South Indian Breakfast in Nerul

Get the Chennai experience at Nerul. Having taken up cycling recently and joined a group of cycling enthusiasts in Navi mumbai. They are called Palm Beach Riders (PBR). Every weekend we get together,cycle for sometime and then go for breakfast together.This is the first time I joined them for the breakfast ride. After a good long ride on Palm Beach we cycled up the 'Nerul Balaji temple' hill and then stopped at a small stall named ‘Shree Nerul Café’. This is run by Mr. Ganesh who welcomed us with a smile. He was neatly dressed with a south Indian style tika on his forehead. Our riders are regular visitors of this cafe.

There are just 2 tables outside so we all occupied them. Well then the orders started pouring in. He serves Idli, Dosa, Medu vada, Kara Pongal along with sambar, Tenga chutney and tomato chutney. This is the first time in Navi Mumbai that I had authentic south Indian breakfast.

I started of my breakfast with a plate of Idli (served on a clean plate). This plate had 2 soft idlis with yummy coconut chutney (Tenga chutney) and a bowl of Sambar. The idlis were not the best in town,but just for the sake of the coconut chutney and sambhar I could have cleaned up a couple more idlis. The Chennai sambhar is not sweet as the Udipi one and the chutney was perfect with not much of water in it. 

I could not stop myself from ordering a plate of Medu Vada. The looks of the Vada declared its awesomeness. The outer crust of the Vada was crisp with  onion and green chillies peeping here and there. It was fluffy and my fork just slided in.

Then I saw a friend enjoying Pongal. If you wondering what this dish is, let me explain. Kara pongal/Ven pongal or Ghee pongal is a regular breakfast down south. Its quick to make and tastes great. It is made with rice, moong dal and good amount of ghee in it. It’s similar to the khichdi however sometime it’s on the spicier side.

So I order a plate of Pongal too, it actually reminded me of my mother-in-law who makes great Pongal too.

The Grand finale to the  breakfast was the cup of filter coffee which came in a small steel glass and bowl and I am sure everyone who has known filter coffee will rate this coffee very high.

Shree Nerul Café is on the hill, which as 2 approach roads. One from Palm Beach road and the other from West side of Nerul station. If you are coming from the Palm beach road, cross the Sree Balaji temple on the left side and the same road descends to Nerul station, just at the starting of the descent on the left hand side you will see this small café.

So the next time you are visiting the temples for pooja don’t forget to do a peth pooja at Shree Nerul Café.

Address: Sector 20, Nerul Village, Navi Mumbai,  Maharashtra

Ph No: 9969339830

Veg Samosa in Sanpada

Badhai ke Samose

Garma garm samose ki baat hi kuch aur hai, When served with fried green chillies and green and Meetha chutney it goes to a different heights. बधाई sweet and snacks very close to the Sanpada station serves the best Samosa's with chutneys that just elivates your taste buds. These samosa's are filled with mashed aloo.
For my son's birthday party I wanted some snack party at home for the kids as well as their parents so we decided to get some chips, sweets and SAMOSA. But then i was new to the place and do decided to taste samosa at few places. That is how i discovered Badhai. Every one to the birthday party loved the samosa's thanks to Badhai.
Samosa is one of the most popular snack in India. Its well known in other geographies such as southern and central asia, the North and South Africa regions. The Samosa's earstwhile had fillind of meat, however later moved to vegitarian stuffing like the Aloo or onions. In hyderabad the Samosa's are smaller in size with crisp outer layer, these are known as lukmi which are available in both veg and non-veg.
I prefer the veg Samosa which are bigger in size to be served along with fried chilles and green and tamrind chutney.
So next time you are around Sanpada, dont forget to try out Badhai ke Samose.

Zunka Bhakar in MBP

Zunka Bhakar in Mahape

This a small snack house named Aswad Food Centre in Mahape, almost opposite the Ramada hotel. This place serves regular lunch menu and then tea and snacks. It has place to seat around 20, pretty clean and airy as its in the open.
My first visit to this place was along with one of my friend who suggested that this place serves the best Zunka Bhakar. I was new to Mumbai and never heard of this dish. However as i am a food enthusiast, I could not say no. So we went to this place and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of that dish.
The dish has 2 parts the Zunka and then the Bhakari. Zunka is a suppose to be curry made out of chick pea atta or commonly called the Chana dal atta or the Besan. The curry has thick gravy and a tadka is added for that extra spice and oil. While you order you need to mention the level of spice you prefer. (Low, medium and high)
The part 2 is the Bhakari. Bhakari is usually made of millets like Jawar, Bajra or Rice flour. This place serves the Bhakari made from Jawar. Jawar is suppose to be healthy at the same time is pretty filling.
Zunka Bhakar is a Maharashtrian dish and served is most of the restaurants. However i would always prefer this place. I have tasted Zunka bhakar in many places but then my taste buds say this is the best.

So next time you are in MBP (Millennium Business Park) go on and have a plate of Zunka Bhakar (Medium spice). This is served with Chilly chutney and I suggest you also order Chass (Butter milk) along.
  

Misal Pav in Mahape

Misal Pav at Virangula

Virangula is a small restaurant (can be called a Snacks and Tiffin centre) which is in the Millennium business park campus. You will not miss it as its on the right side of main road just after you corss Mastek and Allied Digital building. You go further you have Ramada.This place serves some good dishes, varying between Veg and non-veg. This place should have a seating capacity of around 40 and always crowded. Virangula is also famous for Malvani dishes but then what I like here is the Misal Pav.

Misal Pav is a dish from western region of India, It’s got a thick gravy which is mixed with farsan (the some kind of mixture, snack or sev). Garnished with onion, lemon and topped with butter and served along with Pav (Same pav as the one in Vada Pav). The gravy has two parts, the gravy that is made of Matki (a type of lentil) and then the tharri/Rassa which is made of red chilly powder and oil. Once you mix both in right proportion it give great taste. When served Farsan is added to the gravy along with the garnishing. Farsan is better if its spicy. The Kolhapuri farsan is know for its spice.
The best way to have Misal pav is to have it along with the Chass.
So when are you visiting Virangula?

Tandoori Chicken in Sanpada

Kebab and More in Sanpada

Kebab and More, yes it’s true to its name. It’s a small restaurant in Sanpada, Navi Mumbai, however the menu is pretty huge. The list goes on, many types of Kebabs and tandoor (the clay oven) items available to pamper your senses.

This place had just two service tables, so if you planning to go and eat there, it’s not a good idea. The best thing would be home delivery or take away.

My choice has always been the Tandoori Chicken, there are multiple reasons as this is low in calories, usually fresh and most importantly you can customise the spice and request the person to make it Pyaar se. This place serves full or half plate.

Tandoori Chicken is a famous chicken dish in India and Pakistan. Chicken is marinated for some time with spices and curd. Then it is slowly cooked in the earthen oven the tandoor. The quantity of oil used is just nothing hence minimum calories. Once cooked it is served with green pudina chutney and garnished with onions. Kebab and More does this all and hence this is one of the best Tandoori Chicken in here. It is served in full and half place, a full place serves 3 in my family.

So pick up your phone and order now +91 9221900817. All you have to say is Bhaiah thoda pyaar se.

Hyderabadi Biryani - Sanpada

Hyderabadi Biryani Lovers - Sanpada to Vashi

Hyderabadi biryani, I know that makes your mouth water. If you are from Hyderabad then your weekend is not complete unless you have one. Does not mean that others outside Hyderabad do not like it.
Thought of renouncing biryani after eating hopeless one's in Navi Mumbai, but after tasting the Biryani here you truly thank the Persians for introducing this dish to India. Well its pretty close to an authentic Hyderabadi Biryani in Navi Mumbai.
This Biryani has rice perfectly cooked, tender meat, follows rules of biryani that no grain of rice sticks together, has splashes of saffron all over and has all the herbs and spices adding to the flavour. Every spoon of the biryani freshens your mouth giving a feeling of salvation.
They also have amazing Andhra biryani , succulent Rambo Kabab, creamy thick chicken gravy, spicy chicken 65 and several other yummy dishes.

This place is better for take away, as there is only place for 4 - 6 to sit.
They serve from 12pm to 3pm and from 7.30 pm onwards (seen their shop open at 11pm as well)

Hyderabadi Biryani Point
25, Moraj Residency, Sector 16, Palm Beach Road, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai    
022 65175677, +91 9223445677

This place has been shut, I suppose he could not sustain or the deteriorating taste. These specialties restaurants usually are run on the shoulders of the chef, If he decides to move out the establishment looses its grip on the customers.
This place has been taken over over by another person. I tried the food and did not get what i wanted.
Once chapter closed.

Pani Puri Maushi in Sanpada

Paani Puri Maushi in Sanpada

Maushi near the park in Sector -9 , Sanpada, makes the yummiest filling for the puri and her Pani it awakens your taste buds like never before. You have options to choose from teeka, medium and meeta. But whatever you take , you end up tummy happy.
You would remember your mom when she says "आज क्या खिलाऊ बेटा" "aaj kya kilaou beta" . She operates from a hand pushed cart. The stuff she uses also is pretty hygienic as neither me nor my son have ever fell sick after having it.
Beside her kart there is "Bhajiya Bhaiya" he makes the yummiest mirchi bhajiya , bread pakoda and the masala to go with it is awesome.
So go ahead and try these small time places , you would never regret it.