Chomp and sip

Choka Choka

If we lived in a different universe, where calories didn't translate to inches around the waist, beach; beer; burgers, and fries would be our mantra for life. Unfortunately this is only a dream, which we can fulfil only on few occasions. But a recent outing that comes close, is of our visit to Flea Bazaar Cafe in Lower Parel, where they have also launched LIITs on tap, and where we find ourselves on a weekday to try the newest brews by Thirsty Beers.

Jack Johnson. Pics/Dhara Vora Sabhnani

The desi craft beer company has recently launched new beers to please different kinds of ale lovers. There's Thirsty sexy pig; Lenox the knight, an Indian pale ale; kick a@# kolsch ale, which is a lighter ale; and Thirsty ninja, a dark stout. Being fans of wheat beer, our choice is Thirsty sexy pig (Rs 330). A badly crafted wheat beer can leave you feeling uneasily full, but that's not the case with sexy pig. A Belgian wit, the beer has a superbly smooth body that caresses our tastebuds and is light at the same time. The addition of orange peel adds the perfect fruity note to the beer, and rounds up the package well.

Sexy pig by Thirsty

To enjoy another glass, we fulfil our juicy burger cravings at Bay Burger. Jack Johnson (Rs 240), a vegetarian burger and choka choka (Rs 340) are our choices. The service is quick, but the portion size is lesser than what one would get for the amount we pay. The spicy tapioca chips they serve on the side are perfect for our beer, and quite addictive, too. We curb our chips craving, which is good, as we now have room to finish Jack Johnson, a jackfruit burger. The fruit is cooked so well, that it can pass off as a meat burger at first bite. The bbq sauce adds a broody sweet flavour to the burger, which by now is unputdownable.

Choka choka is the second burger that arrives, full of lamb meat chunks, and we take a while to warm up to it. The meat is well cooked and has a crispy coating that adds the perfect texture to the meal. It's the sauces in the burger that we love the most - a light creamy sauce that blends well with a basic Chinese style sauce (which the menu says is an oyster chilli sauce).

Buoyed, we call for another round of beer and have a happy ending to a busy workday.

AT: Thirsty beers available at The Boston Butt, Flea Bazaar Cafe, Arth, Eddie's Bistro, Pistolera, The Beer Café and Verbena.
CALL: 24970740 (FBC)

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