Basil With A Twist...From Europe With Love...

A perfect Friday afternoon to catch up with a friend over lunch. We had been planning this for quite some time especially whenever we view one another's posts or alerts on food. But somehow owing to our individual lives and other commitments, time was our biggest enemy!

 

As the year is almost winding down, I knew that there are a few people I am grateful for and it goes without saying that she is one. She was and is one of the very few who hurled me into the limelight and gave me my five minutes of fame by tagging a couple of my pictures that I had innocently but passionately clicked after a major event related to bakes.

 

I had expressed my gratitude wholeheartedly back then but I know that it was still incomplete without having met her face to face, one on one , looking her in the eye and thanking her for her kindness. It's sometimes those little acts of selflessness that can become a defining moment to us.

It won me good friends, lost those who were never meant to be, visibility and opportunities to click again.

 Fortunately both of us this time around were able to coordinate and zero in on a day and time and even chose the venue for our rendez-vous.

With everything set for the meet up and the excitement building up, she pings me asking me if I had been to "Basil With A Twist" She was so kind enough to choose a place closer to my home as our venue. As I hadn't been there yet and had read good reviews and seen a few alluring pics, I loved that TWIST and change of venue...and that's how our afternoon progressed.

European food it was!!! We did our own browsing of the menu which is always a tedious task for me and often I leave it to my companions. On observing our twisted and confused exchange of glances, a steward attended to our table and offered us the Chef's special. It made the task a breeze for us.

 

 

 We had the potage of the day which was a lovely and earthy pumpkin soup. I would give anything to learn or steal that recipe from the Chef :) Both of us shared a soup and enjoyed it to the core and I would go back there any day to have this piping hot. Can you see that lovely twist over the soup?

 The following buns accompanied the soup. They were corn bread (which is yellow) and definitely an acquired taste and Arabic bread. The latter was softer and paired well with the soup. The corn bread was a bit hard, perhaps not so fresh and we just nibbled on it if I remember.

Being with my vegetarian friend, I too had made up my mind to have something  veg. The Zucchini skewers in which a goat's cheese and a fig was encased was as pretty and tasty as it looks. That figs and prunes chutney/reduction was sweet and did make a perfect accompaniment to the veg skewer and the rice. My friend enjoyed it...although it did get cold as we had loads to chat and catch up.

 

She did offer me a bite and I grabbed the opportunity to try out that fig and goat's cheese...Oh yumm!!! Simple yet so elegantly presented!

 This skewer made such a pretty picture. Whoever conceptualised this, hats off! I do have regrets that I didn't have one myself, instead the steward did tempt me with something else and I fell hook, line and sinker for whatever I heard and thus shifted loyalties for the moment and opted for a non veg dish.

 A beef Lasagne. This was indeed appetising and so perfect but too heavy for my health conscience tummy. Despite the warmth of the moment, I couldn't focus on finishing the dish as my guilt took lead of my senses, hence midway into the meal, I did visualize my 19 year old who would enjoy this more than I did and thus got it boxed.
And back home, he did! his eyes lit like the stars on an Xmas tree. It is very filling and could be shared between two hungry adults.

 The Lasagne comes in piping hot, both the dish as well the wooden serving tray and they do warn you to be careful especially to those who are in a hurry to dig in or take photographs, do be mindful.

 That's the goat's cheese and fig within that Zucchini so tightly wrapped like a baby tucked in a blanket.

 The place of course is getting ready for Christmas. The Chef whose name I didn't catch properly did oblige a photograph or two as we got talking. He was kind enough to answer a few of our silly questions perhaps? All he said was "just love us for our imperfections." Being an Inconsistent Chef, I do know how that feels Chef!

I am glad that I did ask permission while clicking the Chef and as he didn't want to be in the spotlight, he did call us in to be a part of the frame. It was a memorable moment indeed! As far as food is concerned, I loved whatever was served to us. enjoyed the hospitality and the cappuccino.

I need to have my hot beverage after my lunch. the waft of lovely coffee brewing did lure my olfactory nerves and I had to have that coffee! The ambiance is warm...definitely not for a noisy crowd to swing by as groups. It has a romantic feel to it and is perfect if you are craving for a European meal. I am happy that I have one within my radius-just a hop, skip and jump away from  my place.

 The handsome Chef did tempt us with a few desserts -like a Baklava ice-cream or this cheesecake. As I wasn't in for something  too cold, we chose the latter and that's the complimentary Blueberry cheesecake. It was a damp squib and failed to impress either of us. Without sounding too rude or like some huge food aficionado The base of the dessert was not to our liking and we have had better ones...I am yet to make one...It is on my "to do" list but that certainly could have been better.

Value for money: It is expensive, a meal for the two of us which included my coffee along with the above, the taxes etc. came close to Rs. 1900/- which was a tad bit expensive. Nevertheless, the company, the ambiance and the lovely gestures on both the steward and the Chef in charge bowled us over. I would certainly go there again for another experience and to scout for their other delicacies.

There is ample car parking space as well but do beware that there is a school running in the neighbourhood in the same street, hence advisable to take the road from G. N Chetty Road, T-Nagar.

I am yet to plan another outing with my family.

 This is the upscaled/recycled wine bottle that I had made for my friend along with a lovely wreath bread. It was cute the way the Chef mentioned jokingly that he thought that I had brought in some wine and would invite him to join us for a glass! Europeans I say!Wish I had!

Hand kneaded, filled with a homemade fruit chutney and cranberries, baked and drizzled with some sticky caramel sauce to keep up with the festive mood.

I love Decembers! Grateful to my friend S for having made this time for us to catch up! Grateful to all the cooks and chefs behind the scenes behind each of the meal that we had/ will have during our future visits.