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!

5 Pure Vegetarian Weekend Stays around Mumbai!

We feel for all the non-vegetarians cribbing and feeling outraged about the #MeatBan in Mumbai during Paryushan. However, for our vegetarian friends who often feel inconvenienced and uncomfortable eating at places that also serve non-veg (“What if the same utensils are used?”); here’s some relief. No, we aren’t referring to the #MeatBan. 

For our vegetarian friends and their families, we bring few quick weekend breaks that serve only VEG meals.  Some of them can even prepare Jain meals. Here you needn’t worry if the utensils are used for non-veg preparations. So go ahead and book NOW!

# 01. Igatpuri

Experience the bygone era where the house was lit by natural daylight, large windows with ample of air ventilation and green landscape. With a spectacular look of Darna river in close proximity, you can enjoy the warm sit-out that overlooks the huge lawn and savour your veggie taste buds with delicious local food. Maharashtrian food with a blend of north and south dominates the local cuisine in Igatpuri. Akki roti (rice flour bhakri) is a must try!

Photo Credits: www.thakkara.com
Photo Credits: http://www.thakkara.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

# 02. Ganpatipule, Malgund Beach

Visit the 400 year old Ganesh temple and the serene Malgund beach, both just a hug and nuzzle away from your stay at Ganpatipule. You can also drive along the beautiful coastal stretch of Ratnagiri and visit Thibaw Palace and Ratnadurg Fort. On your return to the bungalow, relax and retreat with mouth watering vegetarian food. The local cuisine is ruled by Konkani food which can bowl over your non-vegan craving anyday! The luscious kokam curry, Ambapoli (Pancake made of dried mangoes), Sabudana Khichdi, and Phanaspoli (Pancake made of dried jackfruit) are few famous dishes. This region is known for jackfruit and the special delicacy which is Modak with a filling of jaggery and coconut.

Photo Credits: foodmantras.blogspot.com
Photo Credits: foodmantras.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

# 03. Khandala

The Bungalow is a cozy living paradise in the dense foggy mountains of Lonavla-Khandala. This is the right spot to unwind and relax! Enjoy the lovely view of mountains or visit there by yourself. Tiger point, Kune waterfalls and Lion point are in close proximity from this bungalow. Khandala doesn’t really have a standard or unique cuisine but it definitely welcomes to those interested in enjoying simple vegan food. You will find varied options from North-Indian to Gujarati to Chinese cuisines here. The staple food is our very famous Vada Pav with a sprinkle of spicy red chutney.

Vada Pav
Photo Credits: http://www.whatshot.in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

# 04. Lonavala

While the brisk of air heralds the end of fall season and it is time to extend a warm welcome to the breeze and sunset at the Tiger point, Lonavala. A popular destination that this is, you will find end number of options for food, especially dhaba’s. But you must try hot masala chai with cheese and corn pakoda’s, onion rings, and fudges if you have a sweet tooth! 

Photo Credits: www.medimanage.com
Photo Credits: http://www.medimanage.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

# 05. Palghar

If you are wanting to stress out from your daily routine, this rustic cottage house in Palghar is an ideal place for you to rejuvenate yourself and regain the balance of your chakras through Yoga, detox, and consuming naturally grown clean vegetables for food. The place is eco-friendly in every possible way and serves only VEGAN food! Palghar does not offer much options when it comes to food joints. Thus, making it perfect to enjoy the organic local food served by the tribal community.

Photo Credits: www.blueplanetgreenliving.com
Photo Credits: http://www.blueplanetgreenliving.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author:

Keenjal Patel

A reader at mind, a writer at heart, a believer at soul and an achiever overall, is what she want to be. She loves to express through words. She’s a firm believer that imagination rules the world and the day this world absorbs the essence of her words, that would be a day of pride for her!