Amongst all the stalls that line the streets perpendicular to Thiruvanmiyur beach, Chaska clearly stands out, not only for its quirky truck design but also for the flavours on offer. Started by Rakesh Raj, the mini-van eatery serves Tibetan cuisine at affordable rates.
Growing up as the son of Vasanti Raj, Executive Chef of Park hotel, Kolkata, for 21 years now, Rakesh didn’t have to explore any further than his mum’s kitchens, to realise where his passion lay. “The idea of starting a restaurant has been on my mind ever since,” shares Rakesh. However, living in Dubai for a few years and experiencing the tradition of food trucks there, played a major role in his choice of outlet and resulted in Chaska, in December 2016.
The aroma of freshly steamed and fried momos unfurls with the light breeze at the seashore, as the Saturday crowd filled the street and, going by instinct, we order a plate. “The momos, priced from Rs 60, are the most popular dish here and there is always one, of the three chefs, who is relentlessly preparing them because of how fast they sell,” says Rakesh, who also contributes to cooking during busy hours. They also serve special momos, pan-fried on one side along with deep fried momos.
We later dig into a plate of chicken garlic noodles, after which comes the a generous serving of bright red schezwan chicken rice. Though the owner warns us about the spice, we fill our mouths with a spoonful, only to be hit by a piercing chilli flavour. “The spices are specially brought in from Kalim-pong and it can come out a little too strong, but it is extremely flavourful,” says Rakesh, as we contrast the spice with a plateful of crispy chilli potatoes, coated with a slightly spicy-sweet sauce. All the ingredients and filling necessary for the evening is prepared by the chefs, in-house and they serve customers until there is nothing left.
The blue truck, which houses the entire kitchen, is covered with colourful graffiti. Though fully functional, Rakesh has decided to keep the truck at Thiruvanmiyur beach, considering the regular flow of customers. Nevertheless, plans for another Chaska, is on the cards soon.
Rs 60 upwards. Details: 9962869999