In a neighbourhood teeming with artisanal food stores and chic cafés, does this store-café combo really stand out?
The store offers imported and local spices. Pics/Shadab Khan
Artisanal homegrown brands, exotic ingredients and organic produce have been topping the list of priorities for conscious shoppers in the city. For those seeking a truly global gourmet shopping experience, The Origin, a brand-new addition to Khar’s Linking Road may be worth a dekko. The brainchild of Bawa Group of Hotels and Anusaya Future Fresh, the store offers an assortment of pantry staples, fresh produce, condiments, bakes, healthy snacks and more, sourced both locally and from choice international producers. The premises also house a food studio, a gifting space, and a café.
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We decide to stop by on the eve of the store’s launch and are immediately taken by the all-green façade. The artificial turf-clad patio harbours a fresh sugarcane juice stand. The store is laid out in themed sections for easy browsing. The namesake in-house brand catches our eye, and we are informed that the label offers artisanal baked goods, honeys, teas, coffees, dry fruits, and spices. The store accords great emphasis on experiential and personalised shopping, with the store manager explaining that each shopper will be accompanied by a personal assistant to guide him/her through the visit — the assistant’s role will include inviting shoppers to sample products, explaining the origins and specialities of some of their rarer finds (eucalyptus honey or blooming flower tea, for instance) or even billing purchases on the go (there’s no cash register to make for a seamless experience). The store is vegetarian and has paid attention to the demands of vegan shoppers with a selection of mock meats and mylks.
Basilica khandvi chaat
We make our way to the café, which is vegan and focuses on healthy fare. We sample the chaats menu, which pairs desi flavours with international ingredients. The organic avocado sev puri (Rs 350) has millet crisps topped with a creamy guac and pomegranate reduction. Next up is a quinoa kachori, which is stuffed with masala aloo, coconut curd and mint and date chutneys (Rs 250). Finally, we sample the basilica khandvi chaat (Rs 250), which is wrapped over ratatouille and masala peanuts. Although simple, the preparations stand out because of the freshness of the flavours and ingredients. The portion sizes are small, so be prepared to order these as appetisers or quick snacks. Considering that most vegan cafés fall prey to the trope of smoothie bowls and wraps, we’re pleased to see the chef’s more experimental take. The iced coffee (R250), which we sip with our meal, uses the store’s in-house coffee blend and is quite robust.
All in all, The Origin has its sights trained on a certain niche of shoppers, who are more concerned with quality than with price tags. If you fall into that category, it will make for a welcome addition to your grocery shopping trips.
At 352, Linking Road, Khar West
Call 8591720930
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