There’s no running away from it. Bengaluru is witnessing a spurt in the number of health cafes opening up. Though such cafes have been trending for a while, it’s the South Bengaluru suburb, Jayanagar, that seems to have become the hotspot for such ‘green’ cafes. Slimsins, on 36th Cross, is the newest little cafe to have opened its doors in the area.
Started by Akanksha Raju, a postgraduate in finance, who had to deal with weight issues all her life, Slimsins comes with a refreshing menu. We say so because every-thing on the menu, we are told, is prepared fresh. Right from their detoxing potions such as Talli Cure (for hangovers), Kashmir ki Kali (for detoxing the skin) and Katrina Belly (to reduce bloating), to their pasta sauces and seasonings, everything is made in small batches. At the open kitchen, you could opt to stand and watch your meal getting cooked.
We dropped by for a quick lunch on a weekend. Though the place is just a few days old, we were impressed with the steady flow of guests. The menu is simple, with a focus on healthy meals and the ‘not-so-sinful’ options, such as the ragi bun burgers.
We started our meal with a Wild Shiitake Mushroom Soup. Light on the palate, this peppery broth was served without cream on request. The thick consistency, the spicy notes and the diced mushrooms made for a delicious start. From the starters, we opted for the Baked Cottage Cheese Zucchini Boat. This is certainly a must-try because of the unusual combination and innovative presentation. Slices of zucchini are scooped out and stuffed with cottage cheese and baked with a seasoning of chilli sauce.
Amply satisfied, we moved onto a Couscous Salad and a Basil Pesto Pasta. The salad — a mix of couscous, bell peppers, lettuce, walnuts, peanuts, raisins and carrot — worked well thanks to the combination of soft and crisp vegetables, greens and nuts. The raisins added sweetness to the otherwise subtle flavours. The pasta turned out to be a surprise because of the freshness of the sauce. The nuttiness and the garlicky flavours were balanced well with the basil making the pasta moreish.
For dessert, we tried the Quinoa Brownie. This turned out to be the best part of our lunch. Light, fluffy and crumbly, the brownie is utterly delicious. It is as soft as a regular chocolate brownie but scores above it because this one is a healthier option. After all that we ate, we opted for a bottle of Katrina Belly (a mix of watermelon juice, flax seeds, lime and dates syrup) — a perfect concoction to end the non-sinful meal!
Slimsins seems promising by the fact that everything at this place is made fresh, in the open kitchen with a conscious effort to make healthy eats delicious.
Rs 500++ for two. At 4th Block, Jayanagar. Details: 9535582766
ayeshatabassum@newindianexpress.com
@aishatax