Delightful Healthy Recipes

Friday, September 11, 2015

Hot chill pepper, new cure for obesity?

Put the diet aside, scientists may have a new solution for your weight in the way of a chilli pepper. They found that a high-fat diet may impair important receptors located in the stomach that signal fullness. This was done in an investigation on the association between hot chilli pepper receptors (TRPV1) in the stomach and the feeling of fullness. A site quotes professor Amanda Page as saying, “The stomach stretches when it is full, which activates nerves in the stomach to tell the body that it has had enough food. We found that this activation is regulated through hot chilli pepper or TRPV1 receptors.“

The Bharatiya 2:10 PM

how many different ways have you eaten fish?

FISH GETS A REGIONAL TWIST

It's one of the healthiest dishes, hailed as `the ultimate lean protein', but how many different ways have you eaten fish? There are delicious styles of cooking it across India. While Kashmiris make it with lotus stems, the Portuguese pickle their fish, and on the coast, they use coconut. Try these out...

Kerala Nadan means Currey

Mangalorean Fish fry

Koli style Talalela Halava

Goa - Machcha Patropoda

Bengali Macher Jhol

Party Prawn

Baked Mackerel

Bohari style fish fry and Parsi style Boomla and Sookha Boomla Patio

The Bharatiya 2:04 PM

Amazing restaurants in Mumbai

DINE OUT IN MUMBAI - FESTIVE THALIS AND SWEETS

As the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi draws near, there are amazing restaurants in the city that serve authentic Indian fare -life size thalis and a variety of sweets

Whether it is the mouth-watering thalis or the traditional modaks which are a favourite amongst Mumbaikars during the Ganesh festival, this year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be incomplete without gorging on yummy delicacies which are specially prepared for you by these restaurants. Check out some of the awesome deals that these places have to offer during this time...

Serving India On A Thali @ Revival
If you are craving for an authentic Indian Thali meal, then head to Revival this season for a memorable meal.The food here is slow-cooked and organic making it healthy.They also customise the menu based on guest's requirements.The meal comprises 44 items each day giving you a plate-full of options. These dishes represent various states of the country along with seasonal vegetarian y, varieties , sensitised to an Ayurvedic influence and special diet needs. The plate , looks vibrant with colours and is flavour some at the same . time. You can gorge on this thali without having to worry about . the calories.
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Their Chowpatty outlet is . scenically located, offering the customer a beautiful sea view.l You can also bring your four legged friend here to keep you company. Revival was the first pet friendly restaurant in all of South Mumbai, if not all over Mumbai. For the days when you can't make it to Revival, opt in for our Take Away boxes that t are delivered to your doorstep! f Where: Revival, Chowpatty Seaface Call: 022-2369 6992 Website: http://www.revivalindianthali.com

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Festive Celebrations @ Punjabi Ghasitaram Halwai
Add sweetness to your festive celebrations with Lord Ganesha's favourite Modaks. Ghasitaram has specially crafted tasty treats for You.You can buy the Prasad Modak Tray (available in 2111 pieces), opt from over 18 flavours such as Anjeer, Strawberry, Choco Chips, Mango, Kaju and also the traditional Steamed Gur Modaks. If you are watching your weight try the sugarless low calorie Modaks.
Where: Punjabi Ghasitaram Halwai Pvt Ltd, G Where: Punjabi Ghasitaram Halwai Pvt Ltd, G Ghasitaram Estate, Jasmine Mill Road, Mahim (E).k Call: 022-2409 00000101 s
Email: info@ghasitaram.in
Website: To order online log on http://www.ghasitaram.in (We deliver anywhere in India)
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Special Thali @ South of Vindhyas, The Orchid
Special Thali @ South of Vi If you are looking to have scrumptious south Indian thalis, South of Vindhyas at The Orchid is the place to go. The specialty restaurant helmed by Master Chef Bala for the last fifteen years serves delectable vegetarian, non vegetarian and sea food thalis with traditional Indian classical music to calm your nerves and sooth your senses at an affordable price band.Where: South of Vindhyas, The Orchid, Near Domestic Airport, Vile Parle (E) Timings: 12 noon to 3.30 pm (lunch) and 7 to 11.45 pm (dinner) everyday Cost: Seafood:`1,500+ taxes Non-veg: `1,300+ taxes Veg: `1,100+ taxes Call: 022-2616 4000, 4060, 4061, +91 84228 05498

Ganesh Chaturthi Special @ Panshikar
With their authentic Maharashtrian goodies, Panshikar has become a household name in the city. As the Ganesh festival approaches, they will roll special sweets for the occasion. You can shop for Modak that are available in various flavours like cashew, orange ,strawberry, pista, kesar , chocolate and of course the traditional yellow ones along with other sweets such as besan ladoo, khobra vadi and shrikhand and more. Treat your guests with the various types of namkeen like their famous special roasted poha chivada and Special Potato chivada and others along with a variety of sweets. So visit them this season to get the best Prasad for lord Ganesha. Their fasting sweets such as sabudaana vada, bataata puri, peanut usal and pattice are the hottest selling items.Where: Panishkar, Panshikar Mithai Kendra, Girgaon-022-2385 572324; Panshikar Aahar, Girgaon-022 2386 121109; Panshikar Sweets & Snacks, Vile Parle (E) -022-6695 98632616 3262, Thakurdwar022 2205 2527; Panshikar Tasteaurant, BKC022 3392 3723

The Bharatiya 1:58 PM

Tech that makes life easy in the kitchen

Gone are the days when the smartest ap pliances in your kitchen were a refriger ator, a food processor, an induction heater, a coffee machine or even the microwave. However, today, there are tremendous changes in the way you cook. Thanks to rapid technological advancement, kitchen utilities have taken a whole new meaning. From boards that count calories, pans that talk and apps that remind that your steak are done -kitchen tech has taken off in a big way .

Now you have the ability to make the kitchen smarter than ever.
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WEIGHING SCALES
A new range of weighing scales those also double up as a chopping board.Made of mate rials stronger than traditional wood, these scales are connected to WIFI via your phone so you can actually measure each ingredient carefully .
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SMART PAN
With step-bystep procedures, there is a new range of pans available that sync with your phone and display information play information in real time. They issue heating alerts; pan surface temperature and even food surface temperature, so that you don't end up burning your food.

HAPPY FORK
This smart cutlery is a type of intelligent eating aid that monitors and tracks your eating habits, which helps your weight loss goals. Besides measuring how long it takes to eat your food, it also gives you precise information about your eating schedule. Put simply , it helps you eat slowly and mindfully, and works something akin to your grandma asking you to go slow while eating your food.

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SMART GRILL
Grilling food at times includes staring into space for long periods as you wait for your food to get done properly . But with smart grills that can be operated from your tablet or smartphone, helps you control how your food is grilled. With some smart grills offering a control so precise that you can track the temperatures to 0.2 degrees, even your delicate meats come out just like how you want them.

DIGITAL TRACKERS
We often forget how old some items in the fridge are. With time, they get spoiled causing wastage and even health scares. Now, with handy tracking apps, you can know how old things are in your fridge, especially perishable ones.

The Bharatiya 12:22 PM

Enter a new world of food-tainment - Living Foodz TV channel

Living Foodz, a complete food-tainment channel that promises to increase your food entertainment quotient, starts tonight at 7 pm. The channel specialises in exploring the evolving social status of food, moving out of the confines of the conventional kitchen into a world of entertainment and adventure with food. It will explore different perspectives towards food and the way it touches people -from lifestyle, travel, wellness to food infotainment and reality . The audience will be taken on an exhilarating food expedition alongside celebrity chefs and food personalities like Ranveer Brar, Gautam Mehrishi, Rocky & Mayur, Vicky Ratnani, Kunal Kapur, Rakhee Vaswani through various shows like The Great Indian Rasoi, Chef on Wheels, Food Express, Vickypedia, Pickle Nation, Rewind With Rakhee, respectively.

On the launch of the show Food Express, Rocky says, “For the first time on Indian television, you will discover extreme foods that exist in India. We have travelled across the country and learnt some extremely weird and different kinds of food that people eat. Get on the trail of the most exciting and incredible journey to discover India's spiciest, most exotic and expensive food.“ Chef Ranveer Brar says, “The Great Indian Rasoi is a show that brings out the unheard stories from kitchens across India. It's dedicated to people who have spent their life cooking and are still unheard of. Indian kitchens get their due recognition with this show.“

Talking about Pickle Nation, Chef Kunal Kapur says, “Pickles are an integral part of an Indian meal but have never got the desired attention. We will take you on a journey to discover the secret behind these yummy pickles“ Living Foodz is available across all DTH and leading cable networks in dual feed Hindi and English.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

The Bharatiya 3:01 PM

Zespri's SunGold and Green Kiwifruit varieties

Indulge in guilt-free sweetness this festive season

Enjoy this year's festivities guilt free, as you ditch the calories and embrace healthy sweetness with Zespri's SunGold and Green Kiwifruit varieties. Available in a special pack this month, Zespri Kiwifruit is high in fructose, low in sucrose content and glycemic index -serving as a healthy gifting option for calorie-conscious people and those suffering from diabetes, as they can enjoy a piece of sweet fruit without worrying about its impact on the blood sugar levels. Fibre and actinidin present in the fruit help in neutralizing acidity, easing constipation and also aid in the digestion of dairy, meat and legume sources.

Kiwifruit can Kiwifruit can offer a lot more than an exotic tropical flair in your fruit salad. These emerald delights contain numerous phytonutrients as well as vitamins and minerals that can improve your health.Research shows that kiwifruit is one of the healthiest varieties of fruit.It contains vitamin C and folate, filled with a chock full of antioxidants that help maintain energy levels for every age group.

Often a kiwifruit is cut in two and the fruit scooped out. But you can also peel the kiwifruit, cut it neatly horizontally in slices, as ready-to-eat pieces for children or for use in a (fruit) salad, on a fruit tart or with your muesli.

You can buy your favourite Zespri kiwifruit at all major stores and online retailers near you.

Follow Zespri Kiwifruit India on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ZespriIndia) and Twitter (@ZespriIndia).

http://www.zesprikiwi.in (*Subject discussed is based on the brand's understanding of the said field)

Nutrition Density Pyramid

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The Bharatiya 7:52 PM

RETAINING WATER? DRINK MORE, BLOAT LESS

Ever wondered why you feel bloated and puffy, as though you have gained inches overnight? Do you find that your rings are suddenly too tight on your fingers? Or that just gently pressing your skin leaves dents? And even your shoes don't seem to fit? These could be symptoms of oedema or water retention.

Most of us retain water, but within normal parameters. Women are more prone to water retention because it is a symptom of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS).However, water retention could also be a symptom of kidney disease or heart, liver or thyroid malfunction. So, if you feel you have bloated too much, get yourself checked.

HOW TO DEAL WITH EXCESS WATER RETENTION

DRINK MORE TO LOSE MORE. To significantly reduce the amount of water being retained by your body drink more water. It's a bit of a contradiction. Here's what happens... the more water you drink, the more your body will flush out. This is one of the most effective ways to combat water retention. Ten or 12 glasses a day ought to do the trick.
EAT SMART. Diets low in sodium (avoid table salt, pickle, papad, cheese, butter or processed food), and high in potassium (bananas, peaches, plums, musk melons, raisins) help maintain correct electrolyte balance within the body, preventing puffiness. Diuretic fruits (cranberries, vitamin C-rich oranges, limes and other citrus fruits) along with diuretic vegetables (cucumber, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots and peppers) help maintain the correct osmolarity within your cells, preventing them from retain ing excess water. Some studies show that vita min B6 tablets (pyri doxine) and primrose oil capsules have the same benefits.
CUT BACK TO LOSE MORE. Additionally, avoiding alcohol and caf feinated beverages, anti-in flammatory drugs and oral contraceptives also help reduce water retention in the body.
MOVE MORE TO LOSE MORE. Get out, get moving. Exercise works wonders.Also, avoid standing for long periods, don't wear tight clothes and keep your legs raised as and when you can to avoid discomfort.

The Bharatiya 7:35 PM

There are foods that can calm your brain and make you happy.

JOY DIET

There are foods that can calm your brain and make you happy. But for a meal to become a joyous experience, how you eat and who you have as company matters as much as what's placed on your plate

You know that feeling... when in anticipation of food, your mind goes into a tizzy. But did you know there's a science to it?
Your brain releases dopamine (a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter) in anticipation of the food, which makes your mind race into that happy zone even before you've tasted the food, explains Dr Alex Corb, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at UCLA. Now imagine, you get specific foods on your plate termed as `happy foods'. Isn't that a perfect recipe for happiness in our angst-ridden times?
Before we try it, let's understand what happy foods are all about and why everyone -from nutritionists to neuroscientists -is recommending it. Dietician Indrayani Pawar explains, “When it comes to foods that make you happy, it all comes down to the brain. Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids play a major role in maintaining normal brain function and a healthy cognitive system. These foods increase your happiness quotient, lessen symptoms of depression and curb anxiety.“Don't think for a moment that happy foods are just health foods, and so, can't be tasty. A cube of cheese, two squares of dark chocolate, eggs, salmon, trout... all figure in the `happy food' list (see box).
A complete happy meal though isn't just about the food on your plate. If you've stopped finding joy in your everyday food, changing the emotions surrounding it would be the best recipe. Elsa Schiaparelli, the Italian fashion icon, had once said: “Eating is not merely a material pleasure. Eating well gives a spectacular joy to life and contributes immensely to goodwill and happy companionship. It is of great importance to the morale.“ Studies have suggested that for a meal to be a soulful experience, the ingredients go far beyond the bottled jars of masala at your kitchen shelves. Here are a few soul recipes you can add to your eating habits.

COMPANY YOU KEEP
When you know the food presented in front of you isn't good just because there's a huge price tag attached to it --as in restaurants -but has been specifically cooked for you, you automatically derive far more pleasure out of it. This explains why you will boast of a Michelin star restaurant but keep going back to your favourite aunt or grandma's house for that special kheer, gosht or pudding... A study conducted by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that people are significantly happier and less stressed when they have good company at the dinner table.
But eating at home doesn't mean you sit at the dinner table with your eyes fixated on your TV as your favourite soap plays on. In stead of a happy meal experience, your emotions will be aligned with whatever is happening to the character in your soap. You lose touch with food when this becomes a habit. Eventually, the food doesn't appeal to you eating becomes a chore. According to lead researcher and psychologist Dr Eric Robinson from Liverpool University, eating while watching TV or working at a desk can impact your awareness, attention and memory, leading to mindless munching, which, in turn, leads to weight gain.
The primary rule of happy eating is to eat only what you really enjoy.Chef Naren Thimmaiah says, “If you don't savour each bite and your attention is divided between food and gadgets you'll overeat, because you won't realise at what point your stomach is full so you are mindlessly swallowing food.“
Whether it's a cold sandwich or a Belgium dark chocolate pastry, eat only till you enjoy it and stop as soon as you start feeling uncomfortably full. Adds Thimmaiah, “To enjoy your food, chew slowly and let the flavours burst in your mouth.Pay attention to the sounds listen to the crunch as you chew and the slosh as you swallow. Start noticing how you feel after eating energised, bloated or queasy? Do this for three days, and you'll understand where you stand with regard to your relationship with food.“

PRAY, EAT, LOVE
According to Adrian Butash, author of Bless Your Food: Ancient and Contemporary Graces from Around the World, expressing gratitude before you eat is one of the most universal and ancient behaviours. In the days t before we pasteurised and refrigerat. ed food, blessings were a way of `pu rifying' the food. They were also ex pressions of gratitude to gods and a recognition that `the food is not ours, but loaned to us'. In our world of excess, we have forgotten to be gracious about the fact that we have a plate full of food in front of us. Dr Kurush F Dalal, assistant professor, archaeology, Mumbai University says, “You'll find a sense of calm overtaking you as soon as you pray or sprinkle water around your food before your meal. That time -even if it is for a split second -makes you appreciate the world, its won ders and the food on your table. It connects you with the Universe.“
The next time you post a picture hashtagged `foodgasm', make sure your soul has captured the joyous experience of eating, before your smartphone uploads the food's pic ture through your favourite filter.

Friday, April 17, 2015

The Bharatiya 12:47 PM

Restaurant Reviews

WINE & DINE

Chicken Boneless Biryani @ Mad about Biryani Juicy chunks of boneless chicken, resting in the fragrance of fried onions, mint leaves, chosen spices and dum cooked with long grain rice serves an amazing Chicken Boneless Dum Biryani at `750 for a five-serving pack.
Regular Chicken Biryani at ` 650. For five-serving packs, order a dayshift in advance. Served in hygienically sealed, presentable disposable trays.
Also relish Chicken Cheese Tikkis and Shami Kebabs over the weekend.
Where: Delivered across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane Call: 022-2872 7272 Website: http:www.madaboutbiryani.com Dumpling Variety @ Dumpling King

Tantalise your taste buds with something that is unobtainable. After starting with a couple of our fresh dumplings, why not try our crispy dumplings with one of our many dishes? Steam `em, fry `em -you need to taste them.
Delicious Spinach & Corn, Assorted Mushroom, Hunan Chicken, 5 Spice Lamb and Wasabi Prawn Dumplings are all added to the menu. Enjoy fine dine quality at street food pricing. Need catering?
For Party Orders Call: +91 97695 47163 99300 03884 For Free Deliveries Call: + 91 99209 56884 99309 56884 (Carter Road), + 91 99200 23027 99200 23061 (Juhu)

Exotic Variety @ Spices & Sauces Restaurant
Thane's finest multicuisine restaurant `Spices & Sauces' now invites you to experience awesome ambience, exotic cuisines and live music over the weekends with your loved ones.Cuisines: Indian, Oriental and Continental.Where: Spices & Sauces Restaurant, Hotel United 21, LBS Marg, Gokul Nagar, Near Castle Mill Circle, Thane (W) Call: 022 4157 9999 Timings: Lunch -12 pm to 3.30 pm; Dinner -7 pm to 11.30 pm
Rajasthani Food Festival @ Royale Masterchef
Indulge this weekend in a royal heritage of Rajasthani Food Festival at Royale Masterchef. The famous Dal Bati Churma, Gatte Ka Saag are to try for, and don't forget to taste the Ghevar which will complete your meal. They also have a good variety of non-vegetarian meals.Padharo Sa at Royale Masterchef this weekend for Rajasthani food.Where: Royale Masterchef, Gagangiri Complex, near Dahisar, new flyover, Kandarpada, New Link Road, Dahisar (W) Call: 022 6565 5506 022 6565 5507
Happy Hours are dead. Liquid Buffet is here @ Grillopolis

For those who enjoy casual parties and indulging without restraint, Grillopolis presents the country's first Indulge by the Hour offer, Liquid Buffet. Covering over 8 brands of regular beverages, you can drink to an open house choose a bucket of 5 pints to share. At only `800 hr, is fun unlimited! Where: Grillopolis, U-G 46, Phoenix Market City, Kurla (W) Call: 022 6500 0555 6500 0666 Timing: 12 pm to 1 am

Lucknowi Food Festival @ Bombay Barbeque
Get a taste of traditional Lucknowi culinary delights at the Lucknowi-eDaawat food festival at Bombay Barbeque. The Nawabi décor with a touch of royalty will add to your dining experience at this speciality grill restaurant. The menu offers Tunde Kebabs and Charminar Seekh along with vegetarian options like Royal Anjeer Kebabs. For desserts, try the Jalebis, Lucknowi Gujjiya and more. On public demand, the festival has been extended till May 3.Where: Bombay Barbeque, Om Palace Apts., Gr. Floor, Dr. Ambedkar Road Junction, Pali Hill, Khar (W) Call: 077100 64413 14 21 22
Celebrating the Baisakhi Festival @ The Park
The delicacies straight from the land of Punjab in a traditional ambience reflecting the culture and richness of the state. The vibrancy spreads across in this season.`Aqua' will give you an experience of the authentic taste of the speciality dishes from a Dhaba Menu along with the chatpata starters and delightful desserts.Where: The Park, No 1, Sector 10, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai Call: +91 77100 98860 022 6758 9000 2758 9000 Ext 600 Cost for two: Meal with Beverages (mocktail, soft drink, beer and wine) `2,400 (AI)

Yummy Bengali Sweets @ Chandu Halwai
Explore the wide range of fresh and delicious Bengali sweets at Chandu Halwai. Traditional favourites include Rasgulla, Malai Sandwich and Rasmalai.And step up your entertainment with our signature dish -Kesari Angoori Rabdi Lacchedar. Why stop there? Exotic favourites include Mouchak, Malai Chamcham, Trupti Bhog, Kamal Bhog, Vishnu Bhog and the Cardamom and 22413729, Grant Road: 23821780, Saffron infused Colaba: 22840073, Dadar TT: 24143312, Raj Bhog! Worli Naka: 24932796, Sion Circle: Satisfy your 24072361, Thakurdwar (Girgaon): sweet tooth at 23825683, Teenbatti: 23694795, Chandu Ghatkopar(W): 25135081, Bandra(W): Halwai. Drop in 26426970, Santacruz (W): 26491605.or call your Western suburbs: 9833405407, nearest store 9820095834; Central suburbs: today. 9833405277, Eastern suburbs: Zaveri Bazar: 9769637997
Happy Hours till the last ball @ The Big Kahuna

The Big Kahuna, Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla, the tropical and tiki culture inspired restaurant is extending its happy hours from 4pm till the last ball during the t20 season.Exclusively offered at this outlet, the extended happy hours are valid even on weekends and are applicable on domestic liquor and The Big Kahuna's delicious Tiki Cocktails. Say kitchens around the world.aloha to The Big Kahuna's A heaven of happiness! signature cocktails such as Where: The Big Kahuna, the Hawaiian Sea Breeze, First Floor, Phoenix The Maui Dawn, The Marketcity, Kurla Tropical Hit, The Tiki Bowl, Call: 022-61801615 TBK Rum Kick and the Rum When: Monday to Sunday Giggle while indulging in Timing: 4 pm onwards the authentic cuisine from

Exciting Offers @ Chili's Grill & Bar
Chili's American Grill & Bar introduces a variety of offers for the guests to experience the best. Enjoy lunch starting at `400 AI and also chill during the Happy Hours between 4 pm to 8 pm everyday with a buy one get one free offer! Between Monday to Thursday, there's a Kid's Meal free with every Adult Meal. Chili's also has a three-course Dinner for 2 Combo during weekdays, which is for `1,200 AI for 2.Where: Chili's Grill & Bar, #13, Ventura Bldg., Central Avenue Road, Hiranandani Business Park, Powai Call: 022 2674 1900 3 4 Timing: 12 noon to 1.30 am Cost for two: `1,400++

Affordable Oriental Meal @ And Chillies
When hunger strikes and you crave for an exciting oriental meal, And Chillies is your answer.This cute restaurant serves delicious pocket-friendly oriental meals that everybody will love. The best part is that all the dishes are prepared without any MSG.Worli: 022 3015 1816, Mahim: 022 3015 1556

The Bharatiya 12:45 PM

Restaurant Review - AQABA MEDITERRANEAN. MIDDLE EASTERN

Restaurant Review

AQABA MEDITERRANEAN. MIDDLE EASTERN

Named after a city in Jordan, Aqaba sits in an office building in Lower Parel. Having eaten its Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern food a few times, I went back with two well-travelled foodies who not only love Mediterranean food but know baba from its ghanoush. While the charming and stylish designer extraordinaire Kiran Uttam Ghosh was in Mumbai to show her fabulous new collection, Jag Dhanoa, who has an oil business in Dubai was here to tend to his hotel in Alibag. Both love Mediterranean food and I was equally riveted by their global experiences in that cuisine as about Kiran Uttam Ghosh's collection of global silhouettes juxtaposed with local handcrafted textiles.
“I would come all the way from Dubai for the The Garlic Sauce,“ says Dhanoa. Kiran enjoyed the food as did a golfing champ and gourmet who prefers to fly under the radar and didn't want to be mentioned.Our review follows.
DÉCOR
Ask for directions to this office building and once in it, make sure you whizz up the correct lift. Polished wood tables and plush furnishings in shades of sea-blue and green, dot
FOOD
Choose from their all-day menu with salads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, mezze and mains for dinner which include dishes from Greece, Turkey and Lebanon, and a smattering of dishes from Italy, Spain and Northern Africa.
Select your own mezze platter and your own kebab platter with a choice of Chicken Gyro, Lamb Gyro, Rawas Kebab, Moroccan Prawns, Lamb Seekh Kebab, Batata Harra, Lebanese Spicy Potatoes topped with cheese and grilled. While it was the garlic cream sauce that came up tops, the Lamb Kibbeh and Shish Taouk were well made too. Okay-ish, flavoursome tagine, well-made moussaka. Vegetarians can go for Labneh, Dolmas and Spanakopita. End with the creamy Rose Petal Ice Cream.
MINUS POINTS
Price points are certainly on the higher side and some of the dishes disappoint.The Samak Meshwi (fish) was a tad off and smelly, while the Shawarma overcooked and pizza soggy. Oversweet, sticky Baklava.
MY POINT
An interesting and ambitious menu in a pleasing light-filled environment. The arguments about authenticity can go on forever, however, Aqaba's food offers comforting flavours. With so much of competition from other standalone restaurants, it could do with toning down its prices. It is an ideal and stylish venue for parties, events and even boardroom meetings.
GLITTERINGLY NEW IN NYC I write from my beloved New York. Or should I say Newest York?
It obviously takes its name very seriously as it keeps popping up with the new, newer and newest by the minute. I've been dining at many a new surprise but this one, with its shimmering chandeliers and superluxuriousness, dazzles. Not even a few weeks old, Baccarat redefines French luxury as it opens its first flagship hotel here. We walk under sparkling ceilings, past priceless art and Baccarat crystal collections into the Grand Salon. Daintiest of Eclairs, freshest of Scallops delight as I lunch with the brilliant maestro Ashfer Biju who has taken time off from his very busy schedule of high-profile banqueting at the legendary Pierre to lunch with me and the dynamic and charming Rebecca Rand. I get to know about many more new eateries as I am on a blind date with a bunch of New Yorker food bloggers. I raise a toast (with a classic Baccarat Harcourt crystal glass of course) to my Newest York! P.S. Should you want any NYC info, please email rashmiudaysingh2015@gmail.com, Instagram, Twitter @rashmiudaysingh