I had blogged about authors from IIM & IIT in February 2010 here.

A lot of my twitter comrades had commented on it too. In the meantime, I had read the mint occasionally. After a while, maybe a year or so, I realized that I had the pleasure of interacting and then subsequently getting followed by the phamous Sidin and his more beautiful colleague Priya Ramani Read the rest of this entry »

I had earlier blogged about Sabarna Roy’s books here.

Then, I picked this up. Finished it over last weekend; but dilly dallied about writing here. The fourteen stories are based in Bengal and cut it too close to the bone in some instances, particularly some facts/fiction that is similar to some people’s stories I have actually heard over the years.

The stories, separate but all carry a tinge of pathos, happiness, question and leave you wanting more. There is not much to just read about, but even learn from it with different human tendencies that everyone has in some measure, but refuse to acknowledge mostly.

Unfortunately, the poems are not mu cup of tea and hence gave them a miss. But, definitely a read.

Had been meaning to visit the place, more so since, had recommended it to friends but could not manage to join them.

Last week, after a heavy lunch, was feeling a bit peckish and so decided to try it out. Called up and they said no reservations taken, but since it was already 9 pm, they said come by and we’ll find you a place.

With the humidity, we opted to sit inside, which was pretty full. Ordered a drink and they kindly made a mocktail off the menu for my wife, who is a teetotaller and vegetarian.

We ordered french fries - just perfect, far superior to McD and the ilk. This was followed by onion rings - which were nice, but New Yorker has better. And then asked for a vegetable club sandwich - but had mushrooms - so changed it to Veg Burger (ya ya I know, there is no such thing) which was pretty good in itself, but the accompaniments - wedges and salad were outstanding.

A visit to try out the non vegetarian side of the menu is being planned soon, but overall it just proved why now we do not have to travel all the way to town.

Books from an author, that normally I would not read. However receiving those books and reading them, I was glad having read them.

Pentacles The first book that I finished reading has one long story and couple of four short poems. I just gave the poems a miss because I do not understand anything remotely poetic, but the story was something extremely magnetic and believable taking up from a soft beginning, playing on natural emotions like indifference, bits of hatred, love and finally acceptance over the years of childhood, adolescence, youth and finally maturity. I am sure all of us have undergone in some manner or other.

Abyss is a full length play in two acts. A sort of familiar story with twists and a bit of suspense, which fiction readers of theatre watchers may pick up by the end of Act one. Having said this, it looks something where I would like to see a Paresh Rawal directed Play itself.

I still have to commence reading Frosted Glass…..hopefully over the coming weekend.

I had visited this place 4+ years ago with a friend for a leisurely lunch and had come away completely disappointed.

However, last week, on my quest for a dining table, ended up at Home Stop and felt like having a Thali, which meant either Rajdhani or Bhagat Tarachand (which unfortunately had not opened). That narrowed the options to Pizza Hut (too crowded), Ruby Tuesday (does not really have food) when my wife bull dozed me to Moti Mahal Deluxe.

Upon entering, saw it was more than half full, with mostly families. Given a nice table, started perusing the menu, which was quite exhaustive. Unfortunately, they did not have old monk and hence had to settle for Bacardi.

We opted for some roasted masala papads and a portion of Subz mix grill which consisted of paneer, aaloo & mix vegetable kebabs - very nicely marinated and served hot.

For the mains, we tried Veg kofta - very nice - a bit spicy & tangy with brown gravy and methi mutter malai which had a taste of real methi and was not too sweet. But it is the roti’s which were extremely nice, in particular the chilly paratha, which had bits of green chilly and went extremely well with the methi mutter malai.

We were too stuffed to try out the sweet and left it for another time.

Address: Inorbit, Malad west, Mumbai

I had first eaten at Faasos in Pune more than a couple of years back and had loved their service and food, So when they opened in Bombay a while ago, passing by, I dropped in and found the same taste and put their number on my speed dial.

Over the past 6-8 months I have ordered half a dozen times and have had sweet-bitter experiences every time - starting from perfect delivery, not being delivered for more than 2 hours and being constantly assured that the boy had left, specifically requesting for change of 500/- and not receiving it etc. etc.

The last order was on Wednesday, when they managed to send an egg roll without onions against an Aaloo+Egg and that too after 4 calls and nearly 60 minutes.

Having said that, the price point has made it a run away success, added to that is the yummy taste of wraps.

The portions are decent. Two wraps are good enough to have your fill.

Now if they only get their delivery right!

A book by Ravi Subramanian, who had earlier written ‘If God were a Banker’ and ‘Devil in pinstripes’ which I liked, had me scrabbling to pre order it and once delivered, first on my list to read.

It begins with a promise, woven well with Naxalite, Foreign Banks, their aggression, deceit, treachery, credit card frauds amidst corporate politics.

But some relations have not been woven well and are abrupt - Kavya & Karan - whilst some parts have dragged, the flitting of naxal movement with banking may appear to be new to readers and the suspense may appeal; however John Grisham it ain’t.

Over all personally disappointed after the first two books but still worth a one read.

I had visited this more than a year ago for drinks and had liked it. We had been planning to go out for brunch and decided to try it out, as it came recommended by a couple of other friends. We made bookings for 12 by Saturday evening.

On reaching there Sunday afternoon, the place was crowded and the desk was puzzled with our reservations. The manager had no clue, whilst the waiter ‘Vikram’ tried to ask somebody to vacate/move so that our party could be accommodated. The reason given was that a lot of these tables were filled with “SnapDeal” offers. Read the rest of this entry »

Suhas & Deepa Awhcat trio of restaurants came to Lokhandwala, in their usual band baja style with a barrage of leaflets, that impressed the wife so much that she decided “We need to try this out” No amount of persuasion works (as I’ve learnt over the years to my detriment).

So one fine evening, off we went, to an evening of Yo Yo….. Valet was yawning away to glory, but ran up and collected the car, on entering the gate, were stopped as if terrorist were about to strike and asked ‘Do you have a reservation’ I said No, but are you really full? because one could see empty tables. One of their senior person walked up and asked “What’s your mobile number?” On being asked Why? the response was “In case you forget something here, we would need to call you” No thanks and we were whisked inside ‘downstairs or upstairs’ came next, with us opting for downstairs. Read the rest of this entry »

I normally do not like to order pizzas from Pizza hut as home delivery, however the family has always ordered and last Friday, the urge to order in after an exhausting day was extremely strong.

So I was designated as the order giver, with specific instructions. Called up Pizza Hut.

PH: Thank you for calling…………
ME: Hello, my number is 26xxxxxx and I would like to place an order please.
PH: Sorry sir our systems are down, may I have your address please.
ME: Can you please take my order
PH: Sorry sir, our systems are down, may I have your address
ME: Sure, but can you first take my order
PH: May I have your address
ME: Of course, I’ll provide that since you would need to deliver, however take my order down.
PH: Your address
ME: (Sternly raising my voice) Young man, Please take the order and then ask for the address.
PH: OK, as you wish
ME: ABC pizza; xyz bread; what is the offer of the day etc…..& I have xxx coupon
PH: Ok sir, your address please
ME: *deeply sighing* 111, abcde, mmnop, opp. aaa,
PH: Sorry sir, our system shows that this address is in Goregaon on the link road.
ME: That must be the same building name, but I do not stay there
PH: No Sir, your address in our system is there only.
ME: (Beginning to lose my cool) Young man, on one hand your system is not working, so that you cannot accept my telephone number; on the other hand, when I am providing my address, you say it is listed in another suburb altogether.
Can I speak to your superior.
PH: Yes Sir, but can I have your correct address.

I disconnected and ordered from my neighborhood shetty - delivery time - 15 minutes.

And this is where the story ends, MNC, high expectations, let down and by the by did not even bother to call back, but I guess ‘Why bother with a person, who is not a regular, does not know his address?’ How about you? Have you had a similar experience? Do share it.