Delhi Baking Company | One of the best things about any 5 star hotel is hands down their in-house bakeries.There's something about their dough, the presentation, and how it's sometimes the only thing in the hotel we can afford. New kid on the block, Delhi Baking Company checks all those boxes and some more. They specialize in a wide range of grab-and-go gourmet products including baked goods, fabulous coffee, as well as a standard bakers eat-in menu. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, DBC is perfect for a coffee catch-up or meeting {or to join us for some fun, but more on that later}, for a quiet, cut-off experience. We're very aware this sounds like every other bakery in town, but here's where they had us; they brew their own coffee {for the record, it is winning}, have a range of in-house ice cream flavours {Masala Chai and Salted Caramel flavour, to name a few}, the freshest focaccia, and happy hours involving great discounts.
Where: JW Marriott, Aerocity
Timings: 7am to 10pm
Summer Menu at Le Cirque, Leela Palace | All you fine-diners are no strangers to Le Cirque. On the tenth floor of the Leela Palace, candlelit, and offering every kind of dining experience {3 private rooms, a Chef's Table, a show kitchen, al fresco seating and a separate bar area}, Le Cirque also has on its menu over 80 labels of Italian wines and 100 labels of French Wine. If you're not already convinced, lo and behold, they've now introduced a spanking new summer menu, inspired by the season's most popular ingredients, and light, summer flavours. Chef de Cuisine Mickey Bhoite has let his imagination run wild - combining flavours, changing compositions and innovating recipes. Starring this summer at Le Cirque will be a Rock Lobster Salad with Melon Melody and Orange Citronette, a Tuna Steak Hache with pistachio crust and raisin mint dressing, and an Olive Poached Black Cod in fresh tomato and burnt eggplant. Also, not leaving the vegetarians behind, you can expect a Le Cirque Pinzimonio Salad with abundant greens and Italian vegetable crudités, and a Ricotta and Spinach Gnocchi made up of spicy carrot reduction and spinach cracker.
Where: The Leela Palace, Chankyapuri; Contact: 011 39331390
Price: On request, starts at INR 2,000/head
Timings: Dinner served from 7pm to 11.45pm
Summer Special Lunch Menu at Le Bistro du Parc | One of our most frequented joints, Le Bistro du Parc just gave us another reason to keep going back. Using local organic ingredients {wherever possible} to create refined but easy {you'll understand the menu} French food, they've launched a set summer menu, available in options of two and three course meals. To start with, you have the choice between a soup of the season and a Salade Parisienne with Chicken, Stuffed Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Rice Pilaf. Choose between the Pan-Fried Chicken Breast and Crispy Legs with Risotto Cromesquis for main course, and for a happy ending, a Bailey's Creme Brûlée or the Fondant au Chocolat. They also have free Wi-Fi and provide a fairly intimate setting, so bookmark for power lunches and business meetings.
Where: A 57, 58, 59 Moolchand Market, Defence Colony; Contact: 011 46780080
Price: INR 500+ for a 2 course lunch and INR 650+ for a 3 course
Timings: Open for lunch from 12pm to 3pm
Gourmet Jars now at The Oberoi | Fresh, homemade, preservative-free jam makers The Gourmet Jar are now retailing at The Oberoi Patisserie and Delicatessen. Their collection of homemade fruit jars will also be served as part of the breakfast buffet at The Oberoi, Gurgaon. Specializing in jams, preserves and marmalades, they have a wide selection of flavours on offer, from Apple Pie Jam, Mango Jalapeño Preserve, Mango Cinnamon Rum Jam and Cape Gooseberry and Cinnamon Preserve, to Plum 3 Spice Cointreau Preserve, Mulled Wine Jam and Mint Chocolate and Strawberry Spread. Their flagship store is located at 8A, Shahpur Jat, and they also retail at the Kirana Shop {Meherchand Market}, Nirvaaha {Defence Colony} and The Roots Organic {Adchini}. To order online click here, and follow them on Facebook here.