From the monthly archives: June 2012
The Bombay Bawas play a very important role in giving the city character. They give Mumbai it’s required dose of eccentricity, and I mean this in the nicest possible way. The community is known for their over-the-top personalities, which of course finds expression in their food! They own some of the best colonial real estate in the city and run some very charming restaurants in these spaces.
This exploration will be limited to Parsi restaurants. For now we will leave …
“You miss Bhel Puri? Then make it at home!”
Really?! I’m sure every Mumbaikar will agree that this is one of the most preposterous recommendations anyone can make. 1: street food is not street food if made at home. 2. Bhel Puri cannot be replicated anywhere other than the streets of Mumbai. No one knows where it originated, but in Mumbai we have a habit of owning up anything that is remotely anaath or najayaz. Pav Bhaji, Bhel-Puri, Pani Puri, Vada …
Mumbai is to India, what New York is to the world. A melting pot of sorts where people from all parts of the country throng to; in search of a better life, perhaps for a better paycheck, many for their fifteen minutes of fame. This results in a whole bunch of homesick people, longing for their native cuisine and always in search of authentic home-style food. In this series, I will introduce you to some of India’s many regional cuisines …
What do cutting chai and Italian cuisine have in common? The answer, Mia Cucina. That’s right. The popular Italian chain has opened their latest restaurant in Powai and is holding an exhibition of Dilip Moorkoth’s beautiful photographs capturing the city’s romance with the brew. Titled ‘Cutting Chai – The Magical Concoction Of Mumbai’ the exhibition showcases some thoughtful and aesthetic shots of the chai ka glass in all kinds of gallis, khopchas and roads of …
Juliet famously remarked, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Well, I guess it was easy for her. She wasn’t a mom-to-be. Ask any would-be parent, and they will disagree. Selecting their baby’s name tops their TO-DO list and is yet the one decision that takes the maximum time to make. And when the name is finally chosen, it means the world to them. From mugs and teethers to wall hangings …
Once upon a time Brazil was a Portuguese colony, a land of rich soil perfect for sugarcane and coffee. Since they needed labor to work in fields, the Portuguese brought in slaves from Africa, particularly Angola. Needless to say life wasn’t very kind to the slaves, they had to live away from their families, work in inhumane conditions and adjust to life in a foreign land. The pain and the cruelty they suffered is better forgotten.
As the story goes, …
Good news ladies! Now you can do your bit for cotton farmers and for the environment, while you shop. Popular retail chain Shopper’s Stop has teamed up with India’s Fair Trade Certification organisation, Shop For Change, to create a whole new line of chic cotton kurtas for women. The line which boasts of the trendiest in ethnic wear will use only Fair Trade cotton fabrics. The collection offers …
Masterchef Australia has suddenly introduced the Indian market to Australian cuisine, chefs and culture. Australia seems to be the ‘it’ food destination. Reflectively, Mumbai is now home to 5 branches of Di Bella Coffee, an Australian coffee brand, founded by Aussy Phillip Di Bella. It is now an international brand that aims at creating the “ultimate coffee experience”
The brand believes is working towards betterment of the coffee industry by …
Western, Central and Harbour lines, these life lines of Mumbai carry millions each day all over the city. They serve the purpose of going from point A to B and that’s enough for the average Mumbaikar for whom as long as the purpose is served, every thing else be damned. However, the trains are an integral part of life. A few minutes late, a train cancelled and hell can break loose in homes, offices and entire parts of the city.
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“The rains are late this year”
“But how do they behave here in Bangalore?”
“As in?
“Matlab, are they like the Mumbai monsoons?
Heavy, unstoppable, lovable and hate-able at the same time, over-flowing across the city, causing schools to shut down at times, bringing a natural and unmissable smile on everyone’s face. Good mood takes over, the sun goes on a vacation, the trees take nice long baths to reveal their true greens, vadapavs and bhajjis, cuttings …