Café Paashh
Organic Café
Food: 4 | Service: 4 | Décor: 4.5
Located in one of the quaint by-lanes of Kalyani Nagar, Café Paashh features a menu curated by Celebrity Chef Ajay Chopra and offers a wide variety of healthy and organic food.
DÉCOR
Café Paashh is located on the first floor of a plush, beautiful bungalow in one of the quaint lanes of Kalyani Nagar. The café is an extension of the clothing and décor brand owned by Vaishali Karad which is housed on the ground floor. The café can seat around 30 people at a time and the space is tastefully decorated. Everything from the eclectic mix of seating options and vertical gardens on the walls to a glass roof for natural sunlight and sound of flowing water is keeping in tune with the theme of the café.
FOOD
With the growing love and demand for healthy eating and organic food, Café Paashh is a great addition to the small, but definitely growing list of healthy cafes in the city. The menu at Paashh has been curated by Chef Ajay Chopra with an intention of clearing the misconception that healthy food is bland and boring.
After looking at the vegetarian and healthy menu, I was excited to try something unique and new, but being a meat-lover, was skeptical at the same time. We started with the Bread & Greens Salad which was well seasoned and the addition of the spiced carrot puree and roasted pumpkin seeds elevated the taste. We paired the salad with two delicious juices Glow (Beetroot, Apple, Orange and Celery) and Energize (Watermelon, Orange, Pineapple and Lime) out of which Glow was an absolute favorite.
I can never imagine a consommé without a beef or chicken stock. But the vegetable consommé made from handpicked vegetables was hearty and packed the perfect umami flavor. The florets of beetroot ravioli added a whole new element to the dish. This is a must-have and probably the best dish on the menu. It took some time to really appreciate the taste of the Quinoa Methi Tikkis which were topped with lemon air and served with delicious apple-coriander-jalapeno chutney. The combination of methi and quinoa works very well together.
There are a lot of options to pick from in the mains section. We ordered the Soba Noodles, Pearl Barley Risotto, Paella Noir and Kothu Parotha. The perfectly cooked Soba Noodles were braised with fresh turmeric, lemongrass and coriander. This Thai twist to the noodles was very refreshing and extremely flavorful. The Pearl Barley Risotto was polished off almost the moment it was served. It was creamy, rich and one of the best dishes on the menu. The Paella Noir with black rice and beans was a miss for us. Though it tasted good, it did not have any taste elements resembling the original paella recipe. Chef Vikrant Naidu has reimagined the Kothu Parotha where the whole wheat parotha is crumbled on a delicious korma to make it a one-bowl meal instead of serving it as a side dish.
The desserts section is aptly named Sukoon. We ended the meal on a high and sweet note with the sinfully decadent 70% Single Origin Chocolate Bavarois which was served with orange sauce, nut and chili soil and topped with shards of dark chocolate.
PLUS & MINUS
Café Paashh is a great addition to growing list of healthy cafes in the city. With a unique concept, a well curated menu, warm hospitality and of course the beautiful location and décor Paashh is sure to emerge as one of the finest cafes in the city. The team has to be prepared to take up the uphill task of explaining the concept to every customer who walks in.
Must Try Dishes: Vegetable Consommé, Pearl Barley Risotto, 70% Single Origin Chocolate Bavarois, Soba Noodles, Quinoa Methi Tikki
Cost for Two: Rs. 1500
Address: Plot No. E1, E2 Hiremath Park, Next to Orange Ivy School, Kalyani Nagar, Pune - 411006
Contact: 8983002039
Timings: 11 AM – 11 PM
Photo Courtesy: Café Paashh
Note:
This review was first published in Pune Times on 1 March 2019.