Cafe review: Falafel Jee @Church Street, Bengaluru

I love Mediterranean food. I have several favourite dishes from Levantine, Italian and Greek cuisine in particular. Focussing on the former, if you have read my recipe post on Mezze platter, you would know how much I enjoy the diverse assortment of dips, pita bread, falafel, crudites, salads, dried fruit, nut and honey based desserts among others. 

When I received an invite to checkout Falafel Jee, a new Lebanese owned Mediterranean vegetarian cafe & deli located at Church Street in Bengaluru, there were three reasons that compelled me to accept. One, given my lack of regular content in the months since my relocation to India, I was surprised that anyone was even reading my blog. Two, I have a profound appreciation for Mediterranean food as I just mentioned. Three, being a retrophile, bibliophile and foodie at heart, I need absolutely no excuse to go to Church Street! With cobblestone pathways winding through a street lined with charming buildings that whisper stories of a bygone era, bookstores galore, the aromas of artisan coffee and delectable cuisines wafting through the air, this place is at the heart of Bengaluru's vibrant culture and is a place that greatly appeals to my sensibilities. 

The small quaint eatery housed in Pavilion Mall directly across Blossoms book house boasts a great location on Church Street. Conveniently accessible, especially for those using the Bengaluru metro, it is just a short walk from MG Road station, proceeding towards the Church Street exit.

The cafe offers a selection of vegetarian Mediterranean delights. Handmade with love, the folks at Falafel Jee take pride in the transformation of carefully curated seasonal vegetables and local grains. The USP of this cafe is in-house baked pitas and preservative-free dressings

The space is clean and well-maintained. There is limited seating inside the cafe but that is understandable considering that this eatery is primarily meant for take-away. In the evenings especially, when the weather is cooler, it would be rather nice to grab a bite to eat and walk along lively Church Street and Brigade road. 

We were welcomed by the genial hostess with a basil fresh punch which was a blend of basil and arugula leaves. I like how this drink was refreshing and had just a subtle hint of sweetness which is how I prefer it. 

First we tried a falafel bowl which has a bed of millets at the bottom. On top of that went fresh spinach leaves, creamy hummus, an earthy beetroot tahini, spicy harissa and flavourful falafel. With fresh flavours and interesting textures, the dish felt wholesome, colorful and tasty at the same time. 

We then tried the falafel pita pocket with the same ingredients packed into it. If I was going for a light grab and go lunch, I would go for the bowl and if I wanted something quick but substantial, I would opt for the pita pocket. 

Recipe of the month: Badanekayi Ennegayi

I'm back with another regional speciality from my home state Karnataka 😁

Badanekayi ennegayi is a dish of stuffed eggplants (aka brinjal or aubergine) that has its origins in North Karnataka i.e. the districts of Bijapur, Dharwad, Gadag, Bellary among others. The base of this naturally vegan badanekayi ennegayi is a delectable blend of roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, onions, garlic, ginger, and dry red chilies. The eggplants are generously stuffed with this mixture and slow-cooked in a generous amount of oil until fork-tender. The eggplants absorb the myriad of flavors, resulting in a lip-smackingly delicious outcome. This dish can also be made using the local variety of green capsicum and it tastes fantastic too. 

There are other variations of similar stuffed eggplant dishes that can be attributed to other states within India. In Maharashtra this eggplant dish variant is called bharli vangi and in Andhra Pradesh this variant is known as gutti vankaya kura.

I tried badanekayi ennegayi for the first time during my childhood in Hubli when I had gone to visit my aunt. I had it with jolada rotti (jowar or sorghum bhakri) and I can still recall how much I loved it. I was bowled over by the depth of flavour and great texture which complimented the rottis perfectly. 

Having always had a fondness for eggplants, I appreciate any dish featuring this versatile vegetable. I love traditional dishes like badanekayi palya, badanekayi huli, an Udupi-speciality called mattu gulla bajji (gojju) and gulla dosa. I occasionally make baingan bhartha paired with rotis for quick weekday dinners. Mutabal or baba ganoush is an absolute must when we rustle up mezze platters at home. Roasted eggplant tastes amazing in sandwiches and salads too so I incorporate this vegetable whenever I get a chance. 

When preparing Badanekayi Ennegayi at home, my preferred pairing is with ukkarisida akki rotti, although it also goes well with rotis, chapatis or Malabar parotta. Jolada rotti is something I am yet to learn but I know that I'll get there some day. 

After fine-tuning the recipe through multiple iterations, I present my simplified rendition. I did away with aromatic spices as I found the recipe to be to my liking without them. Achieving the right balance of salty-sweet-sour-spicy is crucial for nailing the flavor profile. If you stay true to this recipe, I assure you will have a winner on your hands. Give it a try, folks! 😊

Our Trip to New Jersey & New York

 
Hello readers,

First of all, let me wish you a Happy New Year 2024. May peace, love and prosperity follow you always. 

Yes, I know things have been uncharacteristically quiet around here. The past year saw me completely swamped by our relocation from Singapore to India, leaving little room for blogging on my agenda. Embarking on a brand new year, my primary resolution is to rekindle my presence in the blogging realm. I am one of the most stubborn people I know so rest assured, you'll be hearing more from me in this space 😁

For those who have been following my journey on Instagram, you might recall our family's extensive holiday across North America last spring. The trip served as a well-deserved break, painstakingly planned over several months. While my husband and I had previously holidayed in the United States, our visit to Canada marked a first for us, and it was a maiden voyage for our twin daughters to both countries. Eager to make the most of our time there, we curated an itinerary that was packed full of places to visit and activities to do. It turned out to be one of the best holidays we have had as a family and we came back rejuvenated with a treasure trove of experiences and memories. 

Given the number of photographs in my arsenal, consolidating them into a single blog post seemed rather impractical to me. Opting for a more reader-friendly approach, I've chosen to distribute them across multiple posts. This way, I can save you from being saturated with excess content while ensuring a sustained flow of material to keep the blog going for the next few weeks 😉

The last time I was in New Jersey and New York, it was the start of winter and I loved seeing New York dressed up in white for Christmas. I was able to witness the Christmas spirit in full swing and the city's transformation into a winter wonderland. This time, our visit coincided with the onset of spring and I was delighted to see all the flowering fruit trees in different hues of pinks and snowy white set against verdant green landscapes. 

We stayed at a cousin's house and with that as our base, we blazed through our sightseeing itinerary.