What comes to mind when you hear the word “Sabudana”? In most Indian kitchens, it is synonymous with khichdi or vada. But the recently opened Tropicool Cafe in Bandra has taken the humble tapioca in an innovative way.
It brings to mind wraps made from tapioca flour, but unlike dosas and pancakes, these are not made from dough. The mixture is created through a meticulous process. First, add water to the flour and let it absorb. When the mixture hardens and dries, it crumbles into a sand-like texture. Finally, transfer to a frying pan without oil.
result? Served in a delicate, feather-light wrap with your choice of meat or vegetable filling. I ate it with roasted eggplant, green peppers, and honey chili sauce. Although the wrap (440 rupees) was very spicy to our taste, we were fascinated by the process of making it.
Founders Randall Fernandez, Tyrell Validares and Rohit Gupta said sabudana, rich in iron and gluten-free, is a versatile ingredient essential to Brazilian cuisine. The proof was in another dish we sampled: tapioca dice. This small plate combines soft soaked sago pearls with homemade cheese, and the texture is reminiscent of paneer. We've added spicy apple pepper jelly to the neutral flavored cubes for a fun twist.
From the looks of it
Breaking away from the minimalism and neutral tones that dominate the aesthetic of most cafes in Bandra and Khar, Tropicool Cafe embraces vibrant colors. The walls are decorated with bold prints depicting forests, and the floors feature colorful mosaic tiles.
“I envisioned it as an art cafe that would bring Brazilian street art into this small space,” says Validares, who designed the 18-seat cafe, which spans 800 square feet. The juxtaposition with the grooved wooden panels looks great. ”
In terms of taste
Then there are the Brazilian-inspired dishes, such as akaraje (Rs 320), a cutlet-like cutlet made with black-eyed peas, and spicy cottage cheese pastel (Rs 390), a thin-crust pie with a paneer burji-like filling. We sampled various dishes. There wasn't much to write home about either, except that the pastel came with a delicious mango chili sauce.
For mains, we were served plantain curry (Rs 620) paired with basmati rice and topped with fried onion crisps. The coconut milk-based curry with plenty of onions, garlic, and tomatoes was so delicious that I ate it all.
The star of the meal was definitely the acai bowl (from 550 rupees) which also served as dessert. Although the cafe has a DIY option, we opted for the chef's choice and were served a bowl featuring cold soft-serve ice cream style acai sorbet topped with strawberries, bananas, homemade granola, and a seed mix. This bowl is packed with fiber and we find it satiating and we end up eating it again and again, especially as the summer continues.
“Most cafes blend acai powder with other fruits and call it an acai bowl, but we are the only one that serves acai in its purest form,” says his childhood friend, now a restaurateur. A Fernández and a Validares claim. They noticed a lack of Brazilian food in the city and seized the opportunity. To ensure authenticity, they worked with Brazilian chefs and also asked Brazilian consulates and the expat community for feedback.
This was my first experience with Brazilian cuisine, and some of the dishes were truly satisfying. We see people coming back to the cafe for acai bowls, tapioca dice, and plantain curry.
where: Bajaj Arcade, Off Carter Road, CHS, Union Park, Khar Dhanda, Mumbai.
Price for 2 pieces: 2,500 rupees.