Not as great as the Colaba one. But the Pani Puri’s are the same served with chilled mineral water. The aloo tuk, dahi vada are to die for. You can always round it off with sweets, gulab jamun with kulfi…..

7A, Crystal Plaza, Opp. Infinity Mall, New Link Road, Andheri (W) Mumbai Ph 67023300

You must have read about my travel on the expressway to Pune here. However the action over the two days is recorded in this post.

Immediately on entering Pune, we had to drop off some stuff at Neil’s aka Colonel sister’s place; but we decided to stop by Marz-O-rin on the way for some nice cold coffee (not cold but still tastes just as good) & chicken sandwiches (why O why can bombay not learn). Upon completing reached her place, woke her up from her snooze, delivered the stuff, chatted for a while before reaching our final destination Sunil Rogers (Neil’s Nephew) at Mudwa Road; Next to Magarpatta City. It was nearly 6.30 pm by then, so opted for a snooze before getting up at 8.00pm ready for some action. Since a couple of more friends were already there, opted for some kolhapuri food from Kaveri (unfortunately closed that day) so had to settle for some butter chicken & naans from another place preceeded by some Haig & budhani wafers & samosas. All in all good stuff. During this time, had got in touch with CNB aka Freegeek who introduced me to the Visa system in Bombay. And so cajoled him also into coming over.

The next day, Colonel had wanted to go on Satara road for some misal & vada, but was over ruled. We slept a little late & then on his insistence finally left for Post 91 where the Pune Jazz Club was meeting. Reached there much before time & except the projector plus the speaker were there. However, soon it started picking up with the who is who of Pune joining in (photography was frowned upon) but managed to get a couple of them.

At nearly 3, with Colonel buzzing thanks to Koch insisting on one more beer, we made our way to ABC farms. The idea was Sheesha - where jazz lovers meet up. Lovely place, though pathetic service - we had to get everything replaced with fresh stuff - they were keen on the firangs rather than serve us. And back home, via a dekho at Magarpatta city interiors. A power nap & we were ready to rock & roll again. Freegeek had called up to plan out something, but visitors had landed up, so had to communicate regrets.

However I had not counted on Colonel & Sunil his nephew, who managed to clear up the house by 8pm. Then pushing me to drive rushed to Kaveri to pick up Kolhapuri Mutton Rassa & Chicken Fry. On the way Freegeek was also asked to report quickly. And the evening commenced. Keeping an eye on Freegeek & Sunil’s age we called it a night early by 1 (the previous day was 3 am & Freegeek had gone to office straight:))

Monday dawned bright & early. With a list of things to pick up from Praveen (some achaar, masala); Budhani; Marz-O-rin; Kayani & bruns from some other place & we were ready to hit the Expressway!!!

A couple of weeks ago, a friend called up & on the spur of the moment left for Pune, a city that I like but have not visited since the past couple of years.

We left at around 11 am on a Saturday, quickly passing chembur & hitting the expressway before hunger hit us. My friend claiming to be a Puneite though he has been staying in Bombay for the past 35 years guided me to the petrol pump after the toll for some refreshments. The first stop was for some good Sev Puri at 1.30 in the afternoon, followed up by Dabeli (not too happening) & super Vada Pav, we continued our journey reaching our destination.

After spending 2 nights, we returned on Monday, stopping at the food plaza, where we had some amazing Pohe & Vada again (also carrying some back home)

What was definitely noticed by me was the better quality of food at the food plazas; cleanliness of facilities (OK sponsored by HPCL but whatever).

But the civic sense of people is still pathetic:

• Spitting & throwing junk inspite of the signs & waste basket placed.
• Speaking on the cellphones at the fuel pump & lighting cigarettes
• AND stopping on expressway to use it as a loo or picnic spot.

For our two days in Pune read here.

One of the goals of visiting Baroda this time around was to take my daughter to old places show her how they had changed, visit old food haunts since she was coming with us after nearly half a decade.

And so it started, took her to my old college, station road, Home Science where she used to clamour for Dosa, where a new Soda center hold position; her favorite sandwich wallah AND now that she eats omlette to one of the most famous ones, who have now split and started at another place. Whilst every effort was made to take photographs, I was expressly forbidden most of the times by Dr. Nene & Sumir of their hogging:) But rest assured, Dilip, Manisha, Milind, Sumir, Ajay, Prashant have all been introduced to galli & laari concept, the exception being that they would bring it home and eat. BUT rest assured with the support of the Kids & their better halfs Yeh Din bhi door nahi hai….

I wish I had been able to take more pictures of our gastronomical extravaganzas like room zoom, picassa, etc. etc. However enjoy these!

Having read about this & seen it passing by, decided to try it out on a Saturday night.

Since it has recently opened, there were very few tables occupied - mainly family, filmy crowd enjoying themselves.

Loved the decor, wide open space between tables so no eavesdropping. AC working fine. Neat clothes, good crockery.

Decided to try an item each from all types.

Started with Chaat…Nope sorry, they have discontinued it.

Garlic Bread in Chinese - oh we do not have italian so we put it here. OK not even passable….slice of wibbs bread toasted & grated garlic. 0/5

Margherita Pizza - Very good in taste, just the right amount of cheese. 3.5/5 because there was no chilli flakes or chilli sauce & need to upgrade the ketchup also.

Sada Dosa - Very nice. good taste, option of 3 chutneys all of them good (coconut, garlic & mint) Sambhar was pretty nice too. 4.5/5

Chole Bhature - Very good. Chole were extremely nice, but lime had to be asked for & should have been piping hot. The Bhature could have been less oily/patted dry but the taste was really nice & even after 10 odd minutes could be chewed. 4/5

Clay oven Paratha - Superb paratha, hot chole, black dal. All in all the best of the lot. 5/5

Total Damages including soft drinks 785/- for 3 people.

Vikash one of the owners was around to make sure things run properly. The staff is young & enthusiastic, with a little more training would do well.

The price is pretty OK but could not understand for the steep difference in prices of a normal paratha vs clay oven.

But shall go back to try out the punjabi & chinese stuff soon.

Reliable Pride, Opposite Heera Panna Mall, Next to City International School, Oshiwara, Andheri (W), Mumbai Phone 40108222

I have never been an athlete in my Life! though would always be on the playground, trying to be one.

I have never played sports in my Life! though played a bit of cricket, learnt a bit of football.

I have always been finicky about food - i.e. loved the good food,  but only cooked in a specific manner, at specific places etc.

I am a vegetarian who also eats non vegetarian:) but regularly irregular. I started eating chicken in 1981/82 maybe once in a month or so. Fish in 1990, with red meat once in a couple of months maybe! And this is primarily outside when entertaining or being entertained.

And learnt the Shotokan style of Karate (Brown Belt) for a couple of years.

Post college, work started, moved across India, traveling, so on! With the rapid growth on the professional level, came the sedentary life style, with the industry change, came more luxurious travel, entertainment so much so that for a couple of years lived out of the suitcase.

When traveling tried the delicacies there & then when back, wanted home cooked food that the wife made……AND the photographs say it better…….

Sedentary lifestyle; Partying; Entertainment did me in, so to speak.

During this period of 1988 to 2007 I had tried out the following:

1) Talwalkars’s in Mumbai during 1996-97…..on the recommendation of Mehul but the travel(which made it difficult to be regular) & the insipid trainer (who helped strain my back with his enthusiasm) put paid my gymming.

2) Anjali Mukherjee during the same period & 2000 when I consulted her & she in turn consulted me:) And Yes there were changes, however the near drastic lifestyle changes did not sit well with me, so left it at that.

Magar Abhi toh Picture shuru hua hai mere dost!!!!

Indian Retail that had been rocking a year back is facing rocks today; some of it due to circumstances beyond control, but some definitely within control. Based on experience, discussions, talks over the past year……thought that some of these can be listed down…. Read the rest of this entry »

Some months ago, BMC & other allied agencies in their enthusiasm completed the work of road, drainage, foothpaths, bus shelters etc. where I stay.

The next day morning & continuously I saw number of taxi’s; rickshaw’s being parked there from 7 am in the morning but post 1pm suddenly disappear. Being the inquisitive kind, after a couple of days, started asking questions - Why the rush? What is happening etc. etc. to the watchman of the building, my driver etc. Read the rest of this entry »

On our recent trip to Vadodara had a lovely time arranged by Tushar at his place on Sunday 25th May before leaving the next day for Ambaji. Read the rest of this entry »

On a quick trip to Baroda, decided to try out Ginger Hotel.

We reached Baroda in the evening around 6.30 pm. The check in was smooth. The Parking space was reasonable in the basement. Went up to the room. The AC was bad. The maintenance came by, the reception came by all with different version that did not seem to jell somehow. Read the rest of this entry »