The Return of Holy Basil at Radisson Blu Banjara

A few years back when Radisson Blu Plaza opened its doors at Banjara Hills, one of the reasons of people visiting it was Holy Basil, their Pan-Asian restaurant. Along with Syn at Taj Deccan, this was one of the best oriental restaurants in town and a place known for its sushis. I have had many good experiences in this restaurant, including an informative sushi-making workshop which was conducted there. However, with a turnover of chefs the place slowly lost its mojo, and finally, it was shut for renovation. About four months back, we were glad to know that the restaurant has again started operations, and has a new menu in place.

A Traveller’s Food Diary: Maach, Mishti and More around Puri Beach

The temple town Puri in Odisha is known for its famous Lord Jagannath temple and the scenic beaches, attracting pilgrims as well as tourists. A destination with fond memories from my childhood, I was visiting it almost after a decade. Every time I had gone to Puri, I always had some delightful food, so that was an added expectation.

Fresh Fish at the Fish Fry Stall

Dhabedaar Fridays at Vivanta by Taj, Begumpet

After hectic work weeks come Friday evenings when professionals look for some distinctive places to relax. While some prefer the new microbreweries in town, for some others trying out good food in a family environment is a priority. To cater to this clientele, Vivanta by Taj has introduced Dhabedaar Fridays, an evening promotion where you can enjoy a good quality Punjabi buffet.

The Thai Food Festival at Amara, Trident Hyderabad

The popularity of Thai cuisine in Hyderabad is growing by leaps and bounds. A couple of months back, Bidri at The Marriott organized a Thai Festival by my favourite Chef Ninja (Read here). Mamagoto, the buzzing Asian restaurant also introduced a few Thai delicacies in their Hawker’s Hall menu. Against this backdrop, came the news that The Trident was organizing ‘Sawadika’ a Thai food festival at their all day dining restaurant Amara.

The Seafood Live Counter

A Traveller’s Food Diary: Eating Out around Goa’s Calangute Beach

It was a hastily planned holiday. Another trip got cancelled and the days had to be utilized. Goa seemed the perfect destination in the monsoons. Since last time we stayed at Agonda at South Goa (Read Here: Our trip to Agonda beach, Goa) we chose Calangute as a destination this year. This was the beach where I stayed on my first visit in the 1980s with my college friends, so nostalgia also played a part in the selection.

Butter Garlic Prawns at Infantaria