Kenneth Cole Arrives in Pune

Kenneth Cole launched its first store in Pune at Phoenix Market city. The brand has entered India in partnership with a long term agreement with Reliance Brands Limited. The launch was casual with shopping for the invitees over some wine and cheese. Live music just lent this evening anything but more charm. I loved their bags and footwear, the summer wear casual shirts for men are breezy and have got some lovely prints. I really lost my heart to some of the watches and I am going back indeed to buy one of these babies. 

A special thanks to Carpe Diem as well as Kenneth Cole for the invite. It was an evening well spent. Phoenix Market city has another feather in its cap. Another gem for Puneites to shop.

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Until next time - 

Stay happy and cheerful !!

xoxo

Bhakti 

Summer Detox Drinks

Summer has made its presence felt and we all are reaching out for fluids, mainly juices to keep ourselves hydrated and energised in this unbearable heat.
In the process we are mostly ignoring the calories the juices are loaded with, even the fresh fruit ones. We always thinks that fresh fruit juices are the healthiest but say bye bye to this myth and say Hello to Detox drinks or infused water.

These babies are the healthier options to juices which not only keep your body energised and hydrated with all the goodness of fruits but are also lesser in calories as the fruits are intact and you don't eat them (sugarless energy drinks). 

These drinks work on the gastrointestinal system to rid of toxins there by increasing the metabolism. The drinks are completely healthy and energising. 

They are rage with celebrities as well as health fanatics. The best thing is they are extremely easy to make. 

All you got to do is infuse water with citrus fruits/ berries/ spices/herbs/melons/fibre fruits on their own or in a combination for 3-4 hours or overnight. Keep sipping on this water and you are good to go with all the goodness with no added calories, sugar or any other unwanted thing. Healthy as a horse. 

The basic ingredient being water which is a major source of energy, helps to keep the heart healthy, good for skin, lubricates joints and reduces muscle fatigue. 

The infused fruits and ingredients further give the water their own properties and goodness. 

The detox drink thus works wonders for health- hydrates, keeps you in high spirits  and pleasant by helping the body release fat cells, boosts metabolism, helps liver and digestion as well as constipation. Thus this is the master of them all. 

Have a look at these easy detox drinks on the go and their goodness. 

Pic credits - Google 

Finally my detox drinks

Lime, Ginger, cucumber, mint 

Apple + cinnamon 

Infused water is just playing with the goodness you have in your kitchen. 

So get creative, make some healthy and yummy drinks without losing a sweat. 

You can take these magical potions to work or play. Be the coolest hostess and serve these babies at your next social gathering. 

Hope you enjoyed. 

Stay happy, cheerful and healthy. 

Until next time. 

xoxo 

Bhakti 

The Monk who Sold his Ferrari

I love reading books on life, lessons on simple living, slow living, living fully. I myself believe in these concepts.

Life is an art and the more one hones this skill it's more beautiful. 

This book 'The Monk who sold his Ferrari' by Robin Sharma does exactly that in the most simple and direct ways.
More know about Robin Sharma and his books over here and here. 

The language is kept really easy and simple and the author directly comes to the point of living life to the best of our abilities. 

This book is an old Treasure box to which I just got the key to and I dived in it to lap it all. I sure not only enjoyed it but actually enriched my mind and am trying to do the same with my life. 

Nourishing my body and soul ❤️

The author tells a story which is a crafted fable by him with a few characters and the whole plot revolving mostly around the interaction of Julian Mantle (a cut throat, high profile lawyer changed into a monk by his encounter with the monks of Himalayas) and his colleague and how his entire life changed with the help of these easy principles and how he finally found happiness and enriched fulfilment.

The fable that the Author built is loosely based on his own life and teachings that he came to learn and were useful for him. 

The book is more or less fast paced. 

The teachings are written and divided into chapters. What I love most is the short synopsis of the whole chapter at the end with tools to utilise the teaching and everything the chapter tells on one page. This really helps. It's like quick revision. 

The philosophies to live a blissful life in this book are nothing new but the teaching of the past masters which are written and presented to us in simple ways using simple tools to enhance and fulfil our life further. 

Simple teachings and wisdom which was always there, present but we always overlooked.

He presents to us tools to make our life and time more effective and fruitful. 

It's a small DIY manual for life and it is really good at that.

One may not be able to use each and every tool every day, the way the author tells us. However the beauty of the book lies in moulding these teaching to suit yourself and your life. As the author says you don't have to give away your jewels and ferarris (example) you just have to mould the teaching to suit your life and make it better in the best possible manner just as a well fitting suit.

The small stories shared, examples given and especially the quotes are very inspirational and motivating. 

One really relates to this book and the need to change our lifestyle, to get ourself out of the rat race living that we call life. 

I recommend this book to be read strongly if you haven't read it as yet (like me ). 

It's worth a read and reread. Truly belongs in your library or book collection. 

It's a true gem. 

I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4stars out of 5 for its sheer brilliance. 

That one star gets lost due to the slow pace at times and the tools which are kind of a little difficult to apply everyday all together. But this is just a very small blip. 

This book is a classic. Please do read. 

You can also follow Robin Sharma on Facebook or at www.Robinsharma.com for his inspirational anecdotes. He is an author of 11 international bestseller. This book being his first. 

I hope this review was of some help. 

Until we meet next time. 

Stay happy and cheerful. 

Do let me know what are your views on this book through comments below. 

Also do let me know your recommendation for books in the same genre or any other, I would love to read them. 

xoxo

Bhakti 

World Dhaba Food Festival 2 Pune

Summer started with a bang with the World Dhaba Food festival held at Balkrishna lawns brought to us by Cityshor and other sponsors which was held over the weekend. Puneites Or should I say the ever hungry Pune foodies thronged the place for tasty treats , refreshing drinks in the balmy weather grooving to the beats of the live music and to DJ Nawed. The first day saw a huge screen showcasing the always exciting India Pakistan match. The event was jam packed with patrons from all ages. One could see pretty summer fashion being flaunted by the young crowd as well as the old. The place was abuzz with activity and the vibe sure was laid back , country and super infectious. World Dhaba Food Festival had some amazing food brought to us by the pop up stalls of renowned restaurants across the city as well as some home seasoned cooks,food trucks and bars making the whole scene picture perfect. The event was managed quite well. The prices were a mixed bag of goodies, ranging from different stalls catering to all. 

All in all, the event went very well. The music was good I would say not excellent as it was on and off. The place was a bit small and became very crowded towards the end owing to the huge response the event got. 

Pune is loving these events and waiting for many such to come . Kudos

Stay tuned to know about more such events happening.

xoxo

Bhakti

Shizusan - A Culinary Journey full of Adventures

A place named and themed after a  East Asian character Shizu and his travel diaries in Asia - Shizusan - Pune's first Asian Pop Bistro.

An oasis of pop East Asian cuisine right in the middle of Phoenix market city Pune, brought to us by Bellona Hospitality group. 212 cafe and bar right across the courtyard being its sister concern. However the place is very different than its jazzy cousin.

A warm oriental decor welcomes you in with soft hues of reds and green. Take your pick from their indoor section or balmy casual outdoor seating.

The menu itself is a travel diary which pulls you directly into the world Shizusan's Asian sojourn and his experiment with all their food. The whole place is set, designed and characterised around the tales of his culinary adventures mainly from Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand. 

Chef Paul Kinny serves the best of South East Asian cuisine with his take and a welcome twist. 

Special mention to The bistro’s menu which has a culinary innovative streak with gluten-free options like the Quinoa Maki Roll and other standouts for those who have special dietary needs.

I am a complete desi at heart and love my chindian and oriental food with a desi touch so when I was invited to sample the menu of Shizusan I was in two minds honestly. Not being sure whether I would love this experience I still wanted to explore this new place with a twist. 

So here I was on my own voyage to sample the experience at Shizusan. 

I was taken in by surprise as we had a huge menu to taste, no less than 30 dishes, all in a day's of hard work you see 😜😋😉. 

Bracing my stomach I dived in the ocean of Shizusan's delicacies and I was genuinely floored by what I found.

I am glad I took this invite, the food served was impeccably presented and was delicious. 

The food not being the masaledar Indian take on Asian cuisine was not bland either. I hate the smell of authentic Asian cuisine (mainly the sea food) whenever I am abroad. I was expecting that smell however I was pleasantly surprised as there were no such smell and the food was not completely authentic but with a twist on it. Applaud to the chef as he did a commendable job on this amazing amalgamation of tastes not making it overtly Indian. It does keep its own charm with a little twist enhancing the flavours with an appetising fragrance. 

Let me show you some of my favorite Shizusan's adventures with food.

Master Shizu himself. 

Started the journey with this colourful mocktail ( they are still in the process of procuring their license for alcohol). Their mocktails are really refreshing and get you in the mood right away. This one was called The General however it was anything but General. 

I really loved the mixture of mango and lychee and some more fruit juices in there. I was floored for more. Must try. 

Pepper Garlic Mushrooms tossed generously with Thai holy basil and Shaoxing wine. You just can't stop at one. They were yummy, soft flavourful and an alternative to pepper garlic prawns without losing on any of the taste quotient.

This was one of my favourites of the night. Must try. 

Chilli Celery Cottage Cheese 

Cooked with Sichuan peppers and red hot chillies. It was so bright, fiery, tender and an explosion of flavours on every bite.

I am ordering this again for sure.

Must try.

Another favorite.

Edamame, Petit Pois & Truffle oil

A lingering wasabi aroma is what greets you and fills your senses. Dig into its goodness. For the veg dim sum lovers. Japanese soul with French flavours, this one sure was an instant hit. 

Malay style chicken Satay

The classic and it sure was with everyone as the peanut sauce disappeared within a couple of minutes. The satay was well marinated in galangal, lemongrass and bird's eye chilli. Another Must try.

Chicken soup Dumplings 

These are the soupy dumplings, dumplings filled with broth of minced chicken and shitake mushroom.

Dumplings with a twist which are favorite amongst all. 

Must try.

There is a way to eat them which again is unique.

Make a small tear in the dumpling using your chopstick or folk. Let the hot soup ooze out on your soup spoon. Slurp the soup and let it engulf you in its comfort and then bite on the dumpling and enjoy the mix of flavours and textures which is quite enticing. 

Must try. 

Thai Chicken wings with the drizzle of Sriracha was nice to your tastebuds. 

Thai styled Lotus stem

Crispy lotus stems in an tangy sauce. 

Absolutely drool worthy. 

Shrimp dynamite 

Another of my favorite dish. I couldn't stop munching on them.

The crispy shrimp with creamy sauce. 

Slurp. 

Must try. 

Pork ribs 

I myself am not a pork eater but my friends on the table couldn't stop oohing at this delight. They mentioned that the pork was tender, juicy and oozing with flavour. 

Thai , Thai

This little one deserves all the applaud. Another round of mocktail to guzzle down all this amount of food. 

Must try. A

Doesn't this look exceptionally good. 

Sriracha Blush - wholesome avacado crispy cucumber , cream cheese and jalapeños. 

I liked this one. 

There is a range of sushis and sashimis and Maki rolls. The classics as well as modern to take your pick from . 

Dynamite Shrimp 

A delectable shrimp tempura centre topped with Sriracha mayo. 

Baos 

The baos over here are not your average classic steamed ones stuffed . These are like tacos filled with goodness of your choice of meat or veggies. Take your pick. 

Some of them were exceptionally good on another thought most infact. 

The 17 ingredients slaw leaves you guessing what all you are munching on.

Must try for the salad lovers.

Pad Thai noodles - I found them average but loved their stone bowls. 

The Thai curries were a hit. 

Perfectly balanced . The one on the top is a veg red Thai curry and one below is a chicken green Thai curry. 

I am a fan of green Thai curry and this one just hit all the right spots with fiancé. Went so well with steamed rice. 

Must try. 

Hot stone Rice. A classic rice dish which is transformed in front of you right at your table. The server mixes the rice using some sauce. The container used to serve is made from lava stone sourced from Japan which keeps it hot and the rice warm until you have finished it. Resulting in crispy morsels of rice in every bite. 

It was nice and something innovative. 

I enjoyed the experience but give me my steamed rice and Thai curry any day ;) 

After this gamut of food and no more place in the over full stomach the desserts were served. 

They looked really appetising. 

However I will give the desserts a miss at Shizusan and stick to the favourites. 

This is not a desserts place, strictly average. 

Tiramisu Asia 

Green tea sponge, coffee dust and creamy mascarpone a recipe from modern China. It was nice, creamy but lacked that coma inducing punch. 

Look at the presentation though, I loved it. 

Peanut butter pie. 

As the name suggests, it was overtly peanutty, it was like snicker bar served as a pie. I am sure it will make the snicker bar fans happy. I love peanuts but I found this tad too over powering my senses. 

This was the end of our first voyage with Shizusan and was I impressed? 

Shizusan was indeed successful in working his magic on me. 

The service was courteous, the favourites are good, mocktails refreshing. 

Coming to the price factor. 

Shizusan is on the expensive side with the quality of food and the expensive ingredients sourced to make this experience possible. 

My verdict. 

Do give this master a try and indulge yourself with its captivating tastes which are not yet present in the city otherwise. 

I am thankful to Carpe Diem for the invitation to explore this place and experience it's delights. 

A big thanks to Preksha who entertained us with the Shizu dolls and enlightened us with details of the place and the story behind it all. The chef himself explained all the dishes with details and how to devour them for utmost taste. 

Thanks to Minoti, Pracey, Amrita and Shivangi (reading us the captivating tale of Shizusan and a free how to eat with chopsticks class). 

I hope I covered it all, if you have any queries do ask away in the comments below. 

Until next time. 

Stay Happy and Cheerful. 

xoxo

Bhakti 

Corn and Green Peas Masala

I love corn and Green peas like crazy.

So here goes a dish which has both. 

Now that's what I call party for your tastebuds. 

Knowing me the recipe has to be simple and easy. 

So check it out and cook it away in a jiffy. 

Ingredients 

1 medium onion finely chopped

1 medium tomato finely chopped

1 tspn giner garlic paste 

1 tbspn oil 

1/2 cup corn 

1/2 cup green peas 

1 tspn red chilly powder 

1 tspn turmeric 

1 tspn coriander powder 

1 tspn garam masala 

Cumin seeds

Pinch of asofoetida 

Salt as per taste 

1/2 cup coconut paste 

1/2 cup whipped yogurt 

Dried fenugreek leaves 

Method 

In a pan, heat oil, let cumin seeds crackle, add asofoetida, add onion and sauté it till translucent, add ginger garlic paste, green peas, corn and sauté. 

Add tomatoes and sauté till they are soft.

I can just eat it like this, yum isn't it? 

Add all the masalas and salt and let it sauté, then add the coconut paste and sauté for sometime, add yogurt and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. 

Tada !! Doesn't it look really delicious . 

Serve with hot Rotis or Rice. 

Hope you enjoy. Let me know how it was. 

Until next time. 

xoxo 

Bhakti