3FS : insssights by sssourabh

Of Filmmaking + Storytelling: Tribeca Festival New York

What is a movie, but moving imagery, fortified by the crux of storytelling? I veer towards storytelling as a mainstay, with films as one medium of many to relay this. The 20th anniversary edition of Tribeca axed the word ‘film’ from its title, making way for shorts, documentaries, and the many other was to make a film. Tribeca Festival 2021 offered an at home element, but I was thankful to be at…

Sunshine, Sea Breezes and a Sensual Stupor: Soho House Mumbai

Mumbai is a city, but Bombay is an emotion. And it is Bombay, that Soho House’s first Asian outpost, has encapsulated so skillfully into its essence at Soho House Mumbai. With a slightly crowded front owing to the city’s impenetrable traffic, the 38-room hotel and clubhouse has the scent of Juhu Beach as a luscious breeze, all packed into an 11 story house facing the Arabian Sea. Usually flocked…

The Saccharine Habit: Gerbeaud Budapest

What’s better than dessert? Dessert with a history. With a penchant for travel, I find it even more alluring to find the history of culinary ingredients, tastes and rituals and how they impact people… and are preserved over time. Café Gerbeaud, situated at Vörösmarty tér 7 in Budapest, one of my favorite cities, is a traditional coffeehouse opened in 1858 in “Gründerzeit” style. Brainchild of…

Destroying Fine Dining with Gastronomy in Los Angeles

Destroying is a negative word, unless it means transforming. I always daydreamed of what the future would hold from a culinary perspective, as much has been dwelled on its effect on relationships and on fashion. With a penchant for gastronomy and a degree or three in science, I was drawn to Jordan Kahn‘s reputation of being a magician with gastronomy, transferring your every day into freeze…

A Kiss of Spain in the Californian Desert: The Avalon Palm Springs

Unraveling the Forbidden. #LunarNewYear #ForbiddenCity #Beijing

Physics, Mixology and Elixirs: Date Night in New York. #ValentinesDay #CocktailBar #Mixology #NewYorkCity

“No amount of physical contact could match the healing powers of a well made cocktail.” And whether it is healing or simply an act of pure love, my relationship with mixology knows no bars. Promiscuous with my cocktails like lovers with their loves, the ideal date night of New York‘s effervescent albeit deceptive nightlife is Jeremy LeBlanche’s Thyme Bar, a former speakeasy and now a bar within…

Between Myth and Mystery: The Great Wall of China. #YearoftheOx #LunarNewYear #GreatWallofChina

Up Above the World so High! High to Higher in Venice Beach

Memories take us Back, Dreams take us Forward. #luxurytravel #history #VeniceCanals

What’s in a name? Shakespeare‘s sonnets are eternally interlaced with my breaths, are his notions of romanticism and societal devils, which are prevalent even in vulnerable times. Which is why, the very notion of being in Venice California brought back whiffs of memoires of living in Italy and traversing it’s many cities, namely Venice. A charming residential chapter aside, the one highlight of…

Where Imagination and Curiosity Coincide: Hotel Erwin #VeniceBeach #California #LuxuryTravel #History

Life Through Rosé Colored Lenses in Venice California

FOMO is a MOFO. #TimeFlies #2020 #NewYear

I have an incurable case of FOMO. Until it came to time when time was valuable and suddenly, FOMO became the enemy of valuing your own time. FOMO lures me out of myself and whispers that I should be doing something else, often replacing gratitude with ‘not enough’, by the weapon of comparison. As long as we aren’t missing out on our lives, it works.  However, over a cup of iconic lattes from…

Finding an oasis that reminded me of my days soaked in the azure seas of Mykonos and many, many islands of Greece was a gem. Tucked in Midtown’s luscious swooping shadows of glassy architecture was Nerai, a Greek spot of haute that takes a contemporary take on the age-old tradition of filoxenia, the Greek word for hospitality, emphasizing friendship, food, and libations. With coastal white interiors and a dim lit ambiance that evoked a sense of being close to the oceans, with shimmering waves glinting in the night. Chef Moshe Grundman combined classical Hellenic food with Mediterranean twists with fresh ingredients sourced from across the world. lavraki from Greece, fresh octopus from Spain, Ora King salmon from New Zealand, and lobster from Maine, with wines from Greece to accompany savory seafood and classic desserts alike.

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Too cold in Greece doesn’t mean I have to wait till my annual summer trip to eat #GreekFood, courtesy @nerainyc #NewYork 🇬🇷😋

A post shared by The Saccharine Habit (@foodbysssourabh) on Jan 13, 2020 at 8:33pm PST

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Bake the world a better place … with Greek baklava 🇬🇷 @nerainyc for a sumptuous #Greek dinner in #NewYork.

A post shared by The Saccharine Habit (@foodbysssourabh) on Mar 8, 2020 at 12:46pm PDT

Having graced the spot multiple times with fashion weeks and socialite nightlife, the ambiance with radiant lighting and island feels made all the meals even more delightful. From trout and cod served with pomegranates, potato kataifi, tarama, tzatziki, cripsy leeks and sunchoke puree, all the way to the spinach pies wrapped with spinach, artichoke, dill, and feta served with ouzo yogurt, the plates were sumptuous, hearty and fulfilling.

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… of course you can trust me. not with sharing authentic #greekfood, but otherwise, yes. 😉🇬🇷🇺🇸😋 @nerainyc #newyork #nerainyc #foreverhungry

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Dec 9, 2019 at 4:21pm PST

Desserts are my favorite of all meals, and with baklava in the selection which was a consistent favorite. It was with pistachio ice cream so succulent I could smell it’s freshness. The hand-rolled baklava was served with tahini parfait and a honey nut brittle that transported me back to the Mediterranean where I would savor the salty sea air with sweet bites of my favorite dessert.

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dreams come true: yesterday i was dreaming of #greekfood and today i am eating it 🇬🇷 @nerainyc #newyork where felines feast on pistachio #baklava 😋

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 20, 2020 at 12:21am PST

With outdoor dining being an option in summer months, the glistening summer ambiance brought me back for the snacks like the stuffed and dirty – olive infused vodka with feta stuffed olives. A succulent night cap with zucchini crisps on a summer to fall transitional night.

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gluttony is not a sin, it’s a talent! 😋🍸🤩🇬🇷😉 . . glittering #greekcuisine at the staple @nerainyc #newyork

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Sep 25, 2020 at 9:03pm PDT

Beyond Sushi is Chef Guy Vaknin‘s elevated vegan eatery, with vegan and kosher sushi spear heading the menu. With a clean eating motto, the high end plating marries the artistic vibe soundly in all of the several locations mushrooming around New York, the second most vegan popular spot after Los Angeles, making it the Vogue of plant based dining. With a penchant for all things clean, vegan and particularly complimented with craft cocktails and more, I found Beyond Sushi to be a hearty addition to Manhattan’s culinary circuit. Particularly, as it’s 100% plant based.

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i’ve got fillings for you, said the #vegan dumpling to the vegan #sushi 🥟🌱🍣 @beyondsushinyc #NewYork #ForeverHungry #VeganFood

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 15, 2020 at 10:02pm PST

The array of sushi was as tasty as it was colorful, with all natural vegetables forming every hue on the dishes. We had the tropical seeming one which had a sweet and ripe taste of mango: Spicy mango, with black rice, avocado, mango, cucumber, veggie slaw and toasted cayenne sauce, the latter giving it a spicy kick. The sunny side was reminiscent of California, with black rice, fennel, sun dried tomatoes, avocado, butternut squash and a green pumpkin seed pesto sauce, giving it a healthy, almost Venice-beach style finish that was hearty and light all at once. The smoky jack was my favorite owing to it’s smoky quotient with a salty taste coming from pickled cabbage and hickory smoked jackfruit, which was in sharp contrast to the sweetness of mint, mango, and supplemented with dehydrated olives, topped with tomato guajillo sauce.

With an homage to other American-Asian favorites, we had the fun guy dumplings, with a mushroom medley, tofu, spinach, watercress, chili panko, spicy bean and shiitake truffle sauce. Heavy on the heavenly mushroom aroma, it was a hearty bite with chilis and spices seemingly kiss-worthy delicious owing to a cold punch in the mouth! The nutty buddy wrap was one large boy, filled with arugula, soba noodles, jalapeño peanut butter, carrots, cashews, avocado, tofu, cilantro and ponzu sauce. The most inventive element here was the density of nuts, especially the creamy peanut blended with jalapeños.

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Did you know sushi is Japanese for happy? 😀 #Vegan sushi by @beyondsushinyc #NewYork 🍣

A post shared by The Saccharine Habit (@foodbysssourabh) on Feb 26, 2020 at 2:05pm PST

For drinks, we had a large bottle of sake to help diminish the fact that we had a creamy truffle mushroom risotto, creamy and simmering like the memoires of Italy. With aromas of truffles and a cashew-cheese impeccable texture, it held it’s own pedestal for resident comfort food on a day that was getting gradually chilly.

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… that #vegan truffle risotto though 🍄 A fav plant based staple @beyondsushinyc as one of the many favorite takeaway hotspots during #stayhome season on @dotandpin 🏠 bit.ly/takeoutnyc

A post shared by The Saccharine Habit (@foodbysssourabh) on Mar 23, 2020 at 9:31am PDT

  Beyond Sushi also delivered sumptuous vegan treats to home, along with a bottle of sake, because dreams do come true… yesterday I was dreaming of luscious food, today I am eating it.

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“just do things that they will never forget” 🍶💎🍣 a custom caraf for every occasion to celebrate with omenic @sotosake + #VeganSushi takeout from @beyondsushinyc. 🙃 #CelebrateLife #OverAchiever #Vegan

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Aug 18, 2020 at 2:31pm PDT

Both of mine exist in a setting so poetic that it’s very essence evokes a sultry twirl of romance through poetry with an unlanguishing love for Los Angeles. Akin to the charming, feather ink dipped pages of a longingly written love letter.

The Temptation Island Setting

Perched on San Vicente Boulevard, a stone’s throw away from the boisterous heart of WeHo’s nightlife, and opposite the members-only establishment The San Vicente Bungalows, is just another ordinary California bungalow. At least from the forefront. Hotel 850 SVB is thus a rarity dressed in the corset of art deco; a speakeasy boutique hotel. With an entrance in the rear, which thus brings to the forefront the secrets of a bygone era, and waves of charms stronger than the currents of nearby Venice Beach. By hotelier and restaurateur Jeff Klein, the hotel redefined the essence of charm, privacy and luxury.

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a cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition… said #winniethepooh ☁️🌱 #SoundOn @hotel850svb #WestHollywood #LosAngeles #HollywoodHills

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 10, 2020 at 6:19am PST

The Privacy Policy

With equally charming staff, no frilly noise or bellmen, and a luxurious, homely decor reminiscent of homes in the Beverly Hills, I was immediately in a tranquil, zen state from my startled adrenalin rush that LA can bring you. The laid back vibe came with a comforting sense of privacy which in itself was a treasure in a tracker prone world. I almost wondered if photos would be forbidden here, to retain it’s charm and to not bite into someone else’s forbidden fruit.

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pour me a sunset, kill the night, and i promise to sip with you forever 🌇☀️🌙 @sanvicentebungalows #WestHollywood #ILoveLA #LosAngeles

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 5, 2020 at 2:49pm PST

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do you love what you miss, or miss what you love? 🌵 @hotel850svb @sanvicentebungalows #BeverlyHills #WestHollywood #CaliBoy

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 27, 2020 at 10:56pm PST

The Love Nest

Floral, foliage and seaweed wallpapered bedrooms were decked with private floral balconies or courtyards, snacks and water, with a bathroom so lusciously stocked with delights that one would feel beckoned to make love in the rain showers. Quirky giraffe lamps and bespoke printed curtains were for breezy summer soirees, wile gas fireplaces moderated by a remote for saucy nights. One particular zebra printed bathroom wallpaper left me salivating for the wild fervor of feline nights and satin fabrics.

The Morning After

The 23 rooms designed by Rita Konig were centered around a massive pastel green communal living space area perched with Assouline books, a marble fireplace, cozy mismatched couches and a canary yellow kitchenette stocked with pantry supplies, creamy pastries, silken pouch loose leaf teas, and freshly baked lemon cakes. The staff managing was dressed in Disney style aprons from Mary Poppins, an homage to the British lineage. It was, essentially, a home perched between neighboring old Hollywood glamour (like the Sunset Tower, also owned by Klein), or sleek Edition where fashionists perched high.

The Dream Sequence

My favorite spot however, was the rooftop oasis. With panoramic views over the Hollywood Hills all the way down to the mountains and skyscrapers of Downtown LA, the nightly wine hour would ensure that the pop of wine could savor the iconic LA sunset in all it’s vine bordered beauty. By sunrise, the dewy mornings were magical, with melancholic dew drops brushing the sorrows away and a light mist like a lover lying across the mountains. By sunset, the terrace was washed with citrus colors of the night as the city began to glint into laughter and light. And by night, when everyone cuddled into their own secret crevices, so did we.

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a zebra is just a practical unicorn, wearing couture 🦓>🦄 #WestHollywood #BeverlyHills #BungalowLife

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 29, 2020 at 12:17am PST

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some call it daydreaming… others call it plotting ⛰ #HollywoodHills @hotel850svb #WestHollywood #DayDreamer

A post shared by sssourabh (@sssourabh) on Feb 9, 2020 at 5:51am PST

Everyone wants it again.. either by secret or by sin.

One staple is Urth Caffé, historic lovechild of Jilla and Shallom Berkman‘s established decades ago in 1989. What started as a passionate story about organic heirloom coffee sourced from Peru became a changemaker in cafe culture. The couple pioneered the independent and tasty coffee concept by abolishing destructive practices in coffee production and removed it’s reputation o being the most chemically treated food commodity. With a picturesque location on Melrose Avenue, the store grew from its West Hollywood and Beverly Hills climate and began to spread health-conscious coffee culture all over the city of angels.

My favorite is always the matcha latte. High grade Japanese sourced matcha with almond milk is served in a cup so large it reminds me of childhood days when Alice in Wonderland would inflate and deflate with her saucers turning into problems and saviors all at once. Or throwing back, way way back, to how The Borrowers must’ve felt at home. Mine was laced with a swan, like a swan song of sorts bringing both the tranquility of art and the premonitions of it to the breezy forefront.

With a penchant for desserts and a curiosity about the long standing matcha trend, I also opted for the matcha tiramisu, rather surprised at picking the absence of a cacao bean owing to my own disenchantment with white chocolate. The result was intriguing, for it was neither as saccharine as the white chocolate, nor as bitter as matcha. With an orchid breaking the monotony and bursting with sentiment, I found the server had picked up on my love for florals! The Cali take on the Italian staple was essentially matcha green tea soaked ladyfinger cookies layered with matcha mascarpone cheese and white chocolate chunks. Slightly crunchy without a crackle and decadent without being heavy, it was exactly what California sunshine promised.

La la la. La La Land. Forever.