It has been barely two-months since Fresh Pressery Cafe, the Bengaluru chain has made its entry into our city, down Rutland Gate Road — and already we find it bustling with diners. The 40-seater space (that formerly housed the Latitude By The Park) features airy and minimalistic aesthetics with powdery blue walls and nature-inspired frames from Good Earth on the walls. Owned by partners — city-based Soshna Ramanlal and Bengaluru-based Rishaad Vazirally (who owns the brand) — this eatery offers wholesome meal options like Thai curry and flour-free pizzas, besides quick-fixes like smoothies and salads. We catch up with Soshna, a certified and practising nutritionist, who tells us how she has been following the brand right from the beginning when Rishaad started it with cold press juices back in 2014.
Acai on a roll
“Being a nutritionist, I have always advocated clean eating and making healthy food choices. In fact, when I see the youngsters today choosing healthy options like sweet potato fries instead of the regular ones — it is a heartening sight!” says Soshna, as we sip on a delicious pink-hued Acai Berry Smoothie that is coconut yoghurt-based and topped with crunchy granola muesli. The Smashed Avocado and Burrata on Toast is a platter of open sandwiches that could make for a scrumptious tea-time snack. The translucent Vietnamese Summer Rolls are crunchy and when dunked in the sweet chilli dip, are irresistible. Meanwhile, the fresh Avocado and Smoked Salmon salad does a great job of pacifying the palate with a zingy lemon zest dressing that works as a perfect foil for slurps of the healthy and difficult-to-love probiotic drink, the Pineapple Kombucha.
Taste rules
Soshna’s favourite — the generously portioned creamy Keto Khow Suey that comes with cauliflower rice and chicken cubes and veggies — is pre-mixed in rich coconut milk curry. The keto burger surprises with a fresh almond flour bun with great texture and a juicy patty — accompanied with sweet potato fries and an addictive sriracha sauce. Note to chocolate lovers — the decadent Dark Chocolate Quinoa Cake is as luscious as their Warm Walnut Brownie; but for a rainy day, it is a cuppa Spiced Belgian Hot Chocolate that hits the spot! Meanwhile, for those like us who overdid the mains and starters, we suggest the light and elegant Chia Seed Pudding. Slippery in almond milk, it is topped with fresh slices of banana and pomegranate pearls, and berry compote. The compote can be replaced with activated charcoal. However, we save that for another day!
Weekdays: 11 am to 10 pm. Weekends: 8 am to 10.30 pm. Meal for two at about INR 1,000.