Goan Food - The name says it all

Hidden away on the right hand side in the lane which has Uncle's Kitchen and Prems in Orlem, Malad West, name of the place is Goan Food...yes yes Goan Food.

It has place for only 6 people to sit and that too sit in one line and eat, seriously but who cares about the ambiance when the food is good, straight from the goan kitchen. We reached around 10 pm where it was empty but we noticed that it does have lots of home delivery orders.

The menu is not that big, it has burgers, Frankie and other stuff but the main things are chicken cafreal, chicken xacuti, Pork Sausages, pork sorpotel and so forth and so on. We ordered 3 gravies which were Cafreal, Pork Sorpotel and Chicken Xacuti where quantity was decent enough for Rs. 80 each.

It was suggested that their Chicken Steak burger and Beef Steak Burger is awesome, well it was not awesome but the sauce left a very good after taste behind.

The food is not oily neither too spicy it is just right. You can also order by the kilo. Sorry guys don't have the phone number but if you stay near Malad and love non-veg try this place out or else just come over and take home delivery.

Bhagat Tarachand - Not to be missed! Never!

Was there in 2007 with a friend in October celebrating our birthday together by hopping around the city and our last destination was Bhagat Tarachand for food and that was my first time. Zoom ahead to year 2010 going out with a pure veggie alcohol drinking couple and my motive is to find the best veg eating joint for them and for me also.

After coordinating we decide to meet around 1 pm near Bhadshad Falooda but their taxi wala such a good person took them through a shorter route from Flora Fountain and drop them at MumbaDevi Mandir. While after having a chilled Falooda we walk towards Mumbadevi through Zaveri bazaar.

Note: There are almost 7 Bhagat Tarachand but the one which comes first after Zaveri Bazaar on the right hand side and you have to walk up a floor to reach the hotel. I am sure you will miss it once...

Weekend as it was we waited for 20 mins while the jovial manager was taking down notes on who and where  one should seat...it is funny if you just observe his talking style and at times he cracks you up also.

Looking at the menu is very confusing and very different from other Mumbai Restaurant. So instead of you searching randomly I will say you what to have coz we had the same things and we were not disappointed at all.
- Papad Churi - Regular papad crushed and cooked in oil with onions and spices. Super amazing.
- Kutchi Beer aka Chaas aka Butter Milk - One of its kind served in a beer bottle and super duper tasty. Thick with hint of masala but no pieces of masala. (we had 2 bottles)
- Hara Bhara kabab - The regular one but they do also have 2 - 3 more varieties of starters. Do check with them.
- Double Dal Takda Fry - Yesh you read it correctly DOUBLE! Tasty is an understatement it had a flavor which we went on arguing about whether it was a taste of Jaggery or Onions.
- Sindhi Kadhi - Dahi preparation Sindhi Kadhi with pakora was good and worth a try.

Now the best part as we are part of Sweet tooth group, waiter comes in and ask what about sweets?
S: Do you have Gajar halwa?
Waiter: Yes we do
V: Get 1 of that.
Waiter: You should also try Rabdi it is our specialty. (with a hint of smile)
N: Yes get that one too
Waiter: What about Gulab jamun?
S: Is it hot?
Waiter: yes
V: *3 second thought* Get one of that also.

And I must say we did not regret it. Overall experience was priceless but cost us Rs. 350 each.

If you are not a veggie hater this is a must try place...they have opened up at lots of places but this is the real deal

Address:
Mumbadevi Commercial Centre, 51-53
Zaveri Bazaar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400002
022 22420215

Purepur Kolhapur - Non - Veg Heaven

Meeting up with people at Wagh Bakri tea place at around 8 pm we decide to go to Purepur Kolhapur and to be honest I have never heard of this place before. Just near the famous Parleshwar Temple in Vile Parle East there is a big Milestone made with Kolhapur written over it and 0 KM which says you are at the right place.

After 6 of us enter and look at the menu we see only one veg item on it which is Veg Thali so to all the veggies around please you can avoid this place and for the meat eaters do enter without thinking twice just make sure you handle the spicy food.

Getting down we ordered Chicken Rassa Thali, Chicken Fry Thali, Egg Thali which comes with Egg Curry,
Pandhara Rassa [white curry] (unlimited), Tambada Rassa [red curry] (unlimited), Pulav / 2 Chapatis and yes the spiciest of the food is Egg Curry. No, they will not customize the thali for you, take if you want it attitude.

If a thali is too big for you try out a-la-carte which is a better option as in the end you tend to waste the Tambada Rassa and Pandhara Rassa.

Check out the menu here

Note: You don't get fish item here...

TASTE EXPO

Featuring wines from 8 countries showcasing 4 brands each, introductory certification courses from world renowned institutes WSET & CAFA in addition to single malt workshops – the TASTE features are set to invigorate the senses. 

Image via Wikipedia

When: January 28 & 29, 2010

Where: Conference Rooms 1 & 2, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai

Day & Time                 AgendaBrands/ Topics                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

DAY 1                                                   

10.30 ONWARDS         VISITOR REGISTRATION OPENS

11.00 – 11.15              INAUGURATION 

12.00 - 13.00               WSET INTRODUCTORY TASTING CLASS – I 

                                    'Taste like a professional'                                                             

                                    Conducted by David Wrigley, MW, WSET                                             

Swirling, slurping and spitting – the art of tasting wine in a professional arena is very different to simply enjoying a glass with friends.   The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been developing and delivering qualifications for the trade professional for over 40 years.

Build your confidence in tasting wine, complete an activity to attune your senses, followed by a wine tasting using the WSET’s Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting.  By taking the time to assess the colour, describe the aroma and consider the palate you can start making decisions about the quality of a wine – vital skills for those who love wine.                        

Attendees receive certificates from WSET at the end of the session.         

12.00 - 13.00               CAFA SCHOOL OF WINE & SPIRITS 

                                    'Wine-making methods used in Europe'

                                    Conducted by Mathieu Huguet, Wine-maker                                                     

14.00 - 14.30               WINES OF FRANCE

The French group will be delighted to take you through the regions of Champagne, Bordeaux, Sud De France. Wines available to taste are Champagne Chaudron, Champagne Malard, Buzet, Aimery Sieur D’arques and Domaine de Puech Haut from the Languedoc region, Cognac and Pineaux Lheraud and Chateau Montaud from Provence.               

14.00 - 14.30               WINES OF ITALY

A group of charming wines including regional specialities such as Chianti, Brunello, Montepulicano and Barolo will be presented by the interesting mix of Italians.  

14.30 - 15.00               WINES OF AUSTRIA

The Austrian Wine Marketing board representing the best wines available from the country will be presenting some classic and young interesting vintages.               

14.30 - 15.00               WINES OF GERMANY

A strong interesting group of wines made available to you at TASTE include Kerner Gewürztraminer Spätlese, Riesling Niersteiner Ölberg  Spätlese, Trollinger Lemberger QbA and specialist wines from the Morhena  association of wineries.   

15.00 – 16.00              WINE AND SPIRIT PANEL DISCUSSION

‘Overcoming the challenges facing the Indian Wine Market Tackling taxation and its impact on the market’

• Highlighting the struggle in introducing new labels

• Following market trends

• Embracing change within the wine market

v  Sanjay Menon, Importer, Sonarys                                                   

v  Vishal Kadakia, CEO, Wine Park                                                     

v  Subhash Arora, President, Delhi Wine Club & Indian Wine Academy                                              

15.00 - 16.00               TULLEEHO BEER APPRECIATION WORKSHOP

Conducted by the Tulleeho Bartending Academy, the Tulleeho Workshops will not only add the dash of flavour to your next drink but will also leave you with interesting facts that will serve to open up a whole new meaning to taste. Attend and appreciate.              

16.00 - 17.00               WINE AND SPIRIT PANEL DISCUSSION                                                          

v  David Wrigley, MW, WSET                                                      

v  Dharti Desai, CEO, FineWinesnMore      

16.00 - 16.30               WINES OF PORTUGAL

Portugal is the new star at the wine fair and will be presenting a range of wines including the finest of Porto Wines. Featuring Vista Alrgre Port LBV 2003, Costa Do Pombal (Doc Douro) and Vallegre Special Reserve 2005.    

16.30 - 17.00               WINES OF INDIA

                             A host of the finest wines from the finest and talented wine makers in India will give you a live taste of the amazing progress achieved by the country’s pioneering wine makers.

DAY 2       

                                                                            

10.30 ONWARDS         VISITOR REGISTRATION OPENS

12.00 - 13.00               WSET INTRODUCTORY TASTING CLASS - II

‘Does wine tell its own story?’                                                       

Conducted by David Wrigley, MW, WSET             

Tasting wine professionally isn’t a clever party trick designed to impress your friends when you manage to guess the grape variety, country and vintage correctly, it’s a chance for us to consider a wine in detail and to make educated conclusions.

In this session, WSET will look at what we can learn about a wine by tasting it blind.  Using the WSET’s Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting, we will evaluate the wine before asking ourselves what our tasting notes, together with our global wine knowledge, tell us about what we have in the glass… what does the wine tell us about itself?  Is it a classic wine of its style? What is its value category? 

Attendees receive certificates from WSET at the end of the session.

12.00 - 13.00               CAFA SCHOOL OF WINE & SPIRITS

‘All about Cognac’

Conducted by Amit Keval, Consultant    

This workshop will focus on the intricate details of how cognac is manufactured and how to taste it best.     

14.00 - 14.30               WINES OF SOUTH AFRICA

                                     

Wines of South Africa will be presenting award winning wines with a special focus on wines from the distinctive terroir of Saronsberg. The ranges available include the Provenance range known for their fruit driven elegance, the Provenance Shiraz range renowned for their elegant and accessible tannins, the Saronsber range with their full range of bold fruity wines and the Saronsber Seismic range.     

14.00 - 14.30               WINES OF SPAIN

The group of wineries from Spain are here to present to you 'new to India' wines including brandy from Jerez, wines from the region of Toro and a range of wines presented by Grapeland.           

15.00 - 16.00               FOOD PANEL DISCUSSION 

Highlighting the weaknesses & optimising the strengths of the Food & Beverage Sector in India                          

v  Vijayan Gangadharan, Director - F&B, Grand Hyatt                                                                     

v  Rajiv Kapoor, Assistant Director - F&B, Le Royal Meridien                                               

v  Ranju Singh, Director - F&B, Taj Lands End           

15.00 - 16.00               TULLEEHO SCOTCH & SINGLE MALT APPRECIATION WORKSHOP 

                                    Mesmerized by Single Malt?                                                                  

Take the Scotch Whisky Trail and get acquainted with the regions of Scotland and their varied whiskies. Learn from the Whiskey Guru and get fascinated by the taste and smells that will undoubtedly overwhelm your senses. Brands for tasting will be announced shortly. Attendees receive certificates from the Tulleeho Bartending Academy at the end of this session.                   

16.00 - 17.00               THE ULTIMATE WINE & FOOD PAIRING SESSION

Conducted by Cru Classe's Lara Cowan

An oenophile and “wine geek” at core, Lara believes in staying abreast of the newest developments in the world of wine, yet trusts and respects the traditions that have nurtured wines through the ages. To complement the world of Wines, Lara also has a background in Food Technology. As a trained Pastry Chef and an accomplished Chef she believes in "balance". Balance of flavours, textures and all the delicate intricacies of ingredients are important to her...and without compromise. Food and Wine Pairing, undoubtedly comes naturally to her!        

16.00 - 17.00               TAJ TEA WORKSHOP

This tea tasting and appreciation workshop reveals the mystery behind this exotic drink and   takes you on a journey that will transform you from a tea lover to a tea connoisseur. Along the way, we will master the art of making a perfect cup of tea and also figure out what to do with an orange peel. Featuring Taj Tea Brands, by Hindustan Unilever Limited.                                 

                                    *TASTE Show Features agenda and timings are subject to change

To enroll for the TASTE features, please contact me on +91 98207 04500. Registrations on a first come first serve basis only.

Mello Jello's

Was always curious on how Jello shots were made and how they would taste, so finally went into the kitchen to make one at my home and seriously it is very very easy to make

Ingredients:
Vodka (Depends on how much strong you want to make it)
Water
Eagle Jelly (see photo)

Preparation:
Very simple make Jelly the way it is described at the back of the Jelly pack. Cool down the water and then add Vodka to your liking. Pour the cold mixture in shot glasses or the plastic glasses and keep them in the fridge and let it become firm...and done....

See photos of how it is made :)

So guys this can become your awesome party drink

It's Mirchi - Not so Spicy

It's Mirchi, rooftop restaurant of Ramee International (Juhu - Mumbai) is one of the places including Barbeque Nation in Bandra in which food is barbequed on your table. But the actual thing is, it is already hot and put on over a burning coal.

My cousin coming over and staying in Novotel, wanted to go someplace near we decided to go to It's Mirchi after lot of discussion. Located on the rooftop but it is an air conditioned rooftop so you won''t get any breeze from the sea. The seatings are like diwan style low and comfortable while there are few regular ones also.

Waiter comes in with the menu card of the day and how and what they will be serving to the table. One bad thing of the whole 5 Star Hotel is that they give you borewell water not the regular Mumbai ka pani one but the one which you get in the villages which has that different taste. How can a big hotel like that serve you such water I mean what..ok let me get back to what actually blog is here for Food...

Prawns, Chicken, Paneer comes in the skewers and we get Sheekh Kabab and Surmai Fish served by the waiter. Well the first 3 things were ok not that great but remaining two was cold which was duly replaced after we complained about it.

There are Pani Puri, Bhel Puri, Dosa, Pav Bhaji, Roti and Curries of Fish, Prawns and veg have live counters which are decent but the staff one number less as one has to wait once the place gets full. Ohh there are also Jalebis also whipped on demand..that is a uber cool feature.

Food was 2 Soup, 2 Non Veg, 4 veggies and 4 Deserts nothing to write about the regular basic stuff.

Yes they do serve alcohol..timing are from 7.30 pm to Midnight but until and unless you don't drink alcohol you won't stay more than 1.5 hours.

Cost is Rs. 435 exclusive of taxes which is ok enough for the food they serve.