Travel Diaries: Day 01 - Jama Masjid Sojourn - #DilliKeDehlviRang with JW Marriott Delhi Aerocity

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Having lived the excitement of #DilliKeDehlviRang with JW Marriott Delhi Aerocity, I admit I have a lot to say and hence this post which is a follow up to the first one. Haven't read the first of this series? Click here.

Yes, the first post thought speaks of the overall experience, it is really just the tip of an iceberg. What really worked on this curated trip was that we were not restricted to just the hotel premises but the emphasis lay in getting down to the streets of old Delhi and experiencing the rustic offerings followed by the more modern and sophisticated dining.

On the first day, our agenda for the evening got us really excited and was surely something each one of us really looked forward to. It involved us taking to the busy street of Old Delhi to explore the first of the 3 sub cuisines that constitute the Dehlvi Cuisine - Mughlai. But before we get going with the food tour, it was important to understand the origins of this cuisine. 

Now that must be a good enough hint to where we might have started off? Delhi is rich in history and heritage; right from Tomar dynasty in 700 BC to Independent India starting 1947. It's wonderful to walk the streets which express pride in the history that's been lived here. We started with a visit to the historical monument and a place of worship; a marvel created during the time of Mughals who migrated to Hindustan not to loot the country off its wealth but to make it their home. One such result of it is the magnificent Jama Masjid. 

Yes, we did take a tour of the masjid guided by Kanika Pabby representing 'India City Walks'. This clearly set the tone for the rest of the evening around the periphery of Jama Masjid where we were food hopping from one place to another in search of that food nirvana of sorts. The road ran along Gate 3 of Jama Masjid on one side and not the other it was a line up of joints serving food either by the street or with some seating of sorts. This stretch seemed quite busy with the hustle bustle of motor vehicles, people walking around, cycle rickshaws making their way through all this rush. Complementing this was the diversity of food on offer. 

We could no longer hold the wait and started with a small joint called Qureshi Kabab Corner that kept rolling out sheek kebab like never seen before. Of course we stood there coz they are believed to dish out some of the best she's around. They served 2 varieties of sheek - Beef and chicken. While I don't eat beef, I settled for chicken. The sheek kebabs are served with a coriander - mint chutney and slivers of onions. The flavor of the chutney, the crunch from the onion and the succulence of the sheek complimented each other really well.  Had it not been a longer night planned, I'd have settled for these with a few roomali roots to go along. Voila!

Next on out list was the famous fried chicken. For this, we walked into one of the by-lanes to arrive at 'Haji Mohd. Hussain'. Like Qureshi Kabab Corner, this is a must visit too. Chicken was fried and served a really spicy chutney and accompanied with again slivers of onion and radish. The coating around the chicken was extremely crunchy, chicken moist and chutney really - really spicy. The heat of the chutney only got insane from the time we got started here. However, there was no stopping until it was time to head to the next course of our food walk.

After the long hours spent taking a tour of Jama Masjid, walking around the streets savouring delicacies a sit down meal was something I really sought. And here we were at Al-Jawahar for dinner. We were a group of about 20 and I'm sure this might have already given you a fair idea of the amount of food and the variety that would have made an appearance on our table.

There was mutton quorma, chicken stew, Chicken kalimirch, Kaleji Gurda and a lot more that was accompanied by fluffy and wonderful looking Khameeri Rotis. The Khameeri roti was excellent and of the gravies the most I enjoyed was the mutton quorma. The other dishes were nice but nothing really to speak off. I'm not sure if it was a bad day but I fail to really see a justification of the hype around this place.

As we walked around all evening, our eyes were fixated on Shahi Tukda for dessert and while it was available all over, we had a designated stall chosen for our visit. The shahi tukda at Haji Tea Stall was excellent. They also serve a variety of shakes, puri, sabzi halwa and a lot more. Desserts always hold a dedicated area in the stomach and so it was just a Shahi Tukda for the sweet tooth and then a paan from another stall by the corner to call it an evening. 

It was a lovely evening curated by JW Marriott Delhi Aerocity with experiences that really stood out to make it a memorable experience. Some of the key highlights and my recommendations from the evening were:
- Visit the Jama Masjid area in groups to make the most of the evening if food is your focus.
- Definitely visit Qureshi Kabab Corner for sheek kabab, Haji Mohd. Husain for fried chicken.
- Visit to Jama Masjid that ties culture, heritage, architecture and the bond between history and present.
- Do complete the evening with Shahi Tukda.

Signing off now with more travel stories. Safe & fun travel!

Note: This event was attended on invitation from JW Marriott Delhi Aerocity. However, the opinions expressed are solely mine and are absolutely unbiased nor influenced by the brand in any way.

#DilliKeDehlviRang - JW Marriott Aerocity's Way of Showcasing Dehlvi Cuisine, Delhi

Twitter: @nkandhari     Facebook: Review Of Restaurants     Instagram: Review Of Restaurants 

What comes to your mind when Someone asks you about food in Delhi? Butter chicken, butter naan, aloo gobi, paratha and may be a couple of dishes more.. Yes? or Yes?

Doesn't come as a surprise: these are probably the most commonly available dishes. But the next set of question I've always had on my mind is, Is this all that this cuisine has to offer? Which cuisine does this injustice? Every cuisine has a story/history; what's it for this?

Curiosity to learn and explore this cuisine in more detail had me accept the invitation from JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity to join them on a specially curated tours to indulge in the flavours of Delhi.

My first learning on arriving was that the cuisine comprised of 3 sub- cuisines:

1. Cuisine of the Mughals in Delhi (Non-Vegetarian)

2. Cuisines of the Marwadi Community (Vegetarian)

3. No points for guessing this one - Punjabi cuisine

JW Marriott played gracious hosts to set stage for a perfect 2N3D experiential tour of these cuisines which amalgamate to form what is called Dehlvi Cuisine. Our experiences were diverse in every way; be it:

- Dining in possibly the finest restaurants housed in JW Marriott Aerocity to dining on the street side with barely any ambiance to speak off.

- Spending time at leisure in the plush hotel property to attempting to achieve the 'been there done that' in the really busy and bustling streets of Old Delhi.

- Commuting in some of the finest luxury car brands to exploring Delhi 6 on the famed cycle rickshaws.

This list can go on but in a nutshell, our 3 days in Delhi were a fun-filled roller coaster ride of diverse experiences; each better than the other. While I will share my detailed experiences in upcoming posts, here's a sneak peak of what is to come:

Day 01:

It all started on this fine day with lunching at K3 Restaurant housed in JW Marriott Aerocity which easily has the most extravagant buffet spread I've seen on my travel stints across the country. Trust me there is not one bit of exaggeration in the previous statement I make. My thoughts were running wild, "If weekday lunches were so extravagant, then how would the Sunday brunch offering be?"

Anyways, the evening was what I (well, all of us I'm sure) really looked forward to. We toured the magnificent Jama Masjid and then spent the rest of the evening around the periphery of Jama Masjid where we were food hopping from one place to another in search of that food nirvana of sorts.

At the end of this wonderful evening and a really really long day, I looked forward to calling it a day and crashing in the comforts of my bed back at the hotel.

Day 02:

After a really long previous day and the much needed sleep the night before day two, we kicked it off with a healthy dose of breakfast perfect to get us moving for another wonderful day of exploring another segment of Dehlvi cuisine. This time, it was a tour of the Chawri Bazaar aka spice market followed by the food hopping exploring the vegetarian take on this cuisine. Honestly, at first I was not really excited about this tour (When it's vegetarian; you know me ;) ) but the excitement only grew as time went by.

In between all the food, was another place of worship that we visited and I have to acknowledge that my visits to Delhi have never been complete without a visit to Gurudwara Sees Ganj Saheb. Food seemed to follow us where we went and here at the Gurudwara, it was the Karao Prasad that's undoubtedly inimitable.

Back at the hotel one does expect luxury and to be pampered and what better way then to unwind at the plush spa' is what I thought. However with the limited time available, I chose to  hit the very well equipped gym and take a plunge in the lovely open to air pool. 

Evening was a Jugalbandhi between 2 chefs -

Chef Asif presenting Kababs in our very own Delhi style

Chef Arif showcasing Kababs from the land of Kababs; Lucknow.

If someone said 2 worlds existed; JW Marriott Delhi Aerocity was the place hosting it that evening exclusively for us. Every course of meal offered 2 distinct cuisines from 

Day 03:

Originally planned was a drive to Murthal for the parathas and more at some of the famous dhabas but socio-political condition in that part of the geography played spoiled sport. With a goal to leave no stone unturned, the team at JW Marriott Aerocity headed by Exec. Chef G Krishnan recreated the experience in the hotel property with a special touch of the brands hospitality standards.

With rest of day 03 free and available at our disposal, I hit the street of Delhi to visit Karol Bagh for some chole chawal at Gafoor Market followed by a chilled glass of badam milk at Roshan Di Kulfi to beat the heat. By now, it was time to head back to the hotel pack-up and get set to say something I didn't wish to - 'Goodbye'.

Signing off now with more travel stories. Safe & fun travel!

Note: This event was attended on invitation from JW Marriott Delhi Aerocity. However, the opinions expressed are solely mine and are absolutely unbiased nor influenced by the brand in any way.

Travel Diaries - Breakfast @ Hot Breads, Pondicherry

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Back in the days as a kid, I'd visit my grandma who lives in Coimbatore. In the heart of R.S Puram; there was this lovely bakery dishing out some delicious breads, savoury eats and pastries. Not sure if it even exists now, the memories this place lingered in the back of my mind. On my first visit to Pondicherry, I was sure that my very first meal there had to be a french meal that'd involve crossaints, pastries and coffee to wish for the least.

Passing through canal road, Hot Breads was a random find that brought back old memories to the forefront. Since this visit,  it's been a regular joint that I visit on arriving at Pondicherry. This might be an understatement because in reality; the first place of visit on arriving in Pondicherry for this hungry soul is always Hot Breads.

It's an a-la-carte cafe cum bakery. They serve up some delicious eggs made to order, gourmet breads to accompany, croissants - both classic and with a twist, danish, coffees, desserts and a lot more. One can choose to dine in here or take food to go. The place is nothing fancy without any thrills from frills. The food here too is soul satisfying.

While there might be better places in Pondicherry for breakfast; in its segment it's hard to not fall in love with Hot Breads. It's got good food freshly baked as replenished, nice service, centrally located and is pocket friendly and worth every penny. Over numerous visits, I've eaten a lot and still love going back there for more. Here's what been relished over the course of various visits to this place:

Any day Breakfast - Omelette, Toast & Orange Juice

Croissants

Chocolate Danish

Spanish Omelette

Cuppa to kick start the day

Hint of added sweetness

The Pastry Counter

Wish-Dish: Gundappa Donne Biryani

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I wonder why sometimes the neighbourhood joints take miss for elongated periods of time. Grabbing a meal here has always been a delight especially when what's offered is fresh and really hot; hot enough to burn you fingers should you dive into it in haste.

I'd like to visit this place more often that I do and was exactly the point I was making to a friend as we dined here late in the night. By late in the night on a weekday means 11 PM in Bangalore. I hope now nothing more needs to told about late nights.

Anyways, bringing focus back to the food, Gundappa Donne Biryani is a hole in the wall place located literally next door to where I live. Their starters are fantastic and their pulav as may be called chicken / mutton is spicy and delicious. Clearly not the very best I've had but trust me - 'Really high on the satisfaction quotient'.

On this evening, I was delighted to see a platter displayed which comprised of pulav surrounded by possibly a tasting portion of every starter this hole in the wall offered on its menu. No more time was needed to make a choice; Mutton combo it was. What came as a part of it was an enviable site - super hot pulav, chili chicken, kaima ball in a wonderful curry, guntur chicken, pepper chicken, chicken kabab, mutton keema vada, a gravy, hard boiled egg and a perfect accompaniment - raw sliced onion.

I will not say more except for, "The complete meal was polished off in no time." Here's leaving you with a picture which speaks and conveys possibly more that my words will.

Price: Rs. 180

Travel Diaries: Things to do in Lugano, Switzerland

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Lugano situated to the south of Switzerland is the 9th largest city of Switzerland and is located on the northern edge of lake Lugano - A beautiful setting indeed surrounded by mountains. Wonderful climatic conditions coupled with an even interesting geographical layout, Lugano has over the years there has been a lot of tourism and visits from prominent celebrities.

For those looking to head to Milan; Lugano is a stone's throw away (well, not literally). This post is not about where to go from Lugano but about what you can do while you are in Lugano:

1. Mounte San Salvatore:

You've got to be up there in person to sense and experience the panoramic views and the greatness of being on Top of Europe. The summit is accessible by a funicular railway which operates every half an hour. The journey to the top or to the base is about 10 minutes.

Alternatively, for those who love hiking can also opt for this more to reach the summit. At the summit there is a museum, a restaurant and spots to get a 360° panoramic view of the Ticino region.

Open around the year, it is best to buy a return fare ticket of the funicular railway (unless of course you have other plans) as the deal works really better. For a year round timetable, please visit here.

2. Swiss Miniature, Melide:

Get a glimpse of all the goodness Switzerland has to offer at one place and in a miniature form. Swiss Miniature is a special attraction covering 14000 sq mtrs of land and houses replicas of the best of Switzerland like famous buildings, mountains, castles and cathedrals, and has over 3500 mts of rail network, funiculars and cable cars in motion.

Miniature is at a distance of 7 minutes by train from Lugano to Melide. However, holding a Swiss Travel Pass for a week, we decided to ride the waves. Boat was our mode of transport to the Swiss miniature.

3. Promenade:

Lugano has a beautiful and a long winding promenade. Walk along the path and soak in the views and elegance of the city. With the temperatures being great through out the year, this experience can be enhanced by walking the promenade with a Gelato in hand.

4. Shopping:

Lugano offers the very best in shopping. Via Nassa is the historical street with sophisticated stores and brands offering the best they have. The street is about 270 meters long and houses jewellery, clothes, antiques, perfumes, liquor, pastry shop and a lot more.

5. The Alprose Chocolate Museum:

Got a sweet tooth? Love chocolates? Then a visit to Alprose Chocolate museum is worth it all. Sample as many varieties of chocolates as you like, learn the history of Swiss chocolate and witness the making of the chocolate end to end. Not enough? Buy chocolates for dear ones at home and may be also some to go with a nice Single Malt or Scotch whisky! Cheers!

Here's more information on the visiting hours, fees and hot to get there.

For the adventurous ones and those who love outdoors, Lugano is a paradise for hiking and cycling trails. What are your options? Will be up in a later post.

Additional Information:

Temperatures - Yearly average low of ~9°C to a high of ~17°C