Sundown At Unplugged Courtyard...

Unplugged Courtyard is one of the long-standing lounges in the heart of Delhi at Connaught Place. Located in L Block, its appearance at the entrance is surely deceptive as it seems to be a quaint little outlet but has a dedicated outdoor seating area that is perfect for sundowners.

Of course, when I heard that UC is heading to Gurugram with a new outlet, I decided to refresh my palate by heading to UC CP after a casual movie outing.

The ambiance is a heady mix of rustic and modern, with moderately lit premises and decor elements that range from glass bottles to monochrome photography and wooden logs, while the outdoor sun is perfect for the nippy chill in Delhi.

The menu features a mix of Indian, Italian, and Continental preparations and service is done with a smile. Also, UC has been nominated for the title of 'Bar with the Best Ambiance' multiple times over.

The cutlery is designed in the manner of tools like wrenches. pliers, bolts etc. and the menu is also presented on a clipboard.

Coming to some of the popular dishes at Unplugged Courtyard that I'd recommend savoring...

Beverages: 

FYG - For Young Girls was a concoction of rose and guava that had rose petals enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

Indiana was UC's take on Aam Panna - the summer drink - and hence such nomenclature.

Appetizers:

Chili Paneer Ghosla or Chili Cheese Nest had the tangy cottage cheese cubes in an edible noodle bowl topped with a cheese slice and julienned bell peppers.

Classic Falafel had the quintessential Middle Eastern touch complete with the crispy patty. soft pita, and hummus on the side.

Tandoori Fish had chunky fish morsels marinated in a mint paste and finished on the grill.

Chermoula Mushroom had button mushrooms sandwiched together and a flavorful mint dip to go with it.

Main Course: 

Ravioli Al Pomodoro was the classic Italian dumpling pasta done right at UC with spinach and a delectable sauce.

Devil's Pizza had a classic thin crust and chicken chunks, jalapeno, and sweet corn.

Dessert: 

Walnut Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream is the classic sweet conclusion and at Unplugged Courtyard also, it was no different.

All in all, I had a nice time at Unplugged Courtyard, as always and I am wishing that the team takes NCR by storm too, with their new outlet. :) 

Franchising With ExpanGlobal...

With a view to bringing over 100 leading brands and key delegates from around the world under one roof, ExpanGlobal hosted India’s Largest International Global Franchise Show at Le Meridien this week.

Throughout the show, attendees were encouraged to take advantage of the expansive display of franchise opportunities, explore and network with industry-leading franchise brands, and attend comprehensive programs.

Global Franchise Show offers guests the chance to learn strategies for success with over seminars and in-depth workshops. The show acts as a mediator that provides the best of both worlds. While for the franchisor, it brings the best form of capital that is equity free and debt free, for the franchisee it provides a guided opportunity to own and operate a business. The franchisees focus on the operations while the franchisor concentrates on enhancing the core competencies.

This being ExpanGlobal's first show in India, the event featured brands across Food & Beverage, Retail, Education, Health & Wellness, and Service Sectors.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Raghav Khattar, President Marketing and Communication, ExpanGlobal said,

“We’ve always supported the National Event shows and believe strongly in the concept of franchise expositions, although we recommend a variety of marketing channels to franchisors, the Franchise expos are consistently part of new and existing franchise marketing plans. We appreciate the consistency and professional relationship that National Events has always shown
us and our clients who exhibit with them.”

On the other hand, Mr. Mrinal Srivastava who is President Global Expansion and Strategy at ExpanGlobal was of the following opinion

“As economic optimism continues to rise and the franchise industry grows to new heights, many businessmen and women are turning to franchising to transform their lives. Each year, exhibitors who come to Global Franchise Show have the opportunity to shine a spotlight on their franchise brand, introduce their investment opportunity to hundreds of qualified individuals, attract new leads, and connect face-to-face with existing candidates all over a two-day period. The show generates massive amounts of foot traffic – allowing the franchisors on-site to be introduced to quality leads who will allow them to break into new regions and/or further develop their reach in existing markets.”

All in all, it was a great opportunity for stakeholders in the franchise world. :)

Commemorating World Cancer Day With Namo Gange...

The society and the Indian nation at large is rapidly falling victim to one of the most fatal diseases  known to mankind - ‘Cancer’.

In a bid to raise awareness among people about the dangerous disease, Namo Gange Trust organised ‘3rd Arogya Film Festival 2019’ on February 4, 2019 at Marwah Studio, Film City, Noida.

It is a joint initiative of Namo Gange Trust and International Chamber of Media and Entertainment Industry (ICMEI). The initiative is supported by
Ministry of AYUSH and Marwah Studios.

February 4 is celebrated as the World Cancer Day internationally each year to raise awareness of cancer
and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. As per World Health Organisation (WHO), because of globalization, modernization and stress, cancer is on rise.

The third edition of Arogya Film Festival is specifically dedicated to Cancer as United Nations has declared 4th February as International Cancer Day.

Research evidence reveals that cancer is responsible for almost one out of six deaths globally. More than 14 million people develop cancer every year, and it is also projected to rise to at least 21 million by 2030.

This is a very threatening as well as crucial matter of thought for all of us. With Namo Gange's belief that there film is powerful enough to communicate stories, stimulate emotions, motivate action, and to reduce the inconsistencies in health sector, the primary purpose of this festival is to spread awareness about cancer treatment through AYUSH via the medium of film and media as a catalyst.

On the occasion, the lamp lighting was done by Acharya Jagdish Maharaj (Founder, Namo Gange Trust),
Ramanand Meena (Deputy Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH), Mrs. Nidhi Agarwal (Founder, Bliss
Foundation), Swami Sehajanand (Founder Chairman of Mahamrityunjaya International Yoga & Astrology Centre), Dr. Sandeep Marwah (Founder of Noida Film City), Suresh Chavhanke (Chairman,
Managing Director of Sudarshan News), and Colonel T P Tyagi (Recipient of National Gallantry Award Vir Chakra).

The movies that were screened and made it to the Top 5 are:

• Caged (Director and Scriptwriter: Abhas  Kumar),
• Cancer: An Ill Effect of Alcohol and Tobacco (Director: Shabir Anees and Scriptwriter: Mubashir Ali Zaidi),
• A Ray of Hope (Director: Raj Dutta and Scriptwriter: Munira Dhamani),
• Zehar (Director: Abhishek Singh and Scriptwriter: Usha Singh),
• Life in Smoke (Director and Scriptwriter: Gianluca Fratellini).

Acharya Mukesh Kumar, National President, Namo Gange Trust commented on the occasion,

“Prevention is sure Cure for Cancer. An ounce of Prevention is quart of a Cure, therefore AYUSH system has possibilities through amazing lifestyle therapies, panchkarma detoxification, disciplined lifestyle and good food habits with regular yoga activities and better understanding towards the disease to protect us from the environmental Carcinogens.”

Sandeep Marwah, Founder, Noida Film City in his address extended thanks to Namo Gange Trust for organizing the Film Festival that entirely focused on how social preventive system, alternative system of medicine, and complementary medicine could be a better attempt to fight Cancer at Marwah Studios.

“The latest statistic says that after 20 years, 10 per cent of the Indian population will be suffering from this dangerous disease. The major reason of this disease is polluted air, polluted water and polluted Earth. It is high time we get conscious about the disease, which is going to kill our bodies. Let’s become more aware.

This is a small contribution to Cancer Awareness by Marwah Studios”, he added.

Witnessing participation from more than 100 countries in its third edition, the first edition of the film
festival focused on ‘Stress’ and second on ‘Diabetes’. As many as 37 countries participated in first International Arogya Film Festival while 98 countries participated in the second edition.

On the whole, Namo Gange aspires to create awareness towards some pertinent issues that plague our society each year and this edition of the Arogya Film Festival was also successful in doing so. :) 

Living It Up At Liv Bar...

With their motto being 'You Only Liv Once', Liv Bar at The Walk, Worldmark One, Aerocity is a lounge complete with European feels and the jazzy vibe perfect for a Friday evening meal with friends. 

With a moderately lit interior opening up to full view from behind velvet curtains, Liv Bar reflects the liveliness of its concept from its dishes that are artisinally plated and the flavors that linger on the palate.

Featuring the sophisticated European cuisine on their menu, Liv surely promises a meal that is bound to delight its patrons and stay with them for a while after.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Liv Bar over a relaxed weekend, and I must commend the wholesome experience that Liv has been.

Each dish is presented effortlessly all across the meal and service is done with a smile.

Beginning with the Antipasti, be it Patatas Bravas that are presented as barrels finished with aioli, or Arancini Margherita that are crisped to the tee, with a hot arabiatta sauce spicing up the palate to the Spinach and Feta Greek Phyllo Parcels that are an aesthetic as well as delicious delight, and the Tomato Ricotta Bruschette that are the right balance of crisp and smooth, while the Skewered Cottage Cheese are grilled to perfection, there's a nice play of subtle yet striking flavors both on the plate and the palate. 

While the Caprese Salad is a color burst of red and white accompanied with a drizzle of olive oil, Zupetta di Funghi is a creamy broth finished with a sprig of thyme. 

From among the Pastas, Fusili Cacio e Pepe is a simplistic delight with the subtlety of peppercorn, while Potato Gnocchi is well-made. 

Liv Super Greens Pizza is a warm oven-fresh plating of broccoli, spinach, and sundried tomatoes. 

On the other hand, Wild Mushroom Truffle Risotto is unmistakably great with truffles and mascarpone elevating it to another level altogether, Paella Valencia is an arborio rice staple complemented by the vibrant veggies. 

To lend the apt conclusion to a thoughtfully curated meal, New York Cheese Cake with berry compote would be great as you can never go wrong when berries are finished with a hint of citrus, Walnut Brownie with Caramel Popcorn is an in-house specialty that counters the excessive sweetness of chocolate with a few kernels of salty corn. 

On the whole, Liv Bar has nicely debuted on the F&B scene in Aerocity and for an establishment that is about a month old, I hope they keep up the great work. :)