Tiny Travel Bag

The Cook Off Challenge at cinepolis' Coffee Tree, Noida Cinépolis, India’s 1st international and World’s 4th largest movie theatre recently organized a gourmet afternoon followed by a Cook-off challenge at Coffee Tree, the signature property & in-house F&B lounge of Cinépolis at Grand Venice Mall, Greater Noida with celebrity Chef Nishant Choubey who prepared some of the most popular delicacies from the Coffee Tree menu such as cheese chilli toast, pasta, chicken tikka sandwiches followed by food tasting by the patrons & media. The Cook-off challenge had 6 participants competing to showcase their culinary prowess by preparing pasta and mojito with all the ingredients being provided by Cinépolis .All the dishes were adjudged by Chef Nishant. Commenting on this, Mr. Devang Sampat, Director – Strategic Initiatives, Cinépolis India said, ‘The gourmet event at Coffee Tree is an endeavour to bring the best of food & beverages to our patrons.With our constant innovat...

Chocolate room, a small and cosy place  located in unitech cyber park, Gurugram is a place to for chocolate lovers, with its endless options of shakes, frappes, waffles and desserts apart from sandwiches, burgers, pastas and wraps. We tried the ferrero rocher shake, hearty chicken spaghetti, ceaser salad wrap and grilled chicken tacos. The ferrero rocher shake, topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce, was rich and absolutely sinful. The ceaser salad wrap had a generous filling of tomatoes, cucumber, cottage cheese and ceaser dressing.The melt in the mouth filling of these wraps stole the show. The place is a great option to hang out with family and friends while enjoying the yummy food it has to offer.

Shubh Manglam Savdhaan Cast-Ayushmaan Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar, Seema Pahwa, Brijendra Kala, Chittarjan Tripathi, Neeraj Sood Stars-3/5 Director- RS.Prassana Review: The film starts as a simple love story between the lead couple Mudit (Ayushmaan Khurrana) and Sugandha(Bhumi Padnekar) and goes on to touch the topic of erectile dysfunction considered a taboo by society, as the film progresses. Mudit, a shy Delhi guy falls for the confident Sugandha while standing in the ATM queue.While he is unable to profess his love to Sugandha due to a funny encounter, he decides to send an online marriage proposal, much to the surprise and annoyance of Sugandha, who is waiting for her own filmy love story to start before taking things ahead.While she agrees to the proposal, the couple is in for a rude shock when an intimate moment between them leads to the revelation that mudit suffers from erectile dysfunction.While the couple is trying to deal with the problem, the familie...

Located in a quiet spot of Mayur Vihar, Sandwich Factory is an adorable little outlet loved by the locals. As I was pooling to reach the place, a rather friendly uber pool match helped us locate it and with a smile, added "Oh I know sandwich Factory, I go there really often. Really good food". With this one interaction, I assumed coming all the way from South Delhi would be worth it. Upon entering you're greeted by Mr.Mustafa who's the manager at Sandwich Factory and is really positive and polite. We started with one of the best sellers at Sandwich Factory, the Creamy Bruschetta. As the name suggests, It's a simple bruschetta with herbs and cheese sauce layered over a fluffy piece of bread. It's comforting and quite delicious. The Grilled Italian Panini and Tex-Mex burrito are best sellers here, but a little more filling would've made the otherwise thin and scanty wrap-style burrito much better. The Grilled Panini, on the other hand, was oozing ...

Let me start this post with a confession - the only time I eat healthy is when I'm having steamed Bok Choy at home. For me, eating out means eating unhealthy-but-delicious food and I was quite adamant on this stand until I actually went out and tried great-tasting-0-guilt healthy food at Hwealth Cafe. Hwealth Cafe is located in the shopping district of New Friends Colony and has the cutest interiors. The huge windows let in brilliant amounts of sunlight which make the place feel warm and welcoming. They've got a couple of indoor plants, which made me fall in love with the place even before I tried the food. The menu clearly mentions the number of calories you'll get with what you're ordering and the amount of protien, carbs, fiber and fat the dish has to help you make the right choice. I started by trying their choco-peanut butter high protein smoothie , which had a very prominent nutty taste that might be loved by fans of peanut butter. They've got a rang...

Jab Harry Met Sejal Starcast: Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma Director - Imtiaz Ali Stars:3/5 Review : The film starts with  SRK who plays Harinder Singh Nehra aka Harry, a tourist guide in Europe taking a group of visitors on a tour, with the song safar playing in the background.Anushka who plays Sejal, a Gujarati girl from an upper middle class family on a Europe tour, has lost her engagement ring  and decides to stay back to find it, hiring Harry as a guide for the job much against his will.Harry has  his past troubling him which has not been explored much in the film.He has had several flings but has not found true love and suffers from a sense of loneliness and longing.Sejal on the other hand is a quirky and confused woman.In the quest to find the ring, the two move from one country to another and love blossoms between them.Sejal provides the comfort and escape to Harry's restlessness. The pair has flirtatious exchanges and  talks on love and intimacy bu...

Lipstick under my burkha Cast- Ratna pathak Shah, Konkona Sen sharma, Aahana Kumar, Plabita Borthakur Stars-3.5 Review- The film is set in bylanes of bhopal and narrates the tale of four women living with their independence, desires and dreams supressed by the norms and expectations of society.The term burkha doesnot necessarily have a religious implication and is used to metaphorically signify the patriarchial mindset that viels a woman's freedom. Shireen(Konkona Sen Sharma) is  a sales girl who is smart and good at her job, which she does without the knowledge of her narrow minded husband and crumbles under the sexual demands of her misogynist ,cheating husband every night for whom she is nothing more than an object to satisfy his sexual gratification. Rihana(Plabita) is a college goer who lives duel lives as she is vieled under a burkha and family pressure by her orthodox parents but is also a Miley Cyrus fan and finds liberation in jeans, music and dance even if th...

I've lost count of how many times I've had a craving for something that can be procured only from a remote  thela  near my locality and my fellow foodie friends have no idea about the place! Just the other day, while having a Mango Ice Cream at one of the posh outlets in Connaught Place, I told my friends about  very inexpensive little ice cream shops and Daulat Ki Chaat carts in the lanes of Old Delhi they had no idea about.  Every city has it's own set of such tiny shops,  thelas  and vendors which sell the most delicious food, and can give any expensive restaurant a run for their money with their exceptional food, but are still away from the gaudy public eye. These places not just serve the middle and lower middle class, they also have a loyal base of patrons who'll swear by the food and make sure each and every one of their acquaintances knows about that place.  While I was busy eating "Dahi Ke Kebab" for ten times the pr...

We've all had times when we've asked our friends visiting Hyderabad to take a trip to the legendary  Karachi Bakery  and bring us a few packets of Osmania Biscuits. Founded by Shri Khanchandji Ramnani in the year 1953, Karachi Bakery remains a favourite amongst it's patrons. The first bakery was established in Mozzam Jahi Market in Hyderabad and has since expanded all over India and abroad - having five outlets at the capital's airport itself. At the Kiosk, I met Mr.Ram Wadhwani who took me through the history of Karachi Bakery with enriching anecdotes about how this bakery came to be what it is now. Upon being asked about the bestsellers in Delhi, I was told that Delhiwallahs have expressed utmost liking towards the Fruit Biscuit, Osmania biscuits, Kesar Pista Cookies and Coconut cookies. A testimony to this was the number of people crowding up at the kiosk for the fruit biscuits while I was there. Of everything I tried, Osmania Biscuits were definitely...

It's July and it's finally that time of the year again - when all the Creepies and Crawlies make their way out of their moist habitats, the hair gets transformed into a lion's mane with all the humidity and the muddy water of puddles gets in your shoes more often than it should. However, it's also the time when the trees are at their greenest and the earth smells beautiful. And how can I forget, it's the season to treat yourself to the best of Indian Snacks while listening to the pittar patter of the rain. Chaayos has come up with a new monsoon menu which would definitely remind you of the days you spent in your Verandah sipping a cup of tea along with some home made snacks you relished in the  baarish. Start with their assorted basket of Pakoras served with mint chutney, followed by their unusual samosa burger, and their "Parantha Pizza". It's a pizza with the base of a malabari paratha, whose flakiness and crisp texture makes this pizza ...

One major part of our hair routines, though something very basic,but very important is combing! If we neglect something as simple as combing, the health of our hair takes a major toll and no one likes frizzy,tangled hair. Choosing the right kind of combs and brushes is very important for our hair and we should always go with something gentle, good quality and specially designed to keep hair manageable. VEGA has introduced a new range of products known as 'Spectra Dual Colour Handcrafted Combs' which has 12 models and prices starting at INR 99 only. The combs are designed to not hurt the scalp while combing. The combs provide a gentle massage to your hair while combing. The comb's tooth stimulate the hair follicles and initiate new and healthy hair growth. This new range of products by VEGA are handcrafted and colourful. Their tag line is - " You can match it to your dress or mood. So what's your colour today?". Each model comes in four vib...

Very rarely do I come across brands which resonate with my Ideas and add themselves to my long list of trusted brands. With Bakri Chhap, it happened in a matter of seconds. A concept created by The   Green People, Bakri Chhap brings products from the Himalayan Villages to your homes. Bakri Chhap is a brand for farmers as they remove the need of middlemen and directly connect the producer to the consumer, making it beneficial for both the consumer and the farmer. Bakri Chhap Promotes ancient and natural forms of agriculture. The produce is cultivated in a natural way without harmful chemicals. They have a really interesting range of products - from spices to cereals,from Finger Millet to Amaranth. The farmer gets the appropriate price for his produce, since no middle men are involved {I love this}. They're working towards encouraging micro cuisines and engaging culinary experts in their journey back to the basics. I recieved Red Rajma,Himalayan Red Chilli a...

Areca Palm is probably one of my favourite indoor plants. It's the plant you see outside most banks and lining up the corridoors of malls. It's easy to maintain, quite cheap and adds a beautiful green element indoors with it's large feathery fronds. Though finding Areca Palms cheap at nurseries is a task (but I found several online, links of which shall be given below), you can also buy a baby plant and let it grow. There are several things to keep in mind while caring for an areca palm - most of which I learnt through my own mistakes (and I'm still learning). Areca Palm DO'S  Make sure you plant your areca palm in a pot which gives it sufficient space to grow. It won't flourish in a tiny pot. However, a perfect sized pot (about twice the size of root ball) would limit the plant  growth because of crowded roots. My areca Palm is approximately 5 feet so I use a pot which is 12-14 inches wide. Water your areca palm once the top surface of soil looks...

Travelling overseas? Enjoy safe and hassle-free trip with Religare Health Insurance Get utmost protection against unseen medical and non-medical emergencies. New Delhi, 6th June, 2017 :  As Indians warm up to the idea of exploring and experimenting with exotic destinations, Religare Health Insurance recently opened its doors to the leading travel bloggers of the city demonstrating the importance of getting travel insurance. Religare Health Insurance conducted a compelling discussion on the nuances of travel planning and how an insurance partner can help the ‘wandering souls’ protect them from various unknown challenges that may come along with it. The informative yet fun-filled event was held at The Lodhi hotel in New Delhi. Religare Health Insurance is a specialized Health Insurer that offers health insurance products to employees of corporates, individual customers and financial inclusion. Launched in July’12, Religare Health Insurance has made significant progress in ...

New Delhi, 21st June:  With just 90 days given to prepare, the Government of Odisha and the Athletics Federation of India pulled off an incredible story by putting together the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship in record time. In a glittering curtain raiser a special film highlighting the planning, monitoring and supervision of the Asian Athletics Championship was showcased. The 22nd Asian Athletics Championship is Asia’s biggest athletics event, being hosted by Bhubaneswar , the capital city of Odisha from July 6-9 . This is the third time the premier track and field event of the continent is being held in India after New Delhi (1989) and Pune (2013), and is a qualifying event for the IAAF World Athletics Championships to be held in London later this year. Dignitaries including Shri Chandra Sarathi Behera, Honourable Minister – Sports and Youth Services – Government of Odisha,  Shri R Balakrishnan, Development Commissioner cum Additional Chief Secretary – Governm...

Yeti-The Himalyan Kitchen has always been a favourite as it serves regional himalyan cuisine which is authentic, simple yet so flavourful. The menu at yeti gives the diners a chance to explore and savour the cuisine from Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Now the good news -  Yeti is back in hauz khaz village and how! The delicious food and good service combined with the soulful music is sure to leave you happy. Yeti has come back with the same comfortingly similar food served to match your expectations. The dishes that we loved were Aloo ko Achaar -a tangy and spicy potato pickle,with a prominent flavour of nutty sesame. The cold potato with the spicy paste works wonderfully well. Crispy Spinach with Tingmo and Aloo Ko Achaar Crispy Fried Spinach with Tingmo -Fried spinach served with steamed bread called tingmo.The soft Tingo perfectly balances the crunch of the spinach,which has a beautiful texture due to the frying and coarse salt. The Momos available with vegetarian a...

We had a superb stay in Udaipur and our Day 1 and Day 2 were quite eventful. For Day 3 we decided to explore a place near Udaipur - either Mount Abu,Kumbhalgarh or Chittorgarh. We decided to visit Chittor since the Chittorgarh Fort is of great importance to the Mewar History. Our trips are almost always incomplete without a Roadways adventure. Of course people will tell you that the buses are very uncomfortable,they aren't very safe and you can't find a seat - but then that's what completes our trip. Sometimes you do have a few nasty experiences,but sometimes you also meet new interesting people and listen to interesting stories. It depends upon whether or not are you willing to take the risk,and also on the place that you're visiting. We took a bus to Chittorgarh from Udaipur Bus Terminal. A bus leaves from Udaipur to Chittor every few hours but it's advisable to leave early morning,specially if you have to return to Udaipur the same day. The bus D...

After a sound sleep thanks to all the exhaustion on Day 1 , we woke up early morning. DAY 2 -  After having a long conversation with our room mate,we headed out for another day of exploring as much as we could. We took an auto to Monsoon Palace or Sajjan Garh Palace which is a picture perfect Palace sitting on Hilltop,about a 15 minutes journey from Gangaur Ghat.  View of Udaipur From Sajjan Garh Palace You can combine your Sajjangarh Palace visit with a visit to the Sajjan Garh Sanctuary. You can explore the sanctuary on foot,by a rented bicycle (available near ticket counter for 30 Rs) or on a battery rickshaw (50 Rs per person). It's more like a zoo than sanctuary. I wouldn't recommend it since I'm not an advocate of caging wild animals.  The Palace was built by Maharana Sajjan Singh and has the beautiful view of Lakes of Udaipur and the lush Aravallis around it. (More about Sajjangarh Palace and how to reach there here)  Sajjan Garh Pal...