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March 12, 2018
sukhmanisakhi
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Here’s why I wouldn’t advice anyone to visit Vietnam. Vietnam Travel Blog.

Before you go onto reading this article, let me clarify a few points. Travelling is a partially subjective and I believe each country has its own charms and is unique to travellers in terms of experiences &

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February 22, 2018
sukhmanisakhi
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Karma Kismet, a delicious spin on progressive Indian cuisine.

With all your favourite Indian dishes, a handful of modern techniques, a drizzle of excitement, garnished culinary excellence, behold a unique new entrant into the food market, Karma Kismet is a pleasant camouflage, a melting warren of surprising flavours and ingredients paired together to give you a memorable dining experience.

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December 2, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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The BarCat: a pastiche of European flavours and dreamy Jazz music

Barcat is the new delightful kid on the block, it’s quirky, fun and glorious with all that jazz, if you know what I mean!

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September 25, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Here’s a list of everything you must devour on your trip to Amritsar & more!

Sat Sri Akal! Think sensational Punjabi food, think Amritsar, the holy city of religion and sacred food, yes sir! Pack your bags and behold the most gluttonous journey that will take you to a rather spiritual culinary revelation of flavours and dishes that will leave you gobsmacked and pleasantly surprised, satiated yet moaning for more.

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September 8, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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8 Reasons why spending your summer in Croatia is the best decision you will ever take!

Once you visit Croatia, nothing will ever be the same for you because no other place will ever be as pristine and as breathtaking as this country.

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July 7, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Of legendary sushi, Dimsums & more! Eat here if you’re a sucker for Asian food.

Honk, Pullman, New Delhi  -Walk into Honk with a subtle promise of the dining spectacle to come. The restaurant is sumptuously massive but intimate, decked out in warm earthy tones, welcoming yet luxurious in every sense.

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June 30, 2017
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House of Pie will make all your cake dreams come true

Sakshi Chugh’s sweet sweet baby ” House of Pie” is sugar and spice and all things nice, quite literally! The cakes are edgy, exquisite and exactly the change you’re looking for, cuz honestly we’re all pretty bored of overstated decorated cakes that may look funky but taste like crap.

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May 27, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Kunal Kapoor & Pooja Makhija unveil Marico’s brand new super oil- Saffola Aura in Mumbai

Chef Kunal Kapoor and Dietician Pooja Makhija gave us the first look at the Super Oil of the future that’s here to stay, at Smokehouse Deli, BKC earlier this month. 

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May 16, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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My fairytale castle stay in Mussoorie, enchanting and exorbitant!

Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella got to sleep in castles and now you can turn those fairy tales into your own reality by staying in ITC Savoy 

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May 2, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Cheat’s Cheesey One Pot Fettuccine Recipe

I am lazy, I love good food, I like cheese, I like fresh produce! All this brought me closer to my “Cheat’s Cheesey One Pot Fettuccine”

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April 1, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Signs that you are undeniably addicted to Travelling!

1. You spend all your money on travelling Well, you basically earn to travel. Every penny earned goes into your travel fund, you don’t care how exotic or simple the place may be but you think money is best spent on the experience of travel and nothing else.

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May 25, 2016
sukhmanisakhi
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10 signs that prove food is your BAE!

10 signs that prove food is your BAE! [via sliceoforane.com]  Is the kitchen your favorite room in the house? People watch sports, spend hours watching movies but you love going through the visual therapy of cookbooks and the food section of magazines.

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April 3, 2016
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MEGU – THE LEELA PALACE

Rating: 4.5 Megu is worth a visit, period! Yes it comes with the frills of a five star restaurant and it is essentially upscale but the hype is worth it.

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October 23, 2015
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Kasol: Nature, Beauty and Food at its best, a time travel to relaxville.

Delhi is indeed a frying wok during the summers, making it a real task for survival. Add on the crowded streets, polluted pervasiveness of the air, and the dullsville of routine and Delhi summers turn into the worst foe of all times.

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Here’s why I wouldn’t advice anyone to visit Vietnam. Vietnam Travel Blog.

March 12, 2018
sukhmanisakhi
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Before you go onto reading this article, let me clarify a few points.

Travelling is a partially subjective and I believe each country has its own charms and is unique to travellers in terms of experiences & culture.

While writing this piece I had several discussions with many travellers who had mixed reviews to give on their travel to Vietnam. The country is beautiful with some great experiences to offer but if you’re a seasoned traveller, you may find yourself in lack of appreciation.

I write this article to help fellow travellers have an insight into the country as Vietnam is and to make an informed choice of Travel as I personally feel if someone wants to take time off and travel in order to explore and rejuvenate, there are many other better options than Vietnam.

I am not making swooping generalisations about Vietnam but expressing my personal disdain with my experience which didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting.

•••

Here are a few reasons why I’d advise travellers against visiting Vietnam.

1. Rude locals

The first thing to know about Vietnam is that the locals are preposterously rude. I know it’s wrong to label them all, but as far as my dealings went, I found them to be very unpleasant & unhelpful. There is lack of basic etiquette & very often you will notice the locals laughing at you & making a mockery of the fact that you can’t understand their language. Yes language is a major barrier in the country. It’s extremely difficult to communicate due to lack of a common language, English isn’t easily understood.

2. Scams galore

The locals charge three to four times the actual rate of things to foreign travellers.

The currency can be confusing and can take some time to get a hang of, until then you should be prepared to be ripped off! It’s not before 2-3 days you realise you have been over charged for almost everything! On top of that, the locals will be laughing on your face while they cheat you, yes the atmosphere is uncomfortable.

3. There’s not much to see or do in the country

Vietnam is beautiful alright but it doesn’t offer anything that made me go, “wow”!

There’s nothing in the country that would make me want to go back.

I did visit the popular sights in Ho Chi Minh City, and well they were quite over rated. War Remenents Museum was drab and very dull, because considering the rich history, I expected more. Chu Chi Tunnels weren’t that exciting either. I thoroughly felt that I wanted more from every experience & my thirst for adventure wasn’t quite quenched.

I was told Hoi An was exceptionally beautiful. Well, after a point I realised it’s a city made of lamps and that alone, there’s nothing more there.

The famous lake center in Hanoi is average, kind of unpreserved. The shopping complex is nice, bustling streets but again, the night market is okay too but there’s nothing memorable or worthwhile there. All I remember is being ripped off at the Night Market after which I lost all interest in shopping.

Halong Bay, is majestic but sadly the cruise we booked which promised a great deal, was horrendous, probably the worst night of my life where they served unhygienic dirty food and not much of an experience.

The beaches are such a let down! I mean, c’mom I expected some beauty there, but they’re mostly dirty and unkept.

4. Food is disappointing

Ordering food at a restaurant in Vietnam is like disarming a bomb. You have to be extremely careful and every move must be precise and forget about explaining any specifications of your order. Further on I love street food and I understand what cooking conditions are like in less privileged countries – by that I mean I didn’t expect Michelin star dining, I mean I am an indian, and I can make do with the simplest kind of street food and appreciate it.

However, in Vietnam, hygiene is quite unheard of. Local cuisine is prepared in tiny shops which are almost on the road, where the plates are rinsed next to a pile of garbage. I couldn’t satisfy my stomach due to lack of cleanliness. Local food is prepared in dirty spots. Only once in Ho Chi Mohan City, I visited a great night Food Market which was bustling with variety and hygiene wise, it was decent. I expected street food to be like that throughout but it sadly wasn’t!

Coming to the flavours, the food in Vietnam is just sad. Barring a select few dishes I had in the city (which were reasonably delicious) the food was bland, mostly drowned in flavourless broths and scrawny seafood or meat. I enjoyed some Pho and Bahn Mi but eventually I wanted more and all I used to get was over fried greasy meat or lumpy sad noodles.

•••

So yeah, more or less my trip to Vietnam was disappointing because of several factors. I was certainly warned against a few matters but being a traveller I wanted to experience the country on my own. As evident, I didn’t like it as much I thought I would.

The Asian country is cheap, infact very cheap, which attracts a lot of tourists but being cheap, I still felt I didn’t get my buck’s worth.

The only delightful element of my trip was the cheap internet & data plans which worked superbly, other than quick connectivity and the data services on local sims, I didn’t find much to rave about.

If you you plan on visiting Vietnam, do your research first. Don’t believe everything you see on the internet .

I hope your experience will be much better than mine.

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8 Reasons why spending your summer in Croatia is the best decision you will ever take!

September 8, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Once you visit Croatia, nothing will ever be the same for you because no other place will ever be as pristine and as breathtaking as this country. Beyond a point, the beauty becomes pretty overwhelming and you start to question every other place on the planet! Eventually you just accept that this country keeps getting better and better and just learn to live with the painstakingly pure beauty around you. You can experience the best of both worlds: a fast-paced city atmosphere with the ambiance of a relaxed coastal town here. 

1. Croatia is cheap


Yes, thank God that beauty doesn’t come with a price because this country is obnoxiously gorgeous, I mean it only gets better and better and the best part is, travelling here is a great value for your buck. Good value hotels are ubiquitous, as are cheap holiday apartments. 

2. Food is an exciting affair


Croatian food is a delectable combination of classic Mediterranean and Italian with a new-world twist. There’s sinful amount of ridiculously brilliant gelato everywhere. Pizza is the next Croatian fad and you’d get just about every kind of gooey pizza here. If you prefer the finer cuisines, you’re in for a happy surprise because there are endless restaurants with priceless views that serve up excellent seafood and fine delicacies. Eat you full as you sip on sombre wine and watch the sun set into a gorgeous hue. Also these guys love their bakeries and the bakeries are just worth every buck. Buttery whiffs will drive you inside bakeries and you will be spoilt for choice.

3. Game of Thrones Charm 


Croatia is rapidly becoming a favourite travel destination due to its relation to Game of Thrones and the fact that a huge part of the show is built around the cities of Croatia, Dubrovnik to be more specific is hard to resist. You will literally be walking through the sets of the show, amidst history and it’s magnificent. The high walls, 


4. Breathtaking beaches 


Croatia boasts of the most beautiful beaches in the world, so well just accept that your eye balls will keep falling out. Don’t expect your usual sandy beaches. Croatia is covered in rock beaches with are more stoney, and obviously more adventurous in the lap of picturesque beauty, it’s almost inexplicable. Remember to carry water shoes at all times. There are several nude beaches around too, keep a look out if that’s your thing, and if it’s not, check em out. 


5. National Parks and Waterfalls 


This is not something you want to miss. Croatia offers the most enriching experience to travellers who like to explore and wander endlessly into the unknown. Plitvice National Park is most popular and humongous. It’s literally the place where all screen savers came from. Krka National Park is relatively smaller with criss cross boardwalks across the river, crystal waters and infinite natural beauty. 


6. Hidden spots and coves


Croatia is still largely unexplored, and there are plenty of secluded beaches, Islands and hidden coves untouched by commercialisation. As there’s no massive tourism, you’ll have too much personal space on the beach, sometimes even the whole island to yourself. Yes! 


7. Party Haven


Croatia is among the most liberal and relaxed party destinations. There are several music festivals all over the country throughout the year. Islands like Hvar are known for their divine parties and beautiful beach resorts that host most enchanting parties.


8. Experience Wilderness and Adventure like never before. 


Croatia is still not very commercial as compared to other European countries due to which the sites here are rustic, untouched and pristine. You can go snorkelling, scuba diving, go cliff jumping at several spots and make your own little adventure trip. The beaches are ingenious, rocky, unlike any you would have seen. They are just as nature intended them to be, there are not many safety instructions around and everything seems doused in a beautiful untouched oblivion. 

•••


If these aren’t reasons enough for you, nothing else will be. A summer in Croatia is all it will take to change your outlook about life and travel. Book your tickets before this gorgeous country gets tainted with commercialisation! 

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My fairytale castle stay in Mussoorie, enchanting and exorbitant!

May 16, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella got to sleep in castles and now you can turn those fairy tales into your own reality by staying in ITC Savoy  facades and powerful towers, humoungous grounds dotted with beautiful flowers and the views of the valley’s rolling hills and the quaint city below, add to its historic beauty making it a must visit.It doesn’t get better than this! 


There are several categories of rooms but they are all thoroughly grand and luxurious, spacious and beautiful rooms with gorgeous views, feature en suite bathroom,a private balcony/ sit-out area for reading or enjoying a cozy meal! 


The Dining area is humongous, made in historic grandeur and the perfect spot to enjoy lavish meals. The breakfast buffet is rather elaborate and exciting with a huge spread and delicious delicacies to gorge on. 

Writer’s Bar is a premium inhouse bar with great variety of alcohol, a section of books with a nice nerdy touch yet a warm space to enjoy a drink or two in the cold. 

The spa is situated in a separate wing on the grounds, it’s the best way to unwind when you have travelled for hours to finally arrive to the hills.Spa offers a variety of massages, body scrubs and packages and the most divine sauna to relax your body and mind alike. The prices are a bit steep and sadly they offer no discount for the in house guests but the massage is worth it with some highly adept and qualified masseuses. The cost for a basic body massage comes down to Rs 3300! 

In addition to a the spa, there is a recreation room right above it with a few games. The hotel also organises gun group activities in the evening like magic shows, bonfire, group badminton etc. 

This property offers history and fantasy, memories and inspiration. You’ll feel like royalty when you snuggle into an antique four-poster bed, glide down a sweeping, elegant staircase, or feast on a sumptuous dinner in a tapestry-hung dining room that was first used decades ago. 

•Tariff of the rooms is anywhere between Rs 12000- 20,000/-

WelcomHotel The Savoy by ITC 
Library Bazar, Gandhi Chowk, P.O. Savoy – 248179
Mussoorie, Uttarakhand 

+(91)-(135)-2637000 

+(91)-(135)-2632003 

reservations@itchotels.in

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Sensational Sushi delivered in the wee hours of the night, and oh so beautiful it is!

May 15, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Whenever I’m asked, as I was the other day, “for a good sushi place, not too anal, and not bank-busting,” I direct people to this snug, refreshingly unpretentious Sumo Sushi that has got eyeballs rolling with the quality, consistency and bangin flavours. Packaging is ergonomically done up, simple, to the point ensuring that the sushi remains intact and isn’t a mess of dripping sauces and raw fish in a box. 

Neat compact sections ensure that the sushi remains in place, looks fresh and inviting with small containers of Gari and Kikkoman 


Traditions are held dear,however, a bit of experimentation is also at play in the menu that offers a wide range of this delicately rolled artsy food. 

The better news? These guys serve up a sushi storm even post midnight which is awesome for people like me who don’t most often realise the time and place of erratic sushi cravings. 

I’d put my buck on the not so healthy but oh so wonderful Las Vegas Roll, huge in size, crunchy, spicy and creamy made with juicy tuna, what a medley of flavours! 
Dynamite Roll is my most standard addiction and these guys delivered well in terms of the fresh cure of salmon, crispy prawn Tempura in creamy spring Mayo. Yum. 

Amaya is delicate and interesting, salmon in the centre with soft cream cheese, wasabi peas and avocado bringing out a stellar flavour, much different than anything you have tasted before thanks to those nutty peas. 

Vegetarians will equally go bonkers over the indulgent sushi offerings. 

Spicy Mushroom 

Crunchy Asparagus Tempura 

– The former is gooey in the centre with bold Shroom flavours, spiced, with a bit of heat and the latter is nicely crunchy in the centre, bags of flavour there, exorbitantly assembled, both are straight winners even for a carnivore like myself. 

Verdict: The sushi is fresh, humungous, the menu is exciting and any sushi lover falls in love with a celebrated creative sushi menu. The prices will not leave you in regret because the food defined complete value for money! 
•••

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Cheat’s Cheesey One Pot Fettuccine Recipe

May 2, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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I am lazy, I love good food, I like cheese, I like fresh produce! All this brought me closer to my “Cheat’s Cheesey One Pot Fettuccine” which was an impromptu quick fix to a dinner last week. 

I love creamy dishes and of course, cheese is an essential element for all things delicious and godly. 

I used some gorgeous plump cherry tomatoes to jazz up my pasta and they really did brighten up the dish and upped it by a notch with a juicy sweet tangy flavour. 

You need just 30 mins to whip this restaurant quality dish! 

INGREDIENTS:

* 8 garlic cloves, minced

* 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

* 4tbsp Garlic Cheese spread 

* 2 tbsp Amul Butter 

* 2-3 cups full fat milk

* salt/pepper to taste

* 1tbsp basil powder

* 1 tbsp garlic powder

* 2 tbsp mixed Italian herbs 

* 2 tbsp nutritional yeast

* fettuccine pasta

* 1 bowl cherry tomatoes 

DIRECTIONS:

* On medium heat, add garlic, butter, oil, and a sprinkle of salt to a large skillet or pan big enough to fit the fettuccine pasta for a few minutes to get the garlic juices flowing and the butter melted. About 5 minutes.

* Pour in water, milk, and all seasonings. Bring to a boil then bring heat down to low-medium heat.

* Place in fettuccine pasta. Press it down gently with tongs to submerge in the liquid. The pasta will absorb the liquid as it cooks making the Alfredo sauce thicker.

* Let the pasta cook for 15 minutes.Stir occasionally so it’s not sticking together. You can also lower the heat so nothing burns.

* At this point you can add in more milk if you feel the pasta is absorbing too much. All it does it make it creamier so don’t worry about adding too much.

* Adjust the seasonings to your liking. Always taste as you go. You may feel it needs more salt, or a little more garlic.

* Add the cheese spread and mix gently. 

* While that’s cooking preheat your oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place cherry tomatoes on the pan and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Cook for the same duration as the pasta, about 10-15 minutes.

* Once the cherry tomatoes are done add to the pot with fettuccine and mix well. Add blob of butter for extra glaze and flavour. Serve with garlic toast or a side salad. 

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Get transported to the hilly terrains of Uttarakhand as you feast on the regional cuisine in a special menu that lasts till this week! 

April 24, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Here’s a chance for you all to have a taste of authentic regional cuisine of Indian because let’s admit it, we often get bored with mainstream monopoly of Indian food and sometimes it’s good to indulge in something that’s essentially Indian but different from our familiar palate preferences. 

Latest Recipe in Le Meridien Gurgaon has the perfect clean break for you all, where you can indulge in extravagant regional cuisine along with a host of other global dishes which is a part of their regular buffer menu. 
Coming down to the regional highlight, the Uttarakhand Food Festival brings to you the real traditional food of the Garhwali and Kumaoni gastronomic affair and you will be transported to the state on just the mere sight of the grub. 

Uttarakhand offers a culinary treasure of deliciousness which is well delivered by the Sous Chef Manoj Rawat here in its most glorified manner. 
The food is richly prepared, yet you will be happy to know that it’s most flavourful yet devoid of grease which is what stood out for me. 
The aromas of the fresh chutneys ready to be dunked on by assorted Pakodas will leave your palate not only satiated but wanting for more! 
Hold your breath till you move over to the next courses, or don’t, sit back and immerse yourself in redolence of idiosyncratic spices and flavours. 

Signature dishes include Shikar (Mutton Curry) Phaanu (Mixed Lentil Curry), Deep fried Catfish dabbed in spices, Mandua Roti (Buckwheat flour roti), Bal Mithai (Khoya fudge coated with sugar ball) and much more. Check out the feast for yourself. 


Venue : Latest Recipe, Le Meridien Gurgaon
Time: 1900 hours until midnight 
Date: 19th April,2017-30th April,2017
Cost: Rs 1999++


Ps- If you are a foodie like me then I bet you must have tempted your jaded palates with most of these dishes.

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Fat Lulu’s is rolling out a pizza bonanza in SDA and it’s a real cheesey delight. 

March 20, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Fat Lulu’sin SDA is a delicious gooey little den of surprises churning out some stellar varieties of authentic wood fired oven pizzas and real good pastas! Word. 

They have a small sitting that can house about 10 people so well, it’s good to grab a quick bite or order take away! The staff is friendly and orders get delivered at thunder speed, no kidding. The chefs work magic with the time management of the food orders. 


There are plenty of pizza variations here, each delicious and likely deserving of all sorts of saucy praise. 

They specialize in ultra-thin crust and somehow manage not to overwhelm it, even when loading up tons of toppings.


We start off on a healthy (err, yeah) note with a Walnut Feta Apple Salad that’s a crunchy crispy embodiment of fresh ingredients wrapped up in a tart chunky sundried tomato dressing. Bloody good! 

Then we decided to get our hands dirty with the chicken wings.The sauce is an in-house concoction of chilli and red marinade, smoky and with just a suggestion of sweetness; This one is a bomb of flavours. 

We next fish for the Shrimp Pizza ,the tiny shrimp is bursting with sweet spicy flavours of the Mediterranean and all tempered by onion and garlic. Belissima. Highly recommended. 
The Jamaican Jerk Pizza and Brooklyn Pizza would be a hit with the carnivores. They have the right doughy consistency, excellent cheese stretchiness, stellar chunky meaty topped with spicy marinara and fresh mozz.

Vegetarians will be spoilt for choice with a wide selection of exotic toppings, fresh ingredients and rather exciting pairings.
The Pizzas worked wonders for my palate. El Chalpoo and Brooklyn Veg Pizza are straight winners. 

The chef is using too quality Feta, sundries tomatoes, basil pesto, ricotta, porcini and a variety of sharp cheeses as toppings which elevate these crunchy babies to another level. 

We delve further into Bolognese, a bubbling muddling of spaghetti ,parmesan and rich red sauce textured with tender meat. Gently steaming, each melting mouthful is a swirl of flavours and dreams. More prosaically, the edge of the parmesan blunts the sharpness of the sauce, all the gamey meat rounding off said edges. 


Enough eating and hogging aside, Fat Lulus delivered a par excellent experience for someone like me who doesn’t obsess over Pizzas but these guys have such delectable confections and dishes, you’re going to be spoilt for choice. 

Italian aficionados, head here for some wow moments! 



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Darzi Bar & Kitchen is serving up a tailored culinary experience in the heart of the city! 

March 9, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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Darzi, the new gastronomical “tailored” experience in Cannought Place is everything fun, quirky and delicious. 

Sprawled across two floors, a terrace and a rather funky ambience, Darzi offers a fun fusion menu rooted in Indian conventions and adapting to popular cuisines, hence formulating an exciting menu. 


The interiors are ever enticing with murals of tailoring items on walls, hangers, sewing machines and several drawers popping out of animated walls, plenty of sewing paraphernalia!

Also these guys have tiny cabinets which are up for renting at the price of Rs5000 a year! You are free to use these cabinets (that come with personal locks) at your disposal, to store items, or just simply get parcels delivered or use it at a PO Box. 
How cool is that?

The restaurant is mercifully free of any scientific cooking alias molecular gastronomy, relying instead on fun yet traditional menu and palatable food. 

The starters deliver more in reality than you’d expect, they’re pretty well executed and incorporated. 


Thai Tandoori tikkas are textbook — soft and well spiced but not spicy — best had with the zingy green chutney served alongside.

Cheesey Spinach mushrooms come golden fried, enrobing a mantle of gooey spinach filling, lending each crunchy mouthful a silken finish. Delicious. 

Curried Calamari was the highlight of my meal, that’s coming from someone who doesn’t really prefer calamari because of its tough texture. However this variant was fried to a crunchy spiced perfection with bags of flavours just begging to be moped up and munched upon. 


Aloo Khoobani ki tikki is a crispy chaat amalgamation of delicious spicy sweet flavours and soft tikki spiced on point of addictive eating. Really good. 

The starters set a rather aspirational tone to the rest of the evening by being most surprisingly Indian yet adventurous in more ways than one. 
The main course maintained the momentum by a close shot though. 
Dal Makhni, Darzi Mutton and Desi Chicken Curry were made rich and indulgent with bags of balanced flavours, the right amount of spice and very little grease, which made me extremely happy! No layers of glistening crimson oil over any dish! Even the mutton curry was devoid of excessive oil which was a relief. 

I’d avoid the Kolhapuri Vegetarian cannelloni. It’s confused and unpleasant on the palate. Probably the only item I didn’t quite like! 
Still having room for some dessert, we gorged on the Gajrela Pie which was experimental indeed, however not too sure of the extreme richness of the Gajrela and the pastry. Well, that didn’t stop me from spooning out creamy gajrela and licking it clean from the pie! ^guilty 
….

Give this guys a visit for a funky dining experience complete with culinary awe, familiar flavours and definite satiation! 
 

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Of Butter Chicken Lasagna & Smokey Sangrias, Zora is defining progressive cuisine in Pune

February 18, 2017
sukhmanisakhi
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A modern Indian kitchen where the familiar is made to work with the unfamiliar to give the diner a taste of most comfortable conventions nestled in innovation. 
We have been moaning about Indian cuisine being frozen in time and not evolving or pushing frontiers at all, Well Zora will change that thought for you, atleast in terms of the city of Pune!
As you walk into this surreal space, you notice how the interior elements are a mix of solid grandeur which is evident from the indoor area and a easy breezy outdoor section which is beautifully curated in earthy tones keeping it simple, near monochromatically white, reminiscing of a European cafe thanks to a certain plush vibe. 

Well, there are no shocks when I say I much preferred the spatial outdoors in the gorgeous Pune weather because we not have this easy flowing airy vibe in Delhi’s burning summers! 

The staff is extremely warm and forthcoming in terms of helping out with the order and making sure everything is served quick and efficiently. 

Coming down to real business which is the food, Zora delights with food that may be a mix of the old & new but is made with a distinct focus on flavours and presentation. 
Starting off with Spicy Okra Salad was the perfect choice because boy, this was a straight winner and obviously raised our expectations in the first bite! 

Crispy fried okra tossed in spicy tangy vinegarette, these little crispies were addictive but deep fried so I forced myself to stop. Recommended. 

As the spices settled onto our palate, we moved onto the Beetroot tikki which melts in the mouth before we even have a chance to understand the stupendous flavours. The creamy gravy atop lends the much contrasted texture and balance. 


We moved onto the Prawn Balchao Theplas which explode like a bomb of spice richness paired against the soft textural pancake like theplas. 
Some elements use not so usual pairings to coax surprise, taste, texture from it’s dishes.
Butter Chicken Lasagna with Masala Naan was the real winner for me with the quintessential butter chicken layered onto soft pasta, a wonderful fusion of the beloved dish executed with penache and richness. 

The masala naan deserves a sonnet or two for just being super flavourful, so well seasoned, I am just salivating in its memory at the moment. 

Dal Makhni faired equally well with just the right balance of spices and finished off with soft buttery goodness  

Baby Potato Curry in Methi Masala is richness embodied in full flavours of creaminess and earthiness. Break some crispy lacha Parantha with this, and it’s the perfect little meal! 


Reshmi Chicken Biryani was one of the most memorable dishes I have had this year! Excellent preparation of succulent tikka imparting richness to every grain of wholesome rice and abundantly sprinkled with sweet fried brown onions that elevated the whole dish into a magical culinary symphony. 

…

We did lose all inhibitions at this point but couldn’t make any more room for dessert so we sadly skipped it. Leaving some things for another time. 

…

Verdict 

Zora is serving up some cerebral shenanigans, some bestsellers, Sure! 

Keeping the tone progressive, the food is exciting yet close to a certain homeliness
There is a mature equilibrium between what’s merely edgy and what’s truly tasty, so give these guys a shot if you already haven’t. Chances are you won’t be disappointed! 

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Farzified, yet again!

September 18, 2016
sukhmanisakhi
0 Comments

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Rating:4.5/5

 

Let’s face it, you cannot deny the culinary powerhouse reach of Farzi Cafe with exceptional molecular gastronomy on your plate which is overturning traditions to give you quintessential illusionary flavours.

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Food is no longer about pleasing the senses alone; the culinary experts are going all out to present innovative dishes to arouse your curiosity and make you delve deeper in thought about their creations.
Incorporating scientifically savvy cooking techniques like liquid nitrogen flash freezing, spherical liquids, and carbon dioxide foams, Farzi is creating an innovative, mouthwatering menu unlike anything you’ve ever tasted and a spectacularly sensory experience.

Spread across a grand single floor, pervasive swanky woodwork, the restaurant is divided into several sections, one bathed in ample sunlight and others lit dimly for a quaint evening experience with an island bar dispensing drinks from all four sides, a hookah corner and a majestic stage fixated in the center of the restaurant.
There is a happy vibe in the restaurant that is forever bustling with flocks of eager diners and the service is efficient, keeping in mind that this place is always packed. The staff is well acquainted with the menu and food arrives fairly quick.

The food gimmickry and pomp begins with the Swirl Apple Foamtini, their proud lipsmacking cocktail that comes in packed with dry ice smoke, theatric in aesthetics & extremely delicious for a cocktail.

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Their modern take on traditional food conventions shows a vision beyond its years.
Dishes like Margherita Naan, Smoked Bacon Kachori & Raj Kachori with crispy okra salad with chutney foam is a clever, bite-sized version of the original.
The gooeyness in the mini naans and the meaty sweetness from the bacon kachoris still has me salivating with a remembrance of popping flavours.

 

Losing our inhibitions at this point, we go ahead and tuck into extremely inviting Braised Lamb Tacos and Delly Belly! The former is a beautiful balance between soft spiced lamb cooked with peppers encased in crispy taco shells and the former is probably the juiciest and the most decadent pork belly I ever sunk my teeth into. It deserves a sonnet or two for the brilliant balance of roasted russet apples & tangy murabba glaze, finished off with micro greens and marinated shallots.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Tangri was exotic, as expected with familiar favours, very tender but nothing out of the box. Pulled Rogan Josh sliders quickly made up buy being intensely flavourful and spicy inside soft red slider buns. Sharp and delicious.

It’s the Prawn Chettinad with Rice that walk away with the honours. Large,fabulously textured and bursting with pepper garlic flavour flavour,the dish is a textbook example of how prawns ought to be cooked.
This is followed by equally well cooked
Bheja Fry with Cumin Appam which is a magical alchemy of tradition imbedded in modern presentation right on your plate.
It tantalizes the palate yet never leaves it overwhelmed.

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Shamelessly we move to dessert and call for a Chocolate Dirt Pile. A medley of decadently rich truffles,crunchy chocolate soil piled on a plate with edible flowers, juicy red grapes poured over by soft hot ganache,this one reminds us why there’s always room for dessert. It’s so darn decadent and addictive and the portion size will leave you in pain because you won’t stop till you finish this sweet treat till the end.

This is why you should visit Farzi Cafe at the soonest because this is the kind of magic you do not want to miss out. Imagine eating all your childhood faves but in a highly artistic modern twist with elevated flavours! That’s Farzi for you, keep an open mind and expect to be floored!

Cost/ person: Rs 1500
Will I visit again? Yes.   screen-shot-2016-09-15-at-3-39-29-am

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