Posts Tagged ‘city’

Best Chinese Restaurant in Gurgaon, South City – Pan Asian

Article by Your Plate

Restaurants in Gurgaon now have an ideal to look up to – YourPlate. How do you describe an experience that defies words? How do you elaborate on food that goes beyond the realm of just execution and home delivery?

YourPlate is the latest entrant to the Chinese food scene in Gurgaon and what an entrant we found it to be! Placed in a breathtaking setting, food is extremely tasty. YourPlate is a Chinese restaurant with a difference – it serves food that really is Chinese with service that beats all others by a long mile. The difference in attitude is obvious from the moment you walk in. Service is excellent without an inch of subservience and the food is heavenly to say the least. Thoughtfully decorated and well located, the YourPlate experience combines all three – food, service and ambiance.

Your plate is Chinese restaurant in Gurgaon, India, NCR (New Delhi) which provides complete Pan Asian Cuisine in South City.

Hours of Operation : 11 AM to 11 PMCatering : YesDelivery : YesTake Away : YesReservations : Recommended

Take Away and Home Delivery Service.

Call 8800 3000 41 /43 or visit http://www.yourplate.in for detailed menu. We offer complete pan asian, chinese and catering services for special occasions.

Cannot come to us – then let us bring our mouthwatering delights to you. We offer a full and extensive take away and delivery service. Deliveries must be a minimum of Rs.299 and be local to the Gurgaon neighborhood.Address:D-2,1st Floor ,South City-II (D Block Mkt) above HDFC BANK Sohna Road, Gurgaon,122002Call 8800 3000 41 /43 Now

Unlike other restaurants, YourPlate in Gurgaon is constantly working on delivering quality at competitive price. YourPlate has opened its catering division to meet the popular demand from its customer to provide tasty and quality food. Yourplate currently offers Indian (Mughlai, North Indian & South Indian), & Chinese food items for its valued customer at very nominal pricing.

For any catering requirements for birthday parties, get together, marriage function, office parties, corporate parties please call at +91 8800-30000-41/43

YourPlate has just opened reservations for party booking and bulk orders.

About the Author

Yourplate.in

New York City Cooks It All

Article by Tommy Greene

There are many great restaurants to choose from in New York City. The question is, how many do you have room for?

From French to Italian, Chinese to Japanese, there is always a new restaurant for you to try and enjoy. Here are some options for you to try today.

One great choice is Cafe Boulud which serves French cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the Upper East Side. Located at the Surrey Hotel, this eatery is home to two award-winning chefs in the kitchen.

Another restaurant to satisfy your appetite is Nobu. Nobu New York has been pioneer for Japanese cuisine since its premier in 1994. They are open and ready for you to stop by Monday through Friday for lunch and Monday through Sunday for dinner.

There are three New York locations for Nobu. It partnered with restaurateur Drew Nieporent and Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro to bring this modern Japanese eatery to life.

The scenery inside reflects the beauty of the Japanese countryside with natural textures, birch trees, wood floors and a wall of river stones. The energy and excitement stream through the establishment to create a surreal atmosphere.

If you have a craving for American cuisine, Gramercy Tavern offers a contemporary atmosphere with warm hospitality and service. They serve lunch and dinner in this historic landmark building.

Chef Michael Anthony serves up delicious dishes in this rustic yet elegant setting. One of America’s most popular eateries is sure to delight you with their a la carte menu and broad selection of wines.

Next, there is the Bouley which is not just another upscale French cuisine eatery. Open daily for lunch and dinner, meals per person range from to per meal.

Chef David Bouley invites you to taste perfection in his legendary and world-renowned restaurant. The dress is business casual with jackets preferred but not required for a dining experience you won’t forget.

Next, the Peter Luger Steakhouse has been rated New York’s #1 Steak House for 26 years running. They have been serving the finest cuts of meat since 1887.

Located in Brooklyn and Long Island, this eatery is open 7 days a week to serve you lunch and dinner. The family hand selects meats from fresh markets on a daily basis that have been shipped in from the Midwest.

Only the finest meats are selected and cooked to perfection in Peter Luger Steak House. These steak experts are waiting for you to experience the best steak you have ever tasted.

Per Se is the next restaurant we will discuss. It is located in the center of Manhattan and serves American Nouveau and French cuisine.

Per Se is a critic’s choice and has been awarded four stars. Its recommended dishes include cappuccino of forest mushrooms, oysters and pearls, chaud-froid, bacon and eggs, macaroni and cheese, snails, scallops, boeuf grille, creamsicle and coffee and doughnuts.

Per Se is considered to be one of the best restaurants in America and is open 7 days a week for dinner. Do not miss the opportunity to experience food at its finest.

Serendipity 3 is another fabulous choice for dining out. In fact, it is the most popular restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Founded in 1954, this restaurant is known for its foot-long hot dogs and its “Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.” This eatery is not only a favorite for visitors, but also for locals and celebrities.

Featured in several major movies such as the 2001 romantic comedy, Serendipity, it has created a lot of hype. Oprah has even visited this cozy spot for one of her top hot chocolate picks.

If you are looking for something to shake up your normal routine, the Shake Shack is located in Madison Square Park. This shack is famous for its delicious burgers, hot dogs and frozen custard.

There are four additional locations in the New York area for your convenience. It is your modern day “roadside” burger stand serving up the most delicious American classics with their own spin on them.

For some famous New York pizza, stop by Patzeria Perfect Pizza located in the heart of the Theater District. It serves a full traditional American breakfast as well as regional Italian cuisine. For great food and an ambience to match, the pizza and desserts are there to leave you satisfied.

No matter what you have a taste for, there is a restaurant for you in New York. The Big City has plenty of top notch options to fill you.

About the Author

Tommy Greene has worked as a travel agent for the last 35 years and written several of articles about New York City restaurants. Contact Info: Tommy Greenetommygreene@gmail.com http://www.thingstodo.com

Lantern Festival – The city of Beijing basks in the glow of the festivities

China is a nation rich in history and colouful festivals. Despite being a nation of over billion it is regarded as a popular tourist destination offering historical monuments, diverging landscapes and numerous shopping and leisure options. A country seeped in culture and tradition, it boasts of many festivities and occasions to celebrate its brilliant past.

A national and an all-important annual holiday is the Chinese New Year. Also known as the Lunar New Year, this celebration commemorates the beginning of the new Lunar year and is called the Spring Festival. Preparations include cleaning ones abodes and decorating both the homes and workplaces. Friends and relations not only visit each other but also exchange gifts. Chinese cities and houses alike are all decorated in red lanterns and other ornaments.

Festivities of the Chinese New year climax in the heralding of the Lantern festival. Also known as the ‘Yuanxiao Jie’ it is calculated as dawning 15 days after the Spring festival. For residents in Beijing, the Lantern Festival is an exciting period where the whole city comes alive swathed in beautifully decorated lanterns made from varied materials. Unique is the different shapes and themes that the lanterns depict. Around the city, the parks and along streets and in houses lanterns adorn creating a celebratory atmosphere.

Allied events during the Lantern Festival, is the festivities which take place at the Old Summer Palace and the Workers’ Cultural Palace. Here too beautiful lanterns are on display with visitors taking part in the popular ‘guess the lantern riddle’ game. Performances portraying traditional Chinese art and culture are also seen during the Lantern Festival. Locals visit and help organize temple fairs which include a display of traditional Chinese handicraft, folklore, dances, live shows and local snacks on offer.

For travellers interesting in experiencing the rich cultural heritage of the China’s capital a stay in a Beijing Hotel is vital. Visitors seeking opulence and plush accommodation a Beijing Luxury Hotel is an ideal option. The Grand Millennium in Beijing offers a range of superior services complementing the grandeur of the City. Spacious accommodation and luxurious facilities make the Grand Millennium the perfect venue during a stay in Beijing.

ROME TRENDY AND FASHIONABLE, THE NEW FACE OF THE ETERNAL CITY

The “New Roman Style” a fascinating itinerary to discover the hidden corners of Rome, from fashion to design, art and cuisine, here are all the most in places in the capital.

Rome the Eternal City? Of course, if you think of all the treasures and artistic masterpieces in the capital that represent human civilization from ancient Roman times, through the Renaissance and Baroque. But Rome is also much more than this. In recent years it has become an open-air artistic and cultural “workshop”. Alongside its historic monuments, the feature that distinguishes it around the globe, there are initiatives that look to the present and the future, just as in London, Paris and New York. There are flourishing modern art galleries, avant-garde buildings, trendy shops and night spots that go in for designer décor and minimal chic, while the oriental and ethnic styles hold sway in nearly all the neighbourhoods. In other words, you don’t need to go abroad to find out what is all the rage, because Rome has become a world leader in fashion, art and design.

In the spirit of Zen, with a minimalist look and a desire to seek out the trendiest places in the city, taste oriental dishes or enjoy the ritual of a fashionable aperitif follow our itinerary of the latest and most exotic spots in the capital.

A shop that has become one of the most popular in the city opened some time ago right next door to the Hotel dei Piranesi. It is a boutique, a feng shui furnishings centre, a florist’s, a café, a restaurant, an art gallery, a bookshop, a beauty salon, in a nutshell it is a concept store called Tad. In the very heart of Rome this is the perfect place to begin your day, it is a modular space of 1000 square metres, streamlined and decorated with gaudy colours, housing a varied collection of items for the home and for personal use. Give yourself a new look with the help of an expert stylist, buy a shantung garment and enjoy a coffee with an Arabic aroma to start the day with renewed energy. You’ll find the most original things with a particular focus on oriental trends (Tad, Via del Babuino, 155a Tel. 06 32669511).

Not far away, in Via Vittoria, there is another temple of oriental culture. It is called Thè Verde (Via Vittoria, 23 Tel. 06 32110174) after the green tea that is so popular in China and Japan. Entering this small shop is like plunging into a Zen atmosphere. Everything is  arranged with the utmost care in a way that reminds you of the rules of feng shui. Soft lighting, large brickwork shelves and small niches enhance the display of very special objects that include, for example, Chinese vases, Middle-Eastern necklaces, silk and cashmere shawls, but above all tea services and the ingredients for the tea drinking ritual. Continuing down the same street, at number 55 you come to a young designer’s small jewellery shop Cristina Di Stefano Creazioni Orafe (Tel. 06 6791546). This very minimal shop has just opened and displays and sells fascinating designer jewellery in gold and silver with gemstones and precious stones in all shapes and colours. It is the ideal place if you’re looking for a special gift for a trendy spirited person who will be sure of wearing an absolutely original and unique piece of jewellery.

Obviously a piece of jewellery like this demands the right outfit to match it. Il Baco da Seta (Via Vittoria, 75 Tel. 06 6793907) is just the place for this. The name of this boutique means “silkworm” and here, of course, silk reigns supreme and it is worked in thousands of ways in colours that range from hemp to orange, from desert shades to Mediterranean hues. There are fascinating clothes by young designers who draw inspiration from the Orient and interpret the lines of samurai and geisha garments in a modern key. If you prefer the African style to the Orient, then pay a visit to Monies (Via Vittorai, 37) a small, chic, ethnic shop selling objects, furniture and items for home decoration inspired by the desert and safari style, and while we’re on the subject, pop into Exante Due at number 13 in the same street, where you’ll enjoy choosing really unusual pieces of costume jewellery.

Now it’s time for a coffee break or, if you want to be really fashionable, for a stylish aperitif. The “in” place is Shaki (Via Mario de’ Fiori, 29/a Tel. 06 6791694), a wine bar that has become a must for the young and trendy. It is small, but offers a great variety of teas and coffees with most unusual flavours, as well as appetizing snacks and good wine. Contemporary in style, everything here has that unmistakable designer touch, from the cups and plates to the glasses and napkins. If there is something that takes your fancy and you’d like to buy it, you can find it at the Shaki shop not far away in Piazza di Spagna (no. 65 Tel. 06 6786605).

We continue our itinerary through the new modish capital with a visit to the Galleria Colonna, named after the actor Alberto Sordi, which has recently reopened and become a focal point for Rome fashions. A short walk takes you to one of the latest bookstores in the Feltrinelli chain. This is a large space devoted to culture, which, as well as books and music, also has an art gallery that mounts exhibitions for young up-and-coming artists, photographers and sculptors, and a music bar where live jazz or blues is played at every Sunday brunch.

If you love technology and all the latest high-tech inventions, you’ll find two original shops in the Galleria Colonna. Tech it Easy has all the craziest and funniest designer electronic gadgets in circulation, and Sony Gallery displays the latest novelties by this Japanese company and is a real temple of high-tech.

Do you like the way out? Then Jam is the place for you. On the Corner of the Galleria Colonna, on the Via del Corso side is a vast space on two floors selling unusual, weird, crazy clothes, objects and souvenirs that sometimes verge on the kitsch, but are absolutely unique.

Now it’s time for lunch and we recommend two restaurants in the area. At Reef (Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 40/42 Tel. 06 68301430) the sea and its habitat feature in a minimalist key and are the theme of the whole design. Entering this restaurant is like plunging into tropical seas both as regards the décor and the menu. The undulating plates of glass resemble the rippling waves of the sea, the balustrades made of iron rods are close meshed like fishing nets, even the iron seems to have been rusted by salt water. The lighting and colours all create a soft atmosphere. And the food is really sublime. Gusto (Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 9 Tel. 06 3236363), however, is something else. Apart from being a very good restaurant, wine bar and pizzeria, it also has a bookstore mainly devoted to books on gastronomy from all over the world, and a shop, so it is the ideal place for those who like to read a newspaper or book over lunch.

Now we’ll take in some art. The Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna (Via delle Belle Arti, 131 Tel. 06 322981; Tues-Sat 8.30 am – 7.30 pm, Sun 9 am – 7.30 pm) is located in the Villa Borghese, one of the loveliest parks in Rome, and has one of the most interesting 19th-century Italian Neoclassical, Romantic and Futurist painting and sculpture, as well as works by many 20th-century artists including De Chirico, Morandi and Marini. Outside the gallery is the Caffè delle Arti, the perfect place for a coffee in the open air and it is very popular especially at lunchtime. Lovers of contemporary art can visit the very new exhibition space MACRO (Via Reggio Emilia, 54 Tel. 06 67107900 www.macro.roma.museum; Tues- Sun 9 am – 7 pm, public holidays 10 am – 2 pm, Mon closed). MACRO is housed in the converted Birra Peroni factory, built at the beginning of the 20th century and has become a dynamic, cultural centre that includes six exhibition rooms, a bookstore, a lecture hall, a workshop and a bar. It has a permanent collection of works by world famous contemporary artists from the 1960s to the present, and periodically mounts temporary art exhibitions.

Now it’s time to relax before facing Roman nightlife, devote a few hours to your personal well-being and enjoy an oriental ritual. Rome too has its Hammam (La Culla del Benessere, Via della Maratona, 87 Tel. 06 36298573) and it is here that you’ll forget your daily stress and fatigue in the absolute peace and quiet of this temple of beauty. Let yourself be carried away by the magical exotic atmosphere of distant lands, surrounded by objects and ornaments from Morocco, by walls painted in Mediterranean colours, and sofas and armchairs covered in rich fabrics. An oriental doctor will make you welcome and then follows the full Turkish bath ritual including washing with black, date oil soap, gommage, a massage and to finish off a fragrant cup of mint tea. Now in top form, looking really great you are ready for the Rome nightlife. An absolute must among the very latest gourmet haunts is The Place, in the Prati neighbourhood, (Via Alberico II, 27 Tel. 06 68307137). This is a restaurant and American bar in a very minimal eclectic style, which in addition to an interesting menu with dishes from all over the world, has live music every day ranging from jazz to blues, funky and ethnic. If you prefer to go to a concert of classical or modern music check the programme of the new Auditorium della Musica (Via Pietro De Coubertin Tel. 06 8082058 or 06 80242350/1; www.musicaperroma.it), designed by Renzo Piano, another temple of design, where the acoustics, thanks to the special system of lines and shapes, is really extraordinary. And if you want a late meal, next to the Auditorium is another cult place Red (Via Pietro De Coubertin, 30 Tel. 06 80691630), this is one of the ultimate designer night spots where the red of the small mushroom-shaped armchairs and curious tables sets the tone, and where you can have dinner or simply taste the delicious snacks late into the night.

 

Hong Kong Food: The cuisines of Asia’s World City

The cuisines of China (particularly the Cantonese) are dominating Hong Kong’s culinary scene, and that is no surprise, as most Hong Kongers are of Cantonese origin.  Alongside the Chinese cuisines, you will find many restaurants specializing in other Far East cuisines, such as Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and others… European and British influence can also be found, as Hong Kong was a British colony for more than 150 years.

Moreover, it can be said that during the years Hong Kong developed its own unique cuisine that combines Cantonese cooking with other elements…

Yum cha (“drinking tea”) is an integral part of Hong Kong’s culinary culture.

This Cantonese term refers to the custom of eating small servings of different foods, mainly dim sum, while sipping Chinese tea.

Dim sum is probably Hong Kong’s most popular dish. It literally translates to “touch the heart”, which means “take what your heart picks” (that is because of the great variety you can choose from…)

Dim sum is typically served as a light meal or brunch that consists of various types of steamed buns, dumplings and rice-rolls, containing a range of fillings, including beef, chicken, pork, prawns and vegetarian options…

It is normally eaten some time from morning to early afternoon and usually served with Chinese tea.

Visiting a traditional Hong Kong style teahouse for Yum Cha is strongly recommended.

Another true “Hong Kong institution” is the Cha Chaan Teng: A casual restaurant which can be described as a hybrid between a Chinese teahouse and a café… Those places are normally open from morning till evening and serve a variety of local favorites… from Hong Kong style toasts and milk tea to rice and noodle specialties.

The Cantonese cuisine comes from the area around the city of Guangzhou (Canton), in Guangdong Province, just a short drive from Hong Kong.

Of the different Chinese cuisines, Cantonese is the most popular outside China, probably thanks to the fact that it is not as spicy as some of its “counterparts”…

Great diversity of ingredients is, perhaps, what characterizes the Cantonese cuisine more than anything else… The Cantonese cuisine makes use of almost every ingredient under the sun and as the famous Chinese saying goes “The Cantonese will eat everything that swims except the boat, everything that flies except the airplane, and everything that runs except the car”…

The Cantonese cuisine is also characterized by the use of very mild and simple spices in combination.  Ginger, spring onion, sugar, salt, soy sauce, rice wine, corn starch and oil are sufficient for most Cantonese cooking, although garlic is also used abundantly.

Steaming, stir frying and deep frying seem to be the most popular cooking methods in Cantonese restaurants due to the short cooking time, and the philosophy of bringing out the flavor of the freshest ingredients.

Other than the ultimate Dim sum, recommended Cantonese dishes include Sweet and sour fish, Fried Garoupa fish, Deep-fried crispy chicken, Crispy pig belly, Roast Suckling Pig And, of course… the costly Braised Shark’s fin and Abalone

The Chiu Chow (Teochew) cuisine comes from Chiuchow (now called ‘Chaozhou’), a city in China’s Guangdong Province, not far from Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Expectedly, this cooking style is very similar to Cantonese cuisine, although Chiuchow cuisine does maintain a certain degree of culinary independence…

Poached cold crab, Baby oyster with omelets, Chiu Chow style roast duck and Chiu Chow soya goose are some of the recommended dishes.

The Sichuan (Szechwan) cuisine originates from Sichuan Province in southwestern China and has an international reputation for being hot and spicy.

The most common ingredient is the Sichuan peppercorn, or Fagara: An indigenous plant whose peppercorns produce a fragrant, numbing, almost citrusy spice. Other common spices include Chilli, Ginger, Star anise, Fennel seed, Coriander, Chili bean paste, Garlic and Spicy herbs.

Common cooking methods include smoking, stir frying, braising and simmering, which allow peppers and aromatic seasonings time to infuse food with unforgettable tastes and aromas

Famous Sichuan dishes include Sichuan style dan-dan noodle, Pork slices in a garlic sauce with a hint of chili, Braised beef in Szechwan pepper sauce, Kung Pao chicken, Ma Por tofu and Twice Cooked Pork.

Peking/Beijing (Mandarin) cuisine originates from China’s capital city.

It developed over the centuries by thousands of skilled cooks from China’s different regions, who flocked to the “big city” to work for royal families and wealthy government officials.

Peking duck is, by far, the most popular Pekingese dish, and it is mostly prized for its thin and crispy skin. Other famous dishes of the Peking cuisine include Hot and sour soup, as well as Sautéed sliced beef with scallion and Drunken pigeon.

The Shanghainese cuisine originates from coastal provinces around the city of Shanghai and is characterized by the use of alcohol. Fish, eel, crab and chicken are “drunken” with spirits and usually served raw.

Salted meats and preserved vegetables are also commonly used to spice up the dish. Another “secret ingredient” of the Shanghainese cuisine is sugar…

Sweet and sour spare ribs, Beggar’s Chicken, Shanghai hairy crab, “eight treasure” duck, “drunken” chicken, braised eel and yellow fish are the most popular dishes…

Contemporary fusion cuisine has made it big in Hong Kong over the last few years… The city’s chefs keep on coming up with innovative culinary creations that combine China’s different cooking styles with those of other regions, and the results are surprisingly delicious.

Japanese, Indian, Korean and Southeast Asian restaurants are very popular in Hong Kong and are well worth considering, especially if you are tired of Chinese food but still want to try something “authentic”.