Cheeru`s Malaka Spice

A few weeks ago, Cheeru, another Chef friend, invited Robin and me to a tasting of her new summer menu. We went eagerly, as her restaurant is one of our favourites and I know she is passionate about her cooking.

Malaka Spice is a successful restaurant here in Pune. From humble beginnings 14 years ago it is now a huge, thriving foodie paradise. I am loth to admit, I love my favourites on the menu so much, I have never deviated from them too drastically. Cheeru was horrified when she found out, and insisted we come for the tasting. Since then I have ventured into more exciting spice territory :)

Hoshi, the very talented artist Hoshnar Kaikobad, was painting live for the evening. Hoshi is a dear, dear friend and we love his art! Although we were late, we luckily didn`t miss too much of the feast.

The Tasting was held outdoors on an impressively sultry night. To counter the heat, we were served a never ending stream of new cocktails, unusual and refreshing in their combinations. I quite disappointed the Maitre'd by asking for them sans the booze. Robin relished the fresh kiwi daiquiris, replete with fresh kiwi puree.  I fell in love with the Malaka ice Golas. I havent had a gola since school!!!! WOW!! From the three flavours on the menu, I got hooked onto the 'Coco Ice' and had 2, slurping away on my favourite coconutty Malibu white rum with ruby grenadine on shaved golas. A thick shard of tender coconut in the little chai glass made it somehow more special. I instantly went back in time to Monsoon Lake in Lonavla, where I grew up, and where we had neon -orange, rajasthani- magenta and desert -yellow syrups poured over in duets by "bhaiyya". Slurrrrp! Definitely a winner, this one.

A selection of salads followed, predominantly citrusy and fruity and gobsmackingly different with the addition of freshly grated tender kairi, hints of jaggery, lime juice and red chillies. Like Malakkan bhel, only lighter and more refreshing. Tickled my tasteuds, I can tell you!

Cool, hot, fresh, tangy: summery altogether. A refreshing blend of fruit and spice. Something I would choose in this heat and skip the Main Course in favour of.

Cheeru later confessed that most of the menu had been inspired by her recently deceased father-in-law who loved fresh fruit and vegetables. He was very ill and she used all her skills to tempt his palate, coaxing him to eat what he would enjoy. The love shows,  and we are the lucky beneficiaries of her endeavour.

The desserts were innovative and familiar, both. "Same, same but different" which is the Thai motto seemed to rule here.The Red Vanilla was inspiring: yummy vanilla ice cream, drizzled with a honey and red chilly sauce, a mixture of hot and cold, sweet and spicy. The colour dazzled and I`m sure this will be quite a hit for Valentine`s day in the future.

 I loved the Malakachang, Cheeru`s inspired version of my most favourite Singaporean desset, the Ais Kachang. While I missed the ingredients of the exotic Cendol, I am happy to have this instead: a glass of shaved ice, replete with slivers of water chestnuts and subja, dotted with ruby red pomegranate, all swirling in jaggery- sweetened, salty coconut milk. Truly slurpworthy! I have tried my own version at home as dessert and it is a nice, simple one to make.

Subsequent visits for a D`Cruz family Sunday lunch and Shahine`s birthday dinner were not disappointing. While the new `Èlectric Salad`remains my favourite, my Malibu Ice was too pheeka and the shard of tender coconut sadly missing.  Shahine's addiction to the Nasi Goreng has been  viral. Colourful, flavourful, crunchy and oozing comfort, the Nasi Goreng rocks. I have discovered it is a perfect working lunch. I am happy to receive my order at the Studio. It arrives quickly and comes with little wooden chopsticks and I can eat a delicious lunch, my treat for an over-harried work day!

In addition to firm old favourites like the Thai Green Curry Chicken, Thai Basil Chicken ( Thai-ophile Vikash Nowlakha swears by), Spicy Sour Singapore Noodles, Prawn Balls, Fish in Banana Leaves, Sonja Chandrachud`s favourite Thai Chilly Rice with extra red and yellow bell peppers ( slurrrrp), Duck Top Hats ( Robin & Alekhya eat a few plates of this every time), Chicken Satay, Jhala Roti and the Slow Cooked Mutton, we are now fans of the Grilled Red Snapper, the Salt and Pepper Prawns, the Firecracker Prawns, the Pumpkin Chips and the Chicken with green apple and prawns.

Stop reading about it, you need to head there fast and get your fix!! ;)