Go-Goa it is...Finally! :D

So the time has come for me to finally say "I AM GOING TO GOA BABY"!!!! After prolonged delays and forever crumbling of my Goa plans...its time..finally for me to get to the Land of Beaches...Moonlit Walks..Seafood...Tanning...More Beaches..Bike Rides..Churches..and Parties..! :D...

I am off to Goa for New years with hubby and frends tomorrow and i promise you that there is gonna be a longggg longggg post of my experiences at the Land of Freedom!!! :) 

And here is wishing everyone a very very 'Happy n Safe New Years' and as i see a lot of Facebook status updates wanting "a better 2009 than 2008", i wish you all the same as well. Let hope that 2009 brings in cheer, happiness, peace and joy in all our lives!! 

Cheers!

When the 'Ho Ho Ho' Effect took over me.....

Yelllloooossss...howwwareyoussss....wasssuppppsss...ahem lame! :S...anyways....before i begin...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALLL.... hope you all have a peaceful, bright, shiny, colourful and a very very gorgeous Christmas and a New Year... and may this New Year be a bit better in terms of peace...(though i seriously doubt that after reading the newspaper headlines i.e. Pak's Reactions....hmph!)....happiness...career..and life in general! 

So... I have been super excited for a week now regarding Christmas.. I remember in my younger days (i did not say i am old...grrr)... :P... me and my sister used to decorate our in-house Christmas Tree... my dad even got the 'Snow Spray' which used to go more on us than the tree..but nevertheless..it  used to be fun just decorating the tree and wearing 'Red' in some form or the other 3 days before Christmas... :) I also remember one particular christmas very very clearly -- My extended family was in town.. and the elders of the family decided to organize a 'Treasure Hunt' for us 'baccha' log! So we spent a very very 'brrrrrinng' cold evening in our Society...looking for clues...laughing..giggling..running..and finding our presents..! sigh! those were the days... 

anyways...snapping out of nostalgia...so i decided to do something special this Christmas.. Soubhagya also decided to do something special this Christmas. So I baked..He Ate.. and we got our very first Christmas Tree! :D... The tree looks gorgeous sitting in our living room complete with lights and bells... (aww to hubby who surprised me with the tree since i had chewed his ear about my 'younger days' Christmas stories..) :D

And I love to Bake... I have been searching for 'reciepes' for Plum Cake, Brownies and Cookies 

online for the past week.. and finally found some reciepes i liked.. Bought the ingredients and spent 4 hours last evening.. baking 2 Plum Cakes (yummmmmm) and 3 batches of Chocolate Cookies with 'Dairy Milk' Chippings... To my pleasant surprise...everything came out brilliantly yummmy... the Plum Cake was delicious..soft on inside and hard on the top... the cookies could have been a lil less 'sweet'!!! well..all in all an awesomely successful 'Bake Night'..! The Plum Cakes are almost over (1 finished by hubby last night itself..and the other finished by office colleagues... today!)

Next on agenda...Brownies and Pancakes.... 

The 'ho ho ho' effect has finally caught on to me...and I am loving the Holiday Spirit.. makes me forget any kind of tension i might have in life!... sigh.....

Restaurant Review: Grasshoppers

It was our 1st Wedding anniversary. Our plan was to go to Goa for a Romantic Getaway but a last minute 'official trip' of Soubhagya got that one cancelled. So we decided to do a romantic dinner in the city itself. During my 'research' on various websites, i came across the review of Grasshoppers on bangalore.burrp. And since i value the website and its reviews, i decided to read all the reviews. Very soon my mouth was watering and instantly i saw myself dialing the number and booking a table for 2 for Dinner on Dec 3rd. 

On the D-Day we got dressed in our fineries... and started the drive to Bannergatta Road. It is a good 10 kms away from Koramanagala (which is where i stay). Since it was mid-week evening, there was traffic, but we were excited! We finally reached the destination. 

The Bright Red gates ushered us into a property which appeared huge and beautiful! It had stone houses and plantations all around. We followed the signs, parked the car and walked up the gravelled stone path towards the restaurant - which looked like the porch of a house. It was breathtaking. There were candles inside lil glass jars that outlined the garden area. There were 8 tables in all - 5 on the porch and 3 outside in the lawn. There were huge bunches of wild yellow and white flowers on each table. Soothing jazz music floated out of the house, which housed a collection of designerwear. 

We took our table at the farthest end of the lawn and the waiter came by to ask us if we were comfortable. The owner was extremely friendly. She walked from table to table asking everyone if they were doing good. We ordered lemonade and Iced Tea and got settled. The waiter came and smiled and asked us to just sit back and relax...coz its time to enjoy the flavours they have to offer! We smiled at the thought of a 7-course meal and the extreme courtesy that the waiter displayed... 

1) Came the 'Beetroot with Sesame Seeds and Cheese Shavings'. It was a mouth-watering blend of the sweet and moist beetroot...the sourness of the cheese mixed with the tangy flavours of the sesame seeds and pepper sauce. It was amazingly tasty..the beetroot was soft, the cheese was perfect and the sesame seeds never tasted better!

2)Came the 'Crispy Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese and lightly fried Mint Leaves'. Now you can just imagine with the name - wat the dish would be. 2 crispy fresh asparagus drizzled with the cheese..topped with Mint Leaves made a very pretty picture. And what was better was the taste. Now Soubhagya and I have never tasted Asparagus, primarily coz its never really used in Indian cuisine, but this was amazingly fresh and light. And after 2 very light starters, i had space for lots more...

3) Came the 'Prawns with Ginger and Seaweed'. Yeah...it may sound weird..but it was yumm. The prawns were succulent, the seaweed was not bad and the ginger gave the dish a very tangy yet sweet taste. It was amazing that the Prawns without any of the 'indian frilly masalas' still tasted heavenly..and i dug into the 2 pieces given to me!

4)With the appetizers over, next came the salad, 'Garden Salad with Oven-roasted Tomatoes'. This was Simple, very light, fresh, and seemed like, the veggies were plucked out of the backyard garden, hours before we came. The oven-roasted tomatoes were just perfectly done! and the dressing seemed very light, i think it was mint and lemon with pepper. ummm...all in all..a very nice, almost perfect salad.

Now was the time of the Main Course. Mmmmm...We could hardly wait. The best part was that our waiter was in no hurry to feed us. in fact after each dish, he would gladly give us 10-15 mins to settle our stomachs...and bring on the next dish..ofcourse with a Smile! We had placed our orders earlier for the 'non-vegetarian' option!... so here we go..

5) Came the 'Chicken with Olives'. Now i am the biggest Olive-lover you will ever find. i eat them from the jar. And my hubby here, hates olives. Therefore i got his share too! :).. Going back to the dish... It smelt yummilicious!.. the chicken was moist and very tender, the olives were sprinkled around and the sauce was very light, nothing very chilli about it! Though Soubhagya felt that the Chicken was a bit weird, but then, he is a fan of the indian masala cuisine..i found the dish perfectly appealing. And i was done with it in no time. 

By now i was stuffed...but there was another dish in the main course..which came next...

6) 'Lamb Skewer'.. This was a huge palate..and i almost knew we wont be able to finish it. yet we gave it a try. The lamb pieces were very well done. Perfectly roasted...the sauce was delicious. Something Soya about it!...the onions were well-fried and made a perfect combo with the lamb. Ofcourse we barely finished one peice each....and were holding our stomachs... but it was delicious!

7) Finallyyy-hy... came the 'Chocolate Truffle Cake sprinkled with some icing sugar' with 2 candles on it...and topped with kiwis and strawberries.. It was complimentary from the owner on the occasion of our Anniversary. We dug into it..and it was the sofftest, yummiest truffle cake i have had!...And before we knew it..our stomachs made space for the cake and it was over! :)

Extravagant...Romantic...Very European...Mouthwatering...Blend of colours..Rustic Setting..Simplistic...Flavours!

This was our 7-course extravaganza that we indulged in on our anniversary. The meal costed Rs. 1500 per person, but i have to say.. it was Worth It! I have never experienced such delicious tastes...amazing combinations...superb presentations..in such a fine setting..ever before! and i was glad that we came all the way to experience a 'Bite Of Heaven'! Grasshoppers has certainly taken its place in my Top 5 Restaurants of all times!..... :)

Tagtime..

Its 2 PM on a very sleepy Tuesday afternoon...and since its getting difficult to stay awake, i am browsing through blogs...I came across a very interesting blog called - Title Intentionally Left blank..drawn by the 'title' (pun unintended), i read the first post and it interested me...it did make me want to jog my memory to remember what have i accomplished and it made me want to do things i have not done before i turn the Big 3!!! :O ...(as if i was not already paranoid about turning 25!!!...:S)
So this is a list of "150 things to do before i turn 30"!... i have another 5 years to go...so i figured this checklist is a good way of 'striking off' what i have accomplished and 'ticking' what i want to do!!!! PS: maybe this will stop me from dozing off at work.. lol...
So here goes... and the ones coloured Violet and bolded - are the things i have managed to do.... :)
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone (Yup... :P)
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (would IPL count...???)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars.
20. Changed a baby's diaper.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon.
22. Watched a meteor shower.
23. Gotten drunk on champagne. (at moulin rouge show..it was free...teehee)
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (oh maaan...i am the giggling expert..so expect that from me all the time..hehe)
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
33. Seen a total eclipse (when i was really young i remember...)
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and didn’t care who was looking (that i specialize in...lol)
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk (all the time...dude!)
42. Had amazing friends (and love themm....:D)
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach - that sure is a dream...i wish to fulfill soon...
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow (in lucknow..when i was a child..with my nani..aww... i miss her! )
56. Alphabetized your CDs (i am a cleanliness and organizing freak...)
57. Pretended to be a superhero.
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business (started baking and selling cakes for almost a year...will it count???)
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married (happily... :P)
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days - cant....i am too fond of food!!!!
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo - wish to...
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on a television news programme as an an 'expert'
83. Gotten flowers for no reason (yes yes yes.... :D)
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten Shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents :(:(:(:(...nooooooooo
93. Been on a cruise ship (Egypt)
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold (on Mt. Titlis..coz of the cold...brrr..)
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking with the windows open (love it!!!!)
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication (PR professionally..so wrote articles on behalf of clients..)
106. Lost over 100 pounds - but lost 13 kgs in 3 months... :)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari - will be going next year..will 'violet' it then....)
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears (nose it is.... :)
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet - ewwwwww........
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon - would love to....
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach - killed...picked...held..thrown... :P
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey - would really like to though....
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - and can never do....
139. Skipped all your school reunions.(what to do if i live down south....)
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language (with my maid...all the time...hehe)
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care (unfortunately... :()
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ (will being a DJ at my own birthday party at home, count?)
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

You are most welcome to take the list and tell me what your 'tags' are!!! and let me know..so i can read it too..maybe we can come up with some common activity we can do together!! :)

Is it a Beach...or is it The Beach?

If you are one of those who prefers the outdoors-y feel when it comes to chillin' with a beer..who prefers a relaxed, informal way of partying...then look no further - The Beach is your destination! Situated in a very posh locale of Bangalore, Indira Nagar, The Beach is the ideal idyllic destination for yougsters, the IT crowd and even for the not-so-hard-core party-goers! I have been a regular at The Beach for over 3 years now, and it undoubtedly is the place i seek when i am tired after a week of work.. it is the place that i come to, to sit back, relax and enjoy my glass of wine..or even an occasional beer (ofcourse keeping the calorie intake in mind!! :)) 

The best part about the place is its 'Outdoors Seating'. The DJ is seated outside and so is the Bar.The place is covered with Sand (a tip for women would be, not to wear your favourite pair of heels...you could have difficulty dancing and even walking..), it has bark of trees converted to seatings and has a very bluish tinge to its lighting - almost like the place is moonlit! There is also an indoors dining area which is ideal for couples, families, office gatherings etc. The 'outside seating' is rather large and covered with a glass-house just so that the loud music and the revelry do not disturb the neighbours. 

I feel Beach is most 'women-friendly' place in Bangalore. Where else would you find a 'Ladies Night' on Wednesdays, where Drinks are 'FREE'??(ofcourse barring the special cocktails and the Wines..) Its like a dream come true for most of us, who crave for that mid-week therapy. You will find Wednesdays teeming with young women, smartly dressed, setting the floor on fire! you will also find a 'back-massage' man walking around to give you that much needed massage on your tired shoulders! The music is pulsating and the party carries on till 11:30 pm (damn the deadline!)

Fridays and Saturdays are pretty much packed too at Beach. The Mojitos, Margaritas and Sex on the Beach are some of the most-wanted cocktails here, while Beer is something that flows like water..!

But, wat makes me want to go back to The Beach again and again, is the 'Sunday Brunch'. They used to have 'Sunset Party' till the 'No Dance Brigade' cracked down on the city. This used to be the life of the city. Starting at 2:30 PM, the party continued till 11:30 PM... And believe me, the crowd only grew! Sundays on The Beach is actually like Calanghute In  Goa. You relax with some 'live' music, beer, buffet and friends! The sun makes it all the more perfect!

Food at Beach is worth a try as well. There is Goan, Italian, Indian,Continental and Sizzlers to choose from backed with sumptous servings. The Goan chicken is extremely delicious and succelent. The Pastas are very Italian and the Indian is spicy and 'shahi'! 

There is a reason, why you will never find Beach empty. It is because, the owners - Pankaj and Kay take personal interest in organizing theme-based parties, taking care of guests and playing the music as well. If you are ever at Beach, you will always find the waiters and the owners saying warm hellos to a whole lot of customers - coz they are regulars and almost Family! i am one of them! :) 

I dont need to bother what i wear, i dont need to bother what car i come in, i dont need to bother what i look like, or how i eat or drink... this is my place.. this is my Beach..and i come here to unwind, be one with the music..and be myself!

Prelude: the next 3 blogs...

So.. i am back at work after a lovely day off for my 1st anniversary celebrations! it was 'Ideal' and i cant believe we have been married for a year now! :)... so to continue to happy thoughts... the next 3 blogs are going to be 'Restaurant Reviews' of my favourite eateries in Bangalore.

a) The Beach

b) Boca Grande

c) Grasshoppers (that is the latest and i am a huge fan of it.. )

So stay tuned....coz there is gonna be a whole lot of "food talk" and mouth-watering and slurrping for the next 3 posts! :D

till then...