Year: 2020

Christmas 2020: Christmas Meal with The Holiday Soiree from President, Mumbai – IHCL SeleQtions

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Christmas 2020: Christmas Meal with The Holiday Soiree from President, Mumbai – IHCL SeleQtions   This Christmas, dine like a King, and that too, at the comfort of your home! When you can have 5-star dining experience with the delectable Christmas dishes made and packed by experts of Taj Hotels, Vivanta and IHCL SeleQtions, right at your doorstep, then you know that you are getting the best. AN and I had the opportunity to taste this splendid festive spread at our home itself. Have a look at the Christmas meal with The Holiday Soiree from President, Mumbai – IHCL SeleQtions. This time, Qmin is my Secret Santa! #Qmin is their repertoire of culinary experiences and gourmet food delivery service. Their festive menus boast of traditional Christmas delicacies from Taj Hotels, Vivanta and SeleQtions hotels. Our Qmin Holiday Soiree for two is from President, Mumbai – IHCL SeleQtions. Mumbai foodies, this Christmas meal for two costs Rs. 2800/- (plus taxes) and you can order this too, to enjoy Christmas without stepping out! The neatly and sustainably …

Shanghai Club at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai, Reopens for Dining in

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Shanghai Club at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai, Reopens for Dining in.   For us, the luxurious Shanghai Club at ITC Grand Central Mumbai has always been a standout when it comes to eating best quality Chinese food in Mumbai. This month, we have slowly started visiting our favourite restaurants in Mumbai, but given the circumstances that we all are in, we are choosy. We were indeed happy to know that Shanghai Club reopened around 10 days ago. As all ITC hotels follow strict safety and hygiene standards (#WeAssure), we were quite sure that Shanghai Club at ITC Grand Central will be very safe even in Corona times. And as we guessed, right from the moment we stepped in, we were very impressed with the safety protocols that are followed by the chefs and the whole staff there.   Each element of the décor adds to the relaxed vibe of Shanghai Club. And of course, the ambience of Shanghai Club is something to experience for. With soft, relaxing Asian music playing in the backdrop, the dramatic …

When a young Arijit Singh met Shahid Kapoor on the sets of fame Gurukul

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Throwback videos and pictures are always a treat, both for the actors and the fans. And the recent one seems to be no exception. In this picture, we have Arijit Singh posing with Shahid Kapoor on the sets of the singing reality show, Fame Gurukul, along with the other contestants. He can be seen smiling from ear to ear and not being able to contain his excitement. This picture that has suddenly sent all the fans into the realms of memories and nostalgia was shared by celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani. Have a look at the post right here:       View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Arijit Singh began his singing career in 2011 with the film Murder 2. He then went on to lend his voice in Anurag Basu`s Barfi. Fame arrived at the doorstep with the blockbuster success of Mohit Suri`s Aashiqui 2 in 2013, and what Aashiqui did to Kumar Sanu in 1990, this musical did the same for Singh. The song Tum Hi Ho …

Bengali Shukto for Festive Lunch

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Bengali Shukto for Festive Lunch.   For a Bengali, a rustic bowlful of Shukto is an emotion. It often triggers memories of childhood. Although slightly bitter, Shukto is a Bengali dish that deserves respect. Shukto has an exceptional flavour. It is somewhat sweet and somewhat bitter. Yet, each of the vegetables in it retains its individuality. The way it is lovingly cooked and the variety of vegetables in it, each cut in a special manner, lend a moreish taste. On a slightly bitter note, yet fit enough to be included in a traditional Bengali vegetarian menu, Shukto has many variations. There are different types of Shukto. This Shukto recipe that I have shared here is probably the most basic one. No need to worry if you don’t have or don’t like dried lentil dumplings (Bori), you can cook a Shukto without it as well. The most common combination of vegetables is potato, sweet potato, bitter gourd, brinjal, drumsticks, broad beans, raw banana, raw papaya and radish. Omitting two or three ingredients is ok, but bitter …

Durga Pujo 2020 Recipe | Chingrir Mishti Polau | Bengali Style Sweet Pulav with Shrimps

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Durga Pujo 2020 Recipe | Chingrir Mishti Polau | Bengali Style Sweet Pulav with Shrimps   Ask any Bengali and they will tell you about their mixed emotions on celebrating the Durga Pujo of 2020 so differently. For most Bengalis, this year would probably be the first time in their life that they won’t be doing Pandal-hopping and Debi Darshan. There is less excitement in pujo shopping this year, as there will be no social gathering. But we must understand that social distancing is the need of the hour in such testing times of pandemic. Coronavirus can be likened to a modern-day Mahishasura. Optimists like me like to believe that the eternal Mother Ma Durga will ward of the evil forces soon.   This year, for the first time in life, I will cook during Durga Puja. Through traditional homemade Bengali food, I will try to make each day of this happy time even more special. Along with a few vegetarian Bengali recipes that I shared recently, here is a flavour-packed, droolworthy Bengali Polau with …

Durga Pujo 2020 Recipe | Chanar Dalna | Traditional Bengali Paneer Without Onion and Garlic

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Durga Pujo 2020 Recipe | Chanar Dalna | Traditional Bengali Paneer Without Onion and Garlic   What is for lunch? I ask Ma on my way back home from school. Today is Niraamish, Ma says with a smile. No Chicken or Mutton? Not even fish or egg for lunch today? I frown and ask, swaying the strap of my water bottle in circular motion. But don’t we eat your sister and your favourite Niraamish dishes on Thursdays? Then why complain? Mumbles Ma. Oh wait, did you make Enchor, Pui Shaak or Phulkopir Rosha? My eyes gleam with hope. No, even better than these. Ma says in a sweet voice as we approach home. As I run towards the door to open in at a lightning speed so that I do not miss even a small portion of my favourite serial “Shaanti,” Ma whispers in my ears in a singsong tone: CHANAR DALNA it is! Famished, I dig into my bowl of Chanar Dalna, while appreciating the beauty of Mandira Bedi and her long, curly hair. …

ITC Gourmet Couch by ITC Grand Central, Mumbai

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Delectable Asian dishes by ITC GRand Central’s Gourmet Couch.   The “responsible luxury” brand ITC has come up with ITC Gourmet Couch, where you can order gourmet cuisine from ITC Grand Central in Mumbai and relish it at the comfort and safety of your home. The food is prepared with fresh and best-quality ingredients. While adhering to best hygiene practices while cooking, processing, packaging and delivering the ITC Gourmet Couch food, the brand ensures that you get the tastiest dining experience even in these Corona times.   Gu Lao Xia (Prawns in sweet and sour sauce) The Signature Menu in the ITC Gourmet Couch has dishes across the globe, apart from Indian favourites. Every order comes with an easy-to-follow heating manual, mentioning the way and the time needed to heat the food either on a gas stove or in a microwave oven. So, whether it is Biryani, Kebabs, Dimsums or Pasta from ITC Grand Central, you can be sure that the food you are consuming is totally safe! Through Gourmet Couch, we recently relished a …

Durga Puja 2020 Recipe | Shojne Pata er Borar Jhol | Bengali Style Broth with Moringa Leaf Fritters

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Durga Puja 2020 Recipe | Shojne Pata er Borar Jhol | Bengali Style Broth with Moringa Leaf Fritters   Shojne Pata er Borar Jhol is another Bengali dish from the Bengali kitchens of yore, which definitely needs some limelight. This traditional Bengali dish called Shojne Pata er Borar Jhol or Bengali Style Broth with Moringa Leaf Fritters is an almost forgotten Bengali dish that has humble origins but is so flavourful that it befits the menu of Durga Puja 2020, when people are opening up to the flavours of the bygone era. Women in simple, traditional Bengali joint families always created a few dishes out of very ordinary ingredients, as they had to feed many people in the family. Simple ingredients would become the element of praise at lunchtime. Ingredients like vegetable peels, jackfruit seeds (Kaathal Beechi), pumpkin seeds, stems of banana (Thorh) and water lily (Shapla) and tender stolons of Colocasia (Kochur Loti) would turn into beautiful culinary pieces with touch of the expert hands of a Bengali homemaker. These women would be praised …

Durga Puja 2020 Recipe | Mouri Potol | Bengali-Style Pointed Gourd with Fennel Seeds

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Durga Puja 2020 Recipe | Mouri Potol | Bengali-Style Pointed Gourd with Fennel Seeds   It is the Mahalaya of 2020 today: the day when we Bengalis deeply believe that Goddess Durga descents to Earth from Heaven. Surprisingly, for the first time in my life I experienced that Durga Puja is almost a month away from Mahalaya. Such a big gap between Mahalaya and Durga Puja is very rare. This is a strange year indeed.   Nothing can stop us from the euphoria of Durga Puja As we live in Mumbai, for the first time, my family will probably not visit any Durga Puja Pandal, although we will worship Ma Durga at home with the same devotion. Debi darshan will be on social media and TV! Owing to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are still avoiding social events and gatherings. So, this year, there is no thrill of Pujo shopping, too! But that doesn’t stop us from the euphoria called Pujo. We will do shopping, but of some different kind. Time will unfold more on this. …

When Dharmendra shared screen space with Raj Kapoor; watch video

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Sharing a video of a scene from iconic 70s` film `Mera Naam Joker,` veteran actor Dharmendra Deol on Saturday said that it was his dream to work with legendary Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor. Dharmendra posted the video of the scene from the classic film on Twitter. The video featured him and Raj Kapoor. It was a dream , to work with Raj sahab ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0099u00c2u008fpic.twitter.com/zIzGwwUhES — Dharmendra Deol (@aapkadharam) May 30, 2020 “It was a dream, to work with Raj sahab,” he tweeted along with the video. `Mera Naam Joker` marks the first film of the late legendary actor-filmmaker with Dharmendra Deol. It was one of the most celebrated films of Kapoor. Kapoor won three National Awards, and 11 Filmfare trophies, and was conferred with the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke awards. Raj Kapoor established his own studio, RK Studio, and became the youngest director of his time with his directorial debut, `Aag`. Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps. Mid-Day is now …