Wine & Cheese at Park Hyatt, Chennai

For years now I have been hearing about how wonderful Wine & Cheese combination is. But I am quite clueless on what wine is good with what cheese and why. So when Park Hyatt announced a Wine & Cheese festival, I had to attend it, if only to quench my curiosity. 

I reached the hotel around 7 and waited a good hour for the other bloggers to arrive and for the restaurant to get ready with their set... We were then welcomed into The Dining Room in the lobby level where the festival was happening. 

There in the corner of the restaurant was a table set up with quite a few varieties of cheese. Besides this on another table were bread, olives, mustard and few other varieties of bread. And then as you turned around, was a bucket with ice and quite a few White wine bottles which were accompanied by a few Red wine bottles outside the bucket. This is another thing that leaves me puzzled- why is White wine chilled while Red is served at room temperature? I am still clueless about this.. 

I got to interact with Alessandro from Italy, a wine connoiseur who spoke about how the Tuscany region he hailed from was popular for Wine. He wore a thick chain of sorts with a flat cup at the end. He mentioned it was for wine tasting and that he never ate a thing or drank a drop of any liquid when working. He spoke in length about wine, which wine goes with which cheese, but then all this just vanished into thin air in a few minutes and I was just happy to be tasting so many varieties of cheese and sipping on different kinds of wine as well. 

It was one fun evening, I would love to learn more about wine and cheese.. Hopefully soon!!

Address:

Park Hyatt

#39, Velachery Main Road, 

Guindy, 

Chennai- 600032 

Ph:- 044 7177 1234

Kebab Fest [Till May end], Skillet in Hablis

Choose any 3 kebabs

Order for a glass of wine

And you are set for the meal... 

Wait, one more thing

You not only get the kebabs

But you also get 2 small roti/naan

a cup of divine yellow daal

the perfect mint chutney 

and a small serving of salad in a rolled up pappad

All this for Rs400 [all inclusive]

How cool a deal is that? 

Well, that is exactly what this Kebab fest at Skillet is all about. There are 3 veg and 6-7 non veg kebabs available.

I quite loved the veg kebab platter that I got, infact so did the guys who had just devoured their non veg platter. There was potato stuffed with cashews and raisins, paneer and finally the one with mushrooms, capsicum and pineapple which was just divine! The non veg troops got a seafood kebab served in a bowl that was edible along with the roti, daal , chutney and pappad..  

The wine they served was quite good- red wine, dry and not sweet, just perfect for this kind of a meal. A friend was already dreaming of their Tiramisu and so we went ahead and asked for one portion of the same.. It was good but felt it was a bit too heavy.. 

This fest is on till the end of May, so go give it a try!!

Address

Hablis

No.19, Grand Southern Trunk Rd, Guindy, Madras, Tamil Nadu 600032

Ph: 044 2233 4000

Disclaimer:

The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember these were just my views!! Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Dot Yum, Aloft, Chennai

After the elaborate tour and the insightful session into the Dining options at Aloft, I was now all set to try the brunch.. 

As soon as I heard the name, I wondered what the story was behind the name. The Chef did not know, so I imagined it was either something to do with the Hotel being on the IT expressway or there is nothing better to define good food than saying "yum" and by saying "dot yum" you are basically telling the world this is where your search for the most amazing food ends~! 

Either ways, I was curious to try the food here. The only other time I have eaten at Aloft was a year ago at a wedding reception and the food had been outstanding. It was Saturday and the brunch was on. By the time I was done with a mini tour of the property, I could hear the hunger bell go off within me. The Chef spent some time talking about the place, his experience, the kind of crowd that comes, and how the crowds are scattered through the week - between the guests and those who come exclusively to dine. 

The Brunch Buffet was earlier priced higher but now has been brought down to Rs 550+ tax. It had a soup, couple of starters [ mix of veg & non veg] and quite a spread on the mains and the desserts. 

The Soup was Minestrone soup, which was quite good, loved the flavours in it. The vegetables had been finely sliced and it was followed by Cauliflower fritters that had a Chinese touch to them. Crisp and fresh, they were hot when they arrived on the table [which is a big plus]. I declined further starters and went ahead to explore the Buffet- there were the few dishes that we see in almost all buffets- the Veg pulao, Veg noodles, but here apart from the veg gravy, they had one made with Raw bananas which just blew me away. There was also snake gourd manchurian which I tried out of curiousity but did not like too much [the veg has a unique flavour which is not my favorite].  The black bean veg curry was quite good, went well with the noodles.  They also had a pasta with pesto, which I felt had an overdose of cream [ normally pesto pasta is dry with just the right amount of pesto bringing them all together]. 

The buffet is laid out in 3 segments- the mains, the salad and the desserts. Again, the mains too were divided neatly between veg and non veg. There was also a live counter available, which changed periodically. In the Salads, I enjoyed the grilled Italian vegetables and the tender beetroot slices with sesame seeds the best. 

I was also offered an assortment of Indian breads [which is served in the table] and if you know me, you would know I ordered my standard Fresh Lime soda [salt], it is such a refreshing drink~!

It was quite relaxing, to just unwind and enjoy the food in peace and quiet. The place had a few other groups, but I saw people stream in around 2 onwards [which is when I discovered they had an afternoon menu- Sandwiches/pizza with beverages] .. I slowly made my way towards the Dessert section, and brought back a few treats- Baklava, Gulab jamun, Strawberry based dessert [sugarfree], few slices of watermelon and papaya and a simple white chocolate mousse cake with a slice of strawberry on top. There were more, including ice creams, which I passed up! 

Overall, it is a good value for money kind of a meal. And on a Saturday, after a brunch you are good to go through the day without thinking about food [ what to cook for lunch~?? being a nightmare for all of us] .. Infact, this would be an ideal place for a group to go hang out on a weekend.. Time to make some plans, are you game?! And next time, I want to try some dishes from Estia menu as well. 

I also had a cup of coffee about an hour later, which was the traditional filter coffee and not instant coffee..:-) Have to say, this was one good Saturday... 

Address:

Aloft Hotel
102, Rajiv Gandhi Salai,Sholinganallur,
Chennai -600119
Ph- 044 4592 5500

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Moon And Sixpence, Hablis, Chennai

“She loved three things — a joke, a

glass of wine, and a handsome man.” 

― W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon And Sixpence

 

This is what came to my mind when I heard the name “The Moon and Six Pence”. And this time I wasn’t reading about the book, but about the Irish Pub inside the Hotel Hablis, Guindy.  The name had me curious, I wondered what the inspiration was behind it, if there was a story or a connection and that is what lured me to the pub on that Thursday. A quick ride up to the 1^st floor and you spot the walls covered with Irish proverbs and sayings.  A narrow passage is what you walk down, with a door labeled “lounge” on the left and another straight ahead as well.  Quite a few posters and pieces cover the wall outside, while the inside has been kept minimal.

Done up with brown wood, the place is beautiful. To add to the décor there are a few glass panels with Guiness, Jamerson etched on them. And then there are the random selection of books and bottles, not to forget the clock with The Moon and Six Pence [hereforth shall be referred to as MASP] written on it and the beautiful Pool table sitting right at the end, almost in a corner. It reminded me of a scene from the movie “accidental husband” where Uma Thurman goes looking for Jeffrey Dean to tell them about how they are supposedly married, it is a mistake and to ask him to sign the annulment papers!

The pub incidentally has 3 sections- the Lounge, the main bar area and the Patio [which is also the smoking section]

We were all in the Lounge area, some glued to the Bar area while rest of us found a table nearby. To kick start the evening, I had a mocktail- lychee juice blended with cranberry and some soda and it was quite good. I did spend a few minutes in the bar, firing away questions about the various drinks they had, valuable lessons you see :D I also had a glass of red wine [ a domestic one], which was not really geat, so am curious to see their wine list.

We also met with the MASP Manager  who is Irish, Aine Edwards, who spoke in length about how the pub was true to the Irish standards, in terms of décor and others, but food was a fusion keeping the Indian palette in mind. We also met with Chef Nagaraj and Prabhu who made sure we tried a wide range of dishes that evening.That evening was also when Hashers were meeting there to gulp down as much beer as they could [they normally do a long walk and then drink beer, but that evening they skipped the walk and hit the pub straight]

The one awesome thing about the place is that you can sit wherever you want, and get the same service; children are allowed [a point that puzzles me] and stags are also welcome…

With reference to the food, they serve a variety of Pub food- starting with the Fish n Chips to ravioli to Apple pie.  Though I felt the ratio of non veg to veg was slightly lopsided, leaning towards the Non veg side, the veg dishes that I had were quite good. Here is a round up of all that we sampled,

Clockwise from Top- Stuffed Mushroom, Mushroom Cappucino[ soup which was served piping hot with an assortment of breads which was good] and then the last dish is the MASP salad [fresh and filled with flavour, loved that they had artichokes in them]

Also featured is the ipad using which you can go through their menu and place the order.

Clockwise from top- The open ravioli which was simply yumm- 2 sheets of pasta with quite a filling of vegetables and cheese topped with more cheese and a subtle marinara sauce served with 2 slices of  garlic bread. Then featured is the Barley & veg soup- very light and quite nice, again served with 3 different kinds of breads and a bread stick as well. Below- On the left is the Bailey's Cheesecake [loved the texture, but do wish it had more Bailey's in it.. lol] and the Apple Pie with ice cream and a custard sauce [perfect flavours, but I kinda love my pies hot and the crust crisp]

The non veg dishes- Lamb Steak & Mushroom Pie [ braised lamb pieces with mushroom in a rich gravy topped off with Mashed potato crust]- I loved the mashed potato in this and those who dug into this did love the dish. Next is the Blackened Chicken Supreme a grilled chicken served with blackened spice and grilled vegetables, I once again stole the veggies while the others devoured the chicken. And finally is the MASP burger. The fries not just in this dish but in all they were served were simply amazing- triple cooked and hand cut - Out of the world! There were more non veg dishes served, but before I could click they were gone-Stuffed Scottish Salmon, Fish n Chips,Oven Roasted Salmon. Sixpence Stew, Sriracha Wings and Supion.  

And with that we were done and the clock was all set to strike Midnight, but the place was still abuzz. I know for a fact this is a place I will go back to, the ambiance and what I saw did catch my eye!  

Address:

Hablis No.19, Grand Southern Trunk Rd, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032 

Phone:044 2233 4000

Disclaimer:
The reviews posted on this blog are based on my personal experience. Also remember that restaurants and eat outs sometimes change with time, so does their food and service. So, kindly consider these factors while visiting the places. Remember, no two palates are the same. Bon Appétit  :-)

Peacock, Bangalore

Hey, do you want to catch up for dinner?

Sure,  suggest a place and tell me when, shall land...

ok, there is this restaurant called "Peacock" on 100ft road, just come over there around 8, i should reach then.

And within seconds, a plan was made...

It took me a little longer than 5mins to find the place and then to spot my friend V, who was err enjoying some retail therapy at Pavers on the ground floor. I vaguely remember there being a Reliance Footprint at that exact place and a Gloria jeans coffee nearby. That night i noticed a transformation had happened in the year or so..  Pavers and another outlet had taken the place of Reliance, while Gloria Jeans had become a small bistro of sorts. We had walk through the place to find a stone staircase leading to Peacock on the 1st floor.

There was an interesting waterfall structure near the path, with an elevator alongside. The entrance into the restaurant  was quite extravagant, dark lighting and swanky furniture, fittings and art. We were shown to a table along a wall, where a plush sofa ran along the length of the wall. The ambiance seemed quite posh...

The waiter {forgot his name, such a darling he was, serving us, making sure we were taken care of} came over and announced there was a Happy Hour deal on Wine. Well, we wasted no time in ordered a glass of Sula white wine.. Umm, the only faux pas of the evening was that my glass of wine had an ice cube floating in it. We squealed on seeing it, and the waiter was quick to replace with another full glass of wine ;)

After catching up on our lives, work and what not, we got down to ordering food. A starter that was paneer tikka that was so soft and filled with flavour. For the main courses-- mine was Lettuce wrapped around stir fried veggies [it was in the salad section, but i decided to try it out] and my friend ordered a Fish sizzler [though she wanted it on an ordinary plate passing up on the smoke filled hot sizzling plate option]

The dishes were divine, starting with the starter to the main dishes..... We did pass up on the dessert as we were fairly stuffed. I did chat with the waiter on the restaurant's background, and if they had presence elsewhere. Apparently its fairly new, and only in Bangalore, but the brand had 2 more eateries in Bangalore- one on the ground floor of the same building- Cream & Crust and the other one was Woodstock [Thanks @Deepakao for this updated information]

We walked out grinning- good food, good company and lovely weather.... Was good meeting my friend who'd recently moved to Bangalore [yes, new job] Here's to exploring new places on every visit to this familiar town...

Ambiance: 8/10
Price: 7/10 [ the meal we had cost Rs1780 incl wine]
Service: 8/10

Address:
Peacock
+91 9686377553, +91 9686377667
57, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore 

5 Senses, Chennai

We walked in towards the lift in this new swanky restaurant 5 Senses on Khader nawaz khan road... A we entered the roof top, we were pleasantly surprised at the spacious interiors and exterior seating and of course the decor. The walls had posters from Hollywood classics. As i admired them, the waiter brought what looked like a huge diary, but which was actually their menu card, rather quite a large menu book. Flipped through the pages, tried to make sense of all that was written under each category and finally gave up.. but the information about the various towns, cuisines present was very interesting.. Wish they gave us a book to take home to read in leisure!!

We ordered a Tapas, that had about 5 little starters, 3 veg and 2 non veg.. They were each sinful and packed with flavour. And then for soup, i ordered a Broccoli soup, which the waiter served in a rather unique fashion. The bowl came with a little cake in the center around which green thick soup was poured. The center was infact a broccoli mouse cake. It was good.. very light!! A friend ordered Mushroom soup that was served with a long slice of toasted bread on a wooden platter, quite funky... The others passed up on soup and went ahead with the main course. 

Between us, we ordered a Chicken & Basil pizza[ Senor P added every possible seasoning on it and we managed to get a clear shot of that, but the whole pizza looked divine and the crunchy basil on top was delicious], a chicken salad, I ordered a dish that was an assortment of smoked vegetables, and finally there was the Mousakka... If one could satiate their hunger with just the appearance of the dishes, we would be full to our ears,  then this is where you should head... however, if you are a group of people and try to share the dish, you might feel the portions are too little... The Restaurant prides itself in being a Fine Dining, and so prices are high and portions are lesser than what you are normally used to...

Food did taste good, but apart from the pizza, the portions were fairly ok... Between us, we finished one and a half bottles of wine as well. And did order up a few Apple martinis that another friend had recommended...

Oh, and we werent done yet... We wanted to go all the way and have ourselves one hearty meal. For dessert, we just stuck to Chocolate Canaloni, that was served on a long white plate with a few slices of orange on one side, and two rolls, one hazelnut flavoured and other dark chocolate with rich cholocate filling on the inside.. It was to die for... divine!!  

Good conversation, amazing company and good food, all that made the evening quite a memorable one!We were on a high and so the night will remain a fun experience...

Ambiance 9/10

Food 7/10
Service 9/10
Price 6/10

Address:    

Oyster, No. 9, Khader Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam , Chennai -34

Just after Casa Picola... 

Phone: 044 -30062010, 30062020, 30062030