One can easily depend on tea-preneur Anubha Jhawar’s handmade brew pockets, called CELES TÉ, to turn around an incredibly gloomy day. Our country that is accustomed to waking up to the aroma of tea has found solace in its vast assortment of artisanal teas. I met with the lady behind the ‘calm-in-a-cup’ at the Celestial Tea Pop Up Menu’s unveiling at the newly launched Gallops Al Fresco Cabanas, Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The goodness of green tea met with the delectable delights churned out by Yajush Malik, Chef Gallops exclusively for the evening meant for conversations under stunning cabanas.
The enjoyable menu of sweet and savory treats faultlessly complemented the solemn flavors of tea. It was uplifting to see some very refreshing cold brew selections (a pleasant addition for people that like their tea cold as their coffees) like ‘royal blossom,’ a black tea with flavors of lavender and rose. The cold varieties also included ‘Zesty Warmth,’ another black tea enriched with star anise, cinnamon, orange peel, and clove. It wouldn’t be wrong to state that ‘Choco Spice’ gained a few extra points at the high tea for this oolong tea brought flavors like chocolate, cinnamon cocoa nibs, and hops to create an unforgettable blend.
In my inexpert opinion, the green tea Marrakesh Mojito was a tad bit underwhelming and may taste better hot. The hot brew selection soothed like nothing else, even on a balmy October evening. Of the seven varieties on the speckled menu, I certainly had my beloveds, namely, ‘Amber Glow’, a white tea infused with saffron, chamomile, and lemongrass. The Vanilla Waltz oolong tea with the goodness of strawberry marigold rose petals and vanilla. Other hot brew selections included soothing teas like Remembrance, Zing, Mind Body Soul, and Orange Escape. No event, high tea or other, can be complete without some scrumptious snack. As expected, Yajush Malik, Chef Gallops made the evening delightful with a dreamlike presentation of food under the cabanas that were the personification of the word- mystical.
Gallops is legendary for its lush green outdoors, but the cabanas give you your personal, dreamlike space that’s not easily found in a bustling, smog-filled city like Mumbai. I stuck to the vegetarian variety, which included cucumber cream cheese & dill sandwiches. I am still reminiscing about the lip-smacking spinach & ricotta Vol Au Vents a light puff pastry appetizer that added a pop of color on the cake stand, a burst of flavor in our mouths. The desserts could’ve been ditched and replaced with yet another cup of Vanilla Waltz oolong tea as there was nothing spectacular about the spiced carrot teacake and salted caramel profiteroles.
The cheese corn fritters were as consistent as they have been since their inception, a snack that can never go wrong! Anubha Jhawar managed to create a stellar menu of teas and successfully dished out an enchanting evening with an unmissable view of the cabanas, galloping horses, and everything green.
Where: Inside Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Via, Gate, Lala Lajpatrai Marg, Haji Ali, Royal Western India Turf Club, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400034
