Mumbai Food: SoBo eatery to showcase a new food pop-up every month

Globetrotting 23-year-old Sanjana Sanghi doesn't believe in whipping up just one cuisine at her first eatery in the city. And so, she decided to take the pop-up route.

Ferrero Nutella Sundae

"I am a foodie, and I love to try different concepts and new cuisines on my travels. When I would return to Mumbai, I would crave for them, so I thought, 'Why not bring trends from across the world on one platform?'" shares Sanghi, whose new eatery at Kemps Corner, Pop-Up Hut will host a different food enterprise every month. The pop-ups will be curated based on the season. "Since it is summer, we thought of having an ice-cream pop-up. In July, when it rains, we will introduce something warm and savoury. Similarly, during the festive season, such as Raksha Bandhan or Diwali, we will host home bakers from across the city to sell hampers and desserts," she adds. She will share news about pop-updates on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Plum Rollie

Sanghi also plans to bring in new chefs who have studied at international culinary schools such as Le Cordon Bleu, and are readying to start their food enterprises with Pop-Up Hut as their first testing ground. While she aims to set up more outlets in the city in future, the current venue is a tiny space and is almost hidden from the public eye. A passage in between a bookstore and a craft store leads you to the eatery that seats about five people inside, and has a standing space for a few more outside. Due to its matchbox-like space, only quick bites will be served. "I was inspired by the restaurants on Carnaby Street in London, where neon signs would lead you to quaint but great places," she reveals.

Thandai Swirlie

The taste test
The first food pop-up at Pop-Up Hut is IFRUIT, a city-based ice- cream chain that offers fresh ice- cream rolls frozen in front of you on a cold slab (a popular concept in Thailand). It is low fat and has no stabilisers or emulsifiers.

The interiors of Pop-Up Hut

We tried their Ferrero Rocher and Nutella Sundae (Rs 250) and Plum Rollie (served in the form of rolls, Rs 70) for a start. Both ice-creams had very little added sugar and relied on the base flavour, which was good. The sundae will go down well with Nutella lovers, though the rolls could have been a little less ice-y. The plum ice cream was made using real fruit and made for a good summer flavour. Next, we tried the Thandai flavour in the form of a swirlie (like a softy, Rs 70). The swirly nature of the ice cream solved the ice-y situation as this one was perfectly creamy. We would definitely return to try their Ginger Chilli ice-cream, which was unavailable when we dropped by.

Sanjana Sanghi

Time: 3 pm to midnight (weekdays); noon to midnight (weekends)
At: Kwality House, next to Crossword, below Kemps Corner Flyover.
Call: 9819334698

Home delivery available Pop-Up Hut didn't know we were there. the guide reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.