Happy Holi + St Paddy’s Day
When away from ‘home’ it is easy to forget the rhythms of ‘home’ festivals and celebrations.
Like missing Chinese New Year celebrations in India… and catching the tale end in Malaysia.
St Patrick’s day wasn’t even on the radar until I went to Bluegrass in Kuningan, Jakarta for dinner with a fab gal pal and saw the St Paddy’s themed F&B specials appealing to the ex-pat crowd. (more…)
Mmmmm….. mushroom soup!
It’s been awhile since I shared a recipe. So when I picked up a lovely bunch of mushrooms, it was clearly time to make soup!
Feel free to mix it up, however the basic recipe includes: (more…)
A girl has to eat! Dinning at KL Tower
Other than Sunday off, we really did just work, work and work on the KL project. Was a terrific assignment, great client, most enjoyable activities… however there were few opportunities to slip away and explore Kuala Lumpur.
But a gal has gotta eat! And if you have limited time in a place, may as well make the most of it! (more…)
Winter is coming… so make soup!
Winter is coming to my ‘home town’ of Winnipeg… while here in my ‘adopted home’ Mumbai, it is perpetual summer. And yet I find myself in a strangely sentimental mood thinking about friends and family in colder climes. So, what to do? Make a ‘winter’ inspired soup, of course!
Winter is coming! (The Weather Network)
The trick with this ‘Winter soup’ is to predominantly use root vegetables. As with the ‘Sick Chick’ and Monsoon Soup, a pressure cooker makes all the difference.
Here are the ingredients: (more…)
The Friday Night Phenomenon – TGIF in Jakarta!
What are you doing this Friday night? Is it time to cut loose? Shake a leg? Knock back a martini (or two!)?
In Mumbai, I find the more interesting activities seem to happen during the week so by Friday, a quiet evening at home with my partner is perfection!
In Jakarta, after slogging all week – morning, noon and night! – on client work, by the time Friday comes around, I’m desperate for a little non-work socializing. And have discovered nothing is better than a little “Frivolous Friday Fun” after a busy week.
And because I’m in Mumbai this Friday but missing Jakarta, have decided to revisit a few favourite Friday’s in Jakarta with you…. (more…)
Cooooofffeeee! Part 2
Clearly my 1st Starbucks experience in India was utterly sub-par… So why bother with a Part 2?
Well… as is often the case in life… there is more to the story!
1. Bandra Reclamation Starbucks – Part 2
Embroiled in local tussles regarding bribes… ahem licensing issues, apparently the power cut issue is only one symptom. One hopes that whatever lafra (a brilliant Hindi slang word that roughly translates as ‘trouble’) is going on is resolved soon. (more…)
Cooooofffeeee! Part 1
I’m a coffee addict! I’ve also had a wretched time for a week with BOTH of my internet services doing a “Now you see me! Now you don’t!” game, making getting anything accomplished doubly difficult! (Also explains my blog absence too!)
So, I thought, why not check out the new Starbucks that opened down the street?
Bandra Reclamation Starbucks
In Asia, typically there are three things you can count on from Starbucks (or its equivalents):
- Reasonably reliable Wi-Fi
- Blissful cool from powerful air-conditioning
- Drinkable coffee
All desirable things… right? So out I strolled in the sunny 36’c warmth (that 96’F for my American friends).
What did I find? (more…)
Triple fe(a)st – Thanksgiving, Dushera + Eid Al-Adha
I surfaced from a manic work session to realize I nearly missed today is a triple fest / feast :
- Thanksgiving in my home & native land Canada
- Dushera and Durga Puja in my adopted home India when the goddess Durga was victorious over the demons
- Eid al-Adha in my temporary work home Indonesia in addition to India and so many other parts of the world
I hope you have a joyous and peaceful festival – Eid Mubarak! That good triumphs over evil your life! And that you are sharing time with family and friends over a delicious feast.
So happy festing and feasting to all my friends at home and away!
Durga – destroyer of evil! (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Related posts:
- O Canada!
- Two Causes for Celebration (reneeduke.wordpress.com)
Feasting in Matunga – Experience Udipi Indulgence
So… what did I do with my “Bonus time in Bombay“? Lots of things! For starters, finally made it to Ram Nayak – a favourite udipi joint to stuff myself silly on yummy South Indian vegetarian fare.
For literally years I’ve wanted to go back – a treat usually reserved for foreign guests who want a ‘real taste’ of food here. I shared this desire with more than one friend and finally last weekend a bunch of us decided “Yes let’s!” More miraculously – actually followed through on our enthusiasm – full credit to our ring leader not I!
Why is this place so memorable? (more…)
Home remedies – sick chick soup!
I lost the battle! A nasty cold was ready to pounce even before I left Monday for Bangkok. A couple plane rides, killer air conditioning and sleep deprived day or two later, I returned home well and truly sick. Naturally as I’m a generous sort – my partner also is blessed with sniffles and cough.
With only three sleeps to go before our big Canada trip, we knew we needed to up our ‘home remedy’ game. So in addition to the tried and true (list below), I also made a couple of soups. By Sunday, it was full-on comfort food craving time. Rummaged around the fridge and found carrots and ginger – and voila! A savoury Sunday soup for a ‘sick chick’! (more…)
Everyday Asia 