Best Lifestyle Blog of Goa
Exploring regional food is always an interesting thing to do and when you get a chance to indulge in some awesome regional food from across regions under one roof, with a great ambience and loads of shopping options, its a pure bliss. So head straight to Dilli Haat and you get to do all of this, and here is handy list of 8 stalls that you should not miss..
The Ancient Barbeque hosted a preview of their Grills on Fire festival specially curated by Chef Ashish Massey, Director, The Ancient Brabeque, along with Rohini T Chawla, Masterchef top 12 contestant, Sadaf Hussain, Masterchef , Top 10 contestant and Majid Khan, Biryaniwala discovered by HT City.
Held on the terrace on a warm winter afternoon the setting was absolutely right for A Fiery Feast of Barbeque delights. The entire space was filled with mouth drooling aromas, I mean you just could not ignore it and felt automatically hungry.
There were 26 starters both Non Veg n Veg to be savoured along with some wine and beer and each one of them was a delight. Practically it won’t have been possible to try all 26 of them so we ended up tasting most of the non-vegetrarian variety.
They started with the Brazilian Churrasco Chicken which was grilled to perfection with a right balance of spices.
Then there were the Murg Asafjahi, Mexican Chicken Wings with Hot Sauce, Butter Biryani Chicken and all of them were absolutely delicious. My mouth waters even as I write about them.
Then there were the Mutton Galouti with Ulta Tawa Paratha which were simply mind blowing. Really soft and juicy.
The Mutton Barra was a real treat. The chops were tender and a superb marination enhanced the flavours.
The Kasundi Mahi Tikka, Patrani Machi, Drunken Fish and Prawn Verde were a gourmet’s delight. After trying so much I really could not figure out which one ended up being the best, because all of the dishes were one better than the other.
Tandoori Chicken Momos were another fine creation. Each and every dish served was just simply awesome.
Kudos to all the Chefs, they did a fabulous job with food, their hard work was visible and definitely paid off.
A special mention on the Veg staters which we tried, Brazilian Churrasco Pineapple, Dal Harimirch ki Shammi and Tandoori Chinese Dahi ke Sholey were extraordinary. Even the Tandoori Bhutta looked so tempting.
This entire experience was not just a foodies delight, but to say the least, it was a visual delight too, in fact it evoked all the five senses, the visual beauty, the tastes, the aromas, the sizzles and the warmth.. truly everything was beautiful.
They also served a superb Chicken Biryani and a specially made Chicken Korma which were superb.
The service by the ever smiling most courteous staff was something out of this world.
The Ancient Barbeque deserves a visit over n over again for their mouth watering delicacies and efficient service. We are really grateful to Neha Bahl from Qube Communications to have invited for this culinary experience and also Chef Ashish Messy for his warm hospitality
Rush! Rush!Rush!
Not only for Grills on Fire but anytime you want to relish good food, drinks and an ambience of its own with a smiling cheerful staff who really are efficient.
Oriental Cuisine is one of my all time favourites and I can literally have it continuously for days without feeling bored and when you get a chance to visit one of your favourite places to explore the same, its a win win situation. It was a pleasure to be back at the Fortune Hotel after a grand Lohri Lunch at the Zodiac Restaurant, this time it was the Oriental Pavilion, their roof top restaurant this time around .
The restaurant claims to be a roof top restaurant but alas there is roof on the top and contrary to expectations is not open air.
A touch disappointed but all the disappointment disappeared once the ever courteous staff served the Starters.
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Wok fried Tofu in Cilli Basil was a superb treat with chilli and basil in just the right proportions.
Spinach and Corn Crystal Dumpling and the Thai Vegetable Spring Roll were a veggies delight both crispy n done to perfection.
The Chicken Sui Mai, Chicken in Hunan Style and The Pan Fried Fish with Kaffir Lime were a gourmet’s delight.
All three dishes with their very own distinct flavours and tastes.
The Mizotaki Soup was simply superb.
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In the Main Course they served Chicken in Oyster Sauce which was simply out of this world and The Sliced Fried Fish in Chilli n Cilantro was another delicious offering. For the veggies Vegetable in Thai Green Curry and Oriental Greens With Golden Garlic and Sesame were absolutely fabulous.
To go along with the mouth watering main dishes were The Chilli Garlic Noodles, Vegetable Fried Rice and Steamed Rice.
The Vegetable Fried Rice and Chicken in Oyster sauce made an awesome combination As did the Noodles and Sliced Fried Fish.
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The complete spread of Starters and Main Course was most appetizing and delicious. One of the best and authentic offering.
For Dessert there was the Tempura Fried Ice Cream which was a bit of a disappointment. But the food served is a worth a visit over n over again. The service and ever courteous smiling staff deserves a special mention. All in all a most wonderful gastronomical delight.
Review Credit: Rani Malhotra
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.
So Valentines is approaching and we look forward to cook something special for our loved ones and think of Valentines and heart shaped, red coloured goodies start coming to your mind and most of the times, chocolates, cakes and pastries is all we can think of, but here is the twist. We bring to you a yummy Iddly recipe, yes you read it right, Iddly recipe for valentines.. so read on, enjoy and surprise your loved one this Valentines!
RED VELVET IDDLY
Recipe by Karthik Krishnamurthy
Iddly Faktory
Chef/Founder/CEO
Iddly is considered as one of the most comfort and healthy food for all Indians.
Mr. Karthik Krishnamurthy, Chef/Founder/CEO, Iddly Faktory said, “Over the years, traditions, customs, clothing, approach and eating habits have changed drastically. People are getting into healthy eating and drinking. So for valentine’s day, we at Iddly Faktory came up with the idea of making red velvet iddly without breaking the concept of healthy eating and also making our customers happy.”
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
Red velvet iddly mixture:
Grate half a beetroot and squeeze it well.
Add the squeezed juice to four scoops of iddly batter. Mix it well. Your mixture is ready.
For making soft red velvet iddly:
Pour some water in an iddly vessel and put it on medium flame. Oil the iddly plate and gently fill the rounds with the red velvet batter. Put it inside the iddly vessel and let it steam for 10 minutes. Do not allow it to over-cook as it might become hard and dry. Just keep an eye and remove the iddlies after 10 minutes. Do not remove the iddlies immediately as it might stick. Allow it to rest for another 4-5 minutes and then spoon it out. Once removed use heart shaped sandwich cutter/cookie cutter to get heart shape iddlies. Serve hot with your favorite chutney or sambar.
Important NOTES
Johnny Rockets as a brand needs no introduction and we all know that when it comes to American Cuisine, its one of the leading food chains. Their burgers are one of the best in town and you can simply not ignore them. Recently Johnny Rockets added another feather to their cap by introducing ‘All You Can Eat’ Offers and trust me its an offer hard to refuse and harder to miss. Its simply heaven, just for Rs 499 for non-veg and Rs 449 for veg one can choose as much one wants from a 6 course burger meal including pre-appetisers, appetisers, salads, shakes, burgers and desserts.
The portions are smaller and so are the sizes of burger as compared to their regular meals, but then I guess to match up the unlimited portions, its justified. To explore this menu I headed to the Vasant Kunj outlet located in the DLF Promenade Mall with my son.
Now coming to food, we ordered American Fries, Onion Rings, Chicken Poprocks, Cheese Fries and Nachos Supreme. The Fries were too good, both the American and Cheese Fries, simply loved them. The Poprocks were the highlight, they should not be missed at all and I also loved the crisp onion rings. What can go wrong with Nachos, so they too were good. Veggie Fingers and Spiced Sausages should also make it to your must try list.
Coming to burgers we tried the Original Chicken Burger, which was yummylicious, simple and yet amazing. Crisp Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Mustard Sauce and Mayo makes this a really awesome treat.
Next I tried the Houston Chicken Burger, little on the spicier side, this one has chipotle ranch sauce and loads of jalapeños which make it so awesome. For me it was a delight.
Caramelised Onions, Grilled Mushrooms, Cheese, Mayo and a Juicy Chicken Patty is what makes the Route 66 Burger so awesome and definitely my personal favourite. The onions and mushrooms were amazing and took the taste to a next level. This is one burger that will surely take me back to Johnny Rockets again and again.
For shakes we tried the Kit Kat Shake and the Banana Shake and both of them were lovely. I enjoyed slurping and gulping down the kit kat shake while my son had the banana one.
Perfect brownie sunday is what we had for desserts and it concluded our wholesome foodie experience at JR. I strongly recommend visiting this place and try out this mind blowing offer and have a fun day with your family and friends relishing these lip smacking burger meals.
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.
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.
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.
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.
