Cortasso Café: A New pet-friendly sanctuary in Delhi’s Sunder Nursery

How many cafes are too many? Especially in the capital, the answer seems to be a resounding, “not enough!” Delhiites are always on the lookout for the perfect breakfast spot to enjoy the winter sun, replete with the lingering aroma of fresh brewed coffee — not to forget, ‘gram worthy settings with the sunlight dancing gently on the dishes. Now there has been a slew of new cafes that have launched in the last few months, but few seem to have caught the attention of cafegoers than Cortasso.

For one, getting the location right is half the job done. Cortasso has found a warm spot for itself at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum complex at Sunder Nursery, which is fast becoming a foodie’s hub with a number of options. The pet-friendly café exudes warmth, its interiors done up in shades of blue and white, with smaller wooden tables and a community table to accommodate more customers. A large open window with seating both on the inside as well as the exterior allows one to experience both. There is a ‘Share a Book’ shelf that encourages people to pick a book for themselves while leaving another one in exchange. While the cafe could be anywhere, murals on the wall depicting Humayun’s Tomb and Sunder Nursery remind you exactly where you are.

Coffee
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Founder Ashish Ahuja, who also runs Pebble Street, one of the oldest sports pubs in Delhi, shares that Cortasso is a result of his love for travel and cafes. “I really enjoy sitting in cafes, especially in Europe, and savouring the freshness of the products. I don’t want to do too much here at Cortasso, but whatever I do, I want to do it right,” he says. A big believer in collaborations, he has got Ello Bakehouse for their fresh bakes and viennoiserie, Chef Megha Kohli and Chef Noah Louis Barnes for the food and Caarabi Coffee Roasters to do their coffee, with Studio Praxi transforming his vision into the cafe. Their tagline, ‘Come as you are’ is the relaxed vibe Ashish is going for.

We take their suggestion to heart and sip slowly on a hot cup of their rum barrel aged roast, with sweet, layered notes of Old Monk rum, oak and caramel as another friend indulges in their winter spice latte, perfect accompaniment to the warmth of the winter sun on our faces. Ashish suggests we try their souffle egg white omelette, which with its cloud-like texture is the lightest omelette we have tasted, but even with the chives and parsley, it lacks the required piquancy and oomph. The spicy pepperoni flatbread, on the other hand, is an explosion of fiery flavours with pomodoro sauce and pickled red chillies with rustic pepperoni. The burrata by the bagh salad is a sort of ode to the Sunder Nursery itself, with its colourful seasonal fruits, jamun dressing and creamy burrata. It’s light on the tummy, yet satisfying.

burrata by the bagh salad 
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

On the menu, also, are sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, smoothie bowls and sweet toasts as well as croissants, cream cheese buns, tarts and pastries by Ello. Throwing calories to the wind, we opt for the banana chocolate walnut cake as well as the blueberry white chocolate tart. Not overly sweet, the former has a dense sponge with the crunch of toasted walnuts and the chocolaty goodness while the latter is creamy and luxurious.

As the winter sun dips behind the nursery’s canopy, one thing is certain — Cortasso is not just a place to eat; it is a reason to linger just a little longer in the heart of the city’s history.

Cortasso is at Sunder Nursery New Delhi.