One of the many advantages of being friends with Lord Berjes is getting ready access to Ripon Club. The Ripon Club is an English style Parsi club located on the 3rd and 4th floor of one of the old heritage buildings in the Flora Fountain area of Mumbai. Unlike other clubs like Elphinstone or the Parsi gymkhanas which also offer other activities like sports, card rooms, bar etc., the Ripon Club means business and is focused only on food, food and more food with siesta facilities for afterwards.
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| The main dining area |
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| The charming old lift |
Although in the bustling city centre of Mumbai, Ripon club has a relaxed atmosphere. It has an old stately charm with pristine marble flooring and beautiful statues and portraits of Parsis from an era gone by. Today the main dining area is dotted with old wooden chairs and tables covered with crisp white table cloths. At the far end are easy chairs for members to take a quick nap after what is always a heavy lunch.
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| A historic old menu |
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| The menu card |
This club has had some of the most illustrious people as it’s members and even today regular members are mainly top lawyers from the high court which is across the street, businessmen, elegant ladies out for a leisurely lunch and of course the head honchos of companies especially from the TATA group what with Bombay House being almost next door.
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| Dhansak dal |
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| Patra ni Machi |
Food being the main attraction, the ala carte menu offers a wide variety of dishes like patra ni machi, akuri, liver on toast and various other Parsi delicacies. Wednesdays are unlimited “Dhansak buffet” days. The “buffet” consists of brown rice, Dhansak dal with mutton or chicken, mutton kababs and a salad of chopped onions and tomatoes. Members and their bemused guests pack the club on Wednesdays to devour this feast. The food tastes so good that not only does one go back for seconds but often for third, fourth and fifths as well. The meal has to be accompanied by a bottle of Dukes raspberry or lemonade and finished with a ‘melt in your mouth’ Lagan nu custard.
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| Lagan nu Custard is to die for |
At end of the meal you feel like those snakes we see on National Geographic who swallow an entire animal and then sleep for months. This is what the easy chairs are for. With shirt buttons popping open around the waist, roll over from your table and onto one of the easy chairs for a sound afternoon siesta. The hard part is getting up and trying to stay awake for the rest of the day.
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| The Easy Chairs |
Abusing the privilege of my friendship with Lord Berjes to the fullest, I have taken some of my colleagues from the UK
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| The illustrous Lord Berjes |
I am sure Lord Ripon (where ever he may be) must be proud to have his name associated with such a august institution.
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| A proud Lord Ripon |
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