Unity in diversity may sound cliched, but it is exactly that defined Indid’s culinary heritage
By Anoothi Vishal
If you happened to be in Hyderabad and decided to go on a biryani crawl—a hopping expedition across restaurants and clubs, big fat wedding dinners (where indeed some of the best is to be had) and small
hole-in-the-wall shops — would you really be able to discern the best biryani of them all?
Posted in Commonwealth, Culture in India, Destinations, Heritage 
Tags: Biryani, Caste, Commercial Cooks, Concoction, Culinary Heritage, Grain Of Rice, Hole In The Wall, Hyderabad, Indian Cuisines, Local Flavours, Mishmash, Mothers In Law, Mutton, Nation Integration, Persia, Pulao, Slow Flame, Unity In Diversity, Vishal, Wedding Dinners 
Comments OffForgetful Elephant
By Anoothi Vishal
In the gastronomic universe, French food is revered, Spanish seen as unutterably chic, Italian as pop but British as mostly crap. Of course, it’s an unfortunate reputation. British pub staples are wholesome, wonderful comfort food that will fill your stomach and gladden your heart while (usually) not costing the earth.
By Anoothi Vishal
The Mughals undoubtedly had the biggest impact on the cuisines of northern Indian (as also the Deccan) and even though “Mughlai” food is a generic term today, usually standing for a hodge podge of commercially-constructed dishes, some of our most interesting heritage cuisines have Mughal roots.
Posted in C'Wealth Cuisines, Cuisines, Heritage Tags: 100 Years, Ancestor, Bengali, Bhagirathi, Connoisseurs, Cuisines, Deccan, Earliest Times, Eyesight, Hodge Podge, Lineage, Maternal Side, Mughals, Murshid, Murshidabad, Old Delhi, Rampur, Reluctant Chef, Sporadic Attempts, Today In English Comments OffFu In Chinese, it means “good luck” and indeed Fu marks a great turning point in the business of restaurants in Delhi—at least, when it comes to Chinese food. Unlike the “family-style”, Indian-Chinese places of yore, this is an anti café with nothing stereotypical about it.
Posted in C'Wealth Cuisines, Cuisines, Reviews Tags: Assembly Line, Beve, Chinese Food, Chinese Restaurant, Chinese Silk, Dim Sums, Dirge, Family Style, Gaurav, Investment Banker, Low Key, Mocktails, Naidu, Ncr, Rekhi, Restaurateur, Silk Screens, Splashes, Takeaway, Tiny Place Comments OffOne of the few south Indian cuisines to be really exposed to us all over the country is, of course, Chettinad — or more correctly, the cuisine of the Nattukotai Chettiar community of Tamil Nadu. Speak of south Indian non-vegetarian food (at least outside the four peninsular states) and nine out of 10 people are likely to nod their heads in understanding and say, “Chettinad chicken” (CC).
Posted in C'Wealth Cuisines, Chefs, Cuisines Tags: Adjective, Butter Chicken, Chettiars, Chettinad Cuisine, Complete Solution, Crockery And Cutlery, Hotel In Chennai, Itc, Overwhelming Popularity, Paraphernalia, Park Hotel, Parlance, Punjabi, Repute, Sheraton Park, Sobriquet, South Indian Food, Tiffin, Vegetarian Food, Wedding Planner Comments OffIntroduction
Delhi is a city on the move. The Delhi Metro has helped connect previously unconnected parts of the city, specifically east Delhi and the National Capital Region — Noida, to the central business district area of the city. This has speeded up connectivity and given some relief to the city’s roads, which are overflowing with traffic.
Posted in Cities in India, Commonwealth Tags: Best Known Business, Bus Rapid Transit, Central Business District, Common Wealth Games, Commonwealth Games, Connaught Place, Delhi Airport, Delhi Metro, Dramatic Transformation, East Delhi, Entertainment Areas, Fast Lane, Food Outlets, Games Guide, Heart Of The City, Mall Mania, Noida, Road Infrastructure, Television Viewing, Terminal 3, Visible Change 1 Comment »Despite the fabulous teas that we grow— India, after all, is the world’s largest producer and exporter of tea in the world—it is shocking to come across such poorly prepared cuppas in most homes. Thanks to my work with a (high society type) magazine, I have been visiting some of the poshest (and costliest) homes in the country these days.
Posted in Commonwealth, Cuisines, Restaurants Tags: Best Quality, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Concoction, Crore, Himalayas, House Managers, Kitchen Staff, Leaf Tea, Malai, Masala Chai, Milk And Sugar, North East India, Notions, Old Money, Slopes, Street Food, Tea Leaves, Tea Time, Unsuspecting Guests, Vishal Comments OffDelhi’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games may be sorely behind schedule but some projects have got completed. The sprawling, government-owned Ashoka Hotel, occupying prime real estate in Chanakyapuri, was scheduled to get a makeover from its smelly, dingy ways to designer-fitted look and some designers had already been booked to do up each of the rooms.
Posted in Commonwealth, Hotels, Luxury Tags: Anjali, Ashoka Hotel Delhi, Commonwealth Games, Designers, Goel, Hotel Asia, Hotel Deals, Luxury Hotel, Makeover, Prime Real Estate, Sneak Peek, Travel Intelligence Comments OffHow to serve up trotters… and the best of eggs…
By Anoothi Vishal
“By the way, Chandra can now cook the perfect paya,” said uncle-in-law, who can be quite the intimidating editor with a fondness for all things food and French. Chandra is his cook, an affable pahari lady who has withstood perfection in the kitchen for almost two decades.
Posted in C'Wealth Cuisines, Cuisines, Culture in India, Recipes Tags: Accompaniments, Amrita Sher Gil, Breads, Chandra, Fondness, Foodie, Indian Classical Music, Jama Masjid, Members Of The Family, Old Delhi, Paella, Paya Recipe, Poor Man, Red Wine, Roti, Shahjahanabad, Sher, Trotters, Vishal, Wheat Bread 3 Comments »You wouldn’t think there is either a global recession or an off-season in Goa, crossing the Mandovi in a chartered mini-bus. The vehicle, after all, is just one in a snaking line of several used by hotels to ferry guests to and from the airport.
Posted in C'Wealth Cuisines, Cities in India, Luxury Tags: Abodes, Aguada Beach Resort, Boutique Hotels, Candolim, Cashews, Chicken Sandwhich, Culinary Experiences, Domestic Travelers, Exotic Vacation, First Timer, Furious Sea, Global Recession, Holiday Makers, Leisure Venues, Mandovi, Mini Bus, Old Faithful, Picnic Lunches, Pronounciations, Star Properties Comments Off
