Went out on last Saturday evening to Curve, located in ABC farms, Koregoan park
It is a lounge+restaurant+bar type of place for the young and trendy Pune-ites to hangout.
They serve some excellent wood oven fired pizzas. We ordered a 3 pasta salad, pannini and a classic pizza margherita
The salad was not bad, came with pastas with herbs, sundried tomato and lots of olive oil. Always love olive oil!
The service was generally nice. Since we sat on their upper floor deck, we were virtually having a dedicated person looking out for us and he was good and knowledgable. I tested him by asking more about Pizza Margherita and he knew exactly what I was talking about.
We ordered classic Martinis as aperitifs. The bartender also does jugglery with the cocktail glasses
I went for the most authentic and classic Martini.(Gin+Vermouth) and my friend went for the more contempary/trendy Vodka Martini. Oh and it was stirred not shaken (written on the Menu card). James Bond's preference!
Martin...extra dry...probably the most famous cocktail ever invented.
They even had 'Vespa' which is also considered Bond's favourite on the menu card.
The Pizza was obviously the main reason why went there in the first place
The wood oven crust was obvious. The crust was classically Italian. Very thin and it was hand tossed.
The mozarella was well spread and thin and importantly it was with lots of fresh basil leaves which really are the key ingredient of the Naples classic. Exactly how a Pizza Margherita is supposed to be!
All the mass production American pizza chains often forget what makes the authentic
Naples Pizza Margerita so special.
Not to say I don't enjoy American Pizzas! (thick base, cheese added for gluttons!...I do enjoy that also. Hard for me to not enjoy anything!).
But once someone gets hooked onto authentic stuff, then there is no looking back...
Pizza Margherita was invented in Naples, Southern Italy by a Naples chef as an afternoon snack to serve Queen Margherita who was visiting Naples.
The colours of the Pizza correspond to the Italian flag (red tomato base, green basil and white buffalo mozarella). This was the beginning on the Pizza revolution.
When American soldiers returned back from Italy after the end of World war 2, they craved for Pizzas and thats how Pizzas became an American favourite. And with typically American brand marketing, these days most people associate Pizzas with Pizza huts, Dominos etc...
Many of my American friends also told me that Italian Pizzas are bad! They have less cheese! Amazing joke because many of them have never developed more refined tastes...
People with refined tastes know exactly the difference between loads of mass produced cheese spread over a thick Pizza...and a thin layer of fresh Mozzarella cheese over a thin handtossed pizza base!
I am definitely for authentic stuff...and a thinner layer with fresh mozarella tastes... thats my taste
So I would never comment back but just smile because the truth is inside me!.
It's not different from many Indian friends who go out to claim that they get better Indian food in the U.S! It's a joke...but never mind... What's the point of proving to people who know nothing... and say things simply to prove themselves right
But I used to love Chicago style Pizzas in the U.S and there were also many many authentic Italian Pizza chains in the U.S...
Here's a nice article about Pizza
From the Wikipedia link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza
Neapolitan pizza (pizza napoletana): Authentic Neapolitan pizzas are made with local ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes, which grow on the volcanic plains to the south of Mount Vesuvius, and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, made with the milk from water buffalo raised in the marshlands of Campania and Lazio in a semi-wild state (this mozzarella is protected with its own European protected designation of origin).[1] According to the rules proposed by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, the genuine Neapolitan pizza dough consists of Italian wheat flour (type 0 or 00, or a mixture of both), natural Neapolitan yeast or brewer's yeast, salt and water. For proper results, strong flour with high protein content (as used for bread-making rather than cakes) must be used. The dough must be kneaded by hand or with a low-speed mixer. After the rising process, the dough must be formed by hand without the help of a rolling pin or other mechanical device, and may be no more than 3 mm (¹⁄₈ in) thick. The pizza must be baked for 60–90 seconds in a 485 °C (905 °F) stone oven with an oak-wood fire.[2] When cooked, it should be crispy, tender and fragrant. Neapolitan pizza has been given the status of a "guaranteed traditional specialty" in Italy.
This allows only three official variants: pizza marinara, which is made with tomato, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil (although most Neapolitan pizzerias also add basil to the marinara), pizza Margherita, made with tomato, sliced mozzarella, basil and extra-virgin olive oil, and pizza Margherita extra made with tomato, mozzarella from Campania in fillets, basil and extra virgin olive oil.
I remember my trip to Italy and especially the moment of going into one fine Pizza restaurant on one of the cold evenings and tasting heaven...The taste lingers in the mouth forever...
Anyway I like Curve and would go there again. I would go there for the atmosphere and for pizzas and some nice drinks. The restaurant is not cheap but none of the restaurants in ABC farms are cheap.
Without drinks, you are likely to spend Rs 250 to Rs 300. With drinks, its likely
to be in excess of Rs 500 per person.
But for a nice evening for especially young couples, it's a near perfect place
And what more, I was being given a treat that day.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Bellevie, Chateau Haute Rozier red wine
Bordeaux...the famous region of France, most famous for it's red wines, which cost a fortune to buy and which brings images of famous Bordeaux Chateaus selling years and years of carefully matured wines. Bordeaux continues to be the mecca for old world wines for hundreds of years.
Interestingly Bordeaux continues to focus on grape variety blends. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot being the most common type of grapes used in its blends.
Cabernet brings the structure, tannins and Merlot brings in the mellowness and fruitiness.
Chauteau D'ori is promoting a wine in India called 'Bellevie' from the house of Haute Rozier, which it imports from Bordeaux. It's a year 2004 wine.
Recently I opened the bottle which I have had for several months and have been gulping glasses of red wine for last few days. It's 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Wonderful wine. Being Merlot dominant, naturally it's mellow and avoids the heavy tannins. But Cabernet Sauvignon does give it a nice structure and dosen't make it far too fruity
It's really a nice wine.
Someday I hope to experience the legendary Bordeux's which are always described by the words silk...As smooth and soft as silk.
From the Medoc wine region
Haut Medoc - Margaux - Saint Estephe - Pauillac - Saint Julien
From the graves wine region:
Graves - Sauternes - Barsac
Rivers wine region:
Bordeaux aoc/Bordeaux supérieur - Entre deux mers
From the Cotes wine region:
Saint Emilion , Pomerol
If any wine expert starts off with a fine wine discussion, he in-evitably turns to Bordeaux.
Historically the English popularized Bordeaux with the world 'claret'
Bordeaux and Burgundy...Two very famous regions of France along with Champagne and Cognac. All regions of France which have become such big brands that people often call the sparkling wine as Champagne, red wine as Bordeaux...
Interestingly Bordeaux continues to focus on grape variety blends. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot being the most common type of grapes used in its blends.
Cabernet brings the structure, tannins and Merlot brings in the mellowness and fruitiness.
Chauteau D'ori is promoting a wine in India called 'Bellevie' from the house of Haute Rozier, which it imports from Bordeaux. It's a year 2004 wine.
Recently I opened the bottle which I have had for several months and have been gulping glasses of red wine for last few days. It's 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Wonderful wine. Being Merlot dominant, naturally it's mellow and avoids the heavy tannins. But Cabernet Sauvignon does give it a nice structure and dosen't make it far too fruity
It's really a nice wine.
Someday I hope to experience the legendary Bordeux's which are always described by the words silk...As smooth and soft as silk.
From the Medoc wine region
Haut Medoc - Margaux - Saint Estephe - Pauillac - Saint Julien
From the graves wine region:
Graves - Sauternes - Barsac
Rivers wine region:
Bordeaux aoc/Bordeaux supérieur - Entre deux mers
From the Cotes wine region:
Saint Emilion , Pomerol
If any wine expert starts off with a fine wine discussion, he in-evitably turns to Bordeaux.
Historically the English popularized Bordeaux with the world 'claret'
Bordeaux and Burgundy...Two very famous regions of France along with Champagne and Cognac. All regions of France which have become such big brands that people often call the sparkling wine as Champagne, red wine as Bordeaux...
June 2006-Central Eastern Europe tour Prague, Czech Republic
Welcome to the fairy tale city of Prague in Czech Republic.
For most part of our Eastern Europe tour, we had a Czech driver, a nice guy with a mischievous smile. How happy he was when we crossed into Czech republic and entered Prague late evening.
The sun had gone down and the city had taken on a magical glow in the fading evening light. The spires of many cathedrals in Prague were a sight to behold. It's the city of a hundred spires on the River Vltava
Next morning we began our city tour of Prague. We had a lovely Czech girl as our guide and naturally all the members of the group were more than
enthusiastic to begin walking in the city of Prague:)
The walk was going to be 5 to 6 hours through different parts of the city...but every second of it was worth it.
We began our tour in the Prague Castle. We visited the old Town square with the famous Astronomical clock, St Vitus Cathedral and many other 15/16 century buildings
We walked over the famous 600 year old Charles Bridge which gives incredible views of Prague. Jazz musicians played on the sides of the bridge, there were painters sketching/painting on their canvases.
It was Prague at it's very best. Medieval, pretty, very European and really really hard to describe it's beauty. It was a fairy tale city.
Skoda cars everywhere and all sorts of models...The car from Czech republic, now owned by Volkswagen has become very popular in India as a luxury car.
Afternoon right close to the Town Square, we sat down to drink 'Gambrinus', a popular Czech beer. Czech republic is undoubtedly the beer mecca. On a per capita basis, Czech people drink more beer than anybody else in the world, even more than the Germans.
Prague offers a wide range of beers from many of the 430 breweries within the Czech Republic. A country where the first pilsner beers were brewed, Prague is a paradise to any beer enthusiast.
The famous German poet Goethe has labeled Prague "the most precious stone in the crown of towns,"
Next day we visited Brno, Czech Republic's second largest city. Our Guide, this time a different Czech girl..We strongly suspected she was drunk!.
The whole group was laughing...and it was the most hilarious moment of the entire trip. We stopped by a nice castle in the countryside on the way between Prague and Brno and then visited Brno.
It was Euro 2006 football time. Czech republic was considered the strongest team and it lost in the early rounds. So we all sat down with our Czech bus driver that evening and consoled him. He told us... When Czech team loses, people drink 6 to 7 pints of beer to forget the loss...So we asked him what happens when the team wins. He promptly replied, we drink 13 pints!
That evening he did drink 5 pints and talked about his adventures...adventures with women.
We started towards our last leg in the tour. Eastern part of Germany. As we neared the Czech border, we noticed prostitutes everywhere walking freely on the roads tempting rich Germans.
Germany...It wasn't the first time I was visiting Germany. On my tour of Western Europe I had seen the lovely parts of Germany...All the pretty, pretty and clinically German towns.
But the moment we crossed the border, Germany with it's very very neat roads, villages, very pretty houses, with crystal clear road signs, the most efficient transportation, burst onto the scene. This was Germany...Everyone wants to drive German cars (Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche...) Germany continues to stand for quality, efficieny and much much more
But we were entering Eastern Germany, the part which was Commumist earlier and which was getting transformed
More about Eastern part of Germany in the following blog posts
For most part of our Eastern Europe tour, we had a Czech driver, a nice guy with a mischievous smile. How happy he was when we crossed into Czech republic and entered Prague late evening.
The sun had gone down and the city had taken on a magical glow in the fading evening light. The spires of many cathedrals in Prague were a sight to behold. It's the city of a hundred spires on the River Vltava
Next morning we began our city tour of Prague. We had a lovely Czech girl as our guide and naturally all the members of the group were more than
enthusiastic to begin walking in the city of Prague:)
The walk was going to be 5 to 6 hours through different parts of the city...but every second of it was worth it.
We began our tour in the Prague Castle. We visited the old Town square with the famous Astronomical clock, St Vitus Cathedral and many other 15/16 century buildings
We walked over the famous 600 year old Charles Bridge which gives incredible views of Prague. Jazz musicians played on the sides of the bridge, there were painters sketching/painting on their canvases.
It was Prague at it's very best. Medieval, pretty, very European and really really hard to describe it's beauty. It was a fairy tale city.
Skoda cars everywhere and all sorts of models...The car from Czech republic, now owned by Volkswagen has become very popular in India as a luxury car.
Afternoon right close to the Town Square, we sat down to drink 'Gambrinus', a popular Czech beer. Czech republic is undoubtedly the beer mecca. On a per capita basis, Czech people drink more beer than anybody else in the world, even more than the Germans.
Prague offers a wide range of beers from many of the 430 breweries within the Czech Republic. A country where the first pilsner beers were brewed, Prague is a paradise to any beer enthusiast.
The famous German poet Goethe has labeled Prague "the most precious stone in the crown of towns,"
Next day we visited Brno, Czech Republic's second largest city. Our Guide, this time a different Czech girl..We strongly suspected she was drunk!.
The whole group was laughing...and it was the most hilarious moment of the entire trip. We stopped by a nice castle in the countryside on the way between Prague and Brno and then visited Brno.
It was Euro 2006 football time. Czech republic was considered the strongest team and it lost in the early rounds. So we all sat down with our Czech bus driver that evening and consoled him. He told us... When Czech team loses, people drink 6 to 7 pints of beer to forget the loss...So we asked him what happens when the team wins. He promptly replied, we drink 13 pints!
That evening he did drink 5 pints and talked about his adventures...adventures with women.
We started towards our last leg in the tour. Eastern part of Germany. As we neared the Czech border, we noticed prostitutes everywhere walking freely on the roads tempting rich Germans.
Germany...It wasn't the first time I was visiting Germany. On my tour of Western Europe I had seen the lovely parts of Germany...All the pretty, pretty and clinically German towns.
But the moment we crossed the border, Germany with it's very very neat roads, villages, very pretty houses, with crystal clear road signs, the most efficient transportation, burst onto the scene. This was Germany...Everyone wants to drive German cars (Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche...) Germany continues to stand for quality, efficieny and much much more
But we were entering Eastern Germany, the part which was Commumist earlier and which was getting transformed
More about Eastern part of Germany in the following blog posts
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