Tag: reviews

Here’s how you can keep oily skin looking dry this summer

Summer is here, a little too early this year, and people like me with oily skin are already crying about the amount of grease they will witness on their faces every day. Whether it’s getting up in the morning with a bucket full of oil on your T-zone or 10 minutes after stepping out of the shower, the oil shall follow you EVERYWHERE. The only place where it’ll leave you would be at the gym because well, you won’t be able to tell the sweat from oil.

Unfortunately, a lot of us have to make our peace with oily skin and it seems to be a very difficult task. Especially when you spot all the dry-looking people, going about their day, without worrying about the stickiness on their faces. Hurts, doesn’t it? It doesn’t have to, anymore, at least entirely.

Here are a few skincare tips for oily skin to help fight that shiny looking face this summer.

1) Invest in an oil-free sunscreen lotion

There are many types of sunscreen lotions available in the market. All you need to do is choose the oil-free one and by oil-free, we mean the ones that come with a matte finish. Because not only do these refrain from adding an extra layer of oil to your skin, they leave your skin looking dry. So protection along with that dry feeling, win-win! We personally recommend the La Shield sunscreen gel for its oil-free and non-comedogenic properties. It’s not something you’d find at makeup stores but at pharmacies or medical stores.

You may also buy it online here

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2) Get an oil-free primer or lotion

While this may sound like one of those many skincare tips for oily skin that you’ve heard a gazillion times, it’s actually very important. Applying an oil-free base should be a very important part of your skincare regime. Not only do oil-free lotions help your makeup stay on for longer, these beauties control excess oil and leave your skin feeling dry and matte. We’d recommend MAC’s oil-control lotion which has been touted as a holy grail product for oily skin by many bloggers and users. The thing I love about this lotion is that it provides an absolutely no-shine base for people with greasy skin, it is light in texture and has a very mild fragrance that is far from irritating. You may also use it as a primer depending on your makeup requirements however some people prefer using a primer over it to keep the makeup on for longer. It may come across as an expensive product to buy but you only need a pea-sized amount for regular usage and it really lasts for very long (almost two seasons). You can get it any MAC store.

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3) Hello oil-free blotting tissues

Yes, they are a thing. Replace your face wipes or wet wipes with oil-free blotting tissues. These are especially designed for oily/shiny skin as they absorb the excess oil from the skin while keeping the makeup absolutely intact. The Body Shop has these incredible Tea Tree Blotting Tissues that absorb excess oil and its tea tree properties also keep acne at bay. You can buy them at any Body Shop store.

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4) Stay away from hair oil

It’s a known fact that hair oil can work wonders for damaged hair, we can’t say the same about its effect on your skin. When you apply hair to your scalp, your oil glands absorb all that oil and it may result in greasier skin. If you can’t absolutely avoid applying hair oil then we suggest washing it off within two hours of application. Keeping it on overnight is a BIG NO!

5) Tone your skin from time to time

Another one of those old skincare tips for oily skin, use a toner. Toning your skin is very important especially when it’s prone to being greasy. Toning cleans almost all residual makeup/dirt and keeps your skin’s pockets clean and ready to be hydrated. Use apple cider vinegar dissolved with water to tone your skin if you don’t want to invest in expensive toners. Apple cider vinegar kills germs and keeps your skin feeling dry. You can buy apple cider vinegar at any supermarket near you.

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6) Exfoliate

Exfoliation helps in removing dead skin cells from the superficial layer of the skin. And believe me when I say it, dead skin cells and fresh oil do not make a good mix. If you have acne-prone skin, we would recommend mild exfoliation that helps clean the surface of the skin gently. If your skin is only oily (and acne-free) then regular exfoliation, twice a week, will help keep the grease at bay. Since exfoliating your skin at home can be a tad bit risky, we’d suggest an organic fruit scrub to help. Forest Essentials’ hand pounded organic fruit scrub is filled with goodness of organically grown dates, peaches and almond seeds along with rich apricot kernel oil, pure honey and finely milled almonds.

You can buy it here or at any Forest Essentials store.

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7) Stay hydrated

The worst kept secret to glowing skin is plenty of water. Summer calls for more water. Drink at least 10 glasses of water every day for two weeks and notice the change in your skin.

March 10, 2016
Christmas banter at The Imperial, New Delhi

Christmas is the best part of winter. It’s not just the decorations and the gifts but the food that makes this festival what it is. If you’re looking for a place that is a treat to your eyes and your taste buds look no further. The Imperial, New Delhi is all set to give your Christmas cravings the much-needed love. La baguette, the hotel’s French Patisserie is featuring an exclusive Christmas spread till the end of the month and it is a foodie’s paradise. Here’s everything you need to know about out experience of the Christmas Banter at The Imperial Hotel in New Delhi.

Walk into The Imperial Hotel at Janpath and you’ll be greeted by a beautiful Christmas tree that sets the festivities right in. The indulgent buffet was decked with Christmas decorations complete with gingerbread house, stollen, traditional plum cake, Christmas pudding, macaroons, chicken and leek pies, scones among many other offerings.

Our favourites from the spread were the Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, tuna and olive sandwiches, mini creamy chicken sliders, lamb mince pie, chicken and leek pie and the spinach and ricotta quiche. The spread was prepared with extra ordinary care, mixing respect for tradition with a penchant for excellence and the conviction to try new techniques and ingredients.

Trying out the buffet in itself was an overwhelming experience but Chef Prem Kumar Pogakula’s live cookout took it many notches up. He prepared 2-minutes mug cakes (you’ll find the recipe appended below) in a microwave and offered the easy recipe to everyone for their friends and family. The showstopper of the evening was definitely the ‘Baked Alaska’ dessert, made with baked ice cream, egg white and brandy that was set on fire.

Must try the #BakedAlaska Dessert from the #ChristmasSpread at @imperialdelhi #ChristmasBanter #theimperialxmasgoodies #labaguette #theatrium #splendidofferingsattheimperial

A video posted by Trendspotters TV (@trendspotterstv) on Dec 23, 2015 at 10:03pm PST

The Christmas spread at The Christmas Banter is available for guests, at ‘La baguette’- The Imperial’s French Patisserie, till end of December 2015. For more information contact La Baguette at 41116630.

December 24, 2015
Reviews: best makeup setting sprays you need to try now!

Flakiness, oily skin and unavoidable weather conditions are the arch nemesis of makeup longevity and if makeup meltdown is also ruining your jam then fret no more. Enter makeup setting sprays! Setting sprays are an essential part of your makeup routine, the right makeup setting spray can work wonders. Not only do they lock everything in place, they also offer a choice of matte or dewy complexion and even some SPF for those days in the sun.

Just like hair sprays, makeup setting sprays are designed to keep your makeup in place and prolong its hold. Here are three of the best makeup setting sprays available in the market that will make sure you’re makeup stays put.

1)    All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray by Urban Decay

Famous amongst all makeup maniacs, this weightless setting spray keeps your makeup in place for more than 16 hours. It lowers the temperature of your makeup to keep your foundation, concealer, blusher, eye shadow etc. in place even in hot, humid and moist climates. It prolongs the longevity of your makeup and adds polish to your skin making it look dewy at the same time leaving a matteeffect.

Available here at: ebay.in

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2)      Prep+Prime+ Fix+ by MAC

Commonly known as MAC’s fix plus, this mineral rich finishing mist freezes makeup for upto 12 hours and doubles up as a primer to help create an even surface for smooth makeup application. It is especially designed to take off the powdery and cakey edge from your makeup leaving your skin soft and fresh. Professional makeup artist’s favourite, this setting spray consists of many anti-oxidants such as chamomile, green tea and caffeine that revive your skin.

Available here at amazon.in

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3)       Fix Make-Up by Clarins:

First ever makeup setting spray in the world of beauty, Fix Make-Up by Clarins, has evolved its formula over the years making it one of the best makeup setting sprays available in the market. This setting spray magically increases your skin’s hydration and boostsradiance at the same time holding your makeup for much longer than usual. It consists of vitamin C extracts from grapefruit thatget absorbed into the skin and controls shine.

Available at all Clarins outlets.

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Make your own setting spray at home

You can even make your own makeup setting spray at home using these simple ingredients from your bathroom cabinet.

All you need is a small spray bottle (available at all drug stores or in your travel toiletries), rose water and glycerine. Just add 1 tablespoon of glycerine to half a cup of rose water and mix well. Pour it into the spray bottle and voila you have your very own setting spray.

December 9, 2015
Here’s why castor oil should be an important part of your daily routine!

If your mom ever gave you castor oil as a kid and you decided to never use it again in your life, you wasted some golden words of wisdom. We do understand that castor oil isn’t very pleasing for your sense of smell but did you know that it is high in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, proteins, and minerals? And not only is it good for your hair but also your skin, your stomach, feet and much more. Here are all the benefits of castor oil you need to know now and how to use it properly.

How to use castor oil?

Castor oil is very thick in consistency and hence is best when mixed with thinner oil such as jojoba oil or even baby oil if that makes you more comfortable.

Mixing it with a different oil doesn’t just make it smell better, it makes the oil very easy to apply. You may also mix both the castor oil and your preferred oil (like jojoba for me) in a container and keep the container immersed in warm water. The heat from the water makes the mixture more fluid and gives the best results.

Benefits of castor oil

1) Healthy skin

Castor oil has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which makes it very useful in fighting bacteria that cause acne and scarring. Not only does it dry out your acne, it also helps in healing discoloration. But but BUT, do not use castor oil straight as it is on your skin. Mix it with jojoba oil for best results on your skin.

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2) Hair growth

One of the most widely recognised benefits of castor oil is that it encourages hair growth. If hair breakage is your nightmare then just apply a little bit of castor oil to your scalp for about twenty to thirty minutes daily and see the results for yourself. Not just your scalp, you may use castor oil for thicker brows and lashes as well but make sure you don’t get any oil in your eyes.

Again, remember that it’s best used with another oil.

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3) Aids digestion

Castor oil is a natural laxative and aids digestion especially for people with constipation issues. Castor oil if taken orally (only as directed by your doctor) is broken down in the intestine which makes the intestines move and helps in easing constipation.

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4) Treats dandruff

If you have a dry and itchy scalp, just rub a little bit of castor oil to it and see the results. Not only do its anti-fungal properties help in fighting the dandruff, the oil also provides the much needed moisture to your scalp to keep further dandruff at bay.

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5) Relieves pain

Rubbing castor oil on to sore joints or achy muscles helps relieve pain. It’s best to mix castor oil with turmeric and apply on to the affected area to let the therapeutic properties do the magic.

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Like these benefits of castor oil? If you want us to write about any other products or remedies, do mention in the comments below and we’d be happy to try the product and give our reviews.

October 20, 2015
Asian food indulgence at Chi Asian Cookhouse now in Janpath

There are now many restaurants in Delhi offering great Asian food, and they are only getting better. Thank people with open mindsets and taste palettes along with an ever-increasing sense of competition to win over the hearts of Delhiites, known for taking their food very damn seriously.

Offering Pan-Asian food in the most accessible part of the city, Janpath, now is Chi Asian Cookhouse; a reinvention of Chi Kitchen & Bar (at Select Citywalk Mall, Saket). For those who love digging into real Asian food, this place is a must-visit. What’s great about the place is that it does not offer fusion-Asian and the place isn’t decked with the colour red or the obvious Chinese motifs that really just distract you from enjoying the real taste of the food.

Their food menu offers salads, soups, skewers, oriental roasts, dimsums, crisps, pancakes & rolls and some more main dishes. Gone are the days when one placed food orders following a script starting with soup & salad, moving on to the starters followed by the rest, which is why we ordered the dimsums first. Since we haven’t been to many places offering good prawn dimsums in Delhi, we ordered that first and didn’t regret the decision at all. Soft on the outside and just the perfect amount of crisp on the inside their ‘Prawn Cheung Fun’ was exactly what we were looking for. The dark soy sauce served with added just the right flavour to it.

Prawn Cheung Fun

The ‘Ho Chi Minh Grilled Chicken Satay’ (chicken skewers seasoned with chilli and lemon leaf) and the ‘Cho Ca Thang’ (Vietnamese fish skewers served with turmeric and dill) were the starters. The chicken was slightly over done but the garlic sauce paired with it made up for the dry taste.

Cho Ca Thang

If you’re a fan of curry, then you must definitely order the ‘Cheating Chilli Prawns’ served in a tangy yet very chilli sauce. Order the aromatic rice to go with them, we’d recommend the ‘Roast Garlic and Coriander’ rice. Finish off with the warm coconut pancakes served with vanilla ice cream, topped with an orange drizzle and thank us later.

Cheating Chilli Prawns with Roast Garlic and Coriander Rice

Coconut Pancakes

Where: Chi Asian Cookhouse, 68/1, Janpath – 110001

Timings: 12 Noon – 12:30 AM

Cost for two: Rs. 1400, without taxes and alcohol

Serves alcohol: Yes

Smoking area: Yes

Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter: /theworldofchi

Delivery/Take away: Yes

Contact details: Mobile: +91-9810010244 (+91-9810010-CHI)

Landline: 011-45123244 (011-45123-CHI)

July 27, 2015
5 home remedies to get rid of that sun tan!

Mild exposure to the sun is essential to the human body as it is a source of vitamin D. But on the other hand, over exposure to the sun can cause damage to the skin resulting in skin tan and burns. Skin tan is a common problem in summers as one might not always be able to escape the heat. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause early aging and skin burns. Here is a list of home remedies that can help you get rid of sun tan quickly and easily.

#1 Take half a cup of chilled yogurt, a pinch of turmeric and mix well in a bowl. Apply the paste on the affected (tanned) areas and let it dry for at least 20 minutes. Wash it off with cold water. Use daily for desired results.

#2 Take half a grated cucumber and add 2 tablespoons of raw milk or milk powder to it. Apply the mixture evenly all over the affected area and let it dry. Wash it off with lukewarm water and apply weekly to get the desired results.

#3 Cut a tomato into two halves and rub the inner side of the tomato on the skin. Make sure that the seeds and juice comes in contact with the skin because that’s where the antioxidants stay. Apply daily for best results.

#4 Add some raw milk into papaya’s pulp it to make it into a paste. Now gently massage the mixture over the tanned areas. Papaya is rich in vitamin A and C and also has anti-tanning properties. Use daily for at least a month for best results.

#5 Turmeric is a natural skin care product and is capable of curing almost all common skin problems. Take 1 tablespoon of turmeric, half a tablespoon of lemon juice, some raw milk and mix well. Apply this paste over areas like your hand feet and face and rinse off once it has dried.

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May 13, 2015
Product Review: Tame those unruly eyebrows with these eyebrow pencils

Eyebrows can make or break your entire look. They frame the face and can sometimes even alter how your face cut looks. Sadly, not everyone is blessed with Cara Delevingne’s bold brows. But that’s no reason to despair. The market is filled with different kinds of products that help you fill in your eyebrows with brow pencils being the most basic and easiest of tools. They come in various shades, from the darkest black to brown. They go on smoothly, making your brows look full and natural. Brow pencils are easy to carry and come with a built-in spoolie brush to help you tame those unruly brows. Take a look at the best brow pencils available in India.

1) Dior Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil

This ultra-fine retractable pencil and brush is simple to use and comes in one universal shade and works for any hair colour or skin tone. It can create both natural and dramatic look. It doesn’t require sharpening.

Available at all Dior stores.

2) Benefit Instant Brow Pencil

This tinted wax can transform sparse, unruly brows into perfectly natural and polished. It is soft and smooth, easy to sharpen and very pigmented. It has a natural powder- like finish. The spoolie brush is perfect to blend in the product defining the shape. It comes in 3 shades and is available at Sephora.

3) Maybelline Mastershape Brow pencil

This retractable wax crayon is smooth and highly pigmented. It has a water-proof and smear proof formula. It is available in four shades. Available on flipkart.

April 29, 2015
Hair styling staple: 3 hairsprays that can make summer easy on your tresses

With summers and the rainy season just around the corner, one has to be wary of the effects of heat and humidity on hair texture and styling. Hair spray is a styling staple that can save you a lot of hassle; it not only keeps your hair style in place but also protects your tresses from getting damaged from the heat. What you need to keep in mind while purchasing a hairspray is to go for one that holds your style in place without drying out your hair. Have a look at the three best hairsprays available in Indian market.

1) Toni&Guy Casual: Sea Salt Texturising Spray

Suitable for all hair types, this wonderful hair spray adds the apt amount of texture and volume to your hair without making it look fuzzy. Packed with the goodness of sea salts, this hairspray offers a medium hold and fortifies brittle strands with a shiny lustre. For extra hold and texture, spray it once on damp hair before styling and then on dry hair and re-style.

Buy here

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2) Enliven Pro-V Ultra Hold Hair Spray Hair Styler

Rich in ingredients like amino pro vitamin B5 and creatine, this product not only holds your style for hours but also nourishes it at cellular level. Suitable for all hair types, it doesn’t make your hair stiff like other hair sprays and has a pleasant fragrance. It is sulphate-free and is every runway stylists must have.

Buy here

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3) Bed Head Maxxed Out

This fast-drying spray adds massive volume and hold to your hair. It has a non-aerosol formula that shields your hair from moisture protecting your hair from the sun and keeps your style from budging for hours. It leaves dull and dry hair looking slick without weighing it down.

Buy here

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April 21, 2015
Hello Emoji’s! Feeling a bit worldly today?

Apple rolled out its third major update to iOS 8 recently and we…..kinda love it. Amongst various minor updates that improved performance & fixed bugs, this new installment of the operating system has started making headlines especially for the new Emoji keyboard.

The first of its kind keyboard that allows you to change skin tones of human emoji’s along with various family options (including gay couples with kids) is now available to all iPhone, iPad, iMac & iWatch users with the iOS 8.3!

What’s more, is the range of new emoticons that incorporates flags of different countries (including India) along with different symbols and expressions.

The download is fairly hassle-free depending on the user’s internet speed!

April 9, 2015
3 concealers available in India that you must try!

There are very few women in this world who don’t have a concealer in their makeup bags. With growing awareness and availability of makeup products, the concealer has made a special place for itself in vanity kits and rightly so. Concealers help in hiding blemishes, covering dark under-eye areas and evening out skin tones. They can also be used as a base for your eye shadows and lip colours. If you still don’t have a concealer, here are 3 superb products available in India that you must try!

While using a concealer you need to keep the following points in mind;
a) Always apply concealer right after the primer and before the foundation
b) If the concealer is not blended properly, it will not stay for very long so blend, blend and blend away
c) Set your concealer using a loose powder to keep it in place for longer
d) While choosing a concealer, go for a colour that is one shade lighter than your foundation, not your skin colour. A lighter concealer shade works on hiding blemishes better and the foundation will eventually match it to your natural skin tone.

#1 MAC Studio Finish Concealer

This concealer can classify as slightly creamy and comes in a small pot which is sure to last you for at least six months (if used daily). It’s perfect for acne-prone skin, provides medium-full coverage and comes in a variety of shades. If you walk into a MAC store, they’ll help you with the perfect colour for your skin type. Use it with a brush (preferably) and dab it on to your blemishes and under-eye area first and then start blending it. This product needs a little more blending than usual but if applied correctly it easily lasts for six-eight hours. It is thick in consistency which does mean more blending but also makes it ideal for people who don’t like using a foundation.

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#2 Bourjois Healthy Mix Correcting Concealer

This is a liquid concealer with light-medium coverage, great for people struggling with uneven skin-tone and light blemishes. The concealer is easy to apply because of its packaging. It comes in a tube with a slanted tip. Just apply two small triangles around the cheek bones and blend in with your fingers. Use the extra product left on your fingers on the forehead and the chin area, if needed. Apply foundation evenly after this step and set both with loose powder to make it last for six hours easily. It doesn’t cake, flake or settle into fine lines and smells great because it is made of natural food extracts.

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#3 Revlon PhotoReady Concealer SPF 20

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer comes in the form of a stick and stick concealers are best suited to cover under-eye dark circles. This concealer provides light coverage and is a little shimmery, best for evening wear. It works very well for dry skin and needs to be applied along with a moisturizer because of its thick and dry texture. Moisturise your face first and then apply the product on to blemishes and in the under-eye area. Blend with your fingers or with a brush and follow this step with some loose powder. This product stays on for four-six hours, comes with SPF 20 for sun-protection and is light on the pocket. However, it is not recommended for people with problem skin.

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Banner and featured images sourced from www.makeupalley.com

March 13, 2015
Zizo: The latest hotspot for a lip-smacking Lebanese experience

Here’s the hottest find in the city for authentic Lebanese cuisine. Visit Zizo in Connaught Place and explore the refined cuisine that is as intricate in its flavours as the inter-weaving of cultures that influences it. Meet Fouad Abdel Malak, the CEO of Zizo and find out what he thinks makes his restaurant stand out.

Fouad Abdel Malak: Basically I found out that there are no really good Lebanese restaurants in India and I thought how amazing would it be to bring something authentic from Lebanon to India.

Fouad Abdel Malak is the CEO of the authentic Lebanese restaurant Zizo, located in Connaught Place, New Delhi. He talks of his commitment to the myriad flavours of his homeland and the unique nuances of his eatery in the capital.

Fouad Abdel Malak: I come from a village it’s called Abadieh, it’s about 20 minutes from Beirut and it’s all green and there we eat great food everyday! It’s organic, its healthy, its nutritious and everything is picked from the garden so I thought how great it would be to offer the same thing to people in India. We’ve brought together like unique things like Mulberry juice which doesn’t exist here. Organic mulberry juice, we brought together Fatte which is a yoghurt with chick peas and a bed of crispy bread and we have some good grills and some very very traditional foods like Hummus but done the proper way!

The team at Zizo believes in establishing customer relationships which go beyond just a hospitable environment. It’s almost like they are brand ambassadors of a beautiful culture defined by its warmth, vibrancy and a certain indescribable elegance.

Fouad Abdel Malak: We are not trying just to make money, we want to make friends and that’s what is really important to Zizo. It’s about making friends and introducing people to the beautiful culture of Lebanese cuisine and beautiful habits of hospitality that we are famous for in Lebanon and the great healthy food we bring to India is something that I hope people will appreciate.

Carving the restaurant interior into four different sections, Fouad explains how the restaurant setup is a like a journey with different facets that cater to diverse customer preferences. The one theme that runs in common is a delectable Lebanese experience accentuated by a rich and varied burst of flavours.

Fouad Abdel Malak: I wanted this place to be like a journey. And every area to represent a different facet of that journey. When you come here, you feel like you’ve gone to Lebanon. We’ve got books; we have movie nights on Tuesdays where we bring down the screen. We have documentaries about Lebanon; we have pickles the way we make in Lebanon – the same way, the same taste. We have the same way of making traditional Pita bread which kind of inflates and it’s very very fresh.

And here’s a little insight on the specialties at the restaurant from the horse’s mouth.

Fouad Abdel Malak: I think we have the best hummus in India by far and it’s not an easy thing to make good hummus and I would like you to know that our hummus which chef Dany with Chef Maroun sells for 20 Euros in Monaco, and here it sells for around 250 rupees. So I think what we tried to do is we tried to get that top level food here. And something else which is very unique is the Man’oushe, it’s the Lebanese flat bread pizza, which has various toppings and is very typical of Lebanons street food. And the last thing I would like to talk about is the guest favoured – Falafel. We went to a crazy length to get the Falafel as good as the best places in Lebanon.

Amongst the specialties, Fouad believes that the ‘Lebanese leg of lamb’ truly stands apart and is a must-try at Zizo.

Fouad Abdel Malak: We have a Lebanese leg of lamb, we call it Oriental leg of lamb or the King’s feast. It’s a leg of lamb and .it’s cooked to perfection on a bed of rice with some Arabic nuts and a peppery Lebanese sauce which is very famous in Lebanon and it is a really unique dish.

Where: Connaught Place, K 18,22, Connaught Place, New Delhi & M 23, 1st Floor, Greater Kailash (GK) 1, New Delhi

Must Try: Lebanese leg of lamb, Man’oushe, Falafel and Traditional hummus with Tahini

Cost for two: Rs 1300 (Approx)

Opening hours: 11AM to 11PM

Outdoor Seating: No

Delivery: Yes

Serves Alcohol: In Greater Kailash – Yes

In Connaught Place – License Awaited

January 15, 2015
At Smokey’s, American BBQ meets smoke-infused sophistication

Since Smokey’s opened in Delhi’s GK-II area about a year ago, it has been as influential as every other iconic restaurant in the city. Not only is it famous for its smoke-infused food and cocktails, its flamboyant hospitality and vibrant ambience is what bringstrue connoisseurs back to this restaurant. Restaurateur and owner Shiv Karan Singh walked us through the journey of this now-beloved Delhi haunt. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

Shiv Karan Singh: I feel today every place has to be for everybody, kind of a feel good factor. Smokey’s is more than a restaurant; it’s an activity space where people can engage and have a great time without pinching their pockets. Yes of course we want everybody to come but I want everybody to remember me for my food more than anything else to be honest.

One look around the restaurant’s lofty wood and brick decor and you can guess the type of food they serve. From American style barbeque steaks to grills; this restaurant has something to satiate all kinds of palettes.

Shiv Karan Singh: I love all my food, my steaks, yes I love my steaks and I think what we offer is a very different palette of things whether it’s from the European to the little twist of the Indian taste. So I think we guys must be the one of the first ones to start with burger sliders and burger hot dogs, we do a lot of steaks, we do a lot of good fish; we have ‘red snapper’ we have ‘John Dory’, we have three or four different types of steaks which we offer which is quite known amongst the people out here.

The entrance of the restaurant is decked with a shot bar and the side wall is decked with coloured arty bottles. Smokey’s takes pride in the innovation they’ve introduced into the preparation of their cocktails.

Shiv Karan Singh: So we’ve used the smoke element with the liquor so we have a lot of smoke based cocktails out here. Whether you call it a smokey martini, a lock stock, old fashioned, all these are very new with lot of smoke with wood being used with a lot of things infusing together. My personal favourite cocktail here is the ‘smoking lock stock’ which is a vodka based cocktail thatI love, and then John does a ‘Johntini’ its a single malt cocktail which is one of my favourites out here.

Where: Plot 2, VIPPS Center, Masjid Moth, Greater Kailash (GK) II, New Delhi

Must Try: Cocktails – ‘Lock, Stock & A Smokin’ Barrel’ and ‘Burn Bourbon Burn’

Food – ‘John Dory with Smoked Shimla Chili’ and ‘Slider Dogs’

Cost: Rs.2,000 for two (approx including alcohol), taxes and charges extra

Opening hours: 12 Noon to 1 AM (All days of the week)

Serves Alcohol: Yes

Outdoor Seating: No

Delivery: Yes

January 6, 2015
Pamper yourself with Bio Sculpture in the lap of luxury at The Imperial Salon

The Imperial Salon and Bio Sculpture organised a ‘Wine and Nails’ evening for select bloggers from across Delhi. The extensive range of toluene free, DBP and formaldehyde Bio Sculpture nail polishes at The Imperial Salon strengthen and protect the nails and last up to three weeks. Find out all about the extravaganza here.

The Imperial Salon celebrated the launch of Bio Sculpture nail care at The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi and the event was an extravagant affair. The celebration was complete with pampering, wine and delicious canapes complimenting the event perfectly.

Bio Sculpture’s gel range offers up to 200 gel colours with matching nail polishes designed for different types of nail beds. They are smudge proof, don’t chip and last for almost three weeks without any signs of fading. The event provided free manicures, pedicures and nail art to the attendees so they could try the product and we absolutely loved it!

December 4, 2014