{VIDEO} In Conversation with Chef Kunal Kapur

What I love the most about blogging is that it gives me opportunity to meet achievers, celebrities from different walks of life. Be it fashion designers or Bollywood stars or Master Chefs, I have been fortunate to interview some very interesting personalities who we celebrate and who inspire us.

 

And today, I am delighted to share with you a tete a tete with the very popular Celebrity-Chef Kunal Kapur at his lovely signature Indian restaurant, Patiala by Kunal Kapur located in the beautiful Souq-al-bahar.

 

Chef Kunal Kapur is Chef Extraordinaire and is much loved as TV show host too. He has won several culinary and television awards and has even written a cookbook called ‘A Chef in every home’.

 

So, here is yours truly in conversation with Chef Kunal.

 

Hope you enjoy  watching the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it.

 

Until I see you next,

 

*Shine Bright*

{RECIPE} Easy and Delicious Oreo Milkshake

When I am dieting, all I dream about is Oreo cookies. Well … I hope that explains my love for these yummilicious cookies that have found a die-hard fan not only in me but in my husband and even my almost 2 years old toddler.

 

And so in my home, weekends aka cheat days, are all about an indulgent Oreo milkshake that we all love and since sharing is caring, I thought of sharing the delightful recipe here on the blog today with all you wonderful people.

 

And all you mommies out there, the great thing about this recipe is that it is just gonna take 2 minutes out of your precious weekend morning and tada … your indulgent weekend treat will be all ready to set the weekend moods right. (smiles)

 

Coming to the recipe now –

 

Ingredients:
4 tbsp powdered sugar
2 cups milk
1 tbsp cocoa powder
4 – 5 oreo cookies
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method:
– Add sugar, cocoa powder, oreo cookies, vanilla essence in a milk jug
– Blend everything well using a blender
– Pour the chilled mixture in a glass
– Crush some oreo cookies, garnish it on top and serve it chilled

– To make it more indulgent, you can add a scoop of vanilla icecream or Hershey’s chocolate syrup to it.

Easy peasy! Isn’t it?

So, I hope you liked tis recipe and if you want to see more of such easy recipe posts on the blog, let me know in the comment section below.

And most importantly, if you end up trying this recipe, I would so love to hear how you liked it.

Until I see you next, Keep creating! Keep smiling! 🙂

{BEAUTY} Garnier Micellar Water – A Review

Sheikhland is one happening city, where one event follows another. What I enjoy the most about the events is getting ready for them and to try new make up looks but what I hate the most is the part where at the end of the tiring day, you have to put in so much effort to get rid of all the make up.

And so I was delighted to discover a hidden drugstore gem which saves me good 20 minutes of removing make up in the night by making it a super-easy task and which is becoming very popular in the beauty community.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing water it is ladies!

But before I go any further on my review of this product, let us see what micellar water actually means.

Micellar water is made up of micelles (tiny balls of cleansing oil molecules) suspended in soft water. And if you want to read in depth about how it works, check out this on Huffingtonpost.com –

http://huff.to/29hekAF

It is easily comparable to the famous Bioderma makeup remover but at a drugstore price.

I used to be very loyal to the Bioderma makeup remover and this was after trying quite a few other makeup removing products in the market. So, I was pretty surprised … well pleasantly surprised to see such an amazing dupe for it in the drugstore.

You get 400 ml of product, costs AED 36 and it lasts for 200 uses on an average. The product is pretty gentle on the skin and you don’t have to scrub your face with it. But it doesn’t completely remove waterproof mascara that well. But other than that it pretty much breaks down your makeup. And icing on the cake is that no rinsing is required after using it.

You get a mini size too which is great for travel. What is great about it is that, it doesn’t leave my face feeling dry, but in fact makes my skin feel both clean and moisturised after I use it.

All in all, a product totally worth trying. Infact Garnier has recently come out with another version of the micellar water, which is their oil-infused micellar water and I am so looking forward to try that too.

So, until I see you in my next post, take good care of yourself and never ever sleep with make-up on.

Toodles

{EVENT} Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar Now Open In Palm Jumeirah

Great news for all chocolate lovers in the Sheikhland!

We have a new dessert café called Chocolate Bar now open in the Galleria Mall, Palm Jumeirah.

 

And trust me, as yummy as the name sounds, as ahhhmazing are the desserts being served in this very cosy joint, which looks very promising.

 

I was more than happy to give my diet a well deserved break and went on the launch event of the Chocolate bar which is a few minutes walk from my place.

 

And I absolutely loved my hot chocolate fudge with vanilla ice cream.

 

They also do pastas, pizzas and sandwiches.

 

Commenting at the launch event, Alison Nelson, Founder – Chocolate Bar said “We have had a remarkable journey so far for Chocolate bar in the UAE. We have been growing tremendously in the country, and we are committed to creating a memorable culinary experience for all our guests.”

So, do check this place out when you are craving for some mouth-watering desserts. And don’t forget to share your experience with me either here in the comments below or you can find me on Instgram/Twitter/Snapchat at @ChandniLahoti.

Until I see you next,

 

 

{Event} Toms Store Opens at The Dubai Mall

Hey all you shoe-lovers out there in the Sheikhland!

Yours truly has got some awesome news for you if you like me are always on the look out for cool yet comfy shoes.

And today it’s not just going to be about shoes but about bringing smiles to the less privileged too.

Well, the big news is that we now have a Toms Store in the Sheikhland.

Yes … you heard it right. The famous shoe brand Toms has opened a store in the Dubai Mall.

Toms’ business model has been referred to as the “one for one concept” business model, referring to the company’s promise to deliver a pair of free, new shoes to a child in need for every sale of their retail product. The countries to which the free products are sent have included Argentina, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Rwanda, South Africa, and the United States.

Now isn’t that so cool!

Toms are known to be super-comfy but I figured out another reason to love them for and that’s their cute canvas prints.

Toms also do eyewear.

So, I am sure you can’t wait to check this store out and so here is a sneak peek from the launch just for you.

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel follow me on Instagram/Twitter/Snapchat at @ChandniLahoti for more awesomeness on Sheikhland.

 

{Chandni Reviews} The new Italian menu @Cavalli Club

4 years back, when I came to Dubai as a tourist from London, me and hubby were pretty sure that during this trip we got to enjoy three things to the fullest – the sun, the food and the glittering nightlife this city is so famous for. And so, with a checklist of top 10 things we must tick off during our trip, we were most excited to check out the Cavalli Club which proudly reckoned itself as the hottest nightlife spot in the Sheikhland in all google searches. I remember feeling all stunned as soon as I stepped into the Club and its glamorous ambience with those giant chandeliers took me off my feet. Well, you cannot expect anything less than a place that has the name of someone like Roberto Cavalli associated with it. I absolutely fell in love with Cavalli Club and always recommended it to friends visiting Dubai.

 

4 years down, here I am, living in Dubai and once again absolutely love-struck with Cavalli Club. The only difference was that this time over, I had the pleasure of being invited to try out their new sumptuous Italian menu, handpicked by  Roberto Cavalli himself.

 

And it was a delight to enjoy the lavish dinner whilst learning all about the dishes from none other than the Head Chef of Cavalli Club, Chef Francesco Stara, who describes his delicious creations as traditional, fresh, natural, seasonal, passionate and humble.

 

The very talented Bar-tender of the club made the most amazing cocktails for me and hubby and shared the history behind them too.

So, wanna know the details of the lavish dinner? Well, here it is but prepared as the description of the dishes in the words of Chef Francesco (CF) himself is surely gonna make your taste-buds go samba. (smiles)

As starter

 

Burrata , pomodori canditi e melograno e quinoa

Fresh Italian Burrata with tomato confit, quinoa and pomegranate

CF- This is a combination of healthy ingredient put together with the amazing textures of the creamy burrata cheese.

 

 

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Melanzane alla Parmigiana

Crispy Eggplant parmigiana and pinzimonio salad

CF –This is a really traditional recipe just seen in a different way and combine with a more crunchy texture from the fillo pastry

**

Capesante,topinambur e cicorie

Scallop saltimbocca, topinambur cream,and chicory puntarelle salad

CF – The scallop is super fresh and very sweet in flavor, we wrap it with goose speck to give it smoky flavor and we serve with topinambur cream and some chicory to balance the acidity and bitterness in the dish

As middle course

 

Fregola ai funghi di bosco e tartufo nero

Fregola with wild mushroom and black winter truffle V

CF –The fregola is a pasta originally were I am from (SARDINIA) and usually is made with seafood but  this time we have an amazing seasonal mushroom that with the help of the winter black truffle  gives a sensation to be in the mountain forest with all the perfume and flavor.

 

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Culurgiones al  formaggio di capra e melanzane alla Sassarese

CF – Handmade Culurgiones with goat ricotta , Sassarese eggplant cream  and Canonau wine reduction

This kind of ravioli is as well originally from my beautiful land and is very hard to make because of the shape. It’s 100 % handmade and filled with goat ricotta coming from the hearth Sardinia. We propose the dish with eggplant cream (sassarese style with garlic parsley and chili ) like in my original city is SASSARI and finish with some fresh cherry tomato and Canonau wine reduction also from Sardinia.

As main course

 

Salmone, consistenze di rape rosse e radicchio

Pan fried wild salmon, variation of bloody beetroot, and radicchio

CF – The salmon is a really simple dish in terms of ingredients but we try to make it more interesting by deconstructing the beetroot and serving in different consistence (cream, sous vide, raw,powder, gelly, and bubble) we finish with some radicchio tardive and shisso cress to stay on the same tone of colour.

 

 

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Pollo cotto a bassa temperatura, carote, funghi e salsa di pane

Slow cook chicken supreme, baby carrot, wild mix mushroom and bread sauce

CF – The chicken breast is cooked sous vide to preserve the softness and the nutrient characteristic. We serve it with some purple carrot puree and some seasonal heirloom baby carrot. It’s finish with some pioppini mushroom and chanterelle with touch of bread sauce

 

As dessert

 

Semifreddo alla liquerizia e tartufo

Liquorice and truffle parfait

CF – This is frozen mousse with truffle and liquorice taste serve with chocolate crumble and a reproduction of stone made with white chocolate.

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Sorpresa di cioccolato

Chocolate surprise

CF – The chocolate texture is a mix of 6 different consistencies and flavour of chocoolate that combine together to give this sensation of surprise in the mouth.

 

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Delizzia al limone di sorrento

Sorrento Lemon delight

CF – The lemon is definatly our signature dessert because of the beauty and the goodness of the lemon that we reproduce in different variance with more  aggressive acidity and more fruity appeal .

Now, coming to my verdict –

The ambience of the place – This place has a stunning ambience and it reminds me of Vegas clubs.

 

The feel of the place – Cavalli Club is one of those rare places where you can enjoy a fine dining experience along with some serious clubbing in a lavish setting. You would so want to book this place for your special occasions.

 

 

The food – Undoubtedly one of the best food experiences I h.ave had in my life until now, hands down.

 

 

The service – The staff of Cavalli Club is courteous, friendly and prompt.

 

So peeps, Cavalli Club gave me yet another beautiful memory and it certainly is one of my most favourite places not only in Dubai but in the world. The new menu is amazing and totally worth it. Do give this place a try and trust me to fall in love with it, just like me. And if you do visit it after reading my review, I would absolutely love to hear it from you here or on my Instagram/Twitter/Snapchat at @ChandniLahoti.

Until I see you with another post,

 

 

{Event} Launch of Shoe Gallery in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi

Life is too short to wear ugly shoes and if you are headed on the hunt for that perfect pair of yourself, Shoe Gallery is the place for you.

Shoe-heaven, quite literally, the newly opened Shoe Gallery added another feather to the rather glorious cap of the Club Apparel group.

Located in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, the store was inaugurated on the 3rd February 2016 by nine other than H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan in a grand launch event.

 

Yours truly, along with all the popular bloggers of the Sheikhland took a Limo ride upto the venue, courtesy Apparel group. If you follow me on Snapchat, you know what a fun ride it was and if you don’t yet, add me at @ChandniLahoti to get live updates of such fun events.

But what added to all the excitement, was the massive Shoe Gallery store spread across two levels boasting a collection of over 100 fashion brands under one roof.

What I really loved about this store that it is just not offering the in-house brands of the Apparel group like Pedro, Charles and Keith, Aldo, Dune London etc but alongside offered some other popular labels such as Nike, Adidas, Guess, Ralph Lauren , French Connection etc.

 

Handbag hoarders and accessories-lovers  like me too are in for a treat with Shoe Gallery showcasing handbags and accessories from the best brands in the world.

Also one can get the stuff personalised or customised if they wish.

 

So, make sure you do check out this awesome store and do let me know how you liked it.

 

Until I see you next,

 

Toodles

{Chandni Reviews} No 7 Restore & Renew Eye Cream by Boots

No one can understand the importance of an effective eye cream than a new mommy. For the year after Neil was born, I had a long really tough phase with the sleepless nights and even days a lot of times. Needless to mention that I was looking like a zombie with all the restlessness and hated those ‘extremely’ dark circles that would not even hide under layers of concealer.  

But to my rescue came a magical product and trust me I call it magical because it could only have been a magic to help me look like a human again than a zombie.

Well, the star of this blog post is No 7 Restore & Renew Eye Cream by Boots. This little 15 ml tube has been my saviour since the past 6 months now. I bought it in London for 16 pounds and is easily available here in Dubai too at any Boots store.

It is a lightweight and very effective eye cream, that I religiously used 2 times a day and it did a great job in lightening my dark circles. It gets absorbed easily and doesn’t make your eye area greasy. It doesn’t hurt or itch or tear your eyes up. It is super hydrating and a little goes a long way.

You literally need a drop of this cream and it is sufficient for both the eyes.

For me, this product is indispensable now. Reckon it in my ‘Holy Grail list’.

As I talk about this eye cream, I would also like to mention the ‘correct’ way of applying eye cream. The skin under the eyes is the most sensitive and very easily prone to wrinkles if not taken care of properly. So here are some points to help you to ensure you are putting the eye cream the right way to not harm your skin or eyes in any way.

1. Always use your ring finger to pat the product gently into your skin. This is because the ring finger has got the least amount of pressure amongst all your fingers.

2. Also apply the eye cream underneath your brow, gently massaging outwards and upwards towards the temples.

3. Avoid applying the cream directly on your crow’s feet as when it absorbs into the skin, it might travel into your eyes causing irritation and unwanted baggage.

Recently, Boots have come up with ‘Early defence range’ and am so looking forward to try the eye cream from that range too.

well, that’s it for now lovelies! I shall see you soon with a brand new post.

Until then,

Toodles!

{Chandni Reviews} Vitamin E Moisture Cream by The Body Shop

Hello lovelies!

It’s one of those unusual grey gloomy days in the Sheikhland. But in the city where in a few months , we are going to have a bit too much of sun, days like these are celebrated, enjoyed and thanked for!

And so, yours truly is making the most of this day sitting all cozy with a duvet, a hot cuppa green tea, Adele playing in the background, a to-do-list procrastinated royally for tomorrow and the laptop, getting all geared up to churn out some long pending blog posts to share with you all.

Talking about what kind of blog posts you can expect from me in 2016, well we are gonna talk about a lot of things beauty, fashion and food this year.

So, let’s begin, shall we?

Today I am reviewing the Vitamin E Moisture Cream by Body Shop. Now, here comes winters and my skin goes really dry. But to my rescue came this Vitamin E Cream by Body Shop that was hiding in my bathroom cabinet for months and that I had completely forgotten about. I am sure, all beauty bloggers can relate to me here because as a beauty blogger, I end up buying a lot of products and then forgetting about a lot of them but in 2016, we are gonna deal with this. (ah … the every year kinda resolutions)

Anyways, so I gave this cream a try. It has a strong but pleasant smell which eventually fades away. 50 ml of the product comes in a cute Pink jar. I had got it for AED 65. It is for all skin types.

The cream is pretty light and gets absorbed easily in the skin. Doesn’t feel greasy at all. It does what it says on the jar – yes it’s a great moisturiser for dry skin and I use it daily after cleaning and toning my face and before putting my makeup on. You just need a little of this product to do the job and so expect the jar to last you for good 1.5 – 2 months even if you are using it daily as your day moisturiser.

So, when I first used it, I did not feel a major difference in my skin until 3 days of using it, after which I felt that my skin has become softer and looks supple.

What I like the best about this cream is that, it doesn’t make your face greasy and so its great to apply before makeup which then glides on smoothly on the moisturised face.

What I don’t like about this product is its packaging. I prefer creams in a tube rather than a jar, where you have to put your hands in. Also the texture of the product is such that the jar tends to become a little messy and the protector lid inside is not able to do a good job at keeping the product off the cap of the jar.

But do I like this product? Yes!

Will I repurchase it? Yes!

Will I recommend it to a friend? Yes!

So, with that I would wrap up this post here and go out and enjoy the drizzles that have just blessed the Sheikhland! After all, it doesn’t rain everyday in Dubai.

Hope you are making every bit of sun or no sun in your corner of the world!

Until I see you next,

{EVENT} Liali Jewellery Celebrates 16 Glorious Years

Life is too short to wear boring jewellery and being one huge jewellery-hoarder myself, I was all excited to be attending the celebrations of 16 sparkling years of Liali Jewellery, one of the jewellery biggies in the Sheikhland. The event also marked the launch of their new store in Palm Jumeirah.

 

For me, another reason to be super excited about this launch was that the biggest Indian festival, Diwali is just round the corner and I heard that Liali has come up with a limited Diwali Special Edition.

 

 

What I really liked about the collection was that it is such a great mix of traditional as well as contemporary pieces, of heavy as well as the classic designs, of white diamonds to black diamonds. There is a stunning Red carpet collection too offered by the brand.

So, all you lovelies out there, if you love fine jewellery, Liali is worth indulging in!

Stay festive! Stay beautiful!