Milan: Sure To Trigger Your Nostalgia

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Food has some superpower which has the ability to transport us to different places, cultures, and experiences, sometimes even takes us back in time to our childhood. One such place that made me feel nostalgic and helped fill a void in Hamilton Food scene is “Milan – Ultimate Indian Street Food” located at Barton Street Hamilton. According to me, Hamilton lacked a good chat point and Milan did come as a saviour. Now, we do not have to travel too far for a good chat. This place offers some good Indian Street Food and I am sure you would have an awesome experience. Their customer service is really good that they serve all the customers with a smile on their face.

Milan Hamilton

Our Recommendations: This pure vegetarian restaurant has many dishes to offer but here are some of our recommendations.

  1. Bhakhri Pizza: This is a must try if you are a fan of fusion food. Bhakhri is a type of round, unleavened Indian flatbread made from whole wheat flour, water, and spices. The base of the pizza is Bhakhri and is topped with vegetables like capsicum(green pepper), and onion. The taste of the pizza is increased thanks to the adequate sprinkling of shredded cheese. This cheese is usually not melted. Verdict: Must Try
Bhakhri Pizza

2. Paneer Club Sandwich: Try this awesome sandwich if you are looking for some zesty, tangy and spicy snack. Layers of soft bread spread with mint chutney, overdose of Paneer Burji and combination of vegetables like tomatoes, onion, and beetroot. The paneer burji is made by marinating the cottage cheese with spices and pan-frying them with onions, adding a rich savoury element to the sandwich. Additionally, this is served with potato chips on the side. Caution, one order of this could fill a stomach. Verdict: Must Try

3. Pav Bhajji: Pav Bhajji is something that you cannot miss here. Bhajji is vegetable curry made with potatoes, carrots, and peas blended with richnesses of spices and herbs. Additionally, the Bhajji is garnished with chopped onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lemon. Pav is soft bread toasted with butter or ghee. This dish captures the very essence of Indian street food culture and could be had for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Verdict: Good try.

4. Ragada Patties: The ragda, is a flavourful stew of white peas, is spiced with a blend of masalas. The patties refers potato tikkis which mashed potatoes coated with breadcrumbs and deep fried in oil. This is a popular street food in India and you would not go wrong placing this order. The dish is served with mint and sweet chutneys garnished with coriander. Verdict: Could Try

Bhakhri Pizza
Sev Poori
Cheese Chutney Sandwich

Other worthy mentions

  1. Paani poori – hollow, crispy puris filled with a mixture of spiced potatoes, chickpeas, and tamarind chutney),
  2. Sweet paan
  3. Vada Pav
  4. Chuntney cheese sandwich (This is lighter than the paneer club sandwich).

Areas of improvements:

Obviously, as patrons we do expect more from this awesome family run franchise. Some recommendations from us would be,

  1. Live Pani Poori Counter
  2. Paper bowls instead of plastic bowl.
  3. Add some south Indian flavours like onion masala samosa

Location: 2415 Barton St E, Hamilton, ON L8E 2W9

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2.

I would go there any day for a tasty food with a good ambience. Further, the friendly staff who love serving you good food makes it a even better experience.

Things to Do in Hamilton, Ontario Part -1

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Hamilton is a vibrant city located at the western end of Lake Ontario(my father still does not believe that this waterbody is called a lake rather than an ocean). The city has stunning landscapes and attractions for trekkers, history lovers, and food enthusiasts. This city has something to offer everyone. There are many attractions spread across the city, in this part, we will see about 3 attractions that would attract anyone who loves nature and waterfalls.

Attraction 1: Fifty-point conservation area

Location: 1479 Baseline Rd, Hamilton, ON L8E 3L8

A picturesque location that should be top of the list for any travel lovers, be they local or tourists. The area is located right on the shore of Lake Ontario offering a variety of outdoor activities like walking trails, sand beach for fun family activities, fishing, etc and natural beauty. The marina and the lighthouse are some standout attractions for everyone. On a clear day, the view of Downtown Toronto is spellbinding. Nevertheless, the sight of the lake is similar to an infinity pool and swimmers and sailing boats are something that beautifies the place. Hikers and nature lovers would be excited to enjoy the breezy winds flowing through the forests and open meadows. There is ample space for picnicking, designated barbeque spots, and an open play area for the family. Parking is also plenty and you can find a spot with ease. The one-day pass would cost you $11.

Best Time to Visit: All around the year.

Attraction 2: Tiffany Falls

Location: Tiffany Falls, 900 Wilson Street East, Ancaster

Put your hiking shoes on, get your cameras ready and be prepared to be amazed by the charming beauty of tiffany falls. You are sure to be spellbound if you visit this beauty a day after heavy rainfall. The waterfall is just 21 meters tall but the beautiful green cover surrounding the falls and the stream that flows through the thick woods make it an experience to cherish. The trail that leads you to the falls is well maintained with a couple of wooden bridges adding some rustic touch to the natural splendour. The trail is easy for all age groups and should be easy for all age levels. The spot is perfect for a good photo opportunity. The only downside of the place is the parking. It is limited and usually full on a crowded day. The parking would cost you $11 and is free with a conservation area pass. You would also appreciate the drive through the splendid town of Ancaster.

Best time to visit the falls: Early Spring and Fall season.

Capture by thescenesdaily

Attraction 3: Sherman Falls

Location: Walking distance from the parking lot, 917 Artaban Road

Oh, this one is a hidden gem and combine this with the Tiffany Falls bet you will not regret. The waterfalls can be reached via the well-marked trail from the parking lot. The picturesque falls trail is an easy one and should be accessible for people of all ages and fitness levels. The lush forest and the cascading waterfalls will transcend you to a different world. The sound of the flowing water combined with the chirps of the birds is a heavenly experience. The place is perfect. If you are looking for a peaceful retreat and a chance to connect with nature, Sherman Falls is must visit. There is ample parking and I would suggest using the bruce trail which is like 20-minute walk to access tiffany falls to get decent cardio and enjoy nature a bit more.

Best time to visit the falls: Early Spring and Fall season.

Capture by @thescenesdaily.

Hamilton Conservation Area Pass in my opinion will save you a lot if you plan to visit these places often. Mark these places for fall season and you will be in for a treat. If there are any places that you would love us to explore please feel free to share it in comments.

Follow vyasonkeys on Instagram for some good content and thescenesdaily for some fantastic photography.

Daawat – A Feast that’s cooking

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Address: 2070 Rymal Rd E, Hannon, ON L0R 1P0

Mysore Masala Dosa: Dosai is a fermented Indian pancake made from rice and lentil dough. Masala Dosai is usually crisp with a filling of masala gravy inside. Mysore Masala Dosa usually has a paste of chilli and garlic paste spread on the inside of the dosa with masala potato filling. The dosa was quite big and crispy just as we had requested. I usually order the masala on the side for the dosa to retain the crispiness. The dosa was served along with a couple of chutneys and sambhar. The sambhar could have been thicker as it should be for a accompaniment of dosa. Verdict: Good to try.

Vegetable Pakora: A popular street food and snack from the Indian sub-continent. Pakoras are crispy fritters made from dough of gram flour, vegetables like onions, carrots, potatoes, carrots, cabagge, native spices and herbs. This usually goes very well with Indian Masala Chai. The pakoras were crispy and tasty. A good starter to try but go for their cut mirchi if you like it spicy. Verdict: Good try, but must try for cut mirchi.

Chilli Idli:  Idly is a savoury rice cake prepared by baking fermented rice and lentil batter and is very popular in South India. For chilli Idly, the idly is cut into pieces and tossed with chilli sauce and vegetables like onions and green pepper. This was not really spicy and does not affect your taste pallette. For idly lovers this is not a starter for sure and a safe option. Verdict: Must Try

Channa Bhatura: Bhatura, a very popular dish from Northern India, a deep fried bread made of all purpose flour. It is also known as Chole Bhatura. Chole or Channa is made from cooking white channa along with spices, tomato and onion sauce, herbs, onions, garlic and ginger. The quantity of Channa Bhatura is quite large and would definitely fit a meal for one person. The taste was really good and I would recommend to have this hot. Verdict: Must try

Average Price: $10-$15 per person

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall Verdict: A good and improving Indian restaurant in Hamilton with both North and South Indian cuisines in their menu.

The food is tasty and flavorful. This place is known for Biryani and I have tried their Vegetable Dum Biryani and Daawat special dum biryani which according to me is a Must Try. The restaurant is a take out place for now and the owner has started to add some tables based on feedback from customers. I also spotted some picnic/patio tables at the spot, so dining during summer should be an option. The owner was open to accept feedback from customers and improve their standards. They have some good combos and weekly/monthly offers. The restaurant and grocery store is relatively new so they have room for improvement like adding more variety to their Dosa menu, sambhar and chutneys and some native Andhra special cuisine.

Holy Shakes: Falling in love…with Milkshakes & Fusion

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan
Burger with Masala Fries
FREAKSHAKE
Steamed Chilli Momo

Ferrero Cheesecake Freakshake: As the name suggests this was indeed freaky- a milkshake that was unusual and out of the ordinary. The highlight of this drink is the Cheesecake Factory Bakery® Cheesecakes are added either on top or by the side of the drink. The drink burst with an abundance of Ferrero rocher flavour. I am a big fan of the cheesecake factory cheesecakes and this one is right on top of my list of favourites for sure. Make sure to take the jar with you, bring it back to get a 5% discount which was confirmed by the staffs. Verdict: Must Try.

Steamed and Pan-Seared Chilli Momos: Momos are a popular street food in northern parts of India and are quite popular now even in Southern India. These are also known as Dim Sum or dumplings and made from flour with some flavourful filling. This was a spicy flavour-filled momos which had less oil as it was pan-seared rather than pan fried. The filling was well cooked and the out layer was a little bit more thick than the usual. The chilli sauce on top added a touch of spice to the otherwise bland food. Verdict: Hit or Miss. Can Skip.

Roadside Burger (Chowmein): Chow mein means fried noodles. This burger consisted of mix-veg patty, chowmein and holy eatery signature sauces stacked inside sliced Brioche buns. The touch of fusion was fantastic and innovative. For someone who does not like burgers, this was something that I enjoyed eating. The patty inside the burger and the chow-mein was well cooked and juicy. The side of masala fries topped with spicy habanero sauce was a class apart.I would not mind buying them on the side. Verdict: Very Good Try

Average Price per person: $20-$25.

Address: 1299 Barton St E Unit K04, Hamilton, ON L8H 2V4

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The place was well-maintained and clean. The staff were courteous and welcoming. The only issue would be the number of seats in the location. Not a place for a group to sit and hang out. Special shoutout to Rajat for diligently preparing the delicious milkshake. I would have given them 5 ⭐️s had they fulfilled the offer that was displayed but they let us down by stating that the promotion is now closed.

Our Instagram Handle: Vyasonkeys

Twisted Indian Wraps: Indo-Mex with an Awesome Twist

Posted on by Karthic Vaidyanathan

Location: 1508 Upper James St Unit 245, Hamilton, ON L9B 1K3

Verdict: Good Value for money, must try.

Average Price: $12-$15/person

What did we try?

Super Bowl: Indian version of Mexican burrito bowl. You can choose basmati or brown rice with 3 vegetable curries. I chose Rajma, Masala Paneer and Channa. We chose to top the bowl with Salad(kachumber), Pickled Onion, Jalapeno, Coriander, carrots, purple cabbage and their custom sauces. Verdict: Must try.

Aloo Tikki Burger: Two potato patties smashed and served on a pretzel bun with, kachumber choice of specialty sauce & served with chutney. I did add-on other toppings to the burger. I am not a big fan of burgers but this one tasted really good. I will definitely give it a try again. Verdict: Good pick.

Naan-wich: We tried the paneer naan-wich. It is probably a new item on their menu and we loved it. As the name says, it is a sandwich made with naan. We filled the inside with paneer masala, spicy sauce and kachumber. As per the staff, this was one of the best items on their list and was indeed worth it. Verdict: Must Try.

Masala fries: Wanted to try this as a side to our bowl. I would rate it not so high. Verdict: Skip

Dessert: We tried their Gulab Jamun and Mango Kulfi. They had the offer to go review them on google and Facebook check in to get a free dessert. Verdict: Gulab Jamun – Good pick, Mango Kulfi – Skip

Restaurant Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 The restaurant was clean and well-maintained. The staff were very courteous and helped us pick a good option with patience and care.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2