Raw Beauties!

Showing us that there’s a whole lot more to raw fish dishes than plain old Japanese sashimi are a host of interesting and exotic preparations from as far as Peru to the Philippines. Smart Life introduces you to a few such edible wonders.  

By Raul Dias

It’s safe to say that most of the world’s love affair with raw fish is rather recent. And one that is in its embryonic stages as far the average Indian diner is concerned. Once looked upon as freakishly alien and best left to where it belonged, the raw fish wonder that is Japanese sashimi has ensnared the entire world with its fresh, clean taste and healthy diet appeal. 

Today, sushi bars are an ubiquitous site the world over, with patrons hungry for a piece of that freshly sliced amberjack or for a portion of those gossamer thin slivers of yellowfin tuna—all anointed with a dab of wasabi and a splash of shoyu (soy sauce). And while smoked salmon too has made its way around the world via Scandinavia in the form of gravlax and New York (where it is known as lox), our notion of raw fish preparations is still woefully confined to the above-mentioned two. Not anymore! 

Digging a little deeper into the vast sphere of world cuisine shows us the existence of a whole smorgasbord (pun intended!) of raw fish dish iterations from a diverse number of places that have been enjoyed for centuries in various forms and styles.

Here are a few such raw revelations: 

Poké from Hawaii

Pronounced poh-kay and meaning to “cut crosswise into pieces” this supremely healthy and tasty one bowl Hawaiian origin dish is a very simple preparation that sees short grain sushi rice that has been pre-vinegared as the base. This rice is then topped with diced raw fish and other seafood that can range from salmon and tuna to octopus and sea urchin. A splash of soy, a squirt of Japanese mayonnaise, a dusting of the Japanese spice blend called furikake, sesame seeds and dried flakes of nori (seaweed) finish off this dish that is criminally addictive and clean tasting. Interestingly, very similar to poké is the Korean dish called hoedeopbap that consists of marinated raw tuna served over rice.

Ceviche from Peru

Over the last decade or so the popularity of this paradoxically raw, yet ‘cooked’ fish dish from Peru has reached dizzying heights. This seemingly simple dish is a complex preparation made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with ají chillies and other seasonings including chopped onions, salt, and coriander. It is the all-important citrus that cooks the fish, turning its translucent flesh into a milky opaque. Ceviche is usually accompanied by side dishes that complement its flavours such as sweet potato, lettuce, roasted corn kernels called cancha and the current hipster chic craze—avocado!

Kokoda from Fiji

Coming to us straight from the swaying coconut trees and cool waters of the lush Fijian islands, this raw fish dish celebrates two of the island’s greatest resources—coconuts and its abundant seafood. Pronounced ko-kon-da, kokoda is a refreshing salad-appetizer that’s perfect after a day swimming the cerulean ocean. Just like a ceviche, cubed white fish like snapper, walu or mahi mahi is first marinated in a citrus mixture so that it cures and cooks and then a splash of cooling coconut cream is added to give the dish its creamy consistency. Diced tomatoes and a few fronds of coriander finish off this dish that is always served in a hollowed-out coconut shell.  

Crudo and Carpaccio from Italy

Literally meaning ‘crude’ or ‘raw’ in Italian, crudo is a super popular and versatile raw fish dish from Italy that can be anything from slices of raw fish drizzled over with olive oil and seasoning, to a chopped version just like a steak tartare that’s always topped with an egg yolk. Similarly, fish carpaccio is the pescatarian version of the thinly sliced raw beef dish of the same name that was invented in 1950 by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice and named in honour of Vittore Carpaccio, the Venetian painter known for his characteristic red and white tones.  

Yusheng from China

Literally meaning “raw fish” the dish is basically a Cantonese-style raw fish salad consisting of strips of raw fish mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Also known as the “prosperity toss”, yusheng has been a Cantonese favourite for decades with the most common form being the qicai yusheng (seven-coloured raw fish salad) served in local restaurants during the Chinese New Year period. And although versions of it are thought to have existed in ancient China, the contemporary version was created and popularised in the 1960s.

Kinilaw from the Philippines

An interesting raw fish dish that is closely related to not one but two dishes on this list, kinilaw from the Philippines borrows elements from both a ceviche and a kokoda. Hailing from the Visayan region of the archipelago, the name kinilaw is derived from the word, “kilaw”, which means raw or uncooked. Just like a ceviche, the seafood is ‘cooked’ without the application of heat but is rather cured in vinegar. Additional souring agents like the native calamansi (a lime-orange like fruit), tamarind, or green mangoes are added to enhance its tartness. To complete the dish, black pepper, onions, ginger, seaweed and sliced chilies are also added. And in some parts of the country, just like a kokoda, a dash of coconut milk or cream is added to give the dish a creamy, sweetish send-off! 

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the November 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

Bowled Over!

Known for its wholesome appeal and colourful components, the meal-in-one bowl is fast becoming one of the hottest international food trends—from its savoury to sweet avatars. Smart Life brings you a few such bowls from across the country.  

By Raul Dias

Almost instantly spelling out the words ‘Comfort Food’ in big, bold alphabets, the one bowl meal has a certain easy-going, pretence-free vibe about it and one that has achieved popularity and hipster-chic credence over the last couple of years. Not only are they a convenient and clever way to mix all of your favourite ingredients together, but for whatever reason food just seems more interesting when served from a bowl!
Be it an Asian-style Buddha bowl, a Korean bibimbap-influenced bowl or a fruit and oats-laden breakfast bowl topped with the very fashionable and au courant sliced avocado and chia seeds, the bowl meal is here to stay.
We’ve compiled a list of a few such bowls here in India that have left us, well…bowled over with their brilliance.

Hot Pot Bowl
At Pra Pra Prank, Gurugram
A hot pot is a classic Mongolian rice dish that is served with various vegetable and meat toppings which come sizzling hot in a stone pot. One gets fantastically browned brunt rice at the bottom of the pot, making this dish extra delicious. In this version of the one bowl meal, wok tossed Schezwan-sauced rice is topped with chicken, water chestnuts, roasted peanuts, sweet corn kernels, chives, mushrooms and fried garlic. What makes this dish even more special is that it gives the diner the unique experience of eating from a sizzling stone bowl into which all the ingredients are mixed in front of them. “I came up with this idea because when we were preparing for our new menu, winter was approaching. And so, I thought that I should present my guests with a memorable experience,” says Chef Aryav, the Executive Chef at Pra Pra Prank. “And I thought that there can be nothing better than a sizzling hot meat and rice dish which stays hot till the last bite!”

Morning Glory Bowl and Tokyo Pork Bowl
At Shibuii, Mumbai
Offering two distinct bowls—one vegetarian and one pork-based—this new Pan-Asian restaurant champions this food trend. To begin with, the morning glory bowl is composed of a serving of morning glory leaves tossed in garlic and chilly and then bathed in yellow bean sauce. This is complimented with steamed aromatic jasmine rice. To complete the meal, the bowl also consists of delicately hand rolled vegetable spring rolls drizzled with a tangy hoisin sauce, which gives the meal that extra something. To add to it, the bowl also includes some starch in the form of finger potatoes in a sweet and spicy sauce.
On the other hand, the Tokyo pork bowl is made up of delicious and succulent chargrilled pork belly slices glazed in a spiced curry broth made with the stock of pork, herbs and vegetables. All this is perfectly paired with steamed jasmine rice with prawn crackers and a hand-rolled spring roll adding some crunch to your meal-in-one bowl.

Chilli Tossed Tuna Poké Bowl
At Toast & Tonic  Bengaluru
Generally, this Hawaiian-origin one bowl wonder is a delicious concoction where soy- and sesame oil-marinated raw tuna cubes are served atop vinegared sushi rice. Predominantly a lunch dish, poké (pronounced poh-kay) has taken over the world as a healthy, highly nutritious and fun way to eat fish and rice. Dishing out one of the yummiest iterations of the dish in India we’ve had the pleasure of eating, Toast & Tonic in Bengaluru’s Ashok Nagar does things a little differently with their Chilli Tossed Tuna Poké Bowl. Here the traditional sushi rice is substituted for the short-grained and sticky Gobindobhog variety from Bengal, with the bowl topped off with a passion fruit and pineapple vinaigrette, a halved, beetroot-pickled boiled egg and fresh avocado cubes. All of this is then sprinkled with micro mustard greens, shards of nori (dried Japanese seaweed), fried onions and a sprinkling of the very fashionable chia seeds.

Hot Stone Bowl
At Molecule Air Bar, New Delhi
Drawing in great inspiration from the classic Korean dish called bibimbap, the super colourful hot stone bowl served here consists of warm jasmine rice accompanied by various ingredients like water chestnuts, broccoli, peanuts, sprouts, tofu, spring onion, peppers, chicken, with a fried egg sitting atop it. One also gets to choose a sauce of your liking. Here all the ingredients are mixed in a heated stone bowl in front of the guest at their table and served piping hot. “This dish has very warm flavours which are just right for the winter season,” says Mohammed Anas Qureshi, the Brand Chef. “And as it is served in a hot bowl, the dish stays warm for a longer period of time. The whole idea of this dish is to serve our guest something which brings warmth to their dining experience this season.”

Kiwi Banana Smoothie Bowl
At The Daily Bar & Kitchen, Mumbai
We’ve truly saved the ‘sweetest’ bowl on this list for last with the fruity, all-day breakfast treat that is the yummy kiwi banana smoothie bowl at Mumbai’s The Daily Bar & Kitchen. This bowl is made by blending fresh kiwis and chopped bananas with yogurt that is perfect for people following a healthy diet. Coconut powder is incorporated into this mixture for added flavour, post which it is kept in the refrigerator to chill for a couple of hours. The dish is then served in a bowl and topped with slices of both fruits, delicious toasted granola and some chia seeds to add the right amount of texture. “Banana and Kiwi are my favourite fruits and I usually choose these when I am on the go. Being my staples, I decided to incorporate these two in a smoothie bowl allowing my breakfasts to be super healthy and easy to make,” says Liton Bhakta, Head Chef, The Daily Bar & Kitchen. “Since it worked so well, I decided to add this to The Daily’s menu and ever since it has been the most ordered smoothie bowl!”

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the March 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

Sweet Somethings...

What’s a romantic Valentine’s Day date without concluding it on a sweet note? Smart Life brings you some of India’s most beautiful and appealing shared desserts to indulge with.   

By Raul Dias

The adage “saving the best for last” has never been more apt when it comes to desserts. That sweet finish to a good meal puts the proverbial—and often, quite literal—cherry on the cake. After all, the dessert is the last thing one remembers of the meal. The luxurious goodness of every sweet bite rounding it all off so very well.
Now when combined with one of the most romantic days of the year, aka. Valentine’s Day, the results can be quite magical and special. It’s also safe to say that over the last couple of years the ante of desserts across the country has been upped. And how! From almost sculptural creations to some truly scrumptious treats, the dessert scene in India has entered a whole other realm.
Keeping this in mind, we’ve come up with a list of some of the most stunning confections to indulge in with your special someone all though this love-fuelled month of February. Enjoy!

Five Spice Cake
At Shanghai Club, ITC Grand Central, Mumbai
As its name suggests, this spicy, Chinese-style dessert packs in quite a punch at the end of a romantic dinner for two! As part of the Shanghai Club’s new menu, this layered confection is made up of 63% dark Belgian chocolate and chocolate cremeux which is further enhanced with a freshly ground mixture of five spices such as cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise and Sichuan peppercorns. The super-moist, flourless baked cake is also served with a whiskey-steeped Chinese pear compote for a tart and boozy contrast to its taste.

Seven Textures of Chocolate with Strawberry
At Tiamo, Conrad Bengaluru
Not just is its name a mouthful, but the main components of this decadent dessert are legendary as being associated with love. For one, chocolate has been long considered an aphrodisiacal food since the time of the Aztecs. Strawberry on the other hand, thanks to heart shape, is recognised as the symbol of Venus—the Roman Goddess of love. This visually stunning creation at the Conrad Bengaluru’s rooftop Mediterranean restaurant Tiamo is a combination of 56% chocolate, nuts, raspberries, cream cheese and fresh strawberries that are sourced from the hills of Ooty. For some additional berry heft, it is served with a quenelle made with fresh, crushed strawberries and some luscious cream cheese.

Dessert Thali
At Dhansoo Café, New Delhi
Giving an interesting desi spin to this selection of romantic shared desserts and putting a twist to the concept of a dessert platter, the innovative Dessert Thali at the brand new Dhansoo Café is a fun way to end your meal. This nine-part dessert extravaganza showcases the best of India’s regional sweet delicacies from the north to the south. And so what you get when you call for this dessert is a coconut laddu, a gulab jamun, a portion of rabdi, kesari bhat, atte ki panjiri, namak paratha, chena mukri and churros jalebi with a few slabs of Mysore pak rounding it all off.  

Warm Apple Tart
At La Loca Maria, Mumbai
Since the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the apple has played a vital role as a fruit that’s synonymous with love. Putting a whole other spin on the fruit, La Loca Maria’s Spanish expat founder Chef Manuel Olveira Seller sends out his rendition of an apple tart in style. His warm apple tart begins with a sweet pastry based with a crisp texture that’s extremely flavourful. The finely-sliced golden apples on the top are caramelised and dusted with icing sugar for a dramatic snow-like effect. A scoop of glossy strawberry and red wine sorbet sits atop the tart and provides the perfect icy foil to the warm tart below.

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the February 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

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)

Bengaluru on a plate!

Famous for its dynamic and ultra-casual dining scene, India’s ‘Garden City’ of Bengaluru has an interesting bunch of new restaurants offering a range of cuisine and dining experiences to suit everyone

By Raul Dias

No longer content at being relegated to a ‘third place’ ranking when it comes to dining out in India—when compared with the rather flashy Delhi restaurant scene or with Mumbai’s high concept driven one—the city of Bengaluru is rapidly carving out its own niche. And it does this by playing host to a number of interesting restaurants that each mirror the city’s love for relaxed, ultra-casual dining with a focus on good food.
We bring you four such eateries, each poles apart from the other as far as cuisine and ambience is concerned, but each tied in together by the culinary philosophy of Bengaluru. One where the main focus is strongly on good food in environments that references the easy-going ethos of India’s Garden City!

Mikusu at Conrad Bengaluru
Ulsoor
Though prima facie—thanks to its delightfully onomatopoeic name—Mikusu at the Conrad Bengaluru might seem like a purely Japanese restaurant, the truth is that while it is one, it also prides itself on being an “Asiatic affair” featuring a mélange of Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine influences. All this is set against a luxurious, aesthetic backdrop that reflects a sophisticated Asian vibe. It achieves this with the help of key décor pieces such as a delicate cheery blossom branch-inspired light feature and a Japanese yukata art piece made from bits of Chinese blue pottery among other pieces. Overlooking the hotel’s verdant foliage outside its large floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Mikusu is an oasis of calm with a menu featuring some highly nuanced dishes and drinks. Sent out and curated by Executive Chef Praveen Shetty and Chef Rawat, expect to find dishes here such as the traditional Thai tom yom soup, spicy salmon sushi, vegetable futomaki, tuna sashimi, and mains from the kitchen such as sriracha lotus root and grilled fish with togarashi garlic. For desserts indulge yourself with a host of mouth-watering treats such as the passion fruit tiramisu, and the almost-sculptural looking strawberry religieuse and black forest entremets. A special mention for all you cocktail lovers: make sure to call for a curated range of exquisite sake-based and exotic Asia-inspired cocktails that are made table side by a bartender behind the restaurant’s specially purposed mobile cocktail cart.

GoNative
Lavelle Road
A true-blue, feel-good kind of a place, surrounded by a virtual forest of live plants and lush foliage, GoNative is a space of not just calm and serenity, but also one where good, honest-to-goodness food and beverages trump all. To begin with, the all-vegetarian, alcohol-free restaurant uses indigenous grains, pulses and spices that are consciously chosen for their positive impact towards the environment, society and wellness. Spread over two levels, the rather huge dining space features a host of seating options, ranging from a large communal-style table to smaller nooks for intimate gatherings—all lit wonderfully by lights and eco-friendly chandeliers made by GoNative’s in-house lighting brand called Oorjaa. But coming to the food, all their dishes celebrate traditional and familiar flavours in slightly unusual and contemporary ways. Dishes like the bright green soppu neer dosa served with a veg gassi, the innovative cabbage akki roti served with a gongura thokku and the filling banana, almond and date milkshake are also said to be made from pesticide-free ingredients, homemade condiments and fresh organic produce that are sourced from farms around Bengaluru. They also periodically change their menu to integrate seasonal fruits and vegetables into their dishes. This keeps the food light on the tummy, nutritious and healthy. But that’s not all for this eco warrior of a restaurant, not only does GoNative claim to segregate waste, but all organic matter is also composted, and their takeaway containers are biodegradable and plastic-free. Go green, GoNative seems to be the mantra here!

Foxtrot House of Subculture
Koramangala
Dubbing itself as a place modelled on a frat house, Foxtrot House of Subculture claims to be Bengaluru’s new address for good times. And we simply cannot get over the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of hybridity that this place is imbued with. A bustling coffeehouse focussed in the outdoor patio area during the day, Foxtrot transforms into a thriving cocktail bar indoors during the night with plush couches and crystal drop chandeliers creating the ambience. And as an added plus, Foxtrot is also the home to Mimansa, a health cafe, store, and studio for your daily yoga regimen. The menu here is a global mix of small plates and some large plate options, leaning towards forgotten, hyper-local Indian creations mixed with global ingredients and vice versa. It is divided into breakfast, brunch, south Indian menu, lunch trays with numerous dependable options like the beetroot galouti and the chicken tikka kulcha for snacks and the Tellicherry mutton boti and soya haleem for mains. Their signature cocktails like the lavender- and vodka-based poison ivy and the dark rum- and turmeric-based tornado are also quite impressive with a great mix of flavours. We like!

Cantan
Lavelle Road
Totally devoid of the expected and rather clichéd embellishments like plenty of calligraphy and Chinoiserie one finds at most Chinese restaurants today, Cantan is a like a gentle, refreshing breeze. Calling itself a ‘Chinese Bar House’, the twin-level restaurant nestled along the leafy Lavelle Road in the heart of Bengaluru is a rich multi-sensorial experience with as much subtle drama in its ambience as there is in its sumptuous fare. Speaking of the former, here you will encounter elements like the red dragons laying claim over the bar, the clay tile clad feature wall above the bar inspired by the Great Wall of China and lit-up panels, continuing design details from the lower floor as well as evoking a tea room. Crafted by Executive Chef Prashanth, a veteran in his field, the food’s central theme is inspired by Cantonese fare, specifically from Guangzhou. Think hearty hot pots, Shaokao style Chinese barbeque skewers of aromatic meats and vegetables ready for a wood-fire oven, cold plates, dainty dim sums, the freshest seafood tossed in house-made sauces, and a line-up of stellar signature cocktails like the plum and gin-based Cantan XO. For afters, don’t forget to leave some space for the pillow-y, cloud-like Cantonese steamed cheesecake with a zesty mulberry coulis to give the dessert that perfectly tart send off.

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the January 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

Serene Bliss!

Offering a host of tailormade wellness solutions and world-class relaxation facilities, the luxurious Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort is a fecund, tropical paradise, all set in the heart of downtown Bangkok. 

By Raul Dias

A unique urban health retreat surrounded by 1.2 acres of lush greenery, the brand new Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok by the Accor Group of hotels 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. “Bangkok is a bustling and vibrant metropolis that travellers from all over the world aspire to visit at least once in their lifetime. We are delighted to bring a hotel inspired by such a unique wellness concept into the heart of the city, where our guests can relax within lush green gardens whilst enjoying convenient access to the BDMS Wellness Clinic,” says Patrick Basset, Chief Operating Officer of Accor for Upper Southeast & Northeast Asia and the Maldives.

Urban Oasis
The one aspect of the resort’s setting that’s truly impressive is the range of accommodation options the resort has on offer. While the Deluxe Rooms extend 42 sqm of personalised comfort, the Executive Suite 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.
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.

Perfect Blend
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. “With travellers placing more value on health and wellness than ever before, we are very excited to bring this innovative new concept to the market. Increasingly, wellness is moving beyond the walls of the spa and fitness areas with guests also wanting greater access to personalised programming,” says Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, Director of Well-Being, Accor. “Our new offering in Bangkok is a perfect example of how we are meeting this need and delivering sustainable, approachable wellbeing concepts to visiting guests as well as local communities.”
Taking full advantage of the wonderful Fitness Centre, guests must make 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. 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.

Healthy Bites!
At the resort, international dining tastes are fully catered to 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 daytime 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 favourite.


Fact File
Getting There
There are a number of daily direct flights from most major Indian cities to Bangkok. The easy to procure Thai visa can either be obtained in advance online or at the various Thailand consular missions across India or on arrival (free till 30th April 2020) at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Stay
Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok, 2 Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Telephone: +66 (2) 666 3333, E-mail: resort.bdms.sales@movenpick.com
www. movenpick.com

Things to do
The resort’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.

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the January 2020 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

Armenia: A hidden gem!

By Raul Dias

(This piece was first published in the December 2019 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

Themed Bites!

Cashing in on the recent international trend of the ‘Themed Restaurant’ are a host of interesting eateries across India where everything from a vintage train-themed restaurant to one where you can buy the plate you’re eating on are drawing in those seeking to dine with a difference.

By Raul Dias

Who amongst us doesn’t like an evening peppered with loads of fun, laughs and great food and drink thrown into the mix? Enter the themed restaurant where dining out is coupled with some true-blue innovation. All this, in a setting that is almost phantasmagorical and deliciously thematic. A worldwide phenomenon for the last few years, India is finally witnessing a mighty surge in the themed restaurant.
The latest to come knocking on India’s doors is the robot restaurant that has become a sort of mainstay in places like Tokyo and Seoul. Staffed by a posse of humanoids with names like Arya, Ramya and Zoey, and simply called ‘Robot Restaurant’, this eatery in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar neighbourhood is drawing in diners by the drove since it opened in August this year.
We take a look at a few other such themed restaurants across the country. Places where there sure is a lot of dining room drama—both on and off the plate!    

Frontier Mail
Turbaned servers dressed like train attendants help you climb onto your designated carriage from the mock ‘railway station’ recreated below, as they stack your coats and bags onto the overhead shelves. Said carriage is an exact replica—if a tad larger—of an actual train dining car, embellished with all the grandeur and glamour that was associated with train travel in the early 1900s. Yes, providing a unique dining experience, Frontier Mail at the majestic Noor Mahal Hotel in Karnal has been designed recreating the legendry Frontier Mail train that operated between Mumbai and Peshawar during pre-independence days. Wood panelled walls gleam in the light of crystal sconces, while you sit on richly-upholstered chairs facing a polished wooden table. Interestingly, the wooden planks one sees under the mock train compartment are the actual ones over which the Frontier Mail once used to run. Even the menu at Frontier Mail comprises of dishes from the regions through which the train made its initial journey. Here is where you get to indulge in everything from fragrant biryanis of the erstwhile North West Frontier Province to Indo-Western fusion dishes like blue cheese stuffed fish kebabs to even a Mumbai-style prawn curry. For afters, make sure to end your meal with a serving of the sublime paan-flavoured ice cream.

Noor Mahal Hotel, NH1, Sector-32, Karnal (NCR).
Tel: 09996787884 / 891 / 892

Plum by Bentchair
This new Mumbai restaurants takes the whole themed restaurant idea to another stratosphere with its sheer innovative brilliance. The result of the coupling between a hospitality and a furniture brand, Plum by Bentchair, which along with its sister restaurant of the same name in New Delhi’s plush Aerocity enclave, bills itself as India’s first true ‘retail restaurant’. Here the diner has the option of buying whatever catches their fancy in the breathtakingly beautiful and eclectic space nestled in city’s Kamala Mills restaurant super hub. From the furniture to the lights to the plates, everything is on sale. From the design aspect, the entire restaurant is a display area of different collections and is all about the minute details, which are colourful, kitsch and eye-catching. Every dimension is well-kept and blends into each other rather than being distinctive. As for the food, the Pan-Asian cuisine menu is composed of signature dishes like the black fungus and bamboo shoot salad, edamame truffle wontons and the divine East Asian curry pot, among scores of other yummies like their extensive range of sushi. Speaking of which, upping the ante as far as innovation in food is concerned, Plum sends out the wacky-yet-yum Nutella banana sushi for dessert.

3^rd Floor Trade View Building, Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel, Mumbai.
Tel: 022-61344237

The Bedroom at The Flying Elephant
With an oddly incongruous name like ‘The Bedroom’, this themed section at the even more strangely named multi-leveled The Flying Elephant restaurant in Chennai revels in its rather playful nature. We’re informed that the reason it is called The Bedroom is because it is the most private portion of the otherwise high-energy restaurant. Precariously perched at the topmost level with a vertigo-inducing view of the rest of the gargantuan restaurant down below, this section seats up to 20 diners and is kitted out with silver-gold accents on the luxuriant upholstery and a bright red table. The space exudes a quiet luxury and makes a sophisticated style statement with a sparkling chandelier that is its focal point. Menus at The Bedroom are specially curated for the space. So that one can expect everything from succulent andana kebabs or hot pizzas from the wood-fired pizza oven to the decadent pork belly—a signature dish at The Flying Elephant. Some of the other creature comforts diners can indulge in here include both a private butler and a private bar dispensing yummy ‘Prohibition Era’ cocktails that hark back to America’s swinging 1920s.

Park Hyatt Chennai, 39 Velachery Main Rd, Guindy, Chennai.
Tel: 044-71771655

Prankster
Calling itself India’s first food and brewery campus—all inspired by the collegiate way of life—the rather playful and whimsical Prankster in Gurugram packs a mighty punch with an unbridled feeling of youthful energy, all thanks to its campus-like theme. The cuisine at this cool-n-casual first-storied restaurant can best be described as ‘progressive nostalgic’ where the chefs attempt to fuse numerous indigenous dishes with contemporary techniques and a twist. The extensive menu is peppered with innovative 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 bunk beds and study tables.

8-9-10, Sector 29, Main Market, Gurugram (NCR).
Tel: 0124-4266653

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the November 2019 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

Hop in to Kangaroo Island!

Almost literally a hop, skip and a jump away from the city of Adelaide, the flora- and fauna-rich Kangaroo Island is South Australia’s best kept little secret, offering a range of things to see and do.

By Raul Dias

Honest confession: I don’t do very well ensconced in the confines of a tiny plane. It’s just something about being cooped up like sardines in a tin can that gets to me. Sadly, at just under half an hour, that’s the fastest—and most logical way—to get to the stunning Kangaroo Island from Adelaide. What with the sea journey between the Cape Jervis Port (two hours south of Adelaide) and the Penneshaw Port on Kangaroo Island raking up a good four hours in total, along with driving time to and from the two ports.
Suspended from the mainland of South Australia like a dusty ruby, thanks to its red mud, the island always held great sway to a traveller like myself who had only read about it in other travel tales, thus far. And so, braving the short flight aboard the tiny Regional Express plane, I soldiered on as the twin-propeller aircraft swooped its way down towards terra firma…
With 541 km of coastline and 155 km long by 55 km wide, Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island, but the minuscule size of its one and only airport at Kingscote, the island’s capital town, belies this distinction. Waiting for my group of three friends and I outside the small terminal building was our guide for the next two days Nikki Redman with her jazzed up mini bus, ready to show us the island where she’s spent all her life and which she loves with a fierce passion.

All ‘Seal’ed Up!
Our first stop on the island was Seal Bay. Nestled along the island’s southern coast, Seal Bay is a playground for over 600 Australian sea-lions (neophoca cinerea) that seem to spend all day in the pursuit of their beauty sleep. Taking the weathered wooden pathway from the astonishingly well-equipped visitor’s centre down the white sanded beach, we made our way past clusters of plump mum and baby pairs of sea-lions in various stages of their seasonal moulting, some with soft tufts of new white fur, while others, like fashion-conscious ladies, still shedding their brownish-black ‘last season togs’. But the benign giants aren’t the only residents that call this fecund paradise home, we were lucky to get a glimpse of a group of elusive Hooded Plovers as well as some white-bellied Sea-Eagles taking flight. All I truly wanted to do there right then and there was to plonk myself on the beach and commune with nature at its purest, undiluted best. But that was sadly not to be.

Nature’s Grotto
Lured away with the threat of abandonment, we reluctantly headed back to the bus, so that we could savour more of Kangaroo Island’s bounty. Looming in the horizon like an erect beacon of hope, the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse is like a sentinel guarding the eerie, almost subterranean grotto of Admirals Arch. A truly fascinating wild sculpture of nature, formed by an old coastal dune being cemented together, then eroded, Admirals Arch is a place where time comes to a grinding halt. A place where one’s reverie is punctured time and again by the bellowing of the New Zealand seals that bask on the jagged rocks that jut out angrily into the sea as though proving a point. Taking the boardwalk that runs around the cliff face down into the bowels of the spectacular natural grotto, we got to the viewing platform that made for a perfect photo-op with the brutal waves doing their very own number down below. The howling wind caressed us into submission as the pungent odour of seal excrement hit our nostrils, signalling that our time was up in the cave that was beginning to look like the devil’s living room of my nightmares.

Meeting the Namesakes
Leaving my nightmares where they belonged, at the bottom of Admirals Arch, something (or rather someone) more soothing and docile beckoned. One of the things on my ‘To Do’ list when I first decided to take a trip to the land down under was just about to be struck off – tea with kangaroos for whom this beautiful island is named after!
And so, we made our way to Grassdale in the Kelly Hill Conservation Park after a tryst with some pesky pelicans at the beautiful Stokes Bay. Once a farm run by Lucy Edwards, who sold it off when it got too much to manage on her own, Grassdale is now a place for rambunctious kangaroos with tiny little joeys in their pouches to frolic about in. Sipping freshly brewed tea and tucking into shortbread biscuits, we watched as the marsupials went about their business picking at tender shoots that were beginning to emerge from the red soil.

To Bee or not to Bee!
Next day, up bright and early, we made our way to our first stop of the day—Clifford’s Honey Farm in the island’s MacGillivray neighbourhood. This family-run honey farm produces high quality honeys from various native plants—each with a distinctive flavour. I particularly enjoyed the cup gum variety.
The strain of the placid Ligurian bee, that was brought to Kangaroo Island from Italy, is disease free and high yielding, and in great demand worldwide. Clifford let us know that Kangaroo Island is the only place in the world with a wild population of the bees and has been designated as a bee sanctuary. The fine, pure honey produced by these bees is made into a variety of honey products at the farm, including honeycomb, honey ice-cream and even honey beer. The latter being a spur of the moment, unusual invention by Clifford’s son-in-law that works surprisingly well, I might add.

Hic, Hic Hurrah
And speaking of a drink, a tasting selection of gins including a yummy Thai-style chilli gin was what we tried next at the rustic chic-looking Kangaroo Island Spirits straight off the Playford Highway in Cygnet River. Located within a rather ramshackle exterior, the distillery is where liqueurs, gins and vodkas are all handmade in small batches using hand crafted copper pot stills. These high-quality spirits are additive and preservative free and where possible are made using native Australian botanicals and locally grown or sourced ingredients, including the Island favourite...you guessed it, Ligurian honey!

Rock and Roll
And buzzing we all were once again as the otherworldly Remarkable Rocks began to play a game of hide and go seek with our eyes, darting in and out of focus as we drove through a thicket of Tate’s grass tress towards the rock formation. A huge cluster of weather-beaten granite boulders perched on a large granite dome that drops 75 metres to the sea, these numinous icons of Kangaroo Island appear to be the creation of an extra territorial being… or perhaps it was just Mother Nature playing abstractionist sculptor for the day.

But then again, that’s just what Kangaroo Island does to you. It makes you imagine things you’d never imagined before and see things from a whole other perspective.

FACT FILE

Getting there
There is a daily 30-minute flight to Kingscote on Regional Express from Adelaide on the mainland of South Australia. For travelling within Kangaroo Island, it is advisable to either hire out the services of a tour company such as Kangaroo Island Odysseys (www.kiodysseys.com.au ) or perhaps self-drive a hired car, as there is virtually no public transport on the island.
Visas

Indian passport holders need a visa to enter Australia, which is easy to procure with the introduction of the very efficient e-visa facility.

When to visit
With Kangaroo Island enjoying pleasant climate during the autumn and spring seasons, the best months to travel are from March to May and from September to early November. Summers from December to February can get a bit hot.

Accommodation
Kangaroo Island has an excellent selection of hotels to choose from to suit all budgets and tastes. Some of the best options are:
* Aurora Ozone Hotel (www.ozonehotelki.com.au)
* Kangaroo Island Seafront (www.seafront.com.au)
* Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge (www.www.kilodge.com.au)

For more information, visit www.southaustralia.com

(A differently edited version of this piece was first published in the October 2018 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)

The Foraging Rage

While foraging for produce has been a buzz word in the culinary world for the last couple of years, for the nature-reliant Swedes it has always been an intrinsic part of their lives. Discovering the finer nuances of foraging, Raul Dias also comes across a bunch of Swedish chefs who have made it their life’s mission to champion this trend with their cooking

(This article appeared in the July 2018 issue of the The Man magazine, India) 

Restaurant Review: Luca, Mumbai

(This review appeared in the October 2017 issue of The Week's The Man magazine)

12 Hours in Lisbon

A beautiful, quaint city by the River Tagus, Lisbon clings on to the past with all its might, showing you its wonders all in the span of a day, making your Portugal holiday a memorable one—however short!

By Raul Dias

With its winding cobblestoned streets and breath-taking architecture, Lisbon is much more than just the capital of Portugal. Imbued with as much history as culture, a trip to this great European city is rewarding beyond compare. And there is much to be seen and done, even if you have just a few hours in this stunning city of seven hills that sits pretty by the River Tagus! 

8.30am Start your day about town just like the sugar-loving Lisbonites do — with a cup of ferociously potent black coffee and a plate of scrumptious egg custard tarts. Doused with powdered sugar and lashings of cinnamon dust, these beauties are best had at the Pastéis de Belém pastry shop in the Belém neighbourhood that has been making them since 1837, following an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. Speaking if which walk off all the excesses of the morning with a saunter down to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos — a stunning Gothic edifice and the attached Church of Santa Maria that houses the tomb of the great Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who first European to reach India by sea, and thus helping Portugal colonise Goa.

9.45am While you’re still in Belém cross over the busy intersection via the footbridge and spend some time at the Belém Tower that was built in the early 16th century and is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline architectural style. A short walk down will have you staring at the Padrão dos Descobrimentos monument built in the Modern Classicism style of sculpture. Located along the Tagus river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and Orient, the monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries.   

12pm Hop on a local bus or better still a tourist rickshaw — just like the one’s here in India — and head into the heart of Lisbon at the beautiful Praça do Rossio square. It is from here that central Lisbon was rebuilt and laid out in a grid-like pattern after the 1755 earthquake destroyed part of the city. Today, the square — once the setting of popular revolts and celebrations, bullfights and executions — is now a preferred meeting place of Lisbonites who can be seen basking in the sunlight sitting on its wave-patterned tiled ground. A little further away, the hip and trendy Chiado area is the best place for some shopping and people watching as you catch the world go by near the statue of 16th century epic poet Luis de Camões at Camões Square.

2pm For lunch, why not go colonial? Confused? With nearly half a dozen erstwhile colonies including Goa here in India, Mozambique and Brazil, Portugal’s cuisine today bears a lot of influences from them. Serving some of the most authentic Goan food this side of the Mandovi river is the The Cantinho da Paz Goan restaurant in Bairro Alto with fiery vindaloo and chicken cafreal up for grabs. For a more exotic meal try the Brazilian pork and beans dish called feijoada at one of the many street-side cafes that dot the Restauradores neighbourhood while you nurse that glass of ruby red Port wine!  

3.30pm Trek up one of the city’s seven hills to visit a city icon — Saint George’s Castle that can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Its oldest parts date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors. It is now an oasis of peace, but just past the main gate is a statue of King Afonso Henriques and a series of cannons, reminders of the castle’s original purpose. What remains of the Alcaçovas Palace where medieval kings lived, is a stone building now housing a restaurant, and round the back, a small archaeological museum.

5pm With one of the most unusual of all structures in Lisbon, the Islamic architecture style-influenced Campo Pequeno Bullring should be your next stop to catch some bull fighting action. Inspired by the neo-Mudéjar, a Romantic style inspired by the old Arab architecture from Iberia, this bull fighting arena was built in 1892. Interestingly, unlike Spanish bullfighting, in Portugal the bull is not killed at the end of the fight. This was decreed by King Miguel of Portugal during his reign of 1828–1834 as he considered it inhumane to the animal.  

7pm Embark on a tranquil Tagus river cruise as you sail past other Lisbon icons like the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro-inspired Christ the King statue dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ that overlooks the city arms stretched wide on the Almada on the left bank of the river! You will also sail under the 25 de Abril Bridge which is a suspension bridge connecting the main city of Lisbon to Almada. A doppelganger of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, this Portuguese iteration has a total length of 2,277m, and is the 27th largest suspension bridge in the world for those of you who like trivia!

8.30pm You simply cannot leave Lisbon without taking in the heart-breaking beauty of a Fado performance at one of the city’s many Fado venues like the famed Clube de Fado in Alfama. This melancholic form of music is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation and fatefulness....

Pics: Raul Dias and Turismo de Portugal

FACT FILE

Getting there
While there are no direct flights from India to Lisbon, the best way to get there is via a major Western European city such as Paris, Amsterdam, Munich or Zurich. From there, there are several daily flights to Lisbon on airlines such as TAP, Swiss Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM and Easy Jet. The super-efficient metro, buses, trams and reasonable taxis make travelling within Lisbon a piece of cake… or better still, have a go at it on foot! Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa to visit Portugal, which can be obtained at the Portuguese Embassy Delhi or at the consulate in Mumbai.

When to visit
Spring and summer are the best times to visit this sun-soaked city by the River Tagus, with the months from May to September being jam-packed with street performers, carnivals and other fun activities!

Accommodation
Lisbon has an excellent selection of hotels to choose from to suit all budgets and tastes. Two of the best value-for-money options include Palacio Belmonte (www.palaciobelmonte.com) and Pousada de Lisboa (www.pousadas.pt).

(A shorter, differently edited version of this piece was first published in the July 2017 issue of The Week's Smart Life magazine)