@ In Forest Resort, Jhambulpada

Just 63 kms from Nerul, Navi Mumbai is a (once) small village Jhambulpada.

We have been crossing this hamlet, Jhambulpada on the way to our farm plot at Village Pendli, on the SH 92 (State Highway 92).

As soon as you turn into Jhambulpada from the SH 92, there is this “Gharghuti Jhevann” (home cooked food in Marathi) joint.

We have visited this place, off and on over the past 10 years, the local cuisine served here in this “Shakhahari” (vegetarian) hotel is simply “out of this world”.

The SH 92 links to the Penn – Khopoli road as well as the Khalapur toll exit of the freeway to Pali (28 kms from Khalapur) that is a major Hindu pilgrimage spot, famous for the Ashta-Vinayik temple.

We have been visiting this region since 1993, and have seen the area grow and develop, the roads changing from potholed dirt roads to an expressway and state highway. The “Imagica” a Disney-world type amusement park, built on the SH 92, that draws in thousands everyday. The few dhabas have got converted to multi-cuisine restaurents.

We used to love the “vada-pavs” sold by a mom-pop dhaba just after turning into the Pali road. This place has now become a chain of “Sai” multi-cuisine, veg and non-veg restaurents and lodges. The taste is not the same.

The dhabas that earlier used to cater to the locals and Marathi pilgrims, now cater to a more cosmopolitan “metro” tastes and the authencity is lost.

In all this change, the In Forest Resort @ Jhambulpada, stands a class apart.

From a Family run unit, it has changed to a larger unit yet retains the same charm and innocence. The clientele have increased almost ten-fold, yet the menu still has the same Maharashtrian dishes on the menu and the taste is unchanged.

The vada-pavs are awesome, no one makes them like the Maharastrians especially around the coast, and the closer you are to Mumbai, the better it tastes.

If you ever have a chance to visit the In Forest Resort, I would suggest the “Thalipet” – this a speciality of Maharashtra and Karnataka, but the preparation here is unique. This is a dough made of rice flour mixed with a mixed lentil flour and masala added to it, the dough is then patted on a plate (flat surface) and sauted on a frying pan. It is served piping hot with a chunk of butter on top with a spot of “techha” (green chili paste). I should warn you this is addictive. My friend and batchmate, Syed Abdi, a true foodie and connosieur of fine food as all those who know him will agree, is one of its die-hard fans.

For starters I will suggest, the Kothimbhir vade, kothimbir (coriander) added to dough made of gram flour, spices and chopped chillies and deep fried, makes you wish they served chilled beer with this. An alternate they served chilled Kokum juice, and during the season Mango Panna – a juice preparation unique to the region.

Another dish to tryout, I will recommend another totally maharastrian dish the “Misal Pav”, it is very difficult to describe this dish, but do try this dish, another ideal fast food preparation.

This is also a restaurant that is managed entirely by ladies, once in a while we have seen a middle-aged entleman at the counter, but the front end is entirely operated by ladies, Long live Women-power.

This Wednesday 29.08.2018, Akshay and I drove down to Pendli and back, we had an extended breakfast here and I am happy to report that the quality, quantity and taste remain the same, and as important the “Gharghuti” ambience remains unchanged.