Tag: Foodie

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Inspiration

A day well spent with Vidita Kamat – Founder , ‎Mezclaa

We all go through our share of ups and downs, but few of us keep our wits and ensure we sail through the patches and come out with flying colors. Vidita Kamat, founder ‎Mezclaa is one such person we came across whose journey would inspire you to go beyond when it comes to chasing your dreams, the lady who firmly believes “family is the ultimate support system, we all need”. Presenting the excerpts from our recent chit-chat with her.

GS: Brief us about your background?

VK: I come from a family with a hospitality background. I have been around food and people from the time. Growing up, my life has revolved around food and foodies all the time, everywhere and anywhere I have been. From my childhood. Mom’s traditional food and dad’s innovative cooking gave birth to the chef in me! Cooking & baking has always been my first love; I love everything that is associated with food and culinary. I have always been a bubbly and chirpy child through school and college years and an enthusiast to learn more about food and the world around it. My focus has always been towards food and I have always loved to be a peoples person as I have been brought up in such an environment and would never want to change it for the world.

GS: Tell us about the support from family?

VK: I have been blessed to have a very supportive family. Since everyone is in the same segment we all enjoy each other’s company. We eat, breathe and sleep with only hospitality and could never get bored about it….we may not know what’s happening in Bollywood but we would definitely whose doing what in the hospitality world. I have worked and still continue what I like doing since I have started my own venture called MEZCLAA and I have conducted classes, events and other activities regarding food and people and I wish to continue to do the same.

GS: How did it all start?

VK: Well, I always wanted to do something of my own and like any newbie entrepreneur, I fought my battles on my own. I had a shop in Bombay which was doing pretty well but I had to shift to Pune where I started my own catering all over again set up the business. I was able to manage and arrange a lot of events in the city, but eventually, have to shift back to Bombay where I figured that I need to re-vamp the entire thing to get out the best of me and my brand.

GS: Being into this for a while, how do you feel?

VK: (laughs)I have been in this industry u could say the day I was born…Its has its own share of ups and downs but I guess I could never think of any other industry and I could actually say…haha, it runs in my blood.

GS: Share your journey, so far?

VK: I have seen a lot of highs and lows in this industry from scratch and related things related to this industry through my experiences…The food industry has become so vast and there is so much happening around and so much to learn and hence it enticing and exciting to meet people related from the same industry. I have enjoyed my journey and will continue to do the same as I know this is what I love and this is what I love doing and would love to continue and do whatever I am doing now.

GS: Who is the role model?

VK: My father being more on the entrepreneurial side and my mother being innovative; both have been my role models, creating a cocktail effect. As I grew up, my teachers from Sophia Polytech – Chef Linus D’silva, Chef Hufriz Motawara have mentored me, during my days in Sophia College. In my professional life, Chef Vikas Bagul from The Oberoi’s in Mumbai, Chef Gaurav Kapoor from Taj Lands End, and my friends and associates like Annabelle Rodrigues Ma’am, Elenka Rebello Ma’am and Andre Fonseca (from Don Bosco College who have helped me understand the nuances of being a chef in some way or the other.

GS: Is the career you opted for, gender agnostics? If not, your specific challenges.

VK: It has been an interesting challenge, of sorts. It is very important to be upright and strong, otherwise, it gets difficult to survive in the industry. Women rule in domestic kitchens because there is no one to tell them what to do and how to do things. They make their food with all their love and compassion. In a commercial kitchen, it is a male-dominated area because it is a totally different ball game. The pressure in the commercial kitchen is immense. It’s not about handling only the food, but also the people and the management. If you are an executive or sous chef, it is imperative to divide work accordingly. In order to survive in the kitchen, one needs to be mentally and physically prepared to deal with any situation and its consequences.

GS: Your message to our readers?

VK: In this world, there are going to be a lot of things that will be beyond our control, but what you do have control over is how you react to whatever happens in your life. You become exactly what you believe – so if you believe you can do all things because you have been endowed by a power given to you by the grace of God and making sure that you make the utmost use of it, because  ‘God believes in those who believe in themselves’.

What a delightful conversation we had with her, she is extremely warm as a person and has an aura of confidence and self-belief, she is truly the next-gen hotelier. We wish her success and loads of happiness!!!

Folks in Mumbai, don’t forget to order your bakery from ‎Mezclaa. 

Categories
Foodie

Indore Night Sarafa Food market

Indore has been dubbed as the food capital of India and perhaps no other city deserves that title. Indore is for food lovers of India what Goa is for its beach lovers. It drives advantage of its central location in India to find a way for specialties of different parts of the country whose culinary genius is held in awe and respect all over the world into its own highly diverse kitchen.

And nowhere does Indore bring to life its love affair with food than at its tremendously popular Sarafa Market which springs up like sinister intentions of naughty lovers every night.

Sarafa Bazar opens at around 8 p.m. when the jewelry market around Rajwada Bazaar – a dying rudiment of Holker Raj shuts down and stays open till long past midnight proving, to the uninitiated, that there are no bad times to satisfy your craving for something delicious. Its a festivity and a fan fair of over 3000 visitors for food lovers that surround the neon-lit shops and carts which one feels when one visits the Sarafa Bazaar which makes you want to make it your home.

Over 50 different dishes are available at this market – made of recipes that have been perfected over a century and, of course, just as Indian food lovers would like it, there is nothing subtle about taste.

During our last trip to Indore, we got a chance to partake the pleasures of Indore Night Sarafa Food market three days in a row. Here we bring you a list of some of the most popular food items of Sarafa food market:

1.    Pani Puri

If like us, Pani Puri is your thing then it will take you a while to have enough of Indore Night Sarafa Food market which offers not one, not two and not two, three, four but over 10 different flavours of this beloved street food of India, of course along with its long-standing partner – the usual mint-and-chilli-spiked water.

2.    Poha Jalebi

Poha Jalebi is the signature breakfast dish of the city of Indore. It is born of a marriage of two unlikely partners – poha and jalebi, one from Maharashtra and the other of Arabic origins. It is light, mild, not to say sinfully delicious and served with spicy crunchy missal.

3.    Bhutte ki Kees

Bhutte ki Kees is a seasonal specialty. It is made from corn, shredded and cooked with milk, coconut, and spices until it acquires a moist, smooth texture. It will melt in your mouth leaving behind a mesmerizing taste that goes just too well along with fresh coriander, grated coconut, and lemon juice

4.    Garadu

Garuda is a sort of guilty pleasure of a dish – for it is exactly the burning sensation it leaves on our tongue that we love it for. It is a particular variety of the yam, that is fried to perfection to form a crisp snack topped with spices, etc and sold on pushcarts. It also goes along well with lemon juice which will also satiate the burning sensation eating hot Garadu will leave on your tongue.

5.    Khopra Patties

One of my favorites from Indore Night Sarafa Food Market is Khopra Patties. These patties are potato balls cooked with a core of stuffed coconut and fried right in front of your greedy eyes. They are best enjoyed tangy tamarind chutney. We particularly recommend the ones they sell at Vijay Chat House.

6.    Egg Benjo

Egg Benjo is made from an omelet, that was crisp and red with chilies and nestled in a warmed bun. It is so soft that it will melt in your mouth and the best place to enjoy them is Johnny Hot Dog Shop.

 

7.    Dal Bafla

The Dal bafla is an oven-baked ball of wheat and semolina, which is then crushed and dipped in ghee (who cares for high cholesterol levels anyway?) before being served. Accompany Dal Bafla with light dal, churma, coriander-mint chutney, and mango pickle. We highly recommend trying it Rajhans.

8.    Sabudana Khichdi

We will most heartily recommend the Sabudana Khichdi made by Om Prakash Vyas of Saawariyan Seth. The Sabudana Khichdi is one of those dishes that can be eaten during Hindu fasts, thus you can give into your taste-lust without fear losing your pious standing

9.    Malpua

The Malpua are thin pancakes made of flour, khoya (milk solids), semolina, etc. It is deep-fried and dunked in sugar syrup. It partners well with rabdi.

10.    Indori Shikanji

Indori Shikanji is, unlike its name suggests, neither lemon nor water. Rather, it is a milk drink with dry fruits that have a hint of tanginess from the mattha (buttermilk). It has a dewy sweetness to it.

11.    Jaleba

Have you had fantasies for a really big Jalebi as we do? In that case, Jaleba, a specialty of Madhya Pradesh, especially of its Indore Night Sarafa Food market is just the thing for you. Jalebe is a king size jalebi fried in desi ghee. It is large and crisp but soft within and is sugar syrup sweet thus making it fifth in our list of 10 Sweets you should eat while in Madhya Pradesh.

 

12.    Ratalu

Ratalu is a winter specialty. It is made of chunks of purple yam deep-fried to a golden brown and then generously smothered in red chili powder. Just one bite is enough to fill your mouth with an unparallel taste.

13.    Doodh Chana and Namkeen

Doodh Chana is a snack made of kabuli chana, soaked in milk for several hours and then it is fried and spiced. It is incredibly soft and delicious and goes well along with Namkeen. We highly recommend trying it at Ganesh Namkeen. There are several forms of namkeen but the one we loved most was Indori khata meetha.

14.    Kaanji Vada

Kaanji Vada is a sour tasting Dahi vada made by soaking plump vadas in kaanji. Kaanji is a digestive drink (may as well, you need one after indulging your taste buds so much in Indore Night Sarafa FOod Market) that is made of fermented mustard with a big smack of asafoetida.

15.    Hapus Icecream with Shrikhand

Something for dessert. Saffron flavored shrikhand with pistachio and cashews partners well. We very highly recommend Agarwal Ice Cream shop which has been serving it for over 55 years.

16.    Petha Paan

Petha paan is a very unique paan made of cashew, almond, gulkand (rose jam), etc that are encased in a thin layer of green petha. The Petha is held together with clove and makes a perfect end to your food marathon. We recommend trying this mouth-watering variety of paan at Anna Ka Paan shop.

17.    Gulab Jamun

Balls made out of freshly Curdled milk, Gulab Jamun is without argument the king of all sweets. These mouthwatering Sugar soaked Khoya balls are flavored with green cardamom, rose water, saffron, etc. And when it comes to Gulab Jaman, nowhere else has the art of their creation being perfected as in Indore. Calories, calories – there are just no good reasons to keep anyone with a sweet tooth from enjoying these little balls of paradise.

Conclusion

Indore Night Sarafa Food market is one of those poster pictures that we would show to a newbie to encourage them to travel more often and I think the reasons for same are obvious. We hope we didn’t turn you into a hungry Joey Tribioni. Enjoy J

Categories
Asia Foodie

10 best Vegetarian restaurants in Hong Kong

If you are a vegetarian on a trip to Honk Kong thinking that you won’t get anything but salad to eat, we have news for you. Everyone has a misconception that Chinese food must include all sorts of meats and non-vegetarian ingredients. But there are plenty of delicious vegetarian dishes that Hong Kong has to offer and I am rounding up a list of 10 best restaurants so you don’t go hungry and know where to find the right place. You can try varieties of dumplings and fresh vegetarian food that will tingle your taste buds and satisfy your tummy.

  1. Pure Veggie House

Address: 3/F Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Central, 2525 0552, www.topstandard.com.hk

Like the name suggests, you won’t get anything fresh and pure vegetarian food here. It is the perfect place to try Buddhist delights and other Chinese cuisines. They serve up to 18 signature dishes made especially for Buddhist tastes. So instead of looking for a mainstream restaurant, try something different like “Mock meat”. They even have a menu for Jains with no onion or garlic.

  1. Khaana Khazana

Address: Location: 1st Floor, Dannies House, 20 Luard Rd, Wanchai, Hong Kong Island; MTR: Wan Chai | Exit C or A1, O’Brien Rd to Jaffe Rd entrance

See, you can be in Hong Kong and still enjoy delicious Indian food. Get all Indian cuisines get served to you with a homely feeling. The special highlight would have to be Paneer Tikka Masala and “Gulab Jamuns” for dessert. But beware, one meal here might make you homesick.

  1. Chi Lin vegetarian

Address: Long Men Lou, Nan Lian Garden, 60 Fung Tak Road, Diamond Hill

3658 9388

The ambience of this place is indescribable. You can enjoy the view of cascading waterfalls while tasting sumptuous Chinese meals. The restaurant is popular among both tourists and pilgrims and they have beautifully prepared dishes such as cashew nut soup, vegan spring rolls and beetroot salad.

  1. Grassroots Pantry

Address: 108 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, grassrootspantry.com, 28733353

Grassroots Pantry serves you fresh organic healthy food. The plant-based dishes made in an Asia-inspired technique give a whole new name to healthy and delicious eating. Don’t forget to try the gluten-free cinnamon rolls along with blueberry cheesecake.

  1. Veggie SF

Address:  Veggie SF, 10/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3902 3902

This is a place where you can enjoy American or international food with blue walls and wooden benches creating a cool vibe.  Try the Lentil burger or go for international cuisines like Italian lasagne.

  • Kung Tak Lam

Address: 10/F, World Trade Centre, 280 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay 2890 3127

This one is a Northern Chinese restaurant. Their speciality is in mock meat with the most delicious dish being sweet ‘n’ sour pork. Also, their Shanghainese cold noodles are a delight. They do pay attention to presentation and you would want to click an Instapic before digging right in.

  1. Lock Cha Tea House

Address: G/F, The K.S. Lo Gallery, Hong Kong Park, Admiralty, 2801 7177, lockcha.com

Get the authentic Chinese experience with vegetarian Chinese cuisines. They have an option of more than hundred teas and if you are looking for light snacks, they have many varieties of dim sums. If you are visiting on the weekend, you will also get to enjoy the Cantonese Music programme.

  1. Ahimsa Buffet

Address: Shop B, G/F, Wah Hai Mansion, 10-16 Fort Street. North Point

2528 2368

Yep, a vegetarian buffet in Hong Kong for just 68$. Unbelievable, right? The dishes are meat free and mainly Asian, which is why the place is growing popular day by day. The most popular of them being dim sums and bean curd rolls.

  1. Thai Vegetarian food

Address: G/F, 28 Nam Kok Road, Kowloon City 6153 7421

Enjoy authentic Thai food like glass noodles, fried rice and curry but with plant-based ingredients. They offer great vegetarian Thai food that is true to its roots. Another pro is that they are cheap.

  1. Bookworm Cafe

Address: Bookworm Café, 79Yung Shue Wan Main Street, Lamma Island, +852 2982 4838

This one is a popular spot for travellers and one of the best breakfast options for vegetarians. The peaceful ambience, the aroma of books and coffee, classy decorations just makes this the perfect hangout spot. Do try their bean burgers!

There you go. Enjoy meat-free dishes and a healthy lifestyle even while traveling. Since Hong Kong is the ‘It’ spot for tourists and also a frequent visit by Buddhist and Jain pilgrims, it is not that hard to find vegetarian food here. All you need to worry about is the crowd. But hey, you can always give street food a try, right?

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Foodie

Eating out in Goa at Anjuna Beach can be a great choice. Below are a few must try restaurants

Cafe's in Anjuna Beach

Goa is famous for many things when it comes to attracting the tourists. Goa is a gorgeous piece of land in the south western India and Anjuna beach has always been one of the top spots for holidays, especially for the south and the western Indians. The food is one of the highlights of the place, ranging from spicy street food to the high-end eateries, there is everything for everyone. So, let’s take a look at some of the most famous places in Anjuna beach where you can eat.

Curlies- Curlies is a pretty good restaurant located at the spot and deals mostly in the continental food, sea food, Italian and north Indian cuisines. The average cost for two in Curlies is about 1500 INR.

Cafe Lilliput- Walk in the cafe if you are looking for some quick snacks or a fully fledged meal. The small but wonderful place deals in fast food items such as pizzas, burgers and a few continental meals. 800 INR is the cost for two people and the affordability invites most customers.

Purple Martini- The restaurant is located at Sunset Point, Anjuna Beach. Just like its name, the place reeks of surreal through every corner. But the food is as simple and amazing as it gets. Taste the amazing continental, Mediterranean, Italian food and sea food here. You may have to spend 1000 INR for two people’s meals but it will all be worth it.

Shiva Valley- One of the very few eateries on the Anjuna beach which serves the Indian food at its delicious best. The highlights of the place are, other than the Indian food, Chinese, Italian, continental and strangely enough Israeli food items. The hygiene and architecture of the restaurant is quite eye catching. Spend 1000 INR for a two people’s sitting.

Guru- Guru deals in North Indian, Seafood, and Italian and Tibetan cuisines. This is one of the very few places which serve the enigmatic Tibetan food the way it is supposed to be. The average eating cost for two people is INR 800.

Sunset- Sunset is a small eatery in Anjum Beach serving continental food, native Goan food items along with north Indian food and sea food. This is an affordable place and per serving cost for two people is about INR 700.

Eva cafe- Head here for a change of pace from the calorie infested spicy meals. Eva cafe serves some healthy food items such as Salads and vegetarian sandwiches. 800 INR is the average cost for two people in one sitting.

Cafe Sea Valley- Cafe sea Valley happens to be one of the most visited eateries in the place having a vivid menu such as continental, Italian, sea food, north Indian and Chinese food. At 800 INR for two people, the food is moderately priced.

Avalon Sunset- Come here for Chinese, Goan and Italian cuisines at their affordable best. The cafe is amazingly lit and designed and per sitting cost for two people is about 700 INR.

In Indian’s mind, Goa means food, fun and more fun. These amazing places just mentioned serving the statement quite right

Categories
Foodie

Cafes in Ooty, that should be in your list

Known as the tourist’s paradise, this little south Indian hill station is nothing short of enigmatic. Located at an elevation of about 2240 meters, Ooty is full of some eye catching visuals, magnificent hills and the wide range of flora and fauna. Also known fondly as the Queen of Hill stations, Ooty is one of the very few hill stations in the southern part of the country, let alone Tamil Nadu, its native state.

Tall still mountains, picturesque landscape,  spread tea gardens, a peaceful surrounding, and much more, there is no word that can define the beauty of the place completely. Famous with the name of ‘Queen of Hill-stations’,  the alluring city of Ooty rest in the laps of charming Nilgiri Hills and located at the distance of about 80 km from Coimbatore.

At every place we go, there are certain places that we look for as soon as we land, for the food and beverages. Ooty has made quite a name for itself when it comes to coffee shops. Let’s take a look at some good places in the hill station where you would like to stop and refresh yourself to get some finely brewed hot cup of coffee.

The Garden Cafe- Other than the amazing south Indian food that gets served here there is one other thing that is attractive to the people. The meals and the beverages are quite affordable in here. A good coffee for two starts from less than 300 INR and then goes up. Coffee and vegetable Uttapam is the specialty here for the food lovers and the cafe is located at the Nahar Nilgiris hotel. Find the place and stop here for a quick bite; you will fall in love with the place.

Willy’s Coffee Pub- Located on the Walsham road, this one is a modernized coffee shop and pub in the area. With a library, comfortable seating arrangements and a very friendly staff, you will feel a deep sense of relaxation in here. The rolls, sandwiches, super crusty pizzas and the Indian food, you will find almost everything. It is said that you aren’t very likely to find any other place in the entire hill station where you can get a coffee as delicious as this place.

Cocoapods- The amazing taste of flavored coffee and delicious Chocolate Brownie with roasted almonds, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream is just like the cherry on the cake, everything around will leave you to lick your fingers. A sip of Hot coffee in a steamy climate is definitely the best idea of experiencing the romantic surrounding with your sweet love.

Ooty Coffee House- One of the several things Ooty is known for is Coffee. The Ooty coffee house can also be known as a place set up to celebrate the coffee culture in the area. OCH happens to be located on the commercial road, Ooty and serves the coffee made with the best hand picked coffee beans taken straight from the plantations. We can also say that their coffee is organically the best in the entire hill station.

Some of the other best cafes in Ooty are Nahar Sidewalk Cafe, Jus’ Bakad, C-store cafe etc.

Coffee is one addiction that most people have. Too much of it may be bad for your health but stealing a cup or two a day is completely fine. We have given you the list, now go search for these places the next time you visit Ooty, the queen of hill stations.

Categories
Foodie

Savour pizzas with the best ingredients and freshest flavours at Jamie’s Pizzerias

If there was one name in the whole wide world that is constantly associated with the best pizzas, it would be Jamie Oliver. After the renowned chef started his chain in almost all the big cities all over the world, he arrived in India with some great recipes in Pizzas among other Italian dishes. Jamie’s Pizzeria, the UK-based international food chain is located in the Ambience Mall, Vasantkunj and is listed among the best pizza places in the city and around. The casual dining place opens up at 11 every morning and remains open until 11 at night.

The specialty about the place is the pizza base. A truly delicious pizza is if you can eat the base even if it has no vegetables on it and the base stands up to the pizza test very well well adding a new and delicious dimension to the pizza experience. The cost for two people is approximately Rs.800 that sounds pretty reasonable and comes without burning a hole in your pocket.

Ambience

The restaurant is located over a massive area of about 1000 square feet and provides an ample space to deal with a lot of customers at the very same time. The menu items are written on the blackboards from where you can order whatever you like. As you enter the Jamie Oliver’s first India venture, you can experience a warm ambience with buttery light and family-style tables. The place has retro styled tomato-red seats with a leather strap that represents both the friendliness and toughness that the Naked Chef is known for. All pizza lovers must surely check out the open kitchen concept where soft, doughy handkerchiefs are tossed into the air and a variety of pizzas are born and brought to your plate. We had a great time watching the delightful dough show. The beautiful hostess with shining yellow hair walks around and serves you the lovingly made pizzas with a welcoming smile.

Cuisine

Coming to the cuisines, the place is a must stopover for a variety of Pizzas and other Italian food items. And believe us when we say this, not many people are acquainted with Oliver’s magic. If you are an ardent pizza lover, there is no way in the world that you should miss the experience of dining at the place and have one of those amazing pizzas that they serve.

The Ginger beer and litchi juice were the first things we had and we didn’t regret. They were amazing, to begin with followed by some hand-stretched garlic bread with rosemary & an olive tapenade which warmed us up perfectly well before the pizza arrived. We ordered red rocket pizza which is a blend of tomatoes, mozzarella, rocket, and olives, cheddar and veg parmesan. The crunchy taste stayed in our mouths for a long time. The pizza was followed by desserts in form of ice cream and brownie. In the end, it was a perfect amalgamation of taste and aroma.

Highlights

Wine and ice cold beer are served to those who want to start or end the meal with some alcohol. The bar is amazing and beautiful to look at. The Italian essence you feel upon entering the place is one other major highlight of Jamie’s Pizzeria.

Jamie’s Pizzeria is for the die-hard pizza lovers who are not a big fan of American style pizzas and want to try the actual Italian flavors, the pizza recipes by famous Jamie Oliver.

Categories
Foodie Western India

The cafe scene in Darjeeling

Cafes in Darjeeling

As beautiful a place Darjeeling is for the nature lovers, it can also be seen as a foodie’s paradise if anybody wants to look at it that way. Everybody knows what exotic taste the home grown tea from here possesses. Other than the very delicious street food, carrying all the Bengali flavour, there are many different cafes in the city that are amazing. The new ones are opening up every day and it becomes hard to choose the best ones among them. But we have given it a shot and here is the list of top 5 cafes in Darjeeling that you must visit in order to satisfy your taste buds.

Gatty’s Cafe

Located on the famous Dr. Zakir Hussain road, this lounge cum cafe offers a lot of things to the visitors. From the shows of international and Indian cinema, delicious tea, some live music combined with some great food; this is one in all deal. From the homemade Indian cuisines to the international items such as pasta, sandwiches and pizzas, the place serves everything and as long as you stay here, there will be no moment of boredom. The great crowd in here makes the experience all the more vibrant.

Sonam’s Kitchen

Also located on the Zakir Hussain road, a few metres away from Gatty’s cafe, Sonam’s kitchen is also one other crowd puller in the place. The city is known for the tea, but the coffee right here in this little cafe will make you forget that fact. The coffee in your mouth is all you feel. They have an interesting collection of books and they deal mostly in the fast foods and stuff, but healthier and delicious to their core.

Foodsteps

The waffles and pancakes that are being served here are so delicious that people don’t mind standing in the lines to get their turns. The breakfast here along with a great cup of coffee is inhumanly tasty here. The different variety of the tea that gets served here reminds you very well of what this place is famous for. The waffles, grilled sandwiches and multigrain breads are the highlights of the vivid menu that includes purely vegan dishes. The Foodsteps is located at the Nehru Road.

Kunga’s

If the craving for some local food takes over, do visit Kung’s cafe located at the Gandhi Road. Deals mostly in the Tibetan meals, the noodles and the steamed momos here are just pure delicious. While Ranbir Kapoor, the bollywood actor, was shooting for his movie Barfi here, it is said that he fell in love with the food here and visited at least once a day despite the busy schedule.

Hot Pizza Place

HD Lama Rd is not known for so many good cafes but this one is an exception. Deals in Italian cuisines mostly but you can find almost anything here. Pasta, Panini, sandwich and noodles are the highlights of the restaurant and there are so many different varieties of pizza that one can get lost in all the taste and brilliant baking aroma.

Frank Ross Cafe

One of the very few restaurants in Darjeeling serving both the non veggies and the vegetarians alike is Frank Ross Cafe which happens to be located on the Mall Road. The global menu includes the native Indian dishes along with the international ones. A perfect amalgamation of class and style can be found here.

Revolver

As unique is the name of this cafe cum restaurant, so is its class. The gun themed place is sort of a museum for the tourists. Beetles are the biggest inspiration for the name of the place as it’s named after one of the most popular song from the rock band. Pancakes, mashed potatoes and soups along with a lot other items are the biggest highlights of the place. The cafe is located at Gandhi Road behind Union Chapel.

So these are the top 7 cafes one must visit during their next trip to Darjeeling. Delicious bites, piping hot coffee and friendly services in these cafes is sure to leave all the foodies in awe.

Categories
Foodie

Elma’s Bakery in Hauz Khas Village is a quaint place with a real English feel to it.

Tailor-made to kick your taste buds with its exotic delicacies, Elma’s Bakery is an exotic destination to savor the real flavors of India in the heart of Delhi. The restaurant exudes warmth and mesmerizes with you with its soothing ambiance.

Radiant with its sparklingly fresh leafy setting, Elma’s Bakery serves you in style. It gets you an authentic retro feel in it delightfully delectable menu comprising pastries, cakes, and light meals. Overall, it is an ideal place to unwind and explore a chunk of life through Indian culinary journeys.

Location

Elma’s Bakery is situated right in the heart of South Delhi’s Hauz Khas Village, which is one of the most popular eclectic eating hubs in the neighborhood right now. The village reflects the charm of the bygone era with a host of historical monuments. The complex has an organized parking facility for vehicles to ensure no congestion. Besides Hauz Khas Village, Elma’s Bakery is also present at other locations including Lodhi Colony, Select Citywalk Saket, and Sushant Shopping Arcade, Gurgaon.

Don’t Forget To Try

Some of the most popular dishes that you must try at Elma’s Bakery include thin crust pizzas, pasta, hummus, falafel, and scrambled eggs among others. The place serves excellent drinks and cocktails as well. Try cranberry drinks and cold coffee. They are done so English that you will be blown away.

It is a paradise for cheesecake lovers. Their red velvet cake is the signature dish. Don’t miss out on the deliciously served moist chocolate cake. The Classic Genovese Pesto and fresh vegetables (Exotic Vegetables) thin crust pizza is the real attraction for the fans of Elma’s Bakery. With all the fancy teas such as black, green, jasmine and other floral infusions and great cakes, Elma’s Bakery is a pure delight.

What is Special?

Savor the New York style bagels and all sorts of bread ranging from baguettes to chocolate bread to bacon loaves. Relish the exotic American styled pies such as Butternut Maple and Pecan Pudding Pie.

Ambience

Eating at Elma’s Bakery in Hauz Khas Village is like taking a trip down the lanes of an old teahouse in somewhere England or in some patisserie in France. It sends you a soothing vibe with its flowery curtains, ivory handled silverware and crochet patterns. The interiors are antique victorian and the grand green piano leaves you spellbound.

Price

You can enjoy a meal for two at Rs 2,000 here at Elma’s Bakery, which is worth a single penny.

Quick Tip

In order to enjoy a quiet view of the Deer Park, you must visit here in the afternoon and relish a cup of afternoon tea and wholesome juices with delicious sandwiches.

The Verdict

With a host of American style Bagels, English styled scones, and French pressed coffee, Elma’s Bakery blends the exotic flavors from the foreign lands. It serves divine food for the Gods at the most affordable price.

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Foodie

Amour gets brownie points for its ambience and the art of presenting food with love

Amour Bistro located in New Delhi is one of those classy places that don’t boast off a complex and massive menu card.  Tucked away safely in the leafy climate of a sweet and tiny Malcha Marg in Chanakyapuri, the place has always been successfully attracting the classiest of people who have overtime become their regular customers. All thanks to the impeccable services and class that oozes out of every corner of the little place. It doesn’t really believe in showing off, it sticks so the modern European style of cooking and seeing the crowd here, we could assume that it sets well with the locales in a great way.

The timings of the restaurants are between 8 AM to 12 PM everyday and given the classiness of the place, it could be little heavy on your pocket. The average cost for two people enjoying their food at the place is about INR 3000. But it’s all definitely worth it.

Decor

Also open for the breakfast, the overall interior of the place is quite rustic and down to earth. The place has been made in such a way that it reminds you of a small country side cafe adorned with flowers. The interiors decoration is classy and people having a slightly above average artistic inclinations will find Amour more appealing. Empty wine bottles, coarse wooden furniture and the slight dash of greenery makes the place justifying its name, which is a French word for Love. The ambience is further romanticized by the aroma of fresh cheese and flowers, making it a perfect spot for dating and romantic getaways for an evening. With the wood furnishing and dim lighting, your experience will always be a romantic one. You can also try the open sitting and enjoy the lake view if the weather is pleasant.

Food

Taking the European food culture to a whole new level, Amour seems to be trying to introduce Indians to how the food culture goes back in Europe, especially France. The charred mushrooms, which we found out on the menu, were just as we expected, delicious as hell. It was served with spring onions, broccoli, and condensed tomatoes. That, along with the garlic bread melted in our mouths and provided our taste buds with an experience that would stay in there for a very long time. We also ordered the Crostini Bread for starters which made a really nice sharing starter.

Along with that, the salads are intoxicating as well. Green beans salad with broccoli and lettuce was mind blasting and despite being a pure vegetarian dish, it didn’t let us down when it comes to the taste. Amaretto cake was what we had for the dessert and our meal finally was done in the most delicious way possible. In the end, we tried the soft and moreish Toffee Cake which served as a warm and comforting twist to the day.

Tip: For the ones not that acquainted with the European food, can ask the super friendly staff for help. They are helpful and could guide you through the different ingredients used in a particular meal.

Highlights

The restaurant chefs like to experiment a lot. There is inclusion of new dishes every few weeks and most of their tests are quite spot on. That gives out another reason to make a stop at Amour every few weeks.

Conclusion

The restaurant oozes out love from every small corner of it. Try it for a romantic getaway!

Categories
Foodie

Big Chill reminds you of the glorious days of Hollywood

Although, Big Chill, being a successful cafe chain that it is, has opened up quite a lot of outlets in Delhi alone, the one in Khan Market happens to be the most popular ones. It’s different from the rest and makes for an amazing treat to your senses. Big Chill Khan Market makes for the most amazing place for people who crave for casual western food. The film poster plastered bistro is infinitely amazing and the pasta is deliciously hearty.

The place is located in the crowded Khan Market and other major places. INR 700 is the average cost per person.

Ambience

Well, the theme of the restaurant is not very unique internationally, but talking about Delhi, it would be almost impossible to find a place like this. The walls are full of some classic old and new Hollywood films. The owners of the place do seem to be great Hollywood buffs. It would be a treat to the ardent fans of the American cinema as it would be a fun thing to spot your favorite classics over the innumerable posters. The tables and the chairs are comfortable to sit in. Although what attracted me the most, personally, was the lighting inside the place, which may seem normal to most, but being a film buff, I am pretty sure they are modeled on the neo-noir classics from the golden era of Hollywood. Maybe, the place takes me to the era itself, but that is what I honestly felt. Overall, the beautiful brick-laid, green interiors and prettily framed movie posters of yesteryears right from Casablanca to Hitchcock’s Psycho to James Bond bring all the charm to this place.

Food

For the ones who don’t know much about the impossibly huge menu items in general, it may take them about half an hour to decide what to eat. The place deals mostly in the continental, Italian and European cuisines. Out of the diverse options, we had, the ones that instantly became our favorites were Garlic Bread with cheese, four season pizza, and the exquisitely amazing pasta.

Talking about the beverages, if you happen to be here some time, never forget to try Banana smoothie, it is something to die for. Brownie shake and hot chocolate also are amazing per say, but the banana smoothie will take you to another level of taste.

The desserts served here seem to have more options than the actual menu. Of all of them, the specific ones which we loved were waffles, blueberry cheesecake, and oreo cheesecake.

Highlights

The place is a perfect destination for the pizza and creamy pasta lovers and that is the biggest highlight in itself. There are no other places in Khan Market that come even nearby to Big Chill when it comes to that.

Big Chill is now a reputed name that is synonymous with quality, efficiency, taste and more than that, trustworthiness. This is what has earned the place a loyal customer base. Very few places serve your taste buds the way Big Chill does. So, grab your friends and head to this splendid place.

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