Project Otenga Cafe
Fortunately, in the bustling and fast-developing city of Ahmedabad, like every other major Indian city, there is a burgeoning ecosystem of experiential spaces serving local fare, and who remain committed to create and sustain authentic spaces for people to meet and indulge in all things slow.
It was refreshing to come across a niche space like Project Otenga. I would be doing great injustice by calling it a restaurant or a cafe when it is truly a haven for quiet time, self-reflection, intellectual and sensorial stimulation - a rare find.
Project Otenga is a student-open-and- run cafe within the premises of the prestigious and avant-garde Ahmedabad University. Amusingly, it serves up traditional Assamese food! What are the odds of finding Assamese food in the heart of Gujarat, right? But we Amdavadis are lucky. Of late, there has been an influx of interesting concepts, ideas, and people - we are seeing a boom in experiential spaces such as Project Otenga, exhibition spaces, art galleries, meeting spaces for conversation starters, and more. This continuously transforming and evolving landscape of Ahmedabad suits me just fine.
As I entered Project Otenga, it almost felt like stepping into a Zen space. The interior and ambience were nothing close to a commercial cafe. It was too quiet as if maintaining silence was a rule! It boasts of whitewashed walls, wooden furniture, no loud colours, and a tree going through the roof, a bookshelf with a brilliant selection of fiction and non-fiction, all blended to create a calming and wholesome experience for the senses.
I believe places like these have a purpose and it is far from making a quick buck from fast food. I think it is more about building and sustaining relationships with customers and between customers, creating memories, and giving the creative community a wonderful opportunity to be inspired, get its creative juices flowing, encourage conversations for ideas, and collaborations, create art, and literature, contribute to the fine arts, conceive startups, and more.
After making myself comfortable, I glanced at the menu which looked promising with its long list of Assamese fare and a couple of Manipuri dishes. Although every dish looked promising, the thought of a steaming hot Assamese fish curry tantalised me. I would prefer a good old rustic fish curry any day. Thanks to my Marathi genes I have a curry and rice bias even after living in Gujarat for over a decade where the 'rotla' dominates kitchens.
It was a long wait but I know it would be worth it. After all, good things take time! Also, I appreciate it when food takes long to prepare. It means that it has been prepared and served with care and love. After a quick apology, my most awaited dish (my stomach was rumbling by now) was placed before me.
At first sight, it did not resemble the Indian coastal fish curries. It did, however, resemble a homestyle meat curry. Unlike our Konkan/Goan curries, this fare was watery yet tasteful. The fish was bony but had its unique flavour. The preparation seemed simple, unlike my favourite homestyle Goan seafood curry full of different ingredients - grated coconut, garlic, tamarind, coriander seeds, etc.
I must say I missed them but the thrill of trying something new sent my adrenaline pumping. Being a foodie and a blogger means I must be open to new experiences no matter how skeptical I may be at times!
The meal ended with an interesting black rice pudding - a traditional dessert I absolutely loved. It cooled my tastebuds and provided just the right amount of understated sweetness that was much needed after that hot and spicy meal. My essential cappuccino finished this unique and first-time meal for me.
After browsing some good books and admiring the wonderful garden within which Otenga is nestled, I bid adieu to this tranquil space and vowed to come back although it is at quite a distance (older Ahmedabad) from my suburban home. However, such experiences make it all worthwhile. Recently, a little chat with the owners revealed that Project Otenga is moving to a new place and will reopen soon! How nice yet so tragic! I cannot wait to visit.
I really hope you enjoyed reading this blog, or maybe not. In any case, please leave a comment below!
Until I write again :)
