Speciality Restaurant Group...My latest favourite!

Hi,

My experience of eating at three restaurants of Speciality Restaurant group has been exactly opposite of the cartoon put up...I loved the food so much that I must post it on my blog.

In my knowledge, this group has three brands operational in Delhi - Oh! Calcutta, Mainland China and Sigree (this is just a few days old in Delhi and is not even updated on their website). I am sure you can assume the cuisines offered in these three restaurants...

I had first eaten @ Oh! Calcutta sometime last year and in past one year - I have been there at-least half a dozen times. It is a place where one can safely take guests as well - knowing very well that there shall be no mishaps, nothing would go wrong with your order and most importantly - you will get the most authentic bengali food, without a doubt! Do make a reservation in advance - there is a chance that you may have to wait to be seated.

My favourite dish is a mutton-dish that is to be eaten with 'luchi' (or as I understand puri). Other than mutton - if you like or would like to try authentic bengali food - just lean on the well-mannered and extremely knowledgeable team of waiters - who will gladly assist you in deciding what to order. As for desserts, do try the malpua and the lychee vanilla ice-cream.

Mainland China (MLC) - there are 2 in Delhi now. The older one is in Masjid Moth, GK and the recent-most restaurant has opened in Rajouri Garden. MLC @ RG is on the ground and first floor, while the second floor has the first and only Sigree in Delhi.

Senior staff at these two new outlets has been brought in from Oh! Calcutta team - and it was pleasantly surprising to be welcomed at these restaurants as a regular of Oh! Calcutta. Once our patronage was recognized and appreciated - it was only but-natural for us to be pampered (literally) by food and service. The only thing I can say about it all is - I cannot recall any better eating-out experience than the four meals I have had across these three restaurants in last three weeks.

I wish the best to the entire team of Speciality Restaurant...they have done a fabulous job so far!

Most Memorable Moment - 2008

Hi,

In a family gathering yesterday, all were asked to think about the "Most-memorable-moment of 2008"...this was indeed a thought provoking question. Each one of us took sometime to think about this and came out with meaningful answers...

For me, the MMM of 2008 has to be when I visited the Taj Mahal with Tina, on our wedding anniversary. I was completely awe-struck, mesmerised by the sheer beauty of the Taj. Having heard so much about the Taj and having seen zillion photographs in past did not dilute the pleasure of being there in person!

To be there, at the monument of love...with the love of my life...on our wedding anniversary...well all this was divine.

Happy New Year - 2009

Smile Please - Awesome Video...Needs time!

This is a great video, please see! 

It talks about happiness from within, it talks about love, it talks about the beautiful part of our lives and most importantly, it talks about the power of smile...a MUST watch.

Hope all of you will like it as much as I did.

Take care and keep smiling.

The BLACK Days - Nov 26th to 28th 2008

There are no words for what happened in Mumbai...it has scarred and angered every person, irrespective of sex, caste, creed, colour...as what ever happened, it certainly wasn't human!

This black badge has been put on to show anger and protest against such acts...now and forever.

An Almost Hit & Run Case

Hi,

There is neither a cartoon nor a light hearted image for this post. It is about sad, pathetic and impersonal being that we have become!

Today morning, dad and I left home at 0800hrs for dad's dental appointment. His appointment was at 0930hrs and we were hoping to reach Def Col early to grab a quick breakfast at Sagar. We started early to beat the traffic blues...and had been fairly successful as we crossed Dhaula Kuan in 25 minutes. We looked at the time, nodded to each other to convey we are cruising just fine.

Soon afterwards, while coming down the Moti Bagh flyover - we heard a crash. Dad saw this first and immediately alerted me to it. We were in the right-most lane and there was an accident happening in front of us in the middle lane. A car (Chevy Spark) had hit a bike from the rear-end. That had caused the loud sound, but what we witnessed after that is completely crazy...

Car hit the bike so hard that it caused the biker to come over and fall on its windscreen, smashing it. Then the biker fell on the road, thankfully he had his helmet strapped on and still protecting his head. The moment biker hit the road, since Spark was still accelerating, he came under the car. Till now, it appeared to be an accident where anyone could be at fault. I honestly do not know whether it was just one person's wrong-doing, I am not sure if it was just the Spark's driver at fault or if the biker had made a mistake as well.

All this while, people around were slowing down - so as not to cause any further damage to either the biker or even ourselves. The moment Spark crossed over the bike and the biker, it started to catch speed. It didn't take long for dad and I to realise that this was now turning from just an accident to a hit and run case. Since it was still early hours on a wintery morning, there wasn't much traffic on roads and this must have given Spark's driver confidence that he could get away with it.

When I saw him speeding, something inside me told me to follow him. I just could not imagine him running away like that, in broad day light. There was another person who reacted in the same fashion, this guy was slightly ahead of me. This guy tried to stop Spark, but feared his relatively new car could be hit as well. What he managed to do was slow down Spark and I took on Spark from there. Driving an old lancer, I knew two things were in my favour - one, I had a bigger stronger car that would allow me to over-power this guy and second, if the need be, I didn't mind ramming my car into his to make him stop.

It was a matter of seconds that this first of my life chase came to an end. The first factor, of having a stronger-bigger car with the confidence that it is an old horse, was enough to bring Spark to a standstill. My car's passenger door was inches away from Spark's driver side doors. I didn't want him to get out and start running, which I felt this guy was capable of. Just as soon as we stopped, I got down of my car and rushed to the passenger side of Spark - I think I was abusing this guy by now. I told him to stay where he was and not try coming out.

I was contemplating calling police, but before that about three-four other two-wheelers gathered around there. Apparently these guys had also witnsessed the accident. One of them got into Spark and landed a few fists on the driver's face. Then more joined in the party, dragged the driver out and thrashed him. I don't think they cared where their boxes and kicks landed as long as they hurt this driver. In all this, someone made a call to the police as well.

When the situation started heating like mob-anger, my dad convinced me to leave that scene. I think he was right in pulling me out of there, I could do nothing more. He had his rationale working...he didn't want us to be involved in a police case. In his years, he has seen a lot and dealt with such situations as well. Dad's view point was simple, we should not have allowed Spark's driver to get away and we did that. From there on, the way things turned - we were not required there anymore. So we left...went ahead with our plans, still reached Def Col with enough time for our breakfast, then met dad's dentist and came back home.

With all this happening about 8-9 hours ago, but I still cannot shrug off the entire incident from my mind. I am feeling guilty of something, but I don't know what. I realise I did something good in stopping Spark's driver and not allow him to run away, but I am feeling bad about the way he was bashed up...This guy looked a decent and educated, who had fear written all over his face. I think his biggest mistake was to try and flee from the accident scene, which could be simply because his brain stopped thinking straight and there wasn't any rational thought left in him.

There is another aspect to my feeling bad...I somehow understand that people like us do not wish to get entangled in police cases, but I know as well that is not how things should be. I don't know whether this is a shortcoming of our system, our administrators, our police officials, or are we ourselves to blame for it. But what I felt for the first time today and felt it first-hand that there is very little respect that we have for one another, that we have very little understanding of the law, that we have very little respect for law-enforcement agencies, that we have very little respect for the system that we love to abuse - but do little to follow it.

I have written earlier about a phenomenon - WISIR. That post came out true in its darkest shade today. Guys, I implore you to wake up and realise that we ourselves break many laws in our daily lives, we are to blame for the system to suck and stink and that we have the responsibility to clean ourselves first!

As a beginning, I am sure that I would try to be a better driver henceforth...hopefully you all shall realise one thing that you could improve in your daily lives as well.

Happy Improvements...Cheers!

Nitish Singal

There are few such occasions when we actually stop to think about our past, about people who we came in contact with, about people who we lost contact with, about events that made us, about events that almost broke us – but we fought through, about achievements and failed attempts, about love that we thought was real and about love that was actually real, about aspirations that we had, about dream-castles that we built, about life in general…

I experienced something like this the day before. It was past mid-night, I was at a coffee shop celebrating Nitish’s birthday. This was a special time, as we were celebrating his turning thirty. Somehow this just feels special…Sitting there, I could only think of past thirteen years that we have been friends. I will not elaborate on why and how he is important to me; just this much should be enough that I have shared all that is mentioned above with him over the years. And now, I would like to share some of him with all of you:

Nitish the badminton player – early 1990s, he was in Dehradun. He took up badminton and took it seriously. Played and practiced for hours daily, wanted to become an athlete of note…but an injury held him back. He was hurt, he was disappointed and he was heart-broken…but this wasn’t end of the world for him.

Nitish the Editor – School Magazine – he joined TAFS in class XI (mid-1990s) and took up Journalism as his SUPW subject. He excelled at it and was rewarded next year with the position of Editor – School Magazine. Later (same year), he also became first to receive the Journalism Trophy on School's Annual Day function. Though I was contesting for both, but losing them to Nitish was the second best option and I accepted it.

Nitish the lover – well, thankfully our dostana is straight. Anyhow, he is a guy who has loved, lost, fought for what was lost, rued over it, pulled himself out, attended marriages of past girl-friends and amongst all this – found his true love, married her and has never been as content with life ever before!

Nitish the dreamer – dreaming has been his favourite pass time and the biggest nemesis as well. In school he would dream of becoming the Prime Minister of India, more to correct the situation than for power. Then we both grew older, he joined MDI Gurgaon to do his MBA and his dreams became corporate. He dreamt featuring on the cover page of a business magazine before he turns 35. There have been few dreams that were more realistic and have come true for him. But dreaming becomes his nemesis when he forgets to cherish fulfilled dreams and starts chasing new ones. In this chase, he may be missing out on small packets of happiness.

Nitish the cool head – I have never (and I mean NEVER) seen him scream or raise his voice on anyone. He is Mr. Cool – who comes across as a person with calm written all over him when situations push him to the wall.

Nitish the friend – well, that is what he has been in the truest sense. I don’t know how to describe this bit. I can only hope you have had a friend in life to understand what he means to me…

Thank you Nitish, I wish you the best of everything and may all your dreams come true…

Cheers!

YES WE CAN...

Three words that stated a vision…three words that started a campaign…three words that touched a million hearts…three words that set thousands to wake up and take notice……three words that united people across age, sex, creed…three words that showed character…three words that echoed confidence…three words that challenged the existing system…three words that took a nation (and the world) by storm…three words that allowed people to dare to dream again…three words that gave everyone hope... three words that made history..."YES WE CAN"

I have not seen a stronger punch line, I have not followed a campaign more closely and I have not heard a statesman with so much passion and humility – than that of the now President-elect, Mr. Barack Obama.

This post is just to show my support for him…I wish him the best.

Cheers!!!

Success - An Inexplicable Concept

Hi,

In past, I have often felt inadequate in defining parameters to understand and judge success in life. The way it seemed to me, there was no way of saying when a person’s successful or a failure.

I tried to speak to people around me and found that people either were similarly confused on the topic or had some sort of a notion (even if in a vague manner) of what success meant to them.

I realised that for most of us who work, professional success is the only parameter in life. Some thought earning X would make them successful, while others dreamt of featuring on the cover page of a business magazine. There were a few who just wanted to own up a business and make it big (i.e. - make lots and lots of money). The only problem was that even they did not know at how much in the bank, they can term themselves as successful!

In my quest to understand this subject better, I have met some gurus - where the guru-mantra was taken directly from 'Gita'..."don't worry about the result, focus on efforts". Well, I by now have understood this bit - I have understood that success can only be achieved with the right mix of determination, knowledge, hard-work, right attitude, faith (just the way my first cartoon mentions)...

The problem still persisted...even if I had what it takes and I found my road to success...I still would not know how long is this road and what is my destination & where is my destination!!!

It is then that the second level of guru-mantra was given to me: I was asked to visualise my own parameters of success…which only made me think of things that money could give me. I thought of all the things that I didin’t have and in a typical middle class mindset, I realised that there is a cap to my vision as well.

Well, I am not against financial parameters, neither do I feel monetary gains to be worthless. But somehow I cannot keep that as my personal success barometer. I am sure there still are and will always be people who would have more money than I can even imagine. So – if money in bank becomes my success-gauge, then I already know I am doomed!!! Also, come to think of it – at what levels of wealth, do we ever say – “Oh, I have enough!!!”

After much thought, I have come to realise that there is actually a better way of looking at this entire scenario. I now think of how I want to be if and when I am 80years old, think about what kind of a life I would want to lead in that journey – whether it would be an average one or a memorable one. Without a doubt, I choose the latter!

I feel much at peace knowing that my success has to be balanced between things that can be bought by money and things that cannot be bought by money. I feel lighter knowing I am no longer chasing a dream that can never be fulfilled. I feel stronger knowing success is not any destination but the journey itself and I am ready to walk all the way.

I now find myself trying to make each day count, I now seek non-material wealth around me, I now chase learning and I now find myself happier…

Cheers!!!

Appropriately So...

Don't you all love Calvin!!!