Fortnightly Treats

But instead of flinching in the face of competition,Azmi has devised a new way to keep his guests’ palates satiated with new treats. The cafe has put together a fortnightly specials menu,which will change every 14 days. This will be in addition to the regular menu that is revamped in the beginning of October every year. It is interesting to note that the “specials” menus at the two outlets will differ. These will be swapped every fortnight.

“We get a lot of regulars at Basilico who keep coming back for their favourite dishes,” says Azmi,adding,“But even that can get a bit boring if you’re having the same thing every time you visit. The specials menu is aimed at regular guests,so that they have a variety of dishes to pick from every 14 days.” It will also help the cafe to deduce the most popular dishes when it is time for a menu revamp.

Besides,it will also help people try out seasonal foods such as mangoes — in desserts or as glaze on meat — in the summer,and lychees,which is a monsoon fruit in India. “People’s palates have changed now,” he says,citing the example of how popular the pomfret and mango glaze has become. “This is also an opportunity for them to see how varying flavours,ingredients and textures go together,” he adds.