Reliving college memories

Sneaking out of the classrooms, bunking the afternoon lectures and gathering around at the college canteen to treat your taste buds, naturally brings back the smile of nostalgia. Recently, Café Knosh of The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel took me to a trip down the memory lane. The ongoing festival serves the signature dishes from some popular Delhi colleges.

Though located in an obscure zone, the appetizing aroma of the food and the beautiful ambience makes Café Knosh an enticing place to reminisce the good old college days over a cutting chai.

Situated on the third floor of the hotel, the very first moment of stepping into the café gave me the feel of those typical college canteens (but of course the cafe is cleaner and classy). I would love to give a 10 on 10 to the vibrant interiors. The colourful cold drink bottles, books stalked in the shelves, a replica of the basketball court adjacent to the canteen and a bus stop dummy beautifully justifies and enhances the overall theme of the festival.

While I absorbed the artistic and aesthetic ambience of the café, I was served with a glass of refreshing orange juice.

While I was still struggling with the thought of what to start with (which I always do), I was enlightened by one of the hotel staff (who joined me at the lunch table) that a delhite would anytime grab the bite of chole-bhature over everything else, and so I did the same. The fluffy bhaturas, which did not have even a trace of excess oil, perfectly compli- mented the spicy yet a bit tangy taste of chole. It was followed by the Pav-bhaji. Since Pav-bhaji is something that stimulates my cravings, I couldn’t resist but dig my spoon in the bowl to taste it. Against my expectations, it couldn’t excite my taste buds. But I won’t mind neglecting such a minor disappointment as Rajma Chawal, served afterwards, compensated for the Pav-bhaji. Balanced taste and well-cooked beans actually melt in the mouth.

But what won my heart was kadhi-chawal. Though I am not a crazy avid kadhi lover as most of the north Indians are, the quirky taste of the soft pakodas drenched in the yummy curry, fascinated me to bits. With this, I progressed towards the south Indian platter that had masala dosa, Idli and Vada served with three different kinds of chutneys including that of coconut, tomato, and mint. The colorful and fragrant salver took my sense of smell to new heights.

So, if the talks are revolving around the canteen food, how can you miss out Maggie, an all time favorite snack? I would delightfully call Café Knosh the mecca of the Maggie lovers. You will find plenty of options, from all veggie Maggie to the chicken masala Maggie, which will explore your taste buds to an explosion of zesty flavor that you have loved all your life.

Here I reached the end of a wholesome meal without a dessert but a sizzling cutting chai which indeed preserved the feel of chatting-eating in the college canteen on a rainy day. After such a hearty meal I carried the memories of good food and hospitality that surely will keep prompting me to revisit a place like Café Knosh.