The 78 Boulevard

I recently attended their new menu launch with my fellow bloggers at INDORE Bloggers Association & team Indori Zayka.

The name intrigued me, hence my first question to the owner was – why? Turns out, it’s because of the beautiful street outside this bistro cafe and 78 as it’s situated in Scheme 78, Vijay Nagar.

Not just the name, a lot of thought has been put into its interesting interiors too. The moment I entered this place, I was mesmerized with its theme. “Le le re selfie le le re!” 🎵 Yes, this place is a treat for selfie lovers like me.

Its theme is vintage new york style with a cosmopolitan vibe. I’ve never seen an apter industrial decor in Indore. Antiques on the weathered brick walls make for a beautiful rustic & mature interior. Dim lights just add to the feels. Wooden tables, colorful chairs, benches and sofas on a cemented floor completes the whole look. The credit for this goes to the co-owner and interior designer Miss. Anushri Jain.

📷 – burrp (link below!)

This is by far the best-themed restaurant in Indore. 
The V in bouleVard stands for Vegetables. Yes, it’s a 100% VEGETARIAN bistro & this place serves alcohol on weekends. If this isn’t a good news, then maybe the fact that drinks aren’t overpriced will be soothing to your ears.
It’s one of the first few restaurants to introduce the event culture in Indore. It not only hosts cooking workshops, but also meddles with open mic events (free entry for all! Best platform to feature local talent!!) twice a month, rock concerts, underground music nights, & yes, bringing a dose of STAND UP COMEDY shows featuring best of the best in India – Sorabh pant, Abish Mathew, Kanan Gill, Sahil Shah, Sapan Verma, Varun Thakur, Atul Khatri, Kunal Rao & Abhishek Upmanyu. 

These events are guaranteed to put you in a mood for riotous revelry. Oh yes, Rock and roll baby!!!

Don’t lose heart if you couldn’t attend Kanan Gill on the house, here’s another one you wouldn’t want to miss – 

In a Kamra with Kunal Kamra! #Sorrynotsorry 

Tickets available on bookmyshow & at the 78 Boulevard for Rs. 800/-

More on the event in my next blog. Don’t miss it! 

They usually play deep house in the background, which is a subgenre of house music, and a youth’s favorite.

A bistro is a place that serves a quick and simple meal at moderate prices & living true to its bistro cafe title, they have introduced a ‘happy hour menu’ that runs from 11 am to 6 pm. When asked about this special menu, Anushri says, “the items are more for students and we serve cafe style food like sandwiches, burgers, combos etc. The catch is that the entire menu is under Rs.99. Pocket-friendly for student crowd.”
Wait wait, don’t rush to this place just yet. Do it after reading the whole review! Okay?
Now let’s get to the part for which we were invited for. Their new menu launch!!
I was beyond excited. So will you be, once you see this place!
The menu is as quirky & varied as it’s interiors. Their philosophy is to have, ‘something for everyone.’ Chinese, Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Burmese, Indian and Thai, they serve it all.

We were welcomed with a mocktail called ‘sex on the beach!’ Since it wasn’t on the menu, we all started guessing its contents! It was like playing ‘guess what?’ game. Just like classic sex on the beach – virgin, it had cranberry & orange juice with a dollop of peach syrup. Rimmed with salt & garnished with mint leaves & lemon. A beautiful warm day & this tangy fruity mocktail as a welcome drink. Couldn’t have asked for anything better.

CREAM OF PEAS –

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I had a sore throat so this soup came like a blessing. I can totally call it my favorite amongst all the dishes I tasted that day. The twist was in its presentation, it was served in a shot glass with breadstick on top. SHOT SHOT baby. One sip and you’ll fall in love with its taste and creamy texture. Its vibrant green color is it’s another highlight. It’s a treat for your eyes and palate.

Price – Rs. 180/-

Verdict – must have.
FATTOUSH SALAD –

Okay, I’m not big on salads but this didn’t disappoint. Fattoush salad is a Mediterranean dish & it’s big on vegetables. Lettuce, tomato, radish, bell peppers, parsley, you name it, this had it. Tossed in lemon, garlic & oregano dressing giving it a sour taste. A perfect starter for health conscious people. Fried pita bread tasted like namak pare & Uff that crisp gave it the oomph factor.

Price – Rs. 220/-

Verdict – Do try. Less on calories, big on taste. Although, if you’re not a salad person & don’t like to experiment, avoid this.

CAPRESE SALAD – 

It’s a simple Italian salad, typically made of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes & basil. However, mozzarella the chef used here wasn’t really fresh, but it did taste good. The hero of this dish is the honey balsamic dressing. It’s sweet and tangy & it can be regarded as a perfect salad dressing. Its presentation gets full marks & who says no to cheese?

Fun fact – this dish has these ingredients so that it will resemble the Italian flag which has red, white & green color.

Price – Rs. 240/-

Verdict – Do try.

DIMSUMS –

This restaurant doesn’t have bright lights because of it dim sum. This Taiwanese dish is my favorite. Looking at dim sum, I got all excited. Served in steamer baskets and oh so colorful. However, my excitement was short lived. It had a filling of shredded cabbage & carrots & they were steamed, not fried hence making it a healthy choice. Although it was more on the spicy side.

Price – Rs. 240/-

Verdict – Avoid.

THAI SPRING ROLLS – 

Thai spring rolls had capsicum, cabbage, & carrots infused with Thai flavors. It’s crispy & if you like lemongrass, this is for you. However, I found it to be pretty mundane.

It’s served with Thai sweet chili sauce, & to be honest, it made normal Thai spring rolls, extraordinary.

Price – Rs. 260/-

Verdict – can be avoided.

EMPANADAS – 

You can never go wrong with a combination of corn and cheese. First look, and I shouted – ye to ghujiya hai! Lol. Empanadas are Spanish appetizers & are traditionally baked/Fried. This place serves the baked version with a filling of potatoes, corn, onions, garlic & mozzarella cheese. I totally loved it. It’s served with sweet chili sauce, which to be honest was an irresistible combination.

Price – Rs. 240/-

Verdict – Do try.

CHEESE FONDUE PLATTER –

It’s a cheese lover dream. Colorful fondue prongs & a small lamp below the fondue pot were very appealing to my eyes. It’s said there are 246 varieties of cheese in France alone, and this dish had a beautiful amalgamation of three of them. This dripping, melting, yummy cheese fondue is served with grilled veggies and bread croutons.

To be honest, I think it will taste even better on a rainy day.

I wish they also had a cranberry walnut loaf in the pattern. That would have been majestic.

Using the fondue prongs, dip the bread cubes/veggies into the cheese and experience the magic.

Price – Rs. 500/-

Verdict – worth it.
TANDOORI PLATTER – 

Fir bhi dil hai hindustani. Finally an Indian dish.

This platter had Paneer Tikka, makkai seekh kebabs, bharwan achaari aloo, tandoor ke phool (cauliflower!) and shabnam ke moti (mushrooms!)

And the winner is – bharwan achaari aloo. It’s lip smacking good. If you love mushrooms, you’ll enjoy shabnam ke moti too.

Price – Rs. 500/-

Verdict – if you’re a tandoor fan, this dish is for you. Although I think with this price range, you’ll get better options.

NAANZA –

A big NAA NAA to NAAnza from my side. It’s basically a NAAN BREAD SPICY PIZZA. The highlight of this dish is house style basil pesto sauce & it contains salad greens, roasted tomatoes, toasted nuts and mozzarella cheese with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. However, even balsamic glaze couldn’t save it. The crust was thin but chewy. Also, this pizza was more on the sweeter side.

Price – Rs. 360/-

Verdict – Avoid.

RATATOUILLE –

Well, this dish reminds me of that cute little rodent chef. Only 90s kids will remember him. It’s a French dish that originated in Nice & has Rice. A fresh medley of vegetables like tomatoes, onions, eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers & topped with herbs infused tomato sauce. The texture of the vegetables are creamy, and the sauce is rich, but it still lacks any real depth of flavor.

Price – Rs. 340/-

Verdict – if you like authentic French food, this is for you but if you’re a chatora indori like me, avoid ordering this.

STROGANOFF – 

It’s a Russian delicacy. Another dish that stands out. Rice is served with a consomme of exotic vegetables, sour cream, and mustard. It’s delicious and height of luxury. It’s creamy and cheesy. Its traditional version is served with beef and given the cow vigilantes, even writing about beef is scaring me! However, it’s a 100% vegetarian restaurant & they have succeeded in making it an eight on a delicious meter. You can ask for flat pasta instead of Rice.

Price – Rs. 380/-

Verdict – worth a try.
KHOW SUEY –

I can never appreciate this Burmese dish as I’m not big on coconut and although I saw my fellow bloggers taking a dig at its pungent taste, I somehow liked it. Perfectly blending in my taste buds with its vibrant flavors, this dish has noodles and vegetable curry made with coconut milk, medium spicy & served with contrasting condiments of spices, cashew nuts, fried onions, fried garlic, spring onions and zest of lemon. My favorite being fried onions & peanuts. These condiments gives away a unique flavor to the dish. It’s an Indian version of this Burmese dish, so if you’re a fan of authentic Khow Suey, I’ll suggest you to ignore it.

Price – Rs. 380/-

Verdict – with this price range, I’ll suggest you to try other things then experimenting with Khow Suey.
DUM BIRYANI –

Biryani is my go to dish and the chef didn’t disappoint here. It gets its flavor and aroma as its cooked on slow fire or dum. Well if you’re a hard core non vegetarian like me, you’ll think twice before ordering this royal dish but the moment its aroma reaches you, all your doubts will vanish away. A medley of basmati rice, vegetables, saffron, whole spices, are slow cooked to perfection in dum pukht style. It’s served with plain curd and this dish will surely blow your mind and taste buds away.

Price – Rs.300/-

Verdict – must have.

CHOCOLATE FONDUE WITH ASSORTED DIPPERS –

A chocolate lover’s delight, this dessert is served with array of DIPPERS like mini brownie bites, waffle sticks, kiwi, bananas and different flavors of mini ice cream balls. Dark melted chocolate alongside cream makes for an irresistible dessert.

Price – Rs.500/-

Verdict – if you love chocolates, this is a perfect dessert to end your meal.

GULAB JAMUN LEMON CHEESECAKE –
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​This is the cheesecake I want after dinner. It remains true to its description which goes like – “This rich sweet-tart is made with cream, Philadelphia soft cheese, and a zest of lemon waver a crumbled biscuit base bursting with delicate flavor and sweetness of Gulab Jamun.”

It’s sweet, not too sweet & the lemon brings out the natural tartness of the cheesecake. It’s smooth and creamy & trust me, one bite of those, & you too will sound like Meg Ryan in that famous “When Harry Met Sally” deli scene.

Price – Rs.320/-

Verdict – must have.

My ratings –
Taste – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Presentation – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Service – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Value for money – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Ambiance – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Overall – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
Address: Gf 69, Opposite Prestige College, Vijay Nagar, Scheme 78 Indore.
Open time: 11 am to 11:30 pm

In short, this cafe is an experience in itself. From local to global, I loved their new menu. Happy hour menu is a value for money. Events like rock concerts and stand up comedy are like a cherry on the cake.

 

 

https://www.zomato.com/RevaParihar

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For any queries, you can get in touch with me at Revaparihar@gmail.com.
Till next time,

Xoxo.
Sources –

(Picture credits – https://www.google.co.in/amp/m.burrp.com/indore/the-78-boulevard-bistro-cafe-vijay-nagar-listing/428401%3Famp%3D1)

Mc’s FUSION

Mexican food is believed to be originated from Mayan Indians & when Spain invaded Mexico in 1521, they also left their prints on Mexican cuisine, introducing dairy products, garlic & many other herbs & spices. With time, assimilation of other cuisines like Caribbean, South American, & Portuguese was also seen which led to such diversity in Mexican cuisine.

Mc’s Fusion is one of those restaurants that had my attention even before they opened. They serve various cuisines like Mexican, Italian, & American. It’s situated on the main road at 12/2, Bairathi Colony, Near Sapna Sangeeta & hence not hard to find.

You can clearly see the effect of Mexican theme in the pictures hanged on the walls, colorful and of course the Cowboys, reflecting the spirit of the Mexico.

I along with my fellow bloggers at INDORE Bloggers Association had this amazing opportunity to review their menu.

Mc’s Fusion has three floors –

Ground floor – food court/cafeteria.

Second floor – to host parties/get together.

Third floor – Gaming section – including pool table & darts & comes with ON THE HOUSE DRINKS.

They also have a lift for easy movement, which is not in much use since they’ve recently opened but will be active soon.

It’s a quick service restaurant and apart from their illuminated menu at the counter, you can also see the menu pamphlets on every table.
Let’s talk about FOOD guys! Here’s what I ate –

BURRITO BOWL & BURRITO WRAP –

The whole world is singing ‘pacito pacito’ in Despacito but I’m singing BURRITO BURRITO! Talk about priorities you guys, Haha!
Burrito bowl was the first thing that was served to us and I couldn’t stop hogging. Presentation gets full marks. The first thing my friend & Chef Amit Pamnani noticed was the use of black beans as it’s not available anywhere else currently in Indore. The owner wants to give it this dish a very authentic feel & he has succeeded. Burrito bowl had chicken that was well marinated and perfectly cooked & was kept on the side. It also had lettuce, basmati rice, tomatoes, onions, capsicum, & SOUR CREAM on top. I wrote sour cream in caps lock as it takes away all the attention. It was homemade and probably the best sour cream I’ve ever had.

A vegetarian variant of this dish is served with grilled Paneer instead of chicken.

Burrito Wrap –

I loved the bowl but Burrito Wrap was even better. It had the same ingredients in the bowl with the addition of cheese sauce and minus black beans. It was served with sour cream and salad on the side. Uff that sour cream! ❤️

CLASSIC QUESADILLAS –

This is probably the best thing I’ve tried here. It’s stuffed tortillas and was flatter when compared to the wrap. The mustard sauce has a very distinguished flavor. Top it up with Cheddar cheese & you’ve a winner. It’s not crispy, but rather soft and you can feel the love in every bite.

CLASSIC NACHOS GRANDE –

Whenever someone interferes in my life, I’ve a habit of saying – Nacho problem. Ugh, hope you get the pun.

Anyway, talking about the dish, the nachos were made in their kitchen but somehow I didn’t find it extraordinary.

SALAD MEXICANA –

I’ve tried the non-vegetarian version of this dish it was lip smacking good. It’s perfect for health fanatics like I’m trying to be Haha. It had a generous amount of lettuce, zucchini, cherry tomatoes & topped with imported feta cheese. It also had some fajita seasoning, & lemon juice making it apt for chatoras like me.

MC’S MEXICAN STYLE NOODLES –

Although the name says Mexican style noodles, I found them to be like regular Hakka noodles with specially imported Mexican seasoning on top. It had chunks of chicken & I’ll just say that there are better options to try here than this one.

CLASSIC HOTDOG –

Served with French fries on the side, this was a delight. Chicken sausage, cheese sauce, mustard on top, with capsicum, with every bite I was asking for more! French fries were pressure fried and not deep fried and hence, comparatively a healthy option.

CHICKEN STRIPS AND CHICKEN WINGS –

Chicken wings and STRIPS are batter fried and served with a sauce that’s a perfect amalgamation of sweet and chili. The chicken was crisp from outside and tender on the inside. It’s served with tartar sauce on the side. Both were coated with the same batter, the only difference being wings had bones.

PASTA ITALIANO –

It amazes me to see how easily people go wrong with a basic recipe like white sauce pasta. AVOID. It had vegetables takes broccoli, carrots, and American corn. I like my pasta to be creamy and cheesy, hence this was a letdown.
SANDWICHES –

Classic Salsa Sandwich –

It was okay. Nothing special about it. It’s the basic recipe with the tomatoes, bell peppers, onion & finely chopped green coriander.
Grilled Chicken Ham Sandwich – 

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I think it’s safe to say it was my favorite amongst the non-mexican items. The combination of smoked chicken ham with lettuce and fried eggs made a delicious snack. Ham wham baby!
Peri Peri Chicken Sandwich –

Peri Peri sauce is a part of Portuguese cuisine. Although I’m not a big fan, I can’t help but appreciate it’s hot & fiery flavors. With shredded chicken & peppers, this sandwich is worth a try.

LAMB BURGER –

One of the most awaited item & the biggest let down. It lacks taste and flavors. Patty was oily. Please avoid ordering this. 

Summary – 

Mc’s FUSION is a brainchild of Mr. Preetpal Singh who has resided in the USA for more than two decades and wanted to introduce authentic Mexican cuisine in Indore. In a short conversation with him, I could see the zest for food in him. 

Timings – 11am to 11pm.
Open everyday.
Recommendation – stick to Mexican cuisine & you’re good. Burrito, ham burger, quesadilla and salad are a must try here.

Pros –

1. Location is easy to find.

2. Authentic Mexican cuisine.

3. Gaming zone provides free drinks.

4. Value for money.

5. A big range of delicacies available.

6. Lift as it has three floors.

7. Imported Mexican seasoning and black beans.

8. Every floor has a water counter.

Cons –

1. Although Mexican food was a treat, pasta and noodles fails to impress.

2. Interiors are although interesting, there’s nothing extraordinary about it.

My ratings –

Ambiance – ⭐️ ⭐️

Taste – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Service – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Presentation – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Overall – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5

Sources –

https://world-food-and-wine.com/mexican-food-history

MITTI

MITTI  – 
Soil. The name is so apt for this place. It puts you in touch with your roots. It’s Desi with a twist. Bright lights, wall paintings, hanging lamps, brick walls, & oh yeah, contrast game is up boss! Colorful chairs paired with classic wooden tables & big Green entrance gives away a youth-friendly vibe.

Menus at almost every restaurant I’ve been too, are quite predictable. Fusion is in. No one sticks to one cuisine. Same goes with this place, making the best of everything. Apart from their regular menu, they have a blackboard special menu featuring special items. Another interesting thing is the way they have divided the food items – Piyo & Khao, Halka, Bhaari, & The beginning, & Angrezi Mitti. 

They serve Power Poha with chana and peanuts. It’s 100% VEGETARIAN including the desserts.
Desi theme is no longer looked down as disdain. On the contrary, with the string of the same kind of cafes opening around the city, Desi theme is quite in. It’s different, & it’s soothing. The interior designer has taken care of every minute detail. Writings on lamps, to the paintings sticking to the theme, option to charge your phone near every table, sticky notes, blackboard and chalks to white board & projector room (making it ideal for a business meet or college presentation!) board games like chess and Othello to engage the customers, to a beautiful rustic typewriter on the counter giving an antique feel, the interiors are indeed marvelous.
Biodegradable cutlery (one-time use only!) was one of the unique things about this cafe. Another was, hidden charging sockets on the floor.
Bloggers meet was held here, in association with Indori Zayka and Indore Bloggers Association. I’ve been to Mitti cafe once before this meet in the evening and I fell in love with the place. Wonderfully lit and good music – keys to a beautiful Ambiance. We were asked to attend their happy hours, 8 am – 11 am for their breakfast special on a SUNDAY. Oh God, It’s a miracle that I made it on time. 8-11 am certainly doesn’t constitute my happy hours lol. Thank goodness the place serves great Masala Chai to bring back my work mode. 

This spirit of playfulness extends not only to the interiors of the restaurant and the signature dishes as well. 

We were served –
KHAO —-
SPROUTS – 

Best breakfast ever! High on nutrition value, higher on taste. It’s chatpat & you’ll eat it fatfat. (Just in case you guys thought I won’t crack any PJs, you were wrong!)

It has tomatoes, chana, onions, cucumbers, green and brown sprouts, with coriander and lemon wedge on top.

Price – Rs. 69.

Verdict – if you’re heath conscious, this is a perfect start. I couldn’t bring my palate to like it though, not into sprouts at all.

PAV BHAJI –

I’m a pav bhaji person. This wasn’t a disappointment. It’s 4 on the spicy spectrum. A bit more butter & a bit more chili could’ve taken the dish to next level. It’s served with onions and lemon on the side. Pav was loaded with butter, was soft and delicious.

Price – Rs. 149/-

Verdict – It’s worth a try.

CHOLE KULCHA – 

I’m a chole bhature person so I was skeptical about chole KULCHA but the chef has outdone himself here. This was the best thing I’ve tried here. Kulche is like a Punjabi dish but it sounds like Gujarati. Kem Che?

Jokes apart, gravy was thick & medium spicy. 

And oh my the smell and flavor of kasoori methi on top of kulchas made it irresistible.

Price – Rs. 129/-

Verdict – A MUST TRY.

VADA PAV –

A Mumbai delicacy I’m really fond of. Unfortunately, due to the goof up in service, I didn’t get a chance to try it. It’s served with special chili masala, green chutney, and fried green chilies.

Price – Rs. 49.

TIKKI BUN MASKA – 

It’s like a burger with vegetable tikka and cheese in between. The bun was dry & tikki wasn’t impressive either. I’ll rather have a McAloo Tikki.

Price – Rs. 99/-

Verdict – Avoid.

SPINACH CORN SANDWICH –

Spinach and corn make for a great combination and cheese just took it whole another level. Bread was whole wheat & properly grilled and overall I enjoyed it. 

Price – Rs.129/-

Verdict – Try.

PANEER THEPLA – 

Since we have been to Punjab already, it’s time to visit Gujarat. This one was pretty mundane. Nothing special about it. It was more on the sweeter side. 

Price – Rs.129/-

Verdict – Avoid.

SEV STUFFED PARATHAS – 

If you’re an indori – SEV will SAVE you. We add SEV in everything! However, this dish failed to impress me. Not bland and not spicy. Might have been better if they had buttered it up. It was served with tadka dahi and mixed pickles.

Price- Rs.99/-

Verdict – can try.

PASTA IN WHITE SAUCE –

How can you go wrong with this! Like how? It’s the most basic recipe!!! The sauce was too thick, bland.

Price – Rs.179/-

Verdict – Avoid.

MAC N CHEESE –

Crust over the macaroni was crisp, & golden. They should probably try this sauce with their pasta.

Price – Rs.179/-

Verdict – TRY.

NACHOS –

Tasted like the nachos packets available in the market. Salsa dip perfectly compliments it.

Price – Rs. 129/-

Verdict – Avoid.

PIYO —

CHAI & COFFEE –

I’m a big time Chai aficionado & this place serves a variety of options. We tried normal Chai, Masala Chai, and white tea. Teas as I recall were made from pure milk. The aroma of the Kulhad Chai was Haaye Mei Mar java. 

Although normal Chai was a big disappointment, masala chai was love. I even asked for another cup. Same goes with filter coffee. Just the right amount of strong, and sweet.
Verdict – Masala Chai and Coffee are a must try here.

SHAKES AND DRINKS –

We were served Strawberry shake, banana shake, almond and cashew shake and the Desi chocolate shake.

STRAWBERRY SHAKE was my favorite amongst them. No artificial flavor was added. They used frozen strawberries instead of syrup and hence it was not too sweet, just the way I like it.

Banana shake was okay but ALMOND and CASHEW SHAKE takes away the cake. Subtle mix flavor of CASHew shake is worth every CASH.

I’m not big on chocolates but Desi chocolate shake had dark chocolate, served with chocolate ice cream and If you’re a chocolate lover, order this without any second thought.
PINEAPPLE BASIL DRINK – Uff the subtle flavor of basil added chaar chaand to this drink. A bit of the sweeter side, so order only if you have a sweet tooth.
COLD COFFEE – I loved their hot coffee & their cold coffee didn’t disappoint either. Strong and sweet was perfectly balanced.
MANGO ALPHONSO SHAKE – aam ka shake wasn’t aam (common) at all. I loved it and it was my favorite amongst them.
WHITE TEA- It’s an exotic version of green tea. It’s healthy and it’s good. Although the price slab of Rs. 125 can’t be justified.
EID SPECIAL – 

RABDI IS A MUST TRY. The SEVIYAN KHEER can be avoided though. Seviyan probably needed more cooking and also, sugar.
THE WHOLE CHOCOLATE MILL CAKE – 

EGGLESS cakes are usually not that soft & a bit and this was the case with this cake too. Although it made up for it in its taste.
All in all, I’ll highly recommend this place. It won’t drill your pockets, no compromise on taste and it’s location is a plus point.

Pros – 

-Its location is not so hard to find.

-Ambiance.

-I loved how they used hashtag paani on their water bottles.

– UNLIMITED WIFI.

-They serve tea and coffee in KULHAD and thus this place stays true to its name – mitti.

-the crowd mostly comprised of youngsters, which makes sense given its cheap rates.

-value for money!!

-Self-service is an interesting urban concept making its way in our city.

-for some reason, the idea of an antique typewriter on the counter was really appealing to my eyes.

Cons –
-we ordered adrak wali Chai but I guess they forgot to add adrak.

-not too many items in the menu to choose from.

-they won’t even serve water to you.

-print on their water bottles is fading, doesn’t look good.

-they won’t even call your name if you don’t show up for your order. We ordered Chai, and we saw our number on display pretty late. Our order was just kept there.

Ratings –

Taste – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Presentation – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Service -⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Value for money – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Location – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Overall – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

A pizza of my heart

Warning – don’t read this blog on an empty stomach.

Before we start, I really want to say this – Every pizza me loves every pizza you.
(And then I wonder why I’m single Haha!!)

The word PIZZA is enough to make my stomach rumble in excitement, so when I was notified that a bloggers meet is being organized by IBA in association with Indori Zayka , at Ground Baking – you can imagine my reaction.

Groundbreaking – Groundbaking is a house turned cafe offering a casual & upbeat environment. Its bright yellow walls provide the perfect backdrop and wooden picnic tables just completes the ‘carefree’ look. Inner orange wall has beautiful hanging photographs, including one that says, “No drama, only pizza!” *wink wink*

Groundbaking serves classic new york style pizzas which grew out of Neapolitan style pizza when Italian immigrants brought pizza to NYC and America, in the early 1900s. It’s traditionally 18 inches but this place customized the size for its customers and offers a 12″, 16″ & 20″ pizza. New York style pizzas are large and wide with thin crust, golden brown with some occasional dark spots, easily foldable & yet maintaining its crisp.

We were served 5 different kinds of pizzas from their new gourmet menu. After having a slice from the third pizza, I realized it was “Mission: Impizzable,” but I couldn’t stop eating. Sorry for the pun, but there’s more to come. Oops, I did it again.

We were welcomed with freshly brewed Lemon Ice Tea. Usually, you can’t taste anything beyond sugar in an ice tea, but the chef changed my opinion. It’s tartness perfectly balances its sweetness. The zesty lemon flavor perfectly blends with bitter tea flavor, which is quite strong. Fair warning – It’s refreshing but it’s not too sweet (which I personally loved!) but if you don’t have a palate for tea, avoid this.

• THIS PLACE DOESN’T SERVE TOMATO SAUCE TO MAINTAIN THE AUTHENTICITY OF A NEW YORK PIZZA. So if you’re one of those who can’t eat a pizza without sauce, this place is NOT FOR YOU. Although I do promise you one thing, you won’t be disappointed with this place.

Our first pizza was FIVE CHEESE PIZZA.
Who doesn’t love cheese? I Do. I know you do too! I literally had to tell myself, “Reva! Just eat one slice! There are 4 other pizzas for tasting too!’ Haha.
The five kinds of cheese that are being used in this are – Mozzarella + cheddar + Gouda + emmanthel + parmesan.

To help us understand the differences better, there was a mini cheese tasting too. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!

Cheddar, Emmanthel & Gouda are hard, Mozzarella is soft & Parmesan is even softer. Mozzarella is made from Italian buffalo milk, Cheddar, Gouda & Parmesan – cow milk, Feta – goat milk.

We also tasted the two essential pizza base sauces – Basil Pesto with Walnut sauce and the traditional Tomato sauce. I loved this pesto sauce.

The five cheese pizza had four flavorful cheese – emmanthel, mozzarella, gouda, & Cheddar on a thin crispy dough, and parmesan cheese on top as it’s really soft and shouldn’t be baked for a long time. Basil gave it a beautiful twist – bit spicy, bit sweet. A member of mint family, basil is considered herb of summer & now I know why. 

My verdict – I’ll give this five cheese pizza, a five-star rating.
We were then served – GREEK PIZZA.

After having a plain cheese pizza, this one was a fun surprise with unusual toppings. Pizzas are all about diversity, right? It had Walnuts, Spinach, Feta cheese, black olives, mozzarella, and artichokes. Feta cheese is salty and tangy, with dry and crumbly texture. The combination of spinach, Feta cheese, olives, artichokes, and Walnuts gives a taste sensation like never before. Although, I did find it a bit salty.

My verdict – good experiment, but not their best. You can pass.
Next came COUCH POTATO PIZZA.

It was served with two variants – with smoked paprika and without. The highlight of this pizza was the perfectly done balsamic reduction. Oven roasted rosemary potatoes with onions, Emmanthel and fennel made a mouthwatering dish. Just one taste and I knew I’ll finish the whole thing. 

Balsamic vinegar reduction amplifies the strong intense flavor of vinegar and it’s sweet flavor complements the salty dish. End result – I bet you won’t be able to stop eating. The one with smoked paprika, as you might have guessed, was spicy. It was like a flavor adventure in my mouth. This pizza has all kinds of sweet and spicy goodness.

My verdict – This is a winner. Do try. If you don’t like spicy, go for the normal version of this dish, which is also a bit on the sweeter side. There, sweet and spice – this dish have it all.
TRIO OF MUSHROOMS PIZZA – 

Mushrooms are a perfect substitute for non veg. After the first bite, I felt bliss. As the name suggests, it has three kinds of mushrooms – button, shitake & black fungus mushrooms, which were tossed in butter, olive oil and garlic. 

Black fungus mushrooms don’t have any flavor of its own and it absorbs the flavors of whatever it is cooked with. In this case, it had strong smokey flavors. The ricotta was prepared by the chef himself, in fact, he even shared its recipe with us.

Fair warning – this is an authentic mushroom pizza and you may not have a palate for it, think twice before ordering and I’ll suggest you ask the chef for suggestions.

My verdict – if you love mushrooms, don’t think twice before ordering it. There’s not mushroom for improvement. 

Bianco –

To be honest, by the time this pizza was presented to us, I was stuffed. I didn’t even feel like eating a bite but then I saw rocket leaves as toppings and I convinced myself it’s a very healthy pizza and I should eat it Haha. Rocket leaves are very bitter, hence they were dressed in citrus vinaigrette. I could feel the cream cheese sauce in my mouth and the combination of button mushrooms, smoked paprika, cherry tomatoes and fennel is drool-worthy.

My verdict – It’s cheesy and it’s different. It’s light and it’s refreshing. Do try.
Well, there’s always some room for desserts. 

Creme brulee –

​​
Crème brûlée is a French dish and is also known as burnt cream, crema Catalana, or Trinity cream. It consists of a rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel. The highlight of this dish is the caramelization of the sugar with a butane torch right before it was served. 

​​
It’s not heavy, but it’s certainly heavy in taste. I never thought I’ll say this, but I probably like this more than their Blueberry cheesecake, which is my favorite. It’s crunchy and it’s a delight. It’s caramelized topping is brittle & the custard beneath is smooth, and creamy, making it my current favorite dessert.

My verdict – try this right away!!!
Save the best for the last? 

The meeting ended with an epic celebration of indori zayka hitting the 100k milestone with cake cutting of three milk and berries cake. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Taste – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Ambiance – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (the place is really small!)

Service – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Presentation – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Overall – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Pros – 

• 100% VEGETARIAN PIZZERIA 
• Authentic New York style pizza.
• Taste is good.
• Value for money.
• Desserts are great too.
• Location is just next to Indore’s Hotspot – Simi’s bakery. 
• Freshly made pizzas.

Cons – 

• Small place.
• Seating is like a death warrant on a hot summer day.
• No sauce policy, which many of you may not like.
• Pizzas can be too authentic for indori palate, so ask before ordering.
• No home delivery.

TIMINGS : 11:30AM – 3:00 PM & 5:00 PM TO 11:00 PM

TUESDAYS OFF.

ADDRESS –

BG-293, SCHEME 54, ( two houses next to SIMI’S BAKERY) VIJAY NAGAR.
CONTACT – 0731 4912718

For any queries, you can email me at Revaparihar@gmail.com.

Till next time,

Xoxo.

Dal bafle at Vrindavan

What makke di roti, Sarson ka saag is to Punjab, is what Daal Bafla is to Malwa, M.P. It’s a variant of Dal Bati that is the staple food ofRajasthan. Bati is flaky round bread of wheat, traditionally baked in tandoor or Kandas (cow dung, especially in villages) or over an electric oven & dipped in ghee. Bafla is like Bati that is cooked in boiling water (like a dumpling) and then baked.

Given its taste, it’s not surprising that it’s fame has spread well beyond these states. It’s USP is in its earthy flavors.

Its history is quite fascinating. Did you know ‘Dal Bati,’ was a ‘war food?’ Its first mention was during the time of Bappa Rawal ‘ the founder of the kingdom of Mewar in Rajasthan. Soldiers used to break the wheat dough into chunks & bury it under thin layers of sand so that it can bake under the sun & when they returned, they would find perfectly baked wheat globes that were then dipped in ghee and served.

It was the official ‘wartime meal,’ as it can be made with few ingredients and very little water which wasn’t available readily in barren lands of Rajasthan. This culinary invention evolved into a delight with two other items ‘ Dal and Churma ‘ over the years.

You can not visit indore and not eat Dal Bafle. It’s our specialty.

It’s in our traditions and it’s lip-smacking good.
I along with fellow bloggers at Indore bloggers association & Indori Zayka was invited for a food tasting at a vegetarian restaurant called ‘Vrindavan,’ situated in Vijay Nagar, near prestige college.

Interiors –

The interiors of Vrindavan justifies its name. There are big Shri Krishna’s paintings that adorn its walls, and the carpet is green, giving an appearance of grass, together creating a peaceful and soothing environment.

To beat the heat, the place boasts huge misting fans that blows a fine mist of water into the air, which absorbs heat & thus working as an air cooler.

It has traditional sitting on the floor over mats, cross-legged dining, bringing today’s generation closer to it’s roots. The food was served in huge copper thals that were quite heavy giving a royal feel.

FOOD –
We were served Baflas with tadke wali tuar dal, dahi kadhi, gatte ki sabzi, lassan & coriander mint chutneys, salad, and keri panna.

Bafle had the perfect golden crispy crust and friable inside with a buttery flavor. What I loved the most was the fact that they used just enough ghee to give it an authentic flavor & feel, making it ideal for health conscious people. They served extra ghee to please the foodies like me. Hence, a win-win for both.

The naughty recurrence of ghee is best explained by an Indian author, Chitrita Banerji, who wrote: ‘It is only natural that cooks from Rajasthan, a land where survival is a struggle and nature far from bountiful, will make the most of the non-perishable elements such as sugar and ghee ‘ to give tone, depth, and nuance to their food.’

Tadke wali daal didn’t work for me. It was neither bland, nor spicy. Good news is, it’s made with minimum amount of oil & there are so many options that you won’t even realise it’s taste after mixing it with kadhi, gatte ki sabzi and chutneys.
Dahi ki kadhi – Ah! This has to be my favorite. It was a perfect combination of sour, sweet & spicy & the goodness can be experienced with every spoon. It complements Dal bafle really well. Also, dahi kadhi is a refreshing accompaniment in summers.

Gatte ki sabzi – It’s a traditional Rajasthani dish. Cylindrical chickpeas dumplings are cooked in the spicy curry made with curd giving it an oomph factor. They were perfectly cooked, soft and spicy.

Fair warning – It’s more on the spicy side.

Lassan chutney – It’s really spicy and so good that you can’t help adding a big spoon to the mix and immediately regretting it because when it comes to lassan chutney, less is more.

Mint and coriander chutney – It’s summers, anything with mint is bound to blow your mind away.

Salad – I can’t eat food without salad, hence this was a must. Although, they added a bit of spicy chaat masala and I didn’t like it.
Laddoo – I don’t have a sweet tooth but these Laddoos were to die for. It took the platter to altogether a new level. These Choorma Laddoos were made with the same flour as bafle with sugar and nuts in the mix. Not too sweet, and so delectable.

Kerri Panna – came as a relief as it was, ‘thanda thanda cool cool,’ but it tasted more like Jaljeera than panna.

PROS –

– Vrindavan is the only restaurant in the city to provide this village style authentic Rajasthani sitting arrangement.
– Free home delivery.
– Food is value for money.
– Less oily.
– They serve ghee separately, in case you’re health conscious.
– Sitting arrangement aids in digestion.
– Misting fans to beat the heat.
– Ideal for family outing or picnic.
– Beautiful decor.
CONS –
– Available only on Saturday & Sunday.
– Panna could be better.
– Chaach can be added to the mix. It’s a better alternative to Kerri Panna.
– I love how they serve ‘khichda,’ with ghee and Jaggery in Rajasthani style thaals, hence I’m making a suggestion that they can add khichda to their menu too.

– Water that was served to us, was at room temperature. Since it’s summers, I think they should serve chilled water.
Ambiance – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Service – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Taste – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Presentation – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.7
My verdict – this sit-down style restaurant is a ‘must have experience,’ in the city.  But do remember, this is a ghee-laden meal so go with an empty stomach, and keep the calorie conscience temporarily shut for the day.

Price – ₹200/-

Timings – 11am to 4pm.

Address – Vrindavan Premises, Scheme No. 78. Vijay Nagar.

If you have any queries or suggestions, you can contact me on Revaparihar@gmail.com

Till next time!

Source – http://www.indianeagle.com/travelbeats/indian-food-history/

http://m.thenational.ae/lifestyle/food/food-obsession-dal-baati-churma

Let’s talk about Depression & Why is it still a taboo?

Health is defined as, “a state of complete physical, MENTAL, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.”

Depression is a serious medical condition that affects the body, mind & behavior that often manifests by feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness & pessimism.

According to WHO, more than 350 million people are suffering from depression worldwide, that’s more than the population of Russia & Bangladesh combined. It’s the leading cause of disability & close to 800,000 people commits suicide to get out of depression, and yet it’s still so hard to talk about it publicly. Why? It’s 2017, not 17th century. Even Gay marriages are legal in so many parts of the world, why is it a shame to talk about depression then?

We all suffer from mood swings, we all go through highs and lows in our lives but with some people, this ‘low’ period is prolonged to an extent where it affects how you feel, think & handle your day to day activities like your work, sleeping habits & eating.

It has been estimated that one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. 

Depression is a mood order characterized by several symptoms like – 

Sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, guilt, self-loathing just won’t go away. You can’t control your thoughts anymore. You are screaming inside but you’re smiling outside because you don’t want others to look at you the way you look at yourself. You lose interest in things that you used to love. You’re irritable, restless & tired all the time. There’s an emptiness that can’t be filled. 

Sounds familiar?

We all have been there at some point or other, maybe not to this degree but let’s just say, to a milder version of this.

Depression occurs due to chemical imbalance.

Amygdala, a part of the limbic system is responsible for emotions like anger, pleasure, sorrow, fear, and sexual arousal. It becomes hyperactive in depression & responds excessively to negative events. Amygdala is connected to the medial frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus & the insula – part of the brain which hones the physiological & behavioral response to emotional stimuli.

If you wanna read more about it, check this article out – http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

Mental illness changes your perceptions on things and if allowed it will make you feel so alone & vulnerable. It’s like living life on what if’s.

One of my friends was severely depressed. She kept on canceling plans for almost 2 months, I’m amazed she didn’t run out of excuses. One day we decided to surprise her. I don’t know if she was surprised, but we were definitely shocked. She had lost 10kg weight.

‘I want to eat, I’m hungry but I just don’t feel like it.’ 

‘Please leave me alone!’
‘I am fine!’
‘Maybe I deserve this!’
‘I’m not mad, I won’t go to a psychiatrist!’
‘It’s just a phase when things will be sorted, it will go away!’

NO, IT WON’T AND NO THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THIS PHASE TILL YOU’RE WILLING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. REASONS WILL CHANGE, SITUATION WON’T.

Looking at her was still okay, but I won’t forget her mom’s face. That feeling of helplessness. 

She didn’t want to visit a psychiatrist but we pushed her & although she hated us for this but once the treatment began, she was thankful and we were happy. We can see the change in her.

She didn’t reach that stage in one day. It was a long process. Wouldn’t it have been better if she had just shared her feelings with us right at the start?

I was furious. I asked her – Why didn’t you reach out?

She said she did.

Her boyfriend said, ‘stop this drama.’
   Stop this drama!’ – what the hell! If you can’t understand her, at least don’t add to her issues. 

Her other friend said, ‘let’s go out, you’ll feel better!’

    Of course, you will feel better when you’re out with your friends, but what happens when you come home and you’re all alone with those crazy thoughts?

Going out won’t help till you’re ready to face your situation instead of running away from it.

She said, ‘that time, it felt easier to push you guys away rather than facing the situation. I assumed you won’t understand. I’m sorry for doubting you & thanks for being there.”

The feeling that your loved ones won’t understand, along with the fear of  social stigma, prevents people from seeking the treatment.

I’ve been depressed, not to an extent she was but yes I was there too. Aren’t we all are?

First we are worried about school grades, then about college admissions, then college grades, then job, then promotion, & also, add broken heart into the mix. See, reasons changed but situation didn’t. 

Nothing is happening in our life the way we want it to be. Life is not fair & it won’t ever be. Stop asking yourself, ‘Why me?’ 

We all face challenges but when there’s no one to support you through it, you won’t even realise when normal sadness will change to clinical depression. Struggling at jobs or break ups, anything can lead to depression if you give up. 

Accept it, embrace it, face it. Talk about it. 

We think we will be okay once the situation change. WE START JUSTIFYING OUR STATE BECAUSE WE WON’T ACCEPT THAT WE NEED HELP. WHY? Because of – ‘what will people say?’ We live in a society and society thinks mental illness is equivalent to insanity. Will society label people like us?

This is the REASON I wanted to write this post. THERE’S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. Have pride in your strength and compassion in your struggles. Talk. Nearly 57 million Indians suffer from depression, YOU AREN’T ALONE.
Few words of encouragement & love can do wonders.
If not, there’s always Therapy & medicines. Try meditation. Try exercise. Running is my way of telling my brain to shut the fuck up. Read a book. Make a list of all those things and people you are grateful for. Close your eyes and try to remember your happiest memory. Listen to music. Go offline or talk about your issues online. Seek help.

Figure out your issues and try solving them, and if you can’t solve it, accept it. You won’t ever get everything in your life and it’s okay. Have faith in yourself and embrace your weakness just like you do with your strengths. Keep the negative people away from your life. Don’t indulge in drugs to ease your pain. Sharing and caring is the best solution, Suicide is not. It will just pass away your pain to your loved ones.

According to WHO, ‘Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally in 2015,’ 78% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2015.’ DO YOU SEE A PATTERN HERE? Maybe it’s because of lack of awareness and seeking help is considered a social stigma. “The stigma surrounding mental illness, including depression, remains a barrier to people seeking help throughout the world,” according to WHO. 

India accounted for the highest estimated number of suicides in the world in 2012, according to a WHO report published in 2014 which found that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds globally.
“Depression is also the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.” – WHO.
Maybe it’s time to change the thinking? Spread awareness. Be kind to people, you never know what they are going through. Even a slight remark on social media can push them off the edge. Be careful what you say. 

 ‘I want to tell my countrymen that depression is not incurable. The first mantra is the expression of depression instead of its suppression.’ – Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A Mental Healthcare Bill decriminalizing suicide attempt is passed by Parliament & this is just a baby step in accepting that they are not criminals, they just need help. We still have miles to go.

On the occasion of World health Day – 7 April 2017 ‘ WHO has launched a one-year global campaign on depression – LET’S TALK. http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2017/en/

It’s time for a change. If my post can change even one orthodox opinion on depression, I’ll take it as an achievement.

To all of you beautiful people out there, if you’ve survived depression – kudos! To all those who are currently seeking help – proud of you. To all of you, who are currently facing such symptoms – please reach out & break this chain of solitude & stigma because you’re not alone. We are here for you. 

Let’s talk. Share your experiences and suggestions with me. We are in this together.

Sources – 

For data – 

1. http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/wfmh_paper_depression_wmhd_2012.pdf

2. http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/facts-statistics-infographic

3. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/

4. https://www.google.co.in/amp/www.livemint.com/Specials/Ysja8QtaVqjRpKg7eAFJfL/Over-5-crore-people-suffer-from-depression-in-India-WHO.html%3Ffacet%3Damp%26utm_source%3Dgoogleamp%26utm_medium%3Dreferral%26utm_campaign%3Dgoogleamp

Ni Hao!

Ni hao means Hello in mandarin Chinese and that’s how we were greeted by the very warm friendly staff. It’s an oriental cuisine restaurant situated on the first floor of Radisson Blu with rooftop & indoor dining spaces, special mention to the spectacular gazebos. The interiors were designed to create a sense of warmth and intimacy. From shoji screens to modern furnishings, it’s a perfect fusion of East and west. Chinese crockery, wooden artifacts just adds to its subtle interiors. The decor justifies the theme of this Asian Chinese restaurant.

“Fine dining, not so fine cooking.” Haven’t we all have said this about Radisson? I have. Ni hao’s best part is also its main drawback. The menu is as authentic as it can get – no Manchurian or Chopsuey here, thank you very much. The problem is that it serves very authentic cuisine which is perhaps not made for my palate. While having a conversation with the Chef Siddharth, he explained his dilemma of trying to keep the authenticity of the cuisine and at the same time making it more suitable for customers like me. Hence, this menu was created, and I & fellow bloggers had this opportunity to review their preview. This menu will be officially launched next month & as the Chef says, it was long due. 

Before I start with the sumptuous meal I had, here’s what I want to tell you guys which apparently I wasn’t aware of. If you think that the dish you’ve ordered is not according to your taste, you can ask the chef to customize it to your needs. Also, you can tell them beforehand how you want your dish to be.

I guess I’ve always been too shy to complain in a five-star restaurant Haha.

This meal was a feast I won’t forget.

What are we waiting for! Let’s get started!!

Xinjiang style spicy celery soup –

Xinjiang makes the northwest of China and the food here resembles more to central Asian & Turkish cuisine maybe because Muslims make the most of the population in this region. (Xinjiang contains Aksai chin which although irrelevant here but is claimed by both India & China.)

This soup will be served in three variants – prawn, chicken & vegetable.
We were served the vegetable soup. It was hearty and spicy. Although it was a clear warm broth, it looked colorful due to the vegetables like carrots, spring onions, celery.

If you like it hot, baby this is for you 😉
Sushi –

Green Asparagus & Daikon Roll (Japan) –

SUSHI! SUSHI! SUSHI! Yes, I have a weakness for Sushi and this dish didn’t disappoint. They are cylindrical shape sushi rolls of vinegared rice, fresh Asparagus, Daikon, & served with Kikkoman soy and wasabi. Daikon is white radish and has pungent and sharp flavor. Wasabi is Japanese Horseradish.

The dish was on a little sweeter side so do not order it if you’re looking for something spicy.
Smoked Salmon Nigiri (Japan) –

Ah! What a beautiful dish. Pressed vinegared rice sushi topped with thin slices of Norwegian smoked salmon & served with Kikkoman soy & wasabi. 

Kikkoman soy is naturally brewed soy sauce for many months with four major elements – soybeans, wheat, water & salt which gives it an edge over soy sauce. 

Nigiri is a special type of Sushi which consists of a slice of raw fish (salmon) over pressed vinegared rice.

It was perfectly executed & I’ll definitely recommend this for you to try.
Dim sums –

The term ‘Dim sum’ literally translates to ‘touch the heart’, and these Dim Sums did the same. They are ideal to be served for a long brunch or with tea. We were served Jasmine tea along with them to maintain the authenticity. 

These delicious dumplings consist of a thinly rolled piece of dough, filled with ground meat, seafood or vegetables, which are then crimped to seal in the filling.

In order to satiate Indoris palate, the chef gave a unique contemporary twist to traditional dim sum.
Mandarin lamb dim sum (Chinese) –

This was my favorite. They were rose shaped with a tint of red on top which was due to beetroot. Ah! They looked so beautiful that I didn’t feel like tasting them, although I did in the end because I couldn’t resist Haha. They are steamed lamb mince dumplings (not pork which is usually used in rest of the world, giving the dish a beautiful twist!) in Chinese flour crystal casing.
Shrimp har gow (Chinese) –

One of the most popular dim sum dishes in the world, Har Gow were created at the beginning of the last century in Guangzhou. It’s also called Shrimp bonnet. Traditionally Har Gow should have more than seven pleats on its wrapper and chef made sure it was the case here too. They are translucent & Shrimp was perfectly cooked.

If you love Shrimp, Ni Hao should be your next go-to place.
Leek, water chestnuts & celery dim sum –

Whoa! Water chestnuts are my favorite and although it’s a vegetarian dish, it’s a winner for me. It’s a treat, not only to my eyes but also to my palate!
Veg Starters – 
Wild Mushroom Mousse & Sesame on toast –

This will blow your mind. I’ve been seriously underestimating vegetarian food for a very long time. Mousse has a pure earthy mushroomy aroma and mellow texture, placed on top of French baguette & sprinkled with sesame seeds. It’s deep fried in sesame seed oil to perfection. I’ll definitely recommend this one to try. The only thing I didn’t like was how sesame seeds dominated the whole dish. Probably it would have been better if it was mushroom & not sesame.
Stuffed Chilli Mushroom (China) –

You can never go wrong with cheese! These cheese-filled button mushrooms are tossed in chilies, ginger, garlic and Sichuan peppercorns (which has slight Lemony overtones and is not hot and pungent like black pepper!) 

This combination of cheese and chili was a delight for my fellow vegetarian bloggers.

And here’s a treat for you guys – 

Chef Siddharth has happily shared it’s recipe for you beautiful people out there – 

Do make it and let me know how it turned out to be ❤️
Nonveg Starters –

Beijing style New Zealand Lamb Chops –

Beijing and New Zealand are poles apart so when I first heard about this dish, I was intrigued. If you like sweet and sour, this is for you. New Zealand is famous for it’s lamb, entirely grass fed on open pasture & only animals under 12 months can be labeled ‘Lamb’ in New Zealand. This Lamb is smaller than American lamb and is meatier & has more pronounced lamb like flavor. It is very tender. 

The dish has smoked pineapple in its base & oh my I couldn’t love it anymore than this. 

Verdict – Do Try.
Wok-fried Prawns with Oriental Chilli (China) –

This is Chef’s special. Prawns are tossed with garlic, ginger & Szechwan peppercorns. As the ingredients suggest, it’s quite spicy. It’s chef’s version of chili chicken and a perfect blend of crisp and crunch. 

Verdict – always go with the Chef’s special. It’s worth it.
Main Course – 
Lamb Rendang (Indonesia) –

In traditional Indonesian-style rendang, lamb is slow cooked in Coconut milk. It is a fairly time-consuming project. Rempah (Malaysian spice paste which is a blend of various herbs and spices) is used as a base for this curry & the dish is cooked until most of the liquid goes away, leaving the meat tender and infused with flavor. The end result is tenderized meat with lightly crisp, a sweet surface on the outside & yes this dish is a winner. Hats off to the chef for taking his time while cooking it & making it irresistible.

It was served with Jasmine Rice although we had an option for plain rice as well. 
Crispy aromatic Duck with exotic vegetables (Chinese) –

It is similar to Peking duck, or we can say it is it’s UK’s version which was made to cater to locals. This dish dates way back to ming dynasty. It is first marinated with spices, then steamed till it’s tender and finally fried to make it crispy. Although this was served with exotic vegetables, I’ve also had crispy duck rolled in Mandarin pancakes in Ni Hao a week back. It was garnished with crunchy spring onion and served with hoisin sauce (which I really liked!). I tried ducks for the first time then, so I really can’t compare but it was good to my palate.

In the end, I’ll just say that this dish is a ‘must try’ here.
Lotus leaf wrapped Rice –

Served in a bamboo basket, as the name suggests Rice was wrapped inside a lotus leaf. When the waiter unwrapped it, the chorus of aromas that touched my nose is what I’m still unable to forget about this dish. When cooked with chicken, this dish is called Lo Mai Gai.

Extremely delicious and must have.
Desserts – 

A good meal is incomplete without desserts. We were served –
Tab Tim Grob –
It is ruby colored water chestnuts in coconut milk, & somehow it failed to make its mark.

Coconut and Jaggery Ice cream –

Tempting. Lip smacking. Sensational sweet delight. You name it, and this dish has it. It’s heavenly. I’m not big on Jaggery or coconut for that matter, but something about the combination that steals the show away. 

It’s a signature Ni Hao dessert and I’ll strongly recommend it.
Schezwan Pepper Tiramisu –

Tiramisu is my favorite but this is Tiramisu with a twist. Pepper is quite dominant. The coffee flavor is strong and if you don’t mind pepper, this might be an ideal dessert for you as the Chef has tried something new here. Also, this does look real good.

That will be all folks!

The day ended up being the most chill gathering we’ve had in a while because never underestimate the power of delicious food, good wine & even better company. Thank you Team Radisson for making this happen.
You know the food was good because clean plates don’t lie 😉
My Ratings for Ni Hao –

Ambiance – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Service – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Taste – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5

Presentation – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 

Overall – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 

In the end, I’ll just say that if you’re looking forward to spend some good time with your family or lover, this is the place to be. 

Hope you liked my review, & if you’ve any questions or suggestions, you can get in touch with me at Revaparihar@gmail.com.