When she started Amethyst two years back at Sundar Mahal, the 100 year-old former royal residence, Kiran Rao wanted to create a dream café. A classic indoor-cum-outdoor coffeehouse amidst a lush garden full of exotic plants and flowers. Colonial coffee tables, comfortable cane chairs and marble tiles. She wanted to bring back the charm of good old Madras of the Raj time. Of course, she wanted to serve only the best gourmet food and delicious coffee.

And after a long search she found the right man to run the café - restaurateur Marc Tormo Altimira from Spain. A specialist in coffee processing and preparations, Marc ran his own café in Barcelona for six years and has been managing the Coffee Shop at Auroville for over four years. Marc's concept for the new 'Café Moca', is an ideal meeting place where you enjoy coffee at leisure. An enthusiast for wholesome food and beverages, Marc proudly claims that every ingredient used here has been grown organically. 

There is a selection of excellent coffee on the menu and a few exotic ones are worth the mention. Affogato is espresso coffee that is served over three scoops of vanilla, coffee and chocolate ice creams, topped with whipped cream. The aromatic Café Viennese is black coffee served on a tall glass covered with whipped cream and cinnamon powder. The most mysterious coffee on the menu, Café Bonbon, is a popular coffee drink from Spain. It is prepared by dribbling hot coffee over almond centered chocolate candy. Hot milk is
then added followed by frothed cream and a sprinkle of coca powder. Its exquisite taste and lingering flavour has to be experienced.

Marc uses 'Nandan Royale', a High Grown Arabica coffee from Palani Hills, rated as one of the finest in India. Its fabulous taste is due to the fact that it is organically grown at very high altitudes. If you wish to try this exquisite coffee at home, they sell the roasted beans sealed in aromafin-valve packs. They will have it ground as per your specification.

For tea lovers, Marc offers a few exotic choices of tea made from tea organically grown at Nilgiris and Darjeeling. Green tea from Nilgiris is used for the healthy and soothing 'Green Tea'. The aromatic 'Dust Tea' is used exclusively to prepare masala tea with a fascinating combination of fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks, cardamom and lemon grass. If you like your tea rather mild, try the fruit flavoured 'Second Flush' tea from Darjeeling.

Marc claims that his Kambucha Tea, surprisingly listed under juices, is the best health drink one can ever have. I found the fermented tea, flavoured by the exotic Kambucha mushroom, a pure delight. He adds that Café Moca is the only place in Chennai where you can try it out.

Another unique item is Galetes, the salty French pancake and the sweet variety, the Crepes. A light meal is offered as Daily Special, such as Cauliflower Gratin with Spanish omelet, Baked Pasta or Quiche. Sandwiches, pastries and cakes are also on the menu.

The service by courteous staff is efficient and non-intrusive. Exotic fresh flowers from Ohana, Amethyst's own flower shop, adorn every table. For its graceful ambience and top quality food, the price is surprisingly low. Once you indulge your taste buds on all the natural food at Café Moca you may not settle for anything less in future. 

Café Moca is open from 11 am to 8:30 pm every day. 
For details call 820 3582.

Sam Kumar

Published on 7^th July 2002