Palmyra Restaurant - Innovation at its best

Smiling Chef Somnath

Fine dining at Palmyra restaurant, in Hotel Bristol, Gurgaon turned out to be our best experience ever. In spite of the fact only veg food was served during Navratra, the absence of non veg food was not felt at all! The credit goes to Chef Somnath Porel, who made his way to our hearts with his innovation at food.

Reach him on twitter at @Chef_Porel

The spread comprised Daal Makhni, Stir Fry Vegetables, Makhana Kaju Matar gravy, Paneer Butter Masala, Veg Biryani, Potatoe. Needless to mention, there was a huge layout of salads, curd and sprouts for the health conscious ones. Let me save the best for the last. So I will come to desserts later.

With Bon appetite we tried tasting everything from the huge platter, ensuring not to regret later by missing anything nice.

Dofinose potatoes

The most interesting pick was Dofinose Potatoes.  What looked like Lasagna tuned out to be a potato dish! With the first bite of it, my eyes started looking for Chef Somnath wanting to ask him the recipe of the fabulous item. He acknowledged our query and revealed the recipe. The layers of raw potato, spread with cheese & spices were baked and simmered together, letting the starch of potatoes act as the binding agent. It tasted fantabulous! Had never seen or thought of a unique recipe before this!

Somnath loves to experiment with food and his skills were clearly seen in the dishes served. He wanted to give a twist to more dishes, but was asked by the manager not to go overboard since too much of experiment is also not welcome often.

Chikpeas and aubergine tagine

Chickpeas or choley what we have at usual restaurants is always spicy and loaded with fat. I always visualized choley in Punjabi style tadka and spices. But here Somnath gave a surprise twist to chickpeas with so much creativity. Eggplant, tomatoes, capcicum in the dish of chickpeas and auberbine tagine which traditionally is stew of spiced meat and vegetables prepared by slow cooking. Somnath had smartly replaced meat with chickpeas. Now, who in a restaturant wants to have an eggplant? You surely can’t say no after tasting this! The preparation was light, not spicy and very well prepared. We savored every bit of it.

Kaju Matar Mushroom Makahana

Stir fried vegetables made with baby corns, broccoli and red bell pepper was another mind blowing item. I can have it as snacks for my hunger pangs! The dish was in low salt while the vegetable stock acted as the soup. I also went gaga over the colorful Kaju Matar Mushroom Makahana. As I started to feel hungry again while writing this, you would feel the same just by looking at the pictures!

Paneer Butter Masala and Daal Zaafran were the usual but without fatty cream or hot spices. The veg biryani was the best with the right amount of spices and aroma. Somnath agreed Biryani is not about oil. It’s the combination of flavor, color and appeasing aroma that should keep you asking for more. He had ensured less oil and calorie in every dish he prepared. A health conscious chef who also had the heath of diners in mind.

Banoffee Pie

Now coming to the best spread and revealing the surprise- Desserts! Chef Somnath’s magical touch to sweets were fascinating. The one I loved the most was Banoffee Pie. After relishing the whole portion, I ran to Somnath again asking for the recipe. (I just could not stop myself). With base of biscuit crumbs, he layered the glass with caramel, mashed banana, dry fruits, muesli and whipped cream. The first bite I took rendered me speechless. I dug into it till I gorged the whole of it, only wishing to have more but wasn't able to.

While hubby enjoyed the Red Velvet Tiramisu, I tasted a bit of it. Less sugar content and absolutely light, it melted in mouth. With a full tummy, I gave kalakand a miss, though had a bite of the yummy rabri with jalebi. I over ate that evening completely ignoring my calorie intake count.

As a food blogger, I rate the place an easy 4.5 on 5. While a good ambience of a restaurant for fine dining is a minimum requirement, it cannot be ignored while rating the restaurant. Many restaurants don’t bother to look after the seating, which should be upto a certain level making customers feel easy. At Palmyra, the seating was comfortable, lighting was pleasant and the service staff was excellent. One can dig into a huge variety at this restaurant.

Highly recommended place for fine dining.

Cook Fresh experience

The Cook Fresh Box

Want to cook something new, but are pressed for time? No time to buy groceries for a dish you want to prepare? Don’t have an idea about the measurements of ingredients? Okay then, http://www.cookfresh.in/ comes to your rescue!

A new online venture with an innovative concept especially beneficial for the professionals on the go. Cookfresh measures, packs and delivers fresh ingredients for a recipe you select on the website. This is claims to be India’s first food delivery service that gives you the tools you need to be a gourmet chef at home! Impressive, yeah? If you don't have a lot of experience in the kitchen, Cookfresh is a great way to learn how to cook and start working in the kitchen. You could use Cookfresh for a date night in cooking for your partner, or as a great gift for your foodie friends!

While you can read about them here http://www.cookfresh.in/about-us, let me show you what I received from them.

1.       Ingredients for Greek Salad-

Neatly labelled, packed, delivered

Freshly cut, assorted, neatly packed and labelled. The ingredients for salad included- Lettuce leaves, chopped capsicum, tomatoes, onions, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, black olives, canola oil, red wine vinegar, feta cheese and oregano.

Ready in 5 minutes

So all I had to do was to mix all veggies together and add canola oil, vinegar, feta cheese. Sprinkle oregano as per your taste.

A healthy salad was ready in 5 minutes!

2.      Ingredients for Moist Mug Cake

Castor sugar, canola oil, milk, cocoa powder, Nutella, flour, baking soda. Every item was in leak proof locked pouch and labelled clearly.

The instructions on the card read-

-Whisk dry ingredients in a bowl followed by mixing the oil and milk. Whip the mixture to form a smooth batter, ensuring no air bubbles are left.

-Drop Nutella in the middle of the batter. No need of poking or pushing it down.

-We placed the batter in microwave for 70 seconds. The only difference was we did not keep the batter in a mug but a microwavable bowl.

I call it Choco Lava Cake and it was ready in a minute!!!

Super impressive and quick it was. Yeah?

My take on this- 

You see, mixing ingredients and getting the dish ready, barely takes time. What’s time consuming is assembling the ingredients. Finding time to buy groceries is the first step and then washing & chopping them consumes more time. For people like me, bad in the kitchen, are lost and scared about the measurement of the ingredients. For example, baking the perfect cake has been my dream since long but I could not make it because of poor measurements. Either baking soda would exceed the limit or sugar would fall short. Oops. May I confess, this Chocolate cake was the best ever made by me? (Okay, hubby helped, so made by us) Thanks to Cook Fresh to send the right mix and proportion of ingredients to churn out great delicacy!

They have a large array of dishes. Take a look at the available ones here- http://www.cookfresh.in/recipes

Cook Fresh delivers in most of the areas in Delhi NCR. Delivery is free, however a minimum delivery may be required for a location not listed in the website. Pay cash on delivery or online. Call  +91 9971 835722 or shoot a mail to contact@cookfresh.in for more info.

The common ingredient for both the preparations is Canola Oil which is a storehouse of several benefits as follows-

Canola Oil

• Minimal  “bad” fats: Compared to common culinary oils, canola oil has the least saturated fat (7 per cent) – less than a third that of rice bran oil (25 per cent) and half that of sunflower (12 per cent), olive (15 per cent), soybean (15 per cent) and groundnut (19 per cent) oils. Canola oil is also free of trans fat and, like all vegetable oils, has zero cholesterol.

• Helps protect the heart: According to scientific studies, 1.5 tablespoons (19 grams) of canola oil a day may be enough to help keep the cardiologist away, when used in place of saturated fat. That is for just a few rupees a day. The US Food and Drug Administration authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil’s ability to reduce the risk of heart disease when used instead of saturated fat.
• Helps control blood sugar: Canola oil can help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes when included in a low-glycemic index diet (one that minimizes changes in blood sugar levels), according to published research, because of its high monounsaturated fat content. Adding canola oil to the diet is a simple way of helping control blood sugar.                   

• May reduce belly fat: Canola oil was shown in a clinical trial to lower belly fat when used in place of selected oil blends in a heart-healthy diet for weight maintenance. Belly fat is one of the five criteria for metabolic syndrome. Reducing it can decrease blood pressure, blood sugar and triglycerides and increase in HDL cholesterol. Those who consumed canola oil on a daily basis for four weeks lowered their belly fat by 1.6 percent.
• Good source of heart-smart fats: Canola oil is rich in two polyunsaturated fats, omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linoleic acid). These fats are considered essential because the body cannot make them on its own. Of all common cooking oils, canola oil has the most plant-based omega-3 fat (11 per cent). It substantially reduces total and LDL cholesterol levels when used in place of saturated fat.

• Good source of vitamins E and K: Canola oil is a good source of these fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and vitamin K plays a key role in healthy blood clotting.

• May protect against breast and colon cancers: Early research indicates the potential of canola oil to protect against breast and colon cancers.

• Canola oil is a culinary delight: It can be heated to a higher temperature than most other oils before it starts to smoke (smoke point of 242 °C). This makes it ideal for high heat applications like sautéing and deep-frying. Its light texture, mild taste and colourless appearance are a good match for any type of cooking. Its neutral taste does not overwhelm the flavours of other ingredients in a dish, allowing the spices to work their magic and enhance the flavours.
• Canola oil enhances baking: The delicious nature of baked goods is enhanced by canola oil providing them with a moist, soft texture with no cholesterol and little saturated fat. Replacing solid fats like butter or lard with canola oil allows for a reduction in both total and saturated fat. In fact, total fat can drop by up to 25 percent, sparing calories without sacrificing goodness.

With cardiovascular disease a leading cause of death across the world, there is a need to improve our lifestyles and shift to healthier oils in our diets. Canola is a good choice of oil given its heart-healthy qualities, suitability with all cooking methods and cuisines, and affordability among other healthy oils. This is why and more and more people around the world are now making it a part of their kitchen.

Birla Mandir, New Delhi

Looking for a quiet, offbeat place in Delhi for a peaceful outing? Birla Temple is the place! Built in many cities, Birla Mandir has an unmatched uniqueness and beauty. Devoted to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, the temple in Delhi is a spiritual hub for everyone.

Entrance view from the street

Lakshmi Narayan mandir, also known as Birla Mandir, was built by B.R.Birla and J.K.Birla in 1939. It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that the premises would be open to all castes and people from all religions would be allowed inside.

Temple from rear side

Spread over 7.5 ares of land, the three storied temple premises houses many shrines, fountain, garden, assembly hall and many artefacts from History. Located on Mandir Marg, Connaught Place in New Delhi, the beautiful east facing temple is difficult to miss. It draws huge footfall during Diwali and Janamashtmi. Painted in yellow and red, Birla Mandir boasts of beautiful carvings and marble work.

                      

Marble statue 

Dharamshala

The ground floor has marble statues from the entrance of park area, dharamshala, small shops selling religious mementoes, flower shops, and photographers thronging the visitors!

You can only take pictures at ground floor, since mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple at first floor.

First floor view above cloak room

The first floor has shrines of all Hindu deities, a gigantic bell gifted by Chinese, a beautifully carved pillar structure by Japanese and Buddha shine. The right wing of the first floor has Geeta Bhawan for bhajan and aarti. The gathering is an eternal bliss.

Reconnect with your soul, unwind yourself and feel at peace. A quiet and beautiful place worth visiting at least once. Go, visit the temple this weekend, away from the hustle bustle of life.

The jewel of the President's residence, Mughal Garden

The mesmerizing Mughal Garden, in the vicinity of President of India’s house, New Delhi, sees a huge footfall each year for two reasons-

1.  The garden is open to public only for one month in a year during spring time
2.  Free Entry (hehe)

My plan to see the garden every year never materialized till March 2016 when hubby and I at last got a chance to visit it.

Vehicle parking is literally on the road. Though security personnel are deputed in every nook and corner, yet you park at your own risk. For those commuting via metro, alight at Central Secretariat metro station and hire an auto to Mughal Garden gate number 35.

Cameras are not allowed inside the premises. But hey! mobile phones are. All handbags or carry bags are deposited at cloak rooms, built separately for men and women. Get prepared to walk a long distancefrom the security check to the garden entrance, as well as inside the vicinity. The first eye catchy building is a white building with the words “Pranab Mukherjee Public Library”. Who misses a chance of a selfie with the name?

The sign boards and admin staff guide you the direction to follow. Divided into sections, the garden houses herbal plants, bonsai plants, musical fountain, spiritual garden, main Mughal Garden and vivid colorful flowers of the spring plants.

If only you like to walk and love nature, go to Mughal Gardens, else stay out of it. Sun shines overhead, hence advisable to cover your head and wear sunglasses. Even during the pleasant time of the year, the heat turns to be unbearable during the day.

The herbal plants section does not have many flowers, but surely educates you on the names of the herbs which are widely used in cosmetics or Ayurvedic treatments. So many names and so less time to read all. The following section is an interesting mix of bonsai plants.

                                           

These plants made me think how amazingly humans can modify the growth of plants in a little pot! Descend from this section to an over crowded area named Musical Fountains. The water springs up in different patterns on change of music tracks, usually patriotic songs of India. This surely is the most enjoyable place.

Musical Fountain

Lush green leaves bordering along the walls and railings adds to the charm of the flowers popping out from every inch through the bushes. Climbers and shady trees multiply the joys. The ground has mowed grass which is not allowed to walk over; I hate those who disrespect the rule and curse them under my breath! Just because the security personnel is kind enough not to shoot you down, does not mean you take undue advantage of the same! Several plants and flowers were sabotaged by silly people. Grrr!

The most beautiful part of the premises is the main Mughal Garden, surrounding the main building of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The beauty is beyond words. You have to look at the pictures.

After the full round of the place, a gallery with hanging pots and a gorgeous fountain surrounded by flowers in the pattern of terrace farming, you move into spiritual garden. This sections holds trees and plants that have been mentioned in the epic books or are related to spirituality; like Ashoka Tree from the Ramayan or the lemon shrub with zesty citrus aroma.

Drinking water counters have been installed at many places. Advisable to keep yourself hydrated every time you cross the water counters. Women and agricultural development societies have their stalls installed outside spiritual garden selling plants and apparels. Do peep in. Plants are available at very low prices!

As you walk out breathing fresh air and treating eyes to the brightest hues, you are tired. Even before you reach the cloak room, you’d be surrounded by hawkers selling papad and chips. Never mind, leave the pace with good memories and happy mind.

Some vital info-

• Operating time- 10 am to 4pm
• Open to public- Only from mid Feb to mid March, changes every year. 12thFeb to 19^th March was 2016.
• Water bottles, eatables, camera, hand bags not allowed inside the premises.

First Eat- Healthy breakfast app

                                             

When I first got an email from FirstEat team, I wasn't sure how was the portal different from other app based food store.  Without knowing much about the portal, I agreed to attend the bloggers breakfast meet at Kitchens of the World in Gurgaon on 27th February, Saturday.

Launched in Nov 2015, FirstEat started with a philosophy of #PehleKhao, since this is what our moms remain concerned about. (First Eat is Pehle Khao in Hindi) Co founders Shitiz Dogra,  Mannat Wadhera, Saikat Bagchi and Rishabh Tickoo started with a concept of healthy food, primarily breakfast since it is the most neglected and abused meal of the day, especially for the corporate professionals who are pressed for time always. Find out about them here. 

First Eat app is available on Google Play and Apple Store android.

FirstEat is present in Gurgaon currently, wherein they target to deliver healthy breakfast or evening snacks to workplaces. The menu has listed healthy balanced items prepared in minimum or no oil and no fatty additions. It includes poha (Rs 65), vermicelli, upma (Rs 65) ,aloo parantha box (Rs 85), veggie salad (Rs 125), sauteed idli salad (Rs 85) , omlette with sautéed vegetables (Rs 100), veg and non veg sandwich. They also have two fresh cold pressed drinks- Detox Juice of beetroot, carrot, ginger and Rejuvenating  Juice of Spinach, lemon, ginger each at
Rs 85.

Detox juice

Now that's not a bad deal. For people who end up paying Rs. 200-250 on high calorie unhygenic meals, FirstEat comes as a boon with healthy and economical meals. Not to forget the big portion size. I can vouch for it since this is how we were served. The meals are packed in hygienic, leak proof, microwavable bowls. The team does not compromise with quality.

Warm water with lemon honey

For the meet, dedicated areas with name tags were assigned to bloggers. That made us feel special. Not many bloggers were invited, which gave enough room for discussion and feedback. Hubby and I spoke at great length with Shitiz and Mannat about First Eat's business model, operations, plans of expansion and target group. The team also recently got covered by Outlook Business. Read here- http://www.outlookbusiness.com/enterprise/big-idea/now-a-food-app-for-the-calorie-conscious-2608

Healthy poha

We got to taste poha, omlette & salad with both the juices. As a health concious person, I give it 5 on 5 for freshness and no/less fat and oil in the preparations. Before the breakfast was served, we were treated with lemon honey warm water, as a reminder to cleanse your body and start healthy! Warm water also calms down the stressed nerves. Now that's a useful knowledge sharing, I must say.

We downloaded the First Eat app to know more about it. (Thanks to the free Wi-Fi. Okay no body can ever say

Garden Salad

no to free WiFi, so stop smiling, okay?) The drop down in the app shows delivery places in Gurgaon at major points like  Guru Dronacharya and MG Road Metro station, Cyber City, Udyog Vihar & DLF Phase 1,2, 3 etc. (Oops my workplace is not listed. Somebody please do something for the underdeveloped Gwal Pahari which is called BPL- Below Poverty Line area) In the next 6 months they pan to expand to whole of Delhi NCR. Desktop version and phone ordering would be available soon.

Users can place the order from from the app starting 8 am till 6 pm. There is no minimum order :-) Yay!

First Eat also has collaborated with Ola Shuttle. The passenger can place an order before boarding the shuttle and collect the order at the mentioned dropping points. What an idea sirji!

Fellow bloggers

Healthy discussion flowed in over healthy breakfast and the session ended with pictures & goody bags personalized with our name tags. Warm gesture that was!

Good quality + assured health= Happy professional , since a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. At least my life is sorted with First Eat!

Vedic Collection BB cream

Vedic Collection, a relatively new name in the skin care market has Tatha as one of its brands under its umbrella. The natural products without chemicals/toxins are made with organic ingredients that are safe and light on skin. As the brand focuses on skin care solutions, their only cosmetic BB cream comes loaded with organic goodness plus make up benefits.

The brand claims "The versatile skin care/make up hybrid beauty balm promises to do five or six jobs: moisturizer, primer, skin treatment, concealer and foundation. It hydrates and minimizes the appearance of blemishes and discoloration for more even complexion".

Source: Vedic Collection website- https://vedic-collection.com/fresh-face/bb-cream

The fact that this BB Cream has natural ingredients inspired me to try something different from the usual BB creams. When the first day I applied this, my face looked whitewashed with paint, since I has no clue on the quantity to be used. Post advise from the Vedic Collection team, I pumped out a little quantity and applied on my face. (Mind you, I applied a day cream first). The BB cream evenly spread over my skin giving it a natural look.

How to use- Squeeze out very little on your palm and dot over your face and neck, blending downwards gently. Apply more on dark spots or blemishes for fuller coverage.

The ingredients-

Aloe vera, green tea, sunflower, cucumber, ashwagandha, jojoba besides other basic components. The blend of these ingredients together give a cool effect, balanced moisture and even base to skin.

What's cool -

-Covers dark spots evenly.

-Evens out complexion, reduces skin discolourations after prolonged use

-Moisturises face well.

-Acts as a base or primer before you apply foundation for more coverage.

-Looks very natural and not made up.

-Feels weightless. Skin breathes free.

-Skin gets a pearly glow

-Sleek, leak proof, travel friendly bottle. Smart packaging with golden cap.

- Paraben free, not tested on animals, 100% natural and the bottle is recyclable! (These are on the product label too)

What's not cool-

-No SPF (Organic products don't have SPF) . Advisable to use day cream or SPF lotion before applying Tatha BB cream.

- Just one shade available. May not be a good match for all skin complexions.

-Not suitable for oily to combination skin. Skin feels oily after wearing BB cream for few hours. Not the best bet for summers!

-Shelf life of 10 months (For obvious reasons. It is organic without preservative)

15 ml bottle costs Rs 1025.

Not summer friendly and tends to make face oily. Yet is organic, safe on skin, gives a natural look and causes no breakouts.

An overall rating from my side- 3.5 on 5

Maybelline BabyLips: Coral Flush

Going by the fad, “Orange is the new black”  coral shades are making statement everywhere! Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm storms the market with “Coral Flush” which is an absolute delight! Here’s my candid review on the lip balm.

Maybelline has always lived up to the market expectations in personal care products. Baby Lips created sizzles around with its dual benefits of lip balm and glossy sheen. The new variant Coral Flush is another feather in the cap. You can carry the travel friendly balm stick in your handbag. A little rub on the lips gets you ready in few seconds. Lips feel quenched and healthy for hours!

The product claims-

• Infused with “Pure Color System”
• Formula contains Vitamin E and Jojoba oil that sheds away dryness for supple lips
• Dermatologist and allergy tested

What I loved-

• SPF16- That’s a must have for me in my lip balm. Lips too need protection from Sun, don’t they?
• 6 hours moisture- Yeah, I feel my lips shiny and moisturized for hours. The lip balm stays for long time.
• Lips feel smooth and soft, making them ready for lipstick application. Lips don’t chap.
• Strong moisture care and sun protection gives lips a perfect weather defence in strong sun, wind or cold. That’s an all weather care!

The downs- 

• Color base isn’t strong. Since it is translucent, pink or orange isn’t of much significance.
• No fragrance or aroma from the lip balm. Its just the color. Perhaps these are the only two downs. Lip balms ideally don’t have aroma, yet I expected a tangy fragrance looking at the delectable color)

To use- You need to turn up the base of the lip balm a little and apply the tube.

The packing is sleek and leak proof.

The price- 4.5 G tube costs Rs 150. You can get it a lower cost from other online portals. Totally worth the price!

I would rate it 4 on 5. I even apply at night before sleeping, for smooth and cushioned lips in the morning. Go grab the lipbalm today!

Barbeque Nation, Sohna Road

Barbeque Nation never fails to live up to expectations of foodies.  And this valentine’s day, they do it again, winning hearts, and etching sweet memories in mind forever. The visit was to BBQ, Sohna Road.

This was my second visit to BBQ, post the first one with colleagues in 2014 at Sushant Lok, Gurgaon. The day was special- 14th Feb, calling for a lunch celebration with hubby. Free parking for BBQ guests and valet parking service by BBQ staff relieved us from the parking woos. (Mind you, parking space in Gurgaon is a nightmare). 

We spend around 10 minutes in the waiting area for our table and the manager apologized to keep us waiting. Apologies were not required, but it shows the level of professionalism and hospitality (Unlike TAMASHA in CP where the staff or manager were least bothered to inform us about the technical fault that caused delay in serving). The accurate height of tables and chairs is suitable for all age people, which shows a great planning by the BBQ team. Commendable job! Perfect lighting and spacious place it is!

The entire staff attended all guests courteously, paying full attention to every detail, to the point of customizing dishes. Viku, the amiable and energetic staff served us with a cheerful smile on his face. Before the snacks arrived, a heart shape cake was presented to mark Valentine’s Day. A pleasant surprise it was.

We began with complimentary drinks of lemon ice tea and lemonade coupled with grilled malai paneer, crispy corns, cajul potato among veg for me and fish, chicken among non veg for hubby. The live grill of mushroom, capsicum, tomatoes, juicy pineapple, peri peri chicken, tandoori tangri and moroccon seekh kabab along with a variety of sauce is very enticing. All items were superbly marinated and well cooked. The chefs asked for feedback or weather to customize the spices. They cared for the guests, making them feel at ease and any complain or discomfort was taken seriously. Full points to hospitality!

The impressive starters was followed by a large spread of main course. Among vegetarian items I had- Paneer lababdar, dingri makai keema paneer masala, paneer methi masala , matar kofta and salad.

With almost full appetite post snacks, I had little portions of all above along with plain rice. I had no space to accommodate daal makhni, veg Manchurian and noodles so skipped them. The meal was worth it! Dishes had the perfect balance of spices and I could taste every flavor. None of the gravies tasted similar. Hubby enjoyed his non veg course of Chicken Dum Biryani Masala, Burani Ghost, Nimbu Makhan Ka Murg, Fish and Hot Garlic Sauce.  

Phirni

Pan Kulfi with khus and gulkand

The heavy lunch left us with no space in our tummy. However Indians NEVER say no to desserts! From a single plate we tasted bites of mango pastry, chocolate brownie with peanuts, vanilla ice cream and gulabjamun. We repeated phirni since it tasted so good. Desserts were not loaded with sugar, unlike the usual Indian sweets. The best among sweets were phirni and PAN kulfi with gulkand and khus syrup. We ended having two helpings of each.

While paying the bill, the manager took a picture of ours, which we assumed for their wall display or guest book. As we waited for our car to arrive, the manager gave us the framed picture. What a lovely memoir to take home! We also got the half finished cake packed for home.

Cost for two- 1600 (One veg, one non veg pus service tax)

Service- Excellent- 5 0n 5, Staff was quick, polite, well mannered

Food: Variety- 5 on 5, (Ample variety for vegetarians like me) Presentation- 4 on 5

Ambiance- 5 on 5, Superb décor, lighting, seating

Hygiene- Good- 5 on 5

Repeat visit for us? Definitely YES

India Fashion Interface Bloggers' Convocation

This was the first fashion bloggers meet for me. Seeded by MyFashionBay, the bloggers convocation was in association with Pearl Academy and ROPOSO on 6 &7 Feb’16. Venue partner- Indigo at One Golden Mile, New Delhi.

Panellists of India Fashion Interface 2016

The fashion interface is a platform to bring fashion designers, bloggers and fashion brands together. A panel of 5 members from fashion fraternity were brought on stage. Among them were Bubbles Sabarwal ,well known for her role in blockbuster No one killed Jessica, Komal K a top fashion blogger who blogs at http://thedelhifashionblogger.com/,  Meha Jayaswal, faculty at Pearl Academy of Fashion, Sunil Raisinghani, VP Vcloud Luxury, and Payal Jaggi, founder Kinche.

The event kicked off with an opening speech by Gaurav Banasal, co founder MyFashionBay.com Rachna Singh, Founder MyFashionBay.com.  They shared valuable insights from their experience and industry expertise.

Rachna- Founder My Fashion Bay

and moderated by
The first of its kind, IFI2016 was also focused on initiating unique networking strategy through events, a trend which is still picking up in India. Topics covered in details were-

• Importance of social media for bloggers as well as brands and their collaboration.
• How to increase traffic on blogs and make it known
• Running digital campaigns for self or involving with a brand

During the session, Meha Jayaswal quoted that bloggers do an incredible job and write informative pieces. However blogs are not credible sources of information and hence not included in books for bibliography. This trend will change slowly if information credit is mentioned on the blog, plagiarism is filtered out, original pieces are produced and topics are well

Fashion blogger Komal

researched.  A point well made. Bloggers too should follow code of ethics!

Komal emphasized on bloggers’ social media presence and networking skills. Brands are also likely to collaborate with bloggers who have good content and prove to be good social media influencers. Getting paid by the brand comes later when the blogs achieve that standard of being “highly influential”.

As correctly stated by Sunil Rai, there are not fixed parameters for brands to choose bloggers. There should be an equal importance given to blog traffic and content simultaneously, which is debated many a times and the gap needs to be addressed.
A serious issue was pointed out by Payal as she said blogging is still naïve in India. The market is saturated abroad where blogging is taken seriously and brands pay well to bloggers, unlike India where after so much efforts bloggers still struggle to charge for their pieces they write.
The convocation had good take way points for all. Few among them were –

1. Bloggers should not write for free (after all there are loads of efforts involved in writing a post)
2. Attending bloggers meet or networking is very important to make your presence felt
3. Balance all your social media properties. Readership should be at par on all places lest they should look fake.
4. Keep learning new things (technologies, tools) to upgrade yourself. Come out of comfort zone and explore the “new”
5. Be original. Don’t plagiarize. Keep things organic. Buying likes will only hamper your image (as brands can easily figure that out)
6. Including pictures/videos will beautify your blogs and get attention/traffic. Remember all words and no picture will make your bog a dull baby! Display your profile picture to begin with.

On the verge of closing, IFI awarded bloggers on winning the blog contest. Fellow blogger Ridhima and I were the winners of the same. Read my winning blog post here

http://expressunleashed.blogspot.in/2016/01/my-love-for-blogging.html

Payal and me

The event closed with hi tea and scrumptious snacks. Along side was POPBAZAR where designers and entrepreneurs across the country had set up their stalls of trendy apparels and beautiful accessories. From everyday fashion to designer wear, all patterns and colors on display were a visual treat. All the  talented designers who showcased their work deserve a huge round of applause for their efforts and design execution! The event was a great success.

For more pictures and updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/myfashionbayblog/photos/a.373704922647802/1138489876169299/?type=3&theater

Anything that you feel comfortable and good in can be a fashion statement for you. All you need is an eye for detail and good marketing.

Tops Selfie Contest by Foodiye.com

Baked, fried, toasted, roasted, boiled, steamed, raw and fresh or prepared and preserved with the harmonious mix of love and culinary talents ; if this is how you prefer your taste buds to be treated, then you fall under the hearty category of “foodies”. For this bunch of food-lovers, dishes and cuisines are not merely a regular, cumbersome affair; rather a flavorsome ritual, where each morsel is cherished and every bite touches the sensitive cords of the heart. Not for nothing has such a love for food been celebrated daily by thousands of people around the world, but also quite aptly its joy and pleasures have been referred to as “food porn” by the netizens. Welcome on board the journey to the center of the heart – food!

One of the highest points of this food-some journey is the fact that it  it takes into account the eccentricities of its various patrons; the health conscious ones, the mid-night bingers, those with a nose for the junk and even the plain old homely food lovers; there’s something for everyone. As varied and wholesome the community of foodies around the world is, there’s a dedicated platform, a social network connecting people for the love of food. Foodiye.com is a unique online space that allows food-lovers to connect, share and express their mutual affection for scrumptious, delectable and tempting savors.

Foodporn by Foodiye

Above all, the divine reason, why foodies around the world should connect and contribute to this amazing food archive is an exciting contest that assures the winners fun and happening prizes and hampers. The #TopsSelfieContest became the ultimate contest for food lovers that needed the participants to click a selfie with their favorite Tops Pickles and upload it on Foodiye.com. With several enthusiastic participants posing with their choice of Tops pickle, the contest soon gathered pace with a hoard of pickle selfies flooding the food-social-network. Better still, the winners of this fun and simple contest were treated with exciting gift hampers and prizes.

Over a period of three decades, the well-known FMCG brand has spread its wings not only across the length and breadth of India, but also in as many as 25 countries around the world. And all this, under the skilled and visionary guidance of its founder, Brij M. Seth. The dream of acquiring the position of popular provider of high-quality processed food was fulfilled marvelously over this tenure of evolution and progress by Tops. Apart from supplementing most of Indian homes and eateries with 21 delightful flavors of pickles, Tops has been smart in its product choices. Today, this food-giant supplies several other processed foods like Jams, Jelly, Tomato Ketchup, Instant Mixes, Custard Powder, Vermicelli, and Culinary Sauces among others. In the truest terms, Tops has sufficed every need of a modern household to become the most-preferred brand providing convenience food.

As Shaw proclaimed that there is no sincerer love than the love for food; remember to have fun and make merry on your next eating experience. Who knows, another exciting contest could be waiting for you foodies? Having said so, on your next trip to that favorite restaurant of yours, do not forget to click beautiful pictures of those flavorful dishes you try. Till then, happy eating!