Keeping up with all the new eateries mushrooming in Pune is turning out to be quite a feat. However, with a never-say-die attitude, I solider on! :) Last weekend, we decided to drive to the other end of town and visit The Corinthians for a taste of what their website promised was a Greek restaurant. Then we tried some quick bites at Malaka Street. Finally, a visit to Oye Pape and a cappuccino at Dario’s - all at the new Amanora Town Center.
I had heard so much about the excellent Konkan Cafe from fellow foodies but never found the time for a meal here. This restaurant is the creation of one of India’s best known chefs, Ananda Soloman, and serves the food of India’s Konkan coast that covers the coastal regions of Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and the northern parts of Kerala. Located at the southern tip of Bombay’s Cuffe Parade, Konkan Cafe has built up a legion of fans who swear by its food.
I returned to two of my favorites restaurants at the ITC Royal Gardenia in Bangalore. I had last visited Edo when it had just opened about two years back. I could see that people here are slowing beginning to develop a taste for good Japanese food beyond sushi. As for my other favorite, Kababs & Kurries, they continue to be very popular during lunch and dinner hours, and for good reason.
For the first time in Pune, we paid a visit to a shopping mall to dine rather than shop. With the opening of Phoenix Market City and Amanora Town Center, you finally have malls that include upscale sit-in dining options. We were here to try Zambar, a restaurant that serves South Indian coastal food in a wonderfully creative setting.
Copper Chimney needs no introduction to those who have lived in Bombay. They have been serving delectible North Indian mughlai cuisine in that city for over 35 years now. Pune isn’t new for the people behind Copper Chimney; they ran a restaurant called Bombay Brasserie in Dhole Patil Road; used to be my favorite place for kababs and curries until they closed and Oh! Calcutta took its place. The good news is they are back! Copper Chimney opened its doors in Koregaon Park last week.
Steamboat refers to an interesting dining style prevalent in parts of Asia. The dinner consists of a simmering pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the pot is kept simmering, a variety of thinly sliced meats, seafood and vegetables are placed into the pot and cooked at the table. This type of dining is also known as Hotpot or Chinese Fondue in other parts of Asia.
Hot pot cooking has existed for a long time in China. It became widespread as early as 700 AD during the reign of the Tang dynasty in China and regional variations soon developed. While the traditional coal-heated steamboat has been replaced with electric or gas stoves, this communal style of dining continues continues to be very popular in Singapore, China and Korea.
