Food

The Zero-Proof Spring Soirée: Shaking Up Botanical Mocktails for a Refreshing, Happy Easter

Skip the Monday hangover. Here is how to build a zero-proof menu that actually survives the brutal April humidity. Honestly, by the time Easter Sunday actually arrives, the so-called "spring breeze" outside my window here in Kolkata usually feels more like a hairdryer stuck on the maximum setting. The absolute last thing anyone genuinely wants at a midday gathering is a heavy, booze-laden drink. You just end up sweating and sluggish before the food even hits the table. Zero-proof is undeniably the way to go now. But I am not talking about dumping canned fruit juice over some sad, half-melted ice cubes and calling it a day. Architectural Respect for the Drink We need to treat a mocktail with the exact same architectural respect a high-end mixologist gives a gin sling. It’s all about layering the botanicals. I usually start by aggressively muddling whatever fresh herbs actually survived the week ...

Devyani
  • 3 days ago
  • 3 minutes read
The 'Comfort Watch' Feast: Curating the Ultimate Good Friday Platter for a Bollywood Binge
The 'Comfort Watch' Feast: Curating the Ultimate Good Friday Platter for a Bollywood Binge
Ditch the pretentious cheese boards. Here’s the ultimate, low-effort snack arsenal for your long weekend movie marathon. Honestly, by the time a lo...
The Guilt-Free Good Friday: Hacking Grandma’s Traditional Sweets for a Sugar-Free Long Weekend
The Guilt-Free Good Friday: Hacking Grandma’s Traditional Sweets for a Sugar-Free Long Weekend
Surviving the holiday weekend doesn't require a fast-track ticket to a sugar crash. Let's modernize the dessert table. Look, the sheer volume of su...
The Great Sugar-Free Egg Hunt: Hacking Heritage Indian Sweets for a Healthy, Happy Easter
The Great Sugar-Free Egg Hunt: Hacking Heritage Indian Sweets for a Healthy, Happy Easter
Forget the foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies. We are giving the festive sugar rush a desperately needed, guilt-free desi makeover. Marzipan is exhaust...
The Sweet Deception: Mastering the Art of Culinary Illusions This April Fool's Day
The Sweet Deception: Mastering the Art of Culinary Illusions This April Fool's Day
Trust nobody today - not even your dinner plate. Here is how to weaponize dessert and mess with everyone's sensory expectations. Honestly, serving...
No Plastic Torans: How to Celebrate a Zero-Waste Ugadi Like Your Grandmother Did
No Plastic Torans: How to Celebrate a Zero-Waste Ugadi Like Your Grandmother Did
Forget the e-commerce haul - true festive magic smells like bruised mango leaves, not factory-grade polymers. I was staring at a neon-green plastic...
Forget the Detox Tea: Why 'Shrikhand' is the Probiotic Superfood You Need this Gudi Padwa
Forget the Detox Tea: Why 'Shrikhand' is the Probiotic Superfood You Need this Gudi Padwa
Move over, overpriced kombucha. The real gut-healing hero this spring is hiding in your grandmother’s muslin cloth. I was staring at a six-hundred-...
Strong is the New Slim: Why We Need to Focus on Muscle Mass this World Obesity Day
Strong is the New Slim: Why We Need to Focus on Muscle Mass this World Obesity Day
Forget the weighing scale for a minute. Here is why chasing a lower number is officially outdated, and building your body's metabolic armor is the onl...
Bhang is Out, 'Thandai Mousse' is In: 5 Boozy Desserts to Elevate Your Holi Party
Bhang is Out, 'Thandai Mousse' is In: 5 Boozy Desserts to Elevate Your Holi Party
The classic hangover is officially passé. This year, we're hiding the spirits inside the sweets - and your guests will absolutely lose their minds....
Spices That Help Your Body Adapt to Weather Changes
Spices That Help Your Body Adapt to Weather Changes
Nature’s Thermostat: Spices That Help Your Body Adapt to Weather Changes! If you live in India, you know one thing for sure the weather doesn’t alw...
Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables Indians Should Eat in February
Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables Indians Should Eat in February
Eat with the Season: February’s Freshest Produce in India!  February in India is a beautiful transition month. The chill of winter begins to f...
From Heavy Winter Meals to Light Plates: How to Transition Safely
From Heavy Winter Meals to Light Plates: How to Transition Safely
Goodbye Sarson Ka Saag, Hello Salads? Not So Fast! If you’re Indian, winter probably meant one thing: indulgence. Think parathas dripping with ghee...
On Charles Darwin's Birthday: If We Evolved to Hunt, Why Do We Crave Carbs? The Darwinian Science Behind Your Biryani Addiction
On Charles Darwin's Birthday: If We Evolved to Hunt, Why Do We Crave Carbs? The Darwinian Science Behind Your Biryani Addiction
Stop feeling guilty about that second serving of rice. Your ancestors spent millions of years engineering your DNA to find it delicious. It is Febr...
Valentine's Week: Chocolate Day, City Style: What Your Treat Says if You’re in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Kolkata
Valentine's Week: Chocolate Day, City Style: What Your Treat Says if You’re in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore or Kolkata
Geography is destiny, even when it comes to cocoa. Here is what your choice of confectionery says about your relationship code. Let’s be real. We l...
National Pizza Day: The 'Hostel Night' Pizza Hack: How to Turn Bread and Malai into a Gourmet Slice
National Pizza Day: The 'Hostel Night' Pizza Hack: How to Turn Bread and Malai into a Gourmet Slice
Because when it’s 2 AM and the warden is patrolling, you don't need a wood-fired oven - you just need a plan. It is February 9, National Pizza Day....
National Pizza Day: Pineapple is Forgiven, But Ketchup? The 'Red Flag' Pizza List India Needs to Discuss
National Pizza Day: Pineapple is Forgiven, But Ketchup? The 'Red Flag' Pizza List India Needs to Discuss
We made peace with the Hawaiian slice years ago, but if you are reaching for that Maggi Hot & Sweet bottle, we need to have a serious talk. It...
Why You Crave Comfort Food More in Cold Weather; Science Explained
Why You Crave Comfort Food More in Cold Weather; Science Explained
When temperatures drop, cravings rise, science has answers. As soon as winter sets in, something curious happens. Salads lose their charm, smoothie...
Jan 26, 1950 : India's First President Who Changed Rashtrapati Bhavan's Menu Forever - Dr. Rajendra Prasad's Food Revolution
Jan 26, 1950 : India's First President Who Changed Rashtrapati Bhavan's Menu Forever - Dr. Rajendra Prasad's Food Revolution
A simple thali at the palace table. Who knew dal could topple an empire's dinner party? Picture this: January 26, 1950. The air's crisp with new be...
Cold Weather, Slow Metabolism? How to Eat Smart in January
Cold Weather, Slow Metabolism? How to Eat Smart in January
Because winter weight gain isn’t fate, it’s a food strategy problem. January arrives with fresh goals, cosy sweaters, and a familiar complaint: “I’...
Biryani Buffets or Late-Night Momos? Decoding Urban India's True New Year Party Eats
Biryani Buffets or Late-Night Momos? Decoding Urban India's True New Year Party Eats
Midnight munchies decide it - biryani's grand sprawl or momos' steamy hug? Urban India's New Year gut-check. Two a.m. fog rolls thick over Gurgaon...
Seven Recipes From Across the Country to Welcome the New Year
Seven Recipes From Across the Country to Welcome the New Year
From simmering pots in the South to winter feasts in the North, these vegetarian recipes mirror India’s kaleidoscopic appetite for celebration and new...
Beyond Plum Cake: Forgotten Indian Christmas Recipes Making a Comeback
Beyond Plum Cake: Forgotten Indian Christmas Recipes Making a Comeback
This Christmas, India is rediscovering flavours Grandma never forgot. For decades, plum cake has ruled Indian Christmas tables rich, boozy, and bel...
Year-Ender 2025: From Fusion Desserts To Zero-Waste Dining – New Year Welcomes 10 Food Trends Poised To Rule India And Beyond
Year-Ender 2025: From Fusion Desserts To Zero-Waste Dining – New Year Welcomes 10 Food Trends Poised To Rule India And Beyond
The year that turned our plates into mood boards - half nostalgia, half climate anxiety, with a big drizzle of social-media flex. 2025 taught us to...
From Ghee to Greens: How Indians Ate Healthier in 2025
From Ghee to Greens: How Indians Ate Healthier in 2025
Millets to mindful meals: The foods that changed Indian plates in 2025. In 2025 Indians didn’t simply change what they ate, they upgraded why they...
Diwali Food Science: Why Sweets Actually Taste Better at Night
Diwali Food Science: Why Sweets Actually Taste Better at Night
The secret behind why that late-night laddoo feels extra magical. If you’ve ever wondered why that piece of Kaju Katli tastes divine at 10 p.m. but...
Diwali 2025: Traditional Sweets That Have Sweetened Diwali for Generations
Diwali 2025: Traditional Sweets That Have Sweetened Diwali for Generations
Diwali’s Mithai Mayhem : Sweet nostalgia, surprises, and the kind of sugar rush that could make even the gloomiest Diwali night sparkle - this is the...
The Great Diwali Snack War: Gujiyas vs. Kaju Katli vs. Jalebi
The Great Diwali Snack War: Gujiyas vs. Kaju Katli vs. Jalebi
Because Diwali calories don’t count… but opinions definitely do! The sound of a Diwali sweet box opening is universal, a little crinkle, a whiff of...