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Sacred Games – TV Series Review

July 18, 2018July 18, 2018 Lancelot Quadras 1 Comment

Since the beginning of July, the show “Sacred Games” has been hovering around every Mumbaikar in the form of;

Billboards
Metros
Ads on TV, Radio etc
And of course friends tagging on Facebook as “Now Watching”

These all factors and a good marketing campaign made sure that everyone knows that Netflix India is here to stay. But did this story live up to the hype?

*Here be spoilers

Sacred games had it all; Drama, Gang wars, Politics, Religion, Love and Lust, Sex and mystery. The show is based during the 1980’s in Mumbai showcasing the rise of an ordinary man who turns into a most wanted criminal. There are 2 time loops running simultaneously in the show;

Where the show is set in the 80’s and 90’s and shows how Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) ran the show in Mumbai.
Current day in 2018 as Inspector Saratj Singh (Saif Ali Khan) finds clues to the warning Gaitonde gave him about “Mumbai having just 25 days before something big will wipe it out”.

What I liked about the show:

The story was fast paced. Yes, not as fast as the latest season of Game of Thrones, but fast enough for an audience like India. Audience was gripped all throughout the episodes hoping for a good ending and not expecting any of the leads to die or lose a finger! That is something that we are not used to and hence for a change, it felt good.

The names of the episodes were all based on mythology and had different meanings to it. The way they showcased both the time lines made sense to each outcome of each event in the show.

The acting by almost every lead and also the supporting roles like those played by Kubra Sait ( Kuckoo), Jitendra Joshi (Katekar), Neeraj Kabi (Parulkar) and Jatin Sarna (Bunty) were one notch higher than expected. The climax leading to the next season too was jaw dropping. The dialogues too were differently showcased and I was amazed.

The first dialogue of the series too began like “Bhagwan ko l**d farak padhta hai”. If this was a disclaimer, then it fit the show very well. The soundtrack “Jungli Sher” by Divine is fitting to this show.

What I didn’t like about the show:

In all honesty, apart from a mistake in one scene, I did not find anything bad in general. The scene in question was when a lead dies of a head shot, a police inspector checks the pulse if the person is still breathing. That did not make sense to me.

Also, I wished there were more episodes. Maybe 2 more at least, but it does make sense to end it early rather than pull it as much as we do in our usual TV soaps.

Conclusion:

For whatever it’s worth, this story does justice, the actors have done justice to their roles and I’ll be waiting for the next season of Sacred Games.

Royal China Fort, Mumbai – Best Chinese Restaurant

August 20, 2017May 18, 2020 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

The concept of Fine dining in Bombay is ever-growing. This is because we have been demanding for good food a lot and we don’t mind shelling money for it. Royal China Fort is one such place that serves authentic Cantonese cuisine and promises you to have an amazing time as they’ve been doing it for the past 14 years!

Yes, they’ve been here for a very long time and hence you can trust them. You can find them all over India. Here are some of their outlets:

Royal China Pune

Royal China Delhi

Royal China Mumbai

Royal China Nehru Palace

Location and proximity of Royal China Fort from Station:

Royal China Fort is located behind Sterling Cinema. It’s a 10-minute taxi ride away from Churchgate station and just a 5 minute walk away from CST station.

Lighting and seating at Royal China Restaurant Mumbai

Ambiance and seating in Royal China Restaurant

When I entered this place on a Monday evening at 9 pm, it was almost packed. They have a place which can easily seat around 70 people. They have a private dining space too which has 2 tables that can seat 12 on each table. The lighting is a bit dim and also there is no space congestion as such.

Food and Drinks (Appetizers) in Royal China restaurant:

We got to try 3 types of dim sums and 3 appetizers along with 2 cocktails per person.

Godfather: A classic whiskey-based cocktail that never ever disappoints me. I always try the whiskey-based cocktails wherever I go and this was amazing as it should be. A must-have!

Mai-Tai: Mai Tai is usually a white rum-based cocktail with more fruit in it. Unfortunately here the rum was overpowered and hence it felt more like a fruity mocktail. Maybe an off day but they can certainly improve on this.

Daiquiris: I had the kiwi version of this. Tastes really good.

Old Fashioned: Another whiskey-based cocktail. Similar to the Godfather and yes, similar is my review for it too. It’s too good and strong in taste. Not for the faint-hearted.

Prawn Crab-meat and Black Pepper Dumpling: I’m really surprised by what they have achieved here. This dumpling had the right amount of meat and pepper which balanced well. It is not spicy and has a good taste.

Chicken and Chive dumpling: My verdict for this is OK-ok. Unfortunately, I’m to blame for this. We’ve tried so many chicken dumplings with masala that our taste buds are used to it. I continuously kept comparing it to the ones I’ve had elsewhere and this couldn’t live up to it. But overall it’s still good.

Dumpling at best chinese restaurant in Fort Mumbai

Wild Mushroom Crystal Dumpling: I’m surprised to say this but this was the best dumpling of the night. Yes, the staff recommended this and we are glad we listened to them. It’s soft, tender, non-spicy, and has a good taste.

Smoked shredded chicken: The Cantonese cuisine is drier than gravy options and hence the shredded chicken here felt like the dry chicken pieces which we have as appetizers. It’s decent no doubt but without any sauce/dips to accompany it, it will definitely feel drier.

Tenderloin in Truffle Oil: Yes, this was a revelation. The tenderloin was well cooked and the meat was tender. It did not take much effort for me to keep chewing it for a long time. Tastes good.

Steamed prawns with Garlic: A must-have for those who like prawns. The prawns here are accompanied by soy sauce and garlic. The overall result is an awesome prawn dish.

Main Course at Royal China Fort:

Egg Fried Rice – Chicken Fried Soya Noodles: We were provided with vegetable gravy and a sauteed whole garoupa fish. To accompany those were egg fried rice which is nothing but wok-tossed rice with egg. Trust me, this is the best egg fried rice I’ve ever tried this year for sure. Soya noodles were decent but can be avoided.

Shaolin Monks Vegetable Pot: This pot has a lot of exotic veggies mixed with sauces that are perfect for you to end the night here. This is more on the sweeter side and if you prefer a nonspicy dish, this is what you can try!

Garoupa fish – I loved their style of serving an entire fish on a huge platter. This was served topped with ginger, red chilies, and spring onion on a base of soy sauce. Amazing and a must-have for those who like their fish.

Desserts at Royal China Restaurant:

Mud Cake with Ice cream: They can never go wrong in food and drinks. Hence expecting them to make a mistake in desserts is a crime. The chocolate mud cake was well made. It was thick and very tasty. To accompany this was vanilla ice cream. It complimented the mud cake well.

Steamed Buns with Creamy custard: This is an unusual dessert and I must recommend you try this. The bun is steamed and there is a creamy custard filling inside. Yes, it’s a bit warm but that does not take the taste away.

Conclusion for Royal China Restaurant Menu:

Overall, I have visited a few fine dining places this year and Royal China Fort definitely deserves one of the top spots. They’re really good with the food menu, drinks, desserts and also with their hospitality. The staff here needs a special mention.

For the time I was there, I noticed all the time the staff were on their toes and looked around if the diners needed something. This is commendable.

Indeed they are on the costlier side as every dish will cost you over 450. But that should not stop you from visiting this place once a while as the food is worth it.

You can also read – Find Netflix Secret Codes that will unlock hidden categories!

When Change Happens – Book Review

June 13, 2017May 19, 2020 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

Today I finished reading a book named “When Change Happens” by Lalit Jagtiani

The book in general is about Change management.

Change management is a process of aligning employees with the desired change in the organization. This concept is applicable not only in corporate lives but also in every other part of our life. Change is inevitable indeed.

Firstly, the book begins with the protagonist Matt who is bored with his work. The monotony is creeping up with him. He soon gets a call from his superior where he gets to know he will be part of a trained task force of 15 people who will be change agents in the organization. Their ulterior motive is to bring a change in the employees efficiency!

When I started reading this book, there was so much I could relate to it as I’m working too. Yes, change is necessary. It’s possible that you are good at you’re work or you’re lagging behind always. What’s worse is when you don’t know where you’re heading and what are you doing.

I must say that the author has done a fantastic job by linking this concept with a corporate executive kind of a character. That’s how people; old or young can relate to. They have been in his position once in their life. They can know what all happens in the organization right from appreciation to politics to promotions to back stabbing!

It’s that way I could finish this story in 2 reading sessions.

I’d earnestly request all of the professionals to definitely read this book as a concept like this needs to be highlighted a lot more often that it currently has.

The book embarks a journey of how most of our problems can be solved internally itself.

We don’t need to find reasons for low sales if we find out why our sales team is not motivated.
Also, we don’t need to find out why the company is not faring better against the competition if we cannot find out why the inter departments are fighting among themselves to get the best team award!
We don’t need to keep hiring people all the time if we can find out why are they leaving in the first place.

With a shared vision where both the employee and the organization benefit, there will only be success and growth! To change, we need to know why is it needed and what benefits can it get to the organization.

However, it’s easier said than done! There’s a lot of effort which will be needed to put in. Only changing your working style won’t help. Consistency is the key for success over the years.

In conclusion, we cannot do anything alone. We need to get through this together!

You can visit the website for the page – #WhenChangeHappens by clicking here – LINK

You can also purchase this book via Amazon by clicking here – LINK

Food Review – Hungry Head, Mumbai

November 26, 2016April 29, 2020 Lancelot Quadras Leave a comment

Hungry Head had been on my list for a long long time.

Yes, you do not hear anyplace serving 50 types of MAGGI !!!

Chai Pe Charcha – Food Review

September 15, 2016April 29, 2020 Lancelot Quadras 2 Comments

Sir Arthur Wing Pinero once said, “Where there’s tea there’s hope.”

William Ewart Gladstone once said, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited it will calm you.”

I agree with these quotes and I’m sure most of you who’ve ever had tea will agree that’s what Tea does. It has the calming effect to suit your mood, to refresh, and to make sure you’re satisfied till the very end.

So with this enthusiasm, I did visit this place named “Chai Pe Charcha.”

The name itself is self-explanatory.

They have a total of 3 outlets namely;

Chai Pe Charcha – Prabhadevi

Chai Pe Charcha – Lower Parel

Chai Pe Charcha – Fort (Newly opened)

I visited the newly launched place in Fort.

Every place has it’s own distinct style.

They’ve used a lot of colors in the entire outlet and you’re destined to feel like a child when you’re here as the tables have games set up such as Ludo and Chess.

Moving on, their menu has a lot of variety. There’s a lot of variety in;

Tea of course!

Breakfast options like Sabudana Wada, Upma, Kanda Poha, and Bun Maska.

Paranthas (You ought to try many)

Combos (Like a mini-meal)

img_20160911_172222_hdr — The menu variety in a nutshell

When we entered this place, these were the two pictures present on either side of the gate.

The above picture depicts what Chai Pe Charcha has in store to offer for their customers. On the other side of the gate is their menu which is too much to fathom and impossible to complete even in 10 outings!

img_20160911_172300_hdr — Their menu placed right on the entry. Look at the variety!

I tried 3 types of Tea namely;

Sukoon Ki Chai (Cinnamon and Fennel) which indeed was soothing.

Hajmola Tea – Just to get rid of the curiosity. The taste was exactly how I expected it to be. Chatpata!

Barfi Dum Chai – Cold Tea! (Yes, that’s also new and was a perfect way to end this outing.

img_20160911_174646_hdr — Barfi Dum Chai

img_20160911_172915_hdr — Sukoon Ki Chai – Liked the style in which they presented the Cutting Tea along with a sachet of sugar, A tissue, and Khari.

The above image is of a Cutting chai. There’s also a Full glass which is bigger than this!

Of course, having Tea was of prime importance but it’s incomplete without few snacks, right?

Here are a few signature dishes you ought-ta try for sure when you visit them.

img_20160911_173009_hdr — Gulkand Bun Maska

Gulkand Bun Maska is a must. It’s perfect and will go well with whichever Tea you’d like to have.

img_20160911_173028_hdr — Firangi Khakra – Nachos Style

Firangi Khakra – Nachos Style is for those who like cheese, capsicum, and also khakra! I liked this combo and the name is catchy.

Of course, there has to be chocolate. The Nutella pizza is decent and you cannot hate it simply because it’s Nutella!

img_20160911_180712_hdr — Namak and Laal Mirch Parantha

I tried the Paneer, Cheese, Pyaaz, and finally the Namak and Laal Mirch Paranthas. They all are filling, heavy, tasty, and will leave you with a smile and surely a Burp later!

img_20160911_183555_hdr — Sabudana Khichdi and in the background, we can see the Ludo Game.

The posts in the lower portion of the image are for everyone who has visited this place. They write something about the place. I did too.

This outlet of Chai Pe Charcha is supposedly the biggest. It can seat a lot more people than both the other outlets.

Chai Pe Charcha is most fondly known as a takeaway place for the corporate folks and people who stay nearby.

Visit this place and I promise you’ll not be disappointed.

Chai pe Charcha can be found in Andheri, Marol, Prabhadevi, Dadar & Malad. So if you wish to find Chai pe charcha near me, check out Zomato!

Follow my food journey on Zomato and Instagram

Here are my past posts for the A to Z Challenge

Tag: Review