Pakistani food festival you can’t afford to miss

We as foodies love attending food festivals because each time we go to one we relish something very unique, something different and at the same time something which is prominent in its own way. And this time I went to Daawat-e-Maghrib hosted by Eros Hotel whose tagline read from the kitchens of west Punjab to Singh Sahib and to represent the west Punjab, celebrity Chef Gulzar Hussain and Chef Naseem from Pakistan showcased the most authentic delicacies from Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Lahore and Multan. This one of a kind Pakistani food festival will stay on until 25th September, 2015 and you can enjoy some mouth-watering delicacies here. From starters to the main course, to the live counters, everything is just perfect.

They also created a very desi yet modern ambiance with beautiful decorative and enchanting candle lights which is perfect for a evening with your loved one and to top it all, they have some amazing singers with a soulful voice performing live ghazals.

Pakistani cuisine is a refined blend of various regional cooking traditions of South Asia. It is very similar to North Indian cuisine, but incorporates noticeable Central Asian, and Middle Eastern influences and is more meat-oriented. The fusion Mughlai cuisine is the most popular cuisine found in most Pakistani restaurants. Food in other parts of Pakistan, particularly Balochistan, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas also hold distinct tastes based on various regional influences and the way these two chefs from the neighbourhood prepared these dishes it won’t be wrong to say that if there is something that can unite India and Pakistan then that is only and only “FOOD”.

I am sure your mouth is watering and you cannot wait for the dishes that are here for the offer. To start with you will be welcomed by sharbate-khaas which is an infusion of lemon, jeera and some mint and this will make you get set for the evening. It is served cold and is very very refreshing. The other drinks on offer are pisteywali lassi, shikanjvi and the all time favourite of many mattha. For the starters they serve lahori fish fry (the fish is first steamed with all the required spices and masala and after cooling it on room temperature it is fried at very high heat), chargah (similar to tandoori chicken, this was cooked just to perfection in khada masalas), chapli kebab( this were actually called chappal kebabs because of the were served in the size and form of chappal but as the serving was too tough to serve they changed the name to chapli, Utterly delicious kababs that are soft and moist. They taste awesome with a side of salad or tomatoes and onions and some lemon squeezed on top) subziyon ki shammi (Just as we have veg seekh kebab here this in pakistan is called subziyon ki shaami, a mix of lot of vegetable this is deep fried in hot oil with a coating of maida on top), murgh malai boti ( some call it malai chicken tikka this melt in your mouth preparation will take you on an unforgatteble ride), malai mushroom (button mushrooms combined with some flavorful masala and topped with malai on top is a treat for the vegetarians) and bhain (lotus stem) ke pakodey ( these were deep fried in hot oil and had the perfect crunch and crust and the sprinkle of chaat masala makes this a great snack for the perfect evening).

In the main course they served Lahori murgh chana (this was very unique in taste and was something for which you would do anything, the chef told us that the combination of chana and chicken together is something to die for and this is loved by all in Pakistan, I tell you home is where the heart is), yakhani gosht ka pulao ( yakhni is simply stock or broth. It is the base for pulao in this case and gosht is mutton, this mutton was cooked to perfection and the use of high quality basmati rice is what made the dish stand out), macchi ka salan (the chef used small pieces of rohu fish, mustard seeds, poppy seeds and grated coconut. A unique blend of sea food is an unimaginable and wonderful recipe.), Paneer magrabi qorma (if you are a vegetarian and have also dreamt of eating a qorma than this dish will make your palate satisfied, be careful of the floating oil though), karari bhindi (not the usual karari bhindi that we eat at marriages and parties here, the crunch from this was missing but this dish had some amazing flavours to go with), Aloo palak (we love the aloo methi combination but there in Pakistan they love the aloo palak one and this is surely winning your heart, Deep-fried skinned baby potatoes mixed with well cooked palak is something you can’t miss on your plate.) Achari subz ( Perfect for dinner, this spicy dish is always a hit amongst the masses, the achari flavours mixed with the sauted vegetables will leave your taste buds wanting for more), maash ki dal (this is my favourite dal and I am sure many of you also love it, when you are bored eating the regular Dal makhni everywhere go then this dal is the where your search will end). Haleem ( this includes wheat, barley, lentils and meat and takes a very long time to cook, if you cook it on low flame it might actually take 7-8 hours, wonderful flavours and trust me if you haven’t eaten Haleem you can’t yourself then call a foodie.) Nihari (Stewed in spices, turmeric and chillies, the meat in the nihari is extremely soft, and the marrow enhances the garlicky gravy, liberally spiced with mace and coriander powder. Each bite should invigorate, which is why nihari is associated as the morning food of labourers who need great amount of energy, eat this with khameeri roti and you can thank me later).

The winner of the evening for me was katakat counter. The name Katakat because of the sound it makes on tawa. katakat, katakat, katakat ( Yes now you got it). The mixture of meat organs namely kidney, brian, keema and mutton liver is cooked on tawa with a generous amount of onions, tomatoes, and whole spices.

In deserts pethey ka halwa ( this is made using  Pumpkin, sugar, cardamom, ghee and is topped with dry fruits, if someone doesn’t love petha, he/she after eating this will want it each day) Lab-e-shirin (Lab-e-Shireen is a rich Pakistani ‘custard and fruit’ based dessert that is both highly refreshing and incredibly delicious), Zarda (Sweet Vermicelli which is served during the festive season of Id)Sakorey wali phirni (Creamy dessert made with ground rice combined with milk, cream, sugar and some saffron strands for flavouring and topped with some rich dry fruits).

What are you waiting for, I guess I have done enough for you to head straight to this festival and savour yourself in this rich Pakistani experience.

Happy eating 🙂

‘Eggjactly’ serves tastiest, messiest and most irresistible street food

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about food trucks, it isn’t that tough to answer, is it? Eat Street. and the famous comedian James Cunningham who used to take us on a journey which was a lip-smacking celebration of North America’s tastiest, messiest and most irresistible street food. And we as youngsters always had a watery mouth at the end of the show and we so wanted to eat at one such food truck but unfortunately there was none in India to satisfy us cravings of the Pan cakes, the waffles, the messy burgers or the mouth watering wraps. But then came the masters of this and they came here to stay for long. As their story goes and as you would expect their journey began watching the award-winning TV series  Eat Street where they attempted to turn junk food into good food. What’s more inspiring is the fact that they were the first to launch India’s First Food Truck “Eggjactly” and I am sure like me lot of you would also want to thank them that they did. Many of you I am sure would be thinking why ‘Eggjactly’, they could have done away with any other name too, but as they say there is a story behind everything you do and so I guess was the case with them too, what was the story I would probably have to go some other day to find out but one thing is for sure that they aim at providing classic comfort food using the key ingredient – eggs. As they say and I quote “Amazing creations that are constructed with the best ingredients and made with nothing but love.” If you aren’t pleased yet then let me tell you that theirs is the first GPS installed truck so you can track where they go. Couldn’t get easy than this.

Can the ambiance and the surroundings of the place get any better, I guess no. The truck is parked at Lesiure Valley Parking Lot, Leisure Valley Road, Sector 29, Gurgaon and is very easy to locate. Don’t get confused with the other food trucks parked here because theirs is a vibrant yellow and orange truck which is tough to miss for sure. The natural surroundings nearby couldn’t have supported them any better. Go here on a breezy evening and you will know exactly what I mean. They have a menu hanged right outside the truck for you to choose your favourite dish and if you are lazy bum and love eating in your car than sit and relax because as soon as you park your car near them, they will come rushing with the menu to help your taste buds enjoy a meal for which they will thank you for a long long time.

Now comes the best part of this truck and that has to be there food. What I had was a feast which I will cherish for a long time. Though we as Indians love eating meetha at the end of the meal but looking at how they were serving it I just couldn’t stop the temptations and had to eat their very famous choco blast waffles. I wish I could describe this in words but you will only know what I mean when you go there and eat this. These guys make one of the best waffles that the city has to serve, crispy and crunchy from the outside and soft from the inside, this is exactly how it should be served and when you top it up with nutella, choco chips, oreo cookies, chocolate sprinkles and chocolate sauce the rating just goes higher. If there is one thing that will call me again and again here is definitely this. I also tried their messy burgers, butter chicken wrap and white sauce pasta. The burger was huge and you will surely need a big mouth to eat this. A mix of caramelised onions, tomatoes, mayo, chipotle sauce, lamb patties, cheese, olives, mushrooms, fresh crunchy lettuce in soft burger is tasty, messy and most irresistible. The grilled butter chicken wrap too caught my eye. The filling of butter chicken gravy wrapped in what looked like a Tortilla and grilled perfectly will not let you miss it. The chicken was tender and juicy and you would actually feel you are having a butter chicken wrapped in a roti. The taste almost similar.  The pasta was also creamy, the sauce was also cooked well and the topping of peppers and olives on top just added an icing to the cake. I am craving to try their other dishes too but that I have left for some other day.

I am in real love with the hospitality these guys give you. The owners are always standing on the road and are very happy to serve and help you choose the best according to your taste. These guys keep adding new stuff to the menu so that we don’t get bored eating the same stuff again and again which I believe is a great thought. This is ‘eggjactly’ where you should come.

Happy eating 🙂

Cost for two: Rs 500/-
At:  Lesiure Valley Parking Lot, Leisure Valley Road, Sector 29, Gurgaon 122001
Phone:  +91 9811807878

Bonged by an appetite

If you love Bengali food and if you haven’t been to Bong appetite then you surely are missing something in life. Try the best crabs along with Mutton and mustard hilsa and Mango Patishapta and trust me your taste buds will thank you for life.

Value for money redefined at 2 Bandits

 If there is one place I am in absolute love with then this is it, If there is one place that serves the best food in Satya Niketan then this is it, If there is one place I love because of its ambiance then this is it and if there is one place that serves one of the best sheeshas in town then this is it, I can go on and on and on adding this place with all the adjectives that exist till now because this place is that good. What a wonderful addition to the ever growing cafe world in Satya Niketan and every time you go here you will find a new one opening, and the best part is each being different from the other. This place really surprises me each time I think I am done with it and then comes a place better than the other. I remember the times when everyone would stand in loong queues in front of BYD just to get the best food for your palate, time changed and then came other’s like Woodbox cafe, Scooter on the Wall and so on..but guys get the drums rolling and raise your toast even higher because 2 Bandits (with all respects) is here to stay and here to stay for a very very long time, when you come here I am sure you will very quickly forget the rest, from the moment you enter, to the time you settle down and grab your hands around the best food, to the time you exit. Everything here will leave you with a memory that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

Hats off to the minds who are responsible for the ambiance for this place, the first word that you will say when you enter here is WOW. The thing that plays a major roll in their ambiance is wooden shaving yes wooden shavings, I before I saw here always thought that wood shavings were the semi finished products that can only be used in the production of plywood, for packing, or for veneering furniture, paneling, and chip boards but then when I entered here my thought was short lived. How beautifully they have made used of the raw material and given it a feel that you won’t forget very soon. Even the stairs that you take on your way to the first floor are wooden staircases which are classy and add a touch of the outdoors. They complement the look of the cafe because of their natural look. The seating too is done in a very unique way, you can either choose to sit on bar style chairs, or wooden swing seats which can bear a maximum of 480 kgs or beautiful laid sofa and if you aren’t convinced yet there is a place right under the projector where you can sit on the floor and enjoy with the board games till your food arrives. The tables are stuffed with dry grass from cooler pads and lit beautifully all over. The barks of tree have been made to hang with some very beautiful quotes for the cafe given to them by foodies like us. I always loved the way they have made use of chai kettles and trust me you will want to pick one for your wall. I kept on looking for at least one thing that I might just not like but I am happy to say that I didn’t. So for the ambiance I will have to give them a 5/5. 🙂

So just don’t move a bit yet because the food journey at 2 Bandits is about to begin. As I love experimenting with food and so do my gang we ordered a lot of food. From pastas to nachos to pizza to sizzlers we had a lot covered from the menu. Our order was Pesto Bruschetta, Hawaiian pizza, Pepperoni pizza, Arrabiata pasta Texan bandits sizzler, Lemon fish, chicken garlic bread, cheese nachos, the traveling bandit, ferrero Rocher shake and Oreo shake along with 2 sheesha’s. Starting with pesto bruschetta first, this was garlic bread served with pesto sauce spread topped with chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, cheese and chicken. These were crispy from the outside and the crunch was just unbelievable, each and every ingredient complimented the other really well, club this with some mustard sauce and you can thank me later.. Hawaiian pizza was a mix of chicken, pineapple, bell peppers, mushrooms and onions. I believe the crunch was missing from these one. The toppings though were combining really well but once you pick a slice it was falling of the bed very easily, I should have been kept in oven for a little more. Ask any pizza lover and Pepperoni pizza will be on top of the list for many, the same problem persisted with this one too just like Hawaiian pizza, I guess they need to increase its duration in the oven but a little more time and then it might do wonders just as others do.. Arrabiata pasta was a mix of garlic flavoured tomato sauce with traditional herbs. The quantity of this per serving is good and it tasted well too. Lemon fish at many places are served with rice but they here grill their fish and top it with lemon butter sauce and this trust me will melt in your mouth, The flavours are added just to perfection and you will love its each bite.Texan bandits sizzler was a mix of chicken breast, chicken sausages, lamb steak, bacon and fried egg. This was topped with Smokey Barbeque sauce and we finished this in minutes, Everything on the sizzler had its own unique flavour which complemented the dish really well. Highly recommended this. Chicken garlic bread was also crispy and crunchy and tasted well too. Cheese nachos was not as great as I have had at other cafes at Satya Niketan, some nachos topped with cheese and that’s all. All their shakes were rich and creamy but the one you must try here is the traveling bandit which is a combination of four fruits- banana, apples, strawberries and

kiwis.

The staff is very helpful and so is the owner, they will make sure you get the best table in the house according to the number of people you are and he also make sure that you enjoy each bite of the food that you eat here. The prices like always are very reasonable here just like other cafes. The staff here is well versed with the dishes on the menu and are also eager to tell you about what you should try here. Keep rocking guys and I am sure you in no time will be called the king of Satya Niketan.

Happy eating 🙂

Ever heard of 350 varieties of eggs?

Would you believe if someone tells you that an egg can be prepared in 350 different varieties? The place called Rahul eggs boasts itself of 350 varieties of Omelettes and has a menu that’s sure to leave you befuddled.