Tushar Mangl's Blog, page 12
July 31, 2018
Kashmir To Kanyakumari - 48 Day of My Solo Trip in India
Everyone likes to travel with friends and family but trust me, you will get the real fun of travel when you start traveling solo. I am saying this thing after my 48 days of the solo trip in India From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, or you can say from North to South India. On a solo trip, you get the real knowledge of that place, you start observing the things instead of just watching, you begin exploring the place instead of just visiting, and that is the real fun. There are lots of things to do in India, thousands of places to visit, many activities to do. In India, you will find all five seasons (Summer, winter, spring, autumn and rainy) at any time. I started my journey in the month of February, and I found winters in the North, wet in middle and summer in South India during the same season.
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The Places I covered from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are-
On my long trip from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, I began with Srinagar from Delhi and afterward wandered out to J&K towns like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Jammu, Katra, and afterward entered Punjab's Pathankot. From that point forward, I entered Himachal Pradesh and covered Hamirpur, Palampur, Rewalsar, Prashar lake, and Mandi. After that, I came to Delhi and ventured out to Uttar Pradesh by contacting Mathura and Vrindavan. Later I went westwards and entered Rajasthan to investigate its best urban communities like Jaipur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur. After covering Rajasthan, I came to Ahmedabad in Gujarat and straightaway made a trip to the Financial Capital, Mumbai. I wandered out to another Maharashtrian city Pune and after that investigated the slope stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani in a similar state. Later I went to Goa and afterward hopped to Kerala specifically by covering Kannur, Kochi, and Varkala. From Kerala, I traveled to Tamil Nadu and went by the slope station of Ooty, and afterward visit Coimbatore and at last and final destination - Kanyakumari.
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Kashmir to Kanyakumari is not just a trip; it is an expedition where you cover more than 6,000 km by traveling or riding all over India. It is the story of my recent journey that was 48 days long from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. I stayed at more than 30 destinations, traveled across more than 10,000 km, made hundreds of new friends, and learned countless of important things: I learned how to face my own problems, how to manage a situation where nobody knows your language, how to change yourself according to weather, according to culture, and according to people.
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Read More About My Kashmir To Kanyakumari Story - A Solo Journey From North to South India
About Me-
Hey!! I am Nomadic Jony aka Jony Jindal, a 19 Years old Travel Blogger, Vlogger and Photographer and I have traveled solo for more than 50,000 km yet. I love to explore new places every day, so this figure is only going to grow.
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Connect with me on Social Media-
youtube.com/backpackerjonyinstagram.com/nomadicjonyfacebook.com/nomadicjonygo4explore.com
July 23, 2018
Fantasy Soccer games on Dream11
Hey readers! There is no doubt that Cricket is among the most loved rather worshipped games in India. However, in the last few years, younger generation is gravitating towards other forms of sports like Rugby and Soccer as well. Especially, Soccer games has seen an exponential rise in popularity in the young, Indian sports fans. With the rising football fervour in real-world, the virtual version of the game is gaining a fan base, too. Dream11.com which is a hugely loved website amongst Indian Cricket fans for playing Virtual cricket is now conducting fantasy matches for other sports, like: Rugby, Soccer and Pro-Kabaddi too. To check out their website click here
For the sake of introduction, Dream11 is an online, virtual gaming platform with awesome life-like graphics and excellent sound effects. Everything from the stadium to field to the players look extremely real to the gamers. To explore and play on this website or their mobile app, you need to register with them. The mobile application runs well on Android powered devices and Iphone, as well. The sign-up process involves you to fetch some details like your name, mobile number, email id etc. This is followed by verification through an email-link and OTP sent on your registered mobile number.
Photo by Aphiwat ChuangchoemOnce you sign-up, you will get a starting bonus. This bonus can be used for choosing your desired team. You will find the Dream11 website layout very easy to use and attractive.
During league matches, you can create upto 5 teams. The teams comprise of real players.
Once you have selected your players, you can even change them before the matches start.
To play, Soccer games on Dream11, you need to apply your judgement and knowledge of the game and research a bit through news and sports-prediction websites. This would help you to pick the correct players for your virtual teams. Another word of advice would be to choose players who are all rounders and are physically fit for better chances of scoring sufficient points.
Joining leagues can be done by using your bonus or cash back points. Inn certain cases, you only need to pay a minimal fee.Participate in daily challenges/ contests and compete with other players to win points. The points are rewarded based on real-life performance of the players. The virtual scoreboards, ranking and leaderboards are updated minute by minute while the actual match is going on based upon the performance of you team and players.
So, there is lots of excitement and thrill that you get to enjoy will every goal and every actual moment in the real-world match, while you are playing on Dream11. At the end of every match, you may win certain points. These points can be redeemed in form of actual cash. The cash withdrawal process requires you to submit your PAN number and basic account details.
The platform is totally legit and the proof of this fact is the fan base comprising of Millions of users, which are ever increasing. So, I would suggest that if you have good knowledge of Soccer games and are aware about which players are good, you must give this online gaming portal a chance. Who knew playin could be rewarding in terms of real money?
July 17, 2018
Olly - Olive's All Day Cafe
Olive Bistro has had a great presence in DLF Cyber Hub and also for a long time. The place has reinvented itself as Olly and I am glad that they have retained their original charm and great service intact. The interiors have gone for a huge makeover with more sunshine and white ceilings. (The hand pump is gone). The menu has only gotten better and my favorite Jar of Tiramisu is still here.
Prawns Pil Pil is one of the best dishes on the menu. The food bowl is healthy, filling and a great meal for any time of the day. I also had bite of the Huevos Rancheros, a better way to enjoy fried eggs. I would suggest if you are trying out this place for the first time go for their Italian options. The pizza is hand rolled and made right in front of you. Similarly the Sole fish is just great.
The Banoffee Pie is the best way to end the meal even though the Tiramisu is one the best dessert options on the menu.
For drinks the old bar is still here. Breakfast Martini with Gin and Marmalade makes for a fruity drink. They also have a great cocktail list as well as an extensive tea and coffee menu. This might sound little confusing but in fact they have a beverage for every mood.
The place seems to be driven to provide good experience to its guests mostly by the staff. From the manager of the place to the head chef and everyone serving you, cooking for you, seem to be working in tandem to make sure of a positive impression.
I also liked the fact that they have all these small little plants all around the place. They even sell the small, table top variety to patrons who wish for a keepsake.
May 25, 2018
Here Is What You Can Do to Save More Than Your Colleagues
I used to spend a considerable chunk of my salary as rent for my apartment. The remaining I would try to allocate best to my monthly expenses while also adding up to my savings accounts. Sadly, amidst high prices of almost every product and services in the present day, your savings can have a hard time matching up to your consumption.
Image credits: photopin
From my personal experience as someone in their late-twenties, I know that having a good savings account and a smart investment portfolio is crucial to a secure future. This is the time when we can actually build a strong financial backbone to settle down to a smooth life later.
While it is not possible to negotiate financially over big-ticket items like a home or a car, the scope for efficient saving practices lies within the smaller things. And no, I’m not asking you to go into hibernation mode and bid adieu to socialize over coffee and dinner. There are better and more practical ways out there to curb your expenses and to create a stable rainy-day fund.
After much thought and research, I started out with the basics.
Here’s what you need to understand to not only match up to your colleagues in terms of savings, but also outsmart them ultimately: -
Adopt #SubscriptionLifestyle
Gone are the days when I loved being a nomad. I work hard and after a hard day’s work, I want to come back to a comfortable home to relax and unwind. But a well-furnished flat can really kill your salary! Where I live, a flat like that can easily cost a minimum of INR 27 K monthly. Honestly, for a bachelor who plans to make periodic job changes that will require an address change as well, this setting doesn’t make sense.
It took me a great deal of time to realize that spending money on furniture and appliances in these initial stages of life is futile. A great way to maintain a minimum flat rent is by moving into unfurnished flat and procuring rental furniture. Rental furniture is great, as they not only come at affordable pricing but also for a convenient rent term.
I know a few good rental companies in the market like rentomojo.com that offer customized rental solutions to their customers with regards to pricing and the rent period.
Not only can I now afford the luxury of a fully furnished apartment for a pocket-friendly price, but I also get to save up big time for other investments that actually matter.
EMI Vs. RMI
While you might feel smart buying furniture and appliances on EMIs, let me tell you something you don’t know, you are making a really bad financial decision; you will eventually end up paying even more than the actual price of the product.
If you want to save money, you need to learn to #SmartlyOwn.
Companies create a false sense of accomplishment in their customers by offering so-called affordable equated monthly installments, when the truth is that you’re actually not getting the product on a discount but are also paying extra for the product! That’s why RMIs are where it’s at!
All furniture companies procure their products at discounted wholesale prices. But while monthly EMIs are based on the increased market price of the product, RMIs are calculated at the discounted cost price for which the company had initially bought their products. This is also a good reason why rental furniture companies are quite popular globally. It’s time we too took similar smart informed decisions.
You can take my word for this; I ‘ve been able to save so much more in these 8 months than I could ever have in my career span of 5 years. It all starts with your home after all. With furniture rentals, you can not only afford a great flat at a nominal price but can also enjoy the benefits of customized and comfortable furnishings, all the while successfully saving your hard-earned money for meaningful future investments.
May 20, 2018
Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians - Boria Majumdar
Boria Majumdar is one of India’s best-known sports journalists. In this book, he brings about a fascinating exploration of cricket—India’s most popular sport—packed with lively anecdotes and never-before-seen photographs.
Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians takes you behind the scenes of India’s most popular sport—going from early tours in 1886 to the more contemporary IPL, offering a complete understanding of the evolution of the game both on and off the field. Featuring material that has never-been-released, this book sheds new light on cases like Monkeygate, the suspension of Lalit Modi, match-fixing scandals, and more.
Weaving together personal interviews, photographs, and letters, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians unflinchingly asks the questions that need answering, among them: Has internal conflict impacted the on- field performance of the Indian cricket team? Did some icons fail the country and the sport by trying to conceal important facts during the spot-fixing investigation? And does it matter to the ordinary fan who heads the BCCI as long as there is transparency and accountability in the system?
Chronicling the history of cricket throughout colonial and post-colonial Indian life, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians offers fascinating insight into those who patronize, promote, play, and watch the sport, as well as the entire nation now considered the global hub of the world of cricket.
Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians takes you behind the scenes of India’s most popular sport—going from early tours in 1886 to the more contemporary IPL, offering a complete understanding of the evolution of the game both on and off the field. Featuring material that has never-been-released, this book sheds new light on cases like Monkeygate, the suspension of Lalit Modi, match-fixing scandals, and more.
Weaving together personal interviews, photographs, and letters, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians unflinchingly asks the questions that need answering, among them: Has internal conflict impacted the on- field performance of the Indian cricket team? Did some icons fail the country and the sport by trying to conceal important facts during the spot-fixing investigation? And does it matter to the ordinary fan who heads the BCCI as long as there is transparency and accountability in the system?
Chronicling the history of cricket throughout colonial and post-colonial Indian life, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians offers fascinating insight into those who patronize, promote, play, and watch the sport, as well as the entire nation now considered the global hub of the world of cricket.
Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians: The On and Off the Field Story of Cricket in India and Beyond
From one of India’s best-known sports journalists, a fascinating exploration of cricket—India’s most popular sport—packed with lively anecdotes and never-before-seen photographs.
Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians takes you behind the scenes of India’s most popular sport—going from early tours in 1886 to the more contemporary IPL, offering a complete understanding of the evolution of the game both on and off the field. Featuring material that has never-been-released, this book sheds new light on cases like Monkeygate, the suspension of Lalit Modi, match-fixing scandals, and more.
Weaving together personal interviews, photographs, and letters, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians unflinchingly asks the questions that need answering, among them: Has internal conflict impacted the on- field performance of the Indian cricket team? Did some icons fail the country and the sport by trying to conceal important facts during the spot-fixing investigation? And does it matter to the ordinary fan who heads the BCCI as long as there is transparency and accountability in the system?
Chronicling the history of cricket throughout colonial and post-colonial Indian life, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians offers fascinating insight into those who patronize, promote, play, and watch the sport, as well as the entire nation now considered the global hub of the world of cricket.
Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians takes you behind the scenes of India’s most popular sport—going from early tours in 1886 to the more contemporary IPL, offering a complete understanding of the evolution of the game both on and off the field. Featuring material that has never-been-released, this book sheds new light on cases like Monkeygate, the suspension of Lalit Modi, match-fixing scandals, and more.
Weaving together personal interviews, photographs, and letters, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians unflinchingly asks the questions that need answering, among them: Has internal conflict impacted the on- field performance of the Indian cricket team? Did some icons fail the country and the sport by trying to conceal important facts during the spot-fixing investigation? And does it matter to the ordinary fan who heads the BCCI as long as there is transparency and accountability in the system?
Chronicling the history of cricket throughout colonial and post-colonial Indian life, Eleven Gods and a Billion Indians offers fascinating insight into those who patronize, promote, play, and watch the sport, as well as the entire nation now considered the global hub of the world of cricket.
May 18, 2018
GRAB HAPPYNESS WITH DR. YUSUF MERCHANT’S NEW BOOK
Dr. Yusuf Merchant, Founder and President of Drug Abuse Information, Rehabilitation and Research Centre (D.A.I.R.R.C) and affiliate member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, launched his third book today, ‘Happyness: Life Lessons From A Creative Addict’, at Hauz Khas Social, Delhi.
The Chief Guest who graced the event was Prof. Dinesh Singh (Ex VC of Delhi University). The other Guests of Honour were Mr. Jagbir Singh (Ex Hockey Captain of India), Mr. Riyaaz Amlani (C.E.O. & Managing Director - Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality), Mr. Arjun Nath (Author and Legal Expert) Ms. Karthika V.K. (Publisher – Westland-Amazon books) Ms. Kriti Monga (Artist and Graphic Designer) and Ms. Nilanjana S. Roy (Author & Publicist)
The book focuses on easily implementable life changing tools for people wanting to lead happier lives; and represents the culmination of Dr. Yusuf Merchant’s experiences, both as a man, and as one of the leading On the book, Dr. Merchant said, “I have, through my suffering, developed a handy life changing formula that has worked for me, for the recovering addicts I live with, and their families. This book is an endeavour to reach out beyond my circle of influence.” He maintains that happiness is a choice and a process derived by a good value system, and not merely an outcome. Concepts such as belief, gratitude, imagination, visualisation, love and awareness are described in detail to arrive towards happiness, in his book.
Speaking about Dr. Merchant and his everlasting influence on people's lives around him, Riyaaz Amlani, CEO, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. said, " Dr. Merchant has proven an invaluable source on the journey to discover peace, love, and happiness within yourself.” He also said, '' If there is one book you should read this year, its ‘’Happyness- Life Lessons from a creative addict’’, Happiness guaranteed''.
This book is especially timely, especially when a large amount of attention, across the globe, is geared towards the state of human happiness. The U.N. has been publishing World Happiness Reports for the past five years and the 20th of March has been International Day of Happiness. However, research reports, by the U.N., suggest that one in every four adults today is unhappy due to mental issues relating to depression and anxiety. According to the U.N. World Happiness Report 2017, India’s happiness levels have dropped by 0.839 points on a scale of 2.7 and is currently ranked 122 out of 155 worldwide (with 1 being the happiest country). Therefore, there has been an increase in the search for happiness. Instances such as the most sought-after course at Yale being ‘Happiness 101’, and the U.K. has officially appointing a Minister of Loneliness, goes to show the pertinence of the issue in today’s world. Closer to home, the Delhi Government has even decided to include a happiness curriculum in schools.
The ever-growing attention that mental health and wellbeing are currently receiving, and Dr. Merchant’s vast experience, in this field, led him to write the book on creative techniques and perspectives to deal with the emotional struggles of everyday life. By bringing together scientific theories on the functioning of the brain and how it alters under stress, as well as existential questions on karma and the meaning of life, Dr. Merchant weaves a vivid and impactful account on some of the basic tenets of leading a fulfilling life. Through this book, all readers have the key to helping them fulfil their journey to happiness as well.
‘Happyness: Life Lessons From A Creative Addict’ is now available on Amazon.in, bookstores, and at a Social outlet near you.
With this launch, SOCIAL kickstarts the #SocialSpeakEasy initiative to talk about mental health and break the taboo around it.The #Socialspeakeasy campaign will begin shortly across all SOCIAL outlets wherein activities and discussion around mental health awareness will take place.
The Chief Guest who graced the event was Prof. Dinesh Singh (Ex VC of Delhi University). The other Guests of Honour were Mr. Jagbir Singh (Ex Hockey Captain of India), Mr. Riyaaz Amlani (C.E.O. & Managing Director - Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality), Mr. Arjun Nath (Author and Legal Expert) Ms. Karthika V.K. (Publisher – Westland-Amazon books) Ms. Kriti Monga (Artist and Graphic Designer) and Ms. Nilanjana S. Roy (Author & Publicist)
The book focuses on easily implementable life changing tools for people wanting to lead happier lives; and represents the culmination of Dr. Yusuf Merchant’s experiences, both as a man, and as one of the leading On the book, Dr. Merchant said, “I have, through my suffering, developed a handy life changing formula that has worked for me, for the recovering addicts I live with, and their families. This book is an endeavour to reach out beyond my circle of influence.” He maintains that happiness is a choice and a process derived by a good value system, and not merely an outcome. Concepts such as belief, gratitude, imagination, visualisation, love and awareness are described in detail to arrive towards happiness, in his book.
Speaking about Dr. Merchant and his everlasting influence on people's lives around him, Riyaaz Amlani, CEO, Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. said, " Dr. Merchant has proven an invaluable source on the journey to discover peace, love, and happiness within yourself.” He also said, '' If there is one book you should read this year, its ‘’Happyness- Life Lessons from a creative addict’’, Happiness guaranteed''.
This book is especially timely, especially when a large amount of attention, across the globe, is geared towards the state of human happiness. The U.N. has been publishing World Happiness Reports for the past five years and the 20th of March has been International Day of Happiness. However, research reports, by the U.N., suggest that one in every four adults today is unhappy due to mental issues relating to depression and anxiety. According to the U.N. World Happiness Report 2017, India’s happiness levels have dropped by 0.839 points on a scale of 2.7 and is currently ranked 122 out of 155 worldwide (with 1 being the happiest country). Therefore, there has been an increase in the search for happiness. Instances such as the most sought-after course at Yale being ‘Happiness 101’, and the U.K. has officially appointing a Minister of Loneliness, goes to show the pertinence of the issue in today’s world. Closer to home, the Delhi Government has even decided to include a happiness curriculum in schools.
The ever-growing attention that mental health and wellbeing are currently receiving, and Dr. Merchant’s vast experience, in this field, led him to write the book on creative techniques and perspectives to deal with the emotional struggles of everyday life. By bringing together scientific theories on the functioning of the brain and how it alters under stress, as well as existential questions on karma and the meaning of life, Dr. Merchant weaves a vivid and impactful account on some of the basic tenets of leading a fulfilling life. Through this book, all readers have the key to helping them fulfil their journey to happiness as well.
‘Happyness: Life Lessons From A Creative Addict’ is now available on Amazon.in, bookstores, and at a Social outlet near you.
With this launch, SOCIAL kickstarts the #SocialSpeakEasy initiative to talk about mental health and break the taboo around it.The #Socialspeakeasy campaign will begin shortly across all SOCIAL outlets wherein activities and discussion around mental health awareness will take place.
May 14, 2018
Burma Burma - CyberHub - Gurugram
Impeccable service is the impression I got after my luncheon experience at Burma Burma the other day. The staff is not only well equipped and knowledgeable to serve patrons, they are also excellent at their job. From the very top, leaders like Ashu and staff members like Vikas go that extra mile to make your dining experience better.
This place is a vegetarian's paradise with some amazing options for the veggies. I went with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised that even if no meat or chicken my meal had a variety and great taste. And the fact that they didn't offer me the traditional veggie treat of Cottage Cheese and Potatoes further enhanced my culinary experience.
The food we had
Samosa Soup - Samosa crispies in your soup makes for an excellent idea.Raw Mango Salad - The raw mango flavor mingles with the crunchiness of the peanuts for that great salad taste. Healthy too.Tea Leaf Salad - Highly recommended. These guys import choicest tea leaves for that extra authenticity in the flavors.Sunflower Leaves and Crispy Wheat Flakes Salad - Baby sunflower leaves with some crispy flakes make it a great salad.
Crispy Mockmeat Steamed Buns Crunchy Tofu Steamed BunsLotus Stem Crisps - I never found lotus stem so tasty.Tohu Mash with Parantha - Amazing dish with Tohu and well layered Paranthas.
Burma Burma Oh No KhowSuey - This is such a famous dish and I heard a lot about it before tasting it and I was not disappointed.
Black Glutinous Sticky Rice with Eyed Pea and Picked Vegetables
Desserts
Smokey Avocado and Honey Ice CreamTagu Pyian (Coconut Custard, Sago & Palm Jaggery)Chocolate Caramel Dome - Is a rose shaped chocolate dessert crafted with perfection.
Drinks we orderedTwilight Tea - A special tea to calm your soul and relax your body.SeaBuckthorn Mary - I liked this mock tail drink with ample seabuckthorn flavor and some spices.Nutella Bubble Tea - Chilled and came in a cool glass bottle.
The only thing I didn't like was the fact that they close the tea room post lunch till dinner time. I think this place should be open all day for a relaxed cup of tea or filling meals.
This place is a vegetarian's paradise with some amazing options for the veggies. I went with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised that even if no meat or chicken my meal had a variety and great taste. And the fact that they didn't offer me the traditional veggie treat of Cottage Cheese and Potatoes further enhanced my culinary experience.
The food we had
Samosa Soup - Samosa crispies in your soup makes for an excellent idea.Raw Mango Salad - The raw mango flavor mingles with the crunchiness of the peanuts for that great salad taste. Healthy too.Tea Leaf Salad - Highly recommended. These guys import choicest tea leaves for that extra authenticity in the flavors.Sunflower Leaves and Crispy Wheat Flakes Salad - Baby sunflower leaves with some crispy flakes make it a great salad.
Crispy Mockmeat Steamed Buns Crunchy Tofu Steamed BunsLotus Stem Crisps - I never found lotus stem so tasty.Tohu Mash with Parantha - Amazing dish with Tohu and well layered Paranthas.
Burma Burma Oh No KhowSuey - This is such a famous dish and I heard a lot about it before tasting it and I was not disappointed.
Black Glutinous Sticky Rice with Eyed Pea and Picked Vegetables
Desserts
Smokey Avocado and Honey Ice CreamTagu Pyian (Coconut Custard, Sago & Palm Jaggery)Chocolate Caramel Dome - Is a rose shaped chocolate dessert crafted with perfection.
Drinks we orderedTwilight Tea - A special tea to calm your soul and relax your body.SeaBuckthorn Mary - I liked this mock tail drink with ample seabuckthorn flavor and some spices.Nutella Bubble Tea - Chilled and came in a cool glass bottle.
The only thing I didn't like was the fact that they close the tea room post lunch till dinner time. I think this place should be open all day for a relaxed cup of tea or filling meals.
United Coffee House - Connaught Place - New Delhi
I have had a great experience at the UCH Rewind Gurgaon and so obviously visited this place with high hopes. An iconic restaurant this is one of the old school fine dining restaurants in Central Delhi. But the service is plain pathetic. The managers and staff are so smug and haughty that they serve you as a favor. Even the artificial smiles they may put up show scorn and contempt. They have ruined a perfectly good place with decent food. I say decent because there is nothing very special about the food if I compare the costs.
The Mathur Chicken Chaat has a good dressing but it was after 3 bites of capsicum and onions that I actually found a piece of chicken. The Ajwaini Mahi Tikka is a recommended dish. I found it be perfect. Well cooked and well presented. Next, we ordered Almond Crusted Chicken Strips but the manager overruled the decision. Yes, it was available but the manager strongly recommended the Stroganoff and canceled the fried chicken order. I don't like Stroganoff much because of my bias towards wheat bread than rice but the good news was that it came with some bread I could butter and eat. Didn't like the rice but chicken seemed good. The bad service continued downhill and I had to wait like 30 minutes before pleading someone to take my dessert order. UCH Rewind has a similar menu and in Gurgaon, they serve desserts to die for. Here you may die waiting to place your order. But we thought the dessert could save the day somehow. All we got was a tutti-frutti sundae which was more vanilla ice cream than anything else. The Moong Dal halwa was good and came placed on a tart but had vanilla ice cream for the company I couldn't understand why.
In drinks, they have cocktails which are way too sugary to be called cocktails. More of Sherbets. The manager recommended a Margarita which tasted like Blue Curacao Syrup on Ice. Rose Wine Sangria too lacked in buzz. What is recommended here, however, is the coffee. This is a Coffee House and the coffee is great. The Mexican Cold Coffee with chocolate is a great try.
I have been to several fine dining and old-school coffee houses this place is bad service only because the managers feel that footfall will remain robust come what may. They don't need to walk the extra mile or mentor their staff to do the same. It's a sad part of an otherwise good story of what UCH is and also an integral one at that.
May 6, 2018
Bo Tai Qutab - Mehrauli - New Delhi
Bo Tai Qutab comes from a family of some great restaurants like the Made in Punjab, Farzi Cafe, Pa Pa Ya and Masala Library. Barring Pa Pa Ya I have had the chance to visit at least one branch of the other properties. One thing which has constantly remained common in their DNA is their remarkable service and attention to innovation with food and drinks. Bo Tai inherits the same and has done a lot to live up to its parent's goodwill.
The road which leads to Bo Tai is exceptionally narrow but is dotted with some up coming fashion brands and specialty restaurants. One one hand we have the majestic Qutab Minar and its greens, the other side is shallowly developed with loads of greens. The building which houses Bo Tai on the second floor has a huge Peepal Tree in its compound and some top notch fashion labels on the lower two floors. Bo Tai has a U shaped structure with an Island Bar and generous open sitting.
The furniture is wicker and as I browse through the leather bound menu (Da Milano) I can't help but notice the attention to the finest details which has been given here. To my surprise, Ankush, one of the members of the team at Massive Restaurants, who had earlier served me at Masala Library was deputed here. As ML is undergoing renovation it seems some staff members have come down here. His service and excellent recommendations made the evening all the more better.
Before writing about the food, I will tell you about the drinks. The bar is a significant presence at Bo Tai with a very rich collection of Spirits and a detailed list of innovative drinks. Since it is kind of a U shaped place, their is another bar at the other section which is mostly reserved for parties and select gatherings.
So I started off with the Full Moon Festival a vibrant, refreshing drink with flowers added to concoction of Gin, rose syrup, spiced vermouth, grapefruit and spiced orange syrup. It also had hints of lime, strawberry syrup and just hits the right spots.
But the drink which created the right buzz was the Bangkok Boulevard. The cocktail glass comes coated with edible golden paint and the all that glitters here is really gold in terms of taste and mix. The Bartender used Whiskey (Chivas I assume) and mixed it with vermouth, honey lime and sparkling wine. I just loved the fact that a pretty flower was floating over my drink.
Penicillin is a traditional cocktail which is a Scotch based drink and comes with bow pin, a clever pun on the restaurant's name. The bow tie theme is actually subtly mentioned everywhere.
Desserts
The Belgian Chocolate Tart with Coffee Mousse is the best dessert on their menu I feel. The quality of chocolate is very good and it reflects in the taste.
The Kobocha Custard, Coconut and Pandan Jelly is also a good try.
The road which leads to Bo Tai is exceptionally narrow but is dotted with some up coming fashion brands and specialty restaurants. One one hand we have the majestic Qutab Minar and its greens, the other side is shallowly developed with loads of greens. The building which houses Bo Tai on the second floor has a huge Peepal Tree in its compound and some top notch fashion labels on the lower two floors. Bo Tai has a U shaped structure with an Island Bar and generous open sitting.
The furniture is wicker and as I browse through the leather bound menu (Da Milano) I can't help but notice the attention to the finest details which has been given here. To my surprise, Ankush, one of the members of the team at Massive Restaurants, who had earlier served me at Masala Library was deputed here. As ML is undergoing renovation it seems some staff members have come down here. His service and excellent recommendations made the evening all the more better.
Before writing about the food, I will tell you about the drinks. The bar is a significant presence at Bo Tai with a very rich collection of Spirits and a detailed list of innovative drinks. Since it is kind of a U shaped place, their is another bar at the other section which is mostly reserved for parties and select gatherings.
So I started off with the Full Moon Festival a vibrant, refreshing drink with flowers added to concoction of Gin, rose syrup, spiced vermouth, grapefruit and spiced orange syrup. It also had hints of lime, strawberry syrup and just hits the right spots.
But the drink which created the right buzz was the Bangkok Boulevard. The cocktail glass comes coated with edible golden paint and the all that glitters here is really gold in terms of taste and mix. The Bartender used Whiskey (Chivas I assume) and mixed it with vermouth, honey lime and sparkling wine. I just loved the fact that a pretty flower was floating over my drink.
Penicillin is a traditional cocktail which is a Scotch based drink and comes with bow pin, a clever pun on the restaurant's name. The bow tie theme is actually subtly mentioned everywhere.
Desserts
The Belgian Chocolate Tart with Coffee Mousse is the best dessert on their menu I feel. The quality of chocolate is very good and it reflects in the taste.
The Kobocha Custard, Coconut and Pandan Jelly is also a good try.
