To live to eat -I

There are those who eat to live and then those who live to eat. I definitely belong to the latter category. One of the first things my partner and I did after landing in Mumbai was to invest in a Mumbai Times Food Guide. For foodies such as me, this book is a must-have and a treasure! Not only does the Guide have a budget- and cuisine-wise index, but it also has an area-vise index. Though we like to make our own reviews, those of Rashmi Uday Singh are quite helpful as well! It’s become our weekend project since then to tick off the ones tried and to try the ones we haven’t ticked yet. I do not think we shall cover all (till we are here), but we shall definitely give our best shot.

Recently I discovered this amazing little joint: Café Churchill. It’s located on the same side as Leopold, but within a good walking distance from here on, quite near Bata, in fact. You can almost miss it, it’s that small. So do keep your eyes open as soon as you reach Bata!

Consider yourself lucky if you don’t have to wait. But it's a small price to pay, believe me. I was working too the particular day I visited and I could see the pleasant surprise in people who didn’t have to wait! The décor is average. The food is simply to kill for. The food is awesome (I don’t care if I sound repetitive). Pastas, sandwiches, soups, grills: the menu is quite endless! The vegetarians too shall not be disappointed. No doubt, this place is so popular with the locals.

My colleague and I ended up sharing a Chicken Hawaiian sandwich and grilled chicken with peppered sauce (served with steamed veggies and mashed potato). A word of advice: do save the place for the dessert. The pastries (that is the only thing they serve) are to die for! We decided to go our separate paths, where the desserts were concerned. It definitely was a good decision. My Irish Cream Coffee Cake was absolutely exquisite and my colleague took a Lemon Cheese cake. And this place is quite decently prized too. A meal for two can cost you about 600 bucks.

Food is an integral part of the Mumbai culture. Be it the street food (a separate post's coming soon) or the neighborhood joints, the 5-star palates or unique restaurants, most are quite an eclectic mix of creativity, service and entrepreneurship. They will charm you and make you come back for more.

I know I can’t wait to go back to Café Churchill. They have me hooked for sure!

When parents grow...

What a strange title you might say, but parents too grow. They grow when they realize in life how their children have grown. When they begin to see you as individuals.

It is true circumstances force you to look at people in a new light. Recently, my parents came visiting for a couple of weeks. And it was enlightening for all of us. It was an entirely new feeling for me, and for them, to see that the tide has turned. I was pampering them for a change. But the feelings were mixed. Just as much as I realized how much I enjoyed giving them a royal treatment, I question myself with guilt, what had stopped me to do so earlier. Distance does make close relationships go stronger I believe.

They seemed frail this time around when I saw them. Both have lost weight I think. Time has left its marks on them I think. They are still the same people (in spirit). Mom is still obsessed with showering her love on us via food and Dad now has a new fixation –Sudoku. But something had changed in our equation this time round. Both realized (finally) that I have grown, that I am managing a house on my own and generally working my way out in an alien city. They do not doubt my capabilities. I would have managed to do so anytime in my life, if given the opportunity. But as they say, they needed to see in order to believe. I feel a sense of pride in them for me and I am glad I could give them both moments of joy and some quality time.

We think parents shall always be around. We seem to believe they are permanent fixtures and shall always be just a phone call away. But I wish we all value them enough to spend quality time with them. Off course, you have your independent life too. But nothing shall give them greater joy to hear your voice or feel your hug.

So what’s stopping you? Go surprise them with an unexpected gesture. Do something quirky. You all shall cherish later, I promise.

Intention

Here is an intention
I hold for you
To be happy and
To be at peace with self.

Here is an intention
For you to be passionate
For life and to get
What you want from the same.

I intend for you
To inspire others and
To love wholeheartedly
And to show that love as well.

I want you to love
Not just others
But self too and
Respect what you got.

I intend for you to
Find what you are looking for
And then be at peace
With what you find.

I want you to
Be bold in wanting
To be positively sure and
Surely positive in life.