe Delight, Shop No. 91, Ground Floor, Mary Villa, Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

3. The best granola I’ve eaten ever – Sustenance Foods Hancrafted Granola

I am well aware of the tall claim I made in the above statement, and I stand by it nevertheless. Sustenance Foods’s handcrafted granola is gluten free, packed with nuts & seeds, 100% natural and sweetened with locally sourced organic honey. What I liked best was that each spoonful was nice and crunchy owing to the fact that they hand mix and bake the granola in small batches.

The chocoholic in me loved their rich yet healthy Chocolate Hazelnut flavour – the perfect way to satiate those chocolate cravings sans the guilt. The Walnut Fig and the Cranberry Pistachio flavours were top notch as well, owing to the high quality ingredients that go into making each batch. Of course all good things come with a price, but I’d pay 500 bucks for a jar of such scrumptious granola any day. Especially when the jar is pretty as well.

Check out www.sustenancefood.com for more information.

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4. A monthly surprise gift to yourself – Trick or Treats Dessert Subscription Box

Anyone who knows me, knows I love the excitement and enthusiasm that comes with opening any sort of monthly subscription box. And if it’s a dessert subscription box, it’s an even sweeter deal. #PunIntended. Trick or Treats brings a box of sugary goodies to your doorstep every month, each containing hand picked sweet treats. Their inaugural September box contained a sinful Nutella Brownie, an old school Vanilla Cupcake, addictive Belgian Chocolate Cookie Drops that were chomped down by the handful. Other items in the box included Oreo Pops, Cake Pops and these decadent chocolate bonbons with salted caramel fillings. I personally would have liked to see a bit more innovation in the items the box contained, but taste wise I had no complaints. Priced at a steep Rs. 950/- for a monthly subscription, I am looking forward to seeing what they put together in their Diwali special box.

Check out www.trickortreats.in for more information.

5. Making Unhealthy Healthy – Farmer’s Cafe, Bandra

Farmer’s Cafe jumps onto Bandra’s healthy restaurant bandwagon with their attempt to make unhealthy – healthy. On their menu you’ll find everything from paninis to burgers to pizza to pasta and everything else that you’d generally associate as being unhealthy, donning a healthy avatar. I loved their Chicken Barbeque pizza that came on a skinny, whole wheat base topped with a whole lot of fresh greens and organic skim cheese. You honestly don’t miss having a white bread base or miss having heavier cheese as a topping. Their burgers are made with multigrain buns, home made sauces and the burger patty is steamed. The resultant burger is simple and comforting though our burger bun was a bit crumbly bringing down the experience. Our meal was redeemed by their Skinny Chocolate cake made with jaggery and Rajagira flour resulting in an interesting dense texture. What impressed me most was the fact that all the produce comes directly from their farms in Nashik. 

Pro Tip: Kindly ensure you find a seat in their AC section otherwise the smoke and fumes from the kebab restaurants next door will cause you to asphyxiate.

Farmer’s Cafe,  Shop 2, Rita Apartments, 16th Road, Nr. Mini Punjab Hotel, Bandra West, Mumbai.

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6. Chocolate or a work of art? – Éntisi Chocolatier, Santacruz

The minute you walk into the Éntisi Chocolatier store, what draws your attention are the rows of colourful bonbons gleaming inside a glass cabinet, shimmering like little gems contrasting against the stark white walls. The chocolates here are a visual treat apart from creating magic on your taste buds. The chocolate is imported from Belgium, most of the fruit that goes into the chocolates are flown down from Europe as well ensuring top quality taste. My picks off the lot was the multilayered Blueberry – a beautiful combination of fruit and chocolate, the innovative Truffle Oil, and the Kesar Pista that would please many desi uncles and aunties. They also do innovative fruit and nut bars and single origin cubes.

Check out www.entisi.com for more information.

Entisi Chocolatier, Krishna Villa Junction of Linking Road and Saraswati Road Santacruz West Mumbai 400054