Dhaba by Claridges food review

In our gastronomic memory, dhabas aren't just eateries by the highway; they are bookmarks of unforgettable experiences. Their smoky flavors make us forget the priciest of meals in the best of fine-dining restaurants. There is nothing that can beat the satisfaction of spooning kaali dal (black lentils)into a crisp tandoori naan (Indian flat bread) — all enhanced with blobs on white butter — on a cold winter day.

Dhabas are an inseparable part of our road journeys. Fauji dhaba, Pehelwan dhaba, Sher-e-Punjab — the names line our highways and stay in our memories. The Shudh Vaishnav dhabas on pilgrim routes even take care of cultural sensibilities, offering food cooked without garlic and onion.

The origin of the dhaba is nebulous. It is said they sprouted on either side of The Grand Trunk Road and other highways during the 20th century, essentially to serve the truckers. The menu reflected the fact that most truckers came from Punjab.

Interestingly, many modern dhabas are not located on the highway…….Like the “Dhaba by Claridges”
DBC is an iconic restaurant from the “Claridges Hospitality” stable……..They serve Dhaba style food in the best of class yet in a rustic and Desi Avataar…….

Dhaba by Claridges has a branch in DLF Place Mall , Saket, which is quite a huge place compared to its other branch in cyber hub. If you are looking to take your guests, your family or your friends for ethnic Punjabi food to satisfy your palate then Dhaba by Claridges is the place to go.
The place is jam packed during lunch as well as dinner hours which explains that the food is excellent
and the people of Delhi keep craving for it again and again. No wonder that Claridges Hospitality thought of this brilliant idea of opening up their treasure to a bigger audience by expanding across Delhi NCR. After sampling cuisines of far away when we want to eat something that makes us feel at home then this is the kind of place we prefer. Dhaba by Claridges is a modern sophisticated place with interiors that are done in tune with the theme i.e. Dhaba which means rustic style eatery on the highways. But this place has been done in a rustic style with touch of modernity and class. The place has an open kitchen counter that resembles a highway dhaba. There is a truck body parked inside the premises along with innovative decor that resembles a Dhaba, like charpoys to sit and tyres hanging on the walls with Bollywood posters and paintings.

Of course, it is an ideal place for people to enjoy great Indian food, both spicy and delicious. The restaurant recently introduced its Healthy menu which promises good wholesome food in a healthy way.



We were honored to have Executive Chef Ravi Saxena join us for lunch; his passion for food could be seen in the way he spoke about his food. They use olive oil instead of ghee and reduced skimmed milk instead of cream for this special menu. The taste of the food stays amazingly the same retaining the flavors too.
First up on the New Menu were appetizers like Tandarust Tawa Fish crisped to perfection and from the regular menu we ordered the yum Mutton Seekh, Murgh Malai Tikka and the mouth melting and delicious Galauti Kebab and yes the Raan ( whole leg of lamb ) made to perfection with awesome flavors, succulent and mouth meltng meat. The galauti was fabulous with lovely flavors. We also loved the mutton champ or the rack of lamb ribs.



The first thing that each one of us ordered was the cocktails. The cocktails were named like Desi Tharras ( Country Liquor) a few on the menu that we sipped were the Gulabo, Somras,Santari and Basanti. All Dhaba versions of the famous cocktails like Bloody Mary, Long Island iced tea and vodka based drinks. They were innovative both in design and their nomenclature. They are served in small quarter bottles……. Loved them very much…..
Soon, the staff at the restaurant performed a dance on the number ‘badtameez dil’ for the customers sitting there. It was entertaining to watch them dance in sync and pretty good at that. This has become a usual practice or we can say this performance is like the DBC Anthem.

As if this wasn’t enough, the main course started to pour in. The main course included Balti meat, Amritsari Chhole, Lasooni palak, Baingan bharta, Paneer makhani and Dal Dhaba and yes the Butter Chicken. We could see the difference between the regular Dal Makhani and the Healthy menu Dal. And it was amazing to notice that the taste remained the same. Hats off to the Chef, for making such lovely preparations using less oil and fat yet making them taste so good.
The staff was courteous and it was great to chat with the Executive Director of Claridges Hospitality, Mr. Manik Kapoor on their future plans and vision. They are planning to expand to new places in Delhi soon.
The sweets were the highlight of the whole meal…. If we would have known that the desserts will be so good, we would have had a little less food but still we had the Baileys Kulfi, Gajar ka halwa, Moong dal halwa and Gulaab jamun.

We were the lucky few to savour the Pan, which they source from the very old Pan vendor located near the Claridges Hotel, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi…..What a fabulous way to end the lovely meal !!!
Looking forward to the best of food and more such visits……

Cheers to the Team ……..



DHABA BY CLARIDGES
Second Floor, DLF Place, Saket, New Delhi



Written By : Vickrham Vicky & Karan Puri
Pics Courtesy : Vickrham Vicky

World Pizza Journey food review

Hauz Khas Village is a cluster of pubs, restros, bars. You will have plenty of options ranging from economical ones to expensive ones. Good cozy nice hang out places. Each joint is different from the other. Theme, Ambience, Concept and Cuisine. All these things are completely different and that’s what makes the place have a cluster of restaurants that are unique in their own way.




There’s now a new kid on the block selling Pizzas, and we know pizza has always been an integral part of any place serving Italian Cuisine. But their focus has been on other items as well. The restaurant that finally casts Pizzas in a lead role is “World Pizza Journey”. Prominent in its location, right near the entry of Hauz Khas Village, the place promises round the world journey through pizzas. The extensive menu features pizzas across the seven continents.


Table Tops

Beautiful Wall Decals

The main theme of this place is to put the specialty dish or the ingredients of the country on top of a pizza. So a falafel pizza will have hummus to give an authentic middle eastern, Lebanese taste. The fish and chips pizza will have tomato ketchup with French fries and tartar sauce on the side making it royally British. The interiors take you to a zone where you seem to be traveling to different countries as you eat the specialty pizzas. The interiors are characterized by whites with use of multi colored patterns in different forms. Framed images of famous landmarks hang on all the walls, and a variety of old world maps and flags are visible under the glass table tops. The most interesting one being the table with different currencies of the world under its glass table top. A number of wall clocks are synced to different time zones to bring out a new dimension. Even the restroom has been done in a peculiar manner, with vehicle registration plates stuck on the walls from all over the world.



Furniture and Vibrant Walls

Interesting Pee room
And now the main part …..The Food…..They have divided their menu into different sections depicted by the region or the country names…like…The American Dream section has slightly more familiar names like the Chicago Deep Dish Pizza called ‘The Pie’ and the Californian Thin Crust Pizza called ‘The Hollywood’; while the Italian Job section has pizza names like ‘The Italian Stallion’ and ‘Florence – The Renaissance’. Then you have options on a slightly more unconventional side like The Chilean Pizza called ‘The Santiago’ in the South American section, The Mandarin in Chinese section and the most unusual ‘The Falafel Pizza’ in the Mediterranean section. There’s a pizza from Britain called ‘The Queens Breakfast’ and the world famous ‘Pizza Peri Peri’ to add to the great variety. They serve the 12 inch thin crust pizzas on a LP record ..... innovation at its peak....Mr. Deepak Khera , who has done the menu selection, is a thoroughly professional man, with a passion towards his line of work. He has done the menu in a very unique and creative manner. Hats off to you, sir.
‘Punjabi Makhani’ Pizza and a ‘Bombay Bhaji’ Pizza too, if you’re in a mood for something creative yet delicious and Indian of course.


Pizzas Pizzas and Pizzas

More Pizzas

Traditionally Pizza goes well with either Wine or Beer. But not in this case, World Pizza Journey (WPJ) has an extensive drinks menu. Apart from the usual offerings of Wines and other drinks from around the world, there’s a lengthy section on Cocktails designed and mixed by the very professional Viju Raj.The bartender made us try the Heera Panna, Khus Madira, Patiala Iced tea, Chicago orange brandy and Lichi Mai Tai to name a few…..The menu has a clearly defined and listed cocktails selection matching with a specific pizzas, one can just go as per that or order as per own choice.
To break the monotony of pizzas we also ordered the salads and soup. We loved the minestrone soup served with crusty garlic bread. The Caesar salad and the raw papaya salads were awesome even the Mexican corn salad with nachos was really good. We loved the Thearo Mushroom dish in the Verdure section of the menu and yes if you like pork sausages then please order the Bangar and Mash, awesome preparation.



Awesome Cocktails



Side Dishes and Salads

At WPJ they make fresh dough daily to make pizzas with the fresh ingredients like tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, jalapenos, capers, pepperoni, olives, fish, chicken, sausage, bacon and much more. I must admit to the fact that they are doing something different with passion towards it . The small side dishes are done as perfectly as they have done their mainline of Pizzas……Pricing is very smart and not over the top. We would highly recommend this place for all the people who like their pizzas and related nibbles prepared fresh with the most sought after ingredients………..

We wish WPJ to carry on this unending journey of serving us the best and the freshest food forever……….Cheers !!!


Written By : Vickrham Vicky and Karan Puri
Pics Courtesy : Vickrham Vicky


World Pizza Journey
26, Ground Floor, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi.

Bridal Makeup/Party makeup by makeup artist- Megha Puri

A party should have a woman present herself in a unique and special way. Surely, everything needs to be perfect. Makeup expert Megha Puri gives us some pointers on fine art of makeup.

Eyes: You want to dazzle and hence your eyes become the fulcrum of the entire bridal makeup project. The colour of your foundation, the hue of the kohl and the liner make for eyes that glow and reflect your glad heart. Blue, black, maroon, gold and emerald are popular choices for eye shadow and this should match with your overall look.

Lips: Wear a lip blush and nude shades if you have gone heavy on eye makeup. For bridesmaids and friends, a light blush and silken lip colour go very well.

Hair: The hair makeup must also be unique but not overwhelming. Go easy on curlers and straightening irons. Keep it relaxed and moistened for a soft look. Match it with the facial makeup and the trousseau. You can use rhinestones, hair jewellery and accessories to upscale the glam quotient.

Make-up kit tips by Megha Puri

Wash your brushes- Brushes are prime breeding ground for bacteria. If you wash your face regularly, makeup residue from applying makeup ends up on your brushes. You don’t need to wash them daily but once per week put all your brushes in a large jar or glass and fill it with water. Add 1 tsp. of baby shampoo, give it a good stir and let the brushes sit all day in the jar. Then rinse them off and dry them really well with a towel to make sure to get most of the water out. Leave them laying on a paper towel or napkin overnight to finish drying. This keeps your face from breaking out and keeps your makeup brushes lasting longer.

Wash your make up containers: Your makeup can flake off colored dust particles onto other products, creating a dirty look to your containers. Not only is this unsanitary but also messy. Once a month, wipe off all your makeup containers on the outside with a hot rag soaked in dish liquid or baby shampoo. Dry them off and they’re like new.

Replace mascara every 3 months: Mascara is one of the quickest products to dry out and it is one of the worst for breeding bacteria. Replace your mascara once every three months. Remember to stick with waterproof if you’re worried about smudges.

Update often: Go through your kit once every 6 months. Get rid of the stuff which needs to be changed or is not durable. Along with updating be sure you have colors that fit in with the season.

Keep them dry: Make sure you keep your make up kit dry. Moisture kills make up. Also keep them away from light and heat which can cause serious damage.

Megha Puri is a well known name in the beauty industry . She did her training from the London School of Beauty and Makeup after which she has worked with big names like Jojo and Ambika Pillai. Bridal makeup is her forte and she is a freelance makeup artist in Delhi . She also has had the opportunity to work in
• Wills lifestyle fashion week
• Designer and Jewellery show
• M.A.C cosmetics (Canada)
• Kingdom of Dreams as a makeup artist and manager.

You can reach her at
099994 78717
www.facebook.com/meghapurimakeup

Cerana Beverages launches India's first craft beer- BIRA 91

Cerana Beverages, India’s first and leading craft beer company launched its new brand new craft beer Bira 91.



Cerana recently launched its first product– Bira 91 White – a wheat beer in draft format in Delhi NCR. Bira 91 White is a deliciously different wheat beer with low bitterness and a hint of spicy citrus with a soft finish. It is a refreshing all day craft beer brewed with the finest all natural ingredients.

The product has been launched in both Draft (tap) format and in 330 ml bottles – a first for an Indian beer. The product has been launched in the hottest bars and restaurants in Delhi NCR and will be launched in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata.

The product is priced at INR 150 in 330 ml bottles and is being priced between INR 200 to 300 per glass in most of the bars and restaurants in the city.



Bira 91 is positioned as a youthful, Indian brand with a trendy and unorthodox identity, launched by a startup in Delhi, in a market dominated by large national and multinational

players. The name is deliberately “Indian” and is a trendy brand meant to convey moments that are fun, friendly and social much like the young Indian of today! Bira 91 aims to win hearts in India as the country’s very own handcrafted and specialty Craft beer with natural ingredients.



About Cerana Beverages

Cerana Beverages Pvt Ltd, is India’s leading craft beer company. Cerana’s key brands include Bira 91 White and Bira 91 Blonde craft beers available in draft and bottle formats. Cerana also owns and operates the country’s first and largest draft beer dispense network in restaurants and bars across the country. In addition to its own brands, Cerana also imports and distributes a portfolio covering major beer styles and more than twenty brands, Cerana’s portfolio includes the legendary names of the specialty beer world including Belgian Blonde Ale of Duvel and Trappist Beers of Chimay. Cerana was founded by Ankur Jain, an entrepreneur and engineer.

Vault Cafe food review

There was a time during my school days at Modern Barakhamba, especially during high school, that Connaught Place would be theplace to hangout. After school hours was mandatory but then bunking and being there added to the marks of the place on another dimension. The chholebhature of Kwality, the cheese sandwich of United Coffee House, the momos of DePauls, the butterscotch shake of Kaventers and the black forest pastry of Wengers were our staple diet much to the chagrin of our mothers. But it’s been a while since one ventured back there, as Connaught Place began losing out to the mall culture and then development work that began during the CWG was not finished till late last year.



All that is suddenly changing thanks to the array of new chic eateries, bars and cafe’s that are opening here. After years of being outclassed by the youngster havens like HauzKhasVillage and KhanMarket, Connaught Place is again becoming a happening place to be. New initiatives like free wifi, better parking facilities and the huge national flag at the centre situated in Central Park adds to this landmark destination.

I recently went to review the newly opened “Vault Café” well located in the f/n block area bang opposite PallikaBazaar. On my way, I checked with a few friends about the place, and most of them had heard about it as the next happening thing and it was also on their wish list. I was excited that I was the first to go there and experience it before they did. After climbing the lovely winding stairs to the second floor where vault café is located, I noticed a vault door.



It was like love at first sight. Or actually, love at first order. It was just amazing and impressive to see the way the interiors have been done. The theme was very well suited and the name of the place was apt. It was actually full of wicked dark private dining rooms having leather sofas and fake wine cellars. The place has indoor and outdoor seating and also private seating for a group of friends or family to hang out and enjoy a private get together. The iron pillars and the huge bar loungewith great seating capacity gave a colonial feel.

The whole place is dimly lit, in tones of red, with walls sportinga brick look. What I liked about the place most was smaller seating areas for individual groups along the side, with entrances as if they lead to a tunnel.

The place was packed which was great considering it was a Wednesday afternoon and chilly so only the adventurous few were sitting outside and you could see the national flag from the terrace.

I was privileged to visit the place with my blogger friends from The writers Collective of India. We ended up sitting at one of the private vault rooms and Vicky ensured that we got to taste mostly all of the wide variety of items that were in the menu. The menu was itself a challenge. When I was going through the menu, I felt that it wasn’t possible that they could actually keep such a global menu and do justice to it.




The menu boasted of a great breakfast menu, National dishes of many countries, Street foods,Continental, Oriental, Mediterranean, Indian and Italian cuisines, north and south American cuisines. I heard that they also have a Sunday brunch.

We started from the appetizers and tasted cocktails prepared by Mohit, a mixologist who has had a great experience working in leading hotels. It was great to see his creativity at play. He served Tropical Thunder, Manhattan,Lavender Cosmo, Old Fashion, Vault no. 1857 and Long Island Iced Tea to name a few.The mixing was very innovative and I liked the use of dry ice.

The starters were mouth watering to say the least. The Mushroom Galauti kebab,veg platter, chicken momos, fish tikka, keemapao were a delight. If one was to come with a group of friends who had different choices in cuisines then this was the perfect place to enjoy a few drinks with great starters over friendly banter.

The main course was equally extensive and we ordered Pork chops with apple chutney and brown sauce, chicken cordon bleu,sizzling periperi chicken, and humus with pita. Each dish was very well presented as can be seen in the photographs. I was amazed with the size of the serving and the quality of the food.



Desserts like the Tiramisu, brownie with ice cream and many others were available for those with sweet tooth.

In the end, we ended up on the terrace enjoying the chilly wednesday afternoon with a cup of green tea and chatting with one of the owner , Umang Tewari who gave us a very patient hearing. While chatting we could see that he was very passionate about what he was doing.

There was attention to detail and the corporate chef Harman Singh has made sure that utmost care is taken and justice is done to each cuisine in the menu. It’s a concept that not many restaurateurs will dare to try out. This is one area where stand alone restaurants are one notch higher than leading hotel chains. Vault Cafe is a great addition to the café’s in the area and we hear that it’s already packed most days of the week. With Connaught place gaining its sheen back this could be the next great hangout for people of all ages. (Pictures courtesy- Vickrham Vicky)