Mash N Grill food festival at ITC Fortune Park BBD, Lucknow

On a balmy Thursday afternoon, just when Lucknow was getting into the grip of tropical noons, I was invited for a tasting menu at ITC Fortune Park BBD - Lucknow. Starting 4th May, the ORCHID restaurant, situated at the 1st floor at this boutique hotel, has begun the MASH N GRILL food festival (running till 13th May) that is worth a try if you are a fan of the Tex Mex cuisine. It is basically a fusion of American and Mexican cuisines, deriving from the culinary creations of the west, and is characterised by heavy use of meat, potatoes, grilled veggies and spices.

I attended the event with some fellow food bloggers from the city, and between mouthfuls of the delicious bites and conversation on the similarities of the Mexican & Indian food, we kept each other regaled with our stories on kitchen food innovations and sultry tales about our passion for food. And from there, I got an idea of collaborating with my friend and blogger - Azmaan Khan from Talking Tastebuds to share a review about the veg & non-veg dishes for you all (where only Azmaan tasted the non-veg food).

I know you've been missing the reviews about non-vegetarian food on this blog for past 10 months, and for once I'd like to give you what you ask for. Hence, below is a detailed description of the dishes we tasted and what we felt about them all. Scroll down to take a look..

VEGETARIAN DISHES

Grilled Polenta - These are grilled corn meal cakes served with pepper coulis and mescaline salad. One of my favorites from the menu because I am a corn freak. Beautifully grilled upside down and tasted best even with no salad.

Grilled Tofu Skewers - If you like a healthy substitute to cottage cheese, tofus are for you. This colorful dish consists of soya marinated tofu, bell pepper and mushroom skewers served with hot pineapple tomato salad. I love when you get to hold these stick dishes and keep munching on them one by one; it just feels fun to eat it, especially when it's spicy and grilled to perfection.

Cheese & Pimento Fajitas - Something super solid to hog on. If you're a fan of wraps, you'll definitely want to try this. Cheese & pimento rolled in tortilla bread, served with Mexican tomato salsa & sour cream. I enjoy tasting wraps and this was just one of those yummy dishes I can eat everyday. Tastefully grilled with soft and chewy texture.

Cajun Grilled Veggies - Well, not everyone might be a fan of boiled and grilled veggies, but I surely am. I feel good eating vegetables that aren't a part of my daily meals. At times, it's good to try some smokey grilled cherry tomatoes, zuccini, broccoli, marinated in cajun spices and served with bamboo stick. It is delectable and wholesome.

Mashed Potato - So when you talk of Mash N Grill, you basically get grilled food from the Mexican cuisine and mashed vegetable dishes from the American cuisine, which consists of potatoes as staples. This extremely plain potato dish tastes as simple as it's name. A blog of mashed potatoes on your plate to pair up with grilled non-veg dishes that you're going to read about below. I took a bite of it with some lettuce sauce and felt something just melted into my mouth as soon as I put it in.

NON-VEGETARIAN DISHES

Grilled Chicken : Deeply grilled chicken in barbecue sauce and rosemary confit. Easily palatable with a perfect blend of taste and texture. Definitely one of the best available in town and worth the money!

Grilled Salmon with Potato and Lettuce Sauce : These are marinated scotties salmon stake grilled, served with spinach & potatoes. The salmon was nicely grilled, though I'm not a huge fan of the dish, I tried a few bites. it was properly diced and grilled and had retained its flavour well. I enjoyed it with the sliced potatoes served with lemon butter sauce.

This was our first experience with the Tex Mex cuisine, and we personally liked the preparations. Even though our tastebuds urged for more spice, it was fun trying something out of the box in the city. It's a must try food festival and we recommend you to visit soon, since 13th May being the last day for it.  |  Address : 29/7, Rana Pratap Marg, Dainik Jagran Chauraha, Lucknow. 

If you liked reading this post, do let me know in the comments below. Also, for more food reviews and pictures, follow me on my new food page on instagram, and for rest on facebook and twitter.

Photographed by : Azmaan Khan

~xoxo~

Lucknow's First Silent Disco with a Book Cafe & More at ELEV8, Levana Suites

Hey everyone! How's it going in the new year? It's almost been a month that I've written something for you here, and I have so much to tell you all. But first things first, Lucknow is levelling their cultural game up and my excitement is irresistible! The city's been undergoing a massive makeover past one year and there's nothing that's not being brought in to glam up the town life.

With the title, you've already got hint that I'm going to share with you the news about Lucknow's first SILENT DISCO that has been recently launched at this swanky, new cafe - ELEV8, at LEVANA SUITES. Levana has been one of the most renowned hospitality chains in Lucknow and it's no secret that everything from their interiors to the food and the staff is exemplary.

ELEV8, their new impeccably run venue is a perfect blend of quaint and modern! The aesthetically designed cafe with a huge section of a fine selection of awe-inspiring books was all that the city needed, along with an indoor BAR, BAKERY and a CAFE setup which allows the nerds and their friends to chill. You ask me, what about the disco? The same area is transformed into that, every Saturday where the in-house DJ plays 2 different music channels for the guests to listen onto their wireless headphones and dance to the tune of their favorite tracks, without disturbing anyone else, creating a noisy-affair. Yes, this concept has been around for a while and I'm so glad that Lucknow's got one for it too!

What more? It's not just the indoor space that attracts me, but the outside area that we call the rooftop, looks even brighter, making your evening refined and relaxed. The subtle hues you find in the furniture, including the cabanas and decks that give you the beach feels just rightly, making it apt for you to get photographed at every corner! ELEV8 also offers a private lounge area for a gathering of 12-15 people for private parties and more, where you could also chill in blankets with headphones on and watch your favorite TV series while dining with your friends, on weekends. Now that's something out-of-the-box! As a reminder, you are welcome to carry your headphones here, while you're tuned into your silent disco channel, so you can always party under the stars!

Well, now that that I've already got you excited about dancing and chilling while drinking your favorite booze and spirits with friends, let's get talking about the food. ELEV8 offers a wide range of multi-cuisine cafe snacks that could make anyone drool over it! The food that I tried the other day was delicious, the kind of country dining that sets out to satisfy - hearty and comforting, precisely executed and cooked with confidence.

Mexican Bean Nachos - Platter full of mexican nachos with boiled beans and salsa dip, sour cream and cheese dip. A tummy filling snack for 2, with a beautiful presentation that got my heart beating stronger!

Greek Salad -  A delightful blend of different condiments like lettuce, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, fresh olives and onion with bread crumbs, perfectly balanced with spicy sauces, served with a garlic bread as side. TBH, a craver for salads like me would love every bit of it! 

Aglio Olio Peperoncino - Favorite of the lot, aglio olio wins my heart everytime! Perfectly cooked spaghetti pasta, blended with just the right amount of red chilly, sun dried tomato and flakes, served with a garlic bread to savour. 

A'La Napolitana Pizza - Thin crust pizza, overloaded with veggies and cheese. I wasn't too happy with the taste as both the crust and cheese were hard. Maybe I should try the other variant next time!

Veg Mini Kathi Roll - A crisp wrap, filled with skewed veggies & cottage cheese, served with authentic Indian green chutney to balance the taste with perfection. I loved the presentation and the delightful taste! 

Mexican Bean Nachos

Greek Salad

Aglio Olio Peperoncino Pasta

A'La Napolitana Pizza

Veg Mini Kathi Roll

Of course, no meal is done without desserts! Let's get started here.

Fruit Tarts - Crisp, sweet tarts filled with fresh cream and topped with fresh fruits. I have a penchant for fresh fruits and I loved how the Kiwi & Plum tarts were decorated with fine cuts and placements and the Cherries looked super inviting! You could gulp it in one-go.

Apple Pie - I've tasted apple pies across the city, but this one had a crisp pastry case, packed full of a well-balanced sweet and tart filling, with delicious chunks of apples. Served with apple sauce and ice-cream, just how I wanted it!

Chocolate & Walnut Brownie - Beautifully presented, textured walnut brownie with chunks of walnuts and topped with fresh chocolate sauce & ice-cream! I was already swayed by the appearance and as you must have guessed it, I didn't feel like destroying the beauty. Yet, for my job I did taste some and oh, it was heaven!

Fruit Tarts

Apple Pie

Chocolate Walnut Brownie

'ELEV8' at Levana Suites, located at 18, Madan Mohan Malviya Marg has a lot in-stored for the foodie and the party animal in you. As they claim, it's the newest glam addition to the city, and I vouch for that! LIVE musical evenings and Hep disco nights never seemed fun to me, but now that I do have a place to visit like that, come say hi when you spot me grooving! Until then, love and luck.

Find Levana Suites on Facebook & Instagram and stay updated with regular events & more.

~xoxo~

Lucknow's First Truck Themed Restaurant - The Urban Dhaba

A mélange of people from all over the country, Lucknow has a diverse culture, which is also reflected in its eating habits. People are now more open to exploring new experiences, and a host of restaurants have come up to satiate Lucknow food lover’s inquisitiveness. And it’s not just new cuisines that the customers are looking for, but also spunky and innovative ambience, that gives them a unique and memorable dining experience!

With the recent launch of THE URBAN DHABA - Lucknow's first truck themed restaurant, Lucknowites have got a quirky place to hangout with friends and experience the best of North Indian 'dhaba' style food in the comfort of a fine dine! Walk in and the quirky decor will scream out to you (there is literally a taxi hanging from the wall). The Bollywood theme with the posters hanging from the wall and dhaba-like atmosphere will put you in the mood for intensely buttery, garlicky naans and melt-in-your-mouth paneer at Mirch Masala. High on kitsch, quirk and must-Instagram-this-now quotient, there are painted matkas, low cots (khatiya), overturned lassi glasses suspended from the ceiling, truck engine counters and walls filled with rugged tyres; all to satisfy your highway dhaba craving within the city!

Outside View

Taxi Seating

Reception

Truck Engine Counter

And my favorite soon-to-start corner : The Paani Puri Stall

As cool the concept of this dhaba themed restaurant is, the much cooler is it's food. While in conversation with the chef I got to know that it's not just the well-flavoured North Indian food that surprises the customers at The Urban Dhaba, but also the Mughlai, Chinese and Continental cuisines that make them drool. One of the most talked about dishes from the kitchen of this restaurant is the BAHUBALI THALI. Which is one of the hugest thalis served in town, presenting an amalgamation of - Soup, Paneer Tikka, Veg Kebab, Dal Makhani, Paneer Gravy, Mix Veg, Veg Kofta, Veg Pulao, Raita, Achaar, Papad, Naan, Missi Roti, Sweets.

Well, apart from the Bahubali Thali, I also tasted some of my favorite dhaba dishes that I'd been craving for the longest time. My picks from the menu was the Blue Shoe mocktail (which tasted pretty refreshing), along with Dahi Kebabs and Hara Bhara Kebabs in the starters that were super succulent and delectable. It's been a while since I tasted the Hara Bhara Kebabs so I literally hogged onto every single piece that was served, and I am glad it didn't disappoint me.

Then I jumped onto the main course menu and ordered for Dhaba Paneer, Stuffed Capsicum (stuffed with spiced-mashed potatoes),  Pindi Chana along with Butter Naan. Literally the best combo at the dhabas, often! Starting from the soft paneer to the best baked capsicum to amazingly flavored chana, all gravy dishes, that tasted heavenly. Gladly, it was lunch time and I went with an empty tummy, filling it with delicious delicacies that left me super satisfied! 

To end the meal, I ordered for Fruit Triffle - a dessert made with thin layering of fruit cake, loaded with fresh cut fruits and topped with fresh cream and nuts. It was a perfect balanced sweet dish, tasting nothing else but toothsome! 

Blue Shoe Drink

Hara Bhara Kebabs, Dahi Kebab

Dhaba Paneer

Baked Capsicum

Pindi Chana, Butter Naan

Fruit Triffle

My first experience at The Urban Dhaba (situated at 3/178, Vivek Khand, Above Spencers, Near Neelkanth Sweets) was mind blasting. Tasted the best of Indian food and got clicked in rusty interiors! What else could have I wished for?! Read my overall review below :

Food - 4/5

(Loved whatever I tasted)

Service - 5/5
(Very courteous staff, good at explaining about food prepared)

Ambience - 4.5/5

(unique interiors, vibrant and bright lighting - best part)


 

Check out The Urban Dhaba on Facebook and Instagram. You must visit this newly launched restaurant and enjoy a widespread of cuisines. Do let me know your experience later! :)

Photographed by : Yash Athwani

~xoxo~

Food Soirée at JW Club Lucknow

Hey everybody, hope all's going great! I know the heat's almost killin' most of us in the inside with the temperature that crossed 40 degree celsius in the past days, but we just have to keep it going, right? So, amidst the crazy sunburns I've got you a fresh new post with the launch news of a brand new bar restaurant in Lucknow, named as the JW CLUB, that has opened in the Indira Nagar area. Its one of the very few pubs/clubs in the town which has hit it big in the market just in almost a month! Yes, JW Club was launched on the 17th of March, 2017 by the versatile bollywood actress Mugdha Godse and since then the club has been striking it well for the party hoppers!

Well, I personally got the opportunity to attend the pre-launch of the club along with my fellow bloggers where we were gracefully welcomed by the chef who offered us to pick a welcome drink or two from the menu, and I opted for Festival of House and Kiwi Melon Love from there! The first drink was a refreshing combination of muddled coriander with cumins added to fresh tomato & lemon juice, tabasco and rock salt to give it a punch. Whereas the kiwi drink seemed more on a sweeter end with a blend of fresh kiwi and melon, along with added fruity crushes! 

Festival of House

Kiwi Love Melon

APPETIZERS

Next up we had an array of delicious starters prepared by the talented team of exquisite chefs by JW, and to my surprise it was way presentable than I ever thought it would be! A bowl full of Khow Suey soup that was pretty good both in texture and taste. Unlike the regular khow suey, this wasn't too spicy and also was a bit thicker than usual which made it even better to be slurped! We were also presented two types of salads, Greek (combination of feta cheese, black olives and capsicum) and Caeser (combination of fresh lettuce, parmesan cheese, olives, cherry tomatoes, lemon) and I preferably would recommend the Greek salad at JW. Its an outstanding preparation!

Coming to the more filling appetizer list, we had Mushroom Duets, Fried Onion Rings, Dahi Kebabs, Pan Tossed Paneer and Cheese Garlic Fries in the menu where my ultimate favorites were the delectable dahi kebabs and cheese garlic fries that tasted so yum. My friends liked the onion rings as well, and you'd be a fool to say no to paneer so that was one came in repeat! I must mention that I loved how beautifully the dishes were decorated and the dips with each of the starters tasted pure bliss.

Khow Suey Soup

Greek Salad

Classic Caeser Salad

Mushroom Duets

Fried Onion Rings

Dahi Ke Kebabs

Pan Tossed Black Sauce Paneer

Cheese Garlic Fries

MAIN COURSE

While the main course arrived, most of us were already had our tummies filled but we definitely were up for a sizzler trial as was presented to us! They say there aren't too many options for vegetarians but apart from the Americano Sizzler that I picked, they also have a mexican Cottage Cheese Sizzler in their menu which too looked good while I saw my friend hogging on it! Though I felt mine was better as it had more of rice and sauted veggies with a tangy sauce to top. The hot sizzling plate full of aromatic sizzler made my day!

Americano Sizzler

DESSERT

We all know, no meal is complete without a dessert. And, what would be better than a dish full of Sizzling Hot Brownie with chilled Vanilla Ice Cream to get done! The chef brought each one of us a separate brownie dish because even he knew we would never share the sweet bites. The crunchy brownie tasted heaven and the ice cream left me speechless and if they only allowed me to pop in some more mint, I really wanted to order another dish to consume that all by myself!

Sizzling Hot Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream

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JW Club, located at the 5th floor at Shalimar Plaza, Indra Nagar is one of the most happening clubs in Lucknow at the moment. For people who like to party hard, and drink at high class bars, and dance to the tune of charismatic DJs on spacious disco dance floors, it is the place to be! Tastefully done interiors with comfortable couches, dim lighting and cozy ambience makes JW Club a fine destination for a perfect hangout with friends, family and corporate delegates. Let me know your experience if you land up there soon!

If you liked this post, do comment below and share it across to spread a word about JW Club in Lucknow. Also, check out my social media handles (facebook, instagram, twitter) to know more about some cool new hangout options in the town!

 

Photographed by : Azmaan Khan

~xoxo~