NicoCaara: A Chic, Delectable Space at the glitzy new Chanakya

If ‘modern Indian’ is the trend forward, then two wonderful homegrown brands come to mind – Nicobar and Caara. While the former is the lifestyle brand by the Good Earth family, housing cool chic clothes, irresistible home ware and stylish travel gear, the latter is known for its delicious small plates and 'flying buffets' that they cater for at the capital's swish soirees. And when these two come together the result is nothing less than fantastic!

Nicobar recently turned two, and opened their second store in the capital at the new and glitzy ChaNaKya. The celebration was marked by their first ever in-store café in collaboration with Caara, resulting in the delectable space – NicoCaara. We can predict this coming together to be a success from day one since the underlying philosophy of both the brands is their focus on quality, seasonality, and their emphasis on local artisans and sustainable choices.

With a promise to transport you to the seaside of it’s namesake island in the Indian Ocean, the Nicobar collection offers a refreshing and contemporary collection of soft, eco-friendly clothing. Think breezy dresses, comfy tops and kurtas, luxe sleepwear as well as sarees and dupattas that suit the progressive mind-sets of millennials. Men are well catered for too with tony jackets and shirts, trousers and kurtas that they’ll be proud to sport on a hectic work day or an evening out in the city. In short, Nicobar makes ‘Indian’ look stylish and modish for a global audience! And if you thought we’re gushing so far, wait till you hear us talk about the homeware. From stoneware to marble accessories, rustic slate to glittering glass we’re spoilt for choice. Furnishings in organic cotton and soft jute as well as some colonial style furniture ensure that this is a one-stop shop. The design of this flagship store too echoes the aesthetics of the collections on display. The dedicated spaces for fashion, home and travel are organized around a tropical verandah complete with lush plants and a textile swing hanging from the ceiling, making browsing a laid-back, almost therapeutic experience.

The launch party had the creme de la creme of Delhi swooning at the gorgeous stuff and tucking into soul satisfying fare. The small plates menu focuses on seasonal, local produce. Farm to fork cuisine takes on a literal meaning since most of the vegetables for the extensive choice of salads on offer come from their own farms where they are grown free from chemicals. Breads and pastries are made fresh and by hand and only organic eggs are used in Caara’s kitchens. This not only ensures that the trendy fare on offer tastes delicious, the underlying intention is to nourish and shy away from ingredients like refined flour and sugar preferring local grains as well as sweeteners like coconut sugar and jaggery. But no, this is not a ‘health café’. Expect droolworthy dishes like Srilankan crab cakes and turmeric and dill marinated red snapper. New Zealand lamb chops and miso duck slice find pride of place next to kohlrabi and buffalo salad and coriander, corn and kale pancakes. There is literally something to excite all sorts of palates. While we see ourselves going back repeatedly to eat as well as shop, we sure that we are going to order one round of the meringue pavlova with seasonal tropical fruits on each visit for its sweet and crunchy, tangy and refreshing goodness. And when you go, remember to stock up on their delectable range of dips made with the finest ingredients – pesto, roasted onion, hummus and more – to carry some of the deliciousness back home with you.

Details:

NicoCaara, 2^nd floor, The ChaNaKya, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

Ph: +91 9773987430

Meal for two:  Rs 1200++ 
Timings: Monday to Sunday : 11am-10pm

A version of this article first appeared on BlackBook.net.in on April 4, 2018.