Malabar Hill To Get A New Gourmet Store

Nature’s Basket has competition. On Monday, March 21, Country of Origin, a new gourmet store, will open in Malabar Hill. On offer will be organic cheeses, imported single origin coffees, blooming teas, bottled straw mushrooms, flavoured olive oils, Japanese and Mexican sauces, whole wheat pastas and a whole lot of other ingredients that are still relatively hard to find in our city.

Country of Origin is the brainchild of friends-turned-business partners Kiran Salaskar and Gaurav Dabrai, who felt that there was a dearth of gourmet ingredients stores in South Mumbai. Dabrai is one of the promoters of Andheri restaurant and lounge Kino 108, while Salaskar is one of the directors of Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality, the company that owns Salt Water Cafe and the Mocha chain of coffee shops. Salaskar also owns Designscape, a furniture store in Malabar Hill that he converted partly to accommodate Country of Origin. While much of what you see is also available at Nature’s Basket—both import ingredients and sauces from Chenab Impex—Country of Origin plans to distinguish itself by offering its own brand of products like flavoured butters (jalapeno, caper and dill), fruit jams (green apple, kiwi and strawberry), and dips like hummus flavoured with paprika and sweet basil.

The store will also sell fresh whole wheat and multigrain breads, and desserts such as New York-style cheesecake, hazelnut praline mousse and citron torte that will be prepared in their kitchen in Tardeo. In a couple of months, they hope to stock locally produced cheeses like buffalo mozzarella, made by an American couple settled in Mumbai. The idea is that no matter what cuisine you’re cooking, you’ll find what you need at Salaskar and Dabrai’s store. “For instance, if you want to cook an Italian meal, we want Country of Origin to be the one-stop shop for all your requirements,” said Salaskar. Prices start at Rs70 for flavoured butter.

LocationManeesha
69/A
Next to Tahaa Spa
Napean Sea Road
Malabar Hill

Phone2368 3261

HoursDaily, 11am to 10pm