Temptation Island

In the last few years what was formerly a neglected peninsulamdashheavily guarded by its last bastion the fisherfolk Koli communitymdashis now home to an unexpected demographic of the expat artist community actors models musicians and creative entrepreneurs Away from the cityrsquos hustle Madh is a breath of fresh air with an inherent charmButter chicken and naanAlmost bohemian Despite the odd long commute that involves taking the boat from the Versova jetty the quality of life here is good Itrsquos the upscale gated communities where the high brow live And yet Madh Island is missing the fancy restaurants and shopping mallsKheema samosaThe lockdown changed the food scene and how Several home kitchensmdashassisted by a common WhatsApp groupmdashcame up to help those who couldnrsquot cook or order in and this opened the doors to a completely new food scene on the island midday decided to eat around Madh and document the bestMulticuisine delights By Tarannum MerchantTarannum MerchantAlthough Tarannum Merchant is a passionate cook the thought of starting a home kitchen was the last thing on her mind During the lockdown however when businesses were shut and she was free Merchant decided to rustle up a few dishes It would mean extra income too Comfortable with making Indian Chinese Thai and Italian fare including nalli nihari hummus and pita Thai curry and lemon baked cheesecake she has been busy with party orders and daily tiffins While she admits that niche baking ingredients may not be easily available on the island ldquoWeFast comes to the rescuerdquoPrice Rs 60 onwardsTo Order 9619550666Northeastern kick By Anindita BoraAnindita BoraFormer flight attendant Anindita Bora liked cooking for friends and colleagues until three years ago when she gave it a serious shot and started an Assamese dinner pop up at her residence These were a success and put her name on the list of select chefs in Mumbai offering food from the region ldquoCuisine from the Northeast part of India is relatively lesser known but people are curious to taste it and the ones who do get easily hookedrdquo she thinks Her river fish dish masor tenga and pork specials like Naga pork khasi pork pork pickles and khasistyle whole chicken pot roast are a hit She has learnt to negotiate the erratic cycle of work but on most days she receives at least six orders Because quality of ingredients defines the taste during the lockdown she remembers driving to trusted fish and meat hawkers in Four Bungalows to source When she and her musician husband chose to move to Madh six years ago from Four Bungalows in Andheri they were aware of the limited options available to eat out and order in Two dhabastyle restaurants and an Indian fast food joint was all there was in the name of choice ldquoDuring the pandemic home food has become a must These have been some of the best years of my life God has been kindrdquoPrice Rs 350 onwardsTo order 9920314048German treats By Patricia MoestaGerman Apple streusel cakeFondly called the ldquoGerman lady who bakesrdquo it was Patricia Moestarsquos love for flavours and hospitality that made her jump into the world of patisseries in 2017 ldquoWe just started off in a very close friend circle before we distributed our first official flyer for Diwali in 2018 We always knew that if and when we do something on our own it will involve food hospitality comfort and spreading happinessrdquo says Moesta who specialises in German cakes and treats including nussecken gugelhupfs apple streusel vanilla chocolate chip cake with milk chocolate ganache German cheesecake with homemade hung curd Jack sparrowmdashrum and dark chocolate For the sugar conscious clientele there is the mixed nut vegan cake as well as the ginger carrot walnut cake with lemony cream cheese toppingPatricia Moesta and husband Sajjad Zaidi are known for their delicious cakes in Madh Moesta bakes a storm with recipes from her hometown in Germany PicSameer MarkandeSeasonal favourites include gingerbread man and the Christmas cake ldquoIt started off in Madh Island but we now deliver across Mumbai It has become a close knit Wildflour familyrdquo she says of her bakery business Moesta sources most of the ingredients from Germany and wishes to take baking back to the fundamentals ldquoEveryone should be able to enjoy a treat along with a cup of chai or coffee any time Whatever the mood occasion or time of day or night in company or by themselves feeling low or high I believe there is a cake for everyonerdquoPrice Rs 350 onwardsTo order wildflourgermanmade Instagram 9820676945Vegan love By Arti KohliBeetroot hummusWhen Arti Kohlirsquos children turned vegan two years ago she was required to look at an alternate way of life In came soy tikka vegan shawarma vegan cheese and desserts like dairyfree halwa She decided to open her home kitchen to other vegans on the island Thatrsquos how Mummascusisine was bornCoconut milkldquoMy children made me look at food through a vegan lens I have been catering to vegans on the island My entire kitchen as well as outlook to food has transformed and I am only happy to share my love for cooking with othersrdquo says Kohli who offers quintessential Indian dishes too in vegan avatarArti Kohli with a plate of naankhataiThink saag and missi roti shami kabab vegan sevaiyan firnialvegan Another hit from this kitchen is Kohlirsquos signature dipmdashthe red chutneyPrice Rs 200 onwardsTo order mummascuisine 9899353623Bengal to Kerala Express By Shamita Roy and Jayprakash UchilShamita Roy and husband Jayprakash Uchil are a team He is a chef and Shamita is the founder of Nourishment Foods a farm to table initiativeDuring the lockdown when a bunch of neighbours floated a WhatsApp group to cater to those residents who didnrsquot have maids to help Shamita Roy and Jayprakash Uchil decided theyrsquod launch a home kitchen that paid tribute to the glorious nonvegetarian fare from their home states Kerala and West Bengal ldquoOur hit dishes are chicken paanch phoron spicy mutton curry and Kerala pepper beef We also make avial mishti doi and moru curryrdquo says Uchil Usually a dayrsquos notice is good enough and the couple is happy to take on large catering for party orders tooA Manglorean delicacy comprising ash gourd and pulses along with the Maharashtrian thecha and Kerala papad and riceldquo I like to add surprise accompaniments to the meal from tamarind to raw mango to even ice cream and payasamrdquo he adds In addition the couple also works with a small collective of farmers who specialise in growing glutenfree and lowonsugar emmer wheat ldquoIndia has never been so health conscious before so we thought it was apt to reintroduce this ancient grain to city folk We also source organic honey from Jammu cold pressed edible oils and buffalo and cow gheerdquo says RoyPrice Meat dishes Rs 550 a plate with complimentary riceTo order 9820698880