My First Impressions of Armenia

'Why Armenia?', 'What do you get there?, 'What are you going to see?' Most people echoed these words when I told them I was leaving for a quick getaway to this Eurasian country. Honestly, I had zero expectations myself, and had this not been a work trip, I'd never have voluntarily picked an offbeat destination such as Armenia to travel to. The only knowledge I had about this country that papa Kardashian hailed from here, and I remember seeing some pictures on Kim's Instagram page. #KeepingUp
I guess sometimes travelling with a  clean slate of mind helps. It helped me discover this beautiful country with no predisposed notions about what was in store for me. And ohh, I was in for a beautiful surprise!

Brunch Diaries: The Clearing House

A visit to The Clearing House (TCH) - a swanky dining space in Ballard Estate - had eluded me all this while, until recently. I finally decided to make good use of that one precious Sunday and trekked all the way to 'town' for TCH's special weekend brunch. TCH does brunch a bit differently - for starters their brunch menu is ala carte and brought right to your table. Which in my opinion is a welcome change from the boring ol' buffets where the food turns cold and insipid after lying out for so long. Their brunch menu is available on both Saturday and Sunday - because why should the joy of brunch be restricted to just one day in the week?

TCH opens into a cheerful and bright section that allows plenty of sunlight to be streamed through because of the glass panels on one side. If you're brunching, you need to be seated here - the chess board flooring and comfy blue seats radiate a cheery vibe. The inside section is comparatively darker and glamorous, and would appeal to diners during the evening.

A Canopy of Comfort - Shamiana, Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai

Shamiana at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai is synonymous with all day dining, being one of the first to launch this concept in the city way back in 1973. Ask any uncle or aunty and they'll all have a story to share about this iconic eatery. They revamped, refurbished and relaunched the entire space in August last year after a small break and I've been meaning to go dine at Shamiana ever since. 

The entire space exudes 'Tajness' and welcomes you like an old friend with open arms. The white canopies on the ceiling above your table pays homage to the restaurant's name, with the entire space done up in a minimal chic style. The outdoor section with it's intricate jaali work can get stifling hot during the day, but is perfect for a balmy winter evening. (Wish Mumbai had more of those. Sigh!)

The menu covers all day dining options, a 'Bombay' section featuring the city's best, a nostalgic Shamiana section featuring old school dishes and comfort mains. What deserves a mention is their Taj Autograph Collection featuring signature dishes curated by Taj chefs across the globe. 

Bye Bye Bhookh with Saffola Active Soups

I recently took to Instagram lamenting about my unhealthy post-work snacking schedule. Thankfully, Saffola Active came up with a solution.

Extremely long working hours and erratic lunch timings had led me to resort to snacking on junk food at the end of a working day. These unhealthy habits were really taking a toll on my body; I would end up feeling bloated and guilty, not to mention my dinner schedule would go for a toss as well. How much of street side samosas and vada paos can one have? I was fed up! And then Saffola reached out to me like a knight in shining armor and attempted to provide a solution to a problem that we all face day in and day out – to find a snack option that is filling, inexpensive and healthy all at the same time.

That very same evening my doorbell rang, just as I was about to reach for a packet of chips, and there stood Mumbai's pride – our very own dabbawalas – with a glistening red dabba from Saffola. The dabba contained three Saffola Active soup packets, a funky yellow mug and a leaflet introducing the soups. I put the packet of chips aside, quickly heated up some water and made myself a steaming hot cup of Saffola Active soup to help curb those hunger pangs a couple of hours before dinner time. Here are my thoughts about this latest entrant into the Saffola family:

Fab New Restaurants I Tried and Loved - #BrandedBawiRecommends

Mumbai's ever evolving dining out scene has restaurants coming and going like a forgotten suitcase at an airport conveyor belt. 2018 brought with it a host of new restaurant and bar launches, dotting the city's landscape. However, the restaurants below left me super impressed with what they had to offer. Trust me, they are keepers! Read on to know more - 

1. Keiba, Mahalaxmi
Keiba is translated to 'horse racing' in Japanese, which is apt because this swanky new Oriental restaurant is located within Mahalaxmi racecourse. The inside section of the restaurant has large glass windows on one side, looking out to the stables of the racecourse's resident horses, enabling you to share a drink with an equestrian friend. The outside lounge section has a Cherry Blossom theme running through, and is the perfect spot to grab a leisurely drink during Mumbai's short-lived and mild winters.