Smytten Review | An App For Beauty Skincare Haircare Health Lifestyle Fanatics | Try And Buy And Try Some More | Beauty Haul | Beauty Review

I have no clue how I did not join the Smytten app yet, but worry not, better late than never :) 

Smytten is an app with a wordplay on 'smitten', and it allows all beauty, skincare, healthcare, haircare, lifestyle fanatics to try products from top-notch brands before buying them. It is an app with a shop and a trial section where one needs to pay only Rs. 199 for picking up sample size products from brands such as Just Herbs, Aroma Magic, Votre, Seer Secrets and many more. These sample size products differ in quantity from 10 ml or 10 grams to 50-60 ml or 50-60 grams. In short, they are enough to use for 2-4 times so that the user can make up their mind if it is worth buying the full size product or not. 

If worth it, then simply go to the Smytten shop section and buy the product! Easy-peasy. But the best part about this app is that every time we pay Rs. 199 for the trial section, we get Rs. 169 back in our wallet that can be used for more trials or we can get Rs. 169 off while purchasing a full-sized product! How cool is that! 

So I made an account on Smytten, logged in using my mobile number, and fell in love with so many options for the trial part. There were 6 points in my wallet and each trial sample has certain points assigned to them. So, for example, a Votre 50 grams cream for 2 trial points while a Just Herbs 10 ml rose water for 1 trial point. Sometimes there are full sized products for 6 trial points too! 

I chose samples using the 6 trial points and got Rs. 169 points back in my wallet. Then I went to the shopping section and got Aaranyaa Hair Spa at a massive 40% discount PLUS Rs. 169 OFF! This is called Super-Bonanza shopping :D And after shopping for a full-sized product, I got 6 more trial points in my account. And so on and so forth. Now looking at my haul size, you can see for yourself how many samples I got in 3 rounds...And there is so much more to try out. 

I am a beauty and skincare junkie so I got shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, face wash, clay masks..but there are samples of tea, perfumes, handmade craft materials, eco-friendly hygiene materials and MUCH MORE that I am craving to sample. 

Pretty Soon my friends, Pretty Soon :) 

Oh, if you want to sign up to Smytten now, you can use my referral code CW9cayr..of course you can sign up without it too. You will get your own referral code and everytime someone signs up using that and places a trial order, you will get Rs. 200 cash in your wallet to spend on buying awesome products. So if you feel like this pose added a bit of joy to your life, do consider using my referral code --> CW9cayr :)

Global Culinary Journey At The Sassy Spoon Powai | Beautiful Modern Dining Destination | Food Review | Food Photography

Powai has suddenly turned into the party zone and top culinary destination in the suburbs, giving tough competition to venues such as Lower Parel, Anderi, and BKC. One of the newest entrants here is this sassy place. Walk in to feel like you just entered the saner version of Alice in Wonderland. 

The greenery below the ceiling with the fairy lights, the differently-colored chair cushions, the careful arrangement of quirky collectibles along the booth wall, the life-size van fixture at the well-appointed bar, the medley of high chairs with zebra pattern, the cherry blossom motif on the pillar in the center and the juxtaposition of primary colors against each other. Look at me, I can write an architectural digest episode here! 

Combine this with an ever-helpful staff, a menu that promises a tour around the world, live music on special nights, a general bonhomie in the air and you know this is a winner. Prices are on the higher side but cannot complain looking at the location and the brand name. The quality of the food certainly justifies it to a large extent.

For our review session, we had and loved-

TOMATO, OLIVE AND PARMESAN SOUP- LOVED, hot bowl of warmth that I needed on this chilly evening,

WARM LEMONY COUSCOUS WITH TOASTED ALMONDS, PEPPERS, CHILLI, CORIANDER SALAD- Healthy wholesome bowl, different flavors and textures went well together, a nice trip through west asia,

SPICY KIDNEY BEANS EMPANADAS WITH QUESO - Straightforward, heavy dish, try it when you are in a group, could feel a bit dry but tasty nonetheless, 

BAKED BEETROOT & FETA KEFTEDES IN ONION SEED PITA WITH CUCUMBE TZATZIKI -LOVED, MUST-HAVE, the beetroot & feta koftas were OUTSTANDING, if I could make beetroot taste like this I would never eat outside food #justsaying :D Would come back here just to try this,

BAKED LASAGNA WITH CREAMED LEEKS, MUSHROOMS, SWEET POTATOES & CHEDDAR - Again LOVED, and on the healthier side with layers of lasagna sheets, mushrooms, sweet potatoes in a hearty tomato sauce, Italy tastes good :D, 

NUTTY RICOTTA RAVIOLI WITH HOMEMADE RICOTTA, WALNUTS, PINE NUTS AND GARLIC CREAM SAUCE- Hands down my FAVORITE, the play of ricotta mounds with nuts and creamy sauce, explosion of flavors in mouth, had the potential to be bland or heavy and was none, try this for sure!, 

SEVEN TEXTURES OF HAZELNUT AND CHOCOLATE-Think of every chocolate and hazelnut based dessert form-pastry, disc, biscotti, mousse, molten sauce..this ultimate dessert has it ALL, if you love chocolate and hazelnut, try this. If you don't, well try this anyway and then probably go for therapy :P, 

RASPBERRY MOUSSE- Dark Chocolate meets Raspberry in a mousse form and gets immortalized in a fluffy decadent dessert with tangy raspberry sorbet by the side. MUST-HAVE!

True to their promise, you can travel around the world on one plate here with fresh ingredients, delicious culinary experimentation, cool ambiance, prompt service, and smiling helpful staff. On all points, a complete pleasure. This hungry hippo gives a thumbs up. 

Mukta A2 Cinemas Jai Hind Lalbaug Mumbai | Blockbuster Movie Watching Experience | Fantastic Beasts Crimes of Grindelwald

Mumbai is synonymous with Bollywood. The city of dreams. The city of glitz and glamour. The city of stars. Obviously, being a Mumbaikar, a true-blue citizen of this glorious megapolis, watching movies every weekend is one of my biggest hobbies. Spending 2-3 hours immersed in a fantasy land, what could be better than that. How about adding a super-cozy ambiance, excellent food and beverage options (delivered on seat) and such perks? We got it all at Mukta A2 Jai Hind Cinema, Lalbaug, Mumbai last Sunday when we watched Fantastic Beasts : Crimes of Grindelwald (Hindi dubbed version) here :)

Once upon a time, I used to believe that all movie theatres are alike. How much difference can there be among a bunch of buildings that house super-dark halls with huge white screens? Well, turns out, a lot! In my childhood (that was spent in a really small city), going to movie theatres was a mixed experience. Ofcourse, this was back when there was no Netflix, no internet, no youtube, no Amazon Prime…watching movies on the big screen was the big family thing and we were naturally elated. BUT it also meant going to theatres with cramped leg space, 1-2 horrible and stale food options, a lot of crowd, wailing babies and I kid you not- we even sometimes found termites in seats. Yup, all this and more.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised on arriving in Mumbai and visiting its many famed cinema halls to find that watching movies in theatre can truly be an enchanting experience. Especially now with the advent of multiplexes everywhere and movie-goers getting more demanding with each passing day, the theatre owners have also upped their game. This was my first visit to Mukta A2 Cinemas at Lalbaug, Mumbai and we found it top-notch in every department.

The building itself is quite colourful and stands out in Lalbaug area. Buying tickets is a breeze. The lounge on ground floor has some vintage framed colourful movie posters, very inviting touch for any movie lover. Lift was out of order on the day we went but that’s okay, sometimes these things happen. Taking the stairs just meant a bit of cardio for us, always a welcome idea :D Right outside the theatre, there was a food-beverage station (Cafe Park) with a bevy of choices for us.

Prices are very affordable, both when it comes to movie tickets as well as for food and beverage options. We had Nachos, Samosa, Burger, Sandwiches, Popcorn, Coffee, Cold Drinks to choose from. And we enjoyed Veg Coleslaw Sandwich, Caramel Popcorn, couple of Cold Drinks, Hot Coffee and couple of Samosas, to the hilt. Everything is fresh and tasty, especially the Samosas were fantastic. On-seat service meant additional convenience for us. 

The theatre itself was very clean. The entrance stairs' carpet has prints of movie-reels, nice and quirky. Seats had more than ample leg space, something I am very particular about because cramped spaces give my knee trouble and I want to avoid that at all cost (thinking about my family’s history of arthritis here!). Here I could comfortably move my leg around, made it a very cozy experience for me. The screen is wide, both visual and audio quality top notch. Volume was just right, not too loud and not too low. 

Completely relaxed from beginning to end, we loved being at Mukta A2 Cinemas Jai Hind, Lalbaug, Mumbai. That’s a complete blockbuster movie-watching experience right here :)

Delhi Highway Marol Mumbai | Authentic Royal Vegetarian Delhi Punjabi Feast | Times Square Andheri East | Food Review | Restaurant Review

A visit to Delhi Highway was on my wish-list since 2 years now but stars just would not align for me to fix a visit here. A chance day-off for both me and my sister happened this week and we visited here with family for lunch review session, finally :D

Imposing architecture and elegant interiors welcomed us. Loved the utilization of space, artworks on the walls reminiscent of old Delhi forts and Royal Darbars, the color combination of golden and blue plus the cutlery with coppery layers. Very Indian, Very Delhi, Very Vintage. Instantly put us in a happy mood. Perfect place for families. Even the seats are beautiful. 

Staff is very polite and quick on their feet. The place was completely packed by 1.30 PM even on a weekday and service was still excellent. Menu has delicacies from Delhi-mainly Punjabi cuisine-with some fusion additions (pasta,tacos,cheese mushrooms etc.) and prices are very reasonable for quantity plus quality. Mainly the Thali here is very popular, but there is an a-la-carte menu too and we tried both the options.

--- Started with BEVERAGES (not a part of Thali)-

FRESH LIME SODA- Nice, I asked it to be mildly sweet and they obliged :)

SPICY GUAVA- Decent= Guava Juice, Tabasco Sauce, Worchestire Sauce, Sugar Syrup,

FRUIT PUNCH- Nice, not too cold = Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Mango Juice, Fresh Cream, 

KOKUM MOJITO- A bit too cold for me, had ice slush on top, but dad liked it = Kokum, Mint Leaves, Lemon Juice, Soda, 

DELHI SPECIAL LASSI- My FAVORITE, Rich and creamy lassi, with dry fruits garnish, MUST-HAVE!

KESAR THANDAI- Another AMAZING drink = Milk, Saffron, Spices, MUST-HAVE, 

CHAAS- Excellent, came as part of Thali.

--- Moved onto STARTERS (part of THALI)-

The Thali comes with a long list of chaats and kebabs and if you are not careful, your stomach will be filled even before the main course arrives :P

BHALLA PAPDI CHAAT- Soft and Spongy Bhalla, Creamy Curd, Mint Chutney, Dates Chutney, Special Pulses and Coriander garnish, this was EXCELLENT,

MATAR KULCHE- Authentic Delhi style kulcha bread with green matar, decent, 

PANEER TIKKA- Very spicy Pesto marinated Paneer tikka, very soft, 

VEG KEBAB- Decent, I usually find all Kebabs dry, these were okay with the mint chutney alongside, 

TANDOORI ALOO- Tangy-Spicy Achari marination and smattering of cheese on top, will not be everyone's favorite, I personally found them okay but my dad does not like tangy flavor at all so he left this one uneaten, 

HARABHARA KEBAB- Just like veg kebab, decent, soft, filled with green peas mash, 

MAKAI KEBAB- GOOD, 

NARAM DIL KEBAB- BEST ONE, soft paneer mash, melt-in-mouth flavor inside, crunchy outside, 

--- Finally went to THALI MAIN COURSE -

PANEER BHURJI- EXCELLENT, Softest Paneer bhurji, creamy, mildly spicy,

VEG KOFTA CURRY- Decent, Veg Koftas in hearty tangy tomato-onion based gravy, 

DAL DELHI HIGHWAY- EXCELLENT, Famous Punjabi Black Daal, 

PINDI CHANA- Cooked Rawal Pindi style, a bit too tangy and full of achari-kinda flavor,

VEG BIRYANI- Nice but did not feel it was biryani, more like spicy pulao, 

Tandoori ROTI & PLAIN NAAN- Both were EXCELLENT, went well with all the curries.

Apart from Thali, we also tried some items from a-la-carte menu- 

MALAI KOFTA- Paneer, Mawa, Dry Fruits dumplings in creamy white gravy with a hint of sweetness, MUST-HAVE, this is one of the few places this was simply perfection, not unnecessarily sweet but very creamy, extremely delicious, my family's FAVORITE :)

SAFFRON SPICE- Paneer cooked in cashew nut and red gravy infused with saffron concentrate,it was okay, frankly we did not get any saffron flavor but the gravy was typical tomato-onions based spicy and again tangy achari-kinda flavorful,

MIX VEG KULCHA- GOOD, it was mainly stuffed with peas and a bit of onions, 

ROOMALI ROTI- EXCELLENT, mom loved it,

--- For DESSERTS, as part of Thali we had-

JALEBIS- Good, 

KESAR KHEER- EXCELLENT, Rich and creamy kesar kheer garnished with loads of dry fruits,

We additionally also had GULAB JAMUN stuffed with mawa and dry fruits, one of the BEST in Mumbai, extremely rich, delicious :)

>>> In summation, we had an excellent time with some superb delicacies. We have some relatives in Delhi and having visited them multiple times, we know how much they love the authentic Delhi Punjabi cuisine and how much they love their 'achari' flavors, their spices. So keeping that in mind, yes the food at Delhi Highway is very authentic, very Delhi style and excellent. Their Thali is also very value for money for the sheer quantity of items they provide.

But, here in Mumbai our tastebuds are a bit different and all the spices, all the tanginess, all the 'achari' flavor might get a bit too overwhelming for some people. Like-my dad did not finish a couple of dishes in Thali starters + main course section because he cannot stand tanginess in his food at all. For people like them, I would suggest go through the a-la-carte menu and choose dishes such as Malai Kofta that are flavorful without being too Delhi-ite! Also, food is very heavy because authentic Punjabi cuisine is not at all known for being healthy/light, so do keep that in mind and go here with enough hunger to eat a dinosaur :D