Chocolate Fantasies!

- PREFACE -

If you clicked on the Blog link expectantly after reading the Title, then my dear Readers, for the time being I've nothing more than this post to offer you all :-)

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There are few things more sensual than chocolate. First there's the whole chocolate aphrodisiac thing, and it's mimicry of endorphins - the pleasure hormones (I won't go into the details) and then there's the rich, smooth and creamy texture to it that literally melts in your mouth and leaves you craving for more...aah!

With chocolate, known as the "Love Chemical", size truly does not matter. All is welcome and enjoyed equally. It can be eaten anywhere, anytime and with anyone...perfectly elucidated by Cadbury Dairy Milk's tagline -

Khane walo ko khane ka bahana chahiye!

(those who love chocolate look for an excuse to eat it)

I'd read somewhere that it possesses the ability to lift our spirits and build positive energy. What more does someone want than a mood-elevating, stimulating, enjoyable and thoroughly tasty and keeps-you-wanting-more experience?

Here are a few reasons I believe, why you SHOULD have chocolate -

• You are never too young for chocolate, and definitely never too old. It can be had and enjoyed by one and all.

• It's the best gift for every occasion, be it a birthday gift, a gift of love or just a simple thank you; chocolates are made for every reason and every season.

• It brings the best thing in the world to a person - A smile! :-)

• You can have chocolate anywhere, even at your workplace, and no one has any problem with it. In fact it's even better when shared with others: the more the merrier they say.

• You can have as many or as much as you can handle, as long as you know how much you can handle in the first place :-P

So enjoy the finger licking, taste-bud tingling and addictive goodness of the finest food of all, chocolate!

The Last Supper!

Just back from a big-bite at Burger King...

...thought it was kind of creepy and ironical when I spotted a painting of 'The Last Supper' on the wall behind us... :-O

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For more on The Last Supper, click here.

Where I Am. What I Do.

The best place to find me these days is at family get-togethers or wedding receptions! I've been attending so many functions in the last one month that lately, I've managed to learn the nuances of attending social dos…Man learns from experience, they say. These are some of the practices I follow at such places these days -

• When standing in line for the food at a buffet, like prisoners, I take into consideration who'll be immediately behind and in front of me. See, this saves me from a lot of trouble. People with lot of items in their plates are bound to test the detergent you use at home, followed by a polite sorry. The person immediately in front of you will turn all suddenly so that his/her food-laden dish collides with yours.

• When picking up the spoons & forks, I attempt for the ones that are hiding deep inside the pile of spoons (Note: Look, none of these receptions I attend, is hosted at a 5-star hotel). The logic is that, the spoon/fork I picked up has high chance of being untouched -> so they'll have least number of bacteria (Kitanu pronounced: Key-taa-noo - is the new word) -> good hygiene :-P

• I ignore the crowd and pick up the cucumber, carrot, tomato slices with hand at the salad counter. In 'loose terms', I 'hand pick' the slices ;-)

• I don't struggle to pick the Paneer pieces from the Paneer Butter Masala pool. Never. One try is enough!

• I'll have about 2-3 or max 4 food items in my dish so that I don't have to pay much attention to balancing the dish over the tissue paper. I know, that's a smart act B-)

• I never have difficulty in spotting the dish collection basket and water counter.

• I’d normally (like 20% of the times) come out of the food hall unstained.

• But 100% of the times, I return home appreciating the home-made-food!

Simpl(e)y the Best!

I'm not one of those who would hog down, but I still make it a point to try out new restaurants, dhabas, road-side stalls - absolutely anything! I know theres no dearth of such places in Pune..and I was thinking about all of my favourite hang-outs last nite - and VOILA!!! they popped up at the drop of a hat :D Best places to be at - whatever be the mood, ekdum shimple and more importantly very easy on the pocket :-)

• Appa (Deccan Gymkhana)

Have been eating at this place even before I knew the meaning of "hanging-out"! I still remember we wrapping up the Tennis 'warm-downs' in a haste, just to have a quick bite at Appa's. Khichadi-Dahi-Kakadi; baas, ajun kay hawa aahe :-) Radhika, Neha, Tanvi, Vivek, Amit, Aalok and even aai-baba would vouch for that. I tend to get very nostalgic at this place :-P

• Mankar Dosa (Karvenagar)

This was one of those places Baba and I had "discovered" while we were on our "know-Pune-better" endeavour ;-) He offers some lip-smacking Dosas and Uthappas at a very affordable price. He even has a penchant for funky menus - aah...the latest being "Kanda Sada Dosa"!!!

• Rutuja (Prabhat Road)

This may not be the "very-easy-on-the-pocket" place, but definitely "very-hard-to-resist" place :-P My association with Rutuja started circa 2003 while in Garware, the prime reasons being close to college and a place where you could complete all your journals rather peacefully, hehe ;-) PS: Rogerhan recommends - Double Chicken Club Sandwich

• Bipin (Karve Road, oppo Garware College)

Garware madhe astana, Comp Sc. cha sakali sakali practical jhala ki "chala Bipin"! This joint has the smallest of the places, but the 'shira', 'khichdi' are second-to-none! Never will you see this place short of patrons.

• Kalyan Bhel aka Bheleshwar (Canal Rd.)

I was quite sceptic at first to try out the Bhel/Pani-puri at this place, as I was a Ganesh-Bhel regular. Somehow, the entire idea of having a Bhel/PaPu in a very unique location, dragged me towards this place :-) The very fact of "unlimited space" pleases me and YES, am a "Bheleshwar-regular" now!

• Burger King (East Street)

Some might think this to be a very odd inclusion, but I couldnt resist mentioning this place. And no, this is not my 'hang-out' place...but a joint which perfectly matches the "Value-for-money" bill!!! This place is a STEAL, as we call it ;-)

• Shailesh Raswanti Gruha (oppo SP College)

Aata hey kuthun aala madhech, asa tumhi mhanal...pan hyacha usacha ras varcha asto! Mannya aahe ki to swataha kahich karat nahi (:-P), pan tari rasa-sathi mazi ashakya awadti jaaga ahe hi :-) PS: Rogerhan ithla "ek jumbo" pioon bagha, asa suchvel (ho, khaas hya thikana-sathi Marathi cha vapar!)

• Bapat Wada (Bajirao Rd., next to Raja Kelkar Museum)

Yup, another one from the "know-Pune-better" endeavour, hehe! Though, this place offers a whole lot to choose from (Maharashtrian food), I usually thrive on the pipping hot Batata Wadas, ummm! The owner has also ensured that the ones at the joint dont get bored, by displaying very unique and catchy phrases/sayings on the walls.