An old favourite gets a makeover World food Atmospherics: The Oberoi’s recent refurbishment has affected all its areas and 360 degrees is no exception. Not only has its interiors changed, but the spelling of its name has become, for an entire group of journalists and bloggers, much simpler: now, ‘360’ is written in figures instead…
The story of art in Kashmir is bound inextricably with that of craft. While crafts – and by extension, craftsmen – are thick on the ground, art in the Valley is confined to a tiny school in capital Srinagar, which operates out of a rented building in a housing colony. While craftsmen have, by and…
Once upon a time, Chinese food meant chilli chicken and chicken Manchurian. Now, thanks to the growing tribe of chefs from China, it is possible to get a more authentic taste of what Chinese food is all about. By definition, Chinese food in India can never be really authentic: food in China is usually cooked…
Round up a motley gathering of people in Srinagar – locals from all walks of life, tourists and outsiders who have made the city their temporary home for work or business – and ask them to name a few Kashmiri brands, chances are that not many will be able to remember any beyond the most…
Some food joints deserve nothing but scorn, yet they are full to bursting at all times of the day. Others create great food but are never known beyond the immediate neighbourhood. We take a look at some of Delhi’s little-known gems. I was walking through the rather gritty area of Chitli Qabar, near the Jama…
I’ve noticed that lady chefs always bring another dimension to their food than their male counterparts. Perhaps it has been entirely incidental, but when you hear Chef Angela Hartnett talking about shopping for food, you could forget that she has won two Michelin stars at The Connaught in London, where she manages a restaurant for…
Everybody who has ever received a Diwali/Christmas/New Year hamper would have received a carton of Twining’s teabags in it. It is something of a silent revolution, and not unlike carrying coals to Newcastle, but that’s a fact that both Stephen Twining and Georgina Durnford would stoutly deny! You see, much of the tea that is…
The recently concluded Islamic calligraphy exhibition held in New Delhi’s Iran Culture House was not the first of its kind – such exhibitions are held periodically. It’s another matter that calligraphers routinely outnumber audience. Nevertheless, the perseverance of the Culture House and the steadfastness of the calligraphers themselves are probably why the art itself has…
How to max your time in Pune The average length of my visits to Pune is just three days – totally insufficient to do all the things that this amazing city offers your palate. So, I’ve worked out my formula for tasting the most, in the least possible time. But first, a disclaimer: I have…
Is there a conspiracy against everyday Kashmiri cooking? It would certainly seem so — all that is known about Kashmiri food in general outside the state is a handful of dishes that are prepared for banquets, ristas and gushtabas among them. All Kashmiris, be they Muslim or Pandit, love their meat, and mutton appears daily…
