Before I start, here's the link to the published article (DNA,Pune Edition):
With a whole lot of Italian, Indian, Oriental and
Continental restaurants springing up all over the city, this one comes as a
pleasant change. With absolutely no hint of an Indian touch, Casero takes you
on a delectable trip across Spain, Morocco, Turkey and Greece.
White stone walls, green doors, a strong breeze, a white
fence lined with potted palms, little lamp shades at every table, and soft jazz
music playing softly in the background-
this place will definitely remind you of a sea-side bistro in Greece or Italy. The
staff is polite, courteous, and makes sure every need of yours is attended to.
The journey across the Mediterranean coast starts as soon as
you are handed over the menu card. Hand-made paper clipped on a heavy wooden
slate, the menu card provides a detailed description of all the food items.
Casero means “home-made” in Spanish, and this is exactly what works for them.
There is something about the place that will make you feel at home, and this is
what makes the culinary experience all the more exciting.
Warm, buttery, lightly toasted bread served with some light
and refreshing hummus, and a couple of fresh fruit mocktails were brought to our table while we browsed through the
menu. Mr. Mahesh Kini, the owner of Casero, came over to us and suggested we
try out a few of their specials. “We use authentic Mediterranean style of
cooking, which is why you will not find even a little hint of any Indian
flavors in the food. “
Starters:
Green Tomato and Goat Cheese
This is a fried patty, soft and cheesy with a thin slice of green tomato in the center, with a little hint
of sweetness. This is served with a yogurt based dip, and if you are in the
mood for a new (cheese) flavor, I recommend you try it.
Spanakopita
A thin, soft, buttery pastry stuffed with spinach, this is a
must try for all you vegetarians. The flavor of the spinach is refreshing, and
mixes well with the buttery pastry.
Moroccan Style Lamb Balls
Oven baked, sautéed in the home-made tomato sauce, this one is a
little tangy. The meatballs are soft, and the flavors are overwhelming.
Souvlakia
This is a grilled chicken preparation served on skewers, and
has a fresh flavor of lime, olive oil and herbs. Very light on the stomach, do
try it out.
Kalamar Tava
This one’s been highly recommended by many, and is a Turkish
preparation of squids stuffed with shrimps. Fresh, soft, and full of flavor,
this extravagant preparation is fit for a king.
Main Course
Artichoke and Phyllo Parcel
This one is an oven-baked phyllo pastry stuffed with cheese
and pan- sautéed leek. Buttery, cheesy, soft and light, this dish melts in your
mouth.
Root Veg Saganaki
This is a deep-fried patty made our of root vegetables
(carrot, beetroot and radish), served with some home-made tomato sauce. Tangy
and sweet at the same time, this is served with feta cheese. If you like your
cheese, do try it out.
Casero Signature Paella
This involves prawns, chicken, crab and pork sausages served
in lemon rice. A good mixture of flavors, this too has been highly recommended
by many.
Harissa Chgicken
This one was my personal favorite. It’s chicken cooked in chilly paste and bell
peppers in a foil. If you are looking out for something spicy, try this. The
moment you open the foil, the aroma of the chilly engulfs you, and the flavor
of the bell peppers and chilly seeped right into the chicken makes this quite a
refreshing chicken preparation.
Lamb Shank Tagine
This is mutton served in thick gravy. A little sweet, with a
strong flavor of all the right garam masalas, the mutton is cooked with
caramelized onions and dates. The aroma will take you back to your history
books, and remind you of the Turkish Sultans and their trade of spices, and their rich foods.
The advantage of this
cuisine is that it’s very light on the stomach, and even after all those dishes
we had appetite for some desserts (tee hee)
Desserts
Dark Chocolate Rum Torte
This one has been
highly recommended by many, and there was no way we were going to be left
behind. 70% dark chocolate, with a strong flavor of rum- If you love dark chocolate, genuine dark bitter chocolate, there is no
way you can be missing out on this.
Arabian Nights
This is a much lighter option compared to the chocolate torte.
This is a platter containing a rich, creamy milk based dessert, a walnut filled
baklava, and a refrigerated preparation of saffron milk.
A must-try for those looking out for a completely new
culinary experience. I’m definitely going back for more.
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