Bahi, South Point Mall, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon

[Rated: 5/5]

Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake ~ Henry David Thoreau

There are few who dare to dream, fewer who take a plunge to realize their dreams, and even fewer who are able to dream, dare and realize their dreams.

Leon Baker, is one such rare individual who quit his well-paid ‘Vice President’ job to follow his passion. Making a modest beginning by starting an Ahata (BYOB concept) under his own name – Leon’s in a popular and overcrowded category in Gurgaon; Leon’s immediately got popular with ardent fan followers. Following his heart, live rock music was introduced at Leon’s (as per him he wanted to relive his childhood experiences of music from Guwahati). Despite a rocking success, Leon’s was sold since he realised that girls in North India do not want to be seen in a roadside Ahata and his aim was to get people of both gender together for a good time.

   

This gave birth to Bahi (Assamese word for bamboo flute) in a new swanky pub in Gurgaon where he combined his love for music and Assamese food. Outlet’s motto - “Bahi is the place where people come to relive the life they have forgotten, and there are no strangers at Bahi but just friends who haven’t met” may sound may sound cliché but the honesty in Leon’s words not only reflect clearly in his eyes but in his efforts and actions.

Leon Baker with Roshmi

Bahi a no-pretense, modest (60-seater) and comfortable restaurant-pub serve usual Indian and Continental dishes (which I am still to taste) during the weekday. I visited Bahi on a Sunday afternoon and was delighted to note that they serve *authentic* Assamese buffet lunch prepared primarily by Leon and his pretty wife Roshmi, every Sunday. I saw the patrons sitting with their families and friends, happily sipping on to their beer while the food was being laid. Despite adequate staff, Leon and his wife enjoyed serving the patrons themselves. I immediately knew if the hosts are as caring then the food would be good too, but never did I know that I am going to taste the best Assamese food ever. With good live music in the background, I had a couple of beers and raided the buffet table.

Live Music

The buffet menu (a different menu is served on every Sunday) consisted of Zinger Pork, Fish Pura Maas in bamboo shoot gravy, Kokura Jhol (Chicken curry with potato), Chicken chops with lots of ginger, Patot diya Maas (Fish baked in banana leaf), Dal with Thekera, Pura Maas and Pura Bilahi (Tomato) chutney and slightly sweet Pudina Chutney. Each dish was at its best; mildly spiced to enable us to enjoy each flavor. Baked fish in banana leaf was light and tasty enough to ensure repeat visit to the buffet spread, while the chicken chops tasted heavenly along with the sweet pudina chutney. The meal was completed with a good serving of fruit cream, which was served as there aren’t many desserts in traditional Assamese cuisine.

Zinger Pork



Kukura Jhool (Chicken curry with potato)



Pura Maas in Bamboo Shoot Gravy (Fish Tenga)



Patot Diya Maas (Fish baked in banana leaf)



Chicken Chop

Pura Maas and Pura Bilahi (Tomato) chutney

Aloo Pitika



Masoor Dal with Thekra

My plate...looks yummy. Isn't it?



Fish baked in banana leaf

Fruit Cream

In north India getting good pork dish is extremely difficult at honest price, and getting all of the above at Rs550 that too including a pint of beer is a steal. The buffet is a non-vegetarians delight but has nothing much to offer for vegetarians. With live music, great food, efficient service and great ambience, I am surely going there for more.

Editor: Assamese are proud of their cuisine and rightly so. Unfortunately there aren’t many opportunities for North Indians to learn about the same. If you are interested, do check the facebook page of Assamese Cuisine and Recipes which has been doing a great job over the years and is a major source of personal learning and inspiration for me.

Ratings out of 5

Food: 5.0 | Ambiance: 5.0 | Service: 5.0 |Overall: 5.0

Meal for Two: Rs 1200 (Including 2 pints of beer) | Alcohol: Yes | Credit Card: Yes| Happy hours: Sunday to Thursday, 1pm – 10pm: Unlimited IMFL for Rs 450
Address: 2^nd Floor, South Point Mall (Next to Genpact), Golf Course Road, Phase-IV, Gurgaon| Phone: 0124-6468201

-Pawan Soni

Aalok Wadhwa's view of Bahi (First published in Friday Gurgaon)

Intrigued by tip-offs from foodie friends about Bahi, I make my way to the second floor of the near-deserted South Point Mall. I have been told that this restaurant transforms itself into a gastronomic heaven every Sunday at noon-time, serving the rare Assamese village cuisine.

As I enter the carved wooden gates of Bahi, half expecting Bhupen Hazarika’s lilting music, I am pleasantly surprised to hear a live crooner doling out a soulful rendition of the nostalgia-laced hit Country Roads in spacious, comfortable environs.

Chef and owner Leon Baker describes Bahi (meaning bamboo flute in Assamese) as a “no pretense hangout pub”. Having left a successful corporate career, he decided to follow his passions—good food, good spirits, and good music, culminating in this eatery. Sundays are extra special for him, when he, along with his wife Roshmi, personally shops for fresh ingredients. Armed with authentic tribal and village recipes, the couple then creates a chef-d'oeuvre, a meal that changes every Sunday.

Here is one place which lends credence to our Finance Minister’s claim of containing inflation. For here, Rs 550 gets you a lot, a glass of beer, followed by a remarkably charming and tasty banquet of a meal.

It is time to examine the evidence. The buffet spread awaits attack. The starters—aloo pitika (mustard infused mashed potato), pura maas bilahi (roasted fish and tomato mash), pura begana pitika (Assamese baingan bharta), aloo bhaja (fried potato), chicken chops (cutlets) and the assorted pickles do a great job of making the palate sing. And ready for more substantial food to follow. The highlight here is anaras ambol (pineapple chutney) which, with its perfectly spiced flavours and chunky texture, tastes tantalising.

The main course is a toothsome spread. It consists of a gentle yellow dal, veggies stir-fried with bamboo shoot and three traditional delicacies. The pork mising is tribal in its origins and easily ranks among the best pork dishes I have eaten. It is a combination of pork chunks and pulled pork, which is slow-cooked with bamboo shoot and the fiery bhoot jolakia chilly. The result is a dish that is not too hot, but one that melts in the mouth, making you want more and more.

The kukura aloo jhol is a home style chicken curry, which captures the heart with its sheer simplicity and comforting taste. Bhojor maasor jhol is a mild bhetki fish curry from the Goalpara region. The region’s proximity to Paschimbanga (West Bengal) is evident in the taste of the curry, which is light, fresh and flavourful. I end the meal with a minimalist bora saulor pulao, sweet sticky rice flavoured with cinnamon.

There are many little things that make a visit to Bahi memorable. The ever smiling personal touch of the owners Leon and Roshni, the comfortable setting, the live music, and the amazingly tasty home-cooked food, all add up. But most of all, it is their ability to transport you to one of the most beautiful regions of India.

Bahi

2nd Floor, South Point Mall (Next to Genpact), Golf Course Road, DLF Phase-IV, Gurgaon

Phone: 0124-6468201

Cuisine: Rural Assamese

Timings: 1pm – 10pm

Cost: Rs 1100 for 2 (including two pints of Beer or two soft-drinks)