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Around the World in Coffee – #2 Seoul
The city of Seoul is colorful, vibrant and busy. The lofty office buildings of Samsung, LG, Hyundai and more make the most of the spaces in the city. Hence, it would be natural for coffee shops to be patterned among them. They offer mostly cold coffees in a plethora of flavors and they come in different sizes too. One may ask, how much coffee is too much coffee? I don’t think that matters in Seoul!
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An Idyllic Affair with Idli
The sheer varieties of idlis are astounding! If the long queues in outlets of Bengaluru for Thatte Idlis are a testimony to its fame, then the earnest search for Ramassery Idlis from Palakkad is a corroboration to its flavor. Idli has reinvented itself with innovative spins such as fried idlis, button idlis, podi idlis, tender coconut idlis and much more. But idli has withstood all the experiments on it and endured to be that comfort food that reminds of home for many! The variety of idli that comes to my mind on this World Idli Day is the Kovil Idli…
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Around the World in Coffee – #1 Japan
You might miss this place at first glance but a good coffee place always catches the eye of a coffee lover! Destiny wills it so! In an array of shops, the facade of this cafe stands humble and welcomes you with hues of pastel shades. The doorway is lit by a faint yellow that splinters through the double ceiling from a charming chandelier. A dichotomy of silence and activity is ensconced within the 4 walls of this space. Huddled in an arm chair with books around, waiting for coffee against the backdrop of rain must be in the checklist of…
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Bengaluru Columns
#4 Chickpet: There was no choice but to take a call and head into one of the narrowest alleys I had ever seen. The narrow alley was claimed by a slew of parked bikes and a stream of people walking – some on phone, some carrying carts and others heaving bundles. Maneouvering through a changing maze, we finally reached at the end of the alley where we could not help but enter another one. It took us some time to realize that we have broken through and entered Chickpet. Now, the challenge was to get out!
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Bengaluru Columns
#3 Masala Dosas: It is a simple food that gives a lot of joy. The unassuming, affordable, and amicable dish is a witness to a lot of emotions in this city!
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Bengaluru Columns
#2 Purple Line: Betrayal and dismay was wrought in the face of the bus conductor who threw the QR code scanner onto my lap. I was relieved and was about to scan the QR code when I realised that many in the bus shared my calamity. The bus conductor roared for passing the scanner while I had barely enabled my camera. The passenger next to me shielded me and told other passengers to wait while I hurried with my payment. I smiled gratefully at her. In the next 20 mins to our destination we chatted. I commented my thoughts in…
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Bengaluru Columns
#1 Bookstores: There are marked and determined footfall in these book stores, especially on weekends. The crowd outside on the Church Street is a gauging factor to the crowd inside the bookstores and it is in direct proportion! But what strikes me most is the contrasting nature of its milieu.
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Gelato Galore
Tucked away around the corner, in the ground floor of a mall, this place is easy to miss. In an encapsulation of white walls, sits the myriad colors of frozen delights.
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Sweet tooth of a Maharaja!
Legend, and folks in Mysore, say that the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore had once asked the Royal Cook to create a sweet that would be befitting to become a titular delicacy. Mysore Pak, the famed sweet across the country today, was pioneered thus! So it was enthralling to know that the descendants of this Royal Cook are now owners of a sweet shop, in Mysore, that sells this particular delicacy that tantalized the sweet tooth of the Maharajas!
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Stories from the banks of Lake Pichola
On the banks of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, Rajasthan, one can find in abundance the serenity and majesty of a bygone era. The stories from the Land of the Mewars are replete with strength, beauty, revelry and an admiration for art. One such story is the lake itself which was artificially created in 1362. The […]
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The Tea Room
As they say, love always finds a way and we fell in love with black tea, white tea and matcha tea. We returned as evolved tea addicts! And then the challenge before us was to sustain and grow! We were constantly in exploration of newer fragrances and flavours of tea. It was during one such exploration that we stumbled upon the tea collection in…
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A Hot Cup of Hoshino Coffee
Opening the door to this cafe was like opening the wardrobe in “The Chronicles of Narnia”. It led us to a different world altogether – one that is charming, magical and redolent with the aroma of roasted coffee beans.
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Coffee Around the Corner
The charm of Osaka lies in the smiles of people. They accommodate you as one of their favourite guests and lets you settle in comfortably. Its like getting that cup of coffee you want and also getting it topped with that whipped cream.
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The Coffee Brown Shade of Joy
I spoke to many friends and learnt about the different brands available for filter coffee, from ones homemade to the commercially popular ones. Finally the discussion became fruitful and the solution to my problem was delivered by Amazon at a very reasonable price – a filter and a good filter coffee powder.
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The Tale of Three Cities – Osaka, Kyoto & Tokyo
Soemoncho is a foodie’s paradise, there are a lot of options to try. We tried Salmon and Avocado salad, Japanese Omelette, Curry and rice, Ichiran Ramen and much more in these streets. This is where we found about Kotodama, a wonderful Japanese belief!
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Kappa Chakka Kandhari and Nostalgia on a plate
The best way to describe this place is that the wait of around 2 hours was totally worth it! Kappa Chakka Kandhari is definitely nostalgia on a plate…and a very delectable one too! The dishes remind you of Kerala and its flavours.. Mani Puttu reminded me of home and the importance of fresh coconut.. Karimeen […]
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At Blue Tokai
This Sunday’s food exploration began at Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, Koramangala. The best part of its ambience was that it was complemented by natural sunlight. The settings were also cool with ample space between tables. Soon we found ourselves cosily tucked in a corner ready to order! We placed the following orders and happily, each […]
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Temptingly Theobroma
Theobroma was our weekend destination for amazing brownies, cup cakes, pastries and savouries. I still remember the very first time we visited this cute place in Hiranandani, Powai. Adorned with pastel shades and a view of the lively lanes, this place soon became our favourite weekend indulgence! What I loved the most is the wift […]
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To Catch The First Sunrise Of A New Decade
Japan, the land of the rising sun, had a mystic appeal to us. But the major reason we wanted to visit the country was because Dileep, my husband, is a huge Anime fan. He grew up following Naruto, Death Note, One Piece, Inu Yasha, Pokemon, Beyblade, Digimon, Studio Ghibli movies, Dragonball and One Punch Man […]
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Chai Predicament
I am a coffee person. A bad day, a bad experience, a bad headache and a nasty heartache, my coffee makes them all disappear. I live in Bangalore. The chilly mornings are a perfect backdrop for a hot beverage. The urge to sleep more is always beaten hands down by my urge to drink a […]
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Notes from the Banks of River Dotonbori, Osaka
Flanked by shops and restaurants that sport world renowned names in neon billboards, the banks of this river are lively and happening. Amidst the walls of the lofty buildings is an equally huge and brightly lit signboard of a running man. This is the landmark spot called Glico Man of Osaka.
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A Dash of Nostalgia
A simple dish made out of beaten rice, ghee, jaggery, nuts, cardamon and grated coconut.
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The Feel Green Factor
As I sat there it seemed the plants had grown and is holding me in an embrace. It is an embrace that makes me feel green. Nowadays I tell others that I need to feel green and step out to sit amidst the plants.
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Kulukki Sarbath.. with a pinch of pride!
Dissecting a dish is something that I have always loved to do. I try to guess the spices that have gone into a dish or discern a familiar flavour in it and seek confirmation from the chef… (usually met with raised eyebrows or approving smiles). It was recently that I encountered a challenge. It is […]
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Remembering Mumbai Local #1
M-Indicator App, Just keep it open and be ready! You‘ll be able to find the train and the platform and the time of arrival easily. Everyone told me so. But what they didn’t tell me was to make sure that I put my mobile in the bag and hold my bag tight. Once I found […]
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The Duke …of KTM
I don’t ride bikes, I wish I could but I prefer not to. “Why do we fall Bruce, because we can learn to pick ourselves up”, worked only for the first couple of falls. Black oozing scars on my knee repulsed me not exactly in commensuration with my awe for Christian Bale’s good looks(My favourite […]
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Walking on the edge
Though I attempted for a better caption, something that would be more catchy, I think “Walking on the edge” would suit aptly. It is literally what this blog post is all about. Living a sedentary life, sitting in an “ergonomically” designed chair in a lofty building, like any other IT professional I too decided […]
There is always something extraordinary in an
ordinary day.
Melange 