Hollywood Menu at California Pizza Kitchen

Earlier this week, I was invited for a blogger meet where we were to try the new Hollywood themed menu at California's Pizza Kitchen. Often being frequented by celebrities, CPK decided to give its Indian diners a little peep into what signature dishes the celebs usually pick in their outlets in L.A. The special menu includes new cocktails such as Men In Black and Long Beach (available only in select outlets) and yummy pizzas and pastas. The Hollywood at CPK Menu is available from February 24 to March 16.

As we got seated, we were offered a choice of two mocktails - Mango Mint Ecstasy and Pineapple Twister (at present, the Indiranagar CPK outlet only has a beer and wine license). The Mango Mint Ecstasy had way too much going for itself and the lemon managed to drown out the flavour of mango. The Pineapple Twister was something I liked more simply for my preference for pineapple and sweeter things, though that wasn't the popular choice for others.

As Chef Kuldeep began to explain the concept of the Hollywood menu and we were busy with the drinks, the pizzas eventually appeared and a whiff of that sent me to pizza heaven. The first pizza I tried was Hawaiian Chicken & Grilled Pineapple Pizza, because I love pineapple on my pizza! I'll be honest, both the chicken meat and the pineapple were a little too dry for me, I was looking for something more juicy. I guess the grilled pineapple threw me off, but the flavours worked as always.

Hawaiian Chicken & Grilled Pineapple Pizza

The next pizza we tried was the Jamaican Jerk & Chicken Pizza, which had garlic chicken tossed in a spicy, sweet Caribbean sauce, authentic Jamaican spices, roasted peppers and red onions on a regular crust. The meat lovers at the table loved this pizza because of all the spices and the heat. Chicken was juicy, and I loved the kick of the Jamaican Jerk.

Jamaican Jerk & Chicken Pizza

The Deli Style Bistro Pizza was the one I was looking forward to the most. It had Italian sausages, capicola ham and Canadian bacon finished with lemon herbed rocket leaves and Bocconcini. This one was served on a thin crust topped with pesto marinara. I love Capicola ham and Bacon and Bocconcini, so this pizza won my heart instantly. The flavours worked wonderfully and wasn't too hearty and loaded, but light and crisp. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was the only one at the table who tried this. The rest at the table didn't touch pork.

The meat loaded Deli Style Bistro Pizza

The Spicy Sonora Pizza was one of the most innovative and delicious pizzas I've tried yet. It had roasted corn and blackbean salsa and spicy smoked chicken with cilantro and lime cream sauce and a strong hit of chilli. Salsa on a pizza was a first for me, but I loved it immensely. The Tex-Mex punch and the spike of lime all came together perfectly. The only thing missing was a shot of tequila. ;)

Spicy Sonora Pizza with the Tex-Mex kick

We almost forgot about the vegetarians, until the Rustica Pizza showed up. The CPK version of an Italian classic, this thin crusted pizza was topped with grilled zucchini, sauteed white mushrooms, green olives and capers and fresh shavings of Parmesan. The table unanimously voted this as the best pizza of the night. While it lacked heat, it simply tasted like these flavours were meant to work together, and tasted like warm, delectable Italian harmony. I personally prefer a simple Margherita when it comes to rustic Italian pizzas, but this one made me change my mind.

Rustica Pizza - simple, light and delicious

After having had our fair share of pizzas, Chef Kuldeep brought in the pastas. The first one we tried was the Mediterranean Roasted Mushroom Spaghettini, a fiery blend of roasted mushrooms, garlic, onions, Serrano chillies and Mediterraneasn herbs. This pasta dish was the hero of the night for me. Chef Kuldeep explained how the mushrooms were first tossed with garlic, then the herbs, and finally mixed with the chillies and garlic flavoured Spaghettini tossed in olive oil. For those who aren't aware, Spaghettini is a thinner form of spaghetti but thicker than vermicelli. The pasta was light, delivered on taste and flavour, and packed a powerful punch. I would have liked to done a takeaway if I could.

A pasta dish so perfect that it could make me cry.

The meat lovers had the Spaghetti Carretierra - another Italian classic with a CPK twist thrown in with red chillies, rocket, Bocconcini and freshly crushed pepper in a tangy cream sauce. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the Bocconcini in a creamy pasta dish, but the rest of the elements on the plate worked. The ingredients were fresh, and the chilli, pepper and rocket combination was much loved.

Spaghetti Carretierra

After our pastas, we had a couple of more Speciality dishes designed for the menu. We tried the California Peri Peri Chicken which was a boneless chicken grilled with CPK's housemade California Peri Peri marinade and baked in a creamy sauce. The sauce was mind blowing, and the chicken was tender and well cooked. I would have enjoyed a little more heat, but the rest of the bloggers seemed to be content with its spice levels. The chicken was served with crispy, perfect fries on one plate and with sauteed veggies on another. We loved them both.

California Peri Peri Chicken - grilled to perfection

The vegetarians got the Spinach and Paneer Malfati with Milan Sauce that had tender spinach and Paneer Gnocchi styled dumplings in a creamy caramelized onion sauce, flavoured with garlic and goat cheese. I'm usually hesitant with Paneer in non-Indian preparations, but this dish was an affair to remember. The caramelized onion, the strong flavour of garlic that resonated in the Malfati and the yummy goat cheese all came together to sync beautifully in a marriage of flavours.

Spinach & Paneer Malfati with Milan Sauce with a very generous helping of veggies

When we were about to burst and I felt like my jeans button was about to pop, the dessert was finally brought in - the California Delight, which was a lovely trio of white chocolate, strawberry and dark chocolate mousse with cranberries and almond praline. This was served with Pita Chips that were dusted with Demerrera sugar, corn syrup and a generous sprinkling of cinnamon. I loved the texture of the mousse, and the dark chocolate was my absolute favourite. Everyone at the table was in consensus with this and ordered another portion to devour this decadent dessert. On the other hand, I found too much going on with the Pita chips and the corn syrup threw me off. I would have maybe preferred an almond tuile instead. But the Pita didn't stop me from indulging. The dessert won may hearts and sent us home happier and a little heavier as well.

California Delight - delightful mousse

Overall, we had a fantastic time at California Pizza Kitchen and loved the new Hollywood Menu. I give this one a definite hit, especially for the pasta and the specialties. Visit for friendly service, good ambience and a menu that would definitely leave you wanting for more.

New Year's Eve at Portland Steakhouse

Happy New Year to all you wonderful people! Hope your year is full of good food and fun. :) (I know I'm a whole 10 days late, but there's no such thing as a late wish, is there?)

Every year on New Year's Eve, I decide to go to one of those parties where I end up paying a bomb and get nibbles of food to eat, if the hordes of people give us a chance. One party, they ran out of food. Another, there was a queue so long, that I don't remember whether I reached the end of the line or not. Once, there was almost a stampede at the food counters.

So this year, we decided to do food justice and indulge in a good dinner instead of those measly bites. Many restaurants were offering some great menus, but after researching, I decided to go with Portland Steakhouse. The restaurant is located centrally and I've never had a disappointing experience so far, so that helped finalize my decision. They offered a 4-course meal along with a glass of wine for Rs.1649/- inclusive of taxes, which sounded like a good deal to me.

We walked in early to have enough time to devour our meal through the night. The restaurant was partially full, and to our pleasant surprise, the staff members had lit a bonfire outside (it's like a verandah just away from the restaurant) and it seemed to generate a lovely warmth through the air.

For our first course, our options were spread across 3 soups and 2 salads. Not being in the mood for the tried and tested tomato soups and clear chicken soups, we decided to go for the salads instead. While my friend ordered the Caesar Salad with Prawns, I opted for the Watermelon, Feta and Cucumber Salad. The Caesar Salad was lovely, fresh Romaine lettuce leaves tossed with Caesar's dressing, croutons, prawns and Parmesan shavings. I would have liked a little more dressing, but my friend didn't seem to mind. My salad was fresh and bursting with flavours. The watermelon, feta and lettuce were coated beautifully with a strawberry vinaigrette dressing that I loved. The cucumbers were sliced lengthwise too thinly, and I didn't enjoy them too much. I would've liked more texture too - crunch of walnuts, perhaps.

Caesar's Salad with Prawns

Watermelon, Feta and Cucumber Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Our second course had a lot more options - a total of 10 to choose from, which made us argue a lot over what to order. We eliminated the vegetarian options instantly, and after more such eliminations, we finally agreed on the Pasilla Chilli Beef and Melba Toasts with Salmon. I was quite excited about the Pasilla Chilli Beef - I had the Pasilla Chilli Chicken Wings at a bar in New York, and it was one of the spiciest dishes I've ever tried. The beef here didn't disappoint either. It was quite spicy, and balanced well with the sweetness of the bell peppers. The Melba Toasts were our favourite though. Smoked Salmon over cream cheese with dill spread on toasts make for quite the delicious, light appetizer. Also, say goodbye to table manners when you wolf down this one.

Pasilla Chilli Beef

Smoked Salmon with cream cheese on Melba Toasts

The third course was what got excited us from the very beginning - again, there were a total of 10 dishes to choose from, and it seemed to be quite a meaty affair. They had the Rib Eye Steak and New York Strip in the mains, but since we'd already tried both the steaks here earlier, we decided to try something else. Our other options were Lobster (for which you had to pay Rs.250 extra), Christmas Day Chicken, Duck and Turkey.

My friend picked the Roast Turkey with Gravy with baked sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce, and I ordered the Crispy Duck with Chilli Plum sauce. I thought the turkey was a little dry and could have done with some gravy, and then we had someone from the management who offered to top the meat with more gravy (without us asking for it); so they definitely scored brownie points for service. My duck wasn't as crispy as I imagined it would be. I expected fried, crispy pieces of duck, but while the outer skin of the duck was a little crispy, it was doused with too much sauce, softening the skin and meat by the time I tried it. Yeah, one dish had no gravy, and one had too much. :) Other than that, I thought the sweet potato mash and cranberry sauce really stood out.

Crispy Duck with Chilli Plum Sauce

Roast Turkey with gravy, baked sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce

As you may have guessed, we were pretty stuffed by the end of our third course, yet there is always some space for dessert in my tummy. I ordered the New York Style Cheese Cake while my friend ordered Haroon's famous Apple Pie. The apple pie tasted yum and had a nice crunch to it. Though I think it lacked a little cinnamon and sprinkling of castor sugar to me. The cheese cake was beyond delicious, and had a consistency accompanied with that perfect tang to die for. Their apple pie is their signature dessert, but the cheese cake was the clear winner for us that night.

New York Style Cheesecake

Haroon's famous Apple Pie

We ate to our heart's and stomach's content, and couldn't have imagined a better meal for NYE. Maybe they should feature this menu more regularly, they might just have more takers.

Overall, my rating for this special dinner at Portland Steakhouse is:

Food - 7/10
Ambience - 8/10
Service - 10/10
Verdict - They treat meat with respect, and don't disappoint in desserts either. It would take a lot more to convince the vegetarians though.

Portland Steakhouse has a great menu and is easily my favourite place in the city for good steaks. They understand what "medium rare" actually means and the meat cuts (Rib eye, Chateaubriand, New York strip steak), delicious sides and a variety of sauces really makes them stand out from the rest of the steak joints. If you haven't visited this place yet, I suggest you do at the earliest. You won't be disappointed. :)

Breakfast at Cafe Mozaic

I'm a sucker for continental breakfasts and love having the luxury of time and a world of an appetite for a lazy breakfast on a weekend. Which is why when I was up surprisingly early on a Sunday morning with a "I'm so hungry, I can eat a Hippogriff" kind of appetite, I decided to indulge in a breakfast buffet that would calm my stomach down.

I've tried the typical fare of all weekend breakfast places - Hole in the Wall, Cafe Terra, Ants Cafe, Pecos (yes, they do serve continental breakfast along with a delicious Chicken Stew with Appam) and was frankly, looking to get more on my palate. Which is why I decided to go to Taj Vivanta instead. I've been to Taj for breakfast only once before, and found it lovely, and I decided that it was worth the indulgence this time as well.

We walked in by around 8:30 a.m. to a half-full Cafe Mozaic and I wanted to sit by the pool side, but was informed that it was closed. I was irked with that, because nothing speaks bliss like a glass of orange juice on a Sunday morning by a serene pool side and stuffing your face with pork sausages and strips of fatty bacon.

Anyway, I dived straight in to the buffet - they have 101 items on the table, so it's a LOT to take in. They really do have everything from Indian to Continental to Asian food. You'll find live counters of Masala Dosas, Appams and even Paranthas. Idlis, chutneys, Puris, were all nicely served up. First things first, I packed my plate with a couple of pork sausages, bacon strips, ham slices, hash brown, baked beans, mashed potatoes, grilled veggies, some cheese and toast. Not too much, I like keeping it simple.

First round of the breakfast buffet

The sheer number of options for the breakfast buffet is overwhelming. If you love food as much as I do and are as Indian as I am, you are likely to hop around every counter and get something on to your plate not just because you're hungry, but you feel that this is your money's worth. And it is. *evil parsimonious grin*

Poached eggs on toast.

Love at first slice.

I think the bacon here has a halo and is blessed with divine light. Hallelujah!

Grilled Tomatoes and lovely Hash Browns

The spread also included a lovely chicken stew for your appams, smoked salmon, cut fruit counters, endless cereals along with fried rice and noodles with accompanying sauces (I never went to any of these counters, btw, because I can't digest the idea of rice for breakfast, and why on earth am I at Taj to eat fruit and cereal?).

Cheeses from around the world.

The fruit counter that I stood far away from.

The Indian side of things.

Slowly and steadily, I began to stuff myself by eating whatever my stomach could take. I took little breaks in between, and then resumed my buffet devouring session. After no more space for bacon that could give me a heart attack, I settled on a simple waffle with chocolate chips. My friend was already too full (and he ate less than half of what I did, what a pity), and he wasn't even willing to take a bite out of the waffle.

Waffle with gooey chocolate chips

The waffle was nice and warm and I liked the idea of gooey chocolate chips inside the waffle. Topped with maple syrup, this completed my Sunday breakfast beautifully. I wish I had more space to have also tried their pancakes, but I was certain that I would have burst if I had tried anything more.

To sum it up, the breakfast is pretty darn awesome and I love the wide variety of food offered. The quality of the food here stands apart, well, because they're the Taj, but they rank high in taste of food, service and ambience. I do wish they would have served more cold cuts though - nothing like meat, cheese and fruit for a great start to your morning.

Food - 8/10
Service - 10/10
Ambience - 8/10 (it gets a 10 when I'm allowed to sit by the poolside)
Verdict: For the love of food, go already.

The breakfast at Cafe Mozaic is priced at Rs.800 per head (all inclusive of taxes). This is totally worth it, especially for the price point. The breakfast buffet is available from 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. on weekends.

P.S. Apologies for the crappy pictures. I was lazily clicking them with my phone, but my priority was to eat, rather than click.

Cafe Mozaic is located at Vivanta By Taj, 41/3, MG Road, Bangalore - 560001