Kochiites are a tough lot to please, especially when it comes to food. But the young owners of District 7—who started out with a Panampilly Nagar-based food truck—know exactly what recipes will satiate local gourmands. Inspired by the success of their ‘meals on wheels’, they’re taking a new avatar as a brick and mortar eatery near the Royal Enfield showroom at Vytilla.
“The idea of Asian cuisine is limited to Indo-Chinese fare and we want to explore the less experimented Asian flavours like Japanese, alongside more Continental options,” says co-owner Shiv Ratnakumar. While the D7 truck focussed on wraps and burgers, the menu at this new 44-cover outlet sports delicacies like nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice) and quatro formaggio cheese fondue.
Bigger is better
Their mint-heavy blue lagoon brew provides respite from the summer heat, as I sit upon the cafe’s pinewood high stool and wait for their specialities to arrive on the counter table top. First to arrive is the empire salad (coleslaw with fried noodles) which is sure to impress anyone who loves crunchy fare. Hoping to sample their extensive starters menu without filling myself up, I opt for their chicken ham and salty cheese roll, served with a half-boiled egg dip.
“The team researched various cuisines to ensure that the spread is vibrant enough, and of course, we added our own little quirks,” says kitchen lead Tijo Varghese, who worked onboard Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line for almost a decade. One more starter won’t hurt, especially when it’s beef tenderloin lollipops, served alongside a piquant chimichurri sauce.
Exotic touch
Tijo brings Filipino influences into the meal with a light and glassy egg pancit noodles. Equally fanciful to the eyes and the palate, the noodles melt in my mouth. “We’re also planning to include more options from India like a Dindigul biryani to rein in the masses,” Shiv informs, as he serves me a quintessential pasta platter. This Alfredo variant (with a cream cheese dressing) makes for a pleasant dish for people with a light appetite.
Though their dessert option is Indian, thankfully it isn’t the redundant gulab jamun. The multi-layered Goan pudding bebinca—best paired with a vanilla ice cream to augment the cardamom flavour—provides a sweet note to end the meal.
Meal for two `400 onwards.
Open from 11 am to 11 pm.
Details: 4062777