Wine Quotes

La piazza, Hyatt Regency Delhi | Restaurant Review

Italian cuisine is simple, usually not more than 4 to 5 ingredients. The focus is not on complexity of preparation, but the quality of ingredients. How do I know? Recently, got a chance to experience it at La Piazza, Hyatt Regency Delhi. The pasta I ate here, I felt was uncooked, but it was only by Indian standards and it is not how the authentic italian pasta is. Chef Luca, hosting the dinner, explained that it should have a bite, and that is how it is in Italian. 

La Piazza hosts an exquisite wine collection, so not pairing it with wine is a disrespect. 
I won't say I understood, all that the chef explained, the names were difficult to say for a punjabi tongue. However, I would say, I loved all that was served. I cannot make you taste through the review, but will take you for a food photo tour. 

In total, the experience was awesome and won't mind recommending it to anyone
Happy eating...☺️ 

Cheers to Hard day @Work @CyberHub

We all work hard for do waqt ki roti, and if with that roti we also get some daru and boti nothing like that. Cyber hub says #cheerstoharddayatwork, and it is not just a saying they mean it. We usually complete are work by 5 in office and head towards a meal at home. 

If there is some unwinding between these two struggles, it is a blessing. Ten outlets have tried to bring on this blessing, by offering corporate happy hours from 5-7pm until 30 November. So make most of it. Grab a chair after a hard day, and relax over a cool ethyl alcohol drink, as the methyl alcohol perfume power is over by now to keep you fresh. 

Participating outlets are:

-          Olive Bistro

-          Indigo Delicatessen

-          SodabottleOpenerwala

-          Raasta

-          Circus

-          Twist

-          Delifrance

-          Nooba

-          Canvas

-          SOI 7

      

    Happy and responsible drinking… J

Super Safe Spices from ITC Master Chef

With so much pesticide integrated in our lifestyle, that a pinch of turmeric or chilli actually pinches the health. Spices are an integral part of the Indian society and any adulteration puts us at high risk. ITC steps up socially and brings in a new range of spices which undergo 473+ tests before being delivered to end customer for consumption.

The range includes coriander, turmeric, and red chilli in the basic spices which are common victim of adulteration. Others are blends for Chicken, Mutton, Choley, chicken and not to forget the most popular blend of Garam Masala.

Though spices are used just in small amount, but Indian cooking without a spice is not possible. The Indian household does not limit the use of spice just to kitchen and the usage is widespread across rituals, celebrations and medicinal uses. So we are exposed to a much higher risk than any other community on this planet.

I must say the range is a blessing for the Indian consumer and a step towards the healthy lifestyle.

Thingyan Festival @ Burma Burma, Cyber Hub

We all make new resolutions or new products to welcome New Year. Burma Burma also does the same. Thingyan Festival or Burmese New Year starts from today (11 May 2017), and to celebrate this they have launched a new Thingyan Menu. This is an exclusive menu and in no commonality with the regular menu. It has all from Soups, starters, main course and desserts.

The best part about the place is it is an all-vegetarian hub. Therefore, you can any time move in with your anti-chicken friend and can savor the preparations. 

They will first make you wash hands like this with sandalwood water in a typical traditional style.

Also all the service staff has painted white circles on their cheeks. On inquiring, they revealed that these are made from sandalwood paste. It is a tradition to mark it this way, the welcome of New Year.

We tried 90 percent of dishes from this special menu and 10 percent were left because of the limited tum size. I will not say you will love it all, as we have an Indian palate and it is not an Indian cuisine. However, one will surely love some of the preparations, as I too have an Indian palate and I personally feel so.

Some of the recommendations are Guava Salad, crunchy Tofu Steamed Buns and Lotus stem crisps. Tofu Steamed buns and Lotus stem crisps are like a common saying in Hindi “Pet bhar gaya per dil nahi bhara”. I am posting the pics of the menu; you can surely know the name, but not the taste from the name.

So do visit the place, as this menu is only in for next 10 days till 21^st May. Go and have your bite.

Happy Eating… J

Kayani Bakery - A Legacy

Heritage was the first word that punched my mind when I saw this bakery. Curvy refrigerators, elderly parsi uncles at the cash counter, wooden display racks, handwritten menu on blackboard using chalk, ceiling fan resembling to mace with wings hanging from the ceiling. Hey, are you also back to 19 century? Come back, we are at Pune in 21 Century and the name of the place is Kayani Bakery.

From outside it seems that as if some free distribution is going on. Everyone is rushing to get inside and then coming out happily with a packet in hand as a prized possession. Hard-earned money cannot buy you anything; instead, you have to do some hard work by standing in the rush and queue to get your mawa cake. So much is the rush at any time of the day. Bakery opens up early in the morning around 7, and is closed for few hours in the afternoon and then open in evening. It is not sure, that even if the bakery is open you will get what you want. They turn out of stock like anything, quickly after opening, especially mawa cake.

All the products tried were simply awesome. We commonly hear the term bakery fresh or straight from the oven. However, this is one place, which put life to these words. I tried cream rolls, mawa cake, Shrew berry biscuit, butter jeera and many more. All were to the best of their taste.

If you are in Pune, do not miss to visit this place. Shrewsbury biscuits and a mawa cake is a Pune souvenir, you can buy for anyone whom you are meeting within a week or 10 days. Products taste great, it is tried by myself, and I am still alive and writing this Post… J. Even, if you are visiting a local, not sure what to buy. Grab a basket, stuff it with few mawa cakes, shrewsbury biscuits and lot more to choose, get it wrapped and gift it, they will love it.

Location: 6 East Street, Opposite Victory Theater, Pune - 411001, India.

  

Happy Eating… J

KHOPADI @ Radisson

Scary? This is my drink, and the name is KHOPADI... 😊 Ideal . . . . #undefinedisthelimit #khanatalks #radissondelhi #mocktail #liquor #gin #dryice #scary #khopadi #skull

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@undefinedisthelimit) on Feb 11, 2017 at 8:04pm PST

Cafe Good Luck | Food Review

You enter the place and realize as if you are watching a scene from movie in 1970s. Not to be recognized as legacy by some agency, when the crossroad is named after it. Looking around the place it seems as if it has never been closed even a single day since its opening. The furniture, walls, mirrors seems like it is been there always. Important thing to note is that even though the furniture is age old it is not worn out or shaky.

Anytime of day you visit, you have to wait to find a vacant chair, and when I say chair, I do not mean table. If you are not full occupancy for a table, you will be sharing it with someone else. Interesting isn’t it?

The food is good, economic, fast service, and big serving potions are some of the factors to keep it in demand. Looking at the comfort of the guests, it seems like many will miss on their meals, if the place is closed.




I ordered keema pav, butter pav, cheese masala omelette, irani chai and cheese butter pav, and enjoyed all preparations to the full. It is one of the best bet at value for money the food offers. The customer footfall is so much that chances of stale food is not possible, hence all seems fresh and straight from the kitchen.

Do not lookout for fine dine, private experience and just imbibe in the hustle and bustle, you will love it.

Happy eating... :)

Cooking @ Langar

Power packed fun filled cooking at langar. Langar is term used for common kitchen setup for serving free food to all without any discrimination on the basis of cast, creed, colour, sect or sex. It is a way of giving back to the society in Hindu and Sikh culture. The meal earned after doing seva at langar seems like more satisfying than that at a multi cuisine five star restaurant. Food is all and always about the feelings, love, emotion and relationship. No doubt why it is worshipped. . . . . #food #langar #freemeal #india #religion #culture #sikh #hindu #lonelyplanet #lonelyplanetindia #delhi #worship #freefood #community #communitycooking

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on Nov 5, 2016 at 7:18am PDT

Tourist - First look Review

Street food and Fine dine are antonyms. Tourist is someone who experiences extremes in during his exploration journey of the world. This time tourist has clubbed up his extreme experiences and brought these antonyms together at Tourist the Street food bar. The places is about to open soon in less than a weeks’ time and is all set to cater to the international palate. They have brought in street cuisines from around the world under one roof and at the centre of the city at Connaught Place, Delhi.

It is restaurant or bar or travel book or hangout place or theater or any other name you want to suggest, go ahead with it. The place gives a feel of being yourself at your own comfort and not worrying about anything on the planet. Sip your favorite mock tail with your favorite book at the corner with food of your choice. It is a multilevel place with three bars, one each at oof, at ground floor and at the basement. The basement also a hosts a disco theme.

They serve an exhaustive street food menu from all around the world. The place bubbles with creativity, and is a sign of thorough thought process and brainstorming that has been put in to create it. Be it the passport menu, serving dishes, cutlery and preparations on the menu that voice it out.

Menu is designed in the form of passports of far east, far west, south asia and EU & UK. There is a live music playing on. You can enjoy that sitting in a regular seating or on a theoretical seats. They have high sitting bar chairs as well, for that tall boy. Sip your drink with the favorite starter with a flavored hookah, good way to relive those college days at a reunion. Ambience is wow, it seems as if walking though the art gallery, classic paintings on the walls all around give the place that artistic touch.  Are you the one who love to collect? Move to the basement the toy automobile collection will take you back to your childhood.

Food is tasty and very well balanced flavours. Loved almost each preparation that I tasted, which is rarely the case. If you are able to finish the serving of something you usually do not eat, then preparation is definitely great. It happened for two dishes with me. The coconut flavor in the Thai sauce served with lemon grass chicken kebab, didn’t push me away this time. It happened again with the Soya Sawarma, me not a big supporter of soya enjoyed each bite. Brown sugar chicken striper was another heart taker. Most interesting was the preparation of Don’t Smoke Mocktail. The drink is infused with smoke and will not make you feel head out for a fag, which is usually the case with smokers after they finish their first alcoholic drink. The drink has all the healthy smoke of a green tea. It was an eye pleasure to watch the preparation. Some of the other signature dishes from the menu are lamb Aryas, Jammu Kaladi, Bombay Bits, Canadian Cobler etc, etc, etc.

Go and explore yourself they are opening soon, keep an eye… :)

Happy Eating…J

Hotel Review | Café Garden, Bir

You are on a vacation want to eat something good, simple, have all the time in the world to savour a quick bite, then garden Café is the place. A must eat place if you are in Bir, Himanchal Pradesh. The eatery is well developed in a bungalow. 


You can sit in the garden, as well as inside till the time you want to. Everybody is at ease, the guests as well as the hosts. If you are in a hurry, want to grab something and move on then you have entered the wrong place. It is a very beautiful, warm and cosy home away from home. Books of all genres are stacked in shelves to delight over coffee.

There is an open kitchen on the right at the entrance. You can place your order by writing it over a chit of paper. The paper slip is hanged in the queue at eye level of the aunty preparing the dish. The orders served to you are ticked and at the end when you are done with the eating it is used to calculate the bill. 

Serving size is big. One dish for a hungry individual is enough. We ordered chicken sandwich, chicken wrap, Veg wrap, Cold coffee, mango shake, Banana shake, cheese omelette, butter toast, chocolate shake and banana chocolate shake. The best part is food is simple, tasty and authentic, prepared with love at a slow pace with no aim to match any standards, same as we cook at our homes. Each order is exclusively cooked only for you. We ordered two mango shakes with time difference of 5 minutes, both had a different yellow colour and taste, but both were great. This also happens at home with us, isn’t it? Cheese omelette with butter toast is heaven. The amount of butter in toast can also silent a butter boasting Punjabi.

No hurry, cool and calm place to savour quick bites slowly.

Where it is? GPS coordinates are {32.033698, 76.718725}
Address: Paragliding Landing Site Rd, Chaugan, Himachal Pradesh 175032

Happy Eating… :)

Standard Sweets | Chawri Bazaar | Home delivery at your nearest metro Station

They are the old timers, the legacy. They claim of serving since 1956, and one of my known verifies the past 30 years of service.

When you enter the shop on your left, you will see a sweet counter and on your right lassi, coffee and milk counter. Post that set up for sitting, for around 20 people. After sitting, there is a counter for pakode, samosa and chole bhature. You can see big frying pans or kadai in which the pakodas and bhature are being fried. On one side are the washbasin and the water cooler, tissues and all.

Very aptly priced, have a look at the prices, as I have a pasted the snap of the menu. One thing I love about these small eateries is that you pay for what is on the menu and not 30-40% more than the prices which includes service and tax. The service is good and real fast, not to be compare with any, as it is very homely.

Looking at the size of the eatery and the ambience it seemed to me, as it is first pay and service kind. Just grab a seat and order. Food is served quickly and you can even see it being prepared. So you can pass your requirements directly such as “Bhaiya, bhatura zara zyada laal kar dena” (brother, fry my bhatura to a more red in colour than the usual) or “chatni thodi zyada dena” (A bit of more sauce than the usual). Sometimes, I feel that this idea of customization of food is originally by Indians and now globally followed by food chains such as Subway, which propagate ‘make your own sandwich culture’. Don’t you get a different feeling of taste or have ever boasted about it to your friend, saying, “Mine is spicier and tangy as I have asked him to add that extra lime juice and spice”? Moreover, what a satisfaction, you will not deny that. This customization only gives the paisa vasool or value for money feeling.

The place gives a dual feeling of sitting in your kitchen and enjoying the delicacies as well of that of eating out in an eatery. The aroma of other delicacies can be enjoyed along with your own food, which tempts you to order items, which you never thought of. Like, we ordered lassi and daal ka pakoda or laddu, just because of the aromatic punch we got on our nose from them.

The preparation is in all desi ghee. Test many of the desi ghee eateries fail, this place has passed. Many people do not like desi ghee preparation as they get a distinct flavor of ghee and after eat mouth feel. This place scores on this, no distinct ghee flavor and after taste mouth feel.

Usually such small eateries go bad at water they serve. I am sure must have noticed oil floating in the stainless steel glasses in which you were served at eateries and then you ask for mineral water bottle. The water served was cool, no oil spots and scores well on hygiene. I am alive, writing this is a proof.

We ordered Chole Bhature, Paneer pakoda, Imarati, Lassi, Dal k laddu.

Chole bhature: Two big bhatura, with Chole, salad and pickle were served. Bit different from others. The bhature were quite big in size and more or less like a poori. The bhaturas usually are more thick, small and inside have a more mesh kind of structure. Moreover, I liked them. Chole were tasty and the colour on a lighter tone of dark brown. The service staff keeps an eye and will fill your plate with extra chole as soon as your finish your first serve. No extra charges for this… J

Paneer Pakoda: Sumptuous is the word. A very big piece of cottage cheese, mildly spiced and coated with besan. The best of this pakoda is that the 90 - 95% of this is cottage cheese and rest is outer coating of beasn. While some of the eateries, do very thick outer coating and less paneer to increase the profit margins they make a genuine one. The single paneer pakoda is very filling for a stomach but not that much for a greed, which generates because of this tasty snack. It is served with mint and imli chutney (sauce).

Imarati: No, it failed. It had a kind of stale flavor. Cooked nicely, beautiful orange colour had a balanced sweetness but a distinct stale flavor… L

Lassi: Lassi comes with a thick layer of cream. You need to sideline it with a plastic spoon served with it else will mark some of it on your nose while drinking it. The temperature just perfect, not over chilled and neither warm submitting to outside heat. Sweetness well balanced and the winning act was no added flavours. It is like heaven when you rest yourself from the scotching heat and get a chance to take this nectar down your throat.

Dal k Laddu: Nice taste, but could have been better. The batter not kneaded properly. The sign of a good laddu is that when you cut it open in half, will get to notice a good mesh structure as in slice of bread. This was missing. Actually, this mesh structure enhances the taste and the mouth feel. Nevertheless, yes, was well cooked and tasted good, but could have been better.

I loved last line of their menu card, “Home delivery at your nearest metro Station”

Overall, a good place to sit and eat. Whenever, you a get a chance to visit the overcrowded chawri bazaar, or hauz quazi or Ajmeri Gate do try it. Explore more food nearby… happy eating… J