Wednesday, 18 May 2016

Outlook : Why am I Gen C?!

Even before I could register the term “Gen C” by saying it aloud a million times - the first instance made me feel tad bit handicapped about my unawareness to these recent fancy-shancy terms.
Farthest that my memory takes me, the buzz words were Gen X or Gen Y.

But to my astonishment on digging more I found that there does exist Gen X - Gen Y and Gen Z as well. Really?!

To enlighten people like me about Gen X to Z. Here are brief one liners to provide an idea - as per wiki and other Google sources:
Generation X, commonly abbreviated to Gen X, is the generation born after the Western Post–World War II baby boom(birth dates ranging from the early 1960s to the early 1980s.
Generation Y, the generation of people born during the 1980s and early 1990s. Members of Generation Y are often referred to as “echo boomers” because they are the children of parents born during the baby boom (the “baby boomers”).

Generation Z, the generation is most commonly defined with birth years starting in the mid-1990s, although the early or late 1990s  and early 2000s have also been used as starting birth years for this generation.

Having enriched myself with this valuable information I went to hunt about Gen C, one step at a time–  and Gen C differs immensely from the above – it is nowhere close I would say. :D
Having spent considerable time in the IT world I had already taken my guesses, as to what it could possibly mean  – “C” I thought would have its implications somewhere closer to the consumer world.

And to my delight, wohoo... – I was close. J

The sources on google define "Gen C as a powerful and global group of consumers who thrive on creation, curation, connection, and community. The important take away about Gen C is they don't just passively consume—90% create online content at least once a month. They're passionate brand advocates— two thirds agree that : If there is a brand I love, I tend to tell everyone about it."


To say - could I agree more to the above?!
Being an avid reviewer of every restaurant or every new place that I probe to, the definition was not new to me it was just that the word was not coined YET in my vocabulary list. J

With the fresh addition of the word in my vocabulary list, I would put it to use by stating that as a “GEN C” : I proactively use Bloggers, Instagram, Food reviewing sites like Zomato, Twitter and Travel reviewing sites like Trip advisor to advocate my potent views about restaurants and places that I venture to.
I try to explore the new restaurants and places with every opportunity I get. I must say,I do get deeply involved to observe each and every intricate details of the restaurant. These detailings range from the ambiance, cleanliness of the place, behavior of the staff, presentation of the food, quality, quantity and flavors of the dishes served.
The same applies to any new place that I visit – I espy about the location, list the must have for the visit, various dos and don’ts, best time to be there.
The basic motto remains the same - gather as much information as possible and put it across for the world to know.

I have this strong urge to help each and every consumer with my experiences. With the help of my reviews and the photos that I add along, I try my best to provide a visual treat of what’s in store in actuality.
If I like a place I advocate about it strongly and if I dislike the place I voice out my opinion humbly.

As a gen C – I try to connect all through my content centric reviews and value adding pictures.
It helps everyone out there to have access to a sort of database where they can fetch the preferred information as per their needs.
In addition to the consumer even the provider gets constant feedback and would know its good points and its pinch points. It even attributes to bridge the consumer-provider gap.
Above all it promotes active connected consumption instead of passive consumption.

I must not forget to mention my Dadu, as we dearly call him is also an active Gen C contributor. Surprised?!
Yes, even he actively uses social media platforms to gather information, share information and stay connected via various web platforms. This is proof enough that any Gen can be part of Gen C - it encompasses all age groups in its aura.

Gen C is not targeted to a  particular audience but it is here to reach each one out there and bring about value addition.
Snobbishly :P, I claim I am a Gen C - and that my efforts are being recognized - I belong to the online community - I contribute to the community actively with my unbiased reviews - I am an emerging consumer voicing out my opinion – I contribute to relevance and originality.
Despite the Gen C boom, many deem it unnecessary. I would like to point that I actively post out photos including reviews in various social media platforms  – not one but many come and ask me if I get paid for my contribution. :P
But it is out my sheer interest that I contribute – proudly I conclude by saying “This is what the GEN C does” :D :D

P.S It was because of the contribution of the Gen C – that I could make myself aware about the term “GEN C” in the first place and give my take on it!

#iamGenC #amdocs

 Cheers to life!!

~Believe in yourself always!

Thursday, 12 May 2016

Food anatomization : Rajdhani Thali Restaurant, Amanora - Pune

An awesome place to savour on some authentic rajasthani and gujrati khana. 

Every dish that they serve on your thali -  tastes good with at par quality. 

The dishes starting from the mini chats, dhokla, chaas, dal batis, sabjis, roti, khichdi, sweet dal, khata dal, cutlets, desserts, are just awesome.

On weekends, the service is slow, owing to the amount of crowd that turns up. 

Just that I would like to comment ,personally I don't appreciate the hand wash they give you at your seat itself. I do understand it is for the comfort of the customers, but still somehow feel it is little bit of demeaning to the person who gives it. Completely a personal perception, maybe an option of finger bowl can be provided.

The ambiance is soothing, in all provides a good dining experience. A good place for all veg thali lovers. :)

A picture from the earlier visit:


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Taken aback by the crowd on a Tuesday evening - totally perplexed.

Literally at 8-ish we had to struggle to grab a table. Their service is little slow owing to the crowd again - but all the servers try to provide you with top-notch service.

It is very welcoming and warm right from the time you make yourself comfortably seated.

The dishes as usual are really delectable. Summers - and you are in for the aam raas festival - aamlicious.
What more do you ask for on a hot summer day - aam raas and that too a bowl full of it. Perfecto! 
Their menu ranged from butter milk as the starter drink.
Then farsaan had vegetable tikki, dhokla and ring fry. Good start!
The dal baati - not a big fan of it - but was tasty. I found myself goring on the dal more. :P 
The sabjis varied from Paneer subz kurma,achari baigan,aloo variyah,mix kathol sangwadi, aam ki launji. I had multiple servings of the aam ki launji - it was so yumm, that even while writing this review, I have water in my mouth. Slurrrp..... 
They had dal, khadi,khichdi,rice served along. The khichdi with the spoonful of ghee - not to miss.
But the stellar dish for me apart from the aam ras of course was the banana halwa - wow!! How banana could be given such a delicious form - owing to my repel for bananas. Along with was the jalebi - tiny winy more crisy yet tasty.

In all a lip smacking. In all I had a truly hearty meal and satiating one.N ever repent being here.

Few pictures from the visit:













#aamraas


~Bon Appétit!! 
 
Rajdhani Thali Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato


P.S. All the above photos have been clicked by me. :D
 

Sunday, 8 May 2016

Food anatomization : Mahesh Lunch Home, MG Road - Pune

Mahesh Lunch Home - a place suggested to be at by every sea food lover. Mahesh Lunch Home specializes at Mangalorean style preparation - specifically sea food.
If you are here, don't misspend your time nor money to order anything other than sea food. :)

It is located at the junction of the traffic signal - easily noticeable. They have a parking space - which is a savior in the busy roads of M.G.
You need to walk down to the ground floor - the entrance has four significant icons : fish, prawns, crab and squid. With that my appetite was already built. :D
As you walk down, there is a aquarium - an irony for a place specializing in fishes and other. :P But never the less, aquariums always manage to cheer me up - and by this time I was all the more happy.

As you enter the place, from the scorching heat and the bright sun - the place is a contrast. I would say very dimly lighted - it would take few seconds for your eyes to adjust. It is themed with blue lighting and simple ambiance. They have a bar next to the payment counter - added a certain class to the overall ambiance. It houses more than 30 or more tables. The blue lighting and the wooden furniture gave more of lounge feeling.

We were the first to make an entry here - bang on at 12:30pm. During this time, the place had pretty much only us - which took me aback. But within 15 to 20 minutes the place was flooded with people. With the place being so flooded with people , but still you could not hear much of the murmuring but just the clinking of the cutlery - that's the level of appetite it provides. :)

The menu ranges from Indian to oriental preparations.

We ordered for the BAMBIL FISH KOLIWADA FRY -it was served in banana leaf. The fry was an enhanced version of bambil fish koliwada with the bombil fish fillets cut into smaller chunks - rolled in flour and further on deep fried. The fry had very distinctive flavors.
Then we had the CURRY LEAVES PRAWNS - medium sized prawns cooked heavily with mustard and curry leaves. It was about medium spicy and the prawns were really fresh & soft. Nice one!
For the main course we had the BABY POMPHRET GASSI with roti - I was very hesitant to try the dish. The plating was done such that the baby pomphret was sliced up and was placed in the center of the serving bowl - floating in semi thick gravy. I had a teeny portion, at first go the taste didn't appeal me.But once the flavors kicked in I totally relished it. It had flavors of tamarind, coconut milk and was spiced up beautifully. The gravy was yummmm....

The server and the person who took our order - very courteous. The guy suggested us with the dishes that we must try out. They also showed the baby pomphret that was to be cooked. They have the prawns and pomphret on display - they show the sizes available.
Not to mention the service is really quick.
With the rate of serving and with our pace of eating - we were done in less than an hour. :)

Not a fan of sea food - but this visit was worthwhile and we had a hearty meal.

Find few pictures from the visit:


 


 






Sweet lime soda

Curry Leaves Prawns

BAMBIL FISH KOLIWADA FRY

The food!!

Pomphret Gassi
 ~Bon Appétit!! 

Mahesh Lunch Home Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato


P.S. All the above photos have been clicked by me. :D

Food anatomization : Zaheer Khan's Fine Dining, Phoenix Mall - Pune

What should I say - I am pleasantly surprised. Even after having heard too many negative reviews about the place over a period of time, running out of options I ventured to ZK's.

Located in Phoenix, these restaurants provide a good break from your shopping spree to satiate your taste buds.
 
The décor of the place is simple yet interesting with wall paintings depicting cricket. There were wall frames with quotes from the famous cricketers like Zaheer, Sachin, Kapil, Kumble, Gavaskar and many more. One of the walls had the jersey of Zaheer Khan framed.
The place is well lit and has few fancy lighting put up.
There was light themed music being played. I loved the interiors - specially the wall paintings.
 
There seemed to be a bar enclosed somewhere near - to where we were seated. It was next to a door which when being opened time and again by the servers would bring about loud thumping and music - this was kind of disturbing.
 
Coming  to the food - the wait for each dish is really long. So make sure to place your order in one go, so you might not need to wait for your order. The hunger pangs and the indefinite waiting was making us crazy - finally our food came and it was relishing.
 
We ordered for the IRANI TANDGI KEBAB - this was one awesome dish, despite the wait we went for second servings of the dish. The chicken and its flavors - utterly satisfying in itself , a delight to devour on. Totally skewered in tandoor to perfection.
The MOHITO was refreshing with the blend of lemon, soda.
The KAKORI CHICKEN SEEKH KEBAB - minced chicken rolled to kebabs - again a delicacy. The kebabs blended so well that as we ate, we literally gulped it down. It is an apparent specialty of Awadh.
The main course was commenced with RARAH CHICKEN along with  ONION KULCHA and LACHA PARATHA. The RARAH CHICKEN - first they served a really good quantity, befitting for more than two people. It had generous portions of chicken and the flavors were really kicking in. And the parathas went really well with the dish.The combination of minced and chicken chunks attributed to a thick gravy for the dish.) 
FLAVOURSOME visit!!
I loved every dish that I ordered and I am in all praises for the restaurant. :)
 
The servers were decent and helped us with our orders.
 
I would say a nice place for North Indian cuisine - which is sometimes very rare to find here. 
 
Find few pictures of the visit:
  
















IRANI TANDGI KEBAB

KAKORI CHICKEN SEEKH KEBAB

RARAH CHICKEN

ONION KULCHA

LACHA PARATHA

VIRGIN MOHITO
 
~Bon Appétit!! 


Zaheer Khan's Dine Fine Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato


P.S. All the above photos have been clicked by me. :D