Maharashtrian Food Festival- Mystic Masala, Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond

A table for two by the window, a view of the pool below, bottles of spices adorning the walls, soft Indian music playing in the background, and some authentic Maharashtrain cuisine all made up for a very beautiful dinner experience at the Mystic Masala,Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond.

A few of my European friends suggested I go to the place to check out some authentic Maharashtrian food at the food festival at Mystic Masala. A little surprised (since I know Maharashtrian food is oily and spicy, a definite no for most foreigners) I decided to head down on the evening of 24 Jan 2014 for a quiet dinner with my family. The hospitality and service has always been brilliant, hence I didn't have to think twice before making this impromptu plan.

Being a passionate foodie, I was a little curious to know the idea behind this festival ( It’s Maharashtrian cuisine in Maharashtra, why would people come here when they can eat this at home?) Mr. Aditya Mehendale, the man behind this idea, was kind enough to spend some time with me and answer all my questions.

Mr. Mehendale swears by Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond, Pune. Any celebration, no matter how grand or personal it is, happens at Taj. “Taj is like family. I love these guys” is what he had to say. On his mother-in-law’s 75^th birthday, he approached the management at Taj with his own menu, asking them to prepare all dishes mentioned in the same. The chefs were so impressed by the recipes, they decided  to go ahead with a full fledged Maharashtrian food festival. Being passionate about food and cooking, Mr. Mehendale gladly accepted this offer.

A connoisseur from royal lineage, Mr. Mehendale is an extremely humble human being. He has been passionate about food since he was a child, and has been cooking (sometimes, along with the Peshwa cooks) since the age of 12. It saddens him to know how Maharashtrian cuisine is perceived to be very limited. The idea behind this particular food festival is to showcase the range of dishes available in this cuisine. He wants people to explore this, and he is releasing a book with 80 non-vegetarian (only) recipes in the Maharashtrian cuisine (the book is expected to release by end of April). Being a part of the royal families of Maharashtra, he wants to share with everyone the Peshwa style of cooking authentic Maharashtrian food. He has taken out time to train the chefs at Mystic Masala, and has had a wonderful experience. His beautiful wife, Dr. Tarita Shankar, joined us at our table for a while. A beautiful couple, they made me feel at home with their charm and enthusiasm. The passion for food and hospitality is seen by the energy they exude.  Not wanting to take too much of their time, I thanked them for all the information they had shared with me. One of the secrets he did share before he left the table- "the food can be preserved for 10-20 days, this is the food the warriors carried with them when they went to war. Do you want to know how? Traditional Maharashtrian cooking did not involve tomatoes. And the quantity of oil used was also very little. This helped in easy preservation…..enjoy your food!”

The Head Chef was kind enough to send across a customized menu for tasting, seeing how I was genuinely interested in the food. By the end of it all, I could not help thanking him for his hospitality and the lovely food he had prepared. The menu for the night was as follows-

1.       Chicken Pickle

I am not a fan of pickles, because I don’t usually like the oil and the sourness. So when a bowl of chutney came to our table, I was pretty surprised to know this was dry, and had no traces of oil. The chicken was dry, well cooked, and soft. The pickle was a dry mixture of coconut shavings. It wasn't sour, which is what I loved about it. If you like traditional oily and sour pickles, you might find this a little bland. But it's not worth missing out on. 

2.       Kothimbari Vadi

This was a coriander flavored vegetable patty. Unlike a typical patty, it was crispy and had a very strong flavor of coriander. Quite an unusual taste if you ask me, usually you get only a hint of the coriander flavor. By taste, It reminded me a lot of a coriander flavored Dhokla. Light, and with hardly any oil, this is a snack I recommend you must order.

3.       Surailchi Vadi

Soft, steamed, well cooked, with a  flavor of the masalas and coconut mixed together, this is a traditional Maharashtrian besan roll. A light snack before the main course, it is definitely a must try if you are going in for the authentic Maharashtrain experience.

4.       Sol Kadi

This was an interesting mixture of kokum and coconut milk. It came in a champagne flute, looking pretty in pink. The taste was even better. The refreshing taste hits you, and it feels cool as it goes down your throat. A tangy drink, it has a slight hint of sweetness too. A perfect refreshing start I must say. Usually drinks fill you up, and you can’t enjoy your meal. Won’t say this about the Sol Kadi.

5.       Prawns Malwani Tikka

They look so appetizing; I could not wait to get my hands on one of the red tiger prawns that were sent to our table. They are covered with a red paste made out of spices and red chillies, and are absolutely gorgeous to look at. The prawns are well cooked, soft, and have a very pleasant flavor (sea food tends to have a typical smell and taste, this was thankfully devoid of those) Do try them out, you won’t be disappointed.

6.       Chicken Konkani Tikka

One can never go wrong with this. The juicy well cooked tikka melts in your mouth, and the flavors of the spices reminds me of a barbeque and grill night in a jungle on the way to Goa, somewhere near Sawantwadi (true story) Try it, but it might get you a little too full, so maybe you could order this on your second trip here.

7.       Chicken Pandra Tikka

This is a white colored grilled chicken tikka. Do not be misled by the color, since most of the white tikkas are either sweet or bland. This one is spicy, and tastes very unique. I personally have never tasted anything like it. Which is a very nice change since I feel most of the tikkas at a place end up having the same basic flavors. I suggest you try this, it’s unlike the usual tikkas. A little heavy once again, one plate serves 6 tikkas. So order accordingly.

8.       Agre Mutton Tikka

The typical mutton kebab, this one is a little dry as compared to the others. It’s spicy, soft, and has a strong tinge of black pepper, this would go well with a glass of beer. Try this if you want a change from the usual chicken. It’s lighter compared to the chicken tikkas.

The starters were accompanied with a salad that was mainly onion mixed with yoghurt. Very refreshing, I would be trying this one at home too. The strong flavor of the onions is nullified by the yoghurt, leaving a cold and refreshing sensation in your mouth.

Here are the chutneys that you could opt for –

Thecha

The flavor of the green chillies hits you absolutely right, this is the kind of chilly that one enjoys. A chutney made out of green chillies, coriander and a slight amount of garlic, the tangy yet refreshing flavor leaves a perfect after taste in the palette.

Garlic-Peanut chutney

As the name suggests, this is a red colored, spicy, dry mixture of garlic and peanut. The taste will immediately take you back home, where grandmothers would sit all day making chutneys and pickles. I have always loved this chutney, so it wasn't surprising that I managed to finish 4 tablespoons of it. Try this with papad for an interesting combination.

9.       Matha

Also known as butter milk. Or chach. It’s a light drink that goes perfectly with all the non-vegetarian dishes. You don’t feel too heavy; in fact, this actually makes you feel like you could eat more! It’s got a refreshing taste, with a hint of green chilly in the after taste. I could trade water for this, no kidding!

10.   Pitla

This is a traditional Maharashtrian dish that is made in every household multiple times in a week, and is best enjoyed with Jowar rotis. This is a thick curry made mainly out of besan, with a whole lot of flavor added due to the variety of spices that goes into it. This one was a little bland, though the consistency was fine. I found it a little average, I have had better Pitla at the homes of a few of my Maharshtrian friends. If you would like to try it, do ask them to add a little extra spices. If you want this bland, then what you get would be fine.

11.   Matki Misad

I honestly thought I would not get the same taste of the misad I’d get at a local street-food joint, or at home. Well, I was mistaken. The taste, once again, reminded me of the misad we cook at home. The hint of sweetness, the spicy after taste, the well mixed flavors of coconut, rye and coriander were exactly like what you would get in your own kitchen. I recommend you try this.

12.   Amti with Drumsticks

This dish was  apleasant surprise. Thin with a rye tadka, this was a sweet and tangy curry. Gud (jiggery) and imli were used to give it the sweet taste. The after taste made you crave for some more. Very light on the stomach, this is the first time I have genuinely enjoyed Amti. Do not miss this one.

13.   Malwani Fish Curry

Well cooked black pomfret with tamarind, this came with a semi-thick brown gravy. The fish was well cooked, and did not have that particular sea-fish smell that I was talking about. Very light once again (surprisingly, since most of the semi-thick gravy dishes end up making one feel very heavy), this can be enjoyed with rice. But if you are not a big fan of tamarind, you might not enjoy the sourness . Personally, I enjoyed it.

14.   Sukkey Mutton

This, I was told, was a Kolhapuri specialty. The well cooked mutton pieces came in a thick gravy (something on the lines of tawa chicken) and garnished with coriander. A a slight tinge of garam masala remains in the after taste. The first bite might feel a little bland, but once the masalas dissolve in your mouth, the spices will hit you. It’s brilliant, try it.

15.   Navsacha Kumbhda

The name means a gift to the Gods. And why not, this chicken curry is so rich in flavors, it seems fit to be given to the Gods. Out of all the non vegetarian I had eaten there, I personally preferred this one. The curry has a very unique taste, and I suggest you don’t miss out on this.

The main course was eaten with Jowar and Bajra rotis.

16.   Modak

These are the tastiest modaks I have ever eaten. Steaming hot and soft, these dumplings are made of rice, and filled with coconut and jiggery and dry fruits. The modaks I have eaten elsewhere are either too sweet, or too hard. This one was fresh, soft, mouth melting, and  just the right amount of sweet. Even when it cooled down, it did not lose its softness. Even while waiting for them to cool down, the rich smell of ghee was making me a little too impatient. No matter how much you have eaten, do not leave without trying this out.

17.   Amrakhand

This is the famous shrikhand with a flavor of mango. This is light, fresh, and tasty. Life is too short to miss out on desserts. So do have this along with the modaks.

Last night was an exciting dining experience- the taste of Maharashtra, all in one place. I even enjoyed eating vegetarian food after so long. Plus all the food is very light on the stomach. Mr. Mehendale and Mr. Sachin Joshi have done a brilliant job at this collaboration, and the passion for food and cooking was reflected when they seemed so happy seeing people leave the place with a smile on their faces.

You may no longer drive down to Kolhapur to taste your favorite Maharashtrain cuisine anymore, all that you wanted is right here, along with much more. So do come down soon, this festival might change the way you look at Maharashtrian cuisine.  

Army Brat, and now you KNOW: Defamation of Defense Forces by Delhi Sultanate

Hello,

This is regarding a status uploaded by the music band Delhi Sultanate on 21 Jan 2014 at 12:30pm.

 What must have started off as an innocent expression of frustration, took an ugly turn later in the day when the status update went viral, and a few of us were blocked for having made sense on that page (me included)

A few of us are approaching the District Sessions court regarding this(a legal notice should get the message across) If I cannot do anything about it, I am sure I could a little help from the Army too. Being a public figure, one must think before making such statements. In their defense, they can quote "Freedom of Speech" without really understanding the deeper meaning behind it. They need to take extra care of what they say. Maybe this was a cheap publicity stunt, maybe they might say their account was "hacked" Convenient, yes, but I would really want to bring to light the kind of youth we are looking up to these days. 

It's not really easy to form a band and come up with good music, I agree, but it's much easier than staying awake all night in -40 C, patrolling the borders. And all that they could say about the Army jawans was- they rape innocent women. No one, and I mean NO ONE, has the right to demean someone this way. At the end of the day, they can go back to their loved ones and crib about a bad day at work; the jawans sometimes don't have a single living being to talk to for days on end. Just because they have a strong will power does not mean they have stone cold hearts. I am glad they don't have access to any internet most of the times, they would be heart broken to see this kind of stuff being said about them by the "cool guys". They gave up a life of comfort and luxury to serve our country, and THIS is no way to repay them. 

A gentleman by the name of Ashwini Mishra also went ahead to make a few anti-Army statements. I managed to get my point across to him too. I have attached screenshots of that conversation  as well. 

 

 

 I understand it might not be worthy of front page ground breaking news, but a few of us are enough to spread the word. Just want to bring to light the kind of youth we are idolizing these days. 

You can follow the conversation here-

https://www.facebook.com/delhisultanate/posts/10153724587225436  (my first comment has been hidden/deleted. I guess they found it difficult to handle an extra enthusiastic member of the so called army fan club)

And here is Mr. Ashwini's profile link-

https://www.facebook.com/ashwini.mishra.7 (this gentleman has blocked me too, I can't access his profile anymore)

Why isn't anyone standing up for this? "Army brats" only when you need cheap alcohol or when it's Army day or 26 Jan/15 Aug? Wow. *slow clap* 

But fine, to each his own. If you don't want to be a part of this, it's absolutely fine. But instead of laughing at those who want to make a difference, I suggest you be oblivious to everything that is going on here.

I have got a whole lot of "you are insane" messages and have taken them as compliments too, I'm optimistic that way. Don't tell me I am being stupid. A small step, but at least I am doing something. 

Delhi Sultanate defamed themselves yesterday. They being public figures had the audacity to bad mouth the Armed forces for Republic Day practice just because they couldn't carry out their rehearsals peacefully. This has been plain stupidity on their part. It doesn't make them any cooler by calling those who care about the fate of the nation pseudo patriots. After that, they blocked people who stood up against their irresponsible behavior. Wondering if a band like theirs should be allowed to perform any where in this country after the kind of stuff they have posted.

What is it that you do not know?

 Before I start, I must tell you that this post is something that only the ladies might like. And no, I do not mean to blame men, I do not want to sound feminist, this is just something I thought about while observing the body language of a couple having a heated "discussion" at a cafe  (Yes, I sit at cafes and write. Go on, judge me. But I'll have you know, I am very happy with my life. Not all those who crave to get away from people are depressed, some people might just need a break from all the stupidity around them) Anyway, this one is for the women, who at some point or the other in their lives, have all felt this way. It's not a bad thing, it's not wrong, it's just a part of being who we are. Some are strong enough to deal with it, while there are some who go nuts. To each her own. Meanwhile, have a nice time reading this one-

You know that feeling when you don't get a response to your texts? It's a common phenomenon these days, especially with features like "last seen at" and "read" being available on various messaging platforms.I read an article on Thought Catalog that described this as "the height of rudeness, a cyber-slap in the face. It’s lazy, it’s selfish, it’s insensitive; it’s someone being so completely consumed in the movements of their own existence that they’re unable to comprehend the feelings of others." Nailed it, eh? And this article was written by a man. 

 Sometimes, after sending out all the  random mushy messages, or even an “I miss you” mail, one wants to feel appreciated too. Just because someone understands the difficulties you face, doesn't mean you can take him/her for granted. Would it hurt to let them know you miss them too? It won’t take more than 2 minutes, I promise you. Sometimes, you NEED to make them feel special. And there is no greater feeling in this world other than knowing that you are being missed.

Here's where I would like to be extremely biased, I'm sorry-

Women have this bad habit of wanting to know everything, of being a "mother" in the relationship. Some women have that under control, while some are excessively nagging. But no matter how cool a woman is, she will never be able to deal with the fact that she doesn't know anything about her partner's plans. Nothing feels worse than NOT knowing. Put yourself in her place and imagine how you would feel if she didn't tell you how her day was? What if she were to tell you “No, I can’t” (to a point that it sounded rude) the next time you asked her for a favor? And then she'd plan out something on similar lines and tell you at the last moment? What if she wouldn't respond to your messages cos “She’s busy”? Would you expect her to call you, just to let you know that things are fine?If not, would you go through “what have I done, maybe it’s the tone of the messages, maybe I am nagging too much…no she said xyz which means she must be busy but fine, oh wait maybe her family doesn't want us to be in touch..omg what if they talk her out of this?” What if she refused to acknowledge the effort you put into everything? What if she were to give up if her folks didn't approve of you? What if you liked her for her fighting spirit, and she gave up on you? Would you sit quietly, and say “Nothing, I am fine” when she asks you what’s wrong? Would you feel guilty for feeling bad about feeling ignored?


When was the last time you surprised her? When was the last time you told her you missed her? The good part is, it's never too late. Cos hey guess what, she'll not only forgive you, but forget you ever made her feel this way. And give you a tight "I missed you so much" hug, you'd never wanna let her go. 

And the cycle continues. Love, though difficult, is a beautiful feeling.  

A "Mad-House" experience- Mad House Grill, Pune

Since the time I have quit my job, I have only been eating and reviewing. And burning off the calories every morning at the gym. I could live this way all my life, all that I need is someone to start paying me for all the eating that I do. Anybody interested?

The mood last night was Pulp Fiction. So we decided to head out to Brooklyn Shuffle. I have already written a review for it –

http://everyshadeofrandom.blogspot.in/2013/12/brooklyn-shuffle-review.html?view=flipcard

This time I tried the Chocolate Milkshake and Beef Chilly Fries along with Cheese Sticks. Sometimes, when I get too excited, I forget to take pictures. This is all that I could get from last night at Brooklyn Shuffle-

Drinking a Chocolate Shake while sitting in a booth and discussing work and friends and other not-so-serious yet relevant things in life was exactly how I had pictured my Sunday evening. There was a comfortable silence in the middle when we were too involved with the Cheese sticks and Beef Chilly Fries to care about conversing. The first bite of the Cheese Sticks was LOVE. One bite, and the cheese melts into your mouth. I wish they could have accompanied it with a better sauce- the one they serve tastes like cold tomato soup. Rating- 4.5/5

The Beef Chilly Fries looked appetizing- a bowl full of fries, covered with beef in red sauce, topped with cheese. Looks rich, but the taste was a little disappointing. Expecting it to feel a little cheesy, tomato was the dominating flavor. 3.5/5

The Chocolate Milkshake was brilliant, unlike the regular bournvita-chocolate icecream shakes we get elsewhere. Only if I would have got a bigger glass for Rs.125, I would have rated it a 5/5.

Rating- 4/5

As the evening progressed, we made, cancelled, and re-made plans for the night. We ended up going to Mad-House Grill in the end, and loved the experience so much, we might be going back soon enough.

The place looks like a Christian home in Goa during Christmas. Wooden tables, wooden flooring,  white curtains, Christmas lights, the works- this starts off on a very warm note. You can actually picture grandma cooking delicious pies and cakes in the kitchen while you take off your coats and settle down. The red menu cards with snow flakes drawn all over is one of the most beautiful designs I have ever come across in menu cards. So yes, till now, the experience had  been a 5/5.

I ordered for a Swiss Steak Mozzarella, and God bless me for that.  I was a little let down by the portion that was put in front of me (especially since I would be paying 400 bucks for it), but by the end of it I couldn't have thought of anything else that would fill me up that perfectly. I ordered a chicken steak (too much of beef doesn't go down well with me.) The chicken was well cooked, tender, juicy, the flavor had seeped in till the last layer, and easy to cut (makes a difference to the whole dining experience, mind you- you don’t want to be struggling all evening with your cutlery ) The steak came covered in a red sauce, which has to be the tastiest red sauce I have ever had. The steak was accompanied with mashed potatoes and boiled vegetables.  The consistency of the mashed potatoes was smooth, though I wish they would add a little bit of garlic (for flavor) to it.

For dessert I tried the Apple Crumble, which was a little too sweet for my liking (this coming from a person who lives on sugar must be taken seriously) It's served in a bowl, and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The crunchy layer on top tastes of extra sweetened sugar, if that's even possible. But as you dig into the bowl, you will find big juicy pieces of steaming apple soaked in sugar syrup. This would have tasted a lot better with a little bit of cinnamon added to it. But if you are looking at trying something out of the ordinary, you will definitely like it.

Also, the name suits the place really well. By the end of it, we sure did make it a mad house. Here are a few pictures from the madness, the rest I would leave up to your imaginations.

(BTW, that's us fighting for Apple Crumble)

Also! Do not try the Wasabi Chicken. DO NOT. Unless of course you actually ENJOY that taste. That's one of us having a "good time" after adding extra wasabi. 

Do try it out when you are looking out for a change in menu, and a whole lot of peace and quiet. The ambiance will relax you. Even the music there reminds you of home, and good old times spent with family and friends back in school. This place has a very positive, warm, and homely feeling attached to it. This automatically makes the dining experience enjoyable. And since well fed people are always happy people, you will walk out with a smile on your face.

Rating- 5/5

Fat Cat's Cafe - A Review

So today was my “Cheat Day” of the week, and I decided to spoil myself with a whole lot of sugar. Plus the Gods decided to be kind to me. How else would I taste delicious tea, coffee, cake AND sandwiches all on the same day? 

Sad part is there are very few places here in Wanowarie/NIBM that sell good cakes/cupcakes. So I usually settle for coffee. And since Fat Cat’s been pending on my To-Do list for quite some time, I decided to give it a try today. And God bless me for that. 

Situated right opposite Salunke Vihar is this pretty little café which you might not notice immediately. But prepare to be blown out of your minds as soon as you enter the shop. It’s a small place with 6 tables (2 of them inside) and gives a very warm and homely feel. A book rack at the entrance is well stocked. Added to this is the delicious smell of cakes and pies wafting out of the kitchen. Drool-inducing, to put it short and simple.

The menu sounds delicious, and the actual food item doesn't disappoint you either. By the time I got over the excitement of having spotted “bacon”, “cheese”, “quiche” and “red velvet cake” on the menu, the owners suggested we try out the Red Velvet Cake and Bacon&Cheese Toast. I would be mad to disagree, so yes, I decided to give that a try.
The red velvet cake sat there on our table, looking innocent and harmless while I clicked pictures from every angle. And nothing in the world could have prepared me to meet the awesomeness that was hidden inside the innocent looking pastry.

I don’t think my words will ever do justice to this cake. It felt fresh, as if iy were just out of the oven. The cream cheese on top gave the electric sugar rush, and then the rest was MAGIC. If you want to know what mouth melting means, have this cake. And I double dare you to have only one (Yes, I ended up taking a few more pastries home) Smooth cake. Delicious cake. Mouth watering, drool worthy, mouth melting cake. “This makes me want to be interested in all the pretty things in life”- said the friend I was with. And he claims to be too macho for his own good. So yeah, that.

The bacon and cheese toast is what I would want to eat for breakfast everyday for the rest of my life. And trust me I wouldn't get bored. The bacon doesn't smell, the cheese is soft and melted, and even after the toast is cold the bread doesn't dry up. If you haven’t tasted this till now, I suggest you do. Cos I now feel extremely sorry for all those who haven’t been here. It’s worth driving down 15km for. (Also, we packed 1 plate of this too.)

It’s been a wonderful experience. I am definitely going back again. It’s a kilometer away from my place, so maybe I can run down, eat a pastry and run back. That way I could afford to eat this everyday and not put on weight. Which reminds me – a little over priced, but you forget about that once you bite into the world of awesomeness. Only if it could last forever.

The owner is a very lucky man I must say, being married to a woman who can create magic with her cooking. No wonder he’s such a happy man. By the time I left the lace, I actually imagined myself to be a content Pusheen Cat, so yes, the name suits the place perfectly. An absolute delight to visit this place, and I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on this.

Cara Cafe- A review

A quaint little café situated near Symbiosis International University in Viman Nagar, Cara Café has quite a few delicious tasting items on its interesting menu. I have been told that the place is always buzzing with activity, and why not- it attracts a whole bunch of young crowd with it’s delicious food and inexpensive prices. When I headed over for the review in the day, I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of young kids enjoying their lunch hour, a couple of college kids on a date, a woman sitting alone and working on her laptop, a group of foreigners catching up over coffee, and a family with 2 kids having a good time.  So you get the point- no matter how old you are, you must head over to try out some delicious Mexican and Italian cuisine, alone or with a group. The menu is all vegetarian, but it really won’t matter once you have tasted the food.

The ambiance is a confusing mixture of American and European.  You have paintings depicting London and Paris, the tables lined near the glass wall will faintly remind you of a café beside a canal in Europe, some of the table stands are miniature famous red telephone booths of London….and then you have one wall covered with the view of Times Square, and a few cushions with the Statue of Liberty on them. So yes, you might be a little confused while you settle down. And then you notice the white walls and the lighting and the interesting map of the world on the ceiling (quite an ice-breaker during the awkward silences) The ambiance feels fresh, light and happy, unlike the usual congested cafes we have nowadays. There is ample of seating place(they even have an outdoor seating arrangement), good music  which magically suits the mood (while the family ate, a soft tune played in the background..which slowly changed to the latest Avicii tracks as tea time approached)and enough air to breathe.  I stress on this point since it is very important to be seated in comfortable surroundings while eating food. The ambiance (music included) here makes you want to eat more. How else do you think 2 women finished off tacos, pasta, pizza and mocktails all by themselves?

So let’s talk about the food. We ordered 2 virgin mojitos (had tried this on a previous meeting, and had loved the refreshing flavor) , one Cara Special Tacos, one Cara Special Pizza and a Pink sauce pasta. The average price of each dish is Rs. 150. The menu is all vegetarian, and the desserts are yet to be introduced. The owner did mention the menu undergoing a change, so yes we can watch out for a few more additions by Feb.

So here is what I had to say about the food-

Virgin Mojito- You know those scenes in typical chick-flicks where the girls are hanging out by the pool in their bikinis, sipping on their pink mocktails and discussing boys and clothes? THIS is the drink I would want to have in my hand if and when I am ever caught in a scene like that. It’s refreshing, gives the perfect sugar rush, and hell yeah is TASTY! Move over Ice Teas and Fresh Lime Sodas and other non-alcoholic drinks!

Cara Special Tacos- I like Mexican food, but sadly my experience has only been limited to Mexcian fast food at Taco Bell and a few local cafes. So yeah, I ordered a plate of Tacos for starters (decided to go main stream by not trying the Quesadillas and Enchiladas) My reaction when the plate of tacos arrived? – I was a little disappointed. The plate had 6 tacos, and they were tiny compared to what I had eaten at other places. So when I took the first bite of the taco, I wanted to hit myself for being this impatient. A classic case of never judge a book by it’s cover.  Crunchy, mouth watering, SMOOTH tacos.  And the cook has done a great job of adding the perfect Indian touch to it! I recommend the Cara special Tacos over the regular tacos cos of the extra cheese on top. It takes the culinary experience to another new level. And this was just the beginning.  Rate- 9.5/10 (cos hey, this is India, and we have a total of 5 places that know what a Taco is) 

Pink Sauce Pasta-  Honestly, I am not a fan of Italian cuisine, so when I say this was abso-frikkin-lutely delicious, I mean it.  The pasta was a combination of macaroni and fusilli (generous portions, mind you). Cheese was the dominant flavor, but there was a perfect mix of the spices, herbs, and sauce too. The garlic added an interesting tinge too. The texture was smooth, and I liked how there were no lumps formed in the sauce, even after it had cooled down.  I’d rate it an 8/10.

Cara Special Pizza- First reaction: “This looks cheesy. YUM..but how do we finish this?” But soon after the first bite we realized this was not exactly any different from any other pizza. (Tasted a lot like the one at Darios)The pizza is extremely cheesy (which is a good thing, FYI), but a little too bland for my liking. I like my food with spices and flavors, so this was a little disappointing.  The toppings included jalapenos, peppers, onions and capsicum, which all tasted very fresh. And a whole lot of cheese, in case you missed out on that point. Personally I feel they could add a little spice to give it an Indian tinge (and add it as a separate item on their menu) But if you prefer your pizzas bland- you are going to enjoy this one for sure.  I’d rate it a 7/10

The service here is great- the waiters attend to every need of yours, take regular feedback from the customers, and make sure everyone there has a good time. The response time is good too. I wish they had menu cards instead of over-the-counter order placements, but this will come up soon once the new menu has been finalized.

So do hop over to Cara if you are in the area…be it with family, friends, or even alone, you are bound to have a nice time there. Visit it, and do share your feedback if possible.

Cheers!

When I hate, I HATE.

So my friend sends me across a link, asking me to "HATE the guy". Well, I don't really get all badass for no reason, so thought I will read it when I get some free time. But I froze when I saw the link-

http://myarrangedmarriage.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/indian-girls-with-a-defense-background/#comment-28


It said- INDIAN GIRLS WITH A DEFENSE BACKGROUND.

Well, it took me 5 seconds to read that idiotic article, and by the end of it my blood was BOILING. I quickly noted down what I had to say. OBVIOUSLY, he hasn't allowed me to publish my comment, so here is what I have to say-

Hello there. you seem to be quite an attention seeker. One piece of advice- if your relationships go wrong, kindly refrain from stereotyping. Here is what I would like to say-

1. Defense is supposed to have a lot of discipline, uncommon in “civilians”. But you still have to see a single defense kid who has disciplined in their lives- Okay then. Hi there, I am an Army kid, and I wake up at 6 every morning. I run 5km every day, and swim a km too if the weather permits. I reach my office on time, have lunch on time, and sleep by 11pm every night. Oh also, I don’t drink or smoke. And I know many others who don’t.

2. They party a lot- Okay then, I know a lot of us who don’t. We’d rather catch up for coffee, or meet for drinks TWICE a month. Don’t know which small town are you coming from to have labelled that as “partying”

3. Drinking alcohol and smoking might be seen normal. You said- “They seem to stretch the point both ways – if they do or if they don’t – Really I don’t give a rat’s ass!” -  If you don’t, why would you write this blog in the first place genius?

4. Since their dads get transferred a lot, they understand other different cultures better. To which you had to say- “They don’t! They live in their own communities of other Army families, so they never understand anything. They seem to be isolated from the rest!”-   I’ll tell you something here – we make friends all over the country. AND stay in touch with them for the rest of our lives. We don’t stereotype people this easily, we ain’t this SHALLOW bro. We learn to adapt, something you obviously haven’t learnt.

5. They hang out with Defense kids who “understand”. And you said- “They tend to be a little snobbish/arrogant but for obviously no reason!”-  OBVIOUSLY genius, if this is what you think of them, I am not surprised that none of them have tried being your friend.

Wake up you poor little oblivious child. None of us show off our “drinking and smoking capabilities” In fact, it is YOU guys who make a big deal about the cheap alcohol that we get. Honestly, NONE of us care, we are way beyond that. Also, the “how we need to deal with them” part made no sense. Were you dropped on the head when you were a child? Have your folks read this piece of shit that you call literature gold? If they are still proud of you, I don’t have much to say about them either. YES, I shall get personal, cos YOU have gone personal with a LOT of kids here. Tell me honestly, this was to get the attention that you have always been denied of, right?

Hope you have managed to learn something since 2009. I hope you were a 12 year old when you wrote this, cos I honestly don’t want to believe people so shallow and stupid even exist.

Also, funny as you might find it, I am an Army kid, and am in love with a guy who is currently a Capt in the Indian Army. And, most of my friends are Army officers too.

Laugh away my boy. Oh yeah, hope you have a delightful Arranged Marriage.

Geez. This feels good.



Amen.