Beach shack experience & New Menu at Lady Baga, Bangalore

When Bangaloreans miss the beach and a shack experience then they head to the nearest beach. While beach can't be arranged here in Bangalore but a shack experience can surely be enjoyed. With the opening of Lady Baga in one of the prominent areas of Bangalore, a beach shack experience can be enjoyed in Bangalore.

Located on Lavelle road, as you enter Lady Baga, it takes you through a complete goan shack atmosphere. A 3D display of the beach will not make you miss the real beach much too. Apart from the colorful walls and lights around the place, you can also shop for clothing and accessories from their store. 

Chef Aloysious Dsouza has joined Lady Baga and has revamped the menu. He has added some dishes to the existing menu to give you a complete beach shack experience. Read on to know more about the menu.

I started my meal with Sungta Maria, it was a goan style bruschetta with masala prawns on fried toast. Followed by Dancing chicken. Not sure why it is named dancing chicken when it has chickens crumbed and tossed in Vindaloo sauce. I love tossed prawns so with Prawn Loncha so Prawn Loncha was my pick. These lightly pickled prawns tossed with coconut and green chillies has a burst of flavors. A wild mushroom starter impressed me. These starters go well with the drinks. 

For main course, I wanted to try seafood only so I chose Chef Aloos prawn curry. Sheer comfort food named after the chef which is served with unpolished red rice, fried anchovies (fish), tendli pickle and kismur (prawn salad). Goan Surmai fish was next, this seer fish curry with ground spices, chillies and coconut, taste best with rice. Seer fish tasted very well. Pork options are also good but as you know I do not eat pork so I cannot talk about it. 

Lastly for dessert, one cannot miss Bebinca, this multi layered egg pudding is made in house and served warm and with vanilla ice-cream. Caramel sauce on the bottom can be totally avoided so you can inform them to not add it to your dessert. 

Lady Baga is known for their cocktails so sip on some cocktails or mocktails like I sipped on Lady Baga's bubbly while I felt I was in a a goan shack. The food may not be completely authentic to goan taste but the experience of beach shack is true. 

The Travelling Bao Festival at Shizusan Shophouse and Bar

Shizusan Shophouse and Bar has been a favorite since its launch. The food has been receiving great reviews with their sushi's and other dishes. To add different flavors and offer new dishes to its customers, Shizusan has come up with The Travelling Bao Festival for the month of February.

A great mix of veg and non-veg bao's are on offer. While I tried the non-veg bao's, I will write about the same. Out of 5, I tried 4 as the 5th one was pork. My favourite was Smoked Duck Bao with smoked five-spiced duck, green apple and spicy mayo. If you are looking for a mix of tangy, spicy and smoky then this is the bao for you.

The next one which you should try is Korean Pulled Chicken Bulgogi which has spicy cucumber and kimchi slaw. For a spicy taste then this pulled chicken bao is for you.

Korean Sweet Chilli Chicken Bao with honey-glazed chilli chicken with kimchi and mayo is for those looking for sweet and spicy taste.

The last one is Teriyaki Glazed Tenderloin which is a steamed bun with teriyaki tenderloin, pickled vegetables and pan-fried with sesame. As I am more fond of bao's than buns, these non mayo buns did not impress me much.

If you are looking for veg bao's then Five-Spiced Tofu or Filipino veggie steamer could be your pick. Those who enjoy buns, Tofu and Hirata Buns or Bun with wild mushroom or Cantonese steamed custard bun could be savored. I also tried their tea - Mogo mogo and the mix of green sencha tea, banana, mango, passion flower leaves, melon sunflower and guava was so soothing to the throat and very aromatic too.

Each portion of bao is served with 2 pieces and it can easily fill one person completely. While the veg bao's are priced at Rs. 275, non-veg bao's are priced at Rs. 295 excluding taxes. Enjoy these bao's as they will be served at Shizusan during the month of February.

Kebabs, Wine and Beer fest at Grand Mercure, Bangalore

Who wouldn't want to enjoy some great kebabs along with beer or wine or even a mocktail? Grand Mercure Bangalore has heard you and has come up with a month long festival serving various veg and non veg kebabs, some beers and also wine. I have been to Grand Mercure Mysuru and loved my stay along with the dinner at the poolside restaurant - By The Blue. So I have eager to have a similar experience at By The Blue at Grand Mercure Bangalore.

Located in Koramangala, Grand Mercure is on 12th main away from the maddening crowd and in a residential area. So you will always have a quiet dinner at their restaurant. By The Blue is their poolside restaurant serving dinner only. They also host special parties and get together at the restaurant too. Enjoying dinner with your special people in life with low light, soft music, Bangalore's cool breeze and by the pool, this combination will make you fall in love with the restaurant. For the month of February, Chef Gopal Jha and his team have curated a menu of various kebabs which can be enjoyed with beer or Fratelli wine. As I do not consume alcohol, I opted for a mocktail while I savored their kebabs.

Each kebab is made carefully and with best ingredients and the best meat available. They have 6 veg and 6 non-veg kebabs on their menu and it will be served unlimited for 2 hours for Rs.1999+taxes. In 2 hours, you can get a taste of all the kebabs and it will fill your tummy and you will be satiated too.

I chose to try a mix of veg and non-veg kebabs, started with Chicken Tikka and Paneer Tikka where the marination was excellent and the chicken and paneer were very soft. One of the best chicken tikka's I have had.

I followed it with Mutton Seekh Kebab which was juicy and soft which are made from bay lamb, it will just melt in your mouth. Grilled prawns were next, jumbo prawns were used for it, grilled and marinated in their spices.

To break the monotony, Chicken Dimsums were served and it tasted best with their fresh coriander and chilli chutney. Their red chutney is spicier. Dahi ke Kebab had to be tasted, these hung curd patties are extremely filling. Another Chicken Starter took my heart. The marination made the tikka delicious and tasted best with mint chutney.

Some kebabs which were fried. Prawn Triangle was a different take to samosa with prawn filling, best tasted with mayo or green chutney. Lobster Bite had small deep fried patty of lobster meat. Crab Claw had deep fried patty of crab meat. They also served Fish Fingers made from Indian salmon which was refreshing from the usual Basa. While I love seafood, I do not prefer them deep fried when there is an option for grilled but just one for taste did no harm.

If you are looking for a quiet meal with some delicious food served fresh and made with love then the Kebab, wine and beer fest at Grand Mercure Bangalore is a must visit for you. Chef Gopal Jha and team will make sure you will have a meal which will etch in your memory like it did for me.

Be Valentine's day ready at D'vine Nails with Repechage Facial

Valentine's day is round the corner and everyone is making plans to make their partner feel special. So do not just stick to a good dinner or gift, but make your partner feel more special by taking care of them and their skin.

This valentines week, pamper skin with a four layer facial by Repechage. It is a premium facial which is not provided by many salon's in the city. D'vine Nails, located on St. Marks road, provides this premium facial which is rated as the best facial of the country by Cosmopolitan, UK. Let me tell you more about Repechage:

• Premiere anti-aging treatment 
• Layer upon layer facial 
• Consists of European seaweed to rejuvenate, tone and firm the skin
• A seaweed mask followed by mineral-rich thermal mask for a complete relaxation and results 
• Has 3 different seaweeds - Laminaria Digitata, Ascophyllum Nodosum and Rosa Canina which is rich in amino acids, anti oxidants, vitamins and minerals. It also helps lock in moisture and also nourish the skin deeply. 
• Suitable for all skin types
• Nourish your skin every 5-6 weeks

Apart from facial, you can also pamper your nails, hand and feet at D'vine Nails. I have already blogged about my nail experience earlier and you can read it here. This time I went ahead with manicure and pedicure in which products from Body Cafe were used.

With a pampering session at Divine Nails you can be Valentine's day ready. So book your appointment for yourself and your partner at D'vine Nails now.

Lavazza's IL Mattino Vivace, 100% pure filter coffee is now available in stores.

Lavazza launches IL Mattino Vivace in India. It is their first made-in-India coffee powder. This coffee powder is exclusively crafted for Indian market. Coffee has been an ideal drink for most people and filter coffee is synonym to South India. People love their coffee and sip on it for any occasion, be in happiness, sadness, stress, celebration or just to while away the time. The coffee culture is growing rapidly and with cafe culture, people are getting used to more coffee in their system.

IL Mattino Vivace, which translates to lively morning, is a real filter coffee made from beans sourced from the plantations in Coorg and Chikmagalur. It is a fine blend of Arabica and Robusta beans which are roasted to perfection in medium to dark roast for scale intensity 6 with hints of caramel notes. The coffee is mild and aromatic and has well-rounded body. It is perfect to enjoy it with milk preparations.

The package comes in 200 grams with special airtight packaging priced at Rs. 150. You can enjoy this coffee in a traditional coffee filter or coffee machine. IL Mattino Vivace will offer you a great coffee experience to filter coffee lovers in India.

Get a lively start to your morning with IL Mattino Vivace.