Hakuna Matata in Kolkata woos foodies with global vegan fusion IMAGES

Hakuna Matata in Kolkata woos foodies with global vegan fusion

by IBNS 25 Jan 2016, 07:46 am

Kolkata, Jan 25 (IBNS) Hakuna Matata is a Swahili phrase meaning "No Worries". A Kolkata restaurant in its iconic entertainment hub Park Street now lives up to that spirit, albeit with a platter of fusion global dishes for the vegans as well as non-vegans, not always spoilt for a choice of vegetarian food that can take on the non-veg culinary arsenal.

"Fusion is the theme," say Prabhas Dutta and Pallavi Ruia Dutta, the young couple who started the thoughtfully decorated food joint in Park Street- also known as Kolkata's Happy Street- to offer the city a global platter of vegetarian food with the X factor.

The Global Fusion Cuisine here is mainly Continental and Mexican.

"We are a global fusion cafe, offering a range of pasta, pizza, salads, Texmex and many more delectable surprises with buzzing activities throughout the day," say the warm-hearted couple who are globe trotters and accordingly have done it up with influences from across the world both in food items and decor.

So a foodie can pick and choose from the many options. In the Nibbles there are many to choose from, like Crispy Feuille Papdi, Baked Root Wedges or Mushroom Cheese Tart. But among the many, the Duttas recommend the Veggie Bhaji in Nori Wrap as their special, which is served with Som Tum Salad, Soya Coriander Dip and Wasabi.

Among the sandwiches and wraps, the one recommended is Crumb-fried Broccoli or Patty Burger.

One can choose his pizza or pasta or can go for a big platter like Sharers too where you get Platter of Fried Nibbles, Non-friend Nibbles or Middle Eastern Spread.

Among the Salads, one can surely go for the South 24 Parganas Seasonal Fruits.  

And you can wrap it up with a lip-smacking Mojito Cheesecake or a Koko Hazelnut Slice. And not to forget is a Matata Cooler. 

The restaurant also has a Jain Option while it has started an Indian Breakfast menu too now, wooing people for a delectable morning breakfast in Park Street.

A good meal for two can cost between Rs 800 and Rs 1000 here.

The cafe also has an interesting decor to woo visitors. Right from the mascot Koko (who has been named after a Facebook content) omnipresent in the cafe, to the wall of wishes filled with wacky, crazy lines scribbled by the visitors, the 75-seater food joint rocks in ideas.

Traditional cane weaving work- which Prabhas Dutta says is all about the nostalgia of old armchairs in our houses-  to sculptures in the ceiling by a famous sculptor, the restaurant has been aesthetically conceptualized.

"The sculptures you see here [statues flying in the ceiling] represent travel, passion, adventure,"  says Prabhas Dutta summing up his own mantra for life.

The couple is also proud of the wall of wishes with the quirky lines in the pink pieces of papers spilling over.

"The journey of our 'wish tree' began with a single wish to a cluster to our entire wall and now the ceiling is full of wishes too," the couple say.
   
The cafe is also awaiting a bar licence.  
 
(Reporting by Sujoy Dhar)