These dishes in Mumbai restaurants will help you propose to your better half

Plan to propose to your better half? Here are dishes across city restaurants that are made to extract a 'yes'

In the first episode of the season 5 of Mom, the popular CBS comedy, Christy, the character played by Anna Faris, is seen giving exact instructions to Adam, played by William Edward Fichtner Jr, on how to get the proposal for her mom right. It is after all, a moment "she will remember forever": "...After she finishes the osso buco, you signal the waiter to bring over the Grand Marnier soufflã, the alcohol burns off. The ring is hidden in it... and you pop the question." If you plan to do the same, here's how and where to do it.

Put the icing on the cake
Cupcakes, The Sassy Teaspoon
Rs 35 a piece

Around four months ago, says chef Amit Bhati of the Sassy Teaspoon, a regular customer came to their outlet and asked if something special could be arranged for him to make a his proposal to his girlfriend, something she would remember for the rest of her life. "He wanted a chocolate cupcake because that was his girlfriend's favourite dessert. In fact, he wanted to present it with a paper note that said 'will you marry me', but we suggested that we'll write that on a heart-shaped disc made of chocolate." And the ring? It went on top of the frosting. With cupcakes available all through the day, this one shouldn't take much time to arrange.

'Say it with gold'
Goldsouk Bayroute, Cuffe Parade
Rs 1,750

If you must make a proposal, why not make it grand? The Goldsouk promises just that. Inspired by the gold markets at Dubai, corporate chef and bakery confectionery, Sandeep Rane says this dessert is the restaurant's masterpiece. It comprises 18 different ingredients — all rich with ingredients sourced from Dubai and Lebanon. "It's a gold plated dessert, which has saffron kulfi, raspberry sorbet, gulkand ice cream and caramelised fruits," he adds. The dessert also contains ruby chocolate — a variety of chocolate that was introduced in 2017 by Barry Callebaut, a Belgian-Swiss cocoa company. Rane says they are the first place to use it in India where one can access this. The dessert is all about gold, and has gold flowers (to replicate the gold jewellery) and gold powder sprinkled around. When the dish arrives, he says, it's covered with a gold lid and inside one sees a lotus flower (made of the ruby chocolate). The ring will be hidden inside the bud. While the assembly of the dish takes only 15 minutes, preparation of ingredients takes five hours. It's always available at the restaurant. However, if you want the ring placed in the bud, give them 30 minutes' notice along with the ring. If you give them the ring a day prior, you will get your dessert within 15 minutes.

Go epic
Laila Majnu, Hitchki outlets in Thane, Powai and BK
Rs 220 a piece

At the outlets of Hitchki is a dessert for anyone who enjoys the greatest love stories of all times and how better to say it than with a Laila Majnu? A mousse and cheesecake built with Parle G biscuits, the dessert can be made in a heart shape on request. It comes with flame shaped shards on the sign (symbolising your burning love, perhaps). The ring can be placed between the dark and white sides. The dessert is always available, but will require prior notice if you want it in a specific shape.

Get cheesy
Cheese Fondue Platter, Dishkiyaoon, BKC
Rs 1,200 + taxes

Cheese, please note, can be an aphrodisiac. It might even get your partner in the mood to say 'yes' to a proposal. Which is why, out of the many dishes that have been made proposal-popular at this BKC restaurant, we picked the cheese fondue. Chef Sunny Punjabi says that the scent of the hot cheese created the perfect romantic mood as well. On your table you have skewers with vegetables, prawns or chicken that you dip into the melting cheese. The ring, he says, is hidden inside the cheese and can you imagine the look on their face when your partner finds it. "The best thing about this is, you never know when during the process of eating will your partner find the ring," Punjabi adds. And, just so your partner doesn't have to wear a ring dripping in cheese, a server will stand near you with a bowl of warm water in which you can dip and clean the ring. However, you need to give the restaurant a day's notice as the dish — since it requires special cheese — will have to be prepared. It's not on the menu.

Crack the egg
Blossom Into The Ocean And Ecstasy, Jeon, Hotel Sea Princess, Juhu
Rs 599

This is a chocolate fantasy special created with three elements. You first start by digging into the chocolate pot, which is an edible pot made of dark chocolate and the soil is made of Oreo crumbs and cocoa powder. Beneath the soil is a mousse with a flavour chosen by the guest. Next come the macaroons (again a flavour that the guest can pick), symbolising the couple. The final touch to the dish is a chocolate egg, which is broken open with a hammer. Inside is an edible photograph of the couple, and a mousse of the guest's choice. Beneath the picture is the ring. Because the flavours need to be picked and the ring needs to be placed inside the egg and an edible photograph of the couple needs to be printed, a day's notice needs to be given to the chef. The best part? This experience is pre-set and comes with a sea facing cabana.

'Best moment of our lives'
Six months ago, Bandra resident Bipin Parab popped the question to Tejaswini (who said yes and the two got married recently). Parab says he was a regular at Jeon and, while planning the proposal, he met chef Jerson Fernandes. Parab picked hazelnut chocolate mousse, and kiwi and litchi were the other flavours. The macaroons were pistachio flavoured. "She was taken aback and loved everything.

The chef gave us a chocolate hammer to break the egg and when we did, the mouse started flowing out revealing our picture. As soon as she dug into the mousse, she picked up the ring. We both started crying. It was the best moment of our lives," he says, adding that they got married at the same hotel.

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