Rendezvous

THE BIRYANI PROJECT, GREATER KAILASH 2 Biryani is something that us Delhites have taken to heart. All of us have our own favorite places that serve biryani. And with more than a handful of new joints opening up everywhere, it's hard to pick your one true savior. Whenever you're craving for that handi full of rice, loaded with fried onions and doused with chunks of chicken on the bone, you end up getting it from your nearest "Moradabadi Biryani" store that has a neon sign and just a pateela full of regular old rice and some chicken. They measure it out and serve it to you in disposable plates. Why settle for anything less than a methodically prepared, systematically generated, meticulously synthesized handi of Biryani? The Biryani Project  in Greater Kailash is a result of years of trying and testing and tasting! The people behind this venture have been all across India, trying out various Biryanis the country has to offer. And no no no, they don't ju

DHABA - A PUNJABI THEME I've always been amazed by the very idea of dining raw, dining ethnic, dining desi. The best possible experience I've had of dining like that would be in Chowki Dhani in Jaipur. And it is really tough to recreate that experience of getting close to our desi roots. However, this beautiful joint in Rajouri Garden states it plain and simple right in its name. Dhaba - A Punjabi Theme is, as the beautifully thought of name that must have taken them ages to think of suggests, a Punjabi Themed restaurant that looks like a Dhaba. MIND = BLOWN. Well, the name is a spoiler for what awaits you inside, but the door of the place is very distinct. It has two massive statues of what seem to be Pharaohs. Well, okay, Punjab may have had Pharaohs for all we know but we were too busy focusing on the Bhangra. Dhaba has a dining hall on two floors and a banquet/ party hall as well. The dining hall that we sat in was very homely. It felt like we were at our Ludh

After the scorching heat of Delhi subsides, we welcome the Monsoon rains. The smell of rain hitting the ground, the sound of the pouring heavens, the wind gracing our faces and the relief of not having to step out in the blazing sun. All this calls out for one thing and one thing only. Food. Monsoon rains have always been associated with something salty and savory along with a hot cup of chai. And the perfect match is Chai and Chaat! Nothing beats a good old cuppa desi chai and a plate full of  salty tidbits, and some fresh onions and tomatoes, topped off with a fresh squeeze of lemon. DAMN! That is the stuff right there.  Chaayos  has added new items to their special Monsoon Menu  including an Egg White Chaat and a Keema Chaat!  I went into the Nehru Place outlet in Epicuria, looking forward to escape the heat of the Nehru Place market and the people running after my bag thinking there was a laptop in there that needed repairing. (Um. no thanks. i'm gareeb i dont eve

After the much awaited Naked Chicken Taco hit the stores of Taco Bell across Delhi, comes the vegetarian's saving grace! The new Crispy Potaco is here to make all you leaf-eating, meat-hating, forest-cover-depleting herbivores love your plain lives again! The Potaco is not just another regular old taco, mi amigo. It is that cousin of the Taco that went to MIT, Maulanabad Institute of Technology. While the Naked Chicken Taco is a NYU Graduate already. The Potaco has a fried potato shell! Tiki-Taka may be dead. but Tikki-Taco IS ALIVE! Stuffed with the regular vegetables, cheese and sauce, the Potaco is now available at your nearest Taco Bell for just Rs 99/- Head on over to try the Potato today!

  For ages and beyond Indian people have had the urge to sit in Central Perk, sip on some fresh brewed Latte and ask people of their age group, "How you doin?" Unfortunately for them, they look like Nirahua Rikshawala rather than Joey Tribbiani, they say " Aur bhaiiiii kahan chali? " instead of the famous catchphrase and they have their local chai wala on the nukkad rather than Central Perk. Now, you cannot give someone the charisma of Joey Tribianni by making them binge on 10 seasons of Friends, but you can give them a cafe that is lively and that plays smooth jazz over the speaker system. How You Brewing?   is the metaphorical amazement that gives you the opportunity to sip on some hot coffee, eat some muffins or croissants, or some Paappe if you're desi. Located in East of Kailash, near the famous Street Food Mecca, Amar Colony, How You Brewing has an outlook that is hard to miss. Massive green doors and windows and a bright sign that says the n

SUSHIYA As my dear friend once said, Sushi has always been amazing. The aura around this classic Japanese dish has been built up by years of seeing it on Television, in movies and in cartoons! Just the thought of something being so popular in the eastern civilization was enough to make me try this wonderful dish. I have had sushi before a number of times and that is why, today, I really love it. It's light, clean and tastes fresh everytime I have it. But my friends who try it for the first time almost want to puke. It is really an acquired taste. The sticky rice, the seaweed roll and the protein inside it make it a very complex dish. And then there's the pain of teaching my friends how to use the chopsticks. They end up stabbing the food with it and using it like a fork. Sigh. Neanderthals. I found this wonderful delivery outlet, Sushiya, in Malviya Nagar that was happily delivering Sushi to homes! And I went on ahead and placed an order for my family to try t