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

Ice Pan Creamery

Simplest recipe for ice cream? Mix milk or cream, fruits, chocolate chips or any other ingredients of your choice in a bowl and freeze it in freezer. I take away freezer and give you a pan, now make it. You must be thinking stupid of me. Yes, you have your own reasons for that but I have mine. Go and have ice cream at any of the ice pan Creamery outlets and now think stupid of me. They make your ice cream live in front of your eyes on pans and then serve them as ice cream rolls. Interesting? These pans are super cooled pans at temperature between -30 to -45 ° C. Fresh ingredients poured into pans, crushed, and seeing them freezing and articulating into rolls is a visual celebration and what an art. Flavours are definitely good, as the ingredients are fresh, authentic and natural. No trace of preservatives. 

They offer quite a choice of flavours in each category namely vanilla, sorbet and chocolate. They have an extensive menu, and lot to choose from shakes, and other choice of beverages like Ice Tea, cold coffee, mock tails. Also on the menu are the combos with sandwiches, drinks and ice cream rolls.

USP of the place is freshness and authenticity. They veggies in the sandwich are fresh and crunchy; it may take a bit longer to get your sandwich, as the veggies will be chopped as per the order. However, I do not mind waiting 5 minutes longer when the freshness is guaranteed. 

They have given London circus downtown theme to the place and it makes the ambiance a chic look.

All in all a nice place to enjoy the cooked ice cream.

Happy eating... :) 

Anjlika Pastry Shop | Karol Bagh | Quick Review

I am in love with the place as for this is the safest option to have a quick snack while shopping through the bustling streets of Karol Bagh. By safe I mean, 'the taste', a bad one spoils the mood and day and can be harmful... :) In summers, it is one of the best place to take shopping break. 

Sip your cold coffee with a burger, roll, pastry or sandwich and review your shopping tasks or next target shops. At least this was my first, second and Everytime experience. They have a place in basement and upstairs as well. It is a self service joint and have an option of eat there as well as take away. They do not serve any thing exceptional, yet they are good and best from the rest. Simple fresh food of good quality and taste, in a neat and clean ambiance at genuine price is their USP

Happy Eating... :)

Standard Burfee | Karol Bagh | Restaurant Review

Think of the angel and devil is here, is something that happened with me at Standard Burfee, Karol Bagh. I love this place for the authentic Indian Sweets, purity, hygiene and tasty food preparations in Desi ghee. Another high point is, it is one of the no onion- garlic shops. So, an ideal place to hang out with Jain friends or at the time of navratras, when most of us those who are not fasting at least try to avoid onion and garlic.


I have been visiting this place quite often for delicacies and snacks. Prices are normal, it is neither a fine-dine nor a cheap eat. They have a nice comfortable sitting, where can also see most of the preparations live, like bhature, jalebi and tikki. It is a value for money place. A good place to have Indian snacks like Chole Bhature, Tikki Chaat, Ram laddoo and and and…

Ok, so where are the angel and the Devil? I always have vote for the chole bhature at this place; one reason is it is desi ghee preparation and minimal usage of soda in chole which palate cannot easily detect. In my recent visit, when I being optimistic felt otherwise. Chole, bit uncooked this time and had a hard texture. Though place is very hygienic but somehow a hair strand made a way in my aloo tikki. I know this is not the place where I expect this, as I have been eating since long and never seen any compromise on hygiene. It also felt bad.


However, I had to inform the management. I called for the person cooking in the open kitchen and shown him the mess, by pointing at the plate. He was apologetic that was clear from his body language and expressions, as this being a place of repute from ages it is a matter of shame. He immediately called for a cleaner, asked him to dump the serving in garbage outside the shop. Then he asked another waiter to serve us a fresh, said sorry to us and left. This was not more than a 30-second long story and only exchange of word that happened was “Sorry”. He never tried to justify, took a quick decision without any hesitation and resolved the issue. Mistakes happen and how you handle them is important. Some time you are completely put off from eating and this was one such incident.

An incident, which would have made me not to look at this shop anymore, instead earned appreciation. I felt bad, but that was for an instant. I made my purchase of sweets as usual, tried some more food. Moreover, it was not too bad experience in total… 😊 

Good hospitality is necessary for food to taste tastier.

Happy eating… 😊 

Poori - e - bahut bari

Isn't it too much big for a poori?
Found it somewhere on the streets of Moradabad, UP. Reason, I love travel. जाने क्या दिख जाए?
I talked to this gentleman, and he told me it is called paratha. I was not satisfied and said, this is not paratha, it is deep fried and it is like poori. He started smiling and said "आप पूरी समझ लो"
Anyways, with tum so full, was in no condition to go for it. Watching the preparation was an eye treat in itself.
Happy eating... :)

Wow momo @ Satyaniketan,Delhi | Review

I am not a big fan of Momos, and they always give me that uncooked slimy feeling. Traffic on Delhi roads can also do some good, by making someone like momos, is quite an unusual optimism. Slow moving traffic due to ongoing road construction activity at Satyaniketan, Benito Juarez Marg, is enough to frustrate anybody on Friday evening. Hit by the same on nerves and hunger in stomach, we parked our car on roadside or rather left it and hopped on the other side of the road to save ourselves from starvation.

                 

My colleague has a taste for momos and wanted to have a quick bite and also something which is easy on tums. Though it proved otherwise, we had to skip our dinner and savoured for around hour. Wow momos was the only option with mentioned constraints.

A small eatery with posters around and post-its with compliments on one of the walls gives it a cool, wannabe youth look. Don’t look out for fine dine experience and for facilities like powder room etc.

Experiments that turn good or our successful can be called as wow momos. Momo inside a burger is quite unconventional and is known as MoBurg. I would say it is more for a spicy palete, and a normal one will blow whistles with every bite. In fact, all the preparations we tried we found them bit spicy above normal.

Baked momo augratin, is another grace to taste. It is momos wrapped in noodles and buried under loads of cheese and spicy sauce. Garnished with Italian flavorings, sends the aromatic invitation all around to relish it. 

As we found the food quite spicy, ice cream was the only option for rescue. However, they call it softy, but were running out of cones, so they served it to us in cups. Ice cream was good, simple vanilla dozed with chocolate chips and chocolate sauce.

Overall a good experience for a non meal type hunger, though we replaced it with meals… J

Location: Satyaniketan, Opposite Venkateshwar College(Venky), New Delhi.

Quaff Microbrewery | A Quick review

Variety: Fine dine restaurant with choice of freshly brewed beer. It is a microbrewery. If you have a taste for rustic countryside beer, you will definitely love the place. Lot of options to choose and eat from.

Taste: Food tastes good before and even after beer or drinks... :)

Serving Size: Good, one serving enough for 2.

What I Ordered?: Chicken Pizza, crispy corn, wheat beer

Recommendations: Crispy corn with wheat beer

Ambiance: Low light, soothing, relaxing and calm

Hygiene: Good, which is generally an issue with beer cafés

Staff: Courteous

Service: Moderate to Good. Slow at times 

Price: Beer and food costs you around 1500, including tax. Which is quite decent at such a place. 4 mugs of beer with one serving of Crispy Corn, is good for 2 people and costs under 2k.

Location: Cyber Hub, DLF Cyber City, Gurgaon

USP: Wheat Beer

Ice Cream Rolls

Making of live ice cream. Ice Cream rolls at Ice Pan Creamery, Saket, Delhi.

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

EYWA by Saby and Celeste | New Launch

EYWA a new café by Chef Saby and Celeste Chocolates launched at Meherchand Market. Celeste Chocolates is treating its customers for close to two decades with its chocolates and now takes them to this experience of elegant café.

Extensive menu to choose from, comfortable sitting, excellent service, luxurious ambience makes this place a must visit. With fewer such options in Delhi, the place is definitely going to make its mark in coming time. Both are experienced and well doing brands, so the expectations are high and onus to perform well also.

For me the USP of the place is cozy ambience and simple flavoured easy food. I tried Pasta, Quesadilla, Bruschetta, Pizza, Cappuccino and dessert Platter. Dessert Platter is good, Celeste being so long in the dessert industry, and one cannot expect a bad one. I felt coffee was a bit mild, though was very creamy and had a nice texture.

However, food is very good, still it is not a driving factor for me to the place. I simply loved the ambience, service and an overall comfort at the place, and that excites me.

Location: 48, Celeste Chocolates, Meherchand Market, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

So do explore it by yourself…Happy Eating… J

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... :)

Pan Cooked Ice Cream Roll @ Ice Pan Creamery

Simplest recipe for ice cream? Mix milk or cream, fruits, chocolate chips or any other ingredients of your choice in a bowl and freeze it in freezer. I take away freezer and give you a pan, now make it. You must be thinking stupid of me. Yes, you have your own reasons for that but I have mine.  Go and have ice cream at any of the Ice Pan Creamery outlets and now think stupid of me. They make your ice cream live in front of your eyes on pans and then serve them as ice cream rolls. Interesting? 

These pans are super cooled pans at temperature between -30 to -45 ° C. Fresh ingredients poured into pans, crushed, and seeing them freezing and articulating into rolls is a visual celebration and what an art. Flavours are definitely good, as the ingredients are fresh, authentic and natural. No trace of preservatives. 

They offer quite a choice of flavours in each category namely vanilla, sorbet and chocolate. They have an extensive menu, and lot to choose from shakes, and other choice of beverages like Ice Tea, cold coffee, mock tails. Also on the menu are the combos with sandwiches, drinks and ice cream rolls.

USP of the place is freshness and authenticity. They veggies in the sandwich are fresh and crunchy; it may take a bit longer to get your sandwich, as the veggies will be chopped as per the order. However, I do not mind waiting 5 minutes longer when the freshness is guaranteed. 

They have given London circus downtown theme to the place and it makes the ambience a chic look.

All in all a nice place to enjoy the cooked ice cream.

Happy eating... :)

Pan | Tambul

Pan... A must have after Indian meal. Also known as tambul. Description would be mixture of spices and herbs wrapped in a betel leaf, decorated with silver sheets, loaded with flavours. It is served as a last dish of the Indian cuisine and marks the completion. It is considered to have digestive properties. It is such an integral part of the Indian society, that it is not difficult to find a pan kiosk every few metres. Lot of pan varieties are also available like meetha pan, sada pan, banarasi and and and...keep exploring... :) . . . . #undefinedisthelimit #pan #paan #tambul #radissondelhi #delhifood #travel #food #foodphotography #foodlove #shivangireviews #khanatalks

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@undefinedisthelimit) on Nov 27, 2016 at 5:46am PST

Dangal - What a movie

Grand Cinemas in the Raheja's Mall on Sohna Road has a skywalk like entrance where you hop on an escalator on second floor and reach fourth floor directly. And they have a very elegant and page 3-ish entrance, with a big florescent 2-shaped display which changed color in a very subtle and aesthetic way.
But I digressed.
We actually went there to watch the most awaited movie of 2016. Yes, Dangal. And what a movie it was. On the surface it was a sports movie, but dig a bit deeper and you will also find a family drama.
First things first, the movie scores big on authenticity, first on Haryanvi dialect and then on showing the wrestling scenes, and those seemed too real to be choreographed. And the little bits of humor just fits in.
Both the girls, the childhood and the adult avatar,  worked splendidly. And Aamir Khan, just nails it. And the body metamorphis he goes in, from a well built wrestler in his young days to a bit paunchy but still able to pack a punch father, is just incredible.
And the best scene in the movie when the elder girl wrestles with her father. You kind of pin for both to win. Her, because, she is coming out of age and wants to assert herself and him because he gave it all to raise the girls as wrestler.
And Apaarshakti also came out as a good surprise package, both as 'The Voice' and a regular Joe cousin.
All in all, go watch the movie. With your friends, and then with your family. And then again.

Mahou Clasica - Beer review

It is always challenging as well as fun to review something what you like. Challenging as you like it, very likely you'll give a biased feedback and fun as you enjoy the every moment spent with your favourite. There is also a flipside, the product if you like, doesn't meet the expectation, chances are you will hate it, till your grave. And the confusion multiplies many times when it is beer. I recently received couple of cans of Mahou for review. "Beauty is in the eyes of beerholder" immediately flashed my mind, when I received the parcel. I promised my self I won't be swayed away. 

Parcel had cans of Mahou Clasica beer. It is a premium lager beer. First and the foremost factor to judge any beer is the clarity. Scores perfectly on that, it is crystal clear and golden in colour. It has a different hint of flavours, slightly fruity we may call it. I liked the overall mouthfeel of the beer and aftertaste as well. As the can was opened and poured in glass, could feel the pleasant and refreshing aroma of malt entering the soul through nose.

Overall the product is great, flavour is balanced, it has taste of fruit, slight bitterness, refershing mouthfeel and soothing aftertaste.

One of the most important factor, not to be overlooked is the pricing. Decently priced at 100 INR for 500ml can, 150 INR for 650ml bottle and 80INR for pint in Delhi.

Ohh My beer - You are so dear

The ‘oh-so-lovely’ occasions to cheer with beer are many but the reason to cheer is the same – yes, the all-time favourite – beer. Some of the best and awesome occasions when people cheer with beer.

I-got-promoted-beer:
Good news! The long due acknowledgment of your work slogging it out for long nights on end to get that appraisal and appreciation from your bosses has finally been acknowledged. You are promoted! Well, you get beer for your peers to cheer with you and celebrate the joy. You might want to enjoy this time with some strong beers – like Dare Devil that has a characteristically strong and slightly bitter malt aroma and its base notes reflect the fruity flavours. A product in the semi-premium category brewed in India, it has a warm gold colour with a crystalline aspect.

Thank-God-it’s-Friday-beer:
Blessed is the second when you realize fantastic Friday is here and the weekend will follow. We doubt if you head home straight before making a customary stop and grab a couple pints of beer to pop and chug. Spend your Friday with BIRA White, the delicious wheat beer with low bitterness and a hint of spicy citrus taste.

Oh-its-lovely-weekend-beer
So, the football match is on Saturday and you have been waiting for this weekend. Why not grab your favourite beer and enjoy the much awaited game with your friends? Enjoy the game with Mahou Clásica, a premium lager that comes with a tinge of fruity flavours and that maintains the original recipe, taste and quality given to its production since 1890.

For-Ol’-time’s-sake-beer:
That pending plan that got cancelled again and again but has finally come to life when your gang decides to catch up for old time’s sake. And what better way to revive old, unusual and weirdly hilarious memories than with beer. The wonderful range of craft beers at Doolally in Pune and The White Owl brewery in Mumbai are the favourite of people to reunite with the old buddies.

It’s-a-lonely-night-beer:
This happens when you find yourself comfortable in your pajamas, sit in front of your TV and wonder what will make this night less lonely without having to talk to anybody(which is why you’re alone by-the-way). And there you go! A companion as chilled out as beer with zero expectations to have you talk is all you need.

Summer-is-here-beer:
Although it feels that summer arriving is just an excuse to have beer, it’s universally accepted that beer is the go-to drink when ‘the sun is out, the sun is almost gone, the night is here’ during summers. Anyway, even during winters when the sun is piercing through the cold winds, you will find yourself with beer.

A fun fact: after reading this, you might already be extra thirsty and you may want to head out and get yourself beer. Go grab your favourite suds and enjoy!

Bhangarh - Is it scary?

Fort of bhangarh. Considered as one of the most haunted place of India. Is it so scary? Is there any paranormal activity? There are so many visitors at the place, I am sure ghost must be having scary fits. However, lot of people were doing hooooo whooo and trying to scare their known. There was a girl who was trying to climb the tree like a monkey and her aunt jumping from beneath, making monkey sounds trying to scare her as if monkey is going to come out from the branches of the tree and jump at the girl. My friend looking at this commented, "see, this place actually has some paranormal activity. Who normal being does like this?" However, something strange happened and one may interpret it in his own way. As we came out and strated driving back, we noticed a weird sound coming from one of the wheels. We got down and to our surprise one of the tyres of our car was wrapped with cloth and it created that obstruction in driving. We removed it and then within 10 metres of further drive realised that one of the Tyre was flat. After sorting out this Chaos and then moving further, we lost our way. Sorry, Google lost his way, and started showing us the route through, where actually was a wall. This was my experience at the one of the most Haunted places. Scary?hmmm? . . . #undefinedisthelimit #scary #travel #lonelyplanetindia #tripadvisor #rajasthan #bhangarh #crazemagin #bhangarhstories #travelasylum #india #ghost #natgeo #paranormal #activity #fort #inspiroindia #mytravelstories

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on Nov 14, 2016 at 7:46am PST

खतरों के खिलाड़ी

On my way to Pushkar...do not try this at home these are seasoned adventure travelers. I wish for, when we will have a sense of security for ourselves and start respecting human life. Poverty is one big reason and there are many others, like lack of education, good transport facilities. A common scenario on Indian highways, when people literally hang themselves on automobiles for travelling from A to B. . . . #pushkar #travel #india #_soi #indianroads #rajasthan #lonelyplanetindia #tripadvisor #crazemagin #undefinedisthelimit #security #adventuretravel #commonman #zdventure

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on Nov 14, 2016 at 2:55am PST

Slurrp.... Mazaa aa gaya yeh tazaa tazaa gosht kha k... :)

Slurrp.... Mazaa aa gaya yeh tazaa tazaa gosht kha k... :) . . . . . #food #wildlifephotography #delhinaturesociety #animallove #nature #eagle #candidphotography #crazemagin #inspiroindia #natgeotravellerindia #tripadvisor #foodlove #discovery #discoveryindia

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on Nov 6, 2016 at 6:26am PST

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