Off the back of his successful, one-weekend-only Pope Joan pop-up, Melbourne chef Mischa Tropp will be moving in, at least for a little while, to continue serving up his heart-warming Delhi-style butter chicken.
Named after his grandmother and affectionately titled Elsie’s Butter Chicken, Mischa has found a temporary home at Pope Joan serving up a verified crowd pleaser with his delicious butter chicken, dal makhani and naan. Available for pick up or delivery during lockdown, the serving comes complete with pickled onion, raita and saffron-and-cumin rice; there’s also paneer instead of chicken for a vegetarian option.
Tropp, whose mother is Keralan, has made a name for himself in Melbourne over the years by showcasing Indian cuisine in all its diversity and changing the perceptions of typical ‘Indian’ food. More recently, he embarked on a trip back to his motherland, exploring different regions, meeting local cooks, and soaking up the rich food traditions that influence his approach to cooking today.
Of his latest pop-up, Mischa says, “I’m happy to be back and firing up the grill again to help lift the spirits of Melbournians with comfort food that equates to a big, warm hug.”
After spending a little over a year at The Rochester Hotel in Fitzroy spicing up the kitchen with an exciting Keralan menu in 2019, Mischa is no stranger to temporary takeovers that resonate so well that they become a permanent fixture. For Mischa, pop-up dinners and residencies have helped him to connect with his Indian heritage and showcase the many flavours of Indian cuisine.
Mischa continues, “If the pandemic has taught me anything, it’s to roll with the punches. I hope to turn this model into a viable long-term business venture that allows me to showcase Indian cooking in new and exciting environments.”
At $30 per person, Elsie’s Butter Chicken is available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday through pre-order, with the option of pick-up or $15 direct delivery to local suburbs within a 15km radius of the Melbourne CBD. With only 200 serves available each week, be sure to place your order quickly before it sells out.
For more information on Elsie’s Butter Chicken, or to place an order, head to: https://www.elsieswithlove.com/
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