This article was first published online on 9th August 2020 in Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, UK https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/travel/hotel-review-movenpick-resort-kuredhivaru-maldives/
Showing posts with label GO AIRWAYS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GO AIRWAYS. Show all posts
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Isles of Infinity…
An archipelago of a little over a thousand islands, The Maldives has something for every kind of traveller, from its stunning resorts and an interesting fusion-style cuisine, to its densely-packed capital of Malé that offers a unique glimpse into the local Maldivian life.
By Raul Dias
There’s just something about that cluster of tiny islands nestled in the Indian Ocean called The Maldives that automatically attaches the “expensive” label to it. All this, thanks to those ultra-luxurious island resort havens with cerulean waters, coupled with those bragging rights one amasses after hobnobbing with the world’s jet-setters who seem to have taken a mighty shine to this ocean paradise. But as I recently learned, that needn’t be the case. Those azure waters and palm-fringed beaches are very much accessible to the common man!
Whenever it boils down to anything related to one of my life’s greatest passions, aka. travel, the frugal opportunist in me makes his presence felt. And so, in early December last year, I found myself flying towards The Maldives aboard GoAir’s recently launched direct Mumbai- Malé flight on the very affordable return fare of Rs 11,000. The quick and comfortable flight had me touch down on the airport island of Velana in Malé, the capital of the nation in exactly two-and-a-half hours time.
But my final destination, the beautiful Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru was still to be a 45-minute seaplane ride away. Located just behind the main airport terminal, the seaplane terminal is the place from where one can hop onto a tiny, 14-seater aircraft that links a huge number of islands with the bustling, non-touristy capital Malé. But more on Malé later.
Blissfull Beginnings
As part of the Noonu Atoll in the northern part of The Maldives, the resort remains one of the least developed area of the country, offering guests untouched natural beauty, abundant sea life and endless views across the Indian Ocean. The resort is designed in a contemporary style with emphasis on comfortable accommodation and a private, yet stimulating resort experience. And as I was soon to find out, every modern convenience is incorporated amidst desert-island luxury.
Each of the 72 Overwater Pool Villas, 30 Beach Pool Suites and three Beach Spa Pool Residences are private havens of comfort, comprising large living rooms that lead to wide bathrooms with stand-alone bathtubs and floor to ceiling windows from which to enjoy the shimmering tropical sunlight. Traditional Maldivian arched ceilings of each residence allow fresh air to circulate freely, cooling and adding a sense of abundant space within.
Soon it was time for me to unwind at the spa and rid myself of all that pent up city-induced stress. The signature spa is an oasis of calm, where trained therapists soothe mind and body with massages and individually prepared lotions. As replenishing oils restore the body, the serene unbroken ocean views from each secluded bay relax the mind, leaving me truly at ease.
Exotic Bites!
Ever the ‘epicurious’ traveller, I simply had to have a taste of the local Maldivian cuisine—something that I had been longing to try! The stunning ONU Marché restaurant named after “onu” which is what bamboo is called in the local Dhivehi language and “marché” for market in French is where the cuisine of The Maldives—one that combines local dishes with European and Asian elements enhanced by the liberal use of spices such as curry powder and the chilli in all its fiery avatars—was unveiled to me by the local chefs.
Expectedly, Maldivian cuisine strongly leans towards the use of fish, generally tuna that is eaten at almost every meal of the day; either boiled, fresh, smoked or sun-dried. Fish combined with onions, chillies, lemon juice, coconut and rice structures the essential diet. Almost all meals in The Maldives, even breakfast, are served with roshi which is a local bread made with flour, water, oil and salt, and cooked on a hot griddle.
And a tuna-stuffed masroshi was just what I started with as an appetiser that evening along with a main course that wowed me. A green tangy curry of tuna chunks with a mellifluous name of kandu kukulhu was introduced to me along with sides like a bowl of steamed white rice and a simple salad of tomatoes, onions and coriander. The curry was divine with each forkful bursting with a flavour that was neither Indian nor Sri Lankan, but rather like a Thai green curry to which a liberal splash of lime juice was added along with the fragrant lemon grass. Working perfectly with the rice, the kandu kukulhu was loaded with a ‘more-ish’ feeling that I had to resist in order to make space for the next course of the meal.
Now, totally opposite to the Indian style of dining, the Maldivians first eat rice with curry and then the plain roshi along with sambols, which form the ‘dry dish’ component of the meal. I was served two Maldivian sambols called mashuni and barabo mashuni, which were very different from their Sri Lankan counterparts in the spice (or should I say lack thereof) quotient. The basic mashuni is a wondrous concoction of flaked tuna that is combined with freshly grated coconut, onions, lime and green chilli. The barabo mashuni was equally scrumptious with the addition of boiled pumpkin bits that gave it a hint of sweetness and a creamier texture.
Thoroughly satiated with what I had just eaten, I literally waddled back to my ocean villa, ready for my next day’s adventure in Malé.
A Slice of Local Life
Perfect for a short day trip or even for an overnight stay, Malé offers the hard-core traveller a host of local experiences and sights that you may never have if you simply stay put at your luxurious island resort! With an area of less than six square kilometres and a population of about 150,000 people, Malé truly is one of the world’s smallest national capitals and one can be traversed in just a couple of hours.
My day trip to Malé had me first stop by the chaotic and colourful main market that was jam-packed with sellers vending everything from the local favourites like betel nut and large, freshly caught tuna fish to exotic fruit, vegetables and local sweets. Next it was a wander down the rather sandy Sultan Park in the center of the city and then for a glimpse of the president’s palace. Called Mulee Aage, the house is a neat and surprisingly un-fussy colonial-style bungalow situated midtown with bare minimal security details in sight. One can also visit the National Museum and the brand new golden-domed Grand Friday Mosque and also the historic, 17th century Hukuru Miskiiy also known as the Old Friday Mosque.
And it was here as I walked the narrow streets of Malé that I discovered a very important aspect of travel. I learned that sunny afternoon that there can be several versions of any country, just like I had seen in The Maldives. It all depends on how one looks at things. Do we view it from the often thickly veiled-gaze of a tourist or from the point of view of a true-blue traveller ready for all sorts of experiences? That’s a question worth asking ourselves.
All You Need is Love –Valentine’s Month Special
What could be more romantic than roses, bubbles and a stunning beachside romantic dinner under the stars? All this month of February, guests at the Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru can enjoy an exquisite dinner on the beach followed by romantic bed decoration and in-villa champagne breakfast the following day. The All You Need is Love package (USD 950++ per couple) also includes a private sunset cruise with champagne and canapés.
Fact File
Getting There
The newly launched direct GoAir flights (www.goair.in) link New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with Malé’s Velana International Airport, all three in under three hours flying time. The visa to enter The Maldives is free and is given to everybody irrespective of nationality on arrival.
Stay
Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, H. Agadhage 3rd floor Boduthakurefaanu Magu, Malé Maldives 20026.
Telephone: +960 6563000, E-mail: Resort.Kuredhivaru@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the February 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)
By Raul Dias
There’s just something about that cluster of tiny islands nestled in the Indian Ocean called The Maldives that automatically attaches the “expensive” label to it. All this, thanks to those ultra-luxurious island resort havens with cerulean waters, coupled with those bragging rights one amasses after hobnobbing with the world’s jet-setters who seem to have taken a mighty shine to this ocean paradise. But as I recently learned, that needn’t be the case. Those azure waters and palm-fringed beaches are very much accessible to the common man!
Whenever it boils down to anything related to one of my life’s greatest passions, aka. travel, the frugal opportunist in me makes his presence felt. And so, in early December last year, I found myself flying towards The Maldives aboard GoAir’s recently launched direct Mumbai- Malé flight on the very affordable return fare of Rs 11,000. The quick and comfortable flight had me touch down on the airport island of Velana in Malé, the capital of the nation in exactly two-and-a-half hours time.
But my final destination, the beautiful Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru was still to be a 45-minute seaplane ride away. Located just behind the main airport terminal, the seaplane terminal is the place from where one can hop onto a tiny, 14-seater aircraft that links a huge number of islands with the bustling, non-touristy capital Malé. But more on Malé later.
Blissfull Beginnings
As part of the Noonu Atoll in the northern part of The Maldives, the resort remains one of the least developed area of the country, offering guests untouched natural beauty, abundant sea life and endless views across the Indian Ocean. The resort is designed in a contemporary style with emphasis on comfortable accommodation and a private, yet stimulating resort experience. And as I was soon to find out, every modern convenience is incorporated amidst desert-island luxury.
Each of the 72 Overwater Pool Villas, 30 Beach Pool Suites and three Beach Spa Pool Residences are private havens of comfort, comprising large living rooms that lead to wide bathrooms with stand-alone bathtubs and floor to ceiling windows from which to enjoy the shimmering tropical sunlight. Traditional Maldivian arched ceilings of each residence allow fresh air to circulate freely, cooling and adding a sense of abundant space within.
Soon it was time for me to unwind at the spa and rid myself of all that pent up city-induced stress. The signature spa is an oasis of calm, where trained therapists soothe mind and body with massages and individually prepared lotions. As replenishing oils restore the body, the serene unbroken ocean views from each secluded bay relax the mind, leaving me truly at ease.
Exotic Bites!
Ever the ‘epicurious’ traveller, I simply had to have a taste of the local Maldivian cuisine—something that I had been longing to try! The stunning ONU Marché restaurant named after “onu” which is what bamboo is called in the local Dhivehi language and “marché” for market in French is where the cuisine of The Maldives—one that combines local dishes with European and Asian elements enhanced by the liberal use of spices such as curry powder and the chilli in all its fiery avatars—was unveiled to me by the local chefs.
Expectedly, Maldivian cuisine strongly leans towards the use of fish, generally tuna that is eaten at almost every meal of the day; either boiled, fresh, smoked or sun-dried. Fish combined with onions, chillies, lemon juice, coconut and rice structures the essential diet. Almost all meals in The Maldives, even breakfast, are served with roshi which is a local bread made with flour, water, oil and salt, and cooked on a hot griddle.
And a tuna-stuffed masroshi was just what I started with as an appetiser that evening along with a main course that wowed me. A green tangy curry of tuna chunks with a mellifluous name of kandu kukulhu was introduced to me along with sides like a bowl of steamed white rice and a simple salad of tomatoes, onions and coriander. The curry was divine with each forkful bursting with a flavour that was neither Indian nor Sri Lankan, but rather like a Thai green curry to which a liberal splash of lime juice was added along with the fragrant lemon grass. Working perfectly with the rice, the kandu kukulhu was loaded with a ‘more-ish’ feeling that I had to resist in order to make space for the next course of the meal.
Now, totally opposite to the Indian style of dining, the Maldivians first eat rice with curry and then the plain roshi along with sambols, which form the ‘dry dish’ component of the meal. I was served two Maldivian sambols called mashuni and barabo mashuni, which were very different from their Sri Lankan counterparts in the spice (or should I say lack thereof) quotient. The basic mashuni is a wondrous concoction of flaked tuna that is combined with freshly grated coconut, onions, lime and green chilli. The barabo mashuni was equally scrumptious with the addition of boiled pumpkin bits that gave it a hint of sweetness and a creamier texture.
Thoroughly satiated with what I had just eaten, I literally waddled back to my ocean villa, ready for my next day’s adventure in Malé.
A Slice of Local Life
Perfect for a short day trip or even for an overnight stay, Malé offers the hard-core traveller a host of local experiences and sights that you may never have if you simply stay put at your luxurious island resort! With an area of less than six square kilometres and a population of about 150,000 people, Malé truly is one of the world’s smallest national capitals and one can be traversed in just a couple of hours.
My day trip to Malé had me first stop by the chaotic and colourful main market that was jam-packed with sellers vending everything from the local favourites like betel nut and large, freshly caught tuna fish to exotic fruit, vegetables and local sweets. Next it was a wander down the rather sandy Sultan Park in the center of the city and then for a glimpse of the president’s palace. Called Mulee Aage, the house is a neat and surprisingly un-fussy colonial-style bungalow situated midtown with bare minimal security details in sight. One can also visit the National Museum and the brand new golden-domed Grand Friday Mosque and also the historic, 17th century Hukuru Miskiiy also known as the Old Friday Mosque.
And it was here as I walked the narrow streets of Malé that I discovered a very important aspect of travel. I learned that sunny afternoon that there can be several versions of any country, just like I had seen in The Maldives. It all depends on how one looks at things. Do we view it from the often thickly veiled-gaze of a tourist or from the point of view of a true-blue traveller ready for all sorts of experiences? That’s a question worth asking ourselves.
All You Need is Love –Valentine’s Month Special
What could be more romantic than roses, bubbles and a stunning beachside romantic dinner under the stars? All this month of February, guests at the Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru can enjoy an exquisite dinner on the beach followed by romantic bed decoration and in-villa champagne breakfast the following day. The All You Need is Love package (USD 950++ per couple) also includes a private sunset cruise with champagne and canapés.
Fact File
Getting There
The newly launched direct GoAir flights (www.goair.in) link New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with Malé’s Velana International Airport, all three in under three hours flying time. The visa to enter The Maldives is free and is given to everybody irrespective of nationality on arrival.
Stay
Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, H. Agadhage 3rd floor Boduthakurefaanu Magu, Malé Maldives 20026.
Telephone: +960 6563000, E-mail: Resort.Kuredhivaru@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the February 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Urban Oasis
Set in the heart of downtown Bangkok, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort is a fecund, tropical paradise with a lot on offer. Raul Dias checks in for some much-needed R&R!
By Raul Dias
A great fan of both my home city of Mumbai and that of my ‘adopted’ second home aka. Bangkok, I always find myself drawing several parallels between the two. Yes, both are equally chaotic, traffic-saturated and supremely exhausting! But both also have an indomitable spirit that cannot be defined or quantified. A spirit that keeps drawing me back to Bangkok’s urban charms time and again…
It is also a well-known fact that I will never refuse an opportunity to head to the Thai capital, even if it means a short, three-day trip. So, when I was very kindly invited to join in on GoAir’s inaugural daily, direct flight from Mumbai to Bangkok (check out our Travel Bytes section below for more details) on a trip they had jointly curated with AccorHotels to experience both the new flight as well as one Accor’s newest properties, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, I jumped at the opportunity.
Plush Living
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park. Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well.
Another aspect of its setting that literally took my breath away was the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite where I was staying is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house. I sure did!
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Where Serenity meets Bliss…
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators.
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, I made sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery and thus perfect for my chronic lower back pain. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Sips and Bites
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing dayime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family (and my personal!) favourite.
Things to do around the resort
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok
2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333 | Fax: +66 (2) 666 3334
E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 17th August 2019 issue of The Free Press Journal newspaper's Saturday Great Escapes section on page 21 https://www.freepressjournal.in/travel/this-bangkok-resort-is-a-tropical-paradise)
By Raul Dias
A great fan of both my home city of Mumbai and that of my ‘adopted’ second home aka. Bangkok, I always find myself drawing several parallels between the two. Yes, both are equally chaotic, traffic-saturated and supremely exhausting! But both also have an indomitable spirit that cannot be defined or quantified. A spirit that keeps drawing me back to Bangkok’s urban charms time and again…
It is also a well-known fact that I will never refuse an opportunity to head to the Thai capital, even if it means a short, three-day trip. So, when I was very kindly invited to join in on GoAir’s inaugural daily, direct flight from Mumbai to Bangkok (check out our Travel Bytes section below for more details) on a trip they had jointly curated with AccorHotels to experience both the new flight as well as one Accor’s newest properties, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, I jumped at the opportunity.
Plush Living
A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok is one of those ultra-rare properties in that it is a proper, full-fledged resort set in the buzzing center of Bangkok. A classically elegant retreat, the property stands below tree height, shaded by the canopy of the adjacent Nai Lert Park, famed as Bangkok’s only remaining private city center park. Within the resort a refined, minimalistic décor meets every modern convenience to take your stress away, reflecting Mövenpick’s renowned commitment to genuine comforts delivered exceptionally well.
Another aspect of its setting that literally took my breath away was the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite where I was staying is a spacious 74 sqm with separate living rooms and bedrooms. However, irrespective of room category, each offers either city views across the capital, or serene garden views from their broad balconies. And yes, in-keeping with the Mövenpick’s wonderful world-wide policy of a free mini bar for the first day of one’s stay, here too one can enjoy a range of non-alcoholic beverages on the house. I sure did!
And while the signature Wellness Suites are unique to the resort, encompassing 74 sqm of therapeutic comfort, the Presidential Suite and Royal Suite are the pinnacles of Mövenpick’s renowned standards of comfort and style, stretching across a mammoth 164 sqm with private entrances.
Where Serenity meets Bliss…
Speaking of wellness, the resort shares its property with the BDMS Wellness Clinic which is the latest of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group’s centres of medical excellence. It applies world leading therapies and technologies to treat an illness’ root cause in seven specialised clinics with individually trained nurses and administrators.
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, I made sure to factor in at least an hour every day to working out on the David Health Solution System machines, designed to aid spine and orthopaedic recovery and thus perfect for my chronic lower back pain. The outdoor pool surrounded by thick vegetation that drown out all ambient noises from outside makes it almost impossible to believe that one is truly in the heart of chaotic Bangkok.
Sips and Bites
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered at a range of venues and all in-keeping with the resort’s wellness leitmotif. So, one can dine at the Tamarind all-day dining restaurant offering healthy and organic produce, generous breakfast buffets and themed buffet dinners. The Rim Klong Café serves famed Mövenpick coffees and ice creams, international breads and pastries, including gluten-free options, healthy mocktails, slow-juice selections, tea-infusions and nutritious boosters. It is a great place to simply unwind.
The Sala pool bar is perfect for refreshments of local and imported beers, fresh smoothies and original cocktails under cooling tree shade. For live music, soothing dayime tunes or an evening aperitif, head to the Cinnamon Lobby Bar. Serving juices and coffees and with a complimentary chocolate hour for guests, it’s a daytime family (and my personal!) favourite.
Things to do around the resort
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok’s city center location places guests at the heart of shopping and entertainment with a host of things to see and do:
* The Ratchaprasong retail district is packed with designer boutiques and shopping centres.
* The nearby Erawan Shrine is a serene place of pilgrimage for many Asian travellers just five minutes away.
* The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite the MBK Mall, offers quiet galleries of ancient and contemporary art as a refreshing respite from the bustling markets.
* The city’s famed nightlife welcomes visitors just ten minutes from the hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 8.
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok
2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333 | Fax: +66 (2) 666 3334
E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the 17th August 2019 issue of The Free Press Journal newspaper's Saturday Great Escapes section on page 21 https://www.freepressjournal.in/travel/this-bangkok-resort-is-a-tropical-paradise)
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Where Indulgence Meets Style!
From the subtle elegance of an elaborate, multi-course
Japanese feast to experimental riffs on Indian and Thai cuisine and a whole lot
more in between, Delhi NCR has an impressive selection of fine dining
restaurants. We bring you a serving of the top places in the capital to enjoy a
stylish and indulgent meal at.
By Raul Dias
Megu
Imbued with a sense of subtle elegance, combined with delectable modern Japanese cuisine, world class service and cutting-edge yet serene aesthetics, Megu at The Leela Palace New Delhi is your best fine dine bet for an elevated Japanese meal experience in the city. Take your pick from a curated menu that comprises of dishes like the hamachi carpaccio, and the sublime Megu original crispy asparagus, each presented in a specially-designed handcrafted bowl inspired by the dish itself. Besides being the first and only restaurant in the city to offer sparkling sake, the wine list at Megu is impressive with nearly 400 labels including some of the world’s best like Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Richebourg and Petrus among others that perfectly complement the culinary odyssey on offer.
Imbued with a sense of subtle elegance, combined with delectable modern Japanese cuisine, world class service and cutting-edge yet serene aesthetics, Megu at The Leela Palace New Delhi is your best fine dine bet for an elevated Japanese meal experience in the city. Take your pick from a curated menu that comprises of dishes like the hamachi carpaccio, and the sublime Megu original crispy asparagus, each presented in a specially-designed handcrafted bowl inspired by the dish itself. Besides being the first and only restaurant in the city to offer sparkling sake, the wine list at Megu is impressive with nearly 400 labels including some of the world’s best like Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Richebourg and Petrus among others that perfectly complement the culinary odyssey on offer.
The Leela Palace New
Delhi, Chanakyapuri, Diplomatic Enclave,
New Delhi-110023
Tel: 011-39331360
Tel: 011-39331360
Indian
Accent
The plaudits that this iconic, Modern Indian fine dining haven has amassed over the years are staggering. Chief among these is the fact that Indian Accent at The Lodhi has been securing a top spot on San Pellegrino’s list of Asia’s top 50 restaurants for years. With the celebrated Chef Manish Mehrotra at the helm of things, expect a multi-sensory roller-coaster ride punctuated with experimental dishes like the sublime duck khurchan that is presented in a cornetto-like cone with chilli chutney and the crisp tandoori naans that are indulgently stuffed with blue cheese. And the setting? Contemporary chic at its finest!
The plaudits that this iconic, Modern Indian fine dining haven has amassed over the years are staggering. Chief among these is the fact that Indian Accent at The Lodhi has been securing a top spot on San Pellegrino’s list of Asia’s top 50 restaurants for years. With the celebrated Chef Manish Mehrotra at the helm of things, expect a multi-sensory roller-coaster ride punctuated with experimental dishes like the sublime duck khurchan that is presented in a cornetto-like cone with chilli chutney and the crisp tandoori naans that are indulgently stuffed with blue cheese. And the setting? Contemporary chic at its finest!
The Lodhi, Lodhi
Road, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi-110003
Tel: 011-66175151
Tel: 011-66175151
Bo
Tai
Just
like the clever play on words that make up its unusual name, Bo Tai is a fine
dining contemporary Thai cuisine restaurant with a twist. Neatly halved into two
distinct zones by a graceful peepul tree, the dark wood- and glass-clad space offers
a beautiful glimpse of the city’s famed Qutub Minar. But it’s certainly not all
about the stunning space that Bo Tai inhabits. Its scrumptious fare on offer
does its own bidding. Expect to be won over by dishes like the experimental carpaccio
of scallops served with a lychee sorbet and the more de rigueur massaman chicken curry along with a whole
palate-pleasing range of modern Thai dishes.
6/4, Kalka Das Marg,
Mehrauli Road, New Delhi-110030
Tel: 091-9870587770
Tel: 091-9870587770
La
Brezza
Neatly perched next to a lush golf course, La Brezza the two-storey fine dining Italian restaurant at the Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort is conceptualised as a traditional fine dining Italian restaurant with a modern twist. Along with its wine bar ‘Enoteca’, La Brezza creates an intimate setting accentuated with soft mood lighting. Endowing the palate with fine, authentic Italian flavours, the menu boasts of dishes like the paper-thin carpaccio di tonno of sashimi quality tuna, the pan-seared prawns gamberetti piccanti and the lightly fried buffalo mozzarella spiked with tangy tomato sauce make up a delicious trio of different flavours and textures for the antipasti, while mains like the roasted lobster with a pomegranate sauce, served on a bed of buttered asparagus is decadence personified.
Neatly perched next to a lush golf course, La Brezza the two-storey fine dining Italian restaurant at the Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort is conceptualised as a traditional fine dining Italian restaurant with a modern twist. Along with its wine bar ‘Enoteca’, La Brezza creates an intimate setting accentuated with soft mood lighting. Endowing the palate with fine, authentic Italian flavours, the menu boasts of dishes like the paper-thin carpaccio di tonno of sashimi quality tuna, the pan-seared prawns gamberetti piccanti and the lightly fried buffalo mozzarella spiked with tangy tomato sauce make up a delicious trio of different flavours and textures for the antipasti, while mains like the roasted lobster with a pomegranate sauce, served on a bed of buttered asparagus is decadence personified.
Jaypee Greens Golf
and Spa Resort, G Block, Surajpur Kasna Road, Noida-201306
Tel: 0120-6743000
Tel: 0120-6743000
Jamavar
With its name borrowed from the famous artisanal jamavar shawls of Kashmir, the Indian cuisine fine dining restaurant Jamavar carries on the centuries-old saga of elegance and drama that forms the core elements of the distinctive cooking styles and rituals of India’s ancient nobility. All this in a setting dominated by hand carved wooden screens and decorative jamavars of gold and silverwork that are set against the entrance. Here you get to experience innovative dining with a culinary passion that spans the entire spectrum of Indian cuisine. The signature dishes at Jamavar include the subtle yogurt and garam masala-rich tandoori jhinga, the coriander-mint-curry leaf marinated murg ki chaap and mains like the nizami tarkari biryani that’s cooked on dum and the emerald-hued spinach all-time favourite palak paneer. End this culinary journey with dessert in the form of the signature Jamavar mishtan which is the delicious sum of its rose petal ice cream, almond halwa and khajoor ka khaja parts!
With its name borrowed from the famous artisanal jamavar shawls of Kashmir, the Indian cuisine fine dining restaurant Jamavar carries on the centuries-old saga of elegance and drama that forms the core elements of the distinctive cooking styles and rituals of India’s ancient nobility. All this in a setting dominated by hand carved wooden screens and decorative jamavars of gold and silverwork that are set against the entrance. Here you get to experience innovative dining with a culinary passion that spans the entire spectrum of Indian cuisine. The signature dishes at Jamavar include the subtle yogurt and garam masala-rich tandoori jhinga, the coriander-mint-curry leaf marinated murg ki chaap and mains like the nizami tarkari biryani that’s cooked on dum and the emerald-hued spinach all-time favourite palak paneer. End this culinary journey with dessert in the form of the signature Jamavar mishtan which is the delicious sum of its rose petal ice cream, almond halwa and khajoor ka khaja parts!
The Leela Palace New
Delhi, Chanakyapuri, Diplomatic Enclave,
New Delhi-110023
Tel: 011- 39331280
Tel: 011- 39331280
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the October 2018 issue of Go-Getter, the in-flight magazine of Go Airways)
Party Paradise
From those legendary beach-side full moon parties to a
buzzing, world-class clubbing scene, let the pulsating nightlife of Phuket
surge through your veins as you party till the wee hours of dawn!
By Raul Dias
If the island of Phuket were to be a person, it would
most certainly be accused of having a multiple personality disorder. It’s
virtually impossible to imagine that this beautiful, family-friendly beach town
by day can undergo a total volte-face and transform into a buzzing nightlife
haven once the sun bids adieu. Ruling the roost as Southern Thailand’s biggest
party paradise, the large teardrop island that hugs the country’s Andaman coast
is choc-a-bloc with every kind of activity for every kind of party seeker.
Looking to crash one those legendary full moon parties or perhaps burn up the dance floor at a swanky club, dancing to the playlists of international DJs or better still, make your debut at a ‘foam party’? You’ll find it all and a whole lot more in pulsating Phuket…
Looking to crash one those legendary full moon parties or perhaps burn up the dance floor at a swanky club, dancing to the playlists of international DJs or better still, make your debut at a ‘foam party’? You’ll find it all and a whole lot more in pulsating Phuket…
Where’s
The Party?
Augmenting Phuket’s position as Thailand’s island party capital are a whole plethora of world-class nightclubs that provide amazing bang for your tourist buck! One of the most iconic of all Phuket clubs has got to be Illuzion Phuket (+66-76683030, info@illuzionphuket.com). Located along Bangla Road in the Patong Beach area, this club has a ranking 48 out of 100 in the best clubs in the world by DJMAG, number one on Trip Advisor and can accommodate up to 5,000 party goers with hundreds of VIP tables.
Fans of BYOB will love Kor Tor Mor (+66-89-7738496) as you can bring your own hard drinks (you will be just charged for ice and mixers). This fashionable night club located near the Nimit Circle in the main Phuket Town is a magnet for both tourists and Phuket’s hip-n-happening brigade. But be warned…it has a formal dress code where no shorts or sandals are allowed.
For live music head down to Timber Hut (+66-76211839) on Yaowarat Road at the northern end of Phuket Old Town. Housed in a quaint, two-storey red bricked building, Timber Hut hosts a daily live music show in which international and Thai classics are performed by talented and skilled musicians. Why, even rock music greats like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler was here in 2013, we’re told!
But if you’re more in the mood for a chilled night out, head up to Quip Sky Bar (+66-76355052), Phuket’s first ever rooftop bar on the corner of Phuket and Rasada Roads. This classy restobar brings a distinctly artistic touch to the old city, offering some stunning views, yummy cocktails and a great food menu with a rather unusual line-up of lobster dishes.
Augmenting Phuket’s position as Thailand’s island party capital are a whole plethora of world-class nightclubs that provide amazing bang for your tourist buck! One of the most iconic of all Phuket clubs has got to be Illuzion Phuket (+66-76683030, info@illuzionphuket.com). Located along Bangla Road in the Patong Beach area, this club has a ranking 48 out of 100 in the best clubs in the world by DJMAG, number one on Trip Advisor and can accommodate up to 5,000 party goers with hundreds of VIP tables.
Fans of BYOB will love Kor Tor Mor (+66-89-7738496) as you can bring your own hard drinks (you will be just charged for ice and mixers). This fashionable night club located near the Nimit Circle in the main Phuket Town is a magnet for both tourists and Phuket’s hip-n-happening brigade. But be warned…it has a formal dress code where no shorts or sandals are allowed.
For live music head down to Timber Hut (+66-76211839) on Yaowarat Road at the northern end of Phuket Old Town. Housed in a quaint, two-storey red bricked building, Timber Hut hosts a daily live music show in which international and Thai classics are performed by talented and skilled musicians. Why, even rock music greats like Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler was here in 2013, we’re told!
But if you’re more in the mood for a chilled night out, head up to Quip Sky Bar (+66-76355052), Phuket’s first ever rooftop bar on the corner of Phuket and Rasada Roads. This classy restobar brings a distinctly artistic touch to the old city, offering some stunning views, yummy cocktails and a great food menu with a rather unusual line-up of lobster dishes.
Of
Full Moons and Foam!
Thanks to iconic, cult-classic movies like The Beach, Thailand’s famed full moon parties have amassed a whole legion of fans. And there’s no better place than Phuket for you to shed all inhibitions and party the night away with strangers. Though a lot smaller than the notorious Koh Phangan Party on the nearby island of the same name, Phuket’s best full moon party is held once every fortnight (next full moon party is on Saturday 27th October) at the popular Paradise Beach (+66-924856250, info@paradisebeachphuket.com), a mere 4 kilometers from the city center neighbourhood of Patong.
Once you’re done paying the 1,000-baht entry fee—that includes a ‘Premium Cocktail Bucket’ or two beers—expect to be grooving to the beats belted out by international DJs all through the night under the full moon! But for those who like a little break every now and then, there are several chill out spots set up around the main party zone and you can even grab a quick bite at the restaurant alongside. But the best part of this party is the convenient free shuttle bus service that takes you to and from your hotel to Paradise Beach.
Cottoning onto one of the hottest trends in the world of partying—the foam party—Phuket too has its own offering. Spanning over two massive levels, Famous Nightclub and Rooftop Beach Club (+66-76366717) is a vibrant, action-packed destination that hosts its own Famous Foam Party every Monday and Tuesday. Claiming to be the only nightclub in the world with a glass-bottom swimming pool, the foam parties here are a soapy, fun mess as revellers dance (or should we say wade!) to the groovy tracks of Phuket’s hottest resident DJs with a backdrop of psychedelic LCD screens.
Thanks to iconic, cult-classic movies like The Beach, Thailand’s famed full moon parties have amassed a whole legion of fans. And there’s no better place than Phuket for you to shed all inhibitions and party the night away with strangers. Though a lot smaller than the notorious Koh Phangan Party on the nearby island of the same name, Phuket’s best full moon party is held once every fortnight (next full moon party is on Saturday 27th October) at the popular Paradise Beach (+66-924856250, info@paradisebeachphuket.com), a mere 4 kilometers from the city center neighbourhood of Patong.
Once you’re done paying the 1,000-baht entry fee—that includes a ‘Premium Cocktail Bucket’ or two beers—expect to be grooving to the beats belted out by international DJs all through the night under the full moon! But for those who like a little break every now and then, there are several chill out spots set up around the main party zone and you can even grab a quick bite at the restaurant alongside. But the best part of this party is the convenient free shuttle bus service that takes you to and from your hotel to Paradise Beach.
Cottoning onto one of the hottest trends in the world of partying—the foam party—Phuket too has its own offering. Spanning over two massive levels, Famous Nightclub and Rooftop Beach Club (+66-76366717) is a vibrant, action-packed destination that hosts its own Famous Foam Party every Monday and Tuesday. Claiming to be the only nightclub in the world with a glass-bottom swimming pool, the foam parties here are a soapy, fun mess as revellers dance (or should we say wade!) to the groovy tracks of Phuket’s hottest resident DJs with a backdrop of psychedelic LCD screens.
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the October 2018 issue of Go-Getter, the in-flight magazine of Go Airways)
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Goa’s Best Kept Secret!
Neatly tucked away from the typically touristy North
Goa scene, the idyllic village of Assagao is fast becoming a magnet for those
seeking a little off-the-beaten-path kind of holiday action with its quaint
B&Bs, design stores and eclectic dining options.
By Raul Dias
To say that serendipity was at play when the charming
North Goa Village of Assagao was first discovered would be putting way too
mildly! Legend has it, that a prince whence lost in the dense, hilly forest
after a bout of hunting, upon hearing the early morning crowing of a rooster,
heaved a sigh of relief and uttered the words “assa re ganv!” or “there is a village, after all!”. This lead to
the name Assagao, which is often supplemented by the moniker ‘Land of Flowers’
that the locals fondly call their village, due to the abundance of flora.
Particularly the bright orange flame of the forest flowers, the trees of which
can be found everywhere one looks.
Devoid of the hustle and bustle one has come to expect of its neighbouring tourist hot spots of Anjuna and Vagator, Assagao is fast becoming the de facto hub for all things artsy and creative with its quaint B&Bs, design stores and dining options—all of which spell out the word ‘eclectic’ with a capital ‘E’.
We bring you four ways to make the most of your time in this tiny piece of paradise:
Devoid of the hustle and bustle one has come to expect of its neighbouring tourist hot spots of Anjuna and Vagator, Assagao is fast becoming the de facto hub for all things artsy and creative with its quaint B&Bs, design stores and dining options—all of which spell out the word ‘eclectic’ with a capital ‘E’.
We bring you four ways to make the most of your time in this tiny piece of paradise:
Do
A great way to get introduced to the wonders of Assagao—from its magnificent colonial Portuguese-style homes to the beautiful Church of Saint Cajetan—is by going on a 4km-long heritage walk with Felly Gomes’ Heritage Walks (www.livehappygoa.com). Conducted under the aegis of the Live Happy NGO that’s working on a sustainable village model of Assagao, this walk has locals explaining their village’s history and stories, while offering you a taste of goodies like Goan sweets, organic herbal tea and kokum juice.
How about infusing a bit of live music into your Assagao stay? Then the guys at The Assagao Mehfil (www.assagaomehfil.com) have just the thing for you. Since 2013 Chinmaya Dunster, a renowned World Music maestro, and Sandeep Srivastava, singer and composer, have been hosting monthly live music concerts at the uniquely Goan Hotel Astoria in the village. Performances here range from sufi invocations to jazz nights.
For all you nature lovers out there, do visit Rosie and Peter’s Assagao Kitchen Garden and Food Forest (www.facebook.com/RosieAndPeter) to learn how to cultivate your own food. Equally wonderful is a day spent at Apurbai Farms (0832-2268822) to get a bit of organic farming into your lives.
A great way to get introduced to the wonders of Assagao—from its magnificent colonial Portuguese-style homes to the beautiful Church of Saint Cajetan—is by going on a 4km-long heritage walk with Felly Gomes’ Heritage Walks (www.livehappygoa.com). Conducted under the aegis of the Live Happy NGO that’s working on a sustainable village model of Assagao, this walk has locals explaining their village’s history and stories, while offering you a taste of goodies like Goan sweets, organic herbal tea and kokum juice.
How about infusing a bit of live music into your Assagao stay? Then the guys at The Assagao Mehfil (www.assagaomehfil.com) have just the thing for you. Since 2013 Chinmaya Dunster, a renowned World Music maestro, and Sandeep Srivastava, singer and composer, have been hosting monthly live music concerts at the uniquely Goan Hotel Astoria in the village. Performances here range from sufi invocations to jazz nights.
For all you nature lovers out there, do visit Rosie and Peter’s Assagao Kitchen Garden and Food Forest (www.facebook.com/RosieAndPeter) to learn how to cultivate your own food. Equally wonderful is a day spent at Apurbai Farms (0832-2268822) to get a bit of organic farming into your lives.
Shop
Retailing a range of sarees as well as bags, jewellery, homeware and apparel from 10 states, across India, the Red Brick Shop (www.redbrickshop.com) located at Bouta Waddo is an Assagao icon known for its ethically sourced products that don’t cost the earth! For a more upscale shopping experience visit 6 Assagao (0832-2268228) that stocks both artisanal jewellery and designer threads housed in a beautifully restored 100-year-old mansion. Make sure you pop into People Tree housed in the same mansion for home furnishing and objet d’art. As one of India’s first design collectives that set up shop nearly 25 years ago, 6 Assagao focuses on ethical design and eco-fashion across India.
Retailing a range of sarees as well as bags, jewellery, homeware and apparel from 10 states, across India, the Red Brick Shop (www.redbrickshop.com) located at Bouta Waddo is an Assagao icon known for its ethically sourced products that don’t cost the earth! For a more upscale shopping experience visit 6 Assagao (0832-2268228) that stocks both artisanal jewellery and designer threads housed in a beautifully restored 100-year-old mansion. Make sure you pop into People Tree housed in the same mansion for home furnishing and objet d’art. As one of India’s first design collectives that set up shop nearly 25 years ago, 6 Assagao focuses on ethical design and eco-fashion across India.
Eat
A third angle of the 6 Assagao triangle is the very popular restaurant Gunpowder (0832-2268091 / 0832-2268083) that’s also housed in the same multipurpose space. Here, expect to nosh on regional Indian dishes like backwater prawns and zesty mushroom black pepper fry, alongside South Indian staples such as egg appams.
For an eclectic mix of cuisines ranging from hearty Mexican to chic San Franciscan and from exotic Asian to down-home Indian, have lunch at Ruta’s Roadhouse (www.rutas.in). A cute little day-only restaurant, located on the border of Assagao and Anjuna and started by two returnees from San Francisco, this is where you will find honest, wholesome comfort food.
For a few pre-dinner drinks, try out Soro (091-9881934440). Meaning alcohol in Konkani, Soro bills itself as a local village pub where you can catch up on the village gossip with the locals. Though it is a seasonal restaurant, that operates from October to February each year, Villa Blanche Bistro (www.villablanche-goa.com) is the perfect place for those languid Sunday brunches spent gorging yourselves silly on grilled calamari and sorpotel with soft poie bread!
To cool off after a particularly indulgent Goan meal, order in some frozen treats from Hice Cream (091-9867691483). Here, you will find artisanal ice cream concoctions dispensed in jars. Try these for starters: Shiver Me Timbers (rum-and-raisin) and the super popular Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (Jack Daniels alongside organic cocoa).
A third angle of the 6 Assagao triangle is the very popular restaurant Gunpowder (0832-2268091 / 0832-2268083) that’s also housed in the same multipurpose space. Here, expect to nosh on regional Indian dishes like backwater prawns and zesty mushroom black pepper fry, alongside South Indian staples such as egg appams.
For an eclectic mix of cuisines ranging from hearty Mexican to chic San Franciscan and from exotic Asian to down-home Indian, have lunch at Ruta’s Roadhouse (www.rutas.in). A cute little day-only restaurant, located on the border of Assagao and Anjuna and started by two returnees from San Francisco, this is where you will find honest, wholesome comfort food.
For a few pre-dinner drinks, try out Soro (091-9881934440). Meaning alcohol in Konkani, Soro bills itself as a local village pub where you can catch up on the village gossip with the locals. Though it is a seasonal restaurant, that operates from October to February each year, Villa Blanche Bistro (www.villablanche-goa.com) is the perfect place for those languid Sunday brunches spent gorging yourselves silly on grilled calamari and sorpotel with soft poie bread!
To cool off after a particularly indulgent Goan meal, order in some frozen treats from Hice Cream (091-9867691483). Here, you will find artisanal ice cream concoctions dispensed in jars. Try these for starters: Shiver Me Timbers (rum-and-raisin) and the super popular Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (Jack Daniels alongside organic cocoa).
Stay
Assagao has a superb selection of both hotels and B&Bs to choose from when planning a stay. For a charming experience of staying in a beautifully restored historic 200-year-old Indo-Portuguese mansion, book yourselves into the five-bedroom The Villa (www.airbnb.co.in). This Airbnb listed property is made up of two distinct living zones: the main historic structure called The Villa and the more modern pool-side garden bungalow called Villa Jardim. All this is spread over one and a half acres of manicured gardens and comes with its own pool!
Equally well-appointed is the artfully decorated Sunbeam (www.justjivi.com), the home of stylist Jivi Sethi that he rents out. Flags, crosses and stone Kalinga lions guard and herald your entrance to the main courtyard of the house that has two sumptuous bedrooms along with a living room and a dining room.
Situated on the west side of Assagao, facing the rice fields with Anjuna’s St. Anthony’s Chapel as a background, 30 Assagao (www.30assagao.wordpress.com) has three bedrooms, two bath-rooms, a large living room, dining-hall and an American style kitchen. Housed in a 4,275 sqm large estate that has a coconut plantation along with mango trees this place is perfect for a large family vacation—Assagao style.
Assagao has a superb selection of both hotels and B&Bs to choose from when planning a stay. For a charming experience of staying in a beautifully restored historic 200-year-old Indo-Portuguese mansion, book yourselves into the five-bedroom The Villa (www.airbnb.co.in). This Airbnb listed property is made up of two distinct living zones: the main historic structure called The Villa and the more modern pool-side garden bungalow called Villa Jardim. All this is spread over one and a half acres of manicured gardens and comes with its own pool!
Equally well-appointed is the artfully decorated Sunbeam (www.justjivi.com), the home of stylist Jivi Sethi that he rents out. Flags, crosses and stone Kalinga lions guard and herald your entrance to the main courtyard of the house that has two sumptuous bedrooms along with a living room and a dining room.
Situated on the west side of Assagao, facing the rice fields with Anjuna’s St. Anthony’s Chapel as a background, 30 Assagao (www.30assagao.wordpress.com) has three bedrooms, two bath-rooms, a large living room, dining-hall and an American style kitchen. Housed in a 4,275 sqm large estate that has a coconut plantation along with mango trees this place is perfect for a large family vacation—Assagao style.
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the September 2018 issue of Go-Getter, the in-flight magazine of Go Airways)
Dessert 2.0
Once relegated to being merely functional, end of the
main meal sweet closing acts, desserts today have upped their ante. And how! Be
it with their unusual ingredients or totally outré presentation styles, they
truly are out there. We’ve curated a list of six of Mumbai’s most fantastical
desserts that have been elevated from the depth of being “just desserts” to
edible pieces of art.
By Raul Dias
Zen Pebbles at Typhoon Shelter
Designed to befuddle the diner—what with it being served together with a few real pebbles—this faux pebble dish is pure, undiluted drama on a platter. Accompanied to the table by a burning sage leaf bouquet, this dessert is conceived by dessert chef Solanki Roy and is available at Mumbai’s brand-new Sichuan-Cantonese cuisine restaurant, Typhoon Shelter. With her training in the weird-n-wacky approach to food at the über-experimental Gaggan Bangkok where she worked earlier, Chef Roy merged traditional flavours with a refreshingly contemporary approach to bring out this brilliant dessert. So, here we find two distinctly flavoured ‘pebbles’: one filled with a creamy caramel-vanilla mousse and the other with a hazelnut crunch. Both are then coated in a melted white chocolate exterior. The marble-like swirls on the pebbles are courtesy of a colour bath that they are dipped into and left to dry. And voila! You have in front of you one of Mumbai’s, nay, India’s most bizarre, yet yummy desserts.
At S-3, Second floor, Skyzone, Phoenix Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022-49193100
Cost Rs 1,195
Designed to befuddle the diner—what with it being served together with a few real pebbles—this faux pebble dish is pure, undiluted drama on a platter. Accompanied to the table by a burning sage leaf bouquet, this dessert is conceived by dessert chef Solanki Roy and is available at Mumbai’s brand-new Sichuan-Cantonese cuisine restaurant, Typhoon Shelter. With her training in the weird-n-wacky approach to food at the über-experimental Gaggan Bangkok where she worked earlier, Chef Roy merged traditional flavours with a refreshingly contemporary approach to bring out this brilliant dessert. So, here we find two distinctly flavoured ‘pebbles’: one filled with a creamy caramel-vanilla mousse and the other with a hazelnut crunch. Both are then coated in a melted white chocolate exterior. The marble-like swirls on the pebbles are courtesy of a colour bath that they are dipped into and left to dry. And voila! You have in front of you one of Mumbai’s, nay, India’s most bizarre, yet yummy desserts.
At S-3, Second floor, Skyzone, Phoenix Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022-49193100
Cost Rs 1,195
Literally gliding all the way to your table, this totally wacky dessert at Mumbai’s hip-n-happening Thai-Robata restaurant Izaya, makes a dramatic entry alright. Enough to have the whole restaurant stop in its tracks and gawp! The Levitating Dacquoise—sitting pretty in a glass bowl—hovers gently above a black plastic base, all thanks to the quantum mechanical effect called diamagnetism. Here, an applied magnetic field, both, at the base of the specially made glass bowl, and atop the black base stand, creates an induced magnetic field in the opposite direction, causing a repulsive force which makes the bowl levitate. The dacquoise itself is a super light confection that is made up of Belgian Callebaut chocolate, Normandy Chantilly cream and Mahabaleshwar strawberries (when in season). A garnish of small almond meringues, edible nasturtium flowers, micro greens and gold leaf finishes off this almost-theatrical production with a flourish.
At NCPA, Gate No. 2, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021
Call 022-22821212
Cost Price on request
The Godfather at The Runway Project
A signature of the menu at the super stylish The Runway Project restaurant, the equally stylish The Godfather dessert is a great trick on the senses. Inspired by the cult classic movie The Godfather that left an inedible mark and made an iconic fashion statement in the man’s world of style with slicked back hair and dark suits, the look continues to create a stir even today and, on your plate, too! So, what you have here is a dark Madagascar chocolate edible cigar-like shell that’s filled with a coffee cremeux and almond brittle tiramisu-center that opens with a waft of hickory smoke. The dessert comes with a real label of a cigar customised for The Runway Project to be carefully removed before indulging into it. The pleasure of smoking a ‘cigar’ while indulging in your dessert, now that’s The Godfather for you.
At 462 High Street Phoenix, Phoenix Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022-49151000
Cost Rs 575
A signature of the menu at the super stylish The Runway Project restaurant, the equally stylish The Godfather dessert is a great trick on the senses. Inspired by the cult classic movie The Godfather that left an inedible mark and made an iconic fashion statement in the man’s world of style with slicked back hair and dark suits, the look continues to create a stir even today and, on your plate, too! So, what you have here is a dark Madagascar chocolate edible cigar-like shell that’s filled with a coffee cremeux and almond brittle tiramisu-center that opens with a waft of hickory smoke. The dessert comes with a real label of a cigar customised for The Runway Project to be carefully removed before indulging into it. The pleasure of smoking a ‘cigar’ while indulging in your dessert, now that’s The Godfather for you.
At 462 High Street Phoenix, Phoenix Mill Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022-49151000
Cost Rs 575
Black Marble Sesame Cheese Cake at Foo
Cottoning onto the black coloured food craze that has gripped the world of fine dining across the globe, this brand-new, Asian-style tapas restaurant—Foo—shows off its experimental side with this dramatic-looking, blackish-grey dessert made using a very traditional Asian and Indian sweet ingredient—sesame. Giving a fillip to the classic cheesecake, the black marble sesame cheese cake is the sum of its cream cheese, black sesame paste, and sour cream parts. Keeping the presentation simple, to let the rather non-conformist colours of this dessert show up, it is served atop a stone platter, with almond crumbs, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a seasons sauce made out of mascarpone, sugar, cream and sesame paste drizzled all over it.
At Phoenix Mill Compound, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call +91-8657407773
Cost Rs 350
Cottoning onto the black coloured food craze that has gripped the world of fine dining across the globe, this brand-new, Asian-style tapas restaurant—Foo—shows off its experimental side with this dramatic-looking, blackish-grey dessert made using a very traditional Asian and Indian sweet ingredient—sesame. Giving a fillip to the classic cheesecake, the black marble sesame cheese cake is the sum of its cream cheese, black sesame paste, and sour cream parts. Keeping the presentation simple, to let the rather non-conformist colours of this dessert show up, it is served atop a stone platter, with almond crumbs, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a seasons sauce made out of mascarpone, sugar, cream and sesame paste drizzled all over it.
At Phoenix Mill Compound, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call +91-8657407773
Cost Rs 350
Zen Forest at The Fatty Bao
Images of a moss-covered forest floor—gnarly twigs, et al—in autumn come to mind the minute this beautifully presented dish is put in front of you. Reflective of nature in all its pristine beauty, Zen Forest, a hot favourite at the pan-Asian restaurant The Fatty Bao, is a rather complex creation. As beautiful as it is to look at, the dessert takes even better. An amalgamation of multiple elements that come together perfectly on a platter, here, each element offers something special. The green tea moss and chocolate give a bit of sweet and bitterness, the yuzu parfait imparts a refreshing citrus favour, black sesame sponge and white sesame nougatine give the nuttiness and crunch element to the dessert. Whereas the bright pink-coloured beetroot sorbet along with the black pepper sorbet give it an earthy taste. Micro-greens round the dessert off, giving it a fresh herb-y taste.
At 2A, Trade View Building, Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022-62371500
Cost Rs 265
Images of a moss-covered forest floor—gnarly twigs, et al—in autumn come to mind the minute this beautifully presented dish is put in front of you. Reflective of nature in all its pristine beauty, Zen Forest, a hot favourite at the pan-Asian restaurant The Fatty Bao, is a rather complex creation. As beautiful as it is to look at, the dessert takes even better. An amalgamation of multiple elements that come together perfectly on a platter, here, each element offers something special. The green tea moss and chocolate give a bit of sweet and bitterness, the yuzu parfait imparts a refreshing citrus favour, black sesame sponge and white sesame nougatine give the nuttiness and crunch element to the dessert. Whereas the bright pink-coloured beetroot sorbet along with the black pepper sorbet give it an earthy taste. Micro-greens round the dessert off, giving it a fresh herb-y taste.
At 2A, Trade View Building, Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022-62371500
Cost Rs 265
This pretty-looking deconstructed version of the traditional Latin American, three-milk dessert of tres leches served at Luna, the European fine dining restaurant at The St. Regis has plenty of dramatic twists to it. To begin with, as mentioned before it is a deconstructed iteration which means that its butter cake-base is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream and scattered all over the platter and not grouped together as in the traditional version. But here’s the most interesting twist, the milk that we’re alluding to is not any ordinary milk, but the tangy, much-acquired taste of goat’s milk. This takes the form of a wobbly panna cotta that is accompanied by granules of dehydrated 6% fat milk, a milk espuma and a milk micro sponge. The garnish is that of a shard of crystallised sugar, berries and micro greens.
At The St. Regis Mumbai, 462, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai-400013
Call 022- 61628422
Cost Rs 950
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the September 2018 issue of Go-Getter, the in-flight magazine of Go Airways)
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Eating Out-Gurugram Style!
No longer relegated to merely being a satellite city
of India’s capital New Delhi, Gurugram is one of the most happening places in
the NCR with everything from a bustling business district to a dynamic eating
out scene. Tapping into the latter, we bring you a serving of six such hotspots
that each bestow onto this city some serious bragging rights as a newly-minted
foodie haven.
By Raul Dias
Amaranta
Pushing the culinary envelope further and further over the last few years with its unexpected pairings and presentations—all resulting in a thoroughly modern Indian dining experience—is Amaranta. This fine dining restaurant at The Oberoi Gurgaon is all about celebrating a menu that explores palates and pairings using authentic Indian flavours in a progressive way. Called the ‘play-ted menu’, here one encounters dishes like Indian Ocean lobster sorshe served with an imaginative avocado tartare, the banana leaf sea bass, pumpkin cappuccino or perhaps the chickpea flour cake with onion fritters that takes Indian cuisine to a whole new level. And the setting is no less experimental with its floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural light and overlook a reflection pool that runs alongside the restaurant.
Pushing the culinary envelope further and further over the last few years with its unexpected pairings and presentations—all resulting in a thoroughly modern Indian dining experience—is Amaranta. This fine dining restaurant at The Oberoi Gurgaon is all about celebrating a menu that explores palates and pairings using authentic Indian flavours in a progressive way. Called the ‘play-ted menu’, here one encounters dishes like Indian Ocean lobster sorshe served with an imaginative avocado tartare, the banana leaf sea bass, pumpkin cappuccino or perhaps the chickpea flour cake with onion fritters that takes Indian cuisine to a whole new level. And the setting is no less experimental with its floor-to-ceiling windows that let in natural light and overlook a reflection pool that runs alongside the restaurant.
The Oberoi Gurgaon,
443, Udyog Vihar, Phase V, Gurugram
Tel: 0124- 2451234
Tel: 0124- 2451234
Elemenopi
This onomatopoeic sounding restaurant with a wildly eclectic menu offering is the latest global gastronomical venture in Gurugram’s swanky One Horizon Centre. It takes you on a gourmet voyage across countries less travelled. With its tagline ‘Belly Well-Travelled’, this rather experimental dining place is full of exciting offerings for lovers of good food and drinks. The menu cruises around over 10 exotic countries and brings to you some of their iconic delicacies such as mahjouba, skampi na buzaru, cevapi and tuna Nicoise from Algeria, Croatia, Bosnia, and France respectively! Coming from the guys at the The Beer Café chain of restobars, Elemenopi’s prowess in the alco-beverage segment is imperative. It stocks more than 50 varieties of beers from more than 20 countries, apart from the largest collection of wines, cocktails, and other spirits in the city.
This onomatopoeic sounding restaurant with a wildly eclectic menu offering is the latest global gastronomical venture in Gurugram’s swanky One Horizon Centre. It takes you on a gourmet voyage across countries less travelled. With its tagline ‘Belly Well-Travelled’, this rather experimental dining place is full of exciting offerings for lovers of good food and drinks. The menu cruises around over 10 exotic countries and brings to you some of their iconic delicacies such as mahjouba, skampi na buzaru, cevapi and tuna Nicoise from Algeria, Croatia, Bosnia, and France respectively! Coming from the guys at the The Beer Café chain of restobars, Elemenopi’s prowess in the alco-beverage segment is imperative. It stocks more than 50 varieties of beers from more than 20 countries, apart from the largest collection of wines, cocktails, and other spirits in the city.
Plaza level, One
Horizon Centre, DLF Phase 5, Gurugram
Tel: 0124-2575036
Tel: 0124-2575036
Pra
Pra Prank
Occupying prime position at Gurugram’s restaurant ‘Ground Zero’—the DLF Cyber Hub—Pra Pra Prank caters to the palate of the comfort seeker and the gourmand alike. Claiming to be the first ‘Playful Brasserie’ in India, this three-month old restobar is all about a menu that is non-conformist and quirky, dotted with dishes that make it a delight for food lovers. From the modern take on universal favourites like karpao chicken fried rice to novel Asian delights like the rainbow sushi to interesting mains like the grilled whole lobster, and the pork belly skewers with kalonji raw mango relish, all are addictive and great accompaniments to innovative drinks like the Japanese negroni and the pop-corn flavoured prohibition pop up cocktail. All this, in a stylish, yet quirkily done up space that features a live sushi bar and an open kitchen.
Occupying prime position at Gurugram’s restaurant ‘Ground Zero’—the DLF Cyber Hub—Pra Pra Prank caters to the palate of the comfort seeker and the gourmand alike. Claiming to be the first ‘Playful Brasserie’ in India, this three-month old restobar is all about a menu that is non-conformist and quirky, dotted with dishes that make it a delight for food lovers. From the modern take on universal favourites like karpao chicken fried rice to novel Asian delights like the rainbow sushi to interesting mains like the grilled whole lobster, and the pork belly skewers with kalonji raw mango relish, all are addictive and great accompaniments to innovative drinks like the Japanese negroni and the pop-corn flavoured prohibition pop up cocktail. All this, in a stylish, yet quirkily done up space that features a live sushi bar and an open kitchen.
Shop No. 24, DLF
Cyber Hub, DLF Phase 2, Sector 24, Gurugram
Tel: +91-959996582/9599965292
Tel: +91-959996582/9599965292
Nagai
Nagai is Japanese for longevity. A Japanese restaurant with roots in Ibiza, this contemporary Japanese restaurant and sake bar is a recent addition to the Gurugram dining out scene. The cuisine here is essentially Japanese with signature dishes that combine Thai, Mediterranean and even Mexican influences. Start with Japanese inspired tapas that go from classic steamed edamame to crispy pork and aubergine skewers. The starters showcase Japanese classics like salmon and tuna tartar with vegan choices like caramelized lotus root with soya and sesame. Sushi being the signature at Nagai, indulge yourself with everything from himachi sashimi to maguro nigiri and uramaki rolls. Mains here are a procession of highly nuanced dishes like, a hearty Japanese curry chicken and even a few Thai dishes thrown in for good measure. But take some time and look at the well-done up space at Nagai. The walls of the restaurant reflect enthralling artwork by Fin DAC, an Irish urban street artist, based in London, who makes large murals of masked women with fashionable style, with an emphasis on their beauty.
Nagai is Japanese for longevity. A Japanese restaurant with roots in Ibiza, this contemporary Japanese restaurant and sake bar is a recent addition to the Gurugram dining out scene. The cuisine here is essentially Japanese with signature dishes that combine Thai, Mediterranean and even Mexican influences. Start with Japanese inspired tapas that go from classic steamed edamame to crispy pork and aubergine skewers. The starters showcase Japanese classics like salmon and tuna tartar with vegan choices like caramelized lotus root with soya and sesame. Sushi being the signature at Nagai, indulge yourself with everything from himachi sashimi to maguro nigiri and uramaki rolls. Mains here are a procession of highly nuanced dishes like, a hearty Japanese curry chicken and even a few Thai dishes thrown in for good measure. But take some time and look at the well-done up space at Nagai. The walls of the restaurant reflect enthralling artwork by Fin DAC, an Irish urban street artist, based in London, who makes large murals of masked women with fashionable style, with an emphasis on their beauty.
#305, Ground Floor,
Sector 29, Behind Pllazio Hotel, Gurugram
Tel: +91-9958022300
Tel: +91-9958022300
Prankster
Brimming with an unbridled feeling of youthful energy thanks to its campus like theme, the playful Prankster is a cool-n-casual first-storied restaurant to hang out at with a menu that’s anything but casual. The cuisine here is best described as ‘progressive nostalgic’ where the chefs attempt to fuse numerous indigenous dishes with contemporary techniques and a twist. Expect to find dishes like the choley kulche doughnut which is served with a gaajar achaar mousse, sambhar cappuccino and the nitro dahi bhalla savoury ice cream that not only evoke childhood memories but gives the diner of today a creative and innovative experience which one won’t forget in a hurry. Choose to spend your evening seated at one of the many campus zones like the library, the mixology lab, the amphitheatre or perhaps at the hostel room that is perfect for a private party with its bunker beds and study tables!
Brimming with an unbridled feeling of youthful energy thanks to its campus like theme, the playful Prankster is a cool-n-casual first-storied restaurant to hang out at with a menu that’s anything but casual. The cuisine here is best described as ‘progressive nostalgic’ where the chefs attempt to fuse numerous indigenous dishes with contemporary techniques and a twist. Expect to find dishes like the choley kulche doughnut which is served with a gaajar achaar mousse, sambhar cappuccino and the nitro dahi bhalla savoury ice cream that not only evoke childhood memories but gives the diner of today a creative and innovative experience which one won’t forget in a hurry. Choose to spend your evening seated at one of the many campus zones like the library, the mixology lab, the amphitheatre or perhaps at the hostel room that is perfect for a private party with its bunker beds and study tables!
8-9-10, Sector 29,
Main Market, Gurugram
Tel: 0124-4266653
Tel: 0124-4266653
Pirates
of Grill
Just a few years old and already Pirates of Grill is proving to be a magnet for those seeking out a fine dining bar-be-que concept along with a full buffet. Imagine juicy, succulent grills cooking at your own table, and food that keeps coming until your tummy surrenders! Their innovative offerings at unbeatable prices, have made this family-style restaurant a runaway success in Gurugram. Here, one can choose from an assortment of international kabab delicacies and make your own bar-be-que at the table itself. The global cuisine buffet on offer here gives you an option to indulge yourself in around 16 starters, 12 main course dishes and a live dessert counter. One can also enjoy their signatures like the Brazilian Churasco and Moroccan grills along with the fiendishly popular skewered pineapple that’s both sweet and savoury at the same time.
Just a few years old and already Pirates of Grill is proving to be a magnet for those seeking out a fine dining bar-be-que concept along with a full buffet. Imagine juicy, succulent grills cooking at your own table, and food that keeps coming until your tummy surrenders! Their innovative offerings at unbeatable prices, have made this family-style restaurant a runaway success in Gurugram. Here, one can choose from an assortment of international kabab delicacies and make your own bar-be-que at the table itself. The global cuisine buffet on offer here gives you an option to indulge yourself in around 16 starters, 12 main course dishes and a live dessert counter. One can also enjoy their signatures like the Brazilian Churasco and Moroccan grills along with the fiendishly popular skewered pineapple that’s both sweet and savoury at the same time.
Shop No. 7-10, MGF
Mega City Mall, MG Road, A Block, DLF Sector 28, Gurugram
Tel: 0124-4013333
Tel: 0124-4013333
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the July 2018 issue of Go-Getter, the in-flight magazine of Go Airways)
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