I am not a big fan of chhole kulche. The number of times I had it in life can be counted on the fingers of a single hand. What’s the deal with a bland mashed peas and blander bread? I don’t think the dish will survive without the mandatory garnishing of lime juice, tomato and onions. During the last few days, I have had it at Bikanervala, Haldiram’s and at a street stall. A sign that I am hanging out with totally the wrong set…Continue Reading “Chole Kulche, Miranda House”
As it happens, India’s hill stations have never been a part of the country. Culinarily speaking, that is. Mussorie has amazing Chinese food, though it serves overwhelming Punjabi cuisine too. Macleodganj is a heaven for Israeli and Italian. Shimla has fish and chips and English breakfasts. Darjeeling, many say, has the best of Tibetan food. The higher the hills, better the food. Unless, you are on a religious circuit like Kedarnath, Badrinath, you can eat interestingly diverse and good food. I avoid travelling to religious…Continue Reading “Devraj Coffee Corner a.k.a The German Bakery, Rishikesh”
No one goes to Nehru Place to eat, but while you are there, you may feel hungry. The place is so hassled; I have always tried to get out of there as soon as possible. A few times, I have been to the trusted Sona Sweets or the assurance of the Café Coffee Day. The CCD outlet here is particularly small and horrible, though. A few years back, when I used to work in Okhla, the office peon would get us lunch from Manjusha and…Continue Reading “Standard’s Punjabi Khana, Nehru Place”
Shahrukh Khan is known for silly romance, but one of his most appreciated movies is Chak De. Hence, proving the theory that what you are known for is not necessary what you are best at. It’s the same story with Jain Shikanji, at Modi Nagar. If you are driving on the Delhi-Meerut highway, you will come across a thousand (gross underestimation) shikanjiwallahs, all of them claiming to be Jains. Lord Mahavira could never have foreseen that a humble summer drink will be the biggest propagator…Continue Reading “Jain Shikanji, Modinagar”
In one of my earlier reviews, I had mentioned why it is so difficult to write reviews for places in Old Delhi. It is so appropriate that I am going to quote it here. Moti Mahal is probably the second most loved place in Old Delhi, second only to Karim’s. It beats Karim’s at accessibility and ambiance, though. It is on the main road, you can park in front, on the other side. Uniformed guards will receive you and show you in. Unlike other restaurants…Continue Reading “Moti Mahal – Daryaganj”
I was introduced to sizzlers twelve years back at an amazing restaurant in Green Park. I know the name started with a C, but I have, somehow, managed to forget it. Anyhow, the point being that the standards were set pretty high. When Mumbai’s famed Yoko Sizzlers decided to open a restaurant here, we were all very high. We got to visit the restaurant only recently. The Defence Colony outlet is located at a twisted end of the road. Though it is on the main…Continue Reading “Yoko Sizzlers, Defence Colony”
The listing on Zomato shows the average cost for two to be Rs.300. It can never happen unless you are mutant hedge hogs. It is the cheapest food outlet in Connaught Place. That does not say much but trust me on this. The dosas are good and the special Mushroom dosas cost just 60 bucks. I have never tried that and don’t intend to, but, heck, two plates of gol gappas at any neighbourhood thela costs more. Like a true hole-in-the-wall south Indian outlet, they…Continue Reading “South Indian Snacks, Jantar Mantar”
Breakfast like a champion! I never did. Never became a champion too. But who cares. Breakfast is for weenies. Babies and animals need to stuff themselves as soon as they wake up. I planned on being neither. Using my own will and volition, I always chose to stay in bed and wake up after the rest of the world has gone to their offices or anywhere else their mundane lives took them. I indulged in food only when my heart and stomach agreed on an…Continue Reading “The rise and fall of masala oats”
Don’t get me wrong, I am sucker for fusion. Be it music, food, clothing or whatever comes out from the marriage of a Nigerian and a Chinese. But on my recent visit to the DLF Place Mall, Saket, I saw something that made my skin crawl. We had gone to watch Skyfall and came across the new Dunkin Donuts outlet which is in the same mall. Though I am not much of a Donut lover, my wife is and will miss no chance of gorging…Continue Reading “Dunkin Donuts and fusion food!”
I had read that McDonald’s is opening their first all-vegetarian restaurant in India, at Amritsar (en route to Golden Temple) and Katra (tea break spot for Vaishno Devi pilgrims). I thought of it as another example of local adaptation by a global brand. Clearly, I was missing the bigger picture. India always had a remarkable number of vegetarians. There are the permanent vegetarians – Buddhists, Jains, fastidious Brahmins and then there are the occasional ones – non-vegetarians who give up meat on specific days of religious…Continue Reading “Mughlai Paratha & Soya Chap, CR Park”
On a recent trip to the mall, I came across this Real Fruit Juice carton with two heads. What’s the big deal, you will think, but I have seen enough manufacturing process videos to know that this was no less than a miracle. All the cartons are vertically stacked on a conveyor belt, so there is no chance that one of the boxes can be horizontal. And they are all laser cut, so still less chances of error. Here are a couple of helpful videos….Continue Reading “The miracle of two headed Real Fruit Juice carton”
When in Rome, if everyone behaved like the Romans, Rome will end up being a pretty boring place. Same with Lajpat Nagar in Delhi. We all love Punjabi food (don’t we?) and can’t thank God enough for the fact that every block in Lajpat Nagar has a restaurant that serves exactly the same food at slightly different prices. But even my adorable neighbours can’t deny that a little change in palate is not such a bad thing. In fact, if it is the Colony Bistro,…Continue Reading “The Colony Bistro – How social media is changing the dining scene in Delhi”
This is a sure shot way of getting some cake on my face. People in Delhi are passionate about their cakes and bakes and I don’t want to get on their wrong side. But I know I am rooting for a winner here. Wenger’s is one of the first bakeries in town, founded in 1926 as it was. Even if you have no respect for age, walk into their only store in Connaught Place and see the love for yourself. You will spend a long…Continue Reading “Wenger’s – The best bakery in Delhi?”