Monsoon, Chai & I

That special cuppa of chai (tea) becomes extra special in monsoon.
Its a never ending love affair between the two. The romance it creates is insatiated and never ending, it keeps one desiring, longing, burning for one more kiss from the lips of the chai and one more hug from the raindrops wet.
The interwound and  mingled fragrances - the sultry and addictive petrichor with the calming notes of ginger, tea and milk numb the senses and also take them higher all at once.
I have got a confession to make I never drink tea, yes you heard me right and still here I am a non tea drinker penning praises.
I had never touched tea or drank it till few years back and then one day I happened to have it on a rainy day standing by a makeshift cart and sipping on a cup of this warmth in the cool weather - I just fell in love.
Don't get me wrong I still don't drink tea or neither am I addicted to it in my daily routine, just this one of affairs I have sometimes - monsoon magic you see.

check for yourself.

Nothing beats a plate of pakoras with chai on a Rainy day.
Monsoon favourites- devoured these goodies somewhere in Mulshi.
Read all about our Rainy day in Mulshi.

Iraani chai from Southin café when its pouring outside.



I love my eyelashes over here.

Chai with friends on a rainy evening is more special when served with the small biscuits (childhood memories) from glass jars. This one is at Chai Viman nagar and I love my masala chai over here, slurping on maggi alongside.

Chai on a Highway is like watching the drama unfold with best seats in the house.

Cups of chai when the world passes by.

Rainy evenings at home with Chai and Slices of Fruit cake from Kayani bakery- bliss

These were some of my Chai chapters what are yours.
Let me know what are your monsoon favourites.

You can also read about Monsoon for the Chai Lover

Until we meet again.
Enjoy that cuppa and stay happy and cheerful.
Happy Monsoon !

Lots of Love
xoxo
Bhakti

A laid back evening at Cara Cafe

Great fun, food and laughter in the heart of Viman Nagar Pune. The newly opened Cara Café in Viman Nagar is all this and more. As soon as you sight this café it pulls you in. That's exactly what happened with me and my friend when we were passing by. No sooner than we entered the café we felt at home, the ambience of the café has a soothing laidback vibe to it. It has this European/Italian feel to it. Menu written on the blackboard, plush couches, huge cushions, informal and catchy, good music playing in the background, loads of paintings and colors, a map on the ceiling, soothing lights, board games, yummy food. The café definitely rejuvenates and relaxes you over the wafting aroma of yummy food and beverages. They even have varied games to keep you busy and have a good time.
They have an indoor as well as outdoor seating, and one can just sit here for hours. They provide free Wi-Fi as well for those who would like to have a coffee in between meetings, or catch on with their work alone with a strong cup of coffee or a chilled iced tea.
Cara manages to draw in crowd from all age groups thanks to their eye for detail and something for everyone uniqueness.
Cara serves Italian and Mexican cuisine, its a veg café but believe me, you wont be disappointed as they serve some real cool stuff.

We had entered just for a coffee on a whim, so full after our heavy lunch, still we couldn't help but order ourselves iced tea and a farm fresh pizza after drooling over their menu.
We relished our pizza with our drinks for a long time over a game of Uno and loads of girly banter.
I tried raspberry iced tea which was very refreshing and flavorful. It was a right combination of raspberry with the smooth tinge of tea tickling the taste buds. The farm house pizza was freshly prepared thin based, loaded with cheese and veggies--- yummmm.
The service is warm and pleasant.
The owner is friendly and warm, he chatted up with us and personally asked us, how was the service and gladly told us that they are coming up with more entries on the menu.
I cant wait to go back to Cara to try their new menu and bask in the goodness and warmth of this café. I can sit here alone too for hours. One can just unwind after a busy day here.
 I think a perfect café is not only that perfect cuppa of your favorite coffee but the right ingredients and ambience to relax and socialize. Cara café hits the nail bang on.
Whether with your girlies, for a meeting, to read a book alone, with your love or a big group of friends or family Cara Café is a must go on my list of cafes.



I love the telephone booth tables

map on the ceiling

reminds me of Friends (sitcom) café

I am wearing

top - Bangkok Platinum Mall

Denims- Levis

Bag - Dubai

Neckpiece - Splash

Bracelet - Vero Moda

Footwear- Foot ins

Pink Verdict for Cara Café

Food- 4/5
Service - 4/5
Ambience- 4.2/5
Value for Money- 4/5

A must visit :)

P.S - If you would like us to visit your property to review and write about it, we would be happy to do so (restaurants, travel, hotels)

xoxo
Bhakti

I love to watch reruns of my favorite serials. So Saturday evening we were watching Go India Maharashtra series, Kolhapur episode lying lazily on the couch. As we immersed our selves in the land of Kolhapur, we were drawn to the yummy Kolhapur cuisine that followed, the rassas and the non veg fry. By the end of it we could actually taste the food on our tongue, the torture the taste buds were giving us. I got on zomato immediately and started searching for restaurants serving pandhra rassa  near our home and out popped the name - Rassa Roadies and thus that was our dinner destination.

Located in Kalyani Nagar, this is a small restaurant just opposite Marrakesh. This restaurant serves all the delicacies from all over Maharashtra as well as the prominent Rassas in the Maharashtrian cuisine. As we entered we were greeted by waiters dressed as Mavlas. The whole setting is Maharashtrian. The walls are painted with Marathi characters. There is soft Marathi music going in the background, the aroma of the yummy rassas and Marathi cuisine engulfs you as soon as you enter. We were shown to our table by the manager on the upper level, which was a bit more cozy than the ground level. We placed our order promptly, they have thalis. I ordered for a Saoji chicken thali where as hubby dearest went in for a Kolhapuri Thali. Each thali consists of one dry preparation, one curry preparation, pandhra rassa, tambda rassa, egg burji, 2 chapatis/ bhakris, thecha, biryani/dal khichdi/plain rice and Jaljeera to wash it all down.
The variety is awesome and anybody would think its going to be too much to finish, but in reality, the thali is not unlimited, they charge you for everything you need extra and believe you me a person with a normal appetite especially guys will need extra as the quantity served is not much.
Let's start with food, between me and my hubby the Saoji thali I ordered was a clear winner. The chicken fry was really nice and full of flavor and aroma. The chicken was cooked well and tender. The curry I got in the thali was aromatic, full of spices and really nice though the chicken in this was not cooked too well. The pandhra and tambda rassa both were laden with goodness, yummy though lacked in complete authenticity. The Burji was rightly done, not too juicy, nor too dry but very less quantity and cold. Chapatis were not soft. The thali consisted of around 3 - 4 small pieces of chicken which is a little inadequate. The Jaljeera was soothing and refreshing as it washed down all the food.
Now let's have a look at the Kolhapuri thali, here the curry lacked complete authenticity and not too good on taste, chicken fry was good though again not 100 percent authentic.
The overall food was tasty, aromatic and rightly spiced, not too bland neither too spicy.
The service was prompt, waiters stood at a distance and kept an eye on what the customers might need. The manager himself was helpful and warm. The food was served well, the presentation though simple was bang on.
Coming to the pricing, the chicken thalis are priced at 245-255 INR, which according to me doesn't do justice.
Well to sum it all we had a good dinner to satisfy our hungry taste buds. We really enjoyed the Marathi music and food, we were actually transferred to the era of Marathi Mavlas with the whole setting and everything, our experience would have been 100 percent if  it wouldn't have lacked on quantity and authenticity.
We had a great time though, its a really good concept. A Saturday night well spent .

chicken kolhapuri Thali

Chicken Saoji Thali

Would I visit them again.

Why not ? Who knows? But again  If you want to eat authentic maharashtrian non veg cuisine without any frills, I will head to the nearby Kaveri (RS 170 unlimited chicken thali), if I want to gorge on Kolhapuri pandhra and tambda rassa, Purepur Kolhapur (RS 220 unlimited chicken thali)will satiate all cravings.
My verdict.

Food - 3/5
Service - 4.5/5
Ambience - 3/5
Value for money - 2.5/5

Do you guys know any authentic Kolhapuri food restaurants, do let us know, we will be glad to visit and fill stomachs :)

P.S - If you would like us to visit your property to review and write about it, we would be happy to do so (restaurants, travel, hotels)

xoxo
Bhakti