Oriental Meals At Berco's...

Berco's is an iconic name when it comes to Oriental Cuisine in the heart of Delhi. It is one such chain that has sustained its quality and innovated constantly to keep patrons coming back for their preparations over the past many decades.

On a recent occasion, I decided to pay Berco's Connaught Place a visit, as I heard of the introduction of their Oriental Meal Bowls from a colleague.

The outlet holds on to the look and feel of a Chinese house with the decor and trinkets (read Buddha engraving and Bamboo shoots) reflecting the same. The service is as courteous and dishes as delicious as they have constantly been over the years.

Coming to our meal, here's what all appealed to me from their Special Oriental Meals Menu and what all must not be missed when you visit Berco's while this Menu is on offer.

Singapore Laksa was a flavorful coconut and yellow curry broth served with noodles.

Teriyaki Udon brought Japanese flavors to the plate with Udon noodles tossed in Teriyaki sauce.

Bun Ga Xao was served with Vietnamese Chicken atop steamed noodles.

Thai Soggy Rice was all about the edible fungus i.e. Mushrooms.

Nasi Goreng has been a favorite ever since and had to be presented on the plate here at Berco's.

As a wrap up to the flavorful meal, Darsan was served.

And, to gulp all those calories, I had their quintessential Chinese Tea.

I recall Berco's as being a part and parcel of family dinner plans since long.

I must applaud the persistence in their endeavor and hope that their Oriental Meal Bowl Menu impresses regular patrons like myself. :)

Flavors Of The Orient At Ching Shihh...

Taking a cue from Pan Asian cuisine and its presence in Delhi NCR, the newest outlet to present Oriental flavors at their authentic best has come up in Logix Mall, Noida and it goes by the name Ching Shihh.

My visit to this place came about as the consequence of a recommendation from a friend. Ching Shihh is located on the second floor in Logix Mall, next to A Grill Company, while the mall itself is located right next to Noida City Centre Metro Station.

Ching Shihh is essentially a themed restaurant drawing from 'The Princess Of The Sea' and the most powerful female pirate lord of her times, after whom the outlet has been aptly christened.

The decor and ambiance have a relaxing vibe to them, the place is well lit and trinkets from the Orient emulate China in its humility.

Also, right as you step into the outlet there's a life-size ship wheel proclaiming 'Steersman Is The Key On The Sea'. The place also has an enclosure or two thus providing for Private Dining Spaces in a sense.

The menu at Ching Shihh has been curated in line with the pirate's voyages and has been fine tuned by chefs to fall in line with her treasure map's trail. We tried the following dishes based on Chef's Recommendations.

Appetizers:

Asian Vegetables in Lettuce Wraps is a star preparation at Ching Shihh, hands down. It is all about huge lettuce cups, assorted veggies tossed in sauce, and one's choice of a topping of one, some, or all of burnt garlic, peanuts, coriander, and lemon.

Corn and Cheese Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce

Hot Pepper Chicken Wings

Xinxing Chicken Chili Mountain

Asian Vegetable Dumpling

Chicken and Water Chestnut Dumpling

Mocktails:

At Ching Shihh, the Drinks Menu pans out like a Chinese fan. Quite an interesting presentation in line with the theme of the restaurant.

Hazy Martini came in a glass filled with candy floss to the brim.

Much to one's delight, the lime and mint concoction is poured over the cotton candy making it melt into oblivion.

Blue Lotus is presented over a bulb of fuming nitrogen, thus borrowing from the Molecular Gastronomy concept.

Ninja is a mystery mocktail that has little to say about itself on the menu even. So best would be to try it for oneself. This one has prominent flavors going into that may or may not appeal to some.

Shanghai Noon was presented in a tall glass and was flavorful with bits of apple lending it a refreshing taste.

Ginger Monk was presented in a skull-shaped glass mug. This one has a prominent ginger flavor and might not appeal to everyone's taste.

Strawberry Colada was a flavorful concoction of strawberry, orange, and pineapple.

Main Course:

Chicken Thai Red Curry

Steamed Lemon Rice had a flavor of not only lemon but also lemongrass infused into it.

Brocoli, Baby Corn, and Black Mushrooms in Chili Hoisin Sauce was quite flavorful and authentic.

Stir Fried Prawns in Black Pepper Sauce

Chili Garlic Noodles

Desserts at Ching Shihh have been specially curated and it is here that you cannot afford to skip the sweet conclusion to a hearty meal. Rather, you would as well find yourself asking for a repeat helping.

Date Spring Rolls

Homemade Coconut Ice Cream

Frankly speaking, the last time I savored such fantastic Oriental food shall have to be at Feng Shuii. Ching Shihh parallels with that place in its own right.

All in all, Ching Shihh comes across as the go-to place for an authentic slice of the Orient and is a no-frills, humble place that aces the flavors it serves. It is a keep-it-simple-silly kind of restaurant that attempts to revive the long lost charm of fine-dining, which thus succeeds in leaving a fantastic first impression. :)

Authentic Oriental Cuisine At Hudson Chopsticks...

Last weekend, I decided to play the lazy card by ordering in for dinner. Having heard about Hudson Cafe from my colleagues residing in North Delhi, I decided to give Hudson Chopsticks, which is their Delivery/Takeaway joint situated next to GTB Nagar Metro Station on the Yellow Line, a try.

This being the first time I was ordering from them, I had high expectations owing to the popularity of their Dine-In outlet considering the hearsay that had prompted me to consider Hudson Chopsticks, and their food lived up to it because authentic oriental delicacies were presented to me within the comfort of my home.

There are quite a few factors which lead me to pen a positive review for Hudson Chopsticks here.

• The food was delivered on time and was steaming hot. 
• The packaging was up to the mark and care had been taken to avoid spillage of gravy. 
• The names of dishes had been explicitly 
• The cutlery was provided for, along with chopsticks that lend the authenticity to an oriental meal as it is. 

Here are the delicacies that we relished, coming from the house of Hudson Chopsticks.

Appetizers: 

Chicken Momos (Wheat) wherein I liked the fact that an alternative to the usual refined flour was being provided for. The chicken itself was well prepared.

Lemon Chicken Dry was a delight because lemon compliments meat well, and the preparation was such that there was a distinctive tang on the palate. 

Main Course: 

Hakka Noodles that are a classic and Hudson Chopsticks got this dish spot-on! :)

Stir Fried Chicken In Oyster Sauce was a well-prepared gravy with chicken chunks and seasoned veggies lending a balance to the dish.

I quite liked the way Hudson Chopsticks presented their food to me at home and would definitely recommend this place for authentic Chinese food. :)