KODE - Freestyle Bar and Kitchen

Visit Day Date and Time:-Thursday 13-July-2017, 19.00 p.m.

"KODE" a unique creation from the innovator and trendsetter Zorawar Kalra along with his wife Dildeep Kalra aims to revolutionize modern global cuisine by delivering latest food trends in freestyle avatar but maintaining it's authenticity.

Ambience:- This place is huge which is divided into lounge and dinning section with splendid and classy interiors. It is designed by the international architect Masafumi Sanada who has left no stone untouched. But the main attraction of this place is the island bar which is centrally located and  the lights which keeps on getting dim every hour making it quite cosy atmosphere.

Menu:- The food menu includes hand-picked unique dishes and delicacies from around the world. The bar menu is something to look out for as this place offers approx. 150 brands of whiskey along with signature cocktails and mocktails which will not only please your taste buds but your vision as well.

I tried out following from the food set by the chef for tasting:-

Butter Glazed Edamame Beans, Sea Salt:- It is served as quick bite were in edamame is coated with butter and tossed in chilli and sea salt. It was tasty but had to chew it for long time to finish one edamame.

Togarashi and Garlic Olives,Chives Creme Fraiche:- Olives were marinated with mixture of Japanese spice and served with creme fraiche as dip. It's another quick bite option which was made to perfection.

The Old Fashioned:- Whiskey based cocktail were in orange juice in the form of iced sphere is dipped in the glass and on the side served with spinach crisp and cherry. Must try one for whiskey lovers.

Bird Eye:- It's vodka based cocktail which is infused with berries and smoked with cinnamon flavour to feel the aroma while enjoying the drink. It is served in oval shape glass on the bowl of birds nest with cinnamon flavour incense stick. It's bit on sweeter side since it is vodka based.

Salmon Carpaccio, Chilli- Coriander-Sesame:- Thin slice of salmon are topped with sauce and fined chopped chilli, coriander and sesame and served with crispy spinach on the side. Salmon was so soft that it literally melted in mouth.

Charcoal Grilled Prawns, Garlic Breurre Blanc:- Tiger Prawn was charcoal grilled to perfection keeping it juiciness intact and topped with garlic flavoured breurre blanc (white butter). It's like having butter garlic prawns. You can't miss this one if your love prawns.

Corn Curd and Asparagus Tempura:- Though it is vegetarian dish it's my personal favourite from the menu. The combination of corn curd and asparagus is deep fried giving crispy texture outside and keeping it gooey inside which is accompanied by sriracha mayo on the sides. It just explodes in your mouth and fills it with amazing flavour of corn curd and asparagus.

Garlic and Pepper Lamb Chops:- Lamb chops were well cooked and tossed with garlic in teriyaki sauce and served on side with creamy combination of mashed potato and wasabi which balanced the taste of the dish.

Manchego and Truffle Oil, Maldon Salt:- It is Turkish style dish known as Pide which is nothing but flat bread loaded with manchego cheese (cheese made from sheep's milk) and topped with truffle oil and maldon salt. Must try one from the menu.

Duck Tacos:- Crunchy corn tortillas stuffed with well cooked shredded duck meat, sesame and cucumber along hoison sauce.

Forgotten Petal Sour:- It's one of the innovative cocktail which is served as three course meal. Basically it is gin based which is served in a flower vase shape glass garnished with beet root powder and accompanied by rose dipped in nitrogen, candy floss and campari soap with champagne foam.

18 Hours Cooked Lamb Shanks:- The best from the menu were in lamb meat is slowly cooked to perfection for 18 hours keeping juiciness of the meat intact and is served on top of polenta garnished with blue cheese truffle. The meat was so tender that it just falls of the bones.

Miso Marinated Black Cod:- The black cod (fish) is marinated in miso (Japanese seasoning) and served on bed of creamy and cheesy risotto. The black cod was fresh and went well with risotto.

Spinach and Asparagus Risotto:- It's creamy and cheesy risotto with spinach and asparagus. Here in fresh bocconcini cheese is used. Overall it is good option for vegetarians in the main course section.

Black Forest Maraschino Cherries:- It's basically deconstructed black forest where in brick shape mousse is loaded with cherries which is accompanied by dark chocolate sponge, cream and cocoa nibs. The presentation deserves full marks.

Recommendations:- The Old Fashioned, Bird Eye, Salmon Carpaccio, Garlic and Pepper Lamb Chops, Corn Curd and Asparagus Tempura, Charcoal Grilled Prawns Garlic Breurre Blanc, 18 Hours Cooked Lamb Shanks, Miso Marinated Black Cod, Spinach and Asparagus Risotto, Manchego and Truffle Oil.

Service:- Be it any Zorawar Kalra place the level of service is always at top notch. Totally impressed by it. Special thanks to the chef for designing special menu for food tasting.

Experience:- Stunning and life time experience. Overall it's an amazing place to visit with family and friends to try out some unique cocktails along with some creative and delicious food.

Taste:- 5/5

Value for Money:- 5/5

Ambience:- 5/5

Service:- 5/5

Oozo

Visit Day Date and Time:- Sunday 2-July-2017, 02.00 p.m.

"Oozo" a newly (two weeks old) opened watering hole which is located in Sakinaka, Andheri East, serves delicacy's from various parts of the world, is a perfect blend of roofop bar, lounge bar, casual dining and club.

Recently was invited to Oozo for food tasting and accordingly decided to visit it.

Ambience:-  It's quite spacious outlet which is classified into three different sections i.e lounge section and casual dining section on the first floor and rooftop section. The lounge section has huge bar, dance floor with dim light making it perfect party place whereas the casual dining section is bright and colourful with red shade and has comfort seating options as requiure for dining. The rooftop section is huge compare to the other two sections and its specially for sheesha. Overall apperance of this place is quite colourful right from the entrance till the rooftop section.

Menu:-

The menu of this place has been designed by creative chef and consultant Saif himself, who is well known for his delicious food creation in many restuarants in Mumbai and Pune namely Flip Bar and Kitchen, Fusion Kitchen, The Little Door, Jamboree and Asanjo (Pune). Overall the menu includes delicacy's from Costa Rica, Greek, Middle East, Italy, Peru, South East Asia etc.

Cocktails and Mocktails

Ying Yang (Virgin) and Ying Yang Martini:- Its available in both mocktail and cocktail version and defintely must try one from the menu. The mocktail version includes mixture of chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream, which is garnished with chocolate shavings and m.n.m's. Whereas the cocktail version includes mixture of  chocolate vodka, kahlua, vanilla vodka, whipping cream which is garnished with chocolate shavings and m.n.m's. The main attraction of this drink is not only its taste but also its beautiful presentation.

Flaming Lamborghini:- This cocktail is from the house on fire section from the bar menu and defintely must try one. It has kahlua, sambuca, blue curacao and baileys.

Something Tall & Sexy:- It's a cocktail which is perfect mixture of white rum, dark rum, vodka, gin, tequila, triple sec, sour mix and canberry juice. Simply awesome.

Pineapple, Cilantro, Jalapeno Kick:- It's a mocktail which is fusion of pineapple juice, lime juice, jalapeno and fresh corriander. It tickles our taste buds and gives the perfect kick start as needed.

Starters

Royal Saffron Nachos (Veg):- Saffron flavoured crispy tortillas chips were topped with saffron cheese sauce and black olives which was served with tomato salsa and extra cheese sauce on the side. It was cheesy and yummy.

Korean Cheese Nachos (Veg):- Crispy tortilla chips were made up of Spinach giving it colourful texture which were topped with Guchujang (korean hot pepper paste) spiced cheese sauce, bell peppers, green onions, cilantro, black olives, mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan cheese which is served with tomato salsa on the side.

Sambal Baby Potato (Veg):- The baby potatoes are tossed in spicy sambal sauce along with onions, garlic and bell pepper. It's good option for the vegetarians.

Redang Cottage Cheese (Veg):- It's Indonesian delicacy were in soft cottage cheese chunks are tossed in spicy mixture of galangal, lemon grass, garlic, ginger, shallots, Thai red chilli and coconut milk giving it rich and creamy texture. If you prefer coconut taste then this dish is an ideal for you. This dish is availble in non-veg version too were in chicken chunks are used in place of cottage cheese.

Papas Ala Saif:- This dish is one of the popular creation of Chef Saif, available in both veg and non-veg version, which is specially named after him. Here in fried potato discs are covered with creamy yellow pepper cheese sauce and topped with olives. The non-veg version of this dish has slice of egg topped on the potato discs. Presentation of this dish deserves full marks.

Spicy Sauteed Shrimp Ceviche served with Crispy Tortilla:- It's South American salad were in shrimps are sauteed with cucumber, tomato, onion, jalapeno in spicy bloody mary mix which is served in martini glass along with romaine lettuce and crispy tortilla chips. Frankly speaking im not a salad person but totally in love with this one.

Beer Chicken Cheese Nachos:- Beetroot flavoured crispy tortillas chips were topped with minced chicken, beer and chipotle sauce, bell pepper, mozzarella cheddar and parmesan cheese, green onions and olives which is served with fire roasted tomato salsa on the side. This combination is heaven for non-vegetarians.

Mini Bun-less Chicken Cheese Burger Bites:- Minced chicken mixed with onions, garlic, green onion,corriander, parsley and spices which is made into small size pattice and further grilled. The grilled chicken pattice is topped with lettuce, cheese, cherry tomato. It's one of my favourite on the menu.

Bang Bang Chicken:- Chicken chunks dipped in soicy batter of flour, corn flour, buttermilk, sriracha, smoked paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, coated with panko bread crumbs and further deep fried giving it cripsy texture. It's topped with spicy sriracha mayo swril and served with sriracha mayo on the side.

Spicy New Orleans Prawns:- Prawns were tossed in olive oil along with onions, garlic, spicy sriracha sauce, worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, oregano, chilli powder, lemon juice, sweet chili sauce, chili powder and parsley. The prawns were fresh and well cooked with perfect taste. Must try one for the sea food lovers.

Main Course
Locro De Zapallo (Veg):-  Locro means stew and Zapallo means red pumpkin. A Peruvian delicacy were in red pumpkin stew topped with olives is served with parsley rice and oven roasted baby potato. The red pumpkin stew is cooked with onion, garlic, potato green peas, corn, veg stock, oregano, yellow paper paste, cheese corriander, cream. Tasty and good combination.

Pollo Repieni:- In Italian Pollo means chicken and Repieni means stuffed. A chicken breast is stuffed with mixture of spinach, mushroom and jalapeno which is further grilled and tossed in creamy mushroom sauce. It is served with parsley rice and sauteed  veggies. One of my favorite from the menu.

Desserts
It was time to for some drool-worthy freakshake.

Nutella Pretzel Shake:- Its freakshake which is includes mixture of milk, chocolate ganache, nutella, dipped with scoop of vanilla ice-cream and garnished with chocolate ganache, nutella and pretzel sticks. Totally drool-worthy.

Sheesha
We also tried out mint flavour sheesha which was good too.

Recommendations:- All type of Nachos, Redang Cottage Cheese, Papas Ala Saif, Nutella Pretzel Shake, Spicy Sauteed Shrimp Ceviche served with Crispy Tortilla, Mini Bun-less Chicken Cheese Burger Bites, Bang Bang Chicken, Spicy New Orleans Prawns, Locro De Zapallo, Pollo Repieni, Ying Yang (Virgin), Ying Yang Martini, Something Tall & Sexy, Flaming Lamborghini.

Overall it was mind blowing experience and definitely must visit place to have good time and enjoy lip-smacking food along with amazing mocktails and cocktails.

Taste:- 5/5
Ambience :- 5/5
Value for Money:- 4.5/5
Service:-5/5