4 things to look forward to
Here are things to look forward to in Punjab.
Palate pleasers
Playground, Chandigarh
(Review)
One of the most talked about dining places in Chandigarh, Playground is the go-to stop for foodies in the city looking for fun eats amidst a quirky set-up. And quirky it is from the word go, for one has an option to choose from the two entrances of Playground-one a narrow bottle-lined front entrance and another a cool cassette-lined back alley.
The interiors are vibrant and attractive, with lots of indoor greens brightening up the space. One wall is lined with oversized posters of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Kin Jong-Un that add a touch of playfulness to the casual set-up. The bar menu here offers a variety fresh juices, mocktails, creative cocktails and an extensive selection of liquor for those who take their alcohol seriously.
The food menu is simple but offers a number of exiciting options for all kinds of palates. From pre-plated meals, a lavish snack menu, delicious Thai, and Italian dishes, they have thought of it all when planning their menu. Interest ingly, guntur chilli has been used extensively in both veg etarian and non-vegetarian snacks, which adds a dash of sass to the dishes.
While we loved the yogurt and fruit/granola parfait, the lamb, apple and arugula pizza and the gnocchi porcini sauce, we suggest you also makes some room for the Moroccan lamb burger, pumpkin and coconut soup, avocado, pear and Parmesan salad and the bacon wrapped prawns-all delicious and worth going back to Playground for.
The highlight of this place however is that the vegetarian selection is as extensive as the non-vegetarian sec tion, something we find missing at most eatries today. Also, the presentation here is the key and will leave you quite im pressed. The credit for this we are told goes to the co-partner of this venture, Ayush Singla, 32, who put his experi ence in the food and beverage industry to good use at the Playground.
Served in copper vessels, with each dish looking more tempting than the one served before, we recommend you skip breakfast before heading here to enjoy to the fullest.
Meal for two: Rs 1,500
At: SCO 48, Madhya marg, Sector 26, Chandigarh
Tel 9988339944
Timings: 11 am to 11 pm
(By Amrtia Dhaliwal)
A Close Shave in Chandigarh
(Launch)
Known for its elite clientèle since the reign of H.M. King George III, London's famed luxury salon chain, Truefitt & Hill has now come to Chandigarh. The oldest barber shop in the world, Truefitt & Hill boasts of famous people such as Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill and Alfred Hitchcock as few of its renowned clients. With their plush Chandi garh outfit, the brand is hoping to continue its legacy of providing the most royal men grooming services in the city.
"We want our customers to feel revit alised and rejuvenated when they are ready to leave. We don't just offer a service, we offer an experience. Grooming is a daily necessity and we pro vide the most luxurious atmosphere and highly skilled barbers and staff to turn that into a sublime experience," says Krishna Gupta of Lloyds Luxuries Ltd. The millennials of Chandigarh can enjoy a traditional hot towel wet shave, haircut, facial, manicure and pedicure. Distinct services offered by Truefitt and Hill are the royal shave and haircut, classic shave and haircut, various hair treatments, royal manicure and pedicure, head massage, facials.
The signature service is the royal shave which concludes with a relaxing facial massage and the application of a selection of ten aftershave balms. They also have an exclusive VIP Room called Dukes. "Den for that special engagement, business meeting, or simply just to relax and unwind. Truefitt & Hill also offers grooming prod ucts which include pre-shave oil, shaving cream, colognes and aftershaves, bath and body products, sham poo and more.
Time: 8.30 am to 9 pm
At SCO 185-186-187, Corner 3 Bay Building, Madhya Marg, Sector 9, Chandigarh
Tel: 9988014130
(By Amrita Dhaliwal)
Make a cool tech stop
[ LAUNCH ]
Located in Zirakpur on the Ambala Chandigarh Expressway, also known as the National High way-22, Hotel 6 is the answer to all your travel stay woes. Spacious and packed with modern amenities, the hotel boasts of being 'super technology savvy'. With colourful and contemporary interiors, meeting hubs and luxury suites, including accessible rooms for the differently-abled. Hotel 6 is set to wow both business and leisure travellers in the region.
This confident country cousin of Motel 6, which opened to public in 1962 in Santa Barbara, California, USA, it is spread across six floors and has 175 rooms equipped with the latest technol ogy. Guests will be able to use I-Pads for check-in and check-out and order food in the restaurants as well. The hotel also boasts of a full-fledged gym, swimming pools and more. "Hotel 6 is a brand of the US based G6 Hospitality LLC. G6 Hospitality LLC owns three iconic American brands-Motel 6, Studio 6 and Hotel 6. Their port folio comprises of around 1,600 hotels across USA, Canada and Mexico," says Rob Palleschi, CEO, G6 Hospitality LLC, USA.
Tying in with the overall theme of technology is their all-day multicuisine restaurant called Dot. Yum. One can choose from an array of mouthwatering dishes- from authentic Indian and conti nental to Lebanese and Mexican. "We have tweaked all the recipes as per local taste. For example Chinese cuisine has been given a Punjabi tadka because authentic Chinese is rather bland and does suit the Indian palate," says Jitesh Patta, General Manager, Hotel 6.
At: Ambala-Chandigarh National Highway, Zirakpur, Punjab
Contact: 0176- 2660555
DETAILS hotel6chandigarh.com| hotel6.com
(By Amrita Dhaliwal)
The hit list
Cool things to buy this season
