Best places to indulge with Pizza in Guwahati

By

-

June 24, 2018

With a vast variety of eateries and cuisines, Guwahati has surfaced as one of the fastest growing and diverse cities in India. Whether the ethnic flavors, aroma brewing cafes, region specials, continental or oriental exclusives, each restaurant carry its own set of flair to appease its admirers. Besides, one can not just indulge in flavor but can also relish a quality stretch with live music, football or cricket.

However, amid the lavish cuisines, pizza found its way to every person’s heart. Be it someone’s birthday treat, increment party, 4 pm lunch, or football snack, pizza has remained as a forever favorite.

Here are some of the most admired pizza stops of Guwahati one must visit:

1. Pizza hut:

pizza hut guwahati- pizza in guwahati — Source: Trip Advisor

Ever since the Carney brothers opened its door in 1958, Pizza Hut became every countries’ favorite guest. The two outlets located in Ganeshguri and Dona Planet (Christian Basti) are the best takeout places. One can cool one’s heels over a Tangy Mary or a frothy glass of Hazelnut Cold Coffee without spending a tidy sum. Besides those aroma-floating magical hand-tossed pizzas, the Spicy Baked Chicken Wings are worth preying for.

2. 11th Avenue:

Both the cafes (of Rajgarh and Dighalipukhuri) rejoices to serve its guests a trail of pan-healthy tempting pizzas. This is one of the bustling cafés of Guwahati that offers an assortment of better alternatives on food as well as beverages. Porkizza and Smoky Chicken Pizza are the unsurpassed lust that will arouse your pizza tooth with excitement.

I know I must not praise Burger in this context but it will be selfish to not edify people about a juicy and luscious view. Their Classic Burger is one of the most beautiful things to indulge in, trust me.

3. Foodie’s world:

Located in Rehabari, this pizza paradise offers a pizza fanatic, a range of veg and non-veg options to delve into. The menu reflects a kind of comforting percept. As the spices, veggies, and meat infuse in cheese, ahhh…haa… (pick some assured notes from me), they burst in the aroma. Just succulent.

4. Kalita Café:

Even a hip-hop fan, a Bollywood follower, a metal head, or an electronic devotee will romance with pizza in this K-pop styled café. Big Bang’s Feast and Monster Margherita are likely to console a cheese-starving soul with great comfort. Also, don’t forget to smooch their tantalizing smoothies. My God, Cheery Bomb was indeed a BOMB.

5. The Boho Roots café:

Just like their every wall that narrates a unique tale, this artistically designed café has abundant of exclusive pizzas to tempt a visitor. Whether you take a plunge into their Roasted Pork Pizza or Sicilian Pizza or Roasted Bell Pepper Pizza, you are certainly going to take home a bouquet of flavors to cherish, until your next visit.

6. Chicago pizza:

Ever since I started to grow dissatisfaction for Dominos’ pizza, Chicago Pizza stood as a rescue, to rejuvenate my dying taste for cheese pizza. Located in Central Mall (G.S. Road) and Bharalumukh, their pizzas are sure to release great levels of dopamine in you.

Sharing is caring. But sharing pizza is a pain that no medicine could heal. So, eat pizza, be happy.

What is your city’s best pizza stop? Drop your answers in the comment below.

Lavazza- Redefining the aroma of Guwahati

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

May 27, 2018

0

A coffee mug is something that always stands on my desk, irrespective of whether I am at home or at my workplace. I wasn’t a coffee fanatic until the caffeine rush hit me during my finals one day. And since then, it has been my favorite choice of beverage.

Growing café culture of Guwahati

While Guwahati is blooming in the different spheres of trade, communication, and lifestyle, advancement in its sub-categories, too is rising rapidly. In the last two-three years, Guwahati witnessed a massive growth of cafes, restaurants, and hotels. But often it is disheartening to discover that behind those gracefully crafted cafes, its visitors could barely track down a good cup of coffee. Only a spattering of cafes like 11^th Avenue, Kalita Café, or Café brew bakes tends to serve an aromatic cup.

In the quest to procure a pure cup of caffeine, oftentimes, people here, dive into a puddle of pesticides and chemically preserved coffee. I realized that the veil draped by instant coffee is hard to tear when my mother complained about the freshly grounded coffee packet that I brought from Nagaland. To my horror, she said she had replaced the packet with a Nescafe jar.

An aromatic entrant in the city

Beyond the flawed practices like brewing coffee in boiling water or drinking plain premixes, Guwahati brewed a neat aroma on 24^th May. Lavazza, since 2008, has been cultivating better coffee brewing culture in India. Consequently, with a brisk upsurge in café trends in Northeast India, the company hosted its first-of-kind coffee workshops in Guwahati and Shillong.

Baristas, chefs, café owners, and coffee fanatics from the eight states, are connected to brew an impeccable essence in the region. It was rewarding.

Coffee connoisseur and Training Manager of Lavazza, Mr. Abdul Sahid Khan, adroitly persuaded the participants to brew luscious aromas all over Northeast. He narrated how by playing with different techniques, procedures, and equipment, one can experiment and invent recipes of their own. Besides guiding to attain flawless shots of espresso, he also demonstrated frothing milk and supervised latte art.

Cooking with chemicals

Coffee Cavier, prepared using the molecular gastronomy method

Among those numerous coffee recipes that he exhibited, what thrilled me the most was the molecular gastronomy technique. A concoction of my curiosity and fate mingled with astonishment when I ate espresso. Coffee Cavier is an exclusive recipe of Lavazza. It is prepared by converting liquid to a solidified state. This process is done using calcium chloride with alginate.

The workshop was a pure indulgence of bliss and contentment, in particular. This workshop was a much-needed grasp for the region that believes in pouring a fantastic cup of coffee.

About Lavazza

Ruling for the last 120 years, Lavazza is one of the biggest manufacturers of coffee products from Italy. The company combines coffees from different parts of the world. These are then harvested, processed, mixed, and roasted to create several different and balanced blends, as well as satisfy the coffee-tooth of every fanatic.

Here are some of the pictures from the Guwahati as well as from the Shillong session.

Lavazza workshop in Guwahati — Participants from different states of Northeast India

Note: If you are in Northeast India and wish to get hold of some finely roasted beans of Lavazza, you can ping Jyoti Brothers (Jyotishman: +91 9864311100) or Sumon Bora (Area Sales Manager: +91 9707639828).

Also, feel free to knock us for any queries or questions related to coffee/coffee making. Until then, like this article and don’t forget to share it in your circle.

A restaurant in Guwahati abused its customer for complaining about food quality

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

May 7, 2018

0

Over the years, Guwahati has developed gracefully with a number of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and clubs blooming amid the support of its inhabitants. These wings have flapped smoothly with time, offering excellent services and hospitality to its customers. Consequently, there are also some restaurants, who, with their appalling services, have disheartened many of the city’s food fanatics.

I remember visiting a café in Rajgarh road, Guwahati, sometimes back. As a café hunter, I popped to this restaurant in search of good coffee and ambiance. To my utter disgust, I was served with green chutney and chickpeas (chola) salad with pasta cooked with an emptied bottle of parmesan dressing and a cup of error-filled coffee.

I left the place and swore never to go back there or recommend anyone. But when I thought to drop a review on Zomato, I was surprised to see their enormous all-good reviews with four and five stars. And later that evening, a magazine carried an exclusive article praising their food. Horrible!

Another grievous tale

With tight deadlines and demanding schedules, it often becomes an arduous chore to balance family and career life. As a means to connect with those lost dots, 23 YO Rahul Rajkhowa, a musician by profession, thought of taking his family on an elegant dinner to a restaurant called Chung-fa, located in Zoo Narengi Road, Guwahati.

Because one pays a substantial amount to spend quality time with their loved ones, how can they not whine the uncooked food that was served after an hour of waiting?

On complaining about the “rubbery” under-cooked noodles, the waiter called the manager who instructed him with, “Array Garam kar de, phir kha lenge.”

When they questioned about serving them cold food and re-heating it, the waiter started arguing why they can’t eat that food or packed it home. And later with emotive throws like “You cannot talk to me like this just because you are from a stable economic background.”

As they moved to the cash counter, the owner, hiding behind her computer, began tossing them with rebukes. Furthermore, the waiter, along with another waiter started attacking him and his parents with abuses of being a liar.

Rahul took his social media account to shared his sour experience with Chung-fa restaurant.

This is what he wrote:

More horrifying abuses

Isn’t it distressing to pay a hefty food bill and earn such harassment in turn? Well, this reminds me of the scam momo sellers of Guwahati perform. The dispiriting onions and cabbage fillings (in the name of chicken and pork momos), covered with thick-unhealthy layers of maida, makes one realize how terribly these restaurants have deceived them.

And then comes the servers, who often gives you the feeling that you work for them, and your job is to feel fortunate whatever you get.

What are your views to change such a degrading scenario?

Let us know in the comment section below.

For busy people: Easy and effective hacks to stay healthy

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

April 7, 2018

0

Sedentary lifestyle, hustling schedules, and the race to stand tall among other competitions has disturbed numerous lives. Competitions have killed the world’s sleep and eating habits more than an outbreak. Lack of time is a major account why people buckle under unhealthy eating and sleeping patterns. As a result, prevalence rates for the number of ailments and afflictions have increased rapidly.

The body achieves what the mind believes. Thus, it is essential to watch out both the mind and the body in order to maintain the balance.

Highlighted below are some of the easy and effective ways that will help one engage in a healthy state, physically as well as mentally.

Exercise it out:

Source: BBC

Engaging in physical exercise is a great way to eliminate toxins from the body. Besides toning the muscles and tissues, regular exercise also helps in the release of the brain’s reward chemicals, the ones necessary to enhance one’s state of mind.
Cut off the intake of caffeine

The widely used mood-altering drug in the world, caffeine, when consumed in moderate proportion can yield a number of health benefits. Unlikely, heavy intake, more than 500-600 mg of caffeine a day, on the other hand, can lead to health issues like insomnia, nervousness, irritability, an upset stomach, restlessness, aggravated anxiety, and muscle tremors.
Switch to chamomile tea

Source: Medical news

Chamomile tea possesses a number of health benefits. The beverage is stacked with antioxidants that cut risks of life-threatening diseases like cancer and diseases of the heart. Additionally, chamomile tea treats sleep disorders, promotes digestion, better skin, controls blood sugar, boosts immune health, as well as helps one to relieve from mental clutters like anxiety and depression.
Expose to sunlight:

From regulating the level of insulin to maintaining cardiovascular and lung health, Vitamin D plays numerous roles in keeping the body hale. Exposing to sunlight, at least 15-minutes every day can also help in breaking-free from stress
Listen to good music

Music has the ability to influence one’s mental and physical state. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) announced music therapy as a therapeutic and effective means to combat problems of the mind. Distinguished philosophers like Plato, Confucius, and the kings and monarchs pronounced music as an effectual medium to heal aggravating conditions of their mind.
Replace your regular cup with green tea

Source: Prehab

Green tea has been known as an effective agent to treat issues of the stomach, skin, and brain. Besides, green tea also helps to curb blood pressure and drop an escalating heart rate. Amino acid or L-theanine present in green tea is an important agent required to abate stress and anxiety.
Yoga and meditation:

Source: Woman fitness org

Accepted since ancient times, yoga, and meditation are powerful antidotes for a healthy body and mind. Pranayama (breathing techniques), asana (body postures), meditation, and the ancient yoga philosophy, has strengthened millions of people with positivism and a new perspective on life.

It is not always possible to maintain a healthy diet. In such, balancing with alternatives can work wonder as well. Keeping alongside ditching smoking and drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day, sleep is an important factor to grasp while considering one’s health.

Albeit there are numerous ways to stay healthy, practicing a few simple and basic steps can prove beneficial in retaining one’s health in the long run. So, which are you going to adopt? Let us know in the comment section below.

Also, don’t forget to share this article in your circle.

You may also like to check out Asanas For Weight Loss.

Foodie’s World | A Paradise for Pizza Lovers

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

March 21, 2018

0

“Because food brings people together,” so how can I draw blank from my favorite belief that the road to a man’s heart is through his stomach. It was a late winter Thursday when I decided to bunk office and treat my sweetheart with some toothsome affair.

Oh! Did I miss to tell you that we had an agreement. Any sort of argument and the offender, in order to propitiate the other, have to a console with a treat. It was my turn this time. And that’s how we slipped into Foodie’s World.

It was around 6 o’clock. The winter winds grinned rhymes with the banyan tree situated at the other side of the road. A perfect evening to cuddle with pizza. We parked the bike. But because my better half was a little more exasperated with his other half, I had to dispose of that thought in the trash bin as I walked inside.

The Introductory Bowl Menu poster hung outside caught my attention. It was a small and lively joint located at a distance from the busy area of Rehabari, Guwahati. The staff, comprising of 6-7 people, seemed quite occupied serving their customers. We grabbed a corner table.

Interior of a café or a restaurant is that one element that decides my pursuit to see the place next time. Undoubtedly, this place captured me. Their stunning interiors would surely leave a visitor engaged while waiting for their order to arrive.

Oh those tempting smoothies!

As I skimmed the menu, Rs. 25 against coffee “whoa’d” me. Coffee is my strength as well as my weakness. In fact, any place that serves good coffee, automatically becomes my favorite.

As I wondered with the reasonable prices on the menu, our order of Strawberry and Chocolate smoothie arrived.

His eyes sparkled.

The creamy blend of strawberry crush, keeping intact its flavor, is perfect to swing back one’s stress and of course, all the furies. And so was the thick chocolate shake.

Let’s stress on pizza and burger

A little while, our savory Paneer Sev Do Piyaza Pizza, Chicken Tandoori Pizza, and Chicken Burger landed on our table. “Such a breathtaking view,” I sighed.

Favoring vegetarian food while eating out is against my law. But because curiosity is the cause of new discoveries, I dared to break my rules and introduce few vegetarian smacks to my taste buds. They were delighted, I did.

Unlike most rough pizza base which subsequently tears the soft lining of mouth, this joint serves a soft and spongy base. The chicken and paneer toppings were elegantly placed along with the neatly cut olives, tomatoes, onions, and bell pepper.

The puffy burger, on the other hand, was luscious, holding the essence of heavenly flavor. The juicy and tender chicken pattie embraced by the spongy bun was crunchier enough to compel its owner to seek for one more bite. Served along with crispy fries, the king burger at this stop is a must-try for all burger fans.

Don’t hesitate to treat yourself to a savory delight at this peppy joint. They will not disappoint you, neither your sweethearts.

Location: Rishav Plaza, A. K. Azad Road, Near Artfed, Rehabari, Gauhati
Serving time:10- 20 minutes
Pocket-Friendly: Yes

Have a question or query? Comment below or reach us at [email protected]. We shall be happy to help. 🙂

Step-by-step guide to a perfect cup of cappuccino at home

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

January 30, 2018

0

Ask the coffee freaks how challenging it is to get hold of a perfect cup of cappuccino. It may seem as easy as boiling an egg; mixing all the ingredients—sugar, coffee, and milk—in a pan; bringing it to a boil, and bam! All done!

Nay!

That’s how boring people drink coffee. Because obtaining that perfect cup of happiness is no child’s play. Even for many coffee connoisseurs, equating to an apt proportion is a big struggle. With a slight imbalance, the entire indulgence can be thrown into an unpalatable cup.Thus, a perfect cup has an agreement with sheer chary.

But don’t worry, you won’t have to end up drinking machine blends all your life. This step-by-step guide will help you brew your own aromatic cup with pride.

All you need is:
1 cup milk
2 teaspoon instant coffee powder
2 teaspoon sugar
10 minutes of dedication

1)

You can take any brand of milk. Here I am opting for Amul Taaza. (Tip: For better results, use powdered milk. Preferably Everyday milk powder. I found it helpful)

2)

Pour milk into a pan and bring it to a boil.

3)

Meanwhile, take 2 teaspoons of instant coffee powder in your favorite mug. For instant coffee powder, I use Nescafe.

4)

Add another 2 teaspoons of sugar.

5)

Mix both ingredients using a spoon.

6)

Take one teaspoon of milk from the boiling pan and mix well.

7)

Consistency is the key. If the mixture is too dry, try adding a few more drops to it. But remember, each DROP counts. A slight imbalance can douse the entire mixture.

8)

After you have mastered the consistency stage, whip the mixture, faster, slower, and at regular intervals, until the sugar dissolves, leaving no lumps. The blend should look thick.

9)

Once the milk starts frothing, switch off the burner. Now is the time for magic. But hey, wait. There is a rule involved in dribbling milk into a coffee mug.

10)

Make sure you pour milk from at least 15cms above and watch the blend form that desired froth.

11)

Stir slowly making circular moves around the cup.

12)

Whoa! There goes your aromatic cup of cappuccino.

Want to share your recipe? Write to us at [email protected]

Glamor of the hills- Meghalaya

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

January 28, 2018

0

The morning beams that penetrated through the gauzy curtains interrupted my dreams. It was late morning when I woke up. Although I was never a morning person, hectic job schedule and demand to maintain punctuality in office compelled me to dispose off my late-night routine.

And thus, weekends became my savior. I would sleep my heart out, keeping myself aloof from all the earthly pleasures. I would always ward-off the plans for joining someone for coffee, hanging out for parties or shopping, or mingling for a weekend getaway with friends with my lame excuses.

Likewise, it was another weekend of my life. I made a cup of hot chocolate, and augmented the tempo of my newly bought JBL Bluetooth speakers. Life would have been such a comfortable bed without any responsibilities, I wondered, trying to warble the Spanish lyrics of Despacito.

The phone’s beep depressed the sound of the song.

“Pack your bags; we are leaving at 6 pm,” Prasanta texted.

And before could I write my excuse text, he interrupted with another one.

“Don’t take it as a request. Because I am not going to listen to any of your post- menstrual mood flicks. Get ready; I am coming to pick you in an hour. Biswajit and Sarvanu will join us too.”

It was around 6.30 in the evening when we headed to, well, we did not have a map to Cherrapunjee or Dawki, so Meghalaya would be precise.

Meghalaya, as they say, is all about floating in abode of clouds. As we waved goodbye to Guwahati, a dark night, stirred with a blanket of mist and grey glimpses enveloped us in no time. Although I had been to this peppy paradise before, the experiences are vastly different on each call. Remarkably, every time I pick a trip to this paradise, I grab a story along with me.

It was late November. The roads were inundated with fog. Visibility of the surrounding dimmed with each rotation of the car’s tires. A little later we realized how terribly the clouds had convoluted us.

Prasanta uttered, “When confusion strikes, go left!” Unable to decide which way to take, we decided to pick the road less traveled.

It was late midnight, around 2 o’ clock. Subsequently, we got the picture of a grey blanket of fog that had covered us, completely. Even the white divider line that we were following, became indiscernible.

The fog became denser with each passing moment. After much contemplation, we grasped that there was no way to surpass the thick mantle as one could barely see the other person or object standing near them.

Biswajit stopped the car. Everyone got down. It was a No Human Land where the hills came alive with its giant spells.

The sight of an indistinct light at a distant, landed us to an eerie-looking house at the cliff of a majestic hill. Being an ardent fan of horror movies, stroked me to envisage how the house carried every trait of an eerie scene. Dimmed lights, indistinct chirps of birds, drops of water tripping at a vessel from the roof, four torn-out couches at the veranda, a dog loitering around and sniffing, reminded me of psycho killers of the Wrong Turn movies.

Anxiety started knocking us, brutally. Before long could we wait for any of us to get hit with a panic attack, we rushed to our car. Although it was difficult and risky to drive with such hazy visuals, nevertheless, Biswajit decided to take the risk as it was a better option than getting our heads chopped and bodies minced.

After driving for nearly three hours, we saw some lodges, lights, and heard voices of people working. That was a huge heave of sigh for all. Biswajit halted the car and we decided to rest our weary eyes for some time.

I woke up at Sarvanu’s boisterous voice, “Yaay! We are finally in Dawki.”

It was an absolute respite for all. While Biswajit and Prasanta yearned for few minutes of rest, Sarvanu decided to get tea for us.

The latter part of the day followed with a series of amusing adventures, capturing breathtaking views, gobbling with traditional delicacies and street food, and more. This was one of my wildest adventurous trip that snarled in my memoir cozily, until date.

Below are some of the snaps from the rest of our journey.

Editor’s call: Do you have an adventurous story to tell? Write to us at [email protected].

Delectable cuisines from Assam that will tickle your taste buds

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

January 8, 2018

0

Assam, the gateway to the northeast, is a valley of luscious vegetation, fascinating wildlife, and a delectable ground that provides some of irresistibly tempting delicacies. While culture and traditions reflect the essence of a region, Assam holds in its core, a spectacularly huge list, along with a confluence of delectable cuisines that reflect its richness and distinctive style from the rest of the world.

Every time you visit their kitchen, you will be enthralled by the aroma of wild herbs and spices whirling up to your senses. The Assamese meal thali or plate usually comprises of different herbs and leafy vegetables, chutney, pitika, fries, pickles, and sweets.

Let us take you on a trip to some of the relishing delicacies that would allure your gluttonous senses to commit another flavoursome sin as you scroll down:

> Starters aka Jolpan: The day starts with poita bhaat (Cooked rice soaked overnight) served with onion, lemon, salt and chilli. Followed by jolpan of different choices such as Cheera (flattened rice), muri or akhoi (puffed rice), pitha Guri (pound rice), handoh guri (fried pound rice), kumol chaul (rice boiled and dried) and bora chaul (sticky rice) is usually served with yogurt, milk and sugar or juggery.

> Fish curry: Fish serves as an important dish of the Assamese cuisine. Masor tenga (sour fish curry), fish cooked with a sourness taste, often with outenga (elephant apple) or patot diya maas (steamed or baked fish), wrapped in banana leaves and baked, is often served with mustard paste for a meal.

> Khar: Khar khua axomiya, holding the literal meaning for the signature dish of the Assamese community, is a detoxifying appetizer. The khar or soda is prepared by burning stem of a banana tree or by roasting and soaking banana peels. The khar is also mixed with mustard paste to prepare Kharoli, a kind of chutney.

> Pitika: The easiest and convenient way to cover up a meal when you are not in the mood to cook. Of course, this is one of the most accepted preparations that is seldom rejected by people when offered. Pitika is a mash of various ingredients like potato, tomato, brinjal or other vegetables grilled or boiled and mixed with mustard oil, onion, chili, coriander, ginger or garlic.

> Khorisa: Khorisa is a pickle prepared from grated bamboo shoots preserved with mustard oil, salt, and chili. Khorisa is also used as a flavoring agent in preparing meat or fish curry.

> Herbs and leafy vegetables: The Assamese meal plate is never complete without the mention of herbs and leafy vegetables, boiled or fried alongside. If you visit an Assamese house, don’t forget to grab the exotic taste of leafy vegetables like dhekiya, laai xaak (spinach), moricha, khutura xaak, or of wild herbs like bhedai lota, changmora, bet gaz, and more.

> Sunga chaul: It is a traditional method mostly circulated in the villages during winters. Rice placed on bamboo stems is roasted in a bonfire. The cooked rice is brought out of the bamboo stem and served hot with meat or fish. Sunga chaul is generally a special catch during the “feast of new rice”.

> Duck or pigeon curry: Duck or pigeon curry is considered as authentic cuisines of the Assamese tradition. The dish is generally cooked with a meagre amount of oil and spices including cumin seeds, bay leaves, coriander, cardamom, ginger, garlic, etc. Duck curry, which is a signature dish of the Assamese culture, is often cooked with kumura (white gourd).

> Sewa diya bhaat: Bora chaul (sticky rice) soaked in water is steamed. The cooked rice is then served with yogurt or chicken curry.

> Polu leta: Polu Leta (silk cocoon) is first boiled and removed from its shell. The boiled cocoon is then fried and served with the meal.

Besides these scrumptious delicacies, other succulent sweets and desserts include, narikal laru (coconut laddoo), til pitha, ghila pitha, etc. Also don’t forget to wrap up your day with a rich taste of Haaz or Rohi or take that winey taste of Judima.

Food

1. Pizza hut:

2. 11th Avenue:

3. Foodie’s world:

4. Kalita Café:

5. The Boho Roots café:

6. Chicago pizza:

Growing café culture of Guwahati

An aromatic entrant in the city

Cooking with chemicals

About Lavazza

Another grievous tale

This is what he wrote:

More horrifying abuses

Exercise it out:

Cut off the intake of caffeine

Switch to chamomile tea

Expose to sunlight:

Listen to good music

Replace your regular cup with green tea

Yoga and meditation:

Oh those tempting smoothies!

Let’s stress on pizza and burger

Below are some of the snaps from the rest of our journey.