Love Scotch As A Gift

     Finding the right gift for someone, whether it is for someone dear or even a professional client that you want to build relations with, can be a daunting task. I'm someone who usually doesn't stress too much when it comes to giving gifts as a lot of people I know do. But a huge disadvantage to that fact is, more often than not, my gifts tend to become impersonal. I really dont like that whole 'second-guessing-and-then-stressing-over-it" aspect of the process. But when it comes to finding the right gift for a man without going the whole pens and shirts route...I will admit that I have been stumped! At the recent Love Scotch As A Gift event, when the host Anuradha Menon spoke about finding gifts for the men in her life and the trials/ tribulations involved in it...the entire audience was nodding their heads hearing her stories while laughing, in what I would interpret as embarrassment, as they probably recalled their own adventures. 

Couple Spa room with Jacuzzi

     Sometimes getting through the week can make one feel like they have fought a battle and half! The weekend just flows by in the blink of the eye and before you can charge your battery and dust your battle gear you get thrown in the turmoil all over again. Sigh! At times like these a girl needs some TLC before she can put on her cape again and face the world. Nothing refreshes me better than a good spa date...a relaxing body massage thrown in with a facial and mani pedi charges me up like nothing else. Toni & Guy salon came to Kolkata sometime last year and I got a really pretty hair makeover from them. They are expanding on a huge scale including spa services into their mix. They already have special rooms for bridal services, mani-pedi and even private rooms where you can get whatever you want in your own personal space. They even bought Nioxin to Kolkata along with Label M. 

Mango, Kasundi, Paneer Mixed Sabzi

     If you love mangoes then you are absolutely spoiled for choices this season. Tolly Tales is celebrating "Mango Tales" where, you guessed it, you can sample dishes made from the king of fruits! I have been to another mango food festival recently and I didn't know if it would be a deja vu kind of a situation for me as both the places do North Indian cuisine (well Tolly Tales does other types of cuisine too) or if I would get something totally innovative. Well you need to read till the end of the post to find that out now wont you :D I have been to Tolly Tales earlier with a group of fellow foodies and found it to be some what of a mix bag. The ambiance is beautiful and quirky but the food had this hit and miss element to it. Some dishes were really good while the rest were mediocre. Though I do give them credit for making their own cheese balls, having a really good vilayati sabzi and a bangin brownie (hey I'm partial to the whole home made cake flavor kinda thing).

Sohum Spa, Kenilworth Hotel, Kolkata

     I used to be quite the spa junkie back in the day. My monthly trips were pretty much on schedule...seriously nothing can beat a well done massage in wiping all the strains of pain and tiredness from you. I have been to a couple of spas across the metro cities of the country from some very basic ones to some really good high end ones. While some left me a happy bunny after the experience the others were sadly lacking. And it is not just the treatment...lets keep it to the side. I believe that the ambiance is of the foremost importance especially as it sets the mood when you step into the place. The lighting, the music and the smell (yes you read me right) plays as big role in how calm and relaxed you feel. They are the necessary add-ons which complete a spa experience.

Uttam Bhoj at ITC Sonar, Kolkata part of Dinner Buffet Price Rs. 2250/- plus taxes

Kolkata Street Food Festival at K19 Restaurant, Park Plaza Hotel, Kolkata

     Kolkata has one of the best street food...period! You have not lived if you have not tried the pucchka (pani-puri aka golgappa) with the spicy aloo mix and the sour lip smacking water. Though Delhi comes in a close second and is often head to head in a lot of things but for me my vote will always go to Kolkata. Taste aside the entire experience of standing by the road with the plate made of leaves and trying to gobble up the pieces faster than the pucchka dude can serve them up is a hoot and a half. My friend recently dropped in from Mumbai and he really wanted to try out the infamous pucchka but he ended up having it from some restaurant and was very disappointed with it. He told me that he didn't like it one bit and I literally went nuclear on him saying that he better not be saying anything bad about it since he didn't really experience the real deal in the first place :P 

     Smoke Shack is an open air restaurant located on the rooftop of Park Plaza hotel in the heart of Kolkata. I was very surprised to find such a good hotel and amazing food joint located mere minutes from my residence. They have a gorgeous infinity pool and a lovely view! I can go and sit there for hours just for the view alone...it is very soothing to look over the city line sitting beside the pool. They have special aqua exercise classes scheduled for summers in case any one is interested :) We were called in for lunch and coz it was very hot we had to shift to another restaurant of the hotel so couldn't enjoy the beautiful Smoke Shack in its full splendor. But it would be great spot for a dinner date as towards evening a lovely breeze is blowing and it becomes very pleasant...

     The mere mention of chocolate will make any chocoholics heart skip a beat and when the word "Belgium chocolate" is uttered then it is enough to make one swoon. When I got a call from the Magnum PR about their launch event in Kolkata with a special masterclass with Chef Kunal Kapoor I was raring to go. Soha Ali was going to be the guest of honor for the event. I have been to a few classes earlier taken by renowned chefs so I was expecting something in similar lines. An afternoon of  learning new dishes made by the chef aka a sedated educational affair. The question that came to mind was if it was going to be strictly chocolate based dishes and how would Magnum fit into it all?

Ravish Kapoor store on Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata

     The first time I heard the saying "Love is in the details" was on the Oprah show. The concepts, products and gift ideas that she would present would all be beautiful down to its minutest part. It would amaze me to no end that how much effort one was willing to put into the smallest of things something a person like me who is always about the big picture would fail to comprehend. But even I will admit that they would make a huge impact aesthetically. Being able to change my outlook and actually notice something like that made me understand what Oprah meant. When it comes to expressing their love people want to shout it from the rooftops and don't want to leave any stone un-turned. How can anyone take a back seat when it comes to their biggest day then aka their wedding! Well good news for all the Kolkata folks, Ravish Kapoor has finally set up shop here to help you express your joy in the grandest of styles. 

     I remember the time when MAC had just entered Kolkata and set up its 1st store here. The entire concept of the brand and combined with the appeal of its store used to draw me like a kid looking at a shiny new toy. But somehow my mind had this perception that the brand was too expensive and only celebs would be able to afford the stuff. I didn't have it in me to even venture inside and look around. Since I couldn't afford it the exercise seemed pointless. But one day I decided enough was enough and I would just go in and buy what I liked, to heck with the price! And to my utter surprise once I walked in it was a whole different atmosphere. Not only were the products somethings I could afford but the entire way the staff treated me was a joy and a half. And we all know, that I haven't looked back since :D

     Everyone talks about the rich culture and heritage of India...from the different art forms to textiles to a million other things that signify it. But none illustrates this statement better than the cuisine of our country. A distance of a few kilometers will see quite a change in the ingredients being used or even the method of preparation. I was not aware how many different tastes can emerge from the same area until I attended the Khad Khazana festival at ITC Sonar. Like a whole lot of people I assumed that the food would be more or less uniform coming from a particular region. Boy was I wrong :) Very thankful to the PR of the chain for extending me this invitation.

    Its that time of the year again! Magic is in the air and Durga puga is just around the bend. The whole atmosphere thrums with excitement and the whirlwind preparations begin. From pujo shopping to planning out salon visits so the divalicious Bengali babe can strut her stuff during those all important 5 days of festivities. You really need to experience Kolkata during this time. The city takes off its laid back cover and you can see the vibrant and charged layer inside. Air carries a different kind of fragrance (literally) and there are bright blinking lights in rainbow hues scattered all over the city. To celebrate this all important time Green Trends salon came out with some services that help you nail your signature look this pujo. A group of us bloggers were invited to experience the services on offer by the PR of the company.