This is the second time I’ve made these at home. The first time was almost 2 years ago. I’d totally forgotten about this recipe, till I found myself wanting to eat tikkis, wherein the potatoes were no longer the main ingredient.
Aloo paneer rolls
I got this recipe from a tabloid years ago. I had it filed and kept away. Big Mistake, ‘cuz they are yummy… Serve with green chutney and enjoy. My family really relished these.
Request for recipe
My homemade caramel pudding
Caramel pudding
I’m a chocolate person, but hubby is an absolute vanilla and caramel pudding guy – we cannot be more different when it comes to food! White and brown ; )
He is an absolute caramel pudding enthusiast. I’ve eaten the pudding a few times but was never really inspired enough to make it at home, till recently.
OMG – it turned out fantastic – yay !!! It tastes just like the ones you get outside. If hubby takes three helpings I know I’ve got him hooked-on to my cooking
Ah. Diwali and the New Year celebrations are just over but the hangover remains – with lots of mithais, dry fruits and gifts yet to consume! Had a great Diwali. Decorated the house with rangoli, toran and diyas.
For breakfast, we had a Sindhi dish called Dal Pakwan. It is well spiced chana dal served with deep fried maida crispy puris. Its absolutely delicious and sinful at the same time.
dal pakwan
Lunch was Punjabi meal of Chana Bhatura, served with thickly sliced onions and green chilies – an outright deadly combination – we love it!
Chana bhatura
Well, we were unconditionally full, but a day like Diwali cannot be let go without something sweet. So, I made and served besan laddoos.
besan ka laddoos
After such a lunch, we could do nothing more than nap away for an hour. The first half of the meals were so filling that the pani-puri I made for the evening snack had to be eaten the next day. We stuck to a light dinner as the following day was our New Year and we were going visiting to friends and family’s’ houses to wish all a good year ahead.
Tamarind
I’ve always wanted to go to Fariyas for a meal. Somehow, over time, it never materialized, till recently. Went for dinner – opted for the buffet. Surprise was, that there is live music. Simple, soft and nice.
Started with the soup. It was served on the table. Good Jade Garden soup. This was accompanied by a good basket of assorted fresh n soft breads.
Jade Garden Vegetable Soup with bread basket
After the soup, got myself a plate of salad.
Wow! Yum…If this is the kind of food they serve here, I feel bad; I haven’t visited this place earlier. The salads are amazing. All of them have a distinctively different flavour and seem absolutely fresh.
The beetroot salad was just fantastic – though beetroot, it did not have its stark flavouring. The carrot salad was exciting on the palate. So was the cucumber one. The pasta salad too was great, but it was strongly spiced with garlic.
Salad bar
Next, was the main course. Again, here the spread was amazing, beef, fish, and chicken for the meat lovers.
non veg dishes
another non veg counter
Though we were 5 persons at the table, everyone was vegetarian due to religious reasons. In vegetarian, the Basil tossed potatoes were fantastic.
food counter
The pasta Americana looked very appetising and I took a big bite – Aaaa….What’s this? Cloves??? 2 pieces of cloves in one bite? And it’s not that they were coarsely powered – they were whole. It a serving of say about 5 bites, I found almost 7 cloves and 2 whole peppercorns! What’s happening? See my plate.
my plate
The Chinese was like a regular fare – cannot really go very wrong with Hakka noodles and veg stir fry.
veg Chinese counter
The other main course vegetarian dishes were very average. Actually below average as each of them was heavily spiced with garlic. I like my food well spiced but garlic to be at a minimum. Here, it was the other way round. The main course was thus an absolute downer.
However, I knew from the looks of them, the desserts would be a redeeming factor.
dessert counter
Oh. What a let-down! These looks could really con anyone. From the complete spread only the Gulab Jamuns, Pineapple Panacotta and Orange Mousse were decent.
litchi tart
Orange mousse
Pineapple Panna Cotta
Priced for Rs. 940 (including taxes) for a dinner buffet, I do not recommend this place, atleast for a vegetarian.
Culinary Foods – again. My second time in 2 months.
I really liked the place, the last time around.
This time round, a lot of disappointments but a few great surprises.
Once seated, we asked for Iced tea because we loved it the last time. Sorry – No ice tea! That put us off. However, we were offered coolers – either Sky or Strawberry. We ordered both.
O Boy – our disappointment was immediately forgotten after a sip of the coolers. Absolutely refreshing. The Sky cooler is with Blue Curacao. It’s a tough choice between the two, but if I had to pick one, it would be the Sky cooler. It’s uplifting as well as light at the same it.
Strawberry cooler n Sky cooler
Our starters too were great. Ordered a Butter Garlic fish and a Shanghai Paneer.
For a paneer starter, the server suggested Hakka but I was keen to try the Shanghai. I was not let down. Infact, it was so much better than what I expected. Hugh chunks of paneer and some veggies in an absolutely flavour-packed thick-ish sauce.
Shanghai Paneer
The fish was good though bland. Would have preferred it with some more flavour, but still hubby said it was good the way it was.
Butter Garlic fish
Then came the downsides – We ordered two continental main courses. As I am not too fond of Chinese cuisine, I came to Culinary Foods for their continental fare. Imagine to my complete dismay, I was told there is no continental fare being served as the chef was not in! Hellooooo……I don’t want Chinese! I would have appreciated it if I was told that when we sat at the table and placed our first order. What to do?
I ordered 2 desserts.
The Apple Crumble Pie was not available! Again something I want was not available. Oh – I felt so bad. Settle for the Dutch Chocolate Truffle and Blueberry Cheesecake.
The Chocolate Truffle was light, melt in the mouth and a thorough delight. The Blueberry Cheesecake was good. Being a chocolate addict, the preference between the two was an easy one.
Dutch Chocolate Truffle
Blueberry Cheesecake
Hubby was not too happy about ordering Chinese. As much as he loves Chinese, his heart too was on the continental fare. So he settled for another Chinese starter – Chicken Drumsticks Chilly Garlic.
The Drumsticks were good, but the whole meal towards the end left us with a bitter taste in our mouth and hearts.
Chicken Drumstick Chilly Garlic
Did I like the food – yes.
Will I dine here again – yes. But I shall call and confirm if complete menu is available before reservation.
I learnt how to make apple pie on Tuesday. A 7″ pie oozing with sweet apple sauce. I made it in the afternoon and by night it was over.
Decided to make it again the next day, yesterday. Another 7″ temptation. Today I have only 2 pieces remaining. Over the past two days, two 7″ apple pies, devoured by 8 people.
my apple pie
a piece of the apple pie
Apple pie served with vanilla ice-cream
Was passing by Dadar and decided to do a pick up dinner.
Restaurant front
They have a pretty exhaustive menu for a restaurant their size.
inside home chef
I felt like having pasta for dinner. The person across the counter suggested A la tikka pasta since I wanted something spicy. I agreed – A la tikka – what could that taste like?, I wondered. Hubby ordered a Non-veg club sandwich. Our parcel was ready in 20 mins. and we went home.
Dinner time – The A la tikka pasta was accompanied by 2 herbed breads. What can I say to the taste but – interesting, very interesting. Its a very interesting fusion of an international dish with an absolute Indian flavour. And spicy it was – just the right amount. The pasta has a good amount of paneer and cheese. The herbed breads were good, but they were ‘herbed’ a bit too strongly. Would have been a perfect accompaniment to the pasta if the herbs were sprinkled in lesser quantity. Its a heavy and wholesome meal. At Rs. 225, its absolutely VFM. Would I order it again – yes but would ideally like to try their other dishes first.
A la tikka pasta
The Non-veg club sandwich. Price Rs. 200.
Non veg club sandwich
Hubby’s instant reaction on opening the box – its not grilled! Well, we assumed they would grill it or would have asked otherwise what we wanted. So, that was a disappointment. As the wafers are just dunked into the side of the box, which is not air-tight, they were completely wilted and soggy : (
Plus point to this sandwich was the size – the portion size was good. Look below for a picture of a single half of the sandwich.
Non veg club sandwich – 1 piece
The taste of the club sandwich was very average. Grilled would have tasted better (even their menu says so). The coleslaw was decent.
I will definitely try this place out for other options.
inside the restaurant
Dined here this afternoon for lunch. Thanks to Groupon, had a fantastic meal. Its a small open air restaurant located just opposite Sterling Cinema.
For a meal for two, we started with a Veg Tom Yum soup and a Chicken Manchow soup, both small portions.
The Veg Tom Yum soup was good. Very well flavoured.
Veg Tom Yum soup – small
The Chicken Manchow soup was decent.
Chicken Manchow soup – small
Next ordered Veg Wantons Manchurian style – it takes a few bites to start enjoying it. Its a very interesting combination and taste. I would order it again.
Veg Wantons Manchurian style
Together with the wantons, came the Chili Garlic Beef. Easily this gets a rating of 9 on 10.
Chili Garlic Beef
With so much eating, and wanting to keep an appetite for dessert, we ordered just a Grilled Vegetable Crepes, with Mozzarella cheese. Ah! It was good. Something very different, not eaten something like this before. It was crepes stuffed with veggies dunked in a bed rich with cheese. Pure sin! Served with bread.
Grilled Vegetable Crepes
Ok, to all this, I added a Peach Iced Tea and hubby a Lemon one. Hubby loved his, and I mine. I think the restaurant has perfected the Peach Iced Tea. 7 hours later, now, I still can taste the flavour.
Peach Iced Tea
Lemon Iced Tea
OMG – tummy full, but still had to get to my best part – desserts. Picked Hot Chocolate Mud Pie and Philadelphia Cheesecake.
The Mud Pie, tasted exactly as a gooey chocolate-walnut brownie topped with layer of chocolate ganache would. Pure Sin – again.
Hot Chocolate Mud Pie
The Philadelphia Cheesecake was ok.
Philadelphia Cheesecake
Wasn’t this a lot to eat for two? Oh, we enjoyed the meal. It was great. Would love to go back to the place in a month for round 2.
Che Mato Pasta
I love this pasta. So does hubby and the entire family. Well, it’s also enjoyed by hubby’s office colleagues. What can I say – everyone loves this pasta – everyone has to! Its a pasta rich in tomato flavour and mounds of cheese…slurp….
Its the easiest tomato-based pasta to be made and so its surprising that restaurants don’t serve this! Is it because it is not authentic pasta (do we Indians really eat authentic Chinese food?) or because it has no elaborate technique to make it? So its not on menus because it is simply too simple to make?
Had it for dinner tonight and a hot mug of Mocha coffee. Bliss. All set for a good night sleep.
Request for recipe
Shakshouka is a Tunisian / Arabic dish of poached eggs in a spiced sauce of tomatoes and onions. My hubby loves this. I usually make it for dinner for him and a bit extra for a one time breakfast. See the picture below and I know you would be salivating.
shakshouka
The dish is very easy to prepare. The only time to be careful is in getting the egg whites cooked completely and at the same time, the yolk should be firm but running when you break into it. Have it with any bread. I usually served it with garlic bread. This time it was a sliced herb-ed footlong.
shakshouka with sliced herbed footlong
reenamansukhani 