Temporary eateries are setting up shop in the city for just a night or two, to tempt folks in a novel way
You're strolling past a defunct store or a nursery school that has closed for the day. The next day, you find the same area filled with rows of tables laden with food, happy diners and fun. The sudden surprise is actually a food trend that's fast catching up in Mumbai. Say hello to the pop-up restaurant — a makeshift eatery that can happen anywhere, at any time — which has been a big fad abroad. It's short-lived, comes with no major investments and foodies seem to love it.
Here's more on how the pop-up is whetting appetites in our very own city...
So, how does it work?
The pop-up, much like its name, is just for a few nights, or even a few weeks. There's no hard-core advertising as it's temporary and folks generally come to know about it through social media, bloggers et al. City-based blogger Perzen Patel who took part in one, gives it a thumbs-up.
You're strolling past a defunct store or a nursery school that has closed for the day. The next day, you find the same area filled with rows of tables laden with food, happy diners and fun. The sudden surprise is actually a food trend that's fast catching up in Mumbai. Say hello to the pop-up restaurant — a makeshift eatery that can happen anywhere, at any time — which has been a big fad abroad. It's short-lived, comes with no major investments and foodies seem to love it.
Here's more on how the pop-up is whetting appetites in our very own city...
So, how does it work?
The pop-up, much like its name, is just for a few nights, or even a few weeks. There's no hard-core advertising as it's temporary and folks generally come to know about it through social media, bloggers et al. City-based blogger Perzen Patel who took part in one, gives it a thumbs-up.
"I think the pop-up restaurant is great as it allows you to try food that you may have otherwise not have had easy access to." She also admits that for people like her it provides a great opportunity. "I have been part of a pop-up restaurant for a 'Beer and Bhonu' Sunday afternoon. This comprised a set four-course meal for guests and they could also try international beverages at the same time; people loved it and I really hope to explore this trend further," she says. Recently, a Greek restaurant from Goa came to a Mediterranean restaurant at Mahalakshmi for a short while, and for those who had been to the former in Goa, it was a chance to enjoy the fare back in Mumbai !
Brings together talented folk !
Insia Lacewalla and Paresh Chhabria, who have done 10 food pop-ups in Mumbai, including one every Sunday in Powai through June, say the concept that took off last year is catching on in a big way.
Brings together talented folk !
Insia Lacewalla and Paresh Chhabria, who have done 10 food pop-ups in Mumbai, including one every Sunday in Powai through June, say the concept that took off last year is catching on in a big way.
Says Insia, "At Powai, we did a lunch every Sunday. The best part of such a pop-ups is the themes keep changing which brings a sense of excitement and gives people something new to do. In May, we did a 'Bombay Local' with various themes under one roof and it saw 1,200 people in a single evening!" Last year, a 'Bakers Pop-Up' with homemakers, bakers and chocolatiers, as well as a 'fresh produce pop-up' with folks selling cheese, breads, dips and flavoured butter, at Bandra, created a huge buzz. "This February, we had a theme — 'Around the World in 80 Plates' with stalls and food from different countries. It brought together so many people who were otherwise unknown," she adds.
Tara Kapur, who is passionate about baking, talks about participating in a pop-up at a Bandra nursery school this month.
Tara Kapur, who is passionate about baking, talks about participating in a pop-up at a Bandra nursery school this month.
"I put up a few cakes — pumpkin and chocolate vegan cake, among others — it got so crowded and everything was sold out! I think people really loved the fact that here was something different on the food scene. There was a variety of food, no entry fee and a carnival-esque atmosphere, which turned a drab Sunday into something fun," she says.
In a food-loving city like ours, will this culinary experimentation continue to thrive?
In a food-loving city like ours, will this culinary experimentation continue to thrive?