Sunday, April 15, 2007

A Hole in Your Pocket


For the finale – the Dinner, my recommendations range from a live tandoori counter to dining only on different kinds of kebabs.

In Mumbai, the options to try out are Peshawari at Grand Maratha Sheraton. Masaledar Mughlai cuisine awaits you here. The place has a live tandoor counter where you can see the chefs cooking up your favourite tandoori. The paneer kulchas are mind numbing and apparently the grilled pomfret is to die for.

If this is too spicy for you, head to Frangipani at Oberoi in Mumbai. The fresh pizzas, made right in front of your eyes are simply irresistable. It has a great selection of salads for the calorie conscious and an equally interesting buffet spread. Although you will be completely full by the time you finish your meal, the strategically placed desserts can get better of any saint.

In Goa, Goa Marriot it is once again. It’s a dinner buffet which has one of my favourite dishes everyday - Hummus and Pita bread. The hummus is perfect and is ideal for a basic, light meal. A made-to-order pasta counter will serve up delicacies as you like it. There is a special everyday which is written on the board at the entrance. I ate there for three consecutive days and had nothing to complain about.

Park Plaza in Gurgaon has a restaurant called “ The Kebab Factory”. A unique concept, it consists of a meal of succulent kebabs of varied meats and vegetables. The server will come over and keep serving you the different varieties while explaining what the dish is all about. Check out the place for an interesting dining experience.

The in-room dining at Park Plaza is also quite a good fare. You call the room service and the chef will readily make something for you or alter a dish on the menu the way you like it. The chef will personally check on you after you are through with your meal to enquire about the food. Quite an experience I must say.

Another place on my recommendation list came as a sort of a pleasant surprise for me. I had the opportunity to stay at the Hotel Country Inn & Suites at Haridwar. A newly opened hotel by the Radisson group, considering the industrial activity in and around this holy place. The continental food served up by this place is quite something. Satisfy your pasta urges only at this hotel when in Haridwar.

So what are you waiting for, try out these places and let me know what you think. Meanwhile, I shall try some more gastronomic delights and post my experiences for you.

Happy Eating!!


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Sunday, April 08, 2007

A Hole in Your Pocket


My recommendations for the second meal of the day – the Lunch, begin with the Konkan cafe at Taj President Cuffe Parade in Mumbai.

Try the haryali vegetable with hot appams or for the non-vegetarians, manglorean chicken with appams is quite a delight. The ambience, the décor and the food – all contribute to an amazing gourmet experience.

Another place to indulge your taste buds is the lunch buffet at the newly opened, Grand Central Sheraton. Amazing spread and equally exciting food. A live pasta counter, interesting north Indian cuisine without just the regular paneer dish in red gravy and sometimes a good fusion of the Indian and continental cuisines makes this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Don’t miss sampling the desserts in this buffet. I was stunned by the variety of desserts on offer.

The Goa Marriot buffet again takes the cake for an appetizing and enjoyable elitist luncheon in Goa. The chefs here cook up a different recipe for mushroom starters everyday for lunch. I have never seen so many different flavours for a mushroom starter ever. I simply freaked out on that one. The spread isn’t essentially extensive, but the food, the view and Goa make it a meal to remember.

Fill up your rumbling tummies and watch this space for the exciting finale of this series!!!


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Monday, April 02, 2007

A Hole in Your Pocket

Disclaimer: The following series of 3 posts is not meant for people with a weak heart or for those who can develop suicidal tendencies on going bankrupt.

The places I am about to recommend are restaurants at five star hotels and can burn a serious hole in your pocket. I have been fortunate enough to experience these places due to a host of reasons, which I am not about to discuss here.

This series will also for the first time recommend places outside of Mumbai.

Lets start with the first and the most important meal of the day – The Breakfast. I personally find this meal much more enjoyable than any other meal of the day.

And one place which comes to my mind whenever I think of a HUGE breakfast is the coffee shop at J W Marriot at Juhu - Mumbai. J W Marriot boasts of an extensive breakfast buffet spanning North Indian, South Indian and Continental cuisines. Apart from the variety of choices on offer, the food is absolutely delicious. Be it Indian or Continental. They sometimes have a live pancake counter with interesting variations other than the regular banana and coconut pancakes. This place also serves up waffles with maple syrup or honey to satisfy your urge for a typical American breakfast.

If you are in Gurgaon and are looking for a healthy breakfast, which tastes as good, try the breakfast buffet at the coffee shop at Park Plaza. The cafe offers the most amazing selection of fruits when it comes to breakfast. And this is not just your regular watermelon, papaya routine. You can dig into seasonal exotic fruits like kiwis, different kinds of melons, strawberries, raspberries and the like here. Though the hotel is in Haryana – North India, it serves up the best tomato chutney with Idli and not to forget an absolute must have - the delectable aloo parathas.

When in Goa, The Goa Marriot is the place to be for your breakfast experience. They serve up fresh milkshakes of seasonal fruits as well as the regular vanilla, chocolate and coffee milkshakes. The spread – although similar to most five stars is excellent when it comes to the flavour. Settled on the banks of Mandovi, with a spectacular view, expect this hotel to crop up in many more of my recommendations.

So folks, savour your breakfast and watch out for my Lunch recommendations!!!!


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