If the Choux Fits

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Here’s another surprise offering from a city that never ceases to think out of the box – five star hotel with a dabba service! La Patisserie, deli and dessert shop at the Taj Mahal Hotel and Palace, has just introduced a lunchbox delivery option, where a salad, sandwich, puff and pastry is neatly packed into pretty pink and white boxes and sent directly to your desk. All this, at a relatively reasonable price: Rs 325 for the vegetarian version, and Rs 395 for non-vegetarians.

Puff of Smoke (Salmon)

In our fantasy lunchbox, the deli’s woodsy mushroom salad jostles for space with a turkey and Gruyere bagel and a prawn turnover. Working through these, we move inexorably towards the pièce de résistance – a fresh cream éclair. One of bpb’s best guarded secrets, this flaky, decadent confection doesn’t feature on the menu and has to be ordered a day in advance, but it’s the most ridiculously indulgent choux pastry in the city. Vegetarians should get the crunchy bell pepper sandwich and Thai puff.

You can order these as a one-off meal, or set up a more regular arrangement with Maya Vaidya, the affable manager at La Patisserie. They’ve also started all-day delivery of their other produce, and will send over everything from Camembert to cold cuts, pumpernickel bread to six grain buns.

Going Against the Grain

There are, however, snags that the brand new service still has to iron out – minimum delivery charges are Rs 500, which means you can’t order a single lunch. Also, there seems to be some confusion about which items are included in the box: during one phone conversation we were informed that the scheme doesn’t apply to special sandwiches; in another instance, the smoke salmon sandwich was also made exempt; during our last call, all options were magnanimously offered.

Third time’s the charm, we guess.

Getting there: La Patisserie, Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Apollo Bunder, call 66653366, start at Rs 325.

Hungry for More?

If deli dabbas don’t pass muster(d), check out our other in-box recommendations. Bon appetite!

Love Lunch: With Japanese, Burmese, Thai, American, Lebanese and Italian fare on the menu, it's all about loving your lunch.

Calorie Care: Crafted by dieticians and chefs, these yummy but low cal soups and salads are brought straight to your desk.

Zenzi Mills: Our favourite foodsters deliver their delicious China boxes all over Lower Parel.

Sushi Spice: With takeout fliers, a free home delivery number, and a make-sushi-more-accessible business plan, these guys are bringing the Japanese delicacy from the classes to the masses!