Explorer of Experiences

There’s a new friendly neighborhood bistro whose food and desserts have got the town talking. I make the drive to Baner to find out what’s in store… Desserterie. Patisserie. Bistro. Minus 18 Degrees in Baner is all this and more. What catches curious eyes is the view of the top storey of Minus 18 Degrees of busy chefs with their gloved hands working on dish after dish. This 45-seater bistro is the vibrant new kid on the block. Stark navy blue and white walls could have made the place look clinical, but the smart interior designer has blended it together with subtle touches of teal - on the upholstery, the menu and the picture frames on the wall. With the chosen color palette, Minus 18 Degrees could have been the perfect naval office canteen. There is alfresco seating but you really want to sit where all the action is happening – indoors. Push open the door and you are greeted with a sweet aroma. It’s a bustling scene inside - young waiters energetically atten...

My review for Time After Time was published on Burrp:  http://www.burrp.com/know/review-time-after-time-65995 It’s not everyday you come across a restaurant named after a popular Cindy Lauper song. We visited recently to see if it lives up to its funky name. At the end of a musty lobby at The Central Park is  Time After Time . Walk in and the bold red walls come alive as they soak in the yellow lighting. Bamboo plants outside the windows add a serene touch to the view outside the restaurant window. Browse through the menu and there’s plenty to pick from their European, Oriental and Indian selection. At the recommendation of our server,  we ordered the Mushroom Sukkha Kalimiri (Rs 260) and a virgin Cosmopolitan (Rs 220). Sautéed in mustard seeds, fresh curry leaves, chopped ginger and garlic, the mushroom starter was an aromatic dish with distinctly coastal flavours. It needed a little salt, though a squeeze of lime juice seemed to instantly lift the dish as well. Packe...

   A                   Image courtesy:  iskandals.com Aubergines – I don't know too many people who will jump in the bus with me on this one. This is one vegetable I love - right from its deep purple color to its flesh. At home, we deep fry thin slices of the aubergine and then sprinkle it generously with powders of coriander, red chilli, mango and salt. Deeeevine! B Image courtesy: Lovefoodeat.com Bananas – Fatty fruit this one, but lord, 4 of them for 10 bucks is a steal. And what’s more, no annoying seeds to deal with. Simply peel, bite and relish! Not just the fruit itself but I also remember loving this particular banana wafer biscuit I used to eat when I was a kid. Banana toffee or caramelized banana is nothing short of a heavenly sweet treat after a meal. If I see it on the menu, I won’t go for anything else listed in the dessert section. My shot at the JW Marriott breakfast buffet Bread – Buns...