Mumbai Food: Monsoon snacks get a makeover

Reddy's Popcorn Chicken

Reddy's Popcorn Chicken
When you're at Monkey Bar, order a cone of the golden, crunchy Reddy's Popcorn Chicken, which is a massive improvement on the stuff KFC doles out. "This Andhra-inspired dish is an ode to the classic chicken pakora and South Indian flavours, driven by ingredients like coconut, mustard and curry leaves," says chef Kuldeep Bharani. These bite-sized morsels make for delicious nibbles along with a cocktail.
AT: Summerville, Junction of 14th & 33rd Road, Linking Road, Bandra (W).
CALL: 26005215
COST: Rs 280

Vegetable Kibbeh

Vegetable Kibbeh
The Middle Eastern kibbeh goes vegetarian in Toast & Tonic's version of the dish. "It's fried yet light, making it perfect for the monsoon. In addition to mushroom, we use millets to give the dish a local touch, which also makes it a healthy alternative to regular fried snacks. The use of seitan (gluten) and soy granules along with the mushrooms gives it a meaty texture without the use of meat," says chef partner Manu Chandra. The dish is served with sesame garlic yoghurt and pomegranate molasses.
AT: Unit 1, ground floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, Bandra Kurla Complex.
CALL: 26534722
COST: Rs 290

Brie & Sambal Wontons

Brie & Sambal Wontons
Spicy and cheesy food makes for the perfect pick-me-up in this gloomy weather. And these wontons at Shizusan Shophouse & Bar, which are served with a piquant Thai Basil Chutney, tick both those boxes. "The creaminess of the brie offers happy respite from the heat of the sambal, a chilli-based sauce popular in Indonesia and Malaysia. This combination is encased within crisp wonton sheets," says chef Paul Kinny, culinary director, Bellona Hospitality.
AT: Skyzone, Highstreet Phoenix, 462, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
CALL: 7045004138
COST: Rs 295

Deep Fried Sweet Corn

Deep Fried Sweet Corn
A bowl of steaming hot sweet corn soup is perhaps what you have when you're feeling under the weather, or on a day when you just crave comfort food. How about trying a fried version of it at the Bandra outpost of The Sassy Spoon? "Sweet corn soup is everyone's favourite. We decided to give it a fun dimension by serving it deep fried. It has American corn and carrots, is pre-set, cut into cubes and then coated before it is deep fried. Perfect for a rainy day," says director and head chef Irfan Pabaney.
AT: Classic Corner Building, Hill Road, Bandra (W).
CALL: 8655555555
COST: Rs 360

Kathal Sam
Few things feel better than sinking your teeth into a samosa straight out of the kadhai when it's raining outside. At Desi Deli, the snack gets an upgrade in the form of the Kathal Sam, which swaps out the aloo filling for raw jackfruit. Lolita Sarkar, creative chef and founder of Desi Deli, says, "We leave some of the seeds in while peeling and cutting the jackfruit. This is then boiled and sautéed in a spice mix." Order this with a masala chai and tuck right in.
AT: Desi Deli's Bandra and Oshiwara outposts.
CALL: 26408333 (Bandra)
COST: Rs 145