Cafe Arabia - Journey into the Middle Eastern Cuisine

I Broke my self imposed exilè from food invites finally. ( I will let you on why i was on an exile soon - promise) Reason had to be good now and it sure was, my love for Lebanese cuisine. Middle eastern food has my heart. So here we landed on a busy crowded sunday in Phoenix city food court ( we avoid crowded places on weekends but we had to do this). We were headed for none other than Cafe Arabia.

Cafe Arabia has been there on the city food scene for a long time. Its stood it stand against the test of time and here we were to get our own taste of it. 

There was a consistent flow of clients with yummy huge platters and kebabs. 

As we waited  for ours the aroma of hummus filled my senses and no sooner our table was a battle ground for yummy platters fighting for space. 

Their menu is vast and you can have a feast fit for a king with their kebabs, biryanis, platters and more but we were there on a mission to taste their new variants and we dived head on directly into it. By the way let me tell you I am a hummus pita lover so I can never settle for something which is even a tad bit less than our expectations ( especially husband - he takes being fussy and picky to another level especially when dragged out of the house on a busy crowded weekend ).

So lets start from

Assorted Hummus Platter

Clockwise - Spicy Harissa, Basil Pesto,

 Zaatar Jalapeno and the Classic Original Hummus along with Zaatar Bread. My favorite is the spicy Harissa while husband loves the green ones. That zaatar (mix of spices ) is exceptionally awesome. Be it in any form be it hummus, salad or rub, we completely fell in love with it.

All this for Rs 220. Totally worth it.

Dont you think the presentation deserves an applaud for a food court qsr brand. I can just eat with my eyes. Love my food beautiful .. dont you ?

Must try !! .

Feasting we were!

Al Fahm Kebab 

Chicken drumsticks marinated in yellow chilli paste and cheese creamy garlic. 

These were delicious especially when they are hot. They are all creamy and melt in the mouth. Loved the taste of yellow chillies ( something i tried knowingly for the first time and loved ) definitely gonna find out what all food preps make use of yellow chillies. 

Rs 230 

Must try !! 

Zaatar Chicken Salad 

For the salad lovers, healthy eaters or just for its yummy quotient. 

This salad wins hands down. Filled with proteins, greens, fresh crunchy veggies and a lovely seasoning of zaatar spices and that mayo on top. Roasted chicken - Oh so good! 

You have to have it, its quite filling as well.

Za isnt a salad eater but he picked out all yummy juicy chicken pieces and left me with the vegetables and to find some tid bits of the chicken 🙈

Rs 190 

Must try !! 

Chicken Shwarma Platter.

Deconstructed shwarma on a plate. Its like make your own shwarma with your favorite ratio. Go on add to your hearts content. I made mine with generous amount of everything and dipped it all in with the spicy Harissa. The chicken was perfectly roasted and spiced. Zahir finished this entire thing. 

Rs 230 

Must Try !! 

Falafel

Crispy falafels, high on protein, just dip it right in the hummus and enjoy. 

Rs 120

Shish Kebab on Rice

Buttered herb rice with minced kebabs and creamy hummus with a portion of salad. 

Though I found the kebabs a bit dry ( i like mine juicy)Those delicately balanced flavours with herbs. 

Chicken Rs 240 

And last and in no way the least 

You know your Sunday was awesome when you feast on the Royal Turkish delight - Baklava ❤

Favorite Middle Eastern Dessert or

Dessert meant for Gods - we devoured it within no time at all. Filo sheets with honey and syrup with caramelised nuts ... Burst of flavour in every bite. One of the best I have had in Pune.

Rs 60

Must try! 

All in all we were very happy with our meal. 

Tasty food which they have tried to keep true to its roots. The food is all healthy and they pride themselves on not using any preservatives whatsoever and nothing is processed. 

The quality and taste of all its branches is uniform having one kitchen headquarter which supplies the premixes to everyone. 

So what you waiting for head out to Cafe Arabia closest to you and do try out the yummy stuff on offer. 

Let me know, what you try and how it was. 

xoxo

Bhakti 

Cafe Arabia is located in 

Phoenix market city - Viman Nagar 

Westend Mall - Aundh 

Seasons Mall - Magarpatta 

Mariplex Mall - Kalyani Nagar 

Royal Heritage Mall - Nibm ( coming soon ) 

Million Memories - Pallavi Kodan -Book Review

I was pleasantly surprised to recieve this cute little package from the author Pallavi Kodan.

I loved the cute little powder pink bag that it came in and the book itself appeared chic with pastel sand colour cover with the black seagulls and the female character with an umbrella. 

It gives a bit of a sad look and I thought this must be another heart breaker. 

Author–  Pallavi Kodan

Book- Million Memories

Publishers– Partridge Publishing

Number Of Pages- 210

Format– Paperback

Genre - Young Adult 

Well the blurb reads - 

 Follow Ashima and her friends through their roller coaster ride from teenage to adulthood, to being actual adults. A story about growing up together, crushes...love..fights..doubting and realizing self worth...failing and standing up for one self...struggles and challenges. A story, which is an amalgamation of many experiences and emotions.

Review - 

This is an honest book written by Pallavi Kodan it dwelves into childhood memories of coming up of age along with your friends. One can relate with it on every aspect. Kudos to the author for getting it so right in her first book itself.

The book is about the main three characters Ashima, Siddhant and Karishma. These three are best friends since childhood. Childhood friendships are most cherished ones and hold a special place in life. This book depicts exactly that.

Right from the start when all three of them come from different families and backgrounds, upbringing and social norms. How that affects their friendship and shapes them as individuals. How the struggle is real with them to keep the friendship alive being different personalities and growing up differently with a different outlook towards life in general. You actually hate Karishma and get irked when her character arrives, wish Ashima could be less sweet and it was time she gave it back. Or for that matter you want Siddhant to enjoy and forget his love. 

You relate with them, have your favourite too. Sometimes you even go back to your childhood menories. 

From first crushes, exams, goof ups, dates, love, highs and lows and life in general - this book follows it all from their separate point of view and what effect it has on each one as well as their friendship. 

The language the author has used is simple and easy to relate however the book is a bit slow at places. It wavers in engaging the reader, material is predictable and you know what is gonna happen every time.

There are lot of errors especially towards the end which require editing. 

All in all this book is a simple fast nice read. 

Thanks again to the author for sending this pretty little package and congrats on the first book. 

My verdict - 3 / 5 

Happy Reading folks !! 

xoxo

Bhakti 

Easy Festive look for Dandiya Nights this Navratri

Festivities are just round the corner first with Navratri and then Diwali.
You need to look amazing with comfort being the key as you got to have fun too and mingle with friends and family.
My personal favourite go to outfit is mix and match comfortable striking fashion.  So What better than lovely skirts paired up with crop tops/kurti with a pretty dupatta to adorn it if it's not that jazzed up or just go like that.
It's so flowy and beautiful and yet comfortable and completely easy to handle.
I believe in keeping the look balanced.
If the ensemble itself is too detailed or has lovely work, keep the rest of the elements simple and low key so that you don't look like a Christmas tree🎄🙈. Let any one element shine brighter. If your look is simple adorn it with bold dupatta with lovely work on it and accessories.
Chose the accessories wisely, don't go overboard with them. Have any one statement piece which will give you a lovely overall finished look with poise.
Let me show you how I like to dress up.
Btw yellow and blue both colours are on the list of  Navratri colours to be worn.
So Double whammy for my look.

Do give importance to the lip colour and eyes. I love kohl so I always go with my deep kohl eyes with winged eyeliner. I think it's perfect for Desi traditional vibes. My look and colours of the outfit were subtle so I went ahead and coloured my lips bright red. I kept rest of the make up nude. 

The simple skirt with a golden border paired with a silk kurti and a stole. 

Added some statement earrings and rings and I was ready to roll the traditional way. 

Comfortable yet smart with traditional vibes that's how I love to dress up for festivals. Cause I love to look pretty but I love to enjoy with all the hoopla with equal fervour.
That's my go to style for you for festivals.

Outfit Details.

Kurti - Thai silk ( self designed)
Skirt - boutique piece
Stole - Thailand
Earrings - Jabong

P.S. sorry I couldn't upload a single photo which was just mine. ( that's what happens on festivals when you too busy having fun you forget to take pictures 🙈)

So this festival. Let your hair down, dance all night and have too much fun.

Happy Navratri Guys !
Welcome the Goddess with fervour and tunes of Dandiya nights.

Stay Safe...

xoxo
Bhakti 

Two Timing, Am I ?

Today let me take you with me on a small part of our Road trip.

For those who follow me it's no surprise and you guys already know it from all the posts and my random rants that I am a nature girl at heart ... 

In nature I lose myself and find myself again .. I breathe.. I rejuvenate .. 

And this feeling was strengthened and factualised by our recent road trip which we were advised strongly against by our Dr. Reason - I was very weak with low bp. Which was lower than low and I was advised strict bed rest. Still me being me went with the trip  ( well in my defence everything was booked and this trip was planned from a long time and we were in such anticipation and I love road trips and Goa ) as I thought we 'll do it as it's just from Pune to Goa... ( well that was irresponsible but adventurous though ) 

The whole way hubby took care of me like no ones business. Fussing about my rest, my meds, my snacks, ( could I get any luckier, touchwood I have won myself  a jackpot ) Coaxing me to sleep but no sooner than we took to the forests and mountains they just kept me going and like that .. like just that.. I was feeling so live. The magic of nature is marvellous beyond understanding ... it's wonderful, just leaves one astonished at it's beauty, sights, abundant life and a strong will to keep growing to keep living and giving. 

The crisp air, the smell of moss laden trees, gurgling waterfalls, chirping birds,  what's there not to like... not to fall in love.. not to be fully alive and aware.. not to replenish and rejuvenate every sense of the body. 

I was healed ... if not completely ... in my mind ... in my will to be one with nature .. in spirit.. I was one with nature.

It helped me like it does always. It loved and accepted and nourished me like it does always...
I wanted to get out of the car, touch the leaves, feel the cool gurgling water, smell the wild daisies.

Just like that my love affair continued .... ❤

With my hubby as well as nature... I was two timing and how ... but sometimes a girl just gotta do what she gotta do. 😉

Monkeying around, are we ?

Mountains are calling ...

Specks of green..

And I did get out of the car... didn't get to play in the waterfall, well whom was I kidding .. I got out and just that was enough to get a smile to my sick, tired af face.
P.S. how cute is he 😋

I want to be here forever in these mountains, where my soul belongs amidst nature.

The Magic of Mystical Mountains beckons me on ...

Forever a mountain Girl ...

They have my Heart...

Check out this small video ... a glimpse of magic ...

on that note ..

xoxo
Bhakti

Simply Complex or no ?

It's been a long long time that we chatted up ... and I am so sorry for that. Honestly I am caught up in a huge project which is really close to my heart. Very soon I shall share with you where I was lost.

But today I just felt like catching up with you guys, rather I itched to write to you, craved to blog. In this long time I honestly had a writer's block where I didn't feel like writing and just wanted to focus on my project but today all of a sudden it just felt empty not to chat with you all . 

So long story short here I am.. 

I realised that I am simply complex or complex simple and then I remembered a quote from Marlyn Monroe .... 

I think I am a mixture of Simplicity and Complexes but I am beginning to understand myself more now - Marlyn Monroe 

And I just left it at that. 

On a lighter note the monsoon is tantalising and leaving us asking for more .... the weather is beautiful ... sometimes brutal but pretty nevertheless ...

Simple outfit to conquer the complexities.
I love the t-shirt denim days.

xoxo

Bhakti