E is Experimental

Not afraid to try anything new, I have a secret trait in me. I am willing to see what leads to what. And I have a dangerous tendency of applying a tip gained for something on a completely different thing. So you never know when I am using you as a guineapig! 

Of late, I am the one cooking at home. Not liking the idea of knowing how a regular dish tastes even before you taste it, I try to add few  of my secret ingredients in it. Often, you are left guessing what has gone in and I like it. My experiments with cooking misfire at times, but that hardly deters me.

Next is my willingness to add spunk to my appearance. I come across as a simple and conventional girl,  until you notice two "Polo" (mint with a hole) rings hanging from my ears. I got my nose punctured impulsively, much to the horror of my family.  My stole is often on my head and my old shirts couple off as exquisite shrugs.

At work, I am not keen to do work in age old methods. I am always looking for effective time management solutions, so that I can wrench out time for other things.

That brings me to the way I move around. I love exploring  alone,  only I prefer daylight,  and would get into unknown lanes to find out where it leads.

More about me coming up soon!  Stay tuned!
--
Discover Things that make me who I am : A, B, C, D

D has to be Delhi

If C is Calcutta, D is definitely Delhi.

Now, this is a city I've grown in. I was here in 2001, came back in 2003 and never really went back. So, a good 11 years of my life have been spent here.

Things that were so taboo in my school days in Calcutta were so cool in Delhi. A city of millions, and I hardly knew anyone. I had friends around me, but somewhere, I was alone. The city befriended me, urged me to explore deeper and deeper.

I made mistakes, I learnt, I spoke to people, picked up local language and talking styles. I have visited areas where people discourage you to venture alone. Oops.

Delhi has grown with me: the metro has come, suburbs have developed, my roots have gone deeper and I've sort of become used to its extreme characteristics: be it the weather, traffic or political influences (or whatever).

The City of Djinns - you'll love it. 

__
Discover Things that make me who I am : A, B, C
Image: Hauz Khas Village, 2011

C is Calcutta

C is always Calcutta for me. Not Kolkata - I detest that spelling. Calcutta is the city I was born in, and hope to die in. Calcutta, the City of Joy.

No, Calcutta is not about Victoria Memorial (monument in the picture). In fact, I've never been inside in my senses.

My schooling, my graduation, my family and friends, my identity is all synonymous to the city. Whenever I land up, my soul connects with the city's. She jeers, "So you are back again? How long this time?"

The city knows I hate leaving it. There's rain everytime on my departure day, as if the downpour is trying to hold me back. Maybe the flight/ train may get delayed?

The city of trams. The city of India's first metro rail. The former capital of British. last but not the least, its "My City".

There's much I do not know about the city. But whatever I know seems to be a part of me. Many a person may criticize it, but I love it all the same.
__
Discover Things that make me who I am : A, B

B for Books!

Yes, its B for Books. The theme I've chosen for this A to Z challenge is what each letter means to me the most.

Its less to call me a Bookworm. I am someone for whom anything in print suffices. And you dare comment on my choice of books - those in the photo above are only a part of the ones I own. When we shifted homes, my husband underestimated the speed of my evergrowing collection and made two stylish shelves. Now he says, "I should have dedicated a full wall for your books!"

Books mean a lot for me. They keep me awake in public transport, help me wait anytime anywhere, and more. Its also the easiest way to strike of a conversation with me - Ask me what book I am reading - for I am sure to be devouring one.

To satisfy your curiosity, I am currently reading "Byculla to Bangkok" by S. Hussain Zaidi.

__

Read my previous posts in this series : A

A - our names!

Having enrolled for the A-Z challenge at the last moment, I was left wondering what I should start the series with. "A" means lot of things for me, but the most important thing is what we are known by - our names. Most of us in our family, my closest friends, people who affect my life and more have names starting with A. So here goes:

Anupama (that's me), Aprotim, Ananya, Anindita, Anirban, Abhishek, Amit, Arun, Anindya, Anuradha, Atul, Alok, Anand, Ayush, Ayushi, Ayesha, Anjan, Aditya, Ashtrutaa, Ashish, Atanu, Anuj, Anit, Avijit, Abonty, Angon and many more...

Love all of you!

"Chakhna Menu" - bringing back yesteryears

Having heard much about the "Chakhna Menu" at Punjab Grill, my husband literally dragged me with him to try it. I am in a non alcoholic phase, and my focus was primarily on what this new menu offered.

We were lucky to meet Chef Gurpreet, the mastermind behind this innovative idea. Young men, just on the verge of adulthood, would have alcohol with street side snacks, sometimes its simple scrambled egg, or keema, or fish tikkas.

The food is served in innovative ways: the mutton comes in a charcoal press model for its cooked on coal. The alcohol is served with a desi flavour too: the Punjabi's love their whiskies in weddings, so a small horn is placed in your single malt: the staff shall blow it once before they serve it to you. :)

 There's more to discover waiting to be discovered by you... so check it out soon!
__
Photos courtesy: Punjab Grill 

South Indian Food beyond the Usual

"So you like Dosas?", I asked my friend when he said he loved South Indian Food. 

"Or Uttapams?", I offered, upon getting a frown.

"There's more to South Indian cuisine than those", said my friend and literally dragged me to Kausstubh in Saket District Centre, near DLF Place Mall. It was a peaceful place, with a simplistic design and wooden furniture.. it seemed peaceful and generated hunger pangs in my stomach.

We started with a traditional rasam and papad. That reminds me, do you know there are numerous varieties of rasam? And if you are interested, you may visit Kausstubh when they host the "Rasam Festival". 

Food from all states of South India was available - we had Fried Cocktail Idli, Cheese Kuzhipaniyaram, Keerai Kuttu and Butter Milk for starters. It was spicy, yummy and very innovative.

I wanted to have the traditional dosa, so the staff suggested we try Chettinad Plain Dosa and Garlic Dosa, along with the usual one. Note the unique presentation style?  

My friend was still hungry, so we ordered the Thali and Appams. With multiple dishes served in small bowls, came a Malabar Paratha and Idiyappam.

We finished our super heavy meal with "1 metre Coffee"... a coffee that is blended in two mugs held at a vertical distance of 1 metre. 

The restaurant serves North Indian food too, but I'd recommend you try their South Indian menu only. 

__

Photocredits: Atul Tayade

Hyderabadi Food Festival

 Window shopping at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon my friend and I stopped in front of a banner announcing the "Hyderabadi Food Festival" at Zambar, a restaurant on the 3rd Floor. Our stomachs and tongues yearning for a taste of the new menu, we dropped our shopping agenda almost immediately.

We were greeted by Chef Arun, a man with a broad smile who adds a personal touch in the food he serves to his guests. And tiny elements add to the ambience: banana leaf shaped plates, portrait of a Kathakali dancer on the wall, and more.

We are served with a small amount of Rasam, and traditional papads. But what is a hyderabadi food festival without kebabs and biriyani? The chef smiles at our query and serves his select few - aloo ke garlay (vegeterian), Shikampuri (mutton) and Chicken tikka (with a strong garlic flavour!). Served with a green chutney, the kebabs just melted in our mouths.

Moving on to the main course, he served us a delectable platter of achari chicken (yummy), nawabi kofta curry (meatballs), fish curry made in nuts and a vegeterian dish made with chillies.

Next came the biriyani, which is served only after the personal approval of Chef Arun. It was too good, and we had so much of it that we had to quickly proceed to the desserts. Needless to say, they were unique and superb too.

All you foodies out there, do remember to check out the Hyderabadi Food festival!

Spicy look for season

Lakme Fashion Week is round the corner, and has ignited the designer in me. Here is a look I've envisioned, with products from my favourite online shopping site. You may click on the links to check out the products.

A carefree look for the modern woman in a plain skirt with prints on the lower side and shoulderless, sleeveless top paired with a lacy black shrug. The orange of the top flows into the bracelet as well, to be worn on the right hand. The left hand should be left bare, from which a maroon handbag shall be slung. The look is accentuated with a red silk printed scarf, to be tied on the hair, to act like a hairband. Beautiful floral danglers, which have both red and yellow, are perfect for wearing with this ensemble. Red wedges complement the look. For those who have their noses pierced, this Ganesha nose-pin can be flaunted, which is funky yet traditional and glitters as brightly as the lady's smile.

What do you think?

Savouring Winter Menu @ Olive Beach

Innovations in food - that is what I would call the new menu at Olive.

Having heard about it a lot, I walked in with lot of expectations... and was met by a smiling chef. He sat with us, and shared with us his experiences from his long stint abroad. And he jokingly remarked that the new menu he has launched this winter had to be "Indianized" to match the spice loving taste of his country-men.

Although it was late winter, he offered us two of his special mocktails which were full of ice. All my apprehensions were discarded when I sipped in the green drink, called "Avalanche" - made with mint leaves. The orange one was a fruity concoction. He offered us choice of platters, but we surrendered to his will, for we wanted to taste the best. Here are the appetizers:

Confit Duck Legs - soft meat made into a dumpling, 

Pumkin Soup in Espresso Style, sprinked with ground pumpkin seeds

Cheese Balls

 Then came Round 1: Duck leg, with a burnt texture, coupled with turnips marinated in orange juice and dressed with plum jam. Coupled with warm bread and rosemary dip, it was too good. To top it all, came Goat cheese with beet, and walnuts - never knew beet and walnut tasted so good together!

Chef Sujan also treated us to Red Snapper fish, and informed us that he always used fresh fish, and not the usual frozen stuff available in the market.

He wanted to treat us more, but we were too full. So we went on to the desserts after a refreshing green apple sorbet, an effective palate cleanser. Don't the brownie and tiramisu look sinful?

It was a great experience for the foodie in me. I am usually very critical, but in this case, I could not even find a single suggestion to provide.

So next time you are in Chanakyapuri, make sure to check out this cozy joint in the ground floor of Hotel Diplomat.
__
Photocredits: Chef''s: Team Olive, Rest: Atul Tayade 

To our Gang Leader

My sister, Ananya.

It is said that God sieves out the good people and beckons them, irrespective of age or any aspect. On January 8th, 2014, God freed her of all earthly ties.

Just under 40, she was suffering from Cancer, a disease whose very mention shakes us up. But not her. She was someone who could face every challenge head on, and had emerged victorious every time. When we came to know her cancer had metastasized, I was encouraging her not to be afraid, when she said, "I am not scared. You all are."

Indeed, we were the weak ones. We cried, worried, got tensed, feared the worst everytime she went through rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, medication and intense pain. If we would ask her how she felt, the answer would always be, "Recovering.".... knowing fully well that she was doing no such thing.

She was named Dihing after a river in Assam. And so much like her name, she lived a life on her own terms. Never afraid to break the rules, she was incredibly smart and intelligent. She was a great dancer, and had a flair for language. Do you think South Indian languages are difficult to learn for someone who was born and brought up in Calcutta? She not only picked Tamil up, she used to converse fluently with her Tamilian maid, run a business in South India, and went on to marry a Tamil guy.

All through our lives, she stood by her younger brothers and sisters - guiding us, sharing our deepest secrets and yet, leading from the front while playing pranks. She was the darling of everyone in the family, for beneath her "I-dont-care-a-bit" attitude, was a caring and loving girl.

She wrote her destiny herself until this dreadful disease got the better of her. While we are happy that she has been relieved of inhuman physical pain, her sudden disappearance from our lives have created a void that nothing can ever fill.

We love you, Dihing-Di.

Too much work? Who cares?

Overloaded at work and household responsibilities, I seemed to have lost all vigour. A friend of mine, having had enough of my complains about it, literally dragged me to South Ex Market - afterall, the best way to relax known to women is shopping. Strolling around, we chanced upon a sign that pointed to Four Fountains De-stress Spa.

"This is where I wanted to bring you", said my friend, grinning.

I had never been to a spa before, and I had many apprehensions. She literally shoved me up the staircase. Upon entering a dimly lit soothing reception area, I felt much better. There was a welcoming aroma lingering around, that soothed me. The staff were friendly, and they helped me choose the Ayurvedic Oil De-stressing session with Swedish Massage.

I was led to a chamber that was laid out in a welcoming fashion. The session that followed was simply out of the world - one feels like a queen while experienced hands of the therapist massage hot oil all over your body. I had a lingering low back pain that is common to all who have desk jobs - the massage relaxed each body part and took away all sorts of body ache.

It was a good overall experience. Now whenever I am stressed, I know where to go to.   

A small piece of advice from me: 

However relaxing this experience may have been, I feel one can avoid such sessions in winter. The oil is warm, and can be applied on only one part of your body - so the rest of the body tends to go cold, inspite of the covers.

Here's wishing you all a very happy 2014!!

Christmas & Wine

This Christmas, a friend had brought a bottle of wine over in the party at my house.

"Perfect wine for the Barbeque", he said, handing the package to me.

While serving, I was awed by the ruby red colour and fruity aroma. It seemed thicker than usual. When I mentioned this to my buddy, he said, "Shiraz is a full bodied wine, so it appears like that. However, you would like the taste."

The first sip had me wincing. I thought it had too much tanins. Seeing the grin on his face, I tried another. After which, I just fell in love with it. It is a taste that you have to get used to. Its smooth, and lingers in your tastebuds even while you munch your food.

Later, I found out that Ritu Wines, the export version of Four Seasons has recently won six medals in the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition!

__

To know more about this wine, click here.  

Uzuri - bringing Europe and Africa together

Wandering in M Block Market, Greater Kailash II, my husband and I were looking for a cosy restaurant to relax, when we chanced upon Uzuri.

The unique name caught our attention - and we walked in. There are two levels - The friendly and courteous staff showed us both - the comfortable dining area and the open air deck (which is perfect for a winter afternoon). We chose a comfortable corner in the lower level, overlooking the greens.

There's something unique about the decor - there's leopard print on the walls and furniture, the artifacts are rustic and have a tribal feel. They have been imported from Africa, we were told.

In fact, "Uzuri" means wellness in Swahili, the indigenous tribal language of Africa (Kenya to be precise). The cuisine is European, which is inspired by Africa. Thus began our gastronomical journey:

What you see above are two unique mocktails - Uzuri Fresh made from fresh mandarins, mint leaves and Apple Tango made from fresh apples and cinnamon powder! We were served cinnamon bread with beetroot jam topped with goat cheese in a cute little bottle. The mustard lamb shoulder and Cape Malay fish cakes just melt in your mouth. Making out that we were very hungry, the staff recommended few dishes:

The pork belly in fennel and grilled vegetable ratatouille are dishes whose tastes are as unique as their presentation. The sinful chocolatey desert with semi frozen trufles filled us to the brim.

 

The food was exquisite and very very unique - its almost experimental, but very tasty. Upon enquiry, I was informed that most of the staff have international experience - great people have together to launch this new venture.

I'll give it 4.5 stars out of 5 overall. Do check this place out, and tell me what you think!

Nainital - a Snippet

My husband and I were due to visit Rudrapur for work, when we just decided on a whim that we should check out Nainital as well. A friend of ours is presently training there, so it was an added attraction.

So, early next morning we caught the Shatabdi Express and got off at Rudrapur. Free by late evening, we took a lift till the taxi stand in Haldwani, about an hour's drive from there.  The taxi drivers gave us two options - either we could book an independent vehicle, or on sharing basis with two or three fellow travellers. Since it was about to get dark, we booked a car for just ourselves and moved on towards Nainital. We reached around 8PM, and our friend joined us in the hotel he had booked for us. A month long fair was on, so there was music and lights around the Naina Devi temple. The town was still awake, and I was happy to see  more pedestrians than cars.

The trio of us started early morning on our explorations with a walk around the massive lake. The town derives its name from Naina Devi Temple and this lake (meaning Tal). There are fishes in the water - we fed them bread crumbs. Further down, we crossed two aeration pumphouses that have been set up to keep the water clean. We came back to our hotel, had breakfast and went out again to visit the tourist attractions.

The foliage is thick and views are very soothing to the eye, especially after the chaos in our urban lives. 

There is a ropeway that takes you across the lake, which is a thrilling experience. In winter, Nainital experiences snowfall, and the lake freezes. For this reason, the location of the ropeway is also called "Snow View Point".

Next comes "Lake View Point", from where the lake appears mango shaped. Tourists love to get themselves photographed here. I took the opportunity too.

Our taxi driver brought us to a point from where a rocky trail along the hills takes off. The track had been laid by Britishers, and there is no other option except riding. The path is through a jungle, and various view points and locations for shooting films lie along it. The weather was a bit cloudy, but we were lucky to get some nice shots.

From Nainital town, we came to Kathgodam at the base of hills to board the train back. We reached late night, and next day in office, I was left wondering, "Was it a dream?"

Keep shopping till you can!

I arrived in the airport only to be informed that my flight had been delayed. I had arrived well in time, and now I had a couple of hours more in hand.

For once, I did not seem to mind at all, as I was in Terminal 3 (T-3) of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. It was renovated a few years back, and being in the building itself lifts your spirits.

Perhaps it would not be wrong to say that shopping gives maximum pleasure to a woman. And T-3 is a paradise on earth for shopping and eating - there is something for everyone. I was travelling right after my marriage, and had already bought some token gifts for everyone in both families, especially the children.

"What is the harm in window shopping?", I thought to myself and walked around.  I was attracted to the Delhi Duty Free shop. Till date, I thought duty free shops were an international concept. I was pleasantly surprised to see one in Delhi and stepped in.

The image above will give you a glimpse of what I found in it - the essence of India. You can keep shopping till time binds you, for everything one may wish to buy is available -  souvenirs, chocolates, tea and more!

I was excited to find some perfumes that were not available on the shelves of even premium outlets - the pleasant sales girl told me that the perfumes as well as some other products have been made exclusively available at Delhi Duty Free to test the market response.

Don't think that shopping at the airport is expensive - in fact, prices of items were lower than usual, because the local taxes etc were not applied.

Aah, now I have a new shopping destination where I can shop till the last minute!

Pasta and Pizzas at Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has been a household name in India for some time and has been dominating the market because of their constant endeavour to customize their menus as per the local tastes. At least, that's what I think - for I have seen stuff titled "Punjabi Mania" in North India, where people love spicy stuff.

 

The latest innovation from them is introducing pastas in their palate - they have tied up with Barila (international pasta brand). Chef Arjyo Banerjee of Pizza Hut and Chef Luca Ciano of Barila came together in a very lively and interactive evening and shared with us tips and recipes of preparing various dishes. Do you know there are more than 100 types of pasta shapes available in the world?

Both Arjyo and Luca served us personally the dishes they had made and took note of our observations. There were some unthinkable improvisations - like using fried brinjal skin as a dressing!! Of course, the traditional pizza and dessert were also included!

 I returned home with the tastes lingering in my mouth!

Genius of Water Purifiers: Aquaguard Geneus

Safe drinking water is a major concern for all of us, but often we are confused about the purifier to buy- more so, when there are many similar products available. So, when I had to select one for my new home, I fell back on the most trusted name: Aquaguard from Eureka Forbes. 

I went with memories from childhood, and was amazed at the smart look of the latest product: Aquaguard Geneus.

As I was marvelling at its sleek look, I was informed that all technologies of water purification, be it RO, UV or UF, have been amalgamated into this creation which would ensure the best quality water. The intelligent technology shall not allow the taste of water to change even with the passage of time or with variation in the input water. What is more, one can modulate the mineral content as per his preferences.

I have been using this product for about 15 days now. Its extremely convenient to use. There are LED lights that indicate the water level in the purifier. You can obtain water just by pressing the lever gently. There is a platform to place your bottle of water.. there is no need to hold it. Isn't that superb design?

Its absolutely hassle free with automatic cleaning technologies, and an Early Warning feature to inform you whenever there is need to replace the filters.

I love it as it has enhanced the look of my kitchen as well as taken off the worries of water borne diseases from my head. It's worth every penny spent, I assure you.

What makes Eureka Forbes a great company is its superlative customer service. A sample of the water from the purifier was taken to the laboratory for testing and the results have been posted to me. The quality of the water has been found to be compiant with ISO 10500-2012 standards!

Don't you think its a wonderful product?

Just a small thing to keep in mind: ensure that you have enough water pressure (the source of water must be at least 4 feet below your water tank), otherwise this unit may not work properly.

Girls Day Out at Cafe Ludus

My buddy Sushmita and I, met up last Saturday afternoon at MGF Metropolitan Mall and decided to check out the newly opened Cafe Ludus. We were pleasantly surprised at the spacious layout! There are cosy corners for small groups- be it in the book/ magazine corner, or near the bar as well as large clusters for a gang of friends - each space adequately separated. Greeted warmly, we were offered to check out the outdoor terrace.. it is indeed lovely!

 However, we chose to sit inside as it was hot and sunny outside. I really loved the contemporary design elements that have been used - funky, yet subtle.

The lighting was perfect and music to set the mood. There's provision for a loud party, gaming consoles and all sorts of modern gadgets!

We ordered two coolers (Soft Sangria & Skinny Pinacolada) to refresh ourselves - as we were exhausted after shopping.

The staff were smart, cordial and helped us choose the starters and main course. We ate so much that the chef came to meet us! He shared two of his signature dishes - Stuffy Mushrooms & Chicken Casanova.The food was awesome and sumptuous!

Add Cafe Ludus to your must-check-out list in this mall - it is right next to escalators on the second floor. There are new initiatives up their sleeves, such as an European fine dining restaurant (open air) and mid night deliveries.

Just Chill !! And yes, read Sushmita's views too!