‘Foodball’ Carnival at Monkey Bar

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Monkey Bar (Wood Street) hosts the “FoodBall Carnival”, with an exclusive menu of cocktails, awesome food and a relaxed environment.  View the biggest games on two large screens transmitting the action live.Try some innovative cocktails like Banana Kick (white rum base), Indica (Gin), Boho Martini(Gin), World Cup, and Coco-Nut Chanel.

Head over early to tuck into The Carne-Val Burger – a majestic burger comprising slices of beef tenderloin, jalapenos, caramelized onions, mozzarella, mustard, spicy salsa, avocado mayo and sour cream within a sesame bun! And for the first time in Bangalore – the Waffle Pizza a one of its kind waffle-iron pizza with house-made pizza sauce, mozzarella and a selection of toppings.  Grab a chilled beer and soak in the bustling match-day atmosphere with a plate of Tequila & Lime Wings – Jumbo wings brushed with a mixture of tequila, lime-juice, fresh coriander and red chilli flakes.

Of course lets not forget the Penalty Bombs including the mandatory Yellow Card (A shot of house whiskey dropped into Beer), Red Card (A shot of Jack Daniels dropped into Ginger Ale) and Shoot Out (3 consecutive shots of a secret concoction with Absinthe). Whether you like football or not, Monkey Bar is just the fun place for soaking up some real Brazilian vibes during the World Cup.

 

Do try this at home!
Banana Kick -White Rum, Pineapple Juice, Banana and Orange Juice;
Indica – Gin, Tamarind, Mango Juice, Amchur, Lime Juice and Sugar Syrup;
Boho Martini – Gin, Martini Rosso, Orange Juice, Grape Juice, Lime Juice,Cucumber, Cinnamon and Elderflower;
World Cup – White Rum, Cranberry Juice, Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, Cucumber, Cinnamon, Amaretto with an upturned pint of Kingfisher;
Coco-Nut Chanel – Malibu, White Rum, Lemon Fizz.

Football Frenzy

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Football fever is high as ever radiating out all the way from Brazil and hitting us even here in tech city Bangalore! So it doesn’t matter if you couldn’t make it to the host country for the tournament you can catch the action live in cafes and restaurants right here in Bangalore. Some of the […]

Summer Break at Coorg – II

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Coorg Trip Contd.

From Amanvana we  drove up to  Madikere where we stayed at the Taj Vivanta. It took us about an hour to get there from Kushalnagar and we passed the Mercara Golf Club downs on the way.

My first thought when I stepped into the resort was ‘stunning’,  and it truly is simply stunning. The lobby area opens out to a scenic view of hills and valleys on three sides. The whole property is spread across 180 acres. Our cottages were also large and spacious and again with a fantastic view of the surrounding hills.

There are plenty of  dining options at the resort – Fern Tree the multi-cuisine restaurant has quite an extensive menu. We had some great Thai food  and the kids enjoyed pizzas and pastas from the kids menu.  We also ate at Nellaki which serves traditional Coorgi cuisine. The Pandi Kari (pork curry) a signature dish with ‘neer dosa’ was absolutely delicious.

They have a poolside grill (by the same name) where they serve dishes like roasted wild mushroom, grilled vegetables grown on the property and mixed grills with local spices. Though some people may enjoy it I found the food a bit bland at the grill.  The poolside grill is closed during the monsoon months between June and Sept/Oct.

The Hive Bar offers some exotic cocktails and mixes like the Jappletini – Gin shaken with fresh lime juice and homemade strawberry puree or a Coorg Coffee Martini which takes vodka shaken with Coorg coffee and Kalhua to a new height.

Dew which they describe as ‘good eating and wellbeing on a plate‘ is quite a gem. The menu had a number of power juices and shakes, the freshest salads, whole wheat pastas, and no-cheese pizzas that were surprisingly flavourful.  Aptly located below the spa and health club this food joint had  some really wholesome, healthy and tasty grub and drinks.

The resort offers a number of leisure activities in case you are up to it. Plantation tours, coffee tasting experience, bird watching, nature trails within the property, pottery, clay modelling, cooking sessions, herb garden walks and a couple of other activities make up the long list. A point to note here – we felt that some of the activities were a bit expensive, could have definitely been priced more reasonably.

Room rates start at Rs.18000, so it is definitely a bit expensive but it is worth it. Its a great place to visit –  to relax and rejuvenate the body, mind and senses.

Summer Break at Coorg – Part 1- Kushalnagar

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We wanted to take a short summer break and since Coorg is so close to Bangalore we decided to go down there for a couple of days.  Thought I’d share details about places to stay and things to do there. It takes about 4 and a half hours from Bangalore and may take even longer depending on where you’re going in Coorg and also of course traffic at that time.

We were there for 5 days and visited two different resorts one at Kushalnagar and the other at Madikere.

First we went to Amanvana Spa at Kusalnagar. Amanvana was a bit of a bitter-sweet experience for me. The tag line for this resort spa is ‘Rabbit Hole for the Soul’. So you’l see loads of Alice in Wonderland quotes and pictures all over the place, interspersed here and there with Buddha images and carvings too!

The cottages are large and spacious; the bathrooms uniquely designed with an open to sky bathtub which is quite nice. But try to fill it with hot water and you’ll be waiting all day. Each cottage opens out to a  small courtyard and garden with chairs and a table- ideal to laze with a book and sip some locally brewed coffee.

They have an activity centre for kids, a large pool and  other stuff like river trekking, plantation visits etc. which are fun to do. They screen movies at the amphitheatre every evening and I got to see a bit of Shaadi ke Side effects on my second night there.

I tried a massage at the spa and it was ok. I wouldn’t say great but not bad either.

Amanvana is conveniently located very close to some must-see tourist spots like Bylakuppe and Dubare. Bylakuppe the Tibetian Monastery/settlement is just 10 mins drive from Amanvana while Dubare Elephant Camp is about 20 minutes away.

Food is ok, could have been better, though the pandi curry we had on the first day was pretty good. But for the rest of it the food was a bit too greasy and not very high on taste. People there are nice and staff is helpful and courteous.

New Monkey In Town

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A second Monkey Bar has recently opened at Bangalore’s food and beverage hub, 100 feet road, Indranagar. All the hallmarks of the chain are present – exciting and innovative twists on the food, a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere and affordable prices.

It is bigger than its Wood Street counterpart, so don’t be surprised if you’re hit by larger doses of irreverence and quirkiness here! Exposed brick walls, soft wood floors and comfortable booths make up the interiors of the place. There are two levels with a dramatic spiral staircase leading to the upper floor.

Chef Manu Chandra shared with us that ‘There are a couple things on the menu which are a bit different here. Though the overall refrain is the same there would definitely be some dishes that are unique to each place.’  Some of the unique offerings at Indranagar include Pirogies( Polish Dumplings),  Crab Rangoon, Roasted beat and orange salad, Pork belly sliders, and Lemon Cake. Others like the Chocolate Pot de Creme, interestingly teamed up with Salted Caramel Popcorn, is available only at the Indranagar and Delhi outlets but not at Wood Street.

There were an array of small plates and starters to choose from while we sipped our drinks. My favourites were the Crab Rangoon(crab and cream cheese filled wontons served with a sweet chilli sauce) and the Tempura Calamari which was served with wasabi mayo. The Sauteed Seer fish was also pretty good and carried heavenly aromas of ginger, galangal and lemon grass.

For main course I tried the Berry Pulao – fragrant Iranian pulao with Chicken kebabs, shredded chicken and potato salli.  The Pandi Curry and Pita was also a hot favourite.

We ended the afternoon on scrumptious dessert ( Chocolate Pot De Creme) and a fun quiz that tested our knowledge on all things Monkey Bar!

Some Vietnamese Pho’d!

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We were looking for a place to grab a bite in Indranagar when we came across this hidden gem. Pho’bidden Fruit is a small unassuming place tucked away in 12th main off hundred feet road; a stones throw from  Harbanero and just down the road from Bricklane Grill.

They serve  authentic Vietnamese cuisine as well as Vietnamese Pho. Pho is basically a soupy broth with rice noodles, beef and fresh herbs, very popular street food in Hanoi and Saigon. At Pho’bidden fruit you will also find chicken and seafood variants of the traditional beef Pho.

The restaurant has two dining spaces. The upper level was much nicer I thought with sunlight streaming through the large glass windows near the ceiling, long wooden benches and a sunken area, rather quaint in its own way.

For starters we tried their salads, Lotus Stem salad – one of the specials of the day, and the Tofu and Mushroom salad in a fresh green pepper dressing. Loved the Lotus stem salad – fresh crunchy with a mildly sweetish sauce. The tofu salad was also mildly sweetened(unexpectedly). Maybe the vietnamese touch ?

The Chicken White Curry with steamed rice was just so-so . But the Viet Red Curry was absolutely delicious. Spicy and highly flavourful  – a total hit! We also dipped into some of their Chicken Pho, the traditional Vietnamese dish. It was like a chicken noodle soup with a nutty flavour –  was not too bad but not something I’d be craving for again.

For dessert we had the Mung Bean Pudding –  layed with sticky rice, mung bean paste, strawberries and topped with a coconut sauce. Was absolutely delicious  – creamy and very rich (not so great for the waistline though!)

Overall it was a pretty good meal and great value for money – quite a find this place!

The Great October Fest 2013

The Great October Fest inspired by the German Oktoberfest will be held from 18 – 20 October at Jayamahal Palace. Three days of fun-filled excitement featuring free-flowing beer,  a plethora of live performances,  shopping, games and food.

The event has grown in scale and popularity in the last few years and is one of the biggest Annual Music and Beer festivals. The artists/groups performing at the event include Mika Singh, Indus Creed, Abha Hanjura, Point of View, One Nite Stand and Skrat to name just a few. Tickets for the event are available on Bookmyshow.com

Glens Bakehouse – A New Eatery

Glens Bakehouse is on 100 feet road, Indranagar next to Toit. We were passing by and decided to go in. Really quaint interiors with red brick walls, interesting decor and mellow lighting making up this newly opened eatery. They have the usual cakes, pastries, different types of breads etc. But their menu also includes wood fired pizzas, pastas, burgers and some continental dishes – so its also a good dining option as well. We stopped by in early evening so we just had a Cappuccino and a slice of Red Velvet cake. Both were pretty good.

Definitely a nice place to try out if you’re in the neighborhood.

Familiar Yet Refreshingly Different!

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“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. “Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca

Like that only in Whitefield just launched a new cocktail menu and we previewed some of these newest brews. Innovative food, quirky décor and often-irreverent take on the concept of traditional cuisine are hallmarks of this Asian bar and restaurant.  Chef Manu Chandra shared with us that ‘Whiskey and carefully selected Vodkas are as much a part of the new cocktail culture as are rums that are caramelized; along with fresh and unusual fruits, herbs and other inspirations from the kitchen. And the new cocktail menu at LikeThatOnly is a culmination of all this and more.’ So we embarked on a ‘flight of cocktails’ at LTO, landing in some pretty unusual territory like the Grape and Goat Cheese Martini or the sassy Bathtub Special!

I thoroughly enjoyed the mildly sweet Misty Morning which was Vodka shaken with rose petals, and fresh lychees. Another vodka based favourite was the LTO Tom Yum, a drink inspired by a dish of the same name. With a bevy of secret ingredients the Tom Yum was spicy, tangy and delicious all at once.

The LTO House Passion literally from the garden to the glass had fresh passion fruit pureed, watermelon and vodka. And after stirring up the senses this way we headed to a calmer place with the Basil Bliss  – a barcadi based drink.  Even a classic  like the gin and tonic was given a refreshing makeover with ingredients like  orange rind and cucumber.

If you’re wondering how we were still upright after all this its because of the bar snacks we’d been dipping every now and then and of course sipping on freshly squeezed oops! water.  Some of my favourite snacks  were the Brie tempura with plum sauce, Pork Belly on skewers, and the Spicy lambao. Have to make a special mention here of the pork belly which was absolutely scrumptious and went really well with the LTO Tom Yum. Apparently they do have some ingredients in common.

A whole lot of freshness, flavour and thought goes into each and every one of the cocktails. It’s definitely not about throwing back a quick drink but about savouring it fully and enjoying a rare, pleasurable moment at Like That Only.

A Refreshing Twist on Traditional Recipes – Masala Klub

The Citibank Restaurant Week(CRW) is back again. For those who are new to this – CRW is a Pan India culinary event showcasing some of the finest restaurants in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi.  Comprising of star chefs, high end restaurants and unique cuisines this is an amazing opportunity to dine in some of India’s finest restaurants at a fraction of the usual cost.

The restaurants in Bangalore participating in the CRW include well knowns like Olive Beach, Bene at the Sheraton, Masala Klub at Westend, Jolly Nabobs at the ITC Windsor. For a full list of restaurants in Bangalore click here.

We visited Masala Klub at the Taj Westend for a sneak preview of the RW menu. Masala Klub serves Indian fare with a refreshing twist on traditional recipes. The RW menu consists of a 3 course meal – starters, main course and dessert. Sometimes its great to have a set menu you get to taste several items on the menu and don’t have to bother with choosing what to order.

We started with a tangy Tomato shorba –simmered with basil and Indian spice, which was really excellent. Appetizers were a combination of a tandoori prawn, an aromatic barrah kebab(lamb chops) and a crispy vegetable kebab. The prawn was fresh and juicy and the lamb was succulent. After this a Tamarind Sorbet to clear the palate. Apparently they get their tamarinds from a  tree on the premises and hence the enhanced flavor!

The main course was served in a ‘thali’ – Murg khatta pyaz (chicken), Lasooni palak (spinach) and Allepey fish curry, home-style phulkas and steamed rice. I completely fell in love with the aromatic Allepey fish curry flavoured with raw mango and coconut. Just heavenly with steamed rice! The lasooni palak with roasted garlic was also really tasty.

Dessert was a mouth meltingly delicious – Malai kulfi with hot jamoon. And mint leaves dipped in white chocolate to finish. A fine end to a very fine meal.

Event Dates – Monday 23^rd September – Wednesday 2^nd October

For online bookings and all further details please visit http://restaurantweekindia.com/