5 food writers on the best things they ate this month

We could be tearing our hairs over the treatment to a video at one moment and dissecting the texture of a shortbread cookie next—that's this team, bound by a shared love for (or at least curiosity around) food. And because each month, we end up spending a considerable amount of time—between writing pitches, researching stories, ideating and backspacing emails—actually eating different kinds of things, it made sense to put it all in one place. You know, just in case you're looking for a recommendation.

So, here's the best of what the editorial team ate this month and why they loved it.

The best in a box

Chef Ananda Solomon's meal box brightens up the grey, rainy weekend for us. Warm, soothing, ginger and peanut tom yum soup, succulent pan-grilled white prawns, chicken satay with peanut sauce, spicy papaya salad and a flavourful Thai green curry with rice are just some of our favourite contents from the box. The honey-chilli sauce gets a special mention and we drizzle it over all that we eat. We enjoy everything from the aromatic, fresh food and hospitable service to the distinctive flavours of the ingredients and the clean packaging. You could say that this meal box truly brings the restaurant experience home.
Address: Thai Naam, The Orb, IA Project Road, Andheri East, Mumbai.
To order: call on 7417300300 or 02228530500 or check out their Instagram
By Tarini Sood, Digital Writer

Shortbread for the strategist

When we first spotted The Tiny Tub, a dessert kitchen in Mumbai's Sakinaka, the only thing that came to mind was if their whimsical, tiny, thumb-sized strawberry shortbread cookies could actually be this cute? And we're delighted to report: not only are they adorable, but deliver on taste too. They are crumbly, buttery and have just the right amount of sweet strawberry preserves in the centre. Would we order from here again? Maybe not as an everyday snack. But for special occasions or a team get-together? Definitely.
Address: The Tiny Tub, Unit 47, 1st Floor, Jai Mahavir Industrial Estate, Sakinaka, Mumbai.
To order: log on to thetinytub.petpooja.com or check out their Instagram
By Sroojana Iyer, Social Media Strategist

Coffee will keep us alive

If you meet the team, you'll believe it when we say that we are 24x7 caffeinated and that's literally what gets us through the day. As coffee enthusiasts, we decided to try the 100% roasted Arabica coffee from Bengaluru's latest roastery, Baarbara Coffee. With notes of caramel and toasted nuts, the coffee has a unique flavour. We suspect Lorelai Gilmore fans to greatly appreciate this blend.
To order, visit their website: www.thecaffeinebaar.com (Delivering pan-India) or check out their Instagram
By Devika Manghnani, Senior Digital Writer

Being BFFs with a burger

The good thing about being a burger lover in Mumbai is that there's a range of options to choose from. And the bad thing is also that there's a range of options to choose from. With restaurants and delivery kitchens giving the erstwhile fast food a huge upgrade using better buns, greater sauces and imaginative flavour combinations, it can be hard to pick just one. But this month, we found ourselves warming up greatly to the grilled BFF burger from Mumbai's much-loved Spanish diner, La Loca Maria. The chunky burger comes with soft brioche buns and a classic buff patty topped with a piece of sharp, melted cheddar. The pickles and caramelised onions offset each other, with every bite offering the twin pleasure of tanginess and a sweet, smoky kick. Plus, there's chilli fries on the side and that seals the deal for us.
Address: La Loca Maria, Shop No. 5, Carlton Court, Turner Road, Mumbai.
To order: call on 9324404335 or check out their Instagram
By Suman Mahfuz Quazi, Food Editor

A one-way ticket to heaven

Soft on the outside, immensely gooey inside, you'll be surprised by the amount of flavour the doughnuts at this South Mumbai bakery pack! We sample two: Nutella and Lotus Biscoff. Right from the texture to the flavour combinations—these sweet treats are nothing like your regular doughnuts. If you're looking for a one-way ticket to heaven, you have to try the Nutella stuffed doughnut that is filled with Nutella. Word of caution: they're loaded on calories, so you might want to call a BFF over to share the guilt.
Open: Wednesday - Sunday
To order: call The Notting Hill Bakery on 7045542681 or check out their Instagram
By Tarvene Shahpuri, Digital Marketing Specialist

We found salad in a ramen place

Ramen may be a hero at this Japanese restaurant in Bandra, but it is the sushi, the condiments and the well-thought out sides that have my heart. Their spicy crispy sweet potato and mixed greens salad is one such dish. The sweet-spicy dressing comes with bits of ginger, sesame and togarashi. It has to be poured on cubed avos, fresh bean sprouts, radish, carrot and the star of this salad, fried sweet potato chips! This dish is to their menu what Justin Beiber is to your playlist, your entry into being a certified millennial. Bonus: cute flowers cut out of veggies.
Address: Izumi, Sunrise Building, Road Number 24, Bandra West, Mumbai.
To order: call on 8657455585 or check out their Instagram
By Sonal Ved, Editor

Not writing the veg burger off

In our search to find new places to try in Vadodara, we came across Nona India. Nona's menu has everything, from gourmet burgers, sliders and dumplings to shortbreads, pies and scones. We called for the quinoa, bean and beet burger and love that the patty didn't fall apart. The caramelised onions lend the sandwich a palatable sweetness and helps keep the patty moist. The best part? The burger buns, which are soft and still manage to hold the filling without getting soggy. Seldom does a vegetarian burger impress a burger lover so much. Safe to say, Nona is a worthy exception.
Address: Nona India, 11 Shivashray society, Vasna road, Vadodara
To order: call on 9099014328
By Manal Doshi, Writer

These meals/items (except for Baarbara Coffee and Nona Burgers) were paid for by IFN and reviewed anonymously.