The Chinese Next Door? - Magnolia, Baner

Maybe not for 24 years, and maybe not Alice, but I've spent quite some time living next door to Magnolia. Every time I saw her calm, removed facade, I yearned to get closer.

And finally, one magical Sunday, I did!

Okay, jokes aside, Magnolia is a surprisingly brilliant place. Surprising because it looks like a standard neighbourhood hotel that you go to for urgent food needs at the last minute. However, we were shocked by the hidden talents that Magnolia showed us!

At first, we thought it was a Chinese place (I mean, with a name like Magnolia, what else were we to think?) and we stuck to Chinese. While that blew our minds in itself, eventually, we discovered that they do more, and very well, at that.

Stand-out dishes? The bhakri-ki-tokri. I kid you not, we ate bhakris as they were because they were so delicious!

Apart from this, the Chinese and Thai food is phenomenal.

We had the Thai Red Curry and Noodle soup, the Thai Chicken and Vegetable soup, the Chicken Manchow soup (over a long period of time, of course) and they're all lovely! And the best part is that their quantity is amazing. Having become used to scanty portions, it was a good surprise to see the hearty bowls of soup.

The Thai Chicken Spring Rolls are amazing! The taste of all the essentially 'Thai' elements really sparkles. You have the fresh lemon-grass, the ginger and those wonderfully herby flavours of the cuisine.

We also had the Okra and Chicken dish, which was a great experience. Spiced to perfection, we became fans of the Okra (for the insane non-vegetarians that we are, this was a feat) before the chicken.

The noodles and rice selections also are up to the same standards. Everything is fresh, delicious and wonderfully presented to you.

As for service, I have not seen such an eager set of people before. They're the right mix of helpful and discreet. They notice things like empty water glasses before you have to call, and this is even when the place is full of people. They're very courteous over the phone as well, if you're calling for delivery.

And the best part of the whole thing is, even their delivery service is prompt and detailed. They send you mouth-fresheners in a little packet!

I have eaten and ordered from Magnolia multiple times and I have never been let down neither by their service, nor their food. I say great job, guys! Hands down, the best I have seen.

Points for value for money, taste and excellent service.

The April Rain in Spain? - April Rain, Aundh

Happy Birthday, Midget!

And for today's special menu, we head to eat "Contemporary global cuisine...".
This is a direct quote from the positioning of April Rain.

Let me state, at the outset, that overall, I loved the food we ate. For two people, we spent less than Rs 1000 and were stuffed. We're both eaters...

So. To the brass tacks:

The 'global cuisine' part of the menu was surprisingly limited. The majority of the menu read Indian to us. In fact, the global stuff seemed forced.

But we wanted to eat non-Indian food, so we took up the challenge and went for it.

We shared a Roasted Bell Pepper soup, a Chicken April Rain Caesar Salad and a Lamb Bolognese. Two of us, three dishes, and we were very full for quite a long time.

The soup, while delicious, lacked the 'roasted' element that we were first drawn by. However, it was rich, tangy and rather yummy. Points added for the bread (bread is yummy and solves all problems).

The salad, we loved. Not overstating, here. We really loved the salad. There was lettuce, chicken, olives, cheese and a decent dressing. What more could one need? Oh yes, and there was a whole load of all this. Points for catering to 'desi mindsets'!

The pasta was amazing. Perfectly done spaghetti, with sauce that was heavy on the meat, light on the smell and spiced to perfection. I think the issue with a lot of pasta dishes I've eaten till date is that they keep it bland. Let's face it, we're India, and pasta-eaters here need a certain tribute to their tastes as well as to the original dish. I know this implies bastardizing the dish, but what is globalization teaching us if not ways of making sure we take the best from the world and adapting it?

Look at Bollywood, for example.

So overall, we loved our lunch, because it was just right for us. We loved the lightness of the food, despite pandering to our spice-needs and whatnot.

Points for value for money and bread.

And All That Jazz - Shisha Cafe, ABC Farms

But of course, this is about jazz. And where else can you find a great jazz cafe in Pune but in ABC Farms?
Shisha (because of course, this is what I refer to) is a wooded getaway from the deathly traffic and unending trauma of the city. The minute you begin the walk up towards the entrance you start to feel at ease. The cafe is spread across quite a large area on the ground floor and there's a sort of terrace level that a narrow set of stairs leads to.
The trees and seating which is nicely spaced gives you the feeling of being separate from the other diners, and also lets a nice calmness settle over the whole area. They have live jazz performances at times, apart from which they play soothing jazz over the whole space, making the world slow down and allowing you to relax.
Best time to visit? After a particularly screwed-up day at work. Take a trip to Shisha and lean back in the tastefully dim lighting, allowing yourself to calm down.
And for nourishment of body (along with that of the soul) you can open their menu.
If you want comfort food, nothing can beat their lasagna. It's a beautifully created piece of comfort-food heaven. One serving allows two hungry people to eat and feel happy, satisfied and, if paired with a pitcher of beer between two, even full.
If you have the resources of a student, a visit here won't hurt you much (especially if you stick to the gorgeous lasagna and beer combo) and if you're working, then... Well... Indulge.
There's potential at Shisha for indulging shamelessly on food and drink as well as for keeping it simple. They don't serve only continental fare either. They have the tikkas and makhanis to satisfy the desi-food craving as well as your almost-global fare.
With cocktails, hard liquor and beer, and desserts that can satisfy any sweet tooth, Shisha is your go-to destination for winding down either after a hard day, or a hard week. And you can always just go to Shisha for the cosy, "let's cuddle" atmosphere on a winter evening.

Meat-ing Point - Mad House Grill, Koregaon Park

I love meat. I can eat red-meat all the time, if that were possible. However, it isn't, sadly, because apparently human beings were made to eat vegetables sometimes as well.
So I live from craving-inspired binge to craving-inspired binge. And every new binge, I decided, must be a new discovery. I mean, come on... There are meat-serving places in this country aplenty, and I need to discover them all.
To this end, my friend suggested, one day, that we go to one Mad House Grill. Now, this place is at rather a tiring distance from our general haunts, but he insisted that it was worth the distance. So off we went.
Now, if you look up Mad House on Zomato, etc, you will get pretty-much an overview of the menu and such. Cut-and-dry details.
I did as well, and was expecting your average steak/sizzler place.
Mad House Grill is a small eatery in a lane off the main road in Koregaon Park, Pune. The establishment is small, but done up so well that it feels homey and comfortable. There is a bar, with interesting decor, and the whole place has a rustic, wooden hut type feel to it. The amusing thing is their use of mint in the water jars. I do not imply mint leaves, but the whole stalk including leaves, which they submerge in their jar of drinking water. It's quite cool, once you're over the idea that you're drinking plant-juice.
The staff is unobtrusive, quiet and helpful, which, in my mind, is perfect. Since the eatery is a little way inside, there is no annoying traffic noise intruding on your meals, which makes the whole place very easy to be taken with.
And now the good stuff... The menu. There is a ton of stuff on the menu, from starters to steaks, and all kinds of meats and vegetarian options. However, being the carnivores that we are, we opted for the steaks. The waiter asked us how we would like our steak, did not feel the need to make a face and say "Raw hoga..." when we asked for it rare, and quickly took the order and left. Placing the order, however, was hard work because there were so many tempting options. The non-vegetarian stuff is decently priced for the place and the cuisine, between Rs 350 and 600 depending on what you want to eat. I am talking only of the main courses, of course. The rest of the menu also hovers thereabouts. There is a drinks menu as well, and they have interesting cocktails like Sangria and such, but we stuck to good-old beer.
The service was quick, so hungry carnivores that we were, we dug in. At the outset, when they set a plate in front of you, you feel a little let-down because it looks rather less (Indian mentality, no, we have... Money's worth means the plate has to be overflowing). However, beef, as most meats, is very filling. Along with this, they serve you veggies and whatnot, so it's all a great combination. What really impressed me was that the steak was actually rare, which isn't something most people manage to do. Another very interesting thing was that there were different and new names and flavours on the menu. No standard 'garlic sauce, pepper sauce' nonsense. The flavours they promised were very definitely delivered.
I am super-impressed with Mad House Grill. I am rather a stingy person, so parting with about 600 bucks for food and beer would have been death for me, but here, it was money that begged spending.
I'm craving more already...

Fishing in Pune - Coconut Grove, Near Camp

Yes, so I know I've been talking about Bombay for the longest time. I reluctantly need to switch cities now; under duress, I will state.
So not too far from Bombay, we have Pune. It's not half bad. Food-wise, in fact, I'd say it's pretty good. A little more varied than Bombay. And there have been some gems that I have found here...

The first, in random order, of course, is this place very near the Pune Railway Station. It's in a tiny, slightly sidey-looking corner, just as the road turns off towards the station. Every visit since childhood that I have made to Pune, I have seen the green sign towering above the trees "Coconut Grove" and I have been dying to see what exactly you get here.

I managed to go very recently, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's quite the amazing little discovery.
A warning, though. This is not the place for vegetarians. Honestly, if you can't eat chicken, mutton and fish, then don't bother going to Coconut Grove. I'm sure the vegetarian food is good too, but really...

Anyway. You get here some fantastic Indian coastal cuisine. Goan, Keralite, Andhra, and Maharashtrian; or some mix thereof. Another warning, at this juncture: When they say 'spicy' in the description, I'd suggest you take their word. Order something mild. And I mean MILD; because if you aren't a spice-eater, then you're in severe trouble, if you don't.

So... Order anything sukka... Prawn, clam, mutton... I've had them and they're unequalled by anything I've tasted. Order any seafood, and it'll be good. We had the bombil fry twice and it was amazing both times; melt-in-the-mouth stuff, that bombil...

The stew was good as well. Too mild for me, but I loved what others needed two glasses of water to swallow... The stew is well spiced, mild, full of that wonderful stew-taste, and pretty great with appams. Yes. Appams. And neer dosa. Fantastic stuff. Order one at a time, and ask them for another the second you get the first. This ensures that your food doesn't get cold and your appams won't sit on your plate, waiting for you to eat the first.

The meat is all very nicely spiced and cooked. There is just the right amount of coconut and gravy on every dish, the service is friendly and prompt and the ambience is homely and comforting.

I suggest you have the sol kadhi as well, it's refreshing and goes well with all the food.

Another suggestion is that you stick to the Indian food and not divert to other cuisines. Not because I doubt the quality, but because the coastal fare is too good to be side-tracked for anything else.

A definite win in  my book, I'm recommending this to everyone I meet. Give it a shot, if you're in the area. The prices are great as well. You won't regret it.

China(in)Town - Roadside Stalls

Pardon the terrible attempt at punnery with the title. But then, it's in keeping with the topic of this post, if you think about it, really.
The roadside Chinese vendors in the city are just that... Attempts at Chinese. And personally, if you're going to bastardize the cuisine (which I have no problems with, whatsoever) you might as well do it like the street-vendors do.
I mean, honestly, there is nothing more satisfying than digging into a plate of warm rice or noodles that you know you bought for 25 bucks. And this exists. On the road that runs parallel to the main road from Flora Fountain, you have a couple of guys who're hidden amongst the roti-sabji and rice-and-fish guys who sell you Chinese.
This food is freshly cooked, it's catered to your taste. If you ask for extra spicy, they make it that way, or less, depending on you.
The quality is great. I mean, Chinese people would probably hate it. But the truth is, it's a great meal and a cheap one. And the usual worries about food-poisoning are lesser, believe it or not, because the guy is cooking the stuff for you in a kadhai that's been sitting on a flame since he started work at noon. And everything is nicely hammered around by him and his men. So no issues.
Only problem is the grease content. But then, you're eating off the streets... And even restaurants have a higher level of grease, come to think of it...

Other than these guys at Fountain, there's also a guy near the Nirmala Niketan college at Churchgate. He's brilliant. 10-odd bucks more expensive than the Fountain guys, but the food is amazing. I kid you not, he's magical.

Another great place (although horrid for your liver, I'm betting) is the MAFCO stall on Nepeansea road. More expensive than the other guys for sure, but justified by quantity and taste.

Do I sound like someone who has travelled the city looking for Chinese? Yeah, I have actually... These Chinese-food cravings hit me out of the blue...

I found some in Pune as well... Will update that soon :)

Till then, when in Town, and low on cash (along with the YMCA) you should go to the Roadside Chinese guys.

Niblets - Bar Niblets

This segment is dedicated to the yummiest bar-niblets I have hitherto tasted.
Yeah, this is a thing! In my world, bar niblets are not the soggy chips and peanuts they put out for you when you order a drink; that's what they do in expensive lounge-y places. I stay away from those. I am a nearly-always-broke woman. I need my alcohol, but not in a fancy place, necessarily.
So when I say bar niblets, I mean things to eat in a bar. And my bars of choice are not places you would take anyone used to a lounge. Like never take your parents to these places, really...

So I'll start with my favourite: Chicken Chatpata and Crispy Chicken. I'd never have gone to Lalit's if it hadn't been for these wonderful concoctions. The Chicken Chatpata is basically dry, tangy-spicy chicken put on a plate, but there is something about it, some vague undercurrent of difference from the usual chicken dishes that makes it delicious. Where is this found? At Lalit's. It can be found in the lane opposite Kayani's, near the Metro theatre in South Mumbai. The Chicken Crispy is also a tangy, warm plate of yummy. Every time I'm back in the city, I make a trip. I love this stuff. Maybe I'm hyping it a bit, but it's really good, ya!

And of course, there is Chakli and schezwan sauce. It's something I'm sure is served all over the place, but the Gokuls guys serve it the best. In the lane parallel to Colaba Causeway, behind McDonald's, there is famed shady hole-in-wall-bar, Gokuls. Go in the evening and you will find it packed. Any evening. And if you want to chew on something (which might be a good idea) then ask for a plate of chakli and schezwan sauce. The sauce is a fry-up of chili, garlic and onion, and the chakli is the small packet you get in any little nukkad store. Nothing phenomenally different, but the whole package of Gokul's makes this one stand out. In fact, while at Gokuls, you should also get a Healthy-Bites roll. I have spoken about these before... And hey, get a Chicken 65 as well. It's quite good. Better than most, coz the chicken isn't fried till it's so chewy a dog wouldn't want it. As a chew-toy, I mean, not that I imply dogs eat my left-overs.

Invariable, place-no-bar, yummy bar-food: Masala papad! It's a papad. It's got onion and tomatoes and coriander and chaat masala on it. And chili. What more do you need? It's crunchy, fresh and fun to eat!
And no matter where you are, you'll get a masala papad. The Taj has a masala papad, for example...
And it's so much better than peanuts (which I am allergic to, so I do not eat. No offence to peanut-eaters).

Please realize what I have tried to do in this post. It is a tribute.

MUST TO EAT.

Okay thank you.