Grills on Fire @ The Ancient Barbeque

Posted on by Sunil Malhotra

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!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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.

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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.

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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.

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Oriental Pavilion at the Fortune Select Hotel, Sohna Road

Posted on by Ikreate Passions

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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.

Johnny Rockets- All You Can Eat..!!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Johnny Rockets as a brand needs no introduction and we all know that when it comes to American Cuisine, its one of the leading food chains. Their burgers are one of the best in town and you can simply not ignore them. Recently Johnny Rockets added another feather to their cap by introducing ‘All You Can Eat’ Offers and trust me its an offer hard to refuse and harder to miss. Its simply heaven, just for Rs 499 for non-veg and Rs 449 for veg one can choose as much one wants from a 6 course burger meal including pre-appetisers, appetisers, salads, shakes, burgers and desserts.

The portions are smaller and so are the sizes of burger as compared to their regular meals, but then I guess to match up the unlimited portions, its justified. To explore this menu I headed to the Vasant Kunj outlet located in the DLF Promenade Mall with my son.

Now coming to food, we ordered American Fries, Onion Rings, Chicken Poprocks, Cheese Fries and Nachos Supreme. The Fries were too good, both the American and Cheese Fries, simply loved them. The Poprocks were the highlight, they should not be missed at all and I also loved the crisp onion rings. What can go wrong with Nachos, so they too were good. Veggie Fingers and Spiced Sausages should also make it to your must try list.

Coming to burgers we tried the Original Chicken Burger, which was yummylicious, simple and yet amazing. Crisp Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Mustard Sauce and Mayo makes this a really awesome treat.

Next I tried the Houston Chicken Burger, little on the spicier side, this one has chipotle ranch sauce and loads of jalapeños which make it so awesome. For me it was a delight.

Caramelised Onions, Grilled Mushrooms, Cheese, Mayo and a Juicy Chicken Patty is what makes the Route 66 Burger so awesome and definitely my personal favourite. The onions and mushrooms were amazing and took the taste to a next level. This is one burger that will surely take me back to Johnny Rockets again and again.

For shakes we tried the Kit Kat Shake and the Banana Shake and both of them were lovely. I enjoyed slurping and gulping down the kit kat shake while my son had the banana one.

Perfect brownie sunday is what we had for desserts and it concluded our wholesome foodie experience at JR. I strongly recommend visiting this place and try out this mind blowing offer and have a fun day with your family and friends relishing these lip smacking burger meals.

Johnny Rockets Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Lemon Drops-Restaurant Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

G0od Vegetarian dine-out options are few and less and the ones with a good ambience and even scarce. Lemon Drops, at Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj is such a relief when it comes to a great dining experience with great vegetarian food. On the lines of Haldiram’s Lemon Drops also has a variety of cuisines with a great emphasis on street food of Indian regions. From Bhalla Papris to Golgappas and Pav Bhaji to Dosas and Idly, Chowmein to Dimsums, you name it and they have it.

To begin with we ordered the Street Food Platter, the Chinese Platter and the South Indian Platter, all three of these are totally worth it as you get to try smaller quantities of a variety of things, Like the Street Food Platter consisted of cholera bhature, dhokla, pav bhaji, dahi bhalla and a gulab jamun. Frankly speaking its more than enough for one person, but as we were a group of foodies exploring this place, this helped us in deciding which cuisine and what to order next.

Next we ordered, Pav Bhaji, which was one of the best dishes I tasted that afternoon and is a must try. The Raj Kachori too was good, and so was the Bhalla Papdi. The Pain Puri or Golgappas were another favourite amongst everyone and should surely be tried.

We also tried the Veg Spring Rolls and Veg Pizza, the pizza was great, soft and cheesy and perfectly made, the spring rolls were just about ok.

The paneer tikka was the only disappointing factor in the entire array of dishes as it was too spicy but I am sure the management will take our feedback and improve upon the same.

Also tried the Sweet Corn and Tomato Soups which were both delectable. For the mains we tried the Dal Makhani and Butter Naan Combo which was simply amazing and also the Cheesy Macaroni was scrumptious. Bedmi Poori is another must try, it was extremely delicious.

For drinks try out their range of milk shakes and some mocktails, they are really nice, especially the Banana Shake.

 

Moong Dal Ka Halwa brought my foodie exploration to a sweet end and should be on your must try list.

Overall I loved the vibrant ambience of the place and whenever you find yourself strolling in the Ambience Mall, think no more and head straight to this place and otherwise make a special effort and try it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Lemon Drops Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Gems and Jewels Launches Their E-Commerce Site!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Gems n Jewels launched their E-commerce portal on 20th January 2017 at Silver Spoon.Ghaziabad,U.P. India with a grand event which showcased their spectacular collection of sparkling gemstones, beautifully finished diamond pieces and more.
The ramp was set on fire by their premium designer jewellery.
A wide range of jewellery was presented in three sequences including that of wedding jewellery collection kundan, polki and fabulous pure gold designs.


Their show stopping sequence of exquisite diamond jewellery was unveiled by Miss Earth 2016 amidst a rousing welcome by the audience and great applaud as the website went live at that very moment.
They are bringing their customers the joy to buy premium jewellery from the comforts of home.
A wide range of bracelets, necklaces, cocktail rings and jewellery sets all in unique designs and of highest quality.
Also on offer will be a wide range of imitation jewellery too making it a one stop shop for all your jewellery needs be it real diamonds, pure gold or imitation.
The company is laying a firm focus on craftsmanship, quality and user experience.
The event was well organized and the jewellery collection was very well presented by the models on the ramp accompanied by some lilting music and well choreographed sequences.


Delicious snacks and soft drinks were continuously served to the audience.
The audience was also kept involved in the proceedings by some interactive games by the MC.
The event was brought further to life by some thrilling performance by Singer N S Chauhan who made the audience groove to his popular numbers like “paisa paise”, “sharabi kente hain” “tamache pe disco”, “Saadi gali”etc.


It really was a grand launch in the truest sense.
The launch was followed by cocktails n dinner.
Wish the portal all the very best in their endeavor,the first of its kind in North India as per their MD,Mr Manoj Maheshwari who promises to provide high quality designer jewellery to its customers at most competitive prices.

A long vacation where your fun, excitement and even work is taken care of! Enjoy the REMOTE LIFE

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Who would not want a vacation thats long enough to indulge in luxury, exploring new places and sometimes just to unwind, but most of the times the worry of our work getting suffered always cuts down on our vacation. But not anymore, those who seek loooooong vacations can now do so without any apprehensions, you wanna know how..?

Remote Life is a program that allows a person to travel the world and work from anywhere with likeminded people. The Remote Life was launched on 5th of December 2016 and in just about a few months they have already been able to garner 670+ registrations for this years program.

The program brings together professionals, freelancers, digital nomads and entrepreneurs to work, live and travel. It aims to get more and more people out of their cubicles into the real world. Work should not come in the way of travel, and this is where remote life helps you bridge the gap.

What does your program include:

  • 24*7 workspace with high-speed internet
  • Private bedroom in villa/apartment
  • Flights between destinations
  • Visa, Insurance & local SIM
  • Daily local cuisine/meals
  • Airport pickup & drop
  • Community events
  • Lots of pictures!
  • Local ambassador
  • Professional workshops
  • Meetup with local entrepreneurs

Here is a glimpse of what it would actually be

This could be your Vila in Bali..
Your office on the beach-Ko Lanta
Your personal working space, no kidding

Speaking on the concept Nischal Dua, CEO & Founder, The Remote Life, said, he was inspired from his own travel plans and during one of his trips to Himalayan Base Camp, the idea germinated. His main main aim was to let everyone enjoy travel without hampering their work, his goal is to provide people the perfect work life balance, out of this world travel experiences while also maintaining their professional requirements.

Over the last few years, Nishchal Dua has built 2 companies and traveled 7 countries in a row. His mission is to help people in changing their work lifestyle.

In addition to it, he is a serial entrepreneur, frequent traveler & trekking freak. With The Remote Life, he is aiming for a diverse, balanced group with people from different backgrounds, experiences and regions. Everyone is verified through public social profiles and the founder himself makes sure to personally call up before finalizing the participants.

How does The Remote Life Work

  • They take care of the research, organization, and booking of the flights, stay, desk space, and everything else so that one can see the world, without leaving his/her work. Well, Remote Life does not provide remote jobs infact Remote Life is a group of like minded people that travel the world while working, not a holiday or vacation package.
  • Cost: USD 1300/month
  • www.theremotelife.com/south-east-asia-trip

So what are you waiting for, log on today and give your work life a whole new meaning, travel the world without compromising on your work! Enjoy

3 Months | 3 Countries | 30 Extraordinary People

Destinations: Indonesia, Cambodia & Thailand

A Wholesome Foodie Experience @ Circus

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Lip smacking food thrown in from regular menu as well as a special food festival menu, array of drinks, an exquisite ambience and company of like minded foodies, the perfect formula for an evening well spent, this is how I will describe my experience at Circus, South Ex.

The place exuberates, energy and liveliness all throughout, with ample bright space for seating, an outdoor balcony space and a beautiful terrace, you can choose your den as per your mood and the weather.

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There is an ongoing Punjabi Food Festival at Circus and hence we got to try the best of both worlds, to begin with we ordered Dahi Ke Kebab, Makhani Lahori Tikka and Paneer Pepper Fry. Dahi Ke Kebab were nice, crispy on the outside and soft inside, one of the best dishes we had that evening, the Lahori Tikka was really nice, perfectly spiced and mouth melting, one must try these. The Paneer Pepper Fry turned out to be a bit disappointing, it was too spicy and except spices there was just no taste.

Next we ordered Mutton Tikka Tak A Tak, Chicken 65, Butter Chicken Pizza and Loaded Potato Skin. The Mutton was really nice, tender pieces cooked in a tawa type thick masala, I really loved it. Chicken 65 was another winner, perfectly spiced with loads of curry leaves. The Butter Chicken Pizza was good, though didn’t really feel the butter chicken taste in specific. The Loaded Potato Skins were really good, the hollow potato skins were filled with creamy cheddar cheese and then baked. Its a delight for vegetarians.

A wide array of drinks were there to choose from, Circus Bloody Marry, Masala Gang and Joker No 7 were really nice. For mocktails there was Kiwi Cantaloupe Cooler, Mixed Apple Mojito and Salted Caramel Shake.

From the Punjabi Festival menu, we ordered Machi Amritsari, Machhi De Tikke, Beere Da Kukkad and Papadwala Paneer Tikka. The Amristsari Fish was basically fried fillets of fish with a really crispy covering, this was awesome, and must try while the festival lasts. Macchi De Tikke, were big chunks of fish marinated in tandoori spices and were really tasty. Beere Da Kukkad was typically the tandoori chicken prepared really well. The chicken was really tender and juicy and I loved it. The Papadwala Paneer was amazing, the crushed papad coat added a lot of crunchy to otherwise soft paneer.

For the main course we ordered mainly from the Punjabi Food Festival menu, Dal Makhani, Kukkad Patialashahi, Mutton Ghee Roast, Palak Paneer and Andhra Chicken Curry.

Loved the way the main course was brought in home style dabbas, perfectly accompanied by kachumbar salad and assorted breads. Fell in love with the food just by looking at it.

The Dal Makhani was totally as per expectations, creamy and very Punjabi, the Mutton Ghee Roast had a perfect masala, but somehow was a bit salty, but otherwise this could have been the winner. Kukkad Patialashahi was the best, a very well prepared chicken gravy, this was delectable. The kachumbar salad a dose of tanginess and spice to the whole meal, it was a perfect accompaniment.

Coming to desserts, we tried the Moong Dal Halwa, Aatte Ka Halwa and Circus Special Sunday. The Moong Dal Halwa was not as per my expectations, it was little dry and less sweet for my liking, but the Aatte Ka Halwa made up for everything, it was delicious. The Circus Special Sunday looked the most tempting and was nice too, though it wasn’t very sweet, it was berrylicious with some strong flavours of strawberries and cherries.

But my overall experience at Circus was fabulous and I really look forward to visiting it soon.

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