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“All time is just the right time, only at it’s 9”

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 “All time is just the right time,only at it’s9”

By Ayushi Teotia

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Situated in the heart of Chanakyapuri, surrounded by exquisite embassies and an enchanting green environment, besets a café with a unique concept justified by its exceptional name being “It’s9 Bakery Café”. As the name suggests, it’s quite an amazing quaint bakery sharing boundaries with the famous Bikanerwala, in Yashwant Place Complex. The seating being up stairs conjoined with a glass door entry, flight of stairs, finally opening up to sublime ambience mingled with well decorated art pieces adorning the white wall. Upholding to its name, the Café opens at 9 am, giving anyone the leisure to pop into the place for a wonderful breakfast, a chit chat over coffee, or a sumptuous dine in with the family later in the day.

The place is well lit, well laid out coupled with a moderate seating area, large glass windows and is well anointed with arts and paintings of contemporary style. The blueprint of the place suits perfectly for a college hangout, catering specially to the needs of a good café and bakery in the vicinity of the south campus colleges. Launched fairly recently, the place meets the growing demand for fresh and delicious baked goodies at pocket friendly rates.  The menu card is a chic hard board appointing a perfect blend of perfect selections from continental and western food cuisine. The English breakfast section is particularly attracting in the menu, which offers a wide variety of food options for all occasions. The baked goodies are the signature dishes of It’s9, ranging from freshly baked Croissants, Danish, Quiche, Loafs, Baguettes, to Sweet Treats like muffins, tarts, donuts, cakes, pies.

Burger

Sizzlers

Among the favorites, the chef’s specialty “It’s9 Special Chicken Burger”, was distinctively interesting, both in its presentation and taste. Served in the shape of “9”, comprising of a tantalizing bun filled with the proper amount of chicken cooked just right, coupled with delectably perfect potato wedges and salad, is a dish you must not give a miss. The salads are equally mesmerizing, my recommendation to try being the slimmer’s special salad and the chicken Rambo salad.The signature dish being ‘It’s9 Special sizzler’, is a glorious medley of mutton cutlet, chicken steak, chicken sausage and roast potato with a fried egg, which doesn’t fail to disappoint in any regard. The coffee section offering limited but exotic options also must be given a shot.

IMG_8205In the beverage menu, the Mocha Shake is particularly amazing, appealing especially to the taste buds of people who like it more on the sweet side. The rates are affordable and the quantity is satisfying, which is fairly good.

 

 

 

Price ( for two ) : Rs 500-800.

Overall Rating : 8/10

Closest Metro Station : INA

Location : Yashwant Place, SatyaMarg, (Next to Bikanervala), ChanakyaPuri, New Delhi.

Whether it’s 9 or not, this place is a definite winner to be visited anytime during the day as a great casual hangout arena providing a refreshing experience topped with a friendly and courteous staff.

Photographs by Foodie Photographer :Vidur Mayor

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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College’s favourite Adda: Irfan’s Maggi Point

College’s favourite Adda: Irfan’s Maggi Point

 Last year, I entered college with little nervousness and sky high expectations. Soon after the first few lectures, I made some new friends and came across acquaintances. This is when I got a chance to finally explore the college with my new gang. Front laws, done. Library, done. Canteen (excited as anything; didn’t stand up to the expectations), done. Sports complex (most surprising part of the day), done. Swimming pool, done. After checking out 70% of the college, we took some steps ahead and came across this little cemented area enveloped between the boy’s hostel and swimming pool. I was enthralled to see how this isolated place was already so crowded. And this is when I ran my eyes at the end of the courtyard and saw a stall. I went closer and started praising the lord, it was a food stall. The canteen was a big disappointment of the day; this stall was like light at the end of the tunnel. Enquiring few seniors, we learnt that the stall was famously called Irfan’s maggi point!

Irfan’s maggi point is run by two brothers Irfan and Usman. They are a part of the SRCC staff since a decade now, fending off the hunger pangs of battalion of students every day. This brother duo has been really successful in giving a cut throat competition to the college canteen and undoubtedly, has emerged as winners, always. Oddly enough, this little tin shed stall draws in multitude of students than any other hangout of college does. The sole reason being their innovative FOOD recipes!

As the name indicates, the most famous item on this stall’s menu is Maggi. Maggi menu alone is so diverse. Omelette Maggi to sate the taste buds of non-vegetarian foodies, Soup Maggi when a cold breeze gives you chills during winters, Bhurji Maggi for that zesty taste, and of course, everyone’s favourite Classical Masala Maggi, Irfan’s stall has it all. This isn’t where the list ends. Stall is always stocked with foods to grab on a go like sandwiches, burgers, Paneer Kulcha, chips, patty (never miss the far-famed bhurji bread patty sandwich, yum!). Need something to drink with that packet of Lays? How about a cold drink, (choose from coke, pepsi, 7up, dew, fanta) or a fruit juice, or masala soda, or tea, or coffee? This hut has everything for every season.

Yes, definitely the prices bring a big smile on your face. The average price of all items is Rs. 30. It is a student friendly, pocket friendly and stomach friendly food joint. We may not attend classes everyday but bunking these Irfan’s maggi point session is improbable.

Foodie Correspondent:Vishakha Bhaskar

24th August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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Sukhdev Ka Dhaba

Sukhdev Ka Dhaba

A road trip without dhabhe ka food is incomplete that too if you are
traveling towards Punjab. Located on Delhi-Punjab National Highway1,
Sukhdev ka dhabha has been serving lip smacking food from truck drivers to
families, from students craving for midnight chai to couples wanting to
taste legacy. Situated amidst luscious greens this dhabha is open 24×7 and
sometimes so crowded that you will have to wait atleast 15-20 mins to find
a place to sit. “Weekend mornings are always crowded” adds Rajiv, a
frequent customer to this place, “especially if the weather is nice too.”

This place serves all kinds of pure vegetarian food and have added
continental, Chinese and other famous delicacies to their menu over the
passage of time. Considering Sukhdev from the dhabha point of view, its
phenomenal, with a huge parking lot, team of 50-60 working 24×7, clean
washrooms and even a small shopping complex selling things like garments
and groceries but considering Sukhdev from the dhabha food point of view,
of being spicy, full of flavours and giving you the typical Indian food, a
lot of people complain of it losing its essence and food quality over the
years.

I ordered it’s famous aloo ka parantha which they served with lots
of white butter and curd. The parantha though was a little bland but
appropriately stuffed and curd, its savior. The next on my list was the
buttermilk which was indeed worth the price and so was the chai, though not
as kadak as the weather. Sukhdev’s speciality, their makke di roti and
sarson da saag, is another good food on the list if you haven’t tasted it
in a while. Other food items such as Chowmein, Idli and dosas are ordinary,
hanging somewhere in between it’s real savors and Sukhdev’s personal ones.
Once upon a time Sukhdev which was famous for its extremely delicious food
is now just a place known for its specialties.

This place is totally worth a visit if you need a break from your neck-breaking driving journey and in urgent to need of good, hygienic food but not worth the hassle to specially drive 50kms away from Delhi or Panipat.

Foodie Correspondent:Sanskriti Nagar

22nd August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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The Ramjas Canteen: A Place to Be Visited At Least Once

The Ramjas Canteen: A Place to Be Visited At Least Once

The saddest comedy is that the very moment when the most hungry, groping our pockets for the precious medium of exchange brings upon this great realisation that reasonable price is the only way out of the crisis! Well, this is no problem in Delhi University, a magnificent hub of ‘running low on pockets’ youngsters. And it is actually a great excuse to be at the Ramjas canteen; a place that exudes a fine dine-in aura, but with food provided only till the college remains open and not quite reaching the dinner times.

The college though the oldest in the University and established in 1917 and shifted to the present D.U. location in 1950, its canteen got the present and most evident form in 1999 only. So this high ceilinged hall with an official yellow tinge on its walls making space for several round tables with chairs around, a large delivery counter and a small but efficient accounts counter is quite modern. Bustling with the enthusiastic crowd of the institution, one is extremely glad on finding a wide range of food selects and an attendant to look after their requirements.

For starters, a one food item that is of greatest popularity is the French fries.  What is its speciality? These French fries will never fit into the conventional prototype of the food item but these potato slices, in their reddish-golden and crispy look and amazing taste will surely tickle your taste-buds.

Next, the Rajma Chawal can be tried that melts extremely well in your mouth or even welcome the hot, crispy and golden discs of the Bhaturas that come with equally delectable Choles. The Pao Bhaji is another good option with its distinct taste and relishing freshness.

Another food that stands out of its prototype is the ‘Pasta’ that has a flavour of Chinese delicacy. If sceptic, mark these words, one bite and you will yearn for more.

Thirsty after so much of food, food and food? Well, choose the drink you might: fruit beer to fruit juice, shakes to the safe cold drinks, you find it all in an adjacent counter for drinks.

The best thing about the Ramjas canteen is that the food is served in no time and also this place is hygiene friendly. Also, it is never conventional. Neither is it a boring, conventional college canteen, nor does it provide a conventional meal. In fact, some of its food items are so much out of the norm but yet are so exceptional that it blows one’s mind away.

A word of advice: this place deserves a try.

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Foodie Correspondent:Sukanya Sharma

19th August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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MY KIND OF GREAT FOOD!

MY KIND OF GREAT FOOD!

my kinda street cafe

“ Eating food should be simple” is the motto of  Ankit, the co-owner of a quaint little café in a lane in Kailash Colony Market called My Kind Of Street Cafe. Two years ago, it started in the serpentine lanes of Amar Colony Market, Lajpat Nagar IV, a favorite haunt of Lady Shri Ram College girls. It has been relocated to Kailash Colony to cater to the same. Their favorite item is the famous cheese momos.The cheese-filled dumplings dished out by them are a delight for any food lover.

chicken momosThe love for this dish can be seen on the walls of the café, full of small notes plastered on the walls. Their smoken chicken white cream sauce pasta is also a delight. Another outlet of MKSC ,as it is fondly known as, is located in SDA market which mainly caters to the IITians right across the road. Their favorite is the Herb and Bacon Stuffed Chicken. A neat and complete platter completed with beans, broccoli, curd dip and garlic bread, healthy and delicious with a subtle flavor.                                                                                                                                    

 IMG_9812Over the years, their food has evolved. The pasta, banana bread, my kind of burger, lemon butter fish are amongst the other mouth-watering delight the place has to offer. The menu has a lot of variety for people who like to experiment with food. It is a do-it-yourself menu so that one gets exactly what he has asked for. To end the wonderful experience, the banoffee pie is a must for the sweet toothed. It would be a shame to miss this stunner!

 banoffie pieOn being asked about their future plans and prospects, Ankit shared a little secret. They plan to venture into the world of out-of-the-box South Indian food, which has already started functioning in the SDA outlet in a small way.

With the way these two outstanding food joints are functioning, we can expect something really exciting in the days to come, and here’s wishing them all the best for a great future ahead and great and happy eating to all the young people in Delhi!

Foodie Correspondent:Shreya Chowdhury

Foodie Photographer:Kali Walia

17th August,2013

 

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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Anil Tikki Wala

Anil Tikki Wala, Rohini
Sector 7, Near Rohini East Metro Station
Started in September,2012

Anil Tikki Wala, a newbie in the varied street food arena of Rohini, opened up last year amid huge competition prospects from its older counterparts in the area. But since its inception, it has managed to subdue all such uncertainties and has emerged as the favourite evening snack spots of the localites.

Be it the chilling winter or the melting summer, nothing can stop the customers from hovering the orders over the ever-hardworking cooks. The prominent feature that emerges amid such rush and chaos, is their ability to maintain hygiene level at above-average standards. Olive oil is what they use for preparing the delicacies. 10 on 10 for their quality and hygiene maintenance.

As the nomenclature depicts, ATW’s forte is the tikkis, chats and golgappas. But what has gravitated people’s attention is the exotic pav bhaji that they serve (beats everything). It is sure to give you the “food-erotica”. Other such dish that’ll gather your glimpse is the ‘veg kathi with rumali roti’. Slightly overpriced it is, but for a one-time go through, it is a yes-yes for sure. It has definitely given a hard time to its competitors in Rohini.

The best time to visit this place is obviously the evening time with some of your best buddies where you can have the time of your life (tranquility at its best). So make sure you pay a visit to this small yet so classy food joint in Rohini. Finger-licking guaranteed…. CHEERS.

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Ramneek Chawla,Foodie Correspondent

17th August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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Life is too short, Eat dessert first

   

                               Life is too short, Eat dessert first  

Mamagoto. What a fun name! Its literal translation is ‘to play with food’; a Japanese social experiment of sorts, involving infants to use their senses to understand the textures and shape of food. Indeed, a playful atmosphere is created by the kaleidoscopic set of imagery that is omnipresent in the restaurant. The illustrations on the walls to the detailing on the cushions really set up a very young first impression in your mind, which is full of energy and enthusiasm. The range of colours used is very wide, yet it does not hurt the eye. Therefore the flamboyant ambience of the place is definitely its unique selling point and is worthy of a 9/10 rating.

Seeing the paucity of authentic oriental cuisine restaurants, and exploiting the same as a lucrative opportunity, childhood friends, Kabir Suri and Rahul Khanna, the co-owners of Mamagoto, have made the idea become a real brand in no time. Mamagoto started its fruitful journey from its most popular branch located in Khan Market, in 2010, and has expanded since not just in NCR, but also has set foot in Mumbai. The restaurant was the first of its kind in terms of attractive and affordable destinations that could compete with the high-end long standing options of Taj and ITC Maurya. The menu is a fine blend of contemporary Thai and Japanese, with some original twists.

This particular dessert property that we went to review is called ‘Mama’s Sweet Spot’. The 4 desserts that we tasted are as follows:

Smoking Panda’s Lemon and Coconut Tart

Undoubtedly the best out of the four, it is an invention of Mamagoto. Its presentation is quite unique and the taste is unlike that of the standard desserts that are so popular in the market. Flakes of coconut whipped with lime, warm and crusty! The breakfast sugar seen in the corresponding picture has been removed from the dish now. Sourness and sweetness are balanced in an appropriate ratio, resulting in a one of its kind, pleasurable experience. The taste of coconut is carefully monitored, thereby preventing it from being overpowering. The outer layer is very crisp. Coconut flakes placed around the dish give it a beautiful appearance. It is definitely recommended to those who like to experiment with tastes.

                Price(Rs)            Presentation               Taste
               175+taxes                  8.5/10                9/10

Mama's Sweet Spot-05

Country Style Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Peanut butter and brown sugar set with chocolate and cream. This dessert consists of 3 layers. The top layer is that of chocolate; the middle and bottom layers contain peanut butter, crackers, assorted butter, different types of cheese and almond essence. The bottom layer is harder and has a stronger flavour of peanut butter as compared to the middle one. Slicing the cheesecake vertically and then having it would make you realise how the taste of chocolate is lost, how it is engulfed in the peanut butter taste of the second and third layers, thereby making it almost non-existent. With consequent bites, the peanut butter taste grows stronger .All this results in a bit of disappointment for the customer as there’s not much speciality in this dessert for which he’ll be willing to pay about Rs 250. However peanut butter lovers will like this dessert for sure.

 

                Price(Rs)            Presentation               Taste
               245+taxes                  7.5/10               7/10

 

 Mama's Sweet Spot-03

 

Crunchy Nutella Mousse

 

As the name describes, the dessert is a blend of ingredients mingled in three layers, comprising of classic nutella hazelnut and chocolate sauce with biscuit crumbs and praline. Presented in a bowl, with nuts sprinkled on top, encompassing bifurcation of the three layers, easily visible to the eyes, the dessert tastes surprisingly salty in the first bite. However, as one moves on to finish the first layer, and pulls out a major chunk of the second layer, which is predominantly nutella, the dessert turns “too sweet” for the taste buds. The top most layer, boasting to be crunchy, loses its aura as it amalgamates with the nutella portion in the adjacent layer. But again, the astonishing part is the third layer, which also is in the same amount of contact with the second layer as the first one, remains as crunchy to the expectations of the brawling menu card. Having fiddled in with the intrinsic details of the constituents, the dessert includes within itself Amul milk chocolate, Philadelphia cheese, cracker, dry nuts and predominantly the before mentioned ingredients. . The dessert is undoubtedly a change from the routine affair that you’ll come across in various places, giving a somewhat justification to the unique conceptualized sweet eats, introduced by Mamagoto. However, if asked to choose among the four options when I visit again, this wouldn’t be topping my cloying craving, for the price portrayed doesn’t seem economical with the quantity offered.

 

                Price(Rs)            Presentation               Taste
               175+taxes                  7.5/10               7/10

Mama's Sweet Spot-04

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Soft, smooth and dwindling as you take a bite, within seconds, like a molten lava cake. Yes that’s the classic chocolate brownie winner for you! A necessity that every bakery showcases, this dessert is definite yes for those who like to play safe when it comes to relinquishing their taste buds. Chocolate brownie cake sprinkled with chocolate chips, is a classic favorite, enjoyed by all. However, to add a bit of difference to it, a scoop of ice cream, chocolate leaves (as portrayed in the picture) or whipped cream can be included. The price, being not justifiable to the quantity offered, could be reduced catering to the simplicity and normality in taste. Overall, the cake does taste flawless, if not flourless!

                Price(Rs)            Presentation               Taste
               175+taxes                 8/10               8/10

Mama's Sweet Spot-02

Apart from the desserts, we also tasted few of their starters and mocktails. Both starters, Bite Size Corn Fritter Balls and Hot Basil Chicken Cups were a class apart. Hot Basil Chicken Cups is a masterpiece pulled off in a blend of lettuce, bird eye’s chili and crushed pepper, is a non-veg starter to die for. The decoration is beautiful and unique in the form of cups cut out of lettuce and stuffed with a delicious mix of the aforesaid ingredients, on the spicy side though, but with a unique crunchy feel to it. Bite Size Corn Fritter Balls, the vegetarian starter was an absolute delight, with the crisp outer layer of the corn balls and an array of droolworthy sauces/dips that came along with it. The quantity was good, more than what is normally expected of a starter. Our joy was further enhanced by the accompanying mocktails, ‘Kiwi+Mint Collins’ and ‘Watermelon Beach’, to name a couple. The colour of both the mocktails was gorgeous and very attractive. Refreshing, delicious and of suitable quantity, the mocktails are sure to leave you in a state of ecstasy.

                Taste            Presentation         Value for money
               9.5/10                 9/10               8.5/10

 

So Mamagoto is a fun place for sure; even though the desserts disappointed us at some level, the amazing starters and mocktails more than made up for them. They are going to launch 4 new desserts in the coming time and surely the launch is awaited by us!

Ayushi Teotia and Gopal Seth,Foodie Correspondents

16th August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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Bombay Bhelpuri Wala

 

Bombay Bhelpuri Wala

“Nothing ever tastes like the bhelpuri in Bombay” How many times have you heard someone say this to you? Well this is my mother’s favourite dialogue. But thanks to her love for the dish I discovered ‘Bombay Bhelpuri Wala’ in South Extension Part-1.

Everyone who has ever lived in South Delhi knows that the one of the few places where one can find authentic Sevpuri / Bhelpuri is at this point. Selling out of a small cart in South Ex-1, Bombay Bhelpuri Wala has been in business for the last 15 years. Till this date it has retained its casino online old customers and continues to add on to its list. From my mom to my best friend’s mother, all recommend this point.

What is so good about it you may ask? It could be the spicy ‘chatpatta panna’ of the Bhelpuri or the crispiness of the Sevpuri. The way all the flavours come together to create a beautiful concoction is amazing. My favourite is the Bhelpuri. The spice is just about right and the hint of a little sweet makes the bhelpuri perfect. Just like a boutique, you can always customize your dish to make it less spicy or tangier. The quantity is enough to fill your stomach but the taste is bound to make you ask for more!

It may not look amazing or have the best ambience around but the Bombay bhelpuri Wala is definitely value for money. Just for Rs.50 per plate, the bhelpuri is bound to make your mouth water and your heart skip a beat with happiness.  So all the complainers and the Bhelpuri lovers rush on down to South Ex Part-1 pronto!

Pramiti Sapru, Foodie Correspondent

P.S- There is another Bombay Bhelpuri Wala in South Ex part2. Do not get confused.

15th August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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Street Food at Majnu ka Tilla

Street Food at Majnu ka Tilla (officially known as New Aruna Colony)

The Tibetan Refugee Camp near the Delhi University North campus is a paradise for every food enthusiast and adventurer. Situated on the Outer Ring Road, the entrance to the Camp is overbearing on no accounts and yet it opens up to you a small world so splendid and exquisite that you just don’t want to leave. The veritable ‘Mini Tibet’ is indeed what it claims to be: a small sample of Tibet. It showcases a convincing replica of authentic Tibetan food, culture and tradition.

Besides the plethora of small cafes and cosy restaurants, one comes across many vendors in nooks and crannies of the Camps elling a Tibetan street food called Lhafin. A visit to Mini Tibet is incomplete without this dish which is sold at a very reasonable price of twenty five rupees. Majnu ka Tilla is probably the only place in Delhi where you will find this unique Tibetan dish. It comprises of thin cornflour rolls cut into thin slices resembling noodles, submerged in a delicious soup. The soup is a commensurate amalgamation of ginger water, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and a few spices and appeals most to those with a titillating tongue. It’s a rather entertaining experience to observe as the vendor takes out the cornflour roll from a big container, slices it up with fascinating dexterity, pours in various amounts of different spices and sauces and finally serves you the dish in a bowl with chopsticks or forks as per your choice.

So come on out, experience Tibet in this bowlful of delectable flavours amidst an ambience of Buddhist chants and an omnipresent decoration of “Free Tibet” posters and wall graffiti.

 

street food

 

Shailaja Das,Foodie Correspondent

13th August,2013

Anubhav Sapra
Anubhav Sapra is an avid foodie! He is a Founder but proudly calls himself a Foodie-in-chief at Delhi Food Walks. He is also a street-food and Indian regional cuisine connoisseur and loves to write about street-food.
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A Fine Taste

Elma's Cafe - Delhi Food Walks

A Fine Taste

English. Exquisite. Elegant .Exclusive. Expensive.Combining all of that, you get Elma’s cafe, a cosy cafe in the streets of Hauz Khas Village. So here I was with two other friends, out to review the place that is very popular among the food joints in HKV.

Entering the place, you notice the beautiful and delicate ambience, made complete with floral prints on the drapes and curtains, cupboards with old cups and plates, a piano and a quiet view of the deer park. The bakery items on display are so amazing to look at, that customers sometimes sit for long durations of time, just gazing at the display! Cooks working in the open kitchen constitute another view that is enjoyed by visitors. However the seating is very limited , since it’s a small cafe.

Elma's Cafe - Delhi Food WalksTalking to the owner, we got to know that her son started TLR cafe, another food joint in HKV. Since the quality of the outsourced breads was not satisfactory, she decided to open a bakery of her own that would provide good quality bread. This and the fact that coffee could be found everywhere but different types of teas were difficult to find, she being a tea person, established Elma’s.Here’s a fun fact for those of you who didn’t know: Elma is the name of the family dog and Edward is the family cat! Edward’s is on the ground floor and Elma’s is on the 1st. They share the same menu.

Nilgiri Frost - Delhi Food Walks

The famous desserts of the place such as the Red Velvet Cake and Moist Chocolate Cake are absolutely fabulous but we wanted to try new items, so here they are. Let’s begin with Nilgiri Frost, a favourite of the owner too. It’s a  lighter colour than Earl’s Grey, the taste is just right, neither too strong nor too mild. The cup is very aromatic and it goes well with heavy   cakes. It tastes best without milk. The next tea we tasted was Earl’s Grey, which was again very aromatic but was a darker colour. It was stronger than Nilgiri Frost. Both of them were very typical teas and must be tried by tea lovers for sure. Apart from this, the Belgian Chocolate shake was amazing too, rich in chocolate and pleasure!

Scones with jam and cream - Delhi Food WalksApple Pie - Delhi Food Walks
The freshly-made scones with the great texture, accompanied by pure fruit jam and cream were a delight to our taste buds.The apple pie was perfectly made, with a very crisp outer layer and the handmade pattern on top. The taste of apple was very subtle. Mac and Cheese was beautifully baked. The three neat, distinct layers were as follows: a crisp layer of bread crumbs on top, followed by a delicious cheese layer and then the macaroni. It was quite filling. Lastly, we had the healthy ‘lean and green sandwich’, which had Elma’s slow roasted tomatoes on a bed of lettuce and rocket leaves drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. It is very apt for a light breakfast, the taste is not overpowering.Lean and Green Sandwich - Delhi Food Walks

              Taste            Ambience            Service     Value for Money
               9/10                 8.5/10                8.5/10               8.5/10

Indulging in the quaint atmosphere of the place, one understands how this place attracts people who prefer boutiques over malls, who are not mere customers but are food enthusiasts, who are willing to pay a bit extra for something special. So if you enjoy the finer things in life, try out this place for sure!

Cost for 2 people: Rs 1000 approximately

Name: Elma’s Bakery, Cakes and Tea Room
Location: 24/1, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi-110016

Contact:
Phone: (011)26521020; 9711117516
Email: elmas@tlrcafe.com
Owner and Head Chef: Shelly Sahay, of Le Cordon Bleu

Foodie Correspondent: Gopal Seth
Foodie  Photographers: Saumya Gupta & Shreya Chowdhury