Home-cooked Meals in Private Villas Turn Staycations Into Good Food Diaries

Every one of us has a favourite food joint with certain memories attached to it. Be it a fancy restaurant or a street-side stall, our taste buds mark familiarity when we gorge on our stipulated favourites. Now with the mini-lockdown order in Maharashtra putting strict restrictions on restaurants and street food stalls, you might not visit them for a while. But who needs a restaurant when you can have a fully-serviced private villa experience with lip-smacking food? At SaffronStays, we lay equal emphasis on serving fresh home-cooked meals, handmade with love by a trained team of chefs. Be it picking organic produce from the farms you stay around, or specially curated cuisines made as per your preferences, your vacations in our safe villas will make the heart and tummy full!

Authentic Farm-To-Table Experience 

SaffronStays Sanvina Farm, Karjat
Fresh farm-to-table local meals.

With a growing trend to switch towards organic foodstuffs, there is very little guarantee of our products being truly organic in the cities. But in private villas that craft a farm stay experience, guests can pick fresh seasonal veggies, spices, and fruits for consumption from these farms. Private villas in Karjat like SaffronStays Sanvina Farm boasts of over 2000+ trees like mango, pineapple, lychee, phalsa, mulberry, and cherry masalas like tamarind and vegetables. So straight from the farm (subject to availability) on your plate? Yes sir!

At One Tree Farm, another private pool villa in Karjat, children can go lemon picking in the paddy fields around. Fresh lime juice in these sweaty summers will ensure you feel refreshed from the first sip!

Savour Local Home-Cooked Meals

No matter which destination you go to, always make it a point to taste the local specialties, at least for a couple of meals if not all. The distinct flavours of a place, cooked by chefs who ace at these recipes, savouring local specialties is a part of digging into our multi-cuisine culture. So while you can always have jam and toast for breakfast, opt for some spicy Misal Pav instead.

At our private villas in Alibaug, we would recommend you try the authentic Konkani preparations by chefs on site. Our in-house chef at SaffronStays Little Paradise in Murud serves Konkani meals with a Bengali twist! Munching on some fried fish while sipping on your cocktails on a beachfront, you’d truly immerse in the atmosphere.

At SaffronStays Gardenia in Kihim, we recommend home-cooked meals like Popti Chicken and Veg Popti made by our chefs. If you feel like eating chaat in the evening, that can be arranged too.

SaffronStays Masaya, Alibaug
A delicious spread of homemade food.

One need not limit their meals in Alibaug to Konkani or seafood specialties, especially if you prefer a vegetarian diet. SaffronStays Masaya is a veg-only villa in Alibaug with an in-house chef specialising in authentic Rajasthani and North Indian cuisine. There’s an organic garden of various herbs and spices which are seasonally used in food preparations. So flavourful vegetarian meals will satiate your taste buds.
For those very particular about their food preferences, we even have several veg-only villas.

Multi-Cuisine Menu and Curated Meals

While looking for authentic food experiences around Mumbai and Pune, you’re bound to be served with Maharashtrian specialties. But that’s just one part of our extensive menu options.

Cream of Tomato Soup with Croutons, Spaghetti, Pepper Chicken, Palak Paneer, Paratha, Dal and Rice, followed by a bowl full of Fruit Salad. Oh, and did we say barbecue? Are you feeling full just by reading this range of variety? Yes, you can savour it all! At SaffronStays Constellations, a complex of three pool villas in Lonavala, a multi-cuisine menu welcomes the guests. Chinese, continental or simple Indian food, you will end up licking your fingers with these delicious preparations from our trained staff of cooks. 

SaffronStays Parsi Manor, Matheran
Special meals at Parsi Manor, Matheran

What if we told you we have a provision for a special heritage meal experience as well? If you want to savour recipes that have roots in history, visit SaffronStays Parsi Manor, a colonial heritage villa in Matheran. Upon request, a menu of authentic Parsi dishes is served to the guests. Dhansak, a traditional Parsi recipe by our in-house chef is a guest favourite.

Fine Dine in Finer Views 

One of the major reasons we have trouble selecting a place to dine at, is we wish to make it an experience of lovely ambiance or great view on the side. But in our private villas at idyllic locations, every meal will feel a fine-dine with finer views.

SaffronStays Reva Infinity, Karjat
Lunch set-up by gushing river!

If gushing water and chirping of birds is the only kind of sound you prefer while eating, SaffronStays Reva Infinity in Karjat can arrange for dining set-up right by the Tez river. The onsite home cook can make some yummy Baingan Bharta, Chicken Shukha, Chicken Masala, Mix Vegetable, and Veg Kolhapuri.

SaffronStays Aatman, Mahabaleshwar
Dinner set-up under a canopy of tree

We go the extra mile to add the perfect views to homemade food with some of our set-ups. SaffronStays Aatman in Mahabaleshwar has three dining spaces to choose from! Under the canopy of a large Jamun tree, even simple home-cooked meals turn special. 

Virginia Woolf rightly puts it, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.” So the next time you stay with SaffronStays, be rest assured you are going home feeling too well!

Discovering local food in Homestays across India

Maharashtra homestays

As travellers, we’re always on the look out for restaurants and dhabas that will give us a taste of local food, irrespective of whether we’re in a city or somewhere exotic. Sometimes, we stumble upon, or are directed to the right food joints, but other times, we come back from a beautiful place with no idea what the food there tasted like.

Call us lucky, but when we travelled, we managed to satisfy both our curiosity and cravings without stepping out of the comfort of the home stays that we were staying in. Our team and some of our favourite travel bloggers share their stories about discovering local food in home stays across India.  Get your taste buds tingling.

 

New found love for Bamboo shoot – tasting Assamese cuisine in Guwahati 

Homestay in Guwahati
Delicious and flavoursome Assamese cuisine. Photo by Tejas Parulekar

“We’d reached Guwahati after a long day of travel and once in the beautiful home stay run by Mrs. Sheila, we began pining for some authentic local food. So, at a short notice, our cook-cum-caretaker,  prepared a flavoursome chicken curry with bamboo shoots – a traditional Assamese dish. I was reluctant at first as I recalled the vegetable curries infused with bamboo shoots that we make back home in Maharashtra and one that I am not a big fan of for its pungent flavour. But as I slowly took a bite of the chicken, I was in for a surprise. It was delicious and the chicken seemed to balance the flavours perfectly well. Just when I thought I was done, the cook served us with another surprise – a delicious chocolate pudding – not a local cuisine but it’s definitely one of the best desserts I have ever eaten.” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Sheila)

– Tejas Parulekar (Co-founder, SaffronStays)

 

Stress busting menu – Cocktail and hot Nepalese cuisine in Sikkim

sikkim homestays
Delicious Nepalese cuisine in Sikkim. Photo by Sarita Santoshini

“I reached the village of Chota Singtam after a long day in Gangtok and stepped into Mrs. Lalita’s large, stand-alone Bungalow a little more tired than usual. The whiff of fresh vegetables being cooked in freshly grounded spices welcomed me through the verendah and lifted my spirits instantly. After a long chat, she set the table with bowls of hot vegetable soup and  a plate full of chicken momos –delicious Nepalese dishes that are a part of most locals’ everyday diet in Sikkim. We also took long swigs of Bay Breeze, a delicious cocktail of white rum, cranberry and pineapple juice perfected by Mrs. Besnett in minutes. Breakfast next day was home-made bread, mayonnaise and peanut butter. Needless to say, I am a huge fan.” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Lalita)

– Sarita Santoshini (Content Editor, SaffronStays. http://crumbsfromyourtale.wordpress.com )

 

Not just another bread, but a delicious souvenior – Tasting Poi in Goa

Homestays in Goa
Poi with Chicken Xacuti makes a perfect set for a dinner spread. Photo by Amrita Das

“It was a memorable moment for a non-bread lover, the first time poi’s light husk fell on my fingers in a home stay. I remember tearing the perfect round bun into two and as my thumbs gently broke into the soft texture of the fresh dough, I knew this would soon become a part of my every day diet. Poi is a Goan local bread which is served with almost everything from rasa omelette to chicken xacuti. It can be had with anything or nothing. As a part of my seasonal job as a property manager of a boutique homestay in Goa, I was expected to know the local delicacies. However, poi wasn’t just another local delicacy in the state. Very subtly spiced and hollow in the centre, one fresh poi is good to set you throw the day as a part of your breakfast. My friends and guests have packed poi and returned to their homes, as if it were a Goan souvenir.”

– Amrita Das ( Writer at http://travellingidesofmarch.com )

 

A hearty Malayalam breakfast – eating Puttu right for the first time in Kerala

Kerala homestays
When in Kerala, make sure to try a hearty breakfast of Puttu. Image Source : mydiversekitchen.com

“Puttu, honestly, is not something I thought I liked. But after having tasted it at Maranat Mana, I realised I hadn’t eaten the right stuff till then! Imagine alternating layers of ground brown rice and coconut, steamed in bamboo cylinders and then tumbled onto your plate in neat sections of white and light brown. This is then topped and surrounded by a dark, rich kadala or gram curry. Roughly ground coconut against the soft texture of rice chased by spicy curry that breaks through the sweetness of that coconut. What you have is a breakfast that could easily masquerade as lunch! But it didn’t end there. This was washed down with a cup of strong filter kaapi, and then sealed with sticky and sweet steamed plantains. Excuse me, can you ask for a stretcher please?”

– bhavani (Writer at merrytogoaround.com )

 

Simple, authentic and delicious – Feasting on a Malvani spread in Maharashtra

Maharashtra homestays
A delicious Malvani spread . Photo Source : Mid-day.com

“It’d been a nasty ST bus journey from Mumbai to Velas. The sight of the welcoming shore was something to feast on. But the body demanded a real feast or at least some nourishment. Settled on the floor right next to our homestay host’s kitchen from where the aroma of hot pipping food engulfed our nostrils, we decided to play the let’s-guess-what’s-been-cooked game. In true Malvani style, coconut was the mainstay ingredient permeating the air. Our lunch spread comprised of steamed rice, nachni/ragi (cultivated in their fields) bhakris along with ladiesfinger/okra prepared with groundnut, and – the icing on the cake – prawns, fried as well as prepared with the local curry (on special request just for us). Right from the rice, which wasn’t the basmati a hotel would serve you, and the bhakris roasted over the embers, everything was authentic in spite of the simplicity. Or may be because of the simplicity!”

– Elita ( Writer at nomadicthunker.blogspot.in )

 

A non-vegetarian’s confession – Enjoying Dum Aloo in Kashmir

Homestays in Kashmir
Enjoying a preparation of Kashmiri Dum Aloo in Srinagar. Image Source – tasteofindiafoods.com

“After the long and tiring jourey from Mumbai to Kashmir, the only thing keeping me up was my craving for Kashmiri food. There was a curfew and going to a restaurant wasn’t an option. This is when the cook at our pure -veg homestay served me some delicious Kashmiri dum aloo, prepared with perfectly fried baby potatoes and the right amount of spices, with a stack of rotis. I am not a fan of vegetarian fares, but this was definitely an exception.” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Anita)

– Greeshma Soley (Travel ninja, SaffronStays)

 

Developing a taste for Organic food – Home made meals in Chikmagalur 

Homestays Karnataka
Delicious home cooked food in Chikmagalur. Image Source – sugarandspice-nz.com

“Our trip to Sunkasale was made pleasant not only by the heavenly location, but also by the scrumptious meal prepared by Guna aunty in her homestay. The stark contrast of the spicy baby cabbage curry and sweet rice made for a hearty lunch. Homemade butter and rice papads kept us seated on the dining table and chatting even after we had greedily wiped the plates clean. I realised then that there is something different about organically grown food which makes you yearn for more even though your belly screams no!” (Click here to book a stay with Mrs. Guna)

– Sameer Tambe (Travel ninja, SaffronStays)

 

Have you ever discovered and enjoyed local food in a homestay during your travels? Share your experience with us.

Visit our website to book homestays across India – www.saffronstays.com 

For the love of food and conversations

I reached the village of Chota Singtam after a long day in Gangtok and stepped into the large, stand-alone bungalow a little too exhausted than usual. I greeted the friendly host Mrs. Lalita Besnett and waved a Hello to her husband swimming in the tiled pool, the highlight of the property. I was tempted to retire to my room immediately but watching me look so sick, Mrs. Besnett quickly prepared a glass of fresh lime and ushered me to the verandah for some fresh air. The sun had almost set and I could see lights beginning to flicker on in the villages that lay in the valley at a distance.

A few minutes outside and I began to feel myself again, and broke into a long conversation with my chatty hosts. After a long successful career with the Government, having spent years in different parts of the country, Mr. Besnett decided to move to a quieter location, further away from even the small hill station of Gangtok, whose increasing commercialisation tends to distress them. In their quest for some solitude, they moved to the quiet village of Chota Singtam, located about 21 km from the capital city, built a beautiful house, and surrounded it with acres of organic field and a small dairy farm.

 

The homestay surrounded by trees and farms
The homestay surrounded by trees and farms

As they showed me around, I was instantly impressed by the tasteful décor of the duplex, complete with an attic floor and terrace balcony, only to find out that most of the wooden artefacts had been carved by Mr. Besnett himself out of sheer passion. I spent long minutes admiring the delicate cuts of the Ganesh statue, the perfectly shaped horns of the wooden deer head, and the strong legs of the center table – the work of a skilled craftsman. Shying away from the attention, Mr. Besnett waved away my compliments and began to sing praises about his wife’s cooking skills instead. I couldn’t help but agree with him as I devoured a bowl of hot vegetable soup, a plate full of chicken momos and took long swigs of Bay Breeze, a delicious cocktail of white rum, cranberry and pineapple juice perfected by Mrs. Besnett in minutes. Needless to say, I am a fan.

A beautiful wooden Ganesha statue sculpted by Mr. Besnett
A beautiful wooden Ganesha statue sculpted by Mr. Besnett

Delicious home made bread, peanut butter and Mayonnaise made by Mrs. Besnett from scratch.
Delicious home made bread, peanut butter and Mayonnaise made by Mrs. Besnett from scratch.

Sharing a meal with the lovely hosts.
Sharing a meal with the lovely hosts.

The next morning, after a good night’s sleep and a heavy breakfast with Mrs. Besnett, I walked around the property with the resident dogs, soaking in its inherent warmth and finding it hard to say goodbye. Leave I did, but the next time I want to escape city life for some great food and company, I know where to pack my bags for.

 

About the Traveller: Born and raised in Assam, Sarita Santoshini has been travelling around India and penning down her experiences over the past year. You can read more of her travelogues in her blog-http://crumbsfromyourtale.wordpress.com .