One piece of #SachchiAdvice for LIFE

Generally, people are not really great givers. But when it comes to giving advice, people love to give it. More so, people give advice better than following it.


I have been on the receiving end of many such sermons and pieces of wisdom from time to time in my life. Be it from my parents, peers, friends, distant relatives, close relatives, acquaintances; I have even received advice from remote strangers that I barely know.

Yet, there is a common thread between all of the genuine advises I've received; is that they care about you. And that's why they give advice.

Of all the pieces of advice we receive, there is always one or more nugget of wisdom that makes a permanent imprint on our soul. One powerful phrase; that one one small kernel of avuncular wisdom that we're set to carry forward with us in the rest of our life.


And here, let me share my piece of advice:
It was the time when I was completing my degree. I was staying away from home, loving the independence, yet within the reach of my parents. One result day, I was shell-shocked to receive a setback or what engineers call - an ATKT. (Allowed to Keep Term; a second chance given when one fails a subject in engineering)
My entire world had collapsed. It was a huge deal for me, as I had NEVER failed, well, before that day. Even so, I had sworn to myself at the beginning of the course, that I shall give my hundred percent and will not blemish my academic record. But, it had just happened, without any warning. What's more, is that I had less than a month to clear the re-exam along with the other upcoming exams.


That day I returned home- in no mood to enjoy my freedom and independence- earnest to yearn that much needed comfort and solace of my loved ones. I was sad, in no mood to interact. It was almost bedtime, when my dad sensed me out of my usual self- all tired and weary from work - asked me to sit down and have a talk with him, He told me to spill what was in my heart. 
I blinked back tears, all composure lost and said "I have failed, Dad." I hung my head low, unable to meet him in the eye. To me my dad is my academic hero - always among the first of the class and took matters of academics very seriously. And was strict.

A moment had passed.

"So what?" he said. Bewildered, I immediately looked up at him straight in the eye of his ludicrous comment. "It's okay, Gauri" he smiled and said, "This too shall pass"

I looked at him with intrigue of not being admonished, but being met with understanding and yearned to know the explanation of those four words. Sensing my curiosity, my dad went on to tell me a story of a King and his Kingdom. Here's the story in a nutshell:

There was a King who was in search of a single answer to all situations and called the wise men of his kingdom to seek the answer. A wizened old man wrote the answer on a piece of paper, but asked the King to only read it when he is in extreme danger and not otherwise.
After this event, the King's kingdom was attacked by his enemies so brutally that he had fled by the skin of his teeth. Cornered and alone,  in that moment the King remembered the old man and read his answer - "This too shall pass" - was all that was written. 
This made the King realize that sorrow or danger is only but for a moment and it will pass.

He returned to his Kingdom and later gathered his men again and this time he annihilated the enemy.. Basking in the glory of victory in his kingdom, he suddenly thought he was the greatest king ever. Then his attention drew back to the old man's answer. He reflected again "This too shall pass" was the answer he sought. Even happiness and life's riches are short lived and is not permanent.

The King had finally found life's answer.

"THIS TOO SHALL PASS" - This piece of advice that made a huge difference in my life. That day was a complete turnover for me. Of course I cleared the re-exam, rejoiced in the celebrations of completing my course and went on with life. Yet I remember this piece of golden wisdom that my dear father had given me, in every difficulty I faced and will face; and in every victory I enjoy and will enjoy.

I could now recall how he must have drawn strength and gone through with life when he faced difficulties and sought the drive to go on. And it is now my turn to move ahead.

This was my piece of #SacchiAdvice. But this advice is not to be kept with oneself. Like Grandma's wisdom, it needs to be passed on from one generation to the next. 



“I am participating in the #SachchiAdvice Contest by MaxLife in Association with BlogAdda.”

1 Food Fix & 3 Lessons to Cherish

Food is an integral part of my life. Yes, I’m a foodie. No, it’s no confession, it’s a fact. A fact that I’ve accepted gracefully as a part of my life. More so, there have been instances where I’ve planned my day around food. So eating for me can be emotional, celebratory and sometimes irrational. I love hosting people for food as it builds wonderful memories. And of course I can share a story from some memorable experiences that have been closely associated with food.

I can recall a time when I was away from home. This was in the year 2010 in Bangalore, where I was visiting the garden city to appear for GD/PIs for higher studies. I was there for about a week, and a college friend had invited me over to her flat for the three day stay. I was overwhelmed with the hospitality that she showed me for the week that I stayed with her. She being a foodie like me, served me with yummy local cuisines as and when I was studying and preparing for the GD/PIs. Right from Gobi Manchurian, Kurma, Puliogare to Paneer Butter Masala with Parotta, Filter Coffee and Buns, I had the food and the effervescent company of my dear friend. After the GD/PI, I was spared with another day before I returned to Mumbai. Moved by her warm reception and hospitality, I promised to treat her and her roommates to dinner; I insisted despite her trepidation and her sincere "it-is-ok-you-don’t-have-to".

Lesson 1: Don’t make promises when you’re happy and don’t make decisions when you’re angry’. 

I had decided, I’ll order the food in from the same restaurant where I had sampled Gobi Manchurian and Paneer Butter Masala, at 8.30PM since the girls returned from work at 9PM. And so at around 8.00 PM I ventured out into the streets of Malleshwaram, searching for Ice cream. It was pouring in early of June – very unlike Mumbai I had thought – and I saw that the nearby shops slowing closing their shutters. I reached the Havmor ice cream shop and saw that it too was about to shut for the day. I asked him why they were shutting shop so early, to which he said in broken english-kannada – “Illa Closing time in Bangalore ees 8.30” And only some ice cream and chemists were open till 9.00 PM or so.

Source: www.gamefaqs.com

Lesson Two: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

And I shrieked! This was not Mumbai! Bangalore restaurants shut waaaaaaay early! No '10 PM parcel jaldi bhejna'- order here. There goes my dinner treat, I thought. When I asked where I can get a hot dinner to eat, he scratched his head and told me to run, literally run down the temple road street and look for a restaurant called Sairam’s who might be open right now. Sensing every minute ticking I rushed to the street with the help of his directions and made it to Sairam's. And it was no restaurant, it was a chaat corner!

Source: https://irishcinephile.files.wordpress.com/

I was wondering whether Mumbai-kar was tattooed to my forehead which is perhaps why the shopkeeper made the suggestion. Anyways, with no choice left, I had to make the best of the situation and ordered a variety of chaat to take away. I also packed a few piping hot Mangalore bhajjis that a nearby tea packed tea stall was churning. As I reached back and dumped the ice cream in the freezer, I smacked my head in the lack of planning I had. 

Having gotten drenched in the rains, I dried myself up and then headed to assemble the dining table, crockery and the “dinner”. I readied myself to withstand the disappointment and crestfallen face that my otherwise cheerful friend will have and the snide backhanded comments that she might get from her roomies after I leave. Sigh!

And in no time, it was 9 and the girls were back. Though there was no wafting aroma of the paneer butter masala welcoming them in, I made sure I at least had the presentation top notch. After they had freshened up I welcomed them with some lime coolers followed by the bhajjis. Oohs and Aahs commenced. I smiled wryly. I could sense their hunger and anticipation. Silently I brought out the food and placed it in front.

I remember to this day, all I could manage to say is 'Tuck in’. A long pause followed.

Because after that the three of them smiled broadly and loaded their plates with the chaats.

I was flabbergasted. They’re animatedly eating and enjoying the chaat platter. No. They’re stuffing their faces full. 

Source: gifsgallery.com

My friend managed a ‘so yum’ and a ‘I miss Mumbai’between bites of sevi puri and mouthfuls of pani puri. I had a broad grin on my face as I was basking in their moment of food bliss. Three rounds of ice cream followed with ‘thank you for the yummy treat’ in chorus.

Too tired to explain the chain of events that preceded the evening, I called it a night. The next day I explained to them over filter kaapi and buns of how I had goofed up.

Lesson 3: Always try and make the most of the situation.

Post the round of giggles and nodding that followed, my friend said to me “Arre yaar, honestly I was going to tell you not to order from the same place as we’re kinda bored of eating Bangalore food. In fact it was a welcome change. And you know how I crave sev puri!”

Source: iknownothingihearnothing.tumblr.com

I was really relieved to hear this that I had not disappointed her and not embarrassed her in front of her friends. And her roomies had asked me for the nook’s place that I had found thanks to the shopkeeper and the law of serendipity. To this day, this wonderful food memory remains a talking point between my friend and me. We may be in different parts of the world, but whenever we have chaat in a foreign city, we’re bound to recall this incident.

Source: giphy.com

So that was my tale. Me in a different city, with different social timelines and languages and of course different food. This situation could’ve perhaps turned out differently, had I know when the restaurants shut and open for business, what was best to order from those restaurants and save me the trouble of the commute.

Only a Tiny Owl could’ve perhaps been my knight in shining armour in this food fix. The Tiny Owl app. is what I'm referring to. How? The app tracks my location to check the restaurants in my area. Where I could’ve seen where I could order Paneer Butter Masala and Gobi Manchurian from and when cravings overcame me – Sairam’s chaat. Moreover, it could’ve given me a heads up as to when the restaurants would shut and save me the effort of running around in deserted Bangalore streets searching for sustenance.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo/47124287.cms

TinyOwl is a mobile first food delivery app available on Android and iOS. They don’t have a web version. Don’t be deceived by the name – this tiny delivery app delivery to 400+ people with 2000+ daily orders in association with 4000 restaurants. They also have an app for home-made food delivery called Tiny Owl Homemade. What’s more, Tiny Owl is going to launch a platform for internet-first food start-ups. As they expand their footprint across 50 cities in India, I hope they help foodies like me to find food faster devoid of any food fixes and goof ups.

Speediriffic 4G

Speed is everything!

Really, is these fast paced times where every split second matters, speed is everything. We want in fast and now! Be it beating the clock to reach work or school, finishing our daily chores or googling the latest AIB video!


If you ask me, personally, in this day and age I feel speed is synonymous to the internet. How fast can one search, access, consume, interpret and analyse the terabytes data and information that is penetrating the inter-web every nano second? Videos, images, music, movies, blogs, podcasts, tweets are consumed on-the-go and on demand in personal screens and devices.


Did we picture this, say just 15 years ago?


Of course, not! It was then that India has just been bit by the internet bug and the information age had begun. Back in 2003, I can recall how it took me half an hour to connect to the internet at access my emails, on my personal home computer.

And fast forward to 2015, where it takes one barely 30 seconds to stream a 2 minute video on YouTube. But, what is more phenomenal is what has just been introduced for the first time in India by Airtel: Airtel 4G.


The fourth generation of mind-blowing internet speeds is perhaps the essential ingredient to a digitally powered nation!


Across India, 296 cities will be able to effortlessly stream high quality HD videos of Sunny Leone’s Baby Doll for the umpteenth time, download an entire Sunny Deol movie, listen to the music from the latest chart topping hits on Saavn, access real-time tweets on Twitter from the Prime Minister himself, upload and share Honeymoon/Karva Chaut/Doggie birthday photos on Facebook and upload videos to YouTube of their children dancing to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Hot Dog theme song!


Personally life for me will get 4X better with 4G. 
On a regular day, I would download the Zomato app, quickly scan for the newest restaurants in Mumbai, download the UBER app and book a ride to the restaurant, download and play candy crush till I reach the restaurant, then upload gastronomically yummy food photos on my Instagram account as and when it gets served to me. While I savour the food, I would check-in through Foursquare and Swarm, rave and tweet on Twitter and later write about it in a blog post on my blog and post it on blogger networks and Zomato. All this speedirrifcally!

Airtel is ready to give 4G services at 3G rates, and even home deliver your 4G SIM card! So get ready to say your goodbyes to buffering videos, slow download speeds and mood dampeners of the past. Say hello fast internet for real time generation and real time consumption. So fasten your seat belts for this joy speed ride. I bet it is going to be AMA-no need to wait for it-ZING!

Amazing opportunities with #Airtel4G await! 

My recipe for an Italian escapade

A decade ago, the only Italian food I knew of was 'Pizza'. I used to junk on Pizzas so much that Italy was the destination I craved to visit (And still is).

Gradually, I was introduced to 'the brother of pizzas', the pasta. Usually, to Indians, pasta is what one eats at a pizza place as a starter. At some point, I too believed the same. But as I was educated to the world of Italian cuisine, thanks to my dear husband, I was now well acquainted with the types of pastas, the types of sauces, the flavour combinations, the cheeses and was proud to have the knowledge to distinguish between a lasagna and a ravioli.

And then one fine day, Del Monte came along with their flavourful contest - Del Monte: Blog Your Way to Italy- on creating an original recipe of their Pasta to win an all expenses paid Italian escapade. (I bet some of you reading this, did not know Del Monte beyond their ketchup. You're welcome :P)

Thoroughly eggcited, I signed up. A few days alter, as promised, I received a packet of Del Monte's Durum Wheat Premium Chifferi Rigati Pasta, all carefully packed with a printed letter. My gastronomical adoration for pasta knows no bounds, but I needed to get my creative juices flowing in in creating an original recipe.

My ticket to Italy :D

So I sought some expert guidance (yes, from my hubby) on creating pasta with some subtle Indian flavours for those who cannot have a lot of spice (the elderly and young children).

So sample a taste of Gauri's original recipe, with step by step instructions:

Chifferi Rigati with Saffron and Garlic

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

About 250 gms Del Monte's Chifferi Rigati Pasta
1 Zucchini cut into bite sized pieces
1 Yellow Bell pepper cut into bite sized pieces
1 Broccoli cut in florets
1/2 Onion finely chopped
7-8 cloves of garlic finely chopped
3-4 tsps of Oil (Olive oil is best)
1-2 tsps Oregano flakes
Salt as per taste

For the White Sauce:
7-8 Strands of saffron
1 tbsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
200 ml Milk
2 tsps Butter
2-3 tsps Refined flour (Maida)

For Garnish:
Grated Mozzarella cheese

Method:

• In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook till al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and add a tbsp of oil. Set aside.

What I really adored is the thoughtful little hack Del Monte has adapted on their pasta packets with a reclosable safety seal, to seal back your pasta packet for the next use.

• In another pot, bring water to a boil. Add the veggies till cooked. Drain in a colander and pour cold water over the veggies to retain their crunch and lively colour. Set aside.

Blanched zucchini

Blanched Broccoli

You can also add mushrooms, red bell pepper and other veggies if desired.

• In a thick bottomed saucepan, melt the butter and add the cornflour little by little. Beat vigorously using a whisk. 

• Reduce the heat, and gradually add in about 150ml of the milk till there are no lumps. Take off the heat and let it cool.

• Warm the remaining milk in a microwave for 5-10 seconds and then add the saffron strands; soak the saffron, till it dissipates the rich colour and aroma. Add this to the other milk mix.

• Once this mix cools a little, add the kashmiri red chilli powder and add salt as per taste and strain.

• Heat the oil in a wide saucepan. On high heat saute the garlic for 1-2 minutes. Toss in the onions till translucent. Add the veggies, and saute for a few minutes.

• On low heat, add in the sauce gradually mixing in with the veggies. Mix well. The combine with the cooked Del Monte pasta.

• Sprinkle the oregano flakes. Serve hot with a garnish of grated cheese and garlic bread sides.

And then served it to all in my family. And I basked in the reflected joy in their content faces!
And in Italian as they say,"Bellissimo!" sums up my experience!

That's my pasta story, lemme know your thoughts!

Taking the #Airtel4GSpeedTest

Necessities 20 years ago - Roti, Kapda, Makaan.
Our necessities today - Roti, Kapda, Makaan and 24* 7 Internet access.

Don't you agree?

Technology is an indispensable part of our lives, the internet adds life to technology. In fact with majority tech users wanting to access information on-the-go, internet is as essential as oxygen. And with a faster internet speed, life is undoubtedly better. And who wouldn't like to be the zippiest in accessing information at the go on one's fingertips?

The latest advancement in internet surfing is - 4G. This fourth generation wireless technology adds a whole new dimension to internet surfing. For the first time in India, 4G speeds will be the fastest mode of surfing the internet - literally lightning fast- thanks to Airtel.

Gone will be the days of staring at the screen for the website to load or for the HD video download to complete. With apps for ordering the latest trendy Dior earrings to disposable nappies, one needs a fast, reliable internet connection.

So, I checked it out for myself. Airtel has recently introduced 4G and has pioneered a unique initiative where users could interactively assess downloads using 4G speeds in comparison with 3G and 2G speeds.

All you need to do is Tweet to Airtel's twitter handle @airtelindia in the following format:

Intrigued and excited to check out the most advance and latest technology, I tested it out myself.
I took the #Airtel4GSpeedTest to check the download time for downloading the Instagram app.
And I was truly amazed with the speed results!

Here, check out the results yourself:

The Instagram app is 8.03MB in size. Download of which takes more than half an hour in 2G speeds, 53 seconds in 3G and a mere blink of 8 seconds in 4G!

Who wouldn’t want to get 4G - the latest piece of technology with high-level speeds of up to 100 Mbps in an ideal environment - for accessing high definition-HD video streaming on YouTube, photo uploads on Instagram, music downloads on Saavn and much more.

4G opens up possibilities!

Where’s the honey, honey?

“It never works! No matter how hard I try.”

My adamant brain argued with my hopeful heart.

My heart was the optimistic one, it believed I could lose those oodles of kilos I’d put on over the last few months. Thanks to the ghee laden Indian desserts, cream laden curries, the crunchy comforting packets of junk food and the deep fried non-vegetarian starters.

If only I had a control on my taste buds. I repent the countless times I convinced myself that this was the ‘One last bite’ I would have and ‘Will start dieting tomorrow’. Alas! Tomorrow never comes alas!

It’s not just about not eating, dieting is about eating the balanced healthy diet to match your body type and lifestyle. (And by balanced diet, having a chocolate donut in each hand does not count ;P )

Think about the countless number of diets you have tried. The Aktins, The Paleo, The Vegan, The Fruit, The Smoothie, The Juice, The detox… I could go on and on and you still wouldn’t lose a pound!

The science might put things into perspective that this particular diet maybe particularly beneficial for you, however, when you really go ahead and do the diet, things may not go ahead as planned. Crash dieting is not a healthy way to lose weight. In fact the fad that crash dieting is, does more harm than good. Crash dieting is said to be harmful for the skin and bones, causing one to lose essential nutrients that a body needs to function with.

So what is the answer?

One must remember, healthy eating is not a fad, it is a lifestyle.

Remember, the golden rule: don’t diet just to lose weight, lose the junk lifestyle and switch to a healthier lifestyle.

It took some time for me to understand this fact. Even switching to healthier substitutes for some foods that we crave for. Example: Oily junk food, Sugar, Refined flour, etc.

The healthier and sweeter alternative to sugar is honey. Whereas the healthier alternatives to oily food is baking, roasting them; for refined flour is using whole wheat flours.

Apparently one teaspoon of sugar amounts to almost 16 Kcal!

On researching on the net further, we can find many good healthy uses to honey. For instance, Dabur Honey’s website www.daburhoney.com that dedicates to the benefits of honey, not just as an additive, but as a use in various recipes that can bring out an interesting taste and flavour in the Honey Diet. If you’re thinking that it’s only desserts that will use honey, you might be in for a sweet surprise! And who has designed these sumptuous dishes? Why Michelin Starred Restauranteur and MasterChef Vikas Khanna of course!

I’ve incorporated the habit of adding honey into my green tea or lemon juice instead of using the granular white sugar.

I’m consciously switching to a healthier lifestyle. Are you?

Cricket - A sport that connects Indians

In a country like India, where cricket is synonymous to a religion, it is perhaps considered sacrilege to ignore a match that India is playing in.

Cricket is in the blood of perhaps every Indian in India or on the surface of the planet. Regardless you play the game or not, Sachin Tendulkar is the ‘God’ of the game called cricket. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev are historically celebrated and Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are worshipped – even the ground they walk on.

An India – Pakistan match ignites patriotic passion in every Indian to their motherland, regardless of whichever desolate corner of the world they maybe in.

The incessant discussions, the fantasy leagues, the pre-match analyses, discussion of the match tactics during the match, the post-match post mortem analyses, the name-calling, player heckling, jibe throwing behaviour that is a part and parcel of this addictive madness.

That is the power and magic of cricket. Truly a sport that unites.

I believe each Indian has a fond memory associated with this revered and celebrated sport.

For instance,

Do you remember going to your neighbours place and huddling up to the television set with your friends just to watch the match on Doordarshan?

Do you recall you and your sibling/s fighting over the television remote to keep cricket match over any daily soap or entertainment program? You may try to make peace by switching to the soap after a wicket has fallen.

Or imagine if you were in another country where cricket was only considered as an insect and there is an India – Pakistan match on. Imagine trying to dash out for countless ‘loo breaks’ in middle of an important business meeting and the collective look on your colleagues’ faces when you return smiling back into the room.

These little memories build up our nostalgia. However fond the memories are, we love the game to the core.

But these times are long gone.

Today’s fact paced life, every second counts – even the time spent on the video to load. For a person like me, waiting a couple of extra seconds for a page to load when on an important website can drive me to the edge. Yet when I watch cricket, I make sure I am updated with the game scores via real time on Twitter.

I just checked UC Browser that has this unique way to connect us to the game without missing out or losing our connect from our real game – LIFE.

By surfing fast and quicker, we not only enjoy watching and experiencing cricket but also don’t miss out on our daily tasks.

Moreover, for cricket fanatics a convenient space called UC Cricket helps to connect to the match wherever they are with features such a LIVE scores with auto updates. 

So say Goodbye countless loo breaks!

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:

Dear Dad

Dear Dad,

I don't know where to start. As I reflect back on the 25 years with you, I literally have tears in my eyes. Where do I start? No memory can be more beautiful than the other. I cherish each and every lovely memory I have with you till date. 

Should I ask you to remember the lavish party you threw when I was born? Or should I ask you to remember the time when you refused to hold me for the first time ever after I was born, only because you had a cold that day? 

Shall I ask you to reminisce the time you scolded me while teaching me to ride the bicycle? And then gradually pushing me to drive a car and ride a scooter.

Or how about the time you helped me ace my maths exam in high school; when I was petrified of it?

Can you remember the time I lost your favourite umbrella in an autorickshaw? And yet you didn't say anything but you gave me your other one.

Or shall I remind you the countless times you used to drop me to school in the car when I missed the bus? Even when

Let me remind you of the countless times I waited for your return from your foreign trips bringing me a memento or a gift each time? I still remember you basking in the smile on my face.

In school, do you remember fighting against a teacher’s wrong for me? I admired the power of your writing then.

In college, when I was staying away from home, do you remember the time you and mom took me to the doc when I was too sick with fever to get up?

When I grew up, do you remember you the time I forgot my exam hallticket at home? You rushed to the exam hall and got it for me. And the countless times you backed me even when I was in trouble.

Dad, with tight hug, I want to thank you with all my heart-

For the education you gave me

For the opportunities you gave me

For making me independent

For the values you gave me

For always being my guide

For the friendship we share

For the always treated me as an equal.

For giving me my freedom to make my choices

For supporting me through and through

For trusting me completely

For making me strong, just like you.

I will always always always always love you.

- Your Gondi Gauri

“This father’s day, I am expressing my love towards my dad by participating in the #HugYourDad activity at BlogAdda in association with Vicks.”

#ComeCloser to Radiant Skin

A flawless glowing complexion is desired by everyone and envied by all. Right from a young girl to a gracefully ageing old lady, the skin exudes youthfulness, charm and freshness of one’s personality. But come puberty, one is sceptical of one’s skin, especially the face, as pimples, dark spots and blemishes dent the confidence of anyone. Moreover, our facial skin goes through changes with the change in season – summer, winter and monsoon; in age – puberty, pregnancy and old age; in sickness and with diet as well. Regardless of these changes, it is imperative to take care of our skin, starting from a young age.

Starting young, uncannily it was my father who used to keep advising me to take good care of my skin at all times. I have an oily skin and it is imperative that I keep it clean. An oily skin requires to be kept clean as the skin pores can have dust and grime settle in them, which may lead to pimples and blackheads.

I follow a simple regimen daily:

1.       Wash hands and face after coming home:

This is a basic yet a very important and understated regimen. Whenever I come back home after an outing, I first – leaving all other tasks aside- wash my hands and then wash my face using a mild face-wash. I believe, this step not only helps me keep my skin hygienic, but also keeps my face fresh and clean. Especially, I live in a metropolitan city, where everywhere I go I meet pollution and dust which directly affects my face.

2.       Use a mild cleansing face-wash

An oily facial skin needs to be washed and cleansed often, but not more than 3-4 times in a day. Washing face more than 3-4 times can leave it dry. Use of a soap to clean the face can result in more dryness and can make skin more oily.

3.       Use little or no makeup

Even though I am in a profession where looking one’s best is imperative, I believe and advocate in applying little or no makeup daily. To go all natural! Personally, it is only on occasions like parties and weddings do I apply makeup, albeit just to touch up my face. Else on some occasions I sparingly use kajal, lipstick and lip gloss to highlight my eyes and lips.

These were some of my tips that I carry out to take care of my skin. It cannot be stressed enough that having beautiful skin is truly a blessing, but maintaining it is all the more important.

However, acquiring that flawlessly beautiful and radiant complexion may seem like a daunting task, but truth be told, it is not that difficult to achieve. #ComeCloser and see the benefits of Ayurveda with VICCO Turmeric Cream to perfect the natural way to acquiring radiant skin.

Book Review: The House that BJ built

Book Title: The House that BJ built
Author: Anuja Chauhan
Pages: 408
Genre: Drama
Price: Rs. 259 (Flipkart)
Publisher: Westland Ltd

Thanks to Flipkart and Westland for sharing the uncorrected bound proof copy of Anuja Chauhan's second installment of 'Those Pricey Thakur Girls' with me for the review.

Image source: www.vervemagazine.in

This book is about the the Thakur Girls coming back together to meet their father LN Thakur, fondly referred to as BJ. He is under the care of his granddaughter Bonita Singh Rajawat (Bonu) at his home on 16, Hailey Court in Delhi, who runs a garment workshop under his roof. Samar Vir Singh, upcoming Bollywood director, step-grandson of BJ visits the House to meet BJ and complete the missing piece of the puzzle of his film's story on BJ's parents - Pushkar and Pushkarni. BJ insists that he sell the house worth Rs 200 crores and divide it into 5 equals hissas for his daughters and Bonu. However, post BJ's death, what follows is a series of family squabbles, vehemence unearthing painful past histories, and a full blown property dispute court case on the House that BJ built.

What I really loved is the style of narration- simply superb with right amount of Hindi words that fit well with the situation and dialogues. Some dialogues are simply unique and memorable, for instance:

I'll make them squirm like well-salted earthworms,
I won't sell, Even my jooti wont sell.
And if I die na, then even my gosht won't sell.

You need balls to do business!...Remember, any incomepoop can work in an office...


And some are truly hilarious, almost that I burst out into laughing while reading the book - an instance of perfect comic timing, that is now-a-days very rare in books.

Throughout the book, I loved the usage of stereotypes and similes that one can connect well with. Moreover, every character in the book had a distinct and distinguishable personality, akin to a family drama, yet the camaraderie shown between them was flawlessly executed. My favourite bit was the bonhomie between Samar and Zee and the random banter and gossip among the sisters and their aunt.
The crunch part of the story was superbly glued together with all the other bits and pieces, coming together as a perfect narration.

Though this is my first book review of one of Anuja Chauhan's titles, I am truly in awe of her style of writing. It is zany, peppy and unputdownable. Looking forward for more !

Book Review: The Case Files of P. I. Pojo - The Killing of Mr. Heathcote

Book Title: The Case Files of P. I. Pojo - The Killing of Mr. Heathcote
Author: Meghna Singhee
Pages: 204
Publisher: Penguin India
Price: Rs. 199
Genre: Mystery

Pratap (Pojo) Pande is a teenager who studies at a boarding school in Panchgani called Heathcote International. Son of parents that are creators of a popular detective show, Pojo is a precocious boy who loves to solve and unfold the mysteries behind everyday cases, akin to a Private Investigator (P.I. ). And one such mystery he resolves to unfold is when the mascot and icon of his school, a cat, is said to be killed - Mr. Heathcote. He has his sidekicks as a super senior Radha Rao and Pops - a junior to Pojo, who's also Radha's cousin to help him uncover secrets, search for clues and interrogate suspects. Eventually, Pojo solves the mystery, in a truly Sherlock meets Poirot style - a tad bit eccentric and the use of the little grey cells.

If you've been reading my book review, you'd know I'm a sucker for mystery and a thriller any given day. So when I signed up for the Book Review program with Flipkart, they sent me this book right away. One look at the cover, you'd think it is uncannily representing a children's book. However, abiding with the adage- I judged this book by it's content and not the cover.

And it was truly a delight to read this book at one go ! Meghna Singhee has done justice to the whole idea of representing a hostel life set in a hill station, be it the junior-senior divide, the banter, the pranks, the hostel food, the allowance, the midnight escapades, the social gatherings, the hot shower restrictions, the free time break and the finer and innocuous details of the on-goings of the staff and the students day in and day out.
It brought back nostalgia by transporting me back to the days when I was away from home for higher studies. The characters have be described well, with each of them distinct from the other, as one would actually find in a hostel. Overall, I liked the smooth flow of the book's narration with witty and funny anecdotes, with one chapter after the other connecting the dots of the mystery flawlessly. And in the end, when the mystery unfolded, it was a wonderful surprise!

I would love to recommend this book to anyone who would like a good mystery, age no bar. (Even though the back cover says '10+')