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Scoop: Food For Thought Fest

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The passion for good food is universal and using that as a canvas to start an international dialogue is the Food For Thought Festival by the South Asian Association for Gastronomy (SAAG). We fell in love with that name, as much as we adored the concept of diplomacy through food. Scheduled for later this month, the two-day event is divided into Thought Fest and Food Fest. While the former will include talks, interviews and panel discussions on traditional gastronomy and its ongoing evolution, the latter will be a culinary showcase with cookery workshops and demos. The SAAG team believes that recipes for cuisines may vary, but the love behind it crosses all borders and this pilot project will hopefully become an annual event bringing together various countries of South Asia through culture and cuisine. Looking for more? Every evening, there will be a South Asian cultural showcase by artists from the SAARC region, cooking demos and a gastronomy bazaar selling organic produce. Plus, renowned restaurants from participating nations will be showcasing their specials as tasting portions. Watch out for Bangladesh’s Kasturi Garden Dhaka and CHAAP Station, Raza Abbas – a Dubai based modern Pakistani restaurant, Pearl Continental from Peshawar, Folk Heritage Museum Restaurant with Thimpu’s mix of traditional and modern Bhutanese cuisine, Bhoja Grihha that cooks up authentic Newari and Rana cuisines of Nepal; and Serena Hotel – robust cuisine from Afghanistan. We never thought we’d get to see such a spread on one table, let alone partake in it! You can also chew on dialogues and debates by the likes of Author Politician Dr Shashi Tharoor, cricket legends Bishen Singh Bedi and Mohd Azharuddin, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, Chef Abhijit Saha (of Caperberry, Fava and SAHA), Corporate Chef of ITC hotels Manjit Gill as well as our own Times Food Nightlife Critics – Suresh Hinduja and Karen Anand. Watch out as we unveil more details and also announce an exciting contest for next week as the digital partners for the fest! Where: India Habitat Centre When: October 17th and 18th Timings: 10.30 am to 5.30 pm Registration tickets available on BookMyShow. For more, click here

Lights Camera Action

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The dramatic approach to this newbie mish mash of a restaurant, a lounge and a bar ensures that expectations rise with every flight of stairs, and by the time you get there, you are flat out ready to drown a keg or two. Maybe this is a wise (and deliberate) move – considering the amount of competition HKV bars face. The obvious movie theme, which shouts loudly in the name itself, extends itself to the décor with quirky posters all around and fun named dishes like Satay-pe-Satta, Chicken-e-Chameli and such. The music is out and out commercial, and caters to the much younger crowd that seems to take dancing as a serious hobby. There’s definitely a lot of energy running through this room, but the drinks don’t seem to share the adrenaline rush. Promising options like Angoori – fresh grapes and vodka, and Rang Barse – their take on a lime and strawberry margarita were just pretty eye candies with a lot of synthetic and artificial flavours. Much like the item girls a lot of our movies are known for! Thankfully, the grub fares better. We couldn#39;t exactly decipher what the Sunny Leone Papri Chaat meant, but it was a delicious starter – whole meal papdis with vanilla yoghurt that had an excellent set texture instead of the runny option papdi chaat usually comes with. The Chinch Pokli Bowl, although from the starters section, was fit to be a mini meal with a bowl of noodles under a couple of momos. The buzz factor here is high, but we are not sure if the bar and the general vibe are conducive to sitting down and enjoying a drink.  Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

Zai

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Zai replaces a Tex-Mex restaurant and occupies the spot next to old time Asian favourite – Mainland China in Masjid Moth. While the interiors are all wood, this one is made to be a plush bar where you can drop by for an expensive drink. The glass windows with wooden frames and plush red leather couches in a spacious setting allude to a chic spot. You can choose from a table near the stage meant for live performances or a secluded perch outside to smoke sheesha. ‘The cocktail menu is sparkling with some exciting options and catchy names, but the zing seems to be on a stroll somewhere else. The Mehico with tequila, pineapple juice, lime and soda is dominated solely by the strong coriander flavour – not really what we expect from a drink. Anna Banana, a vodka based cocktail, comes in a banana shaped flask over crushed ice that we were both amused as well as enthused by. While banana is the prominent flavor among other ingredients like honey and lime, it was still too mild a taste. The grub list is a mix of a bit of everything as well with Chinese, European and Indian options. We were dismayed about not finding any non-fried snacks after being told the entire dim sum menu was unavailable and figured the kebab section was our safest bet. There are live nights on most weekends and Happy Hours on IMFL through weekdays from 3-8pm, which our server didn#39;t think was important to inform us about even though we placed our order well before 8. That little information would have been super helpful for our wallet, considering the prices are on the expensive side for a bar standing next to the always-packed Smokey’s. Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

The Loft Bar and Kitchen

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Like everything else, the barrage of new launches comes with its own list of pros and cons. The biggest con is the hoard of mediocre places trying to get on the wagon. Sadly, one such mediocre experience awaited us at the recently opened The Loft. Run by the same team as the Asian restaurant Soy, it’s located just a floor above it in the same building. The bar is done up in fun tones with posters here and there, a wood-panelled counter and a small balcony with some seating, but that#39;s where the good things end. The service is slow and does not take any initiative to be informed about the menu. Half the bar menu was not available on the weekend we were there, so we chose from some of the classics. Of these, the Green Apple Martini was just about average, but the Whiskey Sour was a decent mix. In a hilarious turn of events, our server asked us if we liked our Whiskey Sour "veg or non-veg" aka with or without egg white. Now that’s something we won’t forget anytime soon! Alas, such stringency is not maintained in the kitchen and our partner-in-crime found stray pieces of chicken in a vegetarian dish. We would’ve forgiven them this oversight had the management been willing to deal with the situation. That wasn’t the case, which leads us to believe this one really needs to pull up its socks before it gets lost in the crowd! Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

Sakley's - The Mountain Cafe

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A trip to the hills is not always the easiest to plan, but dropping into Sakley’s is the next best alternative. Famed for its mountain café theme, Sakley’s originally started out as a bakery in Nanital in the late 1950’s and has now evolved into a chain. This particular branch retains some bakery and dessert items, but has been styled more as a drinking-conducive spot. There’s even a speakeasy-like bar upstairs with a separate menu called The Secret Garden. The cocktails are dominated by vodka based mixes and peachy names like Girl Of My Best Friend and Love Is Strange, which is incidentally a mix of chocolate sauce, Baileys and vodka served with a slice of cheesecake! We started with the Hey Goodlooking that was basically Raspberry Caprioska with mint, lemon wedges, vodka, raspberry chunks and soda. And ended with the whimsical Scarlett O#39;Hara – martini with vodka, lemon juice, blackberry fruit and rare-to-find rhododendron syrup. While the names and description alike paint a pretty picture, the taste itself wasn’t as intriguing. The notorious handicap of Indian bars – artificial, sugary and synthetic – have all been used to put together these cocktails, which breaks our heart! The food is the comforting part and includes the likes of smashing Baked Nachos that come laden with cheese, salsa and sour cream. Just pair them with a beer and forego the mixology tricks!  Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

The Project

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We’ve been waiting patiently for the HKV veteran, Park Balluchi to be jazzed up and revived. And revived it has been, with Priyank Sukhija’s new bar offering. A city favourite for North Indian cuisine, located right inside Deer Park, it has that elusive advantage of great location. The Project has now face-lifted the previously unused outside area with a comforting wooden bench makeover and the feel of a luxurious private terrace with a spunky bar. The inside though has a rather misplaced LED spiked Spiderman hogging the wall, which we remained confused about throughout the evening. The menu layout, design and contents are all too familiar since Priyank owns half the resto-bars in town. However, the cocktails here missed the target for us by a long shot. The Caribbean Caketini with coco, vanilla, chocolate and rum could lead to diabetes. Thankfully, the Frozen Island was a contrasting choice with mint and ginger slush and a base of vodka. Alas, this one too suffered from a total lack of fresh flavours and ingredients. Perhaps it’s best to stick with draught beer or the staple spirits with mixers combo when you’re here. The bar food is standard fare with the likes of Grilled Mushrooms and Chicken Wings, but the Dips Bench is spot on with varied dips to go with finger foods. In better weather, you’ll be watching out for your toes since the ambience and the vibe are both perfect, and will bring in the crowds. Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

Pamphilos

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Pamphilos has taken over the two floors of Out of the Box, including their terrace that has been beautifully redone to suit the more posh mood and feel of this particular market. The theme for the interiors is a mix of a number of things – from two walls being dedicated completely to a book theme, to some left cemented or bare with bricks for a rough warehouse look. Then there’s a single-seater floral couch and a more suave grey and yellow in the same space. Even with all this going on, the interiors are inviting and comfortable with the music adding to the lounge mood. The cocktail menu is both extensive and expensive. We stuck to their personal recommendations of the Millionaire – bourbon, Cointreau, grenadine syrup and egg white – that was all pretty pink but not much more. The Smooth Operator with white wine, ginger ale and lime tasted suspiciously like diluted white wine. The food menu has all the options we’ve come to expect from good cafés, but doesn#39;t speak much Greek, which the name suggests. The Pamphilos Rolls with promises of crunchy peanut twists on a regular spring roll came with a grand total of one peanut inside, which should explain why we didn’t order more. If socks are pulled up in time, the smart menu and luxurious and design coupled with the right location could make this one a hit for quick dinner and drinks. Happy Hours: All day on IMFL only (Monday-Thursday) Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

Tribe

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Tribe is a good use of space by the owner who runs a banquet in the other half in an aloof location of Vasant Kunj. Granted that we went there midweek, but we were still surprised at being the only patrons in the sprawling space on a pleasant evening. Offering three separate sections – an indoor bar, a huge open area with lit up trees as well as a glass kitchen, and a family restaurant-like seating – we chose to sit in the open. The drinks menu looked interesting with a range of molecular cocktails, which to our disappointment were not available. The ones we did try on the bartender’s suggestion were nothing to write home about. The Mulled Sangria with the promise of Indian spices and Triple Sec with wine was basically just a glass of wine with cut fruits in it. While the food was decent, there was way too much unnecessary carbo-loading. The Ricotta Stuffed Grilled Mushrooms were tiny bite-sized mushrooms atop crunchy bread, and even the skewers were served with chunks of bread. While the service was as nice as they could be with the limitations of the place itself, this bar has nothing spectacular to offer. Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

Gaggan Made In India

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Our favourite part of this job is when we discover a hidden gem or stumble upon a hole-in-the-wall eatery that we know you guys will love reading about. But for the past few weeks, we upped the ante and started working on a project that would truly change your perception of what a fabulous meal constitutes. Image Courtesy: Gaggan You must have seen pictures on Instagram, read praises on Twitter and seen our preview on Facebook, but nothing quite prepares you for the culinary and sensory journey that Gaggan’s kitchen rolls out! Not that it’s surprising considering the Bangkok restaurant is rated #1 in Asia and #10 in the world. So it was only appropriate that when What’s Hot and our Times Food Nightlife Mumbai Critic — Rashmi Uday Singh joined hands with Gaggan, we would launch a brand new dinner series titled #GagganMadeInIndia. The revolutionary concept not only brought Gaggan’s signature edible art to tables in Delhi and Mumbai, but also showcased local produce. Through each dinner, Chef Gaggan highlighted the fact that his team is bound by limited produce in Thailand compared to the bounty we have right here in India. The #GagganMadeInIndia dinners were hence all about produce, ingredients and elements sourced from bazaars, street food hawkers and kitchens in 2 cities. Image Courtesy: Sricharan In the Capital, we took him everywhere from Dilli Haat to INA Market, Greater Kailash to Old Delhi for sourcing paan patta, spices, shakarkandi and even golgappa dona’s. Along with American Express, the 18-course Delhi dinners (September 23rd to 25th) were rolled out for a varied demographic of diners — those familiar with Gaggan’s food to others completely new to it as well as lucky readers who won our contest. Image Courtesy: Akanksha Maker Many of the dishes were specially created for Delhi and Mumbai with debuts and tweaks that Gaggan now plans to incorporate at his restaurant. Of these, the Charcoal that was assembled using street favourite sweet potato in Delhi and bhutta in Mumbai was a big hit. There was also the Dhokla 2015 in the form of snow and coconut ice cream. Some creations were experienced in both cities, while others changed names and inspirations, so there was the memory-evoking Sarvana Bhavan / Malgudi Days that came as the lightest idli we’ve ever had along with rasam jhaag and gunpowder or the hotly contested Golgappa / Panipuri. Then of course, tested signatures such as Dahi Chaat and Khichdi that were deceptively humble in name but complex in execution. And last but not the least, a Japanese Paan concocted during the trip that wowed every guest with its sushi origins. Image Courtesy: Neha Mumbai saw an even busier schedule where Gaggan and the team, which included chefs from 4 nationalities, churned out a breakfast for select media and bloggers as well as a very special cocktail pairing session for Diageo before serving up dinners through September 29th to October 1st. While we can continue gushing about each course, we thought it’s best to let pictures do the talking, so we#39;ve picked up some highlights from the feeds of various guests. Throughout the 10 days, we shadowed his team in the kitchen, on the streets, during their downtime and even documented the journey on video. To get a complete rundown, just find #GagganMadeInIndia and @whatshot_in across social networks and stay tuned here for updates and news about more such series! Image Courtesy: Amrita Kaur Featured Image Courtesy: Harnoor Channi

Food Festivals You Don’t Want To Miss

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The Capital takes it food seriously and entrepreneurs are making full use of this with a series of hog-a-thons lined up for the last 3 months of the year. From cuisine specific showcases to all-out food fiestas and even street grub celebrations – we’ve rounded them all up! ASIAN HAWKERS MARKET A befitting celebration of Asian food from across the Far East, get ready to take a culinary journey from Tokyo to Bali via Sichuan and Yangon without stepping out of Delhi. To be held at Select Citywalk, this debut hawkers-style market will feature pretty stalls and colourfully festooned food carts laden with goodness from restaurants such as Neung Roi, Royal China, Guppy by ai, Pan Asian, En, Yum Yum Cha, Chi Ni, The Fatty Bao and Chi: The Asian Cookhouse along with delivery specialists Asian Haus and The Pho Kart (which will dish out finger food from Vietnam prepared by a  cook who has just returned from there). If you’re wondering how to get your dessert fix after this savoury feast, newly opened bakery The Artful Baker will be there too. The emphasis is on the hawker experience with gourmet touches and small portions, so you can try more within a price range of Rs 100 to Rs 500. When: October 23rd to October 25th, Noon to Midnight Where: SelectCityWalk Mall, Saket FOODISTAN Part of the newly minted 10 Heads Festival, Foodistaan is an amalgamation of over 30 varieties of culinary practices from nooks and corners of the country and the globe. Picture street food, wellness bazaars and a farmer’s market along with 5 international restaurants – all curated by Chef Saby! Ibiza’s Bar Barlovento, London’s Mavericks Pizzeria and our homegrown hidden gems including Taufiq ki Biryani, Mathura ki kachori, Daulat ki chaat, Lotan choley wala are scheduled to take part. Confirmed Delhi staples include The Beer Café, Fat Lulu’s, Chaayos, Burger Singh, Canton Spice Company, Rustom’s - Parsi Bhonu, Cafe Delhi Heights and Raasta. A multi-dimensional 3-day extravaganza, the fest will also be spirited courtesy and have music under Band Baja Bass, which is headlined by Daddy G (Grant Marshall) of the award winning British trip-hop group Massive Attack along with Lucky Ali and Indian Ocean. When: October 23rd to October 25th, 11 am to 11 pm Where: Dhanchiri Camping Resort, Gurgaon THE GRUB FEST Keeping it grand, the team behind the Grub Fest is promising us much more in this 2nd edition with fab food, good music and hearty performances. You can try out interesting signatures, pick gourmet products and learn some food secrets from celebrity chefs as well. Participating brands at this 3 day affair include Zambar, Breads More, Smokey’s, Koyla Kebab, Dao, PCO, Punjab Grill, The Backyard, Red Mango, Fio, Zerzura, Holy Smoke among others. If the first edition was anything to go by, this will only get bigger and better. Plus, they will also be travelling to other cities including Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chandigarh soon. We can#39;t wait to #GetGrubbed! When: October 23rd to October 25th, Noon to 10 pm Where: Ambience Lawns, Gurgaon GOA FESTIVAL 2015 Beachy vibes and fresh seafood are back with cooks being flown in from Goa to cook up authentic delicacies. There will be troupes performing traditional dances along with live bands every evening. Did someone say vindaloo? When: October 30th to November 1st 6 pm to 10 pm Where: Goa Sadan NEW DELHI PALATE FESTIVAL The palate fest is back next month with pop-up restaurants, cookery classes and workshops at the picturesque Nehru Park. The 3-day fest also offers an insight into the latest fine dine trends with more than 40 brands offering tasting menus and signature dishes. Plus, there’s entertainment throughout the day with some of the best bands playing live. When: November 27th to 29th, Noon to 11 pm Where: Nehru Park THE GOURMET HIGH STREET The second edition of The Gourmet High Street is putting multiple formats under one roof. The Culinary Grind will feature celebrity chef names including Vikas Khanna, Manish Mehrotra, Saransh Goila and Sarah Todd among others. There will be a drinks theatre as well as a gourmet marketplace. More details out soon. When: December 4th to December 6th, Noon to 11 pm Where: Leisure Valley, Gurgaon STREET FOOD FESTIVAL The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) is back with the 3rd edition of a street food celebration that sees huge crowds every year. This time, we expect many new participants showcasing their region’s food legacies alongside celebrity chef demos, musical performances, contests and kiddie activities. When: December 11th to December 13th, 1 pm to 11 pm Where: JLN Stadium Prefer drinking your calories? Watch out for our scoop on a more tipple-friendly celebration out soon!

Bulldogs

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A concept relatively new to the Indian market, this bar based on the Stock Exchange is something we’ve been keen to try for a while. The only such bar in the unpredictable HKV that prefers to pitch itself as a lounge, Bulldogs has low comfy lounge sofas as well as a more formal sit-down table chair arrangement spread over two huge floors. They have taken the name too seriously with all menus shaped like a bulldogs face. Plus, there’s a hookah menu shaped like, well, a hookah. Quirky or not? You decide. The Stock Exchange format, wherein the prices of select items fluctuate as per demand and supply, could be easily missed if you’re not paying attention. We wish the small screen listing drinks that are up for speculation wasn’t overshadowed by the bigger screens playing music videos, but maybe that’s what the majority of the guests want. Our Whiskey-cino with whiskey, hot coffee, caramelised sugar and cream lacked the kick, but was interesting enough. On the other hand, The Purple Lace with vodka, blackberry, pomegranate and lime juice was overpowered by soda. Coming to the grub, they have everything from pizza to tandoori snacks and even hot dogs alongside café style starters. The kebabs and fried chicken we paired our drinks with were wholesome and decently sized. On Thursdays, they host Sufi Nights, while other nights mostly see a mixed commercial playlist. Critic reviews are anonymous and all bills are paid by them.

New Delhi Street Food Festival

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Are you a street food aficionado? Then a visit to the New Delhi Street Food Festival is a must for you. Street food lovers in Delhi can dig into their favourite grub, savouring delights of street foods from down south to up northern states and from far north east to central west provinces.

New Delhi Palate Fest

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Explore tons of culinary experiences, a medley of tastings, events, promotions and celebrations like the city has never seen before at the New Delhi Palate Food Fest. The food festival will showcase India’s finest restaurants, chefs, produce, growers, entertainers and musicians. It would make a great day and night out with fabulous tastings, dinners, food markets, cookery work- shops, and live entertainment. It will also be filled with exclusive fine dining experiences, plethora of trendy and stand-alone restaurants, fun free events, and plenty of art and live entertainment.

The Gourmet High Street

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After a successful run last year, The Gourmet High Street is returning this year with its second edition with an even more exciting schedule. To be held for three days, the fest boasts of participating celebrity like Vikas Khanna and Sarah Todd. Apart from that, there will also be a drinks theatre where beverage companies will showcase their products to consumers, a market area for visitors and a restaurant zone. 

Wedding Photographers You Should Book Now

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It#39;s hard to imagine a wedding in the city without mouth-watering food, loud music, lots of dancing and of course, a traffic jam! You could add the indispensable wedding photographers to that list now. Bulky photo albums and posing for the camera are passé, thanks to these new-age photographers, who are giving your most precious day a refreshing spin.  ARTISTIC PRE-WEDDING Happy Flashbacks The talented and equally passionate duo of Noopur and Anish understands the significance of the event for couples and try to make it a happy one too. Their pre-wedding shoots are creative and centre around a theme. So, for once, you don’t have couples prancing around trees! Package: The packages are customised but roughly cost between Rs 70, 000 and Rs 1lakh. Know more about them here The Wedding Date Brainchild of ace photographer Aman Chotani, The Wedding Date is a team of professional artists and specialises in pre-wedding shoots. Their clicks capture the excitement and romance of to-be-wed couple in a contemporary way that adds to their wedding memories. Package: Starts at Rs 30, 000 and they also arrange theme locations on request Contact them here CANDID Faizan Patel Photography A professional wedding photographer for 4 years now, Faizan has created a niche for himself and specialises in candid photography. His approach is creative and he transforms raw emotions into iconic images. His pictures evoke a myriad of emotions and are prized possessions for couples and families. Package: He offers packages ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Find more about him here Wedding Photo Diary Prateek Sharma of Wedding Photo Diary had a natural inclination towards photography. Inspired by the works of Sephi Bergerson and Dina Douglass, pioneers in the field of wedding photography, he left behind his corporate job to take up photography full time. His experienced team tries to keep things simple and delivers honest and vibrant images. Package: Rs 55, 000 a day for photography and starts at Rs 75,000 a day for cinematography. Get in touch with him here DOCUMENTARY Nikhil Kumar Photography An engineer-turned-photographer, Nikhil documents witty and spontaneous moments in a wedding. He elaborates that becoming a part of the occasion is one of the pre-requisites for creating memorable pictures. His personal documentary project on Indian weddings titled ‘The Wedding Mess’ is full of insanely funny and emotional images. Package: Starts at Rs 45, 000 and depends on the project. Find more info here Sunflare Arthouse Wedding, couple and documentary photographer Megha Jain loves weaving stories through her pictures. She looks beyond the obvious and captures smaller rituals, giving seemingly routine activities such as a bride getting ready, an aesthetic touch.  What makes her photography distinct is her eye for detail. Package: Starts at Rs 50, 000 and is dependent on the kind of work expected. You can contact her here

Masala House, Sundar Nagar: First Look

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With changing culinary trends, most of us are guilty of having moved away from mum’s humble cooking and seeking guilty pleasures in the likes of sushi and dim sum. So some might think it#39;s be quite risky to serve Indian food at a modern eatery now, but in an year when we’ve seen many regional champions rise, a company with roots in New York is taking up that difficult task. From the same pedigree as Moti Mahal Delux comes Masala House in the expat environs of Sundar Nagar where we spent an enchanted Sunday afternoon rediscovering old favourites for an exclusive preview. AMBIENCE Spread over 2 floors and a terrace, Masala House gives you the vibe of old school family restaurants. Comfy couches are accompanied by bright chairs and muted colours compliment the old school tone. A swanky bar and stellar tungsten bulbs add to the ambience, while a cosy terrace with a private dining space is where we intend to spend our lazy winter days. FOOD + DRINKS Expect an inspired menu covering our own Moti Mahal Delux and NYC’s Awadh as well as Bhatti Indian Grill. We were hooked from first glance and started with a tangy grape amuse bouche followed by a taco rechristened as the Kathal Phulka (Rs 395), and the soft and fragrant Silbatte ki Shami (Rs 445) – washed down with rounds of Frozen Margaritas. The star of the menu though was the Anarkali Tikki (Rs 345) that would make the staunchest beetroot-hater change their mind. Crunchy and full of flavours, the peanut butter surprise inside it was a prized touch. It’s not all reinvention though and the diverse menu also got us closer to the coast with the wok tossed Kadhi Pata Jheenga (Rs 695) that played curry leaves with coconut flavours. Skipping the soups and grills, we munched on the chef’s favourite Bhatti Murgh (Rs 495) that will also become a perfect nosh for the city’s Scotch drinkers. From mains, we went on a whilrlwind tasting of the Kurkuri Bhindi (Rs 345), creamy Anjeer Aur Chenna Kofta (Rs 395), Moge Wala Tamateri Kukkad (Rs 495), Mutton Tariwala (Rs 495) – a personal favourite now – and Rava Meen Moiley (Rs 795) with Vegetable Stew (Rs 345) that was wiped clean in quick time. But it was the Dum Biryani (Rs 595) that took us on a nostalgic trip and reminded us of our granny’s cooking. A special mention also must be made of their bread selection including the crispy thin appams (Rs 145) and stuffed paranthas (Rs 345). We never finish our meals without dessert, and loved the rich Badam Halwa (price on request) and teasingly sweet Gulkand Phirni (price on request). Well-fed and satiated, we realised the absence of unnecessary theatre around the dishes meant we actually concentrated on eating rather than anything else. It’s no surprise that Saurabh and Tina Anand’s ambitious kid has already got plenty of takers with a packed lunch service even without an official launch, which is scheduled for October 14th. IN A NUTSHELL WH Verdict: Bringing the glamour back to Indian food in humble surroundings. Meal For Two: Rs 2,500 Cuisine: North Indian Review and Other Details: Masala House on What’s Hot They are also on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MasalaHouseInd/ Instagram: @masalahouseind **The writer was invited by the restaurant to preview their menu**

Preview: Delhi International Arts Festival 2015

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Tap dance meets Flamenco. An Urdu drama shares stage with an Indian classical music choir. African music gets a Middle-Eastern touch. The 9th edition of the Delhi International Arts Festival (DIAF) promises an eclectic mix of events spread over a fortnight starting from October 16th. Held at multiple venues until October 31st, this cultural carnival will celebrate music, dance, theatre, art and films from across the world. Organised by Prasiddha Foundation, founded by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Prathibha Prahlad, in association with the Ministry of Culture – this edition will feature over 60 events with both local and international artists taking centrestage. Here’s a roundup of what you can expect. OPENING NIGHT The stunning Purana Qila will serve as the backdrop for the opening day on October 16th. Setting the tone for the events ahead will be an acclaimed multi-style dance drama, Vande Mataram, directed by Prathibha herself, scheduled to start at 6.30 pm. This will be followed by Whirling Dervish and Traditional Dances – a performance by the Bani Swaif Group from Egypt – as well as a unique cross-cultural collab between Taiwanese artists and musicians from Kerala titled Bamboo Symphony. The SOOF ensemble comprising musicians from Africa, the Middle East and Israel will wrap up the evening with their soulful compositions. FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Coinciding with the India-Africa Forum Summit, the festival explores the themes of Welcome Africa and Africa In India, as part of which several artists from African countries such as Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria, Congo and Uganda will perform. There’s also a Look East and Look West section, which will feature artists from countries as diverse as China, USA, Poland, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkey, Mexico and so on. While it’s tough to pick favourites, we suggest you don’t miss the Tandav Physical Theatre – a contemporary dance drama by French and Indian artists (Oct 21st, 11 am, National Museum); Medieval and Folk – a dance recital by groups from Krygystan (Oct 20th, 7 pm, Zorba The Buddha); Welcome Africa – a dance and music performance by artists from Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana and India (Oct 25th, 6.30 pm, Nehru Park) and Sichuan Opera Theatre from China (Oct 31st, 6.30 pm, FICCI Auditorium). Fancy yourself a movie hound? If you’d rather just watch some offbeat regional cinema, a number of films will also be screened across categories – children, art and culture, restored old classics among others. When: October 16th to 31st Where: Multiple venues including Purana Quila, India Habitat Centre, Nehru Park, National Museum, Siri Fort, Select City Walk, Epicentre (Gurgaon) to name a few Entry: Free For full schedule, log on here  

PHOTOUKINDIA- Origins

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A one-of-a-kind Photography exhibition, The British Council India and ‎The Alkazi Foundation have come together for a photo project titled PHOTOUKINDIA-Origins that draws artwork from the shared history of both countries. The exhibition would feature work of 31 artists namely Arpita Shah, Alan Knox, Craig Gibson, Evan Thomas, Liz Orton, Nupur Nanal, among others along with the launch of a publication by 6 authors including Bhrigupati Singh, Chandrahas Choudhury,  Christopher Pinney, Clare Harris, Divia Patel and Janice Pariat. The show has been curated by Rahaab Allana.

Delhi’s Secret Foodie Services

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Ever wondered if there’s an underground society of lucky people who are always in the know, move around in different circles and have a better time than you? Maybe there are, well okay, we are confirming that such heavenly creatures do actually exist. But we’re about to let you into their world of elite dinners and awesome services. From a card that gets you access to the best restaurants in town to a website that is your own personal delivery – we are letting the cat out of the bag! PRIMO PRIVILEGE One card to rule them all! The good folks at Primo have been our own personal discount wagon for 6 months now. Originally, an expat privilege club that was launched last year with the aim to get diplomats and foreign embassies the best deals in town and also invite them to the most fun parties – PP has just started it’s new non-expat membership program. And that’s why we thought it’s time to introduce you to our sexy friend in black. The brainchild of Prashant and Ayesha Kalra, Primo is a membership only program that now has over 1300 members. And after establishing that base, the team decided to offer a limited round of membership to us common folks. What you get is a card that ensures hefty discounts (upto 20%) as well as benefits at the hottest spots like The Hungry Monkey, Olive Qutub, PCO, ATM and Artusi. Plus, a voucher booklet with great deals and a bottle of vino as a welcome gift! The best part though is their rollicking bashes like Prohibition Night and specially curated 28 (yes, 28) course dinners. They’ve recently started expanding their network bringing the otherwise reclusive The Imperial on board as well as promising us newly opened Ek Bar and The Piano Man Jazz Club soon. Membership starts at Rs. 7,000++ for a year and we adore the questionnaire that is the only screening process they use to enroll members. P.S: It’s not all FB centric with spas, salons, designers and even personalised services offering member benefits. Click here for more DELHI SECRET SUPPER CLUB Considering the word “secret” is a big part of their name, it’s not a surprise that the hush-hush team behind these invite-only dinners and copious doses of alcohol wish to remain anonymous. Or at least they try. We believe we’ve found their real identity more than once, and are certain that there’s at least one Brit in the mix, but we’d rather keep the mystery alive and have conversations with Stevie. Stevie is their cool butler-like mascot who sends personalised emails with astounding details that’ll surprise you. Having been at a few of their rambunctious gatherings, we reckon their social media sleuths snoop around your public profile before deeming you fit for a place on the table. Screening is, of course, necessary considering it’s a strangers-on-a-table concept, which means you don’t get to bring plus ones along and won’t find out who you’re sitting next to until you get there. Once you do, witty name cards will guide you to your seat. Ranging from sober but decadent meals made lively by a nameless rep from their team popping around periodically for funny games and QA’s to a mingler over cocktails that leads to after-party scenes, DSSC’s soirees’ are unpredictable. Just last week they initiated something called the Disappearing Edition that has Kitchen Aid and Sula Vineyards as their partners-in-crime. To score an invite, mail them on delhisecretsupperclub@gmail.com MY BUTLER If you’d rather stay in and be pampered, the aptly named My Butler is the next best thing to having your own man Friday on speed dial. Perfect for days when you’re craving a fix from your favourite eatery but can’t be bothered to tackle traffic, this new website works on a transparent and seamless delivery format. Offering a curated list of gourmet restaurants and local retailers – cigars on call, cold cut vendors that only supply to hotels and even caviar – who exclusively deliver signatures through their online ordering system. So whether you want sushi from Guppy by ai, Prawn Moilee from Coast Café or macarons from Sugar Blossoms – it’s all here. Our go-to weekday spot of Le Bistro Du Parc also just signed up with many more in talks. The menu is curated to ensure the food will be hot by the time it reaches you, so they even suggest signatures from each eatery that would be best had at the outlet rather than out of a box. Plus, you can choose to get doorstep delivery or pick up an order for takeaway. Prices are the same as the restaurant’s menu and there’s no minimum order. Instead,it’s all based on your zipcode, so once you punch that in, you get Zone A and Zone B options. The former is for deliveries under 60 minutes at a charge of Rs 200 and the latter is for 90-minute deliveries at Rs 300. They are in an expansion phase, but almost all of South Delhi and highend neighbourhoods like Aurangzeb Road, President’s Estate and Malcha Marg are already covered. Order here or call 9910017663 ELIXIR COTERIE Your type of martini, a juggling mixologist and no mess to clean up after! Did you just dream of your weekend haunt? Well, snap out of it because we are talking about a private bar. Elixir Coterie is a one-of-a-kind, highly spirited outfit (just the kinds we like) that puts the best bartenders from around town to work for you. From masterclasses to tasting sessions, the team is all about the booze! So if putting together some mixers, base spirits and a bucket of ice is too old school for you, their bespoke private bars are available for small shindigs as well as large-scale events. What you get are specially concocted cocktails made using fresh ingredients and the current mixology trends, and a set up you don’t need to worry about. From the glassware to the menu – you can leave it all to them! We first encountered their able team of barmen serving cocktails in sippy cups and milk bottles at a baby shower do, and were intrigued. Upon deeper inspection, we realised these guys are really serious about what they do. In fact, they are currently busy with the city’s first dedicated Delhi Cocktail Week, which we will unveil more deets on very soon. Click here for more

Preview: Food For Thought Fest

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Last week, we told you about this two-day fiesta by the South Asian Association for Gastronomy (SAAG) celebrating authentic dishes from the SAARC nations, and now we’ve got more insider info as well as a contest running on our Facebook page. Exploring whether food and culture can blur borders, the debut fest has been grabbing everyone’s attention since it was announced that several pop-up restaurants and cookery demos courtesy chefs from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan were in the offing. But the fact that food festivals will be hosted by these chefs in different hotels across the city had been kept under wraps… until now! While food is only one part of this cross-border celebration that includes Shashi Tharoor as the keynote speaker, we are excited about their live art installation that attendees can participate in. The Thought Fest portion will also see performances by Hindustani classical vocalist Anirban Bhattacharyya of the Patiala tradition and a junior ethnomusicologist from Kolkata. Anirban is a national scholar in Rabindra Sangeet and you catch him in action on October 17th from 6.30 pm. The piece de resistance is the news that celebrated Pakistani artist and Coke Studio favourite Javed Bashir will perform at the Plaza at IHC on October 18th. Bashir — who comes from a family of qawwals and loves to straddle classical, pop and rock music — is known for his soulful voice, high notes, powerful alaaps and raags. Now that’s the real treat!  Back to the food though – for folks who buy tickets to this 2-day festival, and we highly recommend you do, here’s another interesting announcement. We are giving away 8 couple meal vouchers for the SAAG-led food festivals at Westin Gurgaon and Le Meridien Delhi. You get an extravagant buffet  that will be showcasing the best of Bangladeshi cuisine at Westin Gurgaon and an unsurpassed Afghani buffet meal at Le Meridien Delhi. All you need to do is go to our Facebook page and share the contest post with your friends. People with the highest number of likes will get a prized meal voucher for two at the cost of the ticket, which is for Rs 150 and Rs 300! It’s that simple. So go buy the tickets here first and the participate in our contest. Where: India Habitat Centre When: October 17th and 18th Timings: 10.30 am to 5.30 pm For more, check out their event page
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