Exploring Eggs in Mumbai

Love eggs? For all the egg lovers,  here is some great newsfor you.  We usually make eggs at home as an easy recipe ane quick cooking whenever hunger strikes. But read on as I have explored eggs like never before in Mumbai and would like to share my best experiences with you.  I've picked my favorites and sharing them in a random order. 

Cafe by di Belle - Yes,  it's a chain of coffee shops,  however the serve the most perfectly prepared omlettle and toast and egg on tomatoes. Try it out and enjoy the perfectly cooked eggs. 

Aromas cafe - Again a cafe,  but the eggs prepared here are cooked to perfection.  Remember to try the egg Kejriwal.  It's truly a treat for all egg lovers.  The bread is made moist with a delicious thick gravy on it.  A sunny side up is neatly placed on it and it's garnished with fried onion strips. You  will love every bite.

Birds nest

This is simple cooking for kids,  since if they enjoy the presentation,  they enjoy the food. Make  their favorite noodles and top it up with boiled eggs.  Make it appear like a birds nest. This works wonders and a healthy meal is ready in minutes.  

Egg station - Is a chain of small shops around Mumbai serving a variety of egg dishes.  They are freshly prepared and filled with flavor and taste. 

Quick and easy egg white recipe. 

Simply toss some egg whites in a little butter,  add finely chopped greens available in your fridge, add a dash of salt and pepper and serve hot with chapati or rotis.  

A is for Aromas Cafe

In the A to Z challenge you will get to know a little bit about me,  bit by bit.  So I'm starting with my weakness,  cafes serving good coffee is my weakness.  So I decided to try this cafe .... Visited four and yet thirsty for more. So here I start with the first alphabet A and my favorite coffee ☕ too.  Let's get going.  

#BlogchatterA2Z #onceuponatymee

Aromas Café recently launched its latest & 8^th outlet in Bandra and established their presence in the central hub of culinary delight.

This outlet is definitely spacious with a passage going all the way to the end with a private area seating for a larger group or a family gathering. The kitchen and the food counter is located at the center of the layout which you may not end up seeing if you settle at the entrance area which is brightly lit. 

We made ourselves comfortable on the comfy sofas at the entrance and were given the menu and a dedicated staff member was always around when we needed one.

Thirst Quenchers -Its a mandatory for me to call for one when at Aromas Café!

Premium Berry Shake - Here only premium ingredients used in making this rich thick shake with pulpy berries mixed with vanilla ice-cream! Each sip was a perfect blend of all ingredient and yet not overtly sweet.

Berry Delight - This is a part of their Strawberry festival limited time menu; this was a mix of Raspberry , Blueberry shake layered on top of each other and served, definitely worth trying.

Cappuccino - It's served nice and hot with a creamy froth at the top. Enjoy it while its hot and unwind.  You just might land up asking for more. 

Appetizers - The presentation will make you drool!

Lamb Pepperoni and Charred Gooseberry Crostini  : Part of their Strawberry festival limited time menu; Spicy Lamb slices tossed in chili flakes with garlic & cheddar topped with charred gooseberries and pickled onions served on a crostini. These were a visual & culinary treat!

Gunpowder Calamari - It's really different from the regular rings; these were Calamari slices thats tossed in the traditional gunpowder of the south. The mild spice blended perfectly with the otherwise bland calamari. Really enjoyed this new version for a change!

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Meatballs : Meatballs cooked with perfection and tossed in the sweet & spicy sauce with added bell peppers and minced coriander. This was a combination of flavors in each bite

 Lamb Kibbeh- Its a middle eastern delicacy; minced lamb shaped into croquettes and served with a topping of in-house sauce; definitely delectable!

 Egg Kejriwal : My favorite of the entire lot; A very different presentation and it scores a perfect 10/10. Fried egg on a circular bun placed on a bed of coriander & green chili chutney; the bun completely soaks up the chutney and the topping of fried onion makes this one is just awesome !

Mains - You will be satisfied with just one.

So this is what I had - Honey Mustard Lemon Chicken - A complete meal with sliced Chicken (7-8 pieces) served with veggies & mashed potatoes with a generous side of penne pasta. While the pasta is tossed in red pepper flakes and the chicken was covered it a thick sauce of honey mustard. This meal is good enough to satisfy person and serves as a perfect main course.

Desserts & Saving the best for the last. 

Caramello Cheesecake - Like the name suggests; caramel flavored cheesecake served with chocolate balls and velvet toppings.

Always been a fan of Aromas cuisine and they continue to hold the standard high! Can’t wait to go back for the Premium Berry Shake, some Meatballs & the Egg kejriwal!!!!

We also visited Aromas Cafe thats located in Kandivili 

Aromas Café in Kandivili is the only All vegetarian menu in the franchisee chain of outlets and we visited them recently.

Space is vast and the ambiance is quirky, especially loved one wall which spells out their name and has comfy seating arrangements inside each alphabet – Eye Catchy for sure!!!

Started off with some coolers : Have you tried their French Vanilla yet?

Non Alcoholic Beer - We all know what this is and couldn’t think of drinking anything else on a Sunday afternoon.

French Vanilla - This was bit hot with a creamy blend of vanilla and cream; a very different version of coffee or aptly can be termed as a luxury or a smooth bodied coffee.

I would still say, stick to your favourite cappucino and avoid experimenting.

Starters - It's something different here and worth trying out.

Dal Khichdi Arancini : An all-time favorite! Aromas presents this one like a patty rather than the traditional arancini balls; nevertheless made perfectly and had a crisp outside with soft filling of cheese & daal inside.

 Mixed Veggie Mexican Discs : Simply put this was our traditional Sev Puri we have but no compromise in the taste and a yummy snack to eat,  it comes without the chutney. 

Main course - This was simply perfect. 💯✨

Roasted Garlic and Mushroom Risotto - This was simply an awesome Risotto to be had. Mushroom & Risotto rice tossed in creamy garlic sauce with added Parmesan cheese to give it the creamy texture. Served along with the usual garlic cheese bread to complete the touch. A must have at Aromas for sure!

Homemade Dessert Tootsie - Just okay and nothing great,  Diced bread base topped with White, brown and dark chocolate served along with a generous doze of Whipped cream in a bowl.

So here it's not just sipping on a hot cuppa coffee ☕ but enjoying the food served with a wonderful presentation as well.  

So the first day of my challenge starts with Aromas cqfe. Stay tuned for more food and travel tales.  

The history of Holi

Yes we all know that Holi is the festival of colors and this is what we have been taught in school.  But let's go back to understand what this festival is all about and how it originated. 

Tips for a Solo Traveler

Its one of the best experience ever, traveling alone.

It gives you time with yourself and explore and do things you have always wanted to do. But its always good to be safe and here are a few simple tips when you traveling SOLO. 

 Take care of your belongings always 

You don’t have the advantage of an extra pair of eyes looking after your belongings. Its always safe carrying your backpack at the front in crowded places and never leaving your belongings unattended at any point of time. Keep your things in one bag and you actually need fewer things than you think you might need! So carry just the essentials and stay light.

Carry your charger and keep your phone charged at all times 

Its always goof to keep in touch with your family and friends and keep your phone charged. Network is not always good while roaming , however when you get network drop in a message to your friends and family and send them pictures to let them know you are safe.

Carry water and a fruit for a trek 

Stay hydrated and carry a bottle of water always. If you need to buy water ensure its sealed . Never drink water that is offered to you or from the tap. Its always better to be safe than sorry. A fruit is just incase you need that energy and know it might take a bit longer to eat your meal.

Wear appropriate clothing and footwear while visiting places of worship.

Most places of worship require you to wear clothes covering your body ( no shorts and revelieing clothes ) also you need to take off your shoes upon entry. You may have to place your shoes on a public shoe rack or on the floor together with others. It’s best to wear a pair of inexpensive or keep it in your bag. Many places also have someone looking after the shoes for a small fee.

Go for ride sharing apps like Ola or Uber 

You can also opt for ride-sharing apps like Uber https://www.uber.com and Ola. It’s really helpful when you need to get to a location without having to fuss.You won’t have to worry about being charged exorbitantly for your trip. You know you will be dropped off at the correct location and can keep a tab on the route followed through  https://www.google.com/maps 

Picture credits - The internet.