Two Homegrown Himalayan Brands That You Must Check Out

In this age of blatant consumerism, I was recently introduced to two home grown, 100% desi brands that epitomize the concept of 'Make In India'. Read on to know more about Himalaya2Home and Aromazeia, and my recommendations from both these webstores -

Himalaya2Home

I was introduced to the Himalaya2Home brand by Mr. Alok Bhatt, who shared detailed insights into Garhwali and Kumaoni food practices with me post my return from Mussoorie. I was looking for a platform for my readers (and myself) , where they could order grains and pulses that I devoured during my trip and vouched for - and Himalaya2Home fulfilled all our requirements. Here you'll find cereals, pulses, spices, herbs, honey, oil and personal care products all originating from the mountains.
The brand attempts at preserving Himalayan diversity through it's 'Eat Right - Live Well - Be Well' motto; providing natural, organic, and home grown produce by acting as a liason between the farmer and the consumer. I was pleasantly surprised to come across difficult to source ingredients on this webstore, each categorized according to the Himalayan valley from which it was obtained - Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Henval, Johar. What I loved about my shopping experience from the Himalaya2Home store, was reading the stories of each of their partner farmers. 
Check out www.himalaya2home.com for more details.

Brunch Diaries - Wedding Bells at JW Sahar

The wedding industry has reached it's all time high, with each passing wedding season getting more elaborate and opulent than the previous. Which is why the Marriott group of hotels are showcasing their properties, their culinary expertise and wedding services on offer under the brand name #ShaadiByMarriott. And the folks at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar are taking this initiative a scale higher by hosting wedding themed Sunday brunches at their all day dining restaurant JW Cafe. This Sunday brunch provides a perfect sneak peak into the varied kinds of cuisines, different bar offerings and the exquisite decor that the team can put together if you decide to host a wedding at the JW Sahar. And even if you're not getting married, their Sunday brunches are the perfect place to unwind and spend a lazy afternoon chomping down on the best of food and drink. Don't forget to wear loose comfortable clothing, you're going to need it.

Three Reasons to Dine at The Bandra Project by Pizza Express

Among Bandra's ever evolving culinary landscape, where restaurants open daily and an equal number shut shop, very few eateries manage to leave a mark and be remembered. It has been a week since my preview meal at the newly launched The Bandra Project by Pizza, but the recall and remembrance value still remains high. The iconic Pizza Express undergoes a makeover to transform itself into a community hub that is a lot more than just a restaurant and bar. Because change is the only constant in life. 

Rejoice fellow Bandra-ites! The Bandra @theprojectin by Pizza Express is a spanking new all day community dining space that doubles up as a lounge by night. Some interesting cocktails, comforting food and foot tapping music is what we were given a sneak peak into last night. Fret not! All your PE favourites shall still remain on the menu. #eatfamous #foodstagram #eats #igfood #foodie #yum #foodphotography #foodbloggers #yummie #instayum #instafood #food #foodlove #foodies #homecooking #foodblog #foodblogger #instaphoto #foodvsco #foodpics #foodlover #foodforthought #bandra #newlaunch #thebandraproject #theproject

A post shared by Zenia Irani (@branded_bawi) on Jul 15, 2017 at 8:22am PDT

Three reasons why Bandra's newest hang out, The Bandra Project by Pizza Express, should be on your must eat list:

A Luxurious 12 Hours in Goa

There's a Goan vacation for everybody! India's favourite tourist destination offers a plethora of options for every kind of traveler. Adventure junkie to the nature lover to the honeymooning couple to the food explorer - Goa has something for everyone. Especially if you're a luxury traveler, and you love your five star hotel beds, relaxing spa treatments, gourmet fine dine, and the best of service. Goa will spoil you with luxury stay options as well. And who better than the Marriott group of hotels - the first name when it comes to grand hotel stays, to help me experience an opulent Goan getaway.

Location: W Goa, Vagator

We drive down Goa's narrow picturesque bylanes, passing by shuttered shacks and the occassional North Indian tourist on a scooter to arrive at Vagator in North Goa. The rains convert Goa into a different destination altogether - flooded paddy fields on either sides of the road, coconut trees swaying dangerously, and shades of green you didn't know existed. #50ShadesOfGreen. After a failed attempt at climbing up to Chapora 'Dil Chahta Hai' fort in a downpour and a subsequent skidded knee, we made our way to W Goa. 

My June Food Favourites

The monsoons create havoc outside my window as I type this. A strong urge of piping hot bhajiyas and hot chocolate envelope me, and I cannot help but wonder why no baarish ka khaana is being listed out in this post. Nevertheless, July is coming up and a lot of deep fried foods and steaming beverages shall be consumed. Until then here is a round up of my June food favourites - dishes, restaurants and events that made the cut.

1. When you can't decide between coffee and dessert - Starbucks's Summer Beverages FTW!
What I love about Starbucks is that they keep reinventing their menu, introducing newer drinks keeping in mind seasonal specials. Their indulgent drinks on offer currently are the Coconut Strawberry Bliss Frappuccino and the Roasted Marshmallow S'mores Frappuccino. The former was an interesting blend of tropical coconut and citrus strawberries, while the latter was a creamy vanilla coffee interspersed with marshmallow chunks. Not a fan of sugary coffee drinks? Try their Cold Brew instead - a strong Kenyan brew served over ice.

Available at Starbucks outlets all over the country.