Dolce Vita
Dolce Vita

Mumbai foodies – here’s another shopping destination to put on your lists. Last week we were invited for a walk through Dolce Vita, the latest addition in the city’s mushrooming gourmet grocery scene. Located in the Grand Galleria of Phoenix Mills, you’ll find all the usual imported suspects here, including some unique and rare offerings. While we would suggest avoiding the attached cafe until they work out the kinks, here are 5 of our favourite food items they carry that are often hard to come by in Mumbai:

1. Beer & Wine

Beer and wine
Beer and wine

While we don’t snub our noses at domestic wines and brews, there’s something to be said for a chilled Brooklyn Lager or a nice glass of Italian Chianti. You’ll find both at Dolce Vita, along with nearly 130 other imported white and red wines, as well as beers such as Birra Moretti and Murphy’s Irish Stout.

2. Sports Drinks

Sports Drinks
Sports drinks

Where there’s booze, there are hangovers. And where there are hangovers, there needs to be sports drinks. Yes, you can get some of these locally, but we loved Dolce Vita’s excellent selection of rehydrating goodness: multiple flavors of Gatorade, a wide range of Lucozade, and a good handful of Powerade and Vitamin Water. Party like we do, and you’ll understand why this is such a blessing!

3. Candy & Chocolates

Candy
Candy

We haven’t seen this wide an imported assortment in too many other places, which includes brands such as Ghirardelli, Hershey’s, Reese’s, Green & Black’s Organic, Cadbury, and Betty Crocker. We immediately picked up a packet of Maltesers and Hubba Bubba Bubblegum (resisting the urge to throw in Push Pops and Flake Bars as well). There’s always next time.

4. Old El Paso

old el paso
Old El Paso

This one’s a shout out to my American friends in the city: I’ve seen few sights that are scarier than a group of rabidly hungry American expats, fantasizing about Mexican food. While you may still have to travel to Bangalore for a taste of Taco Bell, Dolce Vita has Mumbai’s home-cooks covered, with everything from Old El Passo Salsa to Spicy Fajita Cooking Sauce. Now please stop looking at me with those crazy eyes.

5. Walkers Biscuits

Walkers
Walkers

Walkers Biscuits played a fairly prominent role in my childhood, and a very delicious one at that. Aside from the heavenly, artery-clogging Pure Butter Shortbread Rounds, Dolce Vita carries four other yummy choices. Go ahead, relive my childhood. Trust me, it was pretty awesome. (Note: After I wrote this, I saw Walkers biscuits being sold at Goa airport. I’m not sure what this means, but I refuse to remove them from my list. But as a compromise, I offer you a….)

6…Bonus! Starbucks Frappuccino

Starbucks frappuccino
Starbucks frappuccino

Because even though you hate them, you know you love them.