A’poie’tizer

The Portuguese left behind the legacy of their proficiency at bread-making for the poders (local traditional bread-maker) of Goa. Though the customary method of using toddy to ferment the dough is rare to come by now, there's nothing to beat the distinctive aroma, light smoky flavour and unique textures of the staple bread of Goans. …

The Heirloom Dosa

Dosa! I pride myself (a bit bordering on conceit) on being a dosa connoisseur, having tasted this gift of the Gods (did God have a slightly South Indian bias when blessing us with breakfast items?) wherever it was on offer during my abundant travels – from the humblest of rustic roadside shacks to the antiseptic …

A Bun(ch) of Memories!

As you travel down the western coast of India, your olfactories announce your arrival within the bounds of Karnataka. In addition to the ubiquitous tiffin items, a delightful, faintly sweet, fried aroma hits you where it matters, causing instantaneous salivation leading you to involuntarily gulp like a goldfish. For us UKites (Uttara Kannada folks) it's …

Idlicious!

Stacked up plates of molds with batter, placed in a steamer to steam, fifteen minutes later out they come, fluffy and spongy like a dream. The sambar is prepped with equal fervour, a delightfully flavourful stew, loaded with veggies, carrots beans gourds, drumsticks to name a few. A choice of chutneys are being ground, there’re …

Golgappe Le Lo…

(Though this poem is an ode to the much-adored, most common avatar of pani puri, the pictures depict options in cheese-n-chive, dahi lal mirch and imli-pudina sauces.) Pani puri golgappa gupchup puchka, the much-loved street food of our nation, with unlimited options on sauce and fillings, is always open to experimentation. The crisp round deep …

Easter: Celebrating Rebirth and Rejuvenation!

Easter is a festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which according to the New Testament occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion. For many people the world over Easter is also a celebration of the spring season – the beginning of new life all around! In fact, the word Easter …

Hot Cross Buns!

Hot Cross Buns were baked in the medieval period as an offering to the Germanic goddess Eostre, the goddess of spring, as a celebration of Easter. A cross was marked on top of the bun symbolising the four phases of the moon and four seasons of the year. As per Christian tradition, the buns were …

Chips ‘n’ Dips, Fix your Mix!

Though Dips first made their appearance on the world stage with hummus making its debut in the Middle East in the 13th century, and Chips joined much later – in 1953 with invention of the potato chips – it was a marriage made in heaven! And ever since, the love story of chips and dips …

Ugadi: A Celebration of Life!

Be it Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Goa, Yugadi in Karnataka, or Ugadi in Telangana and Andhra – all these festivals celebrate the beginning of the new year or the first day of the first month of Chaitra in the Hindu lunar calendar. Mythology has it that it was on this day that Brahma began to …

It’s a Scoop!

For a food stylist and photographer, ice cream is the most demanding of subjects to work with, fussy and almost like a diva; it will start melting under the lights even as you are wondering if you need a touch more shine on that cherry on top! So how then do you style an ice …