“I need to name this the Tinder desk. Or possibly the Bumble desk,” chuckles Nirav Shah, discussing the 24-seater group desk that occupies satisfaction of place at his newly-launched café, Bask. “Or, let’s name it the Swipe Proper desk,” he says, clearly delighted on the thought. “Lots of people will find yourself making pals right here.”
In 1999, Nirav and his two brothers, Bhavesh and Pratik, began somewhat espresso store on Chennai’s quiet, leafy Greenways Highway, with a brief vegetarian menu, a fundamental Krups residence espresso machine and a good suggestion, backed with the braveness that comes from having no expertise. They had been straight out of faculty, and the area — named Espresso? — shortly full of pals, and pals of pals, until it closed in 2008.
Meals at Bask by Espresso?
In 2021, greater than twenty years after the primary launch, they got here collectively once more on a whim to see if they might recreate that magic, in a metropolis that appeared very totally different from the one they knew within the Nineties. Launched simply because the pandemic was slowly really fizzling out, the brand new cafe – named ‘Espresso? since 1999’ in a nod to the previous – was helmed by Nirav, by now a well known cinematographer, together with Bhavesh and his spouse Mona, each of whom had labored with Chennai’s fashionable Satyam Cinemas.
This time, nevertheless the Krups wouldn’t minimize it — they invested in a swanky Italian Sanremo Opera 2.O for the espressos, then added all the required accoutrements required of a brand new age espresso store for pourovers: the chemex, V60, Aeropress and Kalita.
Outside seating space at Bask by Espresso?
The area was shortly packed, once more with pals, and new-found pals. So now, they’re taking their subsequent leap of religion and organising a second café at a sprawling bungalow on Kasturi Rangan Highway, known as Bask by Espresso? And this time, their Italian Sanremo Opera is teamed with Circulate, an revolutionary espresso telemetry system that ensures consistency.
Unfold over greater than 5,000 toes, Bask bravely places its religion in Chennai’s climate — with a lot of relaxed out of doors seating. “We’re creating an informal café, with nice meals and low,” says Nirav, including that the primary open space will turn out to be their most social area. “We will use it for occasions, like arise comedy, or dwell music.” It flows right into a quieter zone behind shaded by bushes. The air-conditioned space has a few semi-private rooms, and an old-school mosaic staircase, worn with age, results in a breezy balcony upstairs.
Bask has been constructed to encourage dialog. “We would like this to be a group area, similar to Espresso?’ says Nirav. Over refreshing glasses of citrusy chilly brew, and a platter full of creamy hummus, roasted chickpeas and crunchy sourdough toast, Mona explains how her clients at Espresso? deal with the café as a 3rd area, after residence and the workplace, utilizing it to community and hangout. “We’ve got individuals who come on a regular basis, and even clients who come twice a day,” she says, including that they hope Bask will provide a equally welcoming vibe.
Torched figs and buratta on toast
Chef Deepesh Attupurath Chandran, who created the consolation meals menu at Espresso?, can flex now that he has a a lot larger kitchen at Bask, with groups and areas set aside for Indian, Chinese language and continental fare. He begins loading the desk together with his signature dishes: curls of Norwegian salmon set on sourdough toast slathered generously with cream cheese; a conventional rooster Caesar salad made with anchovies; an addictive Sichuan rooster feisty with crackling chillies; and contemporary figs torched with honey, served on toast with burrata and rocket.
“The concept is to create consolation meals that folks can eat on a regular basis,” says Deepesh, including “So we attempt to preserve it lighter and comparatively wholesome.” He provides, deadpan, “The menu will preserve evolving by time, season, individuals…” Bhavesh laughs in response, “Our menu retains getting adulterated by our regulars,” he states, including that fixed customisation has resulted in utterly new gadgets being added to the menu: peri peri rooster fries, pita pizzas and their rice bowls, as an example.
(From left to proper) Bhavesh, Mona and Nirav Shah of Bask by Espresso?
Whereas the kitchen is having enjoyable with their new tandoor, pizza oven and sous vide machine, Deepesh is sensibly sticking to creating meals that’s straightforward to order, and straightforward to eat, typically including a signature twist to make it his personal. Cue his private favorite: a creamy dal makhani topped with chilli garlic butter and served with naan. And even only a common buttery pound cake, paying homage to childhood birthday events, shiny with contemporary oranges and studded with cranberries.
“Dependability is essential for us,” says Nirav. “Bask could also be fancier from the skin, however the heat on the core is similar. We need to make you cheerful, we need to serve good meals, and we need to create an area that you’ll preserve returning to.”
Bask by Espresso? Is open from 11 am to midnight. It’s at 11/6, Kasturi Rangan Highway, Kasturi Property, Teynampet. A meal for 2 prices roughly ₹1,500