A WEEKEND IN BANGALORE

What do you do if you are spending a weekend in Bangalore? Where do you go to eat or for drinks and have a good time? Here are my top picks for breakfast, lunch, drinks and dinner inspired by a recent trip to Bangalore.

For breakfast, Smoke House Deli on Lavelle road is a good option. The day I visited Smoke house deli, it was buzzing with women runners who had just completed their pink run in aid of Breast Cancer in the nearby Kanteerava Stadium. They serve breakfast all day and their granola with yogurt and omelettes come highly recommended. I must say that I have not seen a more enticing-looking glass of granola with yogurt anywhere else! The black and white theme is funky and will set you in the right mood for the rest of the day to follow. There is also a selection of freshly baked breads for one to take home.

Granola with yogurt and fruits & Omelette with Smoked Salmon

For a relaxed and laid-back lunch head to the Karavalli restaurant at the Taj Gateway on Residency road which serves coastal cuisine from the west coast of India. This restaurant has been a long-time favorite in my family and no trip to Bangalore is complete without a meal here. Some of the old favorites are not featured in the menu any longer but the chefs are happy to whip up the dishes on request. The complimentary rasam served at the start of the meal is delicious, even on a hot day I found myself enjoying the rasam. For starters try the Ladyfish fry and Meen Pollichathu. For mains, the appams are outstanding along with Prawn Balchow and Karavalli Mutton curry. There is usually only enough room for paan and not for dessert, after a spectacular meal here. The only downside to this restaurant is the slow service. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable but they lack in efficiency and speed. A quick snooze after a satisfying meal in Karavalli will help you get adequate rest to take on the evening with enthusiasm and eagerness.

Karavalli Mutton curry, Fish Moilee, Mutton Fry and Paan

Toit in Indira Nagar is a fun place for a few drinks. I visited Toit in the afternoon on a Sunday. Although it was sparsely occupied, the music and ambiance was very relaxed and enjoyable. I hear that they have a live band playing and occasionally stand-up comedians performing on weekend evenings. The Irish brew master did not disappoint the beer lovers and for the non-beer drinkers, there was a good selection of wines and cocktails on offer. Another place that came highly recommended was the Arbor Brewing Co. I did not get the opportunity to visit ABC but many of my friends recommend it both for their brews and for their grub. 

Monkey Bar is a fun and happening place to hang out in the evenings, especially for the younger lot. The drinks and food menu was eclectic and added to the young vibe of the place. In both the drinks and food menu, there seemed to be subtle twists to well-known classics and it came across so effortlessly that you get the feeling that they are not trying too hard. This in turn sets the mood for one to relax and enjoy the concoctions while soaking in the atmosphere. But be warned, the place seemed to be very popular with the college crowd. 

Clockwise from top left: Quirky coasters at Monkey bar, Prosecco at The Glasshouse, Drinks at Toit and finally the stunning ceiling at The Glasshouse

Another place, I stopped by with a great vibe was The Glasshouse on Lavelle road. It is a relatively new place and I don't remember seeing it from my previous trip to Bangalore which was in mid-2013. It had an outdoor lounge and an indoor restaurant area. The lounge had a spectacular roof and I caught myself gawking at it every now and then. The restaurant area was filled with diners who were visibly enjoying their dinner. Another interesting element at The Glasshouse was the bakery section. There were freshly baked breads, tarts and crackers for sale. I picked up the sunflower seed loaf to take back home and I was not disappointed.

It is no news that I enjoy Asian cuisine, particularly authentic Asian cuisine which is becoming popular in India. There is a growing shift from Desi-Chinese to authentic Thai, Vietnamese, Cantonese and other regional Asian cuisines. The Zen at Leela Palace and Blue Ginger at the Taj Westend have been catering to a loyal and discerning clientele for many years. The New Kid on the Block is Yauatcha at #1 MG Mall, at the Eastern end of MG road, right across from Vivanta by Taj. Yauatcha is a Michelin-starred Asian restaurant chain from London currently in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore in India. They have a fantastic selection of dimsums on their menu. The stand-outs were steamed prawn dimsum wrapped in spinach leaves and dumplings filled with pureed Edamame and Truffle. Prosecco and Thea martinis were great accompaniments to the meal.

I hope this post has given you some new and interesting options to try out while in Bangalore next time. The dining and bar scene in Bangalore is changing frequently and I enjoy trying out a few new places while revisiting some of my old favorites. No matter what, a weekend in Bangalore is always fun especially if you are in the company of some good friends.  

MY FAVORITE HAUNTS IN PARIS

A friend of mine asked me recently about restaurants in Paris. She wanted me to recommend a few places to try out while she visited Paris. My first advice to her was not to walk into a cafe or a restaurant that you happen to just walk by. I always plan ahead and decide where to eat my meals at the start of the day or sometimes a few days ahead if its hard to get a reservation in a restaurant. So here are some of my favorite places to eat in Paris.

Most hotels offer breakfast along with the room reservation. One can expect croissants, bread rolls, preserves, cereals, eggs to order, yogurt and fruits. If you step out of your hotel without eating breakfast, Paul is a good place to grab a quick bite on your way to a museum or other tourist destinations. Paul boulangeries are dotted all around Paris and you can easily find one in the neighborhood you are staying in.

Clockwise from top left: Seared scallops with string potatoes and XO sauce, Watercress soup with Sea Urchins, Aromatic broth with Oysters, Seabass with seaweed and Seared beef with Bok choy at Yamt'cha

For lunch, I highly recommend the restaurant Yamt'cha. It is a one-Michelin star restaurant and I would say the food and experience here is better than some of the 3-Michelin star restaurants. Chef Adeline Grattard draws inspiration from her culinary training in Hong Kong and the result is a delightful offering of French Cuisine with very subtle Asian influences. The lunch menu is a usually a 6 course tasting menu accompanied by teas or wine. The guests are asked about their meat preferences and allergies at the start of the meal. It is a surprise menu, you never know what you are getting until the plate is placed in front of you. I have eaten here twice and not a single dish has been disappointing. The desserts are also surprisingly light and refreshing and you won't feel stuffed when you walk out of the restaurant after lunch. It is the perfect place for lunch as the meal is light and you will be all set and ready with a good appetite for your dinner reservation at 8pm.

         Goat cheese with Honey and Olive oil & Meringue with passion fruit and plum puree, Almond sorbet at Yamt'cha

If you are in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood sight-seeing, a good place to stop by for lunch would be Cafe Constant. Chef Christian Constant owns 3 different restaurants, all of them on Rue Saint-Dominique, not far from the Eiffel Tower. They do not take reservations at Cafe Constant and if you plan to have an early lunch, it is easy to find a table at the start of lunch service.

Prawn tart & Guinea fowl with Cous cous at Cafe Constant

As you sight-see and shop around Paris, if you are looking for coffee and a light snack in the evening, Fauchon is a good place to stop by. After a cafe latte and a macaroon or one of their eclairs you are good to carry on shopping in Printemps, Lafayette or the stores on St. Honore street.

Sugary goodness at Fauchon

There are a few options for dinner and a lot depends on how adventurous you are. A great way to spend an evening in Paris with a friend or your spouse is to go to one of the wine bars. These bars serve good wine and cocktails along with delicious gourmet small plates. A few glasses of wine and small plates over an engaging conversation will definitely make for a fun night out in Paris. Some of the tried and tested bars are Le Mary Celeste, Frenchie Bar A Wins and Ver Jus Wine Bar.

Le Mary Celeste is run by Chef Hann who is originally from Canada and he has picked up a flare for International flavors, particularly Asian flavours during his stint in Korea and other places around the world. I recommend that you try the cocktail Rain dog and a couple of small plates from their ever-changing menu. Even the vegetarian small plates are surprisingly tasty and delightful.

Cocktails and small plates at Le Mary Celeste

The restaurant, Frenchie in Paris is one tough place to make a reservation. I almost got calluses in my fingers trying to dial their number to make a reservation, about 2 years ago. So a great option to taste renowned chef Gregory Marchand's culinary magic is to step into the Frenchie bar as they do not take reservations. It can be tough to get a table in the bar as well but you can order a glass of wine and hang around the bar counter while waiting for a table to free up. The food here is definitely worth the wait.

Cava, Crab and Avocado canneloni, Burrata & Cep mushrooms at Frenchie Bar a Vins

Ver Jus Wine Bar  is run by the American duo Braden and Laura, the couple behind the highly popular Hidden Kitchen. They have graduated from running a private kitchen out of their apartment into setting up a restaurant and a wine bar. The small plates menu here is also very interesting and eclectic. The duck meatballs were bursting with flavors and I still remember them very vividly from my visit here last year.

Cava, Hummus & Duck meatballs at Verjus Wine bar

If you are not feeling too adventurous and are looking for a quiet place to have a hearty meal, I recommend the Maison de la Truffe. There are a couple of locations and if you are a big fan of truffles as I am, look no further.

Pork Tenderloin with Mornay sauce, Ravioli with summer truffles and truffled cream & Baguette with the world's best Black Truffle Oil

If you have not made a reservation in any of the restaurants and you are not looking to walk or ride very far from your hotel, its a good idea to ask the Hotel concierge to recommend a good restaurant in the neighborhood. Their recommendations usually turn out good and they will be happy to make a reservation on your behalf as well.

From my personal experience, most of the restaurants I have walked into randomly for a meal have turned out rather disappointing. Especially on Champs-Elysees, if you have been out shopping all day and you are too tired to go looking for a restaurant, do not make the mistake of walking into one of the restaurants randomly. They may seem very crowded and popular but I think its full of tourists who are just looking to get a quick bite before calling it a day.

I hope my recommendations above help you in having a tasty and wonderful time in Paris, as I always do! Bon Appetite!