FOOD
5 must-try Kolhapuri dishes
Ever tried Kolhapuri cuisine? Here is a recommendation for five fiery, palate-tickling and flavourful dishes from the once-princely-state of Kohlapur that sets it apart from the other regions of Maharashtra.
TRENDS
Goa’s latest cultural hub used to be a jail complex: A short history & what to expect now
Once a Goan jail, Aguad now comprises heritage museums and venues for performance arts, live music, eateries and festivals; it is positioned as a tribute to the unique story of Goa.
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Why top chefs from Gary Mehigan to Massimo Bottura are making a beeline for India
Is the Indian appetite for new (often expensive) food experiences insatiable or are hotels using the travelling chef as a selling point?
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What the Eid-ul-Fitr tradition is
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramzan, while Eid-Al-Adha or Bakra Eid, is synonymous with sacrifice. Celebrations for both, pivot around food, albeit with variations
TRENDS
Vegan alternatives for Easter favourites, from Simnel cake to pot pies
After the austere period of Lent, Easter is all about good food. And with dairy-free and plant-based options, now even Vegans can savour indulgent treats.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Healthy eating tips for sehri this Ramadan: Stick to rice, eggs or fruits to delay hunger pangs
The holy month of Ramzan, or Ramadan, entails fasting. Yet, food is central to its observance and healthy choices must be made for sehri, the meal before day-break, to sustain oneself
ENVIRONMENT
Sustainable travel: Are ecologically constructed hotels the future?
The hospitality industry is obviously affected by climate change and increasing natural disasters, but it is also a major contributor to global warming. Are sustainable green hotel buildings, the answer?
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Not a Dal moment: With prices of pulses soaring, what protein alternatives to consume
Protein powerhouses and an integral part of the Indian diet, dals have been the most cost-effective, pocket-friendly source of protein. But with dals becoming expensive what are the other affordable alternatives?
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Vagator, Goa’s newest hot spot is here to stay
Is it the stunning views from hill-top restaurants overlooking the Vagator beach or real-estate growth bandwagon coupled with commercialisation that is fast converting Goa’s Anjuna-Vagator belt into a hot spot?
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Honey wants money: Valentine’s Day and the Business of Love
While couples pull out the stops to make Valentine’s Day memorable, it is the retailers laughing their way to the banks. Has the Valentine’s Day been reduced to a business, where brands exploit our need for romantic validation?
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Know the difference: What Indians have been eating as Mexican is Tex-Mex
Who doesn’t love a plateful of tortilla chips or nachos, heaped with salsa, guacamole and jalapeños, smothered in gooey cheese? But is that even the real Mexican food?
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Varanasi Goojha and 25 more dishes rooted in India, to try this Republic Day
Combos like Litti Chokha and Dal Baati Churma; forgotten Indian recipes; fermented foods; classics from Biryani to Dal Makhni; and jowar and bajra dishes to try in the Year of Millets.
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23 signature dishes to try in 2023
In this list: an aloo chaat, momos, biryani, Mari cutlets, Daab prawns, Pindi choley and saag kulcha, and brownies and filter kaapi cheesecake - take your pick.
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Restaurant review: Art meets gastronomy at Hosa, Goa's new South Indian fine-dining restaurant
Run by EHV International (Indian Accent, Comorin), Hosa demonstrates both traditional skills and modern techniques in its contemporary interpretation of dishes from South India.
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Old Monk chai, and India’s love affair with dark rum
After gin, made-in-India rum is coming into the spotlight - travelling to clubs, personal bars and a chai ki dukaan in Goa.
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Yum or yuck? Elaichi mousse and other contemporary twists on Diwali sweets
‘Aao Twist Karein’, Manna Dey’s popular song from ‘Bhoot Bangla’, seems to have been taken too seriously by creators of sweets and inventive chefs.
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Best places for Dandiya in Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Kolkata
While garba is usually performed in a circle around a big lamp or an idol of Goddess Shakti, Dandiya raas is played with colourful sticks and is said to have originated in Vrindavan.
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Does Tur dal really have six times more calcium than milk? Nutrition, recipes, GI tag
Research has shown that the seed-coat of pigeon pea or Tur dal has more calcium than milk. But are all the health benefits easily available to the human body?
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Onam Sadhya: Growing popularity equals greater choices across cities and towns
‘Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnana’ translates to "one must have an Onam lunch even if one has to sell one’s property". Indeed, the Onam Sadya, a vegetarian feast reflecting the spirit of the harvest season, is a must-have for gourmands across India.
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Ganesh Chaturthi: History, food and traditions
Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi, the 10-day Hindu festival to mark Lord Ganesha’s birthday, is celebrated across India but mainly in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and other southern states.
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The Assa House review: A slice of France in Goa
The Assa House, the newly opened French restaurant in hip Assagao, ticks all the boxes, and yet goes beyond the stereotypes associated with a French restaurant.
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India@75 | 75 inspiring food stories from around India
Ancient recipe and a quaint history are not the only ingredients of a good food story. Food as a means to help the community, innovation in the food business and even incorporating tech in food, make for inspirational contemporary food stories too. It is the people in the food creation journey, from the farmer to the grandma, the techie to the entrepreneur, who actually inspire us. Here are 75 such food stories.
ENVIRONMENT
Why Goa's Almi mushrooms need a break from social media
Almi Xacuti and Almi Tonak, cooked with wild Almi mushrooms, are available in Goa for a short period during monsoons. But should their consumption really be encouraged?
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10 super clean beaches in India
Move over Mumbai and Goa, Odisha, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and even Gujarat have some of the cleanest beaches in India.
