MULBAGAL DOSA

With Restaurants closed due to the lockdown in my city, a lot of food that I usually love to eat or order in was stopped….which was actually a good thing as it brought out my cooking talents like never before. I experimented with a lot of recipes – from chaat to bakery style toasts, to temple style puliyogare to restaurant style Manchurians to burgers and pizzas and hardly missed eating out as most of the food that I ate out were made at home and what’s more it was healthier! The one food I could not replicate was the dosa.

I craved dosa like nothing else so as soon as the restrictions were lifted and an ad popped up on a site about home delivery of Mulbagal dosa, I thought I’d try it. At times like this, where eating out is risky, this was such a welcome relief and the taste just like home made food.

Originally from Mulbagilu, a place in Karnataka, what is special about this dosa is that the batter is different, cast iron tava is used, chutney is different, cooked only one side, and made with pure ghee.

My craving was actually for masala dosa and set dosa and this seemed like a combination of the two – crispy and fluffy at the same time. Taste was good and long after you’ve eaten the dosa, the smell of ghee on your hand still lingers on. The palya or stuffing inside the dosa was filled with onions and seasoning. I found it a bit salty. I really missed more potatoes in it like the generous potato stuffing in the regular dosa.

The dosa was ordered and delivered promptly. Service was top notch, came at the promised time and well packed and enough messages to alert you that your order is on the way! These guys use mineral water to prepare the batter and all hygiene precautions were followed. A video of the preparation was sent. Minimum order was five dosas @Rs. 50 per dosa plus delivery charges – a tad much but it was worth it to experience something different.

So anytime you are in a mood to move away from the regular dosa, and don’t feel like making breakfast call Praveen on 88674 97289 and place your order a day in advance. You just might be glad you did:)

PS: They undertake party orders too with live counters.


Overall rating 4/5

Ratings for reviews:
1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

MANGO CHEESE CAKE - AMINTIRI

Unlike most people in my city, who eagerly wait for the mango season and binge on them during the hot summers, I don’t like mangoes. I don’t even like cheesecake that much. So what am I doing ordering a mango cheesecake and actually writing a review on it here?

Well, for one due to the current situation I cannot go out and write a restaurant review so I am reviewing a food product instead. Two, this is my eleventh cake from Amintiri, yes ELEVENTH, each one has been better than the other. Three, the pictures on their website was so drool worthy that even non mango fans would want to taste it. I am loyal to chocolate, my all time favorite, but just this once, I thought I’d try something different.

The cake came in their usual elegant, classy box, promptly delivered as usual. The base of the cake is a layer of crumbled biscuit, middle of the cake was cream cheese and decorated with the thinnest slices of sweet alphonso mangoes on top. It was just the right amount of sweet, not the sickeningly sweet ones you get sometimes, and was cool, fresh, delicious and totally melts in the mouth.

Did I like it? I finished the whole cake in one day. Yep. The entire cake. It was the only meal I had for the day so that speaks for itself.

If I were asked for a second round, I might give it a miss though because my heart belongs to chocolate and while it’s a tad expensive, I have absolutely no regrets.

Unlike Amintiri’s cake loaves, with these celebration cakes, be sure to eat just how much you want and store away the rest if you are full… as keeping it out even for a little while turns it into a gooey mess and then you’ll have to drink it up!

If you are a fan of mangoes and like to eat desserts made from the king of fruits, go ahead order and indulge from www.amintiri.in

Overall rating 4/5

Ratings for reviews:
1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
Website: www.aminitiri.in

AMINITIRI BANGALORE

In this lockdown period I thought I might have to miss out on my monthly review of a food place. While I could not physically go out and eat someplace and review the service, ambience etc, AMINTIRI popped up in my feed and the pictures of the cakes were drool worthy. So I ordered a few online and I have to say they were worth writing about!

Looked them up and realized they are in multiple locations and decided to write my experience.

Out of the collection of choux pastry, celebration cakes and cake loaves, I decided to go for the cake loaves.

First order was the chocolate fudge cake – This decided my further orders. The easy process of choosing date and time and the prompt delivery clinched it. They delivered at the exact time mentioned. The cake comes in a beautiful box with a strong base to hold and cut it…very good packaging. Cake was.. oh so gooey and soft and melt in the mouth divine experience! I got to the website even before I could finish this one.

Second order was:

Cookie dough cake: This was different and reminds me of a sponge cake. Less impressive.

Hazelnut, dark chocolate and fig: This is really blissful! Looks great and tastes great – rectangle loaf topped with nuts and dark chocolate and so, so fresh! Must try.

Cakes are a tad expensive but worth it. I liked eating them. I liked how good they tasted. I liked how comforting it is. And I liked the normalcy of it all during these uncertain times.

I plan to order from their other collections and next in line is the lemon cake and black satin. Calorie rich but as they say,

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO SAY NO TO CAKE!!

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
Address: AMINTIRI – MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN BANGALORE.
Website: www.amintiri.in.
In pics: Hazelnut, dark chocolate and fig. Cookie dough cake

UDUPI VAIBHAV INDIRANAGAR

I was thinking of going some place grand this month of March for writing a review, but then the first rumors of the lockdown for COVID had already begun – this was at a stage where every eatery was open and people were moving around before it got aggressive. I couldn’t sit down and eat there. It is not very spacious as is the case with most darshinis, but I ordered a takeaway of the south Indian tiffin combo and puris.

I have been partial to combos in any meal – where one gets to taste something of everything at a reasonable price. I think most places should introduce this concept! The South Indian combo has a mini masala dosa, idli, khara bhath, kesari bhath and a vada – pretty cool. I liked all the items in the menu. I had some immediately and some hours later and it was still as fresh. The chutney, the one thing I am very fussy about in restaurants was very, very tasty! My mother liked the puris. They do have quite an extensive menu when I glanced through it. Service is fast. Prices are reasonable. It is still relatively new and not even up on the food websites as yet though they seem to have a lot of outlets across Bangalore.

This is a short review as I dint want to go a month without writing one. Given how fresh and tasty all the items were, I plan to go there definitely when better days are here. Fingers crossed..and toes!!.

Overall rating 4/5

Ratings for reviews:
1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
Address: Indiranagar Opp Raghavendra swamy mutt. Bangalore.

MILKY WAY ICECREAMS AND FAST FOOD - INDIRANAGAR

Regardless of how busy I am, I make it a point to review at least one food place per month. After attempting to review two places in commercial street where I walked out even before I could sit down due to poor reception, I decided to review this newly opened place in Double road, Indiranagar- Milky Way Ice creams and Fast Food.

The place when I visited it was just 10 days old and renovation work was still going on, meaning stepping over wires that were around, and dealing with drilling and dust but it has a cheery feel to it. I specially loved the wall paper which says Best Day Ever. I could do with that in my room.

The place is small though that didn’t stop people from walking in. They have a pretty good menu to choose from - short eats to maggi and of course shakes and ice creams.

I started with the lemon pepper maggi – which I found a bit sour. Too much lemon I guess.

Followed by chilli garlic fries -fries were done well.

And the kit kat milk shake which was so cool and refreshing! I really loved this and would go back just to have it again.

Food is served in cardboard/ disposable plates and it was served to me on a rather wobbly table (this needs fixing).

Service, despite it all, was very warm and welcoming. Prices are reasonable. They have non vegetarian options too in sandwiches and maggi. Good place to grab a quick bite and when the sweet cravings hit.

This place needs to be spruced up and there is a lot of scope for improvement. Salt and pepper shakes at the tables, Sturdy tables, Clean up the front space (outdoor seating area) and so on…but it’s just been 10 days so I’ll wait and watch. I rarely review a place twice, but I plan to go back to try out their other ice creams and shakes and also to see how the place has improved. Looks like they may need to expand.

Overall rating: 3/5 – taking the mid path here because so far it’s neither too good or too bad. I still have to give it a fair try.

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
Address: Indiranagar double road, below Annapoorani, Idiranagar, Bangalore .
Contact: 9880015540
Timings: 12 noon – 12 midnight

MAGNOLIA BAKERY - INDIRANAGAR

Starting this year’s review on a sweet note – Magnolia Bakery – Cake heaven in 12th Main, Indiranagar. I’m keeping this short and sweet.

What I Had:

(Some at the bakery and some as takeaway)
1. Lemon Bar - Good
2. Chocolate dipped strawberry cupcake - Good
3. White chocolate macadamia nuts cheese cake- Different and Delicious
4. Key lime Icebox bar – I liked this best
5. Eggless chocolate cake – Good.

THIS PLACE IS:

1. Well done with soft lights. Cakes on Display are a visual treat.
2. Clean
3. Best cake options to choose from a variety on display.
4. Delicious.
5. Friendly staff
6. Fast Billing
7. Serves coffee
8. On the pricey side. Great for those who have a sweet tooth.

WHAT THIS PLACE NEEDS TO DO:

1. HAS TO EXPAND AND GET A BIGGER PLACE!! It’s packed and so cramped. I can’t believe people stand in long queues for a cake!!
2. Go easy on the sugar.
3. Pack the cakes in the boxes better.
4. Add some savory snacks too and it’ll be an even bigger hit!

I had to binge on spicy masala puri to get over the sweet overdose.

Would I go back again? Yes, to taste their other varieties of cake though mostly takeaway for now.

Overall rating: 4/5

Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:

Address: 788, JK Plaza, 12th Main Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore .
Contact: 080 48667700
Timings: 12 to 11 pm

PURE AND SURE ORGANIC CAFE - INDIRANAGAR

Pure, Organic, Vegan, Jain, Gluten free…if these words appeal to you, then head to this café on 12th Main Indiranagar. At first, I thought it is an organic store but when I went inside, I got to know it is both a store and a café.

The Ambience here is very cozy…comfy chairs, soft lights like a lot of restaurants I’ve come across, but something about this place soothed my restless soul. They do have one in Jayanagar but here in Indiranagar, the place is just about a month old and not very big but comfortable. The menu is completely like what is mentioned in the first few words. There are quite a lot of items choose from.

I ordered:

Blitz Tender coconut – Skip unless you are willing to pay double the price for tender coconut water that you get on the roadside. I wanted this over any syrupy juices so I dint mind ordering it.

Pasta – You can create your own. In fact, they have a lot of create your own options for other items on the menu too. I ordered spaghetti for the base and lots of veggies tossed in olive oil – broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes with cheese and crushed peppers. The single garlic bread that came with it was fresh and tasty. I did ask for lettuce on it too – (yeah I know no one eats lettuce topped pastas) but I dint get that. Lots of seeds in it helped give it a nice crunch and you can choose too from a list of seeds. Because it was custom made and my own creation, I enjoyed it.

Date and chocolate pudding for dessert – gooey chocolate sauce with pieces of dates in it. It was delicious…you can never go wrong with chocolate anyways, but I longed for vanilla ice cream to go with it.

Prices are on the higher side. Not the kind of place I can hang around often. What I did like the best was that they made healthy food interesting – going by the menu.. from the drinks to starters to mains to desserts and a good variety of south Indian food like ragi dosas, upma to salads to sandwiches to burgers to pasta to desserts….they have them all. Waiting to try out some more items from the menu.

Service is prompt. I do wish they had spaced out the food though. It was all served with hardly a gap but I suppose that can be specified when placing the order. They need to get more appealing serving dishes. Check the chocolate pudding bowl and plate. It looks like it is stained with some spots, but it is actually the design haha!

They have their own store and the food served is made from the products from the store. I bought vegetable upma and bisibelebath packets to cook at home for laterz. I am definitely going back to this place.

All in all, I am glad to end this year’s review on a healthy note. Being here also made me realize how many eateries are there to explore in Indiranagar 12th Main and looking forward to do that in 2020!

Overall Rating: 4/5


Ratings for reviews:

1 – No! No! No!
2- Just about average.
3 –Good. Can give it a try.
4- Great!!
5 – Yes! Yes! Yes! And I’ll tell all about it.

Details:
Address: Pure and Sure organic store and café, 12th Main, Indiranagar, Bangalore.
Timings: 10 am onwards.