Tuesday, July 14, 2009

10 + 3 Things You Should Know About Food Bloggers

I read this wonderful post on 'Not Quite Nigella' and was compelled to write.
She's a total foodie based out of Sydney.... That's Lorraine Elliott for you... Have been following her blog for a while now. She loves traveling far and wide for an unusual meal and cooking and eating food from different countries all around the world.

I'm gonna put out her article word to word sans the wonderful pictures [and put in my comments in italics along with pictures ]..... cause it so echos my experiences... also adding 3 more characteristic to it....

The species 'Foodus Bloggerus' is a peculiar creature. I know, because I feel distinctly peculiar most times. We march to the beat of our own drum (or more accurately the sound of food sizzling). When most people are enjoying their food, we’re taking close ups of it. So to understand this misunderstood creature, allow me to reveal 10 things you should know about this unusual creature, should you ever encounter us in the wild[or in a restaurant or at the dinner table loaded with lovely food].

1. Be prepared to eat early. Like a reverse Vampire, we love the light as more light means better photos. Eating dinner at 4pm? Sure, no problem, the light will be good then. Similarly, you’ll also find us seated near the window more often than not as the light is better there and we only use Flash in extreme circumstances or in closed blogger-friendly company.

2. We’re shy and hate to be stared at, especially while we are taking photos. However if it’s something exciting, we retreat into a haze and snap away uncaring. That’s called the “Paparazzi Brangelina moment”, when we descend into a frenzy of snapping.

3. Most people react to romantic lighting positively. Not the food blogger. We will utter things such as “crap, not this moody, romantic lighting again. What about my photos!”. Because as you know, it’s all about the photos ;)

4. We love to share food. The equation is straightforward: the more food shared, the more food sampled and the more we can write about.
Hmm, how do I get the piece back in without them noticing?
[A lot of people in office would vouch for being on my food tasting LIST... lol... The post 'You Can Kiss My Fingers' has a list of stuff my official taster's list sampled]

[n my favorite food model Daksayani..... my kid sister... the apple of my eye.....]


5. If invited somewhere, we’ll usually bring something as it gives us an excuse to make something for our blog. However this is not catch free. A cake might have a slice taken out of it for photographic reasons although it may be put back into place. Try not to stare and pretend the piece wasn’t cut. Please. We feel weird enough as it is.
[ Here's the tiramisu I took along to mami's house when we went to their place for dinner.
Sharad, you stole the opportunity from me by canceling the beer tasting session.....
]

6. We love to choose where to eat out. Please let us choose - food is our life and we will painstakingly research places. We may also send through copious links and print out menus. It’s a compulsion. Just take them smiling and back away if you need to. Oh and trust us, the place may look weird/seedy but the food will be good.
[Love the boys in office for letting me choose where we go for dinner... :-) ]

Food-the ultimate gift
7. If you ever want to give a gift, give food. Something unusual, hard to get or exotic is wonderful. Or something fresh from your garden. We are easy to please. I swear I thought I wanted Choos until I got a roast rib of pork as a gift.
[Well I haven't been gifted food but loved jenny when she sent me a lots of implements for cake decoration and even sent her precious book of baking with lots of chocolate recipes in it, Chetan got me silicon cupcake moulds, mamu bought me white platters]

8. Dinner out with us in a restaurant is an experience.[or any meal for that matter] It can either go well and can be an interesting experience or it can go badly. Embarrassing sometimes if you aren’t used to the excessive photo taking. But it’s never boring. Badly is when a chef comes out to yell at us for taking photos or something similar. Good is when you get an extra dessert or when the chef comes out to say hello or explain how they’ve made something.
[The chefs at Mad over Donuts shared with us how they work but not the secret of making donuts... Loved their aprons... They say "I'm MAD and I make Donuts"..... check out Rings of Delight ~ Donuts from 'Mad Over Donuts']

9. If you dine with us, you’ll learn the art of patience. Yes we even want to photograph the bread and butter. Food is better a bit colder right? Or so we’d like to convince you.
[This is something most people complain of when they go out with us..... They're getting familiar with this symptom now... Like they have a choice lol.. ;-) ]

10. It’s hard once you get into the habit, for us to not take photos of the food that we eat. I’ve only eaten out once and not taken a photo. And it hurt. Similarly, when I was watching an episode of Mad Men the other week, I was so engrossed in watching Peggy having dinner with her date and their drinks arrived and I wondered why she didn’t whip out a camera before drinking it and so my hand reached out to get my camera. Yes, it really did.

11. It's great fun to cook with a fellow blogger. Deeba has been my friend and guide. She inspired the food blogger in me.... Lunch at Deeba's was such a wonderful time. Made cake for her kids Zebra Cake for the Rajpals anddecorated Cups of Magic ~ Vanilla Cupcakes @ Deeba's at her place..... Awwww..... the blast we had :-) Deeba's account of the fun we had TRIFLE TALES...OF VISITING BLOGGERS & SWEET THINGS!

12. Birthday's and Anniversary's are made so special....by baking for them and then going crazy clicking :-)
Nikhil N Moms Surprise Birthday Party


Nani's Birthday


Dipali's Anniversary @ The Log Hut



13. Getting kids to cook with you. They are such a delight....






Tell me Dear Reader, do you have any other keen observations, either as a food blogger or an observer of one?

Friday, July 10, 2009

Sweet Memories

Nachiketa Chandra's friend Ekta says

Sweet Memories
On that day when we walked in the rain
I forget what we were looking for.
But I remember the sound of traffic.
Far away on the other side of the world.
I remember the melody.
That we hummed as we walked quietly.
I remember the fragrance of wet earth.
That you smelled like when you put your arm around me.
Did we find what we were looking for? I don't remember.
But I remember you. Staring at the raindrops on my eyelashes.
I remember the little beads of water stuck in your hair.
I remember the first sip of hot tea.
The taste of the rain soaked earthen pot.
That you tasted like when you kissed me.
That day, years ago, when we walked in the rain.

Ekta: You've summed up a very precious memory for me.... Thank you for helping me say it so beautifully..... just add some soup an awesome drive to this....

Nachiketa Chandra's friend says

It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Dreamzzzzzzzzzz

Have you ever had dream that you can feel so much......
Feels so much like it actually happened but you're brain tells you, it's not possible only cause you wake up in your own bed....

I'm in office, lift door opens and there I find her.... what a surprise... I rush in to hug her.... hug her for long.....
See that there are others too with her... Hug them briefly.... Nice to see them smiling at me.... Hold her hand n stand there with a big goofy grin on my face.... Reach ground floor.... and come out... The lift opens out at a market near my house.... We hug again.... The girl accompanying her is not who I fear she is.....

They sit in a car and leave.... I'm left with a warm fuzzy feeling.....

Mala chachi walks back home with me..... when did she appear? I don't know.....

I wake up..... I know, I was dreaming something..... I was able to remember it all.. so clearly... I wonder did it actually happen.??????
I can still feel it in my bones... I can still feel the warm fuzzy feeling...... Can Hugs travel?????

Is it so simple to meet her? All I have to do is Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream... reminded me of the song.....

Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream
When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream

[Catch the song here...]

Will you still fight with me when I say don't wear heels?
Will you still save mattar ke samose for me?
Will the boys still be admonished for teasing me?
Will you still listen to all my jabbering?

Will I still get the first choice for everything... like EverythinG?
Will those peacock glasses still be there for me?
Will we still go shopping for my lucky suit again?
Will you still let me potter around in your kitchen?

Will you still tease me, till I turn pink?
Will u still let me drive your car?
Will you still save all my crazy crafty projects?
Will you still tick me off for talking so long on the phone?

Will you still slather my nose in coconut oil? [Sure works better than any other lotion, the mark is gone]
Will you still smile at me when I walk into the house n you have mehendi in your hair?
Will you still watch me from the ring-side and rush in only when I need help?
Will you still love me?
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Will I still get a hug if we meet?

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Light in the Tunnel

You're The Inspiration - Chicago is a song I had posted sometime back.....

This time... I know you will be there for me..... Always.... and this time, I know if it will ever end... it will be the stupid me who walks out of protection...


When you come to Him, it is not who you are that matters; it is not how confounded you are or how dark your deeds were or what promises of saintliness you are now making. What matters is whether you have said: 'Yes!'
That 'Yes' is the first, most firm footstep on the spiritual journey.
That 'Yes' brings innumerable gifts, that 'Yes' clasps you to the Guru's being with a force that even death cannot sunder.
That 'Yes' brings the Guru's entire clemency, His grace, to you.
And that 'yes' is perhaps the disciple's only task.
The rest of the journey is a reaffirmation, footstep by footstep, of the first step.
That 'Yes' is the miracle; the rest are the miraculous details.


Life gave you lemon n strawberries.. some nice and some not so nice... loathe them,enjoy them.... it's over now.....
You've now got the shade you wanted....

Walk on, little girl, walk on......That's all you need to do..... The path would be carved out for on it's own.....

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Khamaka Bewaja Khwaab Buntha Raha

Do I really have to say more.......



Movie: New York (2009)
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty, Pankaj Awasthi, Julius Packiam
Director: Kabir Khan
Lyrics:Sandeep Srivastava, Junaid Wasi
Singer: Mohit Chauhan
Starring: John Abraham, Katrina Kail and Neil Nitin Mukesh
Song Title: Tune Jo Na Kaha
Tune Jo Na Kaha Lyrics

(Mmmmmmm….mmmmmm…) 4

Tune jo na kaha, mein woh sunta raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha
Mmmm mmm mmmmmm… mmm mmmm

Tune jo na kaha, mein woh sunta raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha
Jaane kiski humein lag gayi hai nazar
Is shehar mein na apna tikana raha
Durr chahat se mein apni chalta raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha

Gar woh pehle se hai zyaada, khud se phir yeh kiya wada
Khamosh nazrein rahe bezuban
Hmmmm…mmm…mmmm….
Apno phele si baatein hai, bolo tho lab thar tharatein hai
Raaz yeh dil ka, na ho bayaan
Ho gaya ke aasar koi hum pe nayi
Humsafar mein tho hai humsafar hai nayi
Durr jatha raha, paas aatha raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha
Hmmm…mmm…mmmmm…

Aaya woh phir nazar aise, baat chidne lagi phir se
Aankho mein chubtha kal ka dhuwaa
Mmmm..mmm…mmm…
Hal tera na hum sa hi, is khushi mein kyun gham sa hi
Basne laga kuyn phir woh jahan
Woh jahan dur jisse gaye te nikal
Phir se yaadon ne kar di hai jaise pehal
Lamha beeta huwa, dil dhukata raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha

Tune jo na kaha, mein woh sunta raha
Khamaka bewaja khwaab buntha raha
Jaane kiski humein lag gayi hai nazar
Is shehar mein na apna tikana raha
Durr chahat se mein apni chalta raha
Bhuj gayi aag thi, dhaag jalta raha

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Another Fairytale

Kabhi toh nazar milao...... Jo nahin kaha hai kabhi to samajh bhi jaao



Lyrics:Kabhi toh nazar milao......
Singer: Adnan Sami
Kabhi to nazar milao, kabhi to kareeb aao - 2
Jo nahin kaha hai kabhi to samajh bhi jaao
Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane - 2

Kabhi to nazar milao, kabhi to kareeb aao - 2
Jo nahin kaha hai kabhi to samajh bhi jaao
Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane - 2

(Humne tumko dekhte hi dil diya
Tum bhi socho tumne humse kya kiya) - 2
Tumne kya kiya, kya kiya
Mera dil na todo, kabhi dil se dil milaa lo
Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane - 2

Kabhi to nazar milao, kabhi to kareeb aao - 2
Jo nahin kaha hai kabhi to samajh bhi jaao
Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane - 2

(Dil yeh chaahe teri zulfein choom loon
Sochta hoon aur tumse kya kahoon) - 2
Tumse kya kahoon, kya kahoon
Koi faislaa do, kabhi to gale lagaao
Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane - 2

Kabhi to nazar milao, kabhi to kareeb aao - 2
Jo nahin kaha hai kabhi to samajh bhi jaao

--CHORUS--
Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane - 7

(Tumhaare deewane, deewane, deewane)
(Deewane, tumhaare deewane, deewane)
(Hum bhi to hai tumhaare deewane ho deewane)

Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein ~ Adnan Sami

Nice song on radio, while driving back from work......




Lyrics: Bheegi Bheegi Raaton Mein
Singer: Adnan Sami
Bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na - 2
Aisi barsaaton mein aao na
Bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na
Ho, bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na
Aisi barsaaton mein aao na
Oh, aisi barsaaton mein aao na
Dhadkanon mein aa gaya hai
Ek nagma tere pyaar ka
Jaise koi sur mila ho
Dil ke taar se dil ke taar ka
Pal ki hansi mein
Yunhi dillagi mein yeh dil gaya
Hamein kya mila hai
Tumhe to mera dil bhi mil gaya
Leke pyaar aanhkon mein
Leke pyaar aankhon mein aao na
Bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na
Ho, bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na
Aisi barsaaton mein aao na
Ho, aisi barsaaton mein aao na, aao na
Aa rahi hai teri yaadein
Dil mera phir beqaraar hai
Tum milogi, haan milogi
Dil ko mere aitbaar hai
Khuli hai yeh baahein
Dekhe yeh nigaahein rasta tera
Zara muskuraake phir se dikha de vohi adaa
Ya to meri yaadon mein
Ya to meri yaadon mein aao na
Bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na
Oh, bheegi bheegi raaton mein phir tum aao na
Aisi barsaaton mein aao na
Ho, aisi barsaaton mein aao na, aao na, na na na