Writing about food, despite all the fun, is a very stressful task. What if your taste buds are born askew, what if you sound biased or uninitiated, what if your reader arrives on the restaurant’s bad day, what if your writing is uninteresting, what about the typos, what if you lack the palate or the knowledge, what if you have no influence, what if you really gain influence and can’t do justice…. Most days are about one or the other above. Then there are days…Continue Reading “Neung Roi – Radisson Blu Plaza, Mahipalpur, Delhi”
A 120 seater restaurant in Noida Sector 63. If that continues to remain open for more than a year, they must be doing something right. And, they have been around for a year. The first time I got their invitation was almost six months back. But I have been to other restaurants which have the same format – impressive range of grilled starters, a more extensive range of main course and desserts. The started are served on the table, with a live grill at the…Continue Reading “The Ancient Barbeque, Sector 63, Noida”
As someone with a little interest in food, I was ashamed that I had never been to this cozy little place across the road from my home. Small outside seating, almost open air on the terrace, one can go here just for a coffee and a bite in winters. We had more. A fantastic North African salad with cous cous, pine nuts, massive chunks of walnuts and grilled chicken on top. The sald was simple but tasty without much happening in terms of flavours. The chicken…Continue Reading “1 Oak, Moolchand Flyover Complex, Defence Colony”
I have long been planning on doing a long post on the invasion of South Indian hole in the walls in Delhi. For years, I could count the number of good South Indian restaurants in Delhi on my fingertips, including the multi cuisine restaurants in Delhi that offered even dosas. Gladly, that has changed. It has changed at the top, it has also changed at the bottom. Once, there was only Swagath. Today, there is a Zambar, Toddy Shop, Carnatic Café, Kausstabh that specialized in…Continue Reading “South Indian holes in the walls in Delhi”
There are two kinds of people in Delhi. The ones who were born here and the ones who moved in later. The ones who were born have a sentimental attachment with Nirula’s, the ones who are not born here don’t understand the tears over thick bad pizza and other such stuff. In 2001, the daughter of an IAS officer treated me to my first ice cream soda and hot choco fudge. I was as gareeb then as I am now. At around 60 bucks then,…Continue Reading “Nirula’s hot chocolate fudge”
We used to have a house in Salepur, home of Bikalananda Kar rasgula, the most famous shop in Odisha. My paternal village is nearby too. The rasgulas are sweeter, the syrup thicker and they last longer due to high sugar content. My favourite ones, though, are white tiny ones from Govindpur, a place near my maternal village. Between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, there is a small place known as Pahala. Almost fifty sweet shops on each side of the road for nearly hundred meters – this…Continue Reading “Pahala – The Rasgulla district of Odisha”
When I get an invitation, I look at a thousand things. Does the restaurant need a Zomato score fix? Are they on a PR overdrive and is everyone else writing about them? Do they have a large menu and specialise in nothing? Thankfully, Quote Bar passed the first two and I made a visit. But they had a large menu and that is not a good sign and takes a lot of pain to review too. I decided to not make it anny easy for…Continue Reading “Quote Bar & Restaurant, Connaught place”
When you meet friends from another era, you go places from another era. I remember when we were in college, PVR Priya complex, as it was called used to be the place that was way out of reach. Then came Select City Walk, then the Emporio malls. Last night, we decided to hop places at the once-a-hotspot that has become delightfully quiet and pleasantly forlorn (if that’s possible). Piano Man is cosy, warm and let’s you be without being too formal. We ordered a quattro…Continue Reading “The Piano Man / Passion Tea, Vasant Vihar”
You must have seen the push carts in Jama Masjid area selling fruit chaat. The fruits have remained the same for a very long time – papaya, watermelon, pineapple, guava. This time, we spotted a cart selling Kiwi. Priced at the same 10 bucks per plate, the seller was doing brisk business. The boy peeled, sliced and heaped a mountain of that old chat masala in under a minute. We returned the one with masala and asked for a plain one. Sour as hell, these…Continue Reading “Kiwi in Chandni Chowk”
The Germans are here. But what do I know about German food? My professor who went there said they only eat potatoes. My favourite blogger was impressed and listed her most favourite Bavarian food. So, let’s trust a German ambassador – Lufthansa. Their latest ad slyly acknowledges the stereotype – the people are serious and the food is bland. Interestingly, all this actually made me look forward to the food at Zu Tisch. The restaurant has quite a relaxed setting with a prominent and well designed…Continue Reading “Zu Tisch, Greater Kailash”
This is one place that I really look forward to. Not just for the food, but the whole experience of walking around the ruins, working up an appetite and then walking into the restaurant. Now that the winters are here, they have launched a Sunday brunch menu. You walk on the pebbles, sit outside in the lawns under the trees, or one of those canopies if you are not too embarrassed to ask (I always have been), listen to good music and let the week…Continue Reading “Sunday brunch launched at Lodi Garden Restaurant”
Who gets excited about a burger chain, a few howled while a few more held their breath and waited. It seems Burger King is not just another burger chain. Those who are well traveled bring back their Whopper memories and have created a craving even among those who have never tasted one. And then there is the pressure to do things differently and more health consciously in the fast food market…therefore the anticipation to see what Burger King will do differently. We walked in for…Continue Reading “Burger King, Select City Walk, Saket”
Like all east Indians, I love my rolls. And, there is a huge difference between the rolls that you get in north and east India. You get the Chinese, mughlai and the full range of rolls in both the parts. The range of parathas may differ a little, Malabar paratha and pita rolls may not be that easy to get in the east. But there is one major difference that you can’t ignore: potatoes. In the east, it is easy and yummy to find a…Continue Reading “The Rolling Joint, Connaught Place”
It is not a burger. It does not look like a burger. It’s not prepared like a burger. There was no point in talking to the Afghan guy who managed the stall and spoke no Hindi or English. So, I took a video for you to watch and decide. I was stunned and frantic and could not decide whether to take a series of pics or a video, so had to stitch them together. The only part I missed is at last when he pours…Continue Reading “Afghan Burger at a Streetside stall in Delhi”
You see naan khatai carts at every turn in Old Delhi. Most of them are not worth a stop. But on a morning walk, we came across this particular guy at Dariba who demands a mention. While all of us pointed our cameras at this and that, someone stopped at this cart and moaned a little too loudly. The whole group descended on the nameless guy. The khatais were freshly baked under coal, thick, crumbling and so good that many bought extra for home.
You can have many lavish dreams on a Saturday morning. Mine included a celebrity chef, good food and great company. It all came together at Harry’s Khan Market. Chef Vicky Ratnani and a few other bloggers got together for cooking session with a twist – all the ingredients came out of packets – Godrej Yummiez packets. Now, ready to cook is not a new concept but their march into the Indian kitchen has not been very swift. Reason why, this is one segment that’s seeing…Continue Reading “Brunch with Chef Vicky Ratnani & Godrej Yummiez”
My search for the best navratra thali has led me to quite a few interesting places. If the thali at Punjab Grill was an outstanding experience, the one at Shraman, Ashoka Hotel was an average fare. Last night, we headed out to Sattviko, which was closes to what you can call a Indian fast food restaurant. Set up on the quick service format, the restaurant has an innovative menu such as Sabudana Poha, Spinach Quesadillas and Chilled Melonn Salad etc, apart from regular offerings such…Continue Reading “Navratra at Sattviko, Greater Kailash”
Buoyed by my experience at Punjab Grill, I decided to be fair. You can’t havea thali at one place, sing songs about it and seem fair. So, last night, we decided to try another one. I had seen Ego 33’s ad in the newspaper and I called for a reservation. They said just walk in, no reservations needed. But then most people I talked to had not heard of the restaurant. That won’t be a fair fight. So, we headed out to Shraman, at Ashoka…Continue Reading “Navratra thali, Shraman Restaurant, Ashoka Hotel”
There are a few days when you wake up dreaming about snow white and end up going on a date with her in the evening. I had a food equivalent of the same dream. I was frantically writing on every wall I found how disappointing Navratra thalis have been and how I am still willing to give them a chance this year. More than the preparation, I had blamed the ingredients, as if the goddess made sure no has a satisfying meal during those days….Continue Reading “Navratra thali, Punjab Grill, Saket”
Monday mornings are humble moments. So, I tried to find the most humble conversation that we could have. Brought up in Odisa, my first encounter with bread pakoda was this old man in a small cabin who used to fry up bread slices wrapped in batter. The cabin was in an area surrounded by rickshaw repair shops. So, all rickshaw wallas gathered around to eat this weird stuff. But as the warm, soft fleshy fullness filled my mouth, I felt a silent, somber, shameful joy….Continue Reading “An ode to bread pakoda”