Mejwani @ kandivali.............By Kirti Pataskar

Well,if you are a kandivali east dweller and pissed off  over the unavailability of authentic maharashtrian sea food or non-veg delicacies, then you no longer need to roll down your tears as there is a fantastic agri restaurant opened in Thakur Complex,kandivali east.This outlet is started around 7-8 months back and as anticipated the response is undoubtedly overwhelming.As a food blogger,I had an urge to go and cover this restaurant with all my tastebuds.I finally decided,took up my photographer friend Amey and went there.You know,if there is anything that makes me happy is when I see any entrepreuner is a woman.That makes me really proud n positively envy..!n Yesss..same is the case with Mejwani.This Restaurant is run by Mrs.Pradnya Patil and her two daughters-Neha and Mrunal.It is in thakur complex,kandivali east and the timings are from 11.00 am.-10.00 pm.(monday closed) . Mejwani serves you the most authentic Agri food.Over the years,among maharashtrian cuisine Agri food has remained "left-out"from public's eye.After tasting it I seriously felt that this food certainly deserves more exploration and publicity.

Mejwani's entrance

        The restaurant's interior is done up with all coastal photographs of Maharashtra forts and their importance written below them.

another wall with historical coastal pictures n its importance

On the second wall,nice pictures of non veg delicacies have been put up.Two ethnic lamps hanging from celing n their yellow light makes one feel warm n familiar to the venue.Those yellow lights also add gloss to the ambience.

one wall with delicacies pictures

The area is relatively small with only two tables and eight chairs.So more n more people opt for "take away"orders.Pradnya tai is very courteous,soft-spoken woman and knows how to handle her guests.She was very busy with her orders,sauteeing,stirring,doughing n frying..!her daughter and one maid were assisting her.There were also delivery boys-Sarvesh n Durvesh.

The elder daughter Neha is great at attending guests.Having a work experience in hotel industry,she is well seeped in this cooking industry too.She precisely confessed that she has tasted the so-called best marathi or konkani  or goan restaurants in the city,but "Maa ke haath ka khana remains unbeatable" for her..

second daughter Mrunal cooking as her mother..!

it was wonderful chatting with Pradnya tai , Neha n a little baby on her lap

We ordered the best selling dish in starter...i.e fried prawns...It had a rice flour coating and the whole prawns were fried.It was served with schezwan chutney.It was crispy ,non-spicy fritters.The prawns inside were properly cooked.We finished off our starter.N there  came Pradnya tai with her hot,puffed up rice flour bhakri with chicken suke (dry chicken n rice flour flat bread).I couldnt believe that the same hands keeping track of money on the counter sometime back had made such beautiful wonders.!! Bhakri was superb..! it just melted on our tongue.Chicken suke was very delicious,not-so-spicy,with prefect mixture of oil,dry coconut n agri masala.I asked Neha that how different Agri food is from malavani food? n she rightly said,that the ground masala is different.The red dry chillies n a couple of more ingredients are different.

fried prawns

rice bhakri n chicken suke

mouthwatering prawns biryani

Nowadays,in most of malavani restaurants,there is no authentic malavani or konkani food.Sometimes,their coconut stinks due to long time storage.Some add coconut cream instead of fresh coconut milk which is again no-no for the best cooking.Mejwani never stores their left-over fish or any sea food.They return it to their vendor or they dispose it off .Finally,its the matter of health,Neha said.We cleaned up two Bhakris n Chicken suke and there came for our joy "prawns biryani"n solkadhi..both the dishes were cherry on the top!heavenly delicious.The fried onions on Prawns Biryani was making a statement..!Solkadhi was wonderful.Unlike,other konkani or kolhapuri food,I was not feeling bloated or burping with the sour taste after food.Again Biryani was made with whole garam masala like cloves, peppercorns,agri masala n whole cooked prawns.I have seen very few places where they cook prawns so meticulously.Sometimes,prawns are left with chewy ,half cooked texture.But here,everything was going above our expectations.The two daughters and Pradnya tai were lovable and affectionate people.I came to know thate ven Pradnya tai's mother is a great cook but unfortunately we couldn't meet her that day.So you see,three generations are cooking and serving you with their love,courtsey n affection in the form of Mejwani..!Please please please go and try this restau...I am sure, like me you too will fall in love with it...!

(L-R)me,Neha with her princess,Pradnya tai n Mrunal