A short lunch at Café INXS

An unplanned visit to Café INXS for a short lunch turned out to be fun and informative. Here's a photo tour...

If you are intrigued by the anti-aging anti-obesity sign board in the picture, then let me shed some light. The INXS clinique is run by Dr Sangeetha Patel and her husband Dr Keerthi Patel. The Doctor couple have been working magic for years with a clientele that include many movie celebrities and super models. They carry out some amazing medical procedures and therapies that correct the "physical imperfections". Almost like real life Photoshop!

The cheerful Dr Sangeetha told me about her penchant for travel. The couple started Café INXS to introduce the food they liked from their various travel experiences around the world... 

The interior is neat and comfortable...

Watermelon cooler...

 I usually order Dim sums because they look so beautiful. These minced chicken and aromatic vegetable dumplings were light and delicious...

Fish & Chips were good...

Fish & chips from another angle...

They also serve some good Indian wine. I sipped the SDU Deva Chardonnay...

A good deal for ladies. Unlimited wines!

Pollo Spaghetti Alfredo - classic cream sauce with Italian noodles and strips of cooked chicken...

Fresh Orange... 

Pollo Pesto Di Basilica & Penne - chicken and basil pesto sauce. This was my favorite of the day. The herbs really did a great job...

Overall, I am impressed by the variety of food that's on offer. The chefs are able to handle the international cuisine, quite well. The wait staff is friendly. 

Leaving you with the lovely smile of the pretty doctor...

European grill menu at Graze

Graze, the fine dining restaurant at Vivanta by Taj, MG Road, Bangalore, recently introduced a new menu  that features some authentic European fare. I tasted some of their signature dishes. Here's a photo tour...

The highlight of the new menu are grilled dishes prepared using modern European techniques. I was looking forward to experience the subtleties that European style of cooking bring to the table...

It is a pleasure to see such an elegant interior with lots of space between tables...

Breads are nice to munch while waiting for the real food. The cornbread sticks were tasty...

I loved the Mushroom Cappuccino soup with milk foam, Porcini dust and truffle oil. The mild coffee flavor was spot on. I added some freshly ground black pepper that gave it an extra zing...

The seafood platter comprised of King Prawns, Scallop, Squids, Soft shell crab and John Dory...

Pancetta wrapped prawns were amazing. The citrus emulsion, grilled asparagus and a drizzle of Sauce Vierge made it a great starter...

The Little James' Basket Press is an inexpensive french wine from Chateau de Saint Cosme, Rhone...

It is a medium bodied wine with pleasant finish which pairs really well with barbecue...

Duck Breast with braised cabbage, pumpkin mash and fig. A little orange can work wonders with duck breast. The Cointreau sauce makes the flavors perfectly balanced and gives an aromatic note to the duck...

Lamb chops on a bed of Catalan spinach, Kaffir lime and Vanilla jus. I should give a special mention to the fondant potato which was delicious and which slightly dominated the yummy lamb...

My favorite of the day was John Dory. For the uninitiated, John Dory is a sea fish found in European waters. John Dory was served with Sweet Potato cake, lemongrass martini veloute sauce and a haricot bundle of baby corn, carrot and french bean...

53.8% Cocoa had Callebaut cream, vin brule peach and tamarind hazelnut ice cream. The uniqueness of this dessert is indescribable...

I think the Savoiardi fingers make a Tiramisu better by its chew and the Espresso ice cream is a perfect dessert to end a great dinner...

Overall a great experience. I think the subtle European flavors have left a memorable taste on my palate...

Celebrating mangoes at Rajdhani

Mango season is here, and Khandani Rajdhani is celebrating mangoes with more delicious surprises than last year. 

Here's a picture tour of the current Aamlicious Mango festival...

The traditional welcome...

Flowers, lamp, sandalwood paste and rice grains are part of the traditional welcome gear...

Khandani Rajdhani restaurant specializes in Thali meals comprising of cuisines from Rajasthan and Gujarat. Thali is a round platter used to serve food. A variety of food is served in small bowls called katori.  A thali offers all six basic flavors of salt, sweet, sour, astringent, spicy and bitter in a single plate. According to Indian food serving customs, a proper meal is a perfect balance of these six flavors...

The starter snacks included Kairi Chili Samosa, Kairi Potli Kachori and Aam Bhare Papad roll...

Potli means a cloth bag and Kairi Potli Kachori looks like one. It is a deep fried snack with a filling made of lentils and spices...

The food from Gujarat have always made me happy. The  Maharaja Dhokla is one excellent dish from the region...

My thali is filled with an assortment of sauces and curries of various flavors. Since Rajdhani is celebrating Mangoes, most of the dishes have mango as a main ingredient...

They serve an assortment of breads with this. Phulka roti, Khoba roti and the sweet puran poli. 

My favorite was the Khoba roti, a thick whole wheat, pinched bread... 

The star of the day was Aam ki launji, a raw mango pickle tempered with fennel and nigella seeds. The tangy and sweet taste is just awesome...

Aam panna is the best drink for the summer. The tasty drink made from raw mango has great heat resistant properties...

Mango dal dhokli - Lentils tempered and served with savory dumplings with Mangoes, a typical Gujarati delicacy...

Mango and carrot salad...

The smart and attentive wait staff serves the food in small helpings and keep replenishing to ensure that the food is eaten hot...




I am constantly in awe of the diverse indigenous food from different parts of India. This time round, Rajdhani did well to include some dishes from South India. The Malabari Manga Curry made from ripe mango...  




Mango pickle...



Mango Pulao...



I had copious amount of Aam Panna...



Kairi Samosa Ki Sabzi was another outstanding dish...

Aam ras mango nectar...

Sadly there was no space for dessert in anyone's stomach. But I could definitely squeeze in the Mango Jalebi with rabadi. Possibly one of the best desserts...

Overall it was a very satisfying meal. Here's a picture of the complete thali...

 Leaving you with a couple of beautiful smiles...