My Best 12 Droolworthy Food Photographs

I love food.
Through and through. I am a self-proclaimed foodie and have no regrets on the "foodie" tag whatsoever. I love nibbling, biting, tasting, eating, chomping, slurping, munching, gulping down food. And living in Mumbai has pampered me silly with yummy food I cannot resist. So much so, I dream of good food and make goals to complete my foodie experience - from the raste ka vada pav to the hor d'oeuvress at a fine dining restaurant. And looking at good food can make me go weak in the knees. Literally. So here is my visual treat - The 12 droolworthy food photographs from my Instagram feed, so far:

Mud Pie: Highlight of my Fri afternoon #food #desserts #mumbai @sbarro

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Oct 6, 2012 at 11:43pm PDT

Why keep desserts for last? Let's begin on a sweet note (I sense those with a sweet-tooth nod in agreement). Chocolate Mud Pie that I savoured at Sbarro - A fast-food restaurant at their flagship restaurant in Chembur.

#Yummy #chocolate icecream waffle with sprinkles #dessert at #beanspork, vashi #food

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Oct 19, 2012 at 9:26am PDT

"Who says 'NO' to chocolate must be crazy" I said when I dug into this wonderfully chunky treat at Beanspork, Vashi.

3 words. #Pizza #PartyPack #day25 #100happydays #craving #instafood #instajunkfood #instapic #cheese

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Feb 15, 2014 at 9:21am PST

A cold day called for some freshly baked hot Chicken pizza from Joey's Pizza, Koperkhairane. Care a slice?

Happy #Ugadi! #Jackfruit leaves #Khotto and #redchilli #chutney #day33 #GudiPadwa #100happydays #saraswatcuisine

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Mar 30, 2014 at 10:08pm PDT

We mangloreans love our jackfruit and the leaves too. To the uninitiated, 'Khotto' may simply seem like idli batter encased in jackfruit leaves, but the flavour the leaves impart into the idli is absolutely wonderful.

#snack time! #Bailur hotel #special #Goli #bajo made by dear ma-in-law #100happydays #day40 #theregoesmywaistline

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on May 2, 2014 at 5:52am PDT

Goli Bajo. My all time favourite snack. A small story behind this snap. The batter for the 'bajo' (fritters) came all the way from a Hotel in Bailur, a small town in Karnataka. My ma-in-law fried these in hot oil and they came out perfect - firm on the outside, soft and tad bit sweet in the inside - just the way I ate them the first time.

#Manglorean #Buns and #fruits for #breakfast. Buns are #deep fried dough made of refined flour, curd, #sugar and #bananas. Well kneaded dough needs to be rested overnight in order to rise well resulting in #yumminess. Goes best with #hot #tea or hot #filter #coffee. #100happydays #day55 #potd #instafood #foodgram #whatiate

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Jun 9, 2014 at 12:28am PDT

Got some buns? Manglorean Buns are simply deep fried dough. The dough is made with refined flour, curd, sugar, bananas and a pinch of soda-bi-carb. A very very well kneaded and well rested dough makes for a delicious, puffy batch of buns. Buns go well with staple tea or coffee.

#Malwani style #fish #curry with soft #chapatis. #Yummers! #100happydays #day31 #potd #tambdarassa #malvanicuisine #indian food #instafood

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Mar 13, 2014 at 11:34pm PDT

A true fish lover is bound to drool at this. Red hot spicy Malvani spicy fish curry is bound to leave you sweating thanks to the red chillies packing the punch in the curry, yet yearning for more.

Chilli Cheese Fries at The J, Churchgate. Found it via @zomato #theregoesmywaistline #whatiate #whatwaistline? #fooddiaries #foodgram #foodporn #potd #nofilter #churchgate #chillicheesefries #chilli #cheese #yummy #guilttrip #TheJ #fastfoodcomfort #100happydays #day65

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Jul 20, 2014 at 9:32am PDT

One of the jaunts that I chanced upon when in Churchgate and devoured the Chilli Cheese Fries at 'The J' Must for a cheat-day.

I'm a #chutney person. You? #idli #vada #streetfood #yum #whatiate #fooddiaries #foodgram #foodporn #100happydays #day92

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Oct 27, 2014 at 10:24pm PDT

A chutney connoisseur that I am, I prefer it over the watery sambhar that is made.(Yes, true to my South Indian roots). Though, I love the idli-wala uncle's ground dal based chutney over my mom's coconut and spices only chutney. (Shhh.... don't tell her that, idlis made by her always rock!)

Had this yummy thing post an uninterestin lunch. #cheatdays #everydayischeatday #chaat #sevpuri #bombaychaat #gaurislunch #nofilters #foodporn #instafood #foodgasm

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Mar 11, 2015 at 2:33am PDT

For living in Bombay (Yes I call it that to sound more profound) you cannot, I repeat CANNOT go a week without chaat. I had this sev puri at a local shop at Goregaon. Every chaat guy has his signature style of presenting and plating chaat, and this guy always sprinkled seasoned nuts over all chaats he made.

In a relationship with this cheese croissant. From City Bakery, Worli. #cheese #croissant #citybakery #yumzaa #breakkie #foodgasm #foodporn #foodcoma #omnomnomnomnom #frenchcroissant #mumbai #fbai

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Apr 21, 2015 at 1:31am PDT

Iconic as it is, a trip to City Bakery is a must when I'm visiting the Siddhivinayak Temple. It has been as much as a ritual as is smearing the vermilion teeka on my forehead after offering prayers. What I try loooove about this bakery is the fresh bakes they churn out day in and day out plus the affordable rates of their wares. When you're here you must also try the chocolate chip cake- it is out of this world.

Chicken hunan dry. A rainy day in Mumbai beckons this. #gaurislunch #indianchinese #chindian #chicken #hunan #mumbairains #mumbai #junkfood #foodcoma #foodgasm #foodporn #cheatday

A photo posted by Gauri (@missalpao) on Jun 14, 2015 at 12:33am PDT

When the rain Gods were overbearing outside, I was curled up in my cosy office devouring this succulently coated chindian cuisine. I'm not a purist when it comes to Chinese, so love all my "schezwans", "chopsueys" and "manchows". I had this Chicken Hunan Dry from a local restaurant called Manthan in Goregaon west. Thank you Rain Gods.



So this is my visual treat to you. What do you think? Lemme know your thoughts and experiences in the comments section of this post:

MasterChefIndia2 IndiBlogger Meet: The Whole Scoop

(I had to post this before it stops trending or before I forget; whichever's first)

I've never been on a TV Show set before. (Wait, does being in the audience of Kaun Banega Crorepati Junior some eons ago count?) Then, it's my second time on a TV Show set. And the only reason that compelled me to hit "Register" at the Indiblogger site was the pure fascination with MasterChef Australia.
Been hooked, booked and cooked (pardon the horrible pun) by the earlier seasons of MasterChef Australia, I expected the Indian version to be spicier (again, pardon!)

Alas! Akshay Kumar shattered my very hope of a TV show revolving around a culinary theme, with his constant his raving of being a chef in Bangkok (like who cares?)
Anyways, I readied myself for a chance of meeting the Chefs in person, eating free food, meeting a ton of bloggers, eating free food, visiting the famous R. K. Studios, and did I mention free food?

The day for me was long and tiring with loads of traveling for project work (If i remember correctly: Vashi-Thane-Little known place in Vasai-Vasai-Dadar-Chembur) I reached the venue. Serendipity if I could call it, met fellow blogger from the last IndiBlogger meet Viyoma (@archi_palego) of Vyo's World, right outside the sets. Trotting in, around the fancy award ceremony like tables and chairs, I sat right in the front, absorbing every drop of atmosphere on the set- I was so awestruck.

As the Bloggers congregated, my stomach churned with excitement...and hunger- I'd just remembered I'd skipped lunch. My Blog-a-ton friend @dishitd spotted me after I'd updated my facebook status via phone. Talk about IT connecting people, literally ! Anoop took the stage like the last Mumbai IndiBlogger meet

"I just can't believe I am at the actual sets of MasterChefIndia" was the first thing I blurted out when my name popped on screen for the 30 seconds of fame. I couldn't hide how awestruck I was! To think that 14 months of public speaking during my MBA would cover up my inner voice make me ready for a witty cover up. Nope. Not today.

After all the introductions, we knew what was next; the welcoming of the star chefs. Giddy with excitement, I clapped hard for chefs Kunal Kapoor and Ajay Chopra, harder for Vikas Khanna @vkhanna1. Yeah, sue me for being smitten by him! Chefs Kunal and Ajay gave their introductions and spoke on what cooking food means to them. Its not JUST a job, its a passion. Respect.

Undoubtedly, the chefs were down to earth to say the least, no airs about themselves, specially Chef Vikas Khanna. To be honest, I was expecting him to carry an american accent, but I was wrong and glad to be wronged when he spoke in flawless Punjabi while narrating his story of his childhood. Sheer Passion and right Attitude.

Then bloggers were asked to share their emotional link with food; be it a distant memory or a lasting impression; of their mums, grandmums and aunts in the kitchen, of missing their loving mum who passed, of the lingering aroma of yours truly's late grandmum's Mysorepak.....

Indeed there is a connection which we all Indians have vegetarians, non-vegetarians and jains, it's a aromatic bonding. As Chef Vikas said "Food is an emotional thing, really sacred to Indians"

After the heartening talk came the most awaited moment!
*Drumroll please*
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The High-Tea !
...or as aptly tweeted then by a blogger 'High tea is for Brits, we are Indians so Chai- Naashtaa'

(Picture Courtesy: @rahul_ssg Rahul Singh)

Food was good, a bit cold by the time I clicked snaps with the chefs, around the sets and with Sanguine (@sanghitanandi). Highlight of my day was forever chatting with 'Viku'  as he spoke of how compelled he was to return to India after more than a decade when his mom rebuked and reminded him what he needs to give back to the country that made him what he was today. The recently anointed Michelin Star Chef for Junoon was utterly humble yet so chatty with me as I listened intently and gawked at him non-stop.

(Picture Courtesy: @starplus_indya)

Post all the Chai-Coffee-Nashtaa -which might I add was FREE- were the Skill Challenges set out for innocent Bloggers, perhaps some who like yours truly will more often use knifes to eat with than to cook with.

Display of skills or lack thereof was demonstrated for the Dicing an Apple, Julienne-ing a Ginger and Chopping a potato for french fries. Those with the skills were rewarded with Shoppers Stop Gift Vouchers.
I didn't win a voucher, but surely got to learn or refine my chopping, dicing and updating fancy culinary language skill. I have now sworn to win a voucher, hook or crook, next Blogger meet. Are you listening @renieravin ?

Taste Challenge didn't take place perhaps due to time crunch but the illustrious Mystery Box Challenge was played. All we had to do was to identify all the ingredients underneath and come up with a creative recipe for a dish. Hah! I could nail this, I thought. My creativity was questioned when I drew a blank !
Its not easy, I agreed with Chef Kunal when he explained how one should discard the top of head ideas when they're too simple and keep thinking with various permutations and combinations till that one idea clicks in place. And just like that he came up with Coconut and Jaggery Mousse with hint of Lemon Grass !
True master.

Not to forget the numerous injections of encouragement I got to blog about this on what the meet was all about from the start. We left after we gathered up our things got all the freebies and goody bags (MasterChef Logo print Apron, MasterChefIndia Logo Thermal sensing Mug, An IndiBlogger Tee)

I left with a memorable and wonderful experience to say the least.

Kitchen Klutz

The other day 2 of my friends and I went to Mont's home to "work". It was my first time to his place, even though my place is pretty close to his, I've never been to his abode. So there we were sitting in front of his PC and chatting away, and "working". It was well past lunch time i believe and his elder sister who was at home was very kind to serve us some home-made chaat. (mouths' watering?) Now you must understand, when we are hungry we act like a pack of starved hyenas out to get every piece of meat in sight.
And it wasn't any different this time. After the Tang drink was downed in almost no time, the batata-puri chaat was relished in record time that would've given 100m Olympic Champ Usain Bolt a run for his money!
*chuckling* I remember now, my mom used the tell me and -to my sheer embarrassment -to a bunch of unknown relatives of how once when i was about 4, got up early morning, ran off from home (without even brushing my teeth!) to a biscuit-eating competition (parle-G if in case you've been wondering) in my neighbourhood. That too in my petticoat!!! (And I won first place, ofcourse!) :P *reminisces* And so history proves that I've always been a hungry kid and till date a experimental gourmet.
Coming back to our yummy chaat; was sooooo gastronomically and orgasmically delightful that even after a second round we secretly kept wanting more!
Ahhhh....! Better than the street chaat-Yes! I'll proudly say that!

Anywhoo, it was then I'd decided 'I need to replicate this gastronomic wonder!' and so after many weeks it was today that I decided of preparing it. Purchased the ingredients in advance the previous night and was all set.
I woke up this morning early around 7 (ya, that's early for me) to a gushing sound. I went downstairs to check it out and saw the kitchen sink was overflowing with water!!! Arrggggghhhhh... disaster!!! And it was my own doing since I'd left the tap open. Full 2 hours of water! Big deal you say? Not quite. The place I live at gets limited water supply, that too at wee hours in the morning and late evenings. Now since I don't get up early mornings, the evenings take up my time to do the household stuff (washing, dishes, cooking..the works). And so, I see my entire kitchen under water. I worried not, and started to get to work. Since I am an optimist topped with a dollop of opportunist, I started to clean my kitchen with a broom in one hand and detergent in the other. I can proudly say my kitchen is spotless now! :)

Ah.. no water can dampen my culinary spirits! Chaat I will maketh! :P
Now, I am not a novice at cooking. No no no no no NO!(in Russell Peters' lingo) I can cook pretty well, and can boast about certain items of Indian cuisine (mainly). Ask my neighbours if you don't believe me. (YES! They are still very much alive Thankyou! and NO! I did into bribe/plead/torture them in eating/praising food cooked by me). And so I begin with the process.
First potatoes need to be boiled and mashed. No problemo. I place 4 potatoes water in a bowl and turn on the flame to high. Quicker the better.
Few moments later I get a call and then another, so go to my room to talk. A good HALF an hour later, I'm in my room, smell something burning and think 'When will my neighbours cook SOMETHING unburnt?!' to which the light bulb in my brain finally set aglow and i shrieked "F**K!! my POTATOES!!!" I sped downstairs only to find the charcoaled remains of the potatoes stuck to the dish and the latter had turned as synonymous as charcoal. I tried to console myself of the torture i meted upon the multi-eyed vegetable by assuming I was distracted or maybe fainted even.
Hah! now the opportunist in me in action, peeled all the potatoes and mashed them. I didn't notice a difference in taste either!

All set put the rest of the ingredients together and voila! Potato sev chaat ready! Yummmmmmm!

*Wiping a tear* Mom would've been so proud!
:P