NAVRATRA FOOD WITH A TWIST @FARZI CAFE

Being a free spirit, I enjoy going to restaurants that are enthusiastic to go out of the ‘box’ and not troubled to go off the beaten track. Zorawar Kalra who started Farzi Cafe has been famed as a dynamic restaurateur for a good reason. His Indian cuisine is an extreme art form and modern interpretation of traditional Indian food with engineering precision. Though Farzi Café has many vegetarian options but this time round they have come up with a spectacular ‘Navratri special’ chef’s menu! All I want to say is it was a unique and sensational experience that not many restaurants are able to create. Food should be art, whether it’s vegetarian or not.

You could probably put the Buckwheat Tacos Twist in front of anyone, and 9 out of 10 of them would have no idea that it was a ‘Navratri special’. It tastes so good with the pumpkin filling and an exciting crunch from the water chestnuts and it does the one thing that so many dishes fail at–get the texture right. Even the presentation was impressive – very fresh and tasty.

The Sabudana Risotto topped with water chestnut crisps was great. I was a little worried with this strange nomenclature, but I shouldn’t have been–this is the best Risotto I have ever had made with sago. Despite my mother’s accolades, I would have no idea how to make sago taste so good, but theirs was incredible – creamy, flavourful and satisfying.

Would I recommend? The food was delicious, I have learned to love when vegetarian food is done well, and outside of your home kitchen, this has been the best ‘Navratri special meal’, I have had in Delhi. Also, mission matters to me and I have a lot of respect for the this place, for their dedication to serving wholesome and delicious food with a twist at affordable prices especially considering that they’re located in a neighbourhood with an abundance of food chains. If you go (and I hope you do), just keep in mind that this is a Limited menu and is only available during the Navratras.

This warm lauki ka halwa is to die for..replete with panjiri like Nitrogen chilled Singhara and dry fruit crumble

P.S. I do hope the chef retains the ‘Sabudana Risotto’ and the ‘Lauki Ka Halwa’ on its regular menu too!

If this generation ( That's my mom) is happy with the menu....it's obviously damn good

FARZI CAFE IS AT DLF CYBER HUB, GURGAON

GO SMAAASH ....FULL FULL ENTERTAINMENT!!

To most of us, ‘social gaming’ equals online multiplayer sessions in Destiny, or chasing the leader boards on candy-coloured mobile games. At SMAASH, it’s more like a ‘Virtual reality theme park’ come live which might beckon images of roller coasters, digital carousels etc but here it is this and much more, a fusion of the best interactive games ever and obviously it is very unlike stay-at-home experiences, visitors enter the physical location of one of their Virtual Entertainment Centres and don top-of-the-line headsets, programmed to match up any number of digital worlds to the structures this 47,000 sq. feet center is occupying.

I would highly recommend the world’s first 360 degree cricket simulator where one can experience first-hand facing cricket legends like Dale Steyn, Wasim Akram and of course the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar ( who was also in attendance at the launch of this  sports-centric immersive and interactive entertainment and gaming center  at DLF Cyber Hub, Gurgaon ). We also liked the ability to use real equipment (i.e. bat and ball) while playing in an immersive simulated environment. In addition, this simulator is so robust and full featured that I feel it could even be used as a training solution for serious cricket players.

Then there are games like walk the Plank, Finger Coaster, Fly Max, Face Ronaldo and Vulcan Force wherein the technology creates the illusion that the player is exploring miles of terrain or incredibly tall structures or probably some other mind illusion without ever leaving the game pod. The end result is a physical connection to the virtual world and a sense of exploration never before possible.

If you are a Football fan you must absolutely challenge the Super-Sonic Goalkeeper while playing Football Super Keeper and other interesting football games.

The thrill of the G-force by trying the X2 Racing is another good bet or alternatively you could just enjoy pleasant banter at the arcade games or at Ten Pin Bowling. After or in between all the sporting excitement, one can chill out at ‘Unforked Café & Bar’, the multi-cuisine restaurant and bar over some exciting cocktails, food (The Pizzas here are delicious) and yes…there’s also a huge screen here where you can indulge in watching more sports.

So when I went there with my family we decided we are going to try everything and anything we can think of to make it fun and memorable and sure enough we did. Truly I can’t think of a greater mistake than trying to integrate smartphones with sports just because you can. The last thing I want is someone thinking that it’s a good idea to disconnect from the unique elements of a game to look at replays or update their fantasy standings or concentrate on trying to predict what will happen next in the game. It’s so much more fun when as a family you collectively hold your breath during a replay, or respond to a great game. That’s not to say that smartphones don’t have a place in other sports, but games on a hand held just doesn’t work for me.

WHERE? Smaaash, Dlf Cyber Hub, Cyber City, Phase 2, NH 8, Gurgaon 

DID YOU KNOW?

The first interactive multi-sports simulator was originally pioneered for coin-operated applications. With those systems, the commercial side of virtual entertainment was revolutionized. With some of the highest operator revenues to date, virtual sports have proven to be a winner for all kinds of establishments.

KINGDOM OF DREAMS LAUNCHES BEHOLD – MAGIC BY TEJAS

A show which is an exceptional amalgamation of magical and mentalism’ 

Behold, ‘Magic by Tejas’ just launched by Kingdom of Dreams and Crossbow Entertainment launched is a spectacular show now playing at ShowShaa Theatre for the next three months.  A matchless mishmash of some of the best mentalist acts and exhilarating magic trickeries Behold enthralls and leaves the adults and the children alike captivated by the performances and utter creativity of the Magic artist Tejas.

The show not only brings alive an stimulating merger of mind baffling sequences and showbiz for the audience experience but also live in a world altered with fantasy. The 75 minutes long show builds up inquisitiveness in the minds of the spectators keeping them on the ends of their seats waiting with bated breath to know what the next minute will bring. Full of wonders and wow instants the show charms with its foot rhythm music and pizzazz and allure of the dancers escorting Tejas on stage, tickling and engaging the attention of the viewers, keeping them glued to their seats. Two times national award winner Tejas builds up the interest levels of the onlookers to a passion pitch and keeps them predicting till the last minute and brings each piece to a close with an overwhelming and grand flourish. With a substantial brew of dance, music and magic the charismatic exhibitions of spectacular acts and a chance at adventure, Behold takes the watchers on a fun roller coaster ride which makes bewitching memories. The show is on every Thursday at 3pm and every weekend at 3pm and 6pm for the next three months. As they say ‘Yeh Nahin Dekh Toh Kuchch Nahin Dekha’.  

4TH OF OCTOBER- CINNAMON BUN DAY ‘kanelbullens dag’ IN SWEDEN

pic courtesy media center- Visit Sweden

Cinnamon buns basically a long string of pastry dough enfolded into a ball and wedged together with sticky-sweet cinnamon buttery syrup; are an almost every day feature of Swedish life, If you are invited to someone’s home for coffee, you always get a cinnamon bun with it and these buns are even a classic at coffee parties, but they still have a distinct day on 4th October. A relatively new tradition established in 1999 when the staff at Sweden’s Hembakningsrådet (the Home Baking Council) now run by Danish sugar company ‘Dansukker’ were considering a way to rejoice their 40th anniversary.

The inkling behind the conception of the day was to revel in Sweden’s home baking customs by emphasizing this much-loved pastry across the country. The autumn harvest is great season for baking in Swedish homes, so it was a perfect time of the year for a merry day with a baking theme. Very much in keeping with Swedish culture, it was well-thought-out that the tradition should be something that everybody can partake in – an objective which has easily been reached: go into any bakery in Sweden today and you will treasure Cinnamon buns in abundance; hence each year on October 4^th cafes, restaurants and convenience stores across Sweden sell these spiced Swedish buns.

 DID YOU KNOW?

Apparently, the average Swede eats cakes and pastry equivalent to 316 cinnamon buns per year – and that’s not counting the home-baked ones.

Celebrate - kanelbullens dag – with the swedes …try making some Cinnamon buns with your KitchenAid stand mixer

THE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

Wheat dough:

25g (0, 9 oz) yeast ; 75g (2¾ oz) butter; 2,5dl (1¼ cups) milk ; ½dl (¼ cup) granulated sugar; 1 pinch salt; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; 7dl (3½ cups) wheat flour

Filling:

100g (3½ oz) butter; 1dl (½ cup) sugar; 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Time 10 minutes

Glaze:

1 egg; 2 tablespoons water; pearl sugar

Oven 250°C/480°F

INSTRUCTIONS

Disintegrate the yeast in a container and stir in a few tablespoons of milk.

Liquefy the butter and decant the milk on it.

Add the remaining ingredients and knead the dough in a KitchenAid stand mixer for 10–15 minutes.

Let the dough escalate while enclosed at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Roll out the dough; about 3 mm (1/8 in) thick and 30 cm (12 in) wide. Spread the room-temperature butter on top.

Make a combination of sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it over the dough.

Roll the dough the long way and cut the roll into about 25 slices.

Place them with the cut edge upward in paper moulds.

Place on a baking sheet and let rise under a towel for until the buns have doubled in size (approx. 60 minutes).

Beat together the egg and water, brush the mixture carefully on the buns and sprinkle pearl sugar on top.

Bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes.

Allow to cool on a rack

Recipe inspired from sweden.se/culture-traditions/cinnamom-buns

Return of the Nobles ‘Noble House’ @ WOKS, the Lalit New Delhi

Do you remember the ‘Noble House’ which was quite an icon by itself for one of the best Chinese food in its heydays?  In fact had even won many accolades and was installed by the then Ambassador of Singapore in 1989, saw who’s who and expats from all around the globe. So when I got an invitation to get nostalgic at The Lalit as it brings back the legend back at its restaurant ‘ Woks’ by offering the dishes from the Menu of Noble House….obviously I couldn’t resist as I remember going there many a times with my parents. 

To begin with as part of the ‘return of the Noble House experience’ the Chinese influence is reflected with the five Nobles Fu (for prosperity), Lu (for wealth), Shou (for Health), Sui Sing (for Long Life) and Mei Lei (Lord Buddha for Eternal Bliss) that are placed in Woks to add to the ambience, which anyways gives a remarkable view of the city from the 28th Floor.

Chinese Teas here are a must try and my vote goes all out for ‘Long Jing’, which is supposed to be the best tea of Mainland China, famous for its sweet taste and Florid nose. Coming to the food, the chef concentrates on a menu (the star dishes from Noble House) that retains the Chinese authenticity and caters to the Indian palette; the ambience reproduces the authenticity of the ‘Noble House’ experience reflected in the cuisine at the restaurant.

To start with the ‘onion cake’ is highly recommended – decadent to the core. The Dim Sums here are a must try, they are a good representation of the quality that the kitchen upkeeps. Most dim sum dishes indeed revolve around the usual ingredients - pork and seafood, especially prawns, however it is the creative use of these ingredients by the chef and his team that lends the element of surprise, breaks the taste and beckons you to try more. The menu also includes the old time favourites like ‘chilli chicken’ and ‘Manchurian’ (my mother loved her Manchurian with Hakka noodles). 

The menu has it all, from the Signature Noble House Steam Boat Soup to sumptuous Dragon Boat Dim Sum Platter, Cauliflower in Garlic Butter Sauce and desserts like Date Pancakes with Ice Cream and Creme Caramel. So if you want to bring back memories….a visit is a must for ‘old times sake’!

FAST FACTS

The Noble House menu is on from 24th Sep’ 15 to 24th Oct’ 15

Timings: Lunch- 12noon to 3:30pm / Dinner- 7pm to 11:30pm

Where? WOKS, 28th Floor, The Lalit New Delhi