Month: January 2015

15 Places to Eat out in Delhi On Valentine’s Day

The new year here, and Valentine’s Day will soon come knocking on your doorsteps in a few weeks. Love and food are inseparable parts of everyone’s lives, and what better than the 14th of February to celebrate a gastronomic delight with your loved ones, and faithful, insatiable tastebuds as well. As someone rightly said, “you eat what you love, and you love what you eat,” it’s only right to give that special one an unforgettable culinary journey on V-Day with fine wining and dining, and this list of romantic restaurants in the capital might just help you find that dream destination:

1. Amreli

Situated in Hotel Diplomat, Chanakyapuri, Amreli is a small, but extremely beautiful restaurant which offers a unique fusion menu for the curious palate, ranging from the jalapeno and cheese naan to galouti kebab burger. With chic, lavish decor and a pleasant open-air seating space in a little garden, Amreli is the go-to place if you want to taste wonderful dishes from Mediterranean, Oriental, and Indian cuisines.

2. Diggin

A place that will leave you spellbound, Diggin is the right place to reserve for two if you both swear by Italian food. Recently established in Anand Lok, near Gargi College, this restaurant is a divine sight by night, with fairy lights and creepers winding up wooden and brick walls – in short, the ultimate evening eating ambience. Their extensive menu covers pastas, pizzas, and everything else under the Tuscan sun, all puns intended, and the dessert menu is just to die for.

3. Rose Cafe

A quaint little cafe set in the middle of nowhere in Saket, Rose Cafe is the tea lover’s paradise. With reasonable prices, this place offers various dishes from European and Lebanese cuisines, with the perfect English breakfast menu and the most elaborate of mezze platters. This quiet establishment boasts of an independent garden as well as delicate indoor wooden decor in soft shades of pink and white, as well as some of the best desserts and spaghetti you can find in Delhi.

4. The Potbelly Rooftop Cafe

Located in Shahpur Jat, The Potbelly Rooftop Cafe is one of the most ingenious restaurants in the city, having to its credit a brilliantly crafted menu which has infused the Bihari and continental styles of cooking in the most unique of ways. With a diverse selection of delicacies that caters to both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian foodie, Potbelly is a novel choice for a date, along with its homely balcony seating which not only guarantees the privacy you will need, but will also ensure a stunning view over the adjacent greenery.

5. Le Bistro Du Parc

For the Parisian romantic at heart, Le Bistro Du Parc offers select menu of classic French delicacies, which states candidly, “Contrary to popular belief, not all French chefs hate vegetarians!” and indeed, this amazing little place proves to be a wonderful dining experience for all foodies alike. With the friendliest and most efficient staff and chefs, and an aesthetically minimalist dining ambience, Le Bistro Du Parc will win your hearts over for sure.

6. Moet’s Stone

Standing on the fringe of the Defence Colony market, Moet’s Stone is a warm, welcoming place to eat out with your loved one. Serving mainly continental food, the menu features a mouth-watering array of assorted pizzas, a vast array of appetizers and an even more glorious range of main course dishes you can thoroughly enjoy. Stone forms one of the four outlets of the Moet’s Building, with a luxurious balcony view and a tinge of the rustic in its plush interiors to enjoy, for everyone who visits.

7. Zo

A serene, peaceful place nestled in a corner of the bustling Hauz Khas Village, Zo pays tribute to the rustic and the antique in its ambience. Decked up with paintings, artefacts, and chandeliers, Zo offers continental cuisine with flavour fusions from around the world, such as Moroccan lamb burgers and Carribean jerk chicken sandwiches. A truly romantic retreat in the locale, this restaurant also boasts of one of the most brilliant mocktail and gourmet shake menus in the city.

8. QBA

One of the most popular food establishments in the city, QBA serves Oriental, Mediterranean, Indian, and Lebanese cuisines, apart from a huge selection of cocktails and other alcoholic beverages. The place is a rarity in its own right, with an extensive dining space located right in the booming heart of Delhi, Connaught Place. With a separate seating area on a gigantic terrace, and the world at your fingertips (and taste buds), QBA will make you fall in love with it at first sight.

9. Amour – The Patio Restaurant, Cafe & Bar

A rooftop cafe located in the heart of Hauz Khas Village, Amour, stays true to its name, and will make you adore its food at first bite. Offering the usual continental and Italian fare, Amour also serves various exotic French and seafood delicacies. A general fan favourite for the HKV-trotter, this place will conquer your heart with its plush, wooden decor, and the soft, yellow lights that illuminate the place after sunset.

10. China Garden

Situated in Greater Kailash 2, China Garden guarantees a fine dining experience for the Oriental cuisine lover. The menu not only boasts of authentic Chinese delicacies but forages into other styles of cooking from over the globe as well, each dish being executed with perfection. China Garden appeals to all, with vegetarian exotic fare to equally delightful fare using pork, chicken, and seafood. The interiors are brightly-lit, and are an excellent blend of Chinese traditional art and sleek, edgy, modern architecture, giving you a Quentin Tarantino movie vibe.

11. Lodi – The Garden Restaurant

Lodi is probably the best place to dine out in Delhi during the evenings, all due to the sole reason that it lights up like a fairyland when the sun sets. And with live jazz music softly playing in the background, it proves to be the perfect romantic getaway for any couple. Catering Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine to all, and located on Lodhi Road, Lodi has one of the most divine food platter menus, ranging from cheese to mezze, along with seafood, rolls and wraps, fusion desserts, and many others on its serving list.

12. Sevilla – The Claridges

Probably one of the most posh places to eat out in Delhi, Sevilla serves Spanish delicacies such as tapas, paella, and churros, as well as various Mediterranean variations of seafood and other dishes. Located in The Claridges Hotel, Aurangzeb Road, Sevilla is one of the more high-end restaurants in the city, but totally worth it. Spread over a huge area, the romantic ambiance alone is an experience in itself, with private canopies and rooftop tables set among lush greens and pleasant yellow lights.

13. Ivy & Bean

A blessing for the bookworm and foodie parts of you, Ivy & Bean, located in Shahpur Jat, is a quaint little cafe that serves primarily British and Italian dishes. Known for its collection of books, excellent food at reasonable prices, and free Wi-Fi among other things, this place is sure to give a warm, cosy feeling to every hungry nerd. Ivy & Bean has a homely touch to its preparations, as well as its interiors, making it an offbeat, but nevertheless, an exciting place for a quiet fun date.

14. Rara Avis

Serving authentic French cuisine along with a fabulous selection of wines, Rara Avis is located in M-Block Market, Greater Kailash 2. The restaurant has wonderfully elaborate wooden interiors, and pretty lighting, with both indoor and outdoor seating. A must-visit for European enthusiast, Rara Avis is a savoury experience with its wide range of French dishes, ranging from the rustic classic to the urban chic flavours.

15. The Chatter House

Highly recommended if you want to indulge yourself in classic American food, The Chatter House is located in Epicuria Food Mall, the well-known foodie heaven under the Nehru Place Metro station. The place has an independent bar area, rustic diner-like wooden interiors, dim lights, and a novel combination of a foosball table and a snooker table for its customers, making it the perfect laidback, casual date destination. The menu also offers an extensive array of Indian, Mexican, and Mediterranean dishes, along with a variety of freshly brewed coffees.

January 8, 2015
While Dieting,You Eat!!

With the spurt in the number of Mcdonalds and Dominoz all around the country, seldom it is that we find kids and adults alike whom we can term as perfect specimens of the human anatomy. Cheaper and cheaper burgers and fries combos and the easy accessibility of everything unhealthy is taking this Aryan civilization faster to its unhealthy end than we can possibly imagine.And some who are aware of this gradually surmounting epidemic of obesity turn themselves to starving, or dieting as they more fashionably call it.

And this is where most of them go wrong. If you out the word dieting on google and search for its meaning, the first result it shows is: Restrict oneself to small amounts in order to lose weight” But this is wrong in its most fundamental sense. Living beings need energy to work, breathe and live. And unlike Jaadu(from Koi Mil Gaya) our energy does not directly come from sunlight.We humans, have to have food in order to survive. So, starving, fasting and skipping meals is out of bounds. What we will do today is, get a new regime started for those who are willing to exchange flab with muscle and diseases with health.

First of all, forget everything that you ever ate anything and that you had a diet schedule planned. Here, we all start afresh. Just like infants do.

Secondly, many might have said or suggested to you; plan your meals ahead of time. Forget it. Because, food can’t be quantified beforehand. Suppose you worked out a little extra today, won’t you need an extra glass of milk to balance the energy that you’ve lost? So, never plan your eating. Eat, whatever your heart wants, but from the list that we decide here for ourselves only. Now we begin by clearing off all the things that are clichéd and everyone tells you about them. You should eat loads of fruit they provide vitamins, drink lots of water: gives you roughage, gorge on soups: healthy for your body and all that. But doesn’t everybody know this list by heart by now? So, we come down to those Indian dishes that you can prepare in your kitchen while hunger strikes. Let’s start with dinner.

Idli Sambhar:

A blast for the tongue from the South of India and easy on your belly too. This dish makes it to the top of our list of the Indian foods for dieters. Each idli contains just 39 calories, which is a minimal amount in comparison to a healthy 2,000-calorie daily diet. . Idlis contain no fat, no saturated fat and no cholesterol. Consuming less than 16 grams of saturated fat and 300 milligrams of cholesterol lessens your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

DHOKLA:

Going in the reverse order from dinner to breakfast, its time for your evening snack. And what better than dhokla to freshen you up and lighten you at the same time. Yes, it is chiefly made up of Dal and Rice, but don’t cringe as otherwise you would have been gormandizing on chips or samosas for sure. But remember, Dhokla is low in saturated fat, very low in cholesterol, low in sodium, high in dietary fiber and high in vitamin A and C. And for us dieters, low fat is all that matters, right people?

SPROUTS AND RAITA:

To your lunch, let’s start by having some Raita, what say? Now, raita as you all know is made by adding fruits, vegetables or any other thing to beaten yoghurt. And the best part is that one serving includes just 60 calories. To the beaten curd one can add grated bottle gourd or some fruits. But if you are in the mood for some crunch, you can very well add Boondi to it. Boondi, is fried, yes. But a handful of pea sized boondis will do your diet no harm.

With Raita, you can have sprouts as the main course and feel a bit Pseudo-European. Keep the pulses in water overnight and in the morning add a bit of lemon, some spices, some cucumber and your lunch is ready in a jiffy.

OATS AND DALIYA:

Now, one thing with which we should agree with the hackneyers is that, breakfast should be heavy. And the dieticians have logic and Science backing them too. According to some studies if we consume more calories at breakfast and very less at dinner, this will help you lose weight quicker because if you eat a larger breakfast it will give a kick start to your metabolism and plus you won’t feel all drained and sleepy in that history class of yours. Plus more calories in the breakfast gives you more time in the day to burn them off. For breakfast why don’t we have something milk based, like oats? Well oats take two minutes to cook and trust me, you won’t be able to eat more than one and half cups of it. And hey, no adding sugar at your mom’s back, OK?

Other than oats, you can also have Daliya in the morning. Daliya or Bulgur wheat in Angrezi, is a very light and healthy option for breakfast. Daliya is an excellent source of fiber that keeps you feeling full and also helps to maintain a healthy digestive system. And just like oats, daliya can be either milk based or oil and vegetable based. Now, a little oil isn’t harmful for your body and don’t cringe if once in a blue moon you are fed up of having only milk based diet for your mornings. So, here we are with a very basic diet plan for you to follow and with just one mantra at the end. Never starve yourself, Never. You need food to live. So, just give it a healthy twist and keep eating ( or dieting, whatever you like to call it! ).

January 8, 2015
The Curious Case of Mrs. Hen’s kids!

With an amazing lot of activity happening in a day, bachelors or bachelorettes staying alone seldom have time to treat their taste buds right. One day it is a meeting with the boss, another day it is work at home and till the third day you get so tired that it takes an effort to even get up from your bed. And preparing a meal in all this haste seems extravagant and too elaborate an activity to be carried out. And in this rigorous lifestyle of yours, the only thing that suffers is your stomach and more importantly, your taste buds. But we say no more of this! Today let us learn about some new tricks and revisit some old ones about Mrs. Hen’s kids – the eggs.

Eggs are often restricted to the breakfast and that too you seldom have. Eggs are undermined most of the times, but its importance becomes clear when you need some quick fixes to get you jumpstarted. So, let’s start our romantic affair with eggs which should last longer than your relationship with any other human being.

1. The Quintessential Omelet:

This dish comes in handy when your refrigerator is running dry and your patience is running lose with all that hunger. Two eggs is what it takes to quiet down your stomach till the time you can arrange for something heavy or till Dominoz delivers that pizza you ordered. Breaking the eggs, mixing in some spices that you desire, a pan slicked with oil and the battered egg mixture on the pan. Blink your eyes and your omelet is ready. This recipe is heart-rote to everyone so much so that a more elaborate description would be shaming this article. But people might not be aware of the nutrient punch this wonder sphere packs with itself. An egg contains 6 gms of Protein and 70 calories. Now while you rejoice that omelet with toasted bread, let’s move onto our next big egg thing.

2. Eggs with soldiers:

There are times at night when you just crave for something to eat and are bored of the traditional egg recipes. Well in that case we have this amazing recipe for you. If you only have 5 minutes to spare, this recipe will be even more perfect for you. Place 4 eggs in boiling water and cook over low flame for 4-5 minutes. Caution: Do not let the eggs come to a boil. Now remove the eggs from the saucer and peel off the tops of the eggs. Add in some salt and desired spices on the top and eat the newer rgg recipe with bread sticks. Taste bhi, health bhi!!

3. French Toast:

Again. A relatively new and old recipe. Take out that borderline expired loaf of bread from your refrigerator and batter 4 eggs with spices added. Meanwhile, light up the stove and put a pan over with a slick of oil. Dip both the faces of a bread piece deep into the battered eggs such that both the faces are smeared with egg residue over their entire surface. Put it on the pan and cook for a minute maximum both sides. And voila! Your French toast are ready in a jiffy. Soak in 4-5 breads and you will be content for the next few hours to go.

4. Tea Egg:

Now Tea egg might take up some time, but this is nevertheless a newer recipe that people might have heard less about. Tea egg is basically a Chinese snack. Take a few eggs and boil them for 7-8 minutes. Boil them till the point where cracks develop on its surface. Drain the water but don’t peel the eggs yet. This crack-laden egg is then again put to boil in tea or sauce or spices. This dish is also called marble egg because the cracks in the shell create darkened lines with marble-like patterns. Chinese people commonly use a five-spice powder which contains cinnamon, fennel-seeds, cloves and Szechuan peppercorns. The eggs are boiled in the spiced-tea liquid and simmered at medium heat. The simmering allows the liquid to seep through the cracks and attribute flavors to the boiled eggs.

5. Quick Egg muffin:

People with a frenetic paced lifestyle must already be making merry at the name of the dish. The name in itself has quick in it. And you can be sure of one thing; this dish lives upto its name. Egg muffins are like Frittatas just smaller in size. This dish is prepared using scrambled eggs added with fresh chopped spinach and shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese. Whisk the eggs just like you do for an omelet, with spices, onions and spinach if you like. Cook in the microwave oven for 45 seconds and your hunger is done. It’s gone with the sound of the microwave’s beep.

6. Eggs Benedict:

Eggs Benedict is an American breakfast and usually served along with ham or bacon. To make this dish you will have to devote some of your precious time, but the result will have you amazingly thrilled. First you have to make something the world calls the Hollandaise sauce. This is made by whisking egg yolks and squeezed lemon juice together in a bowl till the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Put the bowl in a steam bath and do not let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Add some froze butter cubes and continue to whisk till the btter melts. Remove from heat and whisk in salt and pepper and cover it. Heat the bacon and toast the English muffins. Cook some more eggs till the egg white is set and the yolk is soft. Lay down the muffin, bacon on its top, the half fried egg on its top and pour the Hollandaise sauce over. Garnish with some salt and pepper.

And there you have it, 6 quick fixes with eggs that are not to be missed.

January 8, 2015
The Fedora Hat

So, you have an English-themed party in two days and you go buy one of the best outfits from a designer-clothes brand outlet. And with that you now have to plan and match your accessories. With jewelry, shoes and a bag in place, you feel good enough to go. We all know how important accessories are to accentuate or complete a look. They not only enhance physical appearance, they are also symbolic of ones’ confidence, character and mood.

The significance of accessories is also extended to cultural and social aspects. In the following article, we shall get to know one such accessory. You must have seen entertainment artists like actors, singers and dancers donning this piece of adornment in a large number of movies and music videos. What today adorns the heads of modern fashion lovers , was once a daily wear for the Orthodox Jews. The Fedora hat along with a smaller variant of the same style, called the Trilby are supposedly two of the most famous hats for men. These never went out of fashion and have been called timeless by people who love hats.

One can easily recognize a fedora as a felt hat with a wide brim and an indented or a pinched crown. Both Trilby and Fedora were originally made of beaver or rabbit felt. They can be found in both stiff and softer varieties. A fedora which is more popular among the masses is just a little different from the Trilby in the way it looks. It generally is also bounded by a hat band or a trim-ribbon around the rim of the crown. The fedora crown has its brim turned down in the front and is snapped up at the back , giving it a characteristic appearance and thus making it popular among all men.

The gutter dent or the crease running lengthwise through the crown and the side-dents give it a particular pinched appearance. Fedoras can also be creased with teardrop crease which gives the appearance of a teardrop from the top, or a diamond shaped crown, centre dents and many others. Although the positions of the pinches can also vary, the basic appearance stays the same. A typical fedora crown is upto 4.5 inches in height while the brim spans up to 6.4 centimeters or 2.5 inches wide. The brim may also be wider as per the rquirement. While the crease is a characteristic feature of the fedoras, some of them might also lack the crease and are called the ‘bucket fedoras’. Though fedoras can be found in a variety of colours and prints, but black, grey, dark brown and fawn are the most common colours. A Trilby looks very similar to a Fedora except for the fact that it has a shorter brim and also a slightly tighter upturn at the back.

The first time some one sported a fedora hat was in the year 1882 as a female accessory on the production of a stage play in Paris. It was a first production of the play titled ‘Fedora’ by the author Victorian Sardou. The actress Sarah Bernhardt who portrayed the role of Princess Fedora wore a hat with a wide brim and a pinched crown with an indented center. This was named after her character and has been popular ever since as the fedora hat. After Sarah Bernhardt wore the hat for her play, it became a popular fashion statement for women especially for women-rights activists. Besides them, the fedora hat found its’ many fans among newspaper reporters, Chicago gangsters, and tough guys in the movies. Rather, it became a basic accessory with a suit of clothes.

Any man who would wear a suit of clothes would top it off with a fedora. In 1924, Prince Edward of Britain started wearing fedoras on public appearances and social gatherings. Soon after this, fedora became a significant part of fashion for men and went on to replace caps, bowlers’ hats or even top hats. The classic black fedora was also worn traditionally by Orthodox Jews in the first few decades of the 20th century. They adopted the fedora as a part of their daily wear and a few of them still wear one. Though many cultures reportedly incorporated the fedora in their costumes significantly, the classic fedora was invented in the year 1891. On the other hand, what is known to be its’ younger brother, the Trilby was invented in the year 1894.

A fedora was typically worn in urban areas by men to protect them from the bad weather. It also has an aesthetic appeal that added to the many purposes of the hat. The structure of the hat makes it fashionable and hence lends to its’ popularity. Besides the appearance, they are also practical. The practicality lies in the fact that it has a relatively shorter brim that the other hats and hence they did not obstruct the view while driving a car. Since they are not so big, they could easily be worn on social outings and in public transports without any hassles. they could also be easily folded and stored or carried around without distorting the shape or posing any such problems. Besides utility, cultural and social importance, these hats have also made a significant place for themselves in the fashion industry and have been an important part of popular culture.

The media has played an important role in keeping the fedoras’ popularity intact even if it dipped at times. Hollywood actors and actresses like Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, football coaches such as Paul Bear Bryant, musicians like Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake and even writers of the sorts Terry Pratchett have all sported this statement of fashion and have contributed to keeping it in fashion.

Thus we see, the Fedora has a significant place in the glamour and fashion sector. It has always been noticed since it was invented. Even if it lost its’ popularity in the late 1950s owing to the fact that it was relatively a formal piece of clothing and people favoured informal clothing styles then, the significance was restored as and when important figures belonging to different fields wore it publicly. People have accepted the Fedora and all its variants in all the dimensions that it has to offer.

January 8, 2015
Kathi Roll: A History

The Kathi roll is perhaps the most famous street food item the city of Kolkata has produced. Referred to as the Kolkata wrap, it is a truly delicious item savored with much gusto. Essentially, it is a paratha prepared thicker than usual with a scrumptious filling consisting of paneer, chicken, egg or mutton. Offering wide variants to suit the taste buds of every individual, the Kathi roll is a perfect example of food customization at its best. What makes the Kathi roll truly special is the preparation that goes behind it. The kebabs are grilled over a sigri making the kebabs soft, moist and scrumptious.

The parathas are cooked with more oil than usual while the quantity of spices varies from place to place. Every Kathi roll connoisseur knows their preference of filling and instructs the cook accordingly. With a slight tinge of the charcoal aroma, the Kathi roll delights the senses and compels people to return for more despite the humid weather of Kolkata. Now there are many locations across the city where you can indulge in delicious rolls, but this article will attempt to make things easier for you by naming the best places that serve rolls. Like much in life, taste is individual and thus disagreements in where you get the best rolls may stem up, which is why it would be ideal for you to explore the city and find the magnificence that food can lend to a place. Besides the food, take in the experience of the city and make the most of your time here.

Having been given life within the renowned walls of the Nizam Restaurant in Kolkata, the Kathi Roll emerged as Kolkata’s favourite street food item. Having stiff competition with kebabs, parathas and other Mughlai delicacies, there is speculation regarding the origins of the Kathi Roll. Offering variations to suit the imaginations of a number of people, it is safe to say that at some point, someone came up with the idea of rolling up kebabs.

The Kathi roll derives its name from the practice of using bamboo skewers, instead of the common iron skewers, to make kebabs. At first Nizam used iron skewers, like every other restaurant, but opted for bamboo skewers owing to its weight and availability. The Bengali word ‘Kati’ refers to stick and so the name stuck. In the present day, anything stuffing wrapped in a paratha can be considered a Kathi Roll. The Kathi Roll serves as a truly versatile street food item, offering a wide variety of stuffing to suit your taste buds. The variations however, are restricted to the stuffing and the wrap.

Known as Kathi Kebab roll in western India, Frankie roll in southern and eastern India and Roti Roll in Northern India, the Kathi roll has really cemented its position in the heart of food lovers across the country. The number of variations we come across in the Kathi roll is truly astounding. Chilli chicken and Paneer variants have become extremely popular.

Now Kolkata is no stranger to die hard foodies. Widely recognized as the cultural hub of the country, Kolkata does not disappoint when it comes to food. There is a food stall around every corner it seems with a wide array of delicacies to choose from. Food really is the center of all matters here, whether of the mind or the heart. When in Kolkata, it becomes necessary to taste the beauty of the Kathi Roll and thus to make things even simpler, here’s a list of places to visit for your street food fix.

Zeeshan at Park Circus offers perhaps the best Kathi Roll with a sense of old school Kolkata. The busy streets capture the essence of a city bustling with activity. It comes as no surprise that Zeeshan capitalized on this Kolkata wrap to attract more customers. People are always on the move and the Kathi roll serves as the best food item for people on-the-go. Walking on this busy street, I’ve often observed the delightful smiles of people totally immersed in their roll.

Park street comes to mind as another favored foodie destination. There are a number of outlets offering a quick roll. Perhaps the most famous of these outlets is Kusum to which all consumers rush to. Park street is an experience to witness the old world charm of Kolkata. Home to some of the oldest buildings in the city, it acts as a melting pot for the old and new. One can spot a number of people taking a break from their hectic lives to enjoy a quick snack. It is in such an atmosphere that encourages the triumph of the Kathi Roll as the king of Kolkata street food.

Located rather close to Park street, Saima’s Dhaba at Russell Street is another famous eating house offering rolls people could kill for. People throng to this location with much enthusiasm. Russell Street does not just offer rolls, people can indulge themselves with a variety of street food items to choose from.

The beauty of the Kathi roll really shines through due to its diversity. Even though people have their own preferences, each eatery offers a different experience. Being located near offices also helps with people looking for breaks, hungry for some sinful treats. Walking across these outlets, you will always find someone licking their fingers in bliss while clutching a Kathi roll. The Kathi roll though enjoyed with company, offers a truly individualistic experience. You can simply block out the world, as witnessed many times, and indulge your senses in, what has been considered since its inception, a fantastic display of tasteful bliss. The Kathi roll is Kolkata’s favourite street food item for a reason and has stood the test of time and changing tastes. Be sure to catch up on this experience when in the city and you will not be disappointed.

January 8, 2015
Meal for Meal-makers- Recipes to Relish !

Holidays are over and we have entered a new calender year. Lets keep the spirits high even after the party is over and keep learning and preparing good recipes just to sink in the feeling that though holidays are over good times are not over yet . I always love the month of January as we always make new year resolution and are charged up to fulfill the long lost targets that we set cautiously but do not meet the deadlines. We have loads of festivals, weddings , birthday parties to attend and we love the food and foggy weather. Not only that, we plan holidays with family generally during that time or may be its a time off from work to simply relax and have awesome home cooked food.We often put up our orders to Mums , wives, or the cook but why don’t we change the format a little a cook for those who always spare their time in kitchen busy to feed monsters like us and still not complaining.This article is dedicated to those few people who cook for us and feed us 365 days . We often neglect their space, their holidays and even their Sundays keeping ourselves too comfortable to come out of that comfort zone. Its totally not fair and we must show a little gesture by cooking for them and making them smile. So are you ready to be a good Samaritan ??? If yes, then note down the heavenly recipes and bring in a smile to someone’s face.

Orange Chicken with Steamed Rice !!!

Ingredients : 500 g boneless chicken cut into small pieces, 2 tablespoon corn starch , 2 eggs beaten well, 1 cup refined flour seasoned with black pepper , salt , red chilly powder, and garlic powder, 1 tablespoon garlic finely chopped, 1/2 tablespoon ginger chopped, 1 cup diced bell peppers, 1 teaspoon chilly flakes, 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 cup orange juice,1 tablespoon orange zest,1 teaspoon olive oil, salt to taste, Vegetable oil for shallow frying chicken pieces. 200 g soaked rice for steaming.

Servings : 4

Method : Firstly we need to season the chicken and coat it well . For that Take a large zip lock bag and add 1 tablespoon corn starch in it. Dry the chicken pieces by dabbing it against a cloth and put it in the zip lock bag. Shake it well it the chicken pieces get evenly coated with corn starch. Now dip each piece in beaten egg and again coat it well with refined flour seasoned mixture . Keep the chicken separately for 10- minutes and then shallow fry in a pan . Now heat a pan and add orange juice with a cup of water. Then add salt , brown sugar, vinegar, ginger, garlic, olive oil, dark soy sauce ,chilly flakes and orange zest. Bring to a boil and then add chicken pieces to it and cook for 5 more minutes. Make a solution of corn starch and pour it over the chicken gravy and stir it for another 2 minutes. Steam cook the rice and serve it with hot orange chicken . You will be a good Samaritan for the one you are cooking for.

Bean and pasta in red sauce :

Ingredients : 1 1/2 cups of uncooked macaroni, 1 can baked beans, 1/2 cup fresh corns or frozen sweet corn kernels, 1/2 large red bell pepper sliced, 1/2 large capsicum sliced, 1/2 yellow bell pepper sliced, 3 large tomatoes, 1 large onion sliced, 1 1/2 teaspoon red chilly powder, 2 cubes of processed cheese grated, 1/2 cup tomato ketchup, few garlic cloves finely chopped, 2 table spoon mixed dry herbs, salt to taste, 3 tablespoon olive oil for cooking.

Servings : 4

Method : Heat one teaspoon oil in a pan and sauté the onions and bell peppers for 2 to 3 minutes. Divide this mix into 2 equal portions and keep it aside. Just boil the corn kernels for 4 to 5 minutes and set aside. Boil the pasta and tomatoes together in a separate pot and after few minutes just remove the tomatoes and cool it for sometime (its called blanching) . Let the macaroni cook . Once done drain the pasta add few drops of oil and set aside. Once the tomatoes are cool enough peel of the skin from the tomatoes and finely chop it for the pasta preparation. Preheat the oven at 180 degree centigrade for 8 to 10 minutes. Now heat 2 teaspoon of oil and sauté garlic for 1 minute and add one portion of onion and bell pepper mixture. Stir in red chilly powder and sauté for few seconds only. Add blanched and chopped tomatoes , salt to taste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the boiled corn and baked beans , cook for one minute .Mix the pasta , tomatoes and grated cheese, simmer it for couple of minutes. To get desired consistency add little bit of water and adjust the salt amount for perfect taste. Now place this cooked dish on a greased baking dish sprinkle remaining sautéed onion and bell pepper mixture and a bit of grated cheese bake it for 10 minutes till golden brown and serve it hot. A perfect winter recipe is ready .

Date Fudge :

A healthy and yet tasty dessert . It takes little time to prepare this dish but the innovation will win hearts as perfect meals do not complete without perfect desserts.

Ingredients : 100 g of dates de-seeded and sliced in long strips, 6 Marie biscuits crushed very finely with hands only, 3 tablespoon of dry coconut powder, 1 tablespoon butter.

Servings : 5 (serving size being 2)

Method : Heat the butter in a pan . Add the sliced dates into the pan and sauté it for 3 to 4 minutes in slow flame. Stir in 1 tablespoon coconut powder in it and sauté for another 10 to 12 seconds. Divide the mixture in 10 equal parts after mixing it with crushed Marie biscuits while its still hot.shape each part into a ball and then slightly press it to flatten it. Roll each piece on remaining coconut powder separately and refrigerate it for few minutes. Serve it on a bowl .

January 8, 2015
10 Pointers to keep in Mind for a First Date

We were all born into the Pop culture and we love it, don’t we? By definition, it means all the ideas, images and attitudes that were considered mainstream in the culture of the 20th and the early 21st century! ‘Pop’ actually is an abbreviated form of the word ‘popular’ and it was mainly used to refer to the genre of music called pop music from the late nineteen fifties. Well, it modernized the whole world, sweeping and dusting all the old traditions giving it a new, sparkling sheen.

Remember the pretty ladies in the beautiful gowns and men in high breeches waltzing their way into daylight in the movie Pride and Prejudice? Even better is drool-worthy Mr. Darcy with his alluring aristocratic courtship rituals. He is every girl’s dream guy – decent, gentlemanly, polished, respectful and what not! Times have changed and guys like that are, well, not so common to find nowadays. But hey, dating has never been more transparent and courtship is quite a different play now. The new pop culture has changed all the rules of the dating game which makes it very difficult for either of the sex to have a clear shot.

So, let’s look at some of the basic rules to have a decent, fun and impressive first date.

1. Pick up – It is important that you pick up your date and no, it doesn’t matter if you own a car or not. Picking her up on a bicycle would be more romantic even though some of the females may not feels so. The point is you need to show that you bothered to pick her up and even more important is that you be punctual.

Knocking at her door with an apology for being late on the very first date doesn’t paint a very good picture.

2. Clothing – First impressions are the best impressions. Clothes are what make a man, and a women too. Dressing speaks volumes about who you are. Apart from indicating your personality, it also shows that you cared enough to dress well for the date and that’s pretty good. Imagine someone who doesn’t bother to even dress well on the first date. Meh.

3. Language – A person’s class and standards are reflected in the kind of language he uses. We use the formal language with no traces of emotions for office use and in other formal occasions. Similarly, we need to use the right language on a date. You don’t want to sound all ‘hello madam, how do you do?’, do you?

Your language should be classy but not too formal and absolutely no swearing. Even if the date is OK with swearing, it is not much appreciated right on the first date.

4. Attitude – No matter how much a girl rants about feminism or male chauvinism, she will definitely not take offense if you pull out the chair for her or open the car door for her. It just shows that you are a gentleman. But don’t repeat it on every date with the same woman because it’s only a matter of time before the feminist in them kicks in!

Also a confident man is a win-win and arrogance, even a streak of it is a big no-no. Everybody hates an arrogant prick. Remember to never be bossy, pushy or domineering which means you don’t decide what she eats at say, a dinner date. That will have the lady running in no time.

5. Listen more, talk less – Girls dig guys who talk with eyes than mouth. You should remember to listen closely to everything she says and much later, ask her something regarding any specific thing that she had mentioned in the passing. She will be highly impressed that you had listened to everything, remembered it and bothered to ask about it!

And look into her eyes and most importantly, never check out a passing girl. You can save that for later.

6. Compliments – The fairer sex loves to hear compliments. In fact, all of us love being complimented! At the beginning, compliment her on her beautiful dress or her hair-do because girls spend a lot and I mean a LOT of time picking out the right dress. Not to mention the number of hours with the curlers and mascaras.

And later on, in the awkward pauses, compliment her on her beautiful smile or eyes. They make the best fillers. Just remember to sound genuine which you can get right by maintaining proper eye contact.

7. Cell phone off – Who would like to go on a date with the damn phone ringing or beeping away every 10 minutes! That is definitely off-limits.

So make sure to keep it on silent mode and answer only if it is really important. If there are less disturbances, then it would go smoothly.

8. Never argue – You might bump into a lot of girls who can get quite bossy. They may tend to take a different opinion on whatever you might say but don’t let it get to you. Don’t ever argue with her especially on sensitive issues because things can get quite nasty.

Even if she herself argues a lot, she won’t like it if you start doing the same!

9. A small token – No lady will say no to a pretty rose or an orchid corsage. That is a very sweet gesture and it will earn you the extra brownie points!

10. Pay – It is more like an expected thing that guys pay. The ladies may not mind splitting it but refuse the offer pleasantly. Take her to a small, cute bistro or cafe, that way you don’t have to cough up too many pennies.

Besides these points, if you want to make the date memorable, take her to a fair or something similar because giant wheels and other such rides will have her clutching onto your hand for dear life. And that’s romantic. Buy her popcorn or whatever she likes, romp around and finally maybe a little frolicking in the fountain or sprinklers. And most importantly, don’t forget to smile (genuinely) because a smile can be a real life saver. It will smooth out any creases or glitches along the way.

Important bonus tip : Make her laugh and keep it real.

You are ready, boys. Go and sweep them off their feet!

January 8, 2015
A Look into the Paleolithic Diet

We have all at certain times felt the need to adopt a healthier lifestyle. A healthier lifestyle helps us engage in daily activities with the enthusiasm to give our best. Fueling our mental and physical faculties, it influences our capacity to perform well in different spheres of life. The Paleolithic Diet is a simple idea morphed into a lifestyle. It is perhaps the healthiest way to nutrition, in sync with your body processes. The Paleolithic diet gains inspiration from how our ancestors must have approached nutrition, without the modern day trans-fats and sugar. Research claims that these trans-fats and sugar can contribute towards diseases like cancer, diabetes and obesity. Making it simpler, the Paleolithic diet advocates the benefits in ingesting non processed food sources rather than what is readily available in labeled packages. Thus fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts, and healthy fats make the cut while dairy products, processed foods, sugars and legumes are discouraged.

Now coming up with a customized food plan centering on Paleolithic principles may seem a daunting task but it is not necessary to be so. All that is required is basic knowledge of the different benefits of various food sources. Lean proteins serve a significant role in strengthening bone and muscle tissue. Grass fed animals are perhaps the best protein sources available. Proteins help in repairing muscle tissue and help you feel satiated for a long period of time. Being rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidant content, fruits and vegetables are essential components of a healthy diet. Vegetables are storehouses for carbohydrates which provide energy to the body. Even in a low carbohydrate diet, carbohydrates derived from ingesting green vegetables provide enough energy to power you through the day without compromising on performance levels. Fruits and vegetables are also preferred for their ability to combat the onset of illness.

Fats are essential components of our diet which have received a bad reputation of late. Fats are needed for bodily processes and even skin care. Nuts and seeds serve as great sources to stack up on healthy fats. Even fats ingested from animals contain optimum amounts of health fats. To ensure a sufficient level of healthy fats, dressing your salads with vinegar or even consuming moderate amounts of fish oil come across as great tweaks to take your diet to the next level. Fish oil is extremely rich in Omega 3 fats renowned for their role in speeding up metabolism.

What gives the Paleolithic diet the edge is its reliance on adopting an old fashioned approach to viewing nutrition. By simply removing self-destructive cravings for unhealthy food, we concentrate on eating what we need rather than what we want. The health benefits witnessed by adopting a Paleolithic diet are truly remarkable. Backed by science, the Paleolithic diet is testament to age old practice meeting modern acceptance. Perhaps the most sought after benefit amongst enthusiasts is the amount of fat you lose. Now it would be foolish to advocate the benefits of adopting a certain diet without stating the science behind it.

The Paleolithic diet derives much of its usefulness from its ability to do away with the inessentials we tend to consume in majorities today. Grains, legumes and dairy products are not as nutritious as we would like them to be, and removing them from our diet helps make way for the ingestion of more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants we so desperately need. In this article, we will identify the significant contributions made by the Paleolithic diet in warding off diseases. The symptoms of Diabetes for instance can be prevented by adopting a diet approach as healthy as the Paleolithic diet. In a study involving comparisons between the Paleolithic diet and the Mediterranean diet in insulin resistant individuals, the Paleolithic group displayed a reversal in the symptoms amongst individuals suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

The Mediterranean group, on the other hand, displayed negligible results. There are absolutely no references to heart conditions or heart strokes among our common ancestors. When you wish to eradicate a certain disease, you tend to look into the lifestyles of societies in which the disease is virtually absent. Thus food habits influence our health more than we tend to think. Autoimmunity is a process which allows our body to fight a foreign entity be it bacteria, parasites or viruses. Sometimes our immune system misidentifies our own tissue as something foreign and attacks it. Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are a few examples of autoimmune diseases. Much research is needed to identify the extent of how much a diet may influence autoimmunity, but the Paleolithic diet does hold some credit, in certain cases even reversing the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. Now all these diseases, seemingly unrelated, do share a common trait. They all attribute damage to the intestinal lining which allows undigested bits of food particles to gain access to the body.

The Paleolithic diet deserves all the credit it has received in the field of nutrition. In modern times, it is a new concept and naturally there are many questions in the minds of the people interested to embark on a journey towards better health. When it comes to diets, it ultimately boils down to customization to best suit individual needs. The important thing is to dive into the experience rather than spend valuable time preparing and overthinking where to focus your efforts. Experience, like all matters, is the greatest teacher and with time you will be able to make changes in your diet and make it optimal for yourself. As a healthy diet begins to take hold, it becomes a habit and soon you will be able to go about it as naturally as you brush your teeth. The Paleolithic diet is a must try for health enthusiasts and is a great way to achieve some long standing health goals. The results may surprise you.

January 8, 2015
The Sweeter Cravings

Have you ever given a thought to one elusive and relatively unimportant question? Don’t you think that Indian sweet dishes differ hugely and vastly from those around the world? While the entire world enjoys cheese cakes and apple tars and chocolate pastries; here at home we enjoy Moti choor ke Laddoos, Sooji ka Halwa, Kheer and Jalebis. I, for one have never seen any foreign sweet dishes similar to what magic our Indian sweets offer. They are crude in shapes and relatively uncreative as compared to their Indian counterparts. We have spiral shaped jalebis, spherical shaped Gulab Jamuns, diamond cut Kaju Katlis and the eternally loveable square shaped barfis. Even the shapes of our sweet dishes offer more varieties than the entire world’s sweets all together. So, let’s explore a few tonight.

Gulab Jamuns:

The epitome of sweetness and the harbinger of merry occasions, Gulab Jamuns is one of the most royal sweet dishes Indians offer. This is one dish which most often decorates the dessert counter sof Indian Marriages. Eaten warm, soft and dipped in slurpy sugar syrup, this sweet dish is enjoyed by kids and adults alike. To the uninitiated, Gulab jamuns are milk solids based spherical dumplings traditionally made with thickened or reduced milk and savored in rose flavored sugar syrup. Gulab Jamun is brownish red in color and it inherits the color because of the sugar content in the milk powder or khoya. When the dumplings are fried the sugar caramelization gives it its dark color. Traditionalists eat it when hot and in singular proportions while experimentalists usually add a dollop of ice cream atop of the gulab jamun which gives two solely different flavors to the dish and mingles the warmth and the coolness of both the ingredients.

Jalebi:

Again, a traditional fried sweet dish which enjoys the honor of being served in most of the marriage ceremonies. Jalebis are orange in color and are enjoyed best while warm. Jalebis have a chewy texture with a crystallized sugary exterior coating. This dish derives its roots from Iran where it is known as Zulbia and was traditionally given to the poor during Ramadan. It is made by deep frying white four in spiral shapes which are then soaked in sugar syrup. These are one of the highest selling sweet dishes in the local markets during chilly winters.

Kaju Katli:

Well, kaju literally means cashew nut and this sweet dish is based on these nuts. The batter or barfi is made by thickening milk with sugar and dry fruits. It is then spread in a flat, shallow dish and cut into desired sizes and shapes. Kaju Katli is often seen as diamond shaped quadrilaterals and comes in expensive at Rs. 500 a Kg. This sweet dish is generally given to friends and family members during Diwali celebrations as a mark of celebration. This dish has what the English call, gravitas. The thickened milk attributes to the dish by giving it a melting base. Melting, because as the barfi slides along the contour of your tongue, it starts melting and bursting into flavors. But the barfi’s card of aces is the cashew ingredient which makes it different from all the other barfis in town.

Rasgulla:

Many kids and uninitiated people muddle Gulab Jamun and Rasgulla with one another. This because Rasgullais the light shaded, spongier cousin of the gulab jamun. Rasgulla is similar in shape to Gulab Jamun and is cooked in sugar syrup, just like the latter. West Bengal on the other hand gave the world a newer sweet dish (similar to rasgulla) called Roshogulla which is lighter than the original and is dipped in lighter sugar syrup. Rasgulla is made up of ball shaped dumplings of Chenna( Indian cottage cheese) and semolina dough. Rasgulla is eaten cold and is refreshing and has an unbridling effect on its consumers. That is, its consumers will never be satisfied with just one. The Rasgulla originated in the present day Odisha as Khirmohana. Traditionally it is offered as a special offering to Goddess Lakshmi a day after the famous Rath Yatra at Jagannath Temple at Puri. The most popular variety of the Rasgulla is the lighter, spongy white variety. Roshogulla is a less perishable item and can often be found in canned tetra boxes. This availability of the canned variety led to this sweet dish’s popularity outside of Kolkata where it was born. A quirky fact about Roshogullas fame is that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is developing dehydrated roshogullas for Indian astronauts in its planned mission in 2016.

Laddoo:

Laddoo also brings in delightful memories with itself as there is seldom a person in this country who was not treated laddoos to, while in his/her childhood. Laddoo again are ball-shaped sweets popular in India. These are made of flour, minced dough and loads of sugar with other ingredients that vary by recipe. They are often served at festive or religious occasions. There are a variety of laddoos available in India and all of them use a different flours like Besan ke Laddoos use chickpea flour as the base and coconut as the garnish. These are combined with sugar and ghee and molded in ball shapes. These delicacies are often decorated with silver foil and almond chips. Laddoo is often given at temples as a Prasad especially at Tirupati Venkateshwar Temple, Andhra Pradesh. Quirky fact: A Laddoo weighing 6,300 kg was made for the Indian God Ganesh in Andhra Pradesh in September 2012.

Thus these were quite a few of the exemplary unique dessert’s that India as a cultural hub enjoys. While the list is never ending these are the ones which are the most famous or the most loved.

January 8, 2015
Southernmost Tip of India: Kanyakumari

Quite literally I mean it, a place of wonders, a place where the three oceans meet, the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, where the Arabian sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean converge. a perfect place to make all the tables turns. It’s a place with all the mysteries of nature, the insane quality of sea breeze, torture of sea splattering the rocks, the fisherman making his living, and lots and lots more.

Welcome to a place where the temples are pampered for its beauty and palpable masonry on them. I would just like to tell the first reaction on reaching there, and to a place to perfect living destination. A picture perfect memories are to be made there. There are many memories that kind of cheers you up even when you think about it, there is a natural smile that lifts you up, you feel a bit nostalgic when you think of some memories. That is exactly how I feel whenever I go down to my hometown Kanyakumari because it is the only place after the tight schedules and hefty work where the blissful atmosphere kisses you and says, just relax kid! From the green lands and atmosphere to its food culture, every perfect corner is filled with its own history and story.

The name itself suggests a story on its own. Kanyakumari, as the folklore goes, that Devi Kanya an incarnation of Parvati was to marry Lord Shiva, which didn’t happen hence, the name Kanya Kumari is dedicated to this place. According to the legend, Banasura a demon, was leading chaos among Devas and the gods went to Lord Vishnu for help, who told them that only Parashakti can help them to demolish the demon. Where while both the Lord Shiva and Devi fell in love and decided to marry at the auspicious time at midnight. But distressed that this marriage will not get defeat of Banasura, as it was pre-ordinated he can only be killed by a virgin, Narada muni turns to a cock and crowed and hence, signaling the breaking of dawn. By hearing this, Lord Shiva thinks that the auspicious hour has passed so he returns all the way back without marrying. This enraged Devi Kanya and she vows to never marry anyone. Banasura then heard about the goddess of immense beauty and wanted to marry her and went to ask for her hand, when she refused, he uses force which enrages the goddess who then kills him. That quite a story, right?

You’ll know when you’ve reached Kanyakumari, with its mere smell of the wind which is pleasurably sweet filled with the coconut essence and banana greens. You know you’ve reached this paradise when the greenery begins to engross you. Well, starting with the sea itself, it’s one of a kind to impress you unintentionally with its beauty. A spellbound place to be as the scene it gives during the sunset and sunrise, it feels like that the sun is just waiting in front of you to flaunt its flawlessness. Situated at a walk distance is a temple, Kanyakumari Bhagavathi amman temple which is dedicated to the goddess Parvathi as a virgin. The sculptures, the intricate artwork inside the temple is very beautiful, no words can describe it especially when you go there surrounded by people praying, there comes a sense of happiness just within yourself.

If that inner peace is not enough, visiting Vivekananda Rock might cheer you up. A very peaceful place to be in. Even the journey in the boat to the Vivekananda memorial is pleasant. Sitting on boat being hit by the moving waves gives you a pleasant solitude and moving merrily with the syncing waves. Sweet salty smell of the sea and after few minutes of journey there you enter the Vivekananda rock. It is said, that rock is the place where Vivekananda got enlightenment. The main entrance is the Vivekananda mandapam, and adjoining this main hall is the Dhayana mandapam where people sit and meditate. This place is very quiet and calm and people sit there serenely to self introspect, a very hushed ambience surrounded. A very sound scene that I notices while hanging there were few crabs there sunbathing on the edge of the rock, this might not be significant but definitely my first experience of watching live crabs ever. Next thing you’ll notice is the Thiruvalluvar memorial, quite recently built standing proudly next to the Vivekananda rock. Thiruvalluvar was the very famous poet and philosopher of Tamil Nadu. One of his most famous and revered work is ‘Thirukkural’. Thirukkural is nothing but elegantly written book on a virtue of a man, how to lead an honorable and worthy life and ethics as being born a human being. It is a very respectable form of poetry and almost every individual in Tamil Nadu knows about it, it is even taught in schools to inculcate discipline in life and to give right directions.

The place in itself endorses the charm. While travelling there, I personally prefer local transports you can find hanging around there numerous small water bodies, ponds, etc with the coconut trees dancing around them. I mean it, literally, with just a small breeze the trees dance as if moving and singing along in trance. The best view are the ponds with lotuses of all types, big and small, just sticking out playfully bragging its prettiness. The place Kanyakumari comes geographically under the parts of Western Ghats which gives us with the mountains. Even when you travel in train you could actually see mountains in these parts touching the clouds. There’s a place Maruthuva Malai (Malai in Tamil is a mountain) known for the medicinal herbs found in this region, is a splendid place. As the legend goes that when Lord Hanuman was taking Sanjeevani mountain with him to Sri Lanka to cure Lakhshman, a part of it fell here and like I said, various therapeutic herbs are found in this mountain.

Now, that’s long said about the place, the most important thing that is hidden in every beaches, every sea, every coast in heaven are fishes. The most tasty, delicious sea food that you can get. Fish curry of south India is one of the famous dishes found there. Mixed with coconut, tamarind and my relatives living there knows what more. Talking about tamarind, yeah there are many tamarind trees in my backyard, well apart from that, banana trees fill up most of the area and the most delicious of its kind, the red bananas. They are little stout red in colour with great heath benefits. Variety of tress can be seen grown around people’s backyards which may include many full grown teak trees, rubber trees, jackfruit, seasonal mango, obviously coconut, and much more I couldn’t remember right now. Local snacks are very delicious at this point, where you can get banana chips and jackfruit chips at any local store. One more local thing I would love to share is the sweet syrup like thing you get from Palm trees which is damn sweet and truly yum, well not many today’s generation have tasted it.

Apart from those snacks, actually there are many jackfruit trees that are found there and if you somewhere get time, just take time to take the sweet fruit. That is nastiest beauty you’ll ever have. Ever try the pleasant coconut rice, it is worth tasting and maybe someday I’ll give you the recipe too to try it. The taste of fresh coconut in the rice, lord knows what is heaven! Apart from every common dish that almost everyone knows, idli, sambhar, dosa, there are cooking of iddiappam, puttu, appam which is no doubt made of rice, served with coconut chutney or any other curry like one of the famous potato curry again made with coconut. Yes coconut, the favorite comrade of almost every dish. Actually there’s a lot more to talk about, I can go ages and ages spending on describing this dreamland but yeah maybe some other time, and keep travelling.

January 8, 2015