You might say 2018 was the year of the milkshake in Chennai. We saw Keventers, Makers of Milkshakes and Frozen Bottle popping up on street corners, food courts and malls. And while the fad was a fab — especially given the take-home-your-own-glass bottle tying in with the plastic-free movement — you could say we’re ready to try something fresh.
And Chennai’s first franchise of Milkshake and Co does not disappoint.
First up, there is not a single glass bottle in sight. Instead, 28-year-old franchise owner Arjun Lakhlani tells us, “Each shake is personified with an animated character which is colourfully showcased on its designated paper cup.” For instance, our Green Devil shake (Mint and Chocolate) arrived with a matching green Frankenstein on the cup, while The Legend (Rock salt and caramel) true to its name pays tribute to the late Stan Lee, who passed away last year. Lee, if the name is unfamiliar, co-created Marvel superheroes like Iron Man and Thor.
The latter was definitely our favourite flavour-wise, with a delicious hint of caramel, through wonderfully thick and creamy slurps, as we take in the colourful interiors at this 12-seater located in a bylane off Besant Nagar beach.
The Mint and Choc, similar to the Bounty shake (which we were excited to spot in the confectionery section of the menu) gave us a delicious consistency, but the mint was perhaps a tad too subtle to taste.
Although started in the UK, this brand is the brainchild of an Indian, Arjun tells us — Kabir Singh, a college student back in 2001, who was looking to make a quick buck in the flea markets of London. Since its inception in India in 2015, the brand has expanded to 15 stores across Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and more recently, Chennai.
Another distinctive feature of the milkshakes to look out for, is a mini tower of cream that coats the rim of each shake cup, garnished with a sprinkling of cake crumbs. Expect to find 32 flavours in five categories — Originals, Chocolate, Fruity, Real Fruit and Confectionery. If you’re in the mood for a sip of something lighter, opt for one of their choice lemonades or cold coffees packaged in vibrant graphic designed tins — we find out later, these serve as the take-home aspiration for youngsters here.
We sample the refreshing Elderflower lemonade and a heavy-duty Hazelnut coffee side by side, and wrap up our tasting spree with a snack of Honey mayo fries and an OMG-good Paneer Tempura burger.
sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine