This week is the European Food Week in Mumbai. Where The Taste of Europe has joined hands with some of the best restaurants serving European food to promote the intricate and delicious cuisine. So I happened to tag along with my chef and blogger friend Mohit Chotrani from http://www.hungrybawarchi.com/ to Smoke House Deli. Now things are never simple with Mohit Chotrani and things are never ever simple when I am in Bandra Kurla Complex BKC. Firstly we happen to reach at Smoke House Deli in Bandra, only to be said there is no table waiting for us. Thus realizing we were at the wrong one. Realizing it is in BKC, wasn’t much of a help either. Lets just say a very distinct experience at BKC a few months back, has kind of jinxed the place for me. But anyways arguing the whole time on the way and tweeting about the blunder of my friend, we finally reached there.
I love the interiors at Smoke House Deli. Open space and wooden tables aside. What I love is the walls that are painted with white and black paint. The cute detailing and same color props that enhance the look even more. You could just keep gazing at it the whole day. But we were here to eat. So we got on with our work.
There was a special menu for the food week. It consisted of Appetizers, Main course and Desserts both having the vegetarian and non vegetarian options at a very decent price.
We started off ordering one from each option. From the vegetarian menu we ordered the Aubergine mozzarella fry with sun dried tomato and garlic salsa and from the non vegetarian menu Asparagus salad with grapes and toasted flax seeds.
I would say both are perfect in their own way. If you are looking for a healthier option then Asparagus salad is the way to go. Lightly seasoned, filled with green leaves, grapes and cherry tomatoes, topped with asparagus and toasted flax seeds, this salad can’t get any better. I loved the flavor in this salad especially when you take a bite of the asparagus, salad leaves and grapes together. It is harmonious.
Coming to the Aubergine, though this one takes the cake on the appetizer front. Fried aubergine stuffed with spiced mozzarella, topped with salsa and pesto and more. It is screaming deliciousness. A perfect dish and rather a big one. This is a must have and should be kept on the menu at all times.
Shifting to Main course now. We ordered Wild Mushroom Risotto and Smoked Chicken with Five Spice Jus. Now as I don’t consume alcohol and yes not even in the food. Yes I know it evaporates but I don’t care as much as I know its there. I forgot to ask the whether there will be wine in it. And as it happens it was there. (It is no ones but Mohit and BKC’s fault, I am telling you) But here comes the wonderful staff at Smoke House Deli to the rescue. They saw me not eating and asked me what the problem was. I told them and they asked to make a new dish, without the alcohol for me. Though I felt bad, as it was my fault and I should have informed them. I told them it is okay, but they insisted and hence came my Wild Mushroom Risotto without any alcohol.
Now I am not saying this because I got special treatment. But this is one of the best risotto I ever had. Packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. Amazing taste, I almost can tell it removed my jinx from BKC. I won’t stop raving about this dish because it was that good.
They Smoked Chicken was kind of okay. Though the quantity was pretty great. It lacked the certain wow factor to it. Also I would prefer the Risotto any day.
Desserts –
As you know my self acclaimed pastry chef hat comes on when I eat desserts. But this time, I will remove it and eat the Panna Cotta and Raspberry Oreo Mousse Cake.
Panna Cotta is again one of the best I ever tasted in Mumbai. It was sublime. Perfectly sweetened. Soft, melt in your mouth texture. I can actually eat kilos of these. Perfect would be an understatement.
Raspberry Oreo Mousse was also good. The only problem being that the crust was burnt and because of that it was hard and had the sour burnt taste. But the mousse was spot on. Every bite was an absolute pleasure. Pity about the crust or else this was a tie with the Panna Cotta.
Hence ended the fun, eventful and pouring great food lunch at Smoke House Deli. The food week is on till 12th September and I please suggest to go and eat or else you would be really missing out on some of the best dishes.
toxicbaker 