Brimming with baked goodies the ‘fine baking’ store Labonel could just as well be Hyderabad’s best kept bakery secret.

Not only is Labonel  inconspicuous with its presence, it also has a understated elegance and an endearing absence of pretense. The ambiance is charming and uncluttered with the wonderful hint of baking aroma’s wafting in each time the kitchen doors open ever so slightly.

Everything is for takeaway and cakes are made to order, but you can stop by and pick up cases of muffins, brownies and fudge to go.

The vanilla and chocolate muffins (The brownies were polished off even before I could take a picture )

On my first visit here I took a box of the Labonel signature brownies and a box of vanilla and chocolate muffins – these beauties looked so delicious that I could not wait to go home and gorge on them.

True to my hightened expectation the muffins and the brownies were very well made, beautifully presented and were a absolute pleasure to eat.

The product list is extensive and it could take me a while to review everything that Labonel has to offer, but I have a feeling that I have found the perfect bakery for my next sugar fix.

For all those looking out to satiate their sweet tooth in Hyderabad I would highly recommend Labonel. You can check the full product listing here, and also drop by their Facebook page here.

Note: Labonel is located in the house right next to Star Hospital, Banjara Hills ( There is only one independent house so you will not miss it, remember that there are no signs so just walk down the driveway of the home and you will find Labonel to your left ).

*****

Dear Cafe Coffee Day

I want to start by congratulating you, there is now a CCD outlet in almost every street that ever witnessed a popular local tea stall – and much to my delight this has been accomplished despite the lack of availability of parking space .

This burst of outlets re-affirms my faith that whatever may be the fate of a new Telengana state the people of Andhra Pradesh will always have a CCD next door to help them start conversations.

Despite being a resident of Secunderabad for over a decade I had failed to sample the bread and muffins that the local ‘bakeries’ dish out by the thousands every day, but thanks to your well balanced menu featuring these local products I now can boast of palette knowledge of cheap tasting baked products.

Also, I may never be able to truly understand the supply chain and logistics that go into the procurement of your specialty dishes, but hopefully through this letter I can convey to you the valuable business lessons that I have learned from your brand.  It is a delightful learning in perception indeed when I watch locally procured potato chips (ordered at 10 rupees a kilo) being passed off as French fries. Special kudos to your cunning and intelligence which is not only a learning in profit making but also a valuable insight to the art of modifying perception.

Much appreciation must be given for visits to your outlets has enriched my understanding of flavour profiles and experimentation – the wonderful way in which the blueberry jam is diluted with water to make it into blueberry sauce is not just a lesson in invention but also a first in the entire concept of culinary ‘out of box’ thinking.

Even more endearing is the fact that trips to CCD have come to remind me of childhood escapades – the tastes of 10 rupees a dozen muffins that are ohh so elegantly presented at the various CCD outlets is what the Matercard guys would call ‘priceless’ - I must at this time also deviate and thank my employers who give me the income that I so willingly seem to spend for such simple joys.

Your methods of providing personal attention and detail also shines through as almost each time the tea comes in with a strand of hair and oh! not to forget the friendship ‘band’ that sneakily finds its way into my bill as the pleading staff rattles how he/she needs to meet a sale target – charming and endearing in a clingy sort of way.

The compassion for the promotion of local business via the refreshing concept of buying local and selling global coupled with a whiney staff has truly won my heart. In fact I will go so far as to praise you for giving the term glocalization a whole new meaning.

Cafe Coffee Day, without your foresight and business ethics the coffee scene in Hyderabad would not be the same. Without you, we would have been stuck with the likes of Barista and Gloria Jean’s.

Now, wouldn’t that be a shame.

The latest change in their menu is the addition of new appetizers, drinks and pizza’s.

We tried the ‘Mango Banana Smoothie’, ‘Hot and Spicy Paneer Quesadillas’ and the ‘Cheezy Bite Rustica’ – and were pleasantly surprised that we liked them all. Usually a place where I find it best to stick to the ‘safer’ choices of lemonades and pizza, the change in the menu made believer of me.

Kudos to Pizza Hut for changing it up ever so (wonderfully) often and stepping it up not just with the decor but with menu options as well.

You can check the new menu and prices online on the Pizza Hut website.

This isn’t your regular grocery market with the usual selection of breads and fruits.

A much needed shopping experience (in Hyderabad) with a dash of style is what ‘Ruci and Idoni’ is - complete with a 6 feet wide chandelier close to the entrance.

Starting out at the ground level of this three floor store, is a display of fresh fruits, vegetables, chocolates, drinks, edible oils from around the world and a choice display of fresh baked breads and pastries. Every direction you look, you will see tastefully displayed produce and ornate display boards to label them all.

By now the expectation of the bistro experience is already a notch higher than when I was out giving the keys to the valet.

Another level up and the display of grills and barbeques has me thinking of food so much that the hop skip and jump to the bistro is filled with anticipation.

But does the swankier necessarily translate to better?? That’s the question I set out to answer in my visit’s to the ‘Ruci and Idoni’ cafe.

Starting from their ‘All Day breakfast menu’ to the choice of desserts, the menu is reasonably extensive and I have pretty much ordered at least one item from each menu sub set.

1. The Good:

Food:

I tasted their pasta’s, the eggs they prepared and (pretty much) all the desserts they tempted me with – and mostly liked them all.

Although their bistro has more to offer than just pastries and bread, it was hard to absolutely fall in love with all that I tried.

The apple pie was one of the first things I tasted here and remians one of my favourites from all that I sampled and gorged on here.

While I fawned at their sundaes and stayed back longer to sip on endless cups of tea, the food here is not exactly phenomenal.

Baring some items, almost every other item has a ‘better in town’ version – the pizzas: better in Little Italy, the steak: better in TGIF, the felafel: better in Kibbeh.

Picking an item can be a hit or miss, but while the hits are great- even the misses are not all that bad.

My take on the must try items here are : the apple pie sundae, the brownie sundae, the ‘Irish toffee’ tea (from the Dilmah selection), the R & I Cobb salad and the seasonal fruit juices.

2. The Great:

Ambiance:

The one singular thing that stands out in Ruci and Idoni is the ambiance – the individual elements of the decor and their sum presents a rather pleasing atmosphere .

The leather chairs are perfect for a long lazy conversation and the benches are great for home style dining experience for large groups.

All in all, not quite like a restaurant -it reminds you of a part of home that you always wish you had : right from the cookie jar that would look perfect in your kitchen to the leather chairs that would complete a home library . Ruci and Idoni is most definitely one of the few bistros in Hyderabad with a distinct personality.

3. The Bad:

The Prices

So, the foods good and the ambiance great. The menu calls for pondering and the teas make you want to stay for a little while longer.

But, there is a catch – the price. A couple of sandwiches and drinks could set you back as much as 1500-2000 Rupees.

All said, I would definitely recommend this place for a some serious un-winding.

Below is a slide show of some of the dishes that I tried at Ruci and Idoni:

For first time visitors, here is a preview of what you are in for (including the complete menu).

Do let me know about your expereince’s here. Would love to hear  if there is any dish that you would recommend and what is the one main reason you would revisit .

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Review published as part of the ‘Hunger is attacking‘ series.

Update 03-Sep-2011 : Went here today for a cup of tea and was surprised to see the whole place closed down and replaced by Godrej Natures basket. The guys at ‘Ruci and Idoni’ were not kidding when they had put up signs declaring that they are changing to something new soon . The security guy told me that people are coming in agitating over the money they had put in. Whammy!! :-S

P.S: If anyone is aware of ‘Ruci and Idoni’ shifting elsewhere in Hyderabad do let me know.

Psssst:  Here is a fun thing to do – When at the ’Ex’ Ruci and Idoni and now Godrej Natures Basket, do check with the security when the  R&I folks will return. No matter what they say just act super mad and  throw a tantrum about how much money the Ruci and Idoni guys owe you .

On my visit here the security guards told me that some investors come checking for the refund of investments they had put in :-S .

There is much beauty in the island country of Srilanka, and planning an itinerary was challenging and not without flaws.

Where we traveled: Colombo-Anuradhapura-Sigiriya-Polannaruwa-Colombo

Anuradhapura : The resting place we chose, as we explored a section of the ‘cultural triangle’.  Once the glory and capital of Srilanka, Anuradhapura is now rich with cultural significance. Magnificent ruins are abundant and many a times even line the roadways. Along the area, many man-made lakes add to the serenity and remain as reminders of the fantastic architectural planning and well planned irrigation system of heyday.

Basic online search will throw light on the culture, historical significance and the must visit attractions. We chose to go with no specific expectation and agenda, giving ourselves a chance to explore at leisure. Our visit, however was extremely informative, fun and relaxed thanks to the company of Anura(who took us around in his bluebird) and Charita(who was our tour guide for the city of Anuradhapura).I cannot stress enough on how important it is not only to visit the three places with an open mind , but also to get a good guide and a good ride (you can travel around the area in a tuk-tuk but the roads are uneven and the weather too hot).
There are many many ruins to see and without a guide, it would feel that you are walking around in circles, watching variations of the same monument/stupa/ruin without understanding the significance.

Personal recommendation: Fix an appointment with Anura (he will bring his blue bird promptly to take you around), and ask for his best friend Charita too – a guide with much knowledge, who will give you free history lessons as well . Both these gentlemen are extremely polite and pleasant, and made sure we covered as much as possible without draining ourselves out.

Sigiriya: For me this was the highpoint of the 3 days spent at the cultural triangle. Right from when I saw the images of this rock online, I knew the trip would be incomplete if this place was missed. Not really a trek, this tour involves a climb along rusty spiral stairs to reach the highest point of the rock palace (the spot where the kings quarters once were). Unfortunately, during our visit the palace and its surrounding architecture was only partially excavated and restored.A lot of restoration work is in progress, but judging by the massive areas of the ancient city that still stay buried under, it is difficult to say when the city will be open for visitors in its entirety.

Personal recommendation: At the entrance, you will be approached by several local guides who charge tourists approximately 800 LKR to 1000 LKR for a guided tour. Go ahead and hire them to ensure a detailed viewing of the site.

The first glimpses, as we approach Sigiriya lion rock.

Polonnaruwa: Even a breezy trip along this ancient city, will be enough for you to admire the architectural genius reflected in its ruins. You can almost imagine the beauty of this extremely organized, well planned and ornate city.
Like Anuradhapura this city is also peppered with many man-made lakes and detailed stone carvings. On some occasions the significance of the carvings/walls/pillars remained a mystery, as even the information notices only provided a approximate guess on what the ornate stone structure could have been.

Personal recommendation: Spend some time at the Gal Vihara, the serenity and beauty of the single stone carving is not to be missed. Also unique is the posture of the standing image of Buddha, which has been reason of much dispute.

Unique standing posture of Buddha

All in all I am glad, that these places were a part of our itinerary. All along our sight-seeing here, the roads blended in beautifully with the wilderness and the jungles welcomed whoever ventured.I loved, how the roads vanished along corners, almost apologetic of being intrusive and sticking to being as narrow as possible.

Colombo: This city was our first as well as our final destination in the country.  While we spent the first day of our trip relaxing on the beach in Mount Lavinia. The final days in Srilanka were spend shopping and walking around along the streets of the capital city.

Where we stayed:
Anuradhapura: Palm Garden Village resort
One of the better hotels to stay in Anuradhapura, while the living quarters were great, the service was good and the food could use a lot of improvement. I felt no warmth from the staff and there were hitches in the services.
It was from here that we ventured out to Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa.
Personal Recommendation: Choose between half board and full board options if staying here. There are no restaurants close by and for food you will have to travel to Anuradhapura town (reachable only by tuk-tuk).
Mount Lavinia (Colombo): Tropic Inn
Without any doubt the best accommodation in our entire trip. The rooms are cozy and clean, the staff uber friendly and attentive, what’s more the beach is 1 minute away. All the shopping centers are 15 minutes by tuk-tuk or bus and the train station is two blocks away.
Personal recommendation: If in Colombo for leisure stay at Tropic Inn, even if you have the budget for a fancier hotel. I very highly recommend this place, for not only is it in the middle of all the goodness and convenience, it is also very easy on the pocket.

Colombo: Taj Samudra
This was the regular comfortable Taj experience, I have nothing to complain about (except that they forgot to pack our breakfasts well and hence we had to leave the same back). To reach the beach from the hotel you need to cross a road.However after 6 pm, you can only view the sea from a raised platform as the sea rides up and covers the narrow beach front. After the cozy experience of the Tropic Inn, Taj fades in charm.
Personal recommendation:If you must stay at the Taj Samudra, choose the sea facing rooms. Also, the spread in the lunch and dinner buffet is enticing and sometimes really good as well, for non-vegetarians that is, as a vegetarain while you may not go hungry, you will certainly miss on variety and taste.

What we ate:

Hopper in the making, this is a plain one. Another popular variation is the egg hopper.

The food in Srilanka is a blend of many cultures. What you immediately notice is the striking similarity to Indian cuisine (specifically with the cuisine from Kerala), abundance of fresh baked homemade bread, spiced curries that are milder on the senses and definite influences from the eastern as well as the western countries . Tea and coffee is a common accompaniment with all the major meals. (I even tried a cold beverage, which was a blend of tea, coffee and milk with sago).  I spotted different eateries that advertised authentic European,  Malaysian and Chinese dishes.What I loved most though, was that no matter where we went there was always access to fresh fruit juice and delicious at that (our trip was in the middle of the Mango season and we tried several sensational mixed fruit blends). If nothing else is available, the sweet coconut water is available in even the most remote areas. Sea food as expected is plenty, and is a popular snack along the beach front.
Personal recommendation:
Kottu at the Taj (the best we had)
String hoppers with the Sambal at Tropic Inn
Vadalaaapm at the Family restaurant in Anuradhapura Town
Egg hopper at any local eatery (Divine!!)

I have deliberately left out the places we visited within our pit stops, for much information exists on the same, and the experience of a first hand visit is something else.
Tips:
1. Mosquitoes are plenty, carry a repellent cream, or make sure it is the first thing you buy there
2. The only issue we encountered was that the ignorance of the language made us venerable. If you are from India, there are very high chances that you can pass off as a Srilankan, I recommend you learn some Sinhala prior to your trip.  This can also save you some money .
3. Shop wisely. You could not be saving much and carrying extra baggage back.
4. Srilanka is a safe, civilized and organized place. However, check at the hotel counter before venturing out too late in the night.
5. Once again, if you are from India, take some saris as gifts for people you may like there. You can often hear the locals complain about how marked up these are sold there.
6. The most comfortable footwear to wear are slippers, for three reasons: around the cultural triangle you will be expected to remove the same, the weather is hot and humid, you will spend a lot of time on the beach.
7. As much as possible, plan the details of commute between destinations prior to the travel.

Useful links  that will help you plan your trip:

1.  Site useful to plan itinerary and gather idea on some good hotels.

2.  Srilanka destination guide

3.  Review of the Tropic Inn hotel

If you need any specific information and think I can help, do leave a comment.

One of the many lakes around Anuradhapura- teaming with life these man-made reservoirs add to the beauty of the area.

While first impression’s may allow you to think that the sights of Srilanka are reminiscent of those in India, almost immediately the differences are visible everywhere. The lack of chaos,  auto rickshaws replaced by the more colourful tuk-tuk’s, everyone dresses for comfort (even the locals always look like they are on vacation, the women dress up in colourful shirts and white flowing skirts, the men in ‘Hawaii’ shirts), trucks are few and far between and it is the buses that are ornately painted and decorated, fruit sold on the streets are hygienically packaged. There are no stray dogs, but plenty of road-side pet stores that urge you to  “make  a good dog, better”, always a nip in the air and wide open sea along the local train track.

Srilanka is a country that I could resonate with, not just because of its wonderful people and beauty but because it allowed me to be a tourist- living my life elsewhere, while always making me feel at home.

For those wondering about the title of the post, Stuti in Sinhala means “Thank you”  .

UPDATE October 2011 : Detailed inputs on sights, experiences, culture, food and staying options in Mount Lavinia can be read here.

Below are two short videos that I took during my trip to Srilanka, one shows making of the Srilankan dish Kottu and the other gives a fair idea of the view from rooms at Taj Samudra (Colombo, Galle Face).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Z9SfXy_TU[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgIAzA5hpps[/youtube]

While the earlier changes were restricted to the look and feel of the store, with the launch of the ”The Lounge’, they have gone all out.Starting from the time you enter to the point you leave, it leaves a  impression of a great place for some good coffee.

The refreshing interiors, better music and a larger variety to choose from are more than just good first impressions.

What we tried so far: Siphon ( strong unadulterated coffee served with dates I felt a craving for tea with cherries when this was brought in : ), Lounge Frappe (a little weak in flavour, but a satisfying tall glass of smooth cold coffee ), and the veggie nuggets with mint chutney.

If you love strong coffee, you will also like the Frenchpress and Pourover.

All in all, much prefer this to the regular CCD, I just hope that in trying to achieve a lot I hope it does not end up with a identity crisis – confused borderline lounge/bistro/coffee shop ??

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Veggie Nuggets – the mint chutney was divine.

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Siphon – As promised a pleasure to the senses.

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The central narration of the movie that follows the ‘suicide threat’ of an Indian farmer is important, serious and strong but the integration of other issues like the political blame game, TRP friendly journalism,  the great urban rural divide, lack of materialistic emotions in the rural context and even the enterprising nature of the nations people make this a unique movie – almost like the movies of yesteryear that found comedy in the middle class plight.

The ‘emotionless’ approach to suicide for gaining money, visuals of the urban brigade departing leaving behind a pile of garbage and the ride from rural to the urban stopping for just a second at the billboard “More space, more luxury” are memorable and hard hitting shots.

Although, the issue of farmer suicide is no news for India, no real reform or relief seems to be in sight. Incidentally I had written about this very same topic in 2006 , the context and content of which are just  as relevant 4 years hence.

Entertainment or serious cinema Peepli Live is a must watch, and I hardly ever say that.

Hence, after my fourth visit to this salon, I guess it is time for a re-review.

Despite my first experiences (read post here), I did revisit this place for may reasons not the least of which is lack of options and the fact that a haircut here, somehow seemed to show visible improvement in hair growth.

All the subsequent visits after the first review have met expectations, and despite the steep service charges I would recommend this place for getting your hair styled, as I have yet to come across a better place within Hyderabad in terms of the quality of service.

The entire spa was fresh with the aroma of rose petals and I could already feel relaxation setting in as I waited for the ‘herbal facial therapy’ to begin.

As the relaxing music of the spa was turned on and the cubes of ice placed on my eyes I was so glad that I choose to finally come here.

A thought too soon – just when I was feeling that the therapy was worth every penny,  I got a little more herbal treatment than I had paid for.

The message therapist’s hand reeked of all kinds of spices – almost every pungent kind that I have encountered in my entire life. Definitely not the kind of herbal facial I had in mind, I had to close my nose and run out before I started smelling like meat ready to be barbecued.

This hair and tattoo salon was opened in Hyderabad sometime in April 2008 amidst much publicity. After all it has given some of the Bollywood stars their defining locks. They claim- Everyone in the film industry right from Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan, Adnan Sami, Kajol, Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Deol, Tanushree Datta and Anil Kapoor, have got a snip from Aalims magic scissors. I hope that they meant that literally because more than a snip and the bollywood stars would be reeling with bad hair days and a sure shot dive in their film careers.

With prices as high as this you would expect a brilliant haircut or atleast a superb experience, but do you get that? Nope, not even close.

My experience:

I called up the Hakim’s Aalim salon on 24th of May to fix an appointment for my friend and me, at 6 p.m  on the same day. All went as expected, the lady fixed the appointment and told me she would give a call at 5:30 p.m to confirm the appointment.

I received a call at 5:30 p.m from Hakim’s Aalim to confirm the appointment. Nothing .. till then, could be questioned about the brand.

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 1:

After a few minutes of waiting on arrival one of the staff tells me that the stylist that I wanted is unavailable, however a senior stylist is free. This despite my appointment.

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 2:

The fact that I was not informed about the stylists (top, senior etc.) at any point during my call or on arrival. ( The details on the prices and stylists were known to me because I like researching the brands that I use and found out about this from their website, and  from a  friend who had visited the salon a week ago.)

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 3:

When I informed him that the appointment was with a top stylist, he looked slightly taken aback and mumbled “Yes yes, she is also the top stylist.”

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 4:

All this while they completely forgot that the appointment was for two people - WE had to remind them. Then the arrangements were made for my friend’s haircut!!!!

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 5:

Their so called “Top-Stylist” could only suggest a ‘step-cut’ – The reason given I had curly hair and her imagination couldn’t think beyond a step-cut.

Lady, if I wanted a step-cut I could have gone to Habib’s (which by the way is any day better) or Latitudes , or for that matter any neigbourhood parlour. Why claim yourself to be top-stylist if you offer exactly what the street parlour offers??  I mean what the hell are you the top-stylist for?

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 6:

I still had hope, thinking the execution may be better .. you know the final touches, removal of frizz , magical removal of split ends .. something!!

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 7:

You get a very ordinary haircut for a price that could ensure just the same or even a better haircut and money left for one more haircut!!  My super normal haircut cost me a very unjustified Rs. 975/- and my friends cost Rs. 575/- .

Why not to visit Hakim’s Aalim Salon, Hyderabad Reason 8:

Better and more professional outlets available, with less hype and talk and more satisfactory results. Where you ask? Well you could try this , this or even the likes of this ( The first two recommended are from my personal experience, the third does come recommended – just not from me!).

Based on better experience, better hair and all that at a lesser price.

One plus point about the visit : I would have otherwise not known how crappy the place is.

June 15, 2009: The day  I revisited Hakim’s Aalim after much thought, did this visit change the way I feel about this place?  Read here.