Food

This Place Serves The Best Mediterranean Food In Seattle!

September 19, 2016

Who says you got to survive on fish & chips or a burger trail in Seattle to be alive? When the Mediterranean sea winds gush through your hair and makes you crave for some Baba Ganoush & Pita Bread love affair, head on to Petra Bistro on the 4th Avenue. This place serves the best Mediterranean food in Seattle! And that’s exactly what our globe trotter Akanksha Saxena did, on her vacay-mode with husband; in Seattle. Petra Mediterranean Bistro at Downtown Seattle will take you on a food journey that stretches from Jordan and Lebanon, to Greece, to the Northern shores of Africa, with an extensive variety of authentic dishes and house specialities. While visiting, Akanksha was transported back to the Middle East and enjoyed the enriching personal elements that tie this vast global area together, creating one of Seattle’s loveliest dining experiences. To begin with, she ordered Baba Ganoush – The eggplant was perfectly grilled giving it a very nice smoky flavor. Garlic and lemon juice took it to another level and taste buds were definitely satisfied. Hummus was a blend of chickpeas, garlic, sesame oil, salt and lemon juice. The preparation was pretty standard, not that great, as it was tad bit more tangy for her liking. Next came the entrée which is generally served with a choice of soup or salad. She ordered the Red Lentil Soup which was the perfect marriage between pulses vegetables and spices. The soup was soothing and comforting and definitely helped in preparing the diners for an awesome main course experience. The mains consisted of a Veggie Royale – Fried Cauliflower Served with charbroiled vegetables topped with sautéed garlic, onions and tomatoes in their original house Seafood spices. It was served over a bed of rice, topped with sautéed almonds, pine nuts and garlic sauce. Akanksha relished the bold secret spices, loved crispy cauliflowers over …

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THIS IS WHY LUXURY STAY AT FAIRMONT JAIPUR HOTEL IS FAMOUS!

September 12, 2016

Fairmont Jaipur is a renowned name in the city of pink buildings and royalty. It’s not just the architecture of Fairmont Jaipur, but the very hospitality that vouches for the luxurious experience one gets to witness over a stay at this Mughal-Rajputana inspired hotel property. And when I speak about the luxurious experience, you can expect a round of glitz engulfed food trail accompanied with lodging that makes you feel no less of a king/queen; upon stay. For those who’ve read our travel diaries for a long long time must be aware of our primary rendezvous with Fairmont Jaipur 2 years back. As we mapped the extravagant world of the property in our travel video, our focus was mostly on the intricate decor of the hotel palace. And so this time, we promised to capture the very essence of intricate detailing and heritage of Rajasthan that has been adapted by Clive Gray of Bangkok-based Randolph Gray Design to create magnificent interior decor of the property. Fairmont Jaipur consists of 199 rooms overlooking Char-Bagh courtyard or the picturesque Aravalli Hills. Each room matches the extravagant accommodation style of Mughal royalties, with spacious bedrooms and vibrant bathrooms. Each room is bolted with traditional studded timber door which welcomes guests into an alley dotted with traditional silverware flower vase and a room dipped in bright colour palette of distressed gold and rich turquoise. Most of the furniture is crafted with timber and includes Portuguese colonial-inspired four poster beds to keep up with the old-school charm. The details of studded furniture, jaalidaar-air conditioning, carefully curated interior-decor accessories and excellent amenities build up the luxury factor of Fairmont Jaipur accommodation. Whereas silverware makes up for most of the accessories, dim-lit lamps, Mughal themed mirror-work and paintings add on the royal glory of the room; making the residents feel …

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MIYUKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT – PUNE

August 30, 2016

This post is dedicated to the ‘Poonawalahs’ or the travellers who often travel or are soon travelling to Pune. If oriental cuisine mesmerises you and sushi makes you feel weak in the knee then a trip to DoubleTree by Hilton Pune Chinchwad should be on your check-list right away! A city which is famous for Shrewsbury cookies and Vada Pav, finding authentic Japanese flavours might be quite a challenging. But you’ll be surprised to know that DoubleTree by Hilton Pune Chinchwad actually has dedicated ample square feet to give space to ‘MIYUKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT’; their authentic Japanese restaurant. Now if you are wondering why Pune has an authentic Japanese restaurant, then I must remind you that the city is abode to many automobile companies from across the globe, of which, a major portion goes to the Asian partners visiting the city quite often. To give them the flavours of their hometown, DoubleTree by Hilton Pune Chinchwad proudly promotes MIYUKI as their standalone Japanese restaurant in Pune city. It’s not just in the food, but the decor of the place, a private dining space with authentic Japanese cutlery being imported from the mainland and a dedicated Chef storming up some authentic Japanese flavours on the Teppan grill that makes the entire experience quite unique. If you are well aware of the Japanese cuisine and dining culture, then you’ll definitely find the setup quite authentic. But if you have never tried Japanese cuisine but would love to gain knowledge about the cuisine culture, then MIYUKI warmly welcomes guests with a detailed step-by-step guide on how to get started with the dining experience. Chef Amarjeet and his fantastic staff doesn’t hesitate from providing their knowledge about the cutlery, the food that they have prepared to the ways of eating it with a detailed description. I will …

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High5 Cafe & Bar, Hauz Khas Village

June 21, 2016

For Delhiites, the ultimate Saturday evening destination is usually the the crowded streets of Hauz Khas Village. Amidst the hustle bustle of music and food lovers, their stand an array of restaurants/lounges/cafes and bars offering discounts and unique themes to attract the crowd. All like minded people look out for places that offer affordable food, complimentary or heavily discounted drinks for the ladies and offer leisure seating arrangements for a comfortable round of F&B over a course of 2-3 hours.

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Janpath Grill House Delhi {Menu Review}

June 7, 2016

You will find plenty of restaurants in Delhi that are swearing by the futuristic ‘Gastronomy’ skills for their menu, or those who are trying to be either severely retro or absolutely quirky to catch attention. We foodies are loving all the attention and surely don’t mind opting for a Butter Chicken Pizza over the traditional Butter Chicken-Naan combo. But if you are a true delight and would like to re-live your childhood days, then Janpath Grill House Delhi is the place to be at! Gather along all your Delhi folks and visit this nostalgic hub of everything to do with Delhi food. Be it the street chats of the narrow Old Delhi Lanes, or Rajinder Da Dhaba style grilled chicken tikkas, Janpath Grill House is serving it all in its most authentic flavours; under one roof. Situated in the heart of Delhi, and right across the buzzing shops of Janpath Thrift Market, this newly opened restaurant offers the traditional flavours of Delhi cuisine with a twist of molecular presentation. THE FOOD Following a buffet system for all 7 days of the week, the restaurant offers both lunch and dinner. One gets to dine in with a variety of grill tikkas which are placed on a live BBQ station right in the middle of the table. This comes complimentary with a few mocktails that have all been designed keeping in mind the chatpata taste buds of Delhiites. The meal deal begins with a nitrogen-smoked cup of chilled Frayms as Amuse-Bouche, that instantly reminded me of my school days when snacking over these was a better deal than spending Rs.10 on a pack of Lays. This ritual is taken forward with the server lining up the grilled seekhs of your choice. We tried on a combination of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian grills like …

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Niche Lounge & Bistro – Delhi {Menu Review}

May 16, 2016

Now for those who have been following my blog, will definitely be aware about my experience dining at Niche Bar & Lounge for its ‘Pre-Launch’ Blogger’s table. If you haven’t, then go ahead and check it out! Having been reviewed some of their best preparations, we were more keen on exploring what their regular menu has to offer too. And before going for the review, we definitely scrolled through the zomato reviews and what people highly recommended to try on. To my surprise, it wasn’t non-vegetarian nor was it a gourmet amalgamation. Known as the ‘Pulled Katahal Tacos’ on the menu, this Mexican mix with a vegetable not generally loved (and experimented with) much in the country was nothing less of a surprise. For a slider to go with their array of alcoholic concoctions, Pulled Katahal Tacos definitely faired well on the taste and nibbling metre. So for vegetarians who always end up ordering regular veggie kebabs and paneer tikkas to go with their drinks, this one can be called a gourmet substitute for your vegan requirements. The Tacos are filled with Katahal well cooked which is drenched in a juicy tangy sauce with a zing of sweetness and a sour curd dip and salsa to go on the side. Of course, we did order a portion of chicken and a prawns starter from their seafood menu. In chicken, we ordered the Lal Mirch Ka Chicken Tikka, which although sounds spicy; wasn’t spicy at all. In fact, the flavours of the marination combined with the smokiness of the grill and tenderness of the chicken pieces turned out to be one of the finest Chicken Tikka preparations I’ve had in a long while. The tikka was presented with some freshly grounded mint cloud and nitro cooked onion yoghurt chutney on the side. Being a …

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House Of Han, Jaipur

April 2, 2016

The biggest stereotype associated with Rajasthan and all of its tourist destinations is – leather, Lal Maas, folk music and rustic historical lanes. Now for most of the parts it is a true story, with absolutely no denying the belief in venturing the local lifestyle rather than feeding self to the commercial offerings; their is no harm in being experimental a little. And with cultural cities like Jaipur, the traditional norms come in mandatory with onion kachoris, lassi and Chauki Dhaani tours a must! Now if you are in the ‘Pink City’ and crave for some authentic Chinese food, where to head on to? Right on the Tonk Road, closest to the Jaipur International Airport, we have Crowne Plaza’s newest Check-in property with its star Chinese restaurant named the ‘House of Han’. Intricately designed with the authentic wisdom of Sichuan cuisine, House of Han offers an array of Chinese delicacies. From tender pork chops, fish dressings to offering quintessential sea food platters; the restaurant excels in a variety of meats and organic vegetables preprepared to excellence! The menu has been with an inclusion of various regional local cuisines of China. Chef Jinhong Luo has crafted a kitchen serving Mongolian, Sichuan, Cantonese and Hunan delicacies. Keeping in mind the heat levels that Indian taste buds can take, they have definitely altered the spices used; but that has not deterred the flavours nor has the level of sweetness gone up to disguise the authentic taste. Respecting the norms with the Oriental décor of the restaurant, Crowne Plaza’s team have put in special efforts in reflecting the regional ambience in every possible aspect. The cutlery, crockery, Mongolian griddle table and woodwork of House of Han has been specially imported from the mainland China; for keeping up with their authenticity. The restaurant has four private dining areas, with …

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Swissôtel Kolkata – Review

March 23, 2016

Travelling anywhere in the world is judged on the parameters of being a success or otherwise, based on the mode of stay. If one is able to eat well and sleep well throughout the journey, the trip definitely ends on a happy note. Swissôtel Kolkata is one such property in the newly established area of Kolkata, that promises a comfortable stay with almost every aspect of amenities one can demand for. I will call this property the perfect business traveller’s abode and a couple’s romantic escape! Business Traveller’s abode because it is situated nearby the airport and gives access to all business related protocols that a company can expect. A couple’s romantic escape because it is situated away from the hustle bustle of the city life, offers exquisite Bengali flavours, has a club to unwind at and rooms with private pools to romance at. Right from trying out flavours of Bengali cuisine to celebrating Halloween at a Rain Dance Party, I had a gala time residing at Swissôtel Kolkata throughout my stay. About the Property Swissôtel Hotel Kolkata is located in the New Town area of the city, which is approximately 10 minutes away from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.  The hotel comprises of 147 elegantly designed guest rooms, which includes luxurious suites with landscaped deck and open Jacuzzi. The hotel is perfect for hosting Business conferences and offers conference halls measuring 7064 sq. ft. As per the current norms of constructing hotels, Swissôtel Hotel Kolkata too has a massive shopping mall attached to it. The architecture is such that the mall’s crowd and noise doesn’t interfere with the workings of the hotel at any time. The mall turned out to be a blessing for me, since I forgot to carry my memory card while travelling. The Bars & Restaurants Swissôtel …

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Vistara Airlines – My Travel Experience

March 2, 2016

Gone are the days when travelling by flight meant shelling out a big chunk of your hard earned money. With plenty of airlines and a complex network of flight schedules operating nationally, aircraft as a mode of travel has come down to a more pocket friendly option in the current times. I have been travelling all my life and still find myself being all excited about boarding a train or an airplane, every single time! But one thing that has degraded over time is the food quality of the airlines. No matter how much you pay for your ticket, the food quality remains average with no scope of improvement whatsoever. Their have been times when I have picked up a slice of pizza or some sandwiches before boarding a flight, only to avoid the kind of tasteless food that they serve in-flight. Now Vistara is comparatively a newer airline group that many of my travel friends haven’t experienced yet. So when I got my ticket from Mumbai – Delhi booked on this airline, I tried asking around my friends about their experience with it. Being a foodie and a blogger, I tend to ‘review’ almost everything. Well, you’ll be happy to know that this airline actually turned out to be a great experience for me and I absolutely wish to return again for some more of their hospitality. First things first, they have ample leg space, which is a big concern for tall people like myself (I am 5’11) so this came in as a welcome sign indeed! Now most of us are aware of the usual service of ‘regular water’ in cups in other airlines. Vistara maintained their niche of hospitality by welcoming everyone on board with some packed water bottles. With no hopes of getting a proper dinner, …

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Niche Lounge And Bistro, Delhi

February 17, 2016

Niche Lounge And Bistro, located in the heart of Delhi – Connaught Place, is unlike your regular lounge scenario. With a spacious sitting under a brightly lit glass roof, to getting comfortable in a vintage style sofa setting; Niche is all about class and having an exclusive dining experience. With its de-constructed menu, you can expect to tantalise your taste buds with an amalgamation of Gastropub experience wedded to the flavours of sophistication. 5 Reasons to visit Niche Lounge & Bistro? Check em’ out! #1 The Ambience SMOKED SALMON Nicoise salad with gazpacho The first thing that’s going to come across strongly is the ambience of this lounge. Unlike other dimly lit lounge interiors, this one is well lit with a very spacious seating arrangement. For those who are looking for a drink, they have a live bar available, for those who prefer engaging in some live music in between meals, they have a nice dining space right in front of their entertainment zone; and for those who prefer having some privacy to catch up on some offline conversations they have the vintage lounge zone and a balcony seating area to blow out cigars and hookahs. #2 Caters To All The lounge is spacious enough to host an entire family gathering, a group of workaholics or even youngsters who just want to chug some beers! POLENTA Trio of polenta with seasonal mushrooms, asparagus, baby carrots, mushroom soil and parmesan; served with Fratelli Sauvignon Blanc The menu too is priced to compliment each pocket, with a variety of delicacies that can cater to the desi as well as continental taste buds. #3 The De-Constructed Menu BEETS & GOAT CHEESE Texture of beets and goat cheese with micro herbs & rocket Delhi is definitely taking the whole eatery scene on a new …

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