Reminiscences of a foodie...

Picked up this interesting tag from here

The rules:
So one has to basically list five memorable meals ever eaten: It could be anything that makes the meal memorable – the food, the place, the place you were in your life when you ate, the company, the weather, the ambience – heck, the guy who served the food!”.

Well I do have loads of food memories for sure.... So here goes...

I am sure every home has the tradition of the special sunday lunch. At our place it was usually a special non veg meal, like butter chicken or "Kosha mangsho" or maybe chicken/mutton biriyani ususally cooked by Dad, with moi as his helper (I guess that's how I developed the love for cooking!!)... This meal was more special in the winters, when we had the meal outside in the courtyard on the picnic table, basking in the sun. We also had the option of sitting under the huge beach umbrella, specially installed for the sunday Lunches.. :-D

Winter n basking in the sun also reminds me of the delicious "Sarson ka saag" n "Makki di roti"... I don't know how much saag I have devoured in my lifetime, but I am always craving for more....

Ma ke haath ka khana - Well everyone loves wot their mom makes, so I am no exception. But one of the dish I cant have enough of is "baingan ka bharta". Infact every time I used to go back home from the hostel, there were prior instructions n reminders, that there should be "baingan ka bharta" on the dinner table. That stands true even today... :-) ... Btw, my mom makes the most amazing Channa, that can put many of her Punjabi frenz to shame... OMG, my mouth is already watering!!

This is my earliest food memory n I really miss it now... My dida (nani i.e mom's mom) used to make this amazing "tetuler achaar" (Tamarind pickle) I still have images of her sitting and mixing it with her hands... Sadly neither my mom nor maasi(s) can replicate the same taste.

This one is like a food marathon. A bunch of frenz landed in Indore, to attend a friend's wedding. Indore is like a food haven. Since 3 ppl in the group were true Indoris, we got a guided tour of this fantabulous place called "Chappan", where u can taste an array of mouth watering delectables... we ate n ate n ate, till we could eat no more... all from infamous joshi ji ke dahi bhalle, poha, dahi poori, kachori, shikanjwi, bhutte ka kees, malpua... the list is too long... Highly recommended to anyone visiting Indore.

Then of course there are the memories of midnight maggi in the hostel..."to-die-for" Hot Chocolate fudge by Nirula's... the countless Iced peach tea @ Barista... the numerous cups of Cappuccino @ Starbucks... the yummy momos @ Chanakyapuri... the chinese lunches with the office gang... the late night binges @ Comesum, Nizammudin (its hard to find a 24 hr eatery)... the walk to Sahni bakery n Gopal's @ 22 no Phatak, Patiala... the gol gappas @ Krishna Chat shop... and now I am drooling!!!

I should not be going on and on... I guess I'll go and have a quick pre-midnight snack... :-D

If you happen to read this and you happen to be a food lover, go ahead and take the tag!!!

Some things should never end...

Sunset at the beach

The long drive

Happy memories...

The cup of hot steaming coffee

The box of dark chocolates

The urge to eat good food...

A good book

The funny sitcom

Quality entertainment...

The excitement before a journey

Travels to unknown destinations

Wanderlust...

Heart to heart chats with frenz

Long walks

Friendship...

India Pak cricket matches

English premier league

The will to excel...

The fav music track

Festive seasons

Celebrations of life...

Rainy days
Fragrance of flowers

The simple joys of life...

Gazing at moon-lit star studded skies

Lazy Sunny winter afternoons

The feeling of being content...

Pillow fights

Shopping sprees

Madness...

Family reunions

The comforting feeling of being with loved ones

Family Ties...

Candlelight dinners

Midnight seranades

Mushiness...

Laughing to one's hearts content

Playing pranks

Humour...

Optimism
Never-say-die attitude
Zest to live...

Prayers for a better tomorrow
Search for the silver lining in the dark cloud
Hope...

The transition of Bongs

Non bengalis kindly excuse... You might not understand the post completely.

You know you are a old generation Bong if...

(The younger generation might not associate with the following list)

• You are extremely proud of "Robi Thakur" (Rabindranath Tagore)...n Netaji.
• You will own/inherit a copy of the "Gitobitan"...maybe also a huge record player, where you can play the "Hemanta" records.


• For you, no meal is complete without "maach".
• You are proud of your fish buying skills.
• Your beverage of choice is tea (chaa)... n u will surely know wot "Makaibari" means.
• As soon as you are back from office, you crave for "Chaa" and "Muri".
• You can consume sweets as if there is no tomorrow... a bong wedding is sure to have atleast one "Rosogolla" eating competition.
  


• You refuse to believe in allopathy.
• You would have a family homeopathic doctor though.
  


• Your day is incomplete without the "adda" (more closer to idle gossip)... PNPC.. :)
• You will have a cute "daak-naam" like Khoka, Tukai, Mitthu, Babu, Pintu etc...
  
  (This one is for the Bhadrolok)
• You own atleast one monkey cap... the monstrosity which serves as a cap cum muffler when a bong leaves Kolkata for colder destinations.
• You have an eternal fixation for "Jholas"... and you will most definitely carry a "thole" while going shopping... (I think this should be promoted and we all should carry our own shopping bags - "Say no to plastic bags")

• You can talk about Football at the drop of the hat... and the team you support is more likely to be either Mohan Bagan or East Bengal n not Chelsea or Manchester United.
• You are an ardent fan and supporter of "Dada" (Saurav Ganguly).


• Your day starts with music lessons, practicing Rabindra Sangeet, after all the "Abritti" competition is just around the corner.
• You are just nuts about "jatras".
• You must definitely adore Uttam kumar and love watching Uttam-suchitra classics.


• For you, the Ambassador is a royal vehicle.


• You, most definitely, wear glasses.


• Your cosmetics include Cuticura talcum powder, Keo Karpin and Boroline.

Today's generation Bongs are a changed lot. But,

• We are still proud of Rabindranath Tagore... also Sushmita Sen.


• We still love the varities of fish/seafood... n we most definitely have a sweet tooth.


• We find Coffee to be a more stylish beverage.. thanks to the Baristas and Starbucks around.


• The first signs of cold are enough to make us rush to the nearest Allopathic doctor.


• The days of PNPC are alas gone.. now we have Facebook, Twitter n the likes.


• The "daak-naams" still exist...


• We won't be caught dead wearing a monkey cap, but we do don a layer of innerwear when subjected to colder climatic conditions.


• Jholas are passe...


• Its more cool to be a ManU fan and EPL is lot more exciting... :-)


• Bengali Rock bands rock!!!... seriously... have u heard Fossils, Bhumi, Cactus, Chondrobindu?


• We can still admire the Uttam Kumar movies... its sad that even with abundance of talent, bengali cinema is not getting its dues...


• We still have poor eyesights, thankfully no one knows coz of the contact lenses.


• The smell of Keo Karpin and Boroline still makes us nostalgic.

• We still wear Dhuti Panjabi / Taanter Sari on Ashtami...


• "Bijoya" still means "Pronaam" and "Sharodiya Shubeccha"...


• We still love Daab Chingri, Mochaar daalna, Shorshe Ilish n Kabiraaji Cutlet... (could go on and on...)

• We still love to travel.. Wanderlust...

No one can take away all the Bengali-ness from us, and that's something to be thankful for...We are proud of our heritage...
Keep the Bong Connection alive!!

P.S. This was posted by a "Probaashi" Bengali... The nuances of being the quintessential Bengali might be missing but I am a Bong at heart... :)

The festival of lights!!!

And lights it is, all around...
The celebrations are incomplete without family.. but still the mood does cheer up with all the festivities around...

After all Diwali is all about...

The endless shopping...
The traffic jams...
The search for noisiest crackers...
The mouth watering sweets...
The lip smacking savouries...
The colours of the rangoli...
The lighting of diyas...
The joy of meeting frenz n relatives...
The tinkle of fineries...
The feel...
The sounds...
The togetherness...
The festivities...

May the celebrations never end... Have a Sparkling Diwali...!!!

The "I" Tag

Picked this tag from here

I am : a chatterbox :-)

I think : i should stop thinking/worrying so much...

I know : worrying gets me nowhere...

I want : to be happy always...

I have : a wardrobe overflowing with clothes, handbags, shoes, accessories... :-P

I wish : my entire wish list comes true :-P

I hate : packing n shifting (have been doing too much of that the last 2 years).. also waiting for people...

I miss : my family

I fear : being alone

I hear : and adhere to words of wisdom from only a set of ppl.. rest i choose to ignore...

I smell : everything really.. hv a pretty decent sense of smell... :-)

I crave : for coffee... and dark chocolates.. :-)

I search : always on google... :-)

I wonder : how perfectly lovely it would have been to have studied in Malory towers or St. Clares... :-)

I regret : not keeping in touch with so many people...

I love : shopping.. :-D

I ache : when good friends somehow drift away...

I was not : up last night watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. back to back... :-P

I am not : lazy all the time... :-D

I cry : when I cant take it anymore...

I believe : in god...

I dance : like no one's watching...

I sing : all the time... mostly in my head... :-)

I read : anything penned by P.G Wodehouse...

I don't always : lose my temper...

I fight : and forgive and forget easily... :-)

I write : to make sense of my jumbled up thoughts...

I win : hearts... :-)

I lose : peace of mind easily... even over trivial matters.. :-(

I never : can sleep on time...

I always : talk... 24x7...

I confuse : with anything financial - share market/stocks.. etc etc...

I listen : to almost all genres of music...

I can usually be found : on gtalk... :-)

I am scared : of being lonely...

I need : a vacation, badly...

I am happy : if I can make someone happy...

I imagine : India as a superpower soon... (it would have been already if not for corruption and population)

Keep Walking!!!

The darkness may enshroud and nothing will seem right.
It might seem like the end of the road, with no sight of light...
You will want to give up, life will seem to have no reason.
But this too shall pass, like any other season...
Don't just give up, keep walking.

The goodbyes will always hurt, separation is tough.
You might break down, you'll not be strong enough...
I know that there’s sadness, I know that there’s sorrow.
I know that you feel like there’s no tomorrow...
You're not alone, keep walking.

Possess the strength and courage to conquer whatever you choose.
If you don't have faith, you are destined to lose...
For happier times you will yearn,
Remember, happiness is just around the next turn...
So don't quit, keep walking.

Hold on to your dream... Cross your bridges...
Believe in yourself... Face the challenges...
Have the courage to take the leap... Follow your heart...
The rainbow will soon come in sight...
Don't give up, just keep walking!!!

Being in Solitude...

“What a lovely surprise to discover how un-lonely being alone can be.”
Ellen Burstyn

Today in Facebook, God wanted me to know -
"If all you had to do was wish for something and you would have it, life would be... pretty boring, wouldn't it? God placed barriers between us and what we want, so we can enjoy interesting and satisfying lives. God hid our biggest rewards behind the highest barriers - our deepest fears. God wants us to face our fears, and hold ground in their presence, and let them go, and that's how we get out biggest rewards. What are you most afraid of? Say it, just start by saying it."

One of the thing that scares me is Being alone...
I just hate being alone, anytime, anywhere, for however long duration, for whatever reason...
But I have been alone lately and I realize that its been a blessing to be spending some quality "me" time...
Life is precious, even this time has to be well spent. There is a difference between being lonely and being in Solitude.

I have been so afraid of being alone that I avoid it as much as I can. Even if I am not with or in touch with family and friends, I fill up the void with Music, television and the likes. I can easily do a task with F.R.I.E.N.D.S characters for company...
All this while when I could have learnt from my solitude, I just stifled the space with noise that I didn't even listen to. It was all there to fill up the emptiness. So when the music stops there is no inner harmony.

Take time out to be alone.. one is not lonely then, just in solitude.. The silence within will start to speak...
Being in solitude is necessary to hear the inner music, to sow the dream blossoms...

The soul has started humming...

Andyz back!!

No excuses.. but I am back.. not just with respect to blogging!!..
Hope can keep writing now... :)

The genius called A.R. Rahman..

I have to tell you this..
Have been listening to the song "Masakali" from Delhi 6 since yesterday..
Put it on 'Repeat' mode on my iPod today.. and kept listening..
Its awesome!!

Even after repeated listening, I can't even remember half of the lyrics...
But its a sure fire HIT!!
God bless Rahman..

So if u havent yet heard it yet, here u go.. Happy listening!!

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

Well I am not exactly referrring to Chinese New year.. I do wish all Chinese people happiness and prosperity this new year.. But for me, I am headed home.. Yippeee!!
I don't even know how I managed six months here in Singapore... but it was not that bad as I had thought it would be...
Can't really believe that I am finally going for my first vacation to India..!!!
Well, all my resolutions have gone for a toss, what with me being on a shopping spree, have forgotten about most of the resolutions I had made...
Just putting down some thoughts today, as I really won't be able to blog for some time now...
Its gonna be very hectic, but India is calling...

Some things I have to do when back in India:

• Taste mom's cooking.. after a long time...
• Gorge on Chaat and Gol-gappe... well Raj does a decent job, but nothing to beat the local chaat wali shop.. :)
• Well everything seems to be realted to eating.. was kind of craving for Makki ki roti and sarson ka saag too...
• Have long chats with cousins...
• Get to play with my sis' latest bundle of joy.. His name is Joy, and he is already 3 months old..
• Flaunt my really fashionable pullovers.. I don't even need a full sleeved t-shirt here..
• And lastly, do loads of shopping... :))

Words fail me.. I am too excited I guess... Coming up next - account of the India trip... :)

Ciao!!

Resolution time...

Happy New Year Everyone!!...

Contrary to beliefs that New year resolutions are harmful for one's health, I decided to still go ahead and set a few (achievable) goals for myself...

The making part is easy.. the dificulty is in keeping them..

Its like a ritual, I think up a few resolutions for myself, then some 2-3 months down the line I don't even remember them.

Maybe I should set them and take them up one at a time... Worth a shot!!

So, here goes...

• Be happy...


• Exercise atleast thrice a week (any form of exercise is acceptable.. window shopping is not an exercise...)


• Eat healthy (I had this nailed last year too, had it not been for the completely bizarre end to 2008)


• Travel at every possible opportunity...


• Sleep early.. Rise early.. (This is the most difficult!!)


• Get in touch with an old friend/relative every fortnight... (You know everyone.. but don't keep in touch enough..)


• Reduce clutter.. throw/delete stuff (I can't hold on to everything.. mails have to be deleted, things have to be removed from my hard disk, stuff has to be thrown away from drawers, cupboards.. one just can't hoard everything..)


• Laugh more...


• Blog more often.. well I did revive the blog recently.. Hope I can keep it alive!!

I realize I might not achieve everything all at once, but I am surely not going to give up.. I have put up lots of post-its with the resolutions written on them on my bedroom wall.. :)

Wish me luck!!