Archive for February 2014

Home Archive for February 2014

The food-adda team was invited to Tertullia for a tasting of their new menu. I have been to Terttulia many times and this place never fails to brighten up my day and this visit was no different.

Ambiance

The three spaces within Terttulia provide a unique ambiance and have a flow from one to the other. They have a beautiful outdoor patio with unfinished white Mediterranean style walls adorned with various artifacts. Inside, the Tapas bar has stark monotone interiors, high tables and bird cage lights while the more formal dining section has modern upholstered seating with soothing colours and a home-style feel. Separating these two sections is a wine cabinet showcasing their specially curated wine collection.

Food

The lunch started off with a wild mushroom cappuccino which was rich and heady and set us up for the next course.

Then came the watermelon and feta salad, mini quiche and chili lime and butter broccoli. The saltiness of the cheese perfectly compliments the cool sweetness of the watermelon in the salad and the balsamic really brings out the flavor of the watermelon. A great salad for a warm afternoon.

The mini quiche comes with a filling of corn and spinach with melted cheddar cheese on top. It has a nice nutty crust but after the first bite, it just melts in your mouth.

The Chilli lime and butter Broccoli was nothing spectacular.

For main course, we were served the three mushroom risotto and Cajun styled Tofu steak. The combination of the mushrooms, red wine and aged Parmesan cheese gives this hearty risotto a deep flavor. The Cajun styled tofu steak was served with a warm couscous salad and the tenderness of tofu went really well with the grainy texture of the couscous but it was slightly too sweet for my palate.

For desserts, we had the Gooey chocolate cake, it is sinfully decadent and true to its name. The warm croissant pudding didn't quite match up to the expectations it had set with its wonderful presentation and still has room for improvement.

Would I visit again? A big fat YES!! Excellent food in general, superb service and a very funky ambiance.

P.S. - Kudos to Nishant, assistant manager at Terttulia, for being a great host. He is well-versed with the items on the menu and also with the variations that the food can probably go well with.

When I first started drinking about 4 years back, Beer used to be my least preferred drink. And then one fine day, I was introduced to craft beer by my friends and since that day, I have been a beer aficionado. Whenever there is new microbrewery in town or a new beer is being tapped , I can't resist going.
So, last weekend, I went to check out the newly opened Independence Brewing Co. with the Food-Adda team.

Ambiance :
Its a very spacious place with high ceilings, minimalist decor and mellow lighting, and creates the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a drink or two. We sat outside as the weather was quite pleasant plus nothing beats drinking outdoors on wooden benches.

Beers

Although they have not started tapping their beers yet, they are currently serving three beers on tap from Mumbai-based craft beer manufacturer Gateway Brewing Co .

White Zen

The inspiration behind this beer is Hefeweizen, a classic German wheat beer.Its easy on the palate and has a smooth creamy texture with undertones of spices like cloves.

Like that only

A beer inspired by the city of Mumbai, it also aims to be friendly session ale for the city. Its the ideal beer for those who are switching from commercial lagers to craft beers. The beer has a very earthy character and a mild grass aroma.

Indian Pale Ale
Another love child of the British Raj ,the IPA is a popular choice for beer and is a must have for any microbrewery’s repertoire.This IPA has a fresh and somewhat light body with a hoppy taste along with strong notes of tropical fruits. It is a very nicely balanced beer leaving you with a bitter-sweet finish.

Kudos to Independence Brewing Co and Gateway Brewing Co for bringing these wonderful beers to Pune. We eagerly wait for the Independence Brewing beers to be tapped.

Food
The menu includes a good number of options between appetizers and main courses and has a lot of variety. From typical bar food to Indian and Oriental cuisine, they have something for every palate.
For starters, we ordered Panko crumbed stuffed mushrooms , Ethiopian Samboosa and Loaded nachos. The mushrooms and samboosa were prepared really well and were absolutely delicious.The Nachos were standard. The non-vegetarian foodies with us couldn't stop raving about the Chicken Roulade and the sliders.

Our main course consisted of Black pepper tofu and Mushroom and Veg stew gratin. This course failed to pack a punch. On asking the chef, he said that they are still working on the veg main course menu. Hopefully, we'll have a main course as good as the appetizers on our next visit.

The desserts absolutely blew our mind. The Chocolate souffle is fluffy and delectable and its portions are enough for two people. Fellow foodies loved the red wine poached fruits with custard, I didn't try it as I didn't want the wonderful taste of chocolate souffle to leave my palate.

Service

The servers are well-informed and courteous. When serving the beer samplers, they tell you how to proceed with the beers so as to get the optimum flavor.

A special mention to Shailendra Bist , the co-founder of Independence Brew, for the personal attention he gave, not only to the Food-adda team but to the other visitors as well.

Location : Next to Mundhwa Passport Office

Damages : 2000 for two people , 240 for a pint