Krustys – Now also in Kharadi

Krustys, a popular European bistro & bar has now opened another outlet in Kharadi. Sapna Sarfare reveals more about this new outlet.

The interiors of Krustys in Kharadi

Krustys has become popular European bistro & bar for Punekars for the last few years. Still in Kothrud, it has now opened on another outlet in Kharadi and has the look and feel of a fine dining in a bistro style atmosphere. This could be considering the crowd coming to Kharadi is now more up-market with big salaries & readiness to try. Of course, regular crowd too hang out here. When I entered Krustys at Kharadi for a blogger’s table, I found it had a generally relaxed setting with well-spaced tables.

Smoked 3 Pepper Cheese & Balsamic Onion Tortellini
with Cherry Tomatoes & Sage Beurre Noisette

Since it’s just launched, alcohol licenses are in process but will come in no time. Meanwhile, I sipped on the cool & delicately flavoured Pomegranate Iced Tea with hints of the fruit to set the mood.

Shepherd’s Pie

I love being cheesy (pun intended). I dug into the Chicken, Bacon & Cheddar Croquettes with Honey Mustard Dip which I call a pretty neat starter. The well fried Croquettes’ stuffing of chicken, bacon and cheddar created a mouthful of cheesy surprise. Being an okay fan of salads, I found the Watermelon Black Grape & Feta Salad (Candied Walnuts, Arugula, Romaine, Green Mango shavings and Passion Fruit Vinaigrette) to be pretty decent affair. Salads are something I rarely pick.

And then I discovered the Smoked 3 Pepper Cheese & Balsamic Onion Tortellini with Cherry Tomatoes & Sage Beurre Noisette. Buttery without being too buttery, the subtle dish lets you taste all ingredients without any crushing the other. The Philadelphia Cream Cheese & Buttered Onion Chicken Breast with Red Wine & Shallot Jus (Herb Mash Potatoes, Sautéed Vegetables) was a delight though I personally was more for the Tortellini dish and Croquettes. The cream cheese and buttered onion stuffed chicken was pretty low-key and went well in the jus, potatoes and veggies. The crowning glory of the main course was the Shepherd’s Pie which co-owner Rohhan Joshi said was something of a family recipe. Well-cooked mashed potato crust with mildly spicy meat gravy below… just drive the worst mood away.

Madagascar Vanilla Panna Cotta
with 3 Berry & Blood Orange Coulis 

Krustys is known also for its equally delicious desserts. Though decent, the Madagascar Vanilla Panna Cotta with 3 Berry & Blood Orange Coulis just did not add up for my tastebuds. But I fell in love with the Centre-filled Apricot & Coconut Mousse Dacquoise. Rightly sweet, this dessert cake had apricot centre and coconut combination which made the mousse just heavenly. You have to eat it to believe it.

Krustys from outside

Overall, Krustys in its rather lush (yet comfy) premise has the right attitude towards food and offers a twist without losing the taste. It’s classy yet massy. Check in here if you happen to be in Kharadi.

ADDRESS: Ground Floor, City Hub - Tower 3, World Trade Center, Kharadi, Pune

FOR BOOKING & MORE, CONTACT: 020 30162209

TIMING:  12.30 – 11 PM

MEAL FOR TWO: Rs 1, 400 approx. with service charges extra

Authentic Marwar on your table at The Westin Pune

Rush ahead to catch your table for The Flavours of Marwar – a special food festival at Kangan, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park. It is on only till July 31. Taste the authentic essence of Marwar.

Daal Baati Churma

Most would obviously think greasy but delicious vegetarian fare when we hear the words ‘Marwar Cuisine’. It is more than the typical Marwar fare you might eat at your friend’s place. It is a healthy mix of both veg & non-veg fare which can be tasted at Kangan, the Indian food restaurant at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park. The reputed five-star hotel has already started its Marwar Food Festival called The Flavours of Marwar. It is on till July 31, 2016.

Jugalbandi Kebab

A word of warning – if you are on diet, this is the best meal to break it. The appetizers just get you thinking & wanting for more. The winner is the Pathar Ka Soola which is lamb slices marinated in spices & grilled to perfection. It appears like Tandoori Chicken. But the tenderly cooked lamb just melts in your mouth and leaves a well-cooked spice flavour. The same can be said about Jugalbandi Kebab which is an interesting combo of lamb & chicken mince (yup, mouth already has started watering) treated with mild spices and cooked on skewers. While the kebab might remind you of Malai kebab, the lamb-chicken combo leaves a lasting taste due to the spice mix. I personally also loved the Marwari Seekh which again is an interesting blend of veggies and dry fruits which is then roasted in Tandoor. I loved the fact that the veggies & dry fruits could be tasted independently. Other two options – Mirchi Vada and Jodhpuri Paneer Tikka – were neat but I was too impressed by the other kebabs. What went well with the starters were the special drinks. I tried out the Kalakhatta which was more of well-made & easygoing Jeera drink.

The main course had a tough, according to me, to live up to the well-done appetizers. The winning

main courses are two, as per my view. The first is the obvious Rajasthani specialty Laal Maas or red meat gravy. I loved the well-made lamb which had absorbed the rich spicy gravy. The Achaari Ker Sangri is a twist to a special Rajasthani delicacy. The tangy taste of Ker Sangri (a typical Rajasthani vegetable) works well with the Achaari (pickle) flavour. The very popular Dal Baati Churma which is the face of Rajasthani cuisine is another winner. Well spiced Dal and Baati works well for the appetite and even better if you add the churma. Murgh Makai Soyta which is a mild preparation of boneless chicken cooked in spices might be an interesting option to choose as it does not overpower your palate. The mild preparation might not excite many as you have strongly spiced options but I loved this very aspect. The rest of the main course – Papad Mangodi (moong dal dumpling in mild yellow gravy) and Jodhpuri Gatta Curry (Bengal gram dumpling in spicy yoghurt gravy) were good but I already was wowed by other dishes.

Maave Ke Ghewar

The icing on the Rajasthan cuisine was the absolutely delightful Maave Ke Ghewar – a traditional sweet from the region but given a twist here. This sweet made from cottage cheese has milk reduction added to it and is covered with saffron & pistachios. The result is a sweet delight to die for. Not overwhelmingly sweet but just right for the sweet tooth, I loved this sweet option tremendously.

Those looking for a good Marwari food should visit Kangan at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park for their absolutely delightful The Flavours of Marwar which is on till July 31, 2016. Rush Quickly for a fabulous meal!

VENUE: Kangan, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, Mundhwa

TIMING: 6.30 PM to 11.30 PM

CONTACT: 020 30189197

It’s all Italiano!

Going to Prego, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park’s Italian restaurant is a must with its new chef Eraldo Collazzo. Sapna Sarfare checks the place and comes out all pleased.

It’s Italian cuisine reloaded at the much-loved and acclaimed Prego, the Italian fine dining restaurant at The Westin Pune, Koregaon Park. While their Italian specialties have always been attracted foodies from all around Pune, they were in search of a new head chef to lead its troop for a few months. And the wait got over with renowned Chef Eraldo Collazzo who has take over as the new Italian chef at Prego. His 38 years experience from all around the globe serving celebs & commoners alike will come in handy here. From May 5^th 2016, his new and well-researched menu will be served to all hungry and interested Punekars visiting The Westin.

At a sneak preview, I got a hang of what will surprise everyone. It’s going to something different from the last chef as Chef Eraldo is more about going all natural with ingredients, a touch of authenticity and a twist. I found that out with the simplicity of the food he served at the preview. And you will love this touch. Originally, from Rome, the food from that region can be seen here. You will find chef’s signature dishes like Spaghetti Sofia Loren, Big Bang Seafood Salad, Cacio e Pepe to name a few.  

Freshly Baked Breads

First, we were served two types of freshly-baked breads typical to the region – the rye bread and Focaccia which just had us reaching out to it every time. The breads combined with some salsa (quite surprising) made our taste buds go wild.

Insalata Itaca

We then tried the Amuse Bouche that was tempura zucchini with balsamic sauce, which was light and delectable thanks to its easy flavours. What made me go crazy was a perfect salad for summers consisting of watermelon, feta cheese and mango. The combination amazed with me as I realised how easily they complimented each other. The Insalata Itaca which was a salad made of lettuce, feta cheese, olive, onion, pepper and sundried tomatoes was another winner thanks to it light dressing and good combination. Cheese lovers will go made over the Burrata Cheese with Tomatoes, which combined a dollop of Mozzarella cheese over tomatoes and just perfected the simple taste. The other previewers and I were won over by the amazing salads while we sipped on assorted drinks. I loved being served the 5-year-old red wine that was light enough to appreciate the rest of the meal.

Chef Eraldo Collazzo

We shifted to the main course, which began with the Penne Norma, which combined aubergine, basil tomato sauce, and mozzarella, was likable. The prominent basil tomato sauce surprisingly did not overwhelm the other flavours especially the bite size pieces of aubergine. Mozzarella cheese was sprinkled with ease but it was not too cheesy. I personally rated the Salmon Pasta as one of the winning recipes from the kitchens of Chef Eraldo. I loved the delicate flavours of salmon combined with the pasta and sauce which melted in your mouth. Chicken lovers would like the Pollo Genova that is chicken fillet in sweet basil pesto, pine nut and served with salad and potato wedges. The fillet was well-made and again, the basil pesto with pine nuts gave the chicken delicate flavour. Though the Beetroot and Parmesan Sauce Risotto (beetroot risotto topped with extra aged parmesan sauce) tasted decent, some might be bothered with its too simple taste and al dente nature. A word of truth – that is how risotto is cooked in Italy. I personally found it overshadowed by other well-made delicacies. That’s unfortunate.

Panna Cotta

The icing over an excellent meal was the Panna Cotta containing sambuca scent and berry coulis. The berries flavoured the panna cotta well but were not too sweet. You just want to drown in its taste.

I personally found Chef Eraldo Collazzo’s food to be simple yet full of taste and true to his belief that authentic food should be natural and speak of the region. Though some delicacies won our votes big time over others, I found it hard to reject anything per say. Now Punekars get a chance to check the new chef’s magic at Prego, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park.

Venue: Prego, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, 84/36, N Main Rd, Koregaon Park Annexe, Pune

Timings: 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM 

Contact: 020 67210060

A Fine Food Story

Food Story located on Dhole Patil Road, gets its food right. It surely is one place to try out Hyderabadi, Mughlai & North Indian Cuisines in style.

Different regional & international cuisines are now offered on platter for the discerning Puneri. Amidst all the eating a joint jostling for space, an interesting eatery aptly named Food Story was sort out by me. Suitably located at Dhole Patil Road, it offered Hyderabadi, Mughlai & North Indian cuisines as authentic as possible. I decided that I should try out the food at the interesting award-winning eatery.

The moment I entered the restaurant, I found the place to be quite casual, despite its rather formal appearances. Spaciousness was the keyword here, with tables kept at neat distance to avoid crowding & chaos. It would have helped if the music was a bit mellow and on lower volumes. Nevertheless, one assumes that one could request for lowering the volumes and being able to have good chitchats with friends and family.

I love starters to the core and so had to begin the meal with some good ones. Hyderabadi, Mughlai & North Indian cuisines are filled with some amazing kebabs & other starters. Amongst the vegetarian options, I loved the Aloo Ki Katliyaan (Rs. 210) which is simply mashed potato with pepper & coriander. Despite its appearance of an Aloo Tikki, the delicate taste tantalized your taste buds. The Subz Navratan Kebab (Rs. 275) is an acquired taste, as it happens to be an combo of chopped veggies & nuts with saffron. Despite its heavy ingredients, the smoky flavour allows it be light. Another acquired taste, according to me, would be the Malai Broccoli (Rs. 275) which has the oft-hated veggie marinated in cream, cheese and cooked in tandoor. I personally like the crunchiness of the broccoli, which went well with the great combo of cream & cheese. The overall mildness complemented each other. The Bharwa Kumbh (Rs. 275) which is mushroom filled with cheese, spinach & nuts, was a good choice as despite the odd combo, the flavours were not overwhelming.  The Paneer Dudhiya Kalmiyaan (Rs. 235) was just about decent.

The non-veg starters are what intrigued me a lot. The Murgh Seekh Gilafi (Rs. 350) turned out to be just the perfect kebab I was looking for. It has chicken mince coated with bell peppers & boiled eggs. Tender and well spiced, it allowed you to savour it delicately. The Seekh Barkhasi (Rs. 450) turned out to be tangy & spicier kebab, which I am sure, is quite a popular option at the restaurant. This kebab made of minced lamb with 25 Indian spices cooked over charcoal, creates a tantalizing smoky taste, which is unlike others. The mild Shikampur Kebab (Rs. 250), which is pan-fried lamb & lentil cutlets are a meal by themselves. It is another winner here. I personally loved eating the Patthar ka Gosht (Rs. 450) which happens to be their specialty. It is lamb, which is flavoured with pathar ka phool  and has been shallow fried on a special stone. The tender meat dish is a must-try here.  

Coming to the main course, I happened to try out the ever-popular Nalli Nihari (Rs. 525) & Haleem. It was worth the wait as both the dishes were as perfectly authentic as possible. The meat in Nalli Nihari just comes off the bone and has rightly spiced gravy, while the Haleem was the kind one could find in Hyderabad. Though the Gosht Kachi Akhni Biryani (Rs. 435) was a fine attempt, it did not click with my taste buds as I found it to be more like a pulao than a biryani.

Overall, visiting Food Story located at Dhole Patil Road turned out to be a good choice as it managed to stay true to its promise of serving authentic meals at good prices. The good service meant that food was served on time with a smile. Attentive is the keyword here. Try out the cocktails here which are quite tempting & perfect for the food served. Whatever your mood or event, feel free to try out Food Story but do not assume it is for budget seekers. Even though being reasonable than most five-star restaurants, it is not your roadside thela to go with Rs 500 in your pocket. Go figure!

ADDRESS: Ground Flr, City Point Bldg, 17 Boat Club Rd, Dhole Patil Rd, Pune

CONTACT: 020 41216576, +91 9021831119

TIMING: 11:30 AM-3:30 PM

                  7:30 PM-11:30 PM