Author: Food and Travel Secrets

Warm hospitality and exceptional value at Castle View Home Stay – Jodhpur, Rajasthan

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Castle View Home Stay in Jodhpur is a family home that has been converted into a guesthouse, by host Amit, and it has a hard to beat roof top restaurant view over the blue city against the backdrop of Fort Mehrangarh.

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Located in the old city, it is away from the busiest and most touristy clock tower area but within easy walking distance of Padamsar and Radisar lakes, amazing views from Elephanta Hill, interesting narrow lane ways and the Victory Gate entrance to the fort.

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There is a good feeling of being ‘part’ of local life, much of due to Amit’s knowledgeable but relaxed, thoughtful hospitality.

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Amit is also great for guidance on local foods, the best local places to eat (and where to be cautious of)  and how to see the best of Jodhpur. He can also organise great value tours for his guests, including a trip to surrounding villages.  IMG_0013 IMG_0001

But most of all, Amit takes great care of his guests.

Rooms have air conditioning, free wifi and ensuites. At around $AUS 20 per double, the price for this exceptional hospitality  and experience is hard to believe.

Mehrangarh Fort – Jodphur, not just a great dining backdrop

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Magnificent Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, an unbeatable backdrop for any meal is also worth a closer look.
It has an excellent museum and a good audio tour that’s included in the entrance price. ( A good to know that you need to take some form of ‘security’ for the audio guide i.e. Licence, passport, credit card or $US 40 or equivalent.)

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Jhankar Choti Haveli Restaurant, Jodhpur- great value food with a fantastic view

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Close to Raas Haveli Hotel and the clock tower, Jhankar Choti Haveli Restaurant also offers an amazing sunset view of Fort Mehrangarh and good vegetarian Indian dishes (and western food) at a great value price (around $AUS 5 for a Special Thali).

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The view rivals that of Indique Restaurant, at about half the price and staff are lovely.

Raas Haveli Hotel – Jodhpur, Rajathan

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Set in a restored Haveli, Raas is stylish and classy, with a lovely view of the fort and offers good low season discounts (about $AUS 195 for a luxury room (not much more than the Garden room and worth the extra) if you book for three nights).

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Located near the centre of town (clock tower) it is also close to lots of less expensive good eating spots like Jhankar Choti Haveli, Priya Restaurant (for thalis) and Indique and snack options like the Omelette Shop, Mishrilal Hotel, Shahi Samosa and Janta Sweet Home.

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Staff are very professional and friendly and bring small fruit ‘slushies’ to guests at the pool side.

Raas has lovely garden and seating settings and the hotel shop has gorgeous textiles and  Love Travel guides.

The downside to know about is the early morning e.g. 4:45am call to prayer from the mosque next door.

But otherwise Raas is very lovely, though maybe a bit too lovely. It can feel a world away from the real Jodhpur outside the front gate.

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Breakfast in season time is buffet style and served in the Badari Cafe beside the pool.

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In the low season, breakfast is a la carte (both Western and Indian options) and may also be served in the Darikhana restaurant.

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The Duplex suite is on a higher floor than the Luxury room with two terraces/bathroom areas and a separate sitting area!

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Indique Restaurant – Jodhpur, Rajasthan

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Lal Maans & Naan

Indique is Lonely Planet’s top pick for eating in Jodhpur, and sunset here is just gorgeous. It does have an amazing view of both Fort Mehrangarh and back to Umaid Bhawan Palace. Even the street scenes below are fascinating.

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Set in a lovely 150 year old haveli offering heritage accommodation, it is close to the clock tower and easy to find.

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Dishes are a bit pricier than some other good spots, at around $AUS 7-8 for mains, but worth it for the setting, ambiance and style.

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It gets busy, so it pays to go early.

 

Good Eating around Sardar Market (the Clock Tower), Jodhpur

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Sardar market, around the clock tower in Jodhpur, is always buzzing with colour and activity.

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And there’ s plenty of good spots close buy for snacks and meals.

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Near the Nothern Gate – Omelette Shop, Mishrilal Hotel, Indique Restaurant

There’s also Spice Paradise, offering spices and cooking classes, up the road from the Northern Gate.

But it’s also pretty hectic in this part of town. I don’t think I’d ever been warned so much before about hard sell and scams as when I arrived in Jodhpur.

Outside the Southern Gate there is also Shahi Snacks, good for samosas and mirchi bada.

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Down the road from the Southern Gate is Priya Restaurant, good for Thali (fresher at lunchtime than dinner (in the rainy season particularly) I’m told and Janta Sweet Home, good for Mawa Kachori  and other sweet delicacies.

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Chong Co Thai, Woden Southern Cross Club – Woden’s best lunch spot

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Woden Westfield Mall is not blessed with the same number of nice lunch spots as the city so Chong Co Thai restaurant in the Woden Canberra Southern Cross Club is a great find.

At lunchtime it is quiet and relaxed. Service is graceful and stylish, matching the more upmarket setting, but still efficient and timely.

The serve sizes and quality reflect that of Chong Co’s sister restaurant on the Kingston foreshore and newly opened Woden Westfield location.

Ordering one dish and one serve of rice from the dinner menu can be enough for two modest appetites at lunchtime. The food is so rich in flavour and texture, savouring it slowly is a treat.

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Two dishes with two rice is plenty for four people.

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Three dishes with three rice is a good amount for six people.

This pattern of ordering works out at around $11.50 per person which is excellent value for delicious food and a lovely seeting.

Alternatively, if you would prefer not to share, but don’t want the dinner menu serve sizes,  there is also a lunch menu with a smaller range of dishes that is  priced lower ($13-$16 including rice).

If the number in the group is uneven, it can work to order one main and rice per two people and the smaller serve of the Chicken Cashew Stir fry with rice from the lunch menu.

Wine is available by the glass, and starts from $5-6 if bought at the bar downstairs.

Access is open to the public not just for members and their guests.

Open daily for lunch 11am-2:30pm and dinner 5-10pm.

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Both indoor and outdoor seating

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Beef Massaman $20.90 (the best I’ve ever had)          Chicken Laab $18.90 (Excellent)

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Red duck curry $20.90 (very delicious)                        Rice is $3 for a generous serve

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Vegetarian Massaman Curry (not as good as the beef) $16.90

Green chicken curry – excellent $18.90

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Chicken and cashew nut stir fry $18.90                        Chicken Penang Curry $18.90 (very good)

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Chicken Pad Thai $16.90 (good)          Saffron rice $4.50 per serve (a little sweet which is very nice for variety)

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New menu starting November 2015 will see the Beef Massaman Curry served with roti. The roti is excellent making the Beef Massaman Curry even better as the top pick here.

Chong Co Thai Restaurant & Cocktail Bar on Urbanspoon

Local Press Cafe, Kingston Foreshore – a quick look at brunch

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Local Press was a good pick for breakfast on the Kingston Foreshore, inspired by Kate Freeman’s review of healthy Canberra cafes. 

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It’s full of energy and has a great atmosphere. It would be lovely in sunny weather as it’s nice to sit out alongside the lake…. and the coffee is good.

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The Green Breaky Plate $18  (Za’atar coated hard-boiled eggs, kale, almonds, avocado, quinoa tablouleh, asparagus, dill yogurt and feta) had lovely flavours. It’s quite light so good for eating lean, but not so good for sharing.

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The Green Pea Pancake or Poached Eggs on Rye (see Kate’s photos) would be better picks to share.

Open daily, except Mondays, breakfast is available until 12:30, when the lunch menu starts.

It’s very popular, so worth arriving early.

Local Press Cafe on Urbanspoon

 

A virtual tour of Mumbai with Rick Stein

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Watch Rick Stein's India on ABC TV for great India itinerary ideas

The first half of BBC’s ‘Rick’s Stein’s India’ second episode is all about Mumbai and you can travel there yourself, without leaving home.

Visit Sassoon Dock fish market, eat Berry Pulao at Brittania & Co and meet Mr Kohinoor, go with Krishna from Reality Tours & Travel as he takes Rick to his favourite fish curry restaurant and on a tour of Dharavi slum, and play cricket on Oval Maiden.