Thursday, November 24, 2016

Boombox Brewstreet - A Review

Last week, I happened to visit this beautiful place nestled in sec 29, Gurgaon aptly named the ' Boombox Brewstreet '. Boombox is a large portable radio & cassette player which produced a very powerful sound. The decor is musically inspired and rightly so. 




The restaurant serves fusion cuisine, has a large bar and a microbrewery. It has a very casual laid back vibe to it. This is like one of those places where you would love relaxing with friends  over drinks after a hectic day.




What I ate ... firstly we were served a bite sized serving of dahi bhalla which was tangy and sets the tone for the dishes to come.




The chemical brothers - it is essentially a nitrogen treated bhel puri 




Paneer Butter and Jam- It had  deepfried paneer dumpling coated with bread  & served with a hint of jam which tasted awesome... A must try.
  


Main toh raaste se ja raha tha - the golgappas. nice and crispy.




Punjab se lekar Delhi via Spain - Rajma chawal balls served with sabudana papad. A sureshot winner.




I had a virgin Mojito, which is my all time favourite, it was pretty refreshing and a Summer Tyme, which is a vodka based drink served in a pineapple shaped vessel.

So, head over to this quirky place to let you hair down with some amazing drinks and food.


Friday, November 18, 2016

Three times Tamannaah Won us over by her style

Tamannaah Bhatia, the superstar down south mesmerized us with her breathtaking beauty in the mega blockbuster ' Bahubali '. Since then this super gorgeous girl is making head turn in awe, every time she takes centerstage. Here, I present her three recent looks that won us over...

Rocking in the Pant Suit 







She wore this alluring embellished blazer from A Madison with black pants and grabbed all attention during the success bash of her Tamil superhit 'Devi' . The minimal makeup added a classy touch to her appearance. 


Marvelous at MAMI








Tammy, as she is fondly called visited the prestigious MAMI festival in Mumbai with her 'Bahubali' team to showcase the first look of the sequel of the film. She looked resplendent in the elegant monochrome dress by Basil Soda. Her wavy tresses and bright lips only added to her oomph!!!!

Radiant & Refined







This enticing Dhruv Kapoor ensemble made her look exquisite. Hair tied neatly in high bun, and fresh dewy makeup were the highlights of this look. 

How do you like her look? what say guys!

Monday, October 17, 2016

My Ambrosial Date with the Playboy - the launch of playboy cafe in Gurgaon


When Hugh Hefner opened the first Playboy club in Chicago, USA, in 1960, it was visited by almost 132,000 people in three months making it the busiest night club in the world. And now the rabbit has invaded the millenium city and how! 









Playboy cafe is located in the heart of the city at the golf course road. It is a sprawling 14000 sq ft of plush sophistication spread across 3 floors. As I enter, I was bedazzled by the trademark playboy wall featuring playboy models and bunnies. At the centre stage, was the bar and very rightly so. The interiors were swanky and stylish and had a very international appeal. 





It is a multi cuisine restaurant and serves an array of dishes from our very favourite Maggi to delectable pasta carbonara. The drinks were good to start with - the flavoured vodka was delightful and so was the playboy LIIT.







 For the starters we had NACHOS which were delectable, SPINACH & CORN DIMSUMS which were melt in the mouth, DAHI KEBABS were yumm, EGG BENEDICT was a sure shot winner. I also like the MAGGI THAI STYLE which had coconut milk and kaffir lime giving it a Thai flavour. I ordered PASTA ARRABIATTA  which was scrumptious. There was a huge variety of non vegetarian dishes for all my carnivorous friends to choose from ...hehehe!!!!













I love to round off my meals with the most succulent and luscious desserts and was equally happy to polish off a jar full of DECADENT CHOCOLATE CAKE & TIRAMISU. 








Go check this one as its the most happening place in the town. 



Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Scuba dive to life & bliss

         



                      " The world's finest wilderness lies beneath the waves " - Wyland





Goa is my most favourite holiday destination in the country. I fell in love with the lush groves, panoramic waters and the laid back way of life, when I set my foot here almost 2 decades back. Yes, I came to Goa as a child and it has been a big part of my life ever since. I have been here at least once in  two years and would want to continue this tradition for the rest of my life.

Being an adventure junkie, I have had tried almost all kinds of water sports in Goa - paragliding, jet ski, banana boat ride to name a few. This time SCUBA DIVING is on my bucket list. Ever since I saw the underwater scene in "ZINDAGI MILEGI NA DOBARA", I am just mesmerized by the life deep down.

Goa is an ideal place for such adventure sports especially scuba diving. The absence of riptide currents makes Goa safe for such sports. The ideal season is from October to April where underwater visibility is between 5-10 m. The depth of water is generally 3- 30 m and the water temperature is around 27- 30 degrees making the diving very comfortable.

" Diving is an investment of time and money but rewards can be life changing, literally " - Andy Cummings.

Once inside the waters, Snappers, angelfish, tuna, batfish, sergeant majors are a few of fish that one could spot. In addition to the amazing corals and marine life, Goan waters have large numbers of ship wrecks including the Portugal and Spanish galleons and world war 2 wrecks. Reportedly, there are around thousand unexplored wrecks and you could be lucky to spot one !


One should be normally fit to indulge in scuba diving. It should always be done in the presence of an instructor. Knowing swimming would be an added advantage but is not mandatory. There are quite a few school for scuba diving in Goa, MOJHI being the biggest marketplace for adventure sports. You will be imparted training before hitting the waters. The important equipments for scuba diving includes a special suit, a mask, fins, regulator, buoyancy compensator and a snorkel. Also, a portable medical kit is a part of the equipment.


So, this October, book a scuba diving session and be perplexed and bewildered by the breathtaking beauty underneath. After all,

" A picture is worth a thousand words, underwater ones are worth at least a million " - Stephan Frink













Monday, September 12, 2016

If DDLJ Was remade by Ekta kapoor

There are some movies which enjoy the cult status and to just imagine it being remade is sort of criminal. Remember how Ramgopal Verma spoiled the best entertainer ever made in Bollywood, the epic SHOLAY.







Imagine if Soap Queen Ekta Kapoor plans to remake our favourite love story "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge" starring  superstar Shahrukh khan and Kajol. And  whom does she pick to play the lead roles.....any guesses?? Salman khan some would say or maybe Ranveer Singh for the main lead whereas Priyanka Chopra, Deepika or even Katrina Kaif could play the leading lady. Going by the past, it's difficult to even imagine the obvious. EKTA being Ekta will alway do the unpredictable like casting Living legend Rajnikant for the role of Raj while opting for the gorgeous Sunny Leone to play Simran. Now, let the drama unfold.

So, Raj aka Rajnikant meets Sunny babe on Chennai express while going to the same jungles where slain sandalwood smuggler Veerappan once lived. Why these jungles, you may want to know? Going by EKTA's  reputation, what can you expect from someone who made Ragini MMS  and Krishna cottage. Now, the iconic shot of Raj giving his hand to Simran to help her board the the moving train.....Rajni gives his hand to Sunny, who manages to catch it but leaves it twice before grabbing it the third time ( remember the saas bahu serials where each important shot is shown thrice- kya, kya, kya ) . And about the famous bedroom scene where Raj convinces Simran that she kissed him last night in the inebriated state. Rajnikant tells the just woken up Sunny that she kissed him last night to scare the shit out of her....and when he turns back to look at her, there's a snake (Icchadhari naagin or shape shifting snake) swooning " Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam". Oh! And I am not done yet!!
Ekta gets Aamir to play "BAUJI", "oh! Teri, jaa jee le apni zindagi "  becomes the tag line of the movie. Kareena  kapoor was initially roped in to do the role of Preeti, originally played by Mandira Bedi. She lays a certain conditions to do the part as in - there should be atleast 1 sizzling item number  in the movie so that the audiences only remember her and not the "heroine" Sunny Leone like in Dabangg 2 where her "fevicol" song outshone everyone. But now that she is preggers and it's difficult gyrating to an item song she opts out. The original is out and lookalike is in. Yes, the small wonder Alia Bhat now plays the demure and docile Preeti. She has a question - whom do I get to romance, Aamir or Rajnikant? Haha 

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Saturday, September 10, 2016

Marching my way into culinary delights @ 38 Barracks

38 Barracks ! Does the word ring a bell? Ding ding ding....Well, yes & very proudly so. It reminds us of our glorious Army and THE REAL HEROES.

                     " Some people make their parents proud but few make their country proud "





38 barracks, located in the heart of the capital at Connaught Place or CP as it is fondly called, takes its inspiration from the great heritage and timeless traditions of our army. As I make my way into the restaurant, I am amazed by the skillfully done decor. It is festooned with the memorabilia of an army man. The medals, trophies, rifles, souvenirs, photographs transporting you into a world reminiscent of bravery, integrity, candor and uprightness.



I was a part of the food bloggers group invited for chef tasting menu curated by Michelin recommended chef Gautam Choudhry. We were welcomed by pretty as a picture amuse bouche which is essentially a bite sized appetizer served according to chef's selection. It had a piece of watermelon dressed with Cream cheese and balsamic caviars.


As for drinks, I opted for the very delightful Banta which comes in three flavours - kala khatta, blueberry and raspberry.  I tried kala khatta, which was a winner hands down and blueberry was also good.



We were served an array of delectable starters like the mirchi vada which was made to perfection. I love spicy stuff and I relished it completely.


Next was beet root galouti kebabs which to my amusement did not have that peculiar beet root-y smell or taste. It's a great way to feed kids the veggies they detest. 





Corn tarts were my favourite along with panner tikka barrels. The delicate and succulent tart was balanced by the tangy corn. Yummm!!!  The paneer tikka stuffed with dried fruits is easily the bestest I have had so far. Take my word for it, it's a sure shot hit.


There were a lot of non veg starters like chicken satay, mutton kebabs served as well.



Much to my delight,  we were served the biggest burger I had ever seen. It was almost thrice the size of an average burger and could easily be enough for 2-3 people. The bun was soft and the patty was very flavourful and luscious.





And as everyone knows, life is too short to say no to desserts. I opted for two of them - a baked pie stuffed with rasogulla and served with Icecream along with my favourite melt-in-the-mouth brownie with vanilla icecream. Need I say more!!! 








And as the saying goes "people who love to eat are always the best people". Loved meeting you all Vickrham, Nora, Sonalini, Aditi, Saumya and Chavvi.











Sunday, August 28, 2016

Book Review - My Tarot Something else by Nisha Mehta

                   
                        " Tarot tells what you need to know and not what you want to know"






As a student of science, I am a very practical & "matter of fact" person and would never believe in astrology or birth charts and so did Nisha Mehta, the author of the book "My tarot Something Else". Yes ! She didn't initially but destiny had something else planned for her and here she is as not only a leading tarot reader but as an author of a book on tarot too...strange! Isn't it ? 

               "When your destination is confirmed, a path will appear, the journey will begin".

I personally believe that as we get older, the problems and difficulties that come along, lead us to the occult sciences or "knowledge of the hidden". We all want to seek answers to the questions pertaining to the future. 
       
      "When honesty is not corrupted, faith is not disrupted, the journey will be uninterrupted"

 I received the book around 3 pm and as I opened the packet, I was intrigued by the cover of the book. It had a young women walking alone immersed in her thoughts and I could so easily relate to her. It's your journey and you have to walk alone......


                                               "A thoughtful decision eliminates the confusion"


           This book by Nisha Mehta is a beginners guide to tarot. Tarot is an assimilation of 78 cards consisting of MAJOR ARCANA & MINOR ARCANA. Major Arcana are 22 cards numbered from 0-21 which relate to major events in life. Minor Arcana are a set of 56 cards represented by 4 suits with 14 cards each  - 10 pip cards + 4 court cards. These denote daily and regular life events. This book explains each card in a precise and in depth manner. The author also throws lights on related topics like the key to reading cards, how to spread them, interpreting tarot among others. 


                                              "Success starts with a series of sacrifices"


In the preface, the author tells us about her journey as a tarot reader, the roller coaster ride and how she stands vindicated.


If you are fasinated by tarot and want to know more, My tarot something else comes as a handbook of sorts. An interesting read and highly recommended to someone who wants to know the nuances of tarot. 

Ratings - 4.5/5

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Food Trail at The Addams House

I have always been an aficionado of Fairytales since my childhood. Fairytales are generally set in on an idyllic castle and picturesque palaces. Why am I discussing the details of a childhood fave when we are here to talk about the FOOD BLOGGER'S MEET @ THE ADDAMS HOUSE. Well,the answer lies in this picture below.



Doesn't it remind you of a castle? I gazed at the greyishish black exteriors as I made my way into the restaurant. I exchanged pleasantries with the fellow bloggers & introduction with a few. As I placed myself comfortably, I looked around for a 360 degrees view. It was a biggish space with a very idiosyncratic and quirky sophistication. On the open bricked wall were pictures of The Addams Family which were a bit offbeat and whacky. All in all an appealing site with the bar taking the centerstage. A delight for my Drinker buddies...hahaha.






We were served the chef's special menu and so started our food trail. We were served ADDAM'S DRAGON POPCORN in chocolate flavour which were treated with nitrogen making it crispier, CHAKHNA WAKHNA which was essentially an assortment of salad with black chana, rajmah and chickpeas mixed with onion, tomatoes and spices, RAJMA CHAWAL BALLS which were fried and served with garlic tomato chutney, CHILLI ROASTED GARLIC AND CHEESE POPPERS and MOLECULAR SPHERES WITH TITBIT. The non vegetarians had a few more options apart from these. I especially liked the rajma chawal balls and chilli roasted garlic and cheese poppers which were so melt in the mouth and flavourful.









We were served an array of drinks which included MOJITO (my favourite), BHOOT which was a rum based drink, WANDERLUST was essentially a vodka based concotion, RASPERRY COOLER which was a combination of raspberry with orange,HAZELNUT CHEESECAKE SHAKE which as the name suggests is a cheescake in shake form which was divine.










The chef dished out some amazing stuff like KULCHA  PIZZAZ  which were kulchas laced with cheese, SUSHI ROLLS,  spiced beetroot patties with cheese and mayo in the form of GIVE ME RED and not to forget the HORNY COWBOY which is a wood oven pizza overloaded with onions, mushrooms, jalapeno's, kidney beans and cheese.






The Addam's house serves Tex-Mex too and I relished the COTTAGE CHEESE TACOS & VEGGIDILLA.





And now the best part, digging my teeth into some sinful treats - HAZELNUT ROYAL CRACKLE, GULABARI CHEESECAKE and RABRI JMUN IN A JAR. I devoured all these three and transported myself into gastonomical paradise literally. Hmmmmmm!!










Food makes a great companion and so does foodies. It was a pleasure to share my table with Vickrham, Ishleen, Jasjeet , Vinayak Bali, Charu Singhal, Paresh Gupta & Shikha Gupta.


Why every girl should read Sonam Kapoor's open letter about beauty !

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