Posts from the food category.
An observant, bubbling, enthusiastic Lali comes to a coffee estate in Karnataka with her parents. Her parents are employed at the coffee plantation as daily wage workers. She befriends Champa, the daughter of the estate owner. The two girls are very different from one another, yet they complement each other. The rural Kannada context is shown in the food, names of people, setup of dusty roads, gre...
Monday mornings were rarely this warm.But that day -they were.Kaia walked into the office a little earlier than usual, a large box balanced carefully in her hands, another tucked under her arm. The faint aroma of coffee and butter followed her in, soft but unmistakable.She placed them gently on the common table before anyone arrived.For a moment, she stood there.Looking at them.Not checking. Not a...
most kids who grow up in small town India - gather around a small table as this to partake in the local savoury brekafast, gabbing the whole time.Kolhapur is my home town and misal is what we grew up on. And no, we don’t tend to waste any of it.
The most memorable stories aren’t always the loudest.Sometimes, they are the ones that warm you slowly — until you don’t notice the world has softened around you.That was the space I found myself in while reading Lallan Sweets by Srishti Chaudhary.Set in the mid-90s, the narrative doesn’t just recreate a time — it recreates a feeling. The hum of a Kinetic scooter, the quiet authority of elders, th...
The cafe opened slower that morning.Not because it had to -But because Kaia wanted it that way.She stood behind the counter, sleeves slightly rolled, apron tied neatly, the early light slipping through the windows and settling right where she liked it most - the little baking corner kissed by a soft ray of sun.“I missed this,” she said, almost to herself.Mrs. Alder, arranging fresh flowers nearby,...
Across India scenes like this are easily found - women pickling fruits and vegetables, drying papad dough. Taking advantage of the searing heat and available produce. The burden however is almost completely borne by the women in the household. Men will play a peripheral role at best. or just loiter.
South San Francisco, United StatesIn a city where wellness meets innovation, food trends do not just happen. They evolve with purpose.San Francisco has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to mindful living. From organic produce to plant based diets, the demand for smarter food choices continues to grow. Now, a new category is quietly gaining attention across the Bay Area: freeze dried fru...
It is a story (1970s-Eastern India) of two girls from different backgrounds who gradually become close friends. Over time, fate takes them to different places and they lose contact as the distance between them grows. Yet when they eventually meet again, it feels as if nothing has changed.The diversity of their backgrounds is presented subtly through food, music, and language. These elements show h...
This is the story of two women (one mother, other mother-in-law of the author) from different cultural backgrounds who brought their families together through - food!One represents Tamil tradition, known for simple and balanced South Indian flavours. Tamil cuisine developed from agrarian practices and temple culture, with rice, lentils, coconut, tamarind, and spices forming its base. The other rep...
I recently signed up for a \Thindi Hopping\ event, an organized walk to explore authentic breakfast spots in and around Malleswaram. I joined in for few reasons1. A break from routine: I was stuck in the daily grind, even on weekends, rarely doing anything new or interesting. This felt like the perfect excuse to get out and do something different.2. Exploring a new side of Malleswaram: I only kn...
