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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …