GLUTTONY @ REKADI CAFÉ, MULUND, MUMBAI

For the generation that has grown in the 80s and early 90s, the hawkers cart or thela was the only place to buy numerous street food delicacies especially GOLA/CHUSKI. In a north Indian dialect this hawker’s cart is referred to as rekadi. This is the genesis of the name of the place Rekadi Café started by Ketan Ranga, Pratik Shah, Urvashi Seth Ranga and Hemang Shah in Mulund suburb of Mumbai in March this year. 

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The place indeed boasts of a flamboyant cart having all the requisites to prepare the gola – the traditional metal ice crusher and colorful syrup bottles. Colorful aqua lighting and cart wheels beautify the place. A small space to house stools is created where people can sit and enjoy select chaat, sandwiches and pizza as well that are all reasonably priced.

So, here is a look at my gluttony at Rekadi Café:

I initiated my gourmandizing by munching on FRENCH FRIES. These are generally served rubbed with one particular type of sauce. However, I was given to experience three different types of mayonnaise as dips with one portion of fries. The three types were Schezwan, Tandoori and Barbeque. My personal favorite was the spicy Schezwan mayonnaise.

Then, we proceeded to taste the SPINACH CORN CHEESE SANDWICH. It comprised of spinach puree and American corn filling between sliced bread and came topped with oodles of grated cheese. The grilling had crisped the bread perfectly. The portion was quite filling for one person. However, I was a little underwhelmed since the filling was a bit salty for my liking.

Next, we tried the PANENI CHAAT. This was a spectacle of food with fireworks. Six crisp puris (flat bread) were topped with a mixture of cottage cheese (paneer), mayonnaise and vegetables like capsicum and onions. These were then flamed with a blow torch to give a smoky flavor. Further, a thick layer of grated cheese was added that was torched as well.

Finally, I concluded my gluttony with this cafe's specialty, the GOLA. They have 25 different delicious varieties on offer here. I ended up gobbling on three different types of yummy gola as under:

• TRAFFIC JAM WITH DRY FRUIT GOLA – Here of a palm-sized ice sphere was laced with black currant, strawberry, kachi kairi, kesar, syrups and topped with cashew nuts, raisins and malai (cream) and mawa (milk solid obtained through milk reduction process). This had a lovely tang and black currant was the flavor shining through this preparation.
• MALAI GOLA – This consisted of ice doused with five different syrups, namely – pineapple, kachi kairi, mango, rose & butterscotch. Here too there was a topping of  mava shavings This was on a slightly sweeter side owing to dominance of the mango flavor.
• MIXED SADA GOLA – I went ahead and ordered a customized gola and went in for two of my favorite, tart flavors - kachi kairi & kala khatta.

So, do try out the Rekadi Café and let me know of your experience.
Till then, HAPPY EATING…