Map In My Pocket

Tag: Food Photography

What’s in my Camera Bag?
Let two people interested in Photography come together and the conversation immediately veers to what lenses one has, which camera body one uses and so on and so forth!

So, for all those who wanted to know what gear I use, here it is.

This is what’s in my camera bag.

Camera

Nikon D810

My first DSLR was a DX, Nikon D7100 (18-105mm) DSLR Kit. It was feature loaded for its time and still is amongst one of Nikon’s bestsellers. & then sometime last year as I was shooting a night wedding, outdoors in a low light setting (totally out of my depth here) it suddenly stuck me that it was time for a Full Frame.

Bigger Sensor = More Information Captured = Better Image Quality

That is when I got my Nikon D810 Body.
& now even my time lapses come upload-ready. ?

*I would recommend that you only upgrade when you know you have outgrown your current system. I had used my D7100 for a full three years under different conditions to know exactly I was looking for.

Lenses

Nikon AF-S Nikkor VR 16-35mm F/4 G ED

Genre of Photography | Architecture

Now that I was upgrading and I pretty much knew what kind of photography I enjoyed the most, I decided not to get the kit lens and opted for this lens instead.

It is a brilliant choice for shooting architecture.

I am not a “digital nomad” and I only do a few big trips a year. What I do though, is to go on a whole lot of road trips, hunting down ruins, temples, forts et al. And, this lens not only gets in a lot more of that into the frame but it also gives you wonderful depth when shooting with clouds as a backdrop.

So for those days, which is most of the time, this lens is the only lens I carry.

Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

Genre of Photography | Landscape

The last lens I got myself was the 24-70mm as my ‘alternate primary lens’. Now, whatever that means!

Here is why.

The 16-35mm is still my primary but when it comes to good old landscapes it is a bit limiting. For you cannot really play around with your composition where landscapes stretch away infinitely in to horizon. (Read mountains, deserts..)

Also there are trips where I can only carry one lens and then there are those where I can take along all my lenses but the conditions are such that it gets tough to change them too often. For instance, shooting winter landscapes in the subzero tempertures of the Himalayas.

It has in fact become my go-to lens and it rounds out my camera system perfectly.

Nikon AF-S 85mm F/1.8G Prime

Genre of Photography | Portraits, Food, Macro

I use this lens only rarely. I can vouch for its picture quality though. It is super sharp and the background blur just about perfect.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm F/2.8G ED VR II

Genre of Photography | For everything else!

This one is a work horse and is probably one of the most loved Nikon lenses ever. And, rightly so. I use it for just about anything from Bird Photography to Portraiture.

Got this one even before I got my D810 and it works just as good on a DX body.

Camera & Lens Accessories

Tripods

Benro T600EX Tripod with Head

This basic Benro tripod is the one that I have always used.

An inexpensive aluminium tripod like this is perfectly good for most kinds of photography unless you intend to use it in difficult terrains. Besides you wont feel irresponsible for sending it off in check-in baggage!! ?

Manfrotto Befree Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

Because a sturdy, carbon fibre tripod can be used even in rough weather. For, it isn’t recommended to handle aluminium tripod legs without gloves in sub zero temperatures, also aluminium tripods are not sturdy enough in strong winds. Plus, this one is compact and lightweight too, making it ideal for Travel Photography.

& yes, it fits perfectly in the side pocket of my camera bag.

Velbon Sherpa 200R with PH157Q Pan Head

Sturdy. Available in India only now.

Camera Bags

Manfrotto Travel Backpack

National Geographic NG W5050 Small Rucksack

Memory Cards + Backup

Saves me the worry on those long trips entirely dedicated to photography. Also, it is safer to divide your memory into smaller units rather than risk putting all your photos and videos on one large memory card.

CF Cards

SanDisk Extreme PRO CF Card 32GB
SanDisk Extreme CF Card 32GB

SD Cards

SanDisk Class 10 SD Card 32 GB
SanDisk Class 10 SD Card 16 GB
Sony Class 10 SD Card 32GB

Card Reader

Transcend Card Reader for SD & CF Cards

Card Case

Memory Card Case (unbranded)

External Hard Disks

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB Hard Disk
Seagate Backup Plus Slim 4TB Hard Disk

I can never have enough of Hard Disks shooting RAW!

Spare Batteries

Nikon EN-EL15 for my D810. Extreme weather conditions, far out places lacking access to electricity call for these.

Lens Cleaning Kit

I have a basic Photron Lens Cleaning Kit but if don’t mind splurging a little then I would say go whole hog with the Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit. Besides being Zeiss, this one comes with a cleaning brush and a little pouch to carry it all in. Because, I know we all love our cameras and photography is one hobby that once you are in, you just cannot seem to stop coveting the brands or forever adding to the wishlist.

Camera Rain Cover

The Neewer Camera Rain Cover is the one accessory that I can not stop raving about! I have always just used my camera bag’s rain cover whenever I found myself stuck in a downpour while out shooting and had never really felt the need for this. And, then I got this camera rain cover as a gift and it was only after I used it in the Goa Monsoon, that I realised how much I loved it.

Extension Tubes

Kenko Extension Tubes + 85mm Prime = Macro Photography

Extras

iPhone 7+

Useful For| Portraits, Food Photography

Well, it is more of an essential rather than an extra. But yes, I use it for my Food Photography, Flatlays and whenever I want to quickly freeze a travel memory. That way I dont lose out on a moment looking for the right lens and I can still get a sweet enough background blur with the dual cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus.

Samsung Note 8

Useful For| Anything!

A mini point and shoot this one. Almost my secondary camera.

Manfrotto Pixi Smart

Useful For| Tripod for Videos, Selfies

Allows you to use the time-lapse and timer modes on the iphone.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8

Useful For| Fun Polaroids

It was a present and I take it along on trips when I can afford to pack a little extra. For just a little behind the scenes fun!

Got anything specific to ask about photography or camera gear? Let me know in the comments below.

You can also get in touch with me here.
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July 30, 2018
Cafe Review: Artika Cafe Gallery, Pondicherry

A hidden courtyard, swirling bougainvilleas dancing down in the breeze to carpet the floor, walls and doors adorned with graffiti that ranges from cute to edgy; the Artika Cafe Gallery in White Town, Pondicherry truly is a hidden gem.

Sequestered away behind a row of ordinary looking shops, this quiet and low key cafe is more of a local favourite than a tourist hotspot and probably the best French Cafe in Pondicherry. A couple of locals that we had met on our last trip to Pondicherry recommended Artika to us, after hearing of our experiences with the more popular “tourist favourites”. But as it is with cafes in Pondicherry (they are very particular about their timings and don’t usually stay open late or long!), I didn’t get a chance to go to Artika then. So, here I am now.

Artika Cafe Gallery, White Town, Pondicherry.

Ambience | Design + Crowd

?????

Courtyard Cafes have my heart anyway. But this one is a winner because it is artsy without trying too hard. Plus I really liked the abandoned and overrun kind of entrance into the cafe. Like you have stumbled upon something, though beautiful, is easy to miss.

I also loved the feel of the place. Relaxed. The crowd that it draws, seek it, for that too. It surely helps that Artika Cafe Gallery is more an offbeat favourite rather than a mainstream one!

Food

???

They have limited menus on certain days. On the day we were there they were out of both pesto and fries! So, I had croissants and cold coffee. But from whatever little we tried, the food was freshly made and tasted good. So, all in all the decent coffee and buttery croissants – though nothing exceptional – were good enough for me to want to go back.

Service | People + Hospitality

???

Not overtly friendly or over the top warm but welcoming enough for you to make yourself comfortable here at the cafe and even stay awhile. Ideal for those days when you just want to sit down, take it easy, maybe catch up with old friends.

Value for Money | Price + Experience

???

Mid Range cafe, you can get a main dish for less than Rs.300/-. So if it is just coffee and nibbles for two, except it to be around Rs.500/-. Definitely worth the experience.

Explorers Guide

Artika Cafe Gallery

1, La Bourdonnais Street
White Town, Puducherry

Timings: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM, Closed on Wednesdays.

Getting There: Just three lanes away from the promenade into the heart of White Town, it is easily accessible from the beach.

June 10, 2018
Eataly: To the Perfect Tiratisu!

Verrina Tiratisu

Home made mascarpone cream cheese with coffee flavoured spongecake topped with cocoa powder.

That’s Eatly’s Tiramisu for you. Hands down the best in Dubai and for me, counted amongst the few memorable ones from all those countless Tiramisus I have ever had!

Just the sight of the Tiratisu (a healthier version of the usual Tiramisu with Soy ingredients) at Eataly, Festival City is sure to cheer you up.

Thats what they mean, and that is what they do! Tiramisu comes from the Italian for ‘cheer me up’ and its new age variation Tiratisu translates to ‘cheer you up’. So let us begin. ?

How it Looks

Overlooking the waterfront, the views from the dining area make for a pleasant meal even on a hot summer afternoon.

& Winter nights are for sitting out.

Main Course

Skip the pasta.
Go Pizza, all the way!

For with the Aglio Olio pasta there was so much to ask for. It was ordinary and tasteless at best. The Pizza Margherita though, was absolutely yum, especially the crunchy crust.

Given that they don’t give you a side of bread with your pasta and even the bread basket that they do provide with at the beginning – “complimentary”, like they will be sure to tell you – has but a few slices obviously counted out, to the person and served.

I was left with no choice but to nibble on the Pizza crust to make my Pasta a tad bit more interesting and enjoyable.

Coffee & Desserts

From a dessert menu that revolves entirely around Nutella to coffee flavours that include Tiramisu, their coffee and desserts are amongst the most loved in Dubai, and rightly so.

So, if you happen to be there but don’t have the time for lunch, do stop by to taste their coffee. They serve illy too.

& how about some Tiramisu to go??

Know of other places that serves great desserts? What is your favourite at Eataly?
Do let me know in the comments below.

Eataly

Level 1, Festival City Mall
Dubai

+971 4 2241 083

Open: 9 am – 11:30 pm (weekdays)
9am – 12:30am (weekends, starting Thursday)

Read Next: I Heart Honey Bears: Le Pain Quotidien

Also Available

From coffee and chocolates to artisanal pastas and ready sauces, you can even shop at Eataly for everything that goes into your full course Italian Meal.

Straight from the restaurant’s Market.

May 27, 2017
24 Hours in Dubai

Dubai is my second home. Having briefly lived there in 2014, I have gone back to this glamorous city thrice since. So, when I had to pick my favourite city to spend 24 hours in, I didn’t really need to think twice!

The only choice was on how to go about it. It happens ever so often, that you are in an exciting new city thanks to a half day meeting or an 8 hour layover but you have just that many hours to explore. What do you do then? “Check in” at the most popular tourist landmarks first or would you rather hit the ground running but take your time walking around, soaking in the feel of the city?

So, here is what I have decided to do. A vegetarian not too crazy about cooking, there have been months – while living away from home – when I have survived and thrived on coffee and muffins. Taking a cue from that, I have mapped out a Coffee & Cake Crawl to spend 24 Hours in My Favourite City, in a way that I do not miss out on doing either the typical touristy stuff or going back to those little known haunts that you only discover if you have lived there.

Kick Start with a Local Breakfast @ La Brioche, Mirdif City Centre, 8AM

Though located out of the way in Mirdif and not in the happening Downtown Dubai, La Brioche is one of my favourite places for Breakfast in the city. Known for their ability in using and bringing to life a traditional Arabic recipe in the modern French nouvelle cuisine, their Zaatar Croissant is delectable. Zaatar is the Arabic equivalent to the Italian Oregano, but made way more interesting using Middle Eastern herbs and it totally livens up any croissant! I absolutely love to start with a hot cup of cappuccino or chocolate and finish up with dessert after digging into the croissant, for their food is definitely delicious and I don’t mind the big breakfast for once.

Stop 1: Miracle & Butterfly Gardens, 9:30AM

Yes, then Desserts

Ferrero Rocher and Mixed Berry Ice cream @Butterfly Garden

In The Neighbourhood

Burj Khalifa is old news. You say Dubai, and the first thing you remember is all those images of your friends with stunning backdrops flooding your social media news feed. That is Miracle Garden for you, created for showcasing extravagant floral structures. A garden that isn’t just a home to thousands of flowers but is more. Take a stroll through the adjoining Butterfly Garden, touted to be the world’s first Butterfly Museum and you will be surprised at how pleasurable a walk can be with butterflies of all colours and shapes fluttering around you with the chirping of tiny little birds in the background.

Stop 2: Jumeirah, 12:30 PM

Yes, then Desserts + Lunch

Red Pepper Pizza Cracker Slices & Butterfly Pea Flower Blue Ice Tea @Life’n One

In The Neighbourhood

Jumeirah means ‘Beautiful’ in Arabic and this neighbourhood is truly so. Quiet, with low rise villas and buildings built in the regional style, a rarity in the fast paced skyscraper crazy Dubai, it is peppered with some unique upmarket cafes. Go mild on the caffeine for a quick change and grab lunch at Lifen’ One, a vegan cafe and wellness centre that serves must-try raw organic food. Even for someone like me who is forever binging on fast food, this style of healthy food in a setting like that made for a quiet an interesting dining experience. Also in the neighbourhood is the Mercato Mall, built in the distinctive architectural style of the Renaissance this relatively old and forgotten community mall is yet another unique experience. Every medieval Italian town during the Renaissance was built around a ‘Mercato’, Italian for market and window shopping along the cobbled streets and piazzas of this mall only adds to the quaint quotient of this stop on the map.

Stop 3: Dubai Mall, 3PM

Yes, then Desserts

Red Velvet Cheesecake @Bloomingdales

In The Neighbourhood + Dinner

Dubai has now achieved iconic status in terms of the scale of its constructions and any projects that it undertakes, be it even the fact that it is all set to beat its own record of the World’s Tallest Building. So, how can you not shop in the World’s Largest Mall and rest your legs as you have dinner under the starlight sky with a backdrop of the World’s Largest Choreographed Fountain?!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3SNM6CiJH4&w=798&h=598]

Stop 4: The Walk, JBR 10PM

Yes, then Desserts

Chocolate Mousse @La Pain Quotidien

Read: I Heart Honey Bears: Le Pain Quotidien

In The Neighbourhood

Pause. Watch the world go by. Stroll on the waterfront promenade. Sit down to coffee and cake at any of the al fresco cafes by The Beach.

Call it a night with a Global Coffee @ Starbucks, Dubai Marina, 12AM

Read: But, first Coffee.

Coffee & Cake Crawl Map, Dubai

Mirdif to Stop1, Butterfly & Miracle Garden: 30 Minutes
Stop1 to Stop2, Jumeirah: 30 Minutes
Stop2 to Stop3, Dubai Mall: 20 Minutes
Stop3 to Stop4, The Walk JBR: 45 Minutes
to Dubai Marina: 10 Minutes

December 7, 2016
Goodbye, Dubai

It has almost become a tradition now. Whenever we are flying back home from Dubai we have our breakfast at McDonald’s.

Well, they don’t have the usual fare for breakfast (read no Hash browns ? ), but there is just something about this quiet corner with a view in Terminal 1.

It is never too crowded and as with any McDonald’s the food is served up hot, fresh and quick. Besides they have the Mc Cafe too. While there is open seating easily accessible right behind the Golden Arches on the pillar, I prefer the corner from where one can watch the flights take off.

My only regret is that I saw the Batman after we ordered our food!

Mc Donald’s @ DXB International Airport, Departures, Terminal 1

Everyone has one favourite thing to do while waiting at an Airport. Like my dad loves to have his quick South Indian Breakfast before getting on the flight so he is ready to take on the day as soon he lands! Mine is to have coffee right after we have checked in and found our gate, no matter the time of the day.

Whats yours??

Read Next: 24 Hours in Dubai

November 20, 2016
Hello, Kumbakonam Filter Kaapi.

Who doesn’t love a South Indian Filter Coffee? Ask any South Indian who has grown up with the smell of a fresh brew signalling the start of every morning or a North Indian for who it is as much of a novelty as a Starbucks is to any urban Indian!!

But, trust the Tamilians to add a dash of zest to our plain old filter-kaapi. Served in the traditional tumbler-davara, the fun lies in mixing the strong drip brew with the sweet boiled milk and sipping it with the delicious froth on top. So, along the NH67 from Trichy to Thanjavur when Karthik, our local driver on this trip suggested we stop to taste Kumbakonam‘s celebrated Filter Coffee, we were more than game.

Stepping into Kumbakonam Iyer Kaapi, I was curious and there was that tiny flutter of excitement from expectation (which by the way doesn’t happen that often). From how promising this cafe looked on the outside, it definitely delivered on both how the coffee was and also on the ambience.

Like the classic Remington occupying centre stage at a corner table wasn’t enough for me to fall in love with this place, it came with a map hand painted in tamil on the wall, antique furniture, vintage cameras & radios that recreate a rustic atmosphere for you while adeptly keeping out the wannabe-ness that usually comes with places trying so hard to be different.

I was too taken up by the Coffee to really try anything else but they do serve South Indian Snacks if you are looking for a quick bite on your road trip or are only getting away from the hustle and bustle of Thanjavur. We did pick up some Coffee Powder and Savouries though. :)

PS: I do make a mention of Karthik here because, it was thanks to him that we got to experience a couple more places than what was on our itinerary for Trichy which was in such stark contrast to the clumsy concierge at the Oberoi Udaivilas who along with the guide that they recommended were solely responsible for making our trip to Udaipur – right after – nothing short of a disaster!

& a special thanks to Arjun Gidwani too, for working his magic with the light on some of these phone-shot photographs, specially so on that close up shot of the filter-kaapi. :D

Read More on #InSearchofCoffee:

But, first coffee
24 Hours in Dubai

September 8, 2016
I Heart Honey Bears: Le Pain Quotidien

They call themselves a ‘Bakery and Communal Table’ and you know they take it seriously.

The hum of conversation fills the air, jam is passed around the table and ever so gracefully, time slows.

& that it isn’t just something beautiful to say.

Besides, who doesn’t like being surrounded by Honey Bears?!

The Le Pain Quotidien at Mirdif City Centre is like a cosy corner, where you wrap your hands around a mug of hot chocolate and slip into a world of your own.

Mirdif City Centre is one of my favourite malls in Dubai. I know it is an odd choice, but it is relatively not crowded for a city centre and functions at its own pace of laid back and for me that is the perfect combination of a place where you can just hang out and do nothing!

& also the fact that almost all of the restaurant chains that I like to frequent have a home here.

Though often overlooked in favour of Paul or Tim Hortons, ‘the daily bread’ stands its own and is surely worth a go when one feels like pausing a while. Not only is the food delicious and the ambience warm, the staff too are friendly and nice. :)

& I totally loved their Praline Chocolate Cake, when I was there last.

Le Pain Quotidien

Level 1, Central Galleria
Mirdif City Centre, Dubai

+971 4 190 751

Open: 7:30 am -11 pm

Read Next: Eataly: To the Perfect Tiratisu!

Discover Cafes in Dubai: #InSearchofCoffee

24 Hours in Dubai
But, first Coffee.

July 13, 2016
Kitchen 6: A King’s Spread

For the good or for the bad, during my time in Dubai, I was not able to go on the two photowalks as planned. So, here I am substituting those with 2 Eatouts instead!

First off, Kitchen 6.

Six, open kitchens. The six live cooking stations in this restaurant at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai are what give it its name and also makes this the most popular destination for lazy weekend brunches and grand buffets.

You will be spoilt for choice – with a spread truly fit for a king – from European Breads to Indian, Asian Woks to Arabic Desserts. and, of course the Middle Eastern Grills, how can one miss out on these, when you are in this part of the world!

& the desserts? What about them??

:D

It definitely is one of the more enjoyable buffets in Dubai, not just because of how much there is to choose from, even for vegetarians but also because of the layout where every table feels like a snug little nook, say as against a buffet in Atlantis where you are too busy jostling with the crowds to really enjoy a relaxed meal.

Kitchen 6 sure is a must try if you are someone who can do justice to a spread like this!

Kitchen 6

Level 1, JW Marriot Marquis Dubai
Sheikh Zayed Road
Business Bay, Dubai

+971 4 414 3000

Open: 6 am – 11 pm

Discover Dining Options in Dubai:

Eataly: To the Perfect Tiratisu!

July 3, 2016
Heart of Green: The Autumn Leaf

You know you are stepping into a Heart of Green right from the time you see this house tucked away in a quite lane off the busy Jubilee Hills Road #36.

The first time that I went to The Autumn Leaf, I wasn’t really taken up with it. My first impression of this Cafe + Decor Studio was ‘wannabe arty-farty’. Add to that, service that could only be termed as daft. It was like a concept had been lifted straight out of the garden city of Bangalore – for the only thing striking about it, was the house and the garden that it was build around and how perfectly they had been brought together – but had fallen flat on its face in terms of transporting the “coolness” of such a cafe.

But, inspite of all that I found myself giving in to the temptation of sitting under a tree on a late – after rain – afternoon, slowly sipping on a Bombay Cutting Chai while taking in all the green. Psst..and if you have been on the look out for some inspiration to recreate a little leafy corner of your own, check this out..https://www.homify.in/rooms/garden.

From the first time to now, over the last month, The Autumn Leaf Cafe has come a long way. Maybe it was just me finding some beautiful solid wood furniture or the round little terracotta Buddha for the garden in their Studio or maybe it was just that from eating waffles plain & rueing my Nutella bottle to coming to actually finding Hummus & Tabbouleh in the Cafe, that was almost there! Whatever be the reason, this Studio + Cafe has surely come around to becoming a definite stop to shop for quirky knick knacks for the home or for a quick bite from their all day breakfast menu, along the way.

& well from all the green to the tiles of the roof, this charming cafe seems to have grown in its appeal not just with me, for on any given day now, you have no choice but to wait for a table!

Discover Cafes in Hyderabad: #InSearchofCoffee

Sugar Rushed in Hyderabad

June 29, 2016
But, first coffee.

Dubai Marina, I Love You.

But, first coffee.

The Starbucks in Marina Promenade has been my ‘Haven of Escape’ for all my time in Dubai.

This is where I would disappear to, without fail, all those late evenings right after classes and early afternoons on the weekend. It is quiet, cosy and has absolutely no crowds. Except for a straggler or two on those rare days. A perfect place to just snuggle with your cup of coffee and chocolate. Ah! Heaven.

Last week I was in Dubai and I found myself retracing those cobbled pathways of memory lane. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun! :D)

This Starbucks, just like the one on Marina Walk, on the other side, commands spectacular views of the Dubai Marina. But, to its credit, remains a secluded cosy corner.

& I have lost count of the number of days I have sat on that bench contemplating life and having ‘deep discussions’.

Discover Cafes in Dubai: #InSearchofCoffee

I Heart Honey Bears: Le Pain Quotidien

December 5, 2015
Sugar Rushed!

5 Eateries. 12 Desserts. A tour of the most delightful desserts in Hyderabad.

As always, I start with my favourites.First on this Dessert Trail, Eatmor at Ohris has been my go-to place, not just for desserts but for everything from fries & sandwiches to 4-course Chinese meals. The meals did happen in a different storey, but nonetheless at the same Ohris.

I have been binging on their Bulls Eye & Awful Awful from when the place was called Havmor & did not have buffet lunches!! Well, that brings in the crowds these days, but that shouldn’t deter you from trying out their shakes & desserts. They are still the best in town.

Here is Eatmor’s version of Death by Chocolate – The Bulls Eye. This one is an everyday classic with soggy soft chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream dripping with hot chocolate fudge.

This was my favourite for 6 years (yes, 6!) till I moved onto Awful Awful.

& then there was no looking back. A tall glass of vanilla ice cream, loaded with cashew nuts & chocolate fudge. Need I say more?

also, that it is a category unto itself!!

After a personal favourite, here comes a general favourite. Second on this list, Concu is Trending in Hyderabad right NOW! This sweetly done up place will make itself your own from the time you step in. A dessert-only place, it calls for indulgence right from how all those different desserts are lined up for you to choose from, to how the ones you choose are set on a wooden platter for you.

A perfect Flat Lay Photo Op, for all those food photographers & Instagrammers!

Well, here is a lowdown of what I liked from all those desserts I tried here over two trips.

Hollywood. Well, that is how it is named! Anyways, a baked american cheesecake that doesn’t taste much like a cheesecake, but has some really quirky toppings like caramelised popcorn and cola flavoured marshmallows which make it intriguing.

The Red Velvet Cupcake. This needs no introduction, Red Velvet is a classic & when it comes in a cupcake, it is a winner all the way.

Sea Salt, Caramel, Chocolate Tart. The one dessert that I will always make it a point to have every time I go to Concu. You wouldn’t be disappointed in this one. It tastes just as compelling as it sounds! Delectable chocolate mousse filling, topped with delicious buttery salted caramel & finished with bits of vanilla chocolate sponge, chocolate & sugar rolls, in a crumble crust.

Third on this Dessert-Trail is Eclairè. I love this quaint & cosy little place, with its very-english tableware that also double up as chandeliers! A small green door under a tree, takes you into this bakery. Furbished in a shabby chic style, it has only 4 tables and I think that adds to its charm. :)

The eponymous Coffee Eclair definitely deserves all the importance it gets! Its gooey chocolate filling, rich with a coffee taste, is just yum

Here are those plates (well, really saucers from the cups used in the chandelier).

Blueberry Cheesecake. Undoubtedly the best cheesecake I have had here in Hyderabad, this ties for the best dessert here with the coffee eclair. It is baked perfectly, down to the tee, or rather down to the crunchy biscuity crust.

Chocolate Macaroon in THE plate. ‘Interesting’ is all I have to say for this one.

Another red velvet dessert, The Red Velvet Tiramisu. Light and delicious, this eggless dessert from Kavanah is refreshing.

Trailing in the booming popularity of dessert-only places in the city, Kavanah opened up recently. But, is more than just a patisserie, with a range of other quick bites, in a place that is large and well laid out. The Chocolate Chunk Muffin is a must try here, purely for the big chunks of chocolate in it.

Their Chocolate Mousse is good too, with a hint of citrus in the creamy chocolate.

and, I end this dessert trail with two desserts from Olive Bistro. The place is fancy no doubt, but the desserts are not too great to taste. These pictures have made it to the list only for the sheer experience of how the Olive Bistro looks! & also because of how they have been designed and presented.

OB’s Insanity Slice, is an ice cream cake with alternating layers of ice cream and cake, topped with rich cream. Sadly, it fails to live up to how it sounds & looks.

Macaroons. Again. Blame Gossip Girl.

That was ME, Sugar – Rushed in Hyderabad!

November 14, 2015