Phir Bhi Dil Hai Shakahari; Shakahari, Pune Marriott

Name: Shakahari, Marriott, Pune

Location: Marriott, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune

Date of Visit: 15th May, 2012 (Dinner)

My Mom is a vegetarian, so is my mausi, mami, nani and Pinku. Picking a restaurant is not easy all around. Until five years back, their only options were udipi restaurants and pao bhaji places. Among the few vegetarian fine-dining restaurants that have popped up in the city, Shakahari is one of the most talked about. I will be honest, I am a true carnivore and going to Shakahari wasn’t my first choice. We had to go for Mom’s choice, it being my parents’ 36^th ‘Meeting’ Anniversary. Yes, I was born to a very romantic couple. Anyway, getting back to Shakahari, this is a very beautifully designed restaurant. I’d say it is even better than Alto Vino, the Italian restaurant in Marriott.

It is spacious and private, the wooden aesthetics and mood lighting promised a cozy and elegant evening ahead. Our server was courteous, attentive with a good knowledge of the menu but most of all, he seemed interested in what he was doing, a rare find.

What a Delicious cabbage roll!

I do appreciate a chef who manages to respect the integrity of fresh ingredients by not over-flavoring them, and also one that whips up a light mousse like theirs.

Honestly, apart from their Tava mushroom appetiser which was lightly flavored with fresh ground spices and mustard oil, lightly flavored baby potatoes for main course, the dumplings and few items on the dessert buffet, the food wasn’t extraordinary. Even so, now I realize there were quite a few dishes that I liked.

Tava Mushrooms

The menu and method of service had some interesting aspects to it. For starters, the menu included vegetarian Sushi, steamed broccoli, a wide range of salads and a wider range of condiments and dressings. In the appetizers as well as the main course selection there were Asian and Indian items with a good mix of regular favorites and some unique dishes to choose from. The Buddhist likes of glass noodles and steamed vegetables as well as Indian, Rajasthani delicacies like Papad aur Mangodi ki sabzi made up for a rare range.

Main Dishes

Shakahari’s is what I call a Smart Service Style. The soup, salad and dessert are laid on the buffet, while the appetisers and main course are served at the table. Each group of diners can choose two Asian and three Indian appetisers and two Asian and three Indian main course from the selection specified on the menu card. There are two advantages in this form of service; the first being that the quality of food is maintained at a la carte standards because the food hasn’t been lying in the trays for hours, and the second being that the wastage of food is minimal because diners don’t tend to over serve. I know that I always fill my plate up in a buffet because I don’t want to get up for a second helping. The irony is that I end up going for the second helping of the dishes that I like anyway.

Sweets

The dessert selection was charmingly extravagant with chocolate gateau to passion fruit cheesecake, lamingtons and my personal favourite, baked yogurt. There were ice creams and balu shahi along with moong dal halwa and other Indian sweets. The white chocolate mousse was beautifully done and the best part was that all of the desserts were lightly sweetened. This allowed us to load ourselves heavily with the sweets without wanting to cleanse our palate with karela juice!

I was pleasantly surprised by this extravagant and fine vegetarian meal. It is a treat for the Global vegetarian and certainly did not fail to amuse and entice the palate of a meat worshipper like myself and that’s the Thing About This Place.

Ambience: 8/ 10 Very Good

Value For Money: 7/ 10 Good

Service: 7/ 10 Good

Menu: 7/ 10 Good

Food: 7/ 10 Good

That Thing About This Place: 8/ 10 Very Good

Very Good Ambience + Good Value For Money + Good Service + Good Menu + Good Food + Very Good That Thing About This Place = Good

Rating = 7/ 10

Necessary Pantry Back Up Supplies (Tweets)

There are a couple of foods that always come in handy when you are too tired or lazy to step out of the house or cook. For the times when your stomach is growling and you need something thing to eat this minute. Then there are those food cravings that drive us all crazy. Yesterday, in my tweets I discussed some of these foods that should be stored in your pantry in case you don't wish to step out of the house.

You can read back to find some of these Pantry Necessities.

1. It is funny how most of our kitchen #backups are carbs take rice, flour, potatoes for example with a longer shelf life.
2. I don't fear famine just a lazy sunday..so I can just get out of bed n cook up some mashed potato and sausages #backups
3. I am not big on frozen or processed meats, I keep eggs for a cheesy omlette just in case #backups
4. I have to be honest, maggi & soup powders are a must have on my#backups shelf in case of terminal yum factor starvation. I love maggi!
5. I always have some form of dried pasta in my #backups shelf usually it is penne or macaroni.
6. Butter, cheese and mayonnaise are life savers when it comes to kitchen #backups , not to forget BBQ sauce comes in handy too.
7. Onion n garlic #backups in India take the place of bacon in other kitchens around the world for that strong flavour in most Indian curries.
8. Leftover chicken curry n stale rotis made into a kathi roll lunch#backups
9. Even in my hostel days I used to keep dal n rice to make khichdi on a hotplate. #backups for when I was homesick.
10. Nuts.almonds, walnuts, cashew and pecans have protein, fiber n healthy fats you can store them as a healthy snack in your pantry#backups
11. Cereal and milk the healthy #backups in my kitchen.
12. Canned tuna, a great choice for quick snack or salad . Pantry#backups
13. Whole grain crackers are a good replacement for bread. Pantry#backups
14. Juice boxes and energy or sports drinks are great for instant energy as Pantry #backups
15. Tang .. Great Pantry #backups
16. 6 o'clock hunger. Its killing me. This is exactly why I need all those yummy #backups in my pantry.

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18 Vegetarian Sandwich Fillings & 18 Non-Vegetarian Sandwich Fillings

Sandwiches are the best Lunch Box options. They can be so versatile with the various fillings and deferent types of breads. The refreshing, filling and so colorful to look at! Just raid the refrigerator.

Vegetarian Sandwich Fillings

1. I still remember the sandwich my mother would pack in my lunch box for school, just tomatoes and cheese.It was the best #sandwichfilling .
2. One simple #sandwichfilling that I have always loved is chopped apple n celery mixed in mayonnaise.You can add raisins or walnuts if you like.
3. Cut up cucumber and melon in cream #sandwichfilling with iceberg lettuce.
4. Cheese, pineapple and capsicum (bell pepper) the classic hawain#sandwichfilling .
5. Mashed potato with cut up raw onion, coriander and green chillies with butter homely #sandwichfilling .
6. Rocket leaves, spinach and goat cheese with tomato#sandwichfilling.
7. Potato and capsicum masala #sandwichfilling from a stand.
8. Sweet #sandwichfillings for dessert. Cut up strawberry and nutella filling with sponge instead of bread!
9. Peanut butter and Jam.. 4 o'clock is time for yummy #sandwichfilling.
10. Cut up tropical fruits and cherry mixed with vanilla flavored yogurt#sandwichfilling .
11. Grated carrot, chopped cucumber and tomatoes with chives in mayonnaise #sandwichfilling .
12. Roasted bell peppers and roasted eggplant with aioli dip#sandwichfilling.
13. Paneer slices coated in basil pesto sauce with slices of cucumber and lettuce #sandwichfilling.
14. Paneer, pineapple and capsicum sandwich with lettuce#sandwichfilling.
15. Grated carrot, chopped celery and onion in cheese
16. Lettuce, sliced mozzarella and tomato #sandwichfilling.
17. Kidney beans and corn cooked in spicy tomato sauce with lettuce#sandwichfilling.
18. Cooked mashed masala green peas, mint chutney and sliced onion#sandwichfilling.

Have a look at my simple Lunch Box Sandwich, you can use leftovers or make it with whatever is available at home.

Non-Vegetarian Sandwich Fillings

1. Mutton Kheema and deep fried potato chips #sandwichfilling
2. Leftover shredded fish, parsley, lime in tartar sAuce #sandwichfilling
3. Leftover poultry roast, pickled onion and mayonnaise#sandwichfilling
4. Leftover lamb and mint sauce #sandwichfilling.
5. Leftover pork roast and apple jelly #sandwichfilling
6. Chicken sausage and baked bean #sandwichfilling topped with a fried egg.
7. Egg and Bacon #sandwichfilling is obviously a dreamy breakfast. It can make everyday, Sunday.
8. Prawn, leek and mushrooms in cream #sandwichfilling.
9. Shredded chicken, black grapes, mint mixed with hung curd and cheese #sandwichfilling .
10. Smoked chicken, bacon and chopped cabbage in mayonnaise#sandwichfilling.
11. Chicken salami, olive tapenade and onion with lettuce#sandwichfilling
12. Chicken, cheese and jalapeno #sandwichfilling.
13. Chicken olive loaf slices with garlic dip and iceberg lettuce#sandwichfilling.
14. Chopped hard boiled egg, green chillies and coriander mixed in mayonnaise #sandwichfilling.
15. Sliced hard boiled egg with grated carrot and apple in mayonnaise#sandwichfilling.
16. Grated apple, chopped walnuts&cream cheese with strips of caramelized bacon #sandwichfilling.
17. The Out of The Blue Bandra Sandwich,Toasted Bread, mustard butter, layer of grilled chicken, bacon, fried egg & veggie serve with coleslaw & french fries.
18. Smoked salmon, tomato, dill and cream #sandwichfilling.

#Sandwichfilling Thought for Today.Don't make a stingy sandwich; Pile the cold cuts high.Customers should see salami coming through the rye.