Saturday, January 5, 2013

Work healthy, stay healthy

Work healthy, stay healthy
To help you with your New Year’s resolution to eat better, here are recipes that you can whip up and take to work


Grilled cilantro and jalapeno basa with roasted tomato salsa

By Head Chef Vikas Seth, Sanchos

Ingredients:
n 500 gms basa fish fillet
n 30 ml oil
n Salt to taste
n 2 gms white pepper powder
n 10 gms cilantro, chopped
n 10 gms jalapeno, chopped
n 10 ml lime juice
n 200 gms roasted tomato salsa
n 100 gms lettuce, shredded Garnish
n 4 cilantro sprigs
n 4 lemon wedges
Roasted tomato salsa
n 180 gms tomato
n 10 gms garlic, peeled
n 40 gms onion, chunks
n 5 gms lalapeno
n 10 ml oil
n Salt to taste
n 10 gms spring onion

Method:
Cut the fish fillet into thick fingers. Marinate with salt, white pepper, lemon juice, chopped cilantro, chopped jalapenos and half of the oil. Rest for 10 minutes in the fridge. On a medium hot grill or pan, grill the basa fish on both sides till done for about 4 to 5 minutes. Arrange the grilled basa on the shredded lettuce, smothered with roasted tomato salsa. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro and lemon wedge. Place tomatoes, garlic, onion and jalapenos on a small baking dish, drizzle with little oil, roast for 20 minutes in the preheated 180ºC oven or you can grill the vegetables on a heavy bottom pan till they are charred, takes around 20 minutes. Coarsely chop the vegetables, add spring onion and salt to taste. Chill the salsa in the fridge before serving.

Mediterranean chickpea salad


Ingredients:
For the salad:
n 1 ½ cups boiled chickpeas
n 1/8 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
n ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
n ½ cup tomato, diced
n 1/8 cup cup olives, sliced
n 60 gms feta cheese, crumbled
n 1/8 cup red onion, finely chopped
n ½ cup cucumber, diced
For the dressing:
n ½ tbsp lemon juice
n ½ tbsp red wine vinegar
n ¼ tsp garlic, chopped
n 1 tbsp hung curd
n Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Place the chickpeas in a medium bowl. Wash and dice vegetables to small bite size pieces. Add to the bowl with the chickpeas. Crumble feta and add to bowl along with the olives. In a bowl, add the ingredients for the dressing, and whisk. Pour dressing over chickpea salad and toss to coat with dressing.

Kurmura Tadka

By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Director, Wonderchef

Ingredients:
n 4 cups puffed rice (kurmura)
n 10-12 almonds, halved
n 2 green chillies, halved
n 2 tbsp oil
n ½ tsp mustard seeds
n A pinch of asafoetida
n ¼ tsp turmeric powder
n 20-25 curry leaves
n ½ cup roasted Bengal gram
n Salt to taste
n 1 tsp sugar

Method:
Heat a large non-stick kadai. Pour oil into the kadai and when it is heated add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add the asafoetida, turmeric powder and sauté for thirty seconds. Add the curry leaves and almonds and sauté till the leaves are crisp. Add the roasted Bengal gram, salt and sugar and mix well. Add kurmura and mix well. When it is completely cool, store in an airtight container.

Taste of India In this column, Mikhail Shahani will be reviewing some Mumbai restaurants for five weeks. This week, he was at Pali Bhavan, Bandra.

Taste of India
In this column, Mikhail Shahani will be reviewing some Mumbai restaurants for five weeks. This week, he was at Pali Bhavan, Bandra.

You are greeted with a rustic, old-world charm with low-keyed lighting and photo frames tastefully hung on the walls. The wooden doors and candlelight further strengthens the feeling that you have stepped into a different era altogether. The food is great with good value for money and sits light on your tummy.
For starters, I had ordered the galouti kebab and that set the standards really high for the evening. The melt-in-your-mouth tender morsels of minced meat was one the best that I have ever had in Mumbai. The achaari paneer was a let-down as the flavour of the spices had not seeped into the paneer. Main course consisted of pink peppercorn prawn and lamb curry accompanied by naan and rotis. The prawns were fresh and well-cooked but I wish they had crushed the peppercorns so that the zingy peppery taste would have spread evenly. The lamb curry was delicious but the lamb a tad too rubbery for my taste. I could not help noticing that the rotis were undercooked in parts as well.
The margarita disappointment continued. I had ordered a classic and despite the bartender trying his hand the second time with 30 per cent extra tequila, he just could not get the mix right. But what amazed me was the quality of service as the waiters knew their dishes well and recommended them with a smile. I had my heart set on having the tandoori sweet potato as it is the season for it but unfortunately they could not serve it despite it figuring on the menu.
I went a bit overboard with the dessert and ordered the paan kulfi which I found intriguing and refreshing. The rasmalai was not up to the mark but the mishti doi more than made up for it. Overall with the great ambiance and friendly service, I had a nice experience.






Friday, January 4, 2013

F BAR Restaurant Review World Cuisine


F BAR

Restaurant Review

World Cuisine



    It is the first friday of 2013 and I begin by quoting an old saying, “When Mohammed does not go to the mountain, the mountain comes to Mohammed.” And that’s my wish for you for 2013... may your ‘mountain’ of desires come easily and swiftly to you. As if by sheer serendipity, my guests today seem to specialise in doing this. The charming global gourmet couple Bela and Micky Dalal (long time fans of the sublime Swiss Spruengli chocolates) are now making sure that these exquisite handmade chocolate creations are available to us in India for exclusive caterings and customised gift boxes too. Their dapper son, Rohan Dalal (co founder of the unique Doorbell pharmacy) provides customers with a unique, convenient and efficient way of tracking and ordering their monthly medicine and fitness supplement requirements. The Dalal family (including their son Jay, economics major, DJ by passion currently rocking NYC) has dined at Vineet Bhatia’s restaurants (in Switzerland and Mumbai), and couple
of months ago, I had an amazing meal in London’s Rasoi (Vineet Bhatia’s Michelin starred restaurant). And after Azok, Ziya in Mumbai, Bhatia’s food is served in F Bar too.
AMBIANCE Mumbai’s very own F Bar sashays in (of all places), into the city’s latest high-rise in a business district. It has it all... Fashion TV, 10,000 sq ft sprawling restaurant, dance floor, terrace and
Vineet Bhatia’s food too. That it chooses to locate itself in the somewhat inaccessible location on the third floor of the One IndiaBulls Centre (Lower Parel,) doesn’t seem to be a deterrent for Mumbai’s clubbers. But does it make for a destination for the diner? Be prepared for a long walk through the gleaming lobby and corridors of IndiaBulls Centre and into a dark, twin-levelled space with mesmerising images of the FTV channel on four large
walls. Both, the bar and restaurant, share a theatrical black ceiling and upper wooden ceiling that rolls like a wave. God help women with heels who go up the steep stairwell (to the restaurant). No matter which table you sit at in the square-shaped restaurant area, the Fashion TV images are visible.
FOOD Vineet Bhatia’s starters, flavoursome and generously portioned Tandoori Wasabi Curry Leaf Prawns, Tawa Rosemary Seekh Kebab and the unusual Peanut Butter Chicken delight. Bhatia’s Fashion Bites, Saucy Bowls, Naaninis and Pizzans, strut the menu. It is the Tawa Ravas, stylishly served in a spoon and made
delightful with the tequila glaze, that we all recommend. As we do the robustly spiced, succulent Patiala Chicken with Whisky Flambé. Worth trying too are the strangesounding Naaninis (naans like paninis served with curly fries, are stuffed with Chettinad Potatoes and crisp Urad Dal). Interestingly, the other strangesounding dish of Pizaans (naans topped and prepared like pizzas) layered with Paneer Makhni and the other with Rogan Josh-smoked Cashew Nut Pizzan (with soft bases) good too.
MINUS POINTS The regular pizza (not Vineet’s) is too hard and is smothered in a sweet sauce. While Wasabi Curry Leaf Prawns are good, they are overcooked, ditto for the Papillote Fish with Olives Capers. Maa Dal is too tomatoey and Baby Corn Asparagus, too tough. The desserts look better than they taste, be it the Rasmalai Mango Lasagne, Blue Curacao Rabadi or the sugar-free Apple Cinnamon Kheer, Granola, or the Guava Kulfi. Avoidable Coconut Panna Cotta, Bubblegum Jelly and Paan Laddoo. And the price points are high ( 5000 meal for two).
MY POINT To check out its nightclub avatar, I had popped in here on an earlier Saturday night (with my young rocking buddies Jivesh Bhojwani and Anandita De) to find long lines of clubbers waiting to get in and the place throbbing to the
DJ’s commercial music. But for dining, the space is too dark and at night, the music can get obtrusive. However, for those in the area and those looking for an interesting twist to Indian fare (served through the day), F Bar is the answer.
FOODLINE I am feeling like a kulfi here in freezing Delhi but your messages are warming me. Fabulous to receive your Twitter, FB and e-mail feedback. Mail (rashmiudaysingh2012@gmail.com, FB, Twitter @rashmiudaysingh) or sms (77380 22873) to be listed here. Due to space constraints, I am unable to carry your messages.

New Lunch Buffet @ Pritam Da Dhaba, Kurla The Power Lunch Buffet at Pritam Da Dhaba is popular amongst the corporate circle in Kurla and BKC. With a spread including starters, main course, salads and desserts, this lunch is also suitable for kitty parties. Guests can have mouth-watering food, groove to Punjabi tunes and also receive personalised service. This buffet is spread all through the working days of the week. Price: 600 for a meal for two. Buffet priced at 399. Timings: 12 noon to 3:30 pm and 7 pm to 12 midnight. Where: Pritam Da Dhaba, Level 2, Kohinoor Mall, Kurla (W). Call: 022-3190 9933/44

The Swim & Sangria Sunday Brunch @ C’est La Vie, Bandra (W) The Swim & Sangria Sunday brunch at C’est La Vie serves up a delightful assortment of mouth-watering dishes. Serving Paella, Goat Cheese and Spinach Cigars, Crisp Calamari and an opulent range of desserts, guests are bound to be spoilt for choice. One can relax by the pool with a sangria one hand, great food in the other and unwind from a stressful week. Timings: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Price: Brunch with beverages is for 1800 and without beverages (including Sangria) is 1200. Where: C’est La Vie, 164, Hill Road, Next to Godrej Nature’s Basket, Bandra (W). Call: 022-6132 2222/2643 1631
Fun and Food @ Golden Chariot Outlets Looking for a place where you can unwind? Get to Golden Chariot, where you’ll find a scrumptious meal and fun-filled events. Savour dishes like Butterfly Prawns, Dum ka Murg, Sabzi Seekh Kali Mirch and more. The Ghazal Nights are a part of the evenings everyday, except Tuesdays, and there’s a Candle Night dinner on Mondays and Thursdays. Patrons can enjoy 25% off on their purchase of Indian spirits. Timings: 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm to 12 midnight. Price: 700 for a meal for two. Call: 022-2854 7258/2854 7259 (Kandivali)/ 022-2686 6867/2686 6869/2686 6766 (Goregaon)/ 022-2812 4546/2810 6066 (Mira Bhayandar Road) Bakes and More @ The Rolling Pin, Ghatkopar (W) Introducing the latest addition to Mumbai's food scene, The Rolling Pin, a live bakery and confectionery. This place has freshly baked, 100% vegetarian and eggless items. The choice of cakes, pastries, desserts, mousse that are made from imported 100% Belgian Couverture chocolate and breads such as Rye Sourdough, 100% whole wheat, multigrain, bran, Foccacias. Not only that, they also have a huge selection of cookies, snacks, puffs, jams, oils, dips. A must-visit for people with a sweet tooth or love for breads. Timings: 12 noon to 11:30 pm. Where: The Rolling Pin, R City Mall, LBS Marg, Ghatkopar (W). Call: 022-6642 8444 READER’S REVIEWS ON TIMESCITY.COM Shanghai Club, Parel: Wow! This was an awesome experience. Great service I would say... we had many things and all was just wow... perfectly cooked and served... we had a nice time and perfect date here. — Amarverma. Food: 4, Service: 4, Décor: 4
Vista, Bandra (W): The food at Vista was awesome... went there last sunday and had an amazing experience... ambiance was perfect... striking interiors and comfortable seating arrangements was all at the place... service of the restaurant was fast and friendly too... food was delicious. — Ranachitra. Food: 4, Service: 4, Décor: 4
Gopal, Malad (W): I come all the way to this place for their Lemon Bhatt, Rasam, Idli and Murruku. Low rates of the food. Average interior, super food and very pocket friendly cost is what makes Gopal a desirable place to have food.— Priya_rana. Food: 4.5, Service: 4, Décor: 3.5
Readers can post their reviews on timescity.com. The editorial team will choose the three best reviews and publish them.

Rashmi Uday Singh


(From left to right) Bela, Micky Dalal and Rohan Dalal at F Bar


TIMES FOOD GUIDE F BAR One India Bulls, 3rd Floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Next to Gold’s Gym, Lower Parel. Call: 022-6650 5820 Timings: Noon to 1.30am Price: Meal for two is 5000 RATING:
• Food:
3.5

• Service:
3
• Décor
: 4