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 …

The Subversive Samosa

As I completed my check-in formalities, depositing my overnighter containing some meagre paraphernalia into the belly of the luggage hold, my stomach reminded me once again that I'd overlooked my solemn duty to feed it its due lunch. With meetings stretching unendingly and then the rush for a flight to catch, it was well past …

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 …

Holi re Holi, Purnachi Poli!

As is true of most festivals in India, Holi, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, too is celebrated in diverse ways in various states of the country. Here is my experience of celebrating Holi in a village in interior Maharashtra and a recipe for making Puran Poli - a traditional Maharashtrian …

Romancing the Masala Dosa!

A dollop of fermented rice-dal batter, hits the hot griddle with a sputtering sizzle, spread out deftly in spirals outward, the thin layer drenched with a liberal oil drizzle. A blob of garlic chutney spread out atop, or a sprinkle of spicy powdered podi over, smoothened lovingly with a spatula across, it steams and crackles …

Rajdhani Express: The Foodie Trail meanders through Delightful Delhi!

It was a perpetual conundrum which would beseech me for a palatable answer as to why my “Mumbaised” friends from up North would ever so often belittle the so-called North Indian snacks available in Mumbai with an upturned nose – whether snooty or unsympathetic, I had no inkling then – and would subsequently disappear behind …