Saturday, July 18, 2015

Where Else in Pune?

Chicken dish at Where Else? in PuneWhere Else Cafe & Bar is another of the new generation cafes that have sprung up in Pune. We got here on a weekday during lunch hours and found the place mostly bereft of customers, but from the large number of bags being readied for home delivery indicated their popularity with patrons that live and work in its vicinity.  The cafe has a bright, youthful vibe and give you an option of outdoor or indoor dining.


There were several other things that stood out as we settled in.  I could see several power connectors set up near tables, yay!  Finally, some folks who are willing to cater for those who run around with laptops and want to get some work done as they wait for food.  They also had a section in their menu devoted to traditional Parsi food.  Finally, they have a pet menu section.  This must be a first! I haven’t seen this anywhere else.

Where Else? in Pune

Where Else? in Pune

We ordered the Cheese JalapeƱos Bombs for our starters and it turned out to be as decadent and gooey as its name suggests!

Cheese Jalapeno Bombs at Where Else?

I opted for the Crispy Herbed Chicken Burger that had a chicken patty topped with cheese and BBQ sauce.  The burger was pretty well executed and served with a side of cole slaw, but was not as outstanding as last week’s burger at Beetroot.

Herbed Chicken Burger at Where Else?

My wife’s chicken dish looked very enticing with its accompaniments and she said it was outstanding.  Overall, we were happy with the experience here and expect to be back.

Around the corner, right here in Viman Nagar, Sujata Mastani has opened a small outlet.  For those not familiar with this popular Pune dessert, it is an elaborate version of an ice-cream milk shake.  I had ordered the Kesar Mango Mastani which was made with fresh cream, mango ice-cream, saffron and liberally garnished with a variety of chopped dry fruits.  It was every bit as sinful as you can imagine it would be!

Kesar Mango Mastani at Sujata Mastani Pune

Mastani happens to be a well-known name in Maratha folklore. She was the second wife of Peshwa Baji Rao a famous Maratha general during the 18th century.  There is a Bollywood blockbuster on its way that should help popularise her story with those not familiar with this part of our history.  Apparently, the name of the Mastani dessert was a tribute to this warrior queen/consort of yore, as a fellow foodie discovered.

Key Lime Eclair at London Muffin Pune

I have mentioned London Muffin before.  For those who like high-quality breads, pastries and other baked goodies, this place in Kalyani Nagar is a haven. Run by a Korean family, their breads reflect their love for cream and other fillings popular in Asia. I especially like their custard-filled doughnuts, muffins and pastries.  It is also a lovely place to sit outdoors under the trees and enjoy a well-made cappuccino.

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