Reprieve for Thirsty Souls.....

No, this is not about some new watering hole in the city. This is about my latest discovery at McDonalds.

They finally started providing drinking water. And by drinking water i am not referring to the mineral water sold over there, or that half a glass of melted ice they used to provide as a "goodwill gesture". I finally spotted a water container along with some disposable glasses placed next to it,at there outlet in Eastend Mall here in lucknow. And till now i have found it full every time i tried getting water from it. I havent been to any of the other outlets for the past two months so dont know whether this a universal action or just a decision on the part of that outlet management.

So, finally some good, I mean an eating joint is supposed to have clean, cool drinking water. The government should consider passing a law regarding the same. I used to be so irritated when at McD I had to wait in Q to get that half a styrofoam glass of icy cold water, that would sometimes give me brain chill, if I would not be careful enough to drink it slowly. And it wont even provide properly respite your thirst because it so bloody cilled. Finally some reprieve.........

Life's Simple Pleasures

I proudly say that I love cooking, but then there are times when I would be too lazy to prepare myself a bowl of maggi or even shake up a cold coffee. I clearly remember those lazy afternoons, when there wouldn't be nobody in the house and my hunger pangs would strike, and these super combos would come to my rescue. I remember ransacking the cupboards and refrigerator to save me from being starved to death.There's nothing remotely great about them, but they would serve their intended purpouse allright, feeding a lazy bum. I tried recalling some of those my all time favourite combos:-

• Mathri and Alloo tamatar ki sabzi- Now mathri has a stable accomplish in the form of achar, but if I would be lucky I would sometimes find some of that sabzi stacked somewhere in the refrigerator, probably leftover from the earlier meal of the day, or the previous day, and i would happily chuck the achar for it. No need to reheat it, it tasted delicious straight out of the refrigerator, i would stack a handful of crisp mathris onto a plate and using them as a spoon as well as the knife(to cut the large chunks of potato), enjoy a delicious snack.
• Monaco Toppings: I reluctently agree that i could never conjure any interesting toppings nor did i ever like those suggested on the packs. But this one worked for me, some cheese slices/spread(depending on the availability) and just a drop of tomato ketchup and Tabasco. Yeah that simple!
• Instant Bhelpuri: I am actually insulting the great Mumbai Bhelpuri by referring to this thing as Bhelpuri. Just some home made Laiyya Channa (my mom really does a great job with that thing) tossed with some tomato ketchup.
• My own Chocolate cream biscuits- I would get some malai out of the milk bowl, whip up it with some bournvita and spread it between two marie biscuits. If I'd be feeling too adventurous, I'd add a few drops of vanilla essence into the spread. And if u added some crushed crystal sugar as an icing it would be something like the great bourbourn.
• Bread, butter and bhujiya- Butter the bread, I would be careful to use the brick of Amul, straight out of the refrigerator, and be generous with the butter helping. Sandwitch the bhujiya between two slices, or make a triple decker and enjoy. The chunks of butter along with the tangy bhujiya taste really awesome.
• The dessert- If I would be really lucky enough, I would sometimes find some vanilla icecream in the freezer. Scoop out some into the best bowl I could find around, pour some honey over it, and throw in some cashew, almonds and raisins. Voila my instant sunday would be ready in an instant.

If chances are that you are an angrez, you won't understand half of the crap I've written over here. Those of you who like the sound of it, what are you waiting for, DIG IN, BON APPETITE

Heating The Pan

This is my second blog, and I know its going to be much more closer to my heart or rather my stomach, you may say. Well, you guessed it right, this is going to be all about food. If there is something in my life which I truly adore and something which is of a true passion for me, its got to be food. And its not just about eating, food for me is something angelic. Be it cooking, watching food shows, reading, or even some mild research, I love it all.
Ever since i started reading "Rude Food", the Sunday Brunch article by Vir Sanghvi, I've always wanted to write about food. Infact every Sunday I get the urge to be a food critic. The thought of getting free food and exclusive treatment is so fascinating. But I know I can't be one- because for me the word "Critic" has always held a negative meaning, and I can't associate anything negative with food. Moreover I am a vegetarian(eggiterian in fact), and so it really limits my options and my reader base.
But finally I have found this medium to fulfill my dream. It serves the same purpouse for me that dollhouses serve for little children. It just lets me do what I want to, I dont' hope many of the living hungry souls are going to read this, but this is here just because I like it.
What you can expect to find here-

1. Review of the eating joints- right from street food to the 5 star hotel restaurants( if i ever get to visit one).
2. My recipes- Try them at your own risk, that is if you ever feel like doing so.
3. Any random intresting facts or news, strictly related to food.

And as for the name of the blog, its not that i m really found of these 2 herbs, its just that they sound real exotic and I've always dreamt of opening a restaurant of my own by the same name.

And finally i read this somewhere, "The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite." So all you hungry souls out there can expect something good over here because I surely have a large and good appetite.

Dig in, Bon Appetite!