Month: February 2017

Dhaba Food comes live at the Exquisite Singh Sahib…!!

Singh Sahib at Eros Hotel, New Delhi has always boasted of traditional Indian food with nuances from across the border as well, but they still keep innovating and bringing newness in their menu, sometimes this newness is adapted in the menu for long term and sometimes the newness is in brought like a food festival for a limited period of time. This time around Singh Sahib brought in the flavours from the streets of Amritsar right in their restaurant with the Dhaba Festival.

[easy-image-collage id=5271]

With deep insights gathered from their travel to Amritsar, F&B Manager Umesh Dalal and Executive Chef Nikhil Rastogi tried to add as much authenticity as possible with of course some twists of tastes and chef’s special inspired dishes.

With live Tandoor to Kulcha Stations and Elaborate Main Course spread, there was a lot to leave your taste buds lingering.

[easy-image-collage id=5275]

We tried Tandoori Chook, Jalandhari Seekh and Masalewali Singhada from the live tandoor station, and Lawrence Road Ka Paneer Tikka, Makhan Da Malai Soya and Sarhadi Bharwan Aaloo made for the veg options. Must say that all the dishes were exceptionally good. The Masalewali Singhada and Sarhadi Bharwan Aaloo need a special mention though, as they were superlative.

Next we tried Makhan Ki Machi, Beere Ka Roast Chicken & Atta Chicken along with a platter of Mix Pakodas. The Beere ka Roast Chicken was perfect, and Makhan Ki Machi was another highlight dish. A plate full of Pakodas is always delightful anyways.

[easy-image-collage id=5282]

For the main course, I opted for Telephone Exchange Ki Mutton Chaap and then tried a bit of Kunna Gosht Patialashahi and it surely was one of the best dishes I had for the evening. Bharawan Ke Choley, Palak Paneer Ambalewale, Malka Masoor Take Wali and Amritsari Wadiyan were all delectable and I can easily say that the veg spread was simply amazing.

A variety of Chutneys and Papads really added to the flavour and I personally loved Kali Gajar ka Achar and Lahsun Ki Chutney the most.

For desserts Kadhai Doodh which was superb, Sharma Ji Ka Jalebi was fabulous but here the clear winner was Chef’s own creation which was Kurkura Lachha with Gur Sorbet. I mean the Gur Sorbet was outstanding, I could never imagine something like this and Chef Nikhil Rastogi creation emerged as a sure shot winner.

My experiences at Eros are always top notch, the food, the ambience and most of all the hospitality of people is just amazing. I mean how many times you get to really enjoy a meal with insights from the F&B Manager, PR Manager and the Chef himself sitting across the table and engaging in candid conversations. It was a splendid evening spent relishing amazing Dhaba Food in a great company. I always look forward to my next visit at Eros.

 

 

 

Treat Your Feet With VANILLA MOON!

Spring is in the air and it’s that glorious time of the year again! Get out and about with Vanilla Moon’s 2017 Spring Summer collection. Their newest collection has brought together global trends that will get you excited for work, play and everything in-between.

Open-toe leather flats, colourful slip-ons and sandals with crystal studs create a dazzling effect; These maintain a sense of the casual while leaving a marked impression. Block heels with single ankle-straps, metallic shades and fabulous designs capture the elegance that is synonymous with Vanilla Moon. Peep-toe wedge heels in suede and patent leathers are all the rage this season. Glittering shades of gold and bronze and quintessential summer time floral designs give every woman the versatility she must have in her wardrobe. Flaunt a casual yet chic look with lace-up sneakers and tasselled loafers. The new designs range from sober patterns on suede to funky bohemian hand-embroidery on leather.

[easy-image-collage id=5244]

Vanilla Moon’s 2017 Spring Summer collection is here. Have fun while the sun shines ladies!

[easy-image-collage id=5262]

The collection is priced from INR 3999 onwards.

You can shop Vanilla Moon online at www.vanillamoon.co.in or else at stores:

  • Vanilla Moon Store, DLF Emporio, New Delhi
  • Vanilla Moon Store, DLF Mall of India, Noida
  • Vanilla Moon Store, Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai

Mesmerised at Dezert Fox..!!

I recently visited Dezert Fox, which is a upmarket dessert parlour. They currently have about 3 outlets in South Delhi and are looking at expanding their reach to the other parts of the city. Now being a baker, I know that it takes much more than ingredients when it comes to preparing desserts, it takes a lot of patience, love and passion and one look at the display at Desert Fox and you will know exactly what I mean.

Every dessert was a work of art, I mean the desserts at this place are so gorgeous looking that you would actually end up staring them for a long time and would not even want to eat it, but just keep looking. I was completely mesmerised!

They have awesome play of both colours and flavours in their desserts and after tasting a few of them I can easily say that the desserts don’t only look good, but taste amazing as well.

Here is a glimpse of what I experienced.. I am not explaining all the flavours and tastes here, because this truly is one place which you should visit and experience on your own..till then here is a visual delight…!!

My recommendations for must haves:

The Cheese Cake

Lime Banana Manjari & Raspberry Rose Chocolates

Caramel Cara Eclair

Matcha Chio

 
Dezertfox Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

A delightful gastronomic experience @Gastronomica Kitchen & Bar

Culinary journeys across places always interests me and when something turns up near to home, its even wonderful. I recently headed out to this amazing place Gastronomica Kitchen & Bar tucked away in the ever hustling bustling GK 1, M Block Market.

The place has a very vibrant appeal to it and yet is cozy and warm. The staff is extremely hospitable and completely aware of their own brand, their recommendations and knowledge impresses you.

[easy-image-collage id=5196]

To begin with we ordered, Quinoa Bhel, Ratatouille Cigars, Mascarpone Chicken and A+A+A Pizza. The Quinoa Bhel was outstanding, Quinoa which has risen sharply in recent years is considered a very healthy and wheat-free alternative, which is a great resource of protein, fibre and iron. But the moment we thing of healthy things, we assume that the taste will be compromised, but this treatment of Quinoa where in for not even one moment you realise that you are eating something different, the way the Bhel taste was infused using Quinoa was remarkable. I simply loved it and for me it was one of the best dishes of the evening.

Ratatouille Cigars were good too, but may be because the Quinoa Bhel still had a lingering taste, I could not appreciate them much and went on to munch some more bhel. The A+A+A Pizza was really nice, very unusual topping of green apples, apples and pineapple, this one will surely delight your taste buds.

The Mascarpone Chicken was another highlight of the evening, I simply could not resist this wonderful dish. Loaded with cream and cheese, this was an orgasmic experience, it just melts in your mouth. Worth drooling over and over again, don’t miss it.

Moving on, we tried Wasabi Fish Cake, Chicken Sliders, Bagels and Pizza Pazza. I am not a Wasabi fan and hence did not like the fish cakes much, as I find the wasabi flavour too strong.

The Chicken Sliders were good, juicy and tender chicken cutlets in small soft buns served with potatoes, it made for a wholesome dish.

Pizza Pazza was again a delightful pizza with chicken topping, thin crust and well done. Bagels though on a sweeter side, because they had a filling of apples, were nice and unusual.

Coming to the main course, we ordered Cottage Cheese Steak and Chicken Milanese. The cottage cheese steak was just about ok, nothing too great but nothing bad either. Chicken Milanese, a spaghetti with two big chunks of chicken in a red sauce was bit spicy but delectable. I simply loved indulging in it and surely makes for an impressive main course.

Beetroot’s Halwa and An Evening in Jaipur comprised of our desserts for the evening. The beetroot halwa was good, but something that needs a taste development, might not be likeable in one go. An evening in Jaipur were basically Malpuas dipped in a sugary syrup, they were crisp and nice, but too sweet for my liking.

They have a wide and a very unusual selection of drinks and cocktails especially. Very presentable and different flavours infused together always make for a surprise. Recommended- Charcoal Martini, Paan Mojito, Bubblegum, and Tiramisu Margarita.

 

Overall I had a very pleasant experience at Gastronomica and I really look forward to a visit again. The ambience, the food, the drinks, everything was great.

Gastronomica Kitchen & Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

8 Stalls serving awesome regional food at Dilli Haat- Be the tourist in your own city..!!

Exploring regional food is always an interesting thing to do and when you get a chance to indulge in some awesome regional food from across regions under one roof, with a great ambience and loads of shopping options, its a pure bliss. So head straight to Dilli Haat and you get to do all of this, and here is handy list of 8 stalls that you should not miss..

Read More

Grills on Fire @ The Ancient Barbeque

The Ancient Barbeque hosted a preview of their Grills on Fire festival specially curated by Chef Ashish Massey, Director, The Ancient Brabeque, along with Rohini T Chawla, Masterchef top 12 contestant, Sadaf Hussain, Masterchef , Top 10 contestant and Majid Khan, Biryaniwala discovered by HT City.


Held on the terrace on a warm winter afternoon the setting was absolutely right for A Fiery Feast of Barbeque delights. The entire space was filled with mouth drooling aromas, I mean you just could not ignore it and felt automatically hungry.
There were 26 starters both Non Veg n Veg to be savoured along with some wine and beer and each one of them was a delight. Practically it won’t have been possible to try all 26 of them so we ended up tasting most of the non-vegetrarian variety.


They started with the Brazilian Churrasco Chicken which was grilled to perfection with a right balance of spices.
Then there were the Murg Asafjahi, Mexican Chicken Wings with Hot Sauce, Butter Biryani Chicken and all of them were absolutely delicious. My mouth waters even as I write about them.


Then there were the Mutton Galouti with Ulta Tawa Paratha which were simply mind blowing. Really soft and juicy.
The Mutton Barra was a real treat. The chops were tender and a superb marination enhanced the flavours.
The Kasundi Mahi Tikka, Patrani Machi, Drunken Fish and Prawn Verde were a gourmet’s delight. After trying so much I really could not figure out which one ended up being the best, because all of the dishes were one better than the other.
Tandoori Chicken Momos were another fine creation. Each and every dish served was just simply awesome.


Kudos to all the Chefs, they did a fabulous job with food, their hard work was visible and definitely paid off.
A special mention on the Veg staters which we tried, Brazilian Churrasco Pineapple, Dal Harimirch ki Shammi and Tandoori Chinese Dahi ke Sholey were extraordinary. Even the Tandoori Bhutta looked so tempting.

This entire experience was not just a foodies delight, but to say the least, it was a visual delight too, in fact it evoked all the five senses, the visual beauty, the tastes, the aromas, the sizzles and the warmth.. truly everything was beautiful.

They also served a superb Chicken Biryani and a specially made Chicken Korma which were superb.

The service by the ever smiling most courteous staff was something out of this world.

The Ancient Barbeque deserves a visit over n over again for their mouth watering delicacies and efficient service. We are really grateful to Neha Bahl from Qube Communications to have invited for this culinary experience and also Chef Ashish Messy for his warm hospitality

Rush! Rush!Rush!
Not only for Grills on Fire but anytime you want to relish good food, drinks and an ambience of its own with a smiling cheerful staff who really are efficient.

Anarchy Hosts Acting School Launch!

All roads lead to this popular club in Andheri West through the week. Anarchy is the latest entrant in that party sector and has become a favorite amongst party goers for their aesthetically designed interiors, buzzing bar and an amazing line up of DJs.

[easy-image-collage id=5154]

Last week, we spotted some known faces from Bollywood and the Television industry for an acting school launch event at Anarchy. Deepshika, who has been part of the industry for quite sometime launched her latest venture an acting school to enable people to pursue their passion for acting.Switching between conversations, dance floor and the bar; they were seen enjoying themselves at this do.

[easy-image-collage id=5160]

The event saw the likes of Deepshikha Nagpal, Vindu Dara Singh & Dina Umarova, Kashmira Shah & Krishna Abhishek, Rohit Verma, Rahul Mahajan, Tanaaz & Bakhtyaar, Poonam Dhillon, Terence Lewis, Ayub Khan and many more.

[easy-image-collage id=5163]

Oriental Pavilion at the Fortune Select Hotel, Sohna Road

Oriental Cuisine is one of my all time favourites and I can literally have it continuously for days without feeling bored and when you get a chance to visit one of your favourite places to explore the same, its a win win situation. It was a pleasure to be back at the Fortune Hotel after a grand Lohri Lunch at the Zodiac Restaurant, this time it was the Oriental Pavilion, their roof top restaurant this time around .
The restaurant claims to be a roof top restaurant but alas there is roof on the top and contrary to expectations is not open air.
A touch disappointed but all the disappointment disappeared once the ever courteous staff served the Starters.

[easy-image-collage id=5136]

Wok fried Tofu in Cilli Basil was a superb treat with chilli and basil in just the right proportions.
Spinach and Corn Crystal Dumpling and the Thai Vegetable Spring Roll were a veggies delight both crispy n done to perfection.
The Chicken Sui Mai, Chicken in Hunan Style and The Pan Fried Fish with Kaffir Lime were a gourmet’s delight.
All three dishes with their very own distinct flavours and tastes.
The Mizotaki Soup was simply superb.

[easy-image-collage id=5141]

In the Main Course they served Chicken in Oyster Sauce which was simply out of this world and The Sliced Fried Fish in Chilli n Cilantro was another delicious offering. For the veggies Vegetable in Thai Green Curry and Oriental Greens With Golden Garlic and Sesame were absolutely fabulous.

To go along with the mouth watering main dishes were The Chilli Garlic Noodles, Vegetable Fried Rice and Steamed Rice.
The Vegetable Fried Rice and Chicken in Oyster sauce made an awesome combination As did the Noodles and Sliced Fried Fish.

[easy-image-collage id=5146]

The complete spread of Starters and Main Course was most appetizing and delicious. One of the best and authentic offering.

For Dessert there was the Tempura Fried Ice Cream which was a bit of a disappointment. But the food served is a worth a visit over n over again. The service and ever courteous smiling staff deserves a special mention. All in all a most wonderful gastronomical delight.

Review Credit: Rani Malhotra

 

The Oriental Pavilion - Fortune Select Excalibur Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Koshur Saal @Holiday Inn, Mayur Vihar- Celebrating Kashmiri Cuisine!

Koshur Saal, truly meaning authentic and quick Kashmiri Recipes was also the name given to the Kashmiri Food Festival hosted by Holiday Inn, Mayur Vihar at one of their restaurants Cafe on 3. Along with the executive Chef Suprabhath Roychowdhury, Mrs Rajni Jinsi, a home chef discovered be Suprabhath, brought to us a specially curated Cuisine of Kashmiri Pandits (1st to 12th Feb). Rajni is a home chef and has mastered the skills of Kashmiri Cuisine because of her background, she hails from the land of Kashmir and belongs to a Kashmiri Pandit Family. In her early years of age, she showed keen interest in cooking under the influence of her mother. Kashmiri Pandit’s basically all Saraswat Brahmins are followers of Shiva, and refrain from using onions, garlic and tomatoes while cooking. Now to come up with a mouth watering dishes inspite of not using onions, garlic and tomatoes is a big task and Rajni emerged as true winner in the same. She not only prepared the authentic Kashmiri Cuisine but also paid attention to the minutest details and made the whole foodie experience so flavoursome.

[easy-image-collage id=5115]

There was an extensive spread starting with the Live Counter which offered the Kabargah, a signature dish of flattened lamb ribs deep fried. Simply awesome.
The other dishes were Gadh Pakoir, Aloo Mondi And Nadru Tikki. All deep fried and delicious quite similar to the pakoras we have. There was that supremely delicious Gucchi Shorba along with the starters.

[easy-image-collage id=5118]

The main course offered Neni Yakhni, lamb braised in yoghurt gravy, Murgh Kailya, chicken in a typical Kashmiri yellow curry
Mujh Gadh, fresh river fish curry with radish. Lyodur Chaman, cottage cheese cooked in Kashmiri yellow curry, Choek Wangan, Moej kailya, Nadur Yakh, Dama Oluv, Haak, Rajmah goagj, Baatha, Steamed Rice, Modur Polav, a sweet rice pilaf rich in dry fruits. To accompany were a variety of breads Sheermal, Laws se, Tillwurr, Katlam, Ghee Roti, Baqarkhan, Kulchae.

[easy-image-collage id=5123]

To sum up the cuisine it was simply mouthwatering authentic Kashmiri Pandit food at its best.
Desserts was another excellent offering of the day, Firun, Rice n Milk pudding, Shufta, an exotic dessert of dry fruits honey and saffron, Simply Superb. Also on offer were Shier Chay and Kehwah.

[easy-image-collage id=5127]

I really thank Holiday Inn, Mayur Vihar to host such a beautiful festival and discover gems like Rajni Jinsi who not only showcase their love for food and their culture but also showcase what the woman of India can do independently. The food was of superlative quality though it may take sometime to develop taste buds for the same, but it should definitely be given a shot, its totally worth it.

A must try for food lovers.


Cafe on 3 - Holiday Inn Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Tasty Thursdays- Valentine Special Recipe by Chef Karthik Krishnamurthy

So Valentines is approaching and we look forward to cook something special for our loved ones and think of Valentines and heart shaped, red coloured goodies start coming to your mind and most of the times, chocolates, cakes and pastries is all we can think of, but here is the twist. We bring to you a yummy Iddly recipe, yes you read it right, Iddly recipe for valentines.. so read on, enjoy and surprise your loved one this Valentines!

RED VELVET IDDLY

Recipe by Karthik Krishnamurthy

Iddly Faktory

Chef/Founder/CEO

 

Iddly is considered as one of the most comfort and healthy food for all Indians.

Mr. Karthik Krishnamurthy, Chef/Founder/CEO, Iddly Faktory said, “Over the years, traditions, customs, clothing, approach and eating habits have changed drastically. People are getting into healthy eating and drinking. So for valentine’s day, we at Iddly Faktory came up with the idea of making red velvet iddly without breaking the concept of healthy eating and also making our customers happy.”

INGREDIENTS

  • Whole White Urad Dal – 1 Cup
  • Iddly Rice – 4 Cups
  • Fenugreek seeds/Methi Seeds – 1 tablespoon
  • Salt – 1 tablespoon
  • Beetroot – 1 small

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Wash and soak urad dal and iddly rice 3 to 4 times and soak them separately for a minimum of 3-4 hours. While soaking urad dal add fenugreek seeds to it.
  2. Clean the wet grinder before every use. After 4hours drain out all the water from urad dal and add it to the wet grinder. Once you start grinding add half a cup of water. While grinding urad dal add the water slowly in regular intervals for two to three times. The urad dal will not fluff up, if you add all the water at once. The dal should fluff up and fill the grinder. It should have increased about 8-10 times of its original volume. It should come out as butter. Grind for at-least 30 minutes. Once done, transfer the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
  3. Now grind the soaked and drained rice until smooth. Add just enough water while grinding. The consistency should be medium. Once ground, transfer the batter to the dal mixture bowl and mix well.
  4. Add salt to the batter before fermenting in summers and add it after fermenting in winters. Usually the batter needs to ferment for 5-6 hours depending upon the weather.
  5. Once the batter is nicely fermented, take a ladle and mix it well. Your batter is now ready.

Red velvet iddly mixture:

Grate half a beetroot and squeeze it well.

Add the squeezed juice to four scoops of iddly batter. Mix it well. Your mixture is ready.

For making soft red velvet iddly:

Pour some water in an iddly vessel and put it on medium flame. Oil the iddly plate and gently fill the rounds with the red velvet batter. Put it inside the iddly vessel and let it steam for 10 minutes. Do not allow it to over-cook as it might become hard and dry. Just keep an eye and remove the iddlies after 10 minutes. Do not remove the iddlies immediately as it might stick. Allow it to rest for another 4-5 minutes and then spoon it out. Once removed use heart shaped sandwich cutter/cookie cutter to get heart shape iddlies. Serve hot with your favorite chutney or sambar.

Important NOTES

  • Drain the water completely from the ingredients after soaking.
  • While grinding urad dal and rice ensure that you do not use a lot of water.
    You can always adjust the consistency of the batter later if it is too thick. You cannot do anything if the batter goes runny.