Greenr gets a new spin!
I wonder at the resolve of those who turn vegetarian by
choice. Even more if they do so after tasting the best meats, fishes, oysters,
clams and prawns of the world. Then, what exactly prompts them to give all the
goodies up? Is it really easy to stick to a tofu roll when you can smack your
lips after wolfing down a juicy tuna burger? Or feel sated with a beetroot and
caperberry salad when somewhere beside is working a fork through a grilled corn-fed
chicken breast? Won’t you miss the rustic beef bolognaise as you slurp down a
vegetarian khao suey? Will the succulent scallop or the lobster sushi roll not
beckon you while you deal with an asparagus tempura?
Yesterday, a very good vegetarian meal at Greenr Café in
Dhanmill Compound quelled the doubts. If the green options are as innovative
and diverse, with a thought towards health as well, then who wouldn’t mind
choosing that over animal protein (the source of which is perennially under the
scanner these days).
Last May while the sun beat down upon us as we shopped for
sustainable fashion in the maze of Shahpur Jat, my friend pointed out to this
café on the top floor of Nimai, the nucleus of avant garde fashion jewellery in
the city. Ravenous we trundled up to Greenr Café. I am always up for a good
salad. Especially when a sapped brain can only process the images of greens and
freshly squeezed fruit nectar. So, it didn’t bother me that Greenr was all
vegetarian, serving modern Californian food. While my friend opted for a Tofu
and Amaranth salad, I chose a Vegan sausage one. The portions were good and the
dressings of both the salads were undoubtedly delish. After wiping our bowls
clean, we realised that we were full enough to complete our retail spree. Yes,
that was that.
But, the salad piqued my interest about the place and two days
later I went back for a proper lunch. I wanted to find how exciting veggies can
get. Especially because in this belt vegetarian meals in restaurants are
singularly restricted to paneer, bhindi, dal makhana and aloo gobi. Pardon the
fleeting remark, but yes, there’s not much to choose from. That’s why, I swear
to take my Mister soon to Greenr. The husband who abhors North Indian
vegetarian for its utter lack of imagination and variety. Yesterday, I trekked to
the new outlet to sample their new menu. Stationed inside the Spin Studio (a
contemporary design label that creates smart, minimalistic and chic furniture and
home décor products following Scandinavian art modules), the café is
understandably spacious and incorporates several green elements in the form of decorative
plants. The menu, I realised, has been fattened to incorporate many more
interesting dishes, high on taste as well as health.
Greenr Café is not just a café dishing out wholesome modern
Californian vegetarian fare that the owners, Mohit Yadav and Nitin Dixit,
decided to serve after sampling the cuisine during their sojourns to the West (the
friends unwind with yoga, meditation, travel and good food). “We were taken
aback by the sheer variety in vegetarian options in California. They were tasty
and interesting, too. Nothing like what you get in India. Our experiences with
food in the West hinged us towards designing this menu,” say the duo. Think
fresh produce, exciting artisanal sauces, whole wheats, non-greasy but
absolutely delicious food and Greenr would fit the bill. There are fantastic
smoothies, fresh sorbets and concoctions, crunchy salads, tasty pita pockets,
rolls, burgers and pizzas in a glorious vegetarian avatar. Desserts are sinful,
too. The best part is the ingredients are organic, almost fat-free and hence
after wolfing a large meal, you won’t walk out with guilt.
Greenr has its motto quite clear. “You are what you eat.”
They are living that truth. So, without compromising on taste the kitchen (its
open for you to witness how fresh your food is) the café, that doubles up as a
co-working space with a happy vibe believes in a nutritious, delicious and
sustainable diet that is not mass produced. In tandem with the motive, the
spaces, now at Gurgaon and Vasant Vihar (the Shahpur Jat outlet has been
wrapped up) also uses recycled material in its décor. The air is easy and infectious.
No stiff noses and prim proper decorum here. You can be yourself. So, in the
midst of some chirpy youngsters in their ripped jeans and Play Clan tees, I did
not feel out of place in a Bengal handloom six yard. Yes, it accommodates all.
Clearly the nucleus of holistic living that cherishes the human
connection. The café, one of the biggest proponents of plant proteins,
encourages you to be part of a larger movement that’s headed towards a more
sustainable world. Natural goodness is appreciated. Hence, the use of produce,
procured from farm clusters, that is organic and healthy.
However, all this would be tall talk
if the food I ate didn’t bear testimony to it all.
The vegan sausage salad (mesclun
greens, broccoli, snow peas, goat cheese, pine nuts, red pepper with orange
tahini dressing) that I ate on the first day ensured that I did not miss meat.
It was one of the best salads I have tasted so far in my life. And, which
actually prompted me to go back. But then, it couldn’t supercede the sweet
potato salad (a bestseller) I munched on during my next visit. Apart from the
greens, broccoli and snow peas, it had a generous helping of chopped almonds,
yellow pepper, goat cheese and chipotle dressing. What I loved about the salads
is how they are a filling snack in themselves by the inclusion of the plant
protein chunks via sausages or meatballs. The baked sweet potato was a
different ball game altogether though.
Yesterday, I ate one of the best sellers. The Baja Black Bean Nachos (made with Ragi Cornand topped with black beans, Haas Avocado Guacamole, Mexican Vegan Cheese, Mango Salsa, house Tomato Salsa and Cilantro). The nachos were airy, fluffy and the sourness of the dips were countered by the sweet mangoes. A perfect snack that I had with a delicious Acai Berry Smoothie (that contained plant milk).
Yesterday, I ate one of the best sellers. The Baja Black Bean Nachos (made with Ragi Cornand topped with black beans, Haas Avocado Guacamole, Mexican Vegan Cheese, Mango Salsa, house Tomato Salsa and Cilantro). The nachos were airy, fluffy and the sourness of the dips were countered by the sweet mangoes. A perfect snack that I had with a delicious Acai Berry Smoothie (that contained plant milk).
A recurrent complaint that meat lovers
have against vegetarian food is that veggies lack the chunky texture of meat.
They are too insipid. I’d recommend the Jackfruit Pita Carnitas (with
wholewheat pita pockets) to them. While I could do with a bit more salt in the
Jackfruit curry, the dressing made up for this scrumptious dish. And yes, the
meaty texture is bang on.
Because I had decided to try their pizza
on my next visit, I called for the Athens Spinach and Pinenuts pizza. The
wholewheat crust was light and crisp and though it resembled a roti actually,
it didn’t carry the husky smell of wheat.
We tried the divine Valrhona Chocolate
Mousse earlier. Luscious and decadent. But this time, it was the Greenr
Tiramisu. It’s intriguing. A dessert that is famous for balancing sweetness as
well as the bitterness of caffeine, is here delicately finished with coconut,
ragi, oats, vegan vanilla mascarpone and different exciting ingredients. Go for
it.
If you want to opt for a light accompaniment
do try their signature Hibiscus sorbet (fresh hibiscus, ginger, jaggery and
mint) or the hot selling Mocha Mucho (a smoothie made with homemade almond
milk, banana, martin cold brew, dates, vanilla and valrhona chocolate). No
artificial sweeteners are added so you won’t get that sachharine aftertaste.
P.S. Greenr is now open in Gurgaon, Vasant
Vihar and Dhanmill Compound. Follow their social media handles to be updated
because this place is a jewel. Meanwhile, I shall device plans to take the
mister to have his first ever fabulous vegetarian meal in Delhi, soon!
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