Year: 2016

Kale, Banana and Soy Milk Smoothie

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I’m making a conscious effort to eat less meat these days. Which essentially means that I’m reading up a lot more on vegetarianism/ veganism and every other form of ‘ism’ that will help me see the light. It started I think two years ago, with Michael Pollen’s book – ‘The Omnivores Dilemma’. After experiencing the gamut of ways humans can eat and survive – from hunting-gathering to pure industrialized food, he arrives at a simple statement. “Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly Plants”.

Fatty’s Ode to Summer @ The Fatty Bao (12th Main, Indiranagar)

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I just got back from a mini trip to Dubai and the temperatures there, were lower than in Bangalore *gasp*! Thanks to the rains the past three days, we have all but forgotten the furnace that Bangalore was this Summer. My electricity bills tripled and the general grumpiness that comes with too much heat, has hung around like a sordid aura. We still have a couple of weeks before the official monsoon hits us, so The Fatty Bao stepping in to ease the pain with a Summer menu, sounds just about right. Running from the 20th – 29th of this month, it promises light and refreshing drinks & eats to beat the heat. My only grouse – when you put so much effort into a menu, the least you can do is run the festival a little longer 😛

The Spring Asparagus Sojourn @ Ottimo (ITC Gardenia, Residency Road)

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The story starts in my house a couple of weeks ago where I had an animated discussion with my German friends on ‘The King of Vegetables’. Their love for Asparagus was evident as they reminisced about harvesting the succulent stem in their vegetable patches back home. In Spring, Asparagus is eaten almost daily, reverently, greedily until they’ve combed through the last standing elegant feathered head. Most of Europe shares this fascination with Asparagus, so much so, that King Louis the XIV officially crowned it ‘The King of Vegetables’. Chef Vittorio has the same adulation and has been instrumental in influencing Chef Sasha to craft an Asparagus Menu for Spring. The resultant degustation is a journey across Italian landscapes made unique by impressive wine pairings.

Family Affair – The Sunday Brunch @ Movenpick Spa & Hotel (BEL Circle)

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The Sunday Brunch at the Movenpick Hotel & Spa, turned out to be the first Brunch of 2016 for me. I’ve been taking French classes over the weekend and it pretty much consumes the best part of the day. May 1st was declared a class holiday and I used that opportune moment to take a break and catch up with my friends over lots of food and drink. The newly launched brunch menu by Chef Rayomund promised over 250 different dishes. I was probably not going to sample each and every one of them, but it was encouraging to know I’d have a smorgasbord of delicacies to indulge in.

Sea Salt and Chocolate covered Almond Clusters

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Growing up, the only chocolate that had any kind of elevated status in our lives was Cadburys DairyMilk. Apart from it being the most widely available chocolate in India, it also tasted pretty damn delicious. Some people will argue that it was way too sweet for their liking, but that’s what I was exposed to and I loved it. When Cadburys came out with the Fruit & Nut version, I was convinced that it was the best thing that could happen to chocolate.

Basic French Crepes for Chic Breakfasts

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Most weekday mornings are a harried affair of gulping down a glass of milk or yoghurt or pouring it over some store bought Muesli. On the rare occasions that the husband has been kind enough to chop up some fruit, I toss that in as well. I thought I genuinely didn’t know how my zen mornings turned into a race against time, until my sister pointed out that no one really got up and checked Facebook and Instagram… for an hour!

Toddy Shop Shenanigans at Ente Keralam (Ulsoor Road)

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Kerala has the privilege of being Gods Own Country and the dubious distinction of having the most number of toddy shops across India as well. For anyone who has tried toddy, the fermented buttermilk-like-drink is no connoisseurs poison of choice, but it sure is the cheapest way to end the day on a ‘high’ note. For people like me however, the highs are linked to the very unique food that is ubiquitous of Toddy Shops in the state. Considering women are rarely never encouraged to go to toddy shops, I’m beyond thrilled that Ente Keralam has bought the toddy shop experience to me. Just one downer – Karnataka doesn’t let establishments sell Toddy in the state (without a special toddy license), so we’ll just have to make do with the food!

A Toast to Health @ Smoke House Deli (Lavelle Road)

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Eating out for the health conscious has always been an uphill task. If you add the group of people who have unique dietary requirements like Vegans, Paleo, Gluten free and GMO free – you are assured of not finding anything edible on a conventional menu. It’s almost like eating out and being healthy are at odds with each other and no one ever thought to breach that divide – until now. Smoke House Deli aims to remove the guilt of eating out by catering to our health goal needs. And they’ve worked really hard to make it lip-smackingly delicious as well!