The Crazy Food Lady

As I sit here in the chilly 12°C weather (Chilly for us Karachi walay) sipping on my hot chocolate, I can't help but be thankful for those who come for my food advice and then implement it. Now, I'm by no means saying I'm an expert in the food business, but if people trust my taste buds, who am I to argue? A year ago, I was introduced to a girl who I was told makes fabulous hot chocolate, and she just needed to take the plunge into selling her product. I was invited to try it out, and of course I gave my insights for improvement. Fast forward a year later, I got a hankering for hot chocolate and the now established owner of A Pastry Soirée 's Effat Haq was kind enough to send along a few brookies as well. Truth be told, you can't have both the items in one go as they're both quite rich, chocolatey and decadent. The hot chocolate is smooth, not the least bit grainy upon reheating and emits the most gorgeous chocolatey scent. Add a few marshmal

I'll be real with you. I have actually never really been fond of mandi. Pulao with tender meat pieces is something I was born eating. I didn't understand the fuss about it. You know how different food fads have trended wherever you live? Chinese, Pan Asian, burgers, Continental cuisines area all different from the local palate. Pulao aur boti toh mai ghar pe bhi kha sakti hun. So I never got on to the mandi house fad. And the servings at these places are huge, bordering on wasteful. I wasn't going to go there with just one or two friends to eat mandi. No Sirree Bob. Mandis are meant for at least 3-5 people to enjoy, depending on hunger levels. Recently I was invited to the grand launch of the new Mandi House on main Shaheed-e-Millat's now populated restaurant strip. The place was easy to find since it's so prominently visible from the main road. The restaurant itself is made really well, with a waiting area and seating space on both floors. Options for dining in

This blog will be like pulling off a band aid. Relatively quick, but a little painful. Okay, who are we kidding? My blogs are never short :p Visited Bonsai Pan Asian Kitchen earlier this evening with my parents, aunt and uncle. The menu seemed to be the standard offerings of the Pan Asian food fad that has gripped Karachi in its clutches as of late.  My father ordered the Tom Yum with chicken, which he really enjoyed. It was reminiscent of Baan Thai which was our first love, but has closed down unfortunately. I ordered the Som Yum papaya salad which was very fresh, with the strong flavors I'm accustomed to. The kicker in this which won me over was the generous, juicy, large serving of prawns. The best part was, the seafood did not smell, and was definitely a highlight of my evening. My aunt ordered the Special Seafood Chowder which she really enjoyed, but to be honest it was corn soup with a whole lot of vegetables and prawns in it. I didn't see any fish. calamari or