Contic Cruise

HAPPY VICTORY DAY!!!!!! Reminiscing beautiful Bangladesh today from my trip this year.

So this was truly one of my most blissful days in Dhaka. A group of friends, amazing food, a soft sound system with good tunes. Seriously Bliss. Thank you guys for inviting me first off.

The most pleasant surprise I got at 6am as we were meeting up to board, was that my old friend and musician Gibran is the guide for this boat trip. Already a sense of happiness rushed despite me being crappy for being up so early!


The boat itself is gorgeous, decorated so beautifully. It's a luxury cruise, so isn't inexpensive, but i guarantee it's worth it, if you are looking to escape Dhaka's bustle and pollution for a day, or just visiting Bangladesh and want a luxurious stroll across the rivers.



Here's their website: http://www.contic.net/

We had some breakfast right where we were loading check post here: http://dhakadelicacy.blogspot.com/2013_02_01_archive.html

the awesome staff, so well mannered and well trained, and nice!

The cutlery and decor was perfect :

We had a long elaborate lunch with polau, chicken korma, meatballs, whole fish, shutki, eggplant curry, Bangladeshi salad, and multiple Bhortas.

My full plate for round one:

√

The main point of the trip is leisure, so we took in the view, listened to music and chilled on our full stomachs. Some of us took naps haha. (ie me)

After we had turned back around and the sun was dimming, we were given afternoon snacks.

Some Bakorkhani and Paneer (Bangladeshi cheese) and...wait for it...

 THE BEST LEMON MERINGUE PIE I HAVE HAD EVER. If there is anything i recall other than the fresh air and peace, is how amazing this was. And if you know me and my blog, I'm not a Huge fan of desert and I admit I haven't a Lot of this pie, but I'm pretty sure it doesnt get better than this. SO GOOD.

Ok close your mouth droolers. Happy Victory Day to Bangladeshis and much love to those who continue to fight for our daily freedom. If you have a moment do check out my music www.armeenmusa.bandcamp.com
 Love

Blues and Rodh - Sonika's Kolkata

I'm tired of writing on multiple blogs so here's a go at writing together.

It was one of those days I had the blues. And by Blues I mean grey. I hate grey, there's a reason why I left my family and friends and beautiful culture of London to move so far away. Yes, I did want to find myself and a new place, but also because the grey brings me so so down. Yes it may fuel some of my sad songs, but moreso it fuels my depression. And Boston thankfully has enough grey days to keep the sadness flowing but way more sun to get me to actually sing the sadness out loud.

Drifting as always. Anyways for multiple reasons, including having a sore throat, coming off a withdrawal of a huge show, and lack of adreneline in my life, I have been feeling particularly sad today. I even forced myself to a workout which usually is a quick pickup but with no luck.

And then I come home to this :

"Hello. 

I just wanted to say that your voice is magical.

And I made a short film/video on your song Ei Shondhay.

I would be very very happy if you could take a look at it. "

Yes I get fan mails, remixes and the occasional slideshow video, but this was just the right sentiment, the right effort at the right time. The reason I felt so loved and honoured was that this video is a short film about the maker's city "Kolkata." I know what it's like to love a city, I've felt that way about London, Dhaka and more now than ever: Boston.

Feelings of insignificance that recently had haunted me have been ridiculed aside. This is why I live, this is why I sing, so I can share and love with you beautiful people. Thank you Sonika <3 p="">

Kolkata. Amar shohor.

(food post coming soon hungry peeps dont worry)

MoruMita Foods Srimongol

Food Lovers!!! I apologise for my absence last couple of months, I have been terribly busy with..... (drum roll) OUR EP!!!!!

Yes my friends, Zak Dylan Wass, (my friend from the first day of college) and I finally finished the EP we have been planning for years. It's a mix of English, Bengali and Spanish songs (yes Spanish!!)

If you'd like, I would be honoured if you had a listen to it while you read the rest of the post? (buy it if you like :D)




So, back to food. Today is Thanksgiving and what a more perfect day to sit on my bed after devouring some homecooked polau and beef curry, and post some sweet pics from my trips. I have spent a good amount time in Bangladesh last year, and thanks to some awesome people in my life I have actually been leaving Dhaka. Here is another beauty (or rather BEAST) of a meal I had in Srimongol.

Yes we were 2 people. Yes we ate everything.

This is a local roadside restaurant called MoruMita Foods, (one of the fancier ones)

This is their famous "Soup" rather a chicken light curry eaten with their incredible bread. (To the dismay of my belt buckle, I have a newfound love for different kinds of bread nowadays)

And then proceeded to main courses (after which we ordered more soup and bread cos it was actually the best part)

And of course to End, some steaming tea. Can't wait to head back to Bangladesh next month. YES I'll be there to release the EP. Those of you who liked it, please buy it online here, come to our release (details at www.facebook.com/armeenm )                          And thank you for visiting my blog, I am proudly going on 93,000 Hits this month!! Would love that to be true for my music too! (please?)   Don't forget to join my facebook page for the blog : https://www.facebook.com/dhakadelicacy                                           

Teppanyaki at Marriot Bangkok

Scrumptious Dinner Galore at Bangkok Marriot!

Duck 

 This next dish is the reason I will go back to the Marriot in Bangkok. Crabmeat, fried fish, it was just PERFECT

Crab Salad

Salmon Carpaccio

Crab Tempura

Tempura Roll

Scallops

 Sauteed Vegetables

Salmon

Banana with Ice Cream (vanilla)

 Cheesecake

Fruit

Olive Garden Altanta

So I'm very skeptical about chains like Olive Garden. But I was in the wrong, it was a very American dish but was done superbly!

Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo!!

Hisso Sushi- Charlotte airport

I had the most interesting roll called Southern Roll, crab meat with fried chicken shavings. I love American sushi!!

Can't believe this is my last year in the USA!

Thrive-Atlanta

3 months i was away in Bangladesh for my summer breaks. So that meant no American sushi, so guess what I ate for the first few days back.

I first landed in Chicago and ate at Hok Wok Cool Sushi, and then at Altanta found this great place called Thrive.

In general I have been devastated since I got back, our dog Fire passed away and I pretty much spent most of my past year with her, since I work from home it was always me and her hanging out under the covers when I was in Dhaka. One of the rare foods I never had to share with her was sushi. She tried it once and spat it out, such an American she was.  I still haven't been able to eat fried chicken since she passed, we would always get extra for her. I miss her.

Anyway, back to Thrive; me and Ma had this for lunch.

This was the Lava sushi: spicy salmon topped with Salmon and spicy mayo: really good portions!! This was interesting because it had green beans in the spicy salmon mix!

This is a crab roll in eel sauce and spicy mayo. Was really good!

This was the Eel roll, was really bad, don't order it!

I have started liking the south a LOT! The people are different and friendly, the portions are HUGE , even sushi, and try love their food!

I hope the south invite me back to sing!! 

Dae Jang Geum- the Real Thing

Many foodies in Dhaka may be getting confused about two restaurants on the same street with apparently the same name, but this is me clarifying. The real Dae Jang Geum is the one next to Gulshan Club and is the same franchise as the one in Bashundhara City. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE, had one of the best meals ever.

Thanks to my blog advert and common friends I got a special tasting menu with my family last month.

DAE JANG GEUM's SPECIAL SUSHI: This isn't on the menu and is a chef's special: a mixture of California roll topped with raw Fish. Upon speaking to the staff, I got to know their fish is imported from the same place as the Westin and having had it i vouch it is super fresh!

photo by Buno

Next we were served this beautiful platter with assorted vegetables, egg, meat and pancakes. The system was to roll various ingredients and dip into the special sauce served.

And then followed the Korean Pancakes and Spicy Crab. Having a Korean roommate, I love this dish, but the spicy crab was a first for me, super spicy with the Korean chili paste we Bangalis love so much.

And then came this very interesting dish of cucumber with Beef and veggies in it. Super yum and healthy!

And then came the delight of the night. Yes it came in the form of the Chicken Salad covered in honey mustard sauce. was a superb salad, but the delight I'm talking about is the home made honey mustard sauce. Soon we were dipping everything into it!

And I'm ending this post with their famous dish: the Duck Salad. Also garnished with the amazing honey mustard sauce on one side with roast duck on the other, I know why this dish is so popular, definitely the best duck in Dhaka hands down.

My crazy family and I just went nuts on these items, and ended up adding more (seafood bulgogi, Galbi and noodles ) till we burst and eventually left them super late packed with doggie bags. Just as I am writing this I am so hungry and have called them to order take away, so expect some more pictures soon as I intend to visit this place a few more times before I leave Dhaka!

Pricewise it fairs standard to a good Korean restaurant, most of the imported items are between TK 1000 onwards (Duck Salad 1500) and those with local ingredients are lower (Chicken Salad TK 650), they also have a Bento Box (TK 1200) which I intend to review tonight.


Special thanks to Nileema and Soorim who gave my taste buds a real treat, I will be back <3 p="">