Chilled beer may be one of our basest desires when summers hit us hard, but there are a few things that match up to its perfection. Like that last spoon on gooey chocolate cake on your plate for example, or maybe it’s that frozen flavoured popsicle we all refuse to share. But being the entitled young gluttons that we are, just one desire fulfilled is never enough so we thought, why not kill two cravings with one appetite?
There’s nothing more sinfully decadent that when alcohol and dessert meet (not that we need either one as an excuse to guzzle and scarf down the other) yet perfectly balancing the two is challenging. So we rounded up the places that serve up Mumbai’s Crème de la Crème when it comes to alcohol-infused desserts. From quirky beer popsicles to seriously boozy, rum-soaked banana caramel pies, these are the kind of indulgent desserts that will fill your stomach, heart and liver all at once. Cheers!
I. Gulab Nut at The Bombay Canteen
The Bombay Canteen’s Floyd Cardoz, Sameer Seth and Yash Bhanage have made a niche of their own in Mumbai, using local ingredients that are built up into world-class desserts with a characteristic twist. Our favorite? An unlikely trio of donuts, gulab jamun and baba au rhum known as the Gulab Nut; a donut-shaped gulab jamun soaked in rum with a pistachio cream filling. The current dessert menu, Gulab Nut included, is designed by Sucres Des Terres.
Cost: A new way to win a cop’s heart at Rs. 300
II. Baileys Mousse Cake at Leo’s Boulangerie
It’s easy to miss Leo’s Boulangerie in the crowded Lokhandwala market, but what it lacks in visibility it makes up for in one hell of a Mousse Cake. This booze mousse cake is infused with Baileys delicious creamy booziness and centred in a chocolate cage. Rawr.
Cost: Death by Baileys @ Rs. 100 for a slice. The Afterlife starts @ Rs. 500 for a 1/2 kg cake
III. Jack Daniels Ice Cream at Bungalow 9
Set in an old tobacco factory, Bungalow 9 is where old-world charm meets the chic and the carefree. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget Mumbai the second you walk in. Our pick for this rather specific bunch of treats is the Jack Daniels Whiskey Ice-cream, garnished with crushed biscuit and encased in a biscuit basket. It has just the right amount of alcohol to hit the spot, and the crispness of the biscuit works well with the cold ice-cream. It’s also seriously filling.
Cost: @ Rs. 350, you might need a second stomach.
IV. Dark chocolate and whisky éclair & Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte at Country Of Origin
COO’s Mr. Kiran travelled to the Black Forest Region in Germany to perfect his Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte; a traditional black forest cake with cherry brandy. Another firm favourite is their whiskey eclair, using the infallible combo of Dark Chocolate with a traditional eclair.
Cost: Yield to Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte @ Rs. 180 a slice. Follow up with a Dark Choc and Whisky Eclair @ Rs. 180 a pop.
V. Bailey’s Lollipop at Farzi Cafe
Focusing on the gourmet diner as well as the youth of India, Farzi Café aims to bring Indian cuisine back “in-Vogue”. Chocolate lollipop is a fusion of traditional global and Indian style, with a mixture of baileys & condensed milk.
Cost: Tastes as good as its chicken sibling @ Rs. 355
VI. Chocolate truffles with homemade whiskey ice cream at Gallops
Gallops at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse has an enviable view, a staggeringly huge menu, and now, these delicious little chocolate truffles with their amazing in-house whisky ice cream. As if the richness of those truffles weren’t enough, the smooth texture of an ice cream with hints of whisky running through it is definitely going to get your heart racing.
Cost: The Real Colonial Hangover starts @ Rs. 330.
VII. Hot Kahlua Souffle at Joss
The new Joss is a continuation of a journey that carries forward a decade old legacy. One of our finds is the Hot Kahlua Souffle, a traditional French dessert made by beating egg whites till they are light and fluffy and mixed with Kahlua and dark chocolate. This particular one is poured in a ramekin and baked till it rises and is gooey in the center.
Cost: C’est magnifique @ Rs. 490
VIII. Old Monk chocolate cake at Monkey Bar
Of all the liquors you can team with chocolate, few go as well as rum. And Monkey Bar’s Old Monk chocolate cake seems to further that conviction. To top it off, the cake is iced generously and sprinkled with caramel bits. Chocolate and Old Monk are a match made in heaven, a fact that Monkey Bar capitalises on. This rich chocolate cake is soaked in rum and sprinkled with bits of caramel.
Cost: A Taste of Nostalgia @ Rs. 270
IX. Beer popsicle at The White Owl
Served on a bed of crumbled butter-cookies, The White Owl’s beer turned into popsicles is the real deal, with its beer made out of their own craft ‘Ace’ beer, a French Apple Cider (with mild apple champagne flavours).
Cost: Beer popsicle @ Rs. 195, why should the kids have all the fun?
Special Mention
X. Drunken Cream
Made at home by Alok Rao and whipped to perfection, Drunken Cream has seven variants; The Chocolate Crème De Menthe, Cherry Whiskey, Blueberry Ginger, Almond Whiskey, Chocolate Beer, Coffee Oreo Rum and, our personal favourite, The Orange Brownie Grand Marnier. Rao is now experimenting with champagne, wine and cocktails like Margaritas and Pinacoladas. The ice-creams are made from scratch without any artificial essence.
Cost: A 500 gms tub of whipped, boozy goodness @ Rs. 462
Researched by Karan Khosla
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