Nashta (Golf Course Road, Gurgaon) - 3.5/5 Stars

Nashta is a wonderful option for people in a hurry. I do not cook and I am always looking to have a nice breakfast before I leave for work. I read a couple of reviews of Nashta online and I knew I had found what I was looking for. Nashta is a wonderful option for people who love a nice hearty meal in the morning.

   

The best part about Nashta is that the food at Nashta is very fresh. You can taste and tell that it has just been prepared. It is delivered piping hot to your door and it comes with freshly squeezed juices, freshly cut and baked potato wedges, etc.

Since there were 6 of us, we ordered a variety of options and got to taste a lot of different things on the menu. The juice I liked the most was the "Berry Explosion", a very guilt free healthy start to my morning. The juice did not taste synthetic at all. It was all natural and fresh. I did not quite like the "Orange Juice" as it had some bits and a quite a strong zesty taste but the rest of the juices were great.

The "Chicken Tikka Breakwich" was a meal in itself. The chicken tikka had been marinated in Indian spices, chillies and came with a coriander mayo dip. The sandwiches and wraps came with potato wedges and dips. It was a complete meal in itself and was packed perfectly. I read while I eat so my breakfast tends to get cold. I was very pleased to see that I could eat and then microwave my breakfast in the container they sent with it because it was microwave safe. They also sent some wooden cutlery.

 

We also had a couple of "Premium Combos" that came with dessert, salad and a fruit bowl. The fruits were cut beautifully and consisted of melon, papaya, orange, etc. The salad had iceberg, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes and the dressing had been served separately. Overall, it was a nice satisfying meal, packed perfectly and priced reasonably.

Dont skip breakfast!

Mayank

(Delhi Food Club)

Contact: ms.mayank@gmail.com

#MamaDrinkUp @Mamagoto, Khan Market - cocktails, snacks and alfresco dining!

#MamaDrinkUp was a fun filled event at the terrace of Mamagoto in Khan Market. We at the Delhi Food Club have always loved Mamagoto for its delicious Thai Green Curry, Honey Chicken and Crispy Chilly Potatoes but now with the introduction of interesting cocktails on their menu they have found yet another way to wow us.

   

A very pleasant evening with great drinks and the company of some really good friends, - what can be better than that?

The Mamagoto crew has certainly managed to create innovative concoctions that are not available elsewhere. Their in house spirit infusion include kaffir lime leaf infused in silver tequila, thyme infused with dry gin and so on.

The resultant cocktails are crisper, finer and there isn’t any taste of factory made syrups and other artificial flavours. Nothing is too sweet or too sour, all balanced for the discerning palate.

The restaurant's mixologists have balanced herb with fruit to master some stellar tastes with a rich mouth feel and unique after taste. Apart from this they have flavoured Margaritas, Daiquiris, and Mojitos. The Mojitos were our favourite and I would certainly recommend them to you!

Mayank

Contact: ms.mayank@gmail.com

Baker Review: BakeBox's Bakers should not be missed - 4/5 Stars

BakeBox is an exciting new concept. There are several bakers in the city who are fantastic but they do not have a Bakery. BakeBox brings the bakes and goodies from these bakers, straight to your house.

BakeBox delivers on the same day and what they deliver is 100% fresh and made either the same day or the night before.

This concept was started by Jennifer Duthie. They have a “baker of the month” and that baker compiles a new BakeBox on a designated day each month. This BakeBox is delivered fresh to foodies all over Delhi and Gurgaon.

Since BakeBox was launched in August 2012, they have only been growing. They have been covered by NDTV, Indian Express, Cosmopolitan, Femina, New Woman, Mint, etc. They charge Rs. 850/- for a BakeBox and it can be Home Delivered for the same price.

BakeBox has some amazing cakes, muffins and cookies. In a recent BakeBox they sent over some pita and hummus too, which was a refreshing change.

I look forward to this fresh box of sin delivered to my doorstep every month.

Thanks

Mayank

Contact: ms.mayank@gmail.com

Call: +91 9818609488

Restaurant Review: Dhaba By Claridges, DLF Cyber City - 5/5 Stars

Dhaba By Claridges, as I am sure everyone knows by now, is a new funked up franchise of the very popular Claridges Hotel. I say funked up coz the interiors have taken the essence of a roadside Dhaba and added the colour of a Karan Johar movie and the coolth of a Tarantino flick. I mean coloured cutting chai glasses as chandeliers, 'theka' styled steel grills hiding single malts, the interiors itself are worth the price of admission. 

Over to the menu now and at first glance it seems like any other North Indian restaurant however Corporate Chef Ravi Saxena, who very graciously accompanied us, told how each dish has been carefully thought of, keeping actual roadside 'dhabas' in mind. Like authentic dhaba food, dishes here are freshly prepared and served and certain dishes once finished, will not be prepared again in true dhaba style.

You cannot visit this place without trying their cocktails that are named after desi 'tharras'. They come in brilliant little 'tharra' bottles along with salt and spice laced glasses to pour your drink in and are they delicious or what! I had almost all of them and I would highly recommend the 'Santari', 'Toofan' and 'Narangi' (although all others were equally brilliant). If you want to know what is in these drinks, go try for yourself. 

Coming to the food, we started with a mix of veg and non veg fare like Veg galouti kebabs, Tandoori Bhune Aloo, Dhaba Murgh roast, Dhaba Prawns and Tawa Mutton. 

Veg galouti was absolutely sublime and as the Chef said it did not contain any of the traditional ingredients (like rajma) used elsewhere for galoutis. Just everyday vegetables mixed with the right kind of spices.

Tandoori Bhune Aloo were a revelation because they were so perfectly roasted. It reminded me of top London Restaurants serving fantastic roast potatoes cooked in goose fat. They came with a saunth chutney and more importantly that sprinkling of fresh onions and tomatoes, Dhaba style. 

Dhaba murgh roast and the Prawns were again great but the best starter was Tawa Mutton. Fantastic pieces of perfectly cooked mutton and an amazingly light (uncommon for meat dishes) and flavourful curry. This dish was truly the work of a master chef.

In between the starters and the mains, the Dhaba staff did a jig on 'Badtameez Dil' and I was just one 'Santari' shy of joining them. Much to everyone's relief I did not. 

The mains included Butter Chicken, Dal Dhaba, Amritsari Chole , Balti Meat, Kanastari Baingan Bharta (Chef's specal recommendations) and a magnificent Chicken Pulao. 

Now, the Butter chicken and Daal were expectedly great but the Baingan ka Bharta was drool-worthy. It was the best I've ever had (Sorry mom) and its genius lies in its simplicity. 

The Balti meat was again great and a special mention has to be given to the amount of meat that this dish has. A carnivores wet dream I say (Hows that for a South Indian reference).

I really loved the Chole too especially that tamarind water accompaniment, which elevated it to greatness.

This is one of those few places where I categorically did not miss non vegetarian food at all and I never thought it will be possible.

My stomach still had space for desserts, (not kidding) and they did not disappoint. The phirni was wow!. It might be a tad sweeter than most places but I like that more (Sorry Karims). The Badam Halwa was outstanding and so were the Gulab Jamuns but I genuinely think I had great Rasmalai after aeons. Soft, 'chenadaar' and subtly sweet, I was a bite away from a proposal (No really!!). 

Finally our meal was topped of with a 'Panditji' ka special meetha paan, reminding us of the restaurant's roots.

There is also a very cool weighing machine at the entrance that gives away your fortune by placing coins in it ( Don't worry the coins are provided by the restaurant).

I think Dhaba by Claridges is a phenomenal restaurant where food, ambience and mood create a very unique blend. It is a place you are going to go repeatedly and puts a smile on your face. When was the last time you visited a restaurant like that?

Photo Credit: Shivangi Reviews 
(www.shivangireviews.com)