Saturday, May 21, 2016

Pick-kal

Pickle is actually a Pick-Kal (Tomorrow) as it is a pick for tomorrow. They are prepared in present for a tastier future. Neither a starter nor a main course and not even a dessert, but the meal is incomplete without it. Finds no place even in menu of a high-end restaurant, however the table is incomplete without it. It is impossible to find a restaurant table without salt and pepper, tissue and of course a jar of pickle. I have once noticed, someone demanding it at Pizza Hut, such is the level of obsession of some in the country.
In layman terms Pickle is a combination of salt, sugar, spices, oils and vegetables or fruits. The ingredients chemically work so beautifully in conjunction that a nutritious food product is created. Many people will raise eyebrows on nutrition. But, yes pickles are nutritious. They are very good appetizers, probiotic and source of antioxidants and nutrients. The salt and sugar apart from adding taste are responsible for the preservation of the vegetables. Salts exude out sugars from fruits and destroy spoilage bacteria and these sugars are then fermented which add taste and life to the pickle.
Just Google quotes on pickle and there is no dearth of people’s experiences with it. Pickles are legacy example of preservation. In an Indian household, the average pickle is 2-3 years old and do not be surprised if one gets to taste to even older. 20 years is the oldest I have tasted until date. A common adage in Hindi “Kos kos per badle pani, bees kos per vani” well defines pickles of India. Start moving across the country and the pickle of the same vegetable will come in all different variables of color, taste, texture, process of making.
Pickle making is not just a process instead an art. Pickle from each Indian household has its own unique touch. A household usually makes their pickle and has a secret legacy recipe. The legacy is passed on to younger generation usually adolescent girls in the family by older generation usuallyDadi or Nani (granny)and is still alive in the rural India. The urban has missed onto this and they usually grab factory made available in the stores. However, many variants are available but the factory made pickles have yet to capture the respect of seniors, it is uncommon to hear “yeh bazaar wala achaar bekar hota hai” (This pickle from Market is bad) from the elders in family and they always suspect the ingredients. However, with advancements in technology and research in the fields of Food science these factory made pickles have come a long way and are able to touch lot of lives. Punjab tastes an Andhra Mango pickle now. People are getting to know Indian Pickle Culture and loving it. These exclusive pickles are now just a click away. You can order your pickle online and is at your doorstep in a day or two. It is history when one has to wait from 10 days to 6 months to eat a pickle.
Pickles are not just of aam (mango) or nimbu (lemon) or any other fruit. There is lot of variants available for each fruit as well. For example, mango pickle is dry wala (no traces of oil), tel wala (loads of oil), masala (spicy), punjabi, hyderabadi, sweet and sour, gujarati and lot more. I was reading one book and came across a recipe of Hindustani aam ka acchar, and I was wondering that how Hindustan is different from Punjab, Hyderabad, Gujarat and other states or vice versa. It is with other fruits as well; ten variants of lemon pickle are not tough to find in an Old Delhi pickle shop. 
In India, you think of a fruit or a vegetable and there is a pickle for it. Common ones are of onion, jackfruit, lemon, chickpeas, garlic, reddish, carrot, cauliflower, turnip, mango, gooseberry (amla), green chilli, red chilli, coconut, tomato, bamboo, pumpkin, cucumber, drumstick and and and. These are just fruits and vegetables; however animals are also not spared when it comes to pickles. Chicken, prawn, fish and meat pickles are a connoisseur’s treat. These not so common non-veg pickles are from all over India, from north to south and from east to west.  
Pickles of India advocate its diversity. One may pick a same pickle from different state and each has its exclusive taste. Keep exploring the elite viand and make your life tastier and merrier. Happy Eating !!! 

Friday, May 13, 2016

Wendy's | Khana Talks

Burger brings to mind a round bun sliced in two, stuffed with vegetables, cutlet, mayonnaise, lettuce and multi sauces running out from the sides. Wendy’s is trying to change this round image by delivering burger in kind of square shaped buns. I personally liked the square buns, as they are more comfortable to grab and munch.

Economic range of railway cutlet and crispy chicken is a low risk and is ironical to adage “high risk high return”. It is "let's give it a try" offer for the new customer. With this offer, Wendy’s does a decent job in trying to hold a customer, though only future will decide the loyal turnouts. Other attractions are cool ambience, tasty sauces, numerous burger options, sides and shakes. Yes, burgers are off course the lead actor.


Classic chicken burger, Bacon cheese baked potato, BBQ bacon club and crispy chicken were viands of honor at the cash counter. We received a tower token in return, which we placed at our table and accordingly served in short span of time. Cute small red and green toothpick flags, holds the burger and mark it as veg or non-veg.




Classic Chicken burger as the name is a legacy, with not much experiments and just another burger at any burger store. Therefore, it is a good option for those with low risk appetite for taste. However, something not having USP is a bit of high priced at 170, at least for me.








Bacon Cheese baked potato is a baked potato garnished with bacon flakes and mustard sauce. Mustard sauce being not so pungent and tangy, very well complements the bland taste of potato. Bacon flakes somehow missed to add the crunch factor. They were stale and very chewy.








BBQ Bacon Club burger was worth the price. When you bite the burger, the bacon inside will hit a crunchy feel and as the teeth get inside, juices spill out. Burger is juicy from inside, crunchy from outside.

Crispy Chicken is an open cutthroat competition to Mac Donalds low range chicken burger and knocks it left, right and center. More than value for money is the mantra. One of the best low price options of Chicken burger in the City. In fact, their own Classic chicken is loses the in house battle.


If this had been a movie, the award would have been grabbed by supporting cast. Supporting cast? This role is played by Ghost chilli, mustard, Garlic aioli, Tzatziki and Ketchup. The sauces are amazing, makes visit a worth for a real 'chatora' or a 'chatori' in you.

We paid around 500-600 including service taxes for dishes. The time of visit was post lunch and the hunger thief was already under arrest, so could not do much loot.

Why to visit? Eatery with good number of variant options for burger, sides and drinks. You do not need a reason to visit so when you are not sure where to go, just go and grab your junk. Good place to chit chat and hangout with your love, peer or an old friend along with burgers and shakes.

Why not to visit? Looking for something exclusive, fine dine or an experience or you are in no mood to eat burger.  

Hai Kahan? CyberHub, Gurgaon Do share your experience with any variants you try out.

Happy eating... J

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Ramesh Namkeen Bhandar - Food review

Name it as CFC - chaos, food and confusion. Chaos, as if all people have taken pledge to not to eat at home and come to this place. Food is good, and then comes the confusion. The front sales desk guy is so confused, that people who want to eat is getting their orders packed and the people who are for take away are getting served. However, is this CFC worth? May be yes or may be no.

Where it is? 2151/1A, Opposite Metro Pillar 244, Patel Rd, Ranjeet Nagar, Block B, New Patel Nagar, Khampur, New Delhi, Delhi 110008. Though easily accessible by Shadipur metro station, but one may struggle for parking. No arrangements for sitting and all eating has to be done standing. That is ok if you are here for a quick bite. However, the catch here is waiting time, 15-20 minutes of waiting is too much for a quick bite. Waiting time may shoot if your take away is served or vice versa and then you have to wait another couple of minutes to get it right.

Food is tasty and no second doubts about that. Eatery scores well on the scale of taste. Viands tried were chole bhature, naan chole and lassi. Other option available with naan is dal makhni, which had quite decent on looks. 

Naan and bhature were well dozed with paneer and clearly wins a Punjabi heart. Chole were tasty, not too spicy served with cooked tangy amla and flavorful pudina chutney. Will not say that Chole were out of the place as one can find such tasty chole served by innumerable eateries in Delhi. 

Lassi would have done the job better if had been more cold. However, it was well prepared, very creamy, but being not too cold made it a cold serving.

Hygiene was average and one can’t expect more from the store considering the working staff versus Customer ratio.


Enter the store, on the left pay for your food and collect the token. Now, on the right struggle starts. People are bumping into each other, trying hard to handle the token to the person on other side of the counter. This part of the story is chaos and mother of confusion. The man with so many shouting hands gets confused and forgets the order queue, mixes two orders, serves take away and, and, and. Confusion has taken birth.

Pricing is on a bit higher side when compared with established legacy eateries such as Sita ram in Paharganj, Nand Chole bhature wala in Sadar Bazar, and many more in the same price range. Chole bhature plate is priced for 70 and half for 50. Half plate is more appreciable at 40 or 45; Please do not typecast me as a stingy, this how the undocumented half plate rule is. Naan Plate priced at 80, is costly when compared with quantity and quality of Naan eateries in Paharganj.

So what is the USP? Paneer stuffed bhatura and Naan. Your Punjabi love for paneer is the only driving force and is not something that you are missing in life. Will I visit the place once again? I would never specially go for it, but also not against the visit. Place is worth of once a try.
Happy eating… J


Sunday, April 17, 2016

Rahul Eggs – Too Omelety


Rahul Eggs was not birthed, founded or started; it was surely hatched to serve 350 variants of omelets.

Get down at Keshav Puram metro Station, in the service lane this small eatery cat be located. The place is an air-conditioned college canteen. Walls are full of posters of appreciation from news channels, food magazines and other eminent.

Like any restaurant menu, has a section of Veg and Non-Veg. Man, you are serving only omelets and you are talking of  Veg and Non-Veg, you mean to say you have a Green Dot certified Eggs? Hold On. Veg omelets are the ones, which has only vegetables and egg as the ingredient apart from spice and oil. The Non-Veg variants are the ones that have vegetables replaced for chicken and mutton.



The effort is great and innovative, but the hold factor is missing. We tried five variants and not much difference in taste for tongue. Eyes get a good treat, aggravates the hunger and becomes impossible yours hands away moment the omelet is served. Each variant tried scores highly on aesthetic scale.

 Monaco variant omelets inspired from Monaco biscuit has beautiful decorated toppings. A small bread piece topped with a layer of salami, boiled egg and veggies. The bread base was soft like the topping and the crunch was missing. I feel, if the toasted crispy bread replaces the soft one, it may increase the mouth feel by times. We also ordered Chicken Jalandhari, Vegetable Jalandhari and Vegetable Indian Omelet (not able to recall exact name… L). 





Chicken Jalandhari was the unanimously chosen hero of all the variants tried. It was like, a slice of bread with loads of chicken, coated with omelet and garnished with veggies and plenty of mayonnaise and tandoori orange sauce. 





Indian omelet decorated with Indian tricolor sauces well pronounced the name. Sauces orange, white and green were very “Bharatiya”.






The taste of all the variants was close, so more held by their looks than the beauty. In war of presentation and taste, the taste is always the winner. However, we first eat with eyes and it sets a high expectation. However, 350 is a big number to taste, judge and comment. Might be the sample selected is not the correct representation of population.

The omelets were quite filling and had a good satiety value. We went there in the evening around four, and had to skip dinner. One omelet per head as a snack is enough and two kicks off dinner from the plan

The price is in medium range, we paid close to 700 for 2 cold drinks and 5 omelet. Maximum price noticed was around 210, which is decent considering the amount of infused chicken and mutton.

Cannot be called a fine dine, neither a street shop. A good place if you are feeling too romantic for eggs and omelet. The packing is good and keeps the omelet intact till your place, warm it in microwave and have your meal.

Happy Eating… J

Friday, April 15, 2016

Tiwari ji - Good Morning!!!


China, Nepal?


Baba welcomed me with rose and 32 teeth wide smile and said "welcome to India" I replied "mein yehi se hoon, dilli ka hi hoon, yehi paharganj se aaya hoon" Baba, with a wider smile, curling his hands around his belly and nodding in disagreement stated " itna mota aadmi Dilli ka nahi ho sakta, welcome to India" once again handed me a red rose from his pack. Swings head in question "China, Nepal?" "Nahi nahi, yehi ka hoon mein" Received disagreement, wide smile, red rose and "welcome to India" once again... :) I am still laughing and thinking about it and have looked in mirror innumerable times since then to find a Chinese and a Nepalese. . . #delhi_igers #shortstories #stranger #meetingastranger #chandnichowk #foolmandi #flower #market #flowermarket #streetsofindia #_soi #undefinedisthelimit #highonstreets

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Al-Jawahar, well Jawahar


Changezi chicken at Al-jawahar. Taste : mazaa aa gaya (4/5) Cooking : jhakkas, chicken ek dum tender (4/5) Service : theek thak (3/5) Hygiene : would have said theek thak agar mujhey woh baal nahi milta toh, score badly at hygiene (1/5) Ambience : ok types, not too much to be expected in bylanes of old Delhi and that too opposite to jama masjid (3/5) Parking : Park your car at the one at Lal quila, need to walk around half a kilometer(4/5) Why to eat at Al-Jawahar? If you want to eat really good non-veg. Why not to eat at Al-Jawahar? If you are expecting a fine dine experience. Something unusual: there are few dishes which you need to order few hours in advance to savour them. . #foodreview #fbai #delhi_igers #india_igers #delhifoodie #delhifood #food #changezi #chicken #jamamasjid #taste #foodlover #foodblogger #foodblog #nonveg #nonvegetarian #indianfood

A photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on

SodaBottleOpenerWala - hotel steel dabba wala

Time Machine would be apt name, no physical but emotional transition to different phase is definite. One is pushed from Tupperware age to 1970s when our elders used to carry steel lunch boxes to work. History, legacy and class come dancing from all corners of the place. Glass jars, wooden dressing table, mirrors, paintings and other articles reminds me of my childhood home.



Steel lunch boxes pack elements of surprise, curiosity, poorani yaadein and also food. The serving in not so shiny, scratchy aluminium plates reminds of grandma kitchen. Steel lunch boxes not only add the element of legacy also saves the restaurant from spending lot on costly crockery. Also food need not be decorated in dish and just a bit of garnishing with coriander does the job well. The restaurant is the perfect example of simple is also beautiful.
Eating here is not to satisfy only belly but an experience to live.
Soft old Hindi music being played in background, age old culinary, taste so simple and authentic, free candies, sugar staff can best be enjoyed when felt. The place is a 50-50 blend of modern restaurant and Irani eatery. The staff is very humble and sweet. They guide you well through the menu and very lovely chaps.
The menu has lot to offer in food and as well a challenge. Khade chammach ki chai is free if you are able to drink it. Not describing more about it as element of surprise should be present on your visit.
Food Tasted

Chicken berry pulao: Beauty in rags. Beautifully garnished with dry fruits, herbs and loaded with succulent chicken and mildly spiced rice in a scratchy aluminium bowl. The bowl reminds of a beggar in school drama. But the pulao takes one to the flavourful dramatic journey.

Vadapav:  The typical garlic and asafoetida flavour with semi-cooked not so spicy green chilly reminds of Mumbai Street side shops, where I tasted my first one.

Dhansak non-veg:  Served in 3 box tiffin with mutton gravy, chopped salad and spiced rice. This dish was not able to collect the votes, lack of flavors, no USP… L.


Veg patio Aloo Aunty's cutlet: Amazing with chutney and Pav. After ages tasted such finger licking chutney, that lovably integrated with any dish.
Cold coffee: A blend of chocolate taste and has a lasting impression that heart wants it to go on and on.
Raspberry soda: A tingling sweet refreshing taste is a good choice for summers and also very appetizing.

Sekanje Bin:  Hindi proverb "chala murari hero bun-ney" well describes it. A very original common household shikanji with mint and plum. All appreciation for murari, it is refreshing and soothing.

Let's talk money, 700-1000 bucks to be shelled out per head. Most damaging is the taxation part. In a bill of around 3400, for 5, the taxed amount was close to 800. Too much... L

Why not to go? You want to have a feel of eating out and having next few hours full of food tasting burps. Want to dine out in formal setting? Looking out for something less pricey? Obviously paying 70 INR for a Vada Pav and that too without taxes is on a bit higher side.

Why to go? Simple home-made parsi food, Iranian bakery experience, traverse to old time. Want to explore something exclusive.

Ok all talking done so where it is? Explored the one at Cyber Hub-Gurgaon. They are more outlets at Khan Market- Delhi, DLF Mall of India-Sector 18-Noida. Do explore and share your feel

Happy Eating… J




Friday, April 8, 2016

Potato Jalebi - Navratra Special


Happy Navratra !!! Discovery of and for Navratra. One needs to get in to by lanes of vrindavan to relish this exotic made for Navratra potato jalebi. Potato seems to be too unconventional to be used as an ingredient for jalebi.Tastes awesome, crispy-crunchy-munchy and has no sign to be identified as a potato jalebi. The only mark is that after taste has a distinct mild potato flavour, and is not noticeable easily. Only someone with very strong taste bud can unveil it. A must try even if you are on a fast or not, the sweet tooth regulatory norms mandate it. All appreciation for the brain behind it, the bland taste of potato makes it a very eligible candidate for sweet dish. I had privilege of eating potato halwa before but Jalebi was a pleasure. Next time you are visiting Vrindavan, do try this. It is near Bankey Bihari temple. How to reach? Come out from Bankey Bihari temple reach a T-Point (Landmark - chaat shops) take a left turn and after 10 steps take a lane that leads to Nidhivan. Around half kilometer walk and you can locate this shop on your right. If able to find, do get half kg for me too... :) Happy eating... :)#flavoursofindia #storiesofindia #vrindavan #tastesofindia #soimathura #_soi #zdventureindia #zdventure #delhi_igers #foodlove #foodreview #sweetsofindia #delhifoodie #fbai #potato #jalebi #vegetable #navratra #navratri #navratrafood #india #undefinedisthelimit #indianfood #indiansweets #happyeatingA photo posted by Nipun Bajaj (@bajajnipun) on

Thursday, March 31, 2016

ColorTrip - A Rhyme


Color Trip  - Celebration Of Love Oneness Relationship Through Rejuvenating Intellectual Photography 

It has all and it has nothing, it was full and it was empty. We were together and we were alone. I was me, and I was also we. 

So strong is the power of like minds, never realized before. I knew no one when I boarded, and there was no one I didn't know when I off boarded. 

Drenched in love, colored from head to toe walking with stranger to better I know. We are SOI, we were on SOI, to unravel the secrets of SOI. 

Law of nature, walk to lose was at challenge. More I walked, more I gained. 
I was empty heart, mind and soul. Filled  with memories, life and joints on roll.

“I am in everyone and everyone is in me”, well understood on Colortrip by me. Lessons of Gita, coming to life, dwindling away from city strife. 

Assorted gems in a bus, reach vrindavan to deliver a Jewel, warmly welcomed at Hotel Anand krishna van with ringing Temple Bells. 

Knights woke with the first ray of light, well armed to beautify the plight. 
Canons, Nikons, GoPros and Dronacharya all set to capture “yeh bhi liya, woh bhi aaya”.

Convoy captivated, captured all and greeted. 
God men served us food, and we celebrated. 

Difference in food and prasad was felt, 
under the warmth of love hearts melt.

Re energized sepoys headed to capture laathmaar, 
the only love imbibed fight for which law will not put you behind the bar.

Back into the caravan to celebrate victory, 
suddenly realized we still have to solve lost man mystery.

Healthy flirting in the dining room, and some in open air under the shiny moon. 
Plans were laid for the next day, to explore the temples and city in one's own way.

Prem Mandir, Bankey Bihari, Nidhi Van, ISKCON and Ghats, 
the most wonderful was kesar ki lassi and Aloo tikki Chaat. 

Frooti was offered as bribe, 
in return of shades to monkey tribe. 

Last night couldn't be celebrated better than India winning over Pakistan. 
The big screen effect encouraged every heart to shout loud and clear,
Hindustan Hindustan Hindustan.

We are all packing to move on, nobody wants to, but life has to go on. Each heart had a secret crush, wants to freeze this time so that their is no rush. 

Bye Bye, let's catch up in Mumbai, in Delhi, in Kasol... Hum toh miltey rahengey....yes we are parting off. We parted to meet again.

This A to Z of adventure, result of sleepless nights dreamed by Zdventure.
I love you SOI and Zdventure.



Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Delhi heights - Badey wala Bites

The word height goes well with the real big portion of serving. Be it an ordered dish or a complimentary serving, the rhyme is live life King size. The ambiance is not in Delhi theme, instead shouts of Delhi. Table mats are work of amazing thought work, Delhi lingo is well placed and printed.

The sitting is comfortable and a casual one. Interior designer has done a good job on "desi theme" from entrance to washroom located at the end of the restaurant. The best part is though being a rustic design comfort is nowhere compromised.

Looking at the menu may seem highly priced but the reverse is actually true. The quantity served is BIG BIG BIG. Value for money is well taken care. It is difficult for a good appetite person to shell out more than 1000 bucks, given that finishes the serving.


My personal all time hero is Juicy Lucy. Succulent lamb burger is good enough to project your dietitian and diet plan with escape velocity. Burger justifies the name to last bite. When one cuts the bite, juices in the lamb nugget burst and hmmmmmm... Sorry was lost again in the taste. If loads of cheese in the burger gives you a guilt feeling there is a pack of vegetables for the counter. Tomatoes, olives, cucumber, salad leaves are few to name.

Also ordered veg version of Juicy Lucy named as Delhi Burger, Panini with Multi vegetables and in drinks Pink Perfection. Pink named aptly was blended with colors and flavors to perfection, basically a water melon drink, very soothing in Delhi summers.


Delhi heights is not a place for delicate diners or who just had bariatric surgery or those who eat just to live. It is a place for those who live to eat and food is God. They offer exhaustive menu, anybody how much finicky will find something to curb his hunger.

Easy to reach, park your drive at cyber hub parking, they charge very nominal for first few hours. Rush to the place, grab a seat and order. You can also call and reserve your seat. After placing your order savour the cheese and soup sticks with yellow butter, the quantity served is good enough to keep you busy till your order arrives.

They host 2 types of seating, one with the comfy sofa and the other a regular table chair. I personally feel, if you are really hungry opt for the table chair as it allows you to eat more. Sitting on sofa is no doubt more comfortable, but kind of presses the stomach which curbs the desire to go on and on.

If you are really hungry, want to eat something tastes good don't want to experiment something new and want  something out of normal in regular, in one line " you are hungry, want to eat, but don't know what" Delhi heights is the place to be.


Happy EATING... J



Saturday, March 5, 2016

Fact of Life


Eagle Water tank


Football at Pind Shankar

Pakode ki dukaan - tibiya college wali

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