Features

08

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

How Chettinad’s cuisine holds the secrets of its mercantile people. We find out on a food trail

The sweet smell of marigolds mixed with the still humidity of a Tamil Nadu afternoon linger in the air. We are in a palatial Chettinad mansion, one of many that we will visit in the coming few days. The tiles are a work of beauty, the Burmese teak pillars stand imposingly tall, and the aromas from the kitchen beckon. I am in the historic region of Chettinad on a food trail called Suvai, organised by The Lotus Palace Chettinad. Over this weekend, I try all the food that the region has to offer and learn more about the Chettiar community.…

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02

Aug

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Slow food sets foot in Thiruvananthapuram with 1940 India by Azad

The name Azad has held great significance on the culinary map of Thiruvananthapuram for over eight decades. From a makeshift outlet located at Vallakkadavu named Azadinte Kada (Azad’s shop) to a diverse gastronomic portfolio consisting of restaurants, fine dining eateries, bakeries and kiosks, Azad has constantly evolved while staying true to its Travancore roots. The latest addition to this list is a slow food restaurant with a Quick Service Restaurant model named 1940 India, located at Vazhuthacaud. 1940 India by Azad restaurant in Vazhuthacaud | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN What is slow food?The slow food movement, combating international fast-food chains…

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31

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Try kombucha from tap launched by Vaisakh Gardens in Thiruvananthapuram

Near the entrance of the newly-expanded outlet store of Vaisakh Gardens, situated at Kuravankonam, in Thiruvananthapuram, two refrigerators are placed on the ground with multiple levers on top. They are labelled passionfruit kombucha, dragon fruit kombucha, mango kombucha, and so on, connected to a 10-litre metal keg inside the cooler. Pull down the black lever; a vibrant, fizzy beverage gushes down the metal tap, foaming in a paper cup. This beer keg-inspired apparatus mainly aims at first timers, who are “hesitant” to try the subtly sour beverage made from naturally fermented tea, says Anu Vijayan, who runs the outlet store.…

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28

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Tangra cuisine from Kolkata at the culinary pop-up at The Leela Kovalam A Raviz Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram

Tangra, in Kolkata, is home to what we know as the Indian Chinese food. Bringing home the spicy flavours from this part of India is The Leela Kovalam A Raviz Hotel where Tangra dishes are served as part of the dinner buffet.Tangra cuisine is believed to have evolved during the pre-Independence era when Kolkata’s Chinese immigrants experimented with Indian spices and ingredients and came up with recipes that suited Indian tastebuds. Veg manchow soup with crispy noodles | Photo Credit: ANANTHU M S “Chinese dishes, rather Indian Chinese, have become part of our food culture and so we wanted the…

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19

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Five Indian bars have made it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025. Is Indian mixology on the rise?

This year five Indian bars have made it to Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025. Released on July 15 in Macau, the list features New Delhi’s Lair among its top-10 bars. But to anyone who has been paying attention to the country’s rapidly evolving cocktail culture, this is no surprise. With cutting-edge cocktail programmes, sleek interiors and menus that champion local ingredients, there has been a conscious effort to elevate Indian bars, by balancing between global trends and local flavours. The list (long-list included) has three bars from Bengaluru, two each from Goa and Delhi, and one from Mumbai. We speak…

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16

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Here are the five Indian bars on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list

Soka in Bengaluru is on the list at number 28 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The list for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025 was announced at an awards ceremony in Macau on July 15. Hong Kong’s Bar Leone was awarded the number one spot on the list. Five Indian bars made the cut. New Delhi’s Lair came in at number eight. Three Bengaluru-based bars are part of the list. Soka in on number 28, ZLB 23 at number 31, and Bar Spirit Forward at number 37. Goa-based Boilermaker is on number 30. Boilermaker in Goa came in at number 30 |…

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16

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Kolkata’s 6 Ballygunge Place hosts first-ever pop-up in Chennai

Luchi with aloo dum and cholar dal | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement When a Bengali invites you home for a meal, it is never just about food, but about storytelling, memory, and a deep, inherited love for the kitchen. Few restaurants capture that sentiment with finesse and depth, and 6 Ballygunge Place, a Kolkata institution, is among the pioneers that have made it possible. For over two decades, it has served more than just meals; it has served culture. This week, it is serving a slice of that culture in Chennai.At a pop-up hosted by Park Hyatt Chennai’s Park Brasserie, the…

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11

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Supermarket tourism offers an insight into local culture

Whenever I travel, I make my way to a colourful local museum that is free and interesting: the supermarket.Window shopping in a grocery store, walking through the stacked shelves and long aisles, is one of the best ways to learn about the people of a city and how they live. For it reveals how and what they buy for food, how they eat and cook, and what they like and dislike.A supermarket in a new country is like an adventure. There are interesting new foods, snacks, and condiments. Fresh and cold meats. Sauces and dressings. Breads and baguettes. Bagels and…

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11

Jul

By The Press Editor

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Features, Lifestyle

Sweet Expansion: Shree Anandhaas brings its signature flavours to Chennai

If you travel to Coimbatore and return with a suitcase crammed with snacks, here is some good news. Shree Anandhaas has finally opened its first outlet in Chennai, so you can make your murrukku and halwa hauls more frequent. With one outlet in Mogappair West, which features a chaat counter and dining space, and two more in the pipeline in Kolathur and Selaiyur, the brand currently offers around 150 varieties of sweets and 80 types of savouries.Shree Anandhaas is a family-owned business that began its journey as a restaurant in 1998. It later expanded into the world of sweets and…

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