I wana go to Angkor Wat!


It was one lazy day at office and I was going through a page which said top 10 beautiful abandoned places. As I scrolled down, I saw a temple like structure and was curious to know which place is it and wondered if it was in India. I read further and it said Angkor Wat and my google search began. 

I was mesmerized with the photos I saw and was happy to know its not an abandoned place. I would not really wana write anything about Angkor Wat here, for that you have a wikipedia page already! All I want is to go there and experience the place. Yes its history, mythology and archaeology all in one I would wanna experience.  

My favorite food hangouts in Mumbai.

Food, my favourte subject I can talk about. I wrote this post for a friends blog when he invited me as a guest writer. Thanks Punds for giving me a chance to write for your blog. You can read the original post here : http://full2faltu.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/road-to-600-post-595-my-favorite-food-hangouts-in-mumbai/.

My favorite food hangouts in Mumbai.
You eat to live or you live to eat, silly question but I love to eat and I live to eat.

From Vada pav to burger, from Punjabi to Chinese and Thai, Mumbai gives it all to you. Yes I am talking about food, food for not just satisfying hunger but food relished with taste. I am a total foodie and freak out on variety of food. I like to go out n eat, eat and eat. Not just eat but try out new delicacies and find out new places to eat.

I don’t claim that I am the biggest foodie, but yea I know quite a few interesting places. This is just an attempt to share my food destinations within Mumbai with all of you.

Big BiteI remember going to my nani at Matunga with my parents and on our way back we had this small burger kinda place located in the same lane of Mahim Church, “Big Bite” with a burger like lit cutout on the signboard. The moment I think of this place I can actually smell the aroma of the big bite burger they served there. I still remember the taste and wow it was amazing. My mouth still waters the moment I think of Big Bite I go back to those childhood memories when I used to insist on having a Big Bite. And made sure I had it, the whole of it. I cant clearly remember what exactly it was made of, but my mom used to say that its nothing but bhakri (a type of Indian bread) stuffed with some filling and yes, not to forget those onion rings which completed the Big Bite. The thought of Big bite still makes me nostalgic and those memories are very special for me since the time I discovered the hidden foodie within myself. The best part is my parents used to bribe me for a Big Bite so I could come to nani’s place with them.

Movin to my college days when we had been to mahim to invite guests for our college event, I happened to bump in the same shop, but then Big Bite was no longer available, it turned out to be a bakery and a cake shop. I asked the lady there about Big Bite and she was very happy to see that I still remembered big bite which was started by her husband, long time back and it really did well then.

I’ve been to Mahim off late, but always found the shop closed. Everytime there was a new sponsored signboard, but never found the shop open. I will always remember Big Bite and will always miss it, since I may not get the same Big Bite anymore. Just an attempt to tell you all how much I miss Big Bite and how Big it really is for me.

Udipi (Bandra Govt. Colony) 
Again back to my childhood days dad used to take us to Udipi on alternate Sundays to have the famous Dahi Wada J. Eating out or dining out was a luxury for us. Udipi at Govt. Colony Bandra was our most loved destination. I remember enjoying Dahi Wada with my younger bro, mom and dad. It was real fun. There was no Mc’ donalds concept that time, or even if it was there we could not really afford it. Dahi Wada on Sundays was a special treat for us.

Maharashtra Dughdhalaya (Prabhadevi, Next to Shri Siddhivinayak temple)Tuesdays was our day to go to Siddhivinayak with dad and then he took us to Maharashtra Dughdhalaya to enjoy the delicacies out there. We being kids that time did not really have the tastebuds for most of the items prepared there, but as we grew up we really liked the snacks made there. You cant miss the Upwasachi Misal (a type of dish made with loads of ingredients mixed specially when people are fasting). The place is also famous for Piyush and the special shrikhand that you get there. Other maharashtrian items like Sabudana Wada, Kothimbir Wadi and Alu Wadi are also specialities of the place.

Highway Gomantak (Bandra East - Highway)Fish, prawns and sol kadi, if you like anyone of these then this is the perfect place for seafood lovers. Yes highway gomantak is the best places to have good seafood. Priced reasonably this place serves you authentic coastal food. Fish, served fried and curry both taste amazing. Not to miss the glass of Sol Kadi after a rockin fishy meal. This is place was started as a small eating house known as a Khanaval in marathi and now is a full fledged restaurant. So if you are a fish freak like me do check out the place and you will like it.

Hotel Vaishali (Chembur Stn – Fine Dine place) 
If you like candlelights, Vaishali is the best place to be. Not just the ambience but also the food is amazing. It’s a perfect place for not only good ambience but also good food. Serving the best of the Indian delicacies, I love the Vaishali special kababs, this special preparation consists of minced chicken stuffed in chicken breasts and then barbequed. Its amazing, do try this out if you happen to drop in here and yea about 3 people can easily share this delicacy making it one of the best starters. The reason I like this place is again emotions attached, I have been here with my best friend several times and we really enjoyed eating out here.

Candies (Bandra West, Reclaimation / Bandra Pali Hill)Moving to one of my most loved place Candies. AWESOME is the word.
It was a boring Sunday and I was damn irritated and all thanks to my best pal Swapnil who took me out to this place called Candies. Located at reclaimation, next to Lilawati hospital and IES college, candies is the perfect place for a Sunday or maybe any evening. Candies serve amazing bread and patisseries. Mutton mince rolls out here are my hot favorite. Wild berry Ice tea is what I would recommend you all to have out here. Other than all this they have a variety of Breads, starting from brown breads to garlic breads, you get it all here and yes FRESH! The desserts here are mouth watering. Not to miss the tarts and other sweety stuff you can enjoy.

Apart from food, candies gives you the perfect ambience, the place gets crowded at times but it never gets noisy then the music and the lights keep the story going on. I saw these candles lit on bamboo sticks placed unevenly next to each other, giving it an earthen yet stylish look.

Candies has recently started off their new outlet at Pali hll, truly an amazing place, This place has the best of candies food served here and has got loads of place to sit and relax. It gives you an out of the world feel, the ground floor has the serving area, you pick up your stuff and walk upstairs where it opens to places to sit and relax with a very nice landscaped garden done well. Its totally open and covered with the shadows of the trees, believe me you wont feel like you are in Mumbai, and with the freezing Mumbai weather its simply awesome. Its just sometime back I returned from candies and continued writing this post.

(Chicken Soup, Muton Mince Roll, Wild berry Ice Tea and Coffee with some sweets)
People walk out saying, “Lovely Place, Isn’t it”…

It was Valentines and we spend our evening at Candies again… I got my best friend here and she too fell in love with the place and yes she being a goan, loved the prawns curry rice and mutton mince rolls…

Its been again today (3rd ) time in this month and week, I went to Candies and here is a pic of what all I relished.

Amazing food, perfect ambience and that’s what Candies is… make sure you reach by 6:30 – 7:00 in the evening cos the food gets sold out really fast out here. And I am sure when you walk out you’ll say… amazing place.

Just cant stop writing about this place.

Apart from me being a foodie all the above places mentioned have some memories attached. I like going to these places is not just the good food but the food cooked and served with love. They love to serve you good food and they like that smile on your face, its just simple. Most of the places are not really expensive, but serve good quality food which you can really enjoy. So what are you waiting for, drive off to your favorite food destination and enjoy till I hunt some more places to satisfy my tastebuds.

Bon Appetite

Barfi! Awesome Movie, but I wonder if there were cellphones back in the 70's

Barfi is a wonderful movie, I loved it. Just Watched it yesterday and we enjoyed it a lot. A well made movie with all aspects like cinematography, editing, music and yes art direction. But looks like someone actually went ahead and ruined the art directors effort by using a mobile phone on the sets while shooting. I dont want to blame anyone from the filmmaking team since its a fantastic movie. Just that DUMB people should keep their SMARTPhones OFF the sets. A screenshot for you to spot the DUMBPhone user.

Will Khan continue to the Baadshaah !

The Baadshaah of bollywood, none other than our dearest S.R.K! Well I don't need to give an intro for Mr. Khan. I have myself been a SRK fan since the Fauji days to Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman and till date to Chak De India and Swades. I know till date after Swades and Chak de, he has made good movies but none of them appealed to me. Even My Name is Khan failed to create an impact on me. Post that I felt Don 2 Could have been much better. Don the first part was really a well made remake. And then it was Ra.One! phew I just didn't like this one as well. Honestly it was a great effort put in, great VFX but overall very drab! and loosely tied! My bro too liked SRK but has lost his faith in him after Ra.One. I don't know whether its the case with just the two of us or many other SRK Fans who know that he can do much better stuff on the likes of Swades, Chak De and DDLJ! Bang! Hell yeah! its the same SRK who gave us the Raj Malhotra in DDLJ in his very own stupid, slick and nasty style. So when do we get see the SRK like we did in DDLJ, or the Mohan Bhargava in Swades, Surinderji in Rab Ne...  and Kabir Khan in Chak De. I might sound like asking for a lot more, but ALL I expect is a movie from Shahrukh with a power packed performance and entertainment as well and I feel Jab Tak Hain Jaan will be the answer to it. 

Yes JTHJ went abuzz on the internet ever since it was known as London Ishq. People were eager to know more and more bout the movie since it starred Shahrukh, Katrina and Anushka. The first leaked look made people curious. Yes it was that good! Later the photos and the poster launch with Shahrukh in the Army Uniform we really mind blowing. Somewhere the story looks predictble, but yet this one looks like an entertainer. With Gulzar sahab and the Maestro Mr. Rahman, there are already a lot of expectations built on with this movie. One question, why did Chopra Saab call it a Yash Chopra Romance, Sir you don't really need to define it, do you. You have been the king of romantic movies ever since Silsila and Kabhi Kabhie. Well back to JTHJ and this happening to be my FIRST Pre-Movie Review, yeah makes me excited. The first song Challa is out on youtube and can be watched here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q5duWVfDJo.  Its a nice song. Waiting for the rest of the songs to come up. Music is going to be a major factor contributing to this movie's success. Particularly when its Mr. Rahman its gotta be BIG. Good songs can help the movie pull crowds and can be a good added selling point being a romantic movie. I feel it to be a story where the Shahrukh is based out in London in his initial days and that's where he hits romance with Katrina and later moves on to be a Army Officer back home in India. When I saw the first look of this movie with the leaked photos and SRK's looks, he reminded me of the Raj Malhotra frm DDLJ, same jeans jackets and sexy boots with a Guitar this time instead of a mandolin. And hell yeah he looked young and smart! And then with the Army Uniform and on a Bullet with a RAW tough look. So I could see the glamorous dude with loads of Color and the Rough n Tough Army Man who looked like a grown up Abhimanyu Rai from Fauji. I feel this movie can be a good proving point for all SRK fans like me who like SRK doing glamorous yet sensible stuff and not something like DON2. This movie can really create the SRK fever which I feel has lapsed and whizzed off over a period of time. 

I predict Jab Tak Hain Jaan will do really well at the box office for sure. I also feel it might create the SRK hungama once again. Again i'd wana say, if the music is gonna be kick ass, then this movie would even go breaking all the box office records in terms of collections and awards. Thats it for now, here are a few pics and poster shots from the movie. Enjoy!

Heya Friends! Happy to talk about Food Films and Fun!!! This is my first post!!! HELLOWORLD :)

One of the main reasons to start this blog is Films apart from food. No let me be clear, im not a critic or a chef... Just another guy who would like to speak about what he likes/dislikes etc... When I say writing about films, I dont mean writing film reviews, I want to guess rather predict which movie would do well and why. Nor that i am a fortune teller...but just for Fun! Ive predicted a few movies before and its come bang correct... Not that it really matters to anyone... :D. When I thought about my movie prediction I also thought if there was a movie prediction betting going on I'd be the first one to put in money LOL. to which my wife warned me not to think of any evils like betting... Blogging was a better option I thought of.