Food review: Why this Kandivali eatery serves ice cream inside fruits

Every time this writer walks into Mahavir Nagar Kandivalirsquos own khau galli it brings to mind Jeff Goldblumrsquos words from the original Jurassic Park movie mdash ldquoYou were so preoccupied with whether or not you could that you didnrsquot stop to think if you shouldrdquo The birthplace of audacious inventions like jamun shots and cheese burst vada pav has a new offbeat offering At Kudrati Kahumbo fruity frosts fruitflavoured ice creams are made and served inside the fruit itself The kahumbo in the name is a Gujarati term for a royal drink3 The slices are served in paper plates PicsDevashish KambleThe long queues spilling over to the sidewalk that we saw on Instagram reels a day earlier said little about the ice cream itself at least for now We know better than to confuse curiosity for fandom When we step into the space itrsquos quite compact fitting no more than four tables As patrons scatter left and right from the counter with their share we make our way ahead to place our orderOn the menu are five fruits mdash apple orange guava muskmelon and pineapple all available in whole or half fruit options We call for half a serving of each only to be informed that we missed the last chunk of pineapple by one spot After paying a total of Rs 320 Rs 80 each we are asked to wait aside for our order Where exactly in the tiny room wersquore not told We pick a spot that offers a sneak peek into the live kitchen counterOrange fruity frostsFrozen fruits covered in protective plastic and complete with a seal of quality are fished out of a freezer Over a casual chat with the staff we learn that these ice creams make their way to the outlet from their main outlet in Ahmedabad in truckloads every morning Once unwrapped the whole fruit is cut into smaller slices on a cutting board While the kitchen area seems well maintained and clean we would have appreciated if the kitchen attendants handling the fresh produce had slipped on a pair of glovesAfter a short wait that we spent watching more fruits being cut open mdash including the last pineapple mdash our order number is called out We balance the plates andmake our way to the outdoor seating areaThe interiors of the eateryThe first bite into a frozen orange slice is refreshing itrsquos a welcome surprise that the ice cream isnrsquot too sweet or overpowered by excessive flavouring We dig into the apples next made easier by the edible peel The taste is pleasantly unfamiliar and worth going in for another slice right after to fully savour it While others wiser than this writer would advise against it compared to the oranges the apples stand out with their unique flavour profile and ease of consumptionThe muskmelon and guava however both fail to push the bar any higher Reminiscent of unflavoured malai kulfi the muskmelon offers a muted melon flavour hopefully lent to it by the absence of artificial flavours The guava does quite the opposite Foreshadowed by its bright purple shade the ice cream tastes little like the fruit itself and more like sweet candy While they offer a smooth creamy texture across the board we wonder how much fruit these real fruit ice creams really containWhile some aspects like the peel disposal arrangements can use a relook especially for groups who might not appreciate eating and disposing off peels in the same paper plate we can see why the idea could take off in the foodloving suburb For those forever on the lookout for reasons to indulge in dessert the lsquoreal fruitrsquo tag might come in handy With the city getting hotter every day itrsquos as good a reason as anyFood FreshAmbiance BrightService PromptCost ReasonableVerdict 14Kudrati KahumboAt Raj Arcade Building near DMart Mahavir Nagar Kandivali WestTime 1130 am to 12 amLog on to kudratikahumboAlso check out Tastes of KoreaTuck into bingsu the Korean shaved ice dessert popularised by Kdramas Topped with chopped fruit condensed milk and fruit syrup it makes for the perfect coolerAt Highcha Inorbit Mall Malad WestCall 9930236084 Cregraveme de la cregravemeIndulge in authentic Italian gelato meticulously slowchurned to creamy perfection at this boutique icecream parlour Take your pick from tubs or compact mini jars of Belgian chocolate pistachio or fresh mango flavoured optionsAt The Gelato Bar Shiv Asthan Heights Pali Hill Bandra WestCall 8591724396 Roll with itWatch your ice cream come to life with chopped fruits condensed milk syrups and more rolled live on a dryice counter Opt for flavours like strawberry paan and jamun for a visual treatAt Ice Lab Gandhi Building near Sukh Sagar Chowpatty GirgaonCall 773813301244 Exceptional 34 Excellent 24 very Good 14 Good 04 Average Kudrati Kahumbo didnrsquot know we were there The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals