Life Unpacked

If sitting in front of a computer for 12+ hours a day and being handed stress in the name of work assignments at each moment is already bad enough, adding a dose of unhealthy nibbles further accentuates the destructive capacity of this beast called corporate life. I am guilty of eating my way through packets of large French fries from the fast food joint next door during my late nighters at the office and I am not proud of the havoc it has been creating to my health. So you cannot imagine the joy I felt when I came across Ssup - A hip and new delivery-focused outlet, based out of Bandra East, started barely a few weeks ago by Drishya, a former corporate employee, dishing out food which is not just delicious but health-focused. My order consisted of a 'Make-your-own-salad", a "Make-your-own-smoothie", two of their layered Parfaits, their best-seller aka Beetroot Buttermilk, and a "Ragi Banana Sheera". And I cannot rave enough. Everything I had was su...

The fondness for food I possess is a direct influence of my parents; In my childhood days, I distinctively remember each Sunday being reserved for trying out either a new restaurant or gorging on lip-smacking street food. Once, we ventured to a place serving Gujarati Thali and I cannot help but chuckle at the fact that I refused to even touch the delicacies. Yes, I was that picky! Anyway, that tryst marked my only encounter with a thali...until now.  The bustling restaurant on the weekend Last weekend, I made a stop at Maharaja Bhog's outlet in Oberoi Mall with my mum to finally savour my fill of a Gujarati/Rajasthani thali. True to its name, Maharaja Bhog is every bit opulent- I instantly fell in love with the regal decor as soon as I entered the restaurant that chaotic weekend. And, in my opinion, what sets this thali restaurant apart from hordes of other is their attention to detail and a hospitality that parallels a Gujurati or Marwadi househol...

Last Sunday, my Mum and I headed to 180 Degrees restaurant at Hotel Grand Sarovar Premier, Goregaon, to indulge in their Mother's Day Brunch. Now, it is no secret- I love buffets. But what I discovered this time around was the fondness my mother possess for buffets. According to her, buffets are a perfect opportunity to sample a massive variety of offerings without any food wastage. So imagine our collective delight when we stepped into the restaurant to an extensive selection of French, Italian, Mediterranean, Arabic, and Far-Eastern delicacies along with Indian regional favourites!  Restaurant Interiors Salad Counter The 180 Degrees Restaurant at Hotel Grand Sarovar Premier proudly boasts of being one of the largest all-day dining restaurants in the suburbs of Mumbai serving global cuisine. And it surely did not disappoint! We kicked off the gastronomical extravaganza with two lip-smacking salads, a terrific bread basket, Mexican Three Bean Soup...

Lately, new restaurants are mushrooming in every nook and cranny of the city. And honestly, it is becoming harder and harder to keep up with them. So, what does one do when they come across an excellent eatery that has that sweet cosy vibe with the right dose of funk, minus all the pretensions that come with dining out? They become a patron. Simple. Say 'Hello!' to Bohemian Brew The easy-to-miss sign board The outdoor area The indoor area The basement area The boho-chic decor The tea bar A mere two minutes walk away from the Khar Road railway station, Bohemian Brew stands bang next to the S.V. Road junction. Although the tiny sign board declaring its presence is a blink-and-miss and might mislead one into imagining a super cramped interior, this is certainly not the case. The entire space is neatly divided into three separate zones- the al fresco area, the interior section, and the hip basement section- each of is an experience in it...

Frankly, I haven't come across a single person who isn't fond of pan-Asian cuisine. After all, those delicate dumplings, hearty ramen bowls, and zingy curries exploding with umami easily equate to soul food. However, the popularity of this cuisine is, unfortunately, offset with its often disastrous execution. I have had my fair share of shoddy Thai curries, folks. So when I was invited to try out the newly opened Lemon Leaf at Colaba as a part of the Diabetic Food Trail, I was both excited and nervous (for all the right reasons). Thankfully, it delivered what it promised it delivered more than it promised. Just before we dive into all things Lemon Leaf, I would draw some attention towards the Diabetic Food Trail which happens to be a much welcome health initiative presented by Britannia Nutrichoice Essentials in association with Biocon with the objective of urging the food industry to create a healthy and diabetic-friendly menu. A wide array of restaurants in Mumbai, Pune,...