Food and Wine

Saptami at Holiday Inn Mumbai is a great place for multi cuisine-dining in a luxurious and spacious environment. The breakfast buffet here is really popular!

Let us introduce you to the pure pleasure of Gujarati thalis in this review of Maakhan, the restaurant at Mercure Dwarka, arguably the best hotel in Dwarka, Gujarat.

The entrance was suitably festive with a wall decorated with festoons and dandiya sticks, ideal for a short photo session before the hunger pangs hit. The lavish menu with an emphasis on vegetarian fare and Gujarati cuisine had been overseen by Executive Chef Kailash Gundapalli, with a special Tam-brahm counter curated by Food Consultant Geeta Hari. Ms. Hari, resplendent in her pattu podava (South Indian silk sari) ensured that we tried the raw banana bhajias and neer mor (a Tamilian version of buttermilk with lots of green chillies and curry leaves).

Far removed from the commercial and at times, grimy environs of Indonesia’s capital city, Alto at Four Seasons Jakarta offers one of the most elegant dining experiences a couple of newly weds can hope for. Jakarta was our final stop in Indonesia but we were determined to make the most of it. And with a …

Italian temptations at Alto, Four Seasons Jakarta Read More »

Sip on artisanal cocktails and dine on gourmet Italian and Mediterranean fare at The Daily Bar & Kitchen in Bandra, Mumbai, a restaurant whose aesthete is part grunge and part experimental art.

I’ve had some of the best breakfasts in my home city – Mumbai. Be it brun maska and mawa cake at an Irani café or croissants and coconut crepes at a French one, the city has always filled my belly with good food and my soul with utter contentment. My best friends are also my favourite breakfast buddies. Over forkfuls of syrupy waffles and inappropriately large bites of basil and mozzarella sandwich, we nudge each other to offer up our dreams, secrets and pet philosophies.

The pair of chopsticks beside my table luckily had regular cutlery for company. I wasn’t about to embarrass myself by toying with those contraptions in such an elegant setting. So I happily cut into my Vegas Roll (Rs 850), topped with crunchy corn tempura and sank into my seat with satisfaction. The combination of avocado and furikake sprinkle made this sushi quite delightful. Of the three new vegetarian sushi on the menu, this one was my favourite.

The newly opened Asia Bar & Kitchen stands in a league of its own as a swanky, spacious and understated restaurant with a fine listing of oriental drinks and food. Purists generally turn their nose up in disdain whenever I mention vegetarian sushi. But Asia Bar & Kitchen once again reinforced my faith in its deliciousness. The asparagus and avocado tempura rolls had a crispy interior and softer exterior. The combination of ingredients and textures, combined with the creamy sauces made this dish a real winner.

It’s not just mountains and temples that are awash with ‘good vibes’. It’s also places like the idyllic, gorgeous and uber luxurious Novotel Goa Resort & Spa at Candolim. An infinity pool against the backdrop of lush coconut trees and grassy green lawns, a state-of-art play area at the reception and the newly opened bistro …

Vero Cibo: Novotel Goa Resort & Spa’s new bistro & bar Read More »

I have an on again, off again relationship with ice-creams thanks to my sensitive throat. Never a great fan of simplistic, puritan ice-creams, I am more enthused by ice-cream in combination with crunchier, chunkier, warmer elements like waffles, chocolate cake and cookies. This is why Papacream works for me. They don’t just serve ice-cream. They serve complete dishes using ice-cream as the protagonist. The exception to this rule is of course the Belgian chocolate ice-cream which I recommend you have as is, in a cup or waffle cone just for its pure perfection.