Toast to Mona Lisa at Da Vinci

Da Vinci at Pali Naka has been a firm favourite for me thru two restaurant locations, a few menu changes and I think management changes too. Last night, I went there for dinner after quite a while, possibly for the first time since I started my food blog. This place has great Italian food (pastas, pizzas, mains)

The menu had undergone yet another change. and the service always good, had gone up a notch. We had a friendly waiter Arjun who made reccomendations, was welcoming about us coming there after a while etc. I do love it when waiters can recommend and have a point of view instead of saying everything is good.

I ordered a Californication (on Arjun's recco) to drink which was a Vodka based cocktail with Plum & Peach flavours. Nice but a bit strong. I like my drink a little mild.

We had a portion of Garlic Bread as a starter as we were going Clubbing after and didnt want a very heavy meal. My main course was a Grilled Cottage Cheese Steak which was delicious but perhaps the salad should have been served on the side.

We skipped dessert but they do a killer blueberry cheesecake. A couple of years ago, I had celebrated my bday here and they served us all complimentary champagne:-). The little touches that keep you coming back! I take a lot of my friends there and my friend Manisha had her first taste of Goat cheese there (she really liked it).  & what's a Da Vinci without a Mona Lisa (they have the print of the famous painting on the wall when you enter)

Californication

Grilled Cottage Cheese Steak

A scent of Arabia in Bistro Grill

Friday saw me & a friend have a late lunch at Bistro Grill in Powai. This Arabian themed restaurant is quite low key but has good friendly service and decent food. As the hour was quite advanced (3 pm or so) we ordered their vegetarian platter of hummus, baba ganoush, pickles, dip etc with pita bread. The pita bread was tortilla style (long and flat). The hummus was delicious rich and creamy with a chick pea decoration. I didnt like the Baba Ganoush which I have eaten better (& made once) - both consistency and taste. With a hummus and pita bread side order, we didnt need a main course.

I also tried their Mint Buttermilk drink which was very refreshing and cooling. Guessing this is good prep for my Turkey vacation too. Bistro Grill also has Arabian Pizzas, Sizzlers etc which we didnt try. Interestng place, I would go back for Turkish coffee and perhaps a sizzler.

Have you been to Bistro Grill? What are your experiences with the food, decor, service?

Got to love the matka style water glasses!

Ode to Mangoes: The King of Fruits

Summer is great for a variety of reasons: Flowers bloom better, Plants grow better, Summer Vacations leads to less traffic and crowds and for being the season for Mangoes. If you are like me, you will be relishing mangoes all through the season right upto the rains.

Mangoes are truly the King of Fruits & the Alpha Mango would be the Alfonso. Delicious to eat plain as scoops, the succulent mangoes have a deep orange colour and a distinctive taste and smell. It has been on my shopping basket every week. Besides the fresh mango plain, I had it as an ice cream at Baskins once and then at Bachelor's at Chowpatty with fresh whipped cream and fresh fruits.

My folks like Bangarapalli mangoes and bought me a lot and they are delicious too. They are huge though and fill you up so I can only eat it at breakfast.

My absolute favourite mango dish that I wait for all year is made from Green Mangoes. Called Kadumanga in Malayalam, this is a pickle with no preservatives. It takes green mango soaked in  salt water, oil and tadka to make and is a quick preparation which is super delicious. A friend of my grandmom's sent me a giant bottle which I have been relishing and it just got over....

What's your favourite mango variety and dish? Share it here.... & until next Mango season, we can relish what's left....

The perfect Halloween venue: Cervesaria

Last week, I was at Makati (central business district at Manila) for a media event. Interestingly, our agency chooses theme restaurants located in Mall for the venue rather than bland 5 star banquets. Last time, we went to the Museum Cafe and in Feb, we went to a theme restaurant called Chateau. This time's venue was Cervesaria in Greenbelt 3.

Interesting decor, beautiful cutlery, the restaurant has a dark gothic look and I think would make a fab venue for a Halloween party. The candle drip wax in a very artistic way. Food was good - had some delicious salad with cherry tomatoes, cheese & arugula leaves & mushroom starter. The main course was a Spanish paella which was delicious.

I am not rating the venue as we had taken over the place for the event and the service was naturally great. But maybe will go back another visit and add to my review. If you are in Manila, do check it out.




Notice the candles...