Cafe Paashh – Organic tasty treats!

There are some places where you visit for food and some for experience and then there is PAASHH, a destination where one can visit for not only scrumptious food but a memorable experience as well. On the lines of healthy food craze across the country, Paashh, an organic cafe, opened its door to Pune almost a month back. What makes this place different from the contemporaries is its balance of organic and sustainability.

Located in the quaint lanes of Kalyani Nagar, an old bungalow is turned into Sustainable fashion boutique on downstairs and Cafe on the upstairs. The brand Paashh believes in connecting to nature and sticking to the roots. All the raw ingredients are sourced from the local farms around 100 km from Pune.

The wonderful menu is the best blend of two worlds – traditional recipes and modern flavours and is created by the Celebrity Chef Ajay Chopra who also has Nine Square and Pandora Gastronomy in his kitty. Fresh Juices, Smoothies, Teas by TWG, Pearl Barley Risotto, Sattu Stuffed Parathas, Tartines, Quinoa Methi Tikkis, Charred Pumpkin Kebabs, Bikaneri Khichdi, Buddha Bowls, Artisnal Ice-creams and desserts will definitely give you Sukoon! Chef Vikrant was kind enough to explain us the concept and menu. Following are the dishes, we tried....

Vegetable Consomme (4.5/5)
Mushrooms and Crispy Puy Lentils Tartines (5/5)
Smoothie Bowl (4.5/5)
Baby Beet and Citrus Salad (4/5)
Pongal Rice Cakes (4/5)
Taco (3.5/5)
Charred Pumpkin Kebabs (4.5/5)
Saffron Poached Pear (4.5/5)

A warm bowl of comforting Vegetable Consomme with umami-rich vegetable extract and cute beetroot ravioli cones was a perfect way to start the lunch meal. So flavourful and soothing that I could not stop sipping.

One of my favourites of the day was the Mushrooms and Crispy Puy Lentils Tartines. A wonderful choice for light lunch. Five-grain sourdough bread slice was slathered with mushroom pate, mushrooms crisp and charred spiced dust. Oh so yum! The crunch, the flavours, the mushroomy texture is enough to tantalize your taste buds. Highly Recommended!

I had to try my favourite smoothie bowl. One of the most delicious smoothies I have tried. A must-have for a summery day. A perfect blend of seasonal fruits, roasted almonds, mixed seeds, and rolled oats. How healthy and delicious can it be! Highly Recommended!

How can one not eat when the salad – Baby Beet and Citrus looks so pretty! Thin radish slices, micro greens, orange slices, tzatziki on the bed of flavourful Quinoa Tabbouleh. It had crunch, sweetness and also tangy flavours. The Mediterranean salad is not only full of textures and taste but also healthy!

Next were the Pongal Rice cakes. A popular Tamil delicacy Rice and sago are mixed with spices, shaped into tikkis, cooked with ghee and placed over the fried sago pearls. The rice cakes are topped with the molagapodi and tomato chutney.

Taco was served next. After relishing all delicious stuff until now, I had huge expectations, but somehow Tacos failed to reach up that high. However, the presentation was so beautiful. Methi whole wheat soft taco was topped with fried okra, diced tomatoes, onions, raw mango, micro greens, and edible flowers. The tacos were placed in a plate full of raw Rajma. Pretty!

I was tempted to try Charred Pumpkin Kebabs. Something unusual and power-packed. The Mediterranean-Asian Red Kuri Pumpkin Kebabs is a masterpiece. Served with the local Kodo Millet along the splash of three bold-flavoured chutneys/sauces. The sauces served are Morning Glory and Jalapeno, Pumpkin and Raw Mango dust and Miso honey glaze with Kodo millet tabbouleh. The smoky effect of pumpkin was lip-smacking! A must try!

From the sinful alternatives of desserts, we tried the Saffron Poached Pear. Gently simmered, the tender, poached pear was one elegant dish. Served with the blue cheese ice-cream, on the chocolate base, this dessert was just perfectly sweet. Recommended!