(This article first appeared online on 15th November 2023 on Live Mint, India https://lifestyle.livemint.com/food/discover/ice-cream-brand-collaborations-india-111700015846983.html)
Showing posts with label NARA THAI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NARA THAI. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Thursday, May 3, 2018
A Serving of BKC, Please!
As Mumbai’s most popular commercial super hub, the Bandra Kurla Complex—or BKC to use its trendy moniker—is a vertiginous warren of glass and steel buildings where business booms all day long. Interestingly, it is also one of the city’s premier dining destinations, offering a plethora of options for those after work dining and partying needs. We bring you a serving of BKC’s top 10 hot spots.
By Raul Dias
O Pedro
Fast becoming the go-to place for some fun, fusion-forward Goan nosh and imaginative
drinks, is this whimsically decorated bar-cum- restaurant. Here, one can expect drinks that
bring back the fun of tropical living along with simple, yet sophisticated food that reflects
Goa’s stunning culinary diversity, going back to its Portuguese influences and further
beyond. The food at O Pedro sidesteps Goa’s touristy flavours to evoke all this rich, complex
culinary history. But that’s not to say that a meal here is a meat lover’s feast alone. The menu
includes a host of vegetarian renditions of Portuguese and Saraswat classics. So, expect to
dive into a stuffed charred cabbage foogath and the breadfruit rawa fry with as much gusto as
a serving of the sublime chicken baffad curry or Aunty Braganza’s crab rissois!
Unit #2, Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534700/01/02
Nara Thai
Think flavourful Bangkok-style street food—über reasonable price et al—in a jazzed-up
setting and this elegant restaurant, replete with an al fresco sitting area, pops into mind. Done
up with hints of royal Thai purple with carefully manicured topiaries and flower beds, this
place is a calm spot amidst BKC’s humdrum. Perfect for a quick lunch is the express business
lunch that gives you a brief sampling of the authentically Thai menu. Here, you can expect to
tuck into everything from dishes like crispy fried morning glory and the refreshing yum som
o pomelo salad to gai tord samunprai (crispy fried chicken and Thai herbs) and an authentic
north-eastern Thai spicy chicken salad called larb gai. But save space for Nara Thai’s
signature dish like the khao phad samunprai that’s made with the brilliantly blue butterfly pea
flower that also finds itself in drinks like the butterfly pea sour.
Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, Opposite SIDBI, BKC
Tel: 022-61378080
Masala Library
Responsible for bestowing a certain classy cache on to Indian cuisine thanks to the brilliantly
conceptualised and plated out dishes on its menu, Masala Library by the legendry Jiggs Kalra
has been at the very vortex of the whole BKC dining scene for a few years now.
Experimental, yet retentive of the traditional technique and flavours that go into making the
perfect Indian meal, here equal emphasis is placed on both substance and presentation. And
though the a la carte offerings represent the restaurant’s food philosophy perfectly, it is the
16-course degustation menu featuring dishes like the wild mushroom chai and the charcoal
bhajia that take fine dining to a whole other level and that truly makes dining here a highly
recommended indulgence.
Ground Floor, First International Financial Centre, G Block, BKC
Tel: 91-8454900900
Toast & Tonic
The easy, languid vibe that this restobar projects is perfect for a post-meeting unwind session
over well-made drinks and sophisticated food, in a setting that is effortlessly chic and refreshingly minimal with its Scandi-chic décor accents. It borrows heavily from the East Village, in the south of Manhattan which is easy going and irreverent. At Toast & Tonic expect to find small plates like lightly poached kokum shrimp in a kokum and coconut broth, prawn pickle and prawn crackers and the tuna tataki tostada with jalapeno cream, ginger and sesame oil. Sip on a host of tonic-based drinks like the spiced vanilla tonic, the flower power tonic (jasmine, elderflower and grapefruit) and the yummy star anise and pear tonic.
Unit #1, Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534722
CinCin
This trattoria-style Italian restaurant’s approach is stylish yet casual where you can enjoy a
post-work drink with some cicchetti or small plates that are typically served in a traditional
Venetian bacari. Featuring arched windows connecting the main dining area with the al
fresco section via an open bar, this is the place to grab a table or sit by the bar and enjoy the
lemon trees and shrubbery. CinCin draws inspiration from the potent flavours of regional
Italy to deliver seasonal, ingredient-driven plates of food like strozzapreti, a slow cooked
chicken ragu. But for those who prefer to graze, you can choose from 30 odd cicchettis to
hand rolled pastas, meat specialties and Napolitan style pizzas. And for dessert, don’t miss
the tre latti, a luscious milk-saturated cake.
Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, Near Dena Bank, BKC
Tel: 022-69956666
Hello Guppy
This cute and whimsical restaurant offers a range of Japanese food in an easy-to- eat format,
within an approachable, friendly space. Packaged perfectly to appeal to the office-going
crowd seen in the BKC area, the menu includes soup, salads, sushi, soba and udon noodle dishes, donburi rice bowls and yes, the ubiquitous Japanese favourite ramen as well. The space is an explosion of Japanese pop culture with every corner of the compact space covered with vintage robots, Japanese transistors, wall art and posters. But once the sun sets, Hello Guppy undergoes a transformation, with neon lighting, a crazy disco ball, and an emphasis on innovative drinks, as it becomes time to let loose and party the night away.
Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534720
SodaBottleOpenerWala
Despite this zany eatery clocking in almost three years of existence, it is still a die-hard
favourite of the BKC crowd. And why not? SodaBottleOpenerWala is your quintessential
Bombay Irani Café and bar with all its idiosyncrasies pat in place. It truly is a modern tribute
to the dying legacy of a Bombay Irani Cafe bringing with it typical Parsi cuisine, some Irani
specialties and Bombay street food in a fun, quirky and contemporary avatar. Nostalgia
warms your heart as you navigate through the menu that has on it specialities like dhanshak,
paatra ni macchi and their version of the famous berry pulao. Drinks like the iconic raspberry
soda and Parsi ‘choi’ infuse a bit more nostalgia and fun into your post business meeting-
saturated day.
02, Ground Floor, The Capital Building, G Block, BKC
Tel: 022-40035678
Hemant Oberoi
As perhaps Mumbai’s only restaurant that’s named after a person, Hemant Oberoi is the
culmination of 40 years of culinary mastery by chef Hemant Oberoi. Perfect for a celebratory
dinner with the team, the large, 3,000sq ft property is done up with plenty of rich golds, reds
and dark wood. The menu is primarily European fine dining, but one can often find bursts of
whimsy like in the Asian style Chilean Sea bass served with orzo pasta and spinach. For
those on the go and desirous of a quickie, the 2- and 3-course lunch menus offered here are a
perfect way to get a glimpse into the mastery of the legendary chef. But for those with time
and yes, money, do indulge in the super-indulgent a la carte dinner service and thank us later!
Unit #5, Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534757
Taftoon
Inspired by the food that can be found along the Grand Trunk Road, that runs from
Chittagong to Kabul, this bright and airy restaurant offers up an exotic taste of everything
from Kashmiri to Rampuri cuisine. Named after the leavened, milk, yoghurt, and egg-
redolent Persian bread that has a mere whisper of saffron anointing it, we see Taftoon paying
homage to it in myriad ways across its vast menu. Try it in the taftoon pe harissa, which is a
mix platter of three, coin sized harissa-smeared taftoon disks—each topped with different delicacies like a divine mushroom paté and a spicy pulled chicken. This is also the place to sample the more robust Bihari cuisine staples like litti chokha that’s best chased with the fragrant Kashmiri kahwa tea, or with a saffron cocktail, perhaps?
Unit #2, Ground Floor, Naman Centre, G Block, BKC
Tel: 022- 26530253/65656100
The Good Wife
Ignore its borrowed-from- a-TV- show name and hang out with your colleagues on a Friday
night at this buzzing hotspot that’s somehow always packed to the rafters. But there’s a good
(pardon the pun!) reason for that. Famous for its reasonably priced drinks and food, a night
out at the wood panelled and be-chandeliered restobar won’t put in a dent in anything… least
of all your wallet! Taking its business district location very seriously, The Good Wife’s
signature drink is called The Wolf Of BKC. Team this one with a host of nibbles like the
three-peppercorn grilled chicken and the soy ginger prawns and kiss the past week’s blues
away.
Ground Floor, The Capital Building, G Block, BKC
Tel: 022- 40109433
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Jetwings International in-flight magazine of Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
By Raul Dias
O Pedro
Fast becoming the go-to place for some fun, fusion-forward Goan nosh and imaginative
drinks, is this whimsically decorated bar-cum- restaurant. Here, one can expect drinks that
bring back the fun of tropical living along with simple, yet sophisticated food that reflects
Goa’s stunning culinary diversity, going back to its Portuguese influences and further
beyond. The food at O Pedro sidesteps Goa’s touristy flavours to evoke all this rich, complex
culinary history. But that’s not to say that a meal here is a meat lover’s feast alone. The menu
includes a host of vegetarian renditions of Portuguese and Saraswat classics. So, expect to
dive into a stuffed charred cabbage foogath and the breadfruit rawa fry with as much gusto as
a serving of the sublime chicken baffad curry or Aunty Braganza’s crab rissois!
Unit #2, Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534700/01/02
Nara Thai
Think flavourful Bangkok-style street food—über reasonable price et al—in a jazzed-up
setting and this elegant restaurant, replete with an al fresco sitting area, pops into mind. Done
up with hints of royal Thai purple with carefully manicured topiaries and flower beds, this
place is a calm spot amidst BKC’s humdrum. Perfect for a quick lunch is the express business
lunch that gives you a brief sampling of the authentically Thai menu. Here, you can expect to
tuck into everything from dishes like crispy fried morning glory and the refreshing yum som
o pomelo salad to gai tord samunprai (crispy fried chicken and Thai herbs) and an authentic
north-eastern Thai spicy chicken salad called larb gai. But save space for Nara Thai’s
signature dish like the khao phad samunprai that’s made with the brilliantly blue butterfly pea
flower that also finds itself in drinks like the butterfly pea sour.
Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, Opposite SIDBI, BKC
Tel: 022-61378080
Masala Library
Responsible for bestowing a certain classy cache on to Indian cuisine thanks to the brilliantly
conceptualised and plated out dishes on its menu, Masala Library by the legendry Jiggs Kalra
has been at the very vortex of the whole BKC dining scene for a few years now.
Experimental, yet retentive of the traditional technique and flavours that go into making the
perfect Indian meal, here equal emphasis is placed on both substance and presentation. And
though the a la carte offerings represent the restaurant’s food philosophy perfectly, it is the
16-course degustation menu featuring dishes like the wild mushroom chai and the charcoal
bhajia that take fine dining to a whole other level and that truly makes dining here a highly
recommended indulgence.
Ground Floor, First International Financial Centre, G Block, BKC
Tel: 91-8454900900
Toast & Tonic
The easy, languid vibe that this restobar projects is perfect for a post-meeting unwind session
over well-made drinks and sophisticated food, in a setting that is effortlessly chic and refreshingly minimal with its Scandi-chic décor accents. It borrows heavily from the East Village, in the south of Manhattan which is easy going and irreverent. At Toast & Tonic expect to find small plates like lightly poached kokum shrimp in a kokum and coconut broth, prawn pickle and prawn crackers and the tuna tataki tostada with jalapeno cream, ginger and sesame oil. Sip on a host of tonic-based drinks like the spiced vanilla tonic, the flower power tonic (jasmine, elderflower and grapefruit) and the yummy star anise and pear tonic.
Unit #1, Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534722
CinCin
This trattoria-style Italian restaurant’s approach is stylish yet casual where you can enjoy a
post-work drink with some cicchetti or small plates that are typically served in a traditional
Venetian bacari. Featuring arched windows connecting the main dining area with the al
fresco section via an open bar, this is the place to grab a table or sit by the bar and enjoy the
lemon trees and shrubbery. CinCin draws inspiration from the potent flavours of regional
Italy to deliver seasonal, ingredient-driven plates of food like strozzapreti, a slow cooked
chicken ragu. But for those who prefer to graze, you can choose from 30 odd cicchettis to
hand rolled pastas, meat specialties and Napolitan style pizzas. And for dessert, don’t miss
the tre latti, a luscious milk-saturated cake.
Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, Near Dena Bank, BKC
Tel: 022-69956666
Hello Guppy
This cute and whimsical restaurant offers a range of Japanese food in an easy-to- eat format,
within an approachable, friendly space. Packaged perfectly to appeal to the office-going
crowd seen in the BKC area, the menu includes soup, salads, sushi, soba and udon noodle dishes, donburi rice bowls and yes, the ubiquitous Japanese favourite ramen as well. The space is an explosion of Japanese pop culture with every corner of the compact space covered with vintage robots, Japanese transistors, wall art and posters. But once the sun sets, Hello Guppy undergoes a transformation, with neon lighting, a crazy disco ball, and an emphasis on innovative drinks, as it becomes time to let loose and party the night away.
Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534720
SodaBottleOpenerWala
Despite this zany eatery clocking in almost three years of existence, it is still a die-hard
favourite of the BKC crowd. And why not? SodaBottleOpenerWala is your quintessential
Bombay Irani Café and bar with all its idiosyncrasies pat in place. It truly is a modern tribute
to the dying legacy of a Bombay Irani Cafe bringing with it typical Parsi cuisine, some Irani
specialties and Bombay street food in a fun, quirky and contemporary avatar. Nostalgia
warms your heart as you navigate through the menu that has on it specialities like dhanshak,
paatra ni macchi and their version of the famous berry pulao. Drinks like the iconic raspberry
soda and Parsi ‘choi’ infuse a bit more nostalgia and fun into your post business meeting-
saturated day.
02, Ground Floor, The Capital Building, G Block, BKC
Tel: 022-40035678
Hemant Oberoi
As perhaps Mumbai’s only restaurant that’s named after a person, Hemant Oberoi is the
culmination of 40 years of culinary mastery by chef Hemant Oberoi. Perfect for a celebratory
dinner with the team, the large, 3,000sq ft property is done up with plenty of rich golds, reds
and dark wood. The menu is primarily European fine dining, but one can often find bursts of
whimsy like in the Asian style Chilean Sea bass served with orzo pasta and spinach. For
those on the go and desirous of a quickie, the 2- and 3-course lunch menus offered here are a
perfect way to get a glimpse into the mastery of the legendary chef. But for those with time
and yes, money, do indulge in the super-indulgent a la carte dinner service and thank us later!
Unit #5, Ground Floor, Jet Airways-Godrej BKC Building, BKC
Tel: 022-26534757
Taftoon
Inspired by the food that can be found along the Grand Trunk Road, that runs from
Chittagong to Kabul, this bright and airy restaurant offers up an exotic taste of everything
from Kashmiri to Rampuri cuisine. Named after the leavened, milk, yoghurt, and egg-
redolent Persian bread that has a mere whisper of saffron anointing it, we see Taftoon paying
homage to it in myriad ways across its vast menu. Try it in the taftoon pe harissa, which is a
mix platter of three, coin sized harissa-smeared taftoon disks—each topped with different delicacies like a divine mushroom paté and a spicy pulled chicken. This is also the place to sample the more robust Bihari cuisine staples like litti chokha that’s best chased with the fragrant Kashmiri kahwa tea, or with a saffron cocktail, perhaps?
Unit #2, Ground Floor, Naman Centre, G Block, BKC
Tel: 022- 26530253/65656100
The Good Wife
Ignore its borrowed-from- a-TV- show name and hang out with your colleagues on a Friday
night at this buzzing hotspot that’s somehow always packed to the rafters. But there’s a good
(pardon the pun!) reason for that. Famous for its reasonably priced drinks and food, a night
out at the wood panelled and be-chandeliered restobar won’t put in a dent in anything… least
of all your wallet! Taking its business district location very seriously, The Good Wife’s
signature drink is called The Wolf Of BKC. Team this one with a host of nibbles like the
three-peppercorn grilled chicken and the soy ginger prawns and kiss the past week’s blues
away.
Ground Floor, The Capital Building, G Block, BKC
Tel: 022- 40109433
(An edited version of this article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Jetwings International in-flight magazine of Jet Airways http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/jetexperience/magazines.aspx)
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Shine Beneath the Stars!
This festive season, why not take full advantage of
the pleasant nip in the air—not to mention the recent lifting of the rooftop
eatery ban by the BMC—and head to these super cool al fresco and rooftop
restaurants across the city?
By Raul Dias
FOR TOTAL VFM
A
Bar Called Life
This one-year-old entrant to Juhu’s nightlife scene is a calming cocoon of a space, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy JVPD circle next to it. While the 200-cover space offers a mix of indoor as well as al fresco seating options, it is the latter that will wow you. A lush, vertical garden fences the al fresco space off from surrounding apartment buildings, giving it a lush, tropical feel. But that’s not the only thing A Bar Called Life has going for it. The bar offers competitively-priced alcoholic beverages, with prices starting as low as Rs. 50 per drink each evening at 6:00pm, and rising every hour, on the hour, until 11pm. Each drink like the tart roselle sour features Indian elements, cleverly interwoven into either the presentation or the flavour. The food menu offers a range of wholesome, hearty finger foods like the pulled raan pao, and mains like the über exotic Naga bamboo smoked mutton teamed with sticky jasmine rice.
This one-year-old entrant to Juhu’s nightlife scene is a calming cocoon of a space, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy JVPD circle next to it. While the 200-cover space offers a mix of indoor as well as al fresco seating options, it is the latter that will wow you. A lush, vertical garden fences the al fresco space off from surrounding apartment buildings, giving it a lush, tropical feel. But that’s not the only thing A Bar Called Life has going for it. The bar offers competitively-priced alcoholic beverages, with prices starting as low as Rs. 50 per drink each evening at 6:00pm, and rising every hour, on the hour, until 11pm. Each drink like the tart roselle sour features Indian elements, cleverly interwoven into either the presentation or the flavour. The food menu offers a range of wholesome, hearty finger foods like the pulled raan pao, and mains like the über exotic Naga bamboo smoked mutton teamed with sticky jasmine rice.
Where: C/O Paradise Banquets,
opposite PVR Cinemas, Juhu
Call: 26200122
Timings: Tuesdays-Sundays 6:00pm to 1:30am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 2,000
Call: 26200122
Timings: Tuesdays-Sundays 6:00pm to 1:30am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 2,000
FOR THE
ATOMOSPHERE
Dine
at The Quarter
For most of us growing up in Mumbai, the grand old and derelict Royal Opera House at Girgaon seemed like a myth. But now that myth has turned to reality and it’s back in business, all gloriously restored. And a beautiful by product of this restoration is the al fresco, brand spanking new Dine at The Quarter that sits pretty in the compound of the Royal Opera House. It is modelled on the lines of a tropical green house with verdant foliage surrounding bleached wood chairs and tables, with white drapes canopying some areas. Here, soul food meets jazz sounds as you partake in a unique Louisiana Creole cuisine-inspired menu, with dishes like cornmeal crusted sea bass and black eye pea ragout. The menu is prepared with locally sourced ingredients and greens, herbs and edible flowers grown on the in-house walled vertical garden. The food is well matched with a drinks list that includes signature cocktails like the fields of gold and the gin soaked boy made with house syrups and fresh ingredients.
For most of us growing up in Mumbai, the grand old and derelict Royal Opera House at Girgaon seemed like a myth. But now that myth has turned to reality and it’s back in business, all gloriously restored. And a beautiful by product of this restoration is the al fresco, brand spanking new Dine at The Quarter that sits pretty in the compound of the Royal Opera House. It is modelled on the lines of a tropical green house with verdant foliage surrounding bleached wood chairs and tables, with white drapes canopying some areas. Here, soul food meets jazz sounds as you partake in a unique Louisiana Creole cuisine-inspired menu, with dishes like cornmeal crusted sea bass and black eye pea ragout. The menu is prepared with locally sourced ingredients and greens, herbs and edible flowers grown on the in-house walled vertical garden. The food is well matched with a drinks list that includes signature cocktails like the fields of gold and the gin soaked boy made with house syrups and fresh ingredients.
Where: Royal Opera House,
Mathew Road, Opera House, Girgaon
Call: 8329110638
Timings: 11am to 1am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 3,500
Call: 8329110638
Timings: 11am to 1am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 3,500
FOR AN ELEGANT
EVENING
Nara
Thai
While it may have made its debut in the city a few months ago, it is the recent chill in the air that has made Nara Thai throw open the doors to its beautiful al fresco patio area for both lunch and dinner. But we’d hedge our bets on the latter time of the day for a great meal when the din of BKC reduces to a mere whisper. Done up with hints of royal Thai purple with carefully manicured topiaries and flower beds, the outdoor space is an elegant place to enjoy a romantic date and a welcome new addition to the city, as it offers an unparalled experience that seamlessly blends fine food, exotic cocktails and a casual, yet chic ambience. Whet your appetite here with drinks like the signature butterfly pea tea and kayanta cocktail. The kitchen at Nara Thai specialises in regional cooking, offering an impressive array of piquant salads like the crispy fried morning glory, okra with Thai herbs and yum som o (pomelo salad). Go for mains like the khao phad goong and the crab omelette and thank us later. But save place for the decadent 40-layer Thai crème cake that comes doused with a Thai milk tea sauce.
While it may have made its debut in the city a few months ago, it is the recent chill in the air that has made Nara Thai throw open the doors to its beautiful al fresco patio area for both lunch and dinner. But we’d hedge our bets on the latter time of the day for a great meal when the din of BKC reduces to a mere whisper. Done up with hints of royal Thai purple with carefully manicured topiaries and flower beds, the outdoor space is an elegant place to enjoy a romantic date and a welcome new addition to the city, as it offers an unparalled experience that seamlessly blends fine food, exotic cocktails and a casual, yet chic ambience. Whet your appetite here with drinks like the signature butterfly pea tea and kayanta cocktail. The kitchen at Nara Thai specialises in regional cooking, offering an impressive array of piquant salads like the crispy fried morning glory, okra with Thai herbs and yum som o (pomelo salad). Go for mains like the khao phad goong and the crab omelette and thank us later. But save place for the decadent 40-layer Thai crème cake that comes doused with a Thai milk tea sauce.
Where: Ground Floor, Raheja
Towers, Opposite SIDBI, Bandra-Kurla Complex
Call: 61378080
Timings: 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11:30pm
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 2,500
Call: 61378080
Timings: 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11:30pm
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 2,500
FOR THE VIEW
Estella
Undoubtedly offering one of the best views in the city where the magical sight of the setting sun melting into the Juhu beach waters greets you, Estella puts on a mighty show every evening. They even custom laser projections into the night sky according to your celebration, making this THE place to pop that all important question. Choose a well-made Champagne margarita from the bar that juts out from the main dining area onto the al fresco deck, while you nibble on an appetizer of seared scallops. For mains, savour the taste of the grass-fed Marlboro lamb rack and seal it all off with a plum and frangipane tart for dessert. And while the price of the food and drink here might be on the higher side, what’s a bit of money compared to the breath-taking experience of seeing the city from a whole other perspective?
Undoubtedly offering one of the best views in the city where the magical sight of the setting sun melting into the Juhu beach waters greets you, Estella puts on a mighty show every evening. They even custom laser projections into the night sky according to your celebration, making this THE place to pop that all important question. Choose a well-made Champagne margarita from the bar that juts out from the main dining area onto the al fresco deck, while you nibble on an appetizer of seared scallops. For mains, savour the taste of the grass-fed Marlboro lamb rack and seal it all off with a plum and frangipane tart for dessert. And while the price of the food and drink here might be on the higher side, what’s a bit of money compared to the breath-taking experience of seeing the city from a whole other perspective?
Where: Nichani Kutir, Juhu Tara
Road, Juhu
Call: 7999998232/7999998212
Timings: 6pm to 1:30am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 5,500
Call: 7999998232/7999998212
Timings: 6pm to 1:30am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 5,500
FOR THE WEEKEND
VIBE
Carouse
Boasting of a mammoth 2,000 sq. ft. of rooftop, al fresco space with some awesome music, Carouse makes for a very interesting new addition to the city’s cache of rooftop restaurants. Done up in natural stone and wood finishes in deep charcoal with a latticed boundary fencing it off, this outdoor space has a live grill counter serving amazing barbeques with private gazebos for those seeking a bit of privacy with their flavoured sheeshas. While on most nights, a DJ plays his fixed sets, on weekends one can enjoy live music gigs as you sip on drinks like the wacky and aptly named mad king (bourbon whiskey, rosemary reduction, burnt orange, egg white and bitters) served in a mini wooden cabinet. Nibbles like the beetroot, feta and onion tart and the more substantial mains like the fenugreek pesto rubbed grilled chicken, make its French-influenced menu shine at its brightest, just like the stars overhead!
Boasting of a mammoth 2,000 sq. ft. of rooftop, al fresco space with some awesome music, Carouse makes for a very interesting new addition to the city’s cache of rooftop restaurants. Done up in natural stone and wood finishes in deep charcoal with a latticed boundary fencing it off, this outdoor space has a live grill counter serving amazing barbeques with private gazebos for those seeking a bit of privacy with their flavoured sheeshas. While on most nights, a DJ plays his fixed sets, on weekends one can enjoy live music gigs as you sip on drinks like the wacky and aptly named mad king (bourbon whiskey, rosemary reduction, burnt orange, egg white and bitters) served in a mini wooden cabinet. Nibbles like the beetroot, feta and onion tart and the more substantial mains like the fenugreek pesto rubbed grilled chicken, make its French-influenced menu shine at its brightest, just like the stars overhead!
Where: 1st floor, P2 building,
Raghuvanshi Mills compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West
Call: 33126701/24978080
Timings: 4pm to 1:30am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 3,000
Call: 33126701/24978080
Timings: 4pm to 1:30am
Approx. Cost for two with drinks and dinner: Rs 3,000
(An edited version of this review appeared in the 26th December 2017 issue of the evening edition of the Mid-Day newspaper, India https://m.mid-day.com/articles/top-4-open-air-restaurants-in-mumbai-you-must-visit-for-a-dinner-date/18859169)
Sunday, October 22, 2017
A-N-A-T-O-M-I-Z-E: Khao Phad Samunprai (Butterfly Pea Flower Rice)
By Raul Dias
There's just something about the twinning of the words 'flowers' and 'Thailand' that seems so very natural and organic. While the South East Asian nation's national flower--the orchid is flown into India by the plane-load almost every day straight from the Pak Khlong Talat wholesale flower market in Bangkok, decorating many a wedding mandap, it's edible counterparts are na'er too far away!
And while we've seen the 'blooming' of chrysanthemum flowers and syrups in several cocktail
preparations across India, it is another flower that's been recently painting the Mumbai dining scene a vivid shade of blue. Enter the butterfly pea flower.
Now, this flower of the clitoria ternatea plant when steeped in water has been a perennial rite herbal tea in Thailand for centuries where it is known as nam dok anchan. It’s also renowned for its healt benefits taking care of everything from conjunctivitis to enhancing memory and brain power.
Distilling all this into one bizarre looking, but super flavourful rice preparation is Mumbai's newest Thai restaurant Nara Thai. Khao Phad Samunprai or Butterfly Pea Flower Rice may be a tongue-twister of a name, but this novel rice preparation is a delicious blend of pre-cooked short grain rice, sliced lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves that are wok-tossed with young peppercorns, deep fried red chilli and splashed with the unusual white soy sauce and a decoction of dried butterfly pea flowers steeped in warm water.
At first luridly blue, this rice takes on a shocking purple hue when one squeezes a bit of lime juice over it, with the acidity of the lime juice reacting enough with the butterfly pea flower to change colours.
How's that for a touch of psychedelia on your plate!
(This column first appeared in the 22nd October 2017 issue of The Hindu newspaper's Sunday Magazine section on page 8 http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/butterfly-pea-flower-rice/article19895112.ece)
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Out of the Blue!
Imparting a brilliant blue hue to everything it comes in contact with, the butterfly pea flower from. Thailand finds a firm place for itself on the menus of restaurants and bars across the city
By Raul Dias
While chemistry might not have been everybody’s cup of tea in school (it certainly wasn’t ours), it’s sure proving to be everybody’s ‘cup of cocktail’ these days. Quite literally! Enter the brilliantly blue hued butterfly pea flower from Thailand with its amazing chameleon-like colour changing properties, turning purple when it comes in contact with lime juice.
“This unique flower with its colour changing property makes it the perfect addition to a good-looking drink without using any artificial colour,” says Ami Shroff, mixologist at London Taxi, one of the recent places that have cottoned onto this trend that we’re seeing gaining popularity over the last six months or so.
To get a little geeky on you, this flower of the clitoria ternatea plant when steeped in water has been a perennial favourite herbal tea in many South Asian countries and particularly Thailand for centuries where it is known as nam dok anchan. It’s also renowned for its health benefits taking care of everything from conjunctivitis to enhancing memory and brain power.
“Our mixologists focus heavily on local ingredients from Southeast Asia”, says Tanai Shirali -Director Operations Bellona Hospitality, the guys behind the popular Shizusan Shophouse & Bar and avid users of the butterfly pea flower. “It isn’t sweet and syrupy and has an earthier woody taste like the regular green tea. However, most people like their cocktails a little sweet so the addition on the citrusy lime not only changes the colour but when mixed with palm sugar gives the cocktail the required sweet note.”
At the newly opened Nara Thai restaurant, the flower features prominently on the both the food and drinks menus. “The butterfly pea flower is a very neutral ingredient as it doesn’t have any strong flavour of its own and doesn’t influence the flavour profile of the drink or dish. It imparts a different colour depending on the citrus level of the dish/drink. One can experiment with the colours at the same time make sure that the flavour doesn’t get affected”, says Karyna Bajaj Executive Director KA Hospitality, the group that has got Nara Thai to India.
Here’s a glimpse at the many ways the flower finds itself ‘adorning’ drinks and dishes across Mumbai:
Butterfly Pea Sour
A refreshing iteration of a classic Peruvian pisco sour, this cocktail at the just opened Nara Thai pushes the creative envelope a whole lot further. Made just like a standard pisco sour, with pisco, lime juice and sugar syrup, this one is enhanced with a tea made with butter fly pea flowers and is anointed with the obligatory cloud of foamed egg white and a dried butterfly pea flower as a garnish.
At Nara Thai, Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, BKC
Call 61378080
Cost Rs 600
Hattori Hanzo
The cocktail menu at Shizusan Shophouse & Bar focuses on classic cocktails with an Asian twist using lesser-used ingredients like oolong tea, and, in this case, butterfly pea flowers. A mélange of tequila, butterfly pea flower tea, lime the cocktail is named after the warrior/monk Hattori Hanzo. When made with precision, the drink changes colour and is an apt toast to celebrate Hattori Hanzo’s dual life.
At Shizusan, Skyzone, Highstreet Phoenix, Lower Parel
Call 7045004138
Cost Rs 575
Blue Chamomile G&T
Another riff on a tired and tested cocktail—this time the G&T—is the blue chamomile G&T at the brand new restobar London Taxi. Here, the gin is infused with dried butterfly pea flowers and chamomile and kept very simple with the addition of lime juice and tonic water.
At London Taxi, Kamala Mills, A-Wing, Trade World, Lower Parel
Call 9029990454
Cost Rs 725
Not Just in Drinks...
Khao Phad Samunprai (Butterfly Pea Flower Rice)
Never mind its tongue-twister of a name, this super novel rice preparation is proof that the use of the
butterfly pea flower needn’t be limited to drinks only! At first luridly blue, this rice that’s made with short grain Thai rice, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and white soy sauce, takes on a shocking purple hue when one squeezes a bit of lime juice over it.
At Nara Thai, Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, BKC
Call 61378080
Cost Rs 250
(An edited version of this article appeared in the 11th September 2017 issue of the evening edition of Mid-Day newspaper, India)
By Raul Dias
While chemistry might not have been everybody’s cup of tea in school (it certainly wasn’t ours), it’s sure proving to be everybody’s ‘cup of cocktail’ these days. Quite literally! Enter the brilliantly blue hued butterfly pea flower from Thailand with its amazing chameleon-like colour changing properties, turning purple when it comes in contact with lime juice.
“This unique flower with its colour changing property makes it the perfect addition to a good-looking drink without using any artificial colour,” says Ami Shroff, mixologist at London Taxi, one of the recent places that have cottoned onto this trend that we’re seeing gaining popularity over the last six months or so.
To get a little geeky on you, this flower of the clitoria ternatea plant when steeped in water has been a perennial favourite herbal tea in many South Asian countries and particularly Thailand for centuries where it is known as nam dok anchan. It’s also renowned for its health benefits taking care of everything from conjunctivitis to enhancing memory and brain power.
“Our mixologists focus heavily on local ingredients from Southeast Asia”, says Tanai Shirali -Director Operations Bellona Hospitality, the guys behind the popular Shizusan Shophouse & Bar and avid users of the butterfly pea flower. “It isn’t sweet and syrupy and has an earthier woody taste like the regular green tea. However, most people like their cocktails a little sweet so the addition on the citrusy lime not only changes the colour but when mixed with palm sugar gives the cocktail the required sweet note.”
At the newly opened Nara Thai restaurant, the flower features prominently on the both the food and drinks menus. “The butterfly pea flower is a very neutral ingredient as it doesn’t have any strong flavour of its own and doesn’t influence the flavour profile of the drink or dish. It imparts a different colour depending on the citrus level of the dish/drink. One can experiment with the colours at the same time make sure that the flavour doesn’t get affected”, says Karyna Bajaj Executive Director KA Hospitality, the group that has got Nara Thai to India.
Here’s a glimpse at the many ways the flower finds itself ‘adorning’ drinks and dishes across Mumbai:
Butterfly Pea Sour
A refreshing iteration of a classic Peruvian pisco sour, this cocktail at the just opened Nara Thai pushes the creative envelope a whole lot further. Made just like a standard pisco sour, with pisco, lime juice and sugar syrup, this one is enhanced with a tea made with butter fly pea flowers and is anointed with the obligatory cloud of foamed egg white and a dried butterfly pea flower as a garnish.
At Nara Thai, Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, BKC
Call 61378080
Cost Rs 600
Hattori Hanzo
The cocktail menu at Shizusan Shophouse & Bar focuses on classic cocktails with an Asian twist using lesser-used ingredients like oolong tea, and, in this case, butterfly pea flowers. A mélange of tequila, butterfly pea flower tea, lime the cocktail is named after the warrior/monk Hattori Hanzo. When made with precision, the drink changes colour and is an apt toast to celebrate Hattori Hanzo’s dual life.
At Shizusan, Skyzone, Highstreet Phoenix, Lower Parel
Call 7045004138
Cost Rs 575
Blue Chamomile G&T
Another riff on a tired and tested cocktail—this time the G&T—is the blue chamomile G&T at the brand new restobar London Taxi. Here, the gin is infused with dried butterfly pea flowers and chamomile and kept very simple with the addition of lime juice and tonic water.
At London Taxi, Kamala Mills, A-Wing, Trade World, Lower Parel
Call 9029990454
Cost Rs 725
Not Just in Drinks...
Khao Phad Samunprai (Butterfly Pea Flower Rice)
Never mind its tongue-twister of a name, this super novel rice preparation is proof that the use of the
butterfly pea flower needn’t be limited to drinks only! At first luridly blue, this rice that’s made with short grain Thai rice, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and white soy sauce, takes on a shocking purple hue when one squeezes a bit of lime juice over it.
At Nara Thai, Ground Floor, Raheja Towers, BKC
Call 61378080
Cost Rs 250
(An edited version of this article appeared in the 11th September 2017 issue of the evening edition of Mid-Day newspaper, India)
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