Marwaar Food Festival at Nawab Saheb, Renaissance Powai

"Keshariya Baalam Aao ji.... Padharo mhare desh mein"

Renaissance means -Revival. Revival in the world of art and learning. It also means renewal of Life, Vigor, and interest.

If I tell you that I am having a Renaissance with food or vice versa, I would like you to be not surprised but excited, as excited as I was, as I am.

Indeed, when I received a call to attend the media table hosted by Renaissance, Powai, Mumbai to bring forth the authentic Rajasthani/ Marwar cuisine, I was nothing but excited! I belong to Rajasthan and had been staying away in different cities in India, little do I get a chance to try Marwadi cuisine. And if it is "authentic", I am all game.

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel is celebrating the vibrant culture and cuisine of Marwar with traditional Rajasthani Food festival. A specially designed, well-crafted menu featuring a "wide selection" of exotic, enthusing, rich in flavor dishes from the Marwar region will entice your taste buds and suit your palate.

Renaissance is hosting this brilliant, finger licking, a sumptuous food festival at their Indian Specialty Restaurant, Nawab Saheb from 20th June to 30th June. This festival showcases a wide array of choices to spoil your taste buds, making you wanting "some more, some more". 

The festival has everything for everyone including meat lovers. Succulent dishes like Shikar Maas ka Soola, Murgh Amer, and Machchi Rajasmandi to delight their guests. And if you are pure vegetarian, worry no more, cause the dishes are very well segregated and kept separately, including the vessels, spoons everything. Knowing the sensitive vegetarian food lovers in Mumbai, like me, I guess this disclaimer is very much needed. Besides, I am an eggetarian so the experience shared here will be more towards the vegetarian fare.

My experience at Marwar Food Festival, Nawab Saheb, Renaissance.

Friday,20th June 5:00 pm IST-  It all started at 5 pm in afternoon when I was reviewing my team for their performance and have hurried my way out meeting a gracious Mrs. Sunanda Shetty [Mother of beautiful actress Shilpa Shetty] to wish her happy birthday at her beautiful residence, filled with lovely Tanjavur paintings.. A look at my watch and another at my office dressing, I was all disheartened. Time was a luxury that I could not waste, so I kept my thoughts aside and went on doing my karma.

6:00 pm Evening- I received few missed calls and text from the Main Chef- Sandeep Pandey, checking my time of arrival so that he can receive me at the lobby. Such a hospitality, I was moved. There is no way, I can miss being there, let the bad hair be, let the timelessness be, let the rush be, let all the be, be!

7:00 pm - I was relieved to get free however, there was not much time for me to go home, dump my office bags and freshen up. So I decided to throw caution to winds and requested my mother to join me midway. A very ruffled me reached the venue at almost 15 minutes late at 8:15 pm after battling mad traffic, unfamiliar driver and wrong detour in absence of a map. 

I rang Chef to check and found him very graciously waiting in the lobby to escort me. I reached the venue and excused myself for a minute so that I can quickly go to the powder room, fix my hair and wash my hands to enjoy the authentic cuisine with my hands. Isn't that the way how you should eat Indian food, especially Rajasthani food? Yes, it is :)

On my way to the powder room, I saw this live counter making "ghewar" a traditional sweet dish from Rajasthan. In that second, the aroma took me into its stride and I forgot all tussles that the day put me through and could not wait to be served.

The Live Ghewar Counter

Food Trail- From Starters to the Main course to Dessert

The more I say is less. I am a foodie and I go out for food or order home delivery at least twice a week. I have a great penchant with starters but very rare dining had been able to delight me with their innovation, creativity and different taste. Well, Renaissance was one of the rares and I absolutely loved the way they experimented with "Ker Sangri ke seekh", "Sesame Aloo Mangodi Seekma", Paneer Papad roll, Paneer ke Sholay, Mirch Khilma etc. The 4 varieties of chutney including garlic, mint, tamarind, and Sesame added to taste and were made flawlessly.

Flawless is the word that I associated with the "main course" as well. I was spoiled with a variety of side dishes like that delectable Subz Jodhpuri, Ker Sangra, Chena Nagori Methi and Malai Saunf ke aloo, Ramadana Gatta Curry that paired so well with Indian bread like Missi roti, Jov & Bajre ka Rotla among others. The Kesari bhaat was mild but well-flavored rice cooked with less spice but a good flavor of Ghee and was a delight to savor. Oh! I feel hungry again.

How can a Rajasthani Food fare be complete without Daal-baati, churma? Well, Renaissance not just included it but also made it delicious. To top it, they have around four varieties of Choorma and 4 varieties of traditional Halwas.

After eating all these, I had no space left for dessert and I quickly savored a piece of rasmalai with enriching Moong Daal ka halwa, finishing with a bite of yummy Ghewar that just melted in my mouth.

Everything from the venue to setting to variety to taste and to hospitality was perfect to the T. Dining at Renaissance has always been a pleasure, gourmand, food-coma trip, and this one were indeed a cherishing one. 

In case, if you love eating out or trying a new cuisine or you have heard about Rajasthani food, intrigued but never tried, tried but not sure of taste, tasted and love it, I strongly recommend to go ahead and dine at Nawab Saheb at Renaissance. After all, we work so hard to have a #BetterLife and indeed being Indian, we love eating. Treating our taste buds to rich, sumptuous Rajasthani food festival would indeed be a joy worthy to take. I went with my mom and a dear friend Disha and we all loved it beyond the limits of our appetite, beyond the flavors that we got used to in name of Marwari food festival otherwise [as diluted by popular thali dining in cities n malls]

Venue- Nawab Saheb, Renaissance Convention center, Powai

Timing- 7:30pm to 11:45 pm

In case, you want to book before going, you can call at- 022 66927558 and get it reserved.

Not to forget the yum-licious, tongue licking appetizers there including masaledaar chaach, Jaljeera, and mocktails. I also tried a rose based "Gulkand-betel" mock-tail recommended by chef and can vouch that you would not have drink something as sweet yet tantalizing as this. Go ahead and soak in food fare like a fresh Jalebi soaks itself in a bowlful of sugar syrup. Slurp!

Here's a picture video for all things at "Nawab Saheb" Marwar Food fest. 

And that's how a "Daal baati" crumbles.. Suggest, add a little choorma and a good serving of the tangy pickles that the skillful Chef at Renaissance crackles, and make your day! Bon Appetite

Oriflame Nature Secret Relaxing Manicure Set- Lavender and Fig

Are you working for long hours on your computer, laptop or smartphones? Tired fingers or RSI hurting you continuously? 

Or that nail looked chipped and dull? 

Oops dull looking hands, brazened by cleaning soap and sun tan? 

Getting ready for a Tea party but no time to visit Salon?

Just back from a long holiday from beach with sun tan all over including your beautiful hands?

Or simply, you want to pamper your hardworking hands? 

If you have either of the above syndrome or what the heck even if none of it, it is high time that your ever on the duty hands, needs some TLC AKA Tender Love and care. One simple thing is to visit a spa/salon and get an expensive manicure done. Another even simpler is to "DIY" Do It Yourself Manicure at home.

I have this bad habit of chewing off my nails and I am ultra lazy to do anything for self, leave alone applying moisturizer in my hands. I love to visit my Spa and get pampered. however, there is a limit I can frequent to a Salon and there is a time/availability restriction too. Given my hectic lifestyle, visiting parlors have become limited and sorry state of my dull, dry hands made me try a DIY manicure solution from one of my favorite brands- Oriflame.

Oriflame Nature's Secret Relaxing Manicure Set

I chose this product for my love for all things natural, lavender and that intrigue that Figs in beauty products creates for me.

The kit came in a beautiful square box with branded print and bright colors mixed with visuals of key ingredient lavender and fig on the product labels. I was very excited to try it out. 

The kit came with 4 products and the step by step instruction in that order-

1. Oriflame Nature's Secret Lavender & Fig Hand Soak 150 ml - Take a an appropriate sized bowl/flat bucket to soak your hands. Add warm water and pour 2 caps of the soak and mix. Soak your hands for minimum 10 mins before next step. It is a non foamy solution that aims at pure relaxation.
2. Oriflame Nature's Secret Lavender & Fig Hand Scrub 150g-  Squeeze out almost 2 teaspoon quantity [for both hands] and rub it on the hands from palm to wrist, covering the desired area in up-down and circular movements for 5 minutes. Reapply if required and then clean off with a soaked towel. I used a white hand towel soaked in hot water and wrapped it around the scrubbed areas for proper steaming.
3. Oriflame Nature's Secret Lavender & Fig Cuticle Softener 15 ml- it is packed in an applicator pen tube and is quite runny if not hold correctly. Apply it on nail cuticles and rub slowly, pushing the cuticles behind with the applicator. I used a cuticle pusher pin from my other manicure set.
4. Oriflame Nature's Secret Lavender & Fig Hand Massage Cream 150g- Wipe off the hands post step no3 and time to wrap up "relaxing manicure" session with a hearty hand massage. Take an adequate quantity of the hand cream and apply it on the hands, massaging it thoroughly. 

Tra la la la..you are done! 

Since I was reviewing this product so I used it on my best alibi oops my mom's hands which were tired and needed some TLC. I tried the product twice before posting my experience so that only a fair and just review goes on from me to the readers of Hautekutir.com. [Probably the reason I do lesser reviews as I suggested earlier too, to ensure the opinions are biased free and not carried over by PR sample that Bloggers get] Nevertheless, I had a good experience with the product and it has gained a seat in my chest of Cosmetics and Care. 

What I loved about this product

1) The product not just looks good but leaves a good effect during the usage and post usage.

2) The size for each is quite adequate.

3) The texture is smooth and it is gentle on hands

4) Beautiful packaging

5) Misty Composition of Lavender and Fig

6) Labeled step by step instruction

7) Details of all ingredients used, on label

8) Simple, non messy application

9) Lavender , lavender, Lavender.... Fig, Fig...Fig

What I did not like 

1) It is not a complete manicure solution and aims only at relaxation

2) Suitable only for gentle and delicate/young skin

Haute Kutir's Verdict- The product has a unique proposition of lavender and fig, both a good composition for nature based products. It has a mild, soothing fragrance and comes in a handy pack of 4 travel friendly tubes. The kit is not a "treatment" kit but a "maintenance" kit and is best suitable for women with soft, delicate skin. If you do not feel a huge difference on first use, don't get disheartened as you can see a better difference post 2-3 usages. It is a high end, branded product that lives to it's name and has "relaxing" effect on you. Ah! I loved the fragrance and it's calming effect on my tired hands

Do I recommend this product? Yes off course 

In case if you have used it or looking ahead to try...do share your feedback here. For any other beauty related question, drop me your query in the comment box below. Till then, happy grooming and Happy relaxing!

Join Haute Kutir on Instgram and stay updated. My Instagram handle is ektakhetan

Oriflame Pure Nature Rose Extracts Refreshing Rose Water

A Rose speaks of Love silently in a language known only to the heart

Yes, I love roses and swear by them when it comes to my daily beauty regime. My fascination for rose water goes long back to my childhood where, this pristine liquid was a quintessential part of my daily grooming regime. I would not complete my bath without drops of rose Eau de in it or I would ensure to dab rose water on my face post every face wash. The products changed but the trend continue and no wonder Rose water was the most staple cleanser/ toner in my kitty all these years, irrespective of brands.

With time I became more open to new brands and hence came across Oriflame Pure Nature Rose Extracts Refreshing Rose water. I am so glad that I did.

Before I tell you how much I liked it and what I liked about it, let me tell you a brief about my skin. I always had a problem free skin but off late given the stressed lifestyle, frequent change of weather/water [thing to do with my frequent relocations], food and growing fondness for make up has taken it's toll on my skin. Hence I have become very choosy wrt products that I use on my skin. My skin type is combination, Wheatish to fair.

The product- Oriflame Pure Nature Rose water is a non comeodgenic, totally water based and alcohol free product. 

It is has a multi purpose utility for skin which means - it can be used as facial cleanser, toner, face mist. You can also add it as a diluting agent for your face packs and also as a good after shave for males.

Price- Rs 123 for 75ml bottle is totally worthy of the benefit it offers.

Package- The product comes in a transparent, plastic white and  clear dispenser bottle with a well fixed cap and an adequate size labeling which also includes the instruction to use and list of ingredients used in this.

The bottle is handy and yes, very travel friendly.

My experience-

Before using this product, I was happily using Dabur Gulabari [since childhood], Lotus Rose Skin Toner and other Rose face mist by TheNaturesCo among others. While I found Lotus Rose toner, a little too strong for sensitive skin like mine and TheNaturesCo face mist, a little too soft, Oriflame fits the bill perfectly.

I use this product every time I was my face and must say that this product totally works for me. I find it natural and refreshing.

I have done a different swatch test with it, wherein I have used this product on one part of my face post washing my face with soap, cleanser and water. To do so, I have sprayed it on one side of my face [while keeping my eyes closed] and wiped it off a clean cotton ball. The cotton ball with help of Oriflame rose toner did help in removing that extra dirt off my skin which even soaps like Fiama with Green Tea extracts could not remove.

What I liked about it-

1. Its quite natural to feel as it claims and refreshing too
2. It is non Comeodgenic, water based and Alcohol free
3. It has hydrating ingredients and doesn't leave my skin dry or flaky
4. It is mildly and pleasantly perfumed
5. It passed my swatch test wherein it helped me rid off extra dirt particles from my skin even post wash
6. International luxury at affordable price

What I did not like much-

1. It contains Paraben- Ethyl, Methyl and Propyl
2. It hurts if sprayed mistakenly in eyes.  Usually I apply rose water for relaxing my eyes during sleep and wonder if I can use the same product or not.

Haute Kutir Verdict- It is an undisputed #mustHave product in your grooming bag from the house of Swedish cosmetics Oriflame. I so much loved this product that I stopped using all other rose toners currently available to me. You can also carry this in your bag and use to freshen up your face anytime, any place sans soap and water. At price of Rs 123, it is a catch and the bottle indeed lasts for more than a month.  I so much loved the fragrance and it remains static every time I use it. Soft, delicate and pampering. 

Rating: 4.5 out of 5. 

Do I recommend? Yes off course, strongly recommend.

If you have used this product or wanted to know more before trying it out, do let me know here in the comment section.

Blog Event: Royal Challenger B'Lore with Virat Kohli gets Bowled over by Huawei

April 2014, I have attended this Press Conference with Mr. Cai Liquin, CEO. Huawei India and Mr. Russell Adams, VP RCB.

The press conference held at Taj Land's end, Bandra, Mumbai was a date to remember. With press [tons of them], media, RCB unit members, and attendees from Huawei joined in too -

1) Launch the new team T-shirt for RCB for the upcoming IPL and
2) Launch of new Huawei Handset

The chief guest of the event was the Skipper RCB- Virat Kohli who joined in between his practices and flight to unveil the new Jersey for the team. Here are few glimpses from the event-

The press conference announced the much-anticipated tie-up of Huawei, a telecom giant with the RCB team. Huawei is essentially into the network communication business including telecom instruments and devices. Oh yes, they manufacture beautiful handsets too. Regarding the handset, well keep watching this space for more. You wanna, I betcha cause Huawei Handsets are really cool and worth watching for. 

Ciao

L`Oreal Paris 6 Oils Nourish Extraordinary Oil Review

Hair is an essential part of our beauty. It talks "volume", "shine" and "health" of our styling and grooming. Maybe that is why we heard "a bad hair day" and not a "bad lipstick day" or bad "rouge day". 

Upkeeping of hair in today's age of busy life, stress, pollution and harsh chemicals, has become a huge a challenge. On top of that, the beeline of products in the market makes the task tougher. Decades back, people would know only a thing or two about hair care and they were all natural. Today, however, if you go to market, you are most likely to be flooded with advice on "things" that you can do "for" your hairs including buying this shampoo, going for that Spa, that medicine, that treatment and so on.

Though I tried multiple such "therapies" and may keep trying some more in my life but my hair care regime remains simple and fixed till date. i.e. Oiling, Shampooing and Conditioning... all Twice in a week, in the same order of preference. 

Oiling is an essential part of my hair care. It is a regime that I am following since my childhood and I still ensure that I do oil my hair in advance before washing them. Minimum time can be half an hour and maximum can be a day as well. The day when I shampoo my hair without pre-oiling, I feel inadequate and my scalp, thirsty.

I have a very sensitive hair, sensitive than my skin. When I say sensitive, I mean, that there are very few products that suit my hair including oil. Off late, I have been very restrictive in terms of experimenting with new oils and shampoos as constant travel and change of weather, plus my stressful lifestyle makes it difficult.

When L`Oreal Paris India, approached me to review one of the new product in their International Kitty, I had my own reservations but it being L`Oreal, I relented.

I am a regular L`Oreal user whether it is hair care, skin care or makeup and had a good history with all their products. Hair oil was new for me and little hope, I agreed for the review.

Thank God, I agreed for the review. For the oil has turned very effective for me and I am all gaga over it. Before I share my experience, let me give you a quick insight on my hair condition-

1) Medium length, wavy, Black and brown, Off late Thin

2) Dandruff-prone, dry, tendency to get dull, rough [ no thanks to my travel and stress]

3) Dry to oily. However, no split ends.

4) Scared of Hair fall

Prior trying this oil, I was using Soulflower Castor Oil, mixed with Amla Oil and occasionally coconut oil. I was looking for almond oil but the pure one and not what is branded and sold in perfumed bottles in market [My brother in law used to get it from a town in Punjab and they were awesome]

L`Oreal Paris 6 Oils Nourish Oil is non-sticky, non-greasy, not too heavy laden with fragrance and worked well for my hair. Here's what I liked about this product and what I did not-

What I liked about it-

1) Non-Greasy / Nonsticky

2) Neutral Smell [ no perfumed fragrance or pungent feel]

3) Lightweight

4) Makes hair soft, shiny and smooth right from first application

5) Easy to wash and does not require shampooing twice.

6) Controls Frizz

7) Easy to apply/absorb

What I did not like

Honestly nothing much till date. Maybe you can say the- glass bottle packing. Even then I believe glass pack would be better than plastic w.r.t chemical contents used in plastics that can mix with oils as diverse as these.

Well that my personal opinion about the product and as I always maintained that my opinions are strictly personal, stated otherwise and they are not prejudiced in any manner, whatsoever. I received this product couple of months ago and I agreed to have it tried for a relatively effective period of time before posting my feedback and experience. 

So if you liked what I liked and want to know more about the product, here we go-

Product: L`Oreal Paris 6 Oils Nourish Oil is a unique hair oil product [essentially for female] with a unique proposition of 6 oils [3 traditional; 3 Exotic]  with 6 benefits viz-

Almond Oil          Coconut Oil           Olive Oil           Argan oil          

Camelina Oil        Jojoba oil

Strong          Soft           Smooth          Thick          

Shiny       Manageable

Price: Priced at Rs 199/- for 100 ml, this oil makes it a worth buying, given the benefits it translates to your hair and styling.

Packaging- The oil is packed in a pretty looking transparent glass bottle with adequate labelling and branding in the tune of all products in a range of L`Oreal Paris 6 Oil Nourish [Shampoo, conditioner and mask; I am yet to try them]. The packaging looks lovely and needs to be handled with care. Also, it comes with a list of all ingredients used in this product including Mineral oil.

Place/ promotion: The oil is widely available at various supermarkets and shops including the online stores like Nykaa.com.  The range was latest advertised in TV featuring their brand ambassador Katrina Kaif. [In case if she is a purchase influence for you :)]

Overall I am happy using this product and next change will try their shampoo and conditioner in the same range too. In case, I did, you may definitely find the review here. Oh yes, do I recommend this hair oil? Definitely yes.

Go buy it, cause your hair, totally worth it!

All's well that ends well - Product Review of TRESemme Shampoo and Conditioner

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.  ~Kahlil Gibran

The hair is the richest ornament of a woman, said Martin Luther King and I can assure that no women will disagree with it. Indeed they spend a lot of time, perfecting, doing, managing this natural ornament of theirs, their crowning glory.

Hair care in modern age is not mere a luxury but a mandatory practice for every one who do not want to lose their hair or least of all, mar/ underplay her personna, her looks with bad hair. No wonder, the market is inundated with plethora of products across the globe, across the life sciences including horticulture..right a product claims to use flower extract, other claims to use fruit extracts and a other claims something else.

In such confusing time, of high marketing and banding, how will you know that which product is right for you? Off course, from "word of the mouth" i.e using the experience and feedback of people those who have almost similar type like you and faced similar issues as you do. Pie over the pudding is if they try different products and tell you one from the other, with the benefits and banes.

That is the reason "Haute Kutir" does selective product reviews and blogs about the experiences either purely personal or mixed with experiences of other users. I am no brand's PR you see. So expect nothing but truth here, with PR or prejudice :)

TRESemme Split Remedy Solution

TRESemme, one of the new entrants in India which has moved many pillars of "professional solutions" in the market, claiming its products to be saloon like [i.e. professional treatments] has come up with a new product to "rescue split ends" and not just rescue hair from split ends but all to cure it by 97%

Now that is quite a tall statement and whether that statement is true or not, lets decide it only via-

1) Learning from the people who experienced the same

2) Trying out yourself.

My Tryst with TRESemme Split Remedy

Frankly, I do not have a great split end problem and I hate experimenting my sensitive hair with new products. So, when TRESemme launched this new range, given my past good experience with their Ramp ready shampoo, I thought of giving it a try and also asked my neighbor, who is getting married soon but is facing split end problems, to use the same. Before I share the experiences, here's alittle listing about the product-

About the product-  TRESemme Split Remedy shampoo& conditioner, genty cleanses and moisturizes hair making it look healthy and manageable while reducing split ends up to 80% after just 3 uses. 

The unique system, with an innovative "reconstructing" complex [TM] binds split ends- and with continued use, fixes damage as it occurs. This hair care for split ends leaves strands looking Saloon fresh, soft, smooth and easy to style.

Price: 

What is a split ends and how is it caused?

It is often caused due to harsh chemicals and roughness. SOmetime lasck of right diet and heavy stress.

Traditional/ wide spread methods of treating split ends: Ages ago, women would lite a candle and run the flame over their single strands to try and stick n treat their split ends. You can imagine how effective could be that solution. Some like me, tied their ends in braids, post rigorous oiling leading to stained pillows. Some went for expensive treatments at saloon.

Another most common way to treat split ends is- regular trimming.

To which TRESemme suggested that "Your hair should have beautiful ends, and that endings should never be cut short."

This is a chemical based shampoo and the key ingredients are- Amino and silicone among others [well placed on bottle] like water, Glycol Disterate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Biotin etc. These ingredient form together to in a synergy to reduce the split ends.  It formulates a soft coating on your hair post every wash to help bring the hair fiber together, reducing the friction between each and aligns them together to bring splinted ends into one. 

My overall experience and feedback-

Frankly I used this shampoo for only 5 washes, wherein my neighbor did it more regular. The feedback in terms of "what worked" and "what did not" is as below-

What worked-

1) The shampoo and conditioner have a very smooth texture and leaves your hair feeling fresh post wash

2) The product is very mildly fragranced and hence good for hair.

3) It leathers well and easy to rinse out

4) Economically prized, easily available in retail plus online markets

5) Good packaging with contrast color bottle to place them neatly on shower and identify shampoo from conditioner

What did not work for me-

1) The shampoo like it's other range, leathers well. However, it does not washes the oil completely in one wash and you need to wash it twice at least. Well that may be good thing but indeed that double application does not leave your hair harsh n rough is a good thing too.

Will I purchase this again: May be no as I barely have any splt ends problem [touch wood]

Do I recommend to others? May be yes but depending on their air type and nature of problem.

Giveaway-

If you want to win 2 free set of this product, enter my giveaway here-

To enter this, you need to-

1) Like HauteKutir on Facebook

2) Follow me on Instagram

3) Follow my Blog

4) Drop a comment on this post suggesting your hair type and hair woes.

In case, if you do not want the comment to be publicized, you can drop me a email and I will be happy to help you with a right product for your hair.

Till then, happy blogging and yeah do shampoo twice a week, followed by conditioner.
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