Food: The ultimate Diwali sweet makeover

From kokum in a cheesecake to caviar in an ice cream, tempt your sweet tooth with offbeat flavours, this Diwali

Kokum Cheesecake features on the festive menu at The Square, Novotel Imagica Khopoli

Basbousa
Look beyond baklavas and plumb for another traditional Middle-eastern variety, Basbousa, from the newly-launched Middle Eastern Sweets Collection. This semolina cake flavoured with orange blossom water and nuts is sprinkled with assorted dried fruits, orange, lemon, coconut, chocolate and nuts.

At: Foodhall, third floor, Palladium Mall, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel.
Cost: 30 per piece

Pistachio Kulfi Baklava
Taste nostalgia in layers of sweet kulfi, wafer-thin phyllo pastries and roasted nuts. Another must-try is Gajar Ka Halva Stuffed Crepes, steamed in a banana leaf and served with gulkand ice cream.

At: The Sassy Spoon, Express Towers, Nariman Point.
Cost: 325 plus taxes

Kesar Ilaichi Ice Cream with Rose Caviar
Who said saffron and cardamom only made it to barfis? Try them in an ice cream that is blended using liquid nitrogen, served on a bed of rice cake and drizzled with rose caviar.

At: Papacream, Cambatta Building, JT Road, Churchgate.
Cost: 250

Mandarin Shrikhand Eclairs
Enjoy the traditional, strained yoghurt sweet dish in a contemporary French avatar with éclairs that also feature mandarin orange rind. If this isn’t zesty enough, opt for the Kokum Cheesecake.

At: The Square, Novotel Imagica Khopoli, Khalapur.
Cost: 650 plus taxes

Paan Parfait
Order these paan-flavoured parfait shots created by chef Rakhee Vaswani.

At: Palate Culinary Studio, ground floor, Survodaya Co-op Housing Society, Santacruz (W)
Call: 9820295221
Cost: 60

Strawberry and Rose Petal Vacherin With White Peach Coulis
Infusing the flavour of vacherin, a regional Swiss cheese made from cow’s milk, this dessert comprises a vanilla ice cream-filled meringue ring and strawberry sorbet.

At: Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Mumbai Garden City, Goregaon (E).
Cost: 550

Sutarpheni Mill-Fooey
Sutarpheni just got cooler with its new-age avatar that features baked vermicelli discs topped with whipped cream, toasted fennel seeds and lime custard, created for the eatery by Sucres Des Terres.

At: The Bombay Canteen, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel.
Cost: 250

Take a choco trail

Coconut Chai Masala Dark Chocolate
Mason & Co., an Auroville-based vegan chocolate making firm, offers this limited edition variety, made with 55% pure cacao, that is perfect for the calorie-conscious. Also, try Roasted Sesame Dark Chocolate.

At: Nature’s Basket outlets
Log on to: www.amazon.in
Cost: 350

Handcrafted Dark Chocolate Barks
Infused with orange blossom, hazelnuts and orange rind, these chocolate barks made by Smriti Mehra of Parfait make for a great gifting option. They also do a white chocolate version with rose and pistachio.

Call: 9769203959
Cost: 1,650 (500 ml)

Saffron Marigold Macaron
Dig into macaron’s deconstructed version comprising white chocolate infused with saffron and cream cheese ganache that adds a burst of shrikhand-like flavours in your mouth.

At: Toshin Chocolatier Patissier, first floor, Ivy Restaurant & Banquet, Amar Mahal, Chembur (W).
Cost: Rs 500 (box of six)

Light Rye and Chocolate Tart
Enjoy eggless rye-flour tarts with a ganache made from premium French valhrhona chocolates.

At: Bombay Baking Company, JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu.
Cost: Rs 270

Mini S’mores
On this festival of lights, why not enjoy some traditional campfire treats popular in the States? Made by 20-year old home baker, Rochelle DeSouza of Pretty Little Layers, the s’mores (abbreviation for some more) come centre-filled with chocolate ganache and topped with toasted marshmallow and crunchy graham cracker crust.

At: Silver Cloud, Sunder Nagar road, Kalina, Santacruz (E).CALL 9833839384 (order two days in advance)
Cost: 50 each (minimum order of 6)

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!