After watching Kangana Ranaut’s movie, “Queen,” which includes a scene where she stays in a hostel, I was intrigued and mentally noted to experience it at least once. This opportunity arose when I was traveling alone for work in Milan for a few days. Since my wife isn’t keen on such experiences, I could only do it while traveling solo. I myself was a bit hesitant and booked the hostel room for only 1 night post which I booked a luxury hotel room. Staying in a hostel room with bunk beds shared by eight tourists from different countries and continents was an eye-opening experience. As someone ac ..read more

Nestled between two established dining spots at Two Horizon, Marieta emerges as Gurgaon’s newest culinary contender, overtaking the space vacated by well-regarded Italian eatery Artusi. Although the name “Marieta” which is a popular female name hails from Greece, the restaurant’s global menu lacks prominent Greek offerings. The start was a bit of a let down. Not being served a hard copy of the menu and asking diner to scan a barcode for the digital menu at a fine dine restaurant with an excuse that they are new doesn’t go well with me. May be I am an old timer who doesn’t like reading the men ..read more

MKT at Chanakya stands out among Delhi’s standalone, multi-cuisine restaurants with its delightful offerings. This spacious 144-seater, adorned with well-lit interiors, caters perfectly to both small and large groups, boasting several live kitchens that serve a variety of popular cuisines from around the globe. While this wasn’t my first visit to MKT, it was my first experience with their new menu. The shift towards modern Indian cuisine, complemented by a diverse Asian selection, came at the expense of the Mexican live kitchen. Our culinary journey began with a tender coconut and poached lo ..read more

We’ve long known Milan as the fashion capital of the world. The city’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, a luxury shopping complex, is home to many big designer brands. However, Northern Italy offers much more than just Milan’s Duomo. Boasting a history dating back to 753 BC and inhabited for over 850,000 years, Italy is a destination known for its museums, cathedrals, churches, and more. On this trip, I ventured to the Brescia province near Milan, an ancestral town less touristy than Milan. In fact, most Italians I spoke with had yet to explore Brescia, which is also part of the Lombardy region ..read more

Old Delhi is a foodie paradise, especially in areas like Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid, where hidden gems await. I’ve been exploring food walks in the area long before it became popular. During Navratras, my friend Rajesh Tara led us to some vegetarian places, and I blindly followed. When you frequent a place, you tend to stick to your favorites. Each bylane in Old Delhi offers something new; you just need to be open-minded. Here are some places we tried: Omi Kachodi Waala: An old shop claiming almost 70 years of history. Open only on Sundays, the crispy kachodi with delicious aloo sabji is ..read more

Bukhara, the iconic restaurant at ITC Maurya New Delhi, recently celebrated 45 years of success, and I had the pleasure of joining the festivities. As I immersed myself in the celebration, one question lingered on my mind: Is Bukhara truly the most iconic restaurant in India? Bukhara undoubtedly claims this title when considering factors like its illustrious list of state head visitors and its perpetually bustling ambiance that doesn’t even entertain reservations. With a menu that has seen minimal changes over four and a half decades, eschewing cutlery in favor of a hands-on dining experience ..read more

In the era of millets and a focus on organic foods, one area that has seen little change is non-vegetarian consumption. Unfortunately, the quality of meats consumed has declined in terms of nutritional content. Where our forefathers consumed free-range chicken and fish, today we consume artificially bred, space-constrained birds and animals. They are fed chemicals for faster growth, their feed is no longer natural, and in some cases, even the color of the meat is artificially enhanced. During a recent visit to the beautiful Rajghat dam on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, interac ..read more

I asked Aishwarya, the owner of Zanzi by Dramz at Mehrauli, for the meaning of the word ‘Zanzi’. She smilingly replied that it means ‘unique’. Zanzi by Dramz offers a unique take on a Japanese restaurant. The interior features a deliberately tattered and distressed look on the walls, portraits of English emperors, large chandeliers, loung-ish sofas that may be a bit uncomfortable, and camera-style lamps, setting it apart from other Japanese restaurants I have visited. On the food front, there are some distinctive elements as well. For example, we were served an amuse-bouche that included Kai ..read more

There is something truly special about enjoying a meal crafted by home chefs. Perhaps it’s the freshness of their ingredients, or maybe it’s the unique recipes they bring to the table. Most importantly, it could be the love and care they infuse into their cooking, as the saying goes, “your emotions reflect in your food.” For over a decade, I have been a strong advocate for the work of home chefs, a passion that led me to establish The Big F Awards around 11 years ago. This platform aimed to recognize and celebrate the culinary talents of home chefs and bakers, providing them with a well-deserv ..read more

With a history going back to 1931, which any restaurant would die for, the iconic Kake Da Hotel at Connaught Place, New Delhi’s colonnaded shopping-cum-commercial destination, needs no introduction. Its loyal following swears by its authentic Punjabi spread, but the long queues and the cramped space often deter potential diners. To avoid the crowds, and have a meal in comfort, I recently visited the restaurant’s relatively new outlet in Gurugram, which has been serving patrons for about six months. One of the first things I noticed about this outlet was that it is more spacious than its origi ..read more