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The Big Global Lunch

Food is something that has fascinated me for years. I started cooking at a very young age of 10, not that I had any compulsion, but that interest came to me very young. My mom was my first inspiration, she was an excellent cook. She learnt baking in times were we did not even have decent ovens.

I have tried many cuisines both eating and cooking. Surprisingly I have loved most of them. So whenever I get an opportunity I just grab it with both arms. This was one such opportunity where I got friends, who are now my family from different parts of the world who love cooking. And so we ended up cooking Chinese, Taiwanese, Egyptian, Tunisian and Indian food all in one Indian kitchen. I personally loved all the dishes. It was one truly Big Global Lunch.

Thank you my dear family we are now bonded not by blood, but by friendship and food.

Food from top to bottom.

1) Tiramisu

2) San Bei ji ( 3 cups chicken- Taiwanese)

3) qiang Chao Bai cai ( sauteed cabbage)

4) chicken and vegetables noodles

5) Tofu with Pak choi ( Chinese)

6) seer fish steak ( Goan)

7) xi Hong Shi Chao ji Dan ( egg with tomato) Chinese.

8) Tunisian cauliflower fry.

9) seaweed soup ( Chinese)

10) Baked chicken and potatoes in tomato sauce ( Egyptian)

11) Chao Tu dou si ( shredded fried potatoes) Chinese.

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Writer’s Cafe

Colin wright said” our varied beliefs & backgrounds are icing. Our shared humanity is cake” this truly talks about food lovers and specially of one person who is the leader in the food business in chennai, Mr. Mahadevan.sir, you not only give chennai the best food from all over the world, but you also give life to many people. Giving money is easy, training people and making them self sufficient is a challenge, thats the challenge you take on all the time.

Writer’s cafe is one such initiative by Mr. Mahadevan and team. I was humbled to be there for lunch with a group of my friends.The cafe is managed by burn victims every victim has a story and every story has a deep meaning and now every story teller has a job.

The place is very well done, fresh and bright interiors. Staff are ever smiling and enthusiastic. Food is par excellence. The soup was yummy and had the best herbs loaded in it. The starter’s garlic bread, cheese balls, onion rings and chicken wings were excellent with the best dips. Main course was the veg lasagna that tasted heavenly and looked absolutely stunning. Desserts, I got to taste the chocolate pudding and the apple crumble both were outstanding.

This place is a must visit, offcourse for the food, but also for the experience. The cafe will have a reading room too. So for you all book lovers, good food and good reading go hand in hand.

Writer’s cafe is located at 98, Peter’s road, royapettah, next to Philips center. The place is still at soft launch stage. Go there and encourage every single person there and enjoy the food.

Thank you lulu and Ashish for taking special care of us!

Writer's Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Spoonbill at Alwarpet, Chennai.

We all love Street Food, how would it feel to sit right here in chennai and have an opportunity to taste world Street Food. Spoonbill takes you through the culinary journey of world Street Food. The wingfeast was one reason for us to go back to Spoonbill. We ordered for the chilli garlic wings, it was hot and nicely spiced. We also tried the world combo, that had chicken momo, salad and chicken burrito. The burrito was juicy huge and loaded with chicken. This is a good place for fun family dinning.

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Hotel Suprabha at Chennai.

Hotel Suprabha. Just after the Harrington road subway on the left you can find this small vegetarian restaurant. The little history about this place I know is that this place has been in existence for many years, this place is owned by a Malayali and hence you can find the sambar and kurma  taste a little different ( I personally like that taste) . I have also heard that their meals are very good and they do serve Sadhya for onam. I have been thinking of visiting this place for a long time, but always shy away since parking is the biggest pain here. Since I was passing by quite early on a Sunday morning, thought of stopping by. The best ever vegetarian breakfast I have had in the long time. It definitely is no comparison to the big names in chennai. Small, hygienic and total value for money. Every dish is packed in clean banana leaf. Our order for the day was Idly, plain dosa, idiyappam, set dosa, 2medu Vada  and 2 special Vada. All this for just Rs.235.

Hotel Suprabha Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Demonetization and its Effect on Indian Citizens

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It has been a drama in India since 9/November/2016. I know many of us are upset and lot many just trying to prove that this was the most obnoxious decision that any government could ever take. But my two bits (well I am not an expert, but with whatever I have known, seen and experienced) I would say certain decision taken in certain manner works best for our country and our people. Why???

Indians are different they think differently and act differently to situations (I am not saying if its good or bad, we are just different) reasons could be we were a backward country, than we became a developing country and today we are a developed country. But we still have people who have grown from having nothing to having many more or everything today. I, myself, an example of that life; I know hundreds of my friends and relatives who have lived such life. Many of us have traveled, seen the other side of the world, understood, but yet few are reluctant to change. Not complaining about people who have not seen the transition. A classic example is, when people return to India after a “foreign” trip, begin to litter, spit outside our airports. We burdened our conscience through the trip, now let loose. We have misconstrued democracyJ. That’s the way most of the Indians think and so we are different. Another classic example of how we react to situations what I have seen personally is during Tsunami and Recent flood relief situation. There is a stark difference between India and other developed countries, when it comes to delivering relief material and receiving, most recently what I saw in the TV during one of the massive earthquake situation in Japan, where how systematically it was done, even though people did not have drinking water, they stood in an organized queue waiting for their turn. When we went for relief work here, people pounced, grabbed, jumped, stole, and ransacked relief material and food. Ok, understood, they did not eat for many days and did not have clothes, bed sheets etc. But what do you call when people who had enough stock of all and yet hunting for more to stock, just because it was free and we were pained, when we saw people selling those on streets and in make-shift shops. We did not know how to react when people, irrespective of gender, collecting sanitary napkins from us, the stock vanished in seconds, it was getting exhausted like hot cakes; you mean to say, all women bleed everyday? Oh come on!!!!

Today’s latest experience, when the whole world was saying that people have no food to eat, all our government run bars/wine shop – Tasmac was over flowing with customers and I know for sure they do not accept cards, so where is the money for booze coming from? People do not have money for food mind you, but have money to buy booze. Point to ponder!!!

We Indians are still the most in-secured lot, we top the chart in emotions and doing so many things in the name of “sacrifice” for the children and relations. We are keen on saving for tomorrow and having enough till we die and beyond; we want to save for our children and grand children and forget to live our own lives. I know so many people who have never taken vacation all their life, because it costs money and that also means taking off from work, they would rather encash their leave.

The recent surgical strike is another example of how things need to be done in India. Most of us agree that the surgical strike was something Pakistan deserved and the way it was done was exemplary planning. There were many who said, that we should have known when this was planned and done. Really? Even if one whiff was out the whole plan would have been a flop and we could have never done the strike the way it was done.

On the day of 9th Nov, We had Rs.2000 with three five hundred rupee notes and rest in 100’s. Not sure if that was enough for cash management for four of us until we access ATM’s. Our milk and fish vendors were kind enough to accept Rs.500 notes, the rest we managed through plastic. In fact the parking lot ticketing guy let me go guilt-free, when I told him “Sorry, no change”.

My sincere urge to all my country Men and Women, please Try to be calm during such situation, where the government has taken charge. We need to change to see bigger picture. We have been struggling, complaining for ages, about black money, Swiss money, counterfeits, but we could not move an inch, despite knowing the damage incurred to our economy year after year, regime after regime and how the illegal channels fund terrorist to destabilize Indian peace and trade.

We all know Change is difficult, but change is the only constant and inevitable.

This shall pass too and we will truly have Ache din!!! Till then, please be patient and if you genuinely feel somebody badly needs some money and you have some to spare, please give them or buy them whatever they need using your card (if they do not have one and ensure you help them open a bank account, when the services of the bank get back to normal) Jai Hind and let us help our country change!!!

 

 

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Treasure’s from God’s own country!!!

And what else we discovered in God’s own country? After having a good dharshan at Guruvayoor temple  and just at the end of East Nada, found a cart full of healthy treasures – “White chillies”, “Kandhari chillies” (Kaandhaari Molagu),and local “Naarthanga” (Kaffir lime). Believe me, I have never seen White chillies and Kandhari chillies in my life before. Kandhari Chillies are pretty famous, small and a real hot chilli found in Kerala. The seller of these, explained the health benefits and various ways on how and where to use them. Kandhari chillies are known for its cholesterol control property, hence there are some companies making capsules out these. I was fortunate to have set my eyes and hands on them and now they are all happily pickling in my jar 😊

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Sapphire at Thrissur

After being a vegetarian for 24 hrs, we decided to feast; after the strength of recommendation from our friend, local cabbie, auto driver’s and others in Thrissur, we could not resist  “Sapphire”. We were told that they open the Biryani handa  (the big vessel) at 11.45am, we chose to hit the place by 12:00 noon :). When we reached around 12.30 The place was already packed and we had to wait. Worth a wait, for the typical family room, while filling ourselves with the aromas of biriyani:)

The fish curry meals, their speciality mutton biryani, chicken biryani and fish biryani were truly the taste of Kerala. The private family room, gave us the freedom of expressing uninhibited emotions while hogging and slurping:), the high decibel chats with a friend who I met after years and catching up with good old  wacky times. Sincerely self centric moments 🙂

After washing the greasy hands, it was time for a dessert. Sapphire’s “Cool hut” is next door and we tried some really good desserts and juice. All is well 🙂

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Most Malayali’s worship place- Guruvayoor. 

“Hotel Devaragam” in East Nada, @Guruvayoor  is one of the best places to stay and eat. I must have visited Guruvayoor probably more than 10 times, but never found a better place than this one, which is owned by K.P. Namboodiri’s.

Right from the ambience, food and service, I could not find anything missing. Very well maintained, extremely clean place and whatever food you may order, be it Kerala meals or North Indian, they were made to perfection and satisfaction. Kudos to the chef!!!

Friends visiting Guruvayoor, I recommend Devaragam. @Rs 3800 for a  a day that includes complimentary breakfast. Alacarte lunch and dinner is a total value for money.

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Is it really happening or am I imagining???


I am not a person who believes in rituals or superstitions. But something that shook me today which kept me thinking!!!

My sister called me yesterday afternoon to check what I was planning to offer to my beloved one’s who are not

us any more, since it was mahalaya amavasya, I was in the midst of a pile of work and was in no mind to think about anything. I told her I was not sure what I would do since Friday was another busy day at work and also told her that, since she and my other sister were anyway doing things it was not necessary for me to make anything. That discussion was closed and totally out of my mind.

Friday morning 4am I am in conversation with my mom (who is no more) and she is requesting me to make her 2 idly.  My first thought I do not have batter to make idly, my second thought, my sister had told me to make something for my ancestors, but that totally slipped my mind. But my mom was wanting something and she asked me the most simplest dish.

Woke up in the morning and straight headed to my refrigerator to find out that I had exactly enough batter to make just 2 idlys, small portion of chicken and off course enough stuff to make my mom’s favorite parapu payasam.

Many might call this a dream come true, but for me it was an awakening. Certain messages that come to us come with a reason and I can believe it to be true, this is the lady who taught me many things when she was alive, she does not stop doing it even after she is gone. I know I am guided and protected by this iron lady. Love you mummy, thank you for being with us always.

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Restaurant Week India 2016

Since today is the close day for the Restaurant week India. My experience about the week that was 🙂
I actually tried booking three restaurants and ended up going for one. On The Rocks, Crown Plaza was my first booking along with my family, my second booking was The Golden Dragon at Taj Coromandel, which inspite of the fact that it was wait listed at one did not get confirmed, I was very disappointed and my third booking was at the Lotus, The Park and thats where i really ended up going, since i overlooked the fine print at The Rocks which mentioned children below 21yrs not allowed – Really 21yrs?
Well, so we landed at 9.30pm since the 7.30pm slot showed full and the 9.30pm getting booked fast.
When we landed on time for Dinner, we were taken for a surprise when the restaurant staff said they had no booking for us. I had to actually show my booking confirmation that i received by email. After we were seated we realized that we were the only guest in that restaurant for that evening. It did not look like anybody had dined there for the 7.30pm slot too!!!
At Lotus at The Park, Chennai, The food selection was good, we were seven of us and we got to taste almost every dish on the menu.
The Food was excellent and made to perfection, the staff was courteous and the whole experience  was par excellence.