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

Posted on September 14, 2016September 15, 2016 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jon’s Head Grill- Restaurant Review

Posted on September 14, 2016 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 🙂

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Drinks: I tried the Jon’s Head Raspberry Classic Margarita and it was nice and refreshing.

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.

Asli Drama Toh Ab Shuru Hoga with DRAMA, the upside down bar and restaurant

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Life mein tragedy, comedy, romance aur DRAMA, sab kuch zaruri hai, tabhi toh life mast rehti hai..so bring some more DRAMA to your life with the newbie in town, DRAMA, the upside down bar. This place defines quirkiness like no other. From the ambience to food, everything is dramatic as the name suggests and also upside down décor is the highlight of the place. So don’t rub your eyes or adjust your glasses when you see books kept upside down, or those lamps that hang downside from the ceiling. Once you have entered DRAMA, DRAMA is what you will get in everything. I was recently invited to a private screening organized by Vickrham from FoodManiacs..Born to Eat(if you are a food lover, do join the group on facebook) and its always a pleasant experience meeting like minded foodie friends.

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Spread over 3 floors, Drama is a perfect hangout place with family and friends. It’s vibrant, quirky and full of life.

For the starters we were served Insalata Crumble, which was chicken mince salad prepared with basil pepper dressing and feta. It was nice, crumbly and a very different kind of salad. I really liked it.

Next up was the Chin Chin Chicken, Drama’s own version of the very popular chilly chicken, but this one is served on a bed of 1oo chillies, totally mouth drooling.

Agneepath Murgi, basically chicken satays that come on a coal engine shaped serving platter, is definitely a must try. They taste as good as they look.

Faadu Fish Fire, a chilly fish with hint of sweetness with sweet chilli soy was the next item served in an upside down umbrella. Masachos were Naachos presented with the signature DRAMA touch, masala kachumbar salsa and rajma, it was also served an upside down umbrella.

Twitter Tangadi, is something that will catch the attention of your eyes more than the taste. Taste wise it’s a regular chicken leg piece roasted with Indian spices, but what makes it different is its colour of marinade, which is the Twitter Blue colour and you will surely love holding that blue tangadi in your hands. Order for the sake of fun if nothing else.

Then there was Baba Dhanoush, Lebanese Pita Bread Platter, and Paneer Tikka that came in a cage, both of them tasted well. The presentation of the food is really commendable, the looks of the food items and the way they are presented is so attractive that one can’t resist eating. Followed this was the Bun Faad Paneer, a unique kind of a burger which can be teared open and indulged in with some chilli garlic cottage cheese eggs.

Drinks too showcased a lot of quirk in their names and presentation, we tried Chatpati Chameli, a vodka based cocktail with tamrind flavours. Then there was Cilantaro and Orange Margarita and Shiela ki Jawani, which was vodka with orange liqueur and cranberry juice. Mocktails had some amazing variety as well, Pan Mojito was one of the highlight drinks, orange passion was comforting and refreshing.

After so much of dramebaazi in starters and drinks, I had set my expectations really high for the main course, but it turned out to be a little disappointing. We ordered Chowka Paneer Patiala, Nai Dilli Meat Curry and Taehri Chicken Boti. The Paneer Patiala was good, creamy thick gravy that was tasteful. The Chicken Boti and Meat Curry, both lacked taste, they were just about ok, but nothing exceptional. I am sure our feedback will be taken constructively and things will be better the next time around.

In Desserts, we tried Berry Ananas Roshogulla, I loved the presentation of the dish and it tasted yumm too.

Nonetheless this place is definitely a must visit and I congratulate Swaraj Singhi and his team for putting in so much creativity in this place, its truly remarkable. I wish them all the luck and urge all my readers to go and visit Drama for sure and you will love it.

All Good About This Dirty Apron- Good Food & Good Music

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Brainchild of Engineer turned pianist and a self taught baker, Arjun Gupta, Dirty Apron claims to be city’s first Eurasian Restaurant. Arjun who feels strongly about both food and music has designed the place in such a way that both his passions are met with great results, so you get awesome food along with awesome music.

Dirty Apron is a part of The Piano Man and is hosted in the same building as Jazz Club and Cake Away. Recently they invited us to a bloggers table to review their specially designed food menu. They have come up with these amazing thin crust wood fired oven pizzas, which come loaded with exotic toppings and great smoky flavour. I loved the ambience of this place; it is the calmer and cozier part of the Piano Man.

Canopies with different toppings were served as a amuse bouche. I tried the one with mushrooms topping and it tasted really good.

As for drinks we opted for Pot, which is vodka-based cocktail infused with elderflower syrup and orange peel oil bubbles. It was nice and tangy. I also tried the Red Wine Sangria and that was good too.

There was Orange Sunrise for those who didn’t drink alcohol, it had a nice orangey taste and a wonderful presentation, and the big pieces of orange really added a lot of freshness in the taste of the drink and also helped it look better.

There was Pumpkin and Peanut Butter Soup and Green Apple & Vermouth Cold Soup. Both the soups were strikingly different in their taste, texture and even presentation, but both were wonderful to taste. I am not fond of apples basically but the green apple soup was just amazing, it had a very distinct taste and I have never had anything like this before. I loved it.

Ahh and now coming to one of the most amazing salads I have ever had, it was a platter of salad, with small portions of 3 different types of salads. There was Beetroot, Orange & Feta Salad, Raw Papaya Salad + Green Mango and Grilled Peaches + Blue Berry + Goat Cheese Arugula. I loved the Raw Papaya Salad, it was nice and tangy, something on the lines of Kimchi Salad, yet very different. The second best was the Beetroot Salad, crunchy and amazing. You must try this platter for sure.

The main course had assortment of Pizzas and I tried Wild Mushroom & Asian Pesto Pizza, Bulgogi Chicken Pizza, and the Pepperoni Pizza and I have to say that if you ever crave pizzas, this is the place for you. The crust was so thin and perfectly done and all the toppings were great. I personally loved the Bulgogi pizza, which had tender pieces of chicken and caramelized onions. Bulgogi is a recipe of Korean origin and was initially prepared with beef, and then later on adaptations of chicken and other meats were also done. My second favorite was the wild mushroom and Asian pesto pizza; in spite of being a hardcore non-vegetarian, I loved this one. Crisp, and crunchy, loaded with veggies, it was awesome and a must try for everyone.

A pan flavored palate cleanser was also served and it was refreshing.

Blueberry Cheese Cake and Kaffir Lime Scented Creame Brulee were served for desserts. I personally am a big critic of cheese cakes and I think that no one makes better than me, because I have been left disappointed at most of the places, but thankfully, this place was different. The blueberry cheesecake was just perfect. It felt homemade to me and that’s the reason I polished off the whole slice all by myself. The creame brulee with the hint of lime was perfect too, in fact the hint of lime made it taste a little different than the regular creame brulee and I found the change welcoming.

Overall had a very pleasant experience at Dirty Apron and I highly recommend all food lovers to visit this place.

Chaayos Opens Its Doors at GK2 M Block Market..!!

Posted on August 23, 2016August 23, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Chaayos recently opened its doors at M-Block GK 2 Market and also launched a 7 star new menu. This menu comprised of special teas, both hot and cold, some mouth melting savories and teacakes. I was invited for a review with my other foodie friends and I am grateful to my friend and a co-blogger Radhika for that, do follow her page on facebook

We began our tasting session with ‘Desi Sab Kuch Chai’. It was a very typical masala chai infused with spices like Cinnamon, Cardamom, Ginger, and Basil etc. A perfect companion for those rainy evenings or winter mornings. ‘Assorted Pakoras’ were served along with the chai and it made the perfect combination. The onion pakoras are just worth it, you will want more and more of them, they were so addictive. Its definitely a must try dish on the menu. Along with it we were served ‘Bun Maska’ and ‘Egg Bun’. I tried the Egg Bun and really liked it. It was soft and delectable. The taste was mild, as the egg was not loaded with too many spices; it was just perfect, and as soft and mild as the bun itself.

Next up was a specialty tea, it was a lot of fun, because we weren’t told about the tea, we had to taste it and identify the ingredients. So after the first sip itself, I could gather that it was a honey lemon tea with a dash of ginger. It was amazing, and it had a very refreshing aroma, perfect for a sore throat or just to soothe it. From all the teas that I tasted, this one was my personal favorite. It came the ‘Loaded Chicken Cheese Max’. This one is a lethal combination, trust me. Don’t think much just go for it and I am sure you will love them both. There was a Paneer version too, but I gave it a skip, who wants to eat paneer when you can have chicken 🙂

And now it was time for their very famous ‘Kulad Chai’, which was served in actual kulads. I am not very fond of teas otherwise, but the aroma of this tea made me go for it and I am glad I did. Its awesome. Those fond of tea, will love this preparation.

The next tea that I tried was one of the most unique teas I have ever tried. It was the ‘Aam Papad Tea’. As the name suggests, it felt as if I was drinking a liquid form of Aam Papad. It had exactly the same taste, and aam papad is something I relish occasionally with the fear of having a sore throat. But just the way guys on TV promote Mango Drinks saying that the mango season never really gets over, you can similarly relish the taste of aam papad with this tea without any apprehensions. I loved it. From the savories, next we tried was the ‘Butter Chicken Wrap’ and ‘Kadhai Paneer Wrap’, I must say that the filling in both the wraps was very different, It was really loaded and every bite of it was heavenly. I wont really reveal what all it had; all I can say is that you must try it.

Last but not the least, was the ‘Thandi Chai’. They have about 3-4 flavors available in the same, what I tried was the Saunf flavor. After trying all the savories and filling myself up, this saunf flavoured thandi chai seemed just perfect. I quite liked it and I am looking forward to try the other flavours on my next visit there.

For dessert, there was ‘Bananaa Cake’ and ‘Lemon Cake’. The cakes were nice, but a little too dense for my liking. I know I know, I am little nasty when it comes to reviewing desserts, but what to do, I am a baker myself so I end up highlighting the negatives first. But nevertheless, the cakes weren’t bad at all.

I had a lot of fun with my foodie friends and now its your turn..You must surely plan a visit to your nearest Chaayos and more specially this newly opened one in M Block GK 2 Market and enjoy a tea of your preference with some amazing food. I just love the warmth and vibrancy this place exudes, its so comfortable that you almost feel as if sitting at home with a cup of tea and some pakoras.. bliss!

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.

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

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.

Sunday Brunch @Blooms, Eros Hotel

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

Sunday is always the most sought after day of the week, one either wants to relax completely or go out and have some fun, but doing something special is indeed a part of Sunday. Out of all the things one may plan whether to stay at home or go out, food is I guess the biggest discussion point and with me its no different. Last Sunday I was fortunate to have been invited for reviewing the Sunday Brunch at Blooms, Eros Hotel, Nehru Place and I really can’t explain in words what fun it was. Blooms organizes Sunday brunches every weekend, but the last Sunday of every month is the most special one, as its always done centered around a theme. When I visited, the theme was Monsoon Magic, the weather was just perfect to justify the theme and yes the ambience and the food, both were magical.

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The magic began right at the entrance as I eyed the lavish spread of desserts. It was difficult to resist the temptation of not beginning the brunch with desserts, but nevertheless, I started at them for a long time and captured them in my camera at least.

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The ambience of blooms is very comfortable and relaxing and they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Some special elements were added in the decoration to compliment the monsoon theme. There were umbrellas, paper boats and even the staff was wearing raincoats. It all looked very very cute and interesting.

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The menu was elaborate; there was a lavish buffet spread inside along with a lot of live counters that were placed outdoors. Just taking a stroll around and looking at all that yummy food made me hungry, and I can feel the hunger pangs even now as I write this review.

LIVE STATIONS:

Thela

There was a thela that served assorted pakodas, now monsoons are almost incomplete without pakodas and hence it was a sure shot hit amongst the guests An assortment of pakodas were served, paneer, aaloo pyaaz bhajiya, achari green chilli and others. Then there were a variety of Samosas on the thela, Potato & Cashew filled traditional Indian samosa, Chicken Patti samosa, Keema mutter samosa with mint & saunth chutney.

Chole tikki, sizzling stew of Dry peas with spiced potato was also served with tamarind chutney and selection of toppings.

Also I just loved the way the Pakodas were served from an upside down umbrella, it just looked so interesting.

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Bhutta Corner

Charcoal grilled corn was served with lemon, salt, green chilli & spicy masala.

There was also the steamed buttered corn with spicy masala.

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Rain forest Grill

Selection of meats and vegetables with spices mix from the RAINFOREST region of America, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela

Lamb chops, Chicken breasts, Red snapper, Salmo, Seabass, Prawns, Button Mushrooms, Potatoes, Peppers, Asparagus, Zucchini, and more, one had ample choice of staples to try out these rain forest flavors.

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Momos

Traditional South Asian dumplings with choice of vegetarian & non- vegetarian fillings were served with spicy sauces & dips and they were simply amazing.

London Fish & chips

Batter fried fish was served with homemade wafers and it was a true delight, the fish was very very delicately fried and light in taste, the handmade chips were the highlight of the dish.

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Asian hawker counter

Then there was this counter, which served the Pan Asian delicacies and just passing by the counter, the aromas made by tummy rumble with hunger pangs.

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Main Course

This buffet lay out all that you could think of, with wide variety of dishes in India, Continental and Chinese, you just couldn’t ask for more.

Desserts

Desserts Spread was mouth drooling and had a perfect mix of both western and Indian desserts. I tried quite a few of them and especially loved the raspberry eclair and chocolate mango mousse.

The live bar counter knocked out some amazing drinks and also there was a live band to keep the mood upbeat at all times.

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The Sunday Brunch by Blooms, Eros Hotel is definitely not to be missed, so do plan your weekend accordingly and also watch out for their next theme on the last Sunday of August. I had a lot of fun and I am sure you too will enjoy!

Your Neighbourhood Bar Opens in East of Kailash-BarShala

Posted on August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 by Aditi Malhotra

‘In Wine There Is Wisdom, In Beer There Is Freedom, In Water There Is Bacteria’. One cannot agree more with Benjamin Franklin.

But what to do when you are broke like a joke? When it’s that time of the month and the salary cheque looks far-flung? When you want to be a high troller without riding on the luxury roller? What about manhandling those man talks and being in a place, which reeks of nostalgia and smells of home? All in all, the perfect place to finish up a boozy evening in style!

Here comes your panacea for all drinking ills- The BarShala!

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BarShala is India’s fastest growing chain of “friendly neighbourhood drinking resto-bars” in India positioned on the basic premise-“peeney waalon ka paradise” (a paradise for people who enjoy a good drink). Founded by the team at Indospirit, headed by Mr. Sameer Mahandru, the aim is to create the bar-next-door for the entire country.

The Mission – Piyo or Peene Do

Whether it is hanging out with your friends after office hours, or discussing the next game of cricket over a chilled beer, BarShala is the perfect joint for you. The menu is uniquely crafted with Hinglish names of dishes adding quirkiness and making things breezy!(literally).BarShala, as small and powerful as the name suggests, the sting in the tail is having to choose between numerous flavours of rum mixes, Indigenous beers or Vodkas at unbeatable prices. The bar currently lacks the presence of any sorts of cocktails and cocktails in the menu. They as of now have all straight liquor. There’s a character in the décor too, with winks of Indian kitschy graphic and jazzy mosaics. Attracting regulars and interested new faces, the atmosphere is relaxed and intimate.

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BarShala has been brought to life by a passionate team of individuals with extensive experience in the F&B industry. The young and energetic team at BarShala has promised to go the extra mile to ensure that one has a crazy time with friends and create some amazing memories. Having opened up their first two outlets in Janakpuri, Karkardooma and lining up the unveiling of East of Kailash, the bar is getting higher every day. The only dream is to see Delhities in BarShala- blurring the line between weekdays and weekends-Rammed and raucous.

I recently visited the East of Kailash outlet and it definitely lives upto its name, its just a hangout place where you can go only for drinks and nothing else. It is a BarShala in true sense. However quirky the names of menu items be, the food is very very basic. Don’t expect too many high fundas, or exotic cuisine here. You will get just the routine snacks, more like ready to eat options in both vegetarian and non vegetarian, but the liquor prices are so cheap that you cannot complain. I tried the Mutton Seekh, Fish Fingers and Chicken Salad, which were just about OK.

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Also its most apt for youngsters and men interested in drinking, if you are looking at spending some cosy time with your girl friend, this isn’t the place. Neither its apt for families.

The staff definitely needs to be more trained and attentive and hospitality is something they need to work upon.

BarShala is managed by the INDOSPIRIT Group.The INDOSPIRIT Group of companies is a leading bottler, importer, distributor and retailer of alcoholic beverages in North India. The group was founded in 2007, and now has a turnover of 300 Crores.

Tag: Delhi Food Blogger

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