What Sam says about_____?: SAM@CAFE WANDERLUST, GURGAON - WORLD CUISINE AT ITS BEST

I am a girl consumed by wanderlust. No, don’t get me wrong, most of you might ask me what wanderlust means. The word derives its origin from a German word which means a very strong or irresistible impulse to travel. If you dream of backpacking through Bhutan, you have wanderlust. We loved the German efficiency of the word so much we borrowed it for our own English language. With a word like lust inside it, wanderlust really captures the dreamy passion that travelers share. So this is the word that best describes me, I too have an undying thirst for travel, to explore new places and experiment with the food cooked and eaten by locals of these places and once you've got wanderlust in your blood, you've got it for life; it goes with you till your grave. And this is a thirst, a hunger that can neither be quenched nor satisfied.

Café Wanderlust is all about, the owners love and passion for travel and visiting new places discovering their food and enjoying life and the good things in it. The setting is quite delightful with one wall covered with murals of famous monuments from the world over - be it the Eiffel tower, or the London Eye or the pyramids or the Colosseum from Italy, transporting you in time to these places. With a hammock in one corner to cozy and comfy bean bags to great music, this place has it all. This place is not only a weekend place when most of us want to de-stress & chill & relax, but even on weekdays when you are tired of the madness of this city, with its traffic problems, with its long office hours, with your nagging bosses, and wives and colleagues simply head to café wanderlust, and chill over a cuppa adrak tulsi chai, read a book, or enjoy poetry or relax on the hammock with your eyes closed.

Disha, the owner has handpicked the pictures that go on walls showing her travels and experiences, and she has hand picked the menu and great glasses and crockery as well signifying her love for the food of places she’s been to from Kashmiri Kahwa right to Mexican Burritos, or Sandwiches

If you want to kick start your day- ready to walk the city or go to work, you can start early visit them@10am and have a hearty breakfast, be it a desi breakfast of Banaras ki Kachaudi with Aaloo or the very up market Banana & Nutella pancake, they have it all. The staff is unique and very personalized who always smile and greet their customers with love.

The food there is something that is very hard to find elsewhere, even in the metro we call Delhi / NCR. Its remarkably unique and there is something for everyone there. There is no paper menu - its a Samsung Galaxy Tab. Every person gets his or her individual tab on which they can order what they want & move to the cart & checkout, how Classy!

They genuinely care for the people who eat there and for the food they create. I must mention that Disha, the owner takes personal interest in her guests and the food they have. I was in Galleria and meeting a friend and we unanimously decided on the café, since I had wanted to visit them for long, especially after half a dozen foodie friends just went gaga over the place. So here I was at lunch hour wanting to show my friend some travel pictures on my laptop so I headed straight to the place. And I was lucky that they also offer free Wifi – something most restaurants in Delhi need to start doing soon.

While we were chilling and catching up with each other, this is what we hogged to our hearts fill.

Ø We started with the Adrak Tulsi chai served with Chakkna and with it we ordered Mumbai Vada pao. Having lived in Mumbai for 2 years and having eaten vada pao from Jumbo king or Goli or even at VT station, I can close my eyes and say, this one is so so authentic and a true vada pao in the true sense of the word. I became nostalgic and remembered my college days when my breakfast used to be a couple of vada pao’s with cutting chai. And the fact that we were served chai in the same cutting wala glasses here yesterday, café W you stole my heart.

Ø Then came the massive Chickpea Burrito. I have only loved eating the Burittos served by Salsa Salsa in this city and I truly love these now. Very colorful, and flavorful, served with a very interesting dip. Never having eaten a veg burrito, I can surely say this one is climbing the charts of my hit food list.

Ø The Mezze platter came with some pita and nice flavorful dips, the hummus, the babaganoush, a tangy tomato and mushroom cheesy dip. The falafel was good, and the dips were nice and the tomato dip had the zing and the kick that I simply love

Ø I have been to Benaras and I became nostalgic and felt as though I am on the Manikarnika Ghat eating Aloo ki sabji and Kachaudi. Simply lip smacking. I could hear the bells of Kashi Vishwanath temple toll in the background as I savored the divine taste of the divine sacred land and remembered Vishwanath gali ki kachaudi. The Kachaudi was topped with the benarasi Thandaai topped with almonds and served in a kullad or an earthern pot, just to complete the authentic touch. My god, I could have dozed off, I was so full

Ø My friend went bonkers and ordered herself a nutella banana Pancake served with some fresh whipped cream and chocolate sauce. How do I even explain something like this which connects you to divinity? I am still tongue tied and in a trance that this pancake transported me to. What a great crepe! I was in Krabi Thailand only in August and had a near match of this pancake, but I must complement CW guys, for making this one even better. Crisp, balanced sweetness, with a dash of molten chocolate on top and be ready to be swept off your feet.

Ø I was so full that I needed a Kashmiri Kahwa to drain the food down, since I was full to my throat. Being a kashmiri myself, I was so sure I would be able to find some fault in the Kahwa and there I sat, drinking the most perfect Kahwa with the perfect sweetness and the right amount of cinnamon and cardamom and almonds. I felt home sick. My friend enjoyed her Aam Panna and liked it too. And she went a step further and topped it with a home made besan ka Ladoo, only because their wall of fame had a comment card from a patron who had mentioned that their Ladoo is not to be missed. Hesitantly and only on my friends insistence I took one bite and I was engulfed in the sweetness of this Ladoo which was spot on. It’s a must have guys.

This place is a rare find for sure and one i will go to for years to come. A great concept, and a unique travel café. Only one regret, after I left the place so full and content, I remembered I wanted to taste their Mac and Cheese too, never mind, there’s always a next time.

© http://whatsamsaysabout.blogspot.in/