Chimney cones are the new buzzword at Nava India. Could it just be that the pizza cone trend has finally arrived in the city? As we walk up the wooden steps that lead to The Budapest Bakehouse, wondering what all the talk is about, we are greeted by a hoard of college goers who are equally intrigued by the novel prospect.
Colour coded
A 1,200 sq ft outlet located just off the main road, the biggest advantage of this five-day-old joint, despite all the noisy traffic, is that its al fresco patio with its fairy lights, offers an aerial view of Avinashi Road and an unobstructed panorama of the horizon. A quick run through of the establishment and the vibrant colour scheme around reminds us of Wes Anderson’s comedy, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Furnished with olive green and bluish-grey interiors with wooden flooring, the solid pops of colour (like in Anderson’s movies)—the strawberry pinks, bright reds and beige—is reflected in the food they serve. (But more on that later.) Run by the 23-year-old Sanjana M Kumar, the bakehouse is the first franchise of the Mumbai-based dessert shop serving fresh, handmade sweet and savoury chimney cakes in south India. “I came across the place when I was studying in Mumbai and absolutely loved the food. The next time my dad came to visit me, I quite literally dragged him along,” she says.
Hybrid theory
Unique in their offerings, The Budapest Bakehouse serves a Hungarian street food called Kürtoskalács, that commonly goes by the anglicised name Chimney cones. Made with similar ingredients to that of a doughnut, the crust is crisp on the outside and soft and flaky on the inside, much like a croissant, but is shaped like a cone. Though bearing semblance to the pizza cone, these Chimney cones taste nothing like it.
Starting off with the Spicy Italian, which bears a bright shade of reddish-orange from the red chilli peppers, we caution you to pay heed to the ‘spicy’ tag. Filled with a tangy yet cheesy sauce that is laden with generous helpings of herbed chicken with crunchy onions, capsicum, olives and chillies, the herb cheese bread roll perfectly compliments the heat from the filling. While the Butter Chicken cone is a favourite, we opt for the Mama’s Mayo Chicken that has a herb mayo and chunky coleslaw to ease the heat.
Sweet finish
From the sweet section, we stick to a classic chocolate and attempt to take on the Dark Night—a pure chocolatey indulgence. Meant for only the absolute chocolate lover, this oreo cone is filled to the brim with Nutella, brownie bites, chocolate sauce and a significant swirl of soft serve ice cream. For those who are not so easily impressed with sugary goodness, try the Tiramisu cone that has a balance of flavours from the bitter coffee cake.
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From 11 am to 11 pm. Average price for two Rs 400.