If you love great coffee and cocktails in Kolkata, two spots are likely to be on top of your list — PICO for coffee and Five Mad Men (5MM) for cocktails. Now, imagine these two coming together for a unique coffee-cocktail experience. But, there’s no need to imagine it — because it’s actually happening! 5MM in Salt Lake Sector V is hosting The Mad Roast in collaboration with PICO, till February 23
Photos: Amit Datta
Prateek Didwania, founder of PICO-Pizzeria and Coffee Bar near Vivekananda Park, on Southern Avenue, spoke to My Kolkata at the launch of a special seven-day pop-up that will have coffee and cocktail lovers drooling. He shared, ‘Sayan and Veronica of 5MM are good friends and regulars at PICO. One day, while chatting, we found common ground. We wanted to collaborate on an event where PICO would bring the coffee, and Five Mad Men would provide the venue and, of course, the tipple. We spent hours coming up with this menu and hope this becomes a trend that catches on’
Veronica Roy, creative head at the gastroplay pub in Sector V, also spoke to My Kolkata about the collaboration. She shared, ‘PICO is my favourite coffee spot in town, and we at 5MM had been wanting to do something with coffee for a long time. What really drew us to PICO was the story behind their coffee beans, sourced from the Salawara Estate in Chikmagalur. We spent quite a lot of time brewing several drinks and narrowed it down to six. The reaction we’re hoping for from guests is simply ‘Wow’! That’s how we’ll know if Kolkata is ready for this.’ Veronica also added that her favourite drink from the menu is Espresso Nebula (above), which is a blend of espresso, Kahlua, dark rum, vanilla syrup, cocoa powder, milk and lemon juice
(Left) The Orange Driver is a vodka-based cocktail — a blend of espresso, orange juice, caramel syrup and mint leaves. Served in a margarita glass with a foamy layer, this drink strikes the perfect balance between coffee and vodka. On the other hand, the Coconut Mocha Mirage (right) is a drink, where espresso and white rum are mixed together for a delightfully smooth experience. One of the sweeter cocktails on the menu, it also has coconut milk, pineapple juice, milk and a hint of lemon juice for a refreshing twist
Vritti Mishra, a Master’s student at the University College of London, originally from Lucknow, was in Kolkata for a wedding and did not want to let go of the opportunity to try these coffee-based cocktails. Vritti said, ‘These drinks are absolutely delightful and it’s such a unique experience — something I didn’t expect to find in Kolkata at all. The city’s drinking culture is evolving and getting closer to cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai. My personal favourite was the Orange Driver, while the Old Monk Salutation was a fresh kick of nostalgia’
Kedar Kumar Paswan, the head mixologist at Five Mad Men, said, ‘I have always wanted to experiment with coffee and alcohol. When PICO approached us for this collaboration, it felt like the perfect opportunity — especially with the growing interest in coffee among Indians. I’m thrilled to curate this blend of coffee and alcohol with PICO and present some of the finest coffee cocktails to the city.’ We also asked him for recommendations, and the bartender’s picks were Orange Driver and the Bourbon Macchiato
The masterminds behind this collaboration (l-r) Sayan Roy, Veronica Roy and Prateek Didwania. Their creations are available at Five Mad Men, every day till February 23, with each cocktail priced at ₹595. For designated drivers or non-drinkers, a selection of coffee is also available, priced at Rs 245 per cup. The special menu is available daily from 3pm onwards, accompanied by an assortment of bar nibbles and Five Mad Men’s newly launched food menu, curated by their new head chef, Piyush Menon, who brings a punch of south Indian flavours to the table
