Friday 15 March 2019

Legendary Dining At Moti Mahal Delux...

Moti Mahal Delux- Legendary Culinary Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Moti Mahal Delux is one of the iconic brands that first established the F&B scene as we know it now in Delhi, and India at large. From its inception since the Indian Independence in 1947 at Daryaganj in Old Delhi, Moti Mahal is a name that comes with high recall value and culinary expertise to its credit in the hospitality industry in India.



Needless to say, the Delux chain of restaurants is one that stems from Moti Mahal itself and on a recent occasion, I treated myself to an authentic North Indian dining experience at Moti Mahal.

Located near South Extension Metro Station on the Ring Road, the outlet is easily accessible and offers a bird's eye view of its vicinity, thanks to it being situated on the third floor.

Divided into two sections, the outlet has plush interiors and ambient lighting. The difference, however, between the two sections is that one features Ghazal sing-alongs on weekends, while the other has DJ playing in the backdrop.



Catering to true-blue Punjabi cuisine since its establishment, the menu at Moti Mahal Delux also features Oriental preparations, hi-tea, and street specialties of India apart from authentic North Indian delicacies.

These are some of the dishes from the house of Moti Mahal that I would recommend relishing when dining there.

I would suggest beginning with Puchkas from the Street Food section as they act like an Amuse Bouche setting the tone for the meal. The Puchkas themselves were made of semolina that made them crispier than their wheat variant.



Another preparation from the hi-tea menu that is not to be missed is Nargisi Scotch Eggs or Deviled Eggs that are an in-house specialty and feature rarely in restaurant menus across the capital city, hence making this preparation of soft-boiled eggs coated in an outer shell made of bread crumbs.



While Banarsi Gilafi Seekh was too soft to be true, melt-in-mouth is how I would describe this veggie mince served on a hot plate, Palak Aur Kaju Ke Kebab was one of the stellar vegetarian appetizers, complete with mashed spinach, while cashew and, pomegranate seeds elevated the flavor to another level altogether.





On one hand, while Sabz Galawat was the right balance of soft and firm on the palate with the striking after-taste of clove to its credit, on the other hand, Machli Tikka Hasrati had well-prepared fish that had some beautiful flavor to offer to the palate.





To go along with the appetizers, the Masala Lemonade or Virgin Mojito would work just fine.



If you'd like to travel the Oriental route, I would suggest relishing Crispy Paneer Roll that has soft cottage cheese layered with an outer crust of noodles, accompanied by a suitable relish.



Also, the classic Talumein Soup works as a nice pick-me-up with its generous portion of veggies and noodles rendered in a warm broth.



Proceeding to the Main Course, I would suggest pairing Kaju Khumb Matar with the Mix Veg Pulao if you'd prefer to try vegetarian delicacies.




On the other hand, the legendary Butter Chicken recipe is at the heart of Moti Mahal and rightfully so, given the fact that the chicken shreds are rendered in a delicately balanced tomato gravy. Pair it with the Turrah Naan layered with caraway seeds and white sesame.



I would suggest ending the meal with either Kulfi or Rasmalai as both are delectable options for a sweet conclusion.




On the whole, a visit to Moti Mahal Delux would ensure a taste of authentic North Indian cuisine. :) 

Sunday 10 March 2019

Sons #ShareTheLoad, This Women's Day...

This Women’s Day was all about being the sidekick to the shero at home when Ariel, the leading detergent brand from P&G partnered with PVR to host a special screening of the movie Captain Marvel.



Ariel’s #ShareTheLoad campaign has already taken the market by storm ever since its launch and their latest campaign Sons #ShareTheLoad emphasizes on the need for sons to #ShareTheLoad when it comes to household chores. On one hand, while this campaign encourages all men (sons and husbands) to partake in household chores and uphold gender parity within the four walls of the home, on the other hand Ariel also invited men to treat their Supermoms and Superwives to a special screening of the female-centric superhero movie Captain Marvel based on the Marvel Comics character Carol Danvers.

Popular television actors and real-life power couple – Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta along with Ravi’s mother Sudha Dubey were present at the special screening of Captain Marvel at PVR Select City Walk Mall, Delhi where an up close and personal interaction was hosted by Ariel for consumers and bloggers alike.



While both Sargun and Ravi emphasized the need for gender parity in a relationship and having an equal household, they also thanked Ravi’s mother Sudha for instilling in him at a young age the importance of participating in household chores like laundry and cooking hence enabling them to be a Power Couple today as they #ShareTheLoad.

Sargun was quick to credit Ravi for being an ideal husband for whom equality whether at home or work comes naturally. She also was thankful to her mother(-in-law) Sudha for bringing up a son who believes in equality in a relationship. She was also of the opinion that all men should #ShareTheLoad not just on Women’s Day but every day.

Ravi was thrilled to add that this is the first time ever he was doing an event with both his superwomen – Sargun and his mother  – and thanked Ariel for arranging this.

"Both Sargun and mom have had a deep influence on my life. I want to thank my mom – the original and ultimate superwoman for teaching me early on to #ShareTheLoad. And then, there came Sargun. She has been the perfect partner for me, and I try to be the same for her every day. Being an equal partner and sharing the load is a default setting. After all, it’s our load and not hers alone"



On the other hand, Ravi’s mother was beaming with pride on that fact that both Sargun and Ravi had balanced their personal and professional lives with ease. She also praised their equation and understanding as a couple, be it managing the house, their finances or even taking care of each other’s parents. She also emphasized that as parents, it is on us to raise the next generation as an equal generation, to teach the next generation to #ShareTheLoad and enjoy the benefits by seeing them so successful and happy with their wives when they grow up like she is today!



Ariel further invited men to record a personal message for the Superwomen in their lives (mothers, wives, sisters, daughters), which Ariel will send out on their behalf. To further normalize men doing household chores like laundry, Ariel has put up eye-catching installations at PVR theatres across Delhi and Mumbai. A special screening has been arranged in both cities as part of  Ariel’s #MyCaptainMarvelous engagement and in line with the excitement of Marvel enthusiasts.



Ariel India has one fairly simple message that it wants Indian men to notice and practice #ShareTheLoad – not only on Women's Day but EVERY DAY.


Ariel has been unearthing the reality of inequality within households since 2015 with their award-winning movement #ShareTheLoad. Ravi and Sargun brought forth insightful conversations and personal anecdotes on the disparity within households and changing times today. They highlighted that while more men today are sharing the load than ever before, we are still many steps further from the ideal state of an equal future.

In fact, my better half Jaideep also realized that it takes mettle to balance home and work with panache and thanked me for being the strongest pillar of support back home while watching the screening and after the tete-a-tete with Sargun and Ravi. Moreover, he resolved to partake actively in household chores to share the responsibility and be the man of the house too.



In fact, Ariel's latest Sons #ShareTheLoad raises yet another pertinent question in the direction of household inequality – Are we teaching our sons what we are teaching our daughters? The newest ad film that urges mothers of today’s generation to raise a generation of equals has resonated with many parents, newly married couples, and influencers alike and has already received tremendous support and commendation from audiences across India.

Since its release on January 24, 2019, the film has garnered 25 Million views in a span of merely one month, and the traction has just begun! Ariel continues to bring up this pertinent conversation by making laundry the face of the movement against inequality within households because with Ariel, anyone can get the best results no matter who does the laundry. :)



This post is a part of the #ShareTheLoad movement by Ariel in association with BlogAdda

Tuesday 5 March 2019

Woven Dreams Of Assam With Tara Bhuyan...

Mahatma Gandhi once remarked...

“Assamese women weave dreams on their looms!” 

Tara Bhuyan is fortunate and proud to have been born one, to have been caressed by the softness and richness of the amazing golden Muga, white Pat, and warm Eri silks that her grandmother and mother wore every day in the unique style of the 'mekhela sador', the traditional dress of Assam. 

It was only when she left home at the age of sixteen and came to Mumbai to pursue her junior college, that she realized how precious and rare the weaves and motifs of Assam were. Every time she wore her mother's 30-year-old 'hand-me-down' Muga mekhela sador, she was met with appreciative exclamations about the intricate motifs and the molten gold fabric that she was donning. It was then she started dreaming about the forms she could lend to these weaves to create global statements.



In 2014, she got a break to choreograph a fashion show in Toronto. Post that she also did a few shows in New Jersey, Toronto and recently in Washington DC for Assam Convention 2018 and in Sydney, Australia in October 2018. In all these shows, her uniqueness stood out with the western and traditional dresses using mostly customized weaved Assamese material - Muga Silk, Pat Silk, and Eri Silk stood second to none when it came to showcasing.

The merchandise of Tara Bhuyan would shortly be available on e-commerce platforms and is currently being retailed through the company web store wherein the collection comprises of women’s,  evening wear, cocktail wear and summer collection 2019.



The words of the Mahatma are so apt about the beauteous weaves of Assam that Tara's endeavor is to take this dream beyond the loom.

The on-ramp Tara Bhuyan Bridal / Cocktail wear Collection for 2019 is a tour de force in Assamese tapestry. Having worked extensively with exotic motifs decorated with Zaree brocade, Tara recently presented a clothing line for the contemporary women. The evening witnessed Tara Bhuyan's fashion debut in India. The Showstopper for the show was Filmmaker Rima Das of Village Rockstars fame.



Despite lack of technical experience in the field of fashion, Tara's passion to uplift the weavers from back home in one of the remotest villages of Assam is what led her to showcase her dreams in the form of her design sensibilities.

Filmmaker Rima Das said,

“I would like to congratulate my friend Tara for her endeavor and it’s an honor for me to walk for her as she showcases her collection 'Woven dreams of Assam' as a part of Bridal and Cocktail wear 2019.

I was very excited when Tara came to me to be the showstopper for her maiden show in India, even the outfit which I would be wearing has been chosen by me which would be an evening gown made of one of the rarest silks in the world i.e. Muga silk embellished with Swarovski crystals.”



Tara Bhuyan's 2019 collection can be divided into two parts:


  • Bridal/Wedding collection: The collection comprised of materials woven on natural color palettes that were tastefully crafted, distinctive with zaree (guna) brocade work with exotic motifs and rich hues of the northeast. This unique & exotic collection offers a wonderful mix of traditional and western styles.  The intent was to give the collection an exotic & fresh look to wedding wear, so a lot of experimentation has been done on textiles to get the right color and weaves. 


  • Evening wear/Cocktail wear/Diva collection: This collection is unique and applies to all occasions of a wedding and glamour parties. The collection was   all about a beautiful blend of  Muga Silk  & Earth color tones with Swarovski crystals, intricate detailing and surreal sequin work to give a rich luminous look. 




On the occasion, Designer Tara Bhuyan said,

“My design ideas start from the base, I intend to work on the bigger picture by visualizing the ramp. Through my designs, I want to show the world how with the usage of elegant weaves one makes an Indo-fusion outfit. My collection captures the essence and ethos of the Assamese tapestry. The sensitivity and the warmth of the craft traditions speak within the weaves of the North East.”