Brunch Diaries: The Clearing House

A visit to The Clearing House (TCH) – a swanky dining space in Ballard Estate – had eluded me all this while, until recently. I finally decided to make good use of that one precious Sunday and trekked all the way to ‘town’ for TCH’s special weekend brunch. TCH does brunch a bit differently – for starters their brunch menu is ala carte and brought right to your table. Which in my opinion is a welcome change from the boring ol’ buffets where the food turns cold and insipid after lying out for so long. Their brunch menu is available on both Saturday and Sunday – because why should the joy of brunch be restricted to just one day in the week?

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A Canopy of Comfort – Shamiana, Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai

Shamiana at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai is synonymous with all day dining, being one of the first to launch this concept in the city way back in 1973. Ask any uncle or aunty and they’ll all have a story to share about this iconic eatery. They revamped, refurbished and relaunched the entire space in August last year after a small break and I’ve been meaning to go dine at Shamiana ever since. 

The entire space exudes ‘Tajness’ and welcomes you like an old friend with open arms. The white canopies on the ceiling above your table pays homage to the restaurant’s name, with the entire space done up in a minimal chic style. The outdoor section with it’s intricate jaali work can get stifling hot during the day, but is perfect for a balmy winter evening. (Wish Mumbai had more of those. Sigh!)

The menu covers all day dining options, a ‘Bombay’ section featuring the city’s best, a nostalgic Shamiana section featuring old school dishes and comfort mains. What deserves a mention is their Taj Autograph Collection featuring signature dishes curated by Taj chefs across the globe. 

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