Eat Out - Siaa

Intro :
My tryst with another of Hyderabad's restaurant was complete. This time it was SIAA at Jubilee Hills. Having heard about the unique architecture of the place, delectable cuisine and a wonderful view of the city - we headed to this restaurant to get a first hand review of the place and to be honest we were not disappointed. In short, this place is different - When we arrived on the floor I was expecting the usual and what followed was anything but that -to begin with the monster door - it just looks like a wall and till the manager steps up and says "khul ja sim-sim" you would presume it to be the wall ....and what follows is a treasure trove of innovative ideas be it the quirky seating arrangement on exagerrated steps, to the Indo-persian arched roofs, to the view of the city from the huge wall-to-wall windows to the sumptuously off beat Indian food.
Menu :
The limited menu at Siaa includes dishes from all parts of India with a different twist. While the main courses are simple variations on well known dishes, its the starters were quite unique and please take your time to read the description of each dish and you will be amazed at what innovative thinking can come up with. The main course were ofcourse the staple selection of rice and biryani and an assortment of breads.
Some of the items which caught my attention were 
Bruschettas with garlic chutney
Cheese marinated chicken 
Caramelized pineapple  
Prawns on thepla 
Kairi bhindi (lady fingers with a sort of pickled mango),
Phool gucchi and dhingri biryani (a blend of lotus seeds, morels and mushrooms in basmati) 
Dum nalli ghost
Kadi maas ( this was interesting - and I thought there were no variations to Kadi Pakodas)
Patrani red snapper (mint lime and coriander marinated red snapper) steamed in banana leaf, 
Malvani crab curry (big shell crabs simmered in coconut and tamarind)
Though not too fond of desserts, for people interested in it there are the usual assortment of classical Indian desserts and in case you prefer the western vairety you can try the house favorites toasted hazelnut with espresso cream and creme fraiche & date cigar or the chilli chocolate & cointreau tart.
Review :
Unlike me, the host was not very keen on trying out different vairieties and we stuck to the less adventerous and the food was very good. Experimenting with food is never easy and having seen my egg recipes explode and bread doughs turning into stones I can assure that its not easy to alter the established cusinie and get away with accolades - well thats exactly what Siaa chefs have managed - kudos to them. The food was very authentic at the same time very tasty. The after course service was different too, whilst I was expecting saunf to complete my meal - I was greated with home made chocolates and that was the  perfect ending to a happy meal.
Ambiance & Service :
Like I mentioned the ambiance was different and as we happen to just stare into the yonder of hyderabad from the huge windows mesmerised with the tasty platter, you cant help being on the high literally. The service was quite slow and had to help ourselves out of the chairs to seek attention of the servers - may be we were too early for all the servers to be present.We missed having been to the place after dusk - where the real charm of the place will come to 
fore. Anyways, I am sure will make it up some time later. 
Recommendations : 
You can visit the place for the ambiance and the food - both are exceptional, and make it a point to visit it after sunset. In case you plan to have a romantic dinner,  kindly reserve the center table on the 4th level, just for that extra magic ;)
Pricing : 
Pricing is on the higher side. A decent 3 course meal for 2 will be in the range of Rs 750-1000. 
Location :
Plot No 70, 
4th Floor, 
Road No 1, Jubilee Hills, 
Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Phone
Ideas for thought :
1. It would a good idea to reserve the seat especially for the magnificiant view of the city. 
2. Have a little patience, the service is likely to take time.

Movie Review : Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes was released in Hyderabad with not much fan fare. So I was not even aware that it was out in cinemas. So when my good friend gave a positive review of the movie It was elementary that I visit the cinema at the earliest and watch this adventurous movie.I love adventure, thriller movies. Be it flamboyant and stylish James Bond or the down to earth and always muddy Indiana Jones or Lara Croft or Star Wars. Nothing like watching it on the big screen and savoring each one with the choicest pop corn and glue stuck eyes. Sherlock Holmes is new to the list.
The Characters :
I have seen the BBC versions of this famous fictional character, but this the first of what I hope many Hollywood adaptations. And I relished it. But it did shatter some of the embedded images of this famous detective. I always thought of SH as this sharp looking, tweed suit wearing, brilliant, classy detective who has this penchant for making big deductions from small observations. To my surprise he turns out to be this shoddy, 4pack-fist fighting, eccentric, unshaven and unhygienic, yet somewhat adorable and quirky annoy my landlady person living on 221 Baker Street. Dr.Watson to my surprise was a young chap with lots of fights to his credit...I had imagined an old man with a thick mustache. But yea he gels well. The villian ... well lets just say he is human and was not as scary as the Hound in Baskerville.The heroine .. not much to write about.All in all, good acting by the hero and his sidekick.
The Plot :
The plot starts as a sinister plot by an evil cult to gather power and control of the world as usual, taking the viewer to the nether world and then falling flat as a dud with a not so convincing twist of mordern warfare (dont want to rob you of the ending). It reminded me of the Shanghai Knights without the queen and the clowns :). Nevertheless except for the ending, I enjoyed the plot and the narrative.
The Screenplay and Direction :
This I was quite surprised. I loved the way SH plays his moves in his mind explaining the details of human anatomy and its weakspots and executes them.It reminded me of C.S.I without the graphics. I loved the locales and east man colour type of print and almost black and white movie kind of feel.I couldnt help but notice that many a times it was just the blacks and whites in the movie ...except when the heroine makes her entry.Full marks to this department.
Verdict :
All in all a nice movie to watch on the big screen. I would rate it 4 out of 5.

Movie Review : Paranormal Activity

Some time ago there was a movie called "Blair Witch Project" - a sordid tale of camping teenagers on a camping trip and being massacred under mysterious circumstances and the only evidence left was their handycam. It was a path breaking movie with a different narrative and story telling experience. It  left goosebumps at the end of the movie.
Now after years when I heard about Paranormal Activity and it having a similar lineage as BWP, I was dying to see this movie. And now after seeing this movie I am truly impressed. This movie will surely leave you scared of "thumps", "creaky sounds", "gentle breeze". If you are alone and do believe in paranormal incidents in the universe then I am sure fear factor will play big time in your head.
The editing of this movie was so crisp and precise that people who have seen this movie actually believed that it was an actual recording of an unfortunate incident in the lives of a young couple.Infact the entire movie cost was just $ 15,000 and it has raked in around $ 200 million till date.
If you like horror movies or movies that give you the creeps then this has a "Do Not Miss It" tag 
written all over it.

Other info as per Wiki :
Paranormal Activity is a 2007 independent horror film written and directed by Oren Peli.[5] It premiered at the Screamfest Film Festival in the U.S. on October 14, 2007, and was shown at the Slamdance Film Festival on January 18, 2008. The movie centers on a young couple, Katie and Micah, who are haunted by a supernatural presence in their home. The movie is presented using "found footage" from the camera set up by the couple to capture what is haunting them.
First-time director Oren Peli had been afraid of ghosts his entire life, even fearing the comedy film Ghostbusters, but intended to channel that fear into something positive and productive.Peli took a year to prepare his own house for shooting, going so far as to repaint the walls, add furniture, put in a carpet, and build a stairwell. In this time, he also did extensive research into paranormal phenomena and demonology, stating, "We wanted to be as truthful as we could be." The reason for making the ghost in the story a demon was a result of the research pointing to the most malevolent and violent entities being "demons".The phenomena in the film takes place largely at night—the vulnerability of being asleep, Peli reasoned, taps into a human being's most primal fear, stating, "If something is lurking in your home there's not much you can do about it."
Attempting to focus on believability rather than action and gore, Peli chose to shoot the picture with a hand-held home video camera. In deciding on a more raw and stationary format (the camera was almost always sitting on a tripod or something else) and eliminating the need for a camera crew, a "higher degree of plausibility" was created for the audience as they were "more invested in the story and the characters". Peli says that the dialogue was "natural" because there was no real script. Instead, the actors were given outlines of the story and situations to improvise, a technique known as "retroscripting" used in the making of The Blair Witch Project.In casting the movie, Peli auditioned "a few hundred people" before finally meeting Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat. He originally auditioned them individually and later called them back to audition together. Peli was impressed with the chemistry between the actors, saying, "If you saw the [audition] footage, you would've thought they had known each other for years."During a guest appearance on The Jay Leno Show on November 3, 2009, Sloat and Featherston explained they each saw the casting call on Craigslist. Featherston noted they were originally paid $500 for their work.
The film was shot out of sequence due to Peli's self-imposed 7-day shooting schedule though Peli would have preferred the story unfold for the actors as he had envisioned it. Sloat, who controlled the camera for a good deal of the film, was a former cameraman at his university's TV station. "It was a very intense week," Peli recalled, stating that the film would be shot day and night, edited at the same time, and would have the visual effects applied to it as the acting footage was being finalized.

Eat Out - Sahib Sindh Sultan

Intro :
I have heard a lot about this restaurant..lot means a lot. As I have a itch for theme based restaurants I was itching to visit this place for a long time and opportunity presented itself I did not let it go.
This is the second resturant in Hyderabad which is based on the Rail ka dibba, the other being "Silver Metro" - but unlike Silver metro there is  some history attached to this romantic forgotten love story sounding eat out. 
The place has been named after 3 vulcan engines which pulled around 14 carriages carrying 400 passengers made Asia's first rail run in Mumbai on 16th April 1853. The three engines bore these very romantic names of Sahib, Sindh & Sultan.
Menu :

Oh there is plenty to choose from and the food is exceptionally good. Right from the pickles and murrabas to the extensive list of Indian food from across India the choice is endless. And the entire dining experience would make you want to visit this place again and again to try as much as possible to satisfy the lusty desire to fulfill your appetite :) . This being a bar cum restaurant liquor is also served and being a teetotaler I did not venture into the other menu, but I would assume they have a pretty good range there too. 
Some Interesting names which caught my attention were as follows
Vilayati Subz Panch Mel
Bharta Rawalpindi
Revolutionary Raiwali Bhindi
Kaju Kumbh Crowning Glory
Zamindari Achari Aloo
Lord Mountbatten's Lobster
Campbells Favourite Crabmeat
Sir Francis Drakes Lobster
Havelocks Fish Muselleum
Rajputana Lal Maas
Vulcan Foundry Murg Badam
Flambeed Gulab Jamoon with Brandy
Apple Walnut Phirani
Review :

In short the food was amazing . Very rich and tasty. I would recommend this to everyone who has a big wallet :). The shorbas were ok .. becoz we tried the not so routine ones, the curries were damn good. Unlike other resturants we have lots of breads to choose from Corn, Bran, whole grain rotis just like the variety of curries.

Ambiance & Service :

SSS is a class apart. Right from the pullman style carriages, elegant understated decor, antique lamps and gleaming woodwork to the funny sounding delicacies, I loved it from the word go. 

Recommendations : 

Highly recommended for localites, out of town folks and firangi's :) 
Pricing : 

Pricing is on the higher side. So better be prepared for an expensive bill. But as all good things comes for a price so is some exceptionally good food. Dont shy to spend the extra cent.
Location :

5th Floor
City Central Mall

Banjara Hills.

Ideas for thought :

1. It would a good idea to reserve the seat by making a telephonic reservation, coz the place is usually crowded.
2. I would recommend you to experience dining in the rail carriage - even if you have to wait a bit. 

Mumbai - Food and Culture

My long overdue 2nd part on Mumbai is as follows...,
Ok, now having covered the city and its people the natural extension would be to cover the culture of this city. Thats interesting enough to write a blog about.Mumbai is cosmopolitan in every sense of the word. Different cultures, languages, religions all put in a blender with the bollywood masala and set it up in locations where the best brains, best talent and best looks interact is what you get in Mumbai.
Except for politics, Mumbai is according to me is the capital of India for rest of things which matter !Be it entertainment, cuisine, fashion, art or just plain having fun. I must admit I have seen some of the most good looking and intelligent people, the best cuisine and a very fashion concious society here than anywhere else I have been to in India. Cometo think of it there is a logic to it ... you  for decades together the best designers, the best chefs, brains have come to work in the best companies mostly headquartered here, and some of the most good looking people flock to this tiny city to share a piece of limelight in the entertainment industry or the fashion industry... and boom what you get .... a 2nd generation of a heady cocktailn of beauty and brains ... awesome !! Mind you I am not talking about the higher strata of the society .. you can see it at every level of .. what I believe is a truly cosmopolitan capital of India.
Cosmopolitan is "Having constituent elements from all over the world or from many different parts of the world", and what better way to express that than the people - from every walk of life, authentic cuisine from different parts of the world.No place could be popular without good food and Mumbai is one place where you will never be too far away from good food. Be it classic continental, Italian or exotic Japanese, lebanese and Greek food or for the not-so-food avicados we have the omnipresent wada pav to Chinese fast food you will find it here.
Another aspect of this fab city that you would notice when compared to other metros are the youngsters,their life and their style statements. I would rank them as no.1 for their fabulous sense of fashion and sheer good looks, they always seem to be in line with the rest of the world when it comes to letting the hair down. Shopping addicts would just love Mumbai right from the cheapest to the most exclusive you will find it and this city will cater to your every need without bleeding your wallet if you do not want it to.
Being the entertainment capital of the country also means you have a host of options to explore the Artistic qualities of the mumbaikars. Mind you people come from all walks of life and around the country to showcase their talents. If you find visiting the numerous art galleries a little boring and expensive then on a good weekend just stroll from CST to Colaba or the Gateway of India - and you will explore the brilliant talent this city hosts.

If you shrug off the negatives and immerse yourself in the city to explore its spectrum of sights, sounds, colours and people.I bet you will not be disappointed one bit. This is one fab city in my books and all I would say is "Salaam Mumbai".

Travel - Mumbai "City & People"

In this 2 part series of blog on Mumbai, I will share my thoughts on the "City & People" followed by "Food and Culture".
Finally my one year old desire to re-visit Mumbai, finally came true. Eversince the terrorists terrified the nation on 26/11 by launching a daring attack on the landmarks of financial capital of India, I wanted to visit the places hit as a mark of my tribute to the brave soldiers, citizens and victims of that massacre.One thing that comes up time and again to the fore is the character of this amazing city and its people.
Mumbai - you will hate it at first and then fall in love with this city.For a man coming from the laid back city of the Nawabs, the first time I visited Mumbai way back in 1999 - the sight and smell of Mumbai hit me out of my socks. My first reaction travelling from CST to Vashi in the early hours of the morning with its blatant display of poverty and misery disgusted me to say the least. Crowded one room shacks, utter disregard for hygiene or dignity it was revolting to say the least.I used to wonder why would people from all over the country flock to this long and crowded city seeking a better life and settle for such a shabby life. Every time I visit, eversince my first visit, I am still getting a kaliedescope of answers for this question of mine - this is when you start falling in love with this city. 
Mumbai is not for the faint hearted or the lazy bums - this city will ensure that you are always on your toes, it has something for everyone. Except for decent housing a peanut seller would lead a purposeful life enough to save and take care of his family. The name of the game is hardwork. And once you are injected with its blood you will be an addict, you would not like to live in any other city.Whatever you are, an uneducated boy to the highest qualified citizen this city has a big heart and work to keep you occupied.
People would assume that a big city is a bad city - but Mumbai is different.There is probably no other city where you will the disparity of the "Haves" and the "Have Nots" more than in this place and hence a breeding ground for dishonesty. Its one of the most honest and safe cities in India. May be there is enough work for everyone or may be people dont have time to think of cheating others - that does not mean you let your guard down, just that people are not really interested in making an extra buck out of you. I can recall many incidents to vouch for the same.
Another amazing thing about the city is what is called the "Spirit of Mumbai" - it never dies. Be it devastating terrorist attacks, life stopping floods, communal riots this city and its people always bounces back.You cant keep this city locked up in their houses for any reason.There is amazing solidarity right from a common labourer to the richest business man to the famous film start - they love this city in the true sense of it.The grafiti on the walls from Bombay Central to Churchgate says it all. They are proud to say its "Aamchi Mumbai".
All I can say of this wonderful city is "Salaam Mumbai " a truly wonderful city.


More Pics : http://www.orkut.com/Main#Album?uid=16831825160219067580&aid=1260834623

Eat Out - Cafe Europa

Intro :
This is my first review and I decided to write something about 'Mama Mia - Italiano'. A new European Lounge eat out called Cafe Europa. There are a couple of Italian restaurants in and around Hyderabad notable amongst them are Little Italy, Olives and Cheese, Silver Spoon (closed now) and many pizzeria's converted to pasta joints like Dominos. In my opinion Cafe Europa stands out in a couple of departments when it comes to having a good time with family and friends as elaborated below.


Menu :
One of the main point on which Cafe Europa scores is the menu something for everyone and  Authentic European !!. If you ever travel abroad and managed to eat in any decent European cafe - you would know what I am talking about. Mind you I am referring to European and not Continental stuff . The menu is a kaleidescope of  food from across the region tempered down to suit our conservative Indian tastes - Pasta and Pizza from the land of the mafia - Italy, Salads and fruit smoothies to suit the palate of the figure conscious French, Sandwiches and fries to suit the stiff lipped English and top it all with some delicious cold coffees and hot cappuccinos - and not to forget the tempting desserts on display. 


Review :
Having talked with the owner of the cafe - I get to know the secret of thier delicious food - Stick to the basics. The problem with many food joints in our country is that they try to Indianise the recipe and in the process screw up the taste . How often have we seen schezuan shrimp being served with a plate of roti, onions and lime ?? Ok, I love the onions and lime ... but please thats not an excuse for bad presentation - If you visit a Chinese restaurant be Chinese and have chinese - I love the Hindi-Chini bhai bhai concept .. but lets not extend the concept to our food plates :).
This is an aspect I was happy about they chose to stick to the original reciepe - but have to wait and see if the pressure from Indian public changes their stand. The Italian food is reminiscent of Little Italy only thats it much lighter on the pocket and food tastes equally good, but again I feel you have a better choice when it comes to light snacking.


Ambiance & Service :
The layout, the decor and the music is typical lounge style. I would have liked a little privacy with some curtains but I am told it will be in place shortly :) . I like their chalk board menu, the color combinations and some interesting wall hangings :). Best part is you have ample space to throw a party and can easily accommodate 20-30 people.
The service is courteous and prompt and the people seem to be well trained. 


Recommendations : 
I would recommend people to try the pasta here and please do experiement there is a lot to choose from - I am told the Basil Shrimp pasta is a somewhat exclusive to this place. Apart from them you can try the Cafe Europa special Salad and Hazlenut  coffee !! Pizza - Spicy Fiesta and Santa Fe chicken are good choices. Last but not the least I loved their litchee smoothie after a spicy pasta.


Pricing : 
Very reasonable. A dinner for two would not be more than Rs 250 - 300. Thats very reasonably considering the quality and quantity of food.

Location :
The location is strategically close to one of the main shopping areas - Its on the way to DPS from Diamond point (Sikh Village). And the signage will ensure you will not miss it. Not being a very busy road its easy to find parking


Shop 3, Mahalaxmi Trade Center (Next to More supermarket), Delhi Public School lane, Karkhana, Secunderabad
Landmark: Near Diamond Point
Phone: 42016580


Ideas for thought :
Some points which might be worth considering by the management.
1. A little privacy. 
2. I am not sure if they had ice-creams, if not please include them - at least for the kids :)
3. Bring in more genuine European cuisine.

Prologue !!

Hi there !!

As I begin this new blog, I wish to extend warm regards and heartfelt thanks to my existing readers.

I am immensely greatful to all the regular readers of my earlier blog who have been kind enough in providing useful tips and inputs to add value to it. Thank You :)

I would appreciate the same kind of patronage for this blog too. As a hopeful I hope you would enjoy reading this blog too.

As part of this journey I would like to share the experience of the various sights, sounds, tastes and quirks of my life in this fascinating country. Eat outs, performances, events, movies and any other stuff I participate in or take fancy too would be covered as part of this blog. In sharing my observations I wish to add to the experience of others.

"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins."

So let the journey begin....

Cheers

Vips