*** Foremost, let me say "Thank You" (or should I bow my head with gratitude!) to Paulose for suggesting me this title...and I would in the same breath take the "Thank you" back from him...for suggesting some of the most obnoxious categories for this review!

Now that the credits/ discredits have duly been given...I shall begin ;-) In case you are wondering what the review is about...it is about the stars...and what happened when they met. Now if your second question is who are the stars...I can only sigh!!

To cut a rather long story short..."me", the Delhi(!) star, met with the "Bangalore stars", Abha and Mayunk on 29 November in saddi apni Delhi! The venue after careful consideration ( here I mean the budgets and accessibility!) was decided to be CP and for reasons known to all; we decided on "Anand"...more on this can be read on :

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Anand_Restaurant-108308-1.html ( pic loaded!)

and to read more: Adi- you can thank me laterz ;-)

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Anand_Restaurant-69821-1.html

Coming back to the meeting, it was an impromptu meeting,decided one day in advance but planned for months ;-) As it always happens, we had some last minute confirmations and very last minute regrets too; namely Rachit and Itika...who ditched last minute:(

We decided on meeting at 1245, in the afternoon(!) at CCD and MCD junction ( for whose of you who are not aware of either of the two- Do Not read further!) in CP near to Anand...I was a bit late but managed to after the usual, hugs and kisses...let’s just stick to hugs and handshakes; we were ready to go and munch!

Anand is at walkable distance, around 10 minutes walk from where we initially met..so we decided on abandoning the local cab which Mayunk had hired for his wifey dear...we walked, we talked and we laughed...and we reached Anand in 10 minutes flat, full of appetite  for food and more!

As soon as we entered, I felt at home...yet again! We took a corner table ( meant for4) and sat in comfort. Mayunk looked relieved( a strange expression!) and Abha looked hungry... I could relate to Abha’s expression but Mayunk still was a mystery! Thankfully he then clarified; " I thought Megs- that’s me, had meant the elite dhaba which would fit in the category of 5 stars and would not in any way cater to our hunger and appetite for local punjabi food! " If only Mayunk knew me better!!! I would never in my wildest dreams go to such places where I have to eat rumali roti with rumaals in laps and forks in hand ;-) after the initial misunderstanding, we were home...and ready to eat anything to everything that we could smell...

The menu card along with a not-so-happy looking waiter came in the next two minutes; along with the regular water glasses and water already brimming in them. Due to my experience, I had the good fortune of explaining to them that the "non veg biryanis are a hot pick here and the water can be avoided...and you have to keep some space for gulab jamuns which are absolute must!" I am glad to tell you that they are brilliant guests because they did exactly what I informed them...now!  I can see some of you already dreaming about the chicken biryani and hot gulab jamuns right now...kindly keep dreaming!

We started( I mean they!) with the seekh kababs followed by one/two portions( depending on how much you gorge on the leg piece!) of chicken biryani...The grasshopper( if you do not know who that is- ask the ever knowledgeable baba!) took the usual dal makhani with mixed vegetable and naans...with no you first- no you first formalities, we started eating, talking, enjoying and giggling...in that order :)

Both Mayunk and Abha loved the ambience, the food and the efficient host! For me the food is good, if we leave full stomaches and empty plates...and that is what happened on this meet as well...with the biryani, naans and kababs off the plates, we had to finish off with the important gulab jamuns! After careful consideration( of empty spaces in our stomaches) we decided on just two plates of gulab jamuns...and I am glad to tell you that Mayunk was in two minds on having a second round too!!!

The lunch was full of Mouthshut and how we all met, talked, gossiped(!) and write...Adi, Shyam,Paulose, Mags...the whole lot was discussed in healthy spirits and no back biting was done...i assure you! Since me and Abha are almost soul sisters ( much before the meet!), so we had our session of sister talks as well...! It was good to know that we thought on similar lines and we loved the same things...except Mayunk! I was just talking about salt flavored lassi ;-) and if you thought what Mayunk was doing this time, he was taking our snaps...from the menu card to the table to the food...he clicked and he clicked!

The lunch was over sooner than we thought and after the clearing of bills ( Thank you both for treating me as well !), we gathered the mandatory pouches for saunf and now Abha looked relieved..." Thank god, it is not the adulterated white saunf that we get in Sarvanna and at other places!", was her answer to her strange but appreciative expression! Looks like, I was hell bent on breaking some age old myths about food, dhabas, traffic in CP at 5, delhi girls...etc!

We still had some time left ( had to go back to work...) and so we decided on taking a stroll in CP...we went to Pallika and Janpath...Mayunk managed to get some chunky jewellery for Abha dear and she looked happy...the right expression this time ;-) We took a rather long walk from Anand to Pallika to Janpath and got back to the CCD junction where the car was waiting for them.

The meeting ended on a delightful note with the "star couple" inviting me to Bangalore which I agreed right there ( and would be fulfilling soon!) and with some cosy road side snaps...which are still awaited...! Hugs followed soon after and we left on a happy farewell note.."will meet again"

****That ends my take on a mouthshut meet that happened not long time ago...if you are still wondering, why did I post this...in this category, let me try and validate this...meeting a MSian adds on to the feeling of being one big family..! and it just keeps growing the "community" making it bigger and better..! Well said, Megha ;-)

Comments are welcome...any other personal accounts can be relived here ;-) free of cost! In case you are thinking of coming to Delhi, and you are in my trusted list, let me know...I am always game for free lunches:- and I don’t really understand/believe the expression; " There are no free lunches!"