When I first thought of this idea, I began reading about where did this Pani-Puri rage actually start from. It looks like one of the best kept secrets of all time! No one seems to know where it all began or who was the Sir Isaac Newton of the culinary world… None-the-less, what is even more interesting is that this humble food changes its name with every region. With changed identity Pani-Puri looks like a con artist to me! Interestingly so, the way of preparation, the way of serving it (Yes, there are places that serve just 5 puris instead of 6, CHEATERS!) and even the concoction of the Pani changes.

If you fall sick after eating off the streets, then sorry bro, your tummy has trolled you for life! One simply cannot have pani puri that is not made by a sweaty man standing over the drainage man hole. As a rule you can’t leave the stall without asking for masala puri. Slap yourself if you get ripped off at restaurants that serve mineral water pani-puri. NO! You can’t do that to my soul food.

For all the Pani-Puri patriots, see what happen to your food love across the regional border in the country and its changing phases in terms of mixology!

Pani-Puri as Pani-Puri in Maharashtra
This name, most of us identify with. The pani is prepared using mint, tamarind and dates. Although, you will see a variation in the mashes that go in the Puri. As you move towards Madhya Pradesh, you will notice that the use of potato mash increases whereas towards Mumbai / Pune it is the hot ragda that is used most often.

Pani-Puri as Pani Ke Patashe as Haryana
It is essentially the same thing, just that Puri changes to Patashe.

Pani-Puri as Gol Gappa
This name too has global acceptance. With just the same ingredients gol gappa(with this name) just sounds very cute. Be assured that if your neighbourhood pani-puri wala calls his product gol gappa, make sure that the municipal corporation never asks him to leave. He will be your gol guppa guy forever because he know the secret recipe to rock the perfect pani!

Pani Puri as Pani ke bataashe / Patashi in Uttar Pradesh
Bataashe is the same old Puri!

Pani Puri as Phuchka in West Bengal
The tamarind water, so very integral to the Kolkata puchka experience, is served on the side. Having said that one of the best pani-puris you will have in India would be here.

Pani Puri as Gup chup in Odisha
It got this name because of the crunchy noise it makes while biting into the puri. Quite playful, isn’t it!

Pakodi in Gujarat
Don’t mix Pakodi with Pakoda. They are different. Gujarat lives up to its robust chat reputation by taking Pani-puri to the next level. Here you will get different types of water. Such as imli ka pani (tamarind in water), nimbu ka pani (lemon juice in water), pudine ka pani (mint in water), khajur ka pani (dates mixed in water), etc.

If you haven’t noticed yet, Pani-Puri is not that a THING in southern India. I would have cracked a few substandard jokes like, Pani-Puri in south is rassam wada but then it got me thinking, that it could make for an interesting experiment.

To conclude, there is only once thing I could ask a Pani-Puri lover (vice versa), where is your mecca for real good Pani-Puri?

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The best way to travel is eating with locals, or so it is said, But did you know that every culture has its own twisted tale with dining mannerism that you might not even know of? Well, they do. If you want to enjoy your holiday by interacting with the locals and breaking bread with them, read on about crazy table manners that people around the world follow… 

Slurp it loud 
In Asian countries like Japan and China, the louder you slurp food off the bowl will suggest how good the food is. Although, on the flip side, licking chopsticks, cross them or sticking them in your rice bowl vertically could be considered rude. Don’t do that!

No lattes or frappes after the meal
Italians believe that milk post a meal can disrupt your digestion. So if you need that caffeine hit, ask for an espresso shot instead. No one would yell you for getting yourself milk coffee, but you will grab attention and get tagged as a tourist.

No chopstick passes
Do you pass food from spoon to spoon? Or fork to fork? No right? Then don’t pass food from one chopstick to another they consider it a taboo. One of the major reasons for it being a complete no no, is that Japanese funerals have a ritual where they pass set of bones from one set of chopstick to the other. 

Eat with a spoon and not a fork
In Thailand use a fork only to shovel food over the spoon. By rule, eat off the spoon and not the fork.

Wait for the elders
In Korea; you must wait for the elderly people on the table to start eating before you jump on to the food. One they have started eating you could go and help yourself. Till then hold your hunger. 

Right hand only
In India, and parts of Middle East, it is socially unacceptable to eat with left hand for a simple reason that it is associated with not so pleasant bodily functions.

One big plate
Ethiopians feel eating in individual plates is considered a waste! The family eats outs out off a single plate with hands.

Don’t ask for table salt
In Portugal if you ask for salt and pepper, the chef might not take it well. Just eat it the way it has been made.

No hands
In Chile, it is considered ill-mannered to eat with your hands. So eat your pizza, burger or even fries with a fork!

Don’t split the bill
French are classy! If you are dinning in France, either pay the bill completely or don’t pay it at all!

Now that you know of these dinning rules, make sure you don’t goof up on your trips abroad! Blend in with the locals and impress them too.

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Star Guild awards (earlier called the Apsara Awards) were Sunday night’s highlight. We saw TV stars and the entire film fraternity celebrate their work at a common podium. This indeed is the awards season and a lot has been happening on television every weekend.

We have seen Priyanka and Ranbir host filmfare (yawn) and do a rather shoddy job at the same. The nominations and the winner too seemed not-so-deserving. We even did a piece on it last week click here to read it. Filmfare was glamorous but lacked the oomph that it is famous for.

As far as screen went, it was hosted by SRK. The nominations and the winners were well deserved (at least compared to Filmfare they were). SRK did just a fair job at hosting the show, although it looked like LifeOk was using the platform to promote the brand name more that celebrate cinema.

Last night at the Star Guild Awards, we saw Salman Khan host the show. He did a good job at it. He kept everyone entertained single headedly, we loved his energy and presence of mind, making it look very impromptu and chatty. We pen down a few moments that made the show such a hit. No points for guessing, Salman was the star at the show.

The great hug
When Salman and Shahrukh attend a same event at one time, it makes news. The awards had a lot of times when the two actors shared the stage but there seemed less awkwardness there. They hugged and Salman said that they gave media another set of stories to write. Salman also made SRK give specific reactions for the press to catch! Salman and his eternal love for media. We like!

Deepika’s 200cr club documentary
While the show was going on Salman stoped and said he was distracted as he was watching Deepika walk in. He cracked a few obvious jokes about how she is sitting next to Ranveer Singh. The crowd went berserk when Salman said, “Rumours suggest that If Deepika were cast in a documentary film, even that film would do a business of Rs. 200 crore!”

Bakwaas Saal
Salman called the year 2013 a Bakwaas year as he did not have any releases in the year. We have to check twice as it very unlike him.

Sharbat with Salman
Sunday nights are dedicated for Karan’s Koffee with Karan, but this Sunday we saw Salman grill KJo on his improvised show named Sharbar with Salman. He asked KJo why isn’t he married yet, to which KJo replied. “I am also a virgin, technically!” Adding to this he also said that he would explain what technically meant, only backstage! Best of Sharbat with Salman was:
Salman: “Agar aapko ladki banne ka vardaan mile toh kaunsi heroine banna chahogey?”
KJo: ‘Aishwarya Rai’
Salman: ‘Why?’
KJo: ‘You shouldn’t ask why!’

Sunny ki Saree
During teh show there was a time when Salman called Sunny Leone on stage and said that they had two minutes to kill as there was some issue with the lighting. Sunny then tried to teach Salman how to tie a saree. She failed at it and Salman tried helping her. Salman on this commented ‘Kya kamaal ka stunt kiya hai aapne’! Further on he added ‘Jaise saree pehenne mein madat ki, saree utaarne mein bhi madad karoon?’ Sunny played along as a good sport and said that it would be her wish come true!

In terms of awards The Star Guilt awards was just another award but what made the night such a hit was Salman and his amazing sense of humour.

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If you have chosen to spend your weekend in door, then we tell you five classic films that you could watch back to back…

Shree 420
Shree 420 was a 1955 flick starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The number 420 is used in reference to Section 420 of the Indian Penal code that suggests punishment for cheating. The film is about Raj, an educated orphan who comes to Mumbai to pursue his dream. Raj’s character has traces of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘Little tramp’. The movie still is remembered and celebrated thanks to its songs.

Haqeeqat 
Based on the sino-India war of 1962 the film is about a small platoon of Soldiers posted at Ladak who are assumed to be having died in the war. The lead actor Dharmendra loses his life in order to save the lives of these soldiers. The film won several awards including a National award.

Sunset Boulevard
In 1950 American film director and writer Billy Wilder and Charles Barckett made a film that made a mark, so deep that we love it even after so many years, that film was Sunset Boulevard. The film is about a fading movie star who gets drawn towards her fantasy world where she dreams of her larger than life come back as an actor. The film won praises by many critics on its release.

Casablanca
This film is considered as one of the most romantic films of all times. This American romantic drama was made in the year 1942. It is about a man who is torn between love and virtue. He has to choose between the love of his life and fighting for his nation. This is one of the finest films made so far and a must watch for everyone in love.

It’s a wonderful life
This film might not have made it big back then, but it is still considered a classic. It’s a wonderful life was made in 1946 is an American rom-com by Frank Capra based on the short story ‘The Greatest Gift’. It is one of the most loved film in American cinema A complete feel good film and a must watch!

Which is your favourite black & white classic?

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In Bigg Boss season 7, we had seen Salman lose his cool and declare on national television that he might not be a part of the next season. The then threat for the contestants might not be a loose shot. Rumours have been making rounds that Salman Khan might disappoint his fans this season by not be a part of Bigg Boss in its 8^th season. We wonder who would replace him.

If trend is to be looked at, we can only see two of this generation A-list actors who could replace Bhai: Ranbir Kapoor and Ranvir Singh. We put our two cents down on who would in our opinion make for a better host.

The Kapoor lad is on a roll. He is seen in almost every second advertisement. From soap to cellular phones he is endorsing everything. The cherry on the cake would be if he signs up for Bigg Boss 8. He is charming and has a waste fan base. We recently saw him host Filmfare, boy he was such a rockstar. Looks like Ranbir has decided to step into Salman’s shows almost everywhere, first his girlfriend then his how. Good going boy.

The Ram Leela boy isn’t seen much on television. Even while promotions; he seems like a man of few words. On debut on Koffee with Karan, he appeared with his Gunday co-star, Arjun Kapoor. On the show we saw Ranvir speak a bit but most of it was rubbish. His dressing sense too can make our eyes bleed. Imagining him as a host is a bit difficult as the actor is loud and it gets annoying after a point.

Between Ranbir and Ranvir, Ranbir seems like a better bet. That and it would really be amusing to see how Salman reacts when Ranbir take away another one of his prised positions. Noone from the channel confirmed as to who will fill in for Salman.

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How many times have you compromised on your dream of travelling places because you can’t afford it? And with the crashing economic scenario travelling, even within the country, can be a luxury for a lot of us. Don’t be heartbroken with this sudden slap from reality as we tell you a smart way to travel without having to spend too much money and yet getting to explore the destination as a traveller.  

Trade your skill: If you have a skill that you can teach trade it to travel. So if you are a photographer, for instance, who wants to travel to Ooty, find someone there who might be interested in learning photography from you! In return this student of yours will bear the travelling expenses, stay and food. If finding someone in Ooty sounds far-fetched to you then find someone in your own city who would be interested in coming with you on this holiday and during the course of your trip you teach that person photography. Similarly for writers, get your trips sponsored by travel agencies/ websites or magazines. So whatever skill you have, be it cooking, singing, dancing, any sports, sailing or even accounting for that matter, teach your trick to someone who would help you travel.

Watch out: When trading your skills, demarcate the limits. So if you are a writer define the word count or page count before you go for that trip. Keep the communication over the e-mail so that you don’t get into any kind of trouble. Prefer travelling with someone who you know through a reference. 

Organise a group tour: There are two ways to go about with this: get in touch with a travel company or do it all by yourself. Decide on a destination that you would want to visit or even re-visit. Do a detailed research on that place and know it like a local would. Post this you can propose any travel company the idea of your tour where you become the guide for the people travelling. The other way to go about with it is organise a group of people who would be interested in your idea. You be their guide while they pay for your travel. 

What out: If you plan on selling your idea to a travel agent don’t disclose the location or itinerary in your first meeting. Make sure they are interested in your idea and only then get into details. While independently taking a group to a new place, be prepared for a lot of running around. Don’t be just a guide but also make travel bookings and everything else that an actually tour co-ordinator would do.

Find a Host: We doubt your passion for travelling if you do not know about couch surfing. It is website (more like a community) where you can meet people who are as interested in knowing other cultures as you. When you travel overseas and stay at a hotel you are a complete stranger to that country. With couch surfing you stay with a local and know their culture with a whole new perspective. The host will never charge you to stay or eat at their place. Get them to show you around and do the same when they visit you! There are Indians staying all over the world. Get in touch the community centres there to find a house you can stay at.  

Watch out: Couch surfing is completely safe and people listed on it are verified users. Speak to the person you are planning to stay with beforehand. See if you would be able to adjust with them or not. Be kind and help the host with domestic work and carry a gift as a token of appreciation.

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Staying in over the weekend is the worst thing you could do! Check out what all is happening this weekend around you!

30^th McDowell Signature Indian Derby 2014 Saddle up for the most anticipated racing event of the year! Country’s most sought after sporting event, McDowell Signature Indian Derby 2014, is a destination where glamour meets sports. This weekend you could head down to lush green turf of the Mahalaxmi Race course to watch the prestigious race with society elites You could also watch international arts perform here to make the evening more fun.
When: 1st and 2nd February, 12 pm onwards
Venue: Mahalaxmi Race Course, Mumbai
Entry:Tickets to be purchased at the venue.

Vinofest
Mumbai will be hosting its very own wine festival for the first time this year. The festival is named VinoFest and will be held at Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla. The event will bring together the finest wines, food items, art and fashion. Apart from wines, you could also indulge in grape stomping and speak to expert.
When: 31^st January to 2^nd February, all day.
Venue: Phoenix Marketcity, Kurla 
Entry: Free

Lions Club Juhu Cyclothon – ‘Pedal with a Passion to Serve’
Pedal with a Passion to Serve” is an initiative by Lions Club Juhu that will try to spread awareness about healthy lifestyle by encouraging cycling. The “cyclothon” will be flagged off from Jamnabai Narsee School, Narsee Monjee Marg, Vile Parle West and move forward right up to  Carter Road in Bandra West and then terminate once again at Jamnabai Narsee School.
When: Sunday, 2nd Feb 2014, 6.30 AM onwards.
Venue: Jamnabai Narsee School, Narsee Monjee Marg, Vile Parle West
Entry: Free

SulaFest
Sula Vineyards will be hosting their annual fest this weekend. We hear this has gone bigger and better this year on. You could drive down to Nasik and be a part of this crazy festival. They are expanding and this year there will be two stages for artists to perform. To add to this, there will be lot of wine, food and a bazaar that will make you go bonkers!
When: 1^st– 2^nd February, 12 PM onwards
Where: Sula Vineyards, Nasik
Entry: Rs. 1600/ day

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With just one film in her kitty, Alia Bhatt has already grabbed eyeballs, for both good and bad reasons. Most people after Student Of The Year (SOTY) stereotyped her as a glam-doll or a star kid. With her upcoming movie Highway, the petite actress has a lot riding on her to prove her calibre.

Parineeti Chopra, too is paving her way to becoming an A-list actor. She already has movies like Ishaqzaade to prove her acting skills. She is a natural actor but on a flip side we have never seen her experiment with her roles. She looks and acts almost similar across all movies.

These two talented ladies are constantly being compared on most bollywood talk shows (so much that it seems to have become a fixed rapid fire question on Koffee with Karan) as both have their big releases in the month of February. Where Highway will help Alia shun her star kid stereotype; Hasee Toh Phasee promises to take you on a joy ride. 

In Hasee Toh Phasee, Parineeti will be seen acting alongside Sidharth Malhotra, who was Alia’s co-star in SOTY. In a recent interview he was asked to pick one out of his last two leading ladies. He was seen rooting your Alia and said,”I think even Alia is very spontaneous and energetic. When you will hear her in the interviews you will notice she is way better than anyone else….In fact she is most funny and comfortable as compared to all of us. It’s unfair to compare the two actresses as Alia has done only one film till now.”

Are Alia and Parineeti best friends? No. But there is no rivalry YET. Alia on Koffee with Karan had said that she considers Parineeti her biggest competition. She was all praises for her camera presence and she would like to take Hindi speaking lessons from her.

To this Parineeti too showered some praises for the Highway actor. In one of her recent interviews she said,”Alia and I are good friends. In fact, she always tells me these things. So when she said this on the show, I felt good that she praised me. I even gave her a call and told her that she doesn’t need to feel insecure because I feel Alia will be a very big star.” So if she wasn’t an actress she would be Alia fan.

So much love and sweet talk! To us this all looks superficial and sweet talk during promotions, we have seen a lot of Bollywood actresses put this soul sister act on to grab headlines. As far as the talent is to be taken into account, we will want to wait till Highway hits the silver screen to make or break Alia’s career. Till then we wish these lasses dropped their masks and get real!

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When it comes to her acting, she has proved that she can get into the skin of any character and do a fab job at it. There is no way you could doubt her dancing skills, thanks to her brilliant dance mujra in Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-leela. Priyanka Chopra, does everything best! Is it?

(Priyanka Chopra in Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-leela)

For her recent release, Priyanka Chopra, plays a cabaret dancer which leads us to the obvious love triangle storyline! Non-the-less that seems secondary after the makers launched the item song Asalaam e Ishqum. PeeCee is seen wear a wide range of outfits that compliments the theme of the song. We loved the glam quotient that she has pulled off and a brilliant treatment given to the video.

On the other side, in terms of lyrics, we felt were a bit out of sync. It could make for a beautiful soft romantic track than being a cabaret. The song falls flat in terms of its recall, we heard it thrice and it still did not catch up on us. So, you might watch it on TV but just the music, we doubt if we would want it on our playlist.

Priyanka is seen doing less of cabaret jigs and more of belly dancing but kudos to PeeCee for experimenting with her acts.

With music being just another item number sort, we feel the song Asalaam e Ishqum might not make us want to dance. What do you thing?

Gunday also stars Ranvir Singh and Arjun Kapoor. The movie releases on 14th February. Till then have a look at the trailer.

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For a hard core meat eater, vegetarians feel like Martians! Non-vegetarians always feel that there aren’t many variations that vegetarians can try. Not true at all! It isn’t just about paneer and potato for them. Apart from the vast set of vegetables they also have the option of going for pulses and their combinations with vegetables. But then what about the meaty taste? Do they miss out on that? They most certainly don’t! Check out a few vegetarian meats…

Yam 

Yam looks similar to a sweet potato. The texture although is different. It is usually served as an accompaniment to rice dishes and fish curry. It can also be diced and fried or smoked, grilled or boiled. It tastes fabulous when paired with cheese in a quiche.

Soya

This is one of the most common ways our mothers used to make us eat protein all though childhood. In the form of Soy milk, Soy pulav or curries; soy always fed at least once a week. Its chewy texture makes it a brilliant substitute for chicken. It also helps if you want to convert you veggie friend into a non-vegetarian, tell your friend that it will taste just as good as soy.

Tofu 

The healthier substitute for Paneer is Tofu. This ingredient entered Indian kitchen around the 2000s. It was instantly accepted making it a hit! Personally, I still would vouch for freshly made batch of Paneer over Tofu, but again that is just me! Tofu can be used just as paneer.

Seitan

Commonly known as ‘wheat meat’ or ‘gluten’, seitan is made from wheat. The texture that seitan takes after being cooked is just as meat and hence it is one of the most preferred mean analogue. It is getting noticed in India and you can easily find it in the health food section of any supermarket.

Surimi

This is a cheat sea food. Available in various forms, Surimi icentially gives the texture and colour of any shell fish. It is easily available abroad but slowly getting noticed in India as well.

Tempeh

It is another soy product that was made in Indonesia. Tempeh is made by fermentation of soybean into a cake. Brilliant way of making patty for a whole wheat burger! Soy gives you the necessary proteins where as the texture helps you get over chicken cravings.

What is your favourite meat sustitute? 

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With sitcoms and soap operas hogging the prime time, infotainment shows are god sent. Travel, food, fashion or any such feature shows are not just aspirational but are also a great watch. They tell you about new avenues in the subject matter and build a dreamy picture of the otherwise gloomy world. Recent trend has seen a rise in the number of shows that are focused on travel and food. More than liking the content, I believe it is the sublime urge to at that destination eating that food is what makes these shows such a hit. If I were to switch lives with the hosts of one of these travel shows, my top five picks would be…

Man Vs Food with Adam Richman

If Man Vs Wild was nerve cracking, Man Vs Food definitely gets my belly growling. If I were to work for free, Adam Richman’s job is what it would take (it is not just me, most people think this way). He travels across America and gorges at famous restaurants. The highlight of the show has always been him taking the ‘big food’ challenge. Apart from being engaging, this show gets my appetite working. Who cares about weight anyway!

World’s Weirdest Restaurants with Bob Blumer

This show at times can leave you grossed out but just one off episodes. The series hosted by Bob Blumer shows him travel around the world eating at unusual thematic restaurants. Eating with your pet, eating curry off a toilet seat or eating under the fear of getting chopped; man that must be insane amount of fun. Hey Bob, want to switch jobs? Get some rest bro!

Travelling Diva with Ritu Dalmia 

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Ritu Dalmia, live a life that very woman wants. On her show she is seen globe-trotting across the world, sampling street-food, local meals and even dining at fine dine restaurants. Her energy is infectious, her enthusiasm is evident hence her show is an absolute hit! Why can’t my life be more like hers? WHY!

Chakh le India with Aditya Bal! 

As the name suggest, this show makes sure that it gives you a taste of rich Indian cuisine. The show has Aditya travel to various parts of the country, talking to people from various food groups, dining with them or even cooking in their kitchens. I love the way there is always a take home recipe for the viewers’ towards the end of the show. What more can a food fanatic ask for!

The Twist of taste with Vikas Khanna

The sexy chef Vikas Khanna travels across the coast line of India to uncover the traditional recipes from the region. He travels from Kochi to Kanyakumari, Goa to Manglore and around. He walks across the market area, talking to the locals and blending into the culture. The show has whole lot of hotness (thanks to Vikas) and coastal beauty of the country! Worth a walk on the beach, isn’t it?

That was my list! Which is your favourite trave-food show? 

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2013, saw some brilliant work at the silver screen. Movies were a mixed bunch that had something for everyone, from masses to classes. Where movies like Chennai Express made a million bucks, small budget movies like The lunchbox also managed to entertain. But apart from the box office collections and viewers’ criticism what makes the film makers, cast and crew is the number of awards it wins at the box office.

We watched and re-watched the Screen awards and Filmfare award and felt the need to compare the two. There were awards that we thought were given to not-so-deserving nominee (I say not-so-deserving because it won’t be fair to trash them completely). From awards to the hosts, we compare the two awards. Read on.

Starting with the host!
Screen awards were hosted by Shahrukh Khan. It left like Life Ok had an agenda, we could clearly see SRK promoting the channel more that actually talking about the industry. And seriously, why was there a need to mention the theme of the awards night in almost every third sentence!

Filmfare, on the other hand was hosted by Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor. In my humble opinion, it was a total yawn fest. The futuristic theme, Priyanka’s robot dog Kutti, Ranbir’s family ties and Priyanka’s over excitement; it all felt over the top and loud. But the best moment of the night was when Karan Johar, goofed up with the teleprompter and Farhan Akhtar came for his rescue! Cute, isn’t it! But KJo, you need to get over with this, “I have grown up with you!” line of yours, you seem to have had a lot of buddies as a child!

For us, in a nutshell, Filmfare, still looked a bit better in terms of presentation in comparison to the Screen Awards. Award winner, we won’t be that confident.

Biggest Joke of the YEAR!
Filmfare for the Best Costume was given to Dolly Ahluwalia for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag! Oh so Sassy! Farhan has never looked better. Were Filmfare chose to shun the obvious, Screen did what was expected. Screen Award for Best costume went to Anju Modi, Maxima Basu, Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela.

Sit pretty! Get an award.
Filmfare for the Best Debut (Female) was given to Vaani Kapoor for Shuddh Desi Romance. My question was, she hardly got to do any acting. All she did was brand the soft drink company all the while! On the other hand the Screen award for the most promising newcomer female went to Aida Ei Kashef for Ship Of Theseus. Our money was and will be on Nimrat Kaur!

Debut after 20 films?
Filmfare for the Best Debut (Male) was given to Dhanush for his work in Raanjhanaa. He, no doubt did a fabulous job but the actor himself in his acceptance speak mentioned mockingly that, ”How many ever movies you work on, you never stop learning and you always would be a newcomer!” Very modest, isn’t he. As far as Screen awards goes, the award for the most promising newcomer male was given to Sushant Singh Rajput for Kai Po Che. After two big banner films in a year, very well deserved!

On the name of promotions
We understand that the channel does need its due footage in terms of publicity and thus coming up with awards such as Sony Trendsetter of the Year is fair. But do we really want a film like Chennai Express to trend? Don’t we want to grow-up and deliver quality content? We guess there are only such little things that the brands can do to keep the superstars happy. Was it given because SRK had no award winning acts this year? Only Filmfare would know!

Screen smitten by Deepika?
Several acts and constant camera action added with some mockery, Deepika was just about everywhere. Either the editor was her die-hard fan or there were no other people present at the show. We don’t question her acting or her beauty, four blockbusters in one year; the lady has been working way too hard. Screen awards, based on its theme, introduced an award named Like OK Screen hero award, that was given to her, guessing that was for her bravery in signing up for so much work!

On the whole, Screen awards still looked very balanced and just. Do you also feel that Filmfar was tad unfare this time on?

The post Are Award Functions Rigged? appeared first on Youngisthan.in.

Food is an art which as a whole lot of Science embedded in it and it won’t be entirely incorrect to say that a modern day kitchen has now turned into a science lab. Chef’s around the world keep experimenting with not just flavours but textures too! One such successful culinary experiment was the Molecular gastronomy.

For the last one year a lot of modern day restaurants have been incorporating this molecular gastronomy in their kitchens. Experts call it the food for tomorrow and we couldn’t agree more.

What is molecular gastronomy?
The scientific study of food and cooking is called molecular gastronomy. It is usually associated with modern foods. Chef’s, expert in this art, combine varied tastes and textures, and pad it up with their theatrical skills giving their guests a meal that not just looks decadent but also has a mind blowing palate!

The textures vary from sodium and calcium used to make fake caviar or making spaghetti out of vegetables or even smoking up your drinks with the use of liquid nitrogen. Apart from this clever use of chemicals, chefs also use high quality equipment to get the textures and tastes right!

Trick of the trade

Emulsification
Out of the various ways foam can be created; using a hand blender under liquid is the easiest. The foam that appears at the top can be delicately skimmed and added to the dish. This foam might not last long so it is suggested that liquid one uses is thicker in consistency.

Spherification
Like the name suggests it can make any ingredient appear spherical on your plate. The most common trick is making fake Caviar balls using sodium alginate and calcium salt. All you need to do is mix sodium alginate to the liquid that you want to make caviar of. Pore droplets of this mixture into a solution of calcium and water and scoop them out quickly. This trick makes up to be a beautiful garnish on pretty much every course.

Smoke it up
If you enjoy cocktails, then this one is for you. Using a smoking sun you could add cigar smoke to your malt or cinnamon to your cocktail. Although the smoke does not last long, the taste and the nose last till the last drop.

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When we first heard that Emraan Hashmi & Mahesh Bhatt were going to make their debut on the Koffee with Karan couch, we knew this one will make headlines! So it did… In the last few episodes we have seen a lot of first timers coming on the show and getting all worked up about the rapid fire and Karan’s grilling. Akshay Kumar on the other hand managed to grill Karan himself (kudos to Akki!) but also pointed out that one of the reasons most celebs avoid coming on the show is that they don’t want to say anything questionable which will lead to lot of explanations post the telecast.

If there is one thing that we love about Mahesh Bhatt is his way of telling what he feels. The man has no mask hence he is not discreet about his opinions. On the other hand Emraan Hashmi seems like a man of few words but little did we know that his few words too can put a point quite well.

The highlight of the show undoubtedly was the rapid fire round. It was cruel. It was true. It was something we had never seen happening in all the seasons put together. Check out what it went like!

 

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/StarWorldIndia)

Our top 5 ‘OMG, did he really say that on national television’ moments were:

KJo: An over rated director according to you…
Mahesh Bhatt: Sanjay. Leela. Bhansali!
(Oh come on! He definitely knows his colour palete well…)

KJo: An over rated actor/actress according to you…
Mahesh Bhatt: Kajol

KJo: If you were to enter the Mallika Sherawat’s room, what would you find?
Emraan Hashmi: An idiot’s handbook to succeed in Hollywood.

Well after this, isn’t it obvious! 

KJo: Name the actor/actress that comes to your mind when I say the following. Plastic?
Emraan Hashmi: Aishwarya Rai

KJo: The next director you would want to work with.
Emraan Hashmi: Who made Three Idiots?

When the guests know how to be a sport, the show sure looks interesting. For us this episode of Koffee with Karan might have created a new set of rivalries but man it was so much fun!

Click here to watch the entire episode. 

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The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is at the prime of its teens. 16 years and celebrating, this is a community celebration is hosted at the most historic spots in Mumbai. The festival is a hard-core arts and culture festival offering programmes in Music, Dance, Theatre, Street Acts, Workshops for children, Heritage Walks and Literature. You just need to have an open mind and love for art, because the entry here is for free!

Installation from KGAF3013 (Image courtesy: KGAF Facebook page)

We browsed through this year’s schedule and picked out few promising acts from each category that we recommend you attend!

Kids on Destination Mars 
When: 6th February, 6:00pm to 6:45pm at KitabKhana
Is your kid above 9 years? Then take him to KitabKhana as scientists from ISRO share little-known facts from the book Destination Mars – Secrets of the Red Planet. 
Pro Tip: It is not JUST for kids, you could be a part too!

Dancing Rumi style followed by Brazilian martial art
When: 8th February, 7:30pm to 8.45pm at Cross Maidan
On this dance evening you can witness, Wonkot, a Contemporary Dance Theatre piece based on a parable ‘Elephant in a Dark Room’ by the Persian poet Rumi. This would be followed by Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music. 
Pro Tip: Reach the venue 15 minutes before time to get a spot with a perfect view.

Movie marathon with Fearless Nadia
Venue: Gallery Beyond
Watch the best of Fearless Nadia this year at The Kala Ghoda Art Festival! Catch Jungle Princess on 3rd February at 5:00pm, Miss Fortier Mail on 5th February at 2:00pm, Diamond Queen on 8th February at 2:00pm and Fearless: The Hunterwali Story on 9th February at 5:00pm. 
Pro Tip: Go alone! Watch the films without getting distracted.

Cook with the Bawi or attend a tea talk 
Venue: Westside
@BawiBride, Perzen Patel will tell you the secret of making Parsi food at home on 9th February from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. On 5th February from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, Radhika from Radhika’s Fine Teas will enlighten you with her tea knowledge! 
Pro Tip: Go with an appetite!

Installation from KGAF3013 (Image courtesy: KGAF Facebook page)

Go graphic
When: 2nd February, 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm at Tarq
Graphic novel is the next big thing expected in the literature industry. Attend a discussion on the same with Amruta Patil, Samhita Arni, moderated by Imran Ali Khan.
Pro Time: Read up on the topic beforehand.

Music at Asiatic Steps 
When: 9th February, 6:00pm onwards at Asiatic Steps
Watch popular Indian playback singer, song writer and guitarist, Nikhil D’Souza, make the night pretty with his foot tapping music. This would be followed by Rock-On boy, Farhan Akhtar perform live. Who would want to miss this one!
Pro Tip: Reach the venue 15 minutes before time to get a spot with a perfect view.

Murray swallows a few swords in the middle of the street
When: 4th February, 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Amphitheater
This year The Kala Ghoda Art Festival has invited a crazy Irish man to freak you out! Watch Murray Molloy, a Sword swallower do his thing! 
Pro Tip: Not for the weak heart!

Unselfed live
When: 4th February, 6:30 pm at Max Mueller Bhavan
Directed by Sujay Saple, Unselfed is a play that would question the meaning of ‘to-be-whole’! It has mind cracking performances and a bit of contemporary dancers.
Pro Tip: Go with an open mind. 

Mandatory! 
We highly recommend you keep at least two hours (or more) to explore the art illustrations. The heritage walks are another must. You will be guided by historians, who will show you town with a different perspective.

(Image courtesy: KGAF Facebook page)

Social Media Connect:
The Kala Ghoda Festival has a brilliant social media footprint. You could follow them on twitter, their twitter handle is @htkgaf. For update on Facebook you could like www.facebook.com/kalaghodaartsfestival. They are also present on Instagram as @KGAF14! Their official hashtag is #htKGAF.

If you feel lost with so many venues, here is the road map. Thank us later!

(Image courtesy: KGAF Facebook page)

To know the complete schedule for the event Click Here.

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Unlike reading a regular fiction novel, memoir could leave a lasting impact. Writing it is a different ball game together. Questions like ‘why would anyone want to read about my life’ or ‘how would my holiday in Paris impress anyone’ will keep running at the back of your mind. With such a dicey mix of ideas coming up with a brilliant food memoirs is rare.

In my opinion the best food memoir is one that has perfect balance between what the chef feels, his inventions, few tips/tricks and something that the reader could take back home. Most of all what matters the most is that the book must leave the reader inspired. If we had to hand pick 5 books from a book store for you these would be the ones…

The Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre White

The Gastronomical Me by M.F.K. Fisher

The Telling Room by Michael Paterniti

Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin

The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pépin

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Let me start by saying ‘I am not a hater’! I know the songs by heart and very regularly enjoy them too. Having said that, Yo Yo Honey Singh very often manages to offend the feminist in me. Blame it on the sad state of affair in our country; dancing to a song that looks down upon women is just wrong, now and forever.

Back at our humble homes, our mothers create brouhaha for things that he casually mentions in his songs. Things such as picking up chicks from a bar, wearing tiny clothes, drinking or partying they are all alright provided you come home at 10PM (how does one explain moms that party actually starts at 10)! We wonder how Yo Yo manages it back home but for now we tried to understand how our mothers would react if we sang the following songs…

Sunny Sunny from Yaariyan (2014)
Ek tu ho, main hoon Aur sea side pe paani ka shor
Aaja meri baahon mein Girl what you waiting for
Tujhko main leke chaloon Phir pyaari si yacht pe
Ho jaayenge hum talli Malibu ke shot pe

How my mother would react: 

Blue Eyes (Title) – Blue Eyes (2013)
Ghar pe chalna hai ya pehle jayegi club
Ni mera matlab ghar ke club
Tab loonga left nahi toh right Club mein hoga shor,
Baby ghar pe pillow fight
You decide, ke kya karna
Tujhko toh zara sa bhi darr na hai
Champagne gerdi hai tune meri pent pe
Aur kehti hai change karlo hotel leke rent pe

How my mother would react:

Party All Night – Boss (2013)
Nikkar waali chhori ne ye Vodka chadha rakhi hai. 
Ek khatam na ho ri iss se,
Doosri mangwa rakhi hai. 
Naache dekh ri kaise, 
Aag si laga rakhi hai. 
Itti si tu hai nahi, huh! 
Aafat macha rakhi hai!

How my mother would react:

Boss (Title – Boss (2013) 
Je koi bane ghana landlord 
Une maar ghusand
Neeche main dharoon. 

How my mother would react:

Weed Pila De – Satan (2012)
Aaja tujhko sair kara dun
Fortuner me gedi lawa dun
Fortune tera aaj banaadu
De permission seat gira dun. 
Weed pila de sajna
Weed pila de sajna
Weed pila de sajna
Weed pila de 

How my mother would react:

Get Up Jawani – International Villager (2011)
Main karta na, intezaar
Dekha tujhe toh hua main, bekaraar 
Gaana baje toh naache baby doll 
Ko tappe khilaun jaise basketball
Ek do nahin mere paas poore 
Ek sau tareeke teri jaisi ko 
Badshah ke peeche lagaane ke 
Ghar le jaane ke, jannat dikhaane ke 
Aa akeli chaahe laa tu saheli 
Dilli se ho tu chaahe rai bareily 
Hogi inki subah in my haveli

How my mother would react:

Angreji Beat – International Villager (2011)
O khad taan ja tu nede aa.
Bhai idda naa tu gede kha.
Oh kahton enni desperate,
Saanu dasde ke ae rate.

How my mother would react:

Brown rang – International Villager (2011)
Excuse me Miss, kis kis kis kiss se tu bhaagi gi?
Hun bach bach ke, tenu rab ne husn ditta rajj rajj ke.
Main keha kaali teri Gucci, te Prada tera laal,
Kithe challo oh sohneyo, sajh dajh ke ke?

How my mother would react: 

 

Mothers more often than not accept the short comings of their kids but this kid seems to have gone rogue. I strongly feel his mother should have given him one tight slap right after he first came out with a single (do you even need me to say why!). Aunty are you listening?

The post Why Should Yo Yo Honey Singh’s Mom Kick Him Hard? appeared first on Youngisthan.in.

Salman Khan has a fan base that worships him. His screen presence is brilliant. His charm is infectious. The actor recently came of Comedy Nights with Kapil to promote his film Jai Ho along with his co-star Daisy Shah and brother Sohail Khan.

As usual the show kept its tempo high we kept cracking at Kapil & his on show family’s timing. As for Salman we saw him not talk serious movie related stuff, we got a glimpse of who he really is. The man is fun; he can roll on the floor when he cannot compose his laughter. Sohail too looks like a fun person. In all honestly it was the best thing we could watch this weekend! Here are a few glimpses from the show that cracked us up!

Salman Bhai with bade hoto wali biwi
The one question that even the Buck stops here can’t be discussed is, ‘When will Salman Khan marry?’ Kapil’s wife tries to enact a being wife scene and guess what the man concluded it by saying ‘Issi liye maine shaadi nahi ki!’
Line Salman tripped on: ‘Kettle jaisa muh tera, chai pilayegi tu?’

Hello Brother’s gassy insides
Salman and his brother Sohail came together on the show. During the show they revealed that they thought that the film won’t work and the censer board with chop most of the film. Accidently so, they kept the ‘Salman’s gas’ as it is, in fact the also got to keep a few similar shots that they had added a few more times just to be on a safer side.

Their father called it a high budget film made for personal viewing! Looks like Khans know how to criticise their home production very well.

Dadi and her Kiss
Ali Asgar as Dali is one reason I would want to be on CNK! The coolest Dadi gave her shagun ki papi to Sohail and Salman. Sohail like a good boy took Dadi ki puppi Salman got cracked up and said, ‘Dadi se daar nahi lagta, dadi ke andar jo dada hain usse daar lagta hain!’



The Parrot jokes
The otherwise a very clean family show, this episode of CNK saw a lot of double meaning jokes. Dadi came with her parrot that would tell the celebrities their future. She made Daisy dance (obviously made her do her signature step). For Salman, he had to romance a woman older than him! Kudos to Ali and his brilliant act, we could see Salman going bonkers and ROLF-ing (literally!)

Daisy and Palak dance off
Palak always has a poem for the guests! This time she too has a couple of boring ones. Although her entry was kick-ass and she did a few shimmies on Mashallah. When Palak made Daisy dance she gave the trained dancer a tough completion.

Watching Salman Khan with his guards down and rolling on the floor laughing was an absolute delight. 

Watch the entire episode on Colors official website or click on the videos below. 

Part 1 

Part 2 

The post When Salman Came On Comedy Nights With Kapil appeared first on Youngisthan.in.

The land of peshwas believes in serving its locals a hearty breakfast. When I say pehwas, don’t get carried away with wada pavs, upmas, cheera or poha, Pune’s breakfast club has a lot more to offer than that.

You could thank the abundance of college goers or just the early birds, Pune has a plethora of breakfast places that will make you tummy happy and give your day a brilliant start. The options can vary from a Rs.20 Poha at Priyadarshani, foundly known as PD (near MM college) to a masala pav with Rs.10 cold coffee at Durga (near KPIT). If sitting on your bike and grabbing a quick breakfast is not your thing, then you could scout for a parking spot and head to one Goodluck for an omelette accompanied by brun and tea, all under Rs.100 or even less. These are just a few names to suggest, there is a lot more you could try. We picked out a few breakfast places that are usually packed for their strong reputation of serving a delicious breakfast serving.

From the west to Pune
Café Goodluck has been around since 1935 (that sure is a very long ago).Located at the intersection of Fergusson college road and Bhandarkar road, this café has regulars that you could spot easily. Just like any other Irani Café this place serves plates after plates of Brun and tea along with countless numbers of egg preperations. You will be floored by the aroma or smitten by the vibe. It only has some 40 odd tables but the service is so fast that you could be done with you breakfast in just about 20 minutes tops.

If you move further towards Pune station (Ruby hall), Vohuman Café is your place. The man at the counter will make you smile, not just with his charming persona, but the menu that he has for his patrons. When I last went I heard rumours about him shutting down. So make sure you visit a couple of times before that happen (every time you visit make a silent prayer that they never shut down). 

A new entry to this English breakfast scene is Skips café at Aundh. It is a tiny place bang opposite Croma with just about 8 odd tables. It feels like your grandma is fixing you a wholesome breakfast. It is only of the very few places in Aundh that offer bacon, pancakes, sausages along with an entire spread of English breakfast and health juices.

Purepur Marathi
When in Pune, eat like a puneri would. Starting your day with spicy missal and oily wada pav might sound a bit fattening but it will fill you up well enough to survive till lunch. Few of the famous names would be Vaishali, Roopali or Wadeshwear but there is a whole lot more that you could explore.

If you aren’t picky about the ambiance then you have a lot of option for a nice breakfast. If you are around Kamla Nehru park then you can pick from a steaming batch of kanda poha to homemade vegetable juices. For missal, your best bet would be Amrutulya or Badshahi at Tilak road.

Give me some sambar
There is one thing we miss in Pune and that would be a piping hot cup of filter coffee. How we wished we could get some authentic sambar in this city. None the less we found Idlicious hidden inside a shopping complex in Baner which gave us a little home. They also have an outlet in Aundh. Hail their sambar!

Apart from these regular joints you will spot middle aged aunties by the side of colleges who serve students homemade breakfast. Most day the food is hygienic and even tastes good (MOST DAYS). Breakfast there would hardly cost you Rs. 20 or less and you could get a new dish every day.  

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The 86^th Annual Academy Awards will be held on 2^nd March this year. The nominees have just been announced and we already know that this award night is going to be terrific! Look at the nominations and see for yourself if your favourites have been nominated…

Oscar nominations for the best motion picture of the year

12 Years a Slave

The Wolf of Wall Street 
 

Captain Phillips

Her

American Hustle 

Gravity

Dallas Buyers Club

Nebraska

Philomena

Oscar nominations for the Best director of the year

Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell for American Hustle
Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
Alexander Payne for Nebraska
Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street

Oscar nomination for the best actor in the lead role (Male)

Bruce Dern for Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club
Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street
Christian Bale for American Hustle

Oscar nomination for the Best actor in the lead role (Female)

Amy Adams for American Hustle
Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine
Judi Dench for Philomena
Sandra Bullock for Gravity
Meryl Streep for August: Osage County 

Oscar nomination for the Best actor in a supporting role (Male)

Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper for American Hustle
Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club
Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave

Oscar nomination for the Best actor in a supporting role (Female)

Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave
June Squibb for Nebraska
Julia Roberts for August: Osage County
Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine

Oscar nomintion for the best foreign feature of the year

The Hunt (Denmark)
The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium)
The Great Beauty (Italy)
Omar (Palestinian territories)
The Missing Picture (Cambodia)

Oscar nomination for the best documentary feature of the year

The Act of Killing
20 Feet From Stardom
The Square
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars

We have our favourites in the picture *no shit sherlock!* Who do YOU feel will take the golden lady home this awards?

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