Pizza Express hits the right taste buds

This post is written by my wife Prachi 

More than a decade ago, for me, a splendid evening meant couple of vodkas and the most awesome garlic bread followed by a pizza at the Pizza Express (no, not Jazz by the bay or Pizzeria, they are different) near Marine Drive, at Churchgate Mumbai. It wasn’t just a pizza place. It was simple yet elegant, with a single dahlia flower placed on each table, nice chequered tablecloths and very less crowd.  A fine dining, for pizza. Awesome. 

Then it disappeared and I rediscovered it in the UK, where it started in the first place in 1965. http://www.pizzaexpress.com/about-us/ an interesting story there. Anyway, so even as I continued to miss the freshly made thin crust pizzas(though many others have started offering that in the meanwhile), to go with good wine, whisky or vodka (you know poisons too can change…) , I spotted one at BKC while on a bike ride with my hubby, the author of this blog.

Pizza 

Soon, I made plans with my foodie friend for a generous dose of heavenly carbs and girltalks! We started with the dough balls with garlic butter (what’s not to like there), followed it up with rosemary pizza bread (rosemary, garlic, extra virgin oil, chilli flakes) and a glass of wine and a tall glass of diet coke.
Our server was very interested in suggesting delicacies and main course orders (or was he enjoying our animated gossip?) and he got us a combo pizza Padana and Giardiniera – one with goats cheese, caramelized onions, spinach, mozzarella and the other with mushrooms, artichokes, olives, cherry tomatoes and what not. 

Wine Glass

Although we didn’t seem to have any trouble stuffing it down, there is no denying that our tummies were full but taste buds craved for more. I resisted the temptation of another wine and dessert. The bill was a little over Rs 2000 and fairly reasonable given the quality and quality.
BKC now houses some of the best fine dining places and amidst all the options this may well stand out for its good food and decent pricing. The only glitch we had was with a huge family seated behind us constantly monitoring a young couple seated in front of us ( we are guessing they were trying to fix an arranged marriage)… fun for the first few minutes then slightly annoying with children running around from one table to the other. 

rosemary pizza bread

And I missed those single dahlia sticks neatly adding to the pleasantness of earlier pizza express. But I am so happy to have a nice outlet close to my house. And I have a complimentary coupon for dough balls and chocolate something… So another trip can’t be too far away. See you there.

Maharashtrian food at Tambe's Dadar

Tambe Arogya Bhavan is a known restaurant to Mumbaikars, cherished for its authentic Maharashtra food---Missal pav, batata vada, Pohe, Kanda Bhaji etc. For a long time while passing the Dadar Kabootarkhana area i have had a glimpse of it but recently my father-in-law suggested that i get pure ghee from there. So we went one Saturday afternoon in the crowded Dadar market  area.
Tambe Arogya Bhavan has been in business since grandfather's age (sorry i did not ask the foundation day), it mostly caters to the lower middle and lower class and connoisseurs of food. Tucked behind an footpath where hawkers don't give space to walk for pedestrians, this unappealing eatery serves hundreds of hungry stomachs everyday. The wooden table and bench type sitting is comfortable and cosy, it readies you to a delightful ride on freshly made food.
After work today i went to this place to have my dinner and it was my first time that i had entered the resto. On the last occasion when i had gone, i was waiting for prachi to get the food parcel. Today as i entered the resto, first thing i saw was a board announcing that this Wednesday it would be open for patrons, yes Tambe is shut every Wednesday's.
I sit on my table and glance through a small menu card which is printed on both sides, one side is dedicated to snacks with the time servings would be done. The flip side is for food, with a TIP---Lunch and Dinner is the best time to have food. They also have menu as per day wise, so one vegetable which they serve on one day wont be another day. This i thing is to add spice and give a change to the daily patrons. So i order potato vegetable and roti, mind you the onion pieces comes with chili chutney and the combination goes well. For sweets i order Gajar ka halwa, it is good but not warm. IN sweets there is also dudhi halwa and piyush and karvas. These are traditional drinks---sweetened curd. Then i call for the bill an it is to my surprise Rs 76. i thought i over eat and here i shell out just over a dollar, for my meal. Pheww i instantly liked Tambe.
PS: A must visit to eat authentic Maharashtra food.  

LPQ for good ambiance and food

Frankly speaking i did not know about this eatery until they started their shop in my office building premise, Le Pain Quotidien in short LPQ. The open space eating area in the office building was inviting but with the rates having been put up on a board--Rs 150 for lemon juice, i couldn't get the encouragement to approach the counter. However, it was February 14, Valentines Day, me and wife wanted to have a quite dinner, it could have been in the bustling suburb of Bandra west which offers a large number of eat outs. However, with our last years experience of a long wait at Main Land China, we wanted a distant place. 

Thus we went to the BKC branch of LPQ, its housed inside a huge corporate complex, as we entered the place, without reservation the attendant told us to wait for sometime. But we were lucky and got a table. Being Valentine day the place was bustling with couples and the table had rose petals on them. The long table which is central to LPQ states that the owner of LPQ, years ago had purchased a table made from a railway foot board and thus the center table tradition. 

We ordered Chicken Stroganoff with saffron rice, bruschetta (tartine) and wine, my stroganoff came inside a brun paav (wow) that was the best idea to have food in. The shredded chicken was superbly marinated in gravy and the filling was decent for my hungry tummy. The sangria went well with the food. After the food which we had for over an hour, since we chatted so much we wanted to have the red velvet pastry, but unfortunately it had been unsurped by the patrons. So the lovely evening ended on rich belgian chocolate cream cake. While leaving since they ran out of roses my wife got jam tart it was tacky in a heart shape. The BKC outlet has an outdoor seating area and i am told several persons visit there after work for a coffee and conversations. 

As for the price the food is good and yes it is an international chain so a bit on the higher side, but worth it. So LPQ is for a good evening with friends or family can be only for coffee also. 

ps: The attendants are pleasant and happy to help.