Kareem's@ Sula Vineyards, Nashik

This blog celebrates the joys of eating…..specifically the joys of eating vegetarian. Food is definitely the raison d'être for its existence. However when eating out, it’s not just food which maketh the experience……….and in some rare cases it’s really about the experience rather than the food. Of course without good food and excellent service your dining experience would be incomplete if not disastrous, but there are some destinations which either by virtue of their breathtaking natural beauty or due to the unusual experience they offer, become quite spell binding as destinations themselves where food is just one of the components of a deliciously packaged experience. The Sula Vineyards is one such destination.

The Sula Winery is located in Nashik, about 180 km from Mumbai and 210 km from Pune. If travelling from Mumbai, one can comfortably plan a day trip which apart from the time on the road will still allow you to spend a few hours in the vineyard; to soak in the atmosphere, undertake a tour and enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of their charming restaurants: Little Italy or Kareem’s. However should one want to luxuriate in the relaxing atmosphere for a couple of days, one always has the option of staying at ‘Beyond’ a lovely three bedroom villa located in the vineyards. If you chose to be a day tripper, than rest assured that all the tiredness of the drive shall melt away as soon as you step foot inside the winery. The dominant colour is one which definitely a hot favourite with all the vegetarians out there: Green! Apart from the vineyards stretching out in every direction as far as the eye can see, there are also rolling lawns with little lotus ponds dotting the complex here and there. Sounds gorgeous?You bet it is! The complex itself consists of beautiful, whitewashed buildings which fit in very well in the bucolic, verdant green surroundings. Peace, tranquility and harmony with nature are definitely some of the key descriptors of the complex. If you are visiting the complex, then a tour of the vineyards is definitely recommended. At Rs. 150 per head for the tour plus a wine tasting session, it is a steal! Beautiful though the interiors of the tasting room are, if you really want to savour the beauty of this place, enjoy your wine in the balcony of the tasting room with its panoramic view of the vineyards ringed by hills in the distance.

However let’s not forget the food, wonderful food!If you plan on enjoying a meal at Sula, you can choose between an Italian meal at Little Italy and an Indian repast at Kareem’s. We ate at the Indian restaurant Kareem’s and though I for one was skeptical about pairing wine (especially since I’m something of a white wine fiend) with Indian food, the meal definitely did not disappoint. The colour theme of the restaurant is like the rest of the buildings at the vineyards, shades of whites and browns. Quirky touches like lamps made of empty wine bottles added to the charm of the place. One of the best things about Kareem’s is that the restaurant successfully avoids the tourist trap temptation of putting a couple of the regular kababs and tikkas on the menu without any options for the more adventurous or even jaded diners. So while the paneer tikkas and hara kababs find their place in the menu, so does and absolutely divine makai malai seekh kabab whose melt-in-the-mouth goodness will have you begging for more. Another triumph on the menu is the vegetarian dum biryani where the flavor suffuses each individual grain of rice. A marked improvement indeed over the glorified pulao you find masquerading as a biryani in most commercial establishments these days. However the pièce de résistance of the menu is undoubtedly the phirni. Sinfully rich and creamy, vice was never more tempting than in the shape of the varq topped little earthenware bowls which were soon licked clean! The entire meal was washed down with their late harvest Chenin Blanc, a nice fruity dessert wine. This wine might be too sweet for those who prefer their wine to be dry……. but then again it was a dessert wine!
For all those living in Nashik, Mumbai or Pune, a day trip to Sula is highly recommended as the perfect way to unwind. Even if you are living elsewhere in the country and are looking out for a relaxing holiday, the Sula vineyards are definitely the way to go. Plan a trip pronto…….you definitely will not be disappointed

Ambience: 4.5/5
Food:3.5/5
Service:3.5/5

Café Basilico

Paraphrasing the hit from the 90's hit by the C&C Music Factory, Café Basilico is one of those "Things that make you go mmmm" because everything about this place from the location to the decor to the food is definitely mmmmmmlicious. There are actually two outlets of Cafe Basilico in Mumbai. The original outlet at Colaba which offers all meals from breakfast to dinner and the charming Bandra outlet which I visited which is open for lunch and dinner. Cafe Basilico, Bandra provides you with the option of dining indoors or outdoors. We opted for an alfresco lunch, a wise choice on a balmy January afternoon. While the cafe is cool and welcoming inside, the dining area outside has its own rustic charm with an improbable combination of purple walls, warm woody overtones in the furniture and lots of bamboo which comes together quite beautifully.

And where the decor does not disappoint, the food definitely surpasses all expectations. The menu is extensive and runs the gauntlet from soups, salads and sandwiches to heartier fare amongst the main course and desserts. All of this can be washed down with a choice of smoothies, mocktails and quite a decent selection of teas and coffee. The menu includes items from a variety of cuisines including Italian, Lebanese, Mediterranean and Thai dishes. However my favourite part is that there are plenty of options for vegetarians to choose from! Just to give you an idea, if you prefer sandwiches you can indulge yourself from a selection as diverse as Mediterranean Grilled Veggies to Pita Pockets with Falafel and Sour Yogurt to wait for it......Char Grilled Tofu sandwich! All vegetarians sandwiches are also completely eggless......even the mayo is cent percent shakahari! The selection in the main course is equally eclectic ranging from a variety of pastas to Balinese curry and Moroccan broth.

We started the meal with an Asparagus, Grilled Zucchini and Mushroom salad with iceberg lettuce and peppers which comes with a choice of two dressings: creamy parmesan or light (and healthy!) balsamic vinaigrette. I opted for the vinaigrette and I must say that the combination of fresh, crisp veggies and a near perfect vinaigrette dressing was a mind blowing combination: good for your taste buds AND waistline. Of course my pious mood of watching what I eat did not last too long.......to be precise it lasted all of five minutes until the Garlic Mozzarella Bread was put on the table. This was cheesy, decadent and delicious but I do wish they took the trouble to serve the ketchup in bottles or containers, seeing it served in satchets was SUCH a turn off. Moreover the oregano tasted more like basil: minor inconveniences but they did mar the overall experience.

The main course included Gnocchi in Red Pimento Pesto Sauce. Though not outstanding it was definitely a nice enough dish and one from which some Italian eateries in New Delhi (especially the highly overrated Italia in Vasant Kunj) could take a few pointers on how to balance the essentially bland gnocchi with a slightly sharp sauce. However the winner of the afternoon was definitely the Conchiglie Pasta. A mouth watering combination of slow roasted zucchini, garlic, peppers and sun dried tomatoes with spiced olive oil and parmesan, the effort that went into the preparation of this dish definitely showed in every scrumptious bite. Even the non-vegetarians amongst us agreed it was one of the highlights of the menu. A divine cheesecake signalled the perfect end to a near perfect meal.

All in a visit to Cafe Basilico is definitely recommended next time you are in Mumbai. And if you are living in Mumbai and haven't visited yet.........what are you waiting for my friend......rush NOW!!

Ambience: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Food: 4.5/5