Day visit to Taj Mahal Agra

Perhaps the smallest so far but long due and worth writing, I am penning down my memories of recent visit to see Taj Mahal, Agra.

Haven’t been fond of art and monuments to a large scale, neither do I empathise with the love and sacrifice that underwent in the construction of the monument which is considered as one of the seven wonders of the world. But there has always been a curiosity to see it and check out what the hype is all about so, this time, when I was travelling to Agra city for work, I decided that I will spare some time to satiate my curiosity.

As I mentioned I was travelling for work, I couldn’t think of travelling at slow and leisurely pace, thought of exploring the Yamuna expressway that took me about 6 hours to reach Agra from Lucknow. The toll is a little heavy on the pocket however the route is smooth, traffic and hassle free that makes the journey quite cozy.

The former capital, Agra doesn’t have much to do and people anyways stay here for a day or two, visit the astounding monuments, local markets and close their itineraries for the place. I was put up in close proximity to Taj Mahal, hotel Howard Plaza for a night. It’s a cozy hotel with all the amenities, courteous staff and good service.

Coming straight to the best part of the visit, seeing the Taj Mahal up close!

The structure is just mesmerising from the moment you set your eyes on it. I entered from the western gate, went through the security and was standing in front of the Taj within minutes. May be, because it wasn’t the tourist season or I got lucky. I spent about 2-3 hours walking along the monument, gawking at the beauty from every angle possible and taking some good pictures. If you are planning to visit anytime soon, here is a pro tip:

Once a month on the full moon night, Taj Mahal is open to viewing during night time. I wonder and wish what an amazing opportunity would it be to enjoy. Plan accordingly !

The cherry on top is that Agra fort is just 2.5 kilometres from Taj Mahal, so you can get some time to visit the main residence of the Mughal emperors before they moved their capital to Red fort in Delhi which you all must have studied in your history class. What else should I say about these two monuments, especially Taj that hasn’t been said before!

You have good eateries, small restaurants, sight seeing historical monuments and evening bazaars in the vicinity to keep your tour fun and frolic through out your stay. If you are planning to visit, do keep in mind that Taj Mahal is shut on Fridays for religious activists and is not open for visitors. So plan accordingly!

Plus, don’t forget to boost me by hitting like and feel free to shoot any questions if you have or just in case you need any support during your visit. Thanks and see you again, hopefully soon!

Dilli wala Butter Chicken

Cooking butter chicken is easy! Many might think so after browsing through a couple of videos on YouTube or flipping through fancy looking recipes on cookery magazines. Respite you all, it is an art!

An art that involves smokey, tangy, creamy and a rich taste. Tender pieces of chicken blended with right amount of spices to make you crave for it whenever you think of eating chicken.

I was elated to discover the same at Goila’s. Not just the butter chicken, Chef Saransh’s brainchild has his own recipe of everything he has included in the Menu. The joint is attractive and the name itself has a non vegetarian’s favorite eat.

 

Sindhi style mutton is again, that had right amount of flavors and spices to make it overpowering on the whole. The roomali rotis they serve are fresh and just perfect.

Chocolate Golgappa for desserts is one interesting out of box innovation on the food side. One suggestion to Chef Saransh would be get it copyrighted before it gets copied by someone.

To sum it up, Goila butter chicken is a must try for everyone who loves butter chicken or is willing to try a different flavor of all the dishes. Go ahead and place an order for delivery.

Thrilling Thela Experience in Cafe Format- Rekadi Cafe

Bite, gulp, slurp & hoard. The cutting chai, your longest brain freeze, guiltiest dessert, ever spicy vada pav, and the messiest rolls on the rekadi.  Mind you, we are still just on the outskirts. If you are in the mood to tantalize your taste buds, fall in love with Mumbai all over again, find your excuse to scrape that diet, or  are juggling to find what more does this city has on its menu- the foodie next door, you are just about to discover the right place!

From pizzas to golas, Rekadi Cafe is keen to give you thela experience in a scintillating café format. This is the place for golas as they offer variety of them varying from 25 ranges of the colourful iced dessert (Now you understand the brain freeze!).

The aura of the restaurant is just awesome, they have set up a real street cart with colourful syrup bottles to give you the rustic yet fancy Rekadi vibe. You can also try their chilled pani puri, sandwiches and flavoured fries for a total street-style meal. Do visit on weekends  to check out the other innovative dishes on the menu.

Specialities: Malai Gola, Sandwiches, Panini Chaat & flavored fries.

Address: Rekadi Cafe, Shop No. 14, Opposite Tara Singh garden, Swapna Nagri, Mulund West, Mumbai

 

North Indian Zaika in Mumbai

Nothern India has always been the quintessential part of art, culture and specially food. Mughals and Persian dishes are worth swearing by and 1 thing I have always realised during my visit of Delhi and nearby locations is that it is always one place you can look upto in terms of chicken dishes with all the flavors.

I have always travelled to Mohammed Ali road for having my dose of tasty chicken but when I go to hear about the launch of ‘Delhi Zaika’ restaurant in Bandra by Mid Day it was worth paying a visit and believe me! you can truly skip travelling to Mohd Ali road during Ramzaan because whatever you need is all here in one place.

It was an afternoon when we went to the restaurant and I was famished of all the travelling, looking around for the place however its situated just walking distance from the Bandra Station near the Jama Masjid, in the local lane where eateries are famous (Ofcourse, Mumbaikars will able to relate to). Newly launched restaurant has a decent decor to please an eater for fine dining but I would suggest you don’t go with the intention of a fancy dining here.

The starters started coming in; at first we were served with the quarter plates of Tandoori chicken; the Chicken Barra Tandoori was less spicy but tasted perfect to start with which was followed by Peshawari Chicken Tandoori which was considerably more spicy and tasted better than the tandooris I have ever had.

North Indian chicken dishes are incomplete if we don’t talk about Afghani and hence, we were served with Afghani Malai Tikka and Paneer Malai Tikka. Both the tikkas were cream rich however some more seasoning could have helped making the dishes taste better.

Show was completely stolen by Chicken Delhi Zaika Special, the taste, garnishing and quantity; everything is to die for. I am definitely coming here many times just to savor this special gravy dish at the restaurant.

We ended our meal with awesome desi rabdi which I could have consumed many cups, had there been any space left in my tummy and caramel custard. To sum it up, the food served here is one of the best in town!

Address: Hasan Building, Shop No. 4, Bandra Station Road,
Opposite Bus Depot, Bandra, Mumbai-400050

Fresh Italian Menu at Fratelli Fresh

Eating out these days is not just about food or ambiance anymore, its about complete experience. That is where the expertise of hotels like Renaissance come into being.

I had attended the relaunch menu of the Fratelli Fresh restaurant located inside the 5 star luxury hotel Renaissance catering to business crowd as well as people visiting for leisure trips.

So I entered inside the restaurant, greeted by the hotel staff and I just couldn’t stop myself from ogling at the food kept next to my stand. The ambiance is just wowsome and will lure you into affection if you are visiting anytime soon!

From the minute food was served on the table, I just devoured into it. The chicken margarita pizza was just worth it. And they also have an exotic collection of cheese to accompany your food.

Glass wall overlooking the Powai Lake, huge wine racks and open kitchen complete the decor of this spirited restaurant. The rack stacks massive number of Italian and current age wines. Now isn’t that an impressive collection?!

Fratelli Fresh spoils you for choice with the lavish food served from the newly launched menu. Delicious items in the menu will leave you confused as to which one is the best choice. All the dishes are delicious, I mean must try! We were offered Proscuitto e Formaggi, 3 mushroom risotto and spaghetti pasta cooked in arrabiata sauce.

The naughty glisten I had while the desserts were being served! Ofcourse, all of them were droolworthy. We were offered a place of fresh fruits the cocoa dust, mascarpone, Kahlua based Tiramasu and many more Italian delicacies with a mix of dry fruits and cheese.

By the way, did you have a glance at the fresh menu of Fratelli Fresh? Do say hello to Chef Christian whenever you happen to visit.

 

Have a Happy ‘Gold Morning’!

My mornings usually start with my roommate’s alarm at around 6:00 a.m. following myself to forcefully get out of the bed.

Yes, struggle! Extreme struggle, my mornings are full with. I lead a very hectic schedule as I have to travel 20 kilometers to my workplace and apart from that my professional life includes a lot of travelling from one client to another. I deal with arrogant managers and demanding clients.

However, otherwise my day is a celebration with regime and natural exercise flowed in the form of working out in the morning, arranging for my daily activities. It is a very tedious process as I stay 1000 kilometers away from my family and its very difficult to do all of it by myself as I have been a pampered child throughout.

To transform our mundane mornings into #Colgate360GoldMornings, Colgate has launched a 360 charcoal gold toothbrush. The color of the brush is gold and it is quite effective as we begin the day with an attempt to save our teeth from various germs and bacteria no matter which paste you use (with salt or without :P)

As the slim bristles reach the insides of the teeth easier, the brushing is smoother than with any other brush. The black bristles in the middle are charcoal infused making the brushing session refreshing.

So, are you going to try to have your own #Colgate360GoldMornings? Lets make each and every morning the beginning to a lovely day with an option like Colgate 360 Charcoal Gold toothbrush. Having good teeth without cavities is something that we can cherish forever. I have only a few of such perfect teeth left, and I hope to make it count in making my day better. Well, Colgate 360 Charcoal Gold toothbrush is a warrior and it goes through to claim the golden morning for you in the form of #Colgate360GoldMornings!

Time has come when you need to transform your good morning to gold morning through brushing your teeth with , it will bring the freshness and brings the best oral health for the rest of the day. To ensure the benefits of #Colgate360GoldMornings, you should brush your teeth twice in a day, morning and before going to bed at night.

An Enriching Professional Course at a Top-notch B-School

In the last 11 years of its history, SP Jain has written umpteen numbers of inspiring yet motivational stories, developed a strong alumnus bases all across the globe and leading the list of business schools through an innovative education model.

Is the only Indian origin business institute that features in the global list of world’s top list of institutions for this year. With campuses in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and Mumbai, SP Jain School of Global Management has established itself at 95^th position in ‘The Economist’ and Top 10 institutes for 1 year international MBA in ‘Forbes’ ranking list respectively.

In a knowledge and skill driven industry progressing in today’s world, an MBA qualification has become a necessity for career ascent and the Executive program (EMBA) at SP Jain is one of its flagship programs for the professionals with a knack for achievement. Keeping their passion in center, it has been designed for progressive 18 months enriching them with exceptional business acumen and helping them contribute significantly in the industry.

The most exciting thing about this part time course is that it allows you to study at a pace that suits your career and interests, tailoring your learning to a specific area of interest, injecting decision making attributes and transforming you into a leader.

SP Jain boasts of its blended learning model that helps students get acquainted with the industry trends through globally distinguished faculty. The comprehensive and cutting edge curriculum facilitates peer networking as well as lays a strong emphasis on personal effectiveness and leadership.

And when we talk of placements, the success stories written by the students can put any professional to awe having transformed marketing supervisors to Marketing managers, Consultants to Vice Presidents, Software engineers to operations head and many more.

While business programs in demand in the industry, most of the skills are skills downplayed at various B-schools like personality and life skills. “A business school education is more than a professional education such as engineering which Executive MBA program at SP Jain of Global management has been able to provide me through which I can tackle any professional as well as personal challenge and be able to measure my success with”, says Amit , a proud alum of the esteemed college.

The diverse subjects as a part of the curriculum help gain students a holistic view of the business aspects and having students from varied backgrounds make the environment challenging yet full of personally as well as professionally enriching. Who wouldn’t crave for such experience?

Can you think of any other with such amazing techniques? I can’t, atleast not in India, for sure. If this article reaches out to any alumni of the college, do feel enrich me with your experiences. It would be a wonderful experience for aspirants like me!

 

Foodgasm, Bandra Reclamation: Food Review

Healthy and tasty food sounds just a contradiction as any political agendas these days. But it is possible, believe me! I witnessed it during the prelaunch of a restaurant named  FOODGASM situated amidst the foodhub of Bandra West.

Enter a caption

 

This is owned by a real estate Financial Analyst turned entrepreneur Kapil Ghorpade launched on January 22, 2016 with an amazing list of dishes on the menu. Here is an abstract of  our calorie eating at the venue:

The table was already occupied with different varieties of breads which were being praised at almost all the tables and a unique thing which I observed was their way of serving water. There was mint soaked in the water jars giving it a flavor that stick to me and I am using the technique at my house as well.

Tasting started with a Power shot entailing banana, melon, almonds, walnut and dates followed by Hara Pyaaz soup which delighted the heart of all the foodies. I am not a fan of soups but this is worth your penny if you’re visiting the place any time soon. The hot and piping sipping enticed me for the further menu.

Hara Pyaaz Soup

The later servings were a mixture of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Turkish Grub salad which was a mix of chick peas, peppers, micro greens and goat cheese was served for vegetarians. More appealing for me was the Meat Lovers Salad which was a mix of prawns, shrimp and chicken liver garnished with tomatoes and leaves. Then followed the pani puri which was also in house prepared although lacked the authentic Indian taste.

Pani Puri

Quinoa Biryani

We were then served the tandoor which was the most loved among the bloggers. Vegetarians got the grab of Apne Khet Se which was a mixture of cooked veggies while non-vegetarians divulged in the grilled Bangda/ Mackarel. This was yum!

Risotto

Then came the specially prepared main course for the preview dinner for the attendees; Quinoa biryani & Mummy Special Curry for vegans were just as delicious catch as were Grilled Tenderloin and Mummy Special Chicken Curry which was served with rice.

Grilled Tenderloin

Mummy Special Chicken Curry

The tasting ended with a simple yet scrumptious dark chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and berries. The dessert was named as enticing as it sounded- dub smash. In all the name of the restaurant is apt- foodgasm and worth spending time with friends and family with nutritious and delicious food.

Dubsmash

Address:   Shop No. 4, Ankleshwar Marg, Near IES College, Bandra Reclamation, Bandra (West), Mumbai.
Landmark: IES College Bandra, Candies.

Caricatures on the wall, wooden tables with a casual look and a catchy logo are appealing to the eye. Decor reflects the owner’s charm and passion for creating a relaxing ambience to relish your food. His go-getter attitude is seen in him opening this venture and also his continuing support to his wife to reach new heights in her field, Lavina Q. (Senior VP in a leading MNC broking house). Delicious Food is the focus here with the owner’s infectious energy and enthusiasm being the icing on the cake.

Let me know how excited are you, for calorie-rich foodgasm?

21st Century Smartphones

With instant connecting applications on your smartphone, I wonder if the concept of Ram and Shyam separating in a Kumbh Mela are even feasible to be used in movies today. Sadly, our screenwriters will have to have to come up with innovative stuff aligned with the pace of innovation in technology.

Specially the pace of technological innovation is such that I sometimes ponder to replace my ‘ever lagging’ office laptop’s RAM with my smartphone’s RAM, only if it was possible. #Tecnocrats of mobile industry should be in computer industry as well.

Jokes apart, Technology has become an inevitable part of our lives today and to even think of a day without it, would get nightmares; atleast to me. Phones these days are not just used to connect a person to another, infact from delivering morning news to reminding you of your friends’ birthday, keeping track of your important tasks and saving memories in the form of pictures.

Gone are the days when a SIM used to dream to be placed in a smartphones. These days, smartphones are within budget with maximum features such 4G availability, octacore feature preventing the phone from overheating and overloading. When we talk of over heating and overloading, here are some hacks that will help you utilize your smartphones effectively:

1. You can recharge your battery faster by switching it to airplane mode. 
2. You can customise your ringtone to know who is calling or messaging.
3. You can set your mobile data consumption and cycle from settings feature of the android phone.
4.  Delete the not in use applications as they consume battery, space as well as mobile data if kept in mobile unnecessarily.
5. You can take pictures by Volume (+/-) buttons.

Recently I heard the news of a guy falling in a borewell while doing the ‘Walk when you talk’ on the road. Well it had to happen as he was walking Good that he had enough battery and through the use of innovative applications, family and friends could locate him. Else, we would have been blaming NaMo for ‘Bure Din’. But seriously with these tricks and above stated impeccable features, it is inevitable to be separated from your cozy smartphones. Also with funky covers for them, it becomes mandatory for the youngsters as well as ex-youngsters to flash them.

P.S. It is a fun oriented post describing various innovative features of smartphones. Satire and humor has been used to make the post innovative. Hope you like it. Comments are most welcome.

 

And that’s how my search for a quality smartphone ended!

With the smartphones becoming smarter each day, options for choosing the best out of lot is getting tougher for the individuals. When you seek for best features, pocket falls short and if you have pocket full of sunshine, you delve with too many options to choose from.

There existed a time when mobile phones weren’t a necessity and communication used to happen through various conventional means like postcard and telegram. With the advancement of technology and complexities of human life, phones have become a necessity. Ease of communication, the anytime anywhere contact with friends and family has is the advent of mobile phones. There exist certain disadvantages in terms of becoming addicted to socialization however if used within limitation for specific uses, smartphones come in handy always.

Having stated the common issues faced by every individual, I was undergoing them during my search for a smartphone for a family member but then I came across the advertisement of  ASUS Zenphone 2  at ASUS website which could catch my attention in just a few minutes with its sleekly design and left me in awe with its impeccable features.

Image Courtesy: ASUS Website

 

For a smart user, this smartphone would serve best with its following features:

1) Fast charging: With 24 hours in a day and all engaged with super-productive work enhancing our life, I am sure what everyone needs is a phone that takes minimum time to charge and work extensively without draining easily. ASUS claims that their new launch gets charged upto 60% in just 39 minutes.

2)  Efficient processor: What takes away my mind is wait and the lag between various processes in different smart phones. With a 4GB RAM, I am very sure that there won’t be any signs of lagging.

3) Brighter, better and stunning Selfie: 13 MegaPixel camera with PixelMaster 2.0 helps you capture images of high resolution without any shutter lag. Not just this, its pixel merging technology helps click pictures 400% times brighter in comparison to the conventional cameras.

4) Slim, Sleek and luxury phone: With ergonomic design and intuitive rear controls, Zenphone 2 captures the attention completely. It is comfortable to hold as well as its rare features like personalized UI, privacy protection and Zen Applications make the phone best suited for oneself.

5) Pick your best color: Aren’t we bored with just black/white cellphones? Well, I am! Pick the best color phone of your choice from 5 available ones.

While I am heading to the nearest store to purchase it, you might be wondering of its cost effectiveness. Well, to inform you its in the normal budget. You can even order the phone through online.

And if you’re excited enough to explore more of the phone, click on the website to see the marvel of craftsmanship and engineering.

Let me know your comments!