PRODUCT REVIEW: COCOA GARDEN HOMEMADE CHOCOLATES

For all the joy of homemade chocolate with none of the effort

 

Any true connoisseur will agree nothing beats homemade. This winter skip the mass manufactured candy and order an assorted batch from Cocoa Garden, each chocolate is hand made and packaged in small batches. I inhaled my box within a day of receiving it. The dark chocolate and butterscotch were so good they vanished within the first couple of hours of receipt of possession.

Reach them at their facebook page here (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cocoa-Garden/)

RESTAURANT REVIEW: BARSOOM, HAUZ KHAS VILLAGE

For another pretty bar in HKV
 

 

 

I love bars and restaurants with unusual themes and an unusual literary theme is even more irresistible. Edward Rice Burrough's Barsoom might not have been my first choice in fictional settings I want to recreate (that would probably be Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree or the treehouse from Swiss Family Robinson) but I've been excited about this translation of an imaginary planet into an HKV bar nonetheless.

 

Looks Like

 

The extraterrestrial references are subtle and clever, never sinking into tacky obviousness. This is an interpretation of Burrough's work and not an unimaginative replica. The fluid lines, emphasis on contrasting textures and sense of minimalism create an elegant, quiet space removed from the noisy clatter of the neighbouring HKV rabble. The layering of wood, leather and woven textile embellishments and the absence of bird cages demonstrate more depth and maturity in design than I've come to expect from HKV.
 

 

Tastes Like

 

The menu is unique in that while it covers the usual bases, like Pastas, Salads and Soups, the dishes are all over the places geographically. The Lamb Goulash is nestled gently between the Fish and Chips and Barsoom Beef Steak and shares the same page as the Aubergine Parmigiana. It reads a little like a well travelled person's list of favorite foods.

 

The Empanadas (with spinach filling) were a success, delicate leaves of spinach drowning in near molten cheese trapped in crispy fried shells and accompanied by fresh, zingy salsa. As was the perfectly crunchy Boba Feta (feta cheese and watermelon on a bed of arugula and black olives).

 

As Barsoom is run by the guys behind the laid back (now closed) Flipside Café it features Flipside's trademark crepes. I tried the savoury Spinach and Cheese variation and while the crepe itself was perfect, soft without being doughy, fluffy without being too thick, the Spinach and Cheese filling was bland and underwhelming.

 

Fueled by nostalgia for picturesque autumn days spent in Prague a few years ago I ordered the Lamb Goulash with Cous Cous which also turned out to be a damp squib. The curry of the Goulash was think and too sparse to cover the slightly dry cous cous and nothing like the thick, hearty gravy I ate every day in Prague. The "award winning" Banana Chocolate Tart was the only dessert available and though it was good, I'm not sure the batch I got would have won any awards.

 

In terms of the bar menu, I enjoyed the Watermelon Martini but was surprised to find the much more commonplace Mojito was quite amateur.

 

All in all, you can try your luck. The space is intriguing and the food reasonably competent but there are some definite misses on the menu.

 

Feels Like

 

I turned up at Barsoom on a Monday afternoon when the place was completely empty. The staff seemed prompt and helpful but I realize the true test of their worth lies in their ability to handle busier circumstances.  

PRODUCT REVIEW: RAWLEAF.IN

For when you're trying to be healthy but are also very lazy

I can't get over how well the city of butter chicken with butter naan is adapting to the healthy eating zeitgeist. My latest low cal discovery is Rawleaf, a service that allows you to order individual or family packs of fresh salads online. Rawleaf promises that their salads are made of fresh, pesticide free produce that has been harvested less than 48 hours in advance of being in your box. The individual packs are great for a working lunch and the family packs would make an ideal side for when you have company over.

 

Their portions are generous and the revolving menu makes sure you don't get bored. I really like the Ceaser and Hawaiian Salads and am looking forward to trying the Kale Grapefruit and Nicoise Salads. I'm very fussy about salad dressings - the dressing has to marry the flavors of the various fruits, vegetables and salad leaves without overwhelming any one of them. Also, nothing irritates me more than people being stingy with the dressing. You need to give enough to evenly coat the salad without leaving it dry or letting it get too sludgy. Rawleaf gets these proportions just right.

 

Packing and Paraphernalia

 

While the packaging is perfect, their delivery logistics are cumbersome. You have to order before noon to get delivery on the same day and even then the delivery can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours. It's a pain to try to get your order in every morning and it might be best to call them and set up a regular arrangement with them.

 

Find them at (http://www.rawleaf.in/)

RESTAURANT REVIEW: CAPERBERRY RESTAURANT AND TAPAS LOUNGE, BANGALORE

For deconstructing your appetite

 

 

 

I know it's faddish and I should know better but I'm a big fan of molecular gastronomy. I know the movement jumped the shark and is now so passé that to refer to it fondly is to declare yourself irretrievably gauche but the heart wants what the heart wants.

 

I've been wanting to go to Caperberry since I first heard of its opening years ago but kept missing it when I happened to be in Bangalore.

 

Looks Like

 

The space is tiny but charming with a sort of antiqued patina. The pale blue color scheme is unusual but soothing and the warm lighting sets a romantic but formal tone.

 

 

 

Tastes Like

 

I ordered way too much but have few regrets.

 

The Amuse Bouche of the Day (Cheddar with Mango, Cranberry and Lychee) was a gentle wave of sweet fruit followed by a tornado of strong, flavorful cheese. The Chicken and Mozzarella Involtini was a little confused and the over spiced, tikka-esque, chicken drowned out the mozzarella. On the other hand, the Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese Roulade blew my mind with the soft flesh of the salmon melting into the pungent goat cheese and finally bursting with the crunch of precious caviar. In an ironic twist, Caperberry's Lamb Filo Tartlets irrevocably prove that no quantity of presentation or pretension can ever compete with the near religious fervor inspired by spicy meat filled into a buttery, flakey tart shell.

 

The Imitation Carpaccio is a dish that will now define summer in my head, the compressed watermelon, mint caviar, balsamic jelly, parmesan, arugula, chrysanthemum and micro greens are fabulously refreshing. In the mains the Duck Empredat was the most perfectly cooked duck I've ever had, the meat so tender and acquiescing it would slide off the bone and on to my fork without the slightest resistance.

 

Word of advice, avoid the frankly, quite ordinary cocktails to focus on the excellent food. The Blush Sangria was wishy washy and the Cryo Long Island (with Liquid Nitrogen) was absolutely noxious.

 

Feels Like

 

We were terrible customers. We turned up late, added guests to our table after last order and were easily the loudest in the room. The staff though was incredibly pleasant and accommodating. Our server made very useful suggestions to help us navigate the hard core menu.

 

The restaurant is teeny tiny so it's probably safest to make a reservation.

 

 

DIVE BAR REVIEW: 4S

For lawyers, gossip and comfort

 

Dive bars are really hard to review because their appeal is so hard to explain. I usually comment on décor, food and service, 3 things you're probably not going to find at 4S. But that becomes a case of judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Anyway the people who frequent the place wont be dissuaded by my post and those who don't can't be tortured into it. So I'm not going to use my usual format for 4S, instead here's a bullet point list on how to navigate the place.

 

1. The answer to any question you may have at 4S is to keep drinking.

 

2. The guy at the next table did just use the term heteronormativity twice in one sentence.  Keep drinking.

 

3. If you must order food restrict yourself to the Masala Peanuts or anything dry, chicken and fried. I strongly recommend you keep drinking.

 

4. Do not embarrass yourself by trying to order an Appletini or anything which has more than 2 ingredients (i.e., booze + coke). They do an unexpectedly good Bloody Mary though.

 

5. Someone may or may not have spotted a dead rat in the girl's loo. Let's not make a thing of it. Keep drinking.

 

6. Be nice to the staff, they're worth it.

 

4S is testament to the old adage that you can't argue with destiny. Defence Colony Market is full up with cheap drinking holes with crappy bar food but the universe keeps us all coming back to 4S.