So I’am Back post my marriage and I’am going to share with you guys all my recent gastronomical experiences that I shared with my fiance during the date nights along with many more explorations.
Listing out Top 5 romantic date places
1.Gadda Da Vida , Novotel
Its a sea view restaurant situated within the premise of Novotel Hotel, Juhu.Its an ideal place for date during the sundowner with a glass of Champagne.
Price for two- 5000INR /- approx (with drinks).
2.Estella, Juhu.
Again a sea view restaurant .Its one of the classy fine dining places in mumbai and suits perfectly well for a date night.
Price for two- 3000 INR/- approx (without alcohol)
3.Dome ,Intercontinental.
Situated in the heart of Mumbai, this restaurant gives you a magnificient view of Queen’s necklace ( marine drive) and Some iconic places in South Mumbai.This place is ideal to sip some cocktails as you watch the sun go down.Also they have an inner deck where the Dj plays songs at night, if you want to sway some moves with your partner.
Price for two – 3500 INR approx ( with alcohol)
4.Olive Bar and Kitchen, Bandra.
Favourite spot for Indian celebrities .This place bathed in greek hues is perfect for candle light dinner.Also they serve some lipsmacking Italian dishes.
Price for two – 4500INR approx (with alcohol).
5.Asilo, St.Regis
Located at 37th floor of St.Regis hotel, this places gives a magnificient aerial view of Mumbai’s skyline.This is an ideal place for a quite romantic date.
Price for two- 5000 INR approx (with alcohol).
P.S. Aer at Four Seasons, Mumbai is also one of the finest date places.But i have always faced issues since they ate closed for monsoons or sometimes they are not serving drinks.So I chose to eliminate it from the list.
A Brain child of Food Bloggers association of India supported by Godrej Nature’s Basket, Godrej Appliances, Vikhroli Cucina , Cartini and California Walnuts was an eventful day throwing light on different dimensions of a homechef.Covering a wide range of topics beginning from developing expertise in niche area and building a brand to supply chain management and scaling of business.
The First Panel Discussion Moderated by Bhisham Mansukhani , having prominent panelists like Kalyan Karmakar ,Rohan ( from pack-a-Pav),Himanshu Taneja,Prateeksh Mehra and Gurpreet (from lite Bite) threw light on journeys of homechef and their personal experience with various homechefs over the years which was very enriching to know.
The following Panel Discussion moderated by Antoine Lewis discussing about scaling up and sustaining the homechef business had eminent personalities on Panel like Munaf Kapadia, Nikhil Merchant , Kurush Dalal and Sandeep Sreedharan , they raised a vital question about how to retain the authentic taste when homechefs decide to scale their business and cater to wider audience.One of the strengths of the homechefs is the love and warmth with which the food is made and the legacy that they are passing to people with their iconic dishes, which can be difficult to retain.
Following the Panel Discussion we had our very Lovely Celebrity Chef Amrita Raichand discussing about making cooking fun and nutritious for kids,by twisting the recipes and increasing its nutritional quotient.
To top it all, there was an iconic Panel from Food and Beverage Industry which we got to witness at the event .The Panel which was moderated by renowned TV Host/Author/Foodie Kunal Vijaykar had on the Panel Infamous food critic Rashmiuday Singh , Celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar, Chef Hemant Oberoi (of Zodiac Bistro at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel) and Chef Vineet Bhatia spoke about the need to record and document recipes in some form of media, emphasising on lost recipes of India.They discussed about their own food journeys tracing back in time which led to creation of some of the iconic dishes.
Saransh Goila who was one of the speakers at the event discussed the thin line of difference between innovating and inventing with a dish.How innovation is about twisting with age old recipes and giving it a new form or face , as against inventing a dish is bringing into existence a dish which had no identity of its own before being discovered.
The entire event which was held at St.Regis Mumbai was very insightful, as it threw light on various key aspects relating to homechefs which the experts had taken years to discover and learn.The speakers and panelists were very gracious enough to share with us their experiences.
Quite often while browsing through travel and lifestyle shows online, I would come across some irresistible delicacies which almost seemed out of reach in Mumbai in terms of its availability as well as authenticity.Also in India , especially in Mumbai we just can’t seem to get over Italian and Chinese food which has sort of become a staple of our generation and every place just chooses to stick to it, leaving very lil room for a food connoisseurs imagination .Very few Fine Dine Restaurants and Five stars try to offer a taste of world cuisine through some of its restaurants and food festivals, which obviously is not very affordable for everyone.To add to it, on a personal front since I’m a vegetarian , I really don’t have much to look forward to on my trips abroad .So when I got an invite for review of World Streat Food, this place just seemed like a knight in a shining armour for people like me.Coming from the house of Gourmet Renaissance, World Streat food nestled in the heart of Mumbai at Nariman Point is one of its kind ,one stop destination for food lovers who love to explore new cuisines with its offerings from 51 countries to be precise plus lot of varied options for vegetarians as well, giving a blast of fine flavours from across the globe.This place obviously has something for everyone’s palette at affordable prices under one roof.This place was houseful on a Saturday afternoon, brimming with people pouring in from nearby offices in Nariman Point.
We began the review with soups and salads.In soup we ordered for Veg Dumpling Soup originating from Mongolia, which did justice to how a regular dumpling soup which comprises of a broth of fresh vegetables accompanied with steamed dumplings, should do , however the dumplings were relatively smaller in size and I liked it better this way for you could enjoy both the dumpling as well as the soup more.And then came my one of the favourite dish from the entire spread which was from Thailand , Som Tum Mamuang Salad, what I liked about this dish was the perfect combination of Raw papaya juliens and raw mango with perfectly infused authentic and well balanced sweet, spicy and little lemony flavours sprinkled with nuts.I had been wanting to try this salad since a long time.And I was pretty satiated with this experience of mine.
Veg Dumpling Soup Som Tum Mamuang Salad
Peri Peri Cottage Cheese Rollers
Moving on to appetizers ,this one was a long round to look forward to since we had so many options to try from, it was actually difficult for us to decide what to order and what not to.So To begin with, we ordered for Peri Peri Cottage Cheese Rollers coming from the Streets of Africa (Nambia).It was more like cottage cheese balls on the lines of cheese balls served with mayo Dip.
After that we had Ny Fries from US , what I liked about this dish was it had more depth to it in terms of flavours.It was not served with sprinkle of few round the mill sauces and sour cream.But instead chef had tried to play with few inhouse new flavours, a little different yet the same kind. And as the manager had to say this one never fails to disappoint anyone, well I would like to believe so too.For our table mightily enjoyed this one.
Followed by Rock On Tempura with spicy siracha mayo which comprised of American Corn dipped in cornflour and deep fried , served with spicy sauce coming from the streets of Tokyo is something which is available at many restaurants nowadays perhaps under different name, and I have had better than this before as well.
Followed by Sichuan Styled Baked Corn in Wanton Cup coming from the streets of China, filling of corn and waterchestnut tossed in medium spicy red sauce in tart like wanton cups was very average.Though was a good attempt .
Then Texan Chipotle Paneer taco coming from the streets of Mexico was taco with a twist served in a skewer style.Rather than having typical beans and veggie filling , it had deep fried marinated cottage cheese topped with sauces and veggies,which also I quite liked, since it was different from usual flavours of taco which my taste buds have got tired of now.
Then we had Veg Satay Kentang from the streets of Indonesia. The main ingredient of this dish was potatoes.The sauce in which the potatoes were drenched complimented each other really well and was a surprise dish, since we all quite liked it .Also the peanut sauce which accompanied the dish in the side was giving out a fine flavour hinting a strong command of this restaurant over the quality of the food in terms of its taste and presentation since it has been in the catering business for a good time now even before they started with their chain of restaurants.
sichuan style corn in wanton cups
Texan Chipotale Paneer Taco
Veg Satay Kentangrock on tempura
Moving to the main course after the soup, salad and appetisers,We ordered a Veg Bunny Chow coming from the streets of South Africa. It is a dish with a history .It was interesting to know from Shachi Mody from Gourmet Renaissance about how it was invented and why it gives out such strong Indian flavours.It comprises of a scooped out freshly baked bread filled with a tangy tomato based vegetable gravy which in the first instance would give strong flavours resembling that of Indian Pav bhaji but really it’s not the restaurant to blame for if you order this dish and get disappointed for its Indianness despite of originating from South Africa.
Veg Bunny Chow
Followed by Veg Kottu Roti coming from Srilanka, this dish gives out strong flavours from Southern India because of close ties of Southern India and Srilanka geographically as well as culturally.Kotu which means to cut , thus Kotu roti is nothing but finely chopped Indian Paranthas tossed with some vegetables, spices and veggies was accompanied with a thick gravy which tasted similar on the lines of Rasam.
Veg Kottu Roti.
After that we ordered for Lotus root dumpling from Mongolia which was Perfectly steamed and had perfect constitency of the dough to give a proper and chewy covering for the dumpling.The filling comprised of finely chopped lotus root, mushrooms and spices which was one of the best from the spread which I would suggest, the next time you are here.
Coming on to the dessert, we went with Chef’s Recommendation and ordered for an Italian Tiramissu, Philadelphia Cheesecake, Turkish Bakalawa , Three layered Panacotta and a Spices Chocolate Mousse. Of all the desserts , I really loved the Panacotta.
Three layered Panacotta.
To be honest the place has so much to offer that one visit is not enough to really drench yourself in the flavours of World Cuisine.And since it’s easy on pocket and has a very easy breezy kind of setting, you really don’t have to even think twice before heading to this place.I already have my list of dishes ready that are left for trial and the ones that I would like to eat repeat portions of , so what are you guys waiting for try this place and share your experience with us, about how did you like this place and was this review of use to you.
Address:
World Streat Food,Dalamal Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai.
Meal for 2:
1500 Approx (without alcohol).
Suggestion:
This place can work wonders with some good music and a lil better ambiance.
I have added a new category to my blog “Explore” wherein I will be sharing with you all my personal dining experiences as well as I’ll take you through my culinary experiences while exploring the restaurants, various food joints, street side food parlours. Giving you the highlights of the place, so as to give you a better insight about the hidden treasures located in Mumbai. So here is my first experience in the series which I’m sharing with you guys.
Last Week I visited Rahul Akerkar’s Indigo Deli, Bandra(Pali hill) outlet for a Saturday Brunch. One of the Chic and Upscale Fine Dining Restaurant which is also one of my favourite in Mumbai, yet again did not fail to dish out a very comforting and lip smacking meal .
The restaurant was dimly lighted and was unexpectedly pretty crowded and noisy giving out a very casual vibe. The décor was very subtle. Nothing very flashy or fancy and noticeable. Wooden décor on the base of white with pickled jars and marmalades stacked on shelves across the restaurants for the purpose of décor. I went to the Pali Hill outlet of Indigo for the first time. Earlier I had been to the R-City Mall outlet which was comparatively airy and widely spread and scored extra points for décor in comparison to the Pali Hill outlet on my score card. The service was very decent . However it could have been more friendly. And since our table was located in the corner. Our requests were unheard of quite a few times which was disappointing.
However all of our grievances melted away in thin air when the food served to us swept us off the ground in terms of the quality and taste, taking us in a gastronomical heaven. We ordered for a Chargrilled Salad in honey mustard dressing which was different from the usual mayo salads. Crunchy and light on palette. Lettuce leaves served with grilled artichokes and asparagus in honey and mustard dressing. The Wafer Thin Mozzarella Pizza was something to die for .If nothing else you need to visit this place to try on their wafer thin pizzas. One of the finest pizzas I have ever had, Very thin and crispy and aptly named doing complete justice to its name. Perfectly cooked and sprinkled with slices of mozzarella cheese and herbs. We couldn’t just do away with one and ended up ordering another portion of their wafer thin pizza.And The Pizza perfectly blended with their Red Wine Sangria.( Sangria is a typical beverage from Spain and Portugal. It normally consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy.) Of late, I have observed, that many restaurants and lounge, do not ferment the Sangria, they just pour Wine from a Bottle in a glass containing steeped (soaked for a while in a liquid) fruits which does not end up tasting like sangria. Instead the drink tastes more of fruits served in a glass of wine with a tinge of sweetner. However the Sangria served at Indigo Deli was one of the best that I had in Mumbai. It was properly fermented giving out the perfect flavour. Not too sweet just what was needed. Then we ordered for a portion of Cheese Fondue. Again I can’t stop raving about the same. The garlic flavoured ideally thick cheese sauce was served with pieces of bread in generous quantiy .Not too liquid soaking up to the bread , the consistency was good giving out good taste of garlic. The cheese fondue was at par with the ones served at Out of the Blue (Powai and khar) and the ones served at Relish, Churchgate. Further, Risotto of asparagus, arugula, mascarpone and toasted hazelnuts was a sheer delight. The flavours just melted away on my taste buds and was one of the highlights of the meal for me. The flavour of cheese , the crunchiness of the nuts and perfectly cooked consistent sauce,fell in sync with each other giving out a perfect taste . It was different from the usual red sauce , white sauce or pesto risotto. And definitely it occupies a spot on my list of best risottos in Mumbai after Pali Village Café (Bandra). Finally we ended up with Mac and cheese , before hitting on to the desserts. Mac and cheese was ordinarily good.
In keeping up with the season we ordered for a Fresh Mango Tart. The tart tasted so fresh and crispy like a freshly baked thin biscuit, hitting all the right notes ,as if it was just pulled out from the oven and served. Baked with so much of finesse. However, the filling of the tart failed to do much .The Chocolate Ganache tasted well but was too heavy for the palette. The dark chocolate layer was too thick and chilled, which failed to give out the expected taste. Even the Chocolate Waffle which we ordered was anything but above average. The waffles were a bit overcooked which made them hard rather than crispy.
So Indigo Deli was handsdown in the savoury section. But for desserts there is a room for improvement. But I ain’t complaining after the grand fare that I had. And it continues to be one of my favourite places in Mumbai because of its absolutely delightful Salads, Sangrias, Open faced sandwiches and beautifully designed Main course.
Indigo Deli is spread across Mumbai in Colaba, Andheri, Ghatkopar (R City Mall), Bandra, Lower Parel, Goregaon (Inorbit Mall) serving Continental and European Cuisines. Meal for two costs approximately Rs 3000 (with alcohol).So next time you are looking for an Elegant and Warm Fine Dining Restaurant offering great European and Continental Cuisine, you know where to head on.
Much Love,
Social Butterfly 🙂
P.S.: Do share with me your dining experience and let me know how did you find the place.
JW Marriott in association with The Flood Bloggers Association of India hosted an exclusive Bloggers Table , to showcase the formers latest addition of Dimsums to the current menu of its inhouse Asian Restaurant Spices. They celebrated the launch by holding a week long Dimsum festival at JW Marriot wherein all the latest additions to the menu of Dimsums were served. I got the privilege to attend this exclusive bloggers table and I will share with you guys the entire gastronomical experience and whether its yay or nay for me!!
Dimsums which are indeed one of the best gifts given by the Chinese to the world food community is a style of Cantonese food prepared as small bite sized or individual portions of food traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. Eating dim sum at a restaurant is usually known in Cantonese as going to “drink tea” (yum cha), as tea is typically served with dim sum. However, coming back to the Dimsums served from the kitchen of Chef Tenzin Khechok , they did not fail to give me the authentic Cantonese experience here in Mumbai making my taste buds dance to the oriental flavours. The lipsmacking dimsums did make me travel in a heavenly world for once evoking the traditional salty and sour flavours. But being a vegetarian, I had very limited options on my platter. Also the variety served in vegetarian tasted a bit repetitive, which left me bit disappointed. I will take you through all the Dimsums that were served.
Veg. Shitake MushroomVeg.Truffle and Edamame DimsumVeg. Shanghai Pan FriedSpinach Roll with Prawn and water chestnutSticky Rice with Prawn and chicken in Lotus leafPrawn Crab and Chive DumplingHot Chocolate Bun
Amongst all the Dimsums that were served, Hot Chocolate Bun Dumpling and Veg Shitake Mushroom clearly stole the show for me. The brown and white textured dough of Bun filled with Chocolatey goey was a rare dish. Also although I couldnt taste (being a vegetarian) but among the Non vegetarian dishes, Spinach Roll with Prawns and water chestnut was clear winner amongst the gathering. Overall the ambience was good and service was also above average. Meal for two would cost you around approx 2000 (without alcohol).
Its a thumbs up from me to the latest additions of Dimsums made to the menu of Spices at JW Marriott Mumbai from the Kitchen of Chef Tenzi Khechok. So guys go ahead and try some lip smacking Dimsums at the ongoing Dimsum Week at JW Marriott, Mumbai and do share with me your experience. Bon Appetit 😀
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