Delhi Food Walks

Posted on February 11, 2015 February 8, 2015

INDIA ART FAIR

By Shagun Nayar

The India Art Fair was hosted in the capital city of New Delhi in the NSIC Exhibition grounds from 29^th Feb-1^st January 2015,which housed over 1,100 artists from all over the globe with a conscious effort to promote home-grown artists. It was an event, open to all and enjoyed by everyone. Indian-origin artists along with artists from all over the world were successful in capturing the essence of what was truly one of the finest days for art connoisseurs, gallerists, collectors, art directors and all those who longed to experience one of South Asia’s top cultural events. True to its reputation, the art fair delivered on all its promises leaving very little to complain about, if any.

The exhibition hall was covered top to bottom by paintings, photographs, sculptures, installationsand 3D models. There was no particular theme or points of reference for the artists as they were given a free reign to exhibit their art according to their own whims and fancies. An hour into the exhibition, I found myself being absorbed by the array of talent and its sheer magnitude. There were two artists which left me with a lingering feeling of awe and appreciation.

1) Azadeh Akhlaghi who created pictorial scenes from Iran’s most notorious and scandalous deaths.

2) George K’s Chess Series which ranged from ‘Survival of the fittest’,‘A diagnostic chess’ to ‘Analyse to prediction and fast response’.

The food was as spectacular and tasteful as the art & all that walking around and pacing up and down the gallery made sure that everyone turned it into a late afternoon of tasty indulgences and sipping wine.The highlight of the fair and I don’t just speak for myself, was; CAARA’S stunning roof top restaurant, café&bar. On entering this very European setting, I was overwhelmed by the towering flower pots which covered the walls &multiple strings of yellow bulbs which created their own sky emitting a rich yellow luminous effect that went perfectly with the setting. The terrace café was furnished with tall bar stools situated at the foot of a long wooden table facing the exhibition hall and much of the venue. It provided for a great view which was accompanied by delicious food and engaging company .There were large black and white patterned pillows on each wooden seat and the navy blue blankets provided for an atmosphere of absolute bliss. The menu was simple yet sophisticated, with pulled-pork Panini’s, Tomato-Mozzarella Pesto baguettes, Cinnamon Rolls, Breakfast Pastries, Airy croissants, Cold pressed juice, Well-made coffee including Frothy Cappuccino’s, Espresso’s , Americano’s and Wine (Jacob’s Creek) , both Red and White for thosewho really wanted to sit back and get encapsulated in a rather magical evening of good food, jazz music&wonderful company. The other spirits included Vodka, Bacardi White Rum and Scotch.

To my surprise, the menu was fairly priced with the coffee averaging around Rs. 150, a glass of Red wine costing Rs. 400 & White wine costing Rs.500. The vegetarian baguettes/Panini’s and sandwiches averaged to Rs. 270 and the non-vegetarian dishes costing no more than Rs.500 and no less than Rs.300. The staff was courteous and very efficient, with tables being cleared simultaneously and orders being given on time.So, be sure to visit CAARA –Café Bar to be part of a quintessential European experience filled with great food and a wondrous ambience.

Location: 17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, British Council

Contact Information: contact@caara.com

Contact Number:+91 98 73 344031

Posted on February 10, 2015 February 10, 2015

India Design ID 2015

India Design ID 2015

NSIC Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi & the Design Districts of Delhi

9 -15 February 2015

India Design ID 2015 rolls out its third edition

India Design ID 2015 – a unique platform to create a new generation of design-and business-based talent factories to help fuel the design economy of the country. It recognises and celebrates designers and creativity from diverse disciplines of design – from product to interior design, architecture to conservation, installation to lighting design.

The weeklong event will kick off on Monday February 9, 2015 with off-site activities across the design districts of the city, culminating with the main event at the NSIC Grounds, Okhla on the weekend of 13 -15 February 2015.

It comprises of three verticals — Exhibit ID, ID Symposium and ID Satellite. These three verticals will bring together the design community to share their experiences, knowledge and aesthetics through exhibitions, installations and discussions.

Exhibit ID (13^th Feb -15^th Feb’15): the three-day event will be open to trade and general visitors to view the finest in home decoration and design. High end brands and designers present collections through individual booths, trend galleries and installations; plus a curated montage of contemporary craft and young talent.

ID Symposium (13^th Feb -14^th Feb’15): is the Conference Series where the masters of design will hold lectures and discussions. While seeking to inspire the design fraternity in India, it also offers a networking opportunity for delegates to exchange ideas and build relationships within the industry. ID Symposium 2015would feature eminent speakers from different walks of life, such as BV Doshi, Ambrish Arora, Paola Navone, GurjitMatharoo, SebastianWrong,Fumihiko Maki,LidewijEdelkoort, Giulio Cappellini to name a few.

ID Satellite (9^th Feb -15^th Feb’15): takes design to eminent design districts of the city turning New Delhi into a design destination. This hip offsite vertical discovers design districts of Delhi with promotions, installations and events across different venues through week long festivities.

Also savour the delicacies at the following Restaurant stalls at ID 2015

Brown Sugar
Caara Café
Coast Café
Dunkin Donuts
Elma’s Brasserie
Guppy by ai
Jugmug Thela
Lodi- The Garden Restaurant
Olive bar and kitchen,
SodaBottleOpenerWala – Bombay Irani Café
The Park Café
What The Truck

ID Exhibit & ID Symposium:

Venue: NSIC grounds, Okhla, New Delhi

ID Exhibit ticket pricing:

Business hours: 10 am – 2 pm – INR 300 (only for 13^th& 14^th February 2015)

General hours: 2 pm – 7 pm – INR 200 (for all 3 days 13^th – 15^th February 2015)

Posted on February 9, 2015 February 9, 2015

Barista Meets Artista

Le Méridien New Delhi presents “Barista Meets Artista” at the India Art Fair 2015

Delhi witnesses Le Meridien’s international campaign ‘Inspiration Brewed Here’

Le Méridien New Delhi in conjunction with India Art Fair 2015, South Asia’s largest contemporary Art Fair, played audience to a unique and interactive coffee and art performance by LM 100 member Esther Maasdam – The Global Latte artist along with visual artist -Sohan Jakhar.

This unusual art performance reinforces the brands commitment to coffee culture. The event was India’s introduction to the new year-long Inspiration Brewed Here campaign and that saw the appointment of Esther Maasdam as the first ever global latte artist for the brand. The Campaign was launched on November 11, 2014 at Le Méridien Vienna. Destination-inspired latte art is the first phase of the Inspiration Brewed Here campaign. Le Méridien will continue to announce new coffee programming throughout 2015 at hotels worldwide.

LM Coffee Art 31 Jan (1) Esther Maasdam, the global latte artist, said on the occasion “As a brand that targets the creative minded traveler, Le Meridien has given me this amazing platform through the Indian Art Fair’s seventh edition to showcase the splendour of latte art. Le Méridien encourages its guests to unlock each destination via locally-inspired programming and cuisine with an eye for the arts. Merging my work in latte art with the inspiration that travel naturally brings is an exciting and unique challenge”

To find out more about Le Méridien, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

About the LM100 Creative Community

Le Méridien has introduced LM100, a group of cultural innovators of mixed generations and interdisciplinary artistic fields, chosen from the fields of art, architecture, cuisine, and design by Le Méridien’s Cultural Curator. LM100 members will offer their creativity and develop original and interactive programs for Le Méridien hotels worldwide that will transform the guest experience. LM100 members will curate Le Méridien’s interactive initiatives and propose other established or emerging talents that reflect the brand’s core values.

About Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts

Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by 100 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With close to 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood’s then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation as well as redefining its brand strategy. By appointing a full-time Cultural Curator – French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans – Le Méridien transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique and interactive experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific markets, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Arlington (VA), Istanbul, Coimbatore (India), Koh Samui (Thailand), and Taipei, and will open in the next 12 months in Bali, Zhengzhou (China), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and Suvarnabhumi (Thailand). For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

Posted on February 9, 2015 February 8, 2015

CRISPY TOKRI

By Shreya Chowdhury

“Dillwalo ki Dilli” is often used to describe Delhi and Delhiites, and the one thing very close to their Dil (heart) is food, especially street food. To cater to this love for street food, a small outlet named Crispy Tokri has opened in PVR Anupam Complex, Saket.

Their most famous is the Tokri Chaat, from which it derives its name. It was truly a delight for the taste buds. The dahi was sweet and fresh. The bhalla, anar (pomegranate), aloo bhujia, paneer, the tokri, mixture of balanced spices create a very interesting and flavourful mouthful. The Tokri chaat makes a great snack, nice and light, perhaps after a movie at the Cineplex.

The most popular dish is their Chole Bhature. It is a delight for health-conscious people, as the bhatura is fried in olive oil. They are nice and fluffy and very importantly, non-greasy. It tastes amazing! It has some spices which enhances the taste. The Chole was cooked to perfection, and the taste was authentic Delhi style. The chole, bhature, green chutney, onion and achaar make a great combination. It tastes good and is very filling.

Their other famous dishes are aloo tikki, raj kachori and golgappas. For foreign tourists, aloo tikki is suggested. It is comparatively less spicy, also cooked in olive oil. The golgappa is fresh and crispy, with a good balance of sweet and sour.

In today’s world, people avoid street food because of hygiene reasons. In that premise, Crispy Tokri is very hygienic and is one of the reasons why people love the place. Also, the people serving are very hospitable. Overall, it was a good experience. The price is also reasonable and doesn’t burn a hole in the pocket. The maintenance of hygiene, the use of olive oil and RO water for the golgappas just adds to the fact that they do have great street food. They also have home delivery and take away. So, if you cannot go out but are craving for tasty, hygienic street food, Crispy Tokri is a good choice.

Posted on February 7, 2015

The Pita Pit Lounge – Pita Making Session

By Nikita Saxena

A few days back, I had the opportunity of going to the Pita Pit Lounge located in M-Block Market, Greater Kailash – 1, and attending their Pita Making Session. This outlet is not only the largest in the National Capital Region, but also serves as the employee training centre as well as the chain’s flagship store in the city of Delhi. Pita Pit has two other branches, one located in DLF Cyber Hub, Gurgaon, and the other in Select Citywalk, Saket. I was welcomed to the restaurant by Mr. Anun Dhawan, who along with his family handles the franchise for the north and east zones of the country. He also told me about the history of Pita Pit, and that he was introduced to the brand by his brother Ishaan, who came across Pita Pit while specializing in food and beverages in Canada, and incidentally, also handles Royal China in Nehru Place. Now with three stores already up and running quite well, Mr. Dhawan plans to expand further, with five to six new stores by the end of the year, hopefully in Connaught Place and Rajouri Garden, and fifty more outlets on a national scale in another five years.

Pita Pit is a recently established chain of quick serving restaurants, first started by John Sotiriadis and Nelson Lang in 1995, in the Canadian university town of Kingston. The basic aim of the founders was to provide an alternative to high carb and high fat containing snacks and food items. A fusion of Lebanese, European, and American cuisines, Pita Pit essentially offers a global range of food on its menu which can be further customized by its clients according to their personal preferences. The first outlet proved a hit, attracting a huge student population from the local Queen’s University, and has since then spread its branches across the world, with over five hundred stores in different countries such as the United States, France, Canada, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, Panama, South Korea, and many others. As a company, Pita Pit aims to be different from its fellow competitors both in terms of culinary innovations and customer service. All the outlets serve to give the people a “wow experience” during their stay, with frequent feedback from their visitors, regular customer engagement, strict adherence to cleanliness and other global health standards, well-spoken employees who will communicate effortlessly and satisfy the curiosity of every customer, apart from of course, a whole wide range of options to choose from when it comes to the main aspect of Pita Pit, food. Mr. Dhawan emphasized on the employee background of Pita Pit as well, stressing on the undeniable fact that all their workers need to be fluent in the English language so as to cater with clientele from all areas and ethnicities of the world.

Although, while many find Pita Pit to be similar to Subway, the former has an edge in the market due to the overall healthy nature of its products. Whole wheat bread, similar to homemade roti, is used in all its preparations, which is an added bonus for frequent and health-conscious customers. Different kinds of cheeses are used, the three main being parmesan, cheddar, and feta, as well as sauces from all around the world, with a total of sixteen choices to pick from, including mayonnaise, mustard, vinaigrette, chipotle, and many others. There are different cuts of meat to choose from, and even a soyabean alternative for the conscious vegetarian. A base spreading of either tzatziki, hummus, or babaganoush is used. The salad dressing includes our everyday vegetarian fare, the standard onions, tomatoes, capsicums, mushrooms, and olives, as well as more unconventional salad alternatives such as sprouts, jalapeno, pineapple, and corn. Pita Pit thus has an unparalleled consumer range, as their varied and easily modifiable menu caters to anyone between the ages of fifteen and seventy-five years. Pita Pit also has a beverages and desserts menu in addition to the pita sandwiches it offers, and they are no less either when it comes to nutritional value.

I had the privilege of getting a hands-on experience in making a pita sandwich at the Pita Pit Lounge. After wearing a disposable hairnet and plastic gloves, I entered the sleek and organized open-air kitchen. The pita bread resembles the roti in both its structure and shape, and is opened up in a transverse manner by prying the edges apart using just your thumbs. Customers have the option of having their sandwich being made long or thick, and such variants in the six inch and the nine inch types. The basic aim however, is to make the biggest sandwich as possible, and for this approximately forty percent of the bread is opened. The workstation is organized in a very smart and systematic fashion, and multiple sandwiches can be made on each counter without any hassles and confusion from either end. Everything is lined in order, the base spread, vegetables, the roasting oven, sauces, and the toasting grill. I quickly made my own chicken club sandwich, using tzatziki, a few choice vegetables toasted in cheddar, some mayonnaise and mustard, oregano seasoning, and salt and pepper. Once everything I wanted in the sandwich was placed on my pita bread, I gently pushed the filling inside of the cavity formed using my fingers, and then wrapped the rest of the bread snugly around it. I had it grilled briefly as per my tastes, and then animatedly relished my pita sandwich. The vegetables and the pita bread certainly made a different sandwich than the usual fare I am used to, and it was a nice, light change from the usual heavy and cholesterol filled versions one is used to having.

I washed down my pita bread with a glass of freshly made watermelon juice, with zero artificial sweetening and preservatives, and with its natural, summertime flavours intact in entirety. I also had a cup of cold coffee along with my sandwich, which was surprisingly light but still refreshing in flavour. I also tasted a rose flavoured freshly brewed organic green tea, which forms a part of beverages exclusive only to the Pita Pit Lounge. It was served in a very interesting way, with fresh tea leaves crushed inside the transparent glass container of hot water. The flavour was quite unique and earthy, and appeals to the healthy eater. After trying the chicken crave sandwich on my second round of helpings, which had a nice, smoked taste to it, I also had a carrot bran cupcake. It was an interesting take on a much loved and popular dessert, with an unforced natural sweetness, and bits of shredded carrot adding to both the texture and the taste. I rounded my Pita Pit journey with a warm chocolate chunk cookie, which was comfortably crunchy on the outside, and had a deliciously soft brownie texture on the inside.

In addition to its efficient service and amazing food, the Pita Pit Lounge is worth a visit for its chic decor and plush interiors. Using the standard company colours, the Lounge has comfortable wooden chairs as well as fluffy sofas for its visitors. The artwork is minimalist, and yet distinctly pleasing to the eye. One wall of the outlet is completely etched with names of the cities where one can find Pita Pit outlets in, and one side has aesthetically positioned book shelves and magazine racks nailed on it. With upbeat music flooding the background, people can converse easily with each other, and yet enjoy the general atmosphere. All in all, Pita Pit is worth a visit, and I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to try a healthier side of restaurant dining and all those who enjoy their traditional home made meals.

Posted on February 2, 2015 February 2, 2015

COFFEE with Raju Bhaiya

By Shagun Nayar

On my way back from college, I found myself craving a hot cup of well-made coffee on a rather cold windy winter evening. Okay, so one thing about staying or studying in north campus (A part of Delhi University) is that, you find innumerable places to eat. They range from the local Cholla-Kulcha Waala, the small stalls serving hot steamed Momo’s to the fancy well lit up cafes at Hudson. But having stayed and studied here for over a year and a half I have come to realise that there are very few places which serve you good coffee. The obvious exceptions being Costa Coffee or Barista. However, these big coffee shops fail to qualify as your daily dose of ‘chai’ or ‘coffee’ since you’re living on a student budget and are perpetually trying to save money.

So, I went on a quest to find a place where I would get a piping hot cup of well-made coffee. To my rescue came, ‘Raju Coffee Waala’ who is interchangeably known as ‘Raju Maggie Waala’. Situated on the Chatra Marg, right outside the Law Faculty, Raju makes the best coffee I’ve had in North Campus. What sets Raju apart from the various other chai/coffee stalls is the fact that his coffee is hand beaten. This is the reason behind his coffee being Frothy, Light and Flavorsome. In addition to this, he sprinkles some coffee powder on the top to give it that extra kick, making his coffee the best in the neighbourhood.

Raju Suri or Raju Bhaiya understands the relevance of marketing and in an attempt to increase his sales, he has devised an addition to his normal cup of coffee i.e. a cup of ‘light coffee’, for those who love having their daily dose of coffee but don’t like it strong.

So, the next time you’re wandering the streets of Kamla Nagar /aimlessly driving by this beautiful university road or walking back from a tiresome day at college. Be sure to stop and pick up a cup of piping hot coffee at Raju Coffee Waala.

Timings: 10:30am – 6:00 pm

Rate: Rs. 15/cup

Posted on January 28, 2015 January 28, 2015

Market Café’s all-new Winter Menu

By Anubhav Sapra

Recently, I was invited to review the winter special menu of Market Café, a multi cuisine restaurant in Khan Market. Market Café is well known for its Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine. It has a nice terrace where one can bask in the sun, and experience the incomparable view of the lush greenery around.

I started my food journey with a hot piping roasted pumpkin and beetroot soup served with their in-house baked bread, lightly buttered and toasted. The soup was thick and had a nice texture with small pieces of roasted pumpkin in it. I also tasted the zesty chicken soup, which had the right tinge of lemon with some little chicken chunks.

On Mr. Ajay’s recommendation, the restaurant manager, I was served Asparagus Cigar Rolls and Mumbai Street Sandwich. The Mumbai Street Sandwich was stuffed with potatoes, peas, cucumber, onions, and tomatoes. The insides of both the breads were wrapped evenly with coriander and mint chutney. I loved the way the Mumbai Street Sandwich was made, with sweet and savory chutney, which was a nice combination indeed. It seemed that the chef made it the way I liked. The other starter, the Asparagus Cigar Rolls were a bit of a disappointment. The oil overpowered the crust and cheese seemed to have mixed itself well with the oil.

In the main course, I was served the London fish and chips, which consisted of crumbed fried fish fillet served with tartar sauce. Although fried, it was light and delicious, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The taste was simply awesome. Chicken parmesan was another dish. The sight of it was heavenly. It seemed to have a breaded base and a fried chicken breast layered with tomato sauce, further topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The chicken was juicy and soft with all the ingredients in right amount. Till the time I could taste another dish, I was quite full but could not resist my carnivore instinct and straightaway, asked for lamb chops with three pepper sauce. The grilled lamb chop was tossed with cayenne white pepper, paprika, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Yet another dish served was the Pesto Delight, a pizza with my favourite pesto sauce. The aroma of it was enough to feed my senses. Thin crust pizza was wrapped in pesto sauce, served with farm vegetables, and was topped with mozzarella cheese. However, the crust being thin was also crispier.

I rounded off my food journey with the all the three signature desserts of Market Café – Tiramisu, Philadelphia Cheesecake, and Gooey Chocolate. It was indeed a great treat for my taste buds.

Also included in the winter menu is the barbeque on the terrace. The winter menu has a wide array of other delectable dishes and is available till March 31^st, 2015, everyday from 12 noon to 12 midnight. Bask in the sun this winter. Go on to have a wonderful lunch on Market café’s terrace!

Address: 8, Khan Market

M-40, FF, GK-2, Main Market.

Cost of meal for 2 – Rs. 1400.

Posted on January 23, 2015 January 23, 2015

Counter Walon ki Dukaan

By Anubhav Sapra

I read an inspiring story in today’s newspaper about a 13 year-old, Shubham, who has recently launched a company to develop low cost machines to print Braille. He is Silicon Valley’s youngest entrepreneur. Coincidentally, I met another 10 year old, Sameer, in Nizamuddin today afternoon with a degh, selling biryani, chicken korma and kheeri. For the first few minutes, I just saw him diligently taking out biryani from the degh, adding red chutney to it and serving it to hungry souls. Every time, he removed the lid from the degh of the biryani, the aroma of the spices and kewra straightaway entered my nostrils. My taste buds could not resist for long and I asked Sameer for a plate of biryani. I sprinkled the masalas lying in a small plate over the biryani, mixed the red hot garlic chutney and had a small spoon of it. The biryani was delightful. I had my second spoon and started the conversation with him.

There were two deghs lying next to each other. In one of them was chicken korma and the other contained kheeri. The dish kheeri is made from small pieces of a buff’s udder, and was something I heard for the first time. The curry is changed on a rotational basis everyday and ranges from achari chicken, aloo keema, aloo gosht, to matar keema. On Wednesday nights, they make special paaya, and ande ka kofta. On Friday afternoon, biryani is served with haleem. A plate of biryani costs Rs. 50. Most of the curries are in the range of Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per plate. Sameer briefed me on everything about the menu. He was not very confident about the cooking, though. He was there to take care of the shop while his father was away for some work. I then asked him to introduce me to any elder person of his family.

After a brief interval, his uncle Imran came and shared the journey of his shop from a small cart to counter wali dukaan. Seven years back, Sameer’s father, Shakir Alam and his brother Imran started selling biryani on a small cart outside the Markaz in Nizamuddin. The inhabitants of Nizamuddin appreciated his biryani so much that they set up the small counter and table outside his home, near Qureshi Masjid, Karim Wali Gali. The shop became famous as Counter Walon ki Dukaan. Alam’s wife, Sitara ji cooks these mouth savouring delicacies at home, not once, but twice in a day. Alam sells these dishes during the afternoons (1 p.m to 4 p.m) and evenings (7 p.m. – 11 p.m.). Their mobile numbers are 7503626266 and 9555000489.

Imran informed me that Sameer got admission in another school, the session will start next month in February. Indeed, he is an entrepreneur in the making, a few years down the line, he might open up a restaurant and takes the Counter Wali Dukaan to another new level altogether. Nobody knows!

Posted on January 19, 2015 January 19, 2015

Spaghetti Kitchen – “Make Your Own Pasta” Festival

By Nikita Saxena

A few days ago I had the opportunity of paying a visit to Spaghetti Kitchen and trying out their latest offering to all Italian foodies alike, “Make Your Own Pasta” Festival. Situated in a plush corner of the Pacific Mall in the Tagore Garden locale, the restaurant and its other branches in the National Capital Territory region (such as Noida, Gurgaon Sector 29, and others) and the country are offering its clientele a chance to mix and match their pastas, right from the pasta type to the sauce and the choice of vegetables and meats to be added. Upon reaching my destination, Mr. Govind, the area manager for the North India zone, guided me graciously through the range of various culinary choices as provided in the new menu specially crafted for their festival, which aims to cater to all kinds of choices, and to avoid the miscommunication and consequent confusion between chefs and their customers. Thus, it also provides a much welcome break from the monotony presented by the standard pasta menu, and helps bring about new food innovations as well. The festival started on the 15^th of December last year and is continuing well into the new year, till the 31^st of January.

Spaghetti Kitchen has an open-air kitchen and bar, which is certainly an added bonus for the curious mind and the hygienic consumer. The restaurant certainly scores well on the ambience, with the semi-rustic Italian interiors, comfortable wooden decor, and the soft relaxed lighting all complementing each other. The music was neither too overwhelmingly loud nor exceedingly soft, and comprised mainly of upbeat Italian folk music and other lively global tunes. After much consideration, Mr. Govind suggested that I go about the festival by sampling random combinations, much in the fashion of a blind taste test, and then decide whether the experience was worth it. My pasta journey started off on a sumptuous note, with a complimentary basket of different types of breads fresh from the oven. They were deliciously moist, crisp, and whole wheat in their composition. In no time the meticulously put assortment of breadsticks, flavoured round breads, and soft miniature buns was over, along with some strawberry and kiwi flavoured margaritas, which were sweet, light, refreshing to the palate, and ample in their natural taste, with an ingenious sprinkling of sugar on the rim.

The servers were well-spoken and served me small but adequate portions of each combination to sample so as to minimize wastage, after describing to me the ingredients and the cooking methods used in making each dish. I first tried the penne pomodoro piquante, a classic red sauce pasta preparation cooked in balsamic, and topped with burnt dried chillies and capers. It was earthy and tangy in its aroma and taste, and was neither too hot nor too spicy. Next I had the blackened chicken alfredo fettucine, a white sauce pasta which was super cheesy, soft and easy. This dish came with a very liberal but proportionate serving of braised chicken, which was tender, juicy, and crispy, and was cooked and spiced to perfection, and is simply a delight for the non-vegetarian fine diner. I was served a marinara next, a red sauce pasta dish comprising of the whole wheat spaghetti, which was a much needed healthy twist in my Italian indulgence, and wholesome in flavour and pleasant in texture as well. The marinara, as the name suggests, comprises of calamari (a fried squid preparation) and other mixed seafood, and contains pickled onions, olives, and capers in addition to its non-vegetarian components. It was certainly a different kind of Italian delicacy, and added zest to my culinary experience in the city of Delhi where you mainly get vegetable or chicken variants of pasta. The seafood was wonderfully incorporated into the dish, and while none of the pungent smells that one associates with fish was present anywhere, its unique taste and aroma were intact.

I had the pesto feta next, a vegetarian pasta dish cooked in the classic Italian green basil and garlic infusion as the name indicates. It was rich and creamy, delightfully refreshing to the taste buds, and topped with chopped cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, and melting chunks of feta cheese. The pasta type used in making the pesto feta was the farfalle, which literally means “butterflies” in Italian and is distinguished by its bow-tie shape. The classic carbonara followed after this, made with spirelli pasta cooked along with farm fresh ham and bacon in a thick egg and white cream sauce. In the meantime, I had a steaming hot cup of cafe mocha, which was light and frothy throughout, and abundant in its aroma and flavour. Since I am partial to extra milky and substantially sweetened caffeinated beverages, the cafe mocha was a light and nice accompaniment in the middle of my meal. I concluded my journey of pastas by thoroughly relishing the smoked vegetable white sauce pasta cooked with bell peppers, zucchini, and other vegetables along with penne pasta in alfredo sauce. I had another round of beverages, and enjoyed a virgin mojito and a cold coffee mocha with equal gusto. The mojito was served in a tall glass with a straw and diced lemon, and was minty, cool, and revitalizing after all the heavy eating. It was garnished with fresh mint leaves and crushed ice on the top which gave it a vibrant slushy zest. The cold coffee was much similar in its presentation, and was an easy-to-sip slush of milk chocolate and coffee blended together in perfection.

On Mr. Govind’s suggestion, I tried some other specialties off Spaghetti Kitchen’s standard menu. The all vegetable pizza proved to be something that I came back for second helpings. Staying true to the original Italian thin crust pizza, the slices were toasted to a nice light brown with plenty of mushrooms, herbs, corn, olives, sundried tomatoes, and bell peppers as topping and melted cheese. While it certainly differed from most deep dish and thick crust pizzas as made by commercial food chains such as Pizza Hut and Domino’s, it was a much better gastronomic experience with its crunchiness and earthy flavours. I was introduced to the brilliant head chef, Mr. Ajay Verma, and thanked him for his wonderful food creations. Much to any foodie’s delight, I made a grand finish with a sumptuous dessert course. The sizzling brownie satiated my sweet tooth with its marvellous presentation, rich flavours, and warm, gooey texture. It consisted of a soft chocolate brownie, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and dried fruits and nuts on a hot iron pan. My server brought it on the table along with a small pot of chocolate sauce, and poured it all over the dish, and one can only eat the end result to believe it. I also had a small croissant, which was oven fresh crisp on the outside and buttery on the inside. Finally I tasted the tiramisu, which had a soft creamy consistency and a slightly milky and sweet taste all through. Staying true to the classic version, this tiramisu was also coffee flavoured, and was served in a huge glass with coffee powder sprinkled on the top.

Spaghetti Kitchen was a whole new eating out experience, and I highly recommend everyone to go and try out their pasta festival. It is a novel concept with a lot of potential, and an opportunity that should not be missed by any Italian food lover currently in the city. It is a fine culinary experience, one that will leave you and your taste buds comfortably warm and fully satisfied by the end of your visit. So go and visit your nearest Spaghetti Kitchen outlet now, and indulge yourself in some heavenly pasta goodness.

Posted on January 17, 2015

Kala Burger Wala

By Simran Kaur Kainth

West Delhi is said to be the hub of amazing food joints .Every Street and corner is famous for one or the other food speciality of its own. One such fantastic street joint situated in Subhash Nagar is Kala Burger Wala. People who lives around this area has amazing memories attached to this place. KBW was started by Joginder Singh, a small vegetable seller back in 1990 who sold burger at Re 1.

Since then it has become the most well known joint in the locality. As the name suggest KBW is famous for its vegetarian burger. Priced at Rs.40, the burger served here is simple yet finger licking. As we all know, usually burger is prepared with fancy dressing and toppings but KBW likes to keep its burger authentic, rich ,tummy filling.

The round buns are fried on tawa untill crisp, a sizzling aloo tikki is stuffed in along with big slices of fresh paneer. Thinly sliced cucumber and onion is placed inside the bun and drizzled with generous amount of masala. Guess what ? your snack is ready to digg in. The moment you take the first bite, the soft paneer and aloo tikki dissolves in your mouth. The taste of veggies refreshes you and you actually forget about the calories !

The sour green chutney prepared with anardana ,mint, green chillies and coriander is mixed with sweetness of red saunth and is served along with this snack which is Singh’s wife’s own recipe. Entire joint is run by the team work of the family. One can see the family members rolling the doughs of tikkis and handling the kitchen and counters.

With time and stiff competition , KBW added vegetable rolls, spring roll, momos and noodles to its menu .But frankly , customers rarely order these dishes from the menu. The Tikki Burger is what people are fond of.

Thus, a great value for money, however, you may find parking problem but suits best as a takeaway joint. Definitely ,a great option for vegetarians that stumps you on your very first visit.