Mumbai food: This centralised kitchen in Parel runs 3 takeaway brands!

Bangkok Chicken Pao with Methi Masala paoWhen we first heard of Pao and Bao we imagined it to be just another eatery trying to cash in on a current food craze the bao mdash a fluffy steamed bun But a visit to their takeaway kitchen in Lower Parel changed our view In front of us was a setup that looks set to revolutionise the Indian food takeaway industry mdash a centralised kitchen that runs three separate takeaway brands mdash Pao and Bao Indus Opus and Pan of Asia We have heard of centralised kitchens before but not with three different delivery services working in syncAsia in a Box from Pan of Asia PICS BIPIN KOKATEKitchen talesLocated at Patel Building near the lane that leads to Mathuradas Mills Compound from Lower Parel Railway Station the centralised kitchen can easily be mistaken for a warehouse with chefs dressed in three different uniforms running around their counters dishing out one meal after another The setup uses the latest in food technology integrating apps websites and a virtual dialing service that route calls for the three kitchens to a centralised call centre into an alwaysonline point of sale system and has tieups with food aggregators like Swiggy and Zomato It is synergy at its best But does it transpire to the food as well We were to find outChicken Dum Biryani from Indus OpusNearly two weeks later after we visited the kitchen we dialled one of the call centre numbers for our order Anda Pav Rs 140 in sesame bread Bangkok Chicken Pao Rs h Bao mdash Chicken Rs 180 and Nirvana Bao Rs 140 We also called for a meal box Asia in a Box Rs 225 from Pan of Asia and a single portion of Chicken Dum Biryani Rs 195 from Indus Opus The order was large but it arrived within the promised onehour slotKali Mirch Bao from Pao and BaoTake a baoWith a thick egg masala omelette and spinachflavoured mayo placed inside a thick sesame pao methi masala pao is also available the Anda Pao reminded us of the popular Mumbai omelette pao except this version was larger and juicier Likewise the Bangkok Chicken Pao came with a filling of spicy chicken mince layered with crispy onions and peanuts inside a Methi Masala pao Both dishes make for a full meal and are more filling than an average burgerHowever if oil is a concern we recommend any of the baos on the menu We had ordered a Kali Mirch Bao in chicken It came with chicken pieces tossed in a black pepper sauce and a layer of crispy onion Though slightly spicy it added a peppery touch to the mealLooks can be deceiving and the Nirvana Bao from Pao and Bao also located in Powai and Marol did well Though not aesthetically pleasing with caramelised banana candied peanuts and chocolate sauce and stewed fruit salad sandwiched between a chocolateflavoured bao the Nirvana Bao is an absolute delight As for the rolls both the Big Apple Roll and the Moroccan Roll played spoilsport in our joyride until thenMeals in a boxThe Asia in a Box from Pan of Asia also available in Andheri came with the option of Rice and Noodles ours had Noodles Stirfried with Vegetables Paneer cooked in Kung Pao Sauce you can also choose Hot Garlic and Black Bean a Mini Chocolate Brownie and Kimchi Salad The noodles in the meal box were cooked well and went well with the Kung Pao gravy However the brownie was a disappointment The salad could have been less spicy tooThe Chicken Dum Biryani from Indus Opus also in Chandivali and Marol did justice to our expectations It was satisfying to finally tuck into a biryani where the rice was mildly flavoured with the aromas of spices complimenting the dish This came as a muchawaited relief from the spicy curriedrice base that most restaurants in Parel end up serving as biryani The portion is sufficient for one person and comes accompanied with a gravy We howeverdidnrsquot like the mint raita that came with itIf you are a nonvegetarian working professional in Parel who is fed up of Malwani options or takeaways refusing to head towards Lalbaug and Currey Road this setup comes as a godsend