The name Nizam’s is almost synonymous with kathi rolls in India. They were one of the first ones to popularize this food that has its historic origins in cuisine from the princely states of North Eastern India.
A kathi roll is a very popular fast food in India. The meats used in these rolls are traditionally cooked in a charcoal pit using wooden skewers, which are called “Kathi’s”; hence the name Kathi Kababs or Kathi rolls.
Bayerischer Donsil is one of the oldest pubs, which is located right off the famous Marienplatz in the heart of the shopping area in Munich.
Café Sacher at the Sacher Hotel in Salzburg is one of the most charming places in all of Salzburg to sit in and have a cup of tea or coffee. Named after the world famous Sacher Torte, the Sacher Hotel lays claim to being owners of the original recipe.
Café Tomaselli is perhaps one of the most famous coffee houses in Salzburg. This landmark has been around since 1703 and was a regular hang out for young Mozart. Over the centuries, Tomaselli has been featured in several movies and is a great spot for people watching. It is located in a really charming cobble stoned square of the Altstadt.
If you are looking for a really great authentic South Indian breakfast spot in Chennai City then Palmgrove Hotel is the place to go. Their restaurant Menaka is a hot spot for Chennaites over the weekends. The place has virtually no décor – it’s a very cafeteria like setting but one really does not go there for ambiance.
Palki Khanna, located inside the City Palace complex in Udaipur, gets its name from the word “palki” or palanquins, which were often used during the Maharajas time. This casual café offers an eclectic mix of foods, with an emphasis on western café food. The food at Palki Khanna was one of the better meals we had outside of the offerings of 5 star hotels in the vicinity.
Natraj is a very popular local dinning spot in Udaipur. The food is all vegetarian – they don’t even serve eggs here.
Natraj is known for its thali meals that offer a filling meal at a great price. This is probably the best thing to eat here.
The place is very bare bones – there is no décor to speak of and the service is really sloppy. The food was all right. I tried their Daal Bhati (a traditional Rajasthani dish), which was pretty good. We tried their Chinese and it was pretty awful. I would stick to the Indian food.
All in all – I really didn’t think Natraj was worth the trek out there. There is no culinary experience that awaits you to make the effort to eat here. There are plenty of places that are more centrally located that offer a better experience.
Devigarh Fort Palace is a beautiful retreat, set in the picturesque Aravalli hills of Rajasthan. It is about 30 kilometers away from Udaipur. Devigarh Fort was built in the 18th century and recently opened as a heritage hotel after years of restoration.
Ambrai restaurant is one of the more popular local restaurants in Udaipur. It is all about location, location, location which makes this a real tourist hotspot. Situated on the banks of Lake Pichola, dinning here provides a spectacular view of both the City Palace and the Lake Palace.
If you have a little extra time in Udaipur and are a hard-core pickle fanatic like I am, then you must visit Tilurams. They have been making all kinds of pickles, jams, sauces and murabbas (a kind of jam) for many decades.
At Tiluram’s they just about pickle anything from seeds to fruits to vegetables. Their pickles are stored in giant vats and you can ask to taste just about anything in the store. Some of my favorites were the jackfruit pickle, the lime murabbas (which they highly recommend) and the garlic chutney.
Ranakpur in Rajasthan, India, houses one of the largest Jain temples in the country. This temple dedicated to Adinatha, is replete with 1444 pillars, each carved from single pieces of stone. The mastery of the elaborate craftsmanship of the sculptures in this temple is beyond belief. In this Jain temple, its beauty lies in the complexity of is simplicity.
The Udaivilas in Udaipur, India; is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever experienced. Rated as the top resort in Asia and the 5th best in the world, the seamlessly gracious service and beautiful environs truly justify these accolades.
In a city that is steeped in Indian history and surrounded by the most beautiful ancient palaces, temples and forts, Udaivilas offers the perfect sanctuary of luxury. It’s stunning setting overlooks the gorgeous blue of Lake Pichola and soothing green of the Aravalli hills. The hotel itself is styled mimicking a traditional Mewari Palace. It houses a wildlife conservatory with rolling landscaped gardens that lead to reflecting pools, open courtyards and many quiet thoughtful spaces of beauty.
Zum Alten Markt is a small family run, cozy restaurant, that serves really good traditional fare.
Located right behind the vibrant Viktualien Markt, Zum Alten Markt offers a welcoming break from all the hustle and bustle. The food is great and the menu offers more variety and interest than the standard fare offered at other places. The interiors are done with , with its elaborate coffered wooden ceiling that came from a 400-year-old Tyrolean castle.
When we visited, they had an entire “Spargel” ( asparagus) menu, which is only in season in spring. Here one could choose from a variety of interesting offering such as ragouts, bakes and pies.
The service is solid, the tabs are affordable. Please note that reservations are a MUST, and they do NOT take credit cards. All in all Zum Alten Markt offers a really nice experience which is a cut above its neighboring rest.
Dallmayr, is an essential stop off for any foodie.
Located in the heart of Munich’s busy Marienplatz area, this gourmet food market sells everything from superb coffee, chocolates and confections, breads to incredible pastries, meats and everything in between. About 2.5 million people visit the main store every year.
Dallmayr was established over three centuries ago when it began as a simple grocers shop. It is now a most famous for its “Prodomo” coffee brand and for top quality good that it sells.
Walking through this store is a true delight as it has special nooks dedicated to all special the foods it holds. Your senses peruse through cutely decorated display cases of candies, bread, seafood and much more. There is a small section of tables located near the bread section where one can eat foods that are purchased from the store.
On the top floor there is a restaurant Dallmyer where you can opt for some light bites, coffee, desserts and of course beer. After all the feasting that one does with ones eyes at Dallmayr …it’s only a mater of time where you need a spot like this to satisfy your cravings.
Here is some of what we ate:
Mumbai was the birthplace of the extremely popular street snack known as a Frankie, which is somewhat like a kati roll. It is a chapatti roll with or without egg that has options of different filling such as mutton, potato, chicken, and so on. Continue reading
Who doesn’t like to have fun with their food?
Well that’s what Mamagoto, in Japanese literally means – “play with food”. Continue reading
The opulence of Vegas meets the pizzazz of Broadway – all with a Bollywood bent.
This is the stuff that the brand new entertainment destination called The Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon, India, is made off.
This theme-based complex, created by the Great Indian Nautanki Company, offers a fabulous place filled with delights, Indian style. Continue reading
The China Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency is one of my favorite restaurants in New Delhi. It is on my to-do list every single time I visit.
China Kitchen offers authentic tastes of the grace and subtlety of Chinese food. Continue reading
The Spice Route journeys from the Malabar Coast in Kerela, India to the ends of South East Asia touching on the tastes and flavors along the way.
Set in the gorgeous Imperial Hotel, the restaurant Spice Route has been designed by Rajeev Sethi. It was painstakingly created over a period of 7 years. Based on the principles of Feng –Sui, the space is filled with striking, intricate elements, antiques and details from all over South East Asia. The results are quite stunning and really worth experiencing.
The Cosmopolitan Club is one of the older clubs in Chennai city (formerly known as Madras). It was started in 1873 to cater to a European only, elite clientele.
Things have come a long way since then and it currently has a huge local membership. The Cosmopolitan Club is now rather run down, but in its hallways hang beautiful photographs that remind us of gorgeous Madras of the past. Continue reading
Golden Dragon – the Chinese Restaurant at the Taj Coromandel Hotel has always been considered the crown jewels of the Chennai fine dining scene. It was one of the first Chinese restaurants, to introduce fine Sichuan cuisine, to the city.
It has reigned supreme in the promise of a terrific dinning experience all the way from its orange beaded curtain days in the seventies to the newly renovated space created recently. It reached it’s heights of popularity when Chef Hardy Cheung, who was considered one of the best Chinese Chefs in India, took its helm in the nineties. Continue reading
If you ever visit the beautiful pink City of Jaipur in India, you must make a pit stop at Niros for a meal.
Conveniently located on the bustling MI road, right in the heart of the city, Niros is a food haven for locals, tourists and celebrities. Continue reading
If you are a spice hound as I am, then Andhra food is the way to go. In Chennai city, Amaravathi is known to be one of the more famous places to get authentically spicy Andhra Food. It’s been around for decades and used to be a food joint on everyone’s list.
In great excitement, I dragged a bunch of friends and decided it was time to go and try it out. What a HUGE disappointment it was! Continue reading