Khushee

We visited , and during the reservation call, they realized it was birthday and made it exceptionally special without us even asking. The ambiance, kid-friendliness, food presentation, and taste all earned a 10/10. Portion sizes were generous, and the value for money was excellent.

Detailed Food Review:

Bruschetta with Caramelized Balsamic Onions (Pre-Appetizer on the house):
Delicious start with caramelized balsamic onions on toasted bread.

Just Grilled Tenderloin Slices: 10/10
Medium-rare beef tenderloin with raw papaya salad and Nam Jim sauce. Thai flavors at their best.

Warm Danish Blue Cheese Cloud: 8/10
Light blue cheese soufflé with candied walnuts and figs. Tasty, though the soufflé was hidden by the salad.

Lobster and Crab Bisque: 10/10
Flavorful bisque with lobster pieces on crostini and crab meat.

Scarlett's Make-Your-Own Pasta: 7/10
Spaghetti in a tomato sauce with chicken. Chicken pieces could be smaller.

Tenderloin Medallions: 10/10
Medium-rare medallions wrapped in bacon, modified for kids, with perfect jus.

Beef Wellington: 10/10 (Would give 15/10 if possible)
Perfectly cooked beef with mushrooms and butter pastry. A must-have in Goa.

Flame-Grilled Pork Chops: 10/10
Kristen’s pick, so good I forgot to take a picture.

Chocolate Slice: 10/10
Moist and delicious slice of chocolate for the birthday girl.

Kokum Palate Cleanser: 10/10
Tangy and sweet juice, so good I had my kids' portions too.

Overall, a fantastic dining experience I'll definitely repeat!

Review⬇️

Spaghetti Bolognese: 7/10
A decent choice for a seafood restaurant, but the Bolognese sauce lacked the robust flavor it should have. It worked well for kids, though it could use more depth.

Beef Burger: 7/10
The lettuce served separately as a salad was puzzling, and the burger patty could have used more seasoning to elevate the flavor.

Peach Iced Tea: 10/10
A huge hit with the kids! This refreshing drink brought a big smile to a 9-year-old’s face.

Special Goan Fish Thali:

Pineapple Tisro: 10/10 – A standout dish with fantastic pineapple and coconut flavors, perfectly paired with Sol Kadi.
Fried Fish: 9/10 – Fresh and flavorful, likely Barramundi. A highlight of the thali.
Sol Kadi: 10/10 – Refreshing and well-balanced, a great complement to the meal.
Crab Xacuti: Disappointing – The mud crabs didn’t complement the Xacuti sauce well. I was surprised, given my love for mud crab.

But at ₹520, the thali is a generous and well-priced meal.
Good value and some standout dishes, but a few misses.
Over Thali Rating: 7/10

Cocktails: Not noteworthy – Pretty presentation but lacking in taste.

Service: 10/10
The service was excellent – attentive and friendly, making for a pleasant dining experience.

Review below ⬇️

Been coming here since day one, and it never disappoints! Perfect for the whole family with their pizza and pasta options, plus some unique dishes like okra fry, Liver and brain. The desserts and beer cocktails are a bonus. Service? Top-notch. Friendly and helpful staff keep us coming back!

Okra Podi Chips - 10/10
Ordered on a whim and wow, crispy okra with curry leaves and idli podi, a real game changer. The yogurt dressing is a nice touch, but the okra flavors stand strong on their own. Almost devoured the whole plate solo!

Margherita Pizza - 9/10
Kids and adults both loved it! My brother even shared his spaghetti with his nephew, and they were both in pizza heaven. A bit more marinara sauce would make it perfect.

Prawn, Cherry Tomatoes, and Feta Spaghetti - 10/10
Surprisingly delightful! Light, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. Even got a thumbs up from a 6-year-old who usually avoids chili. A clear winner!

After exploring Shimla, we headed to , excited to try their famous Mushroom Cappuccino and other famous dishes that people raved about in their online reviews. The restaurant's beautiful lighting and decor raised our expectations.

HOTEL AMAYAA REVIEW⬇️🍽️

Staff seemed unaware of online menu items, including the Mushroom Cappuccino. It seems like there has been a change in ownership and a change in the menu items described in the online reviews. It would be good if the owners updated their menus online and also trained their staff to handle the new menus and briefed them on the history of the old menus with a brief statement somewhere on the change of menus which would save them from getting bad publicity and negative reviews.

Signature Chakna with Chicken: A pleasant surprise! Tasty and generous portion for a bar snack/starter. 8/10

Red Sauce Pasta: Basic red sauce pasta without chilli. Took effort to order, but kids enjoyed it. 6/10 for making the little ones happy!

Rainbow Trout Grilled with an Afghani marinade: Overcooked, losing the trout's delicate flavor. Marinade didn't quite capture authentic Afghani taste. 4/10

Mutton Gharti (Signature dish): Young lamb with onion & walnut masala, ginger, ratanjot oil. Meat was tough, and the rich, heavy masala overpowered the lamb. 4/10

Overall Score for Hotel Amayaa: 5/10

While the ambiance was promising, the food and service left much to be desired. Our one night in Shimla deserved more memorable cuisine.

After sightseeing, we wandered towards the Dalai Lama temple, hoping to find the lady on the roadside who was making fresh Laphing the previous day, but she wasn't there.

Remembering our friend recommendation, we stumbled upon Moonpeak. With authentic Himachali cuisine on the menu, it was a must-try for us.

Boy, did we hit the jackpot! The kids enjoyed their food, and we savored every bite of the Himachali dishes.

MOONPEAK REVIEW⬇️🍛

Mutton Chaa Gosht: Boneless mutton in a tangy buttermilk gravy. Tender but could use more spice. 6/10, room for improvement.

Chicken Madhra: Wow! A vegetarian Madhra twist with boneless chicken. The depth of flavor was insane! 10/10, I licked the bowl clean.

Perfect Pair: Local Himachali steamed rice and phulka with the curries. Chicken Madhra stole the show.

Chocolate Cake: Light, moist, and just the right amount of chocolate. Scarlett didn't want to share! For me, 8/10—could use a bit more chocolate.

Carrot Cake: The best I've ever had, even better than that fancy place in Melbourne. Moist, soft, and the cream cheese icing was a dream. If I could, I'd give it 15/10, but 10/10 it is!

Almond Cake: Let's just say, it didn't live up to the others. 2/10.

Overall Score for Moonpeak: 8/10

If you're in town, Moonpeak is a must-visit!

The kids had the chance to experience an Indian wedding and traditions for the first time, and it was so much fun. Scarlett loved her lehenga and looked absolutely adorable. Keep swiping to see the first time Scarlett was in a lehenga! ❤️

Bangalore has always had a little piece of our hearts since that's where we met.
Every time we go back there, we can't help but reminisce.

Exploring Bangalore with the kiddos was such an absolute blast!
Joey started off his trip by being invited into the cockpit, thanks to the wonderful team at 6E IndiGo.
We started our trip w Sammy and Carlton at (obviously)and had the best meals ever!
We had the most fun reunion with the OG karaoke gang, with .sabrina.price .mathias and .braganza at 💚

Obviously, we couldn’t end our trip without hometown favorites: drinks at and ice cream at (specifically the DBC🤤).
I'm so glad we get to share these moments with our kids, and I hope they get to experience friendships like this as they get older

Seven years ago, baby J popped into our lives and it hasn't been the same since.
It's been such an incredible journey getting to know you and watching you grow and turn into an amazing individual.
The goofy antics, laughter and our random dance parties/solo cooking vlogs fill our days with so much joy.
From making friends everywhere you'd go to being the best baby brother to Scarlett, you make every moment special with your curiosity.

We hope your birthday is as bright and wonderful as you are Joey. We love you so much.

with all our love,
Mum&Dad ❤️

Our source of “Khushee”!
Happy Birthday Kristen!

This adventure with you has been nothing but a dream come true
you’ve shown all of us the joy and excitement that you experience with every moment, whether it's tasting a new dish, learning a few words in a local language, or simply watching the sunset on a beach in Goa

Here’s to you, to hoping your birthday is as vibrant as you are

So much love,
-halfanexpat

Having our first family snow day with snowball fights and building snowmen in the Himalayas at Rohtang Pass!

I love the diversity of India—it's not just dirt, traffic, and heat, but also snowy mountains and breathtaking landscapes. This snowy adventure is an unforgettable chapter in our journey here.

Traveling and living in different countries has truly opened my mind. Grateful for these moments and the chance to experience India’s wonders as a family.❤❤

We had a snow day!
I love the fact that we’ve used this summer to show our kids just how beautiful India can be while adding so much adventure to their lives

We’ve taken the kiddos and had a ball!

Grateful we had the opportunity to experience the beauty this country has to offer

Summer vacations have begun!
Keep an eye out for the funnest adventures

Date night w Mum & Dad

Time for an insane photo dump!
From teacher to foodie to full-on wanderlust fam!
Back in 2008, I took a job teaching science at an international school in Bangalore and accidentally found my partner-in-crime over bonding about our mutual love for food and during off-key singing nights in the city.
We then bounced around raising our cuties Scarlett and Joey in Australia for a decade.
But the desi roots and flavors were calling, so we packed our bags and headed back to Mumbai, this year.

Now we’re on an incredible journey rediscovering our Indian roots as a family, traveling all over the country, immersing ourselves in vibrant cultures, savoring diverse flavors, and connecting with age-old traditions across different regions, creating lasting memories together as we reconnect with our Heritage.

Kayden here!
We had the chance to try out Chef Andy Allen’s menu at last night and here’s my take on the experience we ordered :
- Pedro’s Ceviche - 5/5 (Perfect!) we licked our spoons clean!
- Soft Shell Crab KIS-MUR - 5/5 So good
- Lisboa Pastel De Nata - 5/5 (Could eat those every day!)
- House Baked Sourdough Poee with Choriz Butter - 5/5 🤤
Then we got to the x Menu (we ordered every single item on there, because we were very enthusiastic and very excited to try it!)
- BBQ Prawns, XO Butter, Charred Greens - 0/5
The prawns were so overcooked they were mushy, unfortunately we sent them back
- Macadamia Tabbouleh, Burnt Eggplant Yoghurt, Green Barley, Grape Vinegar - 3.5/5
Bursts of creamy flavor, loved the clever use of the burnt eggplant in the yogurt!
- Chicken Sausage, White Bread, Brown Sauce - 2/5
This was the most disappointing by far, I’m not entirely sure why I’m surprised, they did stick to what they said on the menu
But being from Australia, having experienced a good sausage sizzle, that felt like a complete rip off.
The least they could have incorporated was maybe fried onions?
- Wood Roasted Spatchcock, Fermented Chilli, Roasted Corn - 3/5
Was a bit unevenly cooked, with parts of us experiencing drier bits than others
- Buffalo Tataki, Lobster, Crème Fraiche, Green Tomato 4/5 best thing on this menu

- Burnt Honey and PaperBark Crème Brûlée - 3/5 ( I might be comparing it to the deliciousness of the custard tarts at opedro, but I think this particular dish is nice, albeit an acquired taste)

All in all, I’d definitely go back to O Pedro for their OG food, but this collaboration was quite a disappointing experience

Kayden here!
We had the chance to try out Chef Andy Allen’s menu at last night and here’s my take on the experience we ordered :
- Pedro’s Ceviche - 5/5 (Perfect!) we licked our spoons clean!
- Soft Shell Crab KIS-MUR - 5/5 So good
- Lisboa Pastel De Nata - 5/5 (Could eat those every day!)
- House Baked Sourdough Poee with Choriz Butter - 5/5 🤤
Then we got to the x Menu (we ordered every single item on there, because we were very enthusiastic and very excited to try it!)
- BBQ Prawns, XO Butter, Charred Greens - 0/5
The prawns were so overcooked they were mushy, unfortunately we sent them back
- Macadamia Tabbouleh, Burnt Eggplant Yoghurt, Green Barley, Grape Vinegar - 3.5/5
Bursts of creamy flavor, loved the clever use of the burnt eggplant in the yogurt!
- Chicken Sausage, White Bread, Brown Sauce - 2/5
This was the most disappointing by far, I’m not entirely sure why I’m surprised, they did stick to what they said on the menu
But being from Australia, having experienced a good sausage sizzle, that felt like a complete rip off.
The least they could have incorporated was maybe fried onions?
- Wood Roasted Spatchcock, Fermented Chilli, Roasted Corn - 3/5
Was a bit unevenly cooked, with parts of us experiencing drier bits than others
- Buffalo Tataki, Lobster, Crème Fraiche, Green Tomato 4/5 best thing on this menu

- Burnt Honey and PaperBark Crème Brûlée - 3/5 ( I might be comparing it to the deliciousness of the custard tarts at opedro, but I think this particular dish is nice, albeit an acquired taste)

All in all, I’d definitely go back to O Pedro for their OG food, but this collaboration was quite disappointing

.in being brilliant as usual!
Their Gunpowder Prawns in Rasam Broth is a must try!

coming through as the best post dinner treat 📍❤️