A late morning cuppa, a quick brunch, a quiet evening.
In introspection. In jubilance. In gloom.
Pleasant blue walls, good service, decent food, serene ambience – I show you, today, My Beloved Pleasure Cavern.
In one of the backlanes of Khan Market, I climb up a dozen broad stairs to reach this place.
And then, the fun begins.
This winter, I was there to sample their Fondue.
Skeety knows that the Fondue being a community dish, is not meant to be had alone, but then, for want of peace, Skeety had it all by herself 😛
Okay, Skeety did order the Kahwa alongwith. If that is any relief for those who go back with growling tummies after reading my posts 😛
The Fondue is tastefully served in an earthern pot (with a tealight flickering beaneath to keep the cheese bubbling) with squared pieces of bread and crackers.
People at Market Cafe happily admit that they don’t do an authentic Fondue, but what is their own variant of the original recipe. And Skeety says it tastes oh-so-lovely, though she is YET to taste the real thing.
The Kahwa was not as good as it ought to be. But then, they claim to have learnt it from a Kashmiri guy whose preparation is much appreciated in the Delhi party circuit.
The Hot Chocolate Mud Pie is their clame to fame and I absolutely love the Goat’s cheese on baked Walnut bread with Za’tar that they do.
Coming back to the Fondue (which is the swiss national dish), there are interesting legends which do rounds as the printed word spreads across the globe through some of those wonderfully bound books on food (not recipes books, mind you).
I will share two with you:
One goes that during the harsh winters, the shepherds of the Alps, having little or no vegetation around, combined cheese, wine and milk to make the cheese sauce, and ate it with the thick bread.
Another interesting version is that during the Swiss Reformation, when food supplies fell alarmingly short in Zurich, the Catholics and the Protestants merged all cheese, wine and milk into a big pot and ate it by dunking pieces of bread into this pot of cheese sauce, and hence was born, the great FONDUE.
What are you waiting for? Dunk your way to a riot of flavours, before the foggy mornings fade away to pave way for the scorching summers. And come to me with a happy tummy and smiling face 🙂
OMG! Look at that flower pot converted into Fondue pot! So cool! We had Cheese Fondue for Super Bowl party, it was yummy. I love the blue color walls at home or at the restaurant,as if sitting by the Ocean!:))
You are one heck of a Delhi Foodie! Is there any corner that you have not explored?! 😀
Tere Fondue mein daaru thi ya farzi tha ?? 😛
Looks yummy, slurrppp 😀
how many kilos didya gain after eating that fondue…
frankly blue is not my color.
but i have to visit this place, it seems.
Niiccee! Looks yummy! Mocha does a good fondue too… 🙂 Do they use wine in the Fondue at Market Cafe? Hmmm… Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc would be nice. I WANT CHEESE! NOW! Haha!
wow – i can use yor blog as a foodie guide if and when i come to dell hee
market cafe : jack of all trades and master of none…….
its a decent place and the only reason to visit it again and again is their policy of encouraging upcoming artists…
Sounds wonderful. But why couldn’t they have given a more interesting name to their shop?
i liked the look of the cafe! very quirky. btw your first fondue story is true! The Swiss did use wine and cheese both of which could be preserved over the long harsh winters to make gritty, filling meals.
I wanna wear a burn-proof suit and dive into that pool of cheese!!!
Fondue…here I come! 🙂
asha: 😀 I too love the blue colour…super cool!
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anita: 😀 thanks. *bows* yes there are many waiting for me to explore them 😛
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Gonecase: puchna bhuool gayi.
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The Keeper of the Keys: I don’t count kilos 😉 yeah must visit 😀
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siropdevanille: I am yet to visit the newly opened mocha 😐 sigh. I am yet to taste Riesling as well as Sauvignon Blanc. 🙁
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c e e d y: sure 😀
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deeps: I agree with you on all counts. But ambience gets a trophy from me 😀
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Woodsmoke: 🙂 Visit the place and you will know why 😀
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The Twisted Gourmet: 🙂 yeah quirky indeed. What about the second story?
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Ankur: 1 2 3 jump 😛
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great stuff like always ,especially d anecdotes about the origin of fondue …
Your pleasure cavern looks so attractive! The fondue shots and description take us along very nicely. What interesting stories of its genesis. Fine shooting to capture the nice quality of a fondue pot!
Oh…! Ok, try the Sauvignon Blanc by Sula, the 2006 vintage is slightly better than the 2007. I know its Indian wine and all that but its decent. And worth the 470 or so odd Rs! Also, go to this Wine Shop in GK – in the Savitri Cinema Hall complex. It has a pretty good Wine Cellar for Delhi 🙂 Try try! If you don’t love the wine, you can always use it in cooking (white wine sauces!) 🙂
mazak: thank you 🙂
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don: It is indeed very attractive. Thank you so much for those words 🙂
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siropdevanille: I will pick it up next when I am in GK. It is a little far from my place. 🙂 Thanks for recommending.
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i absolutely love market cafe!
n i love u fo writin bou it!!
interesting….
love the pics…
heck of a foodie!!
Just went through your blog…quite interesting and cool..market cafe is one place to hang out…keep up the good work!
If I’ve got my Axterix right.. the romans had a similar dish at least the dipping bread into cheese part of it…
Thanks for visiting my blog.. appreciate it..
cheersvw
gunj: Thank you, Thank You!
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Arwen Undómiel: Thanks and welcome here 😀
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Sambhu: Thanks. Appreciate your comments…welcome here!
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The Hermit of Wandering Thoughts: I think you’ve got it right..I don’t read Asterix comic book though (if that is what you talk about here)…
Thx for your input 😀
Cheers and welcome here 🙂
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heyyy
belated happy birthday…jus read bou it on drozzy’s blog…thot ill wish!! 🙂
hope u had a great time!!
gunj: Hey! Thank You! 😀
hey. i love this place.
one question: isn’t market cafe right on ground floor in the back street? let me know if i’m wrong?
also, it would be great if you’d give out the amount you shell out for whatever you eat. people with holes in their pockets AND an appetite would love that, im sure. i know i would. 😛
Anony: apna naam to bata…No aap galat hain… Market cafe is on the 2nd floor…Ok ji I will try and incorportae the cost of meal for two from next time on…
Cheers!