A Story about Richard Montañez who was a Janitor, Bold & Confident about his idea to directly call the boss at Frito lay and tell him about his plan to save the company’s factory and Jobs! The story is about how some believed him, while others mocked him. It was the push he got from one of the seniors, who believed in his Idea and the CEO who trusted his instincts. Yes! He did save the jobs and Grew the company too, with a simple idea of following his roots for a snack, that’s loved globally today. A Completely new range of products was introduced and handled by Richard Montañez the man who changed the lives of Cheetos. He retired in 2019 after being involved with the company for 42 Years… Flamin Hot is Streaming on Hotstar.
A festival, that’s always been associated with fun, colourful and childlike! The older crowd, just can’t let their childishness go away. Over the years, Holi has been filled with colours, friends & Family and Food too! Since childhood Holi celebration memories have been about being soaked in water, Sometimes the faces looked like Mud Pack or sometimes they were unrecognizable. It would take days before we or someone could recognise us as ourselves. We would get thrown into inflated water Pools and while all this would be happening, there were rain showers too for Rain Dance with Good Music with popular Holi festival songs and occasionally playing musical instruments and enjoying shaven ice Lollies dipped in Rose, Cola, Jamun and Kala Khatta Syrups to beat the heat. The food would be a street food style menu. Chaat, like Sev Puri and Paani Puri, Chole Kulcha, of the north to the South Indian Dosa, Samosa, Kulfi & Jalebi’s for Desserts with Thandai, Coconut Water, Kokum as beverages. Holi has always been that day where you meet up to socialise with family and friends. Holi-Day is that festival where you would take a couple of Holidays only to get clean with the mess, because you forgot to Apply the Oil or because you enjoy the break. Holi Celebration this year was like, the ones we celebrated earlier, but this time with a small group! A celebration after years!!!
Taste by @stanleytucci. A book, that you would enjoy reading not just if you like eating, but if you like cooking too! The tone used in the book, the way it has been written, takes us back to his childhood days and memories! This book has Taste on every page, while some pages are sweet, some are Bitter. The whole read is a meal! You wouldn’t like to miss it!
The Food Mood Connection by @drumanaidoo Haven’t you always said or heard? I am in the mood to eat this meal today for lunch, Breakfast or Dinner. Well! Food and Mood does have a connection and this book highlights how it affects us. An interesting book on focusing correlation between Mental Health, Food and Diet. Research and written by Uma Naidoo who has studied nutritional & lifestyle psychiatry at Harvard.
Pancake in Paris by @craigcarlsonauthor A story of an American who lived his American dream in Paris! By starting a cafe – Pancake in Paris! This story is about how he succeeded in living his dream and the challenges he faced in getting the right ingredients and introducing a Breakfast meal that wasn’t part of the French culture. A good American breakfast.
How I Quit Google to Sell Samosas @munafkapadia The Story about Borhi Kitchen – A home experience of cultural cuisine, that started a decade ago and gained popularity for the food and the experience it, it later also grew with food experience as a delivery service and for Catering at events! With a simple idea of bringing in local cultural food. This is an inspirational story set in India, Mumbai since it’s also a challenge to diversify from well-paid jobs to starting something of your own. This book also highlights the challenges one faces in the Food & Beverages and Hospitality business.
Forgotten Foods @taranahusainkhan A book on looking back at some of the food specialities that aren’t very popular these days and are well known only in certain parts of the country.
Merry Christmas by Sriram Raghavan! When you watch a movie and instantly remember the source of inspiration. You know exactly what the result would be and how the story would unfold. But, at the same time you always feel the Book would be better! I remember Reading the book last year. And a while later Realised the simplicity of the story. This is a slow burn, French Noir But having been adapted to the screen it could have been a little more edgier. The story is about two strangers who meet each other. One who is revisiting his home after 7 Years And the other who is out for dinner. They both go to the latter’s house and enjoy a drink! Then she remembers she has forgotten something and they go looking for it and are back home only to discover that her husband is killed ! This is when the story unfolds… And then this incident happens again With another man The plot thickens and slowly the mystery unravels. Merry Christmas is an inspiration and adaption of Bird in a Cage by Fredrick Dard a French noir writer and the film is now streaming on A popular Ott platform.
It might seem The southern part of India is my favourite. But, even I am not sure, what influences me to travel to that part of the country!
It was work for one part of it, It was sightseeing the Other Time and it was food and rejuvenation for this time.
All the sides of the South have so much to offer! Just like the other states of India! But, the flavours in the South are all so different.
While the common element remains the coconut in the flavours, Pepper and Masala in each of these states enhance the taste of the food.
South Indian Food
Kochi! Was such a food experience. The freshness of seafood, The softness of meat & Pork. The sharpness of Pepper and Rice and fullness of Appams was a treat every meal!
Backwaters Calmness and quietness through the journey in the boat was an experience of Stillness in a world of technology.
The Night at the Allepy snoozed us at 10 after another meal of Fish & Vegetable Stews!
The next morning we were back from the shores, not sure if we were ready to travel back into reality!
The heritage property where we stayed for another day in the city, was a museum with Vintage Cars, Camera, Projectors and an antique Radio system!
The whole Kochi experience wouldn’t have been complete without exploring Art Galleries & Independent stores that had so much to offer!
In terms of coffee, the Monsoon Malabar Roast is something you would enjoy the most. The Saltiness coming from the moisture in the air is what makes the coffee flavourful with the spice & nutty notes.
Stay:
Bloom Boutique hotel
Kumarakom Lake Resort & Boat
Eat:
Kashi Art Cafe: Asian Food & Eggs
Pandhal Cafe : Pizza, Tacos, Desserts, Coffee and Berry lemonade.
Brunton Boatyard: For South India food
Jew Town Cafe : Cold Coffee
French Toast : Coffee & Desserts
Shop:
David Hall
Pepper House
Jew Town
Hampi!
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Another city in the South was more about architecture and History with beautiful historic temples like Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill and Hazara Rama Temple are a must-visit on your visit to Hampi.
The Eco-friendly hotel at Hampi, felt like a restored heritage hotel, but in fact, was designed from scratch.
At Hampi, we were truly a tourist in our incredible India.
Hampi, had suddenly seen a spike of interest globally even the G20 was hosted in the city in 2023.
Stay:
Evolve Back Hotel
Bangalore!
Bangalore Palace
The IT hub! The widest roads in a metro city!
Where the joke for the city is.
IT professionals travel for about an hour on average to make apps and work for companies that promise delivery within 10 min.
The City, that’s clean & Green! A metro you would like to stay in if you have a choice!
The food options are many to choose from!
Andra-style south Indian food being our favourite.
But, the dessert and baking goods are one of the best in the city!
The city has a palace, whose architectural structure is like a British-style castle.
A K H I L N A N D A 