In the hotel industry the word ‘small’ holds a lot of meaning. Though large hotel chains enjoy higher volumes and economies of scale small hotels and even budget hotels can go that extra mile by simply doing small things, in a ‘big’ way for the customer!

Here,

A GUEST IS NOT A NUMBER! What exactly is personal service? When you are treated as an individual in your own right and when just a single visit to a hotel makes you want to return to it again and again! A guest should never be just a person attached to a room number but should be treated like a king!

THE STAFF REMEMBERS THE IMPORTANT DETAILS! A couple who had travelled from a far away country returned to the same hotel five years later, only to find that the staff remembered that they were vegetarian. This made them so happy that they extended their stay in the hotel!

A PERSONAL TOUCH ALWAYS MATTERS! When a person arrives in his room, tired maybe, after a long journey, it will refresh him to see some fresh flowers kept in his room, and a hand-written card saying how special he is as a guest.

Little things like these make a big difference in the hotel industry! The Westend pays a lot of attention to minute details like these and tries to make every room stay a distinctly enjoyable experience for the visitor!

The legendary music composer Beethoven has said – “Only the pure-hearted can make a good soup!” And we feel that the same rule applies to every one’s all-time favourite – Chhole or Amritsari Chhole as they call it!

If one visits Punjab or Delhi, and does not partake of this phenomenal dish then it is equal to visiting Italy and not eating pizza! Chhole Bhature (bhatura is the large-sized puri that is served with chhole) is a favourite street food in the north – every street can be seen serving up this piping hot dish to people!

There are two ways of making chhole – the regular one using onion, tomato and Indian spices in the gravy and the other one, which is called the Pindi style – it is drier and uses no onions or tomatoes.

So are you craving for some scrumptiously divine Chhole?

Crave no more – you can now experience the best of some all-time favourites like Chhole Bhature from Hotel The Westend, right in the comfort of your home or office. We now deliver our all-time favourites right to your doorstep, you can order for home delivery any time between 11 am and 10.30 pm – the minimum order is for Rs 500 and we deliver in a 3.5 kilometer radius.

This weekend, look forward to calling us to have your snacks and dishes home delivered on 999 888 66 55, and say goodbye to cooking – at least during the weekend!

For most of us, cooking at home on a daily, unending basis feels just like torture! That is because the modern lifestyle has changed a lot from what it was in the times of our grandparents! With both partners in the family working and the joint family system slowly getting extinct cooking meals at home has become challenging and inconvenient. Adding to the working woman’s woes are long working hours, long commutes and other domestic responsibilities like school activities etc., and what you have at the end of the week is a person just too tired of it all! Too tired to plan a healthy menu and too tired to cook up a good meal!

And when you reach the weekend, all that you are left with is a deep craving for your favourite munch-time snack or a mouth-watering dish that reminds you of your childhood! Crave no more – you can now experience the best of some all-time favourites like Cheese-Chilly Toast from Hotel The Westend, right in the comfort of your home or office. We now deliver our all-time favourites right to your doorstep, you can order for home delivery any time between 11 am and 10.30 pm – the minimum order is for Rs 500 and we deliver in a 3.5 kilometer radius.

This weekend, look forward to calling us to have your snacks and dishes home delivered on 999 888 66 55, and say goodbye to cooking – at least during the weekend!

Rasam is a spicy, tangy and slightly sweet hot beverage from the South of India . Like Sambhar it is had with rice – but some prefer to drink it all by itself too! On wintry evenings or when you are in the blues, nothing tastes better than a cup of piping  hot rasam. There are many varieties of Rasam, which is usually made with lentils, tamarind water  and a special concoction called Rasam Powder , but here we shall discuss the recipe for Pineapple Rasam.

Make it, sit back, relax and enjoy!

PINEAPPLE  RASAM:

COOK DAL:

• ¼ cup tuvar dal
• ¾ to 1 cup water
• ⅛ tsp turmeric powder

OTHER INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup chopped pineapple,
• 1 medium tomato
• 1.5 cups water
• salt as required

CRUSH COARSELY:

• 2 tsp cumin seeds/jeera
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 5 to 6 medium sized garlic cloves

FOR TADKA

• 1.5 tbsp oil
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 2 to 3 dry red chillies
• 6 to 7 curry leaves/kadi patta
• a pinch of asafoetida/hing

INSTRUCTIONS

cooking dal:

1. Cook dal in a pressure cooker with water and turmeric powder, for 5 to 6 whistles or till the lentils have completely softened.
2.  Mash the dal very well with a spoon and keep aside.

 PREPPING:

1. Crush cumin seeds, black pepper and garlic cloves coarsely.
2. Add half of the chopped pineapple cubes in a grinder jar or small blender and blend to a smooth puree.
3. Add quartered tomato and blend.

 Preparing  rasam:

1. Heat 1.5 tbsp oil in a pot or pan. Add ½ tsp mustard seeds and crackle them.
2. Now add the coarse paste of garlic+pepper+cumin and 2 to 3 dry red chilies. stir.
3. Add 6 to 7 curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida.
4. Stir and then add crushed tomatoes.
5. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes on a low to medium flame till the raw aroma of tomatoes goes away.
6. Add the pineapple puree. Stir and saute for a minute.
7. Add the cooked dal.
8. Now add the remaining half of the chopped pineapple cubes. Stir. Add 1.5 cups water.
9. Season with salt as per taste.
10. Stir very well and bring the rasam to a simmer on low to medium flame, without the lid for 8 to 9 minutes.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve pineapple rasam hot with steamed rice or as an appetizer soup.

A hotel is more than just a place to rest and sleep. If chosen well, it can come to become one of the most memorable parts of your entire travel trip! Here are some tips on hotel stay that would help us as guests!

ON ENTERING THE ROOM: After you check in and enter your room, the porter or bell boy will bring in your luggage. You can then check out your room, turn on the lights, check the air-conditioner etc. If you do not like your room call the front desk for assistance in choosing another room. Remember, it is not the porter’s job to change your room – you will need to have the request cleared through the front desk.

CHECK THE EMERGENCY AND FIRE EXITS: One of the first things you should do on checking into a hotel is to locate the fire and emergency exits. Also check to see whether you need extra pillows, blankets, hangers, towels or an iron, for example. If you do need anything call housekeeping.

ROOM SERVICE: If you are in the hotel for business purposes it will do you good and save you a lot of time if you place your breakfast order the night before; this way you will have time to receive it and eat it before you leave for your schedules!