Cocooned in the heart of Mumbai’s art district of Kala Ghoda, The Pantry is a welcoming space that emantes the comforting feel of a home kitchen. Whether guests pop by to grab some of the homemade baking before heading out into the bustling neighbourhood, or want to leave behind the outside world within this homely yet stylish space, The Pantry seems designed to accommodate everyone.
The Pantry’s décor consists of whitewashed exterior walls, with potted plants, letters frosted on wide, friendly windows, high-beamed ceilings, white-tiled walls, window seats, baroque door knobs and small, cosy tables with pointy-legged Heller chairs. To create the appropriate look for the café, interior decorator Chetan Shah simply used what he had to hand – vintage Bharat tiles in pastel tones (for the kitchen counter), cement (for the floor), recycled Burma teak and pine wood (for table tops), and metal chairs to create an airy space that is reflective of the cafe’s own locavore philosophy. The look, Shah says, is French industrial.
“For far too long, the food culture of our country has been dominated by imports, while local produce has often been ignored,” says The Pantry team. “We promote the use of local produce wherever possible to nurture a grassroots movement within our very own communities.
“Our European-styled fare uses the freshest domestic ingredients available, from organic seasonal vegetables, country eggs, to single-origin Indian coffees and teas in a bid to re-introduce our diners to the fine taste and quality of ingredients in our very own country. The menu at The Pantry was a combination of things co-owner Abhishek Honawar had tasted in New York (and was dying to bring to Mumbai) and French foods menu consultant Marguerite de Lastours wanted to introduce.”
