#our beautiful squid beautifully painted

[remmushound]

Curse of the Clan part 64!

Tags: @scentedcandlecryptid @selfindulgenz 

The streets were alive with the presence of yokai, potentially thousands of them, all gathered where there would normally be humans. They didn't seem to be doing much of anything other than simply mulling around at a slow and casual pace, some of them in small groups happily chatting while others were on their own but just as happy. A few had even taken to sunbathing in the streets, sprawling themselves out on the hot asphalt to soak in the sun; the yokai didn't seem to discriminate between road and sidewalk when it came to exploring, treating it all instead as one big walkway.

“What’s going on?” Raphael asked, his lips pulled down in a frown. “Why are all the yokai out?”

Michelangelo was beaming ear to ear, eyes brighter than gemstones, “There’s no humans in the city! Well— except for April and Casey— so the yokai can come up and enjoy the sunshine! It’s a first for a lot of them; actual, warm sunshine!”

Donatello focused his goggles on the streets below, flicking from yokai to yokai to yokai. A mother rabbit trying to coax her four tiny babies out of the shadows they cowered in. An old kappa holding their beak to the sky with their eyes closed under the bliss of sunbeams. Two young avians wrestling, tumbling about in the streets much to the laughing delight of several nearby yokai.

“They seem to be enjoying themselves.” Donatello commented. “The weather is quite nice.”

“Come on!”

Michelangelo once more grabbed his brothers and urged them onward, down into the streets where they melted into the crowd of yokai without a second glance being cast their way, because they were normal in the eyes of all yokai and nothing to judge. The tight, suffocating nature of the crowd quickly thinned when they reached central park, where the yokai were just as plentiful but more spread out. Some of them had split off into tight family or friend groups, while others were wandering around, either going group to group searching for someone to embrace them into their fold or simply wandering to enjoy the day.

All around them wafted the lovely scents of grilling meats and the alluring, fruity temptation of beautifully assembled fruits. Multiple families shared each of the grills, as there wasn’t enough to go around, and mingled together to enjoy the combined meals. Michelangelo was quick to grow frustrated as his family slowed to gawk in awe at the different groups, Raphael practically drooling over the meaty spendor while Leonardo was more interested in trying to identify all the different yokai, and Donatello was furiously taking notes on their behavior and how they interacted.

Eventually they made it through the crowd and to the only grill that wasn’t already surrounded by dozens; this grill only had three people. Cassandra was setting out plating and snacks far too eagerly, fussing around to make sure it was perfect while April and Sunita were together at the grill. Raphael licked his chops to collect slobber that threatened to drip, so overwhelmed with all the different, meaty options that he got dizzy looking between all of them.

April laughed; she was in a beautiful sundress, her hair done up in braids with beads woven in between, tight against her scalp. She picked a shrimp from the pile and tossed it through the air at Raphael, who caught it in his mouth with a great big SNAP!

“That’s all, big guy.” April said, smirking as she pointed the meat fork at him, “Gotta wait for it all to be done.”

Raphael whined like a dog denied a second treat. Leonardo and Donatello both came up on either side of April to take advantage of the wafting aroma, breathing in deeply and then sighing out slow.

“Smells great!” Leonardo beamed, leaning his head on April’s shoulder.

“Damn well better.” April said confidently, “My mama taught me well!”

“She sure did…” Donatello drooled.

April produced two more shrimp and popped them into either of the twins mouths, making both melt with the euphoric juices.

“We saved the damn world!” April spun around, showing off her kiss-the-cook apron, “I’ll be damned if we ain’t gonna enjoy it!”

Leonardo's eyes wandered until they fell upon a familiar lump of gray in the river, drifting lazily by on an inflatable raft; a speck among a sea of visitors swarming the waters.

“Dad?” Leonardo gawked, and upon his realization all his brothers came to realize the same.

The brothers split apart from the girls and cautiously made their way down the rocks to the rivers shore, Raphael reaching out to snag Splinter’s raft so he couldn’t drift away from them. Splinter opened a lazy eye and snorted not unlike a horse disturbed from its slumber.

“Can’t a rat sleep in peace?” He grumbled.

Leonardo’s attention was drawn away from Splinter as motion under the water proved far more interesting. A tilt of his head and a refocus of his eyes brought him to concentrate instead on the beings under the water; aquatic yokai were swimming along under the rafts, creating a lazy-river of sorts for those floating on the top. They didn't seem to mind it at all.

“Where’d you get the raft, pops?” Raphael asked, giving a faint laugh, “Doesn’t look like any of ours.”

“That’s because it’s not.” Splinter said, reaching to tweak Raphael’s hand in such a way that he had no choice but to let go of the raft. The rat sank back into the plastic happily as he started to drift off again. “I traded it in exchange for stories! Yokai are the best!”

Four confused sets of eyes blinked and turned to Sunita for answers.

“Yokai are really big on trade.” Sunita said with a bright smile.

Michelangelo became suddenly aware of a gentle force tugging at his pants and, upon looking down, he was met with a tiny squid yokai. At first he didn't know what to do, but when he recognized the wide-eyes and child-like features, he kneeled to meet the child’s height.

“Hi!” Michelangelo said.

The child said nothing. He shoved something small and sticky into Michelangelo’s hands; a snail. A very small one.

“Ohh… thank you.” Michelangelo said, because he didn't know what else to say. “Domo arigatou.”

Still, the child said nothing. Instead, he pointed at the paints on Michelangelo’s chest and then at his own chest. It took a second before Michelangelo sucked in a gasp of realization and practically squealed his joy.

“Donald, I require my paints!” Michelangelo held out his snail-free hand out to Donatello.

Leonardo smirked and elbowed Donatello’s side. “He requires his paints.”

Rolling his eyes, Donatello obliged the request and he pulled the emergency paint kit out from his battle shell, passing it over to Michelangelo. The box turtles wasted no time in quickly ushering the yokai child to a nearby bench, a series of excited, high-pitched chirps sounding from him. From there, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello all split apart in search of a venture of their own in the yokai-filled park.

Raphael didn't get far before he heard a voice calling his name, and just as soon he was surrounded by powerful arms that heaved him up with no effort at all. Raphael’s initial instinct was to fend off an attack, but when the scent of the unseen Yokai came to him, he recognized it and began to laugh.

“King!”

King wrapped a massive arm around Raphael’s neck to keep him in a choke hold so he could repeatedly noogie the broad head. Raphael was eventually able to pull free, twirling around and tossing himself at King for a hug.

“I see my blessing worked.” King seemed to be practically glowing under the warmth of the sun, his scales a beautiful and vibrant mix of orange and red instead of the normal brown.

“Y-yeah, yeah!” Raphael nodded, a little breathless. “Yeah. Thanks again for that.”

“Was that your family?” King nodded back to where Raphael and his clan had just been gathered.

“Yeah— that’s my clan! And that’s my dad there on the river— he’s the rat.”

King nodded with a thoughtful hum. “I see your family is just as… colorful as mine. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for them if they’re ever on my side of the Hidden City.”

Raphael nodded an automatic nod with both hands on his hips. “Yeah I uh… thanks. I appreciate that.”

“INCOMING!”

Raphael looked up, confused at the shout and even more confused when he saw a fish falling right at him. King snatched the falling projectile before it could get very far, snaring it in his maw and giving a thankful grunt toward Koya as she flew once more away. King looked down at Raphael and held out the fish to him, which was still thrashing about trying to free itself from the yokai’s relentless grip.

“Oh— no thank you…” said.

King shrugged. He shifted down onto his belly, using his massive hands to pin the fish while he ripped its head clean off and gulped it down. The decapitated fishes body still struggled, which went without a bother from King as he lumbered away and over to Tang Shen who was soaking up the sun. Head bowed, he offered the rest of the fish to her and she accepted, eating it with just as much ferocity as her adoptive son.

Splinter crawled onto shore as his raft came around the bend of the lazy river once more, dragging it along with him as he went to Raphael’s side, staring at the cat and dragon duo with much the same expression as Raphael.

“Are they friends of yours?”

“Uh… that’s King. He gave me my blessing. And uh… that’s his mother Tang Shen.”

“Tang Shen huh?” Splinter eyed the cat curiously as she sucked the flesh from the bone and proceeded to rasp her tongue over the fishes skeleton to lap up any remaining flavor “What. A. Woman.”

[apkgbwhatsapps-blog]

15 best Free Note taking app for Android

There are many applications available on the Play Store to create notes with your Android device. Most of them equipped with very user-friendly features that allow you to make notes, sort them, and always keep on hand, and sync it with other applications.

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Let’s explore 15 best free apps to take note on android: Evernote - best free note taking app 1. Evernote Price: Free/ Offers IAP

Evernote is simply one of the best note capturing apps for Android that allows you to do almost everything within the application. You can use this app to write any kind of note, also for recording voice notes or store pictures if they contain text that can be recognized by the OCR servers for future searches. You will also be able to organize your notes, tag them, make them do lists, reminders, and more. With its cross-platform integration, store your files in the cloud and access them from any of your mobile devices, and background note-taking capabilities, you can use this app for anything.

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OneNote is the application of Microsoft dedicated to taking all kinds of notes. OneNote allows you to create up to 500 text notes or images, can be added from your gallery or directly from the camera of the smartphone. The application also supports traditional lists accompanied by the usual checkboxes and to add formatted text and hyperlinks.

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Google Keep is a notebook and organizer from Google that provides a possible way to take notes in Evernote style. Write down your thoughts, objectives or goals, set reminders or store a variety of photos, pictures in one place – Google Keep. To quickly access the service, you’ll find a widget on the desktop of your phone or tablet that enables you to create quick notes, lists, notes using voice recognition (audio per note) or capture notes with your device camera. A service that stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness, and also has an elegant interface, based on the “Holo” standard set by Google.

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Love hashtags? Then you will enjoy this app since you now have the opportunity to use them to sort your notes in Fetchnotes. Fetchnotes allows you to make lists of scheduled cases and take notes, and then bind them to different hashtags. You can get all the notes associated with one hashtag. It’s simple and surprisingly powerful.

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GNotes - Sync Notes with Gmail for android 6. GNotes – Sync Notes with Gmail Price: Free with ads/ Offers IAP

GNotes is an application for creating notes on your device, and at the same time organizer. GNotes easily synchronized with your Gmail-account. GNotes has many functions, including the creation of drawings. You can add notes to the audio or video and sort your notes by priority. GNotes supports many different file formats and allows the user to choose between the submission of a list or as icons. GNotes has an elegant, minimalistic interface that allows you to create folders and organizes your notes.

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7. SomNote – Beautiful note app Price: Free with ads/ Offers IAP

A very responsive, fast, accurate, easy to use app for taking notes. The folder feature is great, as is the way that you can arrange the folders in the order you want. Very beautifully designed private journal app that offers high-speed access. Every journal and file written and attached in SomNote will be synced automatically after you log-in. SomNote will keep everything you write safely even if you initialize or lose your mobile.

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colornote app 8. ColorNote Notepad Notes * Editors’ Choice * Price: Free

ColorNote is a simple and awesome notepad app. It gives you a quick and simple notepad editing experience when you write notes, memos, e-mails, messages, shopping lists, and to-do lists. You can organize notes by color and use a feature of sticky note memo widget to put your notes on your home screen.

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FiiNote is the most convenient note app. It is designed for both Phone and Tablet featuring a unique hybrid model for combined handwriting and keyboard.

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10. NoNonsense Notes Price: Free

A simple and beautiful app for taking notes and tracking todo-lists. The app is completely free to use. You can set reminders at a certain time, with optional repetition at certain days of the week. It also has Integration with Android Agenda Widget and multiple themes.

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Papyrus - Natural Note Taking app 11. Squid (formerly Papyrus) * Editors’ Choice * Price: Free/ Offers IAP

What else could we ask for, as now we can take handwritten notes naturally on our tablet or phone? With Squid, you can write just like you would on paper using an active pen, passive stylus, or your finger. Organize your notes within notebooks and increase your productivity.

A very well resolved application for taking handwritten notes with a stylus or your finger. The application allows you to write, draw or make notes with your finger on a phone or tablet. Moreover, it is possible to undo the writing or re-enable it while others draw on various functions in word processors such as font size, font color, different thicknesses for the stroke, export to PDF, email or share with Evernote.

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12. Omich Notes Price: Free

This is a very simple app to manage your notes. Very fast. No annoying bugs and great graphics. Get it today to get your work in order.

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13. LectureNotes Price: $6.99

LectureNotes is an app for note-taking by handwriting on the screen, in particular with a stylus. It has been designed for students or lecturers who are using it for taking handwritten notes during a lecture.

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Secret Notes app 14. Secret Notes Price: Free with ads

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15. Keep My Notes – Notepad & Memo Price: Free with ads/ Offers IAP

This is help like one of your diary or a private notebook. You can write on all the notes to remember and research notes without the need for internet connection. You can lock all your private notes with a password. Adjust the text font color used for notes or diary making.
Control the text size used when taking notes. Spell check text of your notebook and dairy.

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A large number of note saving apps are available on google play store but, these best free apps are powerful enough to handle all your note-taking demands. Download them and try out on your device then decide which one suits your need. Did I miss out any of the note saving app that should be mentioned? Well, you are always welcome to share the name.

[forsoothsayer]

Zone by Guillaume Apollinaire

At last you’re tired of this elderly world

Shepherdess O Eiffel Tower this morning the bridges are bleating

You’re fed up living with antiquity

Even the automobiles are antiques Religion alone remains entirely new religion Remains as simple as an airport hangar

In all Europe only you O Christianism are not old The most modem European Pope Pius X it’s you The windows watch and shame has sealed The confessionals against you this morning Flyers catalogs hoardings sing aloud Here’s poetry this morning and for prose you’re reading the tabloids Disposable paperbacks filled with crimes and police Biographies of great men a thousand various titles

I saw a pretty street this morning I forgot the name New and cleanly it was the sun’s clarion Executives laborers exquisite stenographers Criss-cross Monday through Saturday four times daily Three times every morning sirens groan At the lunch hour a rabid bell barks The lettering on the walls and billboards the doorplates and posters twitters parakeet-style I love the swank of that street Situated in Paris between the rue Aumont-Thieville and the avenue des Ternes

Here’s the young street and you’re still a baby Dressed by your mother in blue and white only You’re very pious and with your oldest friend Rene Dalize Nothing is more fun than Masses and Litanies

It’s nine o’clock the gaslight is low you leave your bed You pray all night in the school chapel Meanwhile an eternal adorable amethyst depth Christ’s flamboyant halo spins forever Behold the beautiful lily of worship Behold the red-haired torch inextinguishable Behold the pale son and scarlet of the dolorous Mother Behold the tree forever tufted with prayer Behold the double gallows honor and eternity Behold the six-pointed star Behold the God who dies on Friday and rises on Sunday Behold the Christ who flies higher than aviators He holds the world’s record for altitude

Christ pupil of the eye Twentieth pupil of the centuries knows its stuff And bird-changed this century like Jesus climbs the sky Devils in the abyss look up to watch They say this century mimics Simon Magus in Judea It takes a thief to catch a thief they cry Angels flutter around the pretty trapeze act Icarus Enoch Elijah Apollonius of Tyana Hover as close to the airplane as they can Sometimes they give way to other men hauling the Eucharist Priests eternally climbing the elevating Host The plane descends at last its wings unfolded bursts into a million swallows Full speed come the crows the owls and falcons From Africa ibis storks flamingoes The Roc-bird famous with writers and poets Glides Adam’s skull the original head in its talons The horizon screams an eagle pouncing And from America there comes a hummingbird From China sinuous peehees Who have only one wing and who fly in couples And here’s a dove immaculate spirit Escorted by lyre-bird and shimmery peacock

Phoenix the pyre the self-resurrected Obscures everything ardently briefly with ash The sirens abandon their perilous channels Each one singing more beautifully arrives Everyone eagle Phoenix Chinese peehees Eager to befriend a machine that flies

You are walking in Paris alone inside a crowd Herds of buses bellow and come too close Love-anguish clutches your throat You must never again be loved In the Dark Ages you would have entered a monastery You are ashamed to overhear yourself praying You laugh at yourself and the laughter crackles like hellfire The sparks gild the ground and background of your life Your life is a painting in a dark museum And sometimes you examine it closely

You are walking in Paris the women are bloodsoaked It was and I have no wish to remember it was the end of beauty

In Chartres from her entourage of flames Our Lady beamed at me The blood of your Sacred Heart drenched me in Montmartre I’m sick of hearing blissful promises The love I feel is a venereal disease And the image possessing you in your pain your insomnia Vanishes and it is always near you

And now you are on the Riviera Under lemon trees that never stop blooming You are boating with friends One is from Nice one is from Menton two from La Turbie We are staring terrified at giant squid At fish the symbols of Jesus swimming through seaweed

You are in the garden at an inn outside of Prague You are completely happy a rose is on the table And instead of getting on with your short-story You watch the rosebug sleeping in the rose’s heart

Appalled you see yourself reproduced in the agates of Saint Vitus You were sad near to death to see yourself there You looked as bewildered as Lazarus In the Jewish ghetto the clock runs backwards And you go backwards also through a slow life Climbing the Hradchen listening at nightfall To Bohemian songs in the singing taverns

You in Marseilles among the watermelons

You in Coblenz at the Hotel Gigantic

You in Rome beneath a Japanese tree

You in Amsterdam with a girl you find pretty who is ugly She’s engaged to marry a student from Leyden Where you can rent rooms in Latin Cubicula locanda I remember spending three days there and three in Gouda

You are in Paris hauled before the magistrate You are under arrest you are a criminal now

You went on sorrowful and giddy travels Ignorant still of dishonesty and old age Love afflicted you at twenty and again at thirty I’ve lived like a fool and I’ve wasted my time You dare not look at your hands I want to weep all the time On you on the one I love on everything that frightened you

And now you are crying at the sight of refugees Who believe in God who pray whose women nurse babies The hall of the train station is filled with the refugee-smell Like the Magi refugees believe in their star They expect to find silver mines in the Argentine And to return like kings to their abandoned countries One family carries a red eiderdown you carry your heart Eiderdown and dreams are equally fantastic

Some of the refugees stay on in Paris settling Into slums on the rue des Rosiers or the rue des Ecouffes I have seen them often at dusk they breathe at their doorways They budge from home as reluctantly as chessmen They are chiefly Jewish the women wear wigs And haunt backrooms of little shops in little chairs

You’re standing at the metal counter of some dive Drinking wretched coffee where the wretched live

You are in a cavernous restaurant at night

These women are not evil they are used-up regretful Each has tormented someone even the ugliest

She is the daughter of a police sergeant from Jersey

Her hands I’d never noticed are hard and cracked

My pity aches along the seams of her belly

I humble my mouth to her grotesque laughter

You’re alone when morning comes The milkmen jingle bottles in the street

Night beautiful courtesan the night withdraws Fraudulent Ferdine or careful Leah

And you drink an alcohol as caustic as your life Your life you drink as alcohol

You walk to Auteuil you want to go on foot to sleep At home among your South Sea and Guinean fetishes Christs of another shape another faith Subordinate Christs of uncertain hopes

Goodbye Goodbye

Sun cut throated

[italjap]

Kyoto:

We’ve had a wonderful 4 night stay and loved it. The Thousand Kyoto is 2 mins walk from the station, beautifully appointed, another attractive entry though this time with a ‘wave’ installation that is at once calming. The Japanese attention to detail and thoughtful consideration of aesthetic is so appealing. Everything in our room seems to be in the right place with appropriate space and comfort paramount. Another Toto (🚽) has us grinning, this time with dryer function - too much information? sorry. G is on the hunt to see if we can get one at home so enamoured is he😐.

The station is also bus and we are quickly all over the system with all-day passes that see us go anywhere we want/need easily, mixing it with the locals and seeing as we go. Enjoy watching everyday Kyoto life happen as tourists mingle and move, order and politeness de rigeur. "Your smile is our happiness" I see emblazoned and it seems that's how the Japanese roll. 😃😃

Food is apparently paramount. No end of places to eat, no end of different styles of eating, no end of people eating. I use different sites to guide us plus a little instinct and so far it’s led us to some truly memorable and fun experiences.

Sumibi Torito: a chicken yakitori, where we sat close up to master, amazed at his ability to time everything so perfectly for the whole restaurant (small as it was). He sources his chicken from specialised organic producers. As usual, we can’t resist liver and it is perfection - better than any pate you could wish for. The ‘meatball’ sticks, dipped into egg yolk, the mushroom stir fry. Delectable.

Pound, Ekimae: a Kobe beef yakiniku where we have a private booth with sliding doors, our own table grill. The best steak I (we too I believe) have had. We ordered well and were able to slowly work our way through, cooking as we go so the different cuts of slivered meat was hot and perfectly cooked (arigato tong master). The veg were great and there was a little cube of fat to grill and baste as you go (and the little bit of crisp left at the end had our eyes rolling!)

Zundouya Ramen: a great way to end a rugby watching night. Slurpy, tasty noodles, broth and all those fab toppings. Karaage chicken and gyoza appetiser and we’re happy soy-bean pastes (aka vegemites).

Katsusando: or meat schnitty sandwich as recommended by Adam Liaw, perfect for bullet train snacking. Available everywhere of various grades of quality but as the Japanese are averse to food that is not fresh, it’s only a matter of good or better.

The food halls on basement level of most department stores are superb. All manner of options to take away, they draw your eye (so important as the Japanese believe in firstly eating with your eyes) then it’s decisions, decisions! Then there’s the train station vendors - not like ours, ie suss, but really good, well-priced and popular.

Lastly in Kyoto, whilst in Gion (geisha area), strolling the narrow alleys and in particular the Pontocho area, along a little stream with bridges fringed with weeping willows, lit restaurants looking out we come across one with a queue, always a good sign, mostly Japanese, even better. It’s an izanyaki, like a pub, little stools circle the open kitchen and all around the walls. White streamers, with black writing and numbers hang, obviously the menu but we’re given the English. Sashimi, tempura vegetables and prawns, grilled squid, mushrooms. Oishi!(delicious) fun.

Speaking of Geisha. I got so excited when I saw the first... then many and we didn’t take long to work out those Japanese who come to Kyoto and rent kimonos during their stay, many are young, both men and women. A true geisha has a certain poise and doesn’t sport an mobile phone! We only saw one with traditionally painted face but I have loved seeing the various colours, patterns and fabrics👘, the little ‘backpacks’ and beautifully arranged hairstyles - how they walk in their socks and platform thongs though 🤷‍♀️. I especially love the kimono neckline...so elegant, designed to highlight the beauty of the neckline, it does so!

(I’m writing this now in the lounge area of the Hana ryokan in Beppu, looking out to a gorgeous Japanese style garden with pond and large colourful koi. Fringed by trees of various heights and textures, stone ‘temples’, patterned ‘swept’ gravel surrounding stepping stones. Serenity.)

Back to Kyoto highlights. The bamboo forest grove was spectacular though lots of people (and apparently not their busy time 😳) - we thought the Okochi Sanso Garden just nearby was wonderful. The former home and garden of a famous Japanese actor, it was a gorgeous stepping stone wander through a green glade - views over Kyoto, moss below and graceful reaching branches of Japanese maple above and surround. Colours are just beginning to turn to autumn 🍂 and must surely rival cherry blossom time for jaw dropping beauty when in full autumn colour. Green tea and sweet, served by a bevy of smiling women (as part of the ticket) was very pleasant too.

The Golden Pavilion (another easy bus ride) lovely too, set amidst mountain backdrop, lake reflecting greenery and blue skies. A lucky spot: as we wove our way along the path, there was a stone structure a little way inside the barricade with metal dish in front and many coins surrounding it. Glenn threw and bingo, inside the dish with ringing ‘ping’ to applause, gasps and bows from those watching on. 😊😎. Mine missed.😐

Nishiki Market A long covered central path flanked by stalls (mostly street food) either side. A wonder. A fantastic knife shop Aritsugu where we purchase an all-purpose knife which they offer to engrave with name in Japanese. Also some fish-boning tweezers. Fun.

Discover a fabulous little area nearby which reminds me of Woollahra, little high-end shops amidst residences, bars and restaurants, just a stone’s throw from the busy and big ‘main street’ shopping.

[travelworldnetwork]

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St Johns Co-Cathedral, Valetta, Malta. Photo: Alamy

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In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Grand Tour of Europe was an immersive journey across the continent undertaken by Britain's elites. It was seen as an opportunity to extend one's education by absorbing the best of Europe's art, culture and fine food, and it could entail a two- or three-year commitment to exploring the wonders of Italy, France, Austria and Germany. Whatever the duration, it was also about living the good life, taking your time and, in-between, meeting local nobility, sketching the sights and enjoying sumptuous feasts.

The tradition has vanished in its lavish original form, but Traveller is going to revive it, albeit with some tweaks. Few of us, after all, have the option to take a year or two out like the Grand Tourists of the past but then again, modern transportation allows us cover much more ground in much less time.

Our proposed Grand Tour for the modern age is designed to last about a month: long enough to feel indulgent, but short enough to ensureyou still have a life to return to back home. Our itinerary is also quite different. The Grand Tour of centuries past was designed to showcase eye-opening destinations rich in culture and history. It included places such as Paris, Venice and Rome, which these days are among the most-visited places on the planet. We have chosen a new route through Europe that takes us to dramatically different destinations, from one of Spain's most splendid Moorish cities through Russia's grandest metropolis and deep into Eastern Europe. And, instead of travelling by carriage, our tour relies on flights (although some stretches, such as Helsinki to St Petersburg, can be done by train).

Some of these cities, such as Prague, are popular destinations; others, such as Sofia, remain under-the-radar. Each one embodies a different aspect of European history and culture, and each one has plenty of wonders to admire. Most of these cities, it should be noted, deserve a longer stay than the few days we have allotted. Taken together as an itinerary, however, we hope they offer a new perspective on Europe's many glories.

DAYS 1 TO 3

VALLETTA, MALTA

Europe is crammed with cities founded by kings and queens. Cities founded by warrior monks? Not so much. In fact, Valletta is the only one we can think of. The Knights of St John, like their more famous brethren, the Knights Templar, were originally formed in the 11th century to fight in the Crusades; more than 400 years later they were still going strong. Chased from their base in Rhodes in 1530 by the Ottomans, the Knights moved to Malta and promptly built a grand city to prove their glory was undiminished.

WHAT TO DO

Valletta's steeply-sloping streets, lined with elegant sandstone buildings and surrounded by 28 kilometres of walls, are home to 320 historic monuments – a figure rivalled only by Rome and Jerusalem. Must-visits include the Grand Master's Palace, with its displays of Gobelin tapestries and medieval armour, and St John's Co-Cathedral, one of most over-the-top baroque cathedrals in Europe. Don't miss the cathedral's oratory: on display are some canvases which the grand master – who clearly had an eye for art – commissioned from a hot young artist called Caravaggio.

For the maximum Valletta experience, book into one of the boutique hotels springing up in the city's narrow townhouses. Casa Ellul offers friendly service and gorgeous views from the top floors. Cosy restaurants are tucked into townhouses and dish up local Italian-tinged dishes (rabbit is a specialty). Bookings are recommended for popular venues such as Legligin, a restaurant and wine bar.

DON'T MISS

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Malta is so compact you can squeeze the rest of its sights into a day, if necessary. Make sure you take a walk through the 1000-year-old city of Mdina, which retains a distinctly Arabic feel, and visit at least one of Malta's prehistoric sites, perhaps the necropolis at Hal Saflieni. Stop for lunch at Marsaxlokk, a pretty port town with a waterfront lined with brightly-painted wooden boats.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/malta

visitmalta.com

casaellul.com

Garden in the Alcazar of Seville, Seville, Spain Photo: imageBROKER / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 4 to 6

SEVILLE, SPAIN

Seville was one of Europe's leading cities for 500 years under Moorish rule; a beacon of learning and beauty at a time when much of Europe was in chaos. When the Castilians conquered the city in 1248, they obliterated many Moorish monuments, including the main mosque – the city's immense cathedral was built on the site, with the mosque's minaret co-opted to serve as the cathedral's bell tower – but enough of a legacy survives to make Seville a fascinating destination.

WHAT TO DO

Seville's Moorish history can be discovered in the whitewashed neighbourhoods of narrow streets that could be transplanted from North Africa, in the splendid orange trees that line its streets and, above all, in the breathtaking Alcazar. Originally built as a fort for the Caliph of Andalucia, the building – with its entrancing interiors and elegant gardens, featured in Game of Thrones as the water gardens of Dorne – has served as a royal residence for more than 1000 years and remains Seville's unmissable attraction.

In a quirky twist, having expelled the Moors, Seville's new Christian rulers were so taken by their architecture and its exquisite detailing, its arched colonnades, its fountains and its intricate tilework, that they created a new style of architecture called Mudejar, which mixed Moorish and Gothic elements. Mudejar monuments can be seen right across town, from the impressive Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba to the city's most sumptuous lodgings, the Hotel Alfonso XIII.

DON'T MISS

Tapas is a local tradition. Start the nightat Seville's oldest eatery, the 350-year-old El Rinconcillo, before heading to the cutting-edge Ovejas Negras, which serves inventive plates such as squid with lettuce sauce.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/spain

visitasevilla.es

hotel-alfonsoxiii-seville.com

elrinconcillo.es/en/home

ovejasnegrastapas.com

Strasbourg, France. Photo: Sorin Colac / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 7 TO 9

STRASBOURG, FRANCE

Strasbourg was one of the grandest cities of the Middle Ages and a stroll through its ancient streets offers a virtual open-air museum of European architecture. Highlights range from the 1000-year-old cathedral to the imposing 18th-century palaces such as the Palais Rohan and the Hotel de Hanau.

WHAT TO DO

Start with those historic streetscapes. Perched on an island with the river Ile looping around it protectively, Strasbourg's setting is as picturesque as the city itself, with its half-timbered houses, willow-lined embankments and chimney pots topped with storks' nests. If you have artistic inclinations, you might feel inspired by the example of the original Grand Tourists to make some sketches of beautifully-preserved areas, such as Petite France, formerly the tanners' quarters and now also the location of some of the city's best hotels, such as the lovely Régent Petite France.

If you prefer looking at art to making it, immerse yourself in world-class art in the city's excellent museums. Top picks include the Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, displaying works by Rodin and Picasso; the Musée des Beaux-Arts for the masterpieces by Giotto, Botticelli and Rubens; and a magnificent collection of medieval art at the Musée de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame.

DON'T MISS

Lovers of fine food and wine will enjoy Alsace's distinctive regional cuisine. The area's German heritage is in evidence, with choucroute (sauerkraut) and onion tart featuring heavily on local menus. There are some excellent fine dining options, including the acclaimed Au Crocodile, but for something more casual, try tarte flambée. This pizza-like flatbread is often topped with crème fraiche, onions and smoked ham. Wash it all down with some of the excellent local rieslings and gewürztraminers.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/strasbourg

otstrasbourg.fr

regent-petite-france.com

musees.strasbourg.eu

au-crocodile.com/fr

Cathedral Senate Square, Helsinki, Finland Photo: Ian Shaw / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 10 TO 13

HELSINKI, FINLAND

They don't teach much Nordic history in our schools, and you can see why. After the end of the Viking Ages, nothing much seemed to happen here for 1000 years or so until the mid-20th century, when the Nordic countries were suddenly unveiled as design powerhouses. Helsinki makes it onto this itinerary not just for its architectural highlights, but as an example of a city where good design is woven into every aspect of everyday life.

WHAT TO DO

Helsinki is packed with superb examples of design and architecture, but the locals don't make a big deal of it. Tell someone you're a fan of architect Alvar Aalto and they may recommend you visit his Finlandia Hall, a striking concert venue clad in asymmetric panels of glittering marble. Or they may send you to the local Iittala glassware store, where a number of Alto-designed vases are available. In Finland, a well-designed vase is as worthy of admiration as a monumental piece of architecture.

Nonetheless, there are some architectural masterpieces you should not miss, including the monumental train station, designed by Eliel Saarinen. The atmospheric Temppeliaukio Church is a subterranean building with rock walls and a copper-clad ceiling. Check if there are any concerts taking place here during your stay; the acoustics are terrific. The family homes of architects Alvar Aalto and Eliel Saarinen are also worth a visit. (Saarinen designed almost every element in his family home, Hvitträsk, from the tiles to the pint-sized tables and chairs for his children), while the neighbourhoods of Katajanokku and Kruunerhaken contain a magnificent collection of art nouveau buildings.

Helsinki's newest hotel is the centrally-located Hotel St George, built around a winter garden. For a memorable meal, try Restaurant Jord, the more affordable sibling of Helsinki's best restaurant, Ask. Top picks include Finnish classics such as crepes with smoked lingonberry jam and pike perch served with grilled leeks.

DON'T MISS

In Helsinki's sprawling Design District, you can discover the latest local talent alongside design giants such as Iittala and Artek.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/helsinki

myhelsinki.fi

museovirasto.fi/en

stgeorgehelsinki.com

restaurantjord.fi

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg, Russia Photo: Sergey Borisov / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 14 TO 17

ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

If you enjoy imperial excess, St Petersburg, the showcase city of the Romanov dynasty, is the place to go. Some people find that Petersburg's over-the-top splendour brings out their inner revolutionary but, no matter where you stand on the politics, the beauty of this city – conjured up out of the marshland by Peter the Great – is impossible to deny.

WHAT TO DO

St Petersburg is packed with spectacular buildings, from the imperial residences to the dazzling interiors of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. However, it is not just monuments that are eye-catching here; in Petersburg, even the grocery stores are exercises in elegance. (Check out the Eliseyev Emporium if you don't believe us.)

St Petersburg is also a cultural heavyweight. Attending a performance at the flamboyant Mariinsky theatre, whether ballet, opera or symphony, is a must. If you have never been able to work your through any of the Russian literary classics, book a table at Café Idiot – named after the Dostoevsky book – and feast on Russian classic cuisine instead.

When it comes to accommodation, Petersburg is one of those cities where it pays to go as grand as your budget will bear. We love the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, which has an inhouse caviar bar.

DON'T MISS

Allow at least a day to explore the Hermitage Museum, where the artistic treasures on display – everything from ancient Scythian gold treasures to Rembrandts, Picassos and Matisses – are rivalled by the interiors of what was once the imperial family's Winter Palace, with its malachite columns and gilded mouldings.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/russia

visit-petersburg.ru

hermitagemuseum.org

Belmond.com/grandhotel

​idiot-spb.com/eng/

Skyline of Prague at dusk. Photo: JOHN KELLERMAN / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 18 to 20

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Much of the glory that is Prague was the vision of one man: Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and Czech king, who was determined to build one of the most impressive cities on earth. He succeeded so well that, more than six centuries later, Prague still dazzles.

WHAT TO DO

There is plenty to admire in Prague's historic heart, from its towering castle and elaborate bridges to the picturesque Old Town Square. Not all of Prague's glories are ancient, however. The city remains committed to culture – perhaps not so surprising when you remember that these are the people who elected a playwright to the position of president. In addition to its remarkable collection of public sculpture (look for the avantgarde works of David Cerny), Prague has embraced modern architecture, most famously in the form of Frank Gehry's Dancing Buildings, towers that lean towards each other like tango dancers.

Maintain the historic mood with a stay at the Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa, housed in a 16th-century palace and dripping with gilt and red velvet. For a meal with a view, book a table at the Bellevue restaurant, where you can gaze at Prague castle while enjoying elegantly-executed Bohemian fare. A more rustic alternative is the old-school U Medvidku Pub, where you can savour what may be the city's signature dish: pork with dumplings, sauerkraut and pilsener.

DON'T MISS

The city where Mozart, Dvorak, Smetana, Janacek and Mahler all wrote and performed has melodies coursing through its veins. Catch a concert at the neo-classical Rudolfinum, home to the acclaimed Czech Philharmonic; if you visit during the annual Prague Spring festival, you can also enjoy performances in a range of atmospheric venues, from churches to the St Agnes convent.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/prague

prague.eu

alchymisthotel.com

bellevuerestaurant.cz

umedvidku.cz/en

Hungarian Parliament building, Budapest. Photo: Jan Wlodarczyk / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 21 TO 23

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

If Prague has a rival in the grandeur stakes, it would have to be Budapest, a city gifted a solid dose of glamour by those renowned urban planners, the Habsburg emperors.

WHAT TO DO

Start on the Danube's west bank in the royal quarter of Buda with the soaring gothic glory of St Matthias Church, the coronation venue for several Habsburg emperors, including the mighty Franz Joseph and the ill-fated last emperor, known in Hungary as Charles IV and in Austria as Charles I. Equally impressive is Budapest Castle, which houses the Hungarian National Gallery's superb collection of medieval, Renaissance and baroque stonework, sculptures and painting.

On the east bank, Pest's grandest monuments include the extraordinary 691-room Parliament building, the gilt-tripping Hungarian State Opera House and the lovely Gresham Palace. This beautiful building was originally built for – of all things – an insurance company; in the hands of Four Seasons, it has become one of the city's best hotels.

Budapest is not all about its monuments, however; its lovely streetscapes make this a great place to get lost. Start your explorations in the riverside Pest neighbourhood of Lipótváros and follow your feet: whichever direction you head in, you will discover grand squares, wide boulevards, and plenty of eye-catching architecture, ranging from belle epoque to art deco to Bauhaus.

DON'T MISS

Our vote for essential Budapest experience is an afternoon spent in one of its grand cafes. Take a seat in Café Gerbeaud or the Central Café, order up a glass of tokay wine and slice of cake – perhaps two, if you can't decide between the hazelnut-heavy Eszterhazy torta, or the buttercream-laden dobos torte – and know that you are enjoying the best that Budapest has to offer.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/budapest

budapest.com

fourseasons.com

gerbeaud.hu

centralkavehaz.hu

Thracian figurines, National Historical Museum, Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo: age fotostock / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 24 TO 26

SOFIA, BULGARIA

If you are asking yourself, "Sofia? What on earth can I do there?", consider yourself a victim of the Cold War. During the years that eastern Europe was locked away behind the Iron Curtain, countries such as Bulgaria slipped from our collective consciousness, which is why most of us are oblivious to Sofia's rich history and heritage.

WHAT TO DO

Among the things you probably don't know about Sofia: it has an entire Roman city buried beneath its streets. Nine thousand square metres of Roman ruins have now been unearthed, creating an open-air museum filled with ancient streets and houses, baths and basilicas.

After the Romans, Sofia's history gets complicated. There are stints of rule by the Byzantines and Ottomans, as well as not one but two Bulgarian Empires, all of which left behind mighty monuments. Some are rightly celebrated, such as the Boyana Church with its vivid, lifelike 800-year-old frescoes. Others are harder to find. Few relics of Ottoman rule survive: one is the former mosque that now houses the National Archaeological Museum, worth a visit in its own right.

Bulgaria's culinary heritage is also worth exploring. Book a table at Bagri, a contemporary restaurant showcasing traditional foods and supporting small farmers. Hotel-wise, the Grand Hotel Sofia, which has a convenient location and excellent service, is among the city's best.

DON'T MISS

It is astonishing to think that, 2000 years after they founded the city that became Sofia, you can still find traces of the long-vanished Thracian people. Take a trip out of town to Kazanlak, where you can visit a 2000-year-old beehive tomb, decorated with richly coloured frescoes that illustrate the remarkably sophisticated lifestyles enjoyed by the Thracian elite.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/bulgaria

visitsofia.bg

bagri-restaurant.bg/en

grandhotelsofia.bg

Whirling Dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Peter Adams Photography Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

DAYS 27 TO 30

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

True, only half of the city lies in Europe; the far shore of Istanbul is technically part of Asia. Yet this city has played a key role in so many European empires – under various names, including Byzantium and Constantinople – that it is a must for anyone interested in history.

WHAT TO DO

Istanbul is a city that has been shaped by great men. Take, for instance, the awe-inspiring Aya Sofiya, built as the grandest church in Christendom by one of the great Byzantine emperors, Justinian, then converted into a mosque by the Ottoman sultan who conquered the city, Mehmed the Conqueror. Or take the exquisite Sulemaniye mosque, built by the mighty Suleiman the Magnificent, its interiors soaring vertically in a manner reminiscent of the most striking Gothic architecture.

Not all of Istanbul's local heroes have won a lasting place in the history books, however. Nearly everyone who visits Istanbul walks past the landmark Galata Tower; few, however, know the tower was the launching point for the 17th-century Ottoman aviator Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi, who flew across the Bosphorus in the first flight with artificial wings.

For a room close to the heart of the action, the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet takes some beating; from its terrace, guests get a ringside view of the city's most magnificent sights, including the Aya Sofiya and the Blue Mosque. Just a short walk away you will also find one of the city's best fish restaurants, Balikci Sabahattın.

DON'T MISS

The legendary wealth of the Ottoman sultans is on display at Topkapi Palace, where the exhibits include spectacular jewels, royal robes and an eclectic collection of religious relics that includes John the Baptist's hand and hairs from Muhammad's beards.

ESSENTIALS

traveller.com.au/turkey

howtoistanbul.com

fourseasons.com

FIVE MORE GRAND CITIES

KRAKOW, POLAND

Poland has an embarrassment of beautiful cities, including Gdansk and Wroclaw, but this former royal capital is particularly rich in scenic sights from the stately old town to the buzzing Kazimierz district. See krakow.pl/english/

RIGA, LATVIA

It is hard to decide which is lovelier: Riga's atmospheric old town, with its medieval streets and buildings, or the new town, which has an extraordinary collection of art nouveau architecture. See liveriga.com

MALAGA, SPAIN

There is nothing provincial about Malaga's impressive collection of museums. Highlights include the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the CAC Museum dedicated to contemporary art, an outpost of the Centre Pompidou and a museum dedicated to a local lad called Pablo Picasso. See malagaturismo.com/en

BREGENZ, AUSTRIA

It is best-known for its summertime Bregenz Festival, where the stage floats on the water, but the town of Bregenz is also worth a visit for its cutting-edge KUB museum and its packed concert calendar. See austria.info

THESSALONIKI, GREECE

In this lively city, daily life takes place amidst an astonishing collection Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman monuments. Where else would you find a magnificent Roman arch dominating the main shopping street? See thessaloniki.travel/en/

STILL GRAND AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

PARIS

Three hundred years ago, visitors came for lessons in French and fencing and to admire the works in the Louvre. Today's travellers can also enjoy a host of newer attractions, from the Centre Pompidou to Frank Gehry's Fondation Louis Vuitton. See en.parisinfo.com

VIENNA

The Habsburg empire's most splendid capital is as famous for its rich cultural calendar as its grand palaces and amazing museums. Saint Stephens Cathedral and the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palaces were familiar to Grand Tourists; not so the MuseumsQuartier or the extraordinary Hundertwasser Haus. See wien.info

FLORENCE

Florence's historic centre has not changed much since the days of the Grand Tour, which is precisely why tourists still flock here in droves. Don't-miss sights include cathedral topped by Brunelleschi's dome, the opulent Baptistery and museums such as the Uffizi and the Galleria dell'Accademia. See firenzeturismo.it/en/

ANTWERP

Antwerp's winning combination of small-scale charm and big-city grandeur has not diminished over the centuries. Nor have the city's superb museums – including the Rubenshuis, the Rockoxhuis and the Museum Mayer Van Den Bergh – lost their ability to impress. See visitantwerpen.be/en/

DRESDEN

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, more visitors are discovering this east German treasure. The showpiece capital of Augustus the Strong has a rich collection of baroque architecture and cultural treasures, including the rococo Zwinger and the world's largest porcelain mural, the Fürstenzug. See dresden.de/en/

from traveller.com.au

The post Grand tour: The best of Europe in 30 days appeared first on Travel World Network.

[the-accidental-accountant]

Howard Johnson comes to Kolkata with their newest property that adds to the beauty of the tall sky scrapers that adorn the Kolkata skyline. It’s a part of the Wyndham Hotels group that has left a distinguishable mark for its work in the hospitality sector and is the second property of the world famous Howard Johnson chain of hotels in India after the one that was launched in Bengaluru sometime ago. The newest addition to their property boasts of a majestic 90 room hotel, that is very close (the hotel is almost five kilometres from the hotel) and it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the airport 5 making it one of the most convenient luxury choice of stay for people who constantly hop in and out of planes and travel India and the world, and who live their lives one business meeting at a time. The hotel caters to the needs of the guests and extends to them a luxurious way of living that gives them that feeling of home away from home that frequent travelers and fliers often crave for. They say a house becomes a home, only when you put the family in it… well, they’re right. And that’s where the amazing staff of Howard Johnson step in and take add more stars. Seldom, you’ll find places where, the staff at luxurious hotels just lets you be, but still gives you that feeling they have all the time in the world for you. Right from the entrance, till the time when you enter your room, you are greeted and wished warmly by every staff of the place that you come across, so much so that even if you’re having a bad day, the warmth that they exude with their good wishes, slowly transforms your bad day into a good one.

The hotel has all day dining facilities in its luxury coffee shop called The Nest Hojo and their major emphasis is on all day dining and buffet since the demographic they serve do not have any particular time of arrival or departure, so it is best suited for everyone who walks in. the restaurant is simplistic in its appeal and has a beautiful ambiance set up inside with the muted lights and spacious design. Keeping in mind the Kolkata heritage, the walls are beautifully painted with murals that depict Kolkata on a canvas, so that it gives you a feeling of being in a place that is rich in culture but has modernized and urbanized with time. The evolution of Kolkata through the ages has been kept in mind and has been beautifully translated in their menu that serves you Oriental, European along with the local delicacies with a dash of inventions by the chef Soumendranath Mandal on and off.

As chef Soumendranath Mandal says, that the food that is food served here is one of a kind as it’s not just food from all over the world with uncommon names and difficult pronunciations, but it’s good food with beautiful presentation prepared using fresh and organic ingredients sourced with care. The restaurant brings to you diverse cuisines from all around the world with some of the most sought after and also a few secret dishes. How many can boast of that… eh?

On 31st of August, team PanchPoron was invited over to The Nest HOJO, Howard Johnson for a gala food tasting and food bloggers meet. I am sharing some Snippets from the meet below, I hope you like it and settle in on this place and have an amazing time during your visit there.

Name: The Nest- HOJO, Howard Johnson Building

Address: Howard Johnson, New Town Square, Near Spencer Mall, Kolkata.

Food

The Nest caters to almost every taste bud and boasts of a multi cuisine menu that includes comfort food for the people as well as your experimental and diverse cuisines for the adventurous foodies.

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The Nest caters to almost every taste bud and boasts of a multi cuisine menu that includes comfort food for the people as well as your experimental and diverse cuisines for the adventurous foodies. They have your staple food of idlis, dosas, and other south Indian delicacies on the breakfast menu along with other breakfast specials that are changed from time to time.  If you thought the decor and ambiance are out of the world, then let me tell you…the all-days dining buffet menu is a different story altogether that takes the wow factor of the restaurant up a few notches.

Salads

Kaffir lime scented tropical fruit salad

Classic chicken Caesar Salad

The menu comes loaded with eye catching salads and soups that transport you to different regions around the world via your plate. We were served two salads, one a classic crowd favorite that is the Classic Chicken Caesar Salad and Kaffir lime scented tropical fruit salad. Served to you by the smiling staffs and in an impeccable presentation, the Kaffir lime scented tropical fruit salad loaded with exotic fruits like kiwi and dragon fruit just stole my heart and left me craving for more. The beautiful sweetness of the fruits and the scent and aroma of Kaffir lime was wonderful for opening up my palate for the rest of the wonderful dishes that were yet to arrive.

Soups

Fisherman’s seafood soup

Mushroom Cappuccino

The next batch of food that arrived in front of us, were the soups that are unlike any of the soups that you have ever had. beautifully presented in soup bowls and soup cups, the soups were accompanied by the bread of your choice. Rich and The Mushroom Cappuccino was smooth and rich, served with a swirling dollop of sour cream on top and was accompanied by caramelized porcini mushrooms atop a crisp and toasted bread. The fisherman’s seafood soup on the other was a delight for seafood lovers like me with squids, lobsters and its rich broth that was both light and delicious… fish-elicious indeed!

Starters

Hojo Vegetarian Kebab Platter

Hojo Non-Veg Kebab platter

Galouti Kebab e Khaas

murg tikka laziz

Starters were rolled in as soon as we were done with the salads and soups. Some of the very famous north Indian items along with a few world cuisines were served.  The Hojo kebab platters, both veg, and non-veg marked our foray into the richness of flavors that Chef had in store for us. The kebabs were delectable, tasty and some of them were just melt-in-your-mouth tasty. The vegetarian HOJO Kebab platter had panner tikka kebab, veg galouti kebab accompanied by baby lachcha paranthas, Dahi ke kebab and stuffed tandoori aloo. The non-vegetarian kebab platter had grilled jumbo prawns, mutton galouti kebab served again with baby paranthas, fish and murgh lazeez kebab and grilled jumbo prawns. each and every kebab was grilled and prepared with perfection but, what there were a few things that stood out for me…. the baby paranthas that were of an uber cute avatar, the dahi kebab that was tangy and would just melt in your mouth as soon as you eat it, the galouti kebabs and the veg stuffed aloo kebab that resembled scotch eggs. Some more north Indian starters such as the Murgh tikka Lazeez and Galoutti Kebab e Khas were also served that had distinct north Indian flavors and aromas.

The food was accompanied by some of the most beautiful and fresh mocktails that were prepared using fresh fruits and fruit juices.

Newtown green chilly chicken

Chicken quenelles

Crunchy chicken paupiettes

Now coming to some of the most uncommon starters that you’ll get your taste buds on, such as Chicken quenelles prepared using chicken dumplings and grated cheese and then given the form of an egg, crunchy chicken paupiettes, that is stuffed chicken sausage served with rocket leaf and fresh vegetable salad drizzled with harissa aioli. But the one dish that deserves a special mention is the Newtown green chili chicken invented and prepared the Chef Mandal himself, this dish is what defined the evening for me for its quirky yet wonderful presentation and the taste that’s a novelty, created from familiar flavors.

Kolkata Biryani

Dhuyen ki ghost Korma

Nasi Goreng

Baked fish Gremolata

Risotto Gardenere

Spaghetti aglio olio peppeoncino

Patiala Kadai Murgh

Haare aur Safed Phool ka Guldasta

Thai Green curry served with Jasmine rice

If you thought this was it, then just wait till I make your jaws drop with the sensational main course that had a fair amount of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Some crowd favorites like Kolkata biryani, mutton, nasi goreng, Hare aur Safed Phool ka guldasta which was basically green and white cauliflower curry served with pickled onions, Green Thai curry, and rice along with some of the exquisite dishes that were belched out for us had some small twist or another. The curry was prepared using fresh organic vegetables and had a creamy texture to it and went beautifully with the jasmine rice that accompanied it. The baked fish Gremolata was served with orange seasoned rice and fresh herbs, Patiala Kadai Murg, while your regular parantha was served with Dhuyen ki Ghost Korma that was just out of this world. Being an absolute aficionado of Italian cuisine, the Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino and risotto gardenere were just the right items that helped me switch my palate from the extremely spicy Asian cuisine to the more subtle and flavourful part of the rest of the main course.

Pink Norwegian Salmon

The most sensational dishes from among the main courses that we tried out, would be the Pink Norweigan salmon served with sauteed asparagus in butter, fresh vegetable salad with rocket leaves and a sauce of capers. the salmon was pink and flaky and was so fresh that I could almost feel the river in its flesh.

Kalakand Mihidana Cheesecake

Indian Sweet Delicacies

This mammoth of a food tasting event came to an end with the beautiful desserts that brought down the curtain quite effectively. popular sweet dishes like… mishti doi, roshow malai and gulab jamuns were served along with the innovative kalakand cheesecake that was served with mihidana and raspberry coulis. each and every dessert was beautiful in its own right.

This place is open 24*7 and hence you now know, which place to head out for delicious food when you have an all nighter pandal hopping planned this puja. Come and experience the luxurious dining at The Nest HOJO and experience world cuisines at affordable rates with the backdrop of Kolkata’s heritage and be get swept off of your feet.

And if you’re living off your suitcase and planes, then indulge in an amazing stay-cation here.

I would like to thank Mr. Mahinder Rawat, GM of Howard Johnson Kolkata, the entire of Howard Johnson Kolkata and Chef Soumendranath Mondal for preparing such an exquisite meal for us. I would also like to thank Mr. Rajdeep Bhattacharjee (gourmet travels and guide) for guiding us through our food journey. A milestone for team Panchphoron indeed.

Go Happy

Go HOJO!!

Nestle amidst the multicuisine luxury @ The Nest HOJO Howard Johnson comes to Kolkata with their newest property that adds to the beauty of the tall sky scrapers that adorn the Kolkata skyline.

[denmark101]

Restaurant Brace

Last year, I was sad to hear that one of my favorite restaurants in Copenhagen, Oliver and the Black Circus, had closed its doors. But I was equally excited to see what new restaurant would move into the beautiful house on Teglgårdsstræde between City Hall square and Nørreport.

A couple of weeks ago, I got the answer: the former head chef of Michelin-starred Era Ora, Nicola Fanetti, has ventured out on his own with a new concept of Italian-Nordic fusion, opening new Restaurant Brace in the former Circus locales.

The interior is more clean and less playful than it was before – the artwork on the ceiling has been painted over, and the place looks more grown-up and elegant. I love the little courtyard in front of the house, which looked especially quaint with the layer of snow that had fallen just the day before.

We were welcomed by the friendly staff and manager, and decided to start out with a cocktail from their selection. The drinks are classics with a twist, such as my “New Fashioned” with blackberries and rosemary.

The menu is simple – you can choose either 8 or 12 servings. We went for the full-on experience.

First up were some snacks:

Fried artichoke with mustard and chives, and rye bread with anchovies

Fried artichoke, mustard, chives

Crispy white moss with parmesan creme and balsamico caviar

Broth with fennel and sichuan pepper as a palate cleanser

Looking at the dishes, you can clearly see the concept of uniting the Italian and Nordic cuisines – combining ingredients like moss or parmesan cheese, for example.

The first course leaned more heavily on the Nordic side: Danish squid, cooked in its own ink, with pumpkin mash, crispy quinoa, and sorrel. I have to admit that I’m not the biggest squid fan, but this was actually really tasty and a lovely combination of flavors and textures – and certainly visually spectacular! I don’t think I’m a full-on squid convert yet, though.

For drinks, there are different wine pairings to choose from, but since we had work the next day, we decided to just share a bottle. We opted for an Italian blend of Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, which we really enjoyed. The wine menu is diverse, but heavy on the Italians, of course.

Next up was one of my favorites of the night. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this risotto with cauliflower and pine oil – it was absolutely exquisite and complex in flavors! On a side note, it is quite difficult to make a risotto look good on a plate.

There were lovely nutty notes from the cauliflower, as well as the trademark freshness of the pine, and I really wanted to take home a huge portion of this in a Tupperware box!

Our next course was a really interesting mix: Brussels sprouts (love them!) with hazelnuts, pork skin, and topped with hay ash. I loved the combination of the bitterness, nutty flavors, and charred aromas, together with the saltiness of the pork skin.

You can’t go to an Italian restaurant and not expect some pasta dish! Next on the menu was this pink beauty with lamb, mushrooms, and a raspberry powder. This may sound weird, but I enjoyed it – definitely one of the most interesting flavor combinations. Also, did I mention that it was pink?!

For a veggie intermezzo, we were served black salsify with white roots, garlic bulbs and a celery root gaze. Like the others, this dish was beautifully plated as well.

The main meat course was a bavette steak with black garlic, dragon kale, and blood orange. The meat was incredibly tender and had loads of flavor. It was matched nicely with the crispy kale and the blood orange sauce.

This was the one dish – except for the lamb maybe – where I would have preferred a red wine, but the white we had chosen actually paired up pretty well with most of the food over the course of the night.

The next-to-last course was a sort of pre-dessert to cleanse the palate: beetroot topped with green apple slices alongside the most delicious kiwi granita. I loved that there wasn’t too much sweetness; instead, the flavors were tangy and refreshing, just perfect to cut in between the heavy meat dish and classically sweet dessert that followed.

The grand finale was my other favorite of the day – big surprise, since I’ve admitted multiple times to having the biggest sweet tooth. A Nordic-inspired take on one of the most famous Italian desserts: tiramisu. This one was prepared with akvavit instead of Marsala, and malt cookies instead of the classic ladyfingers. Absolutely amazing!

I finished with an espresso, which was served with the petit four of the day, a small orange flavored cake. Super delicious – although by this time, I was quite full already!

Restaurant Brace is a really exciting new entry to the Copenhagen food scene, and the concept of Italian-Nordic fusion is definitely unique. Prices are absolutely fair: DKK 775 for the 12-course menu, DKK 515 for 8 courses. There are different wine pairings available, bottle prices start around DKK 350.

So if you’re looking for a dining experience that’s something different, I suggest you give Restaurant Brace a try!

Restaurant Brace     Teglgårdsstræde 8A, 1452 Copenhagen     restaurantbrace.dk

I was kindly invited by Restaurant Brace to try their new menu. All opinions are my own.

from The Copenhagen Tales http://ift.tt/2l66Arv