As a nine-day run-up to its 10th anniversary (today), Indigo Deli has been rolling out different concepts each day: free cookies, chomp for charity, shots at `10 and Deli on wheels from Bandra to Andheri. They also plated out four different menus: all-day, elaborate breakfast menu; American-style food-truck menu with greasy, cheesy dishes; gourmet burger menu with buns stuffed with chorizo, duck and even crabcake, and a retro menu with classic dishes such as beef stroganoff, bread pudding, etc. If you've liked any of them, there's good news. Dishes that did well will now feature on their new à la carte menu to be unveiled today.
While eggs benny (with butter poached lobster) is likely to make it on the new menu, I'm hoping the Black Forest Iced Tea, Churros (they served it savoury!) with bacon sour cream, and Gnocchi with green peas, pea shoots, orange and hazelnut brown butter will do so too. The selection will be in addition to the 12 other new entrants complete with salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and pastas.
Chef Jaydeep Mukherjee, who emphasises on technique and use of local ingredients, says, “I believe in enjoying the beauty of simplicity, so you won't find experimental (read molecular gastronomy) offerings even going forward. But we're always playing with flavours, textures and mouth feel.”
One would have thought the new menu's Deli falafel wrap and Deli mid-eastern roll are a sign of increasing popularity of Mediterranean cuisine in India, and Bombay Toastie sandwich owes its presence to two other raging trends–the return to traditional food led largely by home chefs and modern plating of street food led by restaurants. But Jaydeep says otherwise, "All the new dishes have been tried and loved as 'day's specials' over the years.
As for trends, we've introduced more salads for the health conscious. Fads will come and go, but we are all about indulgence". The story of Bombay Toastie is even more interesting, "My team and I have been eating it for years; we're always left with some mashed potatoes and onions, all we have to do is spice it up. It's also been a favourite among some regulars, who sometimes come to the kitchen and eat the staff food!" So while Indigo Deli's new menu may not completely be new, now you'll find dishes that you liked from their day's special, on their à la carte menu. Headed there today? Enjoy a round of Sangria (it's on the house!)
