One Bowl Winter Menu at Monkey Bar

bangalore



Ever felt like monkeying around?
We sure feel like it!
We’ve covered a variety of food festivals before & this time we’re going to talk about meal bowls.

This post is all about our recent experience at the Monkey Bar, Indiranagar, Bangalore.
We’ve been in the same building many times before (to Fatty Bao) so no surprise for us. This time we’re going to talk about the ongoing “One Bowl Winter” festival at the Monkey Bar across all its outlets in Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi & Mumbai.
This is an ongoing festival which is on for about a month & a half more.

The best part about meal bowls is that everything comes at one shot so you don’t have to worry much about quantity & sides.
Without further ado, we’ll let you know which ones we tried & which ones we want to keep on trying!

Must tries: Panch Phoron & Kasundi Maach, Chicken Xacuti, Korean Bibimpap & the Kashmiri Yakhni.


Mutton Yakhni

The Chicken Xacuti
We also tried the Nagarjuna Inspired Chilli Chicken & the Sesame Teriyaki Chicken Bowl which are definitely worth a shot but not as good as the above. The former was a spicy chicken preparation served with parathas whereas the latter is the usual Grilled Chicken in Teriyaki sauce.

We later realized that we had missed out on the seafood bowls, which we were really looking forward to!
First up, if you love fish, you have to try the Kasundi Maach. The fish used is Surmai (clearly written in the menu). They use fresh & well layered fish for the prep. The aroma of the Gobindobhog rice & the zing of the kasundi is always a magical affair. For a Bengali, this is a must try!

The Xacuti was brilliant. The goan spices with the tender boneless chicken tasted heavenly. Moreover, the millets tasted really good & went well with the spicy gravy. We had millets for the first time so either millets have a distinct aroma or they used Ghee in the preparation.

One Bowl Winter Menu at Monkey Bar, Bibimbap





Now for the 2 best bowls: The Bibimpap & the Yakhni. 

The latter had succulent chunks of mutton in yoghurt based gravy. It comes with a serving of saffron rice & the combined aroma is overwhelming. This is a mildly spicy preparation. The Bibimpap is a popular Korean preparation with shredded beef. The beef in this case was simply irresistible. The sauce was lip smacking. This is served with sticky rice, greens, mushrooms & a fried egg. 

Although it doesn’t seem much, the bowls are pretty heavy on the stomach.
For dessert, we tried some Churros, Nutella cake with ice cream & a preparation with molten chocolate & caramel popcorn. This was a full-fledged Choco-indulgence! 

The Nutella cake is just amazing. The sweetness if perfect & of course: Nutella. The popcorn concept was pretty neat & worked out extremely well.

That’s all from our side!

This special menu is on for quite some time so don’t miss out. The preparations mentioned are truly mouth-watering. There are others which we couldn’t try so feel free to try them out & let us know how you feel.

We’ll be back soon with another foodscapade ;)

Till then—think about your taste buds & bon apetit!

Bombay Brasserie now at RMZ Ecoworld, Bangalore

bangalore



It’s been quite some time that we are continuously inactive!
Now there’s a good news & a bad one. Since we can’t ask you which one goes first, here it goes: We are now going to cover place to eat in Chennai as well! The bad part is that the frequency might decrease a bit.

We’ll try our best to keep bringing you guys the best of F&B like we always do.
In this post we’ll be talking about a restaurant which after its initial success in Bangalore, has gone ahead & opened a new outlet.

We were recently invited to experience the offerings of the new outlet of Bombay Brasserie in Bellandur. The outlet is located in RMZ Ecoword-The Bay.
Our previous experience with Bombay Brasserie set up a high level of expectation & we’re happy to say that the standards have indeed been maintained!

Before we talk about the food, we want to emphasize on the ambience, the seating & picturesque surroundings. The setting of the restaurant really puts the weather of Bangalore to great use. If you visit, you’ll come across a lot of blue & green. They even have tables with swings on both ends so you can rock & eat at the same time. (Doesn’t work for us though)

naga gosht , bangalore food blogger

bangalore food blogger , mushroom




Now it’s time for the point of focus:
This time we were accompanied by someone who loves food as much as we do & thanks to her we were able to clean everything which was served.

Without getting into much details we’ll list the items we tried & which ones we recommend.
Starters: Spicy Pahadi Mushrooms, Naga Ghost Pepper Wings, Kashmiri Naan Kebab, Old Delhi Murgh Boti with Butter Roomali & Rajputana Murg Soola Kebab.

We tried the Kashmiri Naan & Old Delhi Murgh Boti & the taste was remarkable just as the time before. We loved the mushrooms. The spicy minced paneer filling & the pahadi masala did wonders with the flavor & taste.

The ghost pepper wings were smoky, hot & unimaginably tasty! If you aren’t afraid of the next morning, do try this. This might make you cry but you won’t stop having it. Lastly, the Soola Kebab was presented very well & even blow torched in front of us. The meat was juicy, tender & retained all the flavors. The prep is mildly spicy but it didn’t have an amazing kick to call it wow.
For drinks, we tried their Pauas which are local Mumbai drinks served in small bottles. [The idea is to make them portable for travelers].





They have interesting colors & flavors & they really stand out.
Apart from these, we tried the Fauji Party Special which is a dark rum based drink with pineapple & chaat masala. It is not a sweet drink so you get the raw kick of the rum in each sip.

For main course, we tried the Goan Prawn Biryani & Rajasthani Dhungar Maas accompanied by Chur Chur Paratha.
We tried the Biryani before and it had the same great taste. The Paratha was interesting. It was like a lachha paratha with an additional crispy top layer which tastes like a cheese cracker with seasoning. It tasted great & went well with the semi-spicy mutton prep. The Mutton pieces were cooked perfectly & the gravy was lip smacking. 








For dessert, we tried the Amritsari Kulfa & Anglo Indian Bread Pudding.
The former was a combination of Kulfi & Rabdi on a bed of Phirni. It was creamy with the right amount of sweetness & the hint of rose syrup added to the experience. Definitely wow! The portion size was pretty big as well. 

The latter: comforting & mildly sweet bread pudding served with custard. The portion size was huge. The best part about this dessert is that it was very light on the stomach in spite of the portion size. We would classify this as an entire meal itself.
That’s all we tried this time as we were on a diet! :P

It feels great to be back! We would love to hear more from you guys in the form of comments/tweets/anything.

If you like quiet/calm/romantic dining, this should be your pick. The food is great & you’ll get to know that first hand.

We’ll be back soon. Very soon ;).
Till then—don’t lose faith & bon apetit!

An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore

Azure
Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks @ An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore
Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

Because of rat races all around, people work exceptionally hard to earn their daily bread (or at least most of us). Sometimes, it is best to let go, relax & unwind for better mental & psychological health. This time we experienced something very unique at one of our favourite go-to places in Bangalore: A Night of Comedy & Gastronomy!

Yes, you heard that right! The word comedy is loved by most as it is a light hearted mode of entertainment (with spare usage of abusive language) & laughter is good for the heart. This time around we were invited to Vivanta by Taj- Yeshwantpur to experience this one of a kind event.

Two well-known comedy veterans from Bangalore: Ahmed Shariff & Shadab Aziz tickled our funny bones till we were famished.

This was a complete package: the comedy show along with an exclusive Italian set menu dinner at Azure, curated by Exec Chef Agnimitra Sharma.

Without further ado, we’ll take you through the items we tried:

Pan Seared Scallops @ An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore
Pan Seared Scallops

Pan Seared Scallops, Chicken Consommé, Grilled Indian Sea Bass, Roasted Tenderloin Rib Eye, Slow Cooked Lamb Shank for appetiser, soup & mains.

For dessert we tried Panna Cotta & the classic Tiramisu.

Each individual can pick any one out of the list & leave the rest to the chefs to please their palate.

The scallops were fresh & perfectly done. Generally they bear a typical seafood smell but in this case, nothing! The presentation was amazing. They were served on shells with ratatouille vegetables. It also had a sweet after taste.

The consommé was very appetising. This lukewarm soup did not have a thick consistency but was high on flavour. It had chicken tortellini in it with finely minced chicken. Tasted delightful!

Saffron Grilled Pear @ An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore
Saffron Grilled Pear

Now for the mains:

The Indian sea bass or Tilapia was fresh & juicy. Generous amount of fish was served in this & the dish was well balanced. It had sautéed spinach, raisins & olives. Lastly, a bit of pine nuts for the extra crunch in each bite. The overall combination was smooth, well thought through & praise worthy.

The tenderloin chunk was massive in size. This preparation had cauliflower puree, spinach & braised potatoes. Yet another killer combination which tasted marvellous. Especially the cauliflower puree was lip smacking. The sauce had a homely feel to it. The only disappointment was that the medium rare tenderloin was over cooked.

Grilled Indian Sea Bass @ An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore
Grilled Indian Sea Bass

Tenderloin Rib Eye
Roasted Tenderloin Rib Eye

Gnocchi
Gnocchi

Lastly, the lamb shanks were too good to be true. The meat was tender & perfectly cooked. Moreover, the sauce was to die for. The sauce was so good that it was very hard for us to keep our hands away & lick the plate clean. It was served with mashed potatoes.

We also had the chance to taste the Gnocchi. It had loads of Mozzarella & Parmesan. They were smooth & the taste was as expected. This was pretty heavy on the stomach compared to the above.

Dessert time:

The Tiramisu must be tried. The consistency was equal throughout & it had the right amount of sweetness. Moreover, judging from the taste of the mascarpone cheese, it was made fresh. The rich aroma & flavours of coffee & cacao were evident.

Panna Cotta @ An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore
Panna Cotta

Tiramisu @ An Evening Affair with Comedy and Gastronomy @ Vivanta by Taj - Yeshwantpur | Bangalore
Tiramisu

The panna cotta came last. It had the right wobble & it came with berry compote. This was served with thinly sliced fruits as well. Very light on the stomach, very smooth mouth feel & the perfect ending to a fab evening.

We had the perfect evening comprising of a heavy dose of laughter & a satisfying meal. Kudos to the Azure team for arranging such a unique event.

The AI price for the set dinner is 2000 INR. Similar events are soon to follow & these are open to the public, so what are you waiting for?

We recommend visiting for both the comedy & the food, because they were equally good.
If you want more info, do ask us directly/via comments.

We’ll be back soon with something interesting.

Till then—LOL & bon apetit!

The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore

bangalore
Khada Masala Kukkad @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore
Khada Masala Kukkad

So, what according to you is a great combination with respect to food?

For us, a plain & simple chicken stew with white rice does wonders! Sometimes, comfort food takes preference over others as it never gets old. We also love a spicy Bengali style mutton curry & white rice for that matter.

But this post is not about our preference: It is about what most people prefer.

Kebabs & Biryani anyone?

Now that must’ve caught your attention!

We were recently invited to a Paradise Biryani outlet near us to experience their ongoing Hot n Juicy Kebab Festival. First up, these varieties are available across Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai & Vishakhapatnam only.

Barkas Rubina @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore
Barkas Rubina

Paneer Lollypop @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore
Paneer Lollypop

Dhuandaar Pankhudi @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore
Dhuandaar Pankhudi

Overall, they have come up with 22 kebab variants out of which we tried 12 (the new ones!).

Now, moving on to the kebab variants we tried & what we recommend:

Barkas Rubina: The prawn kebab. Heavy on the stomach, tastes incredible, cashew rich marinade. Highly recommended.

Mutton Shooleh: Tender & juicy mutton kebab, powered by cloves. Recommended.

Murgh Sarfiya Kalimiri: The meat is exceptionally well cooked with a delicate aroma of cardamom & visible specks of black pepper. The meat cut is praise worthy. Highly recommended.

Paneer Lolly: The paneer is soft & retains the flavour of the sesame covering. Slightly oily & has a crunch to each bite. For vegetarians this is one of the few options, so have all you want! ;)

Dhuandaar Pankhudi: The chicken wings preparation. High on spice and on taste. The smoky flavour adds to the experience. Highly recommended.

Tulsi Machhi @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore

Veg Makhmali Seekh @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore
Veg Makhmali Seekh

Murgh Sarfiya Kali Miri @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore

Moti Fish Tikka 

Bharwan Aloo Mattar ki Tikki: Decent sized tikkis stuffed with potatoes & green peas. Tastes good, but nothing fabulous.

Zaffrani Murgh Seekh: Chicken seekh kebabs don’t get better than this! The aroma of saffron & the well-cooked & juicy chicken is all that needs to be said. Try it to believe it.

Moti Fish Tikka/Tulsi Machhi: Fish variants. Very tender & juicy & gets finished within seconds. The latter is exceptional. The aroma of Tulsi lasts long & is refreshing. It also adds a unique flavour to the kebab. Highly recommended.

Khada Masala Kukkad: Chicken kebab marinated with whole spices. This is a spicy prep but is absolutely mouth-watering. Definitely recommended.

Lastly, Mutton Seekh Kebab: Does not need an introduction. Decent level of spice, tender & juicy meat along with some Indian herbs. Good old taste but nothing distinctive.

We also tried other variants but these are the ones which stood out & we talked about them.

Zafrani Murgh Seekh @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore

Mutton Sooleh @ The Hot N Juicy Kebab Festival @ Paradise | Bangalore

We also tried their Mutton Biryani which is a classic favourite. We’ve never been disappointed with their biryanis.

Well, that’s that! Their kebabs are certainly a treat & are priced appropriately. The festival is on till the end of this month.

If you love kebabs & biryani like we mentioned in the beginning, you should visit!

If you do, do let us know about your experience.

We’ll be back soon!

Till then—you know what to do ;)!

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