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RollMaal

RollMaal

By Aisha Bhattacharya

What is in a Roll you ask? Here at RollMaal – That is the question!!! ‘Roll ke andar kya hai?’ Located below Mocha in Defence Colony Market, RollMaal is as easy to locate as a BMW parked among 10 Santros. Okay, Bad joke, But, seriously so easy to find.

The entrance is this fascinating display of ‘Belans’ or Rolling Pins to the uninitiated. Yes, Floor to Ceiling sheets of Glass with Belans stacked in between. Very unique and so original.

The place is small and can probably seat 20 – 25 people at a time comfortably. The waiters are all dressed in kurtas and caps (Anna Hazare movement type) in khaki colour. The outfit is inspired by Rajesh Khanna’s role in the film ‘Bawarchi’. I’m not sure how many of you reading this, have even seen the film. Nevertheless, it has music to match. Old Bollywood songs that would make our parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents… (You get the hint) feel nostalgic.

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The menu is easy to go through and is extremely well divided into sections like First Class Rolls i.e. the signature items of RollMaal, Doosra Maal i.e. Gravy items , Side ka Maal i.e. accompaniments, Peenay ka Maal (yes! You guessed it!) – Beverages, Meetha Maal – desserts naturally and my Favourite part RollMaal Classics – Make your own Roll. How cool is that??! Choose your Roll – The roti or parantha you like and choose your Maal – The filling – Veg, chicken or Mutton. So easy and so much fun!

chicken tikka rollWe started with the Chicken Chettinad Southy “Mind It” Roll (Rs. 150) – A spicy Chicken laced with curry leaves wrapped in a wonderfully flaky Malabari Parantha. The Jalandhar Boneless Chicken Makhani (Rs. 180) with Ulte Tawe ka Parantha (Rs. 35) was nice. A regular Butter Chicken by any standards.

mutton keema paoI ate the highly recommended Rollu’s Mutton Keema Pav (Rs. 185) – Such a good decision! They serve a ‘Churmuri Papad’ as a side dish with everything – crushed papad with salt, pepper and a little fresh coriander. I topped the Keema Pav with this crunchy little titbit and it tasted out of this world. Keema Pav took me to a third dimension that day!

All this food was washed down with Rollu’s Desi Remix (Rs. 50) – A Lemon, Jaljeera, Soda mixture which actually tasted pretty good! Rollu’s Iced Tea (Rs. 50) is not your usual packet-wala Iced Tea so that might be disappointing for some. For me it was a great drink – fresh tea, ice, lemon and just the right amount of sugar.

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Watch out for Rollu – he’s coming around the corner to Gurgaon soon! Try and get your hands on the adorable story about Bade Rollu Saabh from Rollisthan, his grandson Rollu, Rollu’s pet Saandh – Pinky and his quick-witted love interest Rumaali who coins the phrase “Roll ke Andar kya Hai?”

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Speedy Chow

Speedy Chow

By Aisha Bhattacharya

For someone who can eat at Mamagoto almost every day – Speedy Chow is a relief for the pocket! The menu is more or less the same, which is great, but it’s the pricing that really makes once smile! Fast, fresh and tasty food. So Speedy and very Chow!

A group of us went over to this little restaurant tucked away in Kailash Colony market. The location is the same spot previously occupied by Ambarsari and Barista before that. Very special to me because I won a contest with Barista at that very outlet a few years back.

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Being one of the two Non-vegetarians in our group I had the pleasure of trying out the meaty stuff. We started with the Chicken Tom Yum Soup (Rs. 140) – hot, spicy and LOADED with Chicken. It definitely hits all the right spots. Just a tad bit too much coriander for my liking but a tasty soup overall.

For starters we had the Crispy fried Chicken with a Hot & Sweet Sauce (Rs. 190) – desperately trying to look like KFC did not help this dish much. I would not recommend it if you’re planning a meal there.

chicken momos - CopyThe Non-Veg Momo Platter on the other hand was a whole different story (Rs. 160 for 6 pcs) – 2 pcs each of Minced Chicken with red pepper, basil & pepper; Schezwan Chilli Chicken with Bell Peppers and Tibetan Style Momos. Lip-smacking platter that I could have eaten by myself! Even though I was a little sceptical when I read the descriptions, they managed to surprise me.

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For the main course we tried all 3 Thai favourites – Red Curry, Green Curry and Thai Basil Spicy Sauce. With chicken, of course (Rs. 250 each)! The Sticky Rice (Rs. 100) that they suggested went well with the Thai curries. They were all adequately spiced and had soft succulent pieces of chicken that you can’t stop eating.

As an experience – Speedy Chow is the fastest Chinese/Thai on this side of Delhi. The décor says as much. Clean spaces, colourful graphics of Rabbits on the walls. They are rather cute – Rabbits sporting Aviators, Chinese moustaches and bearing cutlery. The identity of the restaurant has been designed by Shruti Shyam and I have to say she’s done a fabulous job in keeping with the fun, quirky look that the other restaurant of this hospitality chain – Mamagoto has.

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If you’re ever wandering about in Kailash Colony wondering where to eat, think no further. Just ‘Hop’ in to Speedy Chow for a meal that’s quick on the plate and light on the pocket! They also do Home Delivery so call them at 011-41015260 if you’re feeling lazy to walk over.

 

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Charan Kumar’s Punjabi Rasoi Tadka

Charan Kumar’s Punjabi Rasoi Tadka

By Anubhav Sapra

Who likes to queue up to pay bills? Long, sweaty lines, standing and waiting and doing nothing fruitful, none of us, right? But if surviving the long long lines do not prove a waste of time and get you to hog on some amazing food, wouldn’t you just love it? Charan Kumar’s Punjabi Rasoi Tadka is perhaps the reason owing to which people living in and around North Campus do not mind standing in the long queues in front of the TDPPL office.

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You will find Charan’s Punjabi Rasoi Tadka right outside the TPDDL office in Hudson Lane. Everyday at 9 am in the morning, a santro halts in front of the government building to satisfy hungry souls of office goers,students and shopkeepers in and around Hudson Lane. The food is mouth watering! The menu includes of Kadi Chawal,Rajma Chawal,Chole Chawal, everything at an affordable price of Rs 30 per plate. To enhance the taste, Raaita for Rs 10 is also served along. The mobile food service enjoys good popularity in the area, you could actually find people waiting for it to arrive and some getting the food packed for the rest of the day. Charan’s Rasoi seems to have a good understanding of its customers and apart from having arrangements for packing the food for an extra price of Rs.5, it also serves it in a very presentable way, teamed up salad and pickles.

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All the dishes which he offers are truly delicious.To maintain hygiene, the food is served in disposable aluminum foil tray.

The most popular dish in the menu is Rajma Chawal and owing to its popularity, it finishes up soon. So, if you reach the place post 12. There are hardly any chances that you’d get to gorge on it.

Make sure you visit the TPDDL office sharp at 9 and treat yourself with some amazing north Indian food, a perfect start to a long day at work or college.

Happy eating!

Edited by:Kanchan Bisht

 

 

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Jamia Bazaar

An Afternoon in Jamia Bazaar

                        – Shreya Chowdhury

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Jamia Bazaar 3 was organised by CEQUIN at India Islamic Cultural Centre on 26th-27th October 2013 with the agenda of improving the socio-economic conditons of the marginalised women of Jamia Nagar.

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Sara Pilot and Laura Prabhu founded CEQUIN, Centre for Equity and Inclusion in 2008, an NGO which works for the welfare of women and children. They train these women in various skills to become economically self sufficient. Jamia Bazaar gives them a platform to showcase their skills and talents which, in turn, gives them economic benefit.  Sara Pilot feels that, unlike Purani Dilli which has a culture of its own and people are familiar with it, Jamia does not. Hence, Jamia Bazaar is a way of familiarising people with the flavour and elements of Jamia. 1401421_546948795389006_957221166_oThis event is created with sustainability in mind and is not just a one-time show.  2013 is the third year of the Jamia Bazaar. It has seen a growth curve in terms of the number of people attending it and the number of people participating in it. The Jamia Bazaar also gives these women a space to come out of the dingy lanes and interact with people from different walks of life which has instilled them with confidence.

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The two-day mela displayed items of various artwork, diyas, salwar suits, accessories and a wide assortment of food. Jamia Bazaar was conceived with the idea to meet the wants of those who come with their families to spend a pleasant weekend ,shopping and sampling the array of delicacies. The food was, however, not the highlight of the event though there was a good range of choice from the valleys of Kashmir to the deserts of Rajasthan to Park Street’s Flurys.  Though the Biryani was light and flavoursome, the taste was average.

1401549_546949665388919_613088127_o The Shammi Kabab was the highlight of the meal. It melted in the mouth and was a total hit. Their original shop, Shabnam Shammi Kabab, is located at Batla House. The paranthas accompanying these kababs were soft and delicious. The seekh kabab was aromatic and well-seasoned, though a little hard. The shawarama was also quite a delight with good flavours.  The Kashmiri stall was popular amongst the buyers, with their Gostaba, Rista and their famous drink, kahwa.  ‘Apno Rajasthan’ also gave us a variety of dishes ranging from kachori to dal pakoda to mawa kachori. The meal ended with a delightful fudge cake from Flurys. The only sentence to describe it would be, ‘heaven on a plate’.

Colourful kashmiri shawls, glittery accessories, good food and Qawali playing in the background created a nice ambience. The event had a very cosy and family-like environment, which can be attributed to the people who made it possible. Overall, it was an afternoon well spent.  We will be looking forward to Jamia Bazaar next year!

Photos by Foodie Photographer:Kali Walia

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Mia Bella

Mia Bella

By Tanya Kapoor

It was a perfect Thursday evening and  we had an occasion to celebrate as well!! It was my friend’s birthday and we girls planned to party it out at Hauz Khas Village. We chose Mia Bella- a gastro pub as our destination.

If location is one of the key aspects of a famous restaurant then Mia bella has definitely nailed it. Mia Bella , situated on the top floors of the building opening up to a beautiful terrace overlooking the lake , Mia Bella perhaps has the best view of the lake among all restaurants at Hauz Khas Village. Location here is definitely the winner!

The contemporary interiors are adorned with wall clocks, mirrors, pieces of art such as the classic cupid. The color palette includes balmy hues of yellow, valley green and wooden brown. The menu includes Middle-Eastern, European and African fare.  A large chunk of the dishes are devoted to the Braai cuisine, more commonly known as the South African version of barbecue.

Coming to the food,we ordered for Chicken Peri Peri, Mint Mutton shanks and mezze platter.

With a tangy texture, Chicken Peri Peri was well-cooked and balanced by the delicious accompaniments – a fresh, juicy leaf salad with lettuce, rocket leaves, basil, mint and a vinegar dressing; soft, creamy mashed potatoes with butter and seasoning and garlic bread. The chicken was soaked perfectly in its sauce and gave little reason to think about anything except our next bite.

The second dish, Mint Mutton shanks, was an even match and was served with perfectly fried potato wedges and garlic bread. The meat was tender and a level of ease in its texture. The portions were sizeable and filling.

Beautifully presented, the mezze platter was a treat for our eyes, not so much for our taste buds. The quantity did not justify the price here.

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The portion sizes are huge! Truly for people who are hungry and need a good, filling meal. But it was superb in taste too.You just need to place your order and your order will be served smoking hot on your table. You get variety of ice teas fresh lime sodas and other aerated beverages. So, while I was happy that we have restaurants with such brilliant views , I would call it safe to visit Mia Bella , enjoy a sunset evening , sipping cocktails , beers or other drink of your choice and enjoy the delectable south African cuisine.

Take a bite, close your eyes, eat slow, feel the flavors – is the mantra to be followed in Mia bella .

Overall, Mia Bella is recommended to those certain times when you want to enjoy a brilliant view and sip a quite drink along with good company.

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Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel

Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel

By Anubhav Sapra

The other day, I was invited for a meeting at India Habitat Centre to plan an event to be held sometime next week. The meeting got delayed by an hour because no one including the person who called the meeting was on time.Taking the opportunity, I decided to explore the good eateries and food of Khanna Market. I asked auto rickshaw driver to drop me at any place where I can have my brunch. He had a great foodie instinct and straightaway dropped me at Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel, famous for South Indian Food.

The address is Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel, Shop No.7,Khanna Market,Lodhi Road and phone numbers are 24611726,24617702,9312220478,9811301534.The restaurant is owned by C.Kumar and C.Raju. Chidambaram who started the restaurant is no more. It was opened up in 1930 to provide food to officers in British Government who were from South India.In 1950 they had moved to this new place in Khanna market.

We ordered 3 in 1 rava dosa(Rs.90) and a plate of dahi vada. It was served on a plate covered with banana leaves.The three portions of the dosa had three different fillings-paneer masala,potatoe masala and crushed coconut. The 3 in 1 rava dosa was crispy and well stuffed.Sambhar and coconut chutney was awesome.It was truly delectable.They first serve hot spicy rasam which one can sip to wait for the ordered food.We also ordered for dahi vada which was equally good.

The nice ambience, wide range of food and friendly staff make Chidambaram’s New Madras Hotel Restaurant a place worth visiting!

 

 

 

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Tikkas and Curries

                      Tikkas and Curries

‘Tikkas and Curries’ is a multi cuisine eating and a takeaway joint. Located in Guru Nanak market, one can easily spot it by their signature bright and sunny yellow arched canopy. It is not known to many that this amazing eatery is run by former Oberoi chef, Sandeep Kakkar who believes that food is the celebration of life and the real success gained as a chef is when people appreciate the food with complacency and smiles on their faces.

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They offer a plethora of delectable, lip smacking dishes ranging from Kebabs, Mutton and Chicken Curries, Tikkas, Biryani served with special mint chutney, veg and non-veg Thali, Chinese, Soya roganjosh, prawns, fish, Paneer and Chicken Rara and Indian desserts like Kesri Kheer and Phirni. Though it’s been 2 ½ years since this joint opened up, they already have their branches at Greater Kailash and Saket going great guns. It’s a small joint with an attached kitchen whereby you can see through the chefs always at work and preparing the much relished dishes emanating an aroma that’s surely to charge up your taste buds, sending you into a trance.

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Their speciality is Chicken, Paneer, Soya rara which is prepared with the main ingredient mashed in pure Desi Ghee and Chicken Mutter Bharta, very unique and original in taste and style. Other specialities including the Mushroom Kakori Malai made from button mushrooms and cheese, savory Chicken Afghani prepared in cashew nut paste, Punjabi Malai tikkas, soft and succulent which melt in your mouth at once and Dahi Methi Gosht are certainly going to leave you craving for more.

Staff is amicable and the service is very quick. They provide free home delivery service along with banquet facilities and also specialize in outdoor catering.

The price range is almost Rs 500 for two people.

The timings are from 12 noon till 3:30 pm and in the evening from 7pm to 11pm.

By Foodie Correspondent:Ritika Bali

 

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Wokamama

Bloggers Meet at Wokamama

By Sanskriti Nagar

What could have been better than sharing the best of Asian cuisine over an informative lunch session with bloggers from around the town? On the 11th of October, Wokamama, undoubtedly Gurgaon’s best Pan-Asian restaurant held a Blogger’s meet in which they served us with their best dishes in the most beautiful way.

IMG_9875 aa copy Not only the food, the ambience too is perfect, especially for a quiet Sunday brunch or a dinner with friends. In a crowded market street, Wokamama is a breath of fresh air. As soon as you enter, it teleports you directly from a busy DLF Phase III market street to the posh dining outs of Hauz Khas Village. I disagreed strongly from my other blogger friends who considered the interiors to be dimly lit. For me, Wokamama has achieved to maintain a perfect balance between its outdoors and indoors, with the outdoors being in bold oranges, nicely lit sections in night whereas indoors have gone a tone down, the walls done in tints of orange and the ambience a perfect play of oranges and browns. The staff was decent and welcoming, active at all times. We were fortunate to have owners of Wokamama, Mr Sameer Puri and Mr, M.P. Singh with us at the table who took every opportunity to provide us with the best services and explained us the ingredients, origin and process of the dishes being served which made my mouth water each time, even on the non-vegetarian dishes which I couldn’t delight being a vegetarian by choice.

Tom Kha SoupI started with tasting a few Beverages. The Jasmine tea went well with the wet weather and my favorite Classic Mojito complimented me all throughout the lunch. The soups were good enough too; especially Tom Kha soup whose aroma instantly filled the room and the taste of coconut milk which was previously never accepted by my taste buds went well this time.

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For Starters we were served with Chili Pepper Corn on Crispy Spinach, which exactly matched its name, it was chilli, was crispy, had corn but a little more pepper for my taste would have done magic. Next was Sushi, with wasabi, soya and ginger, was as good as any sushi I’ve ever tried but the next dish became my favourite, so much that I’ve told my mom to try it at home someday too. Vegetable Tempura (served with pineapple chilli sauce and tempura sauce) is a dish that goes through famous Japanese style air infused batter fried preparation and is according to me the best way to eat veggies, with crispy outside and softened veggies inside.Prawn & Veg TempuraThe Main Course started with grilled Cottage Cheese in Banana Leaf (done in Indonesian Style) with delicate flavors and lots of spice.

Guilin Egg Plant The second dish swept me off my feet; Eggplant had never tasted this delicious ever. Eggplant in Guilin Chilly had nice tangy flavors and nice crisp vegetables.

The third dish, Vegetable Green curry Noodles were something I was reluctant to try but on insistence when I tried them, they turned out to be a perfect combination of noodles with curry.

The dessert which was much awaited by me included two preparations, Coconut Rolls (served with pickled raisin and Cinnamon) and Mocca Rage. I call them preparations because they were prepared with thoughtful servings. Coconut Rolls were very delicious but they went up a bit higher on my scale with the pickled raisin and cinnamon whereas the stealer in Mocca Rage was the coffee ice-cream which complimented the Mocca cake very well.Coconut Rolls with pickled raisin & Cinnamon

Overall, the meal had freshly done vegetables steaming with flavours and delicious personalized changes added to each dish. The greens were pretty all throughout the meal.

What I liked most about the whole event was how well Mr. M.P. Singh explained us about each dish, its preparation and ingredients. Also, to see how well they involve themselves in each sector of the restaurant and the tons of knowledge they have about food.

Mr. M.P. Singh and Mr. Sameer Puri are owners of Ranch Cuisine Concepts, the pioneer firm in outdoor banqueting and the very first in this field. Along with Wokamama, they are proud owners of famous names such as Lotus Pond (NFC), Bamboo Shoots (Noida, Sec 18), Trance (Noida, Sec 63) and various other projects.

Price for two– Rs. 1600 (Quantity served is good enough)

Personal Recommendation– Eggplant in Guilin Chili and Tempura. Don’t hesitate to try the variety of sauces they serve, very creative in flavors.

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Pebble Street

 15 years of amazing taste @Pebble Street

-Ayushi Teotia

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Set amidst the surroundings of a typical open Delhi market complex, which has now, in various areas been replaced by the contemporary “Mall era”, lies the Pebble Street. Located in a rather posh locality of New Friends Colony, the restaurant attracts various sects of people, and has become to be known as the local watering hole. It is a restaurant which seems to appeal to everyone for its location as well as reputation. The entrance gives the place a very young look, much like a sports bar, but once inside, one gets the hang of how the place is actually a favorite of all. The concept of the restaurant is actually defined by its name, and the idea seems quite unique and interesting, with porch lights hanging in the center, dim lights making the place look like an old British style pub, coupled with comfortable seating, divided in three different sections and a good collection of classic music.

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It is one of those outlets that have stood the test of time – it has been there since 1998 – and evolved as an excellent casual dining option. In fact, the restaurant is now completing 15 years on 11th October, and the same is relevant with the pamphlets hanging on the ceiling boasting of the extravagant services provided by the restaurant consistently. The menu, which imitated a typical European inspired theme, encompasses the best of Italian, Tex-Mex, Lebanese, European, Thai and Indian cuisines, giving a lot of options to choose from the selection of starters as well as mains.

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A person favorite would be the Lasagna Palermo, which is a ravishing combination of minced chicken with home made sheet pasta, giving it a big thumbs up, especially for red sauce pasta lovers. Apart from the exquisite Italian food, that this place is known for, the Classic all time diner favorite Pebble Burger, is something to die for. A delicious blend of Bacon and chicken served with French fries, Cole slaw and onion rings, is a definite stellar. Other than these, the thin crust pizzas, Enchiladas, Fish sticks, and Burritos are a constant favorite. The portion served is large enough for two to share a dish, making the place not too heavy on pocket. The drinks are the most popular part, and provide a range of good mock tails as well, at affordable pricing.

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Coming to my favorite part, i.e. the Desserts, were exceptionally good. The Blueberry Crème Pie, is the best cheesecake like sweet eats I’ve tasted in a very long time, making me wish for the toothsome dish to never finish! However, the best part of enjoying a meal in Pebble Street was being appreciated as a crowd for a constant support to the restaurant which has helped it to achieve glorifying fifteen years of existence, and hopefully many more to come, with a dessert combining the likes of a chocolate brownie, caramel and ice cream. The presentation of not just food, but the ambience is splendid. However, the service seemed a bit slow, which could certainly be improved. An F1 Race, A Soccer Match or a Crickety fever is the best time to be here if you like a packed house of revelers. Apart from the daily routine, when you want to pamper your taste buds and enjoy a nice evening out with friends, family or colleagues, you know the place to be.

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Price (for two): Rs 1200-1500

Overall Rating: 9/10

Nearest Metro: Kalkaji Metro Station

Location: 8, Community Center, New Friends Colony, New Delhi

Contact number: 011 2684 4380

Photographs by Foodie Photographer : Vidur Mayor.

 

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Delhicious Kitchen

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                     Delhicious  Kitchen

                                                                                             By Tanya Kapoor

A small yet eye catching little restaurant, you will find Delhicious  Kitchen tucked  between CCD and MOD  in the bustling Lajpat nagar market, and I suggest the next time you walk past, do step in, it will be totally worth it.

The restaurant  looks  bright and funky with  lamps and little lights above you and interiors done in black and green.  For  seating, there are bright little stools placed near the wall and the floor is done up in wood, this makes delicious kitchen a cool place to hangout with friends.

This  restaurant is a one of its kind in the locality .  For a small café like this; Delhicious Kitchen has a vast menu that offers North Indian, European, Mexican, Lebanese and American dishes, and each cuisine has a wide range of dishes as well. So many cuisines, all under one roof, what else does a foodie want?!

I ordered the Chicken Shawarma,  hummus with pita bread and virgin mojito. Because the menu has around 150 dishes, I will need quite a few visits to taste if not all, but at least one fourth of them. Coming to the food I ordered –  the hummus was flavourful but  missed a little bit tahini, if a little more tahini could be added this would be the best hummus in delhi. As for the shwarma – a roll made of pita bread, having sour cream, lettuce and chicken with some veggies  is  a must try for everyone! The virgin mojito was perfect with right amount of sugar content and is one of the best virgin mojito’s I have had in delhi.

I was quite happy with the flavours, especially at a reasonable price (they offer the cold drinks at MRP, that’s adorably fair!). I do wish the portions were a little bigger though but then its okay, I got a chance to try more dishes.

The food served here  will leave your taste buds asking for more, without a big hole in your pocket. Don’t judge a restaurant by its size! That is what I would say about Delhicious kitchen.