Owner: Traveller's Tales URL:http://www.shantanughosh.com Join Date: Sun, 02 Dec 2007 07:53:58 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: My First Impressions, Musings, and Lasting Impressions of Food and Places Around the World Site statistics:Click here
Snapshots from Bangkok 2008-03-06 02:55:00 On my last day in Bangkok
, I took a morning stroll through the streets. Food vendors lined the pavements on small mobile stalls. I noticed fried banana fritters, skewers of meat, fish rubbed with spices ready to be fried or grilled to order, skewers of satay, and a variety of cut fruits. I noticed a number of small temples on the roadside and they reminded me of temples back home (which are dedicated to Ganapati in Maharashtra or Hanuman in most of North India).The day before we had strolled through the Suan Lum Night Bazaar which is very much like Janpath in Delhi or Fashion Street in Pune, but opens only during the evenings until midnight. Rows and rows of small shops sell everything from cheap toys, clothes, silk, handicrafts to leather goods. Unlike Beijing, the vendors don’t hardsel
A Dinner to Remember 2008-03-01 02:44:00 I had only two evenings in Bangkok during this visit, and one was reserved for a formal poolside dinner at the hotel. On the other evening, a few of us decided to find out a great place for local Thai fare. The concierge directed us to Baan Khanitha, an upscale Thai restaurant which has two branches in Bangkok. We went to the one at Sukhumvit 23 Soi.The restaurant looks like a re-converted house where each room has been turned into separate dining areas. Tiled roof, stone sculptures and potted plants made the place very appealing and homely. We decided to go with a set menu that came with a combination of a dozen items including starters, entrees and dessert.As we ordered our drinks, they served us a complimentary starter that looked like a variation of the Indian paan. The idea was to stu Read more:Dinner
, Remember
Siamese Wonders in Bangkok 2008-02-26 05:15:00 Ancient travellers wrote about the beautiful capital city of the kingdom of Siam. Frenchmen from early 16th century reported the splendor of the temples and palaces they saw which to their mind (in the ultimate praise) even rivaled Paris.I can understand why. There are many reasons people travel to Bangkok
: for its beaches, its night life, its food, and for bargain shopping. I am here for business, but in the few hours I had to myself today, I used well. The Grand Palace in the heart of Bangkok with its revered Emerald Buddha temple is a sight to behold. I have never seen so much gold-leaf all at one place in my life! Like in Bali, I noticed a lot of common symbolism in the temples and palaces here with Hindu temples in India. While Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, their temples are ado Read more:Wonders
Miscelleny 2008-02-24 21:41:00 A few other things from my return trip from the Bay Area earlier this month:I took a midnight flight from San Francisco to Singapore; sadly, Singapore Airlines has their new cabins only in the 777s and the A380s, but this one was a 747 which has the older Space Beds. But the flight wasn't too bad!Changi Airport now has a brand new Terminal 3. I had over six hours to spend at Singapore; Singapore Airlines had provided me a hotel near Orchard Street, but when I realized there was a new Terminal with its own Business Class lounge, I decided to check it out instead and save myself the trouble of travelling out of the airport and into the downtown area. A shower and a shave is so very refreshing after a long flight! This is why I love flying via Singapore or Hong Kong (unless I am flying Virgin
The Rosogolla Revisited 2008-02-19 10:37:00 Some time back I had blogged about the Rosogolla and how shocked I was to discover it had originated in Orissa. That post gets a lot of hits even now, and if you re-visit it you will notice comments from the Bengali and Oriya camps, both of whom lay claim to this popular sweet dish.While browsing the in-flight magazine on a Jet Airways flight recently, a photo-essay by Ranjita Biswas caught my attention. Ranjita traces the history of this famous 'Bengali' sweet; but her search ends in Bengal rather than Orissa. Here's are some excerpts (and pictures):"It was during the British colonial days that the rosogolla suddenly appeared as an item on Bengal's platter... To trace it's origin, one has to travel to the Bagbazar area in Kolkata's northern part. Nobin Chandra Das, the man who invented th Read more:Revisited
Enchanting Mantra 2008-02-16 02:11:00 Mantra in Palo Alto was a delightful discovery! It would not be accurate to call this Michelin recommended restaurant Indian. Mantra's owner Ashwani Dhawan prefers to call this California Cuisine - with a dash of India. Ashwani and his partner, chef Sachin Chopra, have crafted this unique cuisine which combines California freshness with bold spices and flavors of Indian spices.You enter the restaurant through the Daru lounge and long-bar which serves small plates, cocktails and wine. The restaurant itself is casually elegant, warm, with soft lighting; they also showcase paintings from Indian masters such as MF Hussain and SH Raza in the dining area.We went with Ashwani's recommendations. After the complimentary soup, we began our culinary journey with the Paneer Cuboid: a fenugreek marinat Read more:Enchanting
, Mantra
Newsweek on Culinary Tokyo 2008-02-13 01:48:00 Newsweek's has a recent cover story on how Tokyo
beat out Paris and New York to become the best restaurant city in the World. Readers of my blog would have read about Michelin awarding Tokyo an astounding 191 stars (posted here).Some interesting nuggets from this Newsweek article:About a third of all TV broadcasts in Japan are devoted to food. Tokyo has 160,000 restaurants, compared with 13,000 in Paris. Japan food bloggers are hugely prolific, cataloging their meals in painstaking detail (and, often, with cell-phone photos). One housewife whose blog documents her quest for the country's best bread proudly notes that she's visited 384 bakeries in the city of Kobe alone.Sukiyabashi Jiro's 82-year-old owner, Jiro Ono, has spent the past 50 years perfecting his sushi technique. "I've only bee Read more:Newsweek
, Culinary
Roy's Hawaiian Fusion 2008-02-08 11:07:00 Roy's Hawaiian
Fusion is Tokyo-born chef Yamaguchi's inspired cooking that combines the feeling and flavors of Hawaiian and Californian cuisine. Roy's first opened in Honululu and recieved many accolades soon after; however, the one I experienced was on Mission Street in downtown San Francisco.The soaring ceilings, dark wood panelling, the sushi-bar in the center, and a large wine cabinet beside it gives the restaurant a warm, upscale feel. The dark, warm interiors felt good after the wet and chilly weather outdoors. The restaurant has a formal feel and everything from the decor, uniforms and the food is clearly Japanese-inspired. I ordered the special Hawaiian Martini which my waitress recommended. Good choice, and not weak like most fruity martinis! While I was browsing through the menu,
Boulevard 2008-02-02 20:29:00 The SoMa area of San Francisco where my hotel is located has many good restaurants. I counted four Michelin starred-restaurants within walking distance of my hotel. I have already eaten at Ame during previous visits here and written about it. This time I decided to walk down to Boulevard
, one of San Francisco's best, which is located close to the waterfront near the Ferry Building.The restaurant is located in a quaint old building which has a lot of history. The 1889 French-style Audiffred Building is one of the few structures spared from the 1906 earthquake and fire. It is located just across the road from Ferry Plaza. Legend has it that the former Bulkhead Coffee Parlor's saloonkeeper held off firemen ready to dynamite the Audiffred to halt the spread of fire during the 1906 earthquake.
Kababs at The Baluchi 2008-01-31 19:52:00 Intercontinental Grand is one of the several five-star hotels that have come up near Mumbai's international airport. The interiors are very classy with warm colors and a large atrium which goes all the way up (about 10 stories high). This hotel features multiple restaurants of which Trendz is probably the most popular and serves world cuisine. However, I wanted to try the North-west frontier cuisine at Baluchi, especially their Doodhia kabab of which I had heard so much. Since I was alone, the only way I could taste more kababs was by ordering a sampler. They honored my request to include the Doodhia Kabab and the Barra Baluchi. The Doodhia is a delicate kabab made of two round slices of paneer (cottage cheese) with a thin layer of potatoes and aromatic spices. The Barra Baluchi are lamb c
Cold and Rainy California! 2008-01-29 22:43:00 My flight touched down on a bleak, chilly morning in San Francisco. While San Francisco is always chilly and windy, this winter's been rather extreme. Even the hills near Palo Alto got some snow this month, causing much excitement at such an unusual event.I had chosen Singapore Air during this trip to the US. In Mumbai I had a few hours to spend at the Intercontinental Grand and their Baluchi restaurant. I will post the Baluchi experience separately. It was a relief to be boarded after being in the crowds in the departure area. Singapore Air is amazing: their flight attendants continue to be the most friendly, courteous, and ever-helpful. Armed with the knowledge of their new business-class cabin, I had chosen a window seat (1-2-1 configuration in which all seats are aisle seats, and the w Read more:California
California Yet Again 2008-01-26 04:33:00 I will be travelling again to California
next week. My last trip to the Bay Area in California was a gourmet's delight. I remember the excellent Thai fare at Krungthai, the large portions at Maggiano's Little Italy, the pot-stickers at California Cafe and the awesome Persian food at newly-opened Arya. Then there was the paella and tapas at Picasso's, my first taste of Cambodian cuisine at Chez Sovan, and the entertaining evening cooking our own food at The Melting Pot. However, there are so many great restaurants in the Bay Area, I am not going to run out of new places to try. After all, there are more Michelin-rated restaurants here than LA and Vegas. Watch this space!On a different note, my daughter turned five last week and her birthday party was great fun! The breather from travel duri Read more:Again
Rahul: What's in a Name? 2008-01-20 09:20:00 Rahul is a very common name in India. Almost like Tom or Harry is in the USA. When someone recommended Rahul as a good dining option, I was sceptical. Many restaurants spend a fortune to conjure up evocative names - Sigree, Chingari, Bombay Brasserie, Whispering Bamboo, etc. But Rahul? Unusual name for a restaurant. Is he a Shahrukh fan?I eventually found that the owners own Rahul Cinema, one of Pune's oldest. When the new multiplexes mushroomed, this cinema hall went out of business. Recently, it has re-appeared with a face-lift. The cineplex now also houses another branch of their restaurant of the same name. I guess they plan to use the nostalgia associated with the Rahul name in Pune. Please note that the Rahul I am reviewing here is the one in Aundh.The great bard once wrote:“What's Read more:Rahul
Sankranti, Pongal and Lodi 2008-01-16 02:06:00 Last Tuesday was the day of Sankranti. A festival that is widely celebrated in India, but in different ways and by different names.Many across the country fly colorful kites on this day to celebrate this festival. Sankranti is associated with the end of the harvesting season, so to get a real feel of this festival you need to venture out of the cities and into the villages and small towns. Note: Picture of reels of kites and kite-strings by Indian. In Mysore, I remember my local friends distributing a sweet-dish, yellu - a mix made with sesame seeds, coconuts, sugar blocks. A common custom found across Karnataka is the exchange of sugarcane pieces and yellu with one's neighbors, friends and relatives. You can see cows and and bullocks gaily decorated during this day. They are fed Pongal
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Chicken Tikka Masala 2008-01-09 02:48:00 When you visit Britian, you probably expect to indulge yourself on Fish & Chips, Pies, Roast Beef or Yorkshire Pudding. Maybe even the intriguingly named Toad-in-the-hole or Bubble & Squeak. But did you know that Britons have made Chicken
Tikka Masala
the most popular dish in the UK?This ‘Indian’ dish is no more Indian than Chicken Manchurian is Chinese. CTM as many locals prefer to call this dish, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary in Britain. It is the country's most popular dish, not just most popular Indian dish. Robin Cook, the former British foreign minister, has hailed it as "Britain's true national dish", relegating fish and chips to second place.Facts and Figures about Chicken Tikka Masala (Source: Sonzy’s Kitchen):>> Sainsbury's sell 1.6 million CTM meals ever
Banyan Trees in Pune 2008-01-05 05:52:00 Winding roads, drizzling rain and many majestic banyan trees. Those were the images I took back with me after my first, brief trip to Pune. This was during the monsoon of 1999. I had a new job offer that required me to move to Pune. The job was very exciting but I was uncertain if it made sense to move from Delhi to Pune.At this point, my new employer offered to fly me and my wife to Pune for a week to see the city and make up my mind. Needless to say, we were sold after spending a week during the monsoon in this lovely city. After Delhi, Pune seemed such a quaint little city (those days) with it's small winding roads, greenery, clear skies, the romantic rainy season...We also couldn't fail to notice the many gnarled, old banyan trees dotting the landscape. Each of them seemed to have a st Read more:Trees
More Room(s) in Pune 2008-01-03 00:02:00 Pune has catapulted to the forefront as a business destination during the last five years. At the beginning of this decade, the only foreigners I saw in Pune came here for spiritual enlightenment or yoga. Many wore robes of the Osho commune or stayed as paid-guests near Pune's famous yoga institute. Now, most visitors are here clearly for business reasons: Americans, Europeans and Koreans with their laptops and Blackberries.Until recently, upscale lodging options for business travellers were limited. The city got it's first five-star hotel when the Blue Diamond opened in 1970. At this time, there are only three five-star hotels:>> The Le Meridien: The most lavishly built of the three; the food in their restaurants have gotten better too; the rooms haven't been refurbished in some time.>> T
New Fad in Japan 2008-01-02 01:24:00 From the New York Times: Japan
ese Envy India's Schools.“Most annoying for many Japanese is that the aspects of Indian education they now praise are similar to those that once made Japan famous for its work ethic and discipline: learning more at an earlier age, an emphasis on memorization and cramming, and a focus on the basics, particularly in math and science.” I, on the other hand, argue for less focus on cramming and memorization so our kids can learn to think out-of-the-box. What do you think?
Fun Week in Pune 2008-01-01 00:20:00 The New Year celebrations were very different this time. After so much long-distance travel in 2007, we decided to spend these end-of-the-year holidays in Pune and even invited our extended family. The week was much fun -- lot of people at home (which rarely happens now-a-days) and many different things to eat.Among the fun stuff people brought home last week: A variety of Gajak from Bareilly (a sesame-based candy popular in North India during winter months), unique sweets from Belgaum in Karnataka (one of them called Karadantu which I tasted for the first time), cheese and sparkling Prosecco wine from Switzerland. We also took a short trip to Khandala watching the sun set in the picturesque Ghats for the last time in 2007. Even the vada pav and ragda patties at Kailash Resort's food-court
Looking Back at 2007 2007-12-25 22:31:00 I will remember 2007 as the year of food, travel and (of course) blogging! The year began at Bali, where my family and I had a truly magical time. Then came Japan which was a gourmet's delight. The vacation at the African Kingdom Lodge in Orlando Florida was another fantastic family experience. As was our vacation to Switzerland and England later in the year. In addition to all this, I made several business trips to the USA, and as you can expect, indulged in a variety of culinary delights that the Bay Area has to offer.I continue to build bonds with old blog-friends even as I make new ones. Thank you Sank, Sig, Sandeepa, Foodette, Zhu, Renny, Anil, Vishal, Bee, Hari, Backpakkar and Indicaspecies for being regular readers of my blog over these months and commenting on my posts. My blog saw Read more:Looking Back
The Leela Palace 2008-03-16 05:04:00 Kempe Gowda who built the four towers more than 4 centuries ago to mark the ‘eventual’ boundaries of Bangalore, would never have imagined the city’s transformation over the last 150 years. The evolution from a city of a mud fort, few markets, military establishments and hamlets, to a British Cantonment – a mixture of army barracks, marching roads, parade grounds, and the attendant conceniences of ‘ a bit of England’ – started in 1809 when the English shifted their troops from Srirangapatna to Halasooru (Ulsoor).Bangalore’s climate and setting, its strategic location in the political struggles of the time, the high ground nippiness of its air, and the sheer beauty of its landscape made it a easy choice.Modern Bangalore, and most of its architectural tradition, has its origin Read more:Palace
Jamavar and The Spa at Leela 2008-03-20 22:57:00 Of the three restaurants in the Leela Palace, I decided to try the Jamavar. This restaurant was recently voted as one of the world's top power dining spots by Forbes. Luxurious interiors resplendent with chandeliers and jamavar textiles combines with al fresco dining, facing the lush green oasis in the center of the hotel.Chef Farman Ali’s culinary journey takes you through Mughlai and Nawabi India. The fixed menu I chose came in three courses. In the first course of kababs, I began with the Jheenga Sultani, jumbo prawns marinated in spiced yogurt with a hint of saffron and star aniseed. The next was the Poda Chapa, crispy fried seer fish sprinkled with spices. The Gosht Nawabi Raan was leg of baby flavored with Awadhi masala and finished in a tandoor. The Murgh Chandni was juicy chicken
Moving to France? 2008-03-26 05:54:00 Here are some invaluable tips from the New York Times' Paris bureau chief. Here's #3 on the list: The customer is always wrong! It is hard for French merchants to admit they are wrong, and seemingly impossible for them to apologize. Instead, the trick is to somehow get the offended party to feel the mistake was his or her own.
Read more:Moving
, France
Madras Matinee 2008-03-30 03:46:00 It had rained the week before in Chennai. As I flew into Chennai, our cricket-crazy nation was watching the weather forecast with bated breath. They were hoping the rains wouldn't disrupt the first test match being played here with South Africa. Thankfully for India, the rains stayed away and Indian opener Sehwag smashed the fastest ever triple century!I didn't get to watch the exciting match; my entire day was filled with meetings. I stayed at the Chola Sheraton this time, a hotel that's past its prime. The lobby area, the bar and the Peshawari restaurant are great, but the rooms aren't. The corridors smelt of dampness due to insufficient air conditioning, and the rooms - though well-appointed - were a little cramped. However, their superior service did make up for this.The Peshawari is a Read more:Madras
, Matinee
Steaks and More 2008-04-06 07:30:00 I have to admit being a newcomer to the world of steaks and steakhouses. Conditioned by my upbringing in India, I began by ordering my steaks well-done - that is, until two years back. I was at the Moonshine Grill in Austin, Texas. The pained expression on the waiter's face when I said 'well done' made me change the order of my Flat Iron to 'medium rare', and I have never looked back since!Steakhouses are a revered institution in America. Catering predominantly to the male customer, these places have rarely focused the ladies. Therefore, the traditional steakhouse lacks chic interiors, variety in the menu, sophisticated side-dishes and the like. What you do get are large cuts of meat, potato sides, and warm, dark interiors.Steaks
can be pretty expensive now. It is possible to spend over $1
The Best Lounges and Bars in Pune 2008-04-12 03:45:00 Ben Franklin once said, "There cannot be good living, if there is not good drinking"! So here's a primer to 'good living' when in Pune.The list below is my selection of the best bars and lounges in Pune. To relax with a caipiroska in hand after a long day, for a casual evening with that special person, or for some quality time with buddies over drinks and music. 1000 Oaks: The grand-daddy of them all, and still going strong! A hit with both the old-timers and the young, this place is usually crowded and full of cigarette smoke. However, 10K Oaks has great DJs, good bar-food to accompany your drinks, and an old-world British pub ambiance. After your drinks, you could move outdoors for al-fresco dining, away from the smoke and loud music. They mostly play Rock from the 70s and 80s, but some
Off to Vegas! 2008-04-19 08:54:00 I am taking off for a three-week trip to Las Vegas
and the Bay Area. So, you can expect to see more about these cities here in the coming days.Until then, here are some Vegas fun facts for you...Gambling was once made illegal here in 1930 (thankfully reversed the very next year!)The Golden Gate Hotel and Casino was the first hotel & casino to open in Vegas - the year was 1906!The Mirage was the first 'mega resort' and opened in 1989 at a cost of $630 million89% of all visitors gamble in Sin City, with an average gambling budget of $500About 150 couples get married in Las Vegas every dayBugsy Siegel named his casino, The Flamingo, for the long legs of his sweetheart
Delmonico and The Venetian 2008-04-22 15:17:00 I landed in Las Vegas on a bright, sunny afternoon. I was back at the Venetian
after two years, and this large casino-resort is now even larger with the addition of Palazzo. With over 7000 luxury suites, hundreds of shops and gaming areas, the Venetian-Palazzo complex is now the world's largest resort and hotel complex. Incidentally, the Palazzo under construction featured in an early scene in Ocean's Thirteen.After a much-needed hot shower and and a change of clothes, I went out for an early dinner. The Delmonico Steakhouse located within the Venetian seemed like a good choice. Owned and operated by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, Delmonico delivers exciting New Orleans-style cuisine with flair. Specialities include bone-in ribeye steak and double-cut pork chop.Twelve-foot oak doors open i
Dining at Trendz 2008-04-21 23:36:00 Trendz at the Intercontinental Grand, Mumbai, serves contemporary western cuisine. I had a midnight flight to catch, which left me with just enough time for a leisurely dinner before driving to the international airport. Earlier, I (and my bags!) had survived the madness in Pune airport - Jet Airways' computers were down and they had to manually check everyone in.Trendz has a distinctive, modern decor and interesting touches: check out the glasses on the table in the picture. Grilled meats, fresh seafood, and pastas make up it's menu. I was the only Indian in the restaurant; this place seems to be mostly popular with visiting westerners. The hostess took her time in seating me, even though the place was only half full and the service that followed was a little slow too.However, the food wa Read more:Dining
More Venetian Indulgence 2008-04-23 15:20:00 For those who have never visited this resort, the Venetian
is a re-creation of (duh) Venice, right in the middle of Las Vegas. Frescos, paintings and sculptures abound: on the roof, on the walls, and around you. The all-suite hotel boasts of rooms that have sunken living areas, gold and marble bathrooms and three flat screen TVs. The Canyon Ranch Spa in the hotel occupies almost 100,000 sq.ft of space and provides a wide-variety of options to choose from. This resort has a multitude of upscale restaurants run by celebrity chefs that include Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batalli, Emeril Lagasse and Thomas Keller. And the Grand Canal Shoppes re-creates the magic of Venice with its cobbled streets gondolas, shops and bistros, all under an artifical evening sky!I had a couple of lunch meetings at the
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