Why Go Green?

Nowadays we are seeing a lot of interest in ‘living green’ or ‘going green’. Apart from it being the latest fad, what do we really know about it? It isn’t just about getting into the latest trend or following the latest fashion. It is fashionable right now, yes. However, I do not advocate this as a trend, or something to do once and move on to the next thing. Do it if you believe this is a way of life, not a new hashtagged trend. What does it mean to go green?

It means living a sustainable lifestyle

Knowing that what you’re using is not going to harm the environment, is a really good feeling. Also, it will be good for your skin and health and your mind, too. Many of these sustainable products also help the farmers and growers who painstakingly ensure that the products are truly green and environment-friendly. That also adds to a sense of satisfaction. It gives a certain peace of mind, knowing that your actions help our planet and the generations to come. Knowing where the ingredients of your products come from or the fabric of your clothes, or the vegetables in your food; makes you more connected with the world, giving you a keen awareness of how our actions affect everyone else.

It means awareness and caring

Being aware to this extent – it stands to reason that you do care about the effect of every decision that is made. It means living in harmony with your surroundings. It means being aware of the effect of every purchase you make. It means living a more responsible life. Being in harmony with the world around you goes beyond healthcare or sustainable fashion. It touches you in ways you won’t imagine or understand till you try it. It is a good lifestyle, one we truly advocate. And I can’t stress this enough – do not treat this as a trend. A green lifestyle is above and beyond such fads. It is something that requires dedication and a will to really make a difference.

It means commitment

Going green is a gradual lifelong process for most of us. We really don’t just wake up one day and decide to make radical lifestyle changes – it requires a commitment and dedication that would be difficult but totally worth it in the long run. The fact that you are here, reading this, shows that you’re wondering about whether to make that commitment. Honestly, go for it.

I'm not saying it will be easy; it is a lot to take in at once. Go about it slowly, make small changes, and you’ll see that it is easier to do so when you do it little by little. 

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Review - Aromas Cafe, Powai

Food: 4.5/5
VFM: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Service: 5/5
 
I've been here ever so many times but never really got around to reviewing it. It's awesome how some places just evoke certain feelings in you, irrespective of how much time has passed after your last visit.

I adore Aromas; the ambience, and most definitely the teas. They come in this adorable plunger (I agree that adorable is not an appropriate adjective for something that is used to hold tea but look at the things! When you go, I mean. I don't have a picture.) that keeps your teas warm for quite a while. It comes with a little biscotti on the saucer, which is yum. I recommend the jasmine tea and the peppermint tea. Quite a few people love the chamomile too. 

I had the spinach and feta cheese rolls, which are my absolute favorite thing there. Actually almost everything there is amazing and so it gets really difficult to pick just one. But this is definitely top of the list for me. It's served with pesto aioli which is super. I wish they gave a little more, because I could just eat it with a spoon! I'm not sure how sane that is though.
 

Then, the aglio olio pepperonccino. Now, this literally translates to garlic, oil, pepperonccino (hot peppers). Here, they add olives, chili flakes and Parmesan cheese to the mix. I don't think anyone is complaining! You definitely can't go wrong with adding olives to anything. And the garlic bread that accompanied it was just delightful. Although (and this is just my opinion), don't you think aglio oilo should be spaghetti and no other kind of pasta? Nevertheless, this was pretty good too.

  
And lastly, we ordered the triple choco chunk brownie - so delish! It was a super thick milkshake and quite filling. Yet with all the chocolate you could till taste a strong coffee flavor and that's really the best part. And all the whipped cream!
 
A special mention for the prompt and impeccable service. 

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Review - Between Breads, Bandra

Food: 4/5
VFM: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5

It's a little place and you might just miss it if you don't keep an eye out. We almost didn't find it! Though we walked a little bit along 16th Road and saw it tucked away.
 
It's a cozy little place - not too much space inside though. But with real estate prices being what they are, it's alright, I'm sure. And the lighting is such that it throws direct focus on the food.


There is just one menu in the joint - blown up huge and put up on the wall. Each offering is creatively named and the fixins' described below the name. You will want to order all of it.
 
There are way more non vegetarian options as compared to veg, so that's not very good in my books. But the drinks! Divine!

First we ordered the French Fries BB style. That was easily the best part of the meal, for me. They could have added a little more grilled onions, though. And just a suggestion, but why not add poutine to the menu? I would come there just for a well made poutine, and going by the quality of their fries I'm sure they could do a damn good poutine.
 

Next, I ordered the Farm Fresh. Not enough spinach, too much green bell peppers. Slightly dry, but it was alright. I like cheese and olives, I'm sold.

 

My friend got The Morning After and loved it. Bacon, ham, fries, fried egg, grilled tomatoes. But as you can tell from the menu, their main focus is on non vegetarian dishes, so it stands to reason that it would be their strong point. 

Ordered the Strawberry Cheesecake milkshake, which tasted exactly like a strawberry cheesecake. So that's awesome. We later ordered the French Vanilla milkshake, which was also good. I would prefer the cheesecake one any day.
Oh, and I almost forgot! They have comics that you can read while waiting for your order. Or even while eating. Whatever you like. I picked Archie's :D 

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Six Must-Try Street Foods in Bombay

The city of dreams also has the food of dreams. You’ve been told you will find in Bombay beyond what you’ve imagined in your wildest dreams. Could the food here be any less amazing, then? If you’re visiting Bombay and not eating street foods, you’re doing it wrong. And if you live here and haven’t been to these six places, it’s a shame. Go immediately and thank me later.

Anand Vada Pav

Right opposite Mithibai College in Vile Parle west, you will find the ‘cool crowd’ of one of the trendiest colleges in the city here. However fancy and brand conscious you are, you cannot resist Anand Vada Pav.They make more than a thousand per day, indeed, the entire lane is full of tantalizing options. You’ll find options like cheese vada pav, grilled vada pav, even Schezwan! Oh, and don’t forget to ask for the salted green chillies! It elevates the vada pav to a thing of beauty.

Open 7.30 am – 11 pm

Elco Pani Puri

 

If it’s pani puri, it must be Elco! A favourite with locals and foreigners alike, which is largely due to the fact that Elco is probably the only joint that makes their pani puris with mineral water. A tad more expensive than the regular street-side stalls, but the quality is quite apparent and worth the price. Located at Hill Road, Bandra west – drop by for grub after you’re tired of shopping all along Hill Road.

Open 10 am – 11.30 pm

Sardar Pav Bhaji

This is just a five minute walk from Bombay Central station, and it’s not immediately visible to the eye, as it’s a little tucked away. But say Sardar or even just say ‘Pav Bhaji’, and people will steer you there – it’s just that famous. So rich and buttery, be prepared for the onslaught of Amul. Sardar Pav Bhaji is surely what Amul anticipated when they came up with ‘utterly butterly delicious’.

Open 12 pm – 2 am

Gulati’s

This isn’t as well known as the rest on the list but they have awesome and affordable chhole bhature. Gulati’s is actually a catering business and they have loads of people calling up for home delivery too. You’ll have to hunt a little for it (or look up directions on Zomato!) You will find it at Sher-E-Punjab, Andheri east. Wash it down with lassi from the shop next door. You can find my review on Zomato here.

Open 8.30 am – 9.30 pm

Bademiya’s

Non-vegetarians swear by Bademiya for late night cravings. After an amazing ride along Marine Drive, hop over to Bademiya’s located right behind the Taj Mahal Hotel. It’s just an open air kitchen, but it’ll be easy to identify because it’s always crowded, irrespective of whether it’s a weekend or not. Best known for chicken tikka rolls, and mutton kebabs.

Open 5 pm – 4 am

Bachelorr’s

This is also at town, Charni Road to be specific. You’ll find a crowd well up till closing time – friends looking for a sweet snack, families out for late night treats; all sorts turn up at Bachelorr’s. It’s best known for its very fresh strawberry and cream milkshake, but it’s only when strawberries are inseason. But fret not, there are other amazing options available all year round – a popular favourite is the Classic Chocolate, along with a variety of fresh juices. You will not leave this place dissatisfied.

Open 3 pm – 11 pm

Have you visited any of these? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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Review - Kala Ghoda Cafe

Food: 4.5/5
VFM: 4/5
Ambience: 5/5
Service: 5/5
 
This place is in a little lane, close to Jehangir Art Gallery. It's tucked away, and you might miss it if you don't know the area. Just follow google maps to get there, it's quite precise. Also, La Folie is right opposite, so pop in there too, if you've got some time. You'd love it.

The architecture here has an old-school feel to it and it's got such an open, bright layout that one could sit here for hours; and indeed, I have!

The tiny tables are self sufficient in terms of whatever add-ons you may require; tissues, ketchup, mustard, the works. I do appreciate a place that doesn't need me to ask for something like tissue paper.

But the best part was these dinky containers, of jaggery and brown sugar - healthy alternatives to white sugar or sweeteners. It's the little things that make a place worth coming back to, and KGC hits the nail on the head.

 

On to the food now! 

Without any doubts, the hot chocolate here is one of the best I've ever had. It's so rich and satisfying - it'll make your day instantly better, I guarantee it. They use Belgian chocolate and you can really tell the difference in taste from other generic hot chocolate mixes that many other places use. 

We also ordered a cappuccino which was also pretty good, but if you compare with the hot chocolate; you honestly aren't going to find anything better than that. 

We also got the superbly made egg sandwich. Now you'd wonder what's so special about an egg sandwich, you'd get that anywhere! But this one is amazing, with the eggs done perfectly, micro greens, multigrain bread, a hint of mustard - all perfectly balanced. It was filling and fabulously flavoured.

Just LOOK at it. How can you not want to eat it. I crave this at random times of the day. And night.

And to polish it off, we got the waffle with dark chocolate. There again, the chocolate was great, however, the waffle could have been better - case in point, the waffle at Mövenpick.

According to me, a good waffle is one that would taste wonderful even without any toppings or additions. The one here comes close, but isn't as good as the one Mövenpick offers. It's just a little more chewy that it should be. And a little more crisp on the outside as well.

It's just a little tweaking, and probably I'm being nitpicky about it, but they are definitely good in most aspects and so I can afford to be picky about the little things. The mark of a good place, I must say. All in all, Kala Ghoda Cafe is one of my favorite places to hang out at, and the ambience draws me in each time, and so each time I fall in love with this place a little more.

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This is Why We Love Comfort Food

What is it about comfort food that really appeals to us? We just love the whole idea of it. It appeals to our sentiments and makes us soft and nostalgic. 

Sometimes it reminds us of home. Sometimes it makes us feel like a child again. And sometimes it makes us feel better on a bad day. The thing is, humans build powerful relationships between sights, smells, sounds, textures… and memories. We build mental relationships, connecting things that we relate in ways that are meaningful to us.

That scent of aam panna that takes us back to summery childhood days. We can actually scrunch up our eyes, taste it so vividly; a melange of flavours that reminds us of leafy verandas and vacation time.

Or maybe a warm bowl of mac and cheese. A simple meal, but it is one that sends our senses into overdrive. The gooey yellow cheese, the perfectly baked macaroni, the simple homely flavours! Just writing about it reminds me of the hearty meal that makes you feel so happy and warm, and cheers you up a little bit.

A warm meal on a cold night, curled up in a cozy sweater with a favourite book – can you think of anything nicer than that?

 

Or a bowl of piping hot sambar? Not as a accompaniment, but just that. You can just drink up a bowl or two; and when you’re sniffling from cold, the sambar makes it disappear right away. With its potent combination of herbs, spices, and hot peppercorns; this is something that warms up not just your body, but your soul as well.

Or maybe mom-made rajma chawal. Isn’t that the best? Immediate hunger pang relief. You know you’ve searched for the best rajma everywhere, but nothing is as good as the secret recipe that your granny passed on to you. It’s a combination of spices and love, and nothing can beat that.

 

Talking about home food, how about pickle? Imagine you are in a new city, adjusting to the life and pace and food and habits. You come back to the lonely rented flat you call home now. Open up a cupboard in the kitchen that has a jar of pickle and nothing else. Mom lovingly packed up a couple of jars for you to take. You open the jar, scoop out some pickle, eat it with some leftover roti, and somehow, surprisingly, you are strangely content. It feels like home, or mom’s warm hug. You go to sleep happy.

Originally appeared on Foodbahn. You can read it here.

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Image Courtesy: Google Images

Do You Think You're Beautiful?

Do you think you are beautiful? If you do, is it because you've been told you are? If you don't, is it because you haven't? 

I have read multiple articles across various platforms, written by women who are so affected by other people's opinions of their body and their life. Don't be. Society doesn't deserve that kind of attention from you. What is society, anyway? A vague, faceless, teeming mass of people who don't have anything to do with you - they just want to judge you and give you unwarranted advice. You didn't ask for their inputs. So why do you listen?

You think it makes sense for you to adjust to what society wants to see? They tell you you're too dark, too fair, too skinny, too fat, you have weird hair, you wear weird clothes.. who cares? As long as you are happy with yourself, nothing else matters.

I see women write articles about how they were told by an aunt to start using fairness creams or else nobody would marry them. These women let it affect them. It affected their life and their self esteem. They valued themselves based on how 'society' told them they deserved to be valued. To all you women, I have just one question. Do you really think that this is the right way to react?

Do you think you need to base your opinion of yourself on what everyone thinks? I'm not going to be one of the multitude that tries to force my opinion on you. I think you are the person who knows what is best for you. You know what you need to do to keep yourself happy.

But if you really want to know what I think, I will tell you. I think society follows a herd mentality that has pervaded every aspect of their lives. If you let them, they will do the same to you. They will pull you down into a cookie cutter mold till all your individuality is lost and you aren't you anymore. You become one of the teeming mass of people that makes up society. And then you are acceptable. Because you are not an individual anymore.

If you want to know what I think, it is only this - stop caring. Your opinion should be the one that matters most to you. I don't care if you are skin and bones, or if you wear XXXL clothes, or have purple hair, or a million piercings. I think you are beautiful as you are. And nobody can take that away from you, as long as you let them. 

Do you know what else is beautiful? Confidence and positivity. If you are confident in yourself, and have a healthy dose of self esteem, I bet you nobody will be able to refrain from liking you too. Because you like yourself. Because you have worked hard to get where you are in life, you work on yourself - mind and body - to better yourself everyday. And does anything really matter more than that?

I think not. 

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