Masemari is owned by Lalan Sarang , a well know Maharashtrian Big Screen and Theatre actress and is situated in the heart of Pune city and is fine example of Malvani,Konkani and Goan cuisine with a comprehensive menu. An ode to the finest that coastal cuisine from Konkan and Goa has to offer!
Western Indian Coastal cuisine and the way our family cooks sea food, involves the use of freshly grated coconut in abundance.We also don’t shy from using chillies lots of them red and green and freshly ground coriander chilli,ginger and garlic are used as a marinade for fish before frying. So if discerning foodies like us who know our coastal cuisine go out to eat similar food, the place better know what they are serving us!Especially if it involves travelling from one end of the city on a crisp winter morning and when we could easily have waltzed into Nisarg our all time sea food speciality fav restaurant.
So are you ready to go on a visually stimulating coastal adventures on the tall swaying coconut tree lined coast of India , into the beautiful waters of Konkan and treat your senses to a tantalising deluge of spices …well then Strap on that seat belt for a ride on this fishing powerboat …no no … what the heck…just Dive right in 😉
We start the meal with Sol Kadhi (pronounced Soul Kadhee) made from freshly squeezed coconut milk and kokum (Mangosteen) , said to have digestive properties and consumed as palate cleanser between courses.
A prawn platter which is a mix of Rawa ,Tawa,Koliwada and crispy prawns.(rawa = semolina ,Tawa =pan,Koli = fisherman, Wada= literally meaning a huge old style indian house like a bungalow, but Koliwada refers to a colony of Kolis or fishermen folk in India)
Bangda (Mackerel) Fry…I love anything served anything on a keli-paan (kela = banana ,paan = leaf)
Fish Pickle as a side
For mains we ordered Tandool Bhakari or Indian bread made with rice flour (the white roti in the picture) , Wade – made from a mixture of 3-4 different flours and deep fried (the brown puffy puri),Pompfret curry.
I loved the clean fresh white washed walls and huge artefacts that scream fish,fishing and fishing boats. The service is polite , quick and the fish is as fresh as the catch of the day, we went in hope of getting crabs – lots of them , alas …. I live in the hope of a ”next time”
After this fine meal I still dared to consume a gulab jamun and some more sol kadhi! I literally crawled to where Baba had parked the car and that afternoon oh boy ! Did I have a fab nap or what 🙂
Sylvia says
March 4, 2014 at 11:23 amFish pickles as side looks droolworthy!
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:08 pmOhhh tell me about it Sylvia!
Karen Burns Booth says
March 4, 2014 at 2:37 pmWhat a FABULOUS feast and as a fully paid up fish lover, that fish looks DIVINE!
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:08 pmThank you Karen , I live in the hope of going back there and eating the best crabs ever!Amen to that!
Nayna Kanabar says
March 4, 2014 at 3:40 pmLooks like you had fun at this place in Pune.
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:08 pmOh yes Nayna!
Tina @ The Spicy Pear says
March 4, 2014 at 4:36 pmI love all your food photos, especially the fried fish. I want to visit Pune and eat all the wonderful delights you tried. And I’ve already said on your blog before how much I love pomfret. My favourite fish from Mumbai. You get the frozen variety over here but it loses much of its flavour by the time you’ve cooked it. I need to return to the motherland!
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:07 pmTina! Lets go together on a foodie trip! seriously! I cannot tell you how much I miss my fresh fish from back home but there is a vendor in Croydon who flies in fresh fish but one has to go there obscenely early like by 4am and also the rates are pretty exorbitant – as is expected!Well, at times its ok to give in I guess heheh . But I totally agree fish is one food item that tastes its best when fresh, frozen fish just doesn’t cut it!
London-Unattached.com says
March 4, 2014 at 9:01 pmI’m smiling at the idea of your fab nap! what a great adventure!
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:05 pmOh Fiona it was what I call ‘sleeping like a baby’ , lost to the world and totally blissed out 🙂
Morgan @ Peaches, Please says
March 5, 2014 at 12:06 amI’m not familiar with any of this food. Thanks for broadening my cultural and culinary borders.
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:03 pmYou are very welcome Morgan 🙂 Thats why I love reading food blogs that expose us to some many cultural and culinary nuances.
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
March 5, 2014 at 5:34 pmThe mackerel fry is def my kind of dish.
manjirichitnis says
March 6, 2014 at 12:03 pmOh yes Bintu! Sighh how I miss the fresh fish we get back home!
Janice @FarmersgirlCook says
March 6, 2014 at 9:00 pmWow! What a tasty looking meal.
manjirichitnis says
March 8, 2014 at 4:23 pmThanks Janice!
glamorous glutton says
March 6, 2014 at 10:33 pmGreat looking meal and the fried mackerel looks particularly delicious. GG
manjirichitnis says
March 8, 2014 at 4:22 pmThanks GG oh yes that Mackerel!
HedgeComber says
March 10, 2014 at 8:16 amYes please to every single course! 🙂
Janie x
manjirichitnis says
March 10, 2014 at 11:58 amyay Janie! 🙂
Eat Your Veg says
March 10, 2014 at 11:36 amLooks like one heavenly flavour sensation of a meal to me Manjiri!
manjirichitnis says
March 10, 2014 at 11:57 amOh yes Lous it certainly was!
Heidi Roberts says
March 10, 2014 at 6:20 pmThis certainly looks like a fish adventure – I only like to eat fish when I can see the water it came out of!!
manjirichitnis says
March 11, 2014 at 1:16 pmOh yes it was an adventure for the taste buds! oh these fish are all salt water and fresh as catch of the day!
Fuss Free Helen says
March 11, 2014 at 11:40 amthat mackerel looks amazing! so so good.
manjirichitnis says
March 11, 2014 at 1:14 pmoh yes it was heavenly!