Latest news with #Foodstories
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Aisle of Ambition
In the leafy heart of Lavelle Road, a new kind of gourmet experience has quietly taken root. Foodstories, the thoughtfully curated food retail and café concept by sisters Avni and Ashni Biyani has launched its third India outpost – following its forays in New Delhi and Hyderabad. More than just a store, this 12,000 sq. ft. space is a sensory and cultural immersion into the world of mindful indulgence, conscious consumption, and ingredient-led storytelling. Stocking over 8,000 premium food products, with a seasonally rotating café menu and experiential corners peppered throughout the space, Foodstories aims to spark both discovery and delight. Anchored around a century-old Gulmohar tree, the Bengaluru store blurs the line between hospitality and retail. 'It was born out of our shared passion for food and a desire to offer discerning consumers an unparalleled gourmet experience,' shares Avni, adding, 'Between 2020 and 2022, we saw a dramatic shift in how people approached food. More home cooking, deeper curiosity, and an appetite for quality ingredients. We felt the need for a space that celebrated this change – not just through products but through community.' And choosing Bengaluru was a natural decision. 'The food landscape here is incredibly evolved, diners are well-travelled, experimental, and value provenance. There's a clear understanding of craft and quality – values that lie at the heart of our brand,' she says. One of the standout elements is The Garden Café – a 70-seater oasis conceptualised by prominent interior designer Vinita Chaitanya. 'It's an ode to colonial-era Bengaluru and the timeless calm of Cubbon Park,' says Avni. 'We retained the old Gulmohar tree and built the café around it. The terrazzo flooring, cane and bamboo furniture – all crafted by local artisans – speak to the city's aesthetic. It's a tranquil, park-like space, right in the heart of the city.'
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Hindu
This Garden Cafe in Bengaluru will make you feel like you are dining in Lalbagh
Bengaluru loves a cute cafe. Foodstories is the new gourmet grocery store at Lavelle Road in Bengaluru. And the store has a picturesque cafe, aptly titled The Garden Cafe, adjunct to it. Along with an old school charm, the cafe prioritises fresh produce and wellness, with ingredients such as sea buckthorn, moringa, marine collagen, ashwagandha and hemp oil. After a busy morning, I head to there for my brunch fix. Located next to the famous Airlines Hotel, the cafe catches one's eye from the street. Interior designer Vinita Chaitanya is the brains behind the 70-seater. It has a charming greenhouse style, Victorian lamps and fans, and floral arrangements on each table. It is reminiscent of the Bengaluru's iconic Lalbagh greenhouse. We start with a tour of the store. It offers gourmet products, and several experience and interactive centres. Homegrown and international brands are stocked on the shelves. Sip of wellness The glass roof makes the cafe rather warm in the afternoon, something I hope the team fixes soon. The beautiful rattan fans did little to help. The coffee here is from Nandan, a Mumbai-based brand that sources its beans from an estate in Kodaikanal. The coffee menu has options such as lattes and flat whites, selections of cold brews, and the house specials. From the specials I try the seasonal yuzu cold brew tonic. Fizzy, citrusy and refreshing it is perfect for a summer morning. The raspberry latte is pretty and delicious; the drink is topped with dried raspberry for an added crunch. From the juicery, I try the coco chia cooler. Coconut water, tender coconut, chia seeds and marine collagen. All the drinks can be levelled up with wellness ingredients such as hemp oil, vegan collagen, moringa, ashwagandha, sea buckthorn or protein powder. What we ate The food menu has all day breakfast, salads, small personal plates and large plates. A pomelo and mango salad is the first to arrive. The dish has shredded pomelo, baby spinach, arugula, small cucumbers, mango, and for texture: puffed rice. The dressing is light. You can top this up with roast chicken, or curried prawns. Next on the table is the chili mac and cheese. The menu said it comes with a homemade cheese sauce, but to my surprise it is a green pesto-like sauce. The nomenclature mix-up aside, the dish was creamy. I try a pinsa, a hand pressed flatbread from Rome. Mine is topped with burrata, roasted pumpkin, pine nuts and artichokes. I am not a fan of this style of bread, however the toppings are fresh and tasty. The Ligurian croissantwich is a delightful croissant-sandwich. The freshly baked croissant from the store is stuffed with basil pesto, burrata cheese and heirloom tomatoes. This is a hit around the table. For dessert, we try the trendy and viral Gianduja croissant cube. Croissant-style bread is baked into a cube shape. The pastry is not only topped with Gianduja chocolate, it also has a chocolate stuffing. The pastry is flaky ,while the chocolate is decadent. I enjoy this sweet treat. Unfortunately, the service is slow and erratic; I hope these are teething issues that are resolved as things settle down. With some climate control, the Garden Cafe can be Bengaluru's new favourite pretty spot, thanks to its proximity to the city centre and Cubbon Park. ₹1,500 for two. At Lavelle Road. For more details, call 9004171401
