Tanya Gupta speaks to some of Delhi’s favourite food bloggers to put together a list of what they eat, when they’re craving a little ready-made comfort food this winter.
The first mark of the approaching Delhi winters is the furious sorting through cupboards. But, what an old fuzzy sweater lacks is the soul warming effect of our favourite comfort foods. A hot bowl of soup at an old favourite Chin-jabi restaurant or a heap of Bajra Khichadi topped with ghee and sugar. We chat with food bloggers from around the city and ask them to share some of their ‘go to’ comfort food spots in the city.
Vandana Verma @ Sing For Your Supper
Vandana Verma of Sing For Your Supper
“On bitter cold evenings when you need something to warm you up, nothing hits the spot quite like steaming Butter chicken (Rs 295) and crunchy naan (Rs 55), and Defence Colony’s Swagath does an excellent rendition of both. But the gold-standard for comfort food is home cooking, and if you’re too lazy to get in the kitchen yourself, head to Potbelly, where hot pakora baskets (Rs 145) and warming kheema goli (Rs 250) (spicy mincemeat balls served with mini khasta bread) are excellent comfort food. And if you still need a shot of heat, try the Mutton champ (Rs 350), – mutton on the bone with a thick coating of spice is perfect swaddled by Tawa Mirchi parantha, or the Chicken teekha ishtew (Rs 320), which as fiery as its name suggests and will leave you toasty long after your plate’s wiped clean.”
Reeta Skeeter @ Delhi Foodies’ Zone
“Grey winter evenings leave me craving soup and all things hot. When in or around Connaught Place, I head to Zen at Connaught Place, inner circle. I simply love their Lemon Coriander soup
Pumpkin risotto from diva Kitsch
(Rs 145). It comes in a big bowl filled to the brim. It is satiating, yummy and helps me brave the ‘dilli ki sardi’. For a winter meal, I also love the Aloo momos (Rs 200) at Yeti in Hauz Khas Village. I can demolish a whole portion (8-10 pieces) all by myself and seldom share it. They are stuffed with what I call my winter love – potatoes, cheese and a hint of garlic. When I want something even more filling and I’m feeling indulgent, I head to Diva Kitsch for their Udon noodles in a mushroom broth infused with black pepper and sesame (Rs 660). It is a big portion that can easily be shared by two, and is extremely flavourful and satisfying.”
Anisa Nariman @ Mademoiselle Chour-Fleur
“The love for winter means many things to different people – foggy nights, the crackle of a bonfire, winter boots and knitted sweaters. For me it only feels like winter when the barbeques get started, the aroma of meat slowly braising wafts through the house and we start dunking fresh loaves of bread greedily into spicy stews. But when no one’s around, it has to be a bowl of hearty risotto that gets me through the cold winter nights
Anisa Nariman of Mademoiselle Chou-Fleur
My favourite risotto haunts in the city are, Diva in GK 2 that is currently doing a lovely risotto with Green Apple and Crumbled Sausage (Rs 730). For a more luxurious offering do try Le Cirque’s Lobster Risotto (Rs 2400) at the Leela Palace Hotel.”
Of course the most comfortable thing to do is to mimic cold potato under house arrest. Lounging in front of the dynamic duo – the heater and the television – in the comfort of your own house can be relaxing. But if your couch is screaming for a break, we hope you have found plenty of options to take your empty belly to this winter.
Of all the exciting things that were on offer at this place, their extensive range of drinks got our attention quickly. The restaurant boasts of some interesting cocktails like Aampanna vodka (Raw mango pulp with vodka), Sharaabi nariyal (coconut and mint mixed with vodka) and Vodka & Gunna (Vodka and sugarcane juice) – Rs 275 each. They even have an innovative bubble gum flavour infused martini (Rs 400). Sadly, they didn’t have their liquor licence, so we made do with a few mocktails. Amrood chaat (Rs 150) – a light-pink mixture of guava juice and Tabasco was topped with chaat masala and served in mason jars. The cool drink has spicy kick with every sip.
muhammara with garlic brushed soft toasted pita bread, baked jacket potatoes, onion rings, crispy mushrooms and Paneer tikka with mini tandoori rotis. The paneer was well marinated in spices and the jacket potatoes tasted great with the heady garlic, parsley sautéed mushrooms. While the hummus was creamy, the baba ghanoush in contrast was intensely smoky and the muhammara was sweet yet tangy making for an interesting trio.
The Chicken stroganoff (Rs 295) served with house green salad and buttered rice was rich in velvety-smooth sauce, with delicate pieces of chicken making it an easy sell. Though, we can’t honestly say there was anything really memorable about it.
dentist wake up with cold shivers, it is certainly a misleading name as there are no nachos. Instead, it included cookies, brownies, Smarties, marshmallows and vanilla ice cream put together with whipped cream. Through the bite and crunch we could mostly taste flavours of chocolate and vanilla, and are happy to report that it was a very interesting mix.
Mushroom cheung fun[/caption]
There are over 40 different dumplings to choose from.The star of the menu would easily be the Cheung Fun(Rs 375-Rs 500). A glutinous, rice paper roll, it is drizzled with soya sauce right at the table. Available in six different filling options, our favourite was the Crispy Prawn Cheung Fun (Rs 500), a delicately flavoured glutinous rice paper roll encasing a lightly fried roll stuffed with prawns. Vegetarians try the Three Mushroom Cheung Fun (Rs 475), which sounds and tastes equally interesting.
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Fried Turnip cake[/caption]
Pumpkin and pine nut dumpling[/caption]
The Baked Chicken Puff (Rs 225) was filled with mildly sweet chicken filling in a salty pastry tart that was a tad thicker than a wispy perfect puff pastry.In comparison, the only complaint we had about the Lamb Roll tossed in a light black bean sauce was (Rs 375) that we could have easily eaten twice as much and still wanted more. The off beat Pumpkin and Pine nut dumpling (Rs 325)is a mild, steamed dumpling flavour in an almost translucent skin.
If after all of that, you can still make it to main course, may we suggest you first take a bow? Then, settle down for an order of Sticky Rice in a Lotus Leaf (Rs 300). Deliciously thick glistening blobs of glutinous rice with chunks of flavourful,spiced vegetables are enough to satiate the hungriest appetite.
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Lalu[/caption]
For a proper Yum-Cha experience,try a little something from their impressive collection of tea or one of their signature cocktails. Innovative and intriguing, to say the least, the cocktail recipes are straight from their London branch and they protect them religiously. Start of with Lalu (Rs 550), a vodka based drink, which isn't sweet and syrupy at all. Instead, the flavours include a blend of delicate flavours of Lemongrass and Oolong Tea. Lalu is oriental enough in flavour to capture our attention and boldly so, yet not overpowering to distract us from the subtlety and balance of the other things on the menu.
Courtesy - Searchkashmir.org, Mayank Austen Soofi[/caption]
Girda with Noon Chai, Srinagar
The residents of this ‘heaven on Earth’ wake up to this slightly sweet, pink coloured tea called Noon chai. Prepared with tealeaves, milk, salt, pistachios, almonds and cardamom, this tea keeps them warm during chilly winter mornings. This is followed by local breads, mainly Girda – fermented sweet bread with poppy seeds or Baqerkhani – spiced, flaky flat-bread made with flour, semolina, molasses and topped with sesame seeds. A cup of tea and a portion of bread will cost you a modest Rs 10-15.
Chole kulche with Lassi, Amritsar
A typical day in Amritsar starts with Chole – boiled chickpeas in spicy curry and Kulche – layered flat-bread stuffed with potato or paneer and cooked in tandoor with spoonsful of butter. A tall glass of thick Lassi – a thick yoghurt-based drink with a dollop of cream to garnish completes finish to the breakfast. A very satisfying meal for one will cost you Rs 100 at any dhaba here. We suggest heading to Ashok Kulche Wala or Harbans Lal Kulche Wala to try some of this.
Aloo paratha with Lassi, Chandigarh
Like Amritsar, Chandigarh also like its breakfast heavy - loaded with butter and served with a large glass of lassi. The humble aloo paratha – Indian flat bread stuffed with mashed potatoes and shallow fried on a griddle is one of the most popularly consumed breakfasts here, both on the streets and at home. Parathas here are typically served with a dollop of white butter, yogurt and pickle on side. Head to Katani Vaishno Dhaba or Sher-e-Punjab where a filling breakfast will cost you approximately Rs 50.
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Nihari and khameeri roti, Delhi
While general perception is that Delhi loves to wake up to Aloo parathas and Chole bhature, the Nawabi influence on this city’s cuisine tells a different story. The kitchens in the by lanes near Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk stir up some delicious Nihari – slow cooked mutton in a spicy curry flavoured with close to 50 different spices. Nihari is best eaten with khameeri roti – soft Indian flatbread made that employs a subtle use of yeast. A meal will easily cost under Rs 70 at Haji Noora Ki Nihari, one of the oldest and most famous nihari outlets in Old Delhi.
Khasta kachori, Lucknow
The city of Nawabs prefers Khasta kachori for breakfast. The deep fried flaky pastry is stuffed with lentils and is eaten with a simple, yet fiery potato stew. A plate of khasta will cost you Rs 16 at Ratti Lal’s, one of the most famous shop in Lalbagh.
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Courtesy - Banaraskakhana.com[/caption]
Chooda matar, Varanasi
Hot kachoris, samosas, gulab jamuns and jalebis frying in woks with tourists queuing up for a grub is a typical early-morning scene near the ghats in Varanasi. But the locals fall back on the humble Chooda matar for breakfast. The dish is an Eastern Uttar Pradesh version of the Indori pohe prepared with flattened rice and green peas and served with a garnish of fresh coriander and a spritz of lime.
Puri, subzi, Patna
A aloo gobhi ki subzi – vegetable preparation with potato and cabbage, puri, jalebis and a glass of milk would usually sound like lunch, but residents of Bihar prefer the hearty meal for breakfast. Deep-fried puris with dry potato and cauliflower preparation is washed down with a glass of thick milk.
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Courtesy - Journeymart.com[/caption]
Panta bhat, Kolkata
Kolkata might have Flury’s where people flock every now and then for a hearty breakfast, but a traditional morning meal in West Bengal is usually more wholesome. Fermented rice called Panta bhat is made with left over rice that is soaked overnight in water. Usually eaten with salt, onions, chilli and/or fried fish, its delicious. There’s never been a better reason to have Bengali friends, because the best place to try this is at a local home.
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Tan and changaang, Manipur
The small restaurants in Manipur open as early as 6 in the morning and start serving the breakfast combo of Tan and changaang. Tan loosely translates to mean any Indian flatbread, but for breakfast, the locals usually prefer the deep fried puri. Tan is eaten with a green split pea and dry pumpkin preparation. The Changaang or sweetened black tea is usually served piping hot alongside.
Jolpan, Assam
The traditional breakfast in Assam consists of jolpan, a mini meal in itself. Jolpan consists of a rice preparation, pitha – rice cake or pancake, laddoo – ball shaped sweet made of coconut or sesame seeds and tea. The rice preparation is the main feature of jolpan and is prepared in various ways; bora saul – boiled rice, chira – flattened rice, muri – puffed rice, pithaguri – fried rice flour, suji or semolina cooked in water and milk are some of the most common ones. These are served with curd or milk and sugar or jaggery.
Pohe – Jalebi, Indore
Known to locals as ‘mini Mumbai’, this city bears some resemblance to the maximum city in the sheer variety of foods available especially in the bylanes of Sarafa Bazaar. An ideal breakfast here involves a bowl of steaming pohe – flat rice cooked with curry leaves, potato, onion and peanuts; crisp jalebis – deep-fried swirls of dough dunked in sugar syrup - and a hot cup of tea. At Rs 20 per plate for pohe and jalebi, it’s a steal.
Pyaz ki kachori, Jaipur
A typical morning in Jaipur usually has people huddled at little shops to eat freshly fried Onion kachoris – hollow, deep fried, savoury pastry shells stuffed with onion and served with sweet and spicy chutneys, and jalebis. When you are in Jaipur head to Rawat Mishthan Bhandar for the best Pyaz ki kachori in town. One kachori (Rs 30) can make for a very filling meal.
Kachori chaat, Udaipur
As soon as the Sun is up in Udaipur, the stalls around Jagdish Temple bring the woks of hot oil out to fry fresh kachoris and samosas. These are made into a chaat – savoury snack preparation by adding chole , sweet and spicy chutney, peanuts and onions. For this hit of flavours first thing in the morning, head to the shops near Jagdish Temple for kachori chaat and tea for a modest Rs 45.
Fafda – Jalebi, Ahmedabad
There’s an almost never-ending list of snacks when it comes to Gujarati cuisine. Some of the most popular include fafda – spiced gram flour rolled into a thin pastry and deep fried and of course, sweet, crisp, and thin jalebis. Prices range between Rs 200 – 250 per kg of fafda and Rs 300 – 375 per kg of jalebi in most places.
Sabudana vada with cutting chai, Mumbai
The city that seems to work 24/7 depends on a steady supply of pohe and sabudana vadas – tapioca pearls and potatoes mixed with spices and peanuts and then deep-fried. Multiple little cups of strong, sweet milky tea or cutting chai through the morning keep energy levels up while the vadas make up the carb quotient. Prakash in Dadar serves some of most deliciously plump vadas with a crunchy shell at Rs 40 per plate, which includes two vadas, sweetened yogurt and coconut chutney.
Missal pao, Pune
The laidback city loves waking up to some fiery missal – white peas, peanuts and fried snacks in a spicy curry, with pao. Missal is topped with an extra serving of chilli oil on request, which is definitely not for the weak hearted. Bedekar Tea Stall at Narayan Peth is well known for its missal pav (Rs 50 per plate).
Idiyappam with Egg curry, Alleppuzha
While the general notion is that all of South India turns to idli, dosa and sambhar for breakfast it’s not entirely true. Idiyappam – steamed rice flour noodles, is one of the most popular breakfasts in Kerala and some parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The dish is generally accompanied with coconut milk laden egg curry, coconut chutney or sambhar. Try this meal for not more than Rs 100 at Halais, one of the more popular restuarants in the area.
Idli – sambhar with Filter coffee, Chennai
The folks in the Southern quadrant of the country often wake up to a breakfast of fluffy white idlies (steamed rice flour batter) and a bowlful of the deep yellow-coloured and piping hot sambhar. Add to it a hot cup of locally grown filter coffee and your nutritional quota for the day just got a great kick-start. A portion of Idli sambhar will cost you approx. Rs 20 and is probably the easiest food to find. While filter kaapi is also available easily, try the Kumbakonam Degree Coffee (Rs 25) at Shri Krishna Sweets.
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Courtesy - hyderabadicuisinerecipes-angel.blogspot.com[/caption]
Ande ka khagina, Hyderabad
With the number of varieties of biryani available, it’s easy to imagine Hyderabadis eating it three times a day. Closer inspection proves that there is much more to their breakfast menu. A popular favourite is Ande ka khagina – spicy, scrambled eggs eaten with hot parathas. Available at most of the roadside dhabas, a plate of this very filling breakfast costs Rs 50.
This list barely makes a dent in the list of things that are enjoyed for breakfast across the country. We’re sure there are plenty of hidden breakfast dishes that we haven’t yet heard of yet. Think you have a breakfast story to share and a breakfast spot to recommend in your city? Leave us a comment or tweet to us @burrp
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A new place at Select City Walk mall always attracts attention, and 
Harry's Old Fashion[/caption]
Soon our table was full of a variety of cocktails. To begin the drinking portion of the evening, the Dirty Harry (Rs 179) was oh-so-fresh a drink made with lychee flavour, mint vodka, and Demerara sugar. The Mojito (Rs 229) a white rum drink was a little too sweet with tart flavours of mint punched in it.
Harry’s Old Fashion (Rs 299) came with a cinnamon laced rim, which added a fun edge to this, orange and caramel drink prepared with a fine scotch. Ladies, if you’re already a fan of the Singapore Sling (Rs 329), this cranberry juice with gin, lime, and cherries is delightful.
The Caramel Popcorn Martini(Rs 239)was a first for us. The popcorn-flavoured vodka mixed with caramel and finished with a popcorn dressing, is a potent hit of alcohol.
While we were still relishing their splendid choice of cocktails, two platters comprising of starters were served at our table. The Chef had done a mighty good job in neatly organising them. The spicy, fried Pataya fish fingers (Rs 269) are great to munch on as are Fish and chips (Rs 289) - batter fried basa. Besides the unremarkable Harry’s Nachos (Rs 229), thePaneer pudina malai tikka (Rs 249) pieces of creamed cottage cheese marinated in Indian spices and cooked in char grill are a Mughlai delicacy that works well between sips.
Also on the menu are the usual finds of Onion rings (Rs 149) and Jalapeno poppers (Rs 189) that work best with salsa or barbeque sauce and the strong Pommery mustard mayonnaise.
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Harry's Jazz Burger[/caption]
The triple-decker Harry’s Green Club Sandwich (Rs 229) is not over stuffed with grilled vegetables and mint mayo and served with French fries. Sadly, we still couldn't make our way through this sandwich. The Harry’s Jazz Burger (Rs 289) though, was a different story - a beautifully seasoned,finely mined mutton patty, omelette and bacon, sautéed onions and mushrooms with cheese. With so many flavours, we still couldn't find fault with it. Of course, the entire experience was best closed with a dessert, Drunken Banana Split (Rs 229),can best be described as an intoxicating punch of sweet frozen liquor. The ingredients: ice cream in a pool of caramel and rum sauce.
The service was excellent with the servers standing by to serve you. While their signature drinks are to die for, their food is freshly made and served hot with a smile.While we wouldn't pick this as a romantic date spot, it’s ideal to grab a couple of drinks with friends and colleagues’ post office hours.
Must Try: Harry's Jazz Burger, Dirty Harry
Meal for two: Rs 1200 with alcohol (taxes included)
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Come winter and every Punjabi worth its gudd stocks up on Doda - best described as a rich Punjabi fudge of milk, butter and dry fruits. Imagine now, a gooey sticky warm doda, speckled with crunchy dry fruits in a layer of freshly baked crumbly tart, served with home made vanilla bean Ice Cream. This one quickly became our personal favourite here, especially since they skilfully turn the rich, heavy fudge into a creative and subtly flavoured dessert.
Besan Ladoo Tart, Mithai Cheesecake and Winter Fruits (Rs 595)
Who hasn’t sneaked few bites of warm besan and sugar mix before it takes form at the hands of our mothers and grandmothers? Take that childhood memory and bake a tart so delicate, it crumbles at the gentlest nudge of a spoon. This should be good enough, but here, it arrives topped with a mild, fluffy and light cheese, to balance the strong gram flour flavour. On the side are dragon fruit, berries and fresh figs, which adds plenty of colour and flavour to the final dish.
Mishti Doi Cannoli, Amaranth Ladoo (Rs 595)
The only way we could explain the Mishti Doi Cannoli is that it was the result of a happy marriage between Sicily and Bengal. Only Chef Manish Mehrotra could think of the sweet fermented curd,piped into crisp cannoli pastry shells. These ever so delicate tubes of pastry are plated up along with a light Amaranth laddoo. Also known as Chauli dana,this protein-rich brittle is a great textural change from the cannoli.
Elaichi Banana Sticky Cake, Ginger Ice Cream, Phantom Sweet Cigarette (Rs 595)
A banana cake by itself is usually mildly aromatic and very comforting. Up the game and throw in some of the richest Indian spices like cardamom and saffron and it easily becomes the best banana cake you would ever come across. To snap you back from your state of nirvana this slice of heaven puts you in, is a very zingy ginger ice cream, melting in slow motion from the warmth of the fresh slice of cake.
Dark and White Chocolate Kulfi Lollypops (Rs 595)
A layer of perfectly tempered shell like white chocolate hides a layer of the delicate kulfi. Be careful, this melts very quickly, so make your way through this one quickly to avoid wasting even the slightest bit.
The food and the desserts alike are clever examples of the brilliance of simple Indian food with the tiniest western twist. Do make sure to plan and book in advance; you don’t want to miss a chance at trying the food here.
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Zura’s European Navratri Platter consists of dishes like Potato rösti –a predominantly Swiss preparation of coarsely grated potato,seasoned with rock salt and pepper and fried. Served here with a spinach stew, it is a delicious combination. Traditional hummus is made with Chickpeas and garlic, both of which aren’t allowed for consumption during fasting, Zura’s Oven roasted pumpkin hummus served with crispy buckwheat crackers is one of their unique offerings as part of the platter. Cottage cheese steak with tomato coulis has grilled soft slabs of cottage cheese with a light tomato sauce. A good break from the boring and repetitive fasting food we eat at home, Zura’s European Navratri platter priced at Rs 599 all-inclusive is the most economical innovative option for all of those who are fasting.
For more details, click 
Manga[/caption]
For Vodka lovers, start with the Mangaa (Rs 300) infused with fresh AamPanna, Sweet Lime and jeera or cumin, this punchy drink with flavours of raw mangoes and spices is perfect for the sticky summer weather. Another cocktail with strong Indian flavours isthe vodka –based Go Guava (Rs 300) that comes together with guava juice, mint, coriander, green chilli and salt. Be warned, they take their hit of chilli seriously! Temper your spice content with the Veg Kebab with Fresh Cottage Cheese (Rs 210). These deliciously tender lentil kebabs and paneer are best enjoyed with the warm grilled pao served with it.
Whiskey drinkers might usually shy away from cocktails, but we suggest trying the Narangi (Rs 300) whiskey muddled with oranges - a sweet and sour blend that’s so subtle and smooth you would never guess it is whiskey-based. The Copper Monkey (Rs 300) with whiskey, mandarin, passion fruit, mint and bitters makes for a delicate mix. None of the bold ingredients overpower the others. What makes it most interesting is the glass it is served in. Like earthen pots add to the taste of phirniorrice pudding, the copper glass lends the smoky copper taste to this drink– one of our favourites of the evening.
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Eggs benedict- poached eggs and salmon, Seafood omelette- cooked with seafood bisque and shrimp salsa, traditional Spanish omelette, Marzipan eggs and even some nougat eggs. Olive is hosting activities for kids like egg painting and egg hunting in their courtyard. Priced at Rs 3200 all-inclusive, with unlimited cocktails, sparkling wine and live pizza and burger counters, it’s the most indulgent feast of all. Special packages for kids below 12 are priced at Rs 1095 with taxes.
Bonnets (Rs 120 a pair), Marzipan eggs (Starting from Rs 120 per small sized egg) to chocolates shaped like bunnies and eggs (Starting from Rs 70. Besides small treats, you could peck at the Easter hen made of paper-mache, which is stuffed with assorted confectionary like jujubes and chocolates (Rs 300-650). The Easter Basket (Rs 460) contains a bunch of special treats like Marzipan sweets, jujubes, chocolate and fondant eggs.
Rara Avis, one of Delhi’s first French restaurants will be serving a traditional Easter dish from France, the Epaule d’agneou Fracie. This roasted stuffed lamb shoulder is a cherished recipe of Chef Jerome, co-owner of the restaurant. A third generation chef, he will be using his family recipe passed on to him by his grandparents for this special occasion. The secret of the recipe lies in the marinating and the perfected cooking time they say. The dish priced at Rs 780 plus taxes will be served through the weekend.
Crawl through a tiny hideout of an entrance into an elevator, go up to the 1st floor and you reach a swanky dining area that is a distinct throw back to the British Raj. Plush cushioned leather couches, wooden floors, aged photographs, cricket bats, a library and even a fireplace welcome you into what one can easily see as an Englishman’s home or club house.
The décor draws much of its inspiration from just this. The brothers Mohit and Dushyant Kakkar stay close to the story of a certain British officer named Alistair Kensington said to have disappeared from the area mysteriously leaving behind his manor in 1939. Everything about this restaurant seems to belong to a time long long ago. Everything, barring the big screen projector, of course.
We made our way to the terrace to dine on Anglo-Indian delicacies. Wooden chairs and tables were set out on the terrace complete with a small fountain. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect setting for dinner under the stars. We started with cocktails, The Fall of Eden (Rs 450) - a sinful mixture of the forbidden fruit and whisky. Served ice cold, it was refreshing with a subtle fresh apple flavour and a dominating strong whiskey flavour. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, try The Shit Is Bananas (Rs 450)- a concoction of tequila and bananas. One swig of this and it's guaranteed to reach the sweet spot.
Done with drinks, we moved on to the Pork ribs in maple syrup (Rs 395). Say goodbye to cutting through tough rubbery meat as these are so tender, the meat actually falls off the bone. The maple syrup was a surprisingly good change from the usual barbeque sauces and complemented the red meat perfectly. The seafood platter (Rs 725) had a mix of prawns, fish and crab. The prawns were soft, buttery and mildly flavoured with garlic. The battered calamari done tempura style was a tad oily, yet still delicious when paired with the tartar sauce. The crabcakes, looked like mini kebabs, though, were well spiced, infused with herbs and chillies, melt-in-the-mouth soft and very flavoursome.
As we leafed through the menu, a small balcony overhead caught our eye. It seemed like the perfect little spot for spending a little quiet time under the stars. We zeroed in on the prawns in red mango curry (Rs 450) and Baked aubergine with cheese (Rs 300). The fleshy prawns were sweet and spicy and reminded us a little of the Sweet chilli flavour Lays potato chips. The portion of rice garnished with cilantro served along with it complemented the curry perfectly. The aubergine, served with a side of salad and garlic bread wasn’t the worst thing we’ve eaten, but certainly didn’t have much to write about aside from the generous blanket of cheese. If this was meant to be one of those easy on the seasoning dishes, perhaps they went a tad too easy this time.
We started the meal with something sweet and alcoholic and ended it much the same manner. We had our eye on the Coco Kahlua mousse cake (Rs 250) from the beginning of this meal. The small slice of bitter chocolate truffle cake with a hint of the coffee liquor was worth the wait and made for a perfect ending to the meal. We dare say, the food and ambiance would do Mr Alistair Kensington proud. A refreshingly new way to look at English food in India, we plan to come back here soon to try the crab samosas!
Must try: The Shit is Bananas, pork ribs in maple syrup
Meal for two: Rs 1200 + taxes (without alcohol)
I love Parsi food. It’s as simple as that. And in Calcutta, you grow up surrounded by many many Parsis who, if you’re born under the right star, will introduce you to the wonders of Patrani Macchi, Dhansak with brown rice, sweet and spicy kachumbar and Sas-ni-Macchi (fish in a piquant white or red sauce). Most people I know from Calcutta, including myself, always request people travelling from Mumbai to bring them dhansak powder. And yes, I, like most Parsi food lovers, know that Dhansak is usually served at funerals. Basically, if there’s one cuisine I know well, it’s that of the Parsis.
was mighty thrilled. The thought of being able to order dhansak as and when I wished, barely a stone’s throw away from my house was putting butterflies in my stomach. Till the reviews began coming in – lovely interiors, horrible food, not Parsi food from any angle, the flavours are all wrong etc. The restaurant is run by Olive Bar and Kitchen, which made me lose a little hope in it simply because I feel that Oilve has mastered the art of setting up pretty restaurants serving very half-baked food. But I decided to brave it out for the sake of the burrp! reader and ventured there for a snack around three weeks ago – almost five months after it had opened. What did I find?
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eggs kejriwal, kheema pav, french fries[/caption]
Well a friend of mine and I visited the restaurant at six pm on a Thursday. It – and thankfully Cyberhub which now resembles New Market in Calcutta on a Sunday – was fairly deserted. There were three tables other than ours. The restaurant still hadn’t got their liquor license. So, we ordered Irani Special Chai (Rs 60), Kheema Pav (325), Eggs Kejriwal (Rs 215) and Thick Cheesy Masala Fries (195) – the last two were for my friend who’s vegetarian. The chai was perfectly brewed and reminded me of chai in the Irani cafes in Bombay. The Eggs Kejriwal is a must-try, if you haven’t had it before. A toast topped with spinach and mushrooms and a slightly spicy sauce, sitting astride which is a fried egg. I’m not a big fan of fried egg, but even I couldn’t stop eating this. The kheema pav was a little too bland for my taste, although the pav was nice and soft. The masala cheesy fries are not for the weak-hearted going by the fact that it’s deep fried potatoes topped with melted cheese. I wouldn’t waste tummy space on it.
The restaurant was very cutely done up – with blackboards with chalk-written signs saying “No Flirting”, “No office work” etc. If you’ve been to an Irani restaurant in Mumbai, you’ve seen these. The tables are glass-topped with checked tablecloths underneath, wooden chairs, lovely knick-knacks and jars of biscuits at the billing counter. It’s quaint by any measure. The service was friendly and not over-bearing. All in all, a good experience.
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Berry Pulao[/caption]
I decided to go try the much-touted Berry Pulao though for dinner. This is a mutton pulao flavoured with tart berries, which all of us who’ve been to Mumbai have stood outside Britannia restaurant to try. You only get it in the Irani restaurants and you don’t get it anywhere in Delhi. So, I trooped to Soda Bottle Openerwallah on a Wednesday at nine pm with friends and their two young daughters (who are 5 and 8 years old). After wading through the milling crowds who seem to be walking aimlessly through CyberHub, we managed to get a table at the choc-a-bloc restaurant.
First off, the restaurant was too dimly lit and there were too many people trying to talk over the very-loud Nazia Hassan song which seemed to be on spool. But we’d come to eat, and eat we would. So here’s what we ordered. Since they’d got their liquor license, we ordered a Dikra Kiri (rum with sugarcane juice – Rs 295) and my friends ordered a Bawaji Ka Thullu (which is basically a Long Island Iced tea – Rs 295) and a Parsiana (a berry flavoured cocktail – Rs 295). All were quite tasty, especially the Dikra Kiri and came in massive glasses.
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Lagan Nu Custard[/caption]
We then ordered a Vada Pao (Rs 65), Patrani Macchi - three filets of fish marinated in coconut and coriander and mint steamed in banana leaf (Rs 495), Mutton berry pulao (Rs 495), Seekh paratha (Rs 275), and an Irani Bacon Macaroni (Rs 395) for the kids. The Berry Pulao while not authentic (it’s got too much gravy around the mutton) is absolutely deliciously and is a massive helping. It’s dotted with a kind of berry which isn’t the original Irani Zeereksh berry and full of copious quantities of beautifully flavoured mutton pieces. Definitely worth going back for. The Patrani Macchi was well-spiced and the filets were generous. The Seekh Paratha can be given a miss because it’s nothing different from what you get all over Delhi. The macaroni can be skipped as well as it’s what we’d whip together at home for a quick dinner with tomato puree and some bacon. We finished off the meal with the Toblerone Mousse, which isn’t Parsi from any angle but is sinfully good. And the Lagan Nu Custard which is similar to Caramel Custard but flavoured with cardamom, again – delicious and very authentic.
My only grouse – where is the dhansak and macchi da saas? What is the point of a Parsi restaurant which doesn’t serve these two staples? It’s like a Bengali restaurant not serving luchi alur dum or Ilish maach. But since I can make both at home, I don’t care. The Berry Pulao and Eggs Kejriwal I don’t cook at home, so that’s what I’ll go and have there.
Bottomline, if the food was hit-and-miss earlier, the restaurant seems to have managed to get their act together now. It was well worth wading through the milling crowds of Cyber Hub for this meal. Would I do it again? Yes, I’d just pick a less busy day.
Must have: Berry Pulao, Eggs Kejriwal and the Dikra Kiri.
Price: Rs 3500 for two+taxes (with alcohol)
The review was conducted anonymously.
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Ingredients:
Svedka Citron 60 ml
Pineapple juice 15 ml
Fresh lime juice 15 ml
Midori 15 ml
Simple syrup 5ml
Angostura Bitters Dash (1-2 ml)
Method:
Ingredients:
Svedka Clementine 60 ml
Triple sec 30 ml
Fresh lemon juice 30 ml
Ground cinnamon and sugar to taste
Orange twist 1
Method:
Bloody Citron
Svedka vodka 45 ml
Tomato juice 90 ml
Fresh lemon juice 15 ml
Worcestershire sauce Dash (1-2 ml)
Hot sauce Dash (Tabasco will do)
Salt A pinch
Celery stick/Lemon slice 1
Method:
While there's a lot to be said about flavourful ales, or wheat beers, or even stouts – some days just call for a refreshing and light lager. Of the few lagers that I enjoy, two come from a brewery in Spain – Estrella Galicia and 1906 Reserva Especial, and are now available in India. Make sure you don't confuse them with the Estrella Damm, which is also a Spanish beer.
Estrella Galicia: This is a pale lager style beer, with a lovely golden colour. It has prominent flavours of malt and citrus, which give way to a pleasant bitterness from the hops, finishing with a long aftertaste. With 4.7 per cent ABV (alcohol by volume) it is a light, refreshing beer with enough flavour to hold its own.
Approximately Rs 200 for 330ml.
1906 Reserva Especial: I like this dark amber coloured larger for the complexity of flavour it holds. You can taste beautifully toasty, bready notes with caramel on the palate. A fairly thick, dense taste keeps you going back for sips. Slightly more potent than the first, this has an ABV of 6.5 per cent.
Approximately Rs 280 for 330ml.
Yves Constantinidis, of Rivera Europe handles the export of the Estrella Galicia beers. On his recent visit to India we caught up with him. Check out the slider for a few interesting things we learnt about the brand.
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Beer Madness @ 
For the dudes @ 
Football world cup fever @ 
If you’re supporting a team this Football World Cup season and want to relish a food and drinks deal that complements your choice, then head to Fat Lulu’s. Enjoy some cool offers on beer and munchies to add to the fun and energy:
