Journalism of Courage
Aundh,a place described as the up and coming suburb of Pune two decades ago,has long since filled in that gap in the city by giving the well-read,well-heeled Puneites many quirky and chic dining options. This week,we decided to try out Greens & Olives,a new vegetarian restaurant in the area.
There was a time when vegetarianism was scoffed at. But now,as more and more people are getting health conscious,Puneites are experimenting with vegetarian food that is not just limited to the traditional thalis or south Indian dishes that are available across the city in abundance.
Soon after,we took the corner seat,and were served the menu. Italian,Mexican and Indian are the main cuisines on offer here. We decided to start with Potato skins with cajun dip and Funghi trifolati. The potato skins were deep-fried to perfection and stuffed with vegetables tossed in béchamel sauce. The Funghi trifolati mushrooms sauteed with herbs and garlic was succulent and tasteful.
For main course,we decided to try Siciliana pizza and Aglio olio e peperocino with farfalle pasta. The pizza had a crunchy thin crust and was topped with mozzarella cheese,mushrooms,sliced garlic,pickled onions and sun-dried tomatoes. The pickled onions and tomatoes allowed the flavour of all the other ingredients to emerge and made for an interesting meal. The pasta,tossed lightly in olive oil with parsley,bell pepper,corn and parmesan cheese,was surprisingly flavourful for a dish that is considered to be the most basic of all recipes.
The portions at Greens & Olives are quite generous,we warn you,and hence,we didnt have enough room for dessert. Nonetheless,we decided to share the Apple crumble an old-school dessert served here with vanilla custard and fresh cream. The apples were cooked to perfection,and the garnishing a healthy sprinkling of cinnamon powder and fresh mint leaves gave the simple English pudding a rich flavour.
This vegetarian restaurant is a great place if you want to eat out with your family. But dont expect anything revolutionary; go for the good old-fashioned dishes served with a hint of nostalgia.
Address: Greens & Olives,New DP Road,Opposite Tangent Furniture,Aundh
Contact: 30570433 ext: 525
Meal for two: Rs 800 approx
