Delhi Food Walks

Posted on May 22, 2016

TONY’S

By Prakriti Bhat

Delhi University’s North Campus can surely be called a student hub. Apart from housing some of the most popular colleges, the area also provides different modes of recreation for students. Kamla Nagar (K-Nags) caters to your basic needs like clothing, books and has some really good eating joints while GTB Nagar is brimming with student friendly cafes. Another popular area is the Patel Chest Market which sells all kinds of questions papers and from where you can get your notes photocopied at a very cheap price. What many people don’t know is that this area also houses some really cool and pocket friendly eating joints.

One of the eating joints here is Tony’s. It is a tiny stall that whips up some amazing toasts and sandwiches. There’s no seating arrangement except one small table where you can gorge on their food. Tony’s was started 6-7 months ago by Mr. Robin and his friend’s father, Tony. The place gained popularity with its unique concept of serving different types of toasts and now the owners are planning to open a café in Kamla Nagar.

At a walking distance from the Vishwavidyalaya metro station, Tony’s boasts of an impressive line-up of toasts, both vegetarian and non vegetarian. From the conventional Chilli Cheese Garlic Toast to Peanut Butter Toast, they have covered it all. If you’re staying in a PG or hostel nearby, you can also get it packed since they have that facility. I went for a Nutella Cheese Toast and Salami Toast. The Nutella Cheese Toast did not have any toast so I don’t really know why they have that in the name. However, it is one of the best innovations to be whipped out of Nutella. Two slices of bread are pressed together with Chocolate syrup and the top of the sandwich is smeared with copious amounts of Nutella and Choco chips. The final product is a mesmerizing piece of art which is too pretty to bite into!

Be prepared since the Nutella Toast gets your hands all messy with the Nutella and the choco syrup used for finishing touches on the top. The Nutella doesn’t make the bread soggy and the crunch is an additional delight to the sweet rendezvous. The Salami Toast is not a part of their printed regular menu but was written on the tiny blackboard at the stall. It is basically a sandwich prepared with a creamy cheese spread and slices of chicken salami. The sandwich is grilled and divided into 4 quadrants with oregano sprinkled on the top. This one was a crunchy and meaty affair. The service was quick and even the packing is quite good.

And the best part? The entire meal costed just 100 bucks which is a delight for any student suffering from the “mahina gul, paisa gul” syndrome!

Cost for two- Rs. 150-200

Address- Booth 13, Opposite Patel Chest Institute, North Campus, Delhi University

Contact No. – 9811176173

Posted on May 22, 2016

Hanami Summer Menu

Japan’s Hanami festival celebrates the ephemeral season of cherry blossoms. Guppy by ai, the most celebrated Japanese restaurant in Delhi, recreates the magic of the Hanami Festival (25th April to 30th May) through its dishes by introducing a special menu that captures its essence. Known for his culinary expertise, Chef Vikram spearheads the kitchen at Guppy by ai.

Away from the sweltering heat of Delhi, the food journey started with cold sweet Corn and Avocado soup, enriched with soy milk. The soup is served with salt and a slice of lemon, which adde a distinct texture to the soup. It is truly refreshing.

The menu has been thoughtfully curated with soups and salads as special vegan dishes. The 3 melon salad with Yubari, musk and watermelon looks simple yet the umeboshi plum dressing makes it truly delicious. Umeboshi are fermented pickles made from young, barely ripe ume, a sour Japanese fruit that’s a cross between an apricot and a plum.

Japanese food would be incomplete without Sushi and Sashimi. For me, the highlight of the menu is the Mango and Avocado Cream Cheese Roll. Made with Alphonso mango, cream cheese, tanuki tempura fritters and kimchi, the roll is unique and flavoursome. The roll also has a similar variant with tuna. Another king size roll was the Hanami thick sushi roll combined with black and white rice with sakura dembu, tuna, salmon, crab, yellowtail and cucumber.

In the cold noodles – the 3 different variants are cold hiyashi tantanmen (home-made ramen noodles, served chilled with sesame flavoured pork broth, spicy ground pork meat and fresh vegetables), Hiyashi tanuki cha saba (chilled green tea flavoured buckwheat noodles, topped with tanuki tempura fritters, wasabi, grated radish served with a soy flavoured dashi broth. The Hiyash tanuki cha saba is the only vegetarian option in the noodles menu. The third option is Hiyashi somen (Japanese, thin angel hair wheat noodles topped with crab sticks, prawns, seaweed, cucumber and melon, served chilled with a ginger flavoured dashi broth).

The Hanami cocktail menu has excellent refreshing cocktails like Sendai a mix of vodka, fresh kiwi, fresh melon and lime. Plum Blossom made with sochu, umeshu fresh plum and lime and Umetini with ingredients like sake, umeshu and gold leaf.

The food journey ended on a Mangolicious note a dessert with fresh Mango, liquorice and coconut ice-cream!

Address- 28, Main Market, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi

Timings: 12 to 3.30 and 7pm to 1am

Lunch for two: Rs. 1300

Dinner for two: Rs. 1800

For Reservation – 01124690005 / 6, +919650185005

Websitehttp: guppybyai.com

Posted on May 20, 2016

Pizza Express

New Summer Menu at Pizza Express

– Ayushi Mathur

Summer in New Delhi is hotter than ever this year. With the scorching heat comes the temptation to indulge in food that reminds us of breezy beach locations, refreshing getaways and fun fruity delights. Pizza Express brings all these together in one special summer menu – ‘The Hawaiian Pizza Express’. What began as a fascination for the Italian cuisine and the desire to bring the delicacies to UK, has now become a global favourite for distinctive Italian recipes. Always experimenting with exciting recipes, Pizza Express has truly won hearts with their recent menu this summer.

From refreshing cocktails to unique meaty delights, the new summer menu covers it all. The first drink I tired from their menu was Molto Berry, which was a perfect concoction of mint and berries modelled into an icy paradise. What followed was even better. The next thing I got my hands on was the Lamb Polpette. Polpette simply means large meatballs and the dish was made with meatballs cooked in tangy pomodoro sauce served with freshly baked dough sticks. The first pizza I tried was Gambero, a crispy romana base topped with passata, yellow bell peppers and prawns marinated with Indian spices. What made this pizza an instant success were the fresh and nicely cooked prawns that topped the pizza.

Pineapple on pizza? Sounds exciting right? The pizza that was the absolute highlight of the party was the Hawaiian ‘Pizza Express’ pizza. Topped with sweet pineapple chutney and béchamel sauce, this ham pizza was definitely one of a kind. Yet another pizza on their new menu is the Pollo Cajun, which is made with Cajun sauce, Cajun chicken and finished with the perfect sun dried tomatoes one can ask for. A unique component in this rectangular pizza is the Emilgrana cheese, a type of hard cheese with a granular texture. The new menu has got something for the pasta lovers out there too. Their Linguine Cajun Gambero is rich and creamy pasta made with prawns in Cajun seasoning and sun dried tomatoes.

The visit ended on a sweet note with fresh banoffee pie and baked cheesecake. The banoffee pie was utterly delicious but for me the cheesecake stole the show. And with that sweet note I was left with a content heart and this summer got much more exciting with this stimulating Hawaiian menu that Pizza Express just introduced.

Posted on May 20, 2016

Kham Coffee House

KHAM COFFEE HOUSE

By Prakriti Bhat

Forever on the lookout for quiet places to relax and unwind, I can say this with confidence that Majnu Ka Tila fits the bill to perfection. As a city, Delhi is known for its glitz and glamour, swanky malls and polished restaurants. But the Tibetian colony in Majnu Ka Tila breathes a life of its own. Every time I visit this place, I am struck by the serenity of the atmosphere, rhythmic pace of activity and the kind smiles of monks that you are sure to cross paths with.

One is overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the area. It is a treat for the senses. On one of my solitary walks from the monastery in vicinity, I stumbled across Kham Coffee House. Nestled in one of the narrow alleyways that Majnu Ka Tila is famous for, it is a quaint and cozy little café. The décor is quite similar to that of AMA Café, one of the more popular cafes in this area, though it is not as spacious. Bare brick walls, tree stump tables and upholstery with Tibetian motifs constitute the interiors. As with other cafes in the area, there are well stocked bookshelves which you can raid while sipping your daily cuppa. The café exudes warmth and comfort.

The menu is quite expansive ranging from teas, coffees and mocktails to fresh bakery items like muffins, cakes and pies. They also have all-day breakfast options like pancakes, omlettes, Tibetian bread and a complete American breakfast platter. I went for a Cappuccino and Pancakes. The coffee was good, nothing exceptional. The Pancakes served here were unlike any that I’ve had till date. They were extremely fluffy (almost the breadth of your index finger!). It was divided into four triangular pieces and served with Maple syrup. Two triangles down and I already felt full. The surface resembled that of an omlette and in fact it even smelt like one.

My only problem was that the cutlery felt a bit unclean. The forks, knives and spoons felt sticky and this dampened my experience a bit. Though the cooking and washing area wasn’t unhygienic, the washing was being done in a hurry which perhaps caused the problem.

A place perfect for all occasions, Kham Coffee House deserves a visit. Atleast go for their Pancakes and ambience!

Cost for two- Rs. 300-400

Address- Ga-Kyegu Hotel, Majnu Ka Tila

Contact No.- 01123815196, 8860608389

Posted on May 13, 2016

38 barracks

38 Barracks

Ayushi Mathur

Connaught Place is not only a favourite amongst Delhiites, it is also a well known and talked about attraction all across India. Its reputation is backed by a multitude of restaurants, cafes and clubs which offer a variety of food and beverage options. In a buzzing hub like Connaught Place, hundreds of restaurants open and shut down each year which encourages restaurant owners to come up with unique ideas. An astounding opening that hit Connaught Place earlier this year has to be 38 Barracks, located in M-Block outer circle.

The brain child of Mixologist Mr. Kumar Sambhav and Chef Mr. Gautam Chaudhary, 38 Barracks is a true marvel both in terms of its concept and the food it offers. Inspired by the achievements of a real-life colonel, 38 Barracks pays homage to the glorious army life. The walls are decorated with real guns, rifles, trophies and medals of the colonel. There are also black and white pictures of the army giving the customers an antique and historical feel.

Most of the items on the menu are named in military style going well with the concept of the restaurant. The food at the restaurant is exceptionally sumptuous as well as fairly economical. The restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. Among the vegetarian starters, I had the chance to try their Paneer Tikka Barrels. Cut innovatively in the shape of tiny barrels, these tikkas were full of Indian flavours which might be a little spicy for some. The tikkas were served with a small glass of a palate cleanser to wash the spices down. While skin platter is an absolute delight for all potato lovers like me, another fun starter to try is their Soldier’s Mirchi Wada which is served with fresh vegetable salad and two different dips.

On the other hand, the non-vegetarian menu was very extensive catering to different cravings. For those who prefer fish, Clash of Clans is a must try. It is a platter that offers two completely different fish items, one being the English favourite fish and chips and other the Punjabi achari fish tikka. However this unique combination is topped by their unilateral grilled Salmon, the dish I absolutely fell in love with. It is a salmon fillet grilled from only one side for a long time letting the heat cook the entire fish slowly. It is served with baby potatoes and grilled vegetables that compliment its flavour extremely well. For those who crave chicken, the smoked chicken and scarmoza risotto is to die for. It is very rare that someone nails a risotto but this was perfection!

Apart from the lip smacking food they offer, the cocktails at 38 Barracks are not to be missed out on. Aside from the huge variety of cocktails on their menu, they also make custom cocktails with the freshest of ingredients like seasonal fruits. For those who like a sweet sip, their mango margarita is a must have during summers. Overall, my experience was amazing and I definitely recommend this place to all the readers.

Address: 38 M-Block Outer circle, Connaught Place

Cost for two: Rs. 1200

Posted on May 4, 2016 May 4, 2016

Jamie’s Pizzeria

Jamie’s Pizzeria – Pacific Mall, Tagore Garden

Ayushi Mathur

Deep dish American styled pizzas have been a major part of our diets since the various fast food chains entered the Indian Market. There are also high end Italian restaurants that serve quality pizzas in Delhi. But for someone looking for simple, rustic Italian food at an affordable price, Jamie’s Pizzeria should be a definite stop. UK’s favourite celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver launched Jamie’s Italian and Jamie’s Pizzeria in Delhi last year. And within a few months a new outlet of Jamie’s Pizzeria opened up in West Delhi, paying heed to the popular demand.

As Jamie Oliver promised, the restaurant offers simple yet delectable Italian pizzas made with the freshest ingredients. The Neapolitan style base of each pizza is made with hand kneaded dough which is prepared thrice in a day. The dough is hand stretched into a thin base followed by pomodoro sauce and fresh vegetables which are layered on top, before the pizza is baked. A new addition to their menu is the Jamie’s Super Greens pizza, which is a true delight for vegetarians. The thin crust of the pizza compliments the green vegetable toppings and instantly melts in the mouth giving way to the flavours in the herbs and vegetables. For the chicken lovers, the Chicken Alla Diavola pizza is a must have. The pizza is layered with Jamie’s secret chilli sauce and jalapenos that add a spicy twist to it. Jamie’s Pizzeria is one place where every pizza is equally scrumptious and the secret lies in the way their base is prepared.

The menu is not limited to only pizzas. The hand-stretched garlic bread with cheese that comes with the Olive Tapenade is another item on their menu which is not to be missed. All three dips at the restaurant are absolutely delicious and unique but my favourite has to be their secret chilli sauce that goes well with everything. The homemade iced tea on their menu is unlike iced teas at most other joints. It is not only low on the sugar; it also has a strong brewed taste of the tea which I absolutely loved.

For desserts, we tried the seasonal almond tart with vanilla cream which was topped with fresh mint leaves. It was the most beautiful dish to look at and has to be the highlight of the visit. The tart is so soft and fresh that it melts in your mouth instantly and leaves a yummy almond flavour behind.

Overall, Jamie’s Pizzeria is a jewel of a restaurant. It is undoubtedly a value for money and a great stop for some rewarding food.

Posted on May 4, 2016 May 4, 2016

Lemon Tree Golf Resort, Tarudhan Valley Manesar

Lemon Tree Golf Resort, Tarudhan Valley Manesar

Ayushi Mathur

Delhi, being the capital metropolitan city, serves as the centre for political, commercial and international movements. With the ever growing network of trade, the spirited and ambitious society is continually affecting our lives. Every hard working individual wishes for a peaceful getaway once in a while, to relieve the everyday stress that this competitive culture builds. Recently, LemonTree Hotels inaugurated their first resort hotel in Delhi NCR at Tarudhan Valley Manesar, providing a perfect weekend getaway destination.

With unmatched facilities sprawling across 72 acres of manicured lawns, the resort is a marvel of magnitude located in the lap of Aravalis. In addition to a variety of contemporary rooms designed to suit all experiences, the resort offers a 9 Hole Golf course adding to the leisurely experience. The enthralling experience is made better by facilities like a lap-size swimming pool, a Kids playing zone, an Archery range, a revitalizing spa by Tattva, a restaurant overlooking picturesque landscape, and various game courts and outdoor activities. The resort also offers a separate banquet area with three large conference halls ideal for a variety of events including weddings. The themed bar and restaurant, Skinners, offers an enticing buffet to its guests with unique appetizers, elaborate mains and fresh desserts.

Mere 40 minutes drive from Ambience Mall in Gurgaon, the resort is a perfect destination for a getaway with friends and family. The resort presents three types of rooms, deluxe, executive and studio apartments in Villas facing the golf course to its varying customer base. Each room has a beautifully designed outdoor seating area, ideal for visits during the winter.

LemonTree Hotels are one of the very few chains in the country that train and employ differently abled workers, firmly believing in equal opportunities. With 15% of their employs falling under the differently abled category, LemonTree Hotels is the only Indian brand that aims to increase their employment to a total of 40% by 2020.

For years, LemonTree has been one of the best business hotel chains and now it has ventured into leisure resorts and their golf resort at Tarudhan Valley, Manesar is a true spectacle of magnificence. My experience at the Tarudhan Valley resort was super exciting. It was the first time that I got to try archery, which I must say is more difficult than it seems. The highlight of the visit for me was the lunch buffet, though. It had an array of beautifully dressed appetizers which tasted even better. The one that I absolutely loved was their Mushroom and Asparagus salad. The resort is perfect for some post-lunch putting, which I also got to try. Overall, my experience with the resort was wonderful and I’m definitely visiting again.

Posted on April 26, 2016

Naaz Tandoor

Naaz Tandoor – Jama Masjid

Ayushi Mathur

Purani dilli, once filled with mansions and forts of noblemen from the Mughal dynasty, now caters to the heaving crowd of modern world. Despite having become a bustling trade centre, it still enchants visitors with its undying splendour. Old Delhi is most acknowledged for its street food and whenever non-vegetarian delicacies are discussed among foodies in Delhi, the famed by lanes of Jama Masjid area are definitely mentioned. These crowded ‘gullies’ are known for their numerous eateries that serve an array of chicken and mutton delights. One of the many establishments that caught my eye was Naaz Tandoor.

Located on the urdu lane, opposite Jama Masjid, Naaz Tandoor welcomes people with the sight of fresh preparations of Tandoori chicken which fill the area with a distinctive smoky aroma. Mohammed Alam, the chef at Naaz Tandoor, sits at the entrance preparing the items on the menu all day long. This man has been a part of the joint since its conception in 1960 and has been cooking delicious chicken fry for its customers.

Although the most popular dish on their menu is chicken fry, I decided to go with the good old Tandoori chicken. The chicken was served with freshly chopped onions, green chilli lemon and chutney made of yellow chilli pepper. For me, the yellow chilli chutney was the highlight of the visit. Its spicy preparation complimented the umami taste in chicken exceptionally well. The piece of tandoori chicken was glazed with ample amounts of chaat masala which added a tangy twist to the meal. I also ordered half a plate of chicken biryani to give the meal a wholesome feel and the quantity does not disappoint. Half plate biryani is enough for two people and it is made with aromatic basmati rice covered with perfect amount of spices that give it a characteristic taste.

In an area dominated by restaurants selling a variety of mutton dishes, this joint stands out for its chicken items. Established by Adil Hassan, this eatery serves deliciously fresh chicken and fish preparations to over 200 customers each day. It is one of the popular choices among the locals as it serves delectable food for a low-price.

Cost for two: INR 300

Address: Urdu Bazaar, opposite Jama Masjid

Posted on April 22, 2016 April 22, 2016

Ram G Snacks Corner

RAM G SNACKS CORNER

By Prakriti Bhat

Who can forget Akshay Kumar and Juhi Chawla in colour coordinated night suits, gyrating to:

“Jab tak rahega Samose me Aalu

Tera rahunga, O meri Shaalu”

Samosa, the crowning glory of street food has come a long way from the simple Aalu (potato) fillings. And Ram G Snacks Corner in Moti Nagar proves exactly this point. With over 9 types of Samosas on their menu, this place is surely a haven for Samosa lovers. From Pastas to Chowmein as fillings, each Samosa is unique and delicious. I wonder what Akshay Kumar has to say to this.

Ram G Corner is a tiny shop near Milan Cinema in Moti Nagar. They have been serving in this area for about 5 and a half years and changed shops twice since then. Their unique concept and consistency garnered a lot of attention and popularity. This led them to open another branch in Netaji Subhash Place which has been running successfully for a year or two. The nearest metro station would be Moti Nagar or Kirti Nagar on the blue line. From Milan cinema, it’s a 2 minute drive.

The shop, going by the menu, serves 9 types of Samosas. Aalu Samosa, Malai Paneer Samosa, Paneer and Pyaz Samosa, Chilli Paneer Samosa, Tandoori Paneer Samosa, Macaroni Samosa, Pizza Samosa, Veg Keema Samosa and Chowmein Samosa. I asked the vendor to pack all the available Samosas except Aalu. Pizza and Tandoori Paneer Samosas were unavailable at that time. So he added an Egg Bhurji Samosa to my order. My favourite was the Macaroni Samosa. The pasta was made in Indian style and was well spiced and tangy. The next best was Chowmein Samosa. A product of Indo Chinese fusion, this one had your regular street Chowmein stuffed inside the Samosa; spicy, savory and exceptionally well made.

Among the Paneer variants, Malai Paneer Samosa was a clear winner. The mixture was creamy and extremely delectable. Chilli Paneer Samosa wasn’t very spicy but more towards the tangy side of your palate. Paneer and Pyaaz Samosa was made with crumbled paneer spiced with turmeric that lent it a yellow color. Veg Keema Samosa was prepared with Soya granules cooked in, perhaps, Soy Sauce. Lastly, the Egg Bhurji Samosa consisted of a filling of Egg Bhurji and onions. However, it was very bland.

Except the Egg Bhurji one, each Samosa is gigantic and very crispy. I got the Samosas packed and even after 20 minutes, they remained crispy. That speaks volumes about its quality. The prices are very reasonable. There may be no seating arrangement or tables outside the shop but do not let that deter you from making a visit to this hidden gem.

Cost for two- Rs. 60-70

Posted on April 6, 2016

Niche, Lounge and Bistro

A friend of mine recently hosted a Chef’s table named Messa at Niche lounge and bistro, which is located in M block, Connaught Place overlooking the Statesman house. With over 19 years of HR background, blogging came as a hobby to him and he started Mystic Foodie Mantra a few years back. For this event, he curated a special menu for food bloggers in Delhi.

Not being a regular restaurant reviewer, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The food served to us did not just look beautiful, it was simply delectable and I was thoroughly surprised.

The evening began with amusing conversations complimented by an array of unique starters that included Pulled Kathal Tacos and 57 degree duck breast. Kathal, being an excellent substitute to meat, is one of my favourite vegetables, as I like the flavour and texture in it. Served with Salsa and Kasundhi cream, the crisp outer shell of tacos filled with shredded kathal made a perfect combination. The duck was cooked at 57 degrees by a French method named Sous-vide.

Before, I go further about the tasting session, I must admit that the method of cooking involved a bit of food science. The chef revealed that the dishes on the menu are progressive. The cooking techniques involved are dynamic and always evolving. The chef also loves playing with textures, which was evident in the salad he prepared for us. The salad was made of beet and goat cheese. The beet in the salad took on various textures because of the intricate crafting by the chef.

For the main course, we were served Hari Saag along with Polenta crusted fried yoghurt balls, corn bread and jaggery chips with white butter soil. In simple words, dahike kebab were served with the saag. But the imagination of the Chef was incredibly distinctive, which was evident by the preparation and presentation of the dishes made with simple ingredients.

Next was the Lamb Shank Rogan Josh – Rogan josh gravy with ginger air and seasonal vegetables. This was the highlight of the Chefs table for me. It was delicious and I absolutely loved it. I did the most un-niche act at Niche. I slurped the shank and enjoyed the same to the core. Although, it was served as a complete dish in itself, I couldn’t resist myself from ordering assorted breads which went well with the Rogan josh gravy.

The food journey ended on a sweet note with Cheesecake and raspberry sorbet which turned out to be the cherry on top for such a delightful evening.