Z-Blogs

Independence Day is coming up and it’s a good time to reflect on the word itself. Let's take a look at how the word plays out in public life in our own city and state. Karnataka's Lokayukta position opened up over a year ago and the state government has still not filled the position. Such is the fear of an independent Lokayukta, after Justice Santosh Hegde indicted official after official. Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force's head IPS officer Rajvir Sharma, responding to citizen complaints on illegal buildings, threatened prosecution against over a 100 BBMP engineers. BMTF's legal mandate allows it this…

Instead of talking about it, I'll let these two photographs that I took (these were not on any small roads, but the main highway to the airport) do the speaking: Imagine having a child, without a helmet, asleep on a two-wheeler, and calmly carrying on!And this one:Imagine the plight of the child for whom that perambulator is meant, if this is the attitude that is being shown towards safety...  I'm sure these are educated people. The motto seems to be, "That accident will not happen to US, we can do as we please."  I'm frankly amazed that there are not more…

“Mamma I am bored, Daddy I want toys...” Their demands reach new heights when you decide to visit a mall or have a lazy lunch with your friends. Shopping becomes even more cumbersome when you are accompanied by a curious toddler and all you can do is to keep chasing the kid! A child playing on swing. Pic: Anisha Nair Play areas for children have come up at many places so the mum or dad can get some relaxed time for activities like shopping, spas or a cuppa with friends. These play spaces have games and activities that would interest…

Looking for a fresh Mediterranean snacks that’s vegetarian? Alright folks, Tahini Garden at Jayanagar offers you the combination. The name is inspired from tahini, a sauce prepared from sesame seeds. Moroccan Spaghetti. Pic: Abhishek Angad The food draws its inspiration from the nations surrounding Mediterranean Sea. Countries like France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Turkey have contributed to the variety of food. Sea food, poultry, red-meat, grains, beans and pastas forms major component of the food. The main flavour though is that of olive oil, that is used extensively. The food is generally baked or grilled.Unlike other Mediterranean food joints in…

  ... even though we don't miss the summer heat.Picture shot at the Ranga Shankara mango party.Pic by Manvi Gandotra⊕

A cuisine inspired by countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea - Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon and many more. And since a sea surrounds them, seafood is a huge part of the cuisine. Apart from that, fruits and vegetables with an emphasis on rice, grains, beans and pastas is the main feature. The most prominent mode of cooking is grilling or broiling with generous use of olive oil. Ruh, set up with an ambience inspired from these nations surrounding the sea with sand and pebbles for floor. The place is decorated with long curtains, red and golden lanterns, ornamental mirrors…

Like many others, I watched 'The Lorax' about a month ago. While the movie itself was something I wished we could publicly broadcast at various venues in our city, it was the post-movie conversations among the children in the audience that actually left me thinking. BM English School Green Club green club members 2012-13. Pic: Vinita Young ones compared notes on their preferred character; some older children felt that adults would only continue to chop down trees and we would really need electric trees on our streets! Some even shared facts about global warming and climate change. And yet when…

 We often go to the Arikere Reserve Forest on nature trails, sometimes our own group, sometimes taking children or adults.   But why do people have to dump trash and litter everywhere?   ⊕

   Piping hot BFK...Baitu Filter Kaapi. Baitu is a Bangalore institution...it's actually, "divide the coffee by two". This gives a lovely thimble-shot of piping hot coffee where one doesn't have to worry about the calories or the caffeine...and yet have the lovely taste of filter coffee on one's palate for a long while!      The fractions can get even more complicated...it can be 2 by 3 or 5 by 7, and so on....in Mumbai, such division of chai is called "cutting chai". We also have the concept of "Half Tea" or "Half Coffee" or "Mini Tea/Coffee" here in Bangalore. Adigas,…

Restaurant at the end of the ORR was how Kanua was described to me. And unlike the Douglas Adams' restaurant, food is the protagonist here.Inspired by coastal and Konkani cuisine, the place serves some great food.The open architecture and use of wood in the interiors transport you to a coastal home. The menu tells you the story behind Kanua and their philosophy. Neer dosa. Pic courtesy: Wikimedia commons Kanua is the name of a rice variety that is now extinct. The menu says that this is their attempt at rediscovering, recreating and reviving, the lost cultural history.And this, they do.…