Nestled in the Western Ghats, Mahabaleshwar isn’t just a feast for eyes with its breathtaking landscapes.From traditional Maharashtrian delicacies to Parsi palates, this hilly town promises a gastronomic adventure for foodies.
Located on the Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar road, Dina Hotel, a heritage property, established in the year 1903, is run by the family’s fifth and sixth generation and prides itself in its authentic Parsi cuisine while also offering Indian and Continental options. Whether it is the famous Dhansak, Saas Ni Machhi, or Tamota Par Eeda, Dina Hotel fulfils cravings of food with a warm, homely touch.
With a stunning view of the garden and the Venna Lake, the restaurant is stacked with antique peices, donated by celebrities like Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachhan, Akshay Kumar, Asha Bhosle and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
“At the age of eighteen, I got married to the Mahableshwarwalla family. Coming from a Hindu family and being a vegetarian myself, I didn’t know much about Parsi delicacies. It was my father-in-law, who taught me everything from their age-old family recipe book. Standing today, I decide on a six course menu everyday, while my husband Hormuz takes care of the admin duties. Be it veg or non-veg, I taste the food myself before serving it to my customers,” says Shobha Mahableshwarwalla, 48, owner of the Dina Hotel.
She adds, “Our committed customers love my lemon-coriander soup along with roasted lamb, chicken dhansak and last but not least, trifle pudding. With authentic Parsi food, we also customise Indian and continental meals as per customer desires. For instance, when Amitabh Bachan was here for the shoot of ‘Hum Kon Hai’, I cooked him a really simple dinner, which had three types of vegetables, paratha and some dahi.”
Shobha’s daughter, Niloufer Mahableshwarwalla is an IHM Aurangabad graduate, with past experience at the JW Marriott Mumbai and Pune. She now plans to further the legacy of the family-run business.
“To keep this place far from the reach of corporate commercialisation, we are not on any online platforms. Being responsible for sales and marketing, I try to reach potential customers through word of mouth, goodwill and social media tags. We are open all year, and the personalised relation with each of our customers makes them visit us again over and over for a homely stay,” says Niloufer.
Roots of India
Next to Mapro Gardens, Gureghar, another popular eatery in the hill town of Mahabaleshwar is Roots of India. Cheap on the pocket with an opulent taste, it has starters like crispy lotus stem in honey chilli to main course staples like aglio olio. Its extensive menu offers options for every type of foodie.
Mr.Lobo, manager of the Roots of India who has thirty years of experience in the industry says, “All our experienced chefs are from different parts of India and are responsible for different cuisines, which brings diversity to our kitchen. Be it the vegetables or our handmade pizza sauce, we make sure that everything is fresh. We, here at Roots of India, believe in experimenting, our rabri-gulab jamun with rose petals is one such example and a best seller too.”
The eatery has a Hollywood Wax Museum attached and go-karting tracks to ensure your stay there is full of entertainment.
Mulberry inn and cottages
Dispersed amidst the quiet lanes of Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar, Mulberry inn and cottages, owned and established by Ajay Shinde in the year 2013, offers the comfort of local Maharashtrian cuisine. In addition to staples like Pithla Bhakri, they also serve traditional supplements like Green Chili Thecha and Mahadya.
“Right next to my workplace, JW Marriott (United States), there used to be a Mulberry inn. When I moved back to India from the US, considering Mahabaleshwar is the land of berries but had no hotels named after a berry back then, I decided to name my venture Mulberry inn. Here at Mulberry, we serve people with everything fresh and local. Our dishes are cooked with homemade spices, fresh veggies and the rice served here is Indrayani.The aim is to hold on to the traditions of
Maharashtra and serve pocket friendly meals,”says Ajay Shinde, 37, owner of Mulberry inn and cottages.