Discovering chocolates at The Cocoa Trees

Bite into a big Oreo cookie

Bite into a big Oreo cookie

This one day, a colleague brought peanut butter Oreo cookies to work. Of course, they were wiped clean in minutes. But everyone was also wondering where to find them again. As luck would have it, I was invited to visit The Cocoa Trees.

The Cocoa Trees at Nature's Basket, Bandra

The Cocoa Trees at Nature’s Basket, Bandra

The Cocoa Trees I visited is a shop-in-shop at Nature’s Basket, Hill Road, Bandra (W). Apart from selling giant Oreo Cookie packages, the retail concept store sells the widest range of quality, recognized chocolate brands like Anthon Berg, Cadbury, Celebrations, Chupa Chups, Cote d’Or, Daim, Droste, Duc d’O, Fazer, Ferrero, Gavottes, Goldkenn, Haribo, Hawaiian Host, Hershey’s, Jelly Belly, Jules Destrooper, Kagi, Kinder, Lorenz, M&M’s, Maltesers, Mars, Mentos, Merci, Milka, Ritter Sport, Snickers, Starburst, Storz, Swiss Delice, Taveners, The Belgian, Tic Tac, Toblerone. Basically, the A-Z of international chocolates.

Belgian chocolates at The Cocoa Trees

Belgian chocolates at The Cocoa Trees

Interesting Cadbury flavours at The Cocoa Trees

Interesting Cadbury flavours at The Cocoa Trees

Do you remember that F.R.I.E.N.D.S episode where in the midst of Ross & Emily’s back and forth, all Joey cares about is the large bar of Toblerone? We found a huge ruled bar of Kinder at The Cocoa Tress and may I say, the photographeress was very pleased?

The photographeress with a huge Kinder bar

The photographeress with a huge Kinder bar

The great thing about The Cocoa Trees opening up in a location other than the airport is that you needn’t just buy your favourite international chocolates from the Duty-Free. Plus, The Cocoa Trees is always running some or the other promotion and you can make hampers to gift your loved ones. The store earns brownie points from me. :)

Gifting options from The Cocoa Trees

Gifting options from The Cocoa Trees

For more info on the store, visit thecocoatrees.com or like their Facebook page: The Cocoa Trees India

Bar Hopping: Vinoteca by Sula

This one time, my friend Nidhi and I walked for 45 minutes in search of a bar where we could hang, talk and bitch out the boys. We had to resort to a popular bar in a 5 star hotel by the beach. Almost a year later, I heard of Vinoteca by Sula opening at Worli. I was jumping with joy. Not only are the Sula Vineyards quickly becoming my favourite weekend getaway but also we single girls in the city now have a bar to go to.

Vinoteca by Sula at Worli

Vinoteca by Sula at Worli

I’m not really into alcohol. When I make drinking plans, it is understood that I will be sipping on wine (white or rosé) and those accompanying me will be washing down whiskey, rum or vodka as they please. And that’s another reason Vinoteca is the perfect option for me. A selection of wines I’m way too familiar with and a variety of Spanish food. Couldn’t get better.

Vegetarian fare at Vinoteca

Vegetarian fare at Vinoteca

We sampled practically all the vegetarian food on the menu. Of course, we began our meal with the famous patatas bravas. You might remember me telling you about my friend’s love for potato wedges. A tapa of patatas bravas brought a huge smile to her face. The portion size was quite good too. We were munching on it right till the end.

Vegetarian section of the Vinoteca menu

Vegetarian section of the Vinoteca menu

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Care for sushi? And more? Join in the celebration.

Tragically, I lost all the pictures we’d taken at Sushi and More a year ago.

Sushi at Sushi and More

Sushi at Sushi and More

Fortunately, Sushi and More is celebrating its first anniversary this May! And they have an all new menu. Take a look.

New Menu at Sushi and More this May

New Menu at Sushi and More this May 

I’m telling you all you need to know about them.

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Alice & Celery wander to Häagen Dazs for a tasting | Fun fun fun

There couldn’t be a better way to beat the heat than to head to the Häagen Dazs lounge at Phoenix Mills on a weekday. Of course, it can only get better if Alice (of Alice Wandering…) is meeting Celery (of When Harry met Celery) there.

Fondue at Haagen Dazs

Fondue at Haagen Dazs

After tasting literally every flavour (almost 20) at the counter, we settled on “summer berries and cream”, “Belgian chocolate” and “dulce de leche” as our favourites. We were in for a treat as the “fondue”, “summer blossom” and “paradise” creations landed on the table. Split among 6 of us, the fondue was finished in about 3 minutes and summer blossom and paradise in even lesser time.

The Häagen Dazs fondue is one of their signature creations. A pot of melting dark chocolate sauce is surrounded by mini ice cream scoops, fruits and patisserie. Priced at Rs 1300, every fondue comes with four mini scoops of Belgian Chocolate, Strawberry, Cookies & Cream and Vanilla each, eight cubes of sponge cake, three pieces of hard cookies, picola sticks, seasonal fruits and chocolate chip cookies. Sounds yum, doesn’t it? My mouth is watering at the sight and I want to go back for more.

Flower Blossom at Haagen Dazs

Flower Blossom at Haagen Dazs

Flower Blossom and Paradise are pretty much variations of the same concoction. While one is a crunchy waffle basket of vanilla, strawberry, coffee and chocolate ice-cream, raspberry and mango sorbet dressed with hot fudge and raspberry sauce, the other is a mountain of flat waffles dripping with chocolate sauce.

Paradise at Haagen Dazs

Paradise at Haagen Dazs

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Bar Hopping: The Little Door

A dreamy Alice

A dreamy Alice

Photographs: Himani Shah
I was first introduced to this Mediterranean pub by a friend on a Sunday evening. A bunch of us girls tried a couple of cocktails and some starters and went back home with some good memories. I was fascinated with the details, the wishing bottles, the coasters, the beer chugging contests, the menu and the “little door”.
The Little Door

The Little Door

An exchange of facebook messages later, I found myself at The Little Door again. Only this time I was in my Alice avatar, ready to pose and pout and review the mocktails, starters and mains.

Potato wedges with sour cream

Potato wedges with sour cream

On speaking with the really tall manager, I discovered that the owners of the place had turned vegetarian for a year or two. In that time, they realised that most bars in the city didn’t have sufficient vegetarian options. Bearing that knowledge, when devising the menu for The Little Door, they focused on the vegetarian section with as much vigour as the non-vegetarian. Which worked out perfectly well for me. The fun menu is divided into three: “from the farmers”, “from the fishermen” and “from the hunters”.

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