02 November,2010 06:34 AM IST | | Prachi Sibal and Shraddha Thaker
The Guide takes you sweet-shop hopping and brings you back specialties from around town
Go designer this Diwali
Choose from a corporate collection of Diwali sweet hampers and also sample some 'Meetaz'. These are traditional sweets made out of dry fruits complete with chocolate paper wrappings that make them look like rather sophisticated Diwali alternatives. You could also pick from assorted designer gift hampers of dry fruits, chocolates and diyas. Also available are specially created biscuits Badamika, Chocomika and Pistamika in packages.
At: Anand Sweets, 5th block, Koramangala
Call: 2563 1555
For: Rs 1100 onwards
Sweetened Spirits
Here's how you can add a dash of zing to your sweetmeats with a rather contemporary twist, infused with liqueurs. The health conscious ones can pick from a range of diet sweets made from natural sugar substitutes. Besides the regular sweet baskets, the gift hampers here come with a twist too. Along with chocolates and other gourmet goodies, add to your gift a prized French or German wine.
At: The Lalit Ashok Pastry Shop, Kumara Krupa Road
Call: 3052 7777
For: Rs 1,250 onwards
Dry Fruit Delights
This one is all about dry fruits, rich and concocted into all the varieties that come as a first recall for Diwali sweets. Choose from a host of Kaju (Cashew) specialities like Kaju Paan Katli, Kaju Rolls, Kaju Tarbuch and variations like Anjir Rolls and Badam Katli. Add customised Puja Thalis and dry fruits packages to your gift basket and you have what it takes for a perfect Diwali. They also take orders for customised Diwali delicacies and cater for Sindhi sweets.
At: Arya Bhavan, MG Road,
Call: 2559 7251
For: Rs 560 onwards
Make your own gift
Make your own hamper and add all the essential components from sweets, dry fruits, wines and decoration including diyas and Ganesha idols. If time isn't by your side you could also pick from the set hampers that come in three varieties- luxury, executive and premium.
At: The Gateway Hotel, Residency Road
Call: 6660 4545
For: Rs 1,100 onwards
Get Fruity
Besides the signature dry-fruit based sweets that line the counters Diwali here is going to be a fruity affair. Choose from Banana Halwa, Apple or Orange Mithai. Also a speciality is the Pakeeza Roll that comes with a filling of Motichoor Ladoos.
At: New Karthik Sweets, Nr Shanthi Sagar, Domlur
Call: 2535 2407
For: Rs 280 onwards
A Taste of Bengal
Always a hit around this time, here's where you can get your share of Bengali milk-based sweets. Take your pick from varieties like Cham Cham, Rosogolla, Rasmalai, Kheer Mohan and Barfi.
At: all KC DAS outlets
Call: 2668 4278
A Chocolatey affair
Choose chocolates in flavours like chilli, rich dark, almond, hazelnut, raspberry, mint and even peanut chikki in dark, white and milk variety and get them packed in classy gift boxes this festive season. What's more you can even buy sugar free versions of your favourite sweet here.u00a0u00a0u00a0
At: Bliss Luxe Chocolate Lounge, UB City
Call: 4121 4925
For: Rs 40 per chocolate and Rs 50 for sugar free ones
Get intoxicated
At Chocolate Junction getting hold of liquor chocolates is a must. Available in cognac, rum, whiskey and vodka flavours, these chocolates will make your tongue go slightly dull with the alcohol intrusion. The chilli chocolates here have a real chilli aftertaste and the dark chocolate is a little slab of pure sin. Also, available are some fun chocolate lollypops that you can pack in your little tuck box for gifting.
At: Chocolate Junction, Ulsoor
Call: 2555 5195
For: Rs 20 onwards per chocolate
Order Sweets from your mobile handset
Started by Sourabh Jain, an ex-Lucent techie, ngpay is India's Largest Mall on Mobile. Buy sweets through ngpay on your mobile handset, in a simple, consolidated menu. Log on to ngpay and get it configured on your mobile and order a whole range of Anand sweets from the confines of your home or office.
Log onto www.ngpay.com
Wrap your cake and eat it too
This Diwali, walk the traditional lane with sweet deals on assorted designer gift boxes filled with yummy delights like chocolates, tea cakes, brownies and rich cream-filled cakes available in three different sizes (large, medium and small) for your friends and loved ones.
Patisserie Nitash, owned by Nitash, a dessert chef is a home converted into a full fledged pastry kitchen, which does made-to-order delicacies as they believe in whipping up cakes for their customers fresh off the oven. Brownie lovers will love the crunchy Walnut brownies and the Chocolate Chunk brownies.
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The range of lip smacking chocolates come in orange, white and dark, roasted almonds and liqueur flavours among others. Their dry cakes like marble, cupcakes and plain tea cakes could just be your perfect fuss-free Diwali gifting option.
Call: 98454 27364 to place orders
Mon-Sat: 9 am to 3 pm
Sun: 9 am to 11 am
For: Rs 200 to Rs 450
