August 2016

Month: August 2016

Understanding Facial Serum, Its Demand & Advantages!

Posted on August 21, 2016August 21, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Facial Serum can be a moisturizer or your skin tonner; it can be your sun-screen too. There is no particular logic behind what it is because facial serum does not only work for one task. It prevents you from sun burn, wrinkles and many other signs of aging that actually you don’t want to see.

How it moisturizes your skin?

Chock-full of moisturizing ingredients of Facial serum helps to maintain the moisture of the skin, but it does not work in traditional manner. It does not create a barrier in deep skin and upper facial skin as other products do.
Doesn’t use face oil instead of facial serums?

Most of us are not having proper information about the difference between facial serums and face oils, we may use face oil instead serum due to improper knowledge. Serums are actually water based and facial oils are for sure being formulated on oil basis. Due to big molecules of face oils, it just rest on first layer of skin but, facial serums are having very small molecules which go under upper layer for complete care of it. So, don’t be confuse get the right product for your face.

Check If Facial Serum Is Right for you!

Only serum with right ingredients will work for you, you can get it according to skin type:

• Acne-prone: Get vitamin C enriched face serum along with presence of retinol which is an antioxidant for reducing inflammation, zinc to sooth the irritation, salicylic acid

• Dry: Vitamin E facial serum is good for you; it should also contain niacinamide for improving skin elasticity, glycolic acid for lightening the skin color, and hyaluronic acid which retains the moisture.

• Dull skin: In this case, always look for antioxidants as green tea extract, ferulic acid, resveratrol etc for cellular recovery and prevention from sunlight.

Caution: before start using of facial serums always consult to doctor. Serum is super potent so, piling it on can damage sensitive skin. Only way to understand more is patch-test.

A great range of facial serums are available online these days, after proper understanding of the product you can get one of best facial serums in India. Properly check the ingredient list within it so that you can judge if the facial serum will actually help you to get back the glowing and charming skin. Best of luck to take a step to the glowing screen!

Laughter Comes In Its Best Form At The Mon-Key Shanti Theatre Festival- Day 1

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Laughter truly is the best medicine, there can be nothing better than to hold on to your stomach and roll on the floor laughing to the content of your heart. But in today’s stressful life, laughter doesn’t come easy and at such a time the Mon-Key Shanti Theatre Festival by 3 Bells Productions came in as a perfect rescue. Its a two day long theatre festival that brings five of the country’s top running shows, not just comedy but also some soul searching dramas. This was the second season for the festival and I am sure it would be much more successful than their earlier edition.

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Today being the first day, two shows were planned and both were in the genre of comedy. The first play was ‘Perfect Wedding’. An English Comedy Play ‘Perfect Wedding’, directed by Dushyant Babbar is a laughter riot with chaos and confusion created by an appalling situation.

A bridegroom wakes on his wedding morning in his own bridal suite, with his bride-to-be about to arrive any moment, and finds a strange girl in bed beside him. What’s more an extremely attractive girl whom, in the depths of his post stag-night hangover, he can’t remotely remember even having been introduced to. Worse – during the ensuing panic to get the stranger dressed and out of the way, the bride arrives, the girl is trapped in the bathroom, the best man pretends the hidden girl is his girl friend, his real girl friend has to be kept ignorant of the fact, and the hotel chamber maid gets mistaken for everybody’s girl friend. By the time the bride’s parents and half the hotel staff get in on the act, the chaos reaches nuclear proportions! It is that rare combination – a riotous comedy and a touching love story at the same time.

Dushant’s direction and his acting, both were commendable. He was simply the show stealer with his spontaneous act. Also the show is written very well, the dialogues are real and one can easily relate to them, they are simple to understand and yet very impactful. I loved the play and thoroughly enjoyed the confusions. There was a subtle message in the play that one needs to really be very sure of the decisions we make in life and especially like getting married to someone. One should not just go by what others say but really evaluate if we have found the right person and then only take such a big decision of life.

Written and directed by M. Sayeed Alam, a political science teacher-turned-full time-theatre practitioner ‘Cut…Cut…Cut’ was the second show of the evening and having seen Ghalib in Delhi by Sayeed Alam, my expectations from this show were super high and I wasn’t disappointed a bit. Slapstick comedy which is built in day to day situations is an art that Sayeed Alam captures very well in his plays.

Tragedy for them…comedy for us ‘CutCutCut’ comically deals with the chaos, catastrophes and calamities that strike Pierrot’s Troupe whenever it rehearses a play.
In the process, the play brings forth funny characters; hilarious situations; comic relationships and bizarre events, besides taking an amusing look into many more problems that a theatre group faces.

The play opens with the director being stressed and harassed rehearsing for his upcoming show with his bunch of actors and the script writer whose only job is to correct the horribly wrong accent or ‘Talafuz’ (as called in the play) of the actors. The ego clashes between the director and script writer leave people in splits. The comedy isn’t forced, but built in beautifully in the situations. As they day of performance comes nearer, the irritation of the director keeps increasing, and so does the chaos. Finally the day of performance arises and is showcased very beautifully with both back stage and on stage drama. How the director keeps improvising his actors and prompts them to do better, his frustration on their wrongs and constant contrast of backstage and on stage is sheer fun to watch.

Harish Chabbra who plays the role of the director was truly the show stopper. His acting skills are remarkable and the ease that he brings about in his dialogue delivery and his comic timing is just super. Rest of the cast was commendable as well. I really enjoyed the show and look forward to more shows by Pierrot’s Troupe as I have become a big fan of Sayeed Alam’s direction.

It was a Saturday well spent and I am so looking forward to the plays scheduled for tomorrow. If you have missed being at the Mon- Key Shanti Theatre Festival today, please don’t miss it tomorrow. They have some amazing shows lined up. ‘Uproute’ which is a physical theatre piece exploring the subject of home and exile, based on three of Miguel Cervantes’ Exemplary Novels. The performance consists of three short pieces that explore the aforementioned recurring themes in Cervantes’ writing.
Mahesh Dattani’s ‘Dance Like A Man’ centres on an individual’s plight, where a dying form of art serves as the backdrop.
And ‘MASSAGE’ that tells the story of Happy Kumar, a common man who comes to the big city of Mumbai with his pockets empty but dreams of becoming a hero. He passes through ups and downs, successes and failures, hope and despair, joys and sorrows, lanes and by lanes of the city. In this two-hour monologue, Rakesh Bedi enacts 24 different characters.

For tickets and other queries, do follow 3 Bells Productions and make most of The Mon-Key Shanti Theatre Festival.Enjoy!

Soul Satisfying South Indian Food at Tirupati Vrindavan

Posted on August 21, 2016August 24, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

South Indian food is something that I can enjoy only once in a blue moon because I don’t find that authentic taste at much of the places. But this newly opened place Tirupati Vrindavan has changed my perception completely. It not only serves amazing South-Indian food but also has a very peaceful and cool ambience, very apt to its name that is derived from two religious and spiritual places, Tirupati for Lord Tirupati and Vrindavan for Lord Krishna. It’s a place away from the usual hustle bustle, loud music or a fancy set-up that we normally see in the restaurants these days. This place focuses on the quality of its food and believes in ‘keep it simple silly’ funda. I was invited there by Dish Guide, who have this amazing app called Foodie, which helps you locate best dishes in your neighbourhood, do check it out.

At the onset, we were served a welcome drink of Butter Milk, and I really have to say that it was the best buttermilk I ever had. It wasn’t anything like the regular buttermilk; this one had a nice ‘tadka’ of sarson, kari patta and jeera. It was very refreshing and I just loved every bit of it.

The buttermilk was followed by an amazing ‘Rasam Shot’, I am calling it a shot because we got ourselves served in short steel glasses instead of the whole portion, but I suggest that you try and have the entire portion, its simply worth it. In fact I regret not ordering the full portion. It is one of the best things they have in their menu. It was served along with crispy papads.

For starters we tried their special Fried Idly, Masala Idly, Dahi Vada and Medu Vada, which were served with an assortment of chutneys and hot sambhar. All three dishes were good, but I personally loved Fried Idly the most. It was crispy on the outside and yet retained the softness that a normal idly has. I didn’t even care for the sambhar, it was just great in itself. I loved the sprinkle of gunpowder masala over the idly which gave it an enhanced taste. The second best dish that I liked was the Dahi Vada. The dahi was perfectly sweetened, not over sweet, but just perfect and the vadai were mouth meltingly delicious.The masala idly was also good, as it was an idly tossed in brown onions and tomatoes masala. The medu vada was good, but nothing exceptional. For drinks I tried their Aam Pana, and you must definitely try it out, it was really good.

We were a group of 5 people and hence wanted to make the most of our visit to this lovely place, hence we decided to order more number of dishes and share amongst us so that we get to try more variety.

For the main course, we settled for Masala Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Curd Rice and Lemon Rice. Both the dosas were amazing, crispy and loaded with masala potatoes in the center.

The curd rice, I guess was prepared in a little hurry and was missing the tadka, it was nice, but I think by now I was expecting more out of every dish and thus it was a little disappointing. The lemon rice was just perfect and I relished every bite of it.

The afternoon of this great culinary experience was brought to an end with their special filter coffee. It was raining outside and I guess there is nothing better than a cup of hot coffee on a rainy afternoon.

For those who love South Indian food, this is the place you must visit and those who don’t like South India food, I suggest you please visit this place and I am sure you will start loving this cuisine.

I also happened to meet the owner of the place, Shubham and he came across as a very warm and friendly person and I think it’s his persona that is reflected through the restaurant that he has made.

I really urge all my readers to give this place a sure shot try and you will love it.

Freedom from Dampness This Independence- Get Waterproofing Solutions from Dr. Fixit

Posted on August 17, 2016June 16, 2018 by Aditi Malhotra

Who doesn’t love the smell of wet mud, the thundering of clouds, the lightening and the drops of rain hitting the windowpane? Everyone enjoys a hot cup of coffee, some steaming hot pakodas and long drives in the monsoon season. But there are two sides of every coin; there is always a flip side. So is with monsoons, while we enjoy the weather, rains also bring with them quite a few adverse effects. In India, water seepage in homes and other buildings is one of the most common issues that results because of monsoon rains. Dampness has a lot of ill effects not just on the building and its infrastructure but also on the health of the people who live in these buildings.

It’s sad to see every second home dealing with such issues of dampness and yet people are so ignorant about them. In fact I just observed a damp patch on one of my room’s wall and I realized that we have been ignorant about it since quite sometime, and this monsoon season it has become more prominent than ever before. I immediately searched about dampness on the internet and learned so much, dampness is not a small issue, it can cause a lot of damages.

Bad design, faulty construction or use of poor quality of materials are some of the reasons that cause dampness. Dampness not only affects the life of the building but also creates unhygienic conditions.

Dampness tends to cause secondary damage to a building. The unwanted moisture enables the growth of various fungi in wood, causing rot or mould health issues and may lead to sick building syndrome. Plaster and paint deteriorate and wallpaper loosens. Stains from the water, salt and from mold mar surfaces. The highest airborne mould concentrations are found in buildings where significant mould infestation has occurred, usually as a result of severe water intrusion or flood damage. Molds can grow on almost any surface and occur where there is a lot of moisture from structural problems such as leaky roofs or high humidity levels. Airborne mold concentrations have the potential to be inhaled and can have health effects.

Health concerns around mold include infections, allergenic or immunological illness, and nonallergic illness. Asthma is also triggered by the sensitization of dust mites accruing humid, wet regions of a structure. Another health effect associated with structural dampness is the presence of bacteria in an indoor environment. Bacteria require water to grow and multiply. Bacteria are a source for the transmission of diseases, therefore putting occupants’ health at risk by water intrusion into the indoor environment.

To sum up, we can easily say that dampness can lead to following problems:

Reduce the life of structures
Causes bleaching and blistering of paints.
Causes petting off and removal of plaster.
Causes corrosion of metallic fixtures.
Deteriorate carpet & furniture.
Deteriorate electric installations
Causes spots on the floors and walls.
Causes rotting of wood.
Causes effloresce.
Dangerous for the health of occupants.

Though solutions are available people don’t take these problems seriously unless they become mammoth.

Watch this new ad by Dr. Fixit with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan where he has portrayed the importance of waterproofing in his amazing way!

It’s strange that on one hand we are celebrating 70 years of independence whereas on the other hand we are not even free from the adverse effects of dampness in our life. This Independence can we all take a pledge that we won’t let dampness ruin our homes and health of the people we care about? At least I am going to get my home sorted immediately and also urge my near and dear ones to do the same.

Dr. Fixit offers both preventive and post-damage care solutions.

So whether you are building your home or repairing it, Dr. Fixit has products that are of high quality and assure fixation of issues. From external walls, to roof protection, from water tank seepage issues, to internal wall cracks, Dr. Fixit has products for all your needs and they offer recommendations with the help of their technical experts.

So lets all take a pledge “This Independence Month, Say No To Damp Walls & Ceilings, Leakage and Cracks, let’s take the opportunity of this time of the year to take an oath to strive for Freedom From Dampness”

Also, next time when you want to get any tips or solutions to make you home healthy and happy, check out the Happy Homes Blog.

Best jobs to get into if you think about food all day! Guest Post by Manvendra Kikkeri

Posted on August 16, 2016August 16, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

It doesn’t matter if you eat to live or live to eat, food is an undeniably important part of our lives. Most people now have a stable nine to five job where you walk in and meet the same people every day and get into a routine, being jaded is only a matter of time .For most cooking is a form of therapy, something that takes our mind off things after a long day of work .But what if you could be around food all day, here are some professions perfect for foodies!

What you will need before getting started :Before starting on your foodie dream I would recommend getting some experience in either a hotel or a restaurant so that you have a fair idea of how the business is run, better yet find a chance to do it overseas so that you can bring a new and exotic flavour to your cuisine .Check out some great job offers at Neuvoo.co.in .I personally did my internship at a Mövenpick hotel but it depends completely on your goal .

Food truck chef: This one has been a bit overdone in the past few years the number of food trucks went up exponentially, but there is a reason behind why the food truck is so popular .It’s because there are very little start-up costs, typically just a van and maybe a backup generator both of which are pretty much onetime costs. The second advantage of a food truck is mobility, you can test different parts of the city and evaluate how big the market is, and even play with prices to experiment and find out which is most profitable .The prices and market can then be compared with rent levels if you would like to start a restaurant in the future .This is something that many food truck owners often miss out on!

Take a look at Brothers Maine lobster and their success story

Image source: www.tes.com

Personal Chef: This trend is really gaining momentum, the concept is cooking for a small group of people for a special occasion, most personal chefs often work on a free-lance basis but there are a few companies that offer the service and signing up with them could be looked into. The reason this is becoming so popular is the customer’s desire for personalisation and to get away from crowded restaurants. The biggest advantage about this job is probably getting to meet and cook for some VIP clients if you are really good!

Writing a cook book : The amount of paperback books being bought is definitely on the decline with more and more people become more conscious about the environment and fewer people having time to read .However social media has given us a way to put our recipes out there without having to find a publisher .Starting a you tube channel or a Facebook page could be an outlet that you could explore .I would also recommend looking into the Paleo diet (which is pretty much eating like a caveman) this age old way of eating has now become a major trend !

Food production and retail: Okay this one come with its large number of challenges ,but if you have the perfect recipe to make something that tastes great and you think you can make money on it then go for it .However bringing production costs down can be a big issue as finding a big kitchen to make your wonderful recipe would be expensive .Then when that is done having it in retail will eat into your margins (pun intended) .Online selling is a good option but shipping costs could make your product less competitive .

Take a look at a start-up that makes customized granola bars called element bars!

Food critic and columnist: This one takes a bit of writing talent, however could be a great way to try a different restaurant every day, it also means having a stable job with a newspaper or magazine.

Opening a beach shack: Okay so I saved the best for last .The lifestyle of having a shack is unbelievable not to mention your office will probably have a great view of the sea .The biggest difference about working in a restaurant that caters to leisure travellers as opposed to business travellers is the mind-set that your customers would have ,having a beach shack would mean your service time could be longer and you would probably have to deal with fewer complaints as most of your customers are in a holiday mood, paradise often comes with its dangers, competition can be stiff and business can be seasonal not to mention the licences that you would have to pay for in advance .

Image Source:Phuket.com

Thank you for reading and let me know if I have missed out on any great foodie professions .Let me know what you think and do share your experiences if you have been involved in any of these professions yourself .

By :Manvendra Kikkeri

Grand launch of the Sports Illustrated Motorsports Special issue with BhaichungBhutia and Gaurav Gill

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Sports Illustrated India magazine launched the Motorsports Special Issue, in association with Maruti Suzuki Motorsports on 10^th August 2016, at Underdoggs Sports Bar & Grill. Ace Ex Footballer and motorsports enthusiast Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia along with Ace Indian Rally Driver –Mr. Gaurav Gill unveiled the magazine with Mr. Vinay Pant – AVP Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Also were present a host of celebs. The extra special coffee table magazine celebrated the growing category of motorsports in India. Bhaichung Bhutia and Gaurav Gill spoke about their passion for the motorsports. The other sponsors included Singapore Grand Prix and Singapore Tourism Board.

The Launch of the special annual Sports Illustrated India issue marks the dawn of the new horizon in the world of Indian motorsports. The Magazine will provide the much-needed vital knowledge about the motorsports industry and seeks to be the one-stop information hub for the motor sports enthusiasts. The Motorsports Issue is a refreshing sports magazine poised to bring the Indian as well as international motorsports personalities on the Indian scene, focusing on key areas of motorsports. With exclusive interviews and features from both Indian and International Motorsports icons crossing the spectrum of sports, including Karun Chandok, Narain Kartikeyan, CS Santosh, Hari Singh, Gaurav Gill, Suresh Rana and others. The new publication will bring its readers closer to the lifestyle of India’s top racers/motorists.

L- R Mr.Bhaichung Bhutia & Mr. Gaurav Gill..

Spokesperson Mr. Vivek Pareek, Senior Publisher, Sports Illustrated India said “This special issue is a rendition of Sports Illustrated India’s commitment to every sport in India. We hope this specific initiative will encourage more people to take up the sport and find the support they need to excel.”

L- R -Mr. Vivek Pareek, Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia , Mr. Gaurav Gill, Mr. Vina...

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Mr. Vinay Pant, AVP -Marketing spokesperson said” Maruti Suzuki’s commitment to motorsports has spanned almost two decades, and we have constantly endeavoured to take the sports to the grassroots. With more initiative across the country that encourage budding racers, we look forward to a vibrant racing scenario in India.

Spokesperson Mr. Shashank Shekhar Mishra, India Representative of Singapore Grand Prix said “Singapore Grand Prix is one of the world’s most glamorous events, with exceptional racing and performances. We are proud to associate with Sports Illustrated to bring the passion and excellence of the track to readers and visitors to the most spectacular GP event in the world.

Chef Ranveer Brar Launches His Maiden Book “Come Into My Kitchen” At Junglee Billee

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Being a foodie, exploring different cuisines becomes the most natural things to do and meeting a celebrity chef is always like a dream come true. And very recently it happened to me when one of the most popular celebrity chefs Ranveer Brar launched his maiden book “Come Into My Kitchen”. The launch was very exclusive for a selected few and I consider myself lucky to have been invited for such an event. All this happened because the venue for the launch was a very happening place in the heart of South Delhi, Junglee Billee in GK1, whose head chef Pawan Bisht is a close friend. He personally invited me for the event, and though it was a working day but I could neither ignore Pawan’s invite and nor the opportunity of meeting Chef Ranveer Brar in person.

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As I reached the place, Ranveer was casually standing and interacting with those present. Instantly he came across as a very warm and down to earth person. I asked him about his book, to which he replied” This book reflects me as a person; I have shared recipes which are close to my heart and which I prepare in my kitchen. I have also shared my knowledge regarding the process of making food, for my readers to understand taste, food presentation etc. in a simple way and I hope they enjoy reading it”.

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He also gave me a personalized autographed copy of his book and I just loved it.

The ambience of Junglee Billee always adds a lot of value to events and this was no different. Finger licking good food was served along with Red Wine Sangrias; the weather too was just perfect, light drizzle with cool breeze. I relished some of the delicacies prepared by Pawan, and especially loved the Prawn Canopies and Chicken Tikka. I loved the way the tikka was presented in a cutting chai glass.

After a hearty chat with Ranveer Brar and enjoying good food and wine, I came back home happy with the book in my hand to be shared with another chef in my home, my mom.

Both me and my mom have enjoyed reading the book, the book encapsulates Ranveer’s life from his early childhood days to becoming a celebrity chef and has collection of most amazing recipes and also as mentioned by Ranveer, an insight into the entire process of food and tasting. The images used in the book tempt you to actually get up and try making that dish there and then.

Most of the recipes are easy and can be prepared in our kitchens without worrying too much about the fancy ingredients. I am sharing one of the recipes that I personally loved and I am sure you too would try it.
Also don’t forget to get yourself a copy of this amazing book by Chef Ranveer Brar, “Come Into My Kitchen”.

Black Dog Easy Evenings with Sorabh Pant

Posted on August 14, 2016August 20, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Black Dog Sparkling Water from the house of Diageo, recently organized a fun-filled evening, what they fondly call as Black Dog Easy Evenings. As part of these easy evenings, Black Dog gets in different artists for performance across bars and restaurants and let people enjoy an evening filled with loads of fun and excitement. This time it was the Black Dog Easy Evenings with Sorabh Pant, a household name in the field of stand up comedy at a well-known & popular restrobar called Raasta in Hauz Khas Village.

The evening was truly funfilled from start to finish. From the moment Sorabh Pant climbed on the stage to the time he finally ended the show, it was like watching a live wire all through. I cannot simply explain this man and his talent in words; you have to watch him to believe the energy he has. His jokes were apt as per the audience, they were topical yet very spontaneous. I mean seriously his quick fit is truly commendable. His interaction with people and coming with crazy one-liners was something to watch out for. The whole atmosphere was filled with noises of laughter, whistles, cheering sounds and applauses as this man went on continuously for two hours cracking people up with his jokes and impromptu reactions.

Sorabh Pant brought down the house at Black Dog ‘Easy Evenings’ (2)

And the moments become more fun when you are sipping Black Dog whisky, which is so smooth and relishing some amazing food at Raasta.
I tried the Chicken Quesadillas and Herb Fried Fish Fingers. The chicken filling of the quesadillas was very good and the fish was crisp from the outside and tender inside. I loved both the dishes.

“I keep coming back to Delhi, thanks to the great vibes and the enthusiasm of the audience. In a city like this, it’s super easy to get caught up in a frenzied, hectic lifestyle and it makes me feel good to be able to give them that much-needed break. I’m glad I can give the people of Delhi a good laugh and help them unwind a little. With ‘Easy Evenings’ by Black Dog Sparkling Water, I am all geared up to show the people of Delhi how humour is the best way to unwind and enjoy a relaxed evening,” said, Sorabh Pant.

“We are delighted to give the audience in Delhi an opportunity to unwind and relax, with the finest of India’s comedic talent, Sorabh Pant. We want people to take a pause from their hectic schedules, relax and just savour these moments. Easy Evenings by Black Dog Sparkling Water is all about getting people to have a good laugh and relax. A great way to de-stress and unwind on a week day with some great comedy,” said, Nitesh Chhapru, Head of Marketing, Luxury & Premium Core Portfolio, United Spirits.

About Black Dog Sparkling Water – Easy Evenings

Black Dog Sparkling Water with its strong legacy has understood over time that achievers in their busy life deserve a pause from their daily schedule. Black Dog Sparkling Water – Easy Evenings has been presenting these go- getters with moments to relax and unwind with comedy, music and food galore. Easy Evenings is not only a platform to unwind and witness a spectacle by various artists but also for one to enjoy and let the world wait. Performances at Easy Evenings range from stand –up comedy, jazz nights, improv and food pairing sessions. So come, sit back and enjoy an experience of class and finesse.

About Sorabh Pant

Sorabh Pant is one of India’s most prolific comedians. He has done over 1200 shows in 75 cities across 14 countries. He’s also the founder of East India Comedy and the author of the almost-bestselling novel Under Delhi.

After the show, I personally interacted with Sorabh and asked him how he started all this and what made him choose stand up comedy as his career.
See here what he had to say about it..

The evening ended with a silly selfie and all I can say is that it was truly an enjoyable evening and I will definitely keep a watch on next Black Dog Easy Evenings and create more memorable moments.

Relishing Parsi Flavours at Soda Bottle Opener Wala

Posted on August 14, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Navroz is the name of the Iranian New Year, which is celebrated in the month of August by all Iranians. This Navroz, Soda Bottle Opener Wala, the very famous Iranian/Parsi Café came up with introducing the special Navroz Thali in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions.

This was my first time at trying out the Parsi cuisine and hence I was all excited to do so. I opted for the non-veg Navroz thali. I must say that the thali looked very very tempting, the way it was presented. The thali consisted of Jardaloo Chicken, Mutton Pulav, Masala Ni Dal, Rotli, Chicken Cutlet, Salad Shirazi, Kachumbar, and Brinjal Pickle.

I started with the mutton pulav and loved it instantly. A very tender and spiced mutton was sandwiched between two layers of rice and when you dig in from top to botton, you have a mouthful of balanced and perfect taste, the mildness of rice and a delectable spiced mutton.

I tried the Jardaloo Chicken with roti next, I cant say that I loved this chicken instantly, as the gravy tasted very different compared to what gravies we North Indians are used to, but a couple of bites more and it started to grow on me.

The Masala Ni Dal was the only thing in the thali that I didn’t like, may be because I still didn’t develop the full taste for Parsi Cuisine. I loved the Shirazi Salad and Kachumbar Salad as well, but the most suprising thing was the Brinjal Pickle, I simply loved it. I otherwise dislike Brinjal, but this pickle was an exception. There was a cutlet too, which had filed eggs and chicken stuffed in it, or at least it tasted like that to me. 🙂

I also tried Eggs Kejriwal, a signature dish from the menu and have to say that these eggs kejriwal were simply mind blowing. Eggs on a toast with cheese and ham inside, they were a mouth melting experience.

Next was the Chicken Cutlet Pav and like some dishes in the thali, this one also was very particular in taste. The cutlet was nowhere like the regular cutlets that we eat, it was nice but not something that I would jump for.

For drinks there was quite a variety to choose from, like Masala Pepsi, Mrs. Soda Bottle Openerwala Cold Coffee, Raspberry Soda, Shikanji Bin, Fresh Lime Soda and Iranian Tea & Coffee. I settled for Shikanji Bin and yet again it was very different as compared to the regular shikanji that we get. It was little fruity and pulp of fruit was coming in mouth with every sip. It was nice and refreshing.

For desserts there were Raspberry & White Chocolate Panacotta and Sev, both the dishes were nice, but I preferred the raspberry & white chocolate panacotta to sev. The panacotta had a slight sour punch over the top because of the raspberry sauce, but as you went down, the sweetness of chocolate could be felt.

The ambience of the place is very warm and friendly. It feels like as if you are sitting in your home, with some nice old Bollywood songs in the background like Manu Bhai Motor Chali Pom Pom Pom.. Or may be it feels as if you are enjoying some Mumbai cuisine sitting next to the Gateway of India as the whole place has a lot of Mumbai feel.

Overall had a great experience relishing the Parsi cuisine with some foodie friends and I look forward to visiting the place again with my family. I am sure you too would drop in at Soda Bottle Openerwala and enjoy a nice Parsi meal with your family and friends.

Valentino brings in their most contemporary AW’16 collection..!

Posted on August 12, 2016August 25, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Valentino, the name that represents distinctive styling, unrivalled craftsmanship & exquisite detailing in its stylish shoe and accessories, has been embellishing the grace since its inception. Valentino- the most reputed name in the exotic world of leather today is internationally lauded for its fine quality & exquisite product range. It is among one of the top 5 formal footwear leather brand in India.

Valentino now launched their AW 2016 collection with over 350 styles and designs at India International Footwear Fair in Delhi on Friday- Sunday, August 5-7, 2016. The collection comprised of more than 350 shoe style designs with over 100 modern-day designs for women and 250 virgin Italian designs for men. The five-style range of foot wears featured everything from slippers to sandals, casual to formals and boots. The assortments are available at their e-commerce portal www.valentino.in.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the honorary Mr. Arun Jaitely , the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, India.

I tried on quite a few sandals from the collection and I have to say that they were the perfect balance of style and comfort. Without compromising on the design elements, the footwear is extremely comfortable, even their stilettos were like that. I mean the footwear is made in such a way that even if you are in high heels for the entire day, your feet won’t get tired. Its made keeping in mind the busy and tiring schedules of today’s working women. So whether you are looking at flaunting your heels at a party and make a style statement or you are running around with the daily office chores, your footwear comfort is taken care by the Valentino range. Also you have a wide variety to choose from, stilettos to wedges, to ballerinas and flats, every footwear has a charm of its own.

Valentino was instigated in the year 1985 by Mr.Moti Lal Daultani, founder, Valentino. Presently, the company is spearheaded by its second generation entrepreneur Mr. Chander Daultani, Director, Valentino who entered into his family business with a vision to take the footwear industry to next level. Mr. Chander Daultani can well & truly be called the inheritor of the rich legacy & credited with reviving the 31-year-old family business.

The brand has been growing exponentially and has successfully created a strong foothold across every nook and cranny of India. The company has expanded its wings and now possesses national & international strong presence. Valentino has a well built retail presence through more than 700 Multi Brand Outlets across India and selected nations.

Inspired with passion to exude elegance & Comfort, Valentino products are crafted from world’s premium leather using traditional as well as ultra modern methods to deliver some of the world’s most comfortable leather shoe and accessories. Fusion of modernity with elegance, contemporary, yet classic in colors and designs of the season. Every single product is backed by Valentino guarantee of leather purity, snazzy cool look, and light in weight, heavy in durability and extremely comfortable.

Valentino has redefined fashion by offering a fine range of classy shoes along with trendy leather accessories like hand bags, sling bags & wallets to add glamour to the outfits. The entire range weaves a magical spell because of fine mixture of colors, beautiful designs, graceful elegance and ethnic flair. Their mens collection is just as amazing.

Valentino produces the genuine leather products driven by a passion for perfection at every single stage of the critical manufacturing and evaluating process & stages. Only the finest ‘best of season’ lots are carefully selected by Valentino. The design house and embellishment centre incorporates the highest level of skills in embellishments and decoration by experienced shoe designers.

So check out a nearest store around you and get your feet pampered with style and comfort.

Month: August 2016

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Valentino brings in their most contemporary AW’16 collection..!

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