Check outs

If on a Sunday morning you want to spend your day with your dear ones away from the noisy city, do you have options other than Cubbon Park and Lalbagh?There are quite a few and not far from the city too.Shankaraa foundation on Kanakapura road is one such. It is an ideal get away if arts and culture excites you. Shankaraa foundation promotes intercultural interactions and provides platform and facilitates as a bridge between art and art lovers. It claims to be ‘a greenscape, dotted with timeless sculptures and an open- hearted space that promotes and propagates India's heritage.'There are…

For some, it's a nostalgia of their cities and for some others, it's just something new to try. Prerna Soni, a professional who shifted to Bangalore recently, says, "I discovered these dosa stalls providing a wide range of dosas. I like them since the taste and flavours remind me of my hometown." Variety of ingredients used in Dosas. Pic: Anisha Nair Nikhil Banerjee, a software engineer in Koramangala, says, "I love the taste of it. And (I like it) more so, because it is quick, fresh and healthy. It is pocket-friendly and filling at the same time. And most importantly,…

Hot food is definitely tempting, what if it is smoking hot? A bed of minced meat cutlet with boiled vegetables with some great sauce and maybe mashed potatoes on the side, sizzling away at your table?That would be a Sizzler. The sizzling platter! Pic: Wikimedia Commons Though the roots of Sizzlers are associated with seafood being served on a sizzling platter, there have been several variations with time. There are even vegetarian sizzlers now.Non-vegetarians have several options to choose from. Steaks, chicken, mutton, pork, and of course - the original seafood. The meat is usually minced and made into a…

Being fit is the new mantra and Yoga is making a comeback. Currently young women in the age group of 20 to 35 are especially taking to Yoga.There are a variety of yoga styles, some modified to suit modern needs are available for all age groups to suit different fitness needs. Yoga practice. Pic: a1000yoga Pradeep Govinda, CEO Due North Yoga Pvt. Ltd, operating a1000yoga group of studios, says, “We have low intensity styles like, Hatha Yoga, Iyengar yoga and Sivananda yoga; we teach high intensity styles like power, Hot and Mysore Ashtanga Vinyasa. Higher practices like Pranayama and Meditation…

Kannada is dying because of increasing usage of English language is an oft-repeated refrain. Many activists and Kannada lovers are trying to revive the charm of Kannada in various ways. Gaanchali bidi Kannada maathadi, a Facebook community has taken efforts to revive the language in different ways. Kannada books. Pic: Anisha Nair A new bookstore cum cafe and activity centre in Koramangala - Atta Galatta aims at encouraging regional language books. Founders Subodh Sankar and wife Lalitha Lakshmi wanted to promote books written in regional languages. Sankar says they expected only middle-aged or older readers to buy regional books, “But…

If you are craving for a good scrumptious meal yet with less spices, Bengali cuisine is the right thing to try. The food, originating from West Bengal, predominantly has fish, vegetables and lentils, and is mostly served with rice, Luchi or pooris or parathas. Generally mustard oil is used for preparation, and sometimes, even sunflower oil. The key spices that bring a different flavor are cumin, fennel, fenugreek, kalonji and black mustard seeds, usually referred to as Phoron. This mixture of spices is generally used for preparation of vegetables and fish. Maach curry. Pic: Wikimedia commons A large number of…

Ganesh Chathurthi marks the start of the Hindu festive season of the year. How about starting it on an eco-friendly note? Ganesh idol made out of clay. Pic: ecoexist Every year, the rivers and lakes get polluted because of the chemicals used in making Ganesha idols. In order to be sympathetic towards nature, a large number of people are moving towards eco-friendly Ganesha idols that are made of clay. Ecoexist is a group that encourages the concept of eco-friendly products and you can book your eco-friendly, hand-sculpted clay ganesha from their website - www.e-coexist.com. The clay Ganesh idols are biodegradable.…

Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala. And when it comes to harvest, how can we miss out on the delicious goodies made out of these first crops? Rice, pulses, vegetables and sweet. It’s a combination of a lot of delicious delicacies put together on one platter. Rather, a plantain leaf. Ona Sadhya. Pic: Anisha Nair This sadhya or the grand meal, is usually a vegetarian affair. A meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes, is savoured on a fresh banana leaf. Papad, Banana, Sarkara Varatti – banana chip coated with jaggery, Pickle, Inchi curry or inchipuli, Thoran –…

Havelock, in JP Nagar 5th Phase, though multicuisine, largely serves Mangalorean and North Indian food. This month-old restaurant has all the usual fare. The menu is extensive especially for non-vegetarians. The recommended dish for non-vegetarian food lovers would be Prawn Gassi (Mangalorean Prawn Curry) served with plain steamed rice or neer dosa. The curries also taste good when served with neer dosa. Manglorean Prawn curry with roti and rice. Pic: Abhishek Angad The typical Mangalorean food usually comprises seafood and poultry. It is prepared with a coconut base. It’s high on spices but is not very oily. The curry has…

Imli or Tamarind - an important ingredient of gravies that brings a completely different flavour to the dish. Hence the name, Tamarind. The restaurant has branches in Indiranagar and Banaswadi. This restaurant is a part of the same group that owns Enigma, the pub, and a rooftop restaurant interestingly called ‘Over the Top.’ All three are located in the same building. Handi Mushroom - Tamarind. Pic: Anisha Nair    This giant will not satisfy Bakasur, a new restaurant on ORR will definitely draw your attention with the images of a giant with his mouth wide open, displayed along the building.…