Breakfast like a King! So goes the adage. Forget royalty, the morning rush hour and fad diets have seen to it that breakfast is an endangered meal. Readymade options and two-minute concoctions have not been able to give the breakfast pride of place in many homes, even in a state like Kerala with its sumptuous breakfast options. However, Villa Maya is trying to bring back leisurely and healthy breakfasts with a modern twist to revive the most important meal of the day. What is interesting is the menu that has both opulent breakfasts and on-the-run meals that do not reduce the flavour quotient or the nutrient factor.
On a Sunday morning, we opted to be served in one of the gazebos on the premises of the stately restaurant. It is a pleasant morning and gurgling fountains and a stiff breeze rustling through the leaves enhance the charming ambience.
Villa Maya has an interesting selection of Indian and continental choices for breakfast. We began with a cold-pressed, freshly squeezed juice. Delicious, cold grape juice and watermelon juice, both not artificially sweetened, arrived at our table. It was difficult to choose between the fresh juice and the detox concoctions. The list of detox drinks was interesting to read: bittergourd, gooseberry and lime; beetroot, orange and basil, cucumber, apple and lime… Lassi, sweet and salted or with fruits, looked filling. So did the smoothies, shakes and piquantly named ‘energy boosters’, ‘stress busters’ and ‘memory boosters’. The ‘stress busters’ included yoghurt, fig, almond, aswagandha and aloe vera, while the ‘memory boosters’ was made up of yoghurt, papaya, honey, Brahmi and sunflower seeds.
Villa Maya dishes up the classic English breakfast: eggs, Benedict (good old poached eggs), scrambled or omelettes of different kinds, served with bacon, sausage, grilled tomato, toast and homemade preserves.
A basket of warm artisanal breads complete the meal. The bacon was crisp but not burnt and the sausages were not undercooked but browned nicely. The cooks here certainly know their eggs. The soft scrambled eggs with cheese was a treat and so was the spicy masala omelette. The spicy omelette, by the way, is very Indian.
Chef Shine says that every day three kinds of bread are made. The range varies from fluffy croissants, Danish rolls, muffins, raisin and cinnamon buns to cupcakes, pumpernickel and Norlander breads. The Danish roll with a hint of marmalade could have had a little more marmalade for my taste but the warm muffins with poppy seeds was just so right – soft, moist and the correct texture. The cinnamon bun had that hint of cinnamon that awakens the taste buds without giving it a rude shock.
The egg platter was not limited to the English breakfast. In addition, there was Mexican style fried eggs on wheat tortillas or cheese enchilada topped with eggs. For those who miss their cereals, Villa Maya has oatmeal, muesli or toasted corn cereal with milk.
As we decided to wind up with tea, Chef Shine persuaded us to try the Ramassery idli. He says that when the breakfast menu was being designed, he was keen to have one that had something special instead of the usual idlis that are found in almost every eatery that serves breakfast in town. That is how the Palakkadan Ramassery idli came to Villa Maya. “It is flat, a little like a thattu dosa, but the dough is steamed like an idli and it is very soft,” he says.
And the Ramassery idli came on a circular piece of a banana leaf that had been artistically placed on a plate. Sambar and two kinds of chutneys accompanied the idli. The idlis lived up to the chef’s promise. Plump and soft, the idlis melted in the mouth with the delicately spiced sambar and chutneys (coconut and mint).
The chef offered multigrain dosa served with sambar and chutneys, and appam and chicken stew or vegetable stew, both of which had to be turned down.
If you still hanker for food, try the French toast with cream and seasonal fruits, with maple syrup drizzled on it. In addition to hot pancakes and waffles, there were salads with organic quinoa grains, cut fresh fruits and a cheese platter.
There were combos like the Villa Maya signature breakfast (Rs. 699 plus taxes) that included four kinds of cold beverages, cereals, rolls, eggs to order and mains along with a hot beverage.
“On the other hand, we also have something for the traveller who is on his way to catch a flight or coming into the city on the morning flights. Called the ‘Express breakfast’, it includes a hot drink, rolls and fresh juice (Rs. 349 plus taxes),” says Sharath, assistant manager (food and beverages).
For Sundays and those with the time, the pace is relaxed and there is no one shoving a bill under your nose before you finish your coffee. But busybees can enjoy the power breakfasts and get moving.
With such a rich platter of choices, who would ever want to skip breakfast? Time to break the trend and power your day with a healthy breakfast.
Food for thought
Pocket guide: Meal for two would cost about between Rs.1,000 and Rs. 1,500
Taste guide: The fresh juice and smoothies are probably the best in town.
Breakfast is served on all days till 10 a.m. On Sundays it goes on till 11 a.m.
