Araku: Where conscious dining meets culinary excellence
Mumbai's Colaba district's newly opened restaurant, Araku, shines for its commitment to utilizing regenerative agricultural produce. It is a sustainable farming approach centered around rejuvenating soil health through techniques like minimized tillage, cover cropping, and crop rotation. Araku's embrace of regenerative agriculture signals a potential shift in our connection with both food and the environment.
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to improve and restore the health of ecosystems, particularly soil health, while also promoting biodiversity, water retention, and carbon sequestration. Unlike conventional agriculture, which often relies heavily on chemical inputs and mechanical interventions, regenerative agriculture focuses on natural processes to create a more sustainable and resilient farming system.
An immersive experience
Araku goes beyond mere dining; it offers an immersive journey. As guests step inside, they're welcomed by a 3D relief map showcasing the picturesque Araku Valley, vividly depicting the landscape where the restaurant's coffee is sourced. Customers leave with not just with happy taste buds but also with a better understanding and respect for sustainable farming.
Sustainability
The menu, dedicated to regenerative agriculture practices, prompts other establishments to reconsider their sourcing strategies. The menu showcases its sourcing from over 60,000 small estates in the Araku Valley where tribal farmers practice sustainable coffee cultivation techniques. Emphasizing sustainability and local artisanal skills enhances this message, urging a transition to ethical and eco-conscious consumption. This approach challenges traditional agricultural practices that harm the planet.
About Araku
Crafted by New York-based architect Jorge Zapata, the 55-seat restaurant features a monochromatic minimalist aesthetic, biophilic design accentuated by bamboo chandeliers, indoor greenery, and expansive windows welcoming abundant natural light. Notably, a striking 3D wall art portrays the terroir of Araku, paying tribute to more than 3,000,000 tribal farmers engaged in regenerative organic agriculture, cultivating pepper, millets, fruits, and, notably, 100% Arabica coffee.
Modbar
Upon entering, the distinctive modbar at Araku immediately captures attention. Modbar is a modular bar design aimed at promoting lively exchanges between baristas and customers by positioning the coffee machines either behind or beneath the counter. Adjacent to Modbar, the wall is adorned with a rack brimming with Araku memorabilia, showcasing various coffee blends, brewing tools and serving utensils alongside planters, ceramics and books.