Smoke rings out the nose is used in cartoons to show anger. But, at Kakkanad-based eatery BPC Grill and Chill, it’s a dining experience. We head to this four-month-old outlet located at Edachira after finding a viral video of their liquid nitrogen snacks online.
Set close to InfoPark, this space is a crossover between a cafe and a restaurant with its neat array of tables and quirky wall decor. I sip on a blue curacao virgin mojito and settle down in the 60-cover eatery while browsing the extensive menu featuring a multitude of beverage and snack options ranging from shakes to Hunan-style chicken.
“I was running a restaurant in Bahrain but upon realising that Kochi’s food scene was thriving, I left the Gulf life behind to invest here,” says owner Mahajif T K, who hails from Thalassery.
Foreign palate
The name ‘minizza’, seen on the menu, piques my interest. The dish turns out to be crunchy pita bread loaded with well-grilled chicken slices doused in ketchup and topped with cheddar, making an ample meal for a person.
“We use home-made spice mixes in our dishes, as it lends them a unique taste,” says young chef Haider Perwej, serving me a ‘chilly punch breast’ from their Samak grill section. Marinated in a unique tandoori-inspired mix including Central Asian sumac spice and cashew paste, this dish has a sourish spiciness reminiscent of Malabar’s tamarind-infused dishes.
As I try the fresh-base dry fruit delight ice cream with raisins and nuts, their brain freezer is brought to the spread. Taste is no factor in trying this snack as the spectacle of the cascading gas and the coldness it imparts to the Cheetos-wafer roll platter is something worth experiencing.