Lounge / Bar Review : CMPB, Dempsey, Singapore

I love Dempsey Hill. Apart from varied dining options its quaint art galleries, furniture shops and hilly topography give this place an uber Bohemian feel. It is not without reason this enclave has become a sophisticated hotspot and you will be a disappointed person if your reservations are not in place for almost all restaurants here on Friday and Saturday nights. Amongst the mix of specialty Mexican, Thai, French, seafood restaurants you'll find here, is a place called Contemporary Melting Pot and Bar (or CMPB as it is popularly known).

I've been here a couple of times before but only for a drink. I had liked the outdoor setting and their live band. So when opportunity arose, we picked CMPB for a proper meal. We did not have reservations for the Saturday evening but since we arrived really early (6:30 pm), the staff gave us a lovely table outdoors. CMPB has soft lighting with lanterns which lend it a festive look unlike the indoor area which is a bit too dark for my liking. A big plus for alfresco dining here is the numerous fans they have which keep humidity in check.

We ordered a portion of the famous CMPB truffle fries and beer battered fish bites priced at SGD 15 each. The truffle fries is a large portion and it would take four adult diners to finish it if you intend having main course. The deep fried fish bites were very soft and the portion size is just right. For our main course, we ordered Chicken Arabbiata (SGD18) and black pepper crab olio (SGD26). The pastas are overtly spicy due to very liberal use of black pepper. Have to mention the crab olio had generous portions of crab meat and that by itself will fill you after the truffle fries and fish bites.

CMPB offers an eclectic mix of drinks ranging from standard soft and hard liquor to exotic cocktails like Sake Mojito to innovative mocktails like CM-PB Therapy (refreshing mix of green apple, rock melon and water melon). Mocktails at SGD 12 are expensive considering cocktails are priced at SGD 14-16. Even a glass of imported Spanish Cava looks reasonably priced at SGD 18 if you consider the price of juices and mocktails here. Did I forget to mention desserts? We tried the apple strudel with vanilla ice cream. Nothing exceptional but not too bad either.

Overall, I would recommend CMPB. The ~SGD 160 tab for two is justified once in a while to have a relaxed outing in Singapore. The efficient service you get here from attentive waiters is a rarity in this island state. Add to that an exceptionally talented band which starts playing at 9:30 pm. The lead singer does a remarkable job of both strumming the guitar and beautifully singing such complex songs as 'Wishful Thinking' and 'The Only Exception.' By the time we left the place was packed with a steady stream of people trooping in more for drinks than the food. Probably this is what I'd do too on my next visit. The food won't attract you but the music, drinks and ambience will. Check it out.

Restaurant Review : Indus at Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

There is no dearth of quality dining options when you are in the land of the Gods - Bali. But when it comes to Ubud, the story is slightly different. The artistic and cultural centre of Bali as Ubud is often described is not exactly teeming with restaurants and bars. There are plenty of art galleries and wood carving centres but eating options are still quite limited in Ubud. In fact, if you are looking to party then Ubud should probably figure lowest on your list of Bali hangouts. There are just about five bars which open beyond 11 pm and these too shut down by 1:30 pm.

Well, I did not go to Ubud seeking nightlife and on my latest trip my focus was solely on rest and relaxation of the brainless kind. After checking out the big but missable monkey forest (I am an Indian so monkeys don't hold an exotic appeal for me), we walked around Monkey Forest Road looking for a place to have lunch. At the end of the road, we spotted an exterior which looked like an art gallery but had people trooping in and out for ostensibly a meal. Deciding to have a dekko, we too popped in and wow - a new world beckoned us beyond the threshold. Welcome to Indus.

The restaurant does not look fancy from outside but walk in past painting laden walls and you are offered breath taking views of the forest and Tjampuhan river. The restaurant is set on two dining levels offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Ask for outdoor seating on the higher level. We were lucky to get such a table and the setting was just right - windy weather offering us good views of the hills with the river gushing below. Whilst the indoor seating is typical Balinese style with ground seating on cushions around a wooden table, the outdoor seating is contemporary. A melange of music was playing in the background including instrumental versions of Indian devotional songs ! Not sure if this is a regular feature or it was a special gesture for us.

The restaurant offers a day's special menu which is really a selection of dishes from the regular menu. There is a choice of Indonesian fusion food and continental food with hints of Thai influence (generous use of kaffir lime leaves and coconut). A basket of fried tapioca cakes were served as complimentary starters. Whilst it was hot and crispy, there was a slight aftertaste which makes me think the oil was dubious. I ordered a Tasmanian salmon with snake beans in Indonesian spices and it was wonderful. Wrapped in banana leaf and priced at IDR 130,000 (Approx USD 13) it has to be the least expensive chunk of tasty salmon I've ever had. My better half ordered Balinese seafood paella with yellow rice and it was quite decent. Main course dishes are all priced in the range of USD 6 - 13 which is very reasonable given the portion size and restaurant setting. Side orders of mashed potatoes etc are priced at USD 3 and desserts at USD 5. Let me mention here if you do not have the appetite for a full main course dish, they have smaller portions of the same available. What a wonderful feature! Drinks are also reasonably priced with local Bintang beer being priced at just USD 3. Indus has daily happy hours from 5pm - 7pm where cocktails are priced at USD 7 versus regular price of USD 9. As if the Indian music was not enough, the drinks menu also featured 'Lassis' (Indian non alcoholic yoghurt drink)!

Service at Indus is polite and efficient. The staff seem genuinely happy to serve you. I sent back our Bintang as it was not chilled enough and the serving lady promptly got another one without batting an eyelid. The ambience at Indus is laid back and is just the place where you can spend your day looking at the lush greenery. The Indus group has a bar in Ubud town called Casa Luna. Whilst we walked past it later in the evening and saw it packed to the hilt, we did not venture inside. If Indus is any indication, then Casa Luna deserves a visit as well. I have it marked out for my next trip to Ubud. I highly recommend you pay a visit to Indus. Just sit back and gaze at the greenery for hours at end without burning a hole in your pocket.

Airline Review : Jet Star / Valuair

Jet Star is part of the Qantas group and operates out of Singapore under the Jet Star and Valuair (catering mostly to Indonesian destinations) names. Being a budget carrier, it is all about low fares and keeping overhead costs to a minimum. If you require any add-on services (extra leg space, meals on flight, preferred seat, first to disembark, extra baggage etc) be prepared to pay extra. However, the early bird fares are truly fantastic. Sometimes fares can be as low as SGD 30.

Whats going for the airline :
1. Cheap fares. Basic fares are quite attractive and would appeal to those who don't have any time constraints. Like most budget airlines, fares for preferred slots like late nights on weekdays and mid afternoon on Sundays are significantly more expensive than the early morning weekday and late night weekend fares.
2. Offers excellent connectivity in the Asia Pacific region and especially to Australia.
3. Operates out of Terminal 1 at Singapore Changi Airport rather than Budget Terminal which makes for a smoother airport experience.
4. Food and beverage options are reasonably priced. Cannot comment on quality since I haven't tried them.
5. Website is easy to navigate. There is a significant discount if you book add-on services at time of original booking vis-a-vis availing these services at the check-in counter. So think through your additional requests beforehand since time available for completing booking process is quite short.

What can do with some help :
1. Seats are very cramped and leg space would be the least amongst all airlines I have flown. If you are assigned a middle seat, you better be waif-thin.
2. Overhead compartment space is very limited. Since check-in baggage has a cost, travellers tend to maximise their cabin baggage allowance (10 kgs) and almost everyone has hand baggage. Be prepared to rush in when boarding starts else you won't find space.
3. Cleanliness is a big issue. Seats and tray tables are often dirty. Since on-time performance is crucial for budget carriers (small aircraft fleet), hygiene becomes a casualty. Don't be surprised to find rubbish on the floor and in seat pockets. I advise you to carry wet wipes.
4. Jet Star offers the option to pay extra for being given priority to disembark. To ensure this the back door is never opened at final destination. If you are claustrophobic or in a hurry but don't want to pay for the early disembarkation service, choose your seats carefully so as not to be stuck at the rear. Maybe it would be easier if they charged extra for the last row of seats as well but opened both doors for disembarkation?
5. On-time performance record seems to be a hit and miss. Most of my flights have been delayed but maybe that was just my luck.

Overall rating : 3/10. Inspite of low fares, given the actual in-flight experience, fly Jet Star only if you must. Here's hoping the arrival of new budget entrant - Scoot - will propel Jet Star to get its act together.

Restaurant Review : Nueva Cuba, Singapore

Decided to check out this eatery in Collyer Quay for lunch on a weekday. After one and a half hours of ordering there was still no sign of the food. It never came. Thus, I can only comment on the water. We asked for still water and got sparkling!

P.S. We weren't the only ignored souls. As it turned out, all diners seated outdoors by the bay had been waiting for their order for over an hour. Taking cue from us, they too left without so much as an apology or explanation from the staff.

Hotel Review : Pride Hotel, Nagpur, India

Umaria. This non descript place in Madhya Pradesh beckoned us and thankfully we had Google (Maps) to help us plan how to get there. Some friendly tips and few bookings later, we were on a flight from Mumbai to Nagpur from where we would make the road journey to Umaria the next day. Needing a hotel in Nagpur for the two night halt on way to and from Umaria, we zeroed in on Pride Hotel located a stone's throw away from Nagpur airport. Other option was Sun n Sand Hotel which is located further away but people insisted Pride is the best. So Pride it was for us too.

We had asked for airport pick-up which was a very chaotic affair. There was a person at arrival hall holding a placard with our names but the car was nowhere to be seen. After sometime, a battered Indica transported us to the hotel half a kilometer away. Not the best way to start our trip but we were hopeful. Check-in was smooth. The smiling staff gave us a lowdown on hotel facilities and showed us to our road-facing room. The room was comfortable and provided all basic facilities including a newly renovated bathroom. The room overall lacked character and cleanliness. Whilst it was clean on the face of it, a closer inspection revealed dust and grime. We asked reception for a wake-up call at 3 a.m. and turned in early for the night. Annoyingly, the phone rang at 11 p.m. asking us if we had indeed asked for a 3 a.m. wake up call! What was the staff thinking by calling hotel guests to reconfirm at such a late hour? Anyhow, the wake up call never came and thank god for our own mobile alarms, we were up and ready at 4 a.m. We had booked a car and chauffeur through the hotel's travel desk and thankfully, the chauffeur was waiting for us at the lobby. On an aside, we were on the road for 26 hours and returned next day only at 6 a.m. and have only good things to say about the car service. It is not an easy task to drive 900 odd kilometers in 20+ hours on good and bad roads and we were thankful for having an experienced hand at the wheel. Once back at Pride, we put the Do-Not-Disturb sign at the door and crashed out of sheer exhaustion. And just as we drifted into deep slumber, my husband's mobile phone rang. And it was from the hotel's housekeeping team asking when can they clean the room since Do-Not-Disturb sign is there! We were livid. Clearly the hotel staff has not been trained to understand what a DND means. How can guests' mobile numbers be shared liberally with staff and that too for such purposes!

Once awake, we decided we were better off staying outside the hotel than inside. Part of the Incredible India experience is that whoever steps out from a hotel is taken to be a tourist. We had auto rickshaws queuing up to take us to the closest mall for INR 200. I used my haggling skills and we were at the mall in INR 40. So tourists beware. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. The food at Pride is quite decent. On our first day, we had ordered room service for an early dinner since we had to start our 370 kilometer one-way journey to Umaria at 4 a.m. The dinner portion was large and we left quite a bit of the Palak Paneer and Daal Makhani unfinished. On our final evening, we had dinner at the rooftop Indian restaurant Puran da Dhaba where a live band belted out Hindi numbers. The singers were terrible, the food was good and we got to taste a local vineyard's wine which was not too bad.

We had an early check-out so did not get to try the Pride breakfast at all. The check-out process was slow with one of the staff just disappearing with our credit card. After some confusion, it was all sorted out and we finally left the hotel. Clearly, Pride Hotel is not geared to service high end tourists and business travellers. But then Nagpur is not a tourist hot-spot or a big business centre. I find it hard to believe the hotel is considered 5 star. A 4 star rating would be more appropriate given the poor service standards, lack of maintenance in common areas and practically zero sound proofing (there was a college party in the hotel ball room and we could hear the blasting music till our 4th floor room). Next time I am in Nagpur, I'll firstly try to keep it even shorter than this two day trip. Secondly, I would definitely look for other options but might end up at Pride again for the TINA factor. There Is No Alternative. And that is a very bad reason for a hotel to be getting business.

Book Review : The Mile Hi! Club by Janet Chew

As the book's name implies, The Mile Hi! Club deals with the travel industry. In particular with the commercial aviation industry. The book claims to offer an insider's peek into the glossy world of stewardesses and an insight into the not-so-glossy goings on behind the curtains.

Written by Singaporean Janet Chew who 'has spent working her ass off in an airline, reputably one of the best in the world', it leaves you wondering why Singapore Airlines (SQ) is not named specifically as her employer and the main playground for the events of the book to unfold. The book lists interesting accounts from how crew are forced to stay in jaw dropping shape to be able to fit into their fitted uniforms to newly recruited crew being paired up with buddies a.k.a. senior attendants on their initial flights and getting lessons in serving meals, handling irate passengers, covering up for crew errors (spilling wine on a man's crotch) etc. Some accounts are hilarious and will leave you with some compassion for airline crew the next time you fly.

Some other incidents mentioned herein offer explanation for SQ not being explicitly mentioned as Chew's employer. Clearly the airline did not authorize Chew to write this book which might tarnish SQ's impeccable image and change people's opinion of the smiling 'Singapore girl' what with details of crew pilfering toasters, pots, pans from hotels and hold your breath, even cutting carpets from under hotel beds to display at home! But I am sure this kind of behavior is not restricted to Chew's erstwhile colleagues only. Au contraire, if these are the shenanigans of one of the best paid crew in the world, we can only imagine what other airlines' crew members are upto.

The book is not all about work though. Accounts of crew partying, dating and male passengers fantasizing about uniform clad women after being accidentally offered a peek a boo when they come around to drop window shades are all to be found here. Whilst Chew's writing style is amateurish at best, what is glaring is the poor English and lenient use of slang words which make this book an exercise in reading Slanglish. If you are looking for quality literature, you won't find it here. The book is ideal pool-side and in-flight reading (no pun intended) and I would recommend it only for some of the realistic insights it offers into what is seen as an all gloss and no grime profession. Just avoid reading it aboard an SQ flight !

Restaurant Review : Indochine (Clarke Quay), Singapore

Indochine has been around in Singapore for a long time and with their unique mixed offering of Thai, Vietnamese and Asian dishes, the restaurant chain is usually an agreeable compromise amongst diners with different palates. Their Waterfront restaurant at Boat Quay is the most popular one being sold out for dinner on most days. Offering scenic views of the Singapore skyline and river front, the restaurant is much sought after for its outdoor dining experience. In my opinion the restaurant is a let down but I'll save that for another review. A short walk down the river stands another Indochine restaurant by the Clarke Quay waterfront within a complex called 'Forbidden City.' Clarke Quay is short on quality dining options so it was with friends I headed somewhat listlessly to Indochine on a Friday evening.

Given Singapore's sultry May weather, there were few takers for the outdoor seats but we gladly settled into the ones directly under fans. Deciding to skip appetizers we went straight for the main course. First came the chicken in basil sauce which is always a sure winner here. Perfectly done and difficult to do better. Next to come was the crispy seabass fillet. Though tasty, the dish did leave me flummoxed. The menu specifically states this to be a fillet and I double checked with the waiter if this was indeed the case as we had members in our party who did not relish the sight of a full fish with head, tail etc. And voila - what appeared on our table was precisely that ! A full fish with cuts made in the main body to ease the scooping process but a full fish nonetheless. I was exasperated with the menu description and with the waiter's misleading communication regarding the same. The fish was tasty but due to its presentation, I was practically the only person having it. What injustice to what could have been a good dish. Accompanying our meats was a portion of Lad Na - stir fried noodles with chicken, eggs and prawns. Lip smacking and again, always a hit on the table. Did I mention we had also ordered Chilli Tiger Prawns with Mango Sauce which came when our entire meal was over? We had a full mind to return it but knowing they would charge us anyways, decided to give it a try. Big mistake. The mashed prawns were cold, rubbery and totally skippable.

As for drinks, friends were having Yamazaki and ordered it on the rocks with water on the side. Not only did the whisky come without ice or water, but it took the waiter a good 20 minutes to get them. Couple of Erdingers that were ordered were warm and flat. Clarke Quay thrives on F&B and more on the 'B' part of it. How a place in a party district can get beverages so wrong is beyond me. Guess it all boils down to poor service and lackadaisical attitude. You have to look around for waiters to come and serve you. And every round is served by a new face making it all the more difficult to pin down one waiter responsible for your table. The only thing that came promptly and efficiently was the bill. Big waste of money when you fork out SGD200+ for the above.

Walk into Indochine Clarke Quay at your own risk. You cannot say you haven't been sufficiently warned. And yes, now I know why they call it the Forbidden City.

Hotel Review : Hotel Ambassador, Zurich, Switzerland

Everything is expensive in Zurich and it is difficult to find value in this Swiss city. From eating out to hotel rates to even bottled water, you pay top dollar for them all. So when I was faced with having to book a hotel for a 3 day trip to Zurich, options were limited and expensive. I usually avoid business hotels since they are always fully booked and too pricey for the too little they offer. Apart from their generic look, they share another aspect : you never feel genuinely comfortable in them.

I was looking for hotels around Opera House in the city centre which would also offer good connectivity to Zurich airport. All options were eye wateringly expensive and Ambassador Hotel popped up as the most reasonable option with rooms priced in CHF 250-350 range. In any other city this kind of money would get you a 5 star hotel but in pricey Zurich, 4 star luxury is the best it can buy and I promptly booked it. The location is hard to beat. Zurich airport is 16 minutes away from the nearest train station, Stadelhofen which is a mere 5 minutes walk from the hotel. Ambassador Hotel is easily accessible from tram as well towards 'Opernhaus' stop. From the moment I walked into the hotel, I got a good vibe. I am usually very sceptical of European hotels since I believe hospitality is an experience best enjoyed in Asia. The check-in was smooth and I was promptly showed to my room on the top floor. The hotel is housed in a classic five storey vintage building and a compact lift unable to accommodate more than 2 guests is available to ferry you up and down. Do note none of the standard hotel facilities like fitness centre, swimming pool are available at the Ambassador.

The hotel is located at an intersection and on one side faces its sister hotel 'Opera' across the street. In some people's opinion the hotel may lack character what with its small reception area and lack of common spaces. All rooms are of different sizes and shapes and you are well advised to enquire about the exact room you'd be occupying. My room, though small by Asian standards, was of a comfortable size and the attached bathroom was decent. Swiss city hotels are typically no-frills and the best you can expect is a coffee maker which is duly provided. A pleasant positive was the free wifi which is strangely compatible only with laptops. If you are carrying an Ipad, expect to face some issues. The bed was comfortable and my only complaint with the room was paucity of storage space. If you have a few clothes to hang, then it is a problem. Upon check-in I had been handed a 25% discount voucher for use at the hotel's award winning restaurant also called 'Opera'. Seeing it crowded during my stay, I had full intentions of dining there but unfortunately it did not happen. It is famous for its fish dishes and I do intend to try it on my next visit.

Buffet breakfast is not included in the room rate and at CHF 28 is expensive for the nominal spread on offer. There is no live cooking station which means you cannot have anything cooked to your taste. I'd recommend you skip the hotel breakfast and grab a bite at any of the numerous cafes around the hotel. I highly recommend 'Tidbits' which is located a mere 2 minutes away from the hotel. Ambassador's front office staff doubles up as concierge and are very friendly, polite and helpful. They gave me useful tips on what to see, how to get around and convinced me in buying a 24 hour Zurich Card. Must say it was the sanest piece of advice I received since the Card includes unlimited train and tram travel including a return ride to the airport, complimentary entrance to museums and a short cruise on the Limmat lake. All for CHF 20. If you wish, a 72 hour Zurich Card is also available for CHF 40. The front desk staff also recommended a trip to Uetliberg for panaromic views of Zurich city and lake of Zurich which was well worth my time and I highly recommend you make that trip as well.

Overall, the Ambassador satisfies with its comfortable rooms, polite staff and unbeatable location. It is a short walk to the Limmat lake front and a 20 minutes easy walk to Bahnofstrasse, Zurich's upmarket shopping enclave. However, if you are expecting blissful luxury of the pampering kind this is not the place for you. But then, Zurich is not a holiday spot to begin with. It is a business centre and most hotels are geared to service business travelers. I'd recommend this hotel primarily for its location apart from comfortable basic rooms. Remember to skip the breakfast and you'll be fine. If there is value to be found in Zurich, this is it.

P.S. I came across a website (among a host of others) that offers tips and recommendations for the budget conscious Swiss traveller. Check it out http://www.myswissalps.com/en/hotelszurich.aspx 

Request to all travelers, diners et al

For all of you writing to me seeking help with travel and dining plans : it will be great if you can provide me with some information regarding length of stay, budget and travel preferences (mountain vs beach holidays, historical vs nightlife bent) rather than "Iam planning to go to Italy and need travel ideas." Help me to help you! I look forward to hearing from you at jeevesonthego@gmail.com

Thank you for seeking my inputs. Happy planning! The journey is often more interesting than the destination.

Restaurant Review : Britannia, Mumbai, India

'There is no love greater than the love of eating.' This is the sign which greets you when you enter the hallowed portals of Britannia, the nearly century old Parsi food restaurant in Mumbai. I've been a regular at Britannia for as long as I can remember but unfortunately, most of the time it has been take-away for me. The place is so crowded on weekdays (it opens only for lunch) that dining in was not really an option in the years I visited and stayed in Mumbai.

After a gap of 3 years, I revisited Britannia last month. Located in the once busy business district of Ballard Estate, the restaurant is one of a handful of Irani cafes left in Mumbai today. If you want to have a fix of Parsi food now, there is little to choose from except Ideal, Paradise and Britannia. I deliberately omit Jimmy Boy Cafe as the food is too nouveau and the final result on your table is anything but authentic Parsi cuisine. Cafe Mondegar, Cafe Leopold and Cafe Churchill in Colaba, whilst being owned by Parsis, serve continental and Chinese cuisine and down the road, another Parsi owned landmark Cafe Royal is famed for its steaks.

The son of the original owner and current owner of Britannia - 90 years young and charming Boman Kohinoor still tends to tables, occasionally taking orders and making small talk with customers. Boman's younger son Romin is the main chef at Britannia whilst the elder one Afshin looks after the till. The Kohinoor family is very friendly and you can't miss them on a trip here. Knowing the menu by heart I rattled off my order and sat waiting for the food to arrive.  To beat the Mumbai heat, first came the Pallonji's drink in raspberry flavour. Other flavours available are ginger and ice cream soda. Even if you don't like raspberries, you have to try this ultra-sweet fizzy drink. Apart from Parsi weddings, this drink is unavailable anywhere and in the era of Coke-Pepsi, the limited production from the Pallonji stable is just enough to cater to Parsi wedding demand and retail at a few Irani cafes.

One look around me and I noticed the interiors haven't changed one bit. The simple furniture is set in the classic Parsi style - glass table top placed over wooden tables covered with checked tablecloths. Plenty of signboards hang all over the place and vary from the functional 'debit and credit cards not accepted' to the hilarious ' Please don't argue with management.' The main wall of the restaurant is adorned with images of Zarathustra, Mahatma Gandhi and Queen Elizabeth II. The restaurant still has a hangover of the colonial era when Parsis were the favoured Indian lot with the ruling British for their fair complexion, refined manners and pro-British stand. In fact, it is not surprising to see a few old Parsis still refer to Queen Elizabeth II as 'Apri Rani' (Our Queen)! All these thoughts ran through my head when I saw the portrait on the wall and could not help smiling to myself at how you can choose to live in a time warp if you so wish.

The Patra Ni Macchi arrived promptly. The fish seasoned with coconut paste and steamed in banana leaves has been a winner for many years and thankfully still retains its melt-in-the-mouth taste. The fish is served in a way that the adept waiters can easily scoop the meat portion off the main bone without you having to worry about it in your mouthful. Next was the Sali Boti. These are succulent pieces of mutton marinated in ginger-garlic paste topped with cinnamon gravy and generously sprinkled with crispy matchstick potatoes. Absolutely heavenly and I polished them off to the last morsel. What followed next was Britannia's signature dish - Mutton Berry Pulav. Enough has been written about this dish : from Boman's wife introducing this item on the menu to the berries being imported from Iran to this day for the authentic taste. This is essentially a rice dish served with mutton balls and garnished with cashewnuts, fried onions and red berries. The distinctive flavour of well cooked mutton, steaming rice coupled with the crispy taste of onions and sweet taste of berries brings alive your taste buds like nothing else. I was in half a mind to order the dhansak as well but desisted in favour of dessert. Dhansak is a lentil preparation with chicken / mutton dunked in it and has gained a cult following not withstanding the fact it is widely a funeral dish in Parsi culture. As such, it is rarely cooked at homes and is mostly consumed outside. I couldn't have left Britannia without indulging in that most Parsi of sweets : Caramel Custard. This is one item that always emerges a winner at Britannia with its smooth consistency, light sweetness and delectable syrup.

Has Britannia changed in all these years? To quote Jean Paul Sartre, nothing has changed and yet everything is different. Whilst the ownership, decor and menu is the same, portion sizes and their prices are showing strains of inflation. The berry pulav till not so long ago used to be generously loaded with mutton kebabs for less than INR 100. Today a less meatier version costs INR 350. The prices though are still very reasonable for a dying cuisine. Britannia has its loyal set of international patrons and you should not be surprised to see large take-away orders being packed for patrons to be carried as precious cargo to cities all over the world and enjoyed on special occasions.

On your way out, don't forget to say hello to another of Britannia's beloved fixtures : a trio of friendly canines and couple of cats who have been domesticated by the Kohinoors. They respond well to hugs and pats and seem to sense customers who enjoyed a Britannia meal ! I would be back to Britannia in a heartbeat. Mostly for the food but largely also for the fact this restaurant and its ilk may not be around in the next few years. Enjoy it while you can. On your next trip to Mumbai, make time for the Black Cock if you haven't already been here. Take in the charm of a carefully preserved era whilst enjoying a delectable feast of a centuries old cuisine. Priceless.

Airline Review : Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is the national carrier of Ireland and second most popular in the country after Ryan Air. I can only comment on the airline's continental services as I've used it to fly between Paris, Cork, Dublin and Nice. Didn't get off to a flying start with them on my maiden flight as snowfall delayed our flight by 12 hours and ground staff was clueless on expected time of departure and showed great inability to handle agitated passengers.

What's going for the airline :
1. Website is very user friendly and if you book tickets at least 3 months in advance, you can avail of very low fares which could go up by 5-6 times as you approach your travel date.
2. In flight crew is friendly and smiling.
3. Overhead baggage space is decent on planes servicing continental Europe.
4. Continental connectivity is very good and they typically offer quite a few options per sector.
5. Let me shout this from the rooftop : Fares, fares, fares - they are the best I've seen on any carrier in Europe and can be lower than Easy Jet and Ryan Air for a lot of European destinations.

What can do with some help :
1. Our flight from Paris to Cork was delayed due to heavy snowfall (yes - having to spend 12 hours at CDG is a nightmare by itself!) and all Aer Lingus could offer during the period was a Eur 10 voucher for food! Passengers were not allowed to check into nearby hotels at their own cost also. Reason provided was 'security concerns.' Some empathy from airline management will do wonders for EI.
2. Inexperienced ground staff which is ill equipped to handle irate passenger crowds in exceptional situations.
3. Seats are very narrow and uncomfortable. There is very little leg space and if you recline your chair, the person behind you is going to have a very tough time eating and sleeping.
4.  No personal inflight entertainment system on Continental flights.
5. Food and beverage choices on board are limited and expensive.
6. Airline is not part of any of the global frequent flyer networks - One World or Star Alliance which means no mileage accrual for your EI flights.

Overall rating : 4/10. More suited for holiday crowd than business folk as the on-time performance record seems to be an issue. Fly Aer Lingus if you don't have connecting flights / trains to take and have the luxury to book tickets well in advance. Atleast the low fares will compensate to some extent for any inconvenience one might face at time of travel. And frankly, their fares should be the only reason you fly aboard the Shamrock.

Restaurant Review : The Tent Mongolian Fresh Grill and Bar, Singapore

I'd never had Mongolian food before and after a visit to The Tent which claims to be a Mongolian Grill, I am not sure if I've still tasted Mongolian food. Having said that, I've heard good reviews about the place and a visit was on the cards for sometime. The restaurant opened in 2006 and enjoys a good location around the central fountain area in Clarke Quay.

On entering the place, the ambience is underwhelming. Seems more like an office lunch place with its dark interiors and functional furniture. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff politely showed us to a table and explained the concept at The Tent. You choose your vegetables, meats, noodles and have them tossed on a hot grill with your choice of sauce. You can choose between a normal platter costing SGD 30++ which offers one soup, one appetizer and one round of the grill. The more popular Genghis Khan platter offers unlimited rounds of the grill for SGD 36++ which makes it the preferred option with diners. We settled for the Genghis Khan as well and with the 20 vegetable and 15 meat options coupled with your pick of rice, noodles or pasta, you are not short of choice. What is critical is your choice of sauce and this is where the staff is very helpful. I mentioned my preference for spicy sauces which would gel well with chicken and prawns and the waiter recommended a very good one. The food is then all tossed together and cooked on the grill and served to you in a bowl.

The ambience is laid back and service is polite and efficient. If you need help with putting together your meal, the staff is happy to assist. Ultimately it is all about the sauce. The overall concept is akin to a salad bar and as with dressings, without the correct sauce here you could end up with a strange tasting potpourri of cooked meats and vegetables. The restaurant is open for lunch as well albeit with a smaller spread. The wine list offers limited wines but at very reasonable prices. The Tent is not a place for fine dining and I wouldn't recommend you trudge all the way to Clarke Quay only to dine here but if you are in the vicinity and need quick comfort food, then you should be making a stop here for the not-so-Mongolian but enjoyable food.