The Grape

THE GRAPE – The Ultimate Wine Experience. We were here a few months ago but the experience remains fresh. The Grape is elegantly located at Phipps plaza, ensconced between an Irish brewery and Twist. The interiors are intimate, very dimly lit and of course, styled in a deep purple. They even had an accordion player belting out old tunes to complete the look.

You cannot enjoy this restaurant if you don’t like wine. Their cellars have an assortment of over a 120 different kinds and they have classified the wines into ten different criteria ranging from fruity white wines to full-bodied red wines. The Grape even offers a 3-Sum. It’s not as risqué as it sounds! A 3-Sum allows you to order three different kinds of wines that come served in smaller glasses for the price of one. This of course, is to let you to enjoy and sample a wider variety. They served a complementary appetizer of hummus and pita bread. I don’t recollect what we ordered but every item on the menu is paired with the appropriate wine. This is extremely handy for non-connoisseurs like me who haven’t yet mastered the art of ‘wine pairing’.

Note: This restaurant may not burn a hole in your pocket but definitely be prepared to shell out a fancy bit. Also, look spiffy!

Overall it was a very gratifying experience; I would definitely go there again

On The Border

On The Border – an old Mexican haunt rediscovered. I hadn’t been to this place in a really long time and had forgotten how nice it was; warm, under-stated, loud, friendly and very Mexican. We went to the one on Mansell Road, though I know there are many around the city.

I definitely recommend the ‘stuffed jalapeños’ as an appetizer. The jalapenos are stuffed with cheese and chicken; spicy and indeed very stuffing! After gouging on that and the salsa and chips, all we could eat was a Grande Taco Salad; split between two. They also have a whole new desert section; each selection seemed more delectable than the other. More than the food though, On The Border is known for its generous bar and its margaritas, more precisely.

If a picture really does speak a thousand words, then going by the one alongside, that must have been a mean margarita!

Chicken Spinach Soup

I made this last week; the spinach chicken soup- a perfect low-carb solution. It’s also very healthy.

Serves two.

Ingredients:
3 Chicken breasts
1 Packet Spinach
4 cups of chicken broth.
2 tablespoons of soy sauce.
2 sprigs of spring onions. (chopped fine)
Pepper to taste

Preparation Instructions: Boil the chicken breasts in 4-5 cups of water for about fifteen minutes. Once tender, shred the chicken and keep aside. Let the stock continue to simmer on a slow flame. Now remove the spinach stems and blanch the leaves for a few minutes in boiling water. Keep Aside and pour cold water over the leaves.

Add the leaves to the simmering chicken stock. Let them boil together for a few minutes. Then add the soy sauce and the shredded chicken. Finally, sprinkle pepper and throw in the spring onions, they lend a perfect crunchiness to the soup.

Serve hot.