Tucked in a cozy corner of the Defence Colony DDA Complex {near Nizam's}, the Turkey Project is an underrated sangria bar + cafe not too many people in my social circle know about. Perhaps its location in a fairly quiet market doesn't let it enjoy the kind of limelight it deserves but I am SO glad to have discovered it soon after it opened. 

The interiors are muted and minimal but noticeable at the same time owing to some fantastic pop art on the walls. It's your friendly neighbourhood bar minus the regular disturbances, like loud crowds and annoying music. 

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Aerocity is one of my favourite places in Delhi to dine and simply loiter around. There is a certain degree of fanciness to it and I love getting pleasantly surprised by all the promising new restaurants that have opened up there. My latest discovery, the quaint and cozy Mesa Wine Bistro in Worldmark 3 is agreat place for a lazy brunch or an elegant evening alike.

Our server was an enthusiastic chap who helped us with the best dishes on the menu, and also picked the best wines that went with each course. We started off with a sparkling rosé called Fashion Victim Astoria, a very light, summery and fruity bubbly. Our appetisers included a bread and dip platter, spinach and cream cheese roll, and garlic butter prawns for my non-vegetarian company for the brunch: Mehak {ShadesofMoon}. I absolutely loved the crispy, buttery, flaky skin on the roll and the gooey cheesy stuffing: things got really messy but it was all worth it. Next up, our coca {a Spanish pizza} came with a flatbread topped with sauteed mushrooms, bellpeppers, and lots of cheese. It was slightly less exciting than its Italian counterpart but tasty nonetheless. It was accompanied by the second wine of the afternoon: the classic white Chateau Martinon Entre-deux-Mers {2018}, more sour than sweet, with tangy hints of lemon and spice.

Lastly, I had the vegetarian paella cooked in white wine with broccoli and asparagus, topped with crispy almonds and fried garlic. It was like the comfort food of the gods, definitely one of the reasons I'd be willing to go back to Mesa! Our third and last wine, the Spanish Rioja Vega Crianza 2016, was particularly memorable one..mostly because I prefer red over any other kind of wine.

The desserts were even more fantastic––we tried three. Madagascar is a true delight if you're a chocolate & coffee lover: think cocoa mousse with espresso icecream on the side. Chocolate and caramel sponge was exactly what the name suggests with a four layered cake and mixed berry sorbet on the side. My favourite however, was Poached pear alomond tart, the simples of them all. Crispy pie crust stuffed with warm peaches, with some mango sorbet on the side. My day was complete!

Go to Mesa to expand your palate and try flavourful European food that won't disappoint, while having some of the best wines at your disposal.

 

Want to read about another great place to dine in Aerocity? Click here.

Delhi loves to brunch and there are plenty of places that are doing it right. My latest discovery is Dirty Apron by The Piano Man that works as a charming little corner for a quiet brunch with cocktails, with a fantastic retro playlist and plenty of warm sunlight peeping in from its large glass windows.

After visiting a host of restaurants experimenting with global cuisines by giving it an Indian touch, it is amazing to see the city's best kitchens having fun with our own food for a change. Modern-Indian, as it's often called, is an exciting window into the sheer versatility of Indian flavours and cooking techniques. Monsoon {just like its older sibling Cafe Lota at the Crafts Museum} embraces simple Indian food and presents it in a way that is familiarly old yet fascinatingly new. Veggies like bottlegourd, pumpkin, beetroot and green peas, that otherwise struggle to find any space on restaurant menus finally get a chance to shine, thanks to Monsoon's signature dishes.

As you flip through the menu, you'll realize that it doesn't favour any particular region but borrows the best from various parts of the country and presents them in offbeat pairings. For instance, you'll find a somewhat-Gujarati Maize flour Thepla on the side of a Malabar-style coconut-based pumpkin curry and it will BLOW YOUR MIND. Even while maintaining novelty, each dish at Monsoon ranks pretty great on the 'healthiness' front too. Case in point: a special kheer on the dessert menu that features a much more nutritious Barnyard millet instead of rice with a rich salted caramel sauce on top, or even take the Jackfruit stir-fry with Ragi Appams or simply, 'Odd-Veg Kebabs' made out of bottlegourd!

Some other dishes that will remain hard to forget include the Vegetarian Scotch egg {hard boiled egg coated with a spicy cauliflower and beetroot mix, crumb-fried to perfecttion}, Broccoli Makhani with Pudina Parantha {a malai-marinated whole broccoli cooked in tandoor sits on a bed of butter-chicken style tomato gravy--what's not to love?} and home-style Podi Idli {featuring a crackling flax seed podi chutney}. If you're looking for a single combo meal that will fill you up, go for the special Monsoon Kulchas complete with a hearty stuffing, white butter and a delicious mustard raita.

Another USP of the place is the wide variety of wines and international beers, along with a couple of wine and beer cocktails too. Try the refreshing 'Bul', a Cuban classic with beer, ginger ale, lemon and mint. If you'd like something wine-based, go for  'The Bishop', Cabernet with a citrusy twist.

Liked what you saw? Discover another great cafe in Aerocity here!