Coffee Chronicles

Wednesday Fun

Times are such that discussions about cafes and over coffee, hot or cold, are better than the politics. Discussion about politicians and those relating to their gas, garbage and gossip deserves not even a cutting chai from a street vendor.

Coffee intoxicated that I am, I don’t remember on which Wednesday of the last few weeks, I was on cafe trail and had the hilarious experience. Hold your cup tight.

These days Cafe guys in the true spirit of “ What’s in a Name?” are christening their venture with names like Nandan, Cavin, Yadav, and imaginatively Modi’s Cafe, somewhere in Mumbai. I am not sure if it is still working. Then some with Sky, Earth, Jungle, Garden, Mountain, Black River, Goat, Camel. But Cafe Chameleon? Are these guys kidding? Is the last one dedicated to any politico? You bet.

Then absurdity goes wild, as it always: There are cafes with names such as Yellow, Pink, Green but there is one that takes the Oscar - inspired by Twitter(X), Cafe Blue Tick depicting Twitter’s blue tick, at a place in Rural Maharashtra.

And they all seem to be doing good business.

Move aside Starbucks and Barista. Your time is up unless you hire a new creative team.

Where was I? Bear with my coffee intoxication please.

Yes. We were visiting Borivali so thought of walking into a newly opened, celebrity owned (Shankar Mahadevan) Cafe Malgudi. I was ‘breathless’.

Barking on the reputation of Malgudi Days by RK Narayan, this cafe looked nice but service not perfected yet - our order was delivered to some other table but coffee which was to be served, after the food, arrived first. At our table. (That joy of having filter coffee before and after food is only at Cafe Madras in Matunga). About the quality? Well, the mouth freshner was unique and excellent!!

Returning back, we heard there was this Cafe Blondie, somewhere in the bylanes of Bandra. Calling ‘bylanes’ to roads in Bandra is kind of blasphemy, you know. Btw Blondie was a famous comic character in the 19th century which keeps appearing now and then.

Crowd was mixed, age-wise, but equally boisterous and thoroughly enjoying. Good vibes and smart staff. New age cafe but also serves Idli, Dosa and Vada (Well, Shilpa Shetty has a considerable stake in it. So, what else you can expect?). They also serve Benne Dosa - the high cholesterol, dripping with butter or ghee. This is a new craze, fav food of this generation and their predecessors. Elderly were digging into it hiding from their ‘control freak’ children. Cardiac surgeons, jokingly I must say, would soon require currency notes counting machines.

The real Blondie must be RoFL.

And then came a Wednesday. We trooped in ‘Cafe Chicory’ in the island city. This is basically a South Indian restaurant in the garb of a Cafe. They go fifty shades ahead of Blondie, serving vegetarian thali. More than two persons were eager to take our order. And about the coffee? They churn the froth separately and top it on the coffee. Now hold your breath - the milk that they add is full of cream (pieces of Malai). Well. They don't have tasty mouth freshner like Cafe Malgudi. Very bad.

For a good coffee, step into a restaurant few shops away called Poornima Restaurant. A strong coffee and you will start humming ‘Bhool gaya sub kuchh….’

As I am turning sober from coffee intoxication, I think I should seek refuge at Veronica’s in Bandra. Veronica - a character from Archies comic. But then, Veronica was a character in Marvel movie, there was a mystery and horror movie with that name. I don't know about a Band with that name. Do you?

Do you see the image above? The entrance wall is painted with words ‘Hey Saint. Please. Help me. Lost. And some huge pipes which probably are to eject (mild substitute to ‘throw’) people out if they complain about the coffee. Hope not. Pray.

Until my next report, Ciao.

Won't you

And

I assure you a coffee at Veronica's.