tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-155620302024-03-07T19:31:13.558+05:30This blog suffers from an identity crisisArjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-21967024147143138762009-10-03T23:22:00.002+05:302009-10-03T23:32:27.718+05:30Top 10 Food places I miss in Mumbai<p class="MsoNormal"><i>(Notes about the places I miss in Mumbai. Obviously there are many more, but these are my top 10, not just because of the food, but because of the memories and associations I have with some people.)</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol><li><b>Madras Cafe</b> (King’s Circle) - Waiting with 10 others for breakfast at 650am... upma... idli-rasam... coffee... the ability to reach 150 per head even with their prices... favourite veggie place...</li><li><b>Penne</b> (Juhu) - All you can eat, all you can drink for 1200+taxes... Awesome cold-cuts and salads... thin-crust pizza... Getting really high on a Sunday afternoon...</li><li><b>Toto’s</b> (Bandra) - Where everybody knows your name... Dumb-charades... pork sausages... kheera gajar ka salad... Tapan bringing JD with coke with a slice of lime without me having to ask for it... Bhonpu’s drink... the same playlist... (including keema-pao too)</li><li><b>Not Just Jazz</b> (Marine Drive) - The live band... the next best thing – a live band setting up and jamming before they start at 10... a nice steak... Sangria...</li><li><b>Hard Rock Cafe</b> (Lower Parel) - Five-figure bills... Not having the same drink twice... Watching “One Night Stand” live...</li><li><b>Mondegar</b> (Colaba) - The light beer... Breakfast brunch... the Jukebox... Mario Miranda’s frescos...</li><li><b>Just Around The Corner</b> (Bandra) - The mountain salad buffet... healthy, filling, and there for you at midnight... freshly made sandwiches and burgers...</li><li><b>Pot Pourri</b> (Bandra) - Penne pasta with chicken in cheese sauce... the best back-up place when we run out of ideas... Ordering wine the first night they start serving it, and asking them to buy from outside when they ran out...</li><li><b>Naturals</b> (anywhere) - Sitafal, tender coconut, chickoo, mango... Beats the hell out of Gelato, doesn’t it?...</li><li><b>Theobroma</b> (Colaba) - Food of the Gods... white chocolate, vodka and green chilli mousse cake...</li></ol><i></i><p></p>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-21976090366991325982009-09-28T05:37:00.005+05:302009-09-29T00:19:48.104+05:30Happy Durga Puja - Finishing four years' quota in one<div style="text-align: justify;">I am a Bengali. And for a Bengali, the festival to rule 'em all is undoubtedly Durga Puja. We can have different Pujas around the year, celebrate Id and Christmas in Calcutta with a vigour that would put other Indian cities to shame, and just strike once in a while if we feel that the Government holidays list is a bit (the word just comes to my lips and disappears, but for the lack of creativity) short. But nothing beats the atmosphere of Durga Puja in Calcutta. It is an experience. And my experience is made better because my neighbourhood Puja is Maddox Square, which is grand. Unfortunately, the last time I was there was 2004.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2005 and 06 were in Ahmedabad. Was enthusiastic enough to go <i>pandal</i>-hopping one year, and see only three (could have been four, am not sure), and also participated in getting a Puja organized on our campus for the first time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2007 was a damp squib. I was in Malaysia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bombay ('08) turned out to be better. Managed to visit 5 different <i>pandals</i>, and also get drenched in the rain - a memory that I shall always cherish.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And now, it's Delhi's turn again. Last time was 6 years ago, in 2003, when I was in college.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Visited 13 <i>pandals</i> in all this year. Ok, I am staying in Kalkaji, so CR Park is near. One day I just walked around for an hour and was able to see 4 Puja <i>pandals</i>. CR Park itself has so many - Mela ground, Shiv Mandir, Pocket-40, E-Block... </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mela Ground is supposedly one of the best, but I didn't see what the big deal is. Really liked the idol at a <i>pandal</i> further down the road near a Gurudwara - supposedly a GK2 puja. J Block, CR Park was a bit creative with the interiors done up like a cave, with rock-cut statues. The lights were obviously a bit dull. Kali Mandir near Gole Market was ok. Saw the <i>Aarati</i> there one evening, but was disappointed because there were too many <i>Dhaakis</i> (drummers) blocking the view. The <i>Aarati</i> at Minto Road was good, with some girls also doing a <i>Dhunuchi</i> dance with the <i>Dhaakis.</i> The Kashmere Gate puja completed 100 years this year, and had an eco-friendly idol. It still looks just as I remember it from 6 years ago, and also from what I remember from my childhood. The most creative puja had to be the Matri Mandir puja at Safdarjung Enclave. It had an Egyptian theme with hieroglyphics painted on the walls. However, they had not messed around with the idol.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With any Durga Puja comes its share of junk food. But didn't have a lot. Tried <i>galauti kababs</i> with <i>roomali rotis</i> at a stall at Mela Ground, and some <i>Shawarma</i> at Minto Road. The <i>kababs</i> were dry and the <i>shawarma</i> was a bit too spicy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Definitely an enjoyable Puja with family around every day, <i>pandals</i> to go to, good food (at home). But miss getting wet in the rain in Bombay.</div>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-24738721925278701332009-09-26T03:27:00.003+05:302009-09-26T04:10:47.805+05:30My Bombay place in DelhiI recently shifted to Delhi after spending two amazing years in Bombay. I really love the city and the amazing variety of food that it has to offer. There is a good mix of street-food, pubs and restaurants, and most of the ones I'd frequent were places with good music.<div><br /></div><div>There are some places that do not have music, and I am ok with that. Maybe the music does not complement the food; maybe the target clientèle would enjoy a nice quiet meal. That is absolutely fine with me.</div><div>What I do not like is Brian Silas playing in the background, or some light 80s pop, just as some ambient music. What I also do not like is a place like the Sports Bar at Phoenix Mills, Bombay, that has a DJ who is so musically challenged that he will churn out the worst remixes ever. He will slow down a nice peppy number to the speed of a lullaby, and a nice ballad will be accompanied with a galloping beat.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having stayed in Delhi before, I know that there are not many places that serve a mean cocktail, decent food and have good music. The fear apart from remixes, techno-crap etc. is that the fall-back for the DJ is <i>bhangra</i>.</div><div>The only place that I really liked earlier was Turquoise Cottage at the Adhchini crossing, but that has closed down.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cafe Morrison at SouthEx is a nice place. The day I went there wasn't a media night, so it wasn't packed (no free booze = no crowd). The music was pretty good - mostly contemporary rock -, and the food was good too. My test for any such place is to have the Long Island Iced Tea. If you can't make this, you had better shut shop soon. Morrison didn't disappoint at least.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the place that has now become my favourite is Bennigan's. I have been to this place in the M-block Market at GK-II for the last two Fridays, and I have been in Delhi for only 15 days. Friday is an open-mic night, and anyone can go up and sing. Fortunately, the first time I was there, whoever went up was terrific. And someone sang a CCR song. And anyplace that I hear Creedence Clearwater Revival is a place I am definitely visiting again.</div><div>Unfortunately, the next time, a girl decided that she could sing, and after not having her way with us with <i>Sajana</i> (she made Shibani Kashyap sound good!) and Zombie, she thought of entertaining us with <i>Kehna</i><i> Hi </i><i>Kya</i> (OST Bombay, Singer-Chitra, Music- AR Rahman)!!! FM. Moral - Never ever sing a Rahman song unless you are classically trained! Still there was a saving grace - the guy accompanying her on the guitar was a very good vocalist and his interventions were, well, divine.</div><div>Didn't sample the food the first time and just had a Corona - so no comments. But the second time had some chicken snacks, wings, mozzarella sticks etc. which were alright. The potato skins with cheese should have had bacon in it (I am not sure whether they were told not to put bacon - my Sister-in-law does not eat pork). Had a cocktail - Lynchburg Lemonade - that I have never tried before, but it was quite nice. The Mojito left a lot to be desired though - the glass was wrong, the mint wasn't muddled properly, and there was a layer of sugar granules at the bottom of the glass.</div><div><br /></div><div>Would I go to Bennigan's again? - Yes.</div><div>What will I order next time? - A steak and a Long Island.</div><div>When will I go again? - Probably the coming Friday.</div>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-395416288383710462009-09-16T21:42:00.002+05:302009-09-16T21:46:24.921+05:3026 - The new age for a mid-life crisis<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Random thoughts not precipitated by me turning 26 – that was last January!</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First thought that crossed my mind then – this is more of a landmark than turning 25; I am in a different survey-age-bracket now!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You know these surveys about random things like “do you suffer from mid-life crisis”... where we have to tick empty slots against Sex, Age, Income... there is an option 26-35, and I realised that now I have to tick this empty slot. Not 18-25 anymore. I am now part of a new demographic!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Quit my job, went back home... while working, would shave regularly; but at home, I let my beard grow... guess what? My first white hair! ...and my mom thought it was something stuck to my beard. A friend of mine (who’s in the same bracket but 30 plus) had something a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">li</span>’l more interesting to comment – “when you have your first white hair down there, that’s when you have a mid-life crisis!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Went to Delhi... met one of my favourite teachers after 13 years... he was my Housemaster at boarding school, and his wife taught me Geography. Had a drink with him (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ballantines</span>) and then, dinner... sounds good... but I also met his 10-year old son... played trump cards (does anyone remember trump cards? He had football stars’ cards and he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doesn</span>’t like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kaka</span>... why?... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kaka</span> does not win much in trump cards... does he watch football?... NO!)... well, everything is going fine till my brain goes a bit nuts and tells me he’s 10... How old were you when you first met your Housemaster? 10... (I don’t like where this is going)... How old was your Housemaster then? 27... How old are you now? 26, will be 27 next Jan... (why would my head f*** around with my head?)... a very <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chickie</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">OMG</span> later, “I am old enough to be that kid’s housemaster!”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">(Disclaimer: I am not suffering from any sort of mid-life crisis)... Yes, that’s what they all say.</p>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-5052068082925008662009-09-12T15:33:00.005+05:302009-09-12T16:36:56.067+05:30I feel small<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I feel small</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I am unable to walk a few miles</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I see an animal with claws and fangs</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I can’t see the edge of the ocean</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I see the snow-capped mountains rising above me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I feel big</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I am able to travel hundreds of miles</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I see the animal with claws and fangs caged, and not able to hurt me</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I know there is no edge to the ocean</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When I climb the mountains and see the valley below me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I feel small</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I travel in comfort, yet children walk miles in the sun to fetch water</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I see the animal caged</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When though the ocean does not disturb me, and then I look up at the sky</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I see the valley and the mountains shredded and mutilated by me</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(I never write anything that even resembles some form of poetry, but was thinking about how small physically I felt while taking the Bandra-Worli SeaLink one day as I saw the waves crashing. Another thing I am not comfortable with this piece is the punctuation - there are no full stops!)</span></p>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-70067716724824818272009-09-11T22:04:00.004+05:302009-09-11T22:25:05.765+05:30Thoughts on a train<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Why does the train always speed up when they are serving tea?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Never been able to decide whether I should wait for soup to arrive before I smother the breadsticks with butter and gobble them up.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">What's up with the veggie soup? What happened to good ol' tomato?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Why have they stopped serving </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">dahi</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> in the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">mitti ka kulhad</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">? Has Mamati-di got something to do with the removal of anything that could be remotely linked to a Lalu legacy?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">They have also discontinued Non-veg continental! Noooo...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">But the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">dal</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> was not oily and very tasty.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Why do people sleep so early?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Bed-time music is the Rajdhani Snorchestra!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It's pitch dark outside.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Wonder where we have stopped now... Feel like having some tea in a </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">mitti ka kulhad</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">(thoughts while travelling from Mumbai to Delhi on the Rajdhani Express yesterday around 1045pm)</span></span></div>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-83731760374329960862009-05-17T00:49:00.004+05:302009-05-17T01:15:00.448+05:30Twenty Questions<em>So what's happening on the job front?</em><br />Nothing much.<br /><em>Aren't you in the management trainee program?</em><br />Yes, I am.<br /><em>You've been here for a long time now?</em><br />A little more than a year now.<br /><em>What happened to your rotations then?</em><br />I don't know. I just stuck around.<br /><em>Is the program over now?</em><br />Yes.<br /><em>So what happens now?</em><br />Either we continue with our current roles, or we apply to other available roles.<br /><em>You have been here for a long time. So, your boss wants you to continue?</em><br />Yes.<br /><em>So, are you?</em><br />No.<br /><em>So, to what other roles are you applying?</em><br />None.<br /><em>Err... (long flabbergasted pause)... eh?</em><br />I am not applying to any other department.<br /><em>Why? Nothing interesting?</em><br />No, there are some good profiles.<br /><em>So, why are you not applying?</em><br />I don't want to.<br /><em>So, you are sticking around in your present role?</em><br />No. (Didn't I just answer that a few questions back?)<br /><em>So, what are you doing then?</em><br />Nothing much.<br /><em>(lightbulb flickers on top of head) Are you...?</em><br />Yes.<br /><em>You are leaving?</em><br />Yes.<br /><em>...for good?</em><br />Yes.<br /><em>Wow! Why, don't you like it here?</em><br />No, I like it, but just don't want to continue right now.<br /><em>So, where are you going?</em><br />Nowhere.<br /><em>Err... (long flabbergasted pause)... eh?</em>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-44187737493945898582009-05-03T22:06:00.004+05:302009-05-03T23:24:12.255+05:30Zoozoos and Doodoos<span style="font-family:georgia;">What are ads supposed to do? For me, they are just entertainment. I don't think they can actually sell the product; they can just create awareness about the product or the brand or the company.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Lately, the ads have been quite bad. The auto companies have completely lost it, the DTH providers' ads trying to cover the lack of content with star power, skin creams, hair colour... someone please get some sense in these people!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Hero Honda's Desh ki Dhadkan campaign has a Bollywood-ish song (not a short jingle) that tries to link to some patriotic feeling ala Hamara Bajaj, and fails miserably - but do they really think this will sell more bikes?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The DTH providers are even worse. The new TataSky again shows Aamir's talent as an actor, but fails to impress otherwise. Thoda aur wish karo - I wish that I never have to see SRK say that again - will I get this wish if I buy from them? But SunDirect takes the cake! Plagiarism is a serious issue in most forums, but to have such a blatant show on television is not on. Even if it was the same agency (I don't know this), taking the same concept and repeating it for another client within a space of months - what were they thinking? Clearly they were not! </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">IPL-2 takes advertising to another domain. Monetizing cricket is great, but the in-your-face advertising gets too much at times.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">A six is no longer called that - it is a "DLF Maximum". When someone gets out, the commentator does not simply say "he's out", he says "it's a Citi moment of success". The only thing I have to say to this again - what were they thinking? Especially Citi - do they really need to remind the audience every ten minutes about themselves? Are they so down and out that they think nobody remembers them as a success anymore?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Today one commentator chose an "opportune moment" to remind us of all the sponsors. This "opportune moment" was after 11 overs and 1 ball. This after an innocuous single was taken. Why was that moment "opportune"? Can anyone please explain this?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The few ads that I do like - the Nokia ad featuring Priyanka Chopra - yes, I like PriChops, but the ad is quite well-shot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But the best campaign right now has to be the Vodafone series. O&M had pulled off another stunner with the Zoozoos. But I still can't believe that the Zoozooz are actors with costumes. Still looks animated to me, and I think that's quite amazing!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Just wish there are more Zoozoos and lesser Doodoos in Indian advertising - will DishTV grant me at least this?</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-27006306572733070642009-05-02T17:35:00.004+05:302009-05-02T17:52:08.824+05:30Scared shitless or shit scared?<span style="font-family:verdana;">I am scared.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Scared of what?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That's what I've been trying to figure out. Lots of things. Very confusing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>So what are you doing about it?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Trying to drum up some courage.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Courage for what?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Courage to tell someone something; courage to not tell someone something. Courage to take that step towards possible greatness, and more importantly, courage not to take the step back.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Isn't that just about everything? Too generic?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It makes sense to me. I need it for different things in my life right now, and there are so many things going on, so this has to cover a lot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>If you are afraid of something now, how will get over it?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I will not think about the future, not worry about possible outcomes, not assess probabilities.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Isn't that dangerous? Just taking a decision without thinking about what may happen?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I never said that I am not going to have some sort of a decision tree, not know what the outcomes may be. I just won't worry about them, won't analyze everything again and again.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>So how will you make any decision?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I will just take them. Go by my gut.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>What if things don't go according to plan?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">That's the beauty of this - there is no plan.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>What if you fail?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I won't.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>So will you take that step?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Are you scared?</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes.</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-76076484795431730132009-04-20T00:02:00.006+05:302009-04-20T00:22:09.968+05:30It is the journey that matters, not the destination.Always wanted to write a travelogue of sorts whenever I've been on some trip, and have had a few memorable ones in the last few years - Vizag (going inside a submarine and having lunch on a destroyer was awesome!), Kumbalgarh (can still taste the tomatoes and the excellent Rajasthani dinner), an impromptu visit to Panchgani (the TAT was the best) and of course, the North-East trip that covered everything from Rhinos to tribal villages and playing in the snow.<br />A few of my friends had made this plan for a Goa trip last weekend and though the trip fizzled out, we did end up going somewhere. Wrote something finally late at night, not because I had nothing better to do, but because I just wanted to write something fun and something not pertaining to food or movies or books. So here goes...<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />There were 8 to start-off with on their way to the Rio of India (or Cancun if you prefer), but a mess-up with the railway booking left the Fellowship with all their bags and nowhere to go. A few of them tried very hard, but Goa was a no-Go.<br />The Fellowship then deposited their luggage at Marinlinia and moved on to have a bite at Bade Miyan (there were some who were hungry) and a beer at Mondy’s (there were some who were thirsty). Their thirst not quenched, they went to the house of another fellow traveler who had ditched this Fellowship earlier. Between sips of wine and schnapps, the group tried to keep their spirits high. While an unsuccessful attempt at truth and dare failed to elicit a good response about vegetable preferences from some, others failed to appreciate the truly great card game that for no rhyme or reason is called Literature.<br />After a long night, the Fellowship bid adieu to their fallen comrade, and departed for Marinlinia. Two of the group returned to their home in the White Village, not to rejoin in the journey that had not yet started. And so now there were 6.<br />While Langda Tyagi, She-who-has-too-many-names and The Rabbit were enthusiastic about leaving immediately, after another extremely long round of deliberations (there were more to come), everyone returned to Marinlinia.<br />The next morning started with more discussions, and though no one was sure where they were going, the gang of six that remained got going in a Tavera driven by the Son of the Wind-God.<br />The journey through Mumbai was tedious and long, and the car trudged along waiting to hit the highway. Instead of going towards Punea, the gang took the turn towards Alibaug. On the way, they stopped for a bite. And there they received the sermon of the holy Mansh Baba of what to eat to lead a good life on the road, and how fast moving foods make fast moving Fellowships.<br />Finally, the car arrived at the thing that does not matter. A recovering Langda Tyagi and a reluctant The Mermaid stayed back on the sidewalk, while the rest of the gang took to the beach. The tide was out, the water was shallow, and what started out as a nice walk led to revival of the dinosaurs. Actually only one. After a massive water fight, She-who-has-too-many-names decided to transform the holy Mansh Baba into one of her ancestors – the Stegosaurus.<br />The sun was retiring for the night, and the Fellowship tired from their journey also looked for shelter. They ended up going to the Hotel Radisson and to a nice duplex suite that allowed the managers in them to have a top-view and also simultaneously experience what the vassals below feel. Food followed a lot of wine, and then while playing an really exciting game of Top5, everyone got bored and dozed off. The AC kept groaning throughout the night, and the power went off just for a while, enough to give a view of starry ceiling of this wonderous room. The Mermaid conveniently did what all good Indians do – go to someone else’s place and rid them of their home. The Rabbit being the homeless one, migrated a level up for the rest of the night.<br />The next morning everyone woke up and Tharki, for once he was awake, discovered how fun it is to see a mermaid out of water, or was it water on the mermaid? While getting ready for the road, discussions of the fair Katrina dominated. Fortunately, this could not have had much of a debate - she really is very beautiful. A quick breakfast and the Fellowship was back to what mattered – the journey, just to remind those who have not been paying attention.<br />There were a few things about the Fellowship that must be mentioned. Tharki kept sleeping, The Rabbit kept reading, She-who-has-too-many-names kept telling Tharki not to sleep and The Rabbit not to read, Langda Tyagi kept dreaming lucidly (yes, you are also reading this in your dream), and I’m not sure what the Stegosaurus and the Mermaid were really doing.<br />Kashidir passed on the way, and though the thing that mattered was really nice and beautiful, Murudor was a bit murky with oil-slicked sands and a long wait in the hot sun to visit a fort in the middle of the water.<br />The Fellowship returned to Kashidir, and this time the Mermaid took to the water, understandably very reluctantly because she had left her fins and tail at home. This time she definitely looked like a fish out of water. The Fellowship lost a lot to the Sea-God – She-who-has-too-many-names lost her cap, Stegosaurus his spectacles, and The Rabbit saw his lipguard float away. The only thing that kept coming back was a stick that everyone tried throwing away.<br />After thrashing around in the water, everyone was so hungry that the shack soon ran out Maggi, eggs, bread, chips, and whatever they had except money. Lounging around now trying to soak up the sun instead of just being soaked, the group talked, slept and ate for some time. Then they decided to hit the road again and move towards Punea.<br />On the way to Punea, there was a short stop for Samosas and Chai, but unfortunately everyone had to see the unholy sight of S&S Co. (Stegosaurus and Tharki) relieving themselves not keeping their hands where everyone else could see them. (Thank God for that!)<br />Though the group had been soaking wet almost the entire weekend, Punea turned out to be a bit of a dampener. By the time they reached Hard Rock, the party was over. No one was stoned enough to pay the crazy entry at Stone Grill. Tangerine had lesser people and looked less alive than a graveyard. So everyone went to the Meridien to eat.<br />After coming back to the Dinosaurs’ Lair, the gang decided to call it a night. Some were so tired that they slept where they were sitting. Oh, it was just Tharki! And this time he wasn't just sleeping. She-who-has-too-many-names discovered her cinematographic talents and captured the candid moments on camera. (For the dirty minds reading this, Tharki was just snoring.)<br />The next morning, the group hurried up as one of them had some prior engagement. Breakfast at German Bakery was a very healthy and wholesome one consisting of juice, eggs, porridge and strawberries & cream. At this point Stegosaurus bid farewell and returned to his lair. And now there were Five.<br />After buying Osho chappals, the Fellowship was on their way back to Mumbai. The journey back was uneventful. The Mermaid was now getting impatient; the others unable to fathom her impatience and eventual departure. And now there were Four!<br />The plan was to make most of the remaining day- watch a movie, catch a play, anything to make the great weekend continue, but Langda Tyagi after being the (enthu) One turned to the Dark Side (just became plain lazy). After much of The Rabbit’s nautanki that could not move Langda Tyagi (who was now looking very comfortable in his LangdaTyagi-asana), all it took for him to jump up was an invitation to Gloria Jeans, which was his favourite destination and the last of their journey.<br />No, they did not meet Katrina and The Rabbit did not get to do “Have you met Langda Tyagi?”<br />And so the journey of the Fellowship ended, with the wish that next time there are more fun-karenge opportunities, more GDs, more Genda Phool, and even if they are still unable to reach Goa, the Fellowship reunite for another journey.<br />------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-28389101866630005352009-03-10T14:30:00.003+05:302009-03-10T14:44:16.515+05:30<span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>Luck by Chance</strong> - OK concept - not that great. Hrithik Roshan was hilarious, especially in the scene in front of the mirror. Rishi Kapoor was also very good in his role as the producer. But the best scene for me was Isha Sharvani seducing Farhan in the hotel. Just one word to describe the scene - WOW!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>DevD</strong> - Loved it! Thought it was 20 minutes too long (but I think that about every Hindi movie), but everything else was great. The best of the Deols is doing really well with his unconventional roles and I really want to see his next movie. What I like best about the movie - the music. It is one delightfully long awesome music video!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong>Revolutionary Road </strong>- Absolutely brilliant. Don't know why Kate Winslet didn't get the Oscar for this one. Didn't go to the movie knowing much about it, and thought that the first half was a bit slow. Didn't really expect much from the second half, but it just blew my mind away. Lovely end to the movie with the estate agent's husband lowering the volume of his hearing aid.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">My favourite scene was towards the end - the last breakfast. Felt really uneasy, and thought that if I were in Leo's place, I would have been shitting in my pants!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Seen a few movies, but nothing that makes me want to write about them. Didn't watch quite a few of the new releases, including Slumdog Millionaire, but didn't miss any.</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-65431266104596791382009-01-31T23:03:00.002+05:302009-01-31T23:58:25.554+05:30A good start<span style="font-family:georgia;">2008 wasn't that great a year, but 2009 is off to a good start. One month down and life, though could have been better, isn't that bad.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Money-wise I have been a bit lucky, but I guess discounts (Big Retail is not doing so well) shouldn't count much.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Have been able to catch up with some good friends and enjoyed some long conversations after a long time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">At work, my role has changed, but the previous work continues. Plus a few more clients have been added to my portfolio. So, work is about 2.5 times of what it was in 2008, and some of it is terribly frustrating. But now I get to make some money for the bank directly (yes, even in this market!). Making money really feels good, but if more would come to me, it would feel so much better!</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Bought <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">corduroys</span> for the first time (and as usual thought about the Emirates ad).</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Tried out 2 new places already - Candies and Thai <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Baan</span> - reviews in a later post hopefully.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Theobroma</span> and had Vodka Chilly Mousse Cake - again after a long time!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And I have also been able to write one blog post in January! (almost deleted this and that would have made a more interesting post!)</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-35881126483246486942008-12-31T17:24:00.003+05:302008-12-31T17:37:42.579+05:30A few random thoughts to end this year<span style="font-family:georgia;">1. When I try my hardest not to wince, I always do. I don't know if this happens to others too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">2. There are some things I could have done differently in 2008, but if I had, would I really be better off?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">3. I rediscovered my love for games - Lego, Battleships etc. Does that mean I am regressing?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">4. On hearing a plan, a friend commented that I am just running away. How do you know if you are running away from something known or running towards something unknown?</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">5. 2008 was not that great for me, but I still loved it for I learnt so much about myself. So if 2009 is great, will I not learn anything at all?</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-89929494171940088082008-12-19T14:50:00.006+05:302008-12-19T15:05:13.134+05:30Ten Things to Eat Before I Leave Cal<div align="justify"><font face="georgia">Now that I am back home, I have thought of lots of things I have to do (EAT), but keep forgetting some, and keep adding others. Some here’s my Checklist. </font><br /><br /></div><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bhindi</span></em> Fry</strong> – Just plain fried ladyfingers, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">because</span> all you get in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mumbai</span> is horrible <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bhindi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Masala</span></em> that has more tomatoes and onions than ladyfingers!</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong><em>Dal</em></strong> – all types other than <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kaali</span> Dal</em> will do – especially <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Chholar</span> Dal</em> and <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Matar</span> Dal</em>.</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong>Fish Fry</strong> – from the <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bekti</span></em> fillets one can only get in Calcutta!</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong>Mutton Chop</strong> – less potatoes on the outside, more meat on the inside.</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Shaakher</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Jhhol</span></em></strong> & </font><font face="georgia"><strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Shukto</span></em></strong> – Classic Bengali veggie fare – delicious & nutritious.</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong>Hot <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Phulkas</span></em> </strong>– Have it served hot and fluffy, and burn my fingers while having them… Worth it!</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong><em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Gajar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ka</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Halwa</span></em></strong> – What is winter without having hot <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Halwa</span></em>?</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong>Chicken Stew</strong> – Ill man’s fare one may say, but the only chicken dish I’m prepared to eat at home. Overdose of chicken in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Mumbai</span>.</font></p><p align="justify"><font face="georgia"><strong>Veggies</strong> – lots and lots of vegetables – preferably boiled/steamed – weird for a very non-vegetarian person like me to complete my Top 10 like this, but not many veggies in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Mumbai</span> diet, and this realization stems from seeing that there were more veggies on my plate of Steak than I have in a week!</font></p><div align="justify"><font face="georgia">Hopefully will have to post another checklist soon!</font> </div>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-72914747402221503452008-11-01T23:00:00.005+05:302008-11-01T23:33:57.352+05:30What am I font of?<span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-size:100%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Every time</span> I want to post something, I get confused about what font to use. A preview generally helps about what may look good and readable. (This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lucida</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Grande</span> normal.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><br />But then, I publish it and see that the previous post is of a completely different font and probably looks better than what I just published. (This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Verdana</span> normal.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><br />So, what better way to put this to rest than to actually writing something in different fonts. And this way I can use this post for future reference. (This is G</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">eorgia</span> normal.)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">I think I am inclined towards Georgia. There are two fonts I know I don't want to use -</span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Times New Roman</span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">and</span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Arial</span></span></span>. <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >Too normal and reminds me of office. </span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Even in office, I try and rebel and use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Garamond</span>, but there is no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Garamond</span> in the font drop-down menu here! (This is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Trebuchet</span> normal.)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: courier new;font-size:100%;" >Why am I so concerned about the fonts and their sizes? Shouldn't I concentrate on the content of this blog? Anyway, I don't know how many people read this, and I should actually try and improve my articles. (This is Courier normal - definitely not using this - reminds me of old typewriters!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: webdings;">But sometimes I go to other blogs, and though the posts are really good, the readability is somewhat lacking. Nothing more irking than a font that is too small or just does not "do it for me". I know that sounds weird, but aesthetics do matter. (This must be irritating to whoever is reading this, but this is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Webdings</span> normal.)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I think I have my winner. So, the last but one thing I have to do is check what size to use - </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:78%;" >smallest, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:85%;" >small, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >normal,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:130%;" >large,</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:180%;" >largest.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />So what is the last thing I have to do? Check how Georgia looks in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bold</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Italics</span>!</span><br /><br />Now all I have to do is publish this and change my mind...Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-80973753042490476732008-10-04T17:32:00.006+05:302008-10-04T18:08:52.369+05:30Why do sweets taste better during festivals?<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The festive season in most countries is Christmas or Easter; in some, it is Ramzan; in India, something is on all the year around. But for a Bengali, there is nothing to beat Durga Puja. And somehow, the same street food tastes so much better in these 4-5 days.<br />Id just got over, and the main days of the Durga Puja are just around the corner. It'll be interesting to see what Mumbai has to offer in terms of the festivities, the idols, the decorations, and most importantly, the food!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">What I tried out recently is the Md.Ali Road area (Menara Masjid) during Ramzan - it was awesome! A colleague took me there on the first evening of Ramzan, and we had to go there again - and so we did on the last day (at least that's what we hoped at that point of time, but unfortunately, we landed up in office the next day).<br />It seemed a bit empty the first time we went there. There were very few food stalls and we actually had space to walk through the streets. We started with some excellent <em>Phirni</em> (both the plain and the Kesar) and some very fresh <em>Kalakand</em>, moved on to the non-veg and then finished the evening with the <em>Phirni </em>again. The best part of that evening for me was the <em>Kalakand</em>, freshly made and milky, just melting in the mouth!<br />The second time we went there, the place was definitely more crowded, but we loved it as there were more food stalls now and more options. Obviously we had to start with the Phirni again. Tasted some Kalakand, but because they were probably prepared much earlier and in more quantity, it just didn't taste the same. Tried some Tandoori Chicken which was good, but the <em>Bhuna Gosht</em> (we had that on the first evening too) was delicious! An interesting thing we tried and enjoyed was <em>Halwa-Puri</em>, but the <em>Puris</em> were made with <em>Maida </em>(refined white flour), and Bengalis don't really mind that!<br />What I didn't like - the standard sweets like <em>Jalebis</em> and <em>Ras Malai</em>. What I didn't try though I wanted to - <em>Malpuas</em> the size of 16" pizzas, and <em>Chiku Phirni!</em><br />What I'd recommend - Go to the Menara Masjid area next year during Ramzan in the evening and try out the food (especially <em>Phirni </em>and <em>Bhuna Gosht</em>)!<br /><br />While leaving, we passed the sweet shop and stopped for another round of <em>Phirni,</em> knowing that we would have to wait for next year for it to taste the same. </span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-82794803959563693342008-08-30T16:37:00.004+05:302008-08-30T16:42:15.390+05:30Bhelcome Bandra<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">No, this post is not about having <em>Bhel</em> in Bandra, but the two new places in Bandra (not counting the home deliveries) that have not disappointed at all. But apart from my liking the food, there is very little the two places have in common.<br /><br /><strong>Bembo’s</strong> is a Burger place on S.V.Road, more towards Khar, which is a South American chain apparently. Now I don’t know how South Americans make their burgers, but these guys are pretty good. Though I have a lot of McBurgers of various kinds, I stopped liking the place after they discontinued their mutton burgers and the Maharaja Mac became a Chicken Maharaja Mac! Wimpy’s is one place that does have a lamb burger, but the one that opened at Churchgate is very disappointing. The buns are drier than the <em>Pav</em> used in <em>Vada-Pav</em>, and unlike the one at CP in Delhi, these guys don’t put gherkins in their burgers!<br />Back to Bembo’s. What I have had and what I also recommend is the Argentinean Mutton Burger. The mutton patty is properly grilled and there is a greenish sauce that makes this burger very different. The sauce dispensers also have a Mayo option (I don’t understand why McD doesn’t do that as well). Though the food takes more time than the usual fast food joint, the mutton patties being freshly grilled are juicier and tastier than the standard fast-food fare. The outside seating area is a problem – when it’s not raining, there are lots of flies, and when it’s raining, the employees are more concerned about the fancy retractable tarpaulin type cover than the customers.<br /><br />The second place is not so fancy, slightly shady according to some, but having an excellent location – I don’t know what the crossing is called, as <strong>Lucky</strong> is a famous landmark by itself – immediately when one enters Bandra (W) from Mahim on S.V.Road, the first major crossing with the station towards the right and Hill Road towards the left, there is a white building on the left – that’s Lucky Hotel, and beside it is the Restaurant.<br />The best <em>biryani </em>I have had in Mumbai till now. Most of the places, especially the home delivery options, keep the layers of the <em>biryani</em> intact, and if one has to mix the rice and the curry-ish bit on their own, why not serve it separately?!<br />At Lucky, they mix it up, at least before serving. Also, the curry-ish bit in <em>biryani </em>is not meant to be a curry, and by mixing it up, one can’t really make that out. The best bit about the<em> biryani</em> here, and perhaps the most neglected by most small eateries, is the quality of the rice and the mutton – I can’t emphasise how much of a difference it makes!<br />Try the Mutton <em>Dum Biryani</em> and the<em> Phirni</em>. (I’ll suggest the best <em>Phirni</em> I have had in Mumbai later because this post is about Bandra, and that place is not in Bandra.)<br /><br />(Note to self: 1. There should be some sort of a signature sign-off line, so that I don’t have to write notes to self anymore. 2. I should concentrate on the food bit – the location description sucks!) </span></div>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-48734399659877787902008-08-07T21:57:00.005+05:302008-08-07T22:32:55.227+05:30Alvida Andheri(e)<span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">Shifted from one Mumbai suburb (Andheri) to another (Bandra). </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Andheri (East) wasn't exactly a foodie heaven. The daily fare was generally restricted to two places close to home - Sai Krishna for vegetarian and Sai Punjab for non-vegetarian. There was a Chindian (Chinese food Indian style) shack that I did try with Bhonpu, but not really thanking him for that.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Pepperoni pizzas from Domino's were something we could always fall back upon; a Kebab Corner that was thankfully much better than the Sai restaurants; Pop Tate's for a drink and a steak; a Subway sandwich once in the entire year; and an occasional "family restaurant & bar" - all put together did not go a long way in helping me achieving my target of 150 eateries by June (as I had written here in April)!</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Now that I am in Bandra, and armed with the new food guide, I have more places to explore, albeit very expensive ones! But how can I leave Andheri (East) without mentioning my recommendation - Maharaja!</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Maharaja is located at the crossing of the Western-Express Highway and Andheri-Kurla Road, and looks like one of the shady<em> </em>restaurant-bars that serve a very different sort of exotic fare after nightfall<em>.</em> But the food is fantastic! Coastal cuisine with <em>appams</em>, <em>neer dosas</em> and lightly spiced curries, and good service, make up for the location, decor and everything else that goes into a restaurant's rating.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Looks are really deceiving, and I would suggest that you try it out before the Mumbai Metro construction blocks it from not-so-observant eyes.</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-19433356535226685822008-07-26T02:06:00.004+05:302008-07-26T02:25:07.741+05:30Sex 'n Chocolate<p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Saw an ad for the new Kit Kat Chunky. Won’t comment on the quality of the ad, impact etc. but writing just to make this comment: this ad brings sex back to chocolate.<br />The ad shows a guy and a girl sitting on a railway station bench. The guy opens a Kit Kat Chunky explaining how these “beauties” mix the cocoa and the hazelnuts (with the accompanying visuals, of course!). The girl dismisses this claim and takes the chocolate from him, and while biting it, tells him that it is the cowboys who do all the work!<br />I am just happy that Kit Kat is trying to appeal to its customers through such visuals. Try as we Indians may, there is a limit to which one can associate chocolate with family, festivals and <em>kuchh meetha ho jaaye</em>!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Chocolates seemingly have a simple connection with romance – they make wonderful gifts. But there is enough literature on chocolate’s aphrodisiac qualities starting from the Aztecs or Mayans to modern day surveys on how eating more chocolate improves sex life.<br />There are quite a few jokes on this as well – “Top 10 reasons why chocolate is better than sex?” One of the best and probably the most common reason in any top ten would be “you can <em>get</em> chocolate”. There are numerous others, and I’m sure Kit Kat is asking for its own share of innuendos with their brand Chunky!<br /><br />Whatever it is about chocolate that attracts so much attention, we will probably never know; but there is one thing I must say: a good chocolate can definitely be described in one word – Orgasmic!</span></p>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-85445262157710741742008-07-21T17:33:00.004+05:302008-07-21T17:41:32.310+05:30Two Porky!<p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><u>El Cerdo (October 2007)</u></strong><br />Spanish for “The Pig”, this restaurant is a pork-lover’s dream come true. KL does not have too many places that serve pork; so El Cerdo is truly the oasis in this desert.<br />The moment you enter you are greeted with a sound that is not often associated with the dining area of a good eatery – breaking plates! The focus of the restaurant also comes out in its décor – pictures of pigs dotting the walls, which we then proceeded to name after famous pigs like Babe, Porky et al.<br />We had ordered for a proper meal, and everything that came in had a porky touch. The starters were very good, and though it’s been almost a year since I ate there, I can still taste the <strong>thin slices of pork salami with honey melon</strong>. I quite like the idea of different types of tastes mingling together. It can be disastrous if not done properly, but some combinations of sweet and savoury just gel very well, and this was probably the best I have had.<br />Among the other dishes, there was <strong><em>Paella</em></strong>, a Spanish rice dish, that a Phillippino friend said was just the way her grandmom made it. There was considerable Spanish influence in the Philippines and so we took her word for its authenticity. Even if it wasn’t authentic <em>paella</em>, it was still delicious!<br />The highlight of the evening was the small <strong>roast pig</strong>. Now some might find the thought of a whole animal from head to tail a bit revolting, and even I must admit that it is not my favourite food sight in the world, but if one can be comfortable eating an animal by just removing the head and the tail, that is surely a case of conflicting standards.<br />Anyway, the roast pig was unlike the ones I had seen in photographs. It was not stuffed and resembling a pig in anyway. It was small and flat and </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TgJhEbIObaV6wnb-1q38jsICkMv6WefAQ5Osk2cSQkMaKSWwQZJRDasBNsh_MZfaZi77qzELk4aMLGHqgGnOdvNvJmNQcO6geqZTVbZmjpqxh-zzsQ3C-yD9R6YoThjiuOxy/s1600-h/n516845033_1575623_8810.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225437392773730290" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TgJhEbIObaV6wnb-1q38jsICkMv6WefAQ5Osk2cSQkMaKSWwQZJRDasBNsh_MZfaZi77qzELk4aMLGHqgGnOdvNvJmNQcO6geqZTVbZmjpqxh-zzsQ3C-yD9R6YoThjiuOxy/s200/n516845033_1575623_8810.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;">missing its head from what I remember of it.</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;"> Then the proprietor came in and explained the philosophy of the restaurant and that they believe that the pork they cook is so soft that we can cut it with a plate. We were then handed plates, and given the owner’s confidence about their quality, it wasn’t surprising when we could actually chop through the flesh. Before we proceeded to reduce the pig into smaller pieces, the waiters took it away so that they could cut it properly and serve us.<br />The mystery of the sound of the <strong>breaking plates</strong> was solved when we were asked to break the plates with which we cut the pig because it is considered good luck. Obviously we did not smash it against the walls, but just threw it in a wooden tub. Though it had nothing to do with the food, it was a big contributor to my fantastic El Cerdo experience.<br /><br />My Food Rating: 8.5/10<br /></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><u>Ka Ka Bakut Teh (July 2008)<br /></u></strong>Given my love for pork, my friends decided that I should definitely sample one of the Chinese specialties available in Malaysia. El Cerdo is excellent but a bit expensive; and my earlier street food experience had convinced them that I was ready for Bakut Teh. The place we went to was Ka Ka Bakut Teh in Kepong, about 45 minutes from downtown KL by road. It started off as a small shack, but acquired a larger area in the past year. It is one of those eateries that opens in the evening and continues through the night.<br />Bakut Teh means <strong>Pork Tea Soup</strong>, and is pork pieces cooked in a herbal tea infusion with vegetables added later. The end result is this very tasty soup that should replace chicken soup as the ultimate flu remedy.<br />The first thing we were served was fried pieces of dough that we could dip in oil, and then the soup. It can also be had with rice, and adding <strong>duck soy sauce</strong> to the soup makes it a killer combination!<br />We also had some fried tofu that one of us thankfully dumped into the soup.<br />The other thing that we ordered was yellow chicken. It was chicken cooked with alcohol, and something like the <strong>drunken chicken</strong> we can get in some of the better Chinese restaurants in India.<br />The two enormous bowls took us a lot of time. We even took a break so that we could take another serving of rice, and yet 5 people could not finish everything.<br />A truly satisfying experience that I would recommend every foodie should experience when in Malaysia.<br /><br />My Food Rating: 9.5/10</span></span></p>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-40555904191362974132008-07-21T00:02:00.003+05:302008-07-21T00:11:29.953+05:30My almost perfect breakfastA bowl of Museli with fresh milk<br />Warm croissants<br />Sausages<br />Ham & cheese omlette<br />Fresh Watermelon juice<br />Yoghurt<br /><br /><em>What could make it better?</em><br />Bacon & fried eggs!<br /><br />(Alternative title: Last meal at The Imperial, KL.)Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-26117321985310036722008-07-16T23:18:00.002+05:302008-07-16T23:27:57.526+05:30Indian food in a foreign land<p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Indian food outside India was probably never a rarity, even lesser so today. Indian restaurants have sprung up all around the world, firstly catering to the expatriate population, and also to other nationalities who want a taste of Indian cuisine. A friend mentioned over dinner today that there are no Indian restaurants in Sweden but there are quite a few Indians there. Struck me as weird and prompted me to google it up. Found an interesting site that lets you search for Indian restaurants in other parts of the world – </span><a href="http://www.indiandinner.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.indiandinner.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.<br /><br />Now, for most foreigners, there are some ground rules about Indian food<br /> 1. It is hot, spicy and oily.<br /> 2. Most of the fare is vegetarian, since most Indians are vegetarian.<br /> 3. Anything with a sense of gravy is a curry.<br /> 4. The only non-vegetarian food is Chicken Tikka Masala.<br />It is probably hard to appreciate the fact that India is a big country with many different languages, cultures and ergo, cuisines. Surprisingly, there are many misconceptions about different Indian cuisines among Indians themselves. Some of my favourites – 1. Punjabi food is all about garam masala (sometimes I tend to be convinced it’s true!)<br />2.South Indian food consists of 6 items - idli, vada, sambar, dosa, utappam, upma. There is no non-vegetarian food in South India.<br />3. Bengalis eat only fish. (I am a Bengali, so this disturbs me the most. There is a fantastic range of vegetarian dishes like shukto, shaakher jhol, mocha (not to be confused with the mocha in café mocha, alu posto…you know I could go on, but just sufficing with listing a few I like.)<br /><br />In spite of so many Indian restaurants, most of us have problems eating abroad. I know of friends who have survived Europe tours on Fish’n’Chips. Colleagues who are here with me in Malaysia are mostly vegetarian, and find a hard time getting good food. The hotel fortunately provides some Indian fare including a very interesting capati. There are quite a few Indian restaurants in KL and that is obviously their refuge.<br />I, on the other hand, am a NON-vegetarian, and have no trouble with the wide assortment of meats available. Hence, I do not have to necessarily frequent the Srirekhas of KL. In fact, I have had Indian food just 3 times in the 11 weeks I have been here!<br /><br />The other, and probably the major reason, that I do not eat Indian food here is that I find too oily and not tasty at all. What’s the point of stuffing myself with something that will probably make me crave for Indian food more instead of satisfying me?<br /><br />The third time was today at Bombay Palace. It was the standard dal makhani, chicken makhani type something, tandoori gobi, paneer… The starters were good, but nothing exceptional that will make me go back there again. And it wasn’t cheap! Not my usual VFM place (there was one I went to a few days ago, but it was Chinese, and deserves a special mention separately).<br /><br />Not much time left here in KL, and I think I’d better use it to sample some other cuisines before returning to my food in my land.</span> </p>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-14598611918957313822008-07-13T21:08:00.009+05:302008-07-13T22:36:40.789+05:30Happiness in small pieces of pineapple<span style="font-family:verdana;">One of the highlights this time in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kuala</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lumpur</span> has been a Chinese dinner on the streets. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Jalan</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Alor</span> is the place in downtown KL where there are street hawkers and small food outlets that serve food literally on the street. Small tables and chairs spread on the pavement and covering parts of the road make me a bit homesick; they remind me of my birthplace <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kolkata</span> and my campus life in Delhi.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I will not talk about hygiene as I have rarely taken ill after eating street-food. Street vendors seem to have an uncanny ability to assess demand and manage inventory; a skill that cannot be taught at Business Schools!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Went with a Malaysian friend, so it helped with the ordering of the food. When the food started arriving, we realized only God could help us. The servings were excellent and we had everything from oysters to pork.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Pork is one of my favourite meats, and the one I miss the most in Malaysia (the hotel serves Beef Bacon, but that deserves a post on its own!). The street vendors however cater to different populations, including the Chinese, and hence have no qualms about serving pork. So I had to go eat here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">What was on the menu? Shredded beef. Oyster <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">omlettes</span>. Pork sweet and sour. Calamari. Clams. Noodles, rice and vegetables. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">The shredded beef was good, not great. The oyster <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">omlettes</span> were very good and very unique (for me). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">But my favourite dish was the Pork Sweet & Sour. The taste surprisingly was just like the sweet and sour my Mom makes at home. At least what I remember of it. The most surprising bit, rather bits, were the pineapple pieces because I don't know of many people except my family who add pineapple to this dish; and I was very happy that this vendor did.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Reminiscent of childhood days now and amazed at how small pieces of pineapple can make me so happy.</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-54145894343367835162008-07-13T14:29:00.001+05:302008-07-13T14:32:20.422+05:30Trigger Happy Me<span style="font-family:verdana;">Shooting someone in the head can be exhilarating. Hiding behind sandbags and popping a few shots, trying to draw out the enemy, providing cover to mates so that they can advance – everything builds up a fantastic rush that is hard to describe. Of course, the feeling would be very different had I been carrying real guns and facing real bullets.<br /><br />Yesterday, I went to play paintball with paintball guns that are not called guns, but markers, as they are not weapons, and the bullets are actually paint pellets. Though I had seen paintball earlier in Gurgaon, this was the first time I was playing full games with a large group.<br /><br />The Mudtrekker camp is in Sungai Boloh, an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur. The place had different courses, and we started off with a game in a bigger forested course. There were some sandbags that provided good cover, but the trees were obviously no good. Survived the first game easily and we won, but the next game turned out to be tougher. The only cover I had was a corrugated metal sheet that did not let me see the enemy easily. After some random shots, I saw one of the other team diagonally towards my left. He was engaged with two of my team members on the left flank, and I had a reasonable sight of him. I fired a couple of shots, missed, and unfortunately gave my position away. I had no cover on the left, and though I crouched and hid as much as possible, I got hit on my leg.<br /><br />The problem with paintballs compared to conventional gunfire is that the pellets are fired with the help of compressed CO2. The pressure is enough to take the pellet in a straight line till some distance, but then the trajectory changes and the pellet swings and dips. The wind can also play spoilsport, and there is always a faulty barrel one can blame. But after a while, one gets used to the marker, and can adjust their aim accordingly.<br /><br />We played the third game again in the forest. This time I again had the cover of the sandbags. I took cover, moved up a bit to fire properly, and splat! Someone got me on my mask near the mouth. So the paint splattered in and all I could think of is how bitter it tasted. Got to see the first casualty of friendly fire from the sidelines.<br /><br />Anyway, this was my shortest game of the day, as we changed courses, and went to play on an urban obstacle course with a car thrown in for show. The game this time was “capture the flag”; more like plant the flag and hope it stays there. Each time had to move toward the centre of the course and plant their flag and make its stay there for one minute. Obviously there was no cover there. A shorter course and given that we were only 13, this was much better, and the games were more fun.<br /><br />I got shot only one more time out of the four games we played – that too on the chin by a dipping paintball – and ran out of ammo once.<br />The best part of the day for me was when I saw an Indian friend on the other team trying to advance and changing position. He took cover behind some drums that was a good position. I kept some pressure on him by firing a few shots and stopped. He popped out his head to take a look, and bang! Headshot! Game over! (for him at least)<br /><br />The paintballs really sting on impact, and leave some very nice war-marks on the players. However, I have only one bruise to show for my four hours of fun. Had a very good experience and hope to play more of it when I get back to India.<br /> Caution for other people wanting to try out paintball: You’ll have to get your clothes dirty if you want to play well, and the enemy in the forest is much friendlier than the mosquitoes there!</span>Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15562030.post-46323600606950832142008-07-06T20:39:00.003+05:302008-07-06T20:48:33.647+05:30Philosophy and physicsI keep wondering what Einstein was really talking about when he came up with the theory of Relativity. Something very deep about the concept.<br />Now I have started wondering whether Newton was being a bit of a philosopher too when he compiled the Laws of Motion.<br /><em>Corpus omne perseverare in statu suo quiescendi vel movendi uniformiter in directum, nisi quatenus a viribus impressis cogitur statum illum mutare. </em>(Translation: Every body perseveres in its state of being at rest or of moving uniformly straight forward, except insofar as it is compelled to change its state by force impressed.)<br />Simply put, a body at rest tends to be at rest. The famous first law or the law of inertia.<br />Here in Malaysia, I feel exactly the same way. With nothing much to do, I tend to do pretty much nothing.<br />The problem is who or what will compel me to change this state of rest?Arjun Sanyalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09416295106869772588noreply@blogger.com0