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

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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

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

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

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

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

A must try for food lovers.

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

Lemon Drops-Restaurant Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

A Wholesome Foodie Experience @ Circus

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chhalava – The new foodie destination in town

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

World class interiors, opulence spread over three floors, delectable food, amazing drinks and sheesha lounge, this newbie is all set to take the Delhi food scene by a storm. Chhalava recently opened its doors in the heart of South Delhi, GK 2 M Block Market, with the first floor dedicated to fine dining, the upper two floors along with a beautiful terrace are more like a lounge where in you can chill with family or friends.

One look at the place and you know how much detailing has gone into designing of the place, from walls, to ceiling lights, the illusion floor and crockery, everything is top notch.

It was a cold winter afternoon with a gentle breeze flowing in, making it perfect to indulge ourselves in some lip smacking delicacies at the terrace.

To begin with we ordered Achari Paneer Tikka, Dahi Ke Kebab and Some Assorted Kebabs. Dahi Ke Kebab were the highlight, soft, succulent kebabs coated with crushed papad, these were simply amazing, I highly recommend trying these.

The Achari Paneer was good too, sadly I couldn’t get a second helping, and had to just satiate with one piece of it. I am definitely going again to Chhalava to have some more of Paneer and also trying the other dishes that I could not try.

Mutton Seekh were really nice and prepared in a different way as they were topped with a creamy sauce which gave it that extra punch. This should be on your must try list for sure. Then there were Chicken Stuffed Puchkas too, but I found them to be a little dry, these could definitely be more juicier and I am sure they will consider my suggestion and work on it.

The Chicken Tikka probably is the most popular North Indian appetiser and it was made to perfection, no doubting that.

For drinks I tried Black Lemonade which is one of their signature preparations. It was really nice, a lemonade with black colour, it not only looked great but also tasted refreshing. The next drink I tried was the Cranberry Peach Cooler, and this too was a beautiful drink which looked damn sexy and tasted great too.

Coming to mains, first things first, the presentation was fabulous. I really loved the way the dishes were presented on a cart which also had a burner beneath to keep the food hot, and also a special place for keeping onions/chutney, truly different.

We ordered Paneer Butter Masala, Traditional Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani. As I have always said that my son is an expert on Dal Makhani, he gave this a generous 8.5/10. The butter chicken was yummy and thankfully not sweet. It had the perfect blend of being creamy and saucy but not sweet. Paneer butter masala too was nicely prepared. I thoroughly relished my meal and loved the entire spread.

Desserts at Chhalava were outstanding, Chhalava Cake with Ice Cream was delicious. Warm chocolate cake with hot melted chocolate inside with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, simply worth drooling. The Chocolate Lasagne was awesome, I really want you guys to try both these desserts out. You really cant afford to miss them.

I had a great time at Chhalava, and a special mention for the entire team, they were extremely warm and hospitable. This is one place that you should visit as soon as possible. You will love it. GK 2 market outlets really have a tough competition now, so watch out how Chhalava fares amongst all the established outlets and takes everyone by a surprise.

Chhalava - छLava Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

LT Foods Organises a Special Event with Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Posted on by Sunil Malhotra

Friday January 20 ,2017 saw a special event held at Taj Mansingh by LT Foods with their wide range of rice brands like Daawat, Heritage and Royal. LT foods is one of the leaders in several countries including India and the US.
LT Foods brought together one of top ten rising chefs of the world; Chef “JJ” Johnson and world Reknowned Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor from India.


Chef JJ, a highly awarded chef in New York was taken across various basmati growing farms in India to experience the culinary n cultural heritage of India.
On this unique event chef was symbolically handed over the secrets of making Biryani by Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor who beside being a brand ambassador for Daawat Rice has had a long association with LT Foods. The association as per Chef Sanjeev Kappor is based on the fact that LT Foods apart from delivering quality products also strives to provide solutions relevant to the chef community.


LT Foods is working similarly in the US and across the Globe to spread awareness about basmati rice .
Chef JJ was equally excited about this unique event and his trip to India. Verbatim “I am in love with India. I just can’t get enough of its vibrant Flavours, Spices and Culture and to be around and see where authentic basmati rice is grown and to meet the farmers has been a game changer for me. Thanks to Royal Basmati and LTF, I have a whole new respect for the rice and the way it os grown and  I can’t wait to get back and share some of my journey in new dishes that I will create using Basmati rice and all that I have learned about Indian food and Culture”


Mr Vijay Kumar Arora, CMD, LT Foods Ltd also emphasised on the company’s endeavor to take Daawat rice across the world and making it a part of American Households successfully so much so that it has attained the No.1 position in North America.

The event saw a live session of Biryani cooked by our very own Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as he actively interacted with the audience. It was great fun meeting Sanjeev Kapoor and learn his amazing dishes.


The event was followed by a sumptuous spread of dishes all created mainly using Basmati rice.
Specially the different types of Biryani’s made from Basmati rice, unique in itself. I enjoyed being a part of this event and learn so much about Basmati Rice, hope LT food continues to share their expertise and knowledge with us.

Sunday Brunch at Zerruco- Simply One of the Best..!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Sunday Brunches are luxury for me, the comfort of having so many dishes to choose from, an elaborate dessert spread and array of drinks is always attractive isnt it and when a Sunday Brunch is organised at a place one loves otherwise also, its a win win situation. Zerruco, a Lebanese Speciality Restaurant, has been my favourite ever since I went there for the first time. It has a great ambience and I truly haven’t eaten a better Lebanese food anywhere else. Its housed in the Ashoka Hotel, Chanakyapuri and is a fine dining place with spacious seating both indoors and outdoors.

This Sunday afternoon, I headed to Zerruco, as it was the first Brunch of the season for them. It was bright and sunny, but not in a hot way, but a warm way just the way a cold winter afternoon should be. The outdoor ambience where the spread was laid out looked immensely attractive. The spread had a mix of Lebanese and other Mediterranean dishes, including soups, salads, mains and desserts. Sangrias, and Margritas were available in lots of flavours to give high to this brunch.

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There was Pumpkin and Green Apple Soup and Asian Chicken Soup, the Pumpkin soup some how lacked authentic taste, the pumpkin flavour overpowered everything else, green apple could not be tasted at all. The Asian Chicken soup was perfectly done, I really loved sipping this warm soup.

The Salads selection was great, it was a delight to see so many colourful vegetables, and meats tossed in different sauces. Middle Eastern Tabbuleh with Red Quinoa, Beetroot & Goat Cheese Salad, Mexican Corn and Pepper Salad made the vegetarian part, whereas Ceasar Salad with Bacon and Anchovie, Smoked Chicken Salad with Pears and Endive and Coronation Chicken Salad was what the non veg selection comprised of.

Tabbuleh, Mexican Corn Salad were amazing, I loved both of these from the vegetarian ones. Caesar salad was good too but the best for me was the Smoked Chicken Salad with Pears and Endive. This one was the sure shot winner and is highly recommended. The spread of different sauces to binge on with Pita Bread was mouth watering.

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Chef’s Special Wood Fired Oven Cheese Pizza was awesome. It had a thin crispy crust and oodles of cheese.

There was a live grill section, from where I picked up a mixed non-veg platter and it had me completely bowled over. It was amazing. It had Chicken, Fish, Prawns and Mutton Seekh and each of the items was delectable.

The main course had a few selected European dishes especially curated by the executive chef Mukherjee. Aubergine Parmigiana, Florentine and Corn Cannolini, Mushroom Risotto, Roast Chicken Breast, Lamb Harrira and Fish Majboos were the dishes that not only looked beautiful but tasted good too. Special mention for the Roast Chicken Breast, Mushroom Risotto and Corn Cannolini, they were delicious.

I also tried some Chicken Linguine with mixed sauce from the live pasta station and it was yumm. The taste is still lingering on, it was so nice.

Apple Crumble Pie with Custard Sauce, Chocolate Brownie and Banofie Pie made for the dessert spread and each one of the tasted awesome. I have a weakness for desserts and this was a true sinful indulgence for me, but then who cares?

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I highly recommend not just the Sunday Brunch at Zerruco, but a visit to Zerruco for any meal, its totally worth it. But yes weekend is approaching and this Sunday Brunch should not be missed. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and here is a glimpse

Cafe Gatherings-Restaurant Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Cafe Gatherings is a cosy little join tucked away in the Super Mart 1 of DLF Phase IV, Gurgaon. Space is a constrain at this place, but for a small group or a cosy couple outing, its just perfect. I recently visited this place and found it really amusing.

For me its a small intimate Dine-in Eatery.
Though short on seating capacity the place exudes great warmth and cosy ambience giving you a very comfortable feel and the food too is great.
We started with the Peri Peri Chicken which was really done to perfection with the right blend of spices.


The Fish Fingers was another delicacy well done, crisp on the out and really soft inside, really a mouthwatering dish.

The Chicken Morsels as the name suggests were just that very lovingly done by the chef. Real juicy morsels of chicken with a very distinctive taste.

Pasta Arabiatta and Spanish Cannelloni were the pick of the dishes. Truly Delectable!!!!! I mean the taste of the Spanish Cannelloni still lingers in my mouth, it was so good.

For the mains we tried the Thai Curry & Rice, another delicious preparation perfectly done.

I enjoyed myself thoroughly at Cafe Gatherings and you must give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Truly a great gastronomic experience.

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

Hudson Chopsticks- Food Delivery Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Often in winters you don’t want to step out late at night for a dinner and on such occasions home deliveries are the best option. Hudson chopsticks – As we call the name, it’s a well known in university area and recently we ordered a hearty meal from them on a cold winter night.

The cuisine is Chinese with a few Thai dishes as well and is definitely going to leave an impression. Currently it’s a takeaway /doorstep delivery restaurant. 

We ordered a Soup, Chicken Momos, Hakka Noodles, Veg Spring Rolls and Red Thai Curry. The quantity was good and sufficient enough for 3 people.

One of the must try here is Chicken WHEAT Dimsums, one if its kinds. By giving our desi momos in wheat it leaves you with less guilt.

The other mouth-watering dish was the Thai Red Curry served with Sticky Rice. I simply loved it. Good portion for more than 2 people.

Hakka Noodles too were delectable and the best part of ordering noodles is they provide chopsticks with it, which gives you the feel of enjoying an authentic Chinese food that too at the comfort of your home

Overall, loved the food and suggest you must give this place a try, its totally worth it!

 

Hudson Chopsticks Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

New Menu Launch at The Grill Mill, Cyber Hub

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The Grill Mill at Cyber Hub recently launched a new menu with few more dishes finding their way in the existing menu. I was invited to witness the same by Blue Beans Foodies Meetups. The place was bustling with people and it was a chance to meet up fellow foodies as well. There were about 14 dishes included in the menu, though all were starters and just about 2 desserts. There were no mains.

The dishes that I tried were:

Water Melon with Danish Feta & Green Black Olive Dust- The water melon with feta cheese and olive dust was really refreshing. Also the vibes around the place overall felt very festive and this dish in particular looked very Christmasy to me, because of the colours Red, White and Green.

Mint Paneer Walnut Ki Tikki- This was nice and crispy on the outside and extremely tender on the inside, but somehow I could not relate it to the fact that it was made of paneer. I could not taste paneer at all, but it was nice.

Mushroom Crostini- A toast topped with mushrooms tossed in creamy sauce, these made for a nice snack and definitely a delight for vegetarians. I personally love mushrooms and hence it was a delight for me too.

Sea Food Ceviche with Baby Rocket- This was like a sea-food salad served in a shot glass. It was delectable.

Puff Pita and Chicken Chettinad- I somehow didn’t like this one much. Chettinad chicken placed over a pita puff, it definitely looked tempting but didn’t taste the same. For me the Chettinad chicken didn’t score too well.

Keema Kaleji with Maska Pao- This was was the sure shot winner of the evening. The keema placed on top of a maska pao was delicious. The keema kaleji was perfectly spiced and the maska pao can never fail. What I loved the most about this dish was it being bite sized, I mean one bite that explodes flavours in the mouth. Must try for sure.

For drinks I settled for Fruit Punch & Water Melon Cooler and both were good.

The desserts got too delayed and hence I had to give them a miss. The Chef there also gave a live demo of preparing a pepper sorbet and it was really nice. All I can say is that go and try for yourself, the new items of the menu and I am sure you will like them. Enjoy!

 

The Grill Mill Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Masala Trail by Osama Jalali, the amalgamation of street foods of India

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Kolkata Ke Puchkas, Bombay Ki Pav Bhaji, Mysore Ka Vada, Chennai Ka Masala Dosa, Delhi Ki Chaat, we all are well aware of these amazing street foods we get across the length and breadth of our country and sometimes we just wait for our travel plans to materialise so that we can savour these delicacies in their whole authenticity. Because sometimes we don’t get everything in our own cities or even if we get most of the times the authentic flavours are missing. But not anymore because Osama Jalali along with Keventers brings The Masala Trail to Delhi which not only boasts of street and regional foods from across regions under one roof but also infuse complete authenticity in the tastes.

To begin with we were served Tower Chaat, layers and layers of yummy dilli ki chaat presented in a tall glass. This one is surely a must have. Pakora Basket and Samosa Chaat were served next. The pakora basket had assorted pakoras and is totally worth it. Crunchy & crispy pakoras with green chutney make for a perfect evening snack. The samosa chaat too was good to taste. Banarasi Tamatar Chaat was something I had not tried before and hence found it very different, but could not acquire the taste for the same.

Moving on from North, we tasted some Western delicacies, Panki, a Gujarati snack prepared with rice flour between banana leaves was served first. Though it tasted nice, but it wasn’t something that I would fancy much otherwise. Dabeli Pav, again a traditional Gujarati dish, it is made with mashed potatoes tossed in masala toppings and sandwiched between grilled pav. This was definitely worth trying and I am sure you will like it. Mumbaiya Pizza Dosa and Chowpaty Pav Bhaji was something we tried next and both of these things were simply outstanding. I have always found a challenge with restaurants serving pav bhaji without the authentic taste, but here it was exactly the way its found in Mumbai and the same was with Pizza Dosa, it reminded me of the famous stalls near Mithibai College in Mumbai that serve these dosas. Even the Vada Pav was as authentic as it could be, retaining the original taste, your search for vada pavs could definitely end here.

Mysore Vada from the south and Kolkata Puchkas from the east were next, the vadas were nice and crispy but because I am not basically fond of South Indian food, I just tried these for namesake. Though the Masala Dosa looked tempting enough.The Kolkata puchkas were a bit of disappointment because I found them to be a little dry, the filling could have been better and even the masala water.

For mains we settled for Amristsari Kulchas and Dal Makhani with Naan. The Amritsari Kulchas were simply amazing, I loved them and one must surely try them. The Dal Makhani was easily one of the best I had eaten in recent times and you cant afford to miss it.

Another thing that you shouldn’t be missing is the Kesari Lassi and Matka Kulfi to complete your meal and it will be one soulful journey of food that you will end up experiencing at this place. I am very sure that this restaurant is going to give all vegetarian restaurants a run for their money, so don’t think much and visit asap.

 

The Masala Trail Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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