Restaurant Review: Pasta Street, Bangalore

I discovered pasta street as I was walking back to my workplace recently.. I think it's been very few days since this place has opened.

On the outside it looked promising, and the day's specials written in colored chalk on the small blackboard right outside seemed interesting as well.

There's seating space on the first floor as well as the ground, but we were told we couldn't sit upstairs as that area opened up only during the evenings. I don't get the point of it really. Anyway. The ground floor itself has fair a couple of different seating options - with some tables inside and some right outside. One major pain is just how tiny their tables are. The tables for two can hold only food for one.. at best one small dish and two small quarter plates to eat in. This isn't well thought out at all. I don't know about the first floor, but the ground floor tables (atleast most of them) are very impractical. Despite this however, the decor is clean and simple.. and the hygiene and cleanliness seems to have been taken care of.

The staff is very polite, courteous and eager to help. We were promptly received, sat at a table of choice and were offered water within a minute of stepping in. The staff also helps you make your decision on the food and their suggestions are pretty good I think.

The variety they offer in the menu is pretty good.. so you can build your own pasta by choosing a sauce, pasta shape and any add ons. They've got some nice options in appetisers with your usual bruschetta and misc breads as well.

They have some great options in thin crust pizzas as well, and we were told that the pizzas were introduced just 3 days before we went in.

I was very satisfied with the taste of the food - both the pizzas and the pastas are very well made, and unlike most other restaurants - it is not partial to either vegetarians or non vegetarians. There are equal number of good food options for both across the menu.

Despite being pretty satisfied with the food, I still stick to 3 on 5 because for the offering the prices are pretty exaggerated. The decor and ambience is very basic.. and this restaurant is located in an office locality where most eaters come in from work during their lunch breaks. Their prices should have been at least 1/3rds lower than they are. 750 for two which is mentioned here, seems right about accurate - and it should have been more like 500 for two. This is also considering that their food presentation is pretty basic. So with no fine crockery/cutlery, very basic seating and furnishing, basic ambience; the price tag buys you just the food - with no frills.

I still say the service was impeccable, the food was great. The prices, although, are unjustified.

When I posted this review online, I did get a response from the restaurant. I'm posting the reply here as well.

"Thank You Nidhi. Appreciate you taking time in writing a feedback. We are glad that you have liked our food. We are working on VALUE COMBOS, keeping the corporate target group in mind, the same should be rolled out in few weeks time. Will keep you posted through Zomato. Thank you once again for your visit and valued feedback. Look forward serving you again."

I will definitely try their value combos as well when they're rolled out. Looking forward to it

My rating: 3/5 (Just because of the prices)

Address: Cunningham Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka
Phone:080 3041 2940 ext. 337

Bon Appetit!

Love,
Nidhi
My review at zomato.com

Restaurant Review: Benjarong, Bangalore

We were invited to Benjarong as part of a promotional event organized by Burrp and Yes Bank to dine with the chef over a five course meal.

To start with, I feel obliged to state that Benjarong has the best Thai food I've ever had. Also, they pay very close attention to the presentation, and you can see how every little aspect has been carefully embellished to create the dish. Major Eye Candy for any foodie.

The evening started with "Miang Kham", which is a traditional snack from Thailand and Laos. The name can be interpreted as meaning "eating many things in one bite" - from miang, meaning "food wrapped in leaves", and kham, "a bite". This was amazing! Sort of starts fireworks inside your mouth as it has such a variety of concentrated flavors - ginger, lemon, chillies, peanuts, onions and some sort of a tangy sauce. Miang Kham is thai version of the Indian paan - except that it's eaten as appetiser before the meal instead of being eaten as digestive after.

We were served a welcome drink called "Siam sparkle" - which again was very interesting with ginger and chillies along with the sweetness.

For appetisers we were served "Grathong Thong Je" (Water chestnuts, mixed peppers, corn and peas with minced chicken tossed in a delicate sauce served in rice tartlets), "Tod Mun Pla" (Thai fish cakes with peanut and cucumber relish) and "Larb Gai" (Minced chicken salad with mint and makrut leaves in a spicy dressing served in an iceberg lettuce cup). Out of these three, I absolutely loved the Grathong Thong Je. Tod Mun Pla was delicious as well, but I felt the Grathong Thong Je was also very uniquely Thai.

The soup was the star of the evening - loved the presentation! We were served a soup called "Tom Kati Goong" (Thai coconut cream soup with prawns, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and galangal served in tender coconut shell.) Amazing contrasting flavors - the earthiness of coconut cream against the sharpness of chillies and just the right seasoning. It is deceptively spicy - which for me was a pleasant surprise.

The main course included "Pad Thai Goong" (Thai rice sticks cooked in a sweet and tangy sauce with prawns and wrapped in an omelette), "Hormok Talay" (Steamed seafood Mousse) and "Gai Tod Nam Prik Pow" (Chicken tossed in roasted chilli paste). I was bowled over by the Hormok Talay. It was mega-delicious! This mouse was generously flavored with thai red curry paste and mouth watering! Perfectly complimenting the Pad Thai.

Desserts included "Sakoo Piak Maprow On" (Thai sago pudding with young coconut and corn), water chestnut in coconut milk and finally Lemongrass Icecream. While each of these were unique and different - I absolutely went crazy about the water chestnuts in coconut milk. The water chestnuts were soaked in rose syrup and had a beautiful wholesome goodness to them and the coconut milk perfectly complimented the crunchy sweetness of the fruit. Lemon grass icecream was very pleasant as well, but honestly I wasn't too crazy about the sago dessert.

To sum it up, my favorites from the meal were Tom Kati Goong (The Soup), "Hormok Talay (The mousse), Water chestnuts in coconut milk and above all the Miang Kham. It was a wonderful experience dining with the chef who explained every single course and talked about thai cuisine, culture and inspirations throughout.

If you're looking for a Thai Fine Dining experience - go for it. Don't expect to be bowled over by the decor and ambience. VERY pricey!! Great food though.

My Rating - 4/5

Address: 1/3, Ulsoor Road, Near Manipal Centre, Ulsoor, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 500009
Phone:080 3221 7201

Bon Appetit!

Love,
Nidhi
My review at zomato.com

Chocolate Fudge Cake

This is my signature cake.. I've been baking it since I was 12, and I can make it even while I'm sleepwalking! It's a different matter altogether that I do not sleepwalk. I do find that fascinating though.. sleepwalking.. I wonder how it'd be. Anyway, don't mean to digress. 

My sister and I used to fight like animals when we were kids. And then time came for her to go away for college. I was still in school.. and I missed her terribly. Whenever she used to come home for her vacations, she would call me and tell me to make sure I keep the cake ready for her.. And I used to love baking this cake for her. Once she was home, she'd give me a mingy little piece and eat the rest of it by herself. I used to love the fact that she was enjoying eating the cake I baked. We're both married and live in different cities now.. It's not that we're not in touch - of course we constantly are - but we don't get a chance to spend sisters time together.. I always miss her every time I bake this cake.

Sis - This one's for you! xoxoxoxo

Here's the recipe for you to try. You'll fall in love with yourself (all over again) when you eat what you've created. You'll want to kiss your own hands.

Oh and did I mention this is an eggless cake? Yep! So vegetarians - rejoice!

It's simple as heck and delicious - every single time!

Fresh out of the oven

Mouth-watering Chocolate Icing!

After the icing

The finished product

Ingredients:

For the cake

All purpose flour - 1 cup
Cocoa powder - 1/4th cup
Castor sugar - 3/4th cup
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Yoghurt - 6 tbsp
Milk - 5 tbsp
Melted Butter - 6 tbsp
Crushed Walnuts - 1/2 cup
Vanilla essence - 1/2 tsp

For baking

Baking tray - 8 inches diameter
Parchment paper
Butter to grease the tray

For icing

Cocoa powder - 4 tbsp
Icing Sugar - 4 tbsp
Lukewarm water

And as always, the most important ingredient - A pinch of love! :)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celcius
2. Line the baking tray with parchment paper and grease with some butter
3. Mix in all the dry ingredients in a big bowl
4. Add all the wet ingredients
5. Mix well to make sure the mixture is smooth and evenly mixed. Make sure there are no clumps
6. Pour the mixture into the baking tray
7. Bake it for 20-25 minutes. Keep a check, this may vary depending on the size of your baking dish and the consistency of your cake. If you think its done, prick the centre of the cake with a toothpick. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cake is done.
8. Keep the cake aside and let it cool. Do not take it out of the baking tray until it's cooled down. If you attempt taking the cake out while its hot, you risk breaking it. Have some patience!
10. While the cake cools down, mix up cocoa powder and sugar for the icing. put in a couple of tablespoons of lukewarm water. Pour it one spoon at a time to make sure the icing doesn't get runny. If the icing gets too runny, the cake becomes a little too soggy and while it still remains delicious.. it just becomes messy to handle.
11. Pour the icing on the cake once the cake is at room temperature.
12. Eat!

I would love to know how it turned out for you, let me know if you make it yourself. I would also love recipes for some easy to make desserts. Let me know if you have any.

Did I mention I got married between the last post and this one? The husband is a major foodie, which means I am now cooking more than ever.. There are a whole lot of recipes waiting to be published. I'll try to put em up soon! :)

Later!

Love,
Nidhi