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I am completelybowled not by theworld cup butbyKonkan Cafe at theTajPresident . It’s the best place for divinelyauthentic coastal Indian food ! Traditional food is always welcome. Various choices here makes it impossible to eliminate anythingfrom the menu. Vegetables with fish is a sure shot way to health. You ccan’t ask for a more healthier combination of food.

Innumerable healthy choiches await all. ‘The Bhajeli paneer’, ‘Methi ani makkai chi vadi’, ‘Bhareli almi’ and ‘Rataloo chi dangar’ sauted vegetables in Konkani spices, are some of the mouth-watering starters . All of this is cooked in coconut oil which is known to reduce cholesterol due to its high vitamin E content.So do not be afraidto indulge. Also, food here is cooked in minimal oil. A list of health drinks also awaits you — solkadi, masala lassi, sugarcane juiceand even a tangynew guava drink.

Chef Anand’sfood has a delightful natural blend ofperfectflavour, aroma, presentation and taste, true to the coastal style. It is interestingto note that he has explored and travelled the Konkan region to study their food styles.

I am completely lost on what to omit and what to have , so I am rattling off all the varieties available here — palak shorba, pepper rasam, vegetable ishtew, vegetable gassi, valachi bhindi, fish ambote, fish mulli are allthe different curries! The Malabar potato roast and avial cooked in curd and coconut, baked fish with malwani spices , green gram usal, mango pachadi, kai kari mandiare great with brown breads. Neer dosa, appam , chapatti, lemon rice, dahi bath and the unpolished konkan rice are all served on banana leaf on shiny brass plates.

Hurray! A healthy desert at last! Rice paysam cooked in coconut milk and sweetened with natural mineral rich jaggery. And pan to end it.