26 July,2011 07:12 AM IST | | Anjana Vaswani
He hasn't quite invented hair toffee or gum that could serve as a tomato soup-roast beef-blueberry pie-meal, but Mehernosh Khajotia may well be Mumbai's Willy Wonka with his special menu
Just a few decades ago, this city was dotted with modest, no-frills diners, where food was the only attraction. Word got around about specialities and without any publicity at all, everyone knew that Kyani & Co or Bastani Caf ufffd at Dhobi Talao made the best chicken rolls in the world and that Yazdani Bakery at Fort or City Bakery at Worli were the only places worth getting your bread from. Today, with international food chains sprouting up all around the city, attention often gets diverted away from what's on the menu to what's on the walls. So, it's refreshing to note that with its cosy, clean and simple interiors, Celebrations at Mahalaxmi presents a welcome combination.
Single Chocolate Give Aways and Fruit Dots
Here, both the fare and decor seem to have been given due consideration. Stored inside special, temperature and humidity controlled chocolate and pastry showcases, you'll find Mehernosh Khajotia's original creations, which though prepared using modern knowhow are markedly evocative of old world sincerity.
Splitting a cupcake in two, 40-year-old Khajotia, who mastered the art of baking in Switzerland and has been baking professionally since the age of 16, insists we try one of his, "fruit dots" (Rs 40). With smooth citrus cream encased within its soft, luscious sponge, the Orange Cupcake really is a marvellous creation. Apple Cinnamon, Lemon and Blueberry are some of the other flavours available. Prepared with light and dark chocolate, the Day and Night Cake (Rs 450 per kg) looks interesting, as does the Mango Chocolate Brownie (Rs 37 per piece), but drawing our attention to a variety of pre-packed kg sponge-cakes (Rs 170 to Rs 235),u00a0 Khajotia reveals, "Apricot Orange and Chocolate Chip cakes are the hot sellers." Beer and Emmental Cheese Bread loaves also fly off the shelves whenever Khajotia bakes them. "I don't take orders for this," he tells us, showing us a long list of names on his cell-phone tagged with the suffix, 'beer bread', as he explains, "I call keen customers individually to let them know whenever I decide to bake the bread."
Though he has already developed something of a reputation for making fine, logo-engraved chocolates for large events, Khajotia looks forward to occasions when customers list their favourite ingredients and allow him the artistic freedom to express those creatively. "Very often, I'll create a unique cake for someone and name it after him or her," he says, assuring us that six hours notice is all they need for orders.
The place stocks more than just sweets though and the Eggless Cheese Puff (Rs 37) and Mushroom Basil Quiche (Rs 40) we sampled were absolutely exquisite, with beautiful flaky pastry nicely complementing theu00a0 impeccably seasoned fillings.
An assortment of light and crisp baked bread-sticks and an array of melt-in-the-mouth chocolates with cold, crisp exteriors that give way to soft, gooey fillings (some even beautifully laced with the powerful aroma of fine liquor) are other reasons to drop by. Even if it's just a cup of coffee you seek, enjoy itu00a0 with Khajotia's Mini Caramel and Lemon Filled Chocolate Cups (Rs 30 each).
At Celebrations, near Godrej Nature's Basket, shop no 27, Tirupati Apartments, opposite Mahalaxmi temple, Mahalaxmi.
Call 9870402901 / 9833836396
Celebrations didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals.
