JOIN USA jam-packed evening even on a cold Sunday is a testimony to Molecule’s success in Sector 29, Gurgaon — which is bustling with numerous other bars and lounges.
The staff is welcoming here and the crowd, diverse. Yet what makes one step to this air bar is their play with the technique molecular gastronomy and all things foamy.
In an attempt to serve people with food that is not just sumptuous, but also entertaining, chef Piyush Jain recently launched a new menu at Molecule. He names these dishes futuristically (‘Dahi Vada 2050) and claims that many of these dishes are first-timers in Delhi (NCR).
Food, however, is not the only source of entertainment here. There is hip-hop music in the background along with a crowd that makes one feel elated and excited. Freshly brewed beer from its brewery and a mixologist who would win your heart by his interesting concoctions of cocktails... there is a lot one can look forward to at this air bar.
So even if we were not just in the right mood to party because of Sunday blues, the place pumped up our spirits as soon as we got our table here.
A shot of rasam with sabudana papad was our welcome dish. The flavoursome rasam and delightfully crispy sabudana was a traditional start and made us feel curious about what else was in store for us.
‘Molecular Puchka Shot’ came in next. Five different flavours of water mixtures, chick peas and potato masala, and imli and green chutney in syringes, we spent quite a few minutes in preparing our puchkas, but it was all worth the effort.
Quick as they are in service, ‘Air Bread’, ‘Dragon Smoke Popcorn’ and ‘Paneer Tikka Two Ways’ came in hopping on our tables in no time.
Served with four cheese sauce and green chilli caviar, the ‘Air Bread’ were tiny and soft pieces of stuffed and baked bread which was mildly spiced and was soft enough to quickly melt in the mouth.
The ‘Dragon Smoke Popcorn’ (which was also the highlight of the evening) left us quite surprised. The vessel looked very similar to the Daenerys Targaryen’s dragon eggs. The smoke came from dry ice which had crispy and spicy peri peri popcorn drenched in it. Having cold popcorns was a fantastic first-timer, for sure.
The ‘Paneer Tikka Two Ways’ was a regular paneer tikka dish in peri peri and pesto flavours.
From the drinks section, one can go for ‘Make in India’ (Kala Khatta flavoured LIIT), ‘Ulti Balti (interesting blend of rosemary, peach puree, lime juice, orange juice and tequila) and ‘Dark Rum Pineapple Mojito’ (delicious flavours of Captain Morgan Dark, pineapple, brown sugar, mint and lemon juice all at once).
While most dishes from the new menu are worth a try, Metrolife suggests its readers to try ‘Dahi Vada 2050’, ‘Litti Chokha Kulcha’ and ‘Edible Coal’. When these khatta-meetha flavours are blended with the quirks of molecular gastronomy, they result in a delightful surprise.
It was evidently taking everyone present a lot of time to understand how the air bar is serving food that is quintessentially Indian, yet something that they have never had before.
Equally astonished were we as we went on to try their desserts, ‘coz there’s always room for a dessert! We ordered a ‘Rasgulla Tiramisu’ which was as soft and sumptuous as it could be. Ingredients cocoa dust, coffee and rum foam went quite well together.
We ended our meal on a high note and promised to get entertained at this air bar again, very soon!