Shiro........

I’ve visited and written about many restaurants in the past but never have I been so excited to dine at a place and more so write about it. Shiro, as the name sounds is every bit Japanese, the moment you set foot into Shiro, you are magically transformed into a different world all together. The Humungous Buddha Head (around 40 feet) suspended from the ceiling is simply breathtaking. The presence of the Buddha statue brings about a feeling of someone watching over you while you dine.


The décor of the place is simply put out of the world. The high ceiling with their bamboo shoot finish is innovative and gives a very native touch to the ambiance. The towering statue of a lady with the urn, which serves as fountains, looks like a scene straight out of a “lord of the rings” movie. The lighting is well set with the right amount of brightness. The walls have moulded statues reminding of prehistoric times. These are positioned very well and can be seen from different parts of the dining area. Heads of Buddha adorn the wall on the first level of the dining area, with some delicate lighting, these statues and effigies look amazing. The bar is open air and again lot of attention given to the lighting and setting of the liquor bottles, which is very inviting.

So much attention has been given to the décor and the interiors of this place that even the toilets are welcoming and most definitely will make you pull that little cell phone out and go click click!!! .

Well, so much so for the interiors, now for the most important part, the Food. Firstly, if you are first timer to Japanese Cuisine, then understanding the menu will take you a good deal of time. On first look, the food reads to be delicious, but that where it all ends. Japanese food was never known to give you that lip smacking gastronomic high that other cuisines offer, but food that could make your taste buds go all bonkers trying to figure out as to what it is being fed with, well thatz food at Shiro. Shiro claims to dish out Japanese, Thai and Chinese cuisines, but what is ultimately served, seems to be a pot pourri of all the mentioned types and no apparent taste whatsoever.
Above all, it is so exorbitantly priced, one look at the price makes your tummy half full. Finally, when you muster all the courage after this initial “bolt of the thunder” (I’m referring to the price here) and finally place your order, what you get is nothing but a confused palate. Well, IF you are person with liking for the ambiance and setup…..Shiro is worth a visit…but only once.

SHIRO!!!!!!!........... An experience!!!! ……. Not worth trying again.

Khansama....

‘KHANSAMA' - The Royal Indian Master Chef as it is called is another Endeavour trying to emulate the great taste of the bygone Royal Era. As tradition goes, the Khansamas (Royal Chefs) while working in the stately palace kitchen’s, generated rare and flavorsome recipes to satisfy their Kings' gastronomic fancies. It is to be believed that these Khansamas kept their recipes’ a closely guarded secret. They maintained every record of the ingredients used the method of preservation and even the art of presentation.
Well, so much for history then. So, what really makes Khansama the great Indian dining experience it claims to be. Well, for starters, the moment you step foot inside the restaurant, there is a sense of royalty. The walls donned with paintings of the erstwhile kings and the paintings seem to be scenes straight out of a mythological TV episode. The artifacts placed at key areas on the wall add to the feel. Spears and swords, along with stuffed heads of animals make you feel as a part of the Royal experience. The lighting and décor is simply put, Fantastic!!. Full marks here.
To bring more feel of tradition, every item on the table is of sparkling and shining copper, the base place, the candle stand, the water tumbler every thing made of copper. There is so much importance given to detail that the candle is wrapped in a gold covering to bring in the sense of royalty (Well, one wonders candle melt with white wax oozing out, is it really required, but it’s an effort nevertheless).
The food is with not an iota of doubt, Expensive!!!!. Definitely not a place where you could take your friends for that lavish Birthday party. Make sure you try the cocktails, they have wide variety of those, and particularly the one called MUDDY WATER seems to have quite an intoxicating effect on the fairer sex. The succulent and juicy kebab on offer is a treat to that ever demanding palate. The food menu is very different and one of a kind, with the painting of a King and details of his Hay days on every page, Very nice and informative while you decide on the choice of your food.
In all definitely a nice experience, a meal for two can cost anywhere between Rs 1500 – 2000. The lunch buffet is quite reasonable at Rs 350 exclusive of drinks.
IF you have the zeal for the fine dining experience and the bucks , Khansama is the place to be.

Khansama………..Truly Royal!!!!!!!

More than Paranthas!!!!

One more to the ever growing number of theme based restaurants serving authentic north Indian food. MTP aims at bringing the taste of Delhi to our very own doorstep. They serve the most authentic and mouth watering paranthas you could ever imagine. MTP is not just another place to dine; MTP is an experience and one which is well worth the money.
The moment you step inside the grandeur of the place appeals to you. Very artistic in the way the décor on the wall is created and the waterfall on the glass at the entrance definitely adds a classy feel to the already rich décor. The lighting of the interior is kinda gaudy, with too much of a red hue around. The wood work and the craft work are very detailed and add a more ancient Delhish feel to the ambience.
The food here is second to none, make sure to try the cocktails here, they are very varied, from the soft lighter ones to the more serious cocktails on fire (literally on fire). As the name goes, this place is definitely for the paranthas, with over two pages of the menu offering paranthas, and with paranthas ranging from the likes of Chicken tikka parantha to the flaming Sharabi parantha you are most likely to find the parantha of your choice.
A fire show by the bartender at 9 adds to the spectacle of the place. The music is not something to talk about (the same 5 tracks were repeated over and over) but quite manageable. The food is quite pricey but it is definitely worth the experience.
Make sure you visit the place in the evening, if you want to experience the real magic of MTP.

More than Paranthas…….Mouth Watering!!!!!!

F1 Season 2008

The curtains are down on yet another eventful season of Formula one. F1 season 2009 began in March with Lewis Hamilton taking the opening round at Albert park, picking up from where he had left last season, going to show that he is not just a mere “Flash in the Pan” and has far more potential and was focused to do justice to all the Hype around his name. Nine months down the line and Lewis has been crowned as the First Black Formula One Champion the glamorous and extravagant world of Formula 1 has seen.
Never, have fans got a chance to watch such a closely contested championship between the Mclaren’s and Ferrari’s bringing to mind the erstwhile battle to former Heavy weights, Seven time world Champion Micheal Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen. The season has been a battle royale for two of the perhaps greatest teams in F1 history. If 2007 was the year of the Prancing Horse then 2008 went to the Royal Britons of McLaren. With a slight slump in form for defending champion Kimi Raikkonen in the later part of the season, it was left to the more erratic No 2 Driver Filipe Massa of Brazil to bring home the championship for the team from Maranello. If fact, such was the form and pace set by the Brazilian driver this season that he was all set to become perhaps the first No. 2 driver to win the championship. This seemed to the year of triumph for the Brazilian behind the wheels of the Italian powerhouse.
The championship was a see-saw between the two teams just as in 2007, with each taking the lead from the other with teams like BMW Sauber driven by Robert Kubica and with two time world Champion Fernando Alonso finding late form in his Renault, the race to the finish was getting even hotter by the day. So close was the championship and so closely fought that a mistake by Timo Glock in the final lap of the Brazilian GP which caused Massa which should have been his maiden F1 title.
Having said all this, it would be grossly unfair to undermine Hamilton’s effort this season. It was just a matter of time before the little star would shine his way to the top and 2008 was the year when Hamilton conquered the world of Motor Sport by becoming the youngest ever World Champion in F1 history. Well that is something for achievement for the rookie in only his second season.
Season 2008 was a year which saw a sea of changes in the F1 calendar including the first ever night race in the form of the Singapore Street race. This is a definitely a feather in the cap for the FIA which is trying ever hard to retain spectator interest in F1 and increase its viewership and Fernando Alonso will be remembered as the man who won the first ever race under lights.
With Kimi Raikkonen of the throne and the title at the hands of Rookie Driver, F1 never got so exciting. If 2008 was a year which saw up and downs and fortunes swing back and forth, expect nothing less and an exhilarating season 2009.
Lewis Hamilton……Way to go boy!!!!!!!!
VIVA F1!!!!!!!!!!!

TGIF Middleton

It's been a really really (that was deliberate) long time since i've posted a writeup.........for all my avid readers for having waited this long, it's time to get back to reading ways........So!!! i'm gonna write about one the restaurants i've frequenting quite often these days..... TGIF (Thank God It's Friday....for the not so ardent foodies). Well, you must be wondering thatz what i usually write about and why all the buildup. Actually, the restaurant is the same TGIF but here's the catch the scene is completely different......i'm talking about the TGIF in Middleton, WI.





Alright, now read on to find what is different about this place. For starters the setting of the place is totally different quite unlike that in Bangalore. There are basically three different sections here, two indoor areas for the smoking and the non smoking clan and there is the outdoor area for those who like to soak up the sun while they grab a bite.

The decor of the place talks all about the American love for sports. The walls are fully dotted with the memorabilia of Baseball and of course American Football. If you happen to choose to sit by the smoking and the bar area the scene kinda changes a little with the walls covered with all kinds of wallpapers and memorabilia with respect to music and rock and roll. There pictures of bikers, the electric guitar strung across the wall is quite reminiscent to the fact that this place plays great music. Giant TV screens over the bar play the ever famous baseball (well the baseball season was on when I was there……..).




Ok, now you can ask me…this all sound good and well is pretty much seen in Bangalore as well with its ever growing list of theme restaurants. So what’s different????. Well, here’s the difference, the HAPPY HOURS......yes, the Happy Hours surprising ….well I too was the first time I happened to see it. Unlike in Bangalore the Happy Hours don’t last from 11:30 am to 2 PM but instead start at 8 PM all the way to close. Thatz true. Happy Hours start at 8 PM (wonder how many drunken driving cases we would have back home….. ).




Having said that it would be a cardinal sin to not talk about the food here. If you are person enjoys non-vegetarian palate particularly chicken and beef, then trust me this is the place to be. The food is absolutely on the top, great quality and taste. Particularly, the dragon fire chicken tossed in Kung Pao Sauce and served with stir fried brown rice and fried lime and pineapple. This is one of the best dishes I’ve probably had in a long time. Priced at around eight and half dollars for a serving, surely worth every penny. If you ever happen to be there, be sure to one of their appetizers with your favourite drink. The chicken strips tossed they very own special Jack Daniel’s sauce is an absolute beauty. An out of the world mouth watering experience . Every bite brings along a feeling of excitement in your mouth and serenity in the mind(A poetic here to conveys the sensation in my taste buds…….). Simply put the food here is amazing. .


To rate TGIF, Middleton on a scale of 10, it stands right up at number 9. (Very Impressive indeed…….Well!!!! I get to rate it cos I’m the critic in my Blog…….Quite shallow nevertheless )
Well! there goes…. my first post about a restaurant far away from the city of Bangalore,TGIF in Middleton.
TGI Friday’s……..Pure Bliss!!!!!!!!!!!

Mocha....The Cafe with a difference

In a city ruled by the Cafe Coffee Day's and Barista's, Cafe Mocha surely has created a niche for itself when it comes to wooing the famed the coffee drinker. Many a Cafe have sprung up in the recent past, but nothing compares to the grandeur and vividity of Mocha.
Bengaluru, a cosmopolitan IT hub famous for it numerous watering holes and discotheques has never really catered to the Coffee drinking crowd with the versatility and resplendence usually associated with coffee bars across the globe. Mocha, most definitely has created a brand which is surely to make waves or rather is already making waves.
So what makes Mocha what it is???....Hmmm...from the outside is just like any another Coffee Bar. But, the moment you step in is where the scene changes. Unlike the usual commotion and noise quite reminiscent of a cafe, you feel really soothing the moment you step in. Mocha, as Italian it may sound it quite unlike it. Everything about Mocha in every sense of the word is much Arabian.The walls are painted in shades of Red, Blue and Green with perfectly set lighting to add to the ambiance. If you thought this place was littered with usual tables and chairs, you sure are in for a surprise. This place comprises of neatly set couches with round cylindrical cushions with bright golden wraps giving that touch of Royalty. Also, there is conventional Table Chair setting, but the chairs and tables are such that you would be settling into one that is nothing less than a throne. For those who need a quite evening you have the separate enclosed couch with blinds....hmmm..naughty.
On look at the ceiling and the walls, you would feel this is setting straight out of an Arabian night fable. The Ceiling is draped with a beautiful silky cloth material in a very astounding pattern with the Chandelier or "Jhoomer" as it is called dangling from bang in the center. The colour of the cloth is in accordance with wall colours (If you have watched Jodha Akbar, perhaps you could imagine what looks like).To add to the Arabian feel is the waiter's attire, a long flowing robe (if I may say so)with a long hat (again a Jodha Akbar reference, the song Kwaja mere...). Very unique indeed. Above all the music, a mix of Sufi, Classical and instrumentals make for a very relaxing experience.
Now for the most important aspect, FOOD.....well, Mocha has everything to offer you that a normal Cafe would and much more. Priced a little on the higher side, the crowd primarily comprises of working class youngsters rather college goers. Well, A premium always comes at a price.
Located in Kormangala and Lavelle Road, this place is a must have in your hot spots to visit list. Go on give it a try, worth every penny and makes for that perfect evening you were looking for.



CAFE MOCHA....a coffee revolution has begun....

P.S : BE sure to try the Cold Coffee (the only one available)..it's heavenly.For those in need for some breathing exercises there is the Sheesha's (The famed Hookah).

F1 season Twenty08………

The start to the much awaited 2008 season of F1 began with all the fanfare, speculations, reviews, analysis and the hype that is always a part of this glamorous sport. The Season began with round 1 at Albert Park, Melbourne Australia, a difficult track to race on with it’s counter-clockwise set up.
As expected the season started with a two way showdown at the top with the Ferrari’s and Mclaren’s trying to battle it out for the top honours. With round one going Mclaren’s way and Hamilton taking to the Winner’s Podium, the stage was set for what could be a very exciting season ahead. The surprise package of the season was the BMW team setting a slew of fast times in the qualifying and with Nick Hiedfeld finishing second in Albert Park, demonstrating that the BMW’s are no longer the middle runners they were known to be.
In round two, the scene shifted to the famed Sepang F1 circuit in the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. One of the toughest races in the calendar for both Man and Machinery. The conditions being very hot and humid and to add to it a very technically challenging circuit was sure unfold a very promising and exciting race. With Traction control being taken off the cars for the season, the onus was now on the drivers to show their skills behind the wheels. The Ferrari’s of Raikkonen and Massa scorched the tracks during the Friday Free Practice and the Saturday Qualifying, with Massa taking Pole and Raikkonen second, giving the season’s first all Ferrari starting line up. With the Mclaren’s being penalized and pushed to row 4 and 5 of the grid for obstructing other cars during qualifying, the Ferrari’s seemed set for the First win of the season.
Going by the pace and the reliability of the Ferrari’s over the weekend, the race seemed to be a cakewalk for the scarlet red team. So it was, Kimi Raikkonen took the first win of the season. If not for Massa’s bit of over exuberance, it could have been a Ferrari one two.
The other talk of the town has been Vijay Mallya’s Force India. Does Force India have the Force to Power ahead a dying team, we can only know in the races to come. If the last two races are any indication to go by, it well might be a tough season ahead for the first ever Indian Outfit in F1.
So there it is, as anticipated the fight at the top between the Defending World Champions and the Team Mclaren continues from where it was left last season.
As the season progresses further, it sure promises to be a treat to all. With the 18 races and 22 cars battling it out, there are surely some fireworks in store.