Finally, A Dating App That Knows You’re More Than Just A Picture

Courtesy: Pixabay

A good selfie, a bunch of hobbies, your age, sex, and location – is that all you are, really? And would you want someone to like, and eventually love you on that basis? If you answered a big fat NO, then you should probably give OkCupid a try.

We can all agree that finding a suitable partner in today’s times can be very, very difficult. #ForeverSingle might seem comical on social media but for many of us, it’s a depressing truth. We trudge to work, oversleep on weekends, and perhaps go on the occasional blind date on the recommendation of a family member or friend. And yet, the years go by, and true love remains a distant dream. Not everyone wants to jump into an arranged marriage with someone who probably comes with tons of baggage you never wanted or asked for. Nor are we all Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, willing to ‘experiment’ and have crazy one-night-stands in the quest for a real, fulfilling relationship.

Enter the much-disputed world of dating apps. Love them or hate them, you can’t really do without them when Mr/Ms Right isn’t crossing your path in real life. But the fact of the matter is, most of the platforms out there are either matrimonial sites or hook-up apps without a conscience. Navigating either can feel like a desperate exercise for those who’d like the luxury of exploring a serious relationship at leisure – you know, get to know someone slowly, so that perhaps one day, you might do that thing that your parents are dying for. #OkCupid has been designed for people like that.

OkCupid gets to know you the way you’d want to be known.

 

Courtesy: OkCupid on PlayStore

There are a million things that make you ‘you’. Maybe it’s the way you purse your lips when you’re worried. Or the fact that you sometimes like your Maggi cold. Your most precious moments and the most embarrassing ones, the times you danced and the times you wept, the people who made you and the ones that broke you (for a while), the days that life seemed perfect, and the days when the sun just wouldn’t shine – what if an app wanted to know all of it?And that means, so would your potential life partner. Imagine the ocean of things you’d have to talk about on a first date when you’ve been privy to such intimate details about each other. When you sign up on OkCupid, chances are, you’d go on a journey of self-discovery, because the app asks you so many quirky, interesting, and exhaustive questions in the course of setting up your profile. So no, you aren’t just your height, weight, and vital statistics. You’re a living, breathing human with a gamut of passions inside you. You are #SubstanceoverSelfies.

Of course, the app does cover basics like political and religious beliefs, and expectations such as a long-term or short-term relationship. And for every question you answer about yourself, you also submit your preferences in your partner on the same subject. A few examples:

• ·       How would you describe yourself: Intense or Carefree?
• ·       Would you rather be: Normal or Weird?
• ·       Would you date someone who was really messy?
• ·       Would you date someone who was in debt?
• ·       Choose the better romantic activity: Kissing in Paris or Kissing in a Tent, in the Woods
• ·       Is jealousy healthy in a relationship?

Courtesy: OkCupid App

And to the developers of OkCupid, here are a few suggestions from my side (feel free to add your own in the comments, and we’ll hope our genius is heard!):

• ·       If you could travel with only one thing, would it be your: Phone or Camera?
• ·       How long could you survive with just food and water in an empty room? One day, one week, one hour
• ·       Which one would you prefer: A Cloudy Day or A Snowy Day?

Once you’ve answered a few questions, you can view profiles and swipe left or right, depending on whether they appeal to you or not. You get a notification only if someone liked you as well (termed a “Double Take”). And after that, well, the ball’s in your court!

OkCupid believes in mutual trust and kindness.

The world of online dating can sometimes be really unkind. After all, anonymity and the protection of a computer screen let you get away with much more than you would in real life. While no app can control the behaviour of users a 100%, OkCupid does place a very important emphasis on being respectful. In fact, users have to “pledge” to follow a certain code of conduct before they chat with someone for the first time. When you meet someone new, things may not always work out, but it’s always better to part with dignity, right? ‘Hide’ and ‘block’ functions are also available to help you avoid certain profiles.

How do you find matches?

Courtesy: OkCupid on PlayStore

The app shows you best matches based on the answers you submit in your initial questionnaire. But you could also search for people by interests or factors like owning a pet. When someone likes you back, you both receive a notification, allowing you to take things ahead. And because profiles on OkCupid are so much more rounded than a conventional dating bio, you’ll have tons of conversation starters to choose from.

Is the app free?

Yes, it’s absolutely free to install and use OkCupid. However, there are some additional features that can only be unlocked with a paid subscription. It’s up to you whether to upgrade or not.

You can:

·       Find OkCupid India on Instagram

·       Download OkCupid for Android

·       Download OkCupid for iOS

Every week, 50,000 people in 113 countries find a date thanks to OkCupid. And for the evolved urban man or woman, it is probably the most discerning dating app in the Indian (and international) market. Here’s hoping you find true love before the next monsoon – because who wouldn’t like a rain dance with a special someone?

District Lounge, The Shalimar Hotel, Mumbai

I just read through some of the reviews for this restaurant and I’m wondering how on earth did these people manage to eat so many dishes at District Lounge! Because the portions at this bar and restaurant are really, really generous. And if you’re only two people, you won’t be able to have anything more than one starter, mains and dessert with a couple of drinks each. Apart from the portion size, the taste, service and pricing of this restaurant are major USPs, despite being situated in the premium Shalimar Hotel, an iconic landmark of South Bombay.

Celebrating a special occasion at @district_lounge #Mumbai #bar #dinner #tonight #restaurant #door #interesting #pretty #review #dining #blogger #fun #shalimar #arty #art #antique #hotels #photooftheday #picoftheday #follow #drinks #food #outing #date #instagram

A post shared by Trail-stained Fingers (@ankitashreeram) on Apr 3, 2017 at 7:43am PDT

The hotel is at Kemps Corner and a twenty minute cab ride away from CST station. Walk straight ahead from the reception and you see the ornate ochre and brown door with floral carvings. Inside, the bar looks small at first but then you see the extended seating space and the array of bar stools and you realise there’s much more to District Lounge than meets the eye. We wanted privacy and quiet, so sat at one of the tables closer to the entrance. Inside, there were some boisterous regulars who were gracious enough to apologise about the noise. We didn’t really mind though.

The waiters at District Lounge are humble and quick to meet your demands. We scanned through the menu, an exact replica of what’s available online. Like always, I already knew what I wanted. The papad paneer rolls had looked quite interesting in pictures so we went for that. Unfortunately, the cocktail I wanted (Sazerac) was missing a key ingredient (absinthe) so I went for my usual favourite, a sparkling wine spritzer. My friend had the long island iced tea, which turned out to be quite special. Later, we ordered good old paneer masala with roti and were quite stuffed by the end of it. But our server insisted we ought to try dessert and recommended the Dutch truffle. Who can go wrong with that, right? It was classic chocolate pastry elegance.

All in all, District Lounge is complete value for time and money. The service is quick, the drinks are competitively priced and your final bill should be around Rs 2500 for two with alcohol and Rs 1500 for only food. My only recommendation is to pay more attention to the lighting and music, to create that pub-like ambience. Now for those of you who are interested, here are the details.

Starter: Papad paneer roll (Rs. 375)

Is it a #papad roll? Or spicy #paneer tikka? Actually it's both 😃 #food #foodie #foodporn #foodlover #foodpics #foodgasm #Indian #starter #dinner #review #blogger #photoofthenight #picofthenight #tasty #delicious #delish #yum #yummy #nomnom #eating #Mumbai #restaurant #hotel #dining #dine #foodgram #follow #followforfollow

A post shared by Trail-stained Fingers (@ankitashreeram) on Apr 3, 2017 at 9:13am PDT

Four gigantic papad rolls came to us, each generously filled with chopped paneer and an extremely spicy masala. The dish was tasty, attractively presented and filling, but the chef could go easier on the chillies and masala. Having two of these was like a meal in itself!

Mains: Paneer tikka masala with roti (Rs. 415 + Rs. 95)

I loved the paneer tikka masala with its faintly sweet and creamy gravy and large chunks of paneer. The paneer was soft and fresh and we mopped up most of the gravy with the warm rotis. 

Dessert: Dutch truffle (from the next-door bakery)

There are no desserts on the District Lounge menu but there’s a bakery next door with an attractive array of the sweet stuff. The Dutch truffle is known for its perfection and we weren’t disappointed. It was the perfect end to a satisfying meal.

Cocktails

Aperol spritzer (Rs. 695)

A delicious concoction of sparkling wine, aperol (a kind of liqueur) and soda, this bright orange cocktail came wedged with a thick slice of orange. I loved its fizzy goodness but felt that it wasn’t very potent. I may have been wrong though, because the next drink had me really tipsy.

Long island iced tea (Rs. 445)

Every bar does its own version of this classic favourite but District Lounge really aced it. The seductive dark concoction of vodka, gin, white rum, tequila and triple sec was served in a beautiful tall and curvy glass and the drink felt super smooth on the tongue.

You could also try their creative new-age cocktails while you’re there. The ‘hookah pots’ might be a good option for larger groups. Beer starts from Rs 165 and wines from Rs 295 per glass. There is a decent variety of mocktails as well on the menu. Food options aren’t too many but the non-vegetarians have slightly more to choose from. If you live in town, make District Lounge your Friday haunt. And if not, make the trip for a special occasion.

Gadget Review: Coolpad Cool 1

The Coolpad stable is known for budget smartphones that pack in an impressive array of features. This time around, Coolpad has tied up with LeEco to bring out a mid-range smartphone that promises to be a reliable and long-term investment. Priced at Rs 13,999, the phone has a 5.5 inch display like others in the category and a choice of 3GB or 4GB RAM. The phone has the LeEco interface and software so if you're a fan, you'll enjoy using this phone. I've had it with me for over a week now and here are my insights.

Look and feel

Coolpad Cool 1 comes in two colours - silver and gold. I have with me the silver phone and the colour is nothing like I've ever seen before. It is classy and sophisticated and the smooth edges add to the appeal of the phone. At 173 grams, there may be lighter phones but it certainly doesn't feel heavy when you hold it in your hand or put it in your pocket. But the best part is the rich display and the high touch sensitivity. You can also use gyroscope fingerprint technology to secure your phone.

Verdict: Excellent

Speed and memory

The biggest USP of the Coolpad Cool 1 has to be its speed and ease of use. Every button on the screen reacts like a dream, the phone never heats up and the ROM seems more than adequate. The 32 GB internal memory is decent but I wonder why there isn't a 64 GB variant, considering this memory is non-expandable. Bluetooth is also highly responsive.

Verdict: Very fast

Battery

The 4000 mAh battery is one of the best I've encountered in a mid-range smartphone. Even after several days of light use, the battery barely dipped. This feature makes the Coolpad Cool 1 a great phone for frequent travellers and heavy users. Sure we all have power banks but it never hurts to have a phone with a battery that actually delivers.

Verdict: Excellent

Sound

The audio quality is great and the effects really come through when you plug in a pair of earphones. But what really impressed me was the excellent volume. In a silent, enclosed space, you wouldn't even need a speaker to dance to the music. The phone comes loaded with a large variety of pleasant caller tunes.

Verdict: Very good

Camera

The camera comes with a highly touted dual 13 MP rear camera which is bound to raise your expectations. So when you see the display blanking out in harsh sunlight and a noticeable blur in many medium-light photos, you feel let down. Nevertheless, the control options in 'pro' mode are impressive, including everything from ISO settings to exposure and focus.

I wouldn't say the final result is bad but it's mediocre. The panorama photos also come out dark, whatever the direction of the sun. On the other hand, the front 8 MP camera is pretty good. And the array of stickers you can add while clicking and during editing make the photography process very enjoyable. Check out my photo where I added glasses, a crown and a cat in post-production.

However, the camera clicks reasonably good photos in the night. I was pleased with the clarity and detailing. Give the night mode a miss though - it adds too much light and leaves the photo overexposed and unclear.

Verdict: Fair

Inclusions

In my package, I received a charging cum USB cable, plug, scratch guard, pin to remove the SIM tray, warranty card and user manual along with the phone. Remember that because this follows the LeEco model, the plug point is shaped differently from other Android phones. This means you can't swap chargers with a Samsung or Asus. There was no earphone in the inclusions.

In conclusion, Coolpad Cool 1 is an excellent phone if you take into consideration the seamless speed, ease of use, long-lasting battery, excellent sound and high quality of display (except in bright sunlight). At this price point, you are unlikely to get such features in any other brand. However, the camera and non-expandable memory leave room for improvement. At the same time, I was reasonably happy with the video quality. And the stickers and variety of editing modes are fun to play around with. If you don't rely on your phone as a high quality camera, there's no reason the Coolpad Cool 1 shouldn't be your next smartphone.

Specifications at a glance

• Display: 5.5”, IPS, FHD 1920 x 1080
• RAM: 3GB/4GB
• ROM: 32GB (non-expandable)
• Camera: Dual 13MP AF rear; f/2.2, 8MP front
• Sensor: Infrared controller，Gyroscope fingerprint，Accelerometer Proximity Sensor, Light sensor
• OS: Android 6.0
• Colours: Silver, gold
• Battery: 4000mAh Stand by time up to 300H
• Weight: 173g
• Network: 2G/3G/4G
• Chipset: MSM8976 1.8GHz Octa-core Adreno 510

Get it at Rs 13,999 on Amazon

Click here to see more photos clicked using Coolpad Cool 1

Oktoberfest at Q Bar, VITS Hotel

I've always wanted to experience the revelry of Oktoberfest in its birthplace, Germany. Although I didn't board any flights, I came pretty close to fulfilling my dream last weekend at Q Bar, VITS Hotel, Mumbai. Over a late luncheon (almost early evening), I sampled treats from three ongoing festivals at Q Bar - Oktoberfest, the Arabian food fest and the Navratri special. This was my second visit to this pub-style eatery in Andheri East, a mere 2 minutes walk from Chakala metro station. The fact that it is housed inside a four star hotel assures you of top-notch taste and quality.

Oktoberfest

From the Oktoberfest menu, we sampled two beer cocktails but no food items as it was entirely non-vegetarian, in keeping with the authenticity of Oktoberfest.

Pictured above is the divine Captain Keg, a combination of lager beer, spicy rum and the fresh sweetness of apple and guava juice among other fruit juices. The drink was heady and satisfying. We also tried their unique Dark Knight, a caffeine-infused dark beer cocktail. It is a must try for lovers of cappuccino though I found it a tad too bitter in the latter half.

This is the Oktoberfest menu and meat lovers should not miss their array of delicious appetizers.

Arabian Food Fest

I love Lebanese food and was more than happy to try the Mezze platter which turned out to be humongous. It was a combination of most of the delicacies in the vegetarian menu. Take a look.

So in our platter, there was hummus and pita bread (excellent hummus, pita bread could be softer); innovative falafel burgers (could have had many more of these!), scrumptious vegetarian kebabs on satay sticks (the winner of the dish), bell pepper, mushroom, spinach and feta cheese open sandwiches and puffs (the perfect open sandwich - can make a meal out of these!). All this came with perfectly prepared tahini sauce and Mediterranean salad.

Navratri Special

By now, we were full but not so full that we couldn't taste a sampler of the upcoming Navratri festival at Q Bar. I've always found Maharashtrian fasting dishes to be supremely delicious and the Chef's farali (fast) kachori with fruit salsa and sweet yoghurt more than exceeded my expectations. The aloo-lined kachori had a stuffing of crushed nuts, desiccated coconut and dry fruits.

Dessert

I love meals which don't follow the defined soup-starter-main course pattern but the one thing I can never overlook is a satisfying dessert. Replete with the eclectic variety of dishes the chef had prepared for us, wanted a light dessert. The baked cheesecake with blueberry sauce was the perfect ending to our meal though I felt the cheesecake could've been flakier and less dense.

While some of the above-mentioned fests have concluded, there is always something happening at Q Bar and if you haven't been there yet, schedule a visit for some TGIF vibes!

Address: VITS-Luxury Business Hotels & Lotus Resorts, Andheri-Kurla Road, International Airport Zone, Marol, Mumbai
Phone: 022 61517555 (Table booking recommended)

Dine like a queen at Maharaja Bhog, Mumbai

An unlimited Rajasthani-Gujarati thali is just what a vegetarian needs on a lazy weekend. You can linger over the meal for as long as you like, savouring all those umpteen helpings of your favourite sweets, sabzis and rotis and then go home and collapse on the bed/couch/floor for the most satisfying nap you've ever had. There's something about falling asleep after a gigantic meal, isn't there? I'm a huge fan of thalis because I love variety in my food and I can honestly say that Maharaja Bhog offers one of the best Rajasthani thalis in the city.

What you get in one unlimited thali, priced at around Rs 450:

1. Four types of vegetables
2. Three types of roti
3. Two types of dal
4. Two types of kadhi
5. Two types of rice
6. Two kinds of farsan
7. A special snack
8. Three types of sweets
9. A meetha paan
10. Various accompaniments like papad, raita, pickles and chutneys

A truly royal #Rajasthani thali at Maharaja Bhog #lunch #royal #thali #Indian #food #lavish #tasty #delicious #Mumbai #marwari #luncheon #traditional #foodie #foodporn #foodgasm #photooftheday #picoftheday #colourful #variety #indianfood

A photo posted by Trail-stained Fingers (@ankitashreeram) on Sep 24, 2016 at 1:49am PDT

Pretty worth it, wouldn't you say? The Powai outlet is not very large but the ambience is classic fine dining and the customers seem to be regulars from the area. We were welcomed with a divine elixir of saffron and sandalwood, typical to Rajasthan. The empty thali plates that arrived on our table increased our anticipation even more. And then in a matter of minutes, every cup on the plate was filled to the brim with Indian delicacies. Here is a quick recap:

Vegetables

• Paneer pasanda: The perfect paneer preparation with tomato-based gravy and fresh paneer chunks
• Aloo chutneywala: A potato preparation in a chutney-based gravy; loved the sweetness of the potatoes
• Methi leela kanda ghegho: An extremely tasty methi and dal preparation that was so different from the vegetables I normally eat
• Desi channa Jaselmeri: A delicious channa masala that went well with the rotis

Roti

• Phulka: The regular light rotis to mop up all the subzis
• Beet roti: Little puffed maroon puris with a fantastic beetroot flavour
• Baingan thepla: Gujarati thepla rotis with a hint of brinjal

Rice

• Palak biryani: A beautiful green biryani that was packed with flavour
• Khichdi: The right way to eat it, as the manager instructed me, is to pour a little ghee on top, add some green chutney and have a bite of papad with every morsel

Special snack

• Stuff dahiwada: I wolfed down two of these dahi wadas served with sweet yoghurt

Farsan

• Parwal chand tara: This was something like a sabudana wada; pretty dense but enjoyable with the chutneys
• Veg handva dholka: A spiced dhokla with an orange tinge

Sweets (my favourite)

• Mohan thal halwa: Excellent ghee-soaked besan halwa
• Fruit float: Creamy rabdi and rasmalai with pieces of dried fruits
• Malpuva: Fried mawa fritters soaked in syrup and seasoned with nuts

Dal and kadhi

• Sweet Gujarati dal and kadhi: I loved the Gujarati dal
• Non-sweet Rajasthani dal and kadhi: I opted for the creamy Rajasthani kadhi

Every single item on my plate was lip-smacking, flavourful and not excessively oily or spicy.  I particularly loved the rasmalai and fruit float, of which I had three helpings (the third helping was not my doing - the server insisted!), the excellent beet puris with their maroon colouring, the sweet and juicy dahi wada, the bright green palak biryani and among the vegetables, the methi leela kanda ghegho and paneer pasanda although all four were exceptional. We washed down all this food with a glass of seasoned chaas (buttermilk).

The best part is you don’t have to feel shy about asking for additional helpings at all. The servers are delighted to oblige and there is even a turbaned waiter in traditional Rajasthani garb to assist you in washing your hands before and after the meal. While we did expect the thali to be supremely scrumptious, we didn’t anticipate the parcelled meetha paan at the end of the meal. A dessert after three desserts – now that’s what I call a great luncheon!

Address: First Floor, Haiko Mall, Central Avenue, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai
Phone:022 66930022 / 022 66930044 
Timings: 12 Noon to 3:30 PM, 7 PM to 11 PM 

Quattro Ristorante: A birthday dinner

I’m no stranger to the soul-satisfying charms of Quattro Ristorante, an Italian and Mexican vegetarian restaurant employing the fine techniques of molecular gastronomy. I’ve been here a few times and always been bowled over by the quantity and quality of food served. The Lower Parel outlet seems small on entering but as you go beyond the corridor, the restaurant opens out into a swanky space with plush black tables and red high stools in the centre. The maître d’ is obviously passionate about the hotel and the new additions to its menu, which are the reason for my review. It also happens to be my birthday and getting an excellent corner table and the personal attention of the serving staff makes it truly special.

Appetizers

Corn Cookies: 5/5

The first dish turns out to be the best dish of the entire meal. The corn cookies are crumbly, sweet and salty and are topped with a layer of soft black beans, broccoli, fresh jalapenos and cheese, which is topped with a pink dollop of beetroot cream. The beetroot cream melts in the mouth and the varied textures are a winning combination.

Formaggio Di Patate: 4/5

The dish looks substantial when it comes to our table. There is a huge plate of tossed baby potatoes on a bed of lettuce, along with a serving of cheese sauce, to be poured over the potatoes and most curiously, two white balls that turn out to be ‘cheese ice-cream’. I like the fact that we get to pour as much warm cheese sauce on the potatoes as we like. The potatoes are mildly flavoured with garlic and oil and the cool and cheesy ice-cream is the winner of the dish.

Jalapeno Queso: 3.5/5

After two splendid starters, the Jalapeno Queso is slightly disappointing though by no means, unpalatable. Covered in a foamy cloud, the batter-fried spheres are simplistic, consisting mainly of a soft stuffing of Jalapeno and cheese. It’s nothing outstanding but reasonably tasty.

Mains

Pizza Margherita with Olive Burst: 5/5

An Italian (and Mexican) restaurant needs to ace its pizzas and Quattro Ristorante does exactly that. Their 12 inch Margherita pizzas are the epitome of excellence in themselves – thin crust bases with a tomato and cheese topping that oozes with the flavour and fragrance of extra virgin olive oil. And this one comes with the additional genius of their signature olive burst. The waiter proceeds to ladle quivering, large olives on to each slice and when I have a bite, I am amazed at the softness that fills my mouth. How do they transform olives into something like this? The process is called spherification, the maître d’ tells me.

Dessert

Chocolate Cigars with Vanilla Ice-Cream: 5/5

My heart is set on the Chocolate Saturn but the server convinces us to try the new chocolate cigars. After an impatient (but short) wait, two cigars come arranged on a wooden box along with a serving of vanilla ice-cream. One cigar is filled with Nutella cream while the other is stuffed with sea salt caramel. We are given a small contraption to snap each cigar into two. I’m unable to decide which one is better – both are visual and sensory perfection. But the real icing on the cake is the discovery that the cigar cup (made of chocolate) and the ice-cream bowl (made of wafer) are edible as well! The maître d’ jokes that some customers even want to eat the wooden box!

Cocktails

Beer Mule: 5/5

Out of the three cocktails we try, this one is the best. Served in a copper glass to keep it cold till the last sip, the beer is flavoured with orange peel and mint. The result is a refreshing, zesty drink.

Wine Mule: 4/5

The original Moscow Mule is made with vodka but if you swap that with white wine, you get the Wine Mule. I don’t like it as much as the Beer Mule but it’s still a great way to have wine, if you don’t mind the bitter aftertaste due to the lime.

Michelada: 4/5

The Michelada is a work of art, served in a tall glass with tabasco sauce at the bottom and spicy salt on the rim. The waiter pours in nearly 330 ml of Kingfisher Ultra beer which mingles with the orange flavoured smoke from the ice to become the Michelada. It is the spiciest beer I’ve ever had and as someone who dislikes spicy cocktails, I don’t take to it much. But it’s definitely innovative and a great choice for lovers of Bloody Mark and its ilk.

The dishes are well complemented by a platter of eight Mexican dips and sauces. The restaurant is ideal for large families as well as groups of friends. Couples can always seek some privacy in the undisturbed corners. So if it’s filling, gourmet vegetarian food you seek, Quattro Ristorante is a must-visit.

Address: 7, Janta India Estate, Senapati Bapat Marg, Opposite Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Mumbai
Phone number: 022 67496444
Opening hours: 12 Noon to 4 PM, 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM (all days)