Goa, India

Best Lifestyle Blog of Goa

Month: September 2016

Nawabi Andaaz at Pride Plaza Hotel, Aerocity

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Nawabi Delicacies to relish, with some thumri in the background, comfortable ambience and company of great foodie friends is what comprised my day at Pride Plaza Hotel recently. Hosted by Pride Plaza and my dear friend Vickrham from Foodmaniacs, this was surely a day to remember.
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Amouse Bouche, which had watermelon and some cream on top of a refreshing drink, was not just great to look and good to taste, but also was done in a personalized way making it way too special. My name was written with chocolate and it made one of the warmest welcomes I have received.

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This was followed by yet another welcome drink and also champagne was opened marking the beginning of a great culinary experience.

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For starters we were served a Vegetarian Kebab Platter first. The kebab platter included Rajma Ke Galouti, Kele Ke Gular Kebab, Makai Moti Ki Seekh, Mawa Mawe Ke Kebab and Hara Dalcha Kabab. I Loved the succulent Rajma Ke Galouti, they almost tasted like the non-vegetarian galouti kebabs and very very flavorsome. The second best were the Mawa Kebabs, really soft and mouth melting with mild flavors. The Kele Ke Gular Kebab and Hara Dalcha Kebab were good too, I didn’t like the Makai Moti Ki Seekh as much, but all in all it was a wonderful platter considering the fact I am a hardcore non-vegetarian.

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The next up was Non Veg Kebab Platter, this included Galouti Kebab, Nukhti Kebab, Murg Ke Parchey, Murg Shami Kebab and Mahi Gilafi Seekh. Out of this platter I loved Nukhti Kebab and Murg Ke Parchey the most. The Nukhti Kebabs were pieces of mutton roasted to perfection and spiced with a thick masala. I could really be satisfied with one complete dish of nukhti kebabs with some roomali roti, aah bliss! I am craving for them as I write. The Murg Ke Parchey was also just amazing. Surprisingly the Rajma Ke Galouti tasted better than the original galouti, though I don’t mean that they were bad. They were good, but still the vegetarian version was softer and more tasteful. Murg Shami didn’t go too well with me; they weren’t as soft and tasty as I expected them to be. Mahi Gilafi Seekh was just about OK.

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Coming to main course, it was an elaborate spread and comprised of some beautifully selected and curated dishes by Chef Sartaj Quereshi along with Exceutive Chef Shailendra Singh especially for this Nawabi Andaaz Food Festival. There was Moong Ghosht, Keema Kaleji, Murg Bemisal, Murg Koh-E-Awadh, Paneer Lavanglata, Bagiche Ki Sabziyan, Guncha-E-Keema Mutter, Moong Mughlai, Kofti Dum Biryani and Narangi Pulao. The entire spread was as awesome as their names and once again the surprise part was the vegetarian dishes being so great. Normally in Lucknawi Cuisines or Hyderabadi Cuisines we don’t expect the vegetarian to be so good, but commendable job but Chef Sartaj, that his vegetarian rocked as much as his non veg dishes. I will try and get the Chef to share one of his recipes for all my readers out there, soon.

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The star dish was however the Moong Gosht. The moong dal itself never tasted so rich and creamy to me, we always associate creaminess and richness to Dal Makhani, but what a wonderful way to present this dal in this rich avatar and tender pieces of spiced mutton added another layer to the whole experience. This dish is definitely a must try and one should not miss it at any cost. Keema Kaleji and Murg Bemisal too were outstanding. A special mention for Bagiche Ki Sabziyan and Paneer Lavanglata, these are not to be missed as well, whether you are a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian, you will simply love them.

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Coming to the dessert, I can really challenge that you would have never eaten such a lethal combination of some many desserts in one go. This mother of a dessert had Kesari Gulab Ki Phirni, topped by Palak Ka Halwa, yet again topped by Gulukand aur Cheney Ki Jugalbandi (a sort of rasmalai), topped by Ilaichi Gulab Jamun and Dhudhi Ka Halwa. Just one word to describe it- Mindblowing! Somehow mine looked also very cute and resembled a small Ganesha.

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I had a tremendous foodie experience and I really urge my readers to give it a shot, this place is definitely worth a visit. We also took a complete round of the property and its amazing, I am so wanting to visit their other restaurants and also may be a comfortable stay in one of their rooms.I thank Foodmaniacs and Pride Plaza Hotel for inviting me for this culinary delight, look forward to visit them again sometime soon. Fond memories with friends and great foodie experience is what I got after visiting this place!

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Cafe Pride Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Face Shop, a top cosmetic & skin care brand from Korea, finds its foothold in India!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Korea brings its revolutionary beauty and skin care brand The Face Shop to India. Though The Face Shop will be officially made available in Indian market through Amazon from October onwards, a sneak peek into the products and their usage was organised for a few bloggers recently at 38 Barracks in CP.

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The Face Shop team traveled all the way to India to make this influencer bloggers segment aware of their brand and it’s usps in turn to reach out their target audiences.
Miss Diane Lee, the spokesperson from The Face Shop, explained about the various natural ingredients used in the products and their benefits. The brand definitely boasts of creating a wide range of skincare, hair care and beauty products from over 1,000 natural ingredients such as flowers, grains, plants, fruits, and oriental medicine to nourish and revitalize the skin so that the skin will feel as much nourished from within, as it looks beautiful on the surface. The brands tagline is ‘Natural Story’ derived from this very fact of using natural ingredients in the products.

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The company that was launched in 2003, garnered itself a position of top cosmetic companies in the world within just 4 years of inception and from there on the growth story has been tremendous. Today the brand has its presence in more than 34 countries with 2900+ stores across the globe.
The bloggers meet not only addressed the audience to make them aware of the brand launch in India, but also brought in Shawn Kin, the make up expert from Korea who has been associated with top names exhibiting his make up skills for more than 20 years now.
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Shawn shared his make up demo live with the audience, explaining the details of right make up art and things to avoid. Starting from how to go about applying the base before make up, to the right way of shaping the brows, from using the concealer to applying eye shadow and liner to give the eyes a subtle or even a cat look, from how to use the blusher and the correct way of putting lipstick, Shawn casted his spell as he did some quick makeovers and shared his tips keeping in mind the Indian skin tone and textures. It was a delight to watch him as his hands glided from one product to another and one tool to the next creating the perfect look.
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Kim even answered the queries and solved difficulties of people regarding usual make up fails and also helped people with some serious issues on how to achieve that flawless look. For example, a lady volunteered for a makeover and she had a set of unequal eye-lids, because of which she always felt that her eye make up of that particular smaller eyelid is never visible. Kim with his expert advise, not only answered her query, but also demonstrated live how she could get rid of this problem and enjoy a beautiful eye-makeup.
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Another useful tip that Kim shared was that while applying lipstick one must apply as if smiling and not as pouting in order to retain the shape of the lips in a perfect smile way.
He also said that if we want softer look, we should use powder blush and for a more serious look, opt for creme blush.
It was indeed a very insightful session and I learnt a lot of tips and tricks about make up and skin care.
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Lee also mentioned that coming to India was an obvious choice as Indians have been using natural products for skin care and make up since ancient times and hence it makes their brand much more relevant for the Indian market.
Upon answering my question about brand competition, Lee said that though they assure of high quality of products may be like Bobby Brown in competition, but their prices are very much affordable as they want more and more people to buy and use the products.
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Its been a week when I was part of this interactive session, and I got a few products as a kind gesture from The Face Shop and trust me since then I have been only using these products. One of their Star Products, the Chia Seeds Cream is something I am totally in love with. The aroma, the lightness of the gel cream is simply awesome. For someone with oily skin like mine, this is a perfect solution. It hydrates the skin without feeling heavy and sticky.
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Their other star products include Cushion, which is an all in one cushion that combines the effects of foundation, skin care and sun block, all in one. It surely is the next level of base make up. But the next star product that I loved is from their Rice Water Bright range, its the cleansing foam and I don’t think I will now use any other cleansing foam for myself, its so good.
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Since a week, my lips are only hooked to the Ink Gel Stick by TFS, it glides so smoothly on the lips, is long lasting and has amazing shades. Even the Collagen Ampoule Lipstick is excellent. I have become a huge fan of their product range and I so look forward to their being available online from October onwards so that I can add to my collection and make them a part of daily routine.
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I am grateful to The Face Shop for choosing our country as their next stop and I hope and wish their journey continues across the world achieving greater success and making people beautiful inside out.
Keep watching their Facebook Page for regular updates and grab the products as soon as they are available, I am sure you gonna love them.

Vu launches its Limited Edition Premium UHD series and The Curve TV

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Propelling the television technology industry to the next pedestal of aestheticism, bravura and functionality, Vu, the California-based luxury television company, announces the launch of its exclusive edition premium UHD series and The Curve TV. Vu TVs have the highest market share in the Premium TV segment in India after Sony, Samsung and LG and is the largest selling television brand in India when it comes to online or ecommerce.

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Speaking at the event, Devita Saraf, CEO and Design Head, Vu Technologies, commented “Our revolutionary UHD TV series and the advanced Curve TV undoubtedly are category defining products in their own right. There are no competing products in the industry, with similar features or price points. Discerning consumers who are looking for an all-inclusive techno-luxurious experience in one Television set, the latest range of TVs from Vu’s product stable is the ultimate answer. Braced with first-of-its-kind design features, our TVs make watching anything and everything, a riveting experience.”

“We a have the largest range of TVs after Sony, Samsung and LG with 22 Unique SKUs in the Indian market. We have had 350% Year on Year growth since 2013 aiming for a turnover of Rs.600 Cr in 2016-17. With the launch of our new portfolio and many more in the pipeline, we are confident of achieving that goal within the stipulated time frame”, she added.

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The all new and the world’s first 65/75 Premium UHD TV boasts of Pixelight HDR Technology, premium smart chip with Quad core processor with a dedicated button on the remote for NETFLIX, Ultra-smooth motion rate, 4X ultra-high definition and ultra-dimming feature. Additionally, the range is a visual treat, even when not in use, with its ultra slim depth; brushed steel and carbon weave design elements.

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A one of a kind metamorphosis of superlative luxury, pomp and efficiency, Vu also launched its 55/65 Curve UHD TV in the luxury segment. The suave and stylish Smart TV comes packed with 4K Ultra-high definition, A+ Grade Panel, 4x Quad core CPU and GPU and nScreen features.

Vu Televisions, is a market leader in affordable large size TV category, and is a consumer favourite for its company direct support, price and innovation.

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Price & Availability:

  • 65” Premium UHD TV – Rs. 1,56,000 and 75” Premium UHD TV – Rs 3,00,000, (Available at Flipkart)
  • 55” Luxury Curved UHD TV – Rs. 1,00,000 and 65” Luxury Curved UHD TV – Rs. 1,80,000 (To be available October 1st week onwards)

About Vu Technologies

Vu, which has pioneered innovative television technology, is a Television brand established in 2006 between California, USA and India. Built with the highest grade panels, the fastest processors and energy efficient power solutions, each VU television is designed to operate for over 100,000 hours in normal circumstances and provide the best picture quality even in brightly-lit environments. Consistently, VU has been winning hearts by receiving a 5/5 rating on multiple consumer forums, along with winning the “TV of the year award”. VU elevates the consumer experience by providing supremely personalized customer relations, understanding their entertainment preferences and in turn progressing rapidly to become the fastest growing TV brand in various segments. Having been associated with Exhibit in the past, VU continues its association by playing a pivotal role in TFT, September 2016.For more information, please log on to: www.vutvs.com

 

Tasteful Thursdays- Bacon & Maple Syrup Ice-Cream Recipe by Chef Pawan Bisht

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A dear friend and a great chef, when you find in one person, it makes for a lethal combination. Chef Pawan Bisht, Head chef at a very popular restaurant Junglee Billee is a dear friend and upon my request, he has shared one of his most favourite recipes. I am sure you all gonna love it, and watch out this space every Thursday for more recipes.

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Bacon and maple syrup ice cream

  • Time:-2.30 hrs
  • Prep:-2 hr 15 mins.
  • Cooking:-15 mins.
  • Yield:- 1 quart

 Ingredients:-

  • 3 large egg yolks
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cup heavy cream
  • 3-4 strips bacon
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup caramelized walnut

Procedure:-

  • Whisk the egg yolk and sugar in a bowl. Transfer it to a sauce pan and pour the milk. Whisk it well.
  • Cook this mixture on a low heat, stirring on a regular interval.
  • Once the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon add the maple syrup. Mix well.
  • Pour this mixture in a bowl and refrigerate till cold, approx 30 -45 minutes.
  • Meanwhile take a pan and put it over the medium gas range, once heated sear the bacon on it till crispy.
  • Once the bacon is cooled down cut it into small pieces leaving 1 or 2 strips for the garnish.
  • Take out the custard from the freeze and pour the cream in it.
  • Add the caramelized walnut, bacon pieces and churn the mixture.
  • Pour this mixture in an air tight container and freeze until firm at least 2 to 3 hours.
  • Serve garnishing with crispy bacon strips and caramelized nuts.
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For caramelized nuts:-

  •  Take a pan and put it on a low heat. Add sugar to it and melt it till golden brown colour.
  • Add nuts to this mixture. Mix well.
  • Pour this mixture on a baking sheet and let it cool.
  • Once cooled down break it nicely into small pieces.
  • Add it to the ice cream to get the crunch.

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India Film Project 2016 is all set to woo the film making fanatics

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Time to toil and rack your brains to brew a perfect film is here! Yes, we are talking about India Film Project which is back with a bang with scaled up challenges and opportunities. India Film Project, Asia’s largest film festival challenge, encourages people to make films and this year will be its sixth edition. IFP is one of the rare platforms, which is focused at content creation rather than content consumption. The grand film event has now moved to the film making capital of country, Mumbai and will be held on October 01 at Hall 6, NESCO Goregaon.

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The prestigious India Film Project is a filmmaking challenge with a twist where participants from across the globe create a film on a given theme but in a time-limit of 50 hours, starting from September 16, 8pm to September 18, 10pm. The teams will script, shoot, edit and upload the films, which post the submission will be viewed by an unparalleled jury. The winning films will be showcased at different festivals globally. The event will also witness some of the best content creators on one, huge, prominent platform, the schedule of which shall be announced shortly.

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IFP 2016 Highlights:

  • The upcoming IFP 2016 festival will see a confluence of India’s best filmmakers coming together under one roof. More than 5000 filmmakers from different cities will fly down to attend this gala
  • The number of applicants in the sixth edition of IFP is expected to be higher than the combined number of the previous 5 editions
  • 890+ teams, comprising of 17,500 filmmakers, have already registered for IFP 2016 and the number is estimated to multiply in another 2 days
  • 1300 teams comprising of 25,000 participating filmmakers from across the globe are expected to ferment films on one single theme in 50 hours.
  • The eminent jury for IFP 2016 is comprised of all National Award Winners – Madhur Bhandarkar, Nagesh Kukunoor, Sriram Raghavan and Southern Super director Vetri Maaran
  • A workshop on storytelling by the Terrible Tiny Tales team will also be organized for the selected teams

 

Participation Categories:

For a level-headed competition, IFP, this year has segregated participation into Professional Filmmaking, Amateur Filmmaking and Mobile Filmmaking category to ensure competition among similar caliber. Mobile Filmmaking will be introduced for the first time in India through IFP and give access to the masses to make films as well.

 

 

Judging Criteria:

Films at IFP 2016 will be judged on the parameters like relevance to theme and genre, storyline, screenplay as well as technical aspects like editing, cinematography and sound

 

IFP 2016 Grand Award:

The best deserving IFP 2016 Filmmaking teams will be given an honor to create an ad film for the renowned brands of Nestle and Coca-Cola. IFP will fund each team, ensure quality equipments and make the winners work closely with their advertising teams. The best works will then be showcased by brands across its various channels including TV, Digital assets, theatres and many more

 

IFP in last 5 years:

  • Around 2400+ films have been made by 25,000+ filmmakers in just 50 hours at the festival in the previous five editions of IFP, which comes to 17000+ minutes of super high quality films
  • IFP 2015 saw 730 teams comprising of 14,600 filmmakers. The teams were spread across 182 cities from India and another 17 countries namely US, UK, Dubai, Australia, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Germany, Malaysia, France and many more
  • Participants have joined from 182 cities and towns like Malegaon, Rishikesh to cities such as Bilaspur, Bhavnagar, Ranchi, Lucknow and Madurai to the four metros

Mr. Ritam Bhatnagar, Founder, IFP comments, “In India, Film making has been limited to few and the niche only. With IFP 2016, segregating varied participation categories, there is a fair chance for people to partake in large numbers. I must emphasize that in the last 3-4 years, the ratio of content consumer to content creator has changed drastically. People now are open to sharing their stories, experiences and are not camera shy anymore. This largely supports our agenda where we encourage people to tell a story through their camera.”

He continues, “Participation by students, housewives and working professionals in IFP has made this art look ‘cool’ and much acceptable by the common masses thus prompting us to shift base to Mumbai. This city has unrestricted opportunities to connect with the maximum targeted audience and create round the year engagement with the thriving filmmakers.”

The electrifying event of IFP has some celebrated brands like Maggi Hot Heads, Limca, HDFC Bank and Gujarat Tourism as its sponsors. For added support, IFP has partnered with Radio Partner – RedFM; Media Partner – TVF; Online Partner – The Logical Indian; Cinema Partner – Cinepolis; Magazine Partner – Better Photography; Cab Partner – Uber and Festival Partner – NFDC Film Bazaar so far.

So, all the geeks dreaming of making a film, gear up to create one of your finest movies; you never know, your random imaginative storyline may place you on the highest pedestal of the Indian Film Making Festivals through IFP 2016!

Registration Date, Process and Fee:

  • Registration for the IFP 2016 is open till September 15 midnight via http://bit.ly/ifpwelcome.
  • One has to choose a participating category which cannot be changed later, though details of team members can be edited
  • Each team can accommodate up to 20 members
  • The fee for Professional and Amateur Film Making category is Rs. 2500 per team and Rs. 1000 for Mobile filmmaking category
  • For eligibility in the Professional filmmaking category, the team leader must have worked in capacity of director or producer in 3 or more films, shorts, videos or ads
  • Amateur filmmaking is open to anyone who owns a DSLR camera while Mobile filmmaking is open to all

Social Media Links 

  • facebook.com/indiafilmproject, twitter.com/ifilmproject, instagram.com/indiafilmproject,youtube.com/indiafilmproject and Website link – indiafilmproject.co

KidZania Delhi NCR Celebrates the 206th Anniversary of Mexico’s National Independence Day!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

KidZania Delhi NCR hosted the Mexican Ambassador H. E. Melba Pria to celebrate the 206th National Independence of Mexico.

KidZania is a concept that originated from Mexico with the launch of their first KidZania facility in the year 1999. With the success of the first KidZania in Mexico City, they now have three centers in Mexico. KidZania has since spread globally, with 24 centers in 19 countries. One of the fastest growing kids interactive edutainment brands in the world; KidZania currently has two facilities in India, ‘Mumbai’ operational since 2013 & KidZania Delhi NCR (operational since May 2016.). It is known for its unique concept where kids have fun while enjoying real-life experiences in a city scaled down to kids’ size. I have been to the place twice myself and I am dying to take my son for this thrilling experience.

KidZania offers a great concept of making children familiar with different professions especially, and these professional experiences involve real life experiences in terms of functioning, monetary transactions, payouts etc. So while children enjoy multiple activities, they also learn the nitty gritties of those professional experiences.

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Mexico’s National Independence Day is officially observed on 16th September 2016. This date is considered the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. KidZania Delhi NCR hosted a ceremony at its theatre, where ‘The Cry of Independence’, a ritual of the church bells ringing was performed & all the honorary Mexicans for the evening and regular visitors cheered along, saying “Viva Mexico” before and after the Mexican national anthem.

KidZania Delhi NCR in collaboration with the Mexican Embassy has also announced exciting offers on entry tickets to Delegates of all Embassies in Delhi NCR from 12th – 30th Sep 2016.

Her Excellency along with the children from Shikhar Foundation participated in the Fire Fighting Activity at KidZania.

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Speaking on the occasion, H. E. Melba Pria said, “At the ceremony of the Independence of Mexico held at KidZania Delhi NCR today, we were able to share some of our beloved traditions with the children and their parents. It is especially important for children in this day and age to get as much exposure to other cultures as possible. Mexico is proud to be the origin of companies like KidZania, which take our creativity and innovative spirit worldwide.”

Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, KidZania said, “We are delighted to have hosted the Mexican Ambassador H. E. Melba Pria at KidZania Delhi NCR, It was a great opportunity for us and the children & families of Delhi NCR to connect with Mexican culture and interact with Her Excellency. We strongly believe in empowering children through hands on experiences, where they can learn about culture and values from around the globe, while having a great time.”

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About KidZania Delhi NCR:

KidZania Delhi NCR is built like a city across 96,000 sq. ft. where children can independently explore and choose to role-play from 90+ exciting careers like pilot, surgeon, RJ, chef, fire-fighter among many more. KidZania emulates the workings of a city, complete with a functioning economy and its own currency. Each experience is designed to empower kids, giving them the confidence to be their best selves, and inspiration to be great global citizens.

The franchise for KidZania in India, is owned by Imagination Edutainment India Pvt. Ltd., whose shareholders are Singapore-based KidZ Inc, with 74 per cent of the equity, while actor Mr. Shah Rukh Khan owns the remaining 26 per cent in his personal capacity.

Address: KidZania Delhi NCR, Entertainment City, Gate No. 11, Near TGIP Mall, Sec 38A, Noida – 201 301. Uttar Pradesh.

More info: website www.kidzania.in

Some key achievements at the NCR Kidzania

  • Opened: May 26, 2016
  • Total establishments: 50+
  • Role-playing activities: 90+
  • Visitors: Achieved milestone of 1.25lac+ in first 90 days
  • Schools visited: 50+ schools in first 90 days
  • Brand Partners: 22 brands in 26 establishments

Lebanese Delights at Zerruco Kitchen & Bar

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Zerruco at The Ashok Hotel,Chanajyapuri held a Lebanese food festival from the 7th sep to 14th sep and I have to say that by far it was the best Lebanese food I have eaten ever.

The impression that I carried about Lebanese food, and assumed the regular dishes to be served were all met with a surprise. There was nothing regular about the place. The dishes were 100% authentic and the menu featured the typical Lebanese dishes and not the regulars like Shwarmas and Harissa Chicken that we normally relate Lebanese food to. In fact their menu doesn’t comprise of these things at all. So don’t be shocked that walking in at this Lebanese joint and not getting a Shwarma.

The ambience of the place is another highlight, it has a very spacious sitting place with a well stocked bar. The decor is simple and attractive. They have an equally spacious sitting in the open also and it makes a perfect place for a relaxed chilled out time with family and friends.

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The head chef is a young man by the name of Harsh Pathania and is very knowledgeable and competent.

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We left ourselves in the hands of expert and he starter us with two salads, Syrian Salad with Lemon, Mint and Garlic and Tabbouleh Salad. Both the salads were amazing, but I personally found the Tabbouleh Salad better, not because the other was any less in taste, but because this one was little unusual. Both the salads were very satisfying overall.

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For drinks, my dad who was accompanying me settled for a cocktail called Gentleman, which was a whisky based cocktail with Lemon Grass, Angostura and Maple Syrup, and I had Ronella, a mocktail with Apple, Orange, Cranberry and Fresh Fruit. Both the drinks were great.

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The chef recommended the Signature Mezze Platter next, a chef’s special.

And was it special?  You bet it was really really special.

The platter consisted of six different dips and an assortment of delicious kebabs which had chicken seekhs,mutton seekh,chicken tikka,fish tikka and prawns all beautifully done in a tandoor.

The high point of the platter was that each of the above kebabs was distinct in their flavours.

Each of the marinade was specially done for each item.

This was really one mouthwatering stuff, Kudos to the chef.

And to be honest if you have one platter between two you don’t really need anything else.

A very very satisfying platter.All the kebabs were juicy and succulent and each held its own intrinsic flavour.

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Then we were treated to their Halloumi Pizza which was quite interesting in presentation but didn’t quite sit well with me. The design of the pizza didn’t let the filling to be spread across equally and it was only in the center of the pizza, so with most bites I could only taste the bread and not the filling. And also may be the lingering taste of kebabs was still there.

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Hummus Bill Dajaj was served next, which was basically homemade hummus topped with sautéed chicken and pine nuts. I loved the presentation of this dish as much as the taste. The hummus was perfect and tasted quite well with the chicken, pine nuts added the extra crunch to the whole dish.

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Thereafter we were served the main course consisting of Chicken Ablama a Lebanese curry chicken, which was again really very good. You rarely find gravies in the Lebanese cuisine but this was an exception and a really good one at that.

The other dish served was Dajajb Falora, a vegetarian curry which again was amazingly good. These both dishes were served with Vermicelli Rice and I have to say that this was one hell of a meal. So filling and so tasteful.

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Last but in no way the least their desserts, they were simply awesome.

Baklava a sweet patty filled with nuts was out of this world as we’re the Malabia and Ummali.

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Malabia is a dessert in which boiled milk is flavored with rose water and cardamom, thickened and then baked in a water bath. It was delicious. Ummali is also a milk based dessert where in a puff pastry is dipped in thick milk.

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All in all a tremendous gastronomic experience.

Visit once and I am quite sure you will go back for more and specially when they are now coming up with Mashrabiya Nights where in you can relish the Lebanese Delicacies with Sizzling Belly, Tanura & Durbuka Dance under one roof.

Do not forget they have a well stocked bar and some interesting cocktails. I am thankful to Sourabh Chandna, the owner of the place for inviting me for this scrumptious meal.

Now its time for you to explore, so get up and going to Zerruco.

Zerruco - The Ashok Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Jashn-E-Fateh, a culinary delight at Singh Sahib, Eros Hotel

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Food Festivals allow us to experience Culinary Delights of different regions and most of the times they leave me elated and asking for more. I was recently invited to Singh Sahib by their most loving PR and F&B team, for Jashn-E-Fateh Food Festival. Singh Sahib commemorated the incessant victories and the legendry journey of Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, who was the commander in chief of the Sikh empire and was famous for his valour, which led to the glory of the Sikh empire. Equally famed were the celebratory feasts that followed every successful conquest. Jashn-E-Fateh was a culinary tribute through an extravagant buffet, which celebrated the flavours from Punjab to Peshaawar. Otherwise also Singh Sahib is known for its Punjabi food from the undivided India and hence flavours from Pakistan have always been a highlight, but in this ode to Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, the culinary delights were specially curated keeping those times in mind. img_6449

There were 3 major live cooking stations that highlighted the era and the dishes that formed the most famous part of that era. Then there was the buffet that had dishes from across the regions of Punjab and Peshawar.

Badam Milk served in a traditional way made for the welcome drink, and it was simply awesome, very flavour and refreshing.

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Our culinary journey began with the region of Peshawar and Namak Mandi in Peshawar to be precise. In earlier days it used to be a trading ground for salt and hence the name. Namak Mandi, today is a famous food street in Peshawar that serves authentic food and barbecued meats are a speciality. Here at Jashn-E-Fateh, Namak Mandi Sigri served selection of meats and vegetables cooked on Sigri just the way Pashtus do.

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There was Gosht Ki Chaap, Murgh Saaji, Namak Mandi Paneer Tikka and Surkh Mushroom.

Each and everything on this menu was just delicious. The muttonchops were amazing; they were so tender and tasteful. The roasted chicken also had a very unique flavour; it wasn’t anything like the regular tandoori chicken. It had very authentic taste. My son polished off the paneer tikka in no time, and he liked it so much that I had to call for a second helping. Mushrooms too were delectable and I controlled myself from not going for a second helping on this one, else I wont have been able to try the other dishes, they were so delicious.

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The next dish was from Haripur, it was the Katwa Gosht. I loved the way; this live cooking station showcased the various stages of cooking this mutton dish. It is basically a mutton cry cooked in an earthen pot over slow fire and takes about 4-5 hours. It also has a particular eating tradition; the chunks of khameeri roti are dipped in the curry and served in an earthern pot to relish. I loved this dish from every aspect, the way it is cooked, the aroma, the presentation, the tradition of eating and of course the taste. 10/10 for this one.

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The third live station was from Kashmir; the one in Pakistan and it showcased Kashmiri Kalaahri Kulcha. Pan grilled leavened bread and ripened cow’s milk cheese of the Dogra community; this specialty was served with spiced chickpeas. The Kulchas with their filling had a very authentic and different taste, it was mild but wonderful. The chickpeas added spice to the whole experience.

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I gave the dishes in buffet a skip, as I was feeling too full with these live station delicacies. My son though tried the Handi chicken and as per the expert, it was delicious too.

The live station cooking and their delicacies were enjoyed multifolds with the live music and some ghazal singing in the background, and that makes the experience at Singh Sahib even greater.

The only thing I felt was absent, was the ambience decor, it would have added a lot of value if decor was also done keeping in mind the food festival.

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I am grateful to the team at Eros for inviting me for this amazing foodie experience and I look forward to more culinary delights from the house of Eros Hotel.

Singh Sahib - Eros Hotel Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Jon’s Head Grill- Restaurant Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

I recently visited this vibrant yet quaint place in GK-1 M block market called Jon’s Head Grill. It was a bloggers table organized by my foodie friend Vaishali. Do check out her food journey on Facebook.

It’s a perfect hangout place, if you are looking at spending a chilled out time with your family or friends.

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Now coming to the food, it offers a wide range of multi-cuisine food from Italian, Mexican to American. Here are some of the things that I tried:

Chicken Nachos: Amazing and fully loaded nachos with oodles of cheese, chunks of chicken, beans, queso & jalapeno served with pico, sour cream and guacamole. This one surely makes for a perfect evening snack. It really was very satisfying.

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Triple Way Non-Veg: A combination of chicken rolls, chicken wings and chicken sausages, this platter can be any non-vegetarians delight. I dint like the sausages much, but the rolls and wings were really worth trying.

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Cajun Spiced Fish: Seasoned white fish fillet, grilled to perfection, is served on a bed of rice with some seasonable vegetables. This dish is a complete meal in itself and definitely a must try on the list. The flavours are mild; the dish is simple, yet wonderful.

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Grilled Chicken Platter: This is basically the chicken version of the above-mentioned dish, where marinated grilled chicken breast is served on a bed of rice with seasonal veggies. This was equally good, and those who don’t prefer fish can settle for chicken without compromising on the taste. By the way they also have a cottage cheese version for my vegetarian friends, and trust me as a dish it was heavier than the non-veg one, as two big pieces of cottage cheese on bed of rice, make it too filling. My suggestion, share it with your friends 🙂

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Chicken Supreme Pizza: A thin crust pizza loaded with barbecued chicken, mushrooms, peppers and jalapeños. I really liked this one. It tasted great and all pizza lovers must try.

Chilli Barbecue Chicken Pizza: This pizza was loaded with spicy chili barbecued chicken with some green bell peppers and onions. This one had a slight Chinese taste twist to it, but Chinese being my favorite, I loved this pizza as much.

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Chicken Pasta: They serve pasta as per the choice of sauce, alfredo, pesto or marinara. We opted for the creamy alfredo sauce and it was yumm. Served with two toasted garlic breads, the pasta was creamy, saucy, and cheesy with loads of chicken. Sounds orgasmic isn’t it, tasted good too. Go for it.

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Burgers: They have some amazing variety in burgers and I am sure any kind of burger you are fond of, go to this place. You name it and they have it. We tried the Bacon Burger, a seasoned lamb patty, grilled perfectly with smoked bacon, cheese, mayo, tomato wedges, lettuce and pickle, this burger was heavenly. My mouth waters as I write about it. This is definitely a must try. The next was the Ranch Burger. One can select the option of patty from chicken, lamb and vegetarian. This one comes with barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, mayo, onion rings and shredded lettuce. This was as amazing as the bacon burger. And after tasting these two burgers I can easily say that it makes a good burger joint for sure.

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Chicken Dimsums: Well nothing too great here, this was the only disappointment. The dough of the dimsums was very sticky; in fact it was breaking down and sticking to the bottom of the sheet upon lifting it up. The filling too was just about OK. All in all a very regular sort of a dish, I won’t really recommend it unless you just cant do without dimsums for a day.

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Desserts: Chocolate Pastry and Brownie was served for desserts, the pastry was simply amazing, dense, chocolaty, super moist and delectable. It’s a must have for all chocolate lovers, and those who don’t like chocolate, try this one and you may start liking it for good. The brownie was good too, though could have been a little more fudgy and gooey, but still can give it a try.

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Drinks: I tried the Jon’s Head Raspberry Classic Margarita and it was nice and refreshing.
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Overall I loved my foodie experience at Jon’s Head and I recommend giving it a try for sure. It is definitely a food joint worth visiting, you wont be disappointed.

 

Jon's head Grill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Take a Healthier Path by Choosing Right Water Purifier

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

It is a common notion for people to put a great deal of thought on consuming clean and healthy drinking water mainly because most of the deadly diseases are water borne. Needless to say that the water supplied to city and town homes through the water distribution system is not pure enough for drinking.

The tap water which people receive may look clean and dirt free but it has a lot of dissolved impurities capable of causing serious harm to the human body. That is where the concept of water purification comes in. Boiling the water is one of the oldest and most commonly used water purification method but is quiet costly if one takes into account the cost of the fuel and labor gone behind this process. That is where modern purification processes comes in.

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A few modern, effective and affordable water purification techniques are-

  • RO or Reverse Osmosis
  • UV or Ultraviolet
  • UF or Ultra Filtration

RO or the Reverse Osmosis filtration system is one of the most popular modern methods probably coz of its effective results and affordable prices. This method makes the water pass through an RO filtration membrane that filters out all the dissolved impurities from the water while making it germ and bacteria free. Hence purifiers with the RO mechanism like Aquafresh water purifier should be the go to option for all those looking to up their health quotient.

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Here are a few special features of Aquafresh RO which will make any person, aware enough about the water borne health hazards, opt for it.

  • This purifier delivers water in its purest form and is hence good at dealing with brackish water or water with a higher saline content which depends on the local water resource.
  • Nowadays when chemical contamination in water is a rising concern, RO serves with the best solution as this technology is excellent at dealing with chemical contamination.
  • Getting rid of TDS or total dissolved solids is another forte of the RO purifier.
  • All these points along with Aquafresh’s free, quick and easy installation process makes this the best defender of water borne diseases.

RO water purification system has a reputation of being the best in its field. Be it for military purposes or for residential ones, it has proved time and again about its capabilities. All those who are yet to avail the best services associated with an RO purification system should contact Aquafresh.

 

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