New Year Special: Thalis at Zambar, Gurgaon





This New Year's Eve, Zambar offers special Thalis at Cyber Hub, Gurgaon letting you binge on and welcome the New Year with an extravagant  feast!

Details
Zambar, GF-19, DLF Cyber Hub Gurgaon, 
Veg Thali- Rs 395 + taxes
Non-Veg- Rs 485 + taxes
Sea Food- Rs 690+ taxes

(With unlimited Vegetarian dishes, breads and rice)

For bookings contact: 9958564400

D'Crepes Cafe, Hiranandani Meadows, Thane



The coffee lover's latest, favourite and most homely hangout spot

Want to eat- Coffee, cupcakes, salads, pasta, macaroons, muffins; all ideal accompaniments with coffee and soft drinks

Where to go-  D'Crepes Cafe, Hiranandani Meadows, Thane(W)

What to wear- It's a hangout spot, a laid back, comfy, homely place where you can act yourself and wear whatever you are comfortable in

Whom to go with- Friends, colleagues you are friends with, or basically anyone who you can have a fun time with. Though, more the merrier is the key in hanging out with friends, the cafe also houses books, magazines, a guitar and free wifi to let you have a peaceful time with yourself

How to get there- You can reach Thane station and take an auto or a bus to Pawarnagar in case you are coming from town. Since the place mostly witnesses Thane-ites, they each have their own way to reach the largely prominent 'meadows'

What to order- Do try their range of coffees, Cheese French fries and pastas. The desserts are decent, but go down well with any drink. The food isn't particularly excellent, but its gourmet preparation makes it way better than the stale commissary food which coffee outlets serve.  Perhaps the cafe aims at creating a more fun and relaxing experience than focusing much on the food.

What to do around- You can sit in the backside Hiranandani Meadows garden depending on how much time you have or just walk around a  bit before heading home.

What's for dessert?- This a cafe cum bakery, so dessert options are plenty ranging from simple cookies to the three-layered chocolate mouse. Just see what works best with your drink

Cost for 2- Rs 300-500

Why D'Crepes Cafe- Simply for the homely and comfortable environment the space creates. You can strum a guitar and impress a girl or be dared to bray in a baritone just to have a fun evening with friends, depending on the company you are with

What we reviewed - Recently opened, D'crepes has rapidly become the second home of many a Thane-ite as a place where you can sit with a group of friends and relax after a tiring day at work or college. The warmth the owners exude right from suggesting what to eat to taking your earnest feedback on the food makes the cafe more like your private drawing room, where you can tell your mom whether you liked the food or not! (No kidding, the owners were sweet enough to not charge us for a croissant we didn't enjoy). They rely heavily on customer feedback, also visible from the comments and anecdotes people have shared on their wall. The place needs to focus more or visibility so that people don' settle for the old and prominent coffee joints that Meadows has.

Imperfecto, Hauz Khas Village




Nothing perfect about this 'imperfecto'

Want to eat- NOT Spanish cuisine. And that might come as a contradiction for a restaurant which claims to have that as a house specialty. More like having Chinese at a 'Paratha Palace' 

Where to go-  Imperfecto, Hauz Khas Village 

What to wear- Your best casuals or fine dining outfits. C'mon, you are going to HKV, dressing up is mandatory!

Whom to go with- Friends, colleagues, partner. The alfresco space makes up for a nice romantic evening

How to get there- Take the metro to Green Park or Hauz Khas and take an auto from there. Driving down and walking to the village is another option. 

What to order- I particularly didn't like anything there which I hadn't eaten before. The food is pretty basic with no special use of Spanish ingredients or cooking techniques. I would suggest, play safe and order the classic pizza and salad. 

What to do around- Well, Hauz Khas has a lot to discover if you just loiter around. If you go for lunch, you can explore the Hauz Khas fort or else just take a walk through this earthy village.

What's for dessert?- Thanks to the slow service, it took us centuries to complete our meal (including some dishes which we had to send back and reorder), so honestly we had no time to taste the desserts there. But there are a host of bakeries and patisseries in Hauz Khas for the sweet satiation.


Cost for 2- 2000 (excluding alcohol and taxes)

What we reviewed - Quite honestly, the ambiance is exquisite, to say the least. There's really a bridge, with a beautiful stream of water flowing under it which you have to cross while entering the restaurant. There's an old hanging lambretta, an imperfect sofa and other knick-knacks which are reminiscent of Goan cafes. Go there only for the ambiance and decent food, which has nothing Spanish about it, but rather loaded with Italian and Mediterranean shades. The slow and confused staff may also mar the otherwise beautiful rooftop dining experience you and your party could have.

Season's Special: Winter Cocktails


Hot Maple Honey


Ingredients
45 ml dark rum
15 ml maple syrup
1 nos orange peel
10 ml lime juice
90 ml hot water 

Method
In a water goblet pour maple syrup, orange peel, fresh lime juice and dark rum. Pour the hot water, stir well and serve

Recipe Courtesy: Mixologist Yangdup Lama 

New Year Special : Gourmet's Delight at Cafe Knosh



East Delhi-ites have a reason to rejoice this New Year as Cafe Knosh , brings an all day dining experience at Kempinki Ambience Hotel Delhi.  Celebrate New Year with your family and friends while feasting on lavish New Year's Eve Dinner Buffet (December 31st) and New Year  Brunch (January 1st ) at just Rs. 1500 + tax per person and  Rs. 800 + tax per child.  The buffet will feature Chef's specials namely Baked Red Snapper Provencale, Wild Mushroom Risotto and Grill Panini with fresh Mozerella to name a few. 

Cafe Knosh also has in store special Unlimited Drinks Packages ( for 2hrs ) IMFL drinks priced at Rs. 2000 and IMP drinks at Rs. 3000 . Taxes extra as applicable.


Date and Time: New Year's Eve Dinner Buffet (December 31st) 
                                     New Year  Brunch (January 1st )  1200 hrs – 1530 hrs
Price:  Rs. 1500 + tax per person and  Rs. 800 + tax per child. 

Venue: CafĂ© KnoshLevel 3, Hotel Tower, Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi, 1 , CBD, Maharaja Surajmal Road, Near Yamuna Sports Complex, Delhi

To make a reservation, contact: +91 8130990929 / +91 11 49088730

Christmas Special: Eggnog


A Christmas delight, here's a recipe of the traditional Christmas favourite by Anthony Phillip, Beverage Manager & Sommelier at Amour - The Patio Restuarant, Cafe & Bar, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi 




Ingredients
40 ml brandy / rum
10 ml sugar syrup
50 ml milk
1 nos egg yolk
freshly ground nutmeg

Method
  • Pour the brandy syrup, milk and egg yolk into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice cubes and shake well
  • Strain into a highball glass with ice cubes
  • Sprinkle with fresh ground nutmeg

Season's Special: Winter Cocktails


 Absolute Watermelon Curry



Ingredients


60 ml vodka
3-4 lime wedges
8-10 fresh mint leaves
100 ml fresh watermelon
8-10 curry leaves


Method

• Add chopped watermelon, mint and curry leaves and lime wedges in a cocktail shaker and 

muddle them

• Add vodka and ice to the shaker and shake

• Double strain the mixture in a highball glass filled with ice

• Garnish with curry leaves and slices of lime

Recipe Courtesy : Bartender Prasoon Shukla, Courtyard By Marriott Pune Chakan

Christmas Special: Dundee Cake

Chef Ranveer Brar from Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, shares his recipe of Dundee Cake which you can prepare in plenty and share with friends and family



Ingredients


600 gms unsalted butter
500 gms castor sugar
650 gms refined flour
625 ml whole eggs
10 ml Black jack
4 gms baking powder
60 gms almond powder
125 gms orange peel
200 gms raisins
60 ml rum


Method


1. Soak the orange peel, raisins with rum.

2. Cream the butter and the sugar until nice fluffy.

3. Add the egg gradually followed by the black jack.

4. Fold in the dry ingredients.

5. Fill into the cake moulds, decorate with the blanched almonds.

6. Bake at 150 C for about 40 – 50 minutes

Uzuri Deck & Dining- GK 2




The melange of Europe and Africa

Want to eat- The restaurant is a modern European restaurant fused with African flavours, so unless you are planning to eat exactly that, you can try it to acquaint your palate with something new

(P.S- The tastes suit the masala-loving Indian palate, fret not!)


What to wear- It's quite a formal eatery on the second floor while a deck with lively music on the 3rd floor. So dress up depending on where you want to sit

How to get there- You can drive down or take an auto from Kalkaji metro or Nehru Place

What to order- The desserts! No, seriously, Spicy Vichyssoise with Garlic herb Croutons, Coffee & Paprika Crusted Tenderloin. Also, look out for the interesting palate cleansers. 

Whom to go with- An informal meeting with a business colleague, family or your partner for a nice, dim lit dinner

What to do around: GK 2 is one of the oldest food hubs of Delhi. You can just check out the new restaurants that keep springing there daily while your table is ready. 

What's for dessert- The restaurant doesn't have a fixed menu for desserts, but we loved the ones we tried; Eaton mess and Semi frozen truffles, Chocolate Soil, Chantilly Cream and Orange Soup.

Cost for 2- Rs 3500, without alcohol (taxes extra)

What we reviewed - Thanks to its unique cuisine , Uzuri can be labelled as another eccentrically flavoured restaurant of South Delhi and garner a clientele with specific tastes. However, what works for the place are the two master chefs behind the cuisine. Since African spices match the Indian palate, you are likely to find the food as different, but not strangely peculiar. If anything, they have amazing mocktails which go well with the mains. No, the liquor licence isn't in yet, so the restaurant might have to wait a while before becoming South Delhi's latest dining hub.