Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Shubadeep's 4 course Metro Platter at Pronto


This is what Shubadeep, the ubiquitous gourmet wrote while he ate at Pronto Bistro, port Blair in the evening of 18 May, 2019.
soupe; Himalayan asparagus cream soup
It takes you on a journey and experience which remains with you even after it is over. You instantly do not fall in love with the soup, but eventually as you explore further along with the home baked bread, it provides a subtle balance and eventually you begin to like it and once it is over, you wish you had more of it.
The soup is like Chennai. You don not immediately fall in love with it, but as you stay longer, you begin to like its simplicity and yet the basic flavor of the place. Just like the city of Chennai.
seafood; Crayfish tail ceviche, kale & bok choy salad, anchovy mayo
It is an event you got to attend! You immediately fall in love with the looks, burst of flavours and overall aroma. Each and every bite punches amazing soul stirring flavours. It is just perfect!
It is like Mumbai. You just love the city. You love its life. Mumbai is for everyone, rich in flavor. The dish is exactly like the city of Mumbai.
poultry; Chicken has wings roasted, glass noodles, garlic, hot & sour jus
The dish builds an instant connection with you. A dish you would love on a chilly night. It packs a solid punch on your taste buds. The glass noodles amaze you with its complexity in the most subtle way. The Chicken Wings are just Wow! Loud and clear, it announces itself that it is the boss in bold and capital.
Talking of capital, the dish represents the capital Delhi. It is the boss! The city packs a punch in your memories and looks and feels better during winter, just like the Chicken Wings!
dessert; Fig + lime zest baked cheese cake, passion fruit cream

The dessert gives you joy at its first glance. It just makes you smile with every bite. It is the happiest plate, the smoothness, the flavours naturally appealing. Just gives you immense joy.
Speaking of joy, the cheese cake represents the City of Joy, Kolkata. So ethnic, so full of life, just a happy place, sweet just like the cheese cake.
This four course meal should be called Metro Platter.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Andamans is humming "Pronto"

Oh yes! Andamans is going (lady) gaga over  a nifty little eatery called Pronto Bistro. Doors open to Freddie Mercury raising his vocal chords to ''I want to break free!''.. and it is exactly THAT. Breaking free for the Biryani joints in dozens all over Andamans. Breaking free to get a taste of European plus Mix cuisine bang in the middle of the town. Breaking free from dishes dished out at most eateries with Refined flour (MAIDA in Hindi) and MSG ( Monosodium Glutamate) aka aji-no-moto. Pronto conscientiously serves all Pizzas, wraps, witches, burgers and pasta made in-house with only whole wheat. After initial apprehension of 'What it would taste without MAIDA?", foodies young and restless and not so young are thronging Pronto Bistro and thanking the Chef for offering them a healthy alternative. Pronto Bistro offers the works when it comes to food. With an open kitchen, Pronto's Chef and team perform an culinary orchestra right in front of your eyes with the choicest and authentic ingredients to serve you the food that has been missing from your palates until now in the islands. Pronto's visionary choice to take a risk and strike the right balance between tasty and healthy way of cooking is what people are talking about, returning with their friends and rejoicing themselves surrounded by Expressions of Vinci's Mona Lisa by other artists, doodles on the wall, the take on Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, Nautical Charts or the cynosure of all eyes..the little psychedelic scooter cum plant -stand. The industrial look of the Pronto Bistro with pendant lamps breaking the monotony of the space is a welcoming ambiance to behold! Add it to Pronto's pocket-friendly cuisine, you know you are at the right place at the right time--lunch, snack-y or dinnertime. Chef Rahul Gandhi with years of experience around the globe, has chosen these islands to bring about a few definitive changes in the way people perceive their choice of culinary experience. Pronto is his first step towards Breaking Free from the faux biryani conundrum! Hasta Pronto!

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Pronto Andamans is Numero Uno

Abosuletly! Pronto Bistro in Port Blair, in just over a short period of its opening, has caught the imagination of one and all. With its inviting Willy Wonka-ish quirky decor, the food cooked in a open kitchen (you can see everything that is being cooked before it arrives on your table) and laid back atmosphere, Pronto is indeed ''numero uno'' when it come to international cuisine in Port Blair. Period! Pronto is not one of those ostentatious restaurant with chic, costly, shiny materials used for their decor, but very very user friendly like they say! Pick a magazine from the mag-holders on the pillars behind the funky scooter with plants sprouting from it, or simply while away with a deck of cards or UNO. If not, just be lost to the retro ''Temple of the King'' or tap your fingers to Drake crooning his naughty lyrics. Oh my Gosh! Are we not talking of the cuisine at Pronto, but skirting about the place and the leaping window bang next to the little black refrigerator? Let us get down to the brass tacks. The food is all of European plus mix like Pronto likes to position itself. On and off the Chef conjures up delicious delicacies inspired for South America, Japan or South Asia. His versatility takes a giant leap of faith, when he fuses Italian, South Korean and Argentinian on a single plate with his Aranchini Fritters with Kimchi and Chimichuri Sauce. His use of a hint of Wasabi in the Coleslaw compliments the Burgers with a dash of flavours exploding in one's mouth. The whole wheat bread. buns, foccacia and biscotti are all baked in-house under Pronto's Chef de Cuisine's able supervision and his bulbous hawk eyes. The Chef's long nose makes sure, not a single flavour or aroma misses out before the dish makes its presence felt on the guest's table. Pronto Bistro is open from 11 AM till 11 PM (last orders are taken by 10.30 PM) on all 365 days. In such a short period of time, one little space with a old scooter as its Emcee and a Chef with method in his madness, has made Pronto Bistro a must visit for locals, travellers, office goers and all who enter to Rock and Roll wafting through the bistro. Welcome to the Numero Uno of International cuisine in the Andamans. Pronto!

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Pronto Andaman

Pronto Bistro situated at Goalghar in the heart of Port Blair city is a new eatery (just 2 months old), creating delicious waves in the city. Not only Port Blairians, but foodies from other islands, tourists are flocking to take their taste buds on a roller coaster ride at Pronto. Chef Rahul Gandhi's magical European plus mix dishes are a blockbuster hit with the young and old alike. Pronto uses just whole wheat for its Pizzas, witches, burgers & wraps and conscientiously kept refined flour (maida) outside its doors. Though Pronto dishes veer a little away from the crunch, bite & taste of dangerous Maida, but it makes the food healthier, wholesome & tastier. The thin crust whole wheat pizzas, after attracting the health conscious initially have become the healthier first choice of Pizza loving islanders & tourists. The pastas at Pronto are simply delectable. Using Basil & tomato based sauces only made with authentic herbs it serves pastas in both Vegetarian & Non- vegetarian varieties. All greens and vegetables sourced are organically grown in and around the city. Pronto also makes delicious desserts, again veering off the dotted line by using Jaggery instead of Sugar. Even in its range of cool drinks, sugar gives way to jaggery. Organic coffee is served in a mockapot with jaggery powder and cream on the side. A range of Organic tea pots are also popular here. Coming to salads, Pronto serves all the way winners like the classic Ceasar, tuna, tofu, chevre salads in authentic dressing. Pronto's Seafood range is exhaustive like, octupus, calamari, snapper, tuna, king. jumbo prawns, tiger prawns, crayfish etc., etc. Quail, duck platter and the ever popular Austrian Schnitzel are too top favourites here at Pronto. Beyond-the-menu dishes are also designed by Gandhi like Sushi, duck on glass noodles, calamari/tuna carpaccio etc. on a regular basis.  New desserts like Tarte Tatin, Papa Tango and more are added every other day to the already existing Lola, Creme Brulee, Swaying Palms. Foodies looking for authentic European & International cuisine have already made Pronto a popular destination. Pronto Bistro's wacky decor and casual ambiance is welcoming sign for guests who were tired of waiting for something like THIS to come in to existence in the city that attracts the world.