Oh, don't go, yet. You haven't reached my food blog, you are doing fine, still on my diary. Its so happens that old habits have prompted me into chirping about something gastronomical (and by the same token, emotional?) :-D.
I have gotten back from having some "chai" and "pakode". This is a combo, that i lighten up my weekend evenings (when not at home) with, quite frequently. Before you decide to feel jealous, let me dash those hopes. In the interest of full disclousre, that "chai" is from Starbucks! and the "pakode", well they are a close cousin, the falafel :-D. . By all means, feel jealous about the latter, because what i just had, are the best falafels ever (and they are served along with the best hummus and very-very hot saunce). And like i said, i get to enjoy those on a rather regular basis. The "chai" however, is a tricky/sticky note here ;).
I know i am making myself available for some criticism here for "enjoying" the Strabucks kinda' chai. Even though i have it quite often, the "chai-tea latte" at Starbucks (or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or Pete's Coffee, or at any one of their cousins), isn't remotely like what i know as chai, with or without the masala. A hundred million people have said that before me, and an equal number is more than likely to say so after me. The name "chai-tea" itself creates confusion, exemplified by the following conversation that i had with my ex-colleague and friend AK, who hails from Russia:
Scene: AK and me standing in the line at Starbucks at workplace, waiting to order.
AK: "Musical, i have to ask you something-What is chai?"
That question drew him a strange look from me. Knowing that chai means the same in Russian as it does in Hindi, it sounded a strange question.
Me: Chai means tea in Hindi, and i guess its the same in Russian.
AK: (Big grin on his face) Yeah, true. But then, why do they (Starbucks) list chai separately and not with tea? So may be it is different indeed.
Me: They are trying to use the term chai for their version of the Indian style chai with spices, milk and sugar. Since in India we call it chai, i guess they just have been using that term. But their version is very different from homestyle masala chai.
And AK was happy, having freshly illuminated himself with the difference between "this" chai and "that" chai :-D.
This debate, whether the chai-tea or whatever is worth your $$ and attention or not, will go on. For me, i have a couple of choices, either to go to the local desi restaurant and order a beverage (many a time after waiting atleast for 15 or so minutes) which might match the taste, but may be served at a temperature totally not acceptable :-D or to go to Starbucks, and get some beverage which is not the same taste, but i can get it boiling hot! I choose both, depending on my mood and time :-D. Oh, and while i am at it, i must tell you that i recently discovered some tea bags for "Indian Chai: Classic Indian Chai with exotic sweet spices". Its black tea with spices, which suit my palate perfectly. For once, i don't reall feel the need to add any milk or sugar to this. The aroma is perfect! I wish they would make something similar with green tea as well, and then we can enjoy kahwa too :).
What can i say, i am shameless. I like that name, chai-and while i continue to treat myself to my home made REAL CHAI every weeekend and some weeknights (along with the delish goodness like upma, paranthas and what not), some weekends when i am not at home, and missing my buddies, i let the emotional appeal of that word get the better of me. I miss chirping with MD and Golden Girl over a cup of hot chai, i miss how Ms. Moon demands that her chai should not have any spice in it. And to think of it, i never even had much chai or coffee till i got into Graduate School. Like i have said before, chai and pakodas are the best combo, especially when friends are around :-D. And having a less than optimal "chai", with what i will again describe as the best falafels ever, sounds pretty good on such evenings :-D.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Give me my sourdough :)
Yeah, yeah, as if i could do without talking about food here for long ;). Well, there is no recipe here, and there's a lot more to tell before i get to the "food rant", which makes it suitable for my diary. If you want to snark on the inappropriate title, so be it :-D. So, last week i was away for cpl. of days for a conference near San Francisco. The conference was near a tourist spot, Point Reyes, about one and half hours away from the city. We drove to Point Reyes from San Francisco late in the evening, which meant that we would encounter fog and low visibility. That would only add to the already difficult, serpentine route on highway one :-D.
The Bay Bridge was closed that day, because of the oil spill that everyone has heard about now. We had to make it to the conference by 7:30, because a colleague had her presentation the same day!! After crossing the Golden Gate, we were on our way! While driving through the foggy, dark and very serpentine route, we didn't even realize that we were driving sooooooo close to the ocean!! That realization would set in after a cpl. of day on our ways back, when we would be driving during the day time. This part of highway one is really scenic and gorgeous during the day time, but in a very dizzy way! The many twists and turns can leave one car-sick!
Highway one, on the way back
The conference venue was kinda' obscure.....we missed it, went ahead a cpl. of miles, only to realize that we needed to turn around :-D. This place, as a colleague intutively remarked (which turned out to be an accurate hunch)-was an ex-rehab place!! The place was around a bay, very dark and foggy, just like everywhere else around there, in the night. But we were thrilled to have reached in time, and safely at that! What with a cpl. of deer and a coyote sightings during the drive!
The next morning revealed the true beauty of the place! Lush with pines and wildflowers, it was refreshing! The place is near the sea-shore and has cute lil' trails to explore and enjoy the natural beauty and fresh air! Whatever tiredness (and bitterness) we had gathered from our drive the day before, all melted away!
A big plus about this place was their kitchen! They surely took good care of the vegetarians :-D. I have written here before about how conference usually reserve pasta and salad for vegetarians. Why complain, i will agree with you that conference food in gereal isn't anything good. But here, they had a huge number of choices for breakfast, one vegetarian soup and great bread for lunch and dinner everyday, besides some really well done salads, pastas, vegetables and desserts (except the first day when people felt if the cake was doused, no, make it soaked, in marsala, instead of a gentle drizzle!). I was kinda' thrilled :).
It was nice being San Francisco after a long time, even if that meant mostly driving through the city. I love the city, and i don't mean just the tourist attractions. I love the fact that they have a reasonable public transport system there and a lot of other such things :). No plastic bags, for instance :). And it has something like seasons (compared to Los Angeles) :-D. There's a lot more thats nice and lovely about this city. I just like the place, i love it, actually!
So, on our way back, we stopped at Fisherman's Wharf for lunch-we went to Boudin's. They are known for their sourdough. and i am known for my love for sourdough. i was really hoping something yummy, having had their bread a number of times. All my hopes were dashed when the only vegetarian sandwich on their take-out menu was NOT ON SOURDOUGH! Now you know what made me sour enough to entitle my post thus!! I am not a big fan of cold sandwiches, and the "No sourdough for you" didn't make it anymore pleasant for me :). What made it more painful was the sight of everyone enjoying their breadbowl (well, clam chowder in breadbowl) :-D. My experience during the conference had spolied me into expecting something great :-D. But seriously, was i expecting them to have a fake corn chowder, sans bacon, on their menu, just for people like me ;). Not quite, its Fisherman's Wharf, so naturally the emphasis would be on sea-food. But a sandwich with sourdough wouldn't hurt, though may be, for those (including vegetarians) who visit Fisherman's Wharf for reasons other than having sea-food (which many say isn't great), may be its a decent idea to have some vegetarian soup that can be served in bread bowls :-D. I have to tell you this though, i made myself a nice breadbowl with fake corn chowder soon after i got back home!! ok, not that soon, the next day :-D.
And, to those, who love a breadbowl: please think before ordering one, especially if you don't intend to finish the breadbowl! There's a lot of food wasted, why would you want to contribute to that! Or may be we can have smaller bowls? I told ya, i was gonna' rant ;).
The Bay Bridge was closed that day, because of the oil spill that everyone has heard about now. We had to make it to the conference by 7:30, because a colleague had her presentation the same day!! After crossing the Golden Gate, we were on our way! While driving through the foggy, dark and very serpentine route, we didn't even realize that we were driving sooooooo close to the ocean!! That realization would set in after a cpl. of day on our ways back, when we would be driving during the day time. This part of highway one is really scenic and gorgeous during the day time, but in a very dizzy way! The many twists and turns can leave one car-sick!
Highway one, on the way back
The next morning revealed the true beauty of the place! Lush with pines and wildflowers, it was refreshing! The place is near the sea-shore and has cute lil' trails to explore and enjoy the natural beauty and fresh air! Whatever tiredness (and bitterness) we had gathered from our drive the day before, all melted away!
A big plus about this place was their kitchen! They surely took good care of the vegetarians :-D. I have written here before about how conference usually reserve pasta and salad for vegetarians. Why complain, i will agree with you that conference food in gereal isn't anything good. But here, they had a huge number of choices for breakfast, one vegetarian soup and great bread for lunch and dinner everyday, besides some really well done salads, pastas, vegetables and desserts (except the first day when people felt if the cake was doused, no, make it soaked, in marsala, instead of a gentle drizzle!). I was kinda' thrilled :).
It was nice being San Francisco after a long time, even if that meant mostly driving through the city. I love the city, and i don't mean just the tourist attractions. I love the fact that they have a reasonable public transport system there and a lot of other such things :). No plastic bags, for instance :). And it has something like seasons (compared to Los Angeles) :-D. There's a lot more thats nice and lovely about this city. I just like the place, i love it, actually!
So, on our way back, we stopped at Fisherman's Wharf for lunch-we went to Boudin's. They are known for their sourdough. and i am known for my love for sourdough. i was really hoping something yummy, having had their bread a number of times. All my hopes were dashed when the only vegetarian sandwich on their take-out menu was NOT ON SOURDOUGH! Now you know what made me sour enough to entitle my post thus!! I am not a big fan of cold sandwiches, and the "No sourdough for you" didn't make it anymore pleasant for me :). What made it more painful was the sight of everyone enjoying their breadbowl (well, clam chowder in breadbowl) :-D. My experience during the conference had spolied me into expecting something great :-D. But seriously, was i expecting them to have a fake corn chowder, sans bacon, on their menu, just for people like me ;). Not quite, its Fisherman's Wharf, so naturally the emphasis would be on sea-food. But a sandwich with sourdough wouldn't hurt, though may be, for those (including vegetarians) who visit Fisherman's Wharf for reasons other than having sea-food (which many say isn't great), may be its a decent idea to have some vegetarian soup that can be served in bread bowls :-D. I have to tell you this though, i made myself a nice breadbowl with fake corn chowder soon after i got back home!! ok, not that soon, the next day :-D.
And, to those, who love a breadbowl: please think before ordering one, especially if you don't intend to finish the breadbowl! There's a lot of food wasted, why would you want to contribute to that! Or may be we can have smaller bowls? I told ya, i was gonna' rant ;).
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
I saw a bumble-bee :)
Last week, my friend Swiss-Miss chided me a bit....."You have no life", she chirped! As i chuckled shamelessly, she continued, "You should enjoy life a bit, go out, have some time for yourself. Lets go to Lake Shrine this weekend".
Ah! This was not the first time that she asked me to visit this particular place. To her, this place means a lot. In her words, "Its so serene and peaceful, totally takes the stress of your mind". She always vividly decribes this place and its beauty. After my failed attempts to avoid going there, i finally gave in. I didn't want to upset a friend and given the fact that i was not feeling too well, i decided to take the plunge :).
The lake shrine indeed is a lovely place, with the lush greenery holding a beautiful lake in her lap, and its wears mostly an au naturale look.
Nestled in Pacific Palisades, near Pacific Coast Highway, this place did provide a few moments of calm, what with two lil' falls, a serene lake, swans, a variety of flowers, butterflies and even a bumble bee :). There is a service held in the morning for meditation, according to Swiss-Miss. She usually attends the same on weekends. We went there in the afternoon, so i didn't get to see what it was all about. For us, the main purpose that day was to go out and enjoy. And we did :).
The main reason my friend thought i would like this place is, ofcourse, its Indian roots/connection. The place was founded by Paramhansa Yogananda in 1950 and has Mahatma Gandhi memorial too.
These pictures are not the prettiest, but i enjoyed taking them :). It was quite adventurous though! You are not allowed to talk on your cell phone, and i clicked my pictures with a cell phone camera!! Not that i was talking, but its easy to misinterpret :).
Isn't that a pretty picture :). There were only two swans in the lake and i caught this one at the right moment. The garden is full of beautiful flowers, including roses, which are really fragrant!
And here's the picture that made my day :). A bhanwra/bumble-bee! Hadn't seen one in ages! It was a site to behold!
They even have a small suvenir shop/store. They have a great incense collection, and me being an incense lover, i did indulge a bit :). It is indeed a nice place, and we had a nice outing. After we got back to the University, we had our really late lunch at Elysee. It is a bliss to top it all with a chocolate cheese-cake, i tell you :).
Ah! This was not the first time that she asked me to visit this particular place. To her, this place means a lot. In her words, "Its so serene and peaceful, totally takes the stress of your mind". She always vividly decribes this place and its beauty. After my failed attempts to avoid going there, i finally gave in. I didn't want to upset a friend and given the fact that i was not feeling too well, i decided to take the plunge :).
The lake shrine indeed is a lovely place, with the lush greenery holding a beautiful lake in her lap, and its wears mostly an au naturale look.
Nestled in Pacific Palisades, near Pacific Coast Highway, this place did provide a few moments of calm, what with two lil' falls, a serene lake, swans, a variety of flowers, butterflies and even a bumble bee :). There is a service held in the morning for meditation, according to Swiss-Miss. She usually attends the same on weekends. We went there in the afternoon, so i didn't get to see what it was all about. For us, the main purpose that day was to go out and enjoy. And we did :).
The main reason my friend thought i would like this place is, ofcourse, its Indian roots/connection. The place was founded by Paramhansa Yogananda in 1950 and has Mahatma Gandhi memorial too.
These pictures are not the prettiest, but i enjoyed taking them :). It was quite adventurous though! You are not allowed to talk on your cell phone, and i clicked my pictures with a cell phone camera!! Not that i was talking, but its easy to misinterpret :).
Isn't that a pretty picture :). There were only two swans in the lake and i caught this one at the right moment. The garden is full of beautiful flowers, including roses, which are really fragrant!
And here's the picture that made my day :). A bhanwra/bumble-bee! Hadn't seen one in ages! It was a site to behold!
They even have a small suvenir shop/store. They have a great incense collection, and me being an incense lover, i did indulge a bit :). It is indeed a nice place, and we had a nice outing. After we got back to the University, we had our really late lunch at Elysee. It is a bliss to top it all with a chocolate cheese-cake, i tell you :).
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Something yummy awaits you :)
Dear readers,
You know that i never leave an opportunity to talk about food-so this time i went whole hog! Yes, i made myself a lil' online food-corner. And my chirps in this diary continue as usual :).
Hope you are all having a good time.
Cheers,
musical.
You know that i never leave an opportunity to talk about food-so this time i went whole hog! Yes, i made myself a lil' online food-corner. And my chirps in this diary continue as usual :).
Hope you are all having a good time.
Cheers,
musical.
Monday, March 05, 2007
That is so not fare!
Friends, there is a whole big world of blogs there talking about my favorite topic-FOOD :). Yes, food blogs are fun, they are a simply great podium for sharing thoughts and idea about the fine art of cooking. I am particularly an ardent fan of desi food blogs. These blogs write all about food-describing recipes in detail (with step-by-step instruction), sharing cultural trivia about regional dishes, creative and fun ideas for healthy khana and above all great, great pictures. I love cooking too, but i am lazy :). Cooking great food is one thing, but it really takes a lot of that extra something and plenty of hard-work to post nice detailed recipes with fantastic pictures on a blog.....These writers do it for the love of cooking, with an intention of sharing what they have learnt with years of experience.
Much respect to these bloggers for sharing their wonderful creations and pictures with everyone. and yes, they make it all available to us for free!
Lately, though, desi food blogosphere has suffered a lot-several big-time portals have been copying recipes with pictures from these blogs and posting them on the web-without ever taking their permission or even acknowledging the author! Now, how disgusting is that! I first read about this on Sailu's new blog on how Sify had stolen pictures from her blogand posted them on their food forum! and today i read this , this and this on Mahanandi, Sailu's blog and Trupti's blog, respectively. Yahoo India had stolen recipes from Surya Gayathri's blog. Now, how disgusting is that! These bloggers are ever willing to exchange and share their work, so why not give them due credit for their pictures and recipes, or request them for participating officially.....and don't give me this piece, as to how daal recipe would be more or less the same! Please, daal recipe may be more or less the same-but the language, presentation, little suggestions and pictures ARE NOT!
Friends, if you can-please do write a few words on your blog about this. We should totally support fellow bloggers in their fight against this sort of injustice.
Sample a few great blogs like Mahanandi, My Khazana of Recipes, Foodie's Hope, The Spice who loved me, One Hot Stove, Saffron Hut, Saffron Trail, Sailu's Foodand many many more (you would find the links in these blogs, and i am going to link them soon too).
Much respect to these bloggers for sharing their wonderful creations and pictures with everyone. and yes, they make it all available to us for free!
Lately, though, desi food blogosphere has suffered a lot-several big-time portals have been copying recipes with pictures from these blogs and posting them on the web-without ever taking their permission or even acknowledging the author! Now, how disgusting is that! I first read about this on Sailu's new blog on how Sify had stolen pictures from her blogand posted them on their food forum! and today i read this , this and this on Mahanandi, Sailu's blog and Trupti's blog, respectively. Yahoo India had stolen recipes from Surya Gayathri's blog. Now, how disgusting is that! These bloggers are ever willing to exchange and share their work, so why not give them due credit for their pictures and recipes, or request them for participating officially.....and don't give me this piece, as to how daal recipe would be more or less the same! Please, daal recipe may be more or less the same-but the language, presentation, little suggestions and pictures ARE NOT!
Friends, if you can-please do write a few words on your blog about this. We should totally support fellow bloggers in their fight against this sort of injustice.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Moongphali :)
I simply can't stay away from talking about food for long :).
and right now all i am thinking of is.....Moongphali, yes-my favorite winter-time snack.
This word itself is evoking nostalgia.....ah! the smell of roasted moongphali, with the chilka (shell). you could buy it from kiryana stores in bulk, or small packets from the rehdis/pheris/carts.....hmm, buying moongphali at the bus-stop while waiting for the bus after college used to be a favorite pass time. interestingly, this wonderful thing is also popularly known as "time-pass" for these very sentiments. i recall, how as a lil' kid, i used to bother my Dad to remove the shells for me.....that taste and aroma of moongphali from Desh is something out of this world. i have not found that slightly sweet and milky sort of taste, much desired if you want to eat plain mongphali, in the varities sold here.....the local varieties here go well with salt, while i don't recall having relied on salted moongphali alone back home except for the occasional fried moongphali with masala, besan wali moongphali, or the different namkeens with moongphali. the desi moongphali infact tasted equally good plain! roasted and with shells, or boiled (in salt water) like we used to get it in Bangalore.....the closest anything got to desi moongphali is something dry-roasted from Trader Joe's. I also love their spicy Thai Lime and Chilli moongphali. its yummy.....Golden Girl and i often munch on that with tea.....just like that, for time-pass ;).
Oh! i am missing my favorite snack.....
and right now all i am thinking of is.....Moongphali, yes-my favorite winter-time snack.
This word itself is evoking nostalgia.....ah! the smell of roasted moongphali, with the chilka (shell). you could buy it from kiryana stores in bulk, or small packets from the rehdis/pheris/carts.....hmm, buying moongphali at the bus-stop while waiting for the bus after college used to be a favorite pass time. interestingly, this wonderful thing is also popularly known as "time-pass" for these very sentiments. i recall, how as a lil' kid, i used to bother my Dad to remove the shells for me.....that taste and aroma of moongphali from Desh is something out of this world. i have not found that slightly sweet and milky sort of taste, much desired if you want to eat plain mongphali, in the varities sold here.....the local varieties here go well with salt, while i don't recall having relied on salted moongphali alone back home except for the occasional fried moongphali with masala, besan wali moongphali, or the different namkeens with moongphali. the desi moongphali infact tasted equally good plain! roasted and with shells, or boiled (in salt water) like we used to get it in Bangalore.....the closest anything got to desi moongphali is something dry-roasted from Trader Joe's. I also love their spicy Thai Lime and Chilli moongphali. its yummy.....Golden Girl and i often munch on that with tea.....just like that, for time-pass ;).
Oh! i am missing my favorite snack.....
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Bas ek cup chai.....
Last night, i so felt like having a cup of tea.....late in the night, when i was so tired, i longed for that cup of warm and soothing elixir.....
i did get up and make myself a cup of hot masala chai. and as i was sipping on my chai, a few thoughts were brewing in my mind.....oh! i was nostalgic again.....
What is it in this cup to make me so nostalgic-besides milk, tea, sugar and the spices.....what is that magic ingredient.....
That magic, that warmth comes not only from this wonderful mix having reached the boiling point, but all that goes along with it.....
A lot happens over a cup of tea.....tired minds try to find excuses to unwind-all in the name of "bas ek cup chai".....its not chai that one craves for, its what comes with a cup of chai thats most comforting.....if you are alone, you mull over things, giving yourself enough space. The chit-chat, the sharing of thoughts, when you have chai with friends.
The countless cups of chai that i had with my friends late in the night.....dicussing the projects, the work, the movies, music festivals and a lot else.....the chai in that canteen may not have been the best, but the comfort it brought, definitely was.....we all used to share our thoughts over that cup of chai, in that canteen which everyone knew as the Tea-Board.....ironically so named, because there was another cafe' in the campus run by the Coffee-Board, which people simply referred to as the Coffee-Board!
The chai that i shared with Ms. Moon, even though sometimes it was just Dunkin-Donuts' vanilla chai.....or the plain chai at home, as Ms. Moon hates elaichis in her chai.....the thoughts mattered most.....the thoughts that secretly brewed along to make the chai a magic chai.....
The tea-party with Arshi, which was special in everyway, because it gave us time to talk and share books, thoughts and indulge in plain movie gossip sometimes :).
The chai with Ms. Doll, when we both sat silent and just sipped on.....for friends understand without words, what goes through each others mind.
The countless cups of chai at our favorite Indian corner or Starbucks, which MD and i shared.....discussing the latest news and work.....and which we both miss a lot, now that she's in a different continent.....
The chai that Golden Girl and i enjoy during our weekend brunches, watching her four year old daughter play.....and sometimes during the week, the hot chai/coffee brew that we buy from the vending machine.....just because we are lazy to walk a bit, and get "better" tea/coffee.....it doesn't matter. we just sit in our favorite corner, and the chai just tastes as good.
its that something extra in this cup, that makes me nostalgic.....
its that something extra in this cup, which adds a flavor that lasts a lifetime.....
Hope you are enjoying your cup of chai.....
i did get up and make myself a cup of hot masala chai. and as i was sipping on my chai, a few thoughts were brewing in my mind.....oh! i was nostalgic again.....
What is it in this cup to make me so nostalgic-besides milk, tea, sugar and the spices.....what is that magic ingredient.....
That magic, that warmth comes not only from this wonderful mix having reached the boiling point, but all that goes along with it.....
A lot happens over a cup of tea.....tired minds try to find excuses to unwind-all in the name of "bas ek cup chai".....its not chai that one craves for, its what comes with a cup of chai thats most comforting.....if you are alone, you mull over things, giving yourself enough space. The chit-chat, the sharing of thoughts, when you have chai with friends.
The countless cups of chai that i had with my friends late in the night.....dicussing the projects, the work, the movies, music festivals and a lot else.....the chai in that canteen may not have been the best, but the comfort it brought, definitely was.....we all used to share our thoughts over that cup of chai, in that canteen which everyone knew as the Tea-Board.....ironically so named, because there was another cafe' in the campus run by the Coffee-Board, which people simply referred to as the Coffee-Board!
The chai that i shared with Ms. Moon, even though sometimes it was just Dunkin-Donuts' vanilla chai.....or the plain chai at home, as Ms. Moon hates elaichis in her chai.....the thoughts mattered most.....the thoughts that secretly brewed along to make the chai a magic chai.....
The tea-party with Arshi, which was special in everyway, because it gave us time to talk and share books, thoughts and indulge in plain movie gossip sometimes :).
The chai with Ms. Doll, when we both sat silent and just sipped on.....for friends understand without words, what goes through each others mind.
The countless cups of chai at our favorite Indian corner or Starbucks, which MD and i shared.....discussing the latest news and work.....and which we both miss a lot, now that she's in a different continent.....
The chai that Golden Girl and i enjoy during our weekend brunches, watching her four year old daughter play.....and sometimes during the week, the hot chai/coffee brew that we buy from the vending machine.....just because we are lazy to walk a bit, and get "better" tea/coffee.....it doesn't matter. we just sit in our favorite corner, and the chai just tastes as good.
its that something extra in this cup, that makes me nostalgic.....
its that something extra in this cup, which adds a flavor that lasts a lifetime.....
Hope you are enjoying your cup of chai.....
Friday, December 01, 2006
The great dinner time questions by and for a desi :)
Hmm, today was a busy day :). Have been up since 5:30 AM. Too tired right now, but i must share this with y'all. You must know, i am a real foodie and a chatter-box. and so this post is about my lunch and dinner today-and the chit-chat while taking care of my calorific needs ;). Hold on, this isn't as simple as it sounds. There are those lunches and dinners that you love to attend, and then there are those that you have to. The latter is the focus here, folks.
You know, these are the lunches at the most expensive restaurants in the best of hotels, where you go as a part of professional obligations/duties :). The celebratory lunches and dinners.....;).The kinds, where the ambience promises to be great, but the dining leaves a lot to be desired-both in terms of whats on your platter and the conversations during food. Read on, this desi first asked some silent questions and .....got asked the most brilliant question ever!
And so, my lunch and dinner today was at two 'great' restaurants in Santa Monica in two adjoining hotels facing the beach-after a marathon session of presentations and discussions. I totally love this place-ideal setting:beach, sun and warmth.....
The lunch, well, was a buffet: one salad, breads, cous-cous, ravioli, fish and chicken. Yummy, yeah :)). If only you knew that salad was just arugula leaves with the blandest possible dressing, cous-cous didn't taste like cous-cous and rest everything was not my cup of tea since i am a vegetarian. Colleagues informed that rest of the stuff could probably count as one of their least memorable outings! If only money could buy flavor and taste.....The dinner was more expensive, with fewer vegetarian choices (one salad and a ravioli). The food was fine, OK Some discussion with colleagues and some senior people, very interesting thoughts and experiences exchanged while waiting for the main course.
but here are my questions: 1. Why can't such places provide better quality food for the exorbitant prices they charge. 2. Why does the vegetarian choice end at either a very rich ravioli or a very light salad (indeed, this has been my experience at the so called fine dining places). The learned and experienced chefs can do wonders (hopefully) with meat, poultry and fish-does it really take a lot else to dish up something vegetarian thats innovative, delicious and fulfilling.
And as they say, save the best for the last: so here comes the masala. During the dinner, the gentleman sitting next to me was chatting with me. He looked Indian (but he wasn't)-and asked where i was from. After talking about tons of things, including how difficult it must have been for me to be away from home all by myself (really, i get this a lot)-he popped the question :)). No, not THAT question, silly. What is the best thing anyone ask an Indian-any guesses?
" Do you still have elephants roaming around on streets in India".....(swoon).....
i am charmed.....the wit, the intelligence.....ah! my dil goes ummmmmmmmmm ;)
do you have any answers.....
i thought of this ;)
and this :)).
PS: Don't believe it? I felt may be i was hallucinating! but no, other people heard it too and were shocked beyond their wits.....and i thought such stuff existed only in bad comedies.....guys, i need a chai.....(rushes to the kitchen). Let these pictures soothe a hurting desi dil.
....
You know, these are the lunches at the most expensive restaurants in the best of hotels, where you go as a part of professional obligations/duties :). The celebratory lunches and dinners.....;).The kinds, where the ambience promises to be great, but the dining leaves a lot to be desired-both in terms of whats on your platter and the conversations during food. Read on, this desi first asked some silent questions and .....got asked the most brilliant question ever!
And so, my lunch and dinner today was at two 'great' restaurants in Santa Monica in two adjoining hotels facing the beach-after a marathon session of presentations and discussions. I totally love this place-ideal setting:beach, sun and warmth.....
The lunch, well, was a buffet: one salad, breads, cous-cous, ravioli, fish and chicken. Yummy, yeah :)). If only you knew that salad was just arugula leaves with the blandest possible dressing, cous-cous didn't taste like cous-cous and rest everything was not my cup of tea since i am a vegetarian. Colleagues informed that rest of the stuff could probably count as one of their least memorable outings! If only money could buy flavor and taste.....The dinner was more expensive, with fewer vegetarian choices (one salad and a ravioli). The food was fine, OK Some discussion with colleagues and some senior people, very interesting thoughts and experiences exchanged while waiting for the main course.
but here are my questions: 1. Why can't such places provide better quality food for the exorbitant prices they charge. 2. Why does the vegetarian choice end at either a very rich ravioli or a very light salad (indeed, this has been my experience at the so called fine dining places). The learned and experienced chefs can do wonders (hopefully) with meat, poultry and fish-does it really take a lot else to dish up something vegetarian thats innovative, delicious and fulfilling.
And as they say, save the best for the last: so here comes the masala. During the dinner, the gentleman sitting next to me was chatting with me. He looked Indian (but he wasn't)-and asked where i was from. After talking about tons of things, including how difficult it must have been for me to be away from home all by myself (really, i get this a lot)-he popped the question :)). No, not THAT question, silly. What is the best thing anyone ask an Indian-any guesses?
" Do you still have elephants roaming around on streets in India".....(swoon).....
i am charmed.....the wit, the intelligence.....ah! my dil goes ummmmmmmmmm ;)
do you have any answers.....
i thought of this ;)
and this :)).
PS: Don't believe it? I felt may be i was hallucinating! but no, other people heard it too and were shocked beyond their wits.....and i thought such stuff existed only in bad comedies.....guys, i need a chai.....(rushes to the kitchen). Let these pictures soothe a hurting desi dil.
....
Friday, November 24, 2006
Teesri Gali ka Vihar :)
The original motive of this post was to give some friends (who are currently enjoying their vacation elsewhere) an update of my extra-curricular activities, and that i WAS enjoying the holiday time. But as the day progressed, I realized that my excursion was turning into something blogworthy, a truly desi tunnel vision experience. Hmm, so here goes:
Its the Friday after Thanksgiving-6:00 AM, wake up with an interesting news on the TV (TV that’s been playing whole night, and usually does), about a new likeness based search engine like.com that would allow you to shop for your favorite celebrity style goodies. Quite “go-shop”inducing news. Even otherwise its been constantly drilled into my head by friends and colleagues, how I must go and avail the early bird discounts.....Well, so today I decide to go check it out. Hold on, but in the subsequent news, Chris Schaubel is reporting on how different stores arepotential wrestling zones.....Ohhhhhhh no, I don’t want to do that-the shopping bulb is dimming.....then, I have this brilliant flash. Go Santa Monica, Third Street Promenade. I assure myself that it wouldn’t be too crowded.....and thus the day begins. I get up, get ready, have breakfast and am off to SHOP.
10:00 AM, I reach Macy’s, avail some good discounts-buy a bag and a pair of ear-rings.....am completely emotional seeing ear-rings, they so remind me of Ms. E, one of my friends in Boston for whom my present always was a pair of ear-rings.....and no, neither I, nor she have and Henry Blofeld fixation. As I parade around, I hear some Marathi, she’s a really sweet Aunty ji and soon approaches me to ask if one or the other color would be better for the scarf she wants to buy for her daughter. We have a cute lil’ exchange, wish each other and move on.
11:00 AM, I walk out of the Santa Monica Place after spending some more time (and money) at my all time favorite: The Bath and Body Works . A block away I am greeted by two Indian guys, one of whom has a big Nama on his forehead. The guys say “Excuse me Maam,please take a minute to look through this book about meditation, its free, you can take it”.....and the dude hands out a book with the title “Bhagvad Geeta”. I wonder if Geeta has just been reduced to a book on meditation. I am a lil’ upset now, I politely refuse and walk on and keep wondering about it for next few minutes or more.....and I worry if this kind of preachiness is doing anyone any good-come on, if you really want to talk about it, put up a stall, keep the books, let the interested people come and do it for themselves.
11:20 AM, there is a sudden urge to hit the bookstore. I contemplate stopping by Borders on the way to lab, completely unaware that I am in front of one :). realization dawns upon me and I walk in and buy a couple of books (will write about them soon). BTW, I didn’t like this store much, they have very limited desi and psychology collection.....Westwood store is better, anywday. but I loved the lady who helped find a certain book.
Aha, and all this while I have also kept my camera-phone busy, clicking pics for whatever its worth. The pictures range from the really fake looking but cute X’mas trees, my favorite Poinsettias, balloons, flowers and what not :).
11:45 AM, I am at Express, and I am out within 15 minutes of idling around. I move on to Levi’s and soon realize that i am plain bored.
12:10 PM, am a bit tired and need something to charge me up-I decide upon Starbucks and get a Chai-at this moment am not interested in too much caffiene-just some warm liquid to soothe me. I lounge around a bit, reading one of the books I bought and listen to the music playing in the background. After Chai, its one more round of pictures, another lil’ walk to Santa Monica Place, and on the way am about to be greeted by the same bunch of guys, when they realize that I have been there before . they catch hold of a Japanese guy instead, who also politely refuses them and moves on. Inside the mall, I notice a shop named “India Arts”, am not sure if it refers to Indians from Asia or the Native Indians.
1:20 PM, hunger pangs.....I am in the food court now, and look around aimlessly. I know where I am headed to. I so feel like checking out the Indian corner here: Tandoor Cafe’. The owners are a cute Aunty ji and a gruffy Uncle ji. The girl on the counter is asking people to try out “samples”, she’s not Indian and so its a bit tricky to place the order as I end up ordering Palak instead of Spinach . Confusion sorted, I buy an onion naan with palak ka saag. I find myself a seat and sample the food.....The saag has got a lil’ sweet taste. I was hoping for something with my favorite ginger and a bit spicy fair.....its strictly OK. The naan smells fresh, its got a freshly baked home like quality (you know the smell of atta in tandoori rotis when you just take them out of tandoor, that smell)-its a big portion, has great texture, crispy outside and fluffy inside, but I strongly wish they had added some salt to the dough. and hope am not being too critical. I really wish them to be a hugely popular and succesful Desi food joint.
A picture of my khana
2:00 PM, am about to finish my lunch and I notice an Indian girl sporting Trojans t-shirt, as she sits close by and smiles. I smile back and we have the usual exchange-its sweet. She’s from Ne Delhi and I inform her that I am from Delhi too (well, that’s not completely true, I am from Amritsar, Delhi, Bangalore, Boston, New York City and Los Angeles equally). She is a graduate student doing Computer Science and claims that its very predictable. We exchange few more silly things, wish each other and I realize its 2: 30 PM and I have had enough masti for the day. I better go to the lab and do some work .
So, this is the story, full of Desiyana-ekdum interesting and enjoyable.....hai na Tunnel vision turning the Third Street Promenade into Teesri Gali ka Vihar.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Today's menu
Its a holiday, time to eat something yummier than usual.
The SoCal weather finally feels like a bit wintery, lil' foggy and chilly:).
So Chai n' mooli paratha for b'fast.
Pita Sandwich with hummus, sprouts, zucchini and tomato, with hot Cafe' Latte for lunch.
and the menu should not just be about food, today's menu must include calling up friends, listening to some great music, watching a good movie/reading a great book and thanking all the good people around.
May be its the corner grocery store people or may be the T, Subway, Blue Bus staff, may be the doorman in the apartment building, anyone who's doing something for others.....wish them a great holiday with a smile. Thats the nicest topping on today's menu.
Be cozy, happy and have a good time.....Enjoy.
The SoCal weather finally feels like a bit wintery, lil' foggy and chilly:).
So Chai n' mooli paratha for b'fast.
Pita Sandwich with hummus, sprouts, zucchini and tomato, with hot Cafe' Latte for lunch.
and the menu should not just be about food, today's menu must include calling up friends, listening to some great music, watching a good movie/reading a great book and thanking all the good people around.
May be its the corner grocery store people or may be the T, Subway, Blue Bus staff, may be the doorman in the apartment building, anyone who's doing something for others.....wish them a great holiday with a smile. Thats the nicest topping on today's menu.
Be cozy, happy and have a good time.....Enjoy.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Indiawich!
Aha! the title of this post sounds strange. Many of us have heard of Naanwich, and i really heart this wonderful fusion khana, but Indiawich-well, that was a surprise, hehe.
So, the story goes, there is a sandwich place in West Los Angeles that goes by the name East-West Sandwich. they specialize, and you are right, in fusion sandwiches. and so they have Japanwich, Chinawich, Koreawich and INDIAWICH!
And this is one extremely popular place, popular among all sorts of people.
and here's the descrption of their INDIAWICH, reproduced here ad verbatim, for your reading pleasure.....
Chicken yellow curry and yellow curry salmon!!!!!
Now, if anyone can answer the following questions for me "whats Madras Curry powder" and even if we assume that it refers to some spice mix with Southern Indian Spices that flavor our beloved Sambar, rasam, palyas and kootus, i certainly am left wondering, if yellow curry is an Indian dish i know of.....Go figure, this is your Thanksgiving homework :)).
So, the story goes, there is a sandwich place in West Los Angeles that goes by the name East-West Sandwich. they specialize, and you are right, in fusion sandwiches. and so they have Japanwich, Chinawich, Koreawich and INDIAWICH!
And this is one extremely popular place, popular among all sorts of people.
and here's the descrption of their INDIAWICH, reproduced here ad verbatim, for your reading pleasure.....
Our INDIAWICH™ sandwiches are prepared with madras curry powder which gives them spicy but not overpowering flavor.and this interesting creation is presented in two glorious flavors:
Chicken yellow curry and yellow curry salmon!!!!!
Now, if anyone can answer the following questions for me "whats Madras Curry powder" and even if we assume that it refers to some spice mix with Southern Indian Spices that flavor our beloved Sambar, rasam, palyas and kootus, i certainly am left wondering, if yellow curry is an Indian dish i know of.....Go figure, this is your Thanksgiving homework :)).
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