Traveller's Tales

A Taste of the Caribbean

2013-02-24T19:07:00.000+05:30

Caribbean cuisine evolved from native crops, spices and culinary techniques married with imports that came in with the Spanish and Africans. The Spaniards brought with them goats, citrus fruits, ginger, and bananas. Africans came to these islands as slaves and brought with them okra, peanuts and a variety of beans and peas, all of which are considered staples in today's Caribbean cuisine.

Spicy jerk seasoning is probably one of the most popular cooking styles that originated in Jamaica. In its original form, jerk spice mostly consisted of allspice that was rubbed on meats before being being cooked over a wood fire. However, more recently, the spice has evolved to include hot Scotch bonnet peppers and a variety of other spices.

Creole style cooking is popular in Dominica where some of the original native Carib Kalinago influence can still be seen in dishes such as smoked meat and fish. Influenced by the French, Creole-style cooking brought in the use of marination and seasoning prior to cooking.

In Barbados, meats and fish are seasoned with a unique Bajan seasoning before they are cooked. Conch, octopus and flying fish are common delicacies of this island more popularly known for its production of rum.

Coconuts Caribbean Restaurant is a nice little place to get acquainted with the food of the Caribbean while in downtown Palo Alto. Reggae music, colorfully painted walls and native Caribbean waitstaff creates its unique ambiance. It was busy on a Friday evening and I was lucky to get a table. The place seemed to be mostly filled with students from nearby Stanford University.

I started off with their house speciality of Jerk Chicken Wings and a glass of Sangria. The portion was quite large, but the sharp spicy taste of the freshly made wings were delicious. I was glad I had the icy sweetness of the sangria to offset the fiery flavours of the jerk spice.

The Curried Goat came in a large-sized portion too. I had ordered some Beans and Rice with it. The chunks of meat and the robust gravy were delightful in the wintry cold evening. I was quite full and very satiated by the time I walked out of the restaurant.

Coconuts is wonderful place if you are looking for something out of the ordinary in a casual, comfortable setting. Of course, you have to have a good tolerance for spices and be ok with a fairly high decibel level here. Overall a place I would certainly return to!

The Best Kababs

2013-02-09T19:47:00.000+05:30

Now that I have had the chance to visit both Paasha and Punjab Grill multiple times, my considered view is they are both a tie for the best kabab place in town. Of course, this isn't really an apples to apples comparison. Paasha is a fancy upscale lounge and restaurant located at the newly re-branded JW Marriott hotel, while Punjab Grill is located within the Phoenix Market City shopping mall. Though Punjab Grill is by no means down-market, Paasha is clearly the more fancier and the more expensive one.

I returned to Punjab Grill on a weekend to sample a few different kababs. This time I sampled the excellent Bhatti Da Murg and Tandoori Broccoli. I have to say that both these kababs were just excellent. The Tandoori Brocolli was unexpectedly outstanding.

Of course, as these pictures suggest, the desserts were completely tantalizing too.

Paasha has chic lounge and bar area on the rooftop of the JW Marriott. Mood-lighting, lounge music, quiet surroundings and great kababs can make this a great date destination for late evenings. For larger groups and a larger food menu, you can move indoors.

I loved their Shikampuri Kababs, a fancier version of Shammi Kababs which are increasingly difficult to find on menus in Pune. These were perfectly turned out.

The Tandoori Chaap was pretty good too, as were their Sheek Kababs. Strangely, it was their cocktails that left me wanting more. My Manhattan and my wife's Cosmo should have had more alcohol in them. They did make me a perfect Dirty Martini though.

So there you are kabab lovers in Pune! Paasha for that special evening in an upscale setting, but Punjab Grill for an equally appetising fare where you can combine some quick shopping too.

Eating Through San Fran - II

2013-02-02T21:20:00.000+05:30

I was back at Ame after a while. It was a Saturday evening but I was able to get a table without too much trouble even without a reservation. I stayed with the basics and was rewarded by the same satisfaction I got when I dined here last. The sake menu and the service continues to remain top-notch too.

The Kaisen Sashimi salad with Japanese cucumber, Hijiki, Tobico caviar and Yuzu soy vinaigrette on a bed of fresh sashimi was quite delectable. The hijiki, a sea vegetable used in Japan and the caviar made the dish taste very exotic.

The broiled sake marinated Alaskan Black Cod with shrimp dumplings in Shiso broth is a house speciality and for good reason. This has constantly been one of the fish dishes on the top of my fave list.

The Chocolate Almond Cake with sun-dried sour cherry ice-cream within a Cacao nib done brought up the ending quite nicely!

A new place I discovered during my last visit to this city was Blue Stem Brasserie on Market Street (between the 3rd and 4th). With contemporary, chic interiors looking out on busy Market Street, this restaurant was quite a delightful find. The food hit a some high spots but there were some unremarkable creations too.

I began with the Baby Beet Terrine with goat cheese, hazelnut praline, aged balsamic and watermelon radish. The starter was interesting but didn't create a memorable moment for me.

The Lamb Loin with garlic and herb smashed potatoes, mint pesto and braised artichoke heart was a winner. The lamb was cooked just right and very tender and flavourful.

This time, I just didn't have the appetite for any dessert. Overall, Blue Stem is a good place for an early evening drinks followed by dinner. The place fills up quickly with business people from conferences in the nearby Moscone Center as well as with visiting tourists. The service quality is quite good.

Eating Through San Fran - I

2013-01-27T12:14:00.000+05:30

Downtown San Francisco is an ideal place for the travelling foodie. I have been returning here every month during the past two years, but have yet to run out of interesting new places to try. This time was no different.

Town Hall is a delightful place for an extraordinary dinner if you don't mind the high decibel levels. This interesting restaurant in the middle of San Francisco's SoMa district comfortably blends the new and the old in a large converted warehouse with dark wooden floors, exposed brick walls and contemporary art. Owner chefs Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal have put together sophisticated American fare with a New Orleans flair and succeeded rather well.

I began with a starter of Tuna Tartare served with fried green tomatoes, garlic chips, tabasco green onion vinaigrette. The flavours and textures worked extraordinarily well!

I decided to go with the Sea Bass entree: Black sea-bass "pepper pot" with dirty rice, and spicy peanuts. I also ordered some warm jalapeño cornbread on the side. This was another delightful dish - robust and full of flavours which reminded me of the great time I had during my trip to New Orleans a few years back.

I was quite full by now, but how could I leave without trying their highly regarded Butterscotch and Chocolate pot de creme? The dessert was rich and delicious and totally worth the wait; an excellent end to a wonderful dinner!

Be warned this restaurant can be really noisy. Great when you are alone, but not so much when you are trying to have a conversation across the table! Also, sophisticated New Orleans dining may seem like an oxymoron. New Orleans food is known for its down-to-earth, robust flavours in more casual settings, but the overall experience here was very good for me. I will be definitely back here and for the food alone!

The second new place I ate at recently was Hog Island Oyster Co., at the Ferry Building. I frequently walk over to the ferry building when I am here during weekends. There is a Sunday morning farmers' market held here every week and you can see organic vegetables, honey, artisan cheeses and many other interesting things dear to a foodie. There are some great restaurants here too - I love Slanted Door and La Mar.

Hog Island Oyster Co., is known for its oysters and fresh sea-food in a casual small setting looking out over the waterfront. The long lines that form here has always deterred me. However, this day I had made up my mind to get in no matter how long the wait. About 20 minutes of waiting and I was seated at the bar.

I ordered the Oyster Bar Mix which had a selection from the Californian coast, the Northwest, and also from the Atlantic coast. It was fun watching them shuck the oysters right in front of me and then tasting the different briny flavours from different seas.

I followed with a Whole Maine Lobster that was roasted in garlic butter. As you can imagine, this was a great meal. The service here stood out too!

I love the small boutique shops in the ferry building which sell everything from jams, mushrooms and cured meats from small, family-run farms. I got myself fresh pine nuts and packets of dried morel and shitake mushrooms to take back home.

The Best French Toast

2013-01-19T18:15:00.000+05:30

La Boulange has been a favourite of mine for a while. I guess I am not alone; its rising popularity in the Bay Area recently led Starbucks to buy this boutique bakery that has outlets all over Silicon Valley and San Francisco. While its French pastries, breads and sandwiches are excellent, it is their French Toast I find truly outstanding.

French Toast at most places turn out to sandwich bread soaked in whisked egg and fried. However, I have been surprised more than once and in the most expected places. I remember being served a very good rendition of this dish at The Westin in San Francisco. The difference was the thick slice of brioche bread with a thin crisp layer of whisked egg, served with a liberal helping of berries.

However, the spectacular French Toast at La Boulange has no peer! The dish made of a thick circular slice of bread comes out with a thin, crisp brown layer on the top, but with a soft custardy bottom that is completely extraordinary. A bowl of fresh fruit and berries completes the dish.

No trip to the Bay Area is any longer complete for me without a breakfast at a La Boulange restaurant that includes French Toast and a hot cup of cappuccino!

Ancient Indian Art

2013-01-06T18:38:00.000+05:30

While I haven't been a serious art collector, I am fascinated by the variety of ancient art forms that have been passed through generations of skilled artists and craftsmen and kept alive in our towns and villages. During our recent trip to Chennai, we re-discovered several examples of traditional artisanship that have been native to the Coromandel region and fine-tuned overs the years.

Tanjore paintings are among the most distinct forms of religious art that originated from the town of Tanjavoor, the capital city during the reign of the Cholas. The paintings are created with an elaborate process that includes a drawing, adornments using precious and/or semi-precious stones and raised profiles made of a special molding material.

Parts of the painting are then covered in 24-carat gold foil making the figures of gods and goddesses glitter when they catch the light.

Another unique tradition that has existed here is that of crafting exquisite silk sarees. Weavers from the town of Kanchipuram have been creating visions in silk since several hundred years. Sarees that originate from his town are still in great demand by traditional minded fashionistas across the country.

Kanchipuram sarees used to be woven in silk and gold thread; now the gold is being replaced with a lighter variety in most cases, but you can still source the original stuff if you are willing to spend a princely sum on these labours of love.

Finally, we ran into some fascinating samples of palm leaf painting from Orissa in an art fair. Palm leaves used to be the medium in which ancient Indian religious texts used to be rendered for a long time. I remember our old temple priest pulling out palm leaf manuscripts delicately strung together with red threads and read out sacred chants for special occasions.

Orissa has had a tradition of creating elaborate paintings from Indian mythology on palm leaves. These leaves are dried used a special process. Drawings are made by etching on the leaves using a sharp knife and then rubbing off dyes quickly on the newly etched lines.

During our trip to Agra a few years back, we had a chance to see some of the finest artisans do their magic on blocks of marble.

Such exquisite workmanship continues to exist today but is fast depleting. I still caress the fineness of the marble inlay work of the pieces I brought back with me from there. I hope these traditions do not completely disappear during our lifetime.

In and Around Chennai - II

2012-12-30T21:17:00.000+05:30

Chennai is home to several functioning temples that are over a thousand years old. These temples are located in places that continue to bear names by which they were referred to in Tamil hymns dating back to 7th century AD. On our second day in Chennai, we spend most of the day visiting a few of the most famous ones.

Kapaleeshwar is probably one of the most venerated temples of Tamil Nadu. Located in the temple complex of Mylapore, this temple is visually stunning with its elaborate gopuram. The name of the temple refers to a legend where Lord Shiva plucked one of Brahma's head because he had failed to show respect.

There were long lines of devotees at each of the smaller temples within the complex, but the longest lines were clearly for the main temple that housed Lord Kapaleeshwar. Ptolemy, the Greek philosopher refers to Mylapore in his books as Millarpha, a well-known sea-port town with a flourishing trade. When the Portuguese invaded in 1566 AD, the temple suffered considerable damage and what we saw today was the rebuilt structure from 300 years ago.

The other prominent temple we visited was the Parthasarathy Temple in Triplicane which many devotees say is as important to them as Tirupati.

Given the amount of devotees that make their way into these temples, I was quite impressed by how well they were managed. The crowds were lined up with no jostling or pushing, the place was pretty clean, and they had clear rules and signs for photography. There are special annual festivals at Mylapore which continue to devotees from far away. The biggest of them takes place in the month of March for ten days.

After the temple tour, we decided to stop by at a Saravana Bhavan outlet nearby. The Saravana Special thali was a good way to sample some of the local cuisine. There were over a dozen bowls filled with vegetables, sambar, rasam, payasam, etc. There must have been servings of about 25 different dishes on our thali.

After that sumptuous lunch, we popped into Sri Krishna Sweets next door to shop for the best sweets and pickles Chennai has to offer. I never leave this city without some delightful stuff from here!

In and Around Chennai - I

2012-12-23T20:10:00.000+05:30

Recently we have begun adding smaller 'culture tours' within India to our vacation plan every year. During my childhood days I remember taking long train journeys to distant parts of India during summer vacations that left an lasting impression on me. Now, as the parent of a ten-year old girl, I realise I haven't given her the same chance to discovery our country. She has seen more places outside India than she has within; I am hoping to rectify that.

We had covered the ancient Mughal capital of Agra two years back. This time I decided to use our Xmas break to travel to the lands where the Pallavas and Cholas once ruled.

Chennai is clearly at its best during the Christmas season. It's notoriously warm and humid weather is replaced by a rare dry and cool climes. Evenings were lovely when we would go up for a swim on the terrace-top swimming pool of our hotel. The traffic too was at the best I have ever experienced in this city.

Our first stop was Mahabalipuram, whose rock-cut temples and frescos are still mired in mystery. Most modern sources place these temples from the times of the Pallavas around 7 AD. The temples and structures depict several Hindu deities but are extremely varied in their architectural forms.

The most detailed and elaborate of the Mahabalipuram stone carvings is clearly the one called Arjuna's Penance which is an enormous open air bas relief that depicts scenes from Hindu mythology and even includes a reference from the old folk story of the cat that went on a pilgrimage.

Krishna's Butterball is a large spherical granite rock precariously perched on a granite surface. As stories go here, this ball has stayed in place even through earthquakes and tsunamis.

The Five Rathas are said to pay homage to the five Pandava brothers from the Mahabharata. Each temple cut from a granite rock formation is inspired by a distinct architectural form: Bengali, Dravidian and even Sri Lankan.

Finally, the Shore Temple where the Bay of Bengal crashes into the rocky shores only a few feet away. This temple is said to be among the ones which Marco Polo wrote of as the Seven Pagodas of Mahabalipuram.

Interestingly, the Pallava kings who carved these temples pain-stakingly from granite hillsides are postulated to have descended from North Indians who moved south. There is evidence they used Prakrit script in their writings, which is closely related to Sanskrit.

Among the many mysteries of Mahabalipuram is a temple dedicated to Lord Brahma, something very rare in India. Also, there are several structures that seem abandoned in mid-creation. In fact, a lot of the hillside behind Krishna's Butterball seems like a workshop.

The sun was quite high when we got back into our car and headed back towards Chennai. The drive is a very scenic one with glimpses of the sea along the road.

We paused at Fisherman's Cove for lunch. This was once a fort that changed hands multiple times between the English and the French during their battles to keep a larger part of India with themselves. Eventually, the French were restricted to a smaller pocket to the south of Mahabalipuram.

Next: Temples of Chennai

Hakkasan vs. M.Y. China

2012-12-16T20:01:00.000+05:30

December saw the entry of two fancy Chinese restaurants in San Francisco, within a few blocks of each other. The first, Hakkasan, founded by a self-made billionaire from Hong Kong has made waves wherever it went for its extravagant interiors and exquisite food. The second, M.Y.China, is celebrity chef Martin Yan's first own restaurant. Yes, that is the same Yan from Yan Can Cook!

M.Y.China opened directly under the Dome of the Westfield Mall on Market St. Not surprisingly, it was crowded on the weekend. I was able to get a seat at the bar which serves their full menu. M.Y.China expects to charm its patrons with a multi-sensory experience with the help of large open kitchens with fired-up woks, noodle chefs who demonstrate hand-pulled noodles and Chinese twist on cocktails.

I started with the Fire in the Wok cocktail: Azul Tequila, lime juice, Fresno pepper, agave and soda. The M.V. dim-sum collection was a pretty good one. The shui mai, the hargao, steamed bbq pork bao, sticky rice, seafood dumpling and Mongolian bao were all perfect. Of course, one can argue that you can get similar delicious dim sum for a fraction of the prices elsewhere in this city. But none can combine the food with the flair on display, and none of them within an upscale mall that can get your Christmas shopping done too!

Incidentally, that large 800 kg (1700 lb) bronze bell hanging over the ball? Found in a monastery in China and shipped all the way here. There are some other interesting artifacts here too: old Chinese snuff boxes, moon cake moods and bronze monks - all with considerable antique value I am told.

A few blocks away is the new Hakkasan. Founded by Alan Yau, who emigrated to the UK as a kid and went on to found a chain of successful restaurants. Hakkasan first opened in London in what must have been the classiest Chinese food in the British capital. It went on to win a Michelin star and opened other branches around the world. Incidentally, Hakkasan opened in Mumbai before it did in SF!

Alan Yau sold majority share in Hakkasn to a Middle-Eastern billionaire. Last I heard, the new owner was opening the biggest, baddest Hakkasan of them all. Where else, but in Vegas! This one will be a restaurant and lounge spread over five floors of the MGM Grand. They have been signing up almost all the headline DJs in the country for big bucks.

Anyway, coming back to Hakkasan in San Francisco. I ordered some Scallop shuimai, Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf and an entree of Spicy Prawns with Jasmine Rice. The dishes were exquisitely presented and tasted heavenly too.

The shuimai was topped roe while the Lotus Rice was a lovely preparation with chicken, scallops and other seafood.

The Spicy Prawns was prepared in a mustard sauce that reminded me on Bengali Indian dishes. I finished off with an excellent Tapioca Pearl Pudding garnished with a carmalized spiced pineapple.

Hakkasan is the place to go, if you want to dress up and be seen in the trendiest Chinese restaurant in town.

Among dim-sum places that have existed for a while, I continue to heart Yank Sing. I was back here eating yet some more dimsums and they were as lovely as ever. However, this is the kind of place where you drop in for a quick lunch with colleagues or for a casual dimsum lunch on weekends.

Enoteca in Barcelona

2012-12-02T19:30:00.000+05:30

Barcelona's restaurant scene effortlessly straddles the distance between avant-garde culinary innovation and the more rustic dishes of traditional Catalan fare. Catalans have been famous for their love of the fresh bounty from the Mediterrenean to the Pyrenees. The phrase mar i muntanya - meaning sea and mountain - reflects their love for 'surf and turf' combinations on their dinner plates.

I was back in Barcelona almost exactly after a year. Like the last time, I had most of my lunches and dinners in small tapas bars and restaurants that dot this city. There were a few special dinners when I returned to the Marina to dig into sumptuous sea-food paellas.

The one place that was particularly special for me this time was at Enoteca. This Michelin-starred restaurant at the Hotel Arts Barcelona was a perfect culinary ending to a fruitful trip. Unfortunately, this is also a night I will remember as the one when my iPhone was stolen!

Enoteca is helmed by Catalan chef Paco Perez and focused on making the most of the region's fresh produce and seafood. A study in minimalist chic, the interiors are a tasteful blend of white surfaces combined with dark cherry wood.

The amuse bouche of consome Gazpacho with strawberry foam set the bar high for the night.

I had ordered the appetizer of Lobster Carpaccio with a Citrus Salad. As you can see, the presentation was lovely. I can attest to the fact that it tasted even better! A fantastic medley of flavors and textures on the palate. Of course, sea food can't get any fresher than this.

My next course was the Risotto with Amanita Caesarea and White Truffle. The Amanita Ceasarea is a highly regarded edible mushroom that is native to southern Europe and North Africa. It used to be a favourite of the Roman rulers. The earthy flavors of the mushroom and truffle made the dish quite exquisite.

My entree was a Rack of milk-fed Lamb, seasonal mushrooms, saffron and couscous. The dish looked very pretty but the portion looked smaller than I had expected. However, this dish was very well executed too. The lamb was cooked just right and the sauces and the couscous went rather well with the meat. Also, I realised the portion was actually quite filling!

The desserts were very good too. Sadly, I can't remember the exact ingredients that went into them, but they were a very satisfying end to a splendid meal. As I sat there sipping my Earl Grey at the end, I had almost forgotten the pain of losing my iPhone.

The Hotel Arts Barcelona is part of the Ritz-Carlton group and is also home to their excellent high-end Tapas restaurant, Arola, which I had visited last time.

Goan Rhapsody - II

2012-11-24T18:11:00.000+05:30

The pleasantly warm weather, the long sandy beach free of crowds, and the well-maintained gardens of the resort made our experience at the Taj Exotica Goa enchanting, but what is a vacation without some equally memorable food? Thankfully, the Taj Exotica resort in Goa is home to some excellent restaurants.

Eugenia was the place we went to for our breakfasts everyday. The breakfast buffet was quite sumptuous with a variety of Indian, Asian and Western staples. The live counters served eggs made to order, fresh juices and shakes and also South Indian delicacies. The idlis at this restaurant were every bit as good as the ones I have during my trips to Bangalore and Chennai.

Eugenia serves pretty good North Indian food during lunches. We ordered a few kababs with rotis and daal during our first day at the resort. The kababs were deliciously succulent and flavourful. On another day, we were here for a special dinner that was centred around grilled to order meats and vegetables. That night, the restaurant was very crowded and it took some time to get our stuff grilled to order.

On another day, we dined at the speciality Goan restaurant, Allegria. Designed liked the interiors of a traditional Goan home in dark wood, pastel shades and Goan and Portuguese artefacts, the restaurant serves delectable Goan cuisines.

We had ordered a few local dishes and loved all of them. The Goan style prawn curry was made with fresh prawns in a blend of coconut and spices. A simple Goan Konkan dish, Batata Sukha Masala, was made of baby potatoes and tempered with curry leaves and mustard seeds. Finally, the Galhinha Cafreal was a pan-fried chicken marinated in a fiery combination of green chillies, fresh coriander and whole spices. The Cafreal was a dish first created in the Portuguese colonies of Africa which then made its way to Goa.

Miguel Arcanjo, named after archangel Michael, is another fine dining restaurant at the resort, serving Mediterranean cuisine in upscale surroundings.

They served a variety of freshly made breads with dips. The breads were particularly good; we polished every one of them!

The Mezze Platter contained well-made portions of Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, Falafel, Tabouleh, Vine Leaf Dolmas and Faotush salad. The dish in which they were served was very cool too!

My Roast Chicken with Risotto, the pasta for my daughter and the pizza my wife ordered were all expertly prepared and entirely to our liking.

Finally, the place we enjoy most in Goa. Dining at a beach shack. In this case, a five-star version called the Lobster Shack. We selected from their Catch of the Day section: sea-bass, snapper and jumbo prawn washed down with beer.

Overall, the dining experience at the Taj was a good one. There were a few minor misses such as a fruit juice that had gone stale, but the waitstaff responded quickly, replaced it and even knocked it off our bill. The service quality was good throughout.

A final word on the Air India flights we took, to and from Pune. In spite of their poor reputation, I found the experience pretty good. They were on time, the aircraft was clean and the service quality adequate.

Goan Rhapsody - I

2012-11-17T17:45:00.000+05:30

Ever since we moved to Pune a dozen years back, Goa has been our default destination for an impulse vacation. When we suddenly decided to spend a few days away during the Diwali holidays, I realised with some surprise it has been four years since our last vacation here.
This time we were at the idyllic Taj Exotica, a luxury resort on Benaulim beach in southwest Goa. The Taj Exotica is located right on one of Goa's cleanest stretches of beach and fifty acres of neatly manicured lawns and swaying palms.

Our room was nicely located. Sea-facing, on the ground level, with a small sit-out looking out on the lawns with a hammock and the sea in the distance.

Earlier, we had flown into Goa directly from Pune on an Air India flight. The weather was perfect when we arrived and it stayed that way all through our stay here. Perfectly warm for a comfortable swim during the day-times but pleasantly cool in the evenings.

The beach was perfect with clean white sands, clear skies and very few people. We started our days with lazy walks along the beach as the frothing water washed over our feet. The sand was like a living thing underfoot as it tried to unsuccessfully resettle after every receding wave.

The evenings on the beach were as magical. The sea turned into molten gold-orange as the sun slowly disappeared on the horizon. No matter how many times I see this, this sight never fails to inspire awe in nature's majesty!

As the sun rose higher in the mornings, we would stroll back to our resort for a hearty breakfast before spending time lazing on the hammock, cycling around the resort or splashing around in the swimming pool.

All that swimming and walking also made us quite hungry which was a good thing because the Taj is home to some really good restaurants. The swimming pool at the Taj Exotica is large with a separate kids' section and lounge chairs for those who want to get some sun. What it lacks is an in-pool bar like the one I loved in the Taj Aguada.

Next: Dining at the Taj Exotica

An Ethiopian Experience

2012-11-11T08:33:00.000+05:30

It was another of my frequent trips to the Silicon Valley. On this evening I was meeting with some old friends over dinner. It was a Friday evening and most restaurants were packed. After wandering around the restaurants of Santana Row, we finally decided to get a little farther out and try something different.

Walia has been serving authentic Ethiopian food in San Jose for a couple of years. From the many African faces in the restaurant I could see it was a popular eating place for those were craving for a taste of the food they had left behind when they decided to make the United States their new home. Yelpers seems to agree about this restaurant too; Walia has a four-star rating.

Ethiopia has a diverse geography which has resulted in a wide diversity of agricultural production. However staples are dominated by cereals, pulses, and root crops. Sorghum, millet and cowpeas are the most common ones. However teff is an important one and deserves a special note here. Unique to Ehiopia, teff is a grass with tiny seeds. Difficult to harvest but loaded with nutrients, this cereal forms the base ingredient for Ethiopia's most iconic bread, the injera.

Meals involve a large injera, a spongy flatbread made of slightly fermented batter of teff flour, a variety stews called wat, and other vegetable and meat dishes.

We started with a mutton sambussa, a variant of the Indian samosa and filled with minced lamb and spices. We then ladled hot spoonsful of Lamb Key Wot and Doro Tibs onto the shared injera in front of us. As we greedily tore into the soft injera and sponged up the spicy juices of the chicken and mutton stews, it made for a wonderfully communal dining experience!

The Lamb Key Wot is a freshly made stew of lamb in red chilly sauce. The Doro Tibs is chicken cubes sautéed in a special blend of spices with red and green bell peppers. Both of them were amazing and we hungrily polished off the plate with more helpings of the lovely injera bread.

An interesting nugget of information I picked up here: During a meal with friends, a person may tear off a piece of injera, dip it into the wat, and then roll it up and put it into the mouth of a friend. This ritual is called gorsha and is an act of cementing the friendship. Overall, Walia is a wonderful place to try something outside the beaten path. The food is lovingly cooked and even if the ambiance is not exactly fine-dining, it can make for a nice dinner-time experience with friends or family.

The Bistro in Koregaon Park

2012-11-04T07:10:00.000+05:30

Bistro opened a few months back at Oakwood Premier in Koregan Park. With the casual ambiance of a roadside Italian cafe, this is another welcome addition Pune's growing dining scene. I have been a fan of Oakwood's other restaurant, Sen5es, and I was eager to see what they had on offer this time. Bistro provides a choice of outdoor and indoor seating. We took an outdoor table but then moved inside because the sun was a little too warm for us on that day.

We started by ordering a Salmon Bruscetta and Crabmeat Popcorn; the latter seemed rather interesting. The Bruscetta was topped with smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers while the crabmeat was lightly batter coated and flash fried in the form of pop-corn sized pellets and served in a paper cone with a garlic dip!

The options for mains included risotto, pizza, pasta and a few chicken and fish dishes. My Chicken Saltimboca turned out pretty good as did my wife's Spaghetti Aglio e Olio which was made with cherry tomatoes, chillies and capers.

Overall, Bistro is a great choice when you want to indulge in rustic Italian food and European staples in a casually upscale ambiance. There is always a smattering of expats and international visitors here on weekends.

You can see that high quality ingredients go into every preparation here. While I did not try the desserts and coffee, I understand they are worth raving too.

Another place I have taken a liking to is The Flour Works in Kalyani Nagar. Finally, a place to have breakfast under old trees. Yes, breakfast! Rarity to see any place open early enough for that in Pune. Bagels, waffles, and eggs made to order - actually they serve a pretty decent version of Eggs Benedict too!

Finally, the other side of town is seeing many more restaurant opening too. However, the food seems restricted to Indian/Chinese. The latest one is Spice Story on Baner Road opposite the Symantec office. The lunch buffet was a pretty nice one, especially the kababs and appetisers.

A Day in Steel City

2012-10-13T12:15:00.000+05:30

Sheffield is a city that was central in the production of steel during the industrial revolution. Its geographic location - near fast-flowing rivers and mineral rich hills - made it a hub of the Western world's iron and steel industry. Several innovations such as 'crucible steel' and silver plating originated here. Interestingly, the bowie knife - popular in the American Wild West - was imported in large quantities from the city of Sheffield too!

I took a train from London St. Pancras to Sheffield. This was more fun than flying. It had rained more than usual in the northern parts of England causing some flooding in places, but we reached our destination without delay.

The modern train I travelled in was a contrast to the other train journey I had recently made from Delhi to Chandigarh. While by Indian standards, the Shatabdi Express is a pretty comfortable train with decent food and beverages served on-board, this train was - no surprises - of a different class. Quiet, fast and with wifi to boot!

St. Pancras Station in London was a pleasing sight with its historic, semi-circular expanse of roof and raised train platforms. A very different experience from that of an Indian railway station.

It was a relief to get a hotel room must larger than the cramped confined of the one I left behind in London. Looking out of my window I could see rows of old buildings that probably date back to the industrial, glory days of this city. I felt transported back to another time as I gazed at the complicated series of attics, chimneys and roof-top spires outlined against the cloudy, dull skies.

We had dinner at Piccolino, a nice Italian restaurant right across our hotel. The seafood salad, steak and gelato were pretty good.

I would have loved to take a look at some of the historic industrial sites and museums of this city but that has to wait for another day. After day-long meetings, I got back on the train to London.

Noshing Through London

2012-10-07T16:29:00.000+05:30

I flew into London on a gloriously sunny day. Unfortunately, this was short-lived and the next day was dull, rainy with chilly winds blowing - in other words, London was back to its normal self! That didn't hold me back from walking through the Kensington Gardens and Notting Hill areas and trying some interesting restaurants.

I could see that the recently concluded Olympic Games could still get locals quite animated and critical of the event, blaming the government on everything from poor planning to wasting money. The positive fall-out though is the ubiquitous telephone booths, Trafalgar Square, and several other London sights are brighter with their recent face-lift.

Nothing like a London pub to catch up on some local food. I had wanted to try a traditional Sunday Roast but they had run out of that. So, I will have to find another weekend at London to try the meats, Yorkshire pudding, stuffings and gravy that make up this traditional British meal.

I ordered some sausages and mash as I downed large gulps of Guinness. What is not to like in a plate of sausages over a large scoop of mashed potatoes surrounded by a lovely gravy?

An interesting place I visited was Alounak in Bayswater. This small Iranian restaurant serves up some amazing Persian fare. The Chello Kabab Makhsoos was two skewers of lamb - one minced, another marinated chunks of meat, both grilled to perfection and served on a bed of butter rice and grilled tomato.

The Mirza Ghassemi made with char-grilled aubergine, garlic, fried onion and tomatoes was smoky and delightful as was the cup of Doogh butter-milk. I finished with a steaming cup of Iranian mint tea before braving out into the rains once more.

I tried some of the finer dining options in this area too. One was E&O, still considered a benchmark for contemporary and cutting-edge Pan Asian cuisine in London. I loved the chic black and white interiors. The food was exciting too!

We tried several small plates: A soup of miso, tofu and wakame, chilly salt squid, crisp pork belly with black vinegar, chilly tofu and nasu dengaku, and tempura of rock shrimp and ponzu. It was quite a medley of exquisite flavors and textures of the palate.

I also remember the interesting dessert of Strawberries, vanilla ice-cream with black-pepper and tuille.

The next day we were at another Notting Hill restaurant, Seventeen. This one specialises in an authentic Chinese fare. This restaurant too had an interesting decor with paper lanterns, low seating, dim lights; but it was the food I will remember most!

The steamed king scallops with glass noodles and garlic was very good. So was the Clams with noodles and soy.

The Chongqing Chicken with Dry Chillies was lovely. But what monopolised everyone's attention immediately was the fish. Oh what a heavenly fish dish that was! Cooked Szechuan style, the white fish had been flash-cooked in hot chilly oil and was served family style in a large porcelain bowl filled with an oil-based soup with red chillies that was both deliciously pungent and fiery!

One other place I tried was Mandarin Kitchen, another Chinese restaurant near Kensington Gardens which serves a fabulous lobster dish. All you want to order here is Lobster with soft noodles.

As you can see, other than for the very British bar-food, I gorged on Asian cuisine this time in London. Which is quite appropriate given the great many immigrant-run restaurants in this city capable of dishing out the most authentic or the most cutting-edge Asian food at a moment's notice. I remember one of my Indian colleagues saying the best Indian food he's ever tasted was in a London restaurant too!

A Taste of Prague

2012-09-29T13:21:00.000+05:30

The meat and potatoes diet of the locals in Prague is quickly being supplemented with fine dining options from other parts of Europe. The city's first Michelin-starred restaurant, Allegro, was located at the Four Seasons hotel where I stayed during this visit. Sadly, Allegro is now closed but its successor, CottoCrudo, turned out to be pretty good. I particularly remember the pineapple dessert during one lunch here that was especially delightful!

Prague is a great place for beer lovers. This is not merely a country that boasts of high beer consumption - the Czech Republic has a long history in inventing the best techniques of brewing beers. Budweiser, a name synonymous with American bottled beer, is actually a name that originated in this region as early as in the 18th century.

Pilsner too has began in this country. The name comes from the town of Pilsen where this pale lager was first created and subsequently copied around the world. One evening, I took a recommendation from the concierge of my hotel and walked into a beer-bar owned by Staropramen, one of the largest beer companies in the Czech Republic.

Along with a large mug of draught beer, I also ordered some local bar food. The Sausages in Dark Beer had prime sausages, onions and hot peppers steamed in dark beer and were fabulous! Traditional dishes such as home-made Svickova, Beer Goulash and tender Beef Goulash were also on the menu. Overall, these beer-bars are a great place to watch people and taste local comfort food.

On another day, we took a cruise on the River Vltava. There was a time when the river would completely freeze during the winters and people would cut away large chunks of ice to cool their beers and foods in underground vaults for the rest of the year.

After the cruise, we strolled into one of Prague's more innovative French restaurants. Celeste is located at the top of Prague's dramatic Dancing House building. We sipped champagne admiring stunning views of the city from the rooftop terrace and then moved back into our dining room for a wonderful evening of wine and food.

The starter was clearly the standout dish of the night: a half of Canadian lobster, celeriac salad with palourdes (a variety of clams), shellfish and herb sauce. Absolutely fantastic!

My entree of whole roasted Anjou pigeon with daikon, offals, croutons and horseradish jus was a tad underwhelming; the dish had also been unevenly cooked.

The cheese that followed, a raw milk Reblochon, was pretty good with its nutty after-taste. As was the dessert of a duet of chocolate and tonka with tonka bean ice-cream.

On my final evening at Prague, I took a long walk through the Old Town as the sun went down over its iconic Church of Our Lady Before Tyn and the City Hall Astronomical Clock.

Prague is a wonderful little city with lots of history, also evident within its interesting shops full of handcrafted wood, beautiful glass, crystal ware and Bohemian antiques. You can see Communist-era Russian imports such as the Matryoshka dolls at every tourist trap - which of course have nothing to do with this city at all!

A Castle and Vintage Cars

2012-09-22T20:47:00.000+05:30

Prague Castle dominates the skyline of this wonderful city. What began as a walled building in the 9th century became the abode of the Bohemian kings and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. Prague Castle is also supposed to be the biggest castle in the world! It took me about 30 minutes to walk up the pretty cobblestones streets from my hotel to the castle gates. The walk to the castle was actually as much fun as touring the castle itself.

I was at the Four Seasons located right on the banks of River Vltava. The skies were clouded and the day was a little cold but the rains had stopped. The weather had kept most of the tourists indoors, so the ancients streets and the imposing Charles Bridge seemed much more larger today.

Charles Bridge is a famous historic bridge which was constructed in the 14th century and was the only crossing over the Vltava for a hundred years. Protected by Gothic bridge towers, the bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30 statues of saints.

The streets to the castle are quaint and pretty. Small cafes and antique shops line the winding streets. There are several interesting monuments in the Baroque style as you pass through Little Quarter. After a final steeper climb you are suddenly in front of the castle gates.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the first imposing ancient structure within. The cathedral is remarkable for the soaring height of its vault and the intricate Gothic work. There are superb examples of Czech stained glass windows and saintly relics.

I did not have the time to tour the several museums in the Castle. I turned into the Golden Lane, so called because of the many goldsmiths who lived here during the 17th century. One side of the street is lined with tiny, brightly painted houses which were built right into the arches of the castle walls. Incidentally, Franz Kafka stayed at No.22 house here for a while.

I passed through the prison with its scary dungeons and instruments of torture before coming out of the other end where the entire city of Prague was laid out below like a pretty picture post-card.

On the next day, we were taken to our dining destination in a vintage motorcade. We had a lot of fun going through the streets of Old Town, Jewish Quarters and Little Quarter.

We finally reached the Augustine hotel for what turned out to be an unique experience. The hotel contains several buildings of historic importance, such as the 13th century Augustinian St. Thomas Monastery. The St. Thomas Brewery Bar is housed in the cellar of the Monastery complete with real stalactites and stalagmites, where monks once brewed their beer.

Tonight we were doing a beer tasting along with our dinner. We were given a taste of three types of beer and a lesson in 'gravity'! We began with lighter beers with gravity of 11 degrees and moved up to darker beers at 13 degrees by the time we ended the tasting session.

We started with a traditional potato soup with wild mushrooms and marjoram. The soup felt welcome and hearty given the cold weather we had come from.

The main course was a beef goulash with potato dumplings and crispy onions. This was a simple but effective dish that worked well.

The dessert was a seasonal crumble cake with cottage cheese followed by coffee and petit fours. By the time we got done, it was quite late and I was ready to hit the bed without diverting to the hotel bar.

City of a Thousand Spires

2012-09-18T19:29:00.000+05:30

I was excited as my Emirates flight touched down in Prague on a bright and sunny day. It was a while since I was in a new country. When I told a few of my friends I was going to be in the Czech Republic, almost all of them referred to the country as Czechoslovakia. It is endlessly annoying to the locals that people around the world seem to get this wrong even twenty years after the new Czech Republic was formed.

In those twenty years, this country - especially the city of Prague - seems to have made rapid progress. This was the first time I was in a Warsaw Pact country, and you can see some remnants of their Soviet Bloc past - such as the exact weight of meat on every dish on restaurant menus. Overall, Prague seemed every bit as vibrant and pretty as the other European cities I have been in.

I strolled down to the river-side from my hotel and watched the beautiful skyline that gave the city its sobriquet; Prague Castle perched majestically atop a hill in the distance provided an amazing backdrop. Prague has a 1000 year old history and has been home to Roman and Bohemian kings before being invaded by the German Nazis and subsequent Soviet era. The city's unique position at the crossroads of Europe has made it a magnet for foreign traders since the pre-historic times.

The river Vltava flows through the city, offering several vantage points for tourists to admire the combination of Gothic, Baroque and Jewish architecture from river banks, bridges, and the many ferry boats that ply the river.

In my first evening here, we strolled down to a nearby restaurant and sat outdoors enjoying the cool evening weather with some wine and steak. Like most middle European countries, Czech food traditionally is a 'meat and potatoes' fare. A dish of pork dumplings with vegetables,
Vepřo knedlo zelo, is regarded by many as their national dish. Another popular dish is the Svíčková, marinated beef served with spiced cream sauce and preserved fruit.

But tonight, I started with a carrot and lobster soup followed by a T-Bone steak. It was good we got a chance to enjoy the fine weather, because the next day and the days after were quite different - continuous drizzle and chilling winds!

New Dining Options - Part II

2012-09-08T19:27:00.000+05:30

Cafe Mangii advertises itself as Mumbai's most popular Italian restaurant. Not sure if that is true, but I was quite happy with the experience during my first visit to this restaurant within Phoenix Market City. This place has a contemporary casual look with great thin-crust pizzas and cappuccinos. When I returned last weekend, I had difficulty getting a table; apparently it is also getting more popular!

We started by ordering an Italian green salad which came with nice crunchy garden lettuce and other salad greens drizzled with olive oil and crumbled feta cheese. All very nice and refreshing.

The broccoli and chicken meat-ball soup was quite delicious too; the meatballs were nicely spiced while the smooth texture of the broccoli felt just wonderful on the palate.

But the best thing here is clearly the wood-fired pizza. Their signature pizza is the Napolitana, but I ordered the pepperoni which was very good too. The crisp pizza base came out baked just right and the toppings were in ample proportions the way I like it.

Finally, a chocolate brownie with ice-cream for the girl. I didn't taste this one, but she seemed delighted.

Please note that Cafe Mangii has another outlet in Amanora Town Center. Not sure about how that outlet compares with this one.

Rajdhani, the thali specialists, opened their newest outlet in the Food Court of Phoenix Market City. Given that a nine screen PVR multiplex just opened its doors this week, this entire area should be a lot more bustling than before.

A Rajasthani turbaned guy opens the door after applying teeka on your forehead. They get you a brass jug and basin at the table wash your hands. In short, they try to recreate some of the princely experience of Rajasthan. However, the food itself falls short.

While they have a huge variety of stuff that make their way to the large thali, I have found far better thalis even in Pune. Chittor in Hotel Ritugandh on JM Road (on the lane beside the McDonald's) is my favorite. Not upscale but the food beats Rajdhani hands down.

In fact, for a fantastic thali option, albeit of the non-vegetarian variety, Zambar has a far better offering. The Andhra style starters, Kerala curries and the soft appams make for a satisfying lunch or dinner. I like ending with a strong cup of South Indian filter coffee.

Finally, Asia 7 at Amanora City Center. With a whole list of Oriental food on the menu, this restaurant directly competes with Mainland China which has opened its latest outlet right above this place.

We tried the Hot and Sour soup, Hakka Noodles and Chilli Chicken, all of which reminded me of my first Chinese dining experience of childhood days. The food was pretty good, but in a Indian-Chinese kind of way, if you know what I mean.

That still leaves a bunch of other restaurants I expect to review soon: Incognito, Spaghetti Kitchen among others!

New Dining Options - Part I

2012-08-26T18:55:00.000+05:30

Jiggs Kalra's Punjab Grill opened in Pune. And boy, has that improved the quality of North Indian dining in town! Having been here three times already, I can say with confidence that this is now clearly the high-bar in Pune for North Indian kababs and curries.

The Murgh Tikkas at this restaurant are completely extraordinary. Wonderfully marinated and grilled, these simple kababs showcase the expertise of master-chef Jiggs Kalra.

Another winner is the Sarson Ka Saag with Makkai Ki Roti, a Punjabi speciality you have to try. The mustard greens are blended with garlic and spices into a mouth-watering rendition of this homely dish.

The gosht biryani was good too; I didn't care about it as compared to the other dishes, but my wife loved it, especially because she found it less oily than in other restaurants.

The desserts are another highlight of this restaurant! Both the Kulfi Falooda and the Dessert Sampler are completely lip-smacking. The Dessert Sampler has small portions of what much be the best phirni, a gulab jamun with molten chocolate within, and a litchi rabdi.

Please note that portions are very large at Punjab Grill as compared to other restaurants. Therefore, order carefully.

ZK's is now Zaheer Khan's now. We also have Zaheer's larger-than-life poster welcoming you into his eponymous restaurant at Phoenix Market City now.

While the restaurant is quite large, they are never crowded. I guess people aren't quite sure what ZK's truly stands for.

I ordered a Mixed Sprouts Salad, Jal Jeera, Shammi Kababs and Murgh Biryani. The Jal Jeera was nicely served and the Shammi Kababs were a pleasant surprise. You rarely find this kabab in menus in Pune; I remember a time when special dinners in Lucknow always meants biryani with Shammi Kababs. The Shammi Kababs were also rendered perfectly by the chef.

The biryani wasn't too exciting. The Fruit Cream we ordered for dessert was very ordinary too.

In general, there is nothing one can find fault with at ZK's; however, this place needs a few 'specials' they can boast about.

Pesto Pesto

2012-08-12T19:20:00.000+05:30

Among the many Italian restaurants now in the city, I think Pesto Pesto is among the best when it comes to reproducing the authentic tastes of Italy. Located on the top floor of Onyx Towers in Koregaon Park, window-side seating at this restaurant makes for a romantic dinner experience. But if you want to sample a larger variety of items, you may want to be there for the weekend lunch buffet.

The restaurant is simple, contemporary and casual but elegantly so. A variety of salads, cold cuts and cheese were laid out on a long table. There also was corn on the cob, hummus and a good selection of breads on hand. Every item was well-prepared and the ingredients top notch.

While every second restaurant now conjures up Italian food, not everyone can boast of authentic Italian flavours. Having returned only recently from a wonderful Roman vacation, we were delighted to find a place where can periodically re-live our culinary experiences from that city.

The creamy mushroom 'cappuccino' soup they served at our table was rich and flavourful and served in a coffee cup!

The mini pizzas were delightful too though I prefer a real pizza with thinner crusts. A selection of eclectic toppings made them quite interesting.

Then came the roasted chicken on a iron griddle. Tender inside but crusty and flavourful in every bite, this was another winner. We also ordered small portions of pasta which were pretty good.

Desserts were more ordinary. While they did have a reasonable selection, there was nothing particularly memorable.

Overall, Pesto Pesto shows considerable promise. If they can maintain the quality of their offering as the dining scene continues to mature, this will be the place for lovers of the real deal. I expect to be back at this lovely restaurant very soon.

Eating the World in Singapore

2012-08-05T18:53:00.000+05:30

Having tasted Malay, Chinese and Japanese food during the preceding days, I turned to Turkish and German for the remaining day! Completely different cuisines from different parts of the world but prepared and served by immigrants from those countries in Singapore. While both Turkish and German cuisine is dominated by breads and meat, they are - of course - completely different.

Lamb (or mutton) dominates Turkish cuisine, usually served minced or in the form of kebap which can be grilled, baked or slow cooked in a pot.

I picked a dish of lamb shank braised in vegetables, while others chose the Yogurtlu Kebap, made of mutton koftas served on toasted pita bread with tomato, yogurt, and garlic sauce. My lamb was richly flavored and very tender and the others seemed to enjoy their Kebap too.

We ended with a rich dessert called Kunefe or Slice of Heaven. Made of layers of shredded pastry joined by a thin slice of unsalted cheese, baked in a hot oven, and topped with light syrup and pistachios and a drizzle of cream, this was one exquisite dessert!

In the evening, we dined at a German Brauhaus that boasted hundred of beers from around the world and a large selection of German sausages.

For anyone familiar with Germans, bread is probably their most significant food followed by potatoes with pork being their most favoured meat. I never lose a chance to buy myself a sausage roll whenever I pass through Munich airport. Their breads and sausages even within airport shops seem far superior to those you find commonly in the USA.

The variety of sausages in Germany can be over-whelming: Wurst in the north tends to be made from raw meat, while in the south varieties made of finely minced meat are enhanced with larger pieces of ham or pickled tongue and scalded. Wurstchen are smaller and served heated and whole, often in pairs, while Leberwurst, liver sausages, is spreadable resembling chopped liver.

The other ubiquitous vegetable in German cuisine is cabbage. Cabbage raw and in form of salads are present as a side along with the meat dishes.

The sausage platters with six different varieties of German sausages, cabbage and potato salads had to be frequently replenished as the beer bottles piled up on our table. I stayed with the excellent Belgian La Poluchette until it was time to head back.

This Brauhaus had some really exotic selections of beer from far corners of the world: from Austria and Bolivia to Ghana and Equador.

Two Days in Sentosa

2012-07-31T17:56:00.000+05:30

It was a business event that brought me to the resort world of Sentosa. We were at the beach-side Rasa Sentosa resort run by the Shangri-la group. In the bright sunlit day, I could see the vast expanse of green-blue waters of the ocean pock-marked with ships of all shapes and sizes. Singapore's importance as a maritime trading port has been has remained unchanged since the late 13th century. You can see that most of the vessels anchored off the coast are industrial and cargo ships; I didn't spot any leisure boat or yachts like I would in such a sunny coastline in any other part of the world. There is no mistaking that Singapore is business first!

Lately though, Singapore has been trying to expand the Sentosa area to provide a larger oasis for its people. Resorts, casinos and the most exclusive clubbing destinations are all converging on this tiny island. Families and couples jostled for space with businessmen in formal attire at the buffet restaurant at Rasa Sentosa. However, I was able to get a table and sample some local delicacies. I picked up a selection of the Nyona Kueh desserts, a typical Malay spread that includes bite-sized sweets in a variety of flavors and tastes.There was a pandan cake, one that tasted of vanilla with sweet corn, another of banana and a sticky rice made with sweetened coconut milk.

In the evening, during the cocktail event, we enjoyed the evening breeze on the beach nibbling upon a variety of starters as musicians played local music. As the sun went down, the ugly ships in the horizon disappeared from views, replaced by a pretty picture of distant lights that blinked as the ships moved with the waves.

The next days I had to get to the business end of Singapore for several meetings. During lunch my colleagues took me to a wonderful Ramen place called Nantsuttei. A long line even though we were early was testimony to its popularity. I ordered the Kara-miso Ramen Mouretsu Tanmen Hana-ji Boo (!) which is a very popular miso soup with extra hot tanmen. The soup is a unbelievably delicious concoction of pork sauce, miso sauce, fried ground pork and hot Japanese pepper combined with a secret garlic oil.

Singapore is a great place to taste the world's many culinary wonders in a short span of time. Every time I am here, I try different restaurant. Given the many choices, I can keep with this for years before I run out of good places to sample!

It's Raining Restaurants in Pune

2012-07-21T18:04:00.001+05:30

Keeping up with all the new eateries mushrooming in Pune is turning out to be quite a feat. However, with a never-say-die attitude, I solider on! :) Last weekend, we decided to drive to the other end of town and visit The Corinthians for a taste of what their website promised was a Greek restaurant. Then we tried some quick bites at Malaka Street. Finally, a visit to Oye Pape and a cappuccino at Dario’s - all at the new Amanora Town Center.

Corinthians created considerable excitement when they opened a few years back. Landscaped gardens, water bodies, Greek architecture, sandstone facades. Nothing this classy had existed in Pune before. The 1st Brewhouse within its premise quickly became a must-visit destination for the local gliterati. Corinthians was like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. And therein lies the rub! To visit Corinthians, you have to drive across the city to the far end of Kondhwa, near Magarpatta City.

Corinthian’s website advertises Salsa as an ‘exquisite Greek restaurant’. The reality is quite different. Salsa is no longer exquisite nor Greek; they have turned it into a very ordinary ‘multi-cuisine’ restaurant. Most tables were occupied by families from the neighborhood who seemed to prefer the modest buffet on offer. Having comes this far, we decided to be more adventurous. We selected the European options from their menu and waited with bated breath.

The nachos we ordered for our daughter confirmed our worst fears. The chips were stale (even though the cheese and garnishing on them were fresh). Thankfully, the main dishes saved the day.

The Quesedilla was well executed and satisfying, if you weren’t looking for complete authenticity. The tastes and textures were good on the palate.

The Mutton Stew with Herbed Rice was nicely done too. Dark, thick sauce with chunks meat perfectly cooked did the trick for me.

My wife liked the Chicken in a lime-based sauce served with Saffron Rice; unfortunately, I just can’t remember the name of this dish.

The 1st Brewhouse located right next to Salsa seems to attract a young and hip crowd. The beer and apple cider there is still pretty good. I guess if you have driven this far, 1st Brewhouse is a better destination than Salsa. But if you live near here, the Continental dishes on the menu are executed pretty well by the chef.

Up next, Malaka Street. This new eatery is owned and run by the same people who brought us the very popular Malaka Spice. Malaka Street is located in Phoenix Market City (the owner tells me another one is in the offing at Aundh). The menu contains several delightful staples from the food stalls that line the streets of Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.

We ordered a starter of Top Hats: a thin pastry filled with meat, chopped veggies, a (soy-based?) sauce and topped with lots of sprouts.

We also ordered a portion of Pho Noodle Soup. This Vietnamese Soup had been rendered quite well and was particularly refreshing.

Our mains consisted of Singapore Chilli Prawns, which while localized to Indian taste was nice on the palate. The Char Que Teo, a preparation of flat noodles in chili oil, lime and bean sprouts was the only dish we didn’t completely enjoy today. For some reason, it didn’t seem to go ever well with the Chili Prawns - the drier Hakka Noodles may have been a better choice for us.

The Blueberry Mousse dessert will guarantee you leave the restaurant with a smile, so go ahead and indulge!

Overall, the place is cheerful and bright with colorful lamps, a rickshaw near its door, and an eclectic variety of items in the dining room that include a old-style phone booth for smokers, shelves with original art and reproductions from local artists.

Finally, Amanora Town Center. I like the design which provides a good number of open-air shopping and eating options in addition to its closed spaces.

Oye Pape provides a rustic Punjabi-themed restaurant that hopes to excite you as much with its ambiance as with its food. There are charpoy tables, kitchy posters, rustic colorful banners, and even an old truck! A good place for a lunch if you are shopping here. But if you are looking for high-quality Punjabi cuisine, you may be better off at Jiggs Kalra’s Punjab Grill at Phoenix Market City.

Dario’s has opened a cafe in Amanora too. The blueberry cheesecake and the cappuccino I tried here were both pretty good.

Overall, Amanora has a good selection of food options and there is more on the way. Mainland China, which is sprouting a new branch in Pune every few months, has one coming up here too!