Hop over to this happy place. It will whet your sense of play, your appetite for a certain kind of giddy, sloppy abandon. Don’t bother to go if you are the serious type looking for a grown-up, gourmet experience. This brand-new Lower Parel eatery (set up first in Bangalore and Pune by Anjan Chatterjee#39;s Mainland China group) has been delighting mumbaikars in several locations too. It#39;s perched on the first floor in the dim, dark armpit of the industrial Lower Parel area. Walk in and wham! Colours, model airplanes, toadstool seating, a library, video game corner, trees, birdhouses, et al. envelope you. Settle down on a bean bag, or a blackboard table on which you can scribble. Ask for details on the Beer Pong and Beer Chuggathon too. Quirky, comforting, fun... the food complements the ambience. Be it bar-bites finger food (Jamaican, Asian, American, Mediterranean) or comfort mains. Take a minute to pour over the funky dish names... Fishful Thinking, Jerking Around and more. Ask for the Masumfali ( peanuts) and Totopos (nachos) to nibble on with your drinks. Interesting cocktails and mocktails... refreshing Watermelon Basil Crush, Kiwi Strawberry Margarita disappoints. It can get really noisy in the air-conditioned section.
PS: I#39;m told that Hoppipola means ‘jumping in the puddles’ and this is 20-year-young Avik Anjan Chatterjee#39;s concept.
Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.
Shaken, stirred, muddled or blended get the cocktail of your choice right at your doorstep with Mumbai Cocktail Week. Mark your calendar right away to make the most of it.
Spread over a week, MCW will be a celebration of cocktail craftsmanship through a variety of tasting sessions, parties and master classes, pop-ups, pub crawls, sessions with experts and even a mixology competition.
This boozy week will be hosted jointly with regular events by over 50 + bars and restaurants across the city including popular names such as PDT Mumbai, Havana Club, White Owl, The Bar Terminal, Taj hotels, Intercontinental, blueFROG to name a few along with global pop up bars with 7 different bars from around the world.
Tickets:
Standard access passes – Rs 599
Premium access passes – Rs 1,099
VVIP access passes – Rs 5,499
For more details, visit their Facebook page
You can’t deny it – we all scream out loud when we’re out for a few drinks and post round three, the DJ churns out the trashiest song from the 80s and urges you to get on the dance floor. Clearly, we are all a tad local at heart and that’s exactly what this new Andheri bar is cashing in on!
Glocal Junction comes from the same team as Bungalow 9, China Bistro and India Bistro. For their fourth concept, they’ve got Social Offline’s ex team members – Chef Gaurav Gidwani and mixologist Shishir Rane – on board. Together, the boys have created an all-day space that is dreamy and has potential to become the next big thing in the suburbs. Opening this weekend, we dropped in last night for an exclusive and heady tasting.
AMBIENCE
The 5,000 sq ft space is divided into two levels and as you enter, you’ll be welcomed by a tall mesh structure, which is the multilevel bar connected through steps. The metal mesh structures give a work-in-progress feel and although the monochromatic décor has no bright colours, you’ll notice various shades of gray. The wrought iron chairs are paired with unfinished Cuddapah stone finished tabletops, and the walls are covered with cement tiles. The upstairs section with two small balconies offer a view of the entire bar and you might find us seated there frequently.
FOOD + DRINKS
While the décor builds up big expectations, the menu takes it to a different level with separate menus for day and night. Dishes during the day are more elaborate, while in the evening the focus shifts to more easy-to-eat pass arounds. Daytime drinking includes cocktails that are fruity and refreshing, while the ones post sundown are potent. There’s an acute attention to detail here, so the burger you eat during the day will come with slaw, fries and the works, while the evening one will be served wrapped in paper that make it easy to eat while dancing.
We started our tasting with a Toxic Box (Rs 295) served in a Chinese takeout box with a straw, which was a vodka based cocktail with Eastern flavours. This was followed by Thailee (Rs 465) that as the name suggests was a ziplock bag with kharbooza infused vodka. The prettiest of the lot was the Bouquet (Rs 465) served in a horizontal square tube with blackcurrant flavoured vodka, passion fruit and floating edible flowers. If you’d rather stick with beers (they serve Bira too), a domestic pint starts from Rs 100.
The food will remind you of flavours that are close to the heart and showcases lesser-known preparations with a modern twist. We started off with the Coorgi Murgi Dry Fry (Rs 190) – chicken coated with spicy masala and curry leaves. You’ll also spot childhood favourites like a Bhajiyas Platter (Rs 140) with potato pakoras, mirchi pakoras and Sindhi pyaaj pakora. Health conscious guests can opt for their Roasted Roots Salad (Rs 130) full of root veggies such as sweet potatoes and beetroots with assorted greens, topped with mirchi amrood emulsion.
If you still have space left, the Tandoori Chicken Risotto (Rs 280) hits all the right notes, but what won us over was a spicy Vidhabh special Saoji Mutton Thali (Rs 375) served with phulkas, rice, papad and onions. They have an extensive dessert menu too and we polished off the Masala Chai Panacotta (Rs 190) served in kullads and Kalkatta Paan Cheesecake (Rs 190) quicker than a shot!
IN A NUTSHELL
WH Verdict: A high-energy bar that will become your weekend address.
Review Other Details: Glocal Junction on What#39;s Hot
Meal For Two: Rs 2,000
Cuisine: Indian, European
They are also on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlocalJunction
Twitter: GlocalJunction
Instagram: glocaljunction
**The writer was invited by the restaurant to preview their menu**
Unlike the mass produced, saccharine blocks of milk solids and sugar sold OTC, artisanal chocolates are a labour of love. With a hands on approach to their craft — from picking the cacao beans or choosing the cocoa powder to designing the packaging — we’ve found a few chocolatiers who turn biting into a bar of chocolate into a decadent experience. Plus, they are all homegrown so they fit well with the whole #MakeInIndia wave too!
Mason Co
Run by husband and wife team, Jane and Fabien, Mason Co started as a kitchen experiment and has now turned into a small artisanal enterprise. The Auroville based brand was one of the first in India to implement the bean-to-bar concept where the chocolate is made from cacao beans locally sourced from organic certified farmers. Hand wrapped in colourful yet minimalistic packaging, the bars come in several variations including peppermint, peanut butter, roasted sesame, and espresso as well as plain semi-sweet (65%), bitter-sweet (75%) and dark (85%) chocolate. The famer first brand also innovates based on the seasonal produce available, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for news on limited edition varieties. In addition, they offer consulting services to anyone seriously interested in the business of chocolate-making, and even organise factory visits on request.
Price: Starting from Rs 235
Order here or click here for the store locator
All Things
A casual glance at the All Things’ menu and the beautifully designed packaging is enough to tell you that co-owners Kuhu Kochar and Tejasvi Chandela have put plenty of soul into their brand, which is based out of Gurgaon. Made from premium cocoa, the chocolate draws inspiration from various muses ranging from special occasions to travel destination and even the elements. There’s something for every mood — so for those with itchy feet, All Things Jaipur (a rich blend of whiskey and dark chocolate) is perfect; if you’re eager for a break then All Things Tropical (single origin Madagascar chocolate with a passion fruit ganache centre) might help you imagine yourself lounging in a hammock shaded by palm fronds; and for a case of the Mondays, there’s All Things Monday (with nuts, oats, rasins and maple syrup) for an energy boost. We love the umami quality of the All Things Water (dark chocolate with a hit of sea salt) and became obsessed with the truffle box they introduced around V-Day. New variations are added monthly, so keep a look out. Most recently, a collaboration with clothing brand péro by Aneeth Arora, has resulted in All Things Checkered — a dark chocolate with lemon and poppy seed creation — made to complement the label’s Pipi Longstocking inspired Autumn/Winter ’16 collection that debuted at Amazon India Fashion Week.
Price: Starting from Rs 330
Order here
Earth Loaf
Headed by David Belo and Angelika Anangnostou — both have a background in the FB industry — Mysore-based Earth Loaf takes its artisanal tag really seriously. The chocolate is lovingly crafted in small batches and all of it is made from single-origin cacao sourced from Varanashi Farms in Karnataka. Hand screened, hand tempered and hand filled – even the wrapping is silk screen printed by hand courtesy artisans in Mysore. Flavours include raw dark chocolate (72%), smoked salt and almond and gondhoraj and apricot amongst others. Also on offer are bon bons (available in chai masala and tiramisu), laddoos and truffles, as well as cacao teas and infusions.
Price: Starting from Rs 270
Order here
In association with ADE Global Sessions Mumbai, OML presents two consecutive gigs with a line-up that includes some of the freshest names in electronic music in India. On the roster for 8th April are Nucleya, one of the early proponents of dubstep in India; Ritviz, composer, rapper and producer, who combines bass and Hindustani classical music; and SICKFLIP, a solo electronic project by Sarvesh Shrivastava, founder of drum and bass collective Mental Martians. The second event, on 9th April will see Sandunes, Dualist Inquiry and one of the country’s top electronica artists, Anish Sood.
Entry: Rs 500 (each)
Tickets available at www.insider.in
Presented by For Young India (FYI), Litmus describes itself as “an experimental word-fest that explores the word at the crosshair of technology and tradition”. The two-day festival will feature several events that explore ‘word’ in all its forms, whether art, film, photography, music or dance. Inaugurating the festival is Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Café, while the keynote address (on 9th April) will be delivered by journalist and long-time curator of comics, Paul Gravett. Events include panel discussions, workshops and performances, across multiple venues in the city, with key participants such as St+art India Foundation’s Hanif Kureshi, photographers Bharat Ramamrutham and Prashant Panjiar, co-founder of Terribly Tiny Tales, Anuj Gosalia, poet Imaan Surve, Tinkle comics illustrator Abhijeet Kini, and bands such as BLAKC and Spud in the Box.
For the complete event schedule, visit www.litmusfestival.com
Madboy — a solo electronic project by Imaad Shah — launches his debut solo EP Boy, an experimental mash-up of genres, including soul, funk, hip-hop and RnB. The EP features the sounds of old school synthesizers and drum machines, which meet a soul-influenced guitar style and postmodern songwriting.
Getting yourself to the hottest bar in the world might burn a hole in your pocket, but the ongoing Mumbai Cocktail Week has got you covered. They’ve flown down some of the finest mixologists from around the world and are putting them under one roof for their Global Pop Up bar at blueFROG this Thursday, April 7th. So we thought you ought to meet the men and women who will be concocting your spirited dreams this week, a little better.
Chef Vikas Khanna’s Michelin Star Indian restaurant Junoon houses a chic bar by the name of Patiala House. The man behind that bar, Hemant Pathak, is the main man for Cocktail Week. He likes using Indian ingredients to create his drinks and each one of them tells a different story, in his own signature style. While his menu is truly salivating, our hot picks include the Sparkling Saffron, which as the name suggests is a wine based cocktail with saffron syrup and orange bitters. If you like vodka, then the Adraki Punch will give you the right amount of hit with the fig infused vodka topped with lemon, grapefruit and honey-ginger syrup. For whiskey fans, he has a Masala Whiskey that is blended with Junoon’s special masala syrup and orange essence. “Game Of Thrones is a rage right now and to give the fans a piece from the series, I have also created a special drink called Jon Snow. Just like the character, this drink is mysterious and no one knows wants under the spiced smoke of this cocktail,” he tells us. And because he doesn’t want anyone to leave with an empty glass from his bar, he’s even put a special non-alcoholic Pomegranate Mai Tai on the menu.
She’s been shaking and stirring for 5 years in India and now considers herself as half-Indian – Evgenya Prazdnik plans on using local ingredients for her stunning cocktails. “Apart from well known spices and herbs you will have a chance to try Kewra water, lotus root chips, saffron, fresh peas, mace, coconut water in pretty unusual appearance”, she claims. Her menu will offer homemade bitters and extracts based on organic Indian ingredients along with a DIY live cold dripping system on display. So be ready for some elegant presentations to compliment each cocktail. A few of her must try cocktails include Lady Jane, which a concoction made from an Earl Grey infused gin, lavender simple syrup, fresh lime juice and egg white. Taking a hint from her adopted home, Goa’s flea markets, the Friday Market will be a gin based drink with freshness from fresh coriander, lychee juice, lime juice, honey syrup and kewra water spray.
Evgeniy Kuznetsov from Belarus will bring finesse with a menu that exemplifies tenderness and uses healthy ingredients. We have our eyes set on the Celery Stalker, which is a wine infused drink as well as the Green Dragon – vodka mixed with fresh lime, organic honey, wasabi, seaweed and sesame. While Pamela Wiznitzer from the New York bar Seamstress, brings her signature drink to the pop-up. Make sure you try the Campari based drink – Upward Float.
Just in case you can’t make it on Thursday, though it will be a shame if you don’t, MCW is on for the entire week. They’ve got the hottest bars in the city offering special signature cocktail menus at a discounted rate and a couple of interesting masterclasses by industry biggies as well. Read more here and prep your liver!
Directed by Polly Findlay
Cast: Hazel Gardner, Patsy Ferran, Rosalie Craig, Jay Saighal, Leon Annor, Joe Bannister
Shakespeare’s beloved comedy comes to the National Theatre for the first time in 30 years and will be screened at the NCPA. With her father, the Duke, banished, Rosalind and her cousin Celia leave their lives in the court behind them and journey into the Forest of Arden. There, Rosalind experiences liberation and transformation. Disguising herself as a boy, she embraces a different way of living and falls in love.
Tickets: Rs 500
Tickets are available at www.bookmyshow.com
Groove to the high octane music at blueFrog as the venue brings to you DJ Sa performing live at the venue. DJ Sa has taken the genre of hip hop to an all new level with his high energy beats and was recently voted as one of the top hip-hop DJs in India. He has opened for the likes of Akon, Sean Kingston, Snoop Dogg (Lion), MIMS and DJ Green Lantern resulting in collaborations to promote their hip hop albums across India in the past.
Entry: Rs 600 onwards. Free Entry for ladies post 9.30 pm
Make way for the King of Comedy in India - Johny Lever – as he is all set to tickle your ribs with his mind-blowing, blockbuster, live stand-up show Johny Lever Live! This will be a modern day, Hindi stand-up comedy show in which our funny-man incorporates references and observations on social media, politics, human behaviour, pop culture, cultural affairs and technology, among other things. He effortlessly absorbs them into his routines, the result of which is a laugh riot that is enjoyed by audiences of all age groups.
Tickets: Rs 300 onwards
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Anand Bhaskar Collective, the Mumbai based Carnatic, Hindustani and Alternative Rock music band. This six piece band is led by Anand Bhaskar the lead vocalist and guitarist of this band. The rest of the band members are Neelkanth Patel the bass player, Shrikant Jadhav and Chandan Raina on rhythm and lead guitar, Ajay Jayanthi on violin and Bhushan Govinkar on drums. All the members individually are incredible musicians and together this band is dynamic and offers a powerful performance. This evening they will be performing some of their songs from their debut album.
Tickets: Rs 500
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Dash Berlin aka DJ Jeffrey Sutorius, one of the most popular DJs in the world will perform live in Mumbai this month. Widely popular in the nightclub culture, this DJ has performed at some of the most happening venues throughout the world and has successfully connected with the audience to create a fan following. This Dutch national#39;s musical journey began by developing a liking for electronic music at an early age.
Tickets: Rs 1145 onwards
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Written and directed by: Rohit Tiwari
Cast: Aarya Vora, Ajit Kokate, Pankaj Singh and Rohit Tiwari
Inspector Pandey Phir Mar Gaya is a play that shows the life story of a cop. It tries to showcase the point that commoners can see. The play is a monologue that tries to establish the fact that cops too are normal human beings in the society.
Tickets: Rs 175
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Directed by: Raell Padamsee
Cast: Rohit Roy, Mona Singh
Set in 1990, two strangers Akash and Preet meet each other at a wedding. They fall in love but both of them are married to other people. They continue to meet each year during the same time and spend a day together post which they return to their regular lives. The play shows how over the years their relationship nurtures between themselves and their respective partners.
Tickets: Rs 500 - Rs 2,500
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Directed by: Tejas Malap
Cast: Bharat More, Mayuri Mohite and Akansha Gade
Everyone loves Krishna. He has been notorious all through his childhood. Ansh Productions present Krishna Kidding, a play that shows Krishna as a kid in an all new light with the help of different entertaining art forms fused to define the essence of theatre for children and adults.
Show timings: 12 pm and 4 pm
Tickets: Rs 200
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Directed by: Akarsh Khurana
Written by: Akarsh Khurana, Hussain Dalal
Cast: Ira Dubey, Kumud Mishra, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Siddharth Menon, Ayesha Raza Mishra, Anand Tiwari, Tariq Vasudeva
In Dadar East that housed the Bombay Dyeing mill, three stories involving seemingly unrelated characters interweave. These stories are of people from different walks of life with a common link being the geography and possibly death. Watch the play as these three stories show various emotions like angst, fear, loneliness, nostalgia, and mysterious corpses as they paint a darkly comic picture of a city which is really falling apart.
Tickets: Rs 400
Tickets available on Bookmyshow.com
Korean soprano and winner of the 2014 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, Sumi Hwang will join the Symphony Orchestra of India’s chamber orchestra and resident conductor Piotr Borkowski in a programme that will include Schubert, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Massenet, Strauss and Donizetti.
Tickets: Rs 500 and Rs 750
Tickets are available at www.bookmyshow.com