New Versova eatery offers the world on your plate

From Peru to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Austria and Brazil, explore interesting and flavoursome world cuisine at Versova’s The Infusion House

The Infusion House
Food: Tasty
Service: Efficient
Ambiance: Warm

“I understand it’s a vast menu; please take your time and ask me if you have any doubts,” smiled the owner (Suparna Ghosh) of The Infusion House, as soon as we made ourselves comfortable at the small but brightly-lit, newly opened eatery on Juhu Versova Link Road. One look at the menu, and we understood the owner’s need to comfort patrons.

The delectable Gallo Pinto, a Costa Rican dish, was the highlight of the meal. PICS/Pradeep Dhivar

Serving a wide variety of world cuisine from countries and regions including Peru, Sicily, Austria, Costa Rica, Turkey, Greece and Brazil, as well as Indian and Oriental fare, the menu made for a crash course in gastronomy and geography.

Add to that, tongue twisters like Shopska Salata (a Bulgarian salad) and Tequenos Venezolano (Venezuelan cheese sticks), and we were hooked. Overwhelmed, we requested for help from Ghosh and the consultant chef (KM Saif). We were on the food map with their recommendations: Papas ala Huancaina (Rs 190) and Iranian Joojeh Kebab (Rs 340) for starters. Since the eatery doesn’t serve alcohol, we settled for the Senorita mocktail (Rs 140).

Iranian Joojeh Kebab

Global gastronomy
A zippy drink comprising of tomato juice along with strong hints of black pepper and green chilli, Senorita turned out to be the perfect accompaniment for our meal. The marinated chicken chunks in the Iranian Joojeh Kebab were of the melt-in-mouth variety, and packed with flavours of saffron-y yoghurt, garlic and orange zest. They came with fully roasted tomatoes and mast o khiar, a traditional Iranian mint and cucumber yoghurt, making it a satiating starter. However, we were distracted by Papas ala Huancaina. The Peruvian appetiser had thinly sliced, boiled and deep-fried potatoes, topped with spicy Aji Amarillo sauce along with a slice of boiled egg and olives. The rich and cheesy sauce complemented the crispy fried potatoes, and the dish was polished off in minutes.

Senorita mocktail

For the mains, we tried Gallo Pinto (Rs 310), again highly recommended by the chef, along with Turkish Lehmacun Pizza (Rs 350). Popular English tracks from the early 2000s gave us company as we waited for our order to arrive from the kitchen that was located two shops away at their takeaway outlet (they deliver from Versova to Juhu). Plated beautifully, Gallo Pinto, a traditional Costa Rican dish, included a portion of rice mixed with beans, pan-seared chicken breast along with mango salsa and dill yoghurt.

Without any overwhelming spices, the beans added the right amount of flavour to the rice complemented by perfectly grilled chicken, the tangy mango salsa and the cold dill yoghurt. The dish in one word: heavenly!

Traditionally served without cheese in the Gaziantep region of Turkey, this version of the thin-crust Turkish Lehmacun pizza was loaded with cheese, spicy minced lamb and parsley. A burst of flavours with soft pieces of meat, this 9-inch pizza was sufficient for two. For those willing to explore the flavours of different parts of the globe, this eatery is a winner, as they know their Peruvian from their Puerto Rican fare. An encore is on our radar, already.

Timings: 1 pm to 12.30 am, daily
At: The Infusion House, shop no 14, Juhu Ekta CHS, Juhu Versova Link Road, Andheri (W).
Call: 9167655064
The Infusion House didn’t know we were there. the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.

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