The Germans are here. But what do I know about German food? My professor who went there said they only eat potatoes. My favourite blogger was impressed and listed her most favourite Bavarian food. So, let’s trust a German ambassador – Lufthansa. Their latest ad slyly acknowledges the stereotype – the people are serious and the food is bland. Interestingly, all this actually made me look forward to the food at Zu Tisch. The restaurant has quite a relaxed setting with a prominent and well designed…Continue Reading “Zu Tisch, Greater Kailash”
You feel it when you see a happy photo of a friend, your ex-flame in a happy moment, or even a stranger who seems to have more than you do, or sometimes for no significant reason at all. It is a singularly powerful emotion. Jealousy. You will not find another instance in life when an enotion that is so pure (pure as juxtaposed to good and evil), so natural, so obvious and so uninhibited has been villified as so much evil. I don’t understand why…Continue Reading “Why we must celebrate jealousy”
When Facebook friends replace friends and when life is nothing but a long cruel wait between notifications, you need a digital detox. I am on one. Started today. What do I plan to do on my detox? Document every day so I can write a digital article at the end of the quarantine, whenever it is. Day 1 It’s a Monday. After a hard night of partying, woke up with two good old friends, went for a famed chole bhatura breakfast and streetside chai. Fantastic…Continue Reading “My digital detox”
The terrible terrible urge to recreate perfect moments. The yearly trips to the spots where one proposed, the playing of songs that caused timeless memories, the wearing of clothes that may have been worn when something important had happened…the longing with which we try and hold on is so powerfully unique. The belief that the past was better, that the future will only be a shadow of the bygone, that we will make what’s coming so much more palatable only if kept looking back. But…Continue Reading “Cosmic Ants”
This is one place that I really look forward to. Not just for the food, but the whole experience of walking around the ruins, working up an appetite and then walking into the restaurant. Now that the winters are here, they have launched a Sunday brunch menu. You walk on the pebbles, sit outside in the lawns under the trees, or one of those canopies if you are not too embarrassed to ask (I always have been), listen to good music and let the week…Continue Reading “Sunday brunch launched at Lodi Garden Restaurant”
It was a Wednesday morning. I don’t remember the year. He woke up with a flutter in his heart. It wasn’t a pain. Definitely, a sensation. But not acute enough to be called a pain. He was worried for a second, then he remembered it must have been about the last evening. Her nails had dug into his hand while they were crossing the road. All night, he had pondered over taking a knife and making the lines of that temporary depression permanent. His heart…Continue Reading “A little confusion”
It was a perfect Sunday morning. Nippy November, good company and Sohail Hashmi Saheb as guide. We were out to explore Jahanpanah, the fourth city of Delhi. It was an eventful walk and there is so much to share. But I decided that we must pay our tribute to Mr. Kushal first. It takes a certain defiance to stand up against education, civilization and the society at large. We saw a few more, a few very entertaining. After a walk around the monuments, I was…Continue Reading “Kushal is a bastard”
Who gets excited about a burger chain, a few howled while a few more held their breath and waited. It seems Burger King is not just another burger chain. Those who are well traveled bring back their Whopper memories and have created a craving even among those who have never tasted one. And then there is the pressure to do things differently and more health consciously in the fast food market…therefore the anticipation to see what Burger King will do differently. We walked in for…Continue Reading “Burger King, Select City Walk, Saket”
Like all east Indians, I love my rolls. And, there is a huge difference between the rolls that you get in north and east India. You get the Chinese, mughlai and the full range of rolls in both the parts. The range of parathas may differ a little, Malabar paratha and pita rolls may not be that easy to get in the east. But there is one major difference that you can’t ignore: potatoes. In the east, it is easy and yummy to find a…Continue Reading “The Rolling Joint, Connaught Place”
Bottled water may seem like a new idea, but it has been around for nearly 400 years. It is only more prevalent today. So, what did people do in old days when they became thirsty in the middle of the road and didn’t want to spend a nickel? At least in Old Delhi, they went to a pyau. They were opened by generous private individuals, were free and were, generally, operated from a window in the house. There was a depression in the ground to…Continue Reading “Pyau in Old Delhi”
It is not a burger. It does not look like a burger. It’s not prepared like a burger. There was no point in talking to the Afghan guy who managed the stall and spoke no Hindi or English. So, I took a video for you to watch and decide. I was stunned and frantic and could not decide whether to take a series of pics or a video, so had to stitch them together. The only part I missed is at last when he pours…Continue Reading “Afghan Burger at a Streetside stall in Delhi”
The ecology will take care of itself. Or, god will. You should have burst a few crackers. You should have stared that street urchin in the eye. Told him it’s not you who brought him to this world. You should not have made that donation if you didn’t want to. It may not look so, but your life is no less of a struggle. Don’t be reluctant. Tell your conscience to shut up. You started where they did. Instruct housekeeping to change your linen. The…Continue Reading “A little less reverent”
You see naan khatai carts at every turn in Old Delhi. Most of them are not worth a stop. But on a morning walk, we came across this particular guy at Dariba who demands a mention. While all of us pointed our cameras at this and that, someone stopped at this cart and moaned a little too loudly. The whole group descended on the nameless guy. The khatais were freshly baked under coal, thick, crumbling and so good that many bought extra for home.
You can have many lavish dreams on a Saturday morning. Mine included a celebrity chef, good food and great company. It all came together at Harry’s Khan Market. Chef Vicky Ratnani and a few other bloggers got together for cooking session with a twist – all the ingredients came out of packets – Godrej Yummiez packets. Now, ready to cook is not a new concept but their march into the Indian kitchen has not been very swift. Reason why, this is one segment that’s seeing…Continue Reading “Brunch with Chef Vicky Ratnani & Godrej Yummiez”
I watched Haider. Most of you may have, already. Fantastic and bold movie. No? But I walked angry and felt betrayed. Not by the story, but by the storytelling. Vishal Bharadwaj may not have compromised on the content of the movie, but he definitely did on the methods used. Please explain what was the role of the Salman-Salman in the movie? How was their being Salman copycats take the story further? A friend explained that they provided comic relief. First of all, it was mimic…Continue Reading “Watching Haider & Vishal’s betrayal”
I have been to many old cities and have wondered why thousands of miles apart, they share the same characteristics. To say, they look the similar would be wrong. But there are so many common traits – Old Delhi, inner parts of Agra, old Srinagar, Lucknow and even Cuttack. There is a constant struggle between public and private space, infrastructure that’s stretched to the limits due to rising population, heritage buildings next to living encroaching one and a general sense of bemusement among the residents…Continue Reading “The Heritage walk of Old Amritsar – Part 1”
My search for the best navratra thali has led me to quite a few interesting places. If the thali at Punjab Grill was an outstanding experience, the one at Shraman, Ashoka Hotel was an average fare. Last night, we headed out to Sattviko, which was closes to what you can call a Indian fast food restaurant. Set up on the quick service format, the restaurant has an innovative menu such as Sabudana Poha, Spinach Quesadillas and Chilled Melonn Salad etc, apart from regular offerings such…Continue Reading “Navratra at Sattviko, Greater Kailash”
Buoyed by my experience at Punjab Grill, I decided to be fair. You can’t havea thali at one place, sing songs about it and seem fair. So, last night, we decided to try another one. I had seen Ego 33’s ad in the newspaper and I called for a reservation. They said just walk in, no reservations needed. But then most people I talked to had not heard of the restaurant. That won’t be a fair fight. So, we headed out to Shraman, at Ashoka…Continue Reading “Navratra thali, Shraman Restaurant, Ashoka Hotel”