Why McLeodganj is my soul town (do you have one?)

McLeodganj holds a special place in my heart. It is my soul town, second only to Bhutan (but I could never pick a specific town in Bhutan). Here's a peek into why this little hilltop holds such a special place in my heart. Read my latest article, published on The Quint by clicking HERE. 

An Underwhelming Brunch at Open Farm Community (Dempsey Hill)

Some places, like people, have so much potential. They mean well, all the tick marks are there, yet the actual experience of knowing them falls short. One such place in the densely packed food-city of Singapore is Open Farm Community. With the farm-to-table concept taking the world by storm, any place that focuses on produce has my interest piqued. Which is why we decided to stop by Dempsey for lunch one sunny afternoon this weekend.

Open Farm Community (OFC) sprawls over a large area, as far as city restaurants go. Most of it is dedicated to the mini farm, where they grow lime and other produce. However, the intention is there but a walk through the greens seems like a stroll through my overgrown backyard. I have seen the extent this concept can be executed, a stark example being the Grounds of Alexandra in Sydney. Oh the joy of spending an afternoon there! There is no restaurant prettier than the garden-feel of this unique factory-converted-space. But unlike Grounds of Alexandra, OFC just doesn't manage to go the whole hog when it comes to the exteriors. The interiors however, are stunning. Bright and cheerful, the dining space is like a greenhouse with tall ceilings and floor to ceiling windows.  

The menu here is very limited, with a few options for starters, a few pastas, a handful of mains and a couple of dishes for kids (categorized as Little Diners). The kids menu is priced similar to the regular dishes, defeating its purpose altogether. We tried the Grouper Burger ($30) which came in a black bun. The fish patty was thick and well seasoned, contrasting with the sour pickled cucumber. The accompanying fries (with a few sweet potato fries thrown in) were wonderfully crisp.

From the brunch menu, we also tried the 63 degree egg ($31) served with toasted sourdough, baked beans and chilli beef rib eye. This was a hearty breakfast dish, the baked beans completely soaking through the sourdough though.

I would have left disappointed but wisdom prevailed and we ordered dessert. Thank god for small mercies. The stunning platter had a carefully placed chocolate mousse, cherry jam, soaked chocolate fudge brownie bits, salted candied walnuts and a delightfully tart dark cherry sorbet ($18). The interplay of textures, temperatures and flavours made this one exceptional dish. If only the kitchen had shown this kind of sophistication in the savoury dishes too.

Open Farm Community has potential but does not compel the diner to return. It is like the child who you know can score top marks but he just couldn't be bothered. Go there for a cheery catch up over coffee and dessert, the bright space deserves a visit for sure. But with so many other options in Dempsey and nearby, I don't think I would waste a meal here again.  

Why Vietnamese Coffee is my new obsession (and how to brew your own)

"...Vietnamese coffee is not just a beverage. It is a way of being, a certain sensibility that denies you the pleasure of instant gratification. It has no place in a life where coffee is a quick fix..."

Read my latest feature on HT Mint here - Vietnamese Coffee.

The Best of Delhi's State Bhawan Canteens

Once in a while, when Delhi's restaurant scene gets too pretentious, I escape into the unassuming world of state bhawan canteens. It is here that sometimes you find a regional feast on your table that is reminiscent of eating at someone's home. The beauty of India lies in its diversity, that of language, culture, landscape and most importantly, cuisine.

However, not every state bhawan serves delicious food. A few, like Rajasthan House, are actually quite forgettable. If you want to know which ones to skip and which to bump up your list, here is the cheat sheet. My latest article, published on HT Mint, gives you the lowdown on five state bhawans that beg to be visited. Read the article by clicking HERE.  

30 Top Reasons Not to Read This Post

I've been on a burger hunt these last few weeks, trying to sniff out the good ones in town. Like in all aspects in life, when in doubt, ask Google baba. However, when you search for something like this, the results invariably throw up - 30 best burgers in Singapore... 100 best places for a burger...and so on.

30 best. Really??? How can these 2 words even go together. If it is the best, it really won't feature at a 28th spot on a list. Then why? Why would you list out 100 places I can go to for a burger?? My finger hurts with the amount of scrolling you make me do to read the list.. and by the time I reach No.13, you've already lost my interest.

It's not really their fault. I have been there, on the editor's chair, commissioning articles for 10 tips for glowing skin or the best buffet restaurants in town. The SEO team loves them and honestly, that's how Google baba works. Listicles get picked up and rank higher than reviews do. The more number of places listed, the better. But does that really make for good food writing? Or have we merely become a directory?

I don't think listicles are all bad. If I want tips or a list of reasons I should eat a particular fruit, it makes it easier for me to scroll down a list. But in my opinion, a list more than 10 is a list too long. And especially when it comes to listing out the best places for a particular type of food. How is it even possible to have 30 places in Singapore that serve a burger which will blow my mind? It is not...thus, the list is populated with some legends and a lot of above average places. A futile exercise, for a reader. If the topic is as specific as a particular dish or even a cuisine, the number of places listed should ideally be in single digits. No, Google may not like you, but it just makes sense. There won't be more than a handful of places in town that push the envelope so far that it just begs a visit. Yes, if you're listing something like Best Meals in Delhi... then it won't be possible to do a list within 10...the diversity of sub-categories is so large.

But please, writers and food enthusiasts, take a step back and look at it with some perspective. Don't blindly follow SEO orders..I know traffic is king and content structure often suffers. But draw the line somewhere. Use your discretion, pick out the topics where you think a list of 10 is justified and put your foot down when you think it should not exceed 5. No, your editor may not love you too much, but hopefully they will be matured enough to respect your opinion on the matter. As for me? Well I'm off to Google baba, to sift through the list of gazillion places in town that make the BEST burger to find the one I will visit today. And when in a few weeks I finally have the verdict on who's king, you can be rest assured that you won't need to scroll more than twice in my article! Till then...keep eating and keep reading..  

Fast and Furious - Tokyo Drift

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The title seems apt as I furiously tap away on the keyboard, sitting in the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) bound for Kyoto. From Japan’s modern bustling capital city Tokyo, to its more laidback but crammed-in-every-corner-with-culture ancient capital, Kyoto. I find myself distracted, as I type. The scenery outside, acres and acres of cherry blossoms, rivers aimlessly meandering by, and oh wait.. is that Mount Fuji? Please excuse me as I pause to gape in wonder.

A week in Tokyo and the country is no longer as alien as it seemed earlier. The subway is my ally, as is Google Map (which tends to be inaccurate here sometimes) helping me explore crevices of this crazy metropolis, some (rightfully) on the tourist trail, and some (thankfully) off it. For a country where English is unapologetically not very commonly spoken or understood, it is not difficult to get around in Japan. Hand gestures, speaking slowly and not in sentences and maps make the world a smaller place.

I couldn’t attempt to put all my experiences this week in this one post. It would be impossible. But maybe, just maybe, I could limit it to food and give you a glimpse of what I have been upto. So here goes.. each one of these an experience, each highly recommended with my stamp:

5 Things You Must Eat in Tokyo

1)   Yakitori

Lucky enough (or rather smart enough) to be staying in a hotel in Shinkuju area, if yakitori is what you seek, head to the ‘Yakitori Lane’ just off Shinkuju station. Do not pay heed to the naysayers, this is neither seedy nor overrated. I have since had plenty of yakitori in much grander envoins, the food doesn’t even compare. We randomly selected one of the places in the lane, which seemed to be popular with locals and tourists alike and where an English menu was available. These places are tiny, with 4-5 tables (usually upstairs) and are crowded with ‘salaried men’ who come here for a couple of drinks after work. The chicken yakitori outshone the pork version and the fried rice was absolutely divine.

2) Yakinuki

The lesser known, yakinuki should be the one food experience you should NOT miss, and save up to splurge on. Much like a Korean barbeque, the meats are grilled on your table. The meats at Jojoen Yakinuki were the star of the show. We were lucky enough to be hosted by a Japanese friend who ordered on our behalf and asked us to ‘trust her’. We needn’t have worried. The ox tongue literally melted in the mouth and the marinated beef was beyond delicious as were the clams. I did draw the line at beef intestines, though.   

3) Ramen

     

 
      This one deserves a post of its own so I will keep it for another day. But safe to say, what you have been eating as ramen barely scratches the surface. There are many varieties of ramen, each drastically different from the other. The one I decided to hunt out on a cold rainy day, is called Fuunji Ramen and usually has a waiting line around the block. Thankfully the rain kept (most) people home and we only had to wait for 15 minutes. You buy your order ticket, sit on a table facing the chefs, and are served your soba noodles cold, with a hot, mean dipping sauce on the side. Eat and please make way for the people standing behind you in line. The broth? Oh so good. Salty, murky and full of pork flavor.

      4) Tempura

My journey with Japanese food started with tempura, similar as it is to fritters or even our own pakoda. However, having sampled much greater variety of Japanese food over the years, tempura does not feature high on my list anymore. However, the experience of a tempura lunch is something you should seek out. Looking for the place took me a while, especially as there were no English signages but I recognized it from a photo I saw on Tripadvisor. After you placed your order, and settled on the counter facing the chef, he got busy preparing your food, which he placed one by one in front of you, waiting for you to finish each piece first. Always a fan of prawns, I was surprised with how much I loved Eel Tempura. Smooth, delicate and delicious meat, perfectly contrasting with the crunch of the tempura flakes.   

5)   Oh and Sushi too

Sushi is perhaps the most popular Japanese dish outside of the country. But here, with the variety in front of you, it almost becomes an afterthought. Almost, I say, because when you do get around to trying some sushi, it blows you away and obliterates memory of any sushi you may have eaten anywhere in the world. You won’t find maki rolls too often, sushi here usually refers to Nigiri. I went for the English-friendly conveyor belt Ginza Sushi, well aware that it may be inferior to the best in town (far far below the $300 experience at Jiro), but came away amazed at just how delicious it was. The avocado and tuna sushi begged for a reorder and the tuna mince with spring onions and chilly oil still gives me sleepless nights.

Now, you know what’s been keeping me busy this week? And this was just about the food. Wait till I start about the sakura (cherry blossoms)….

  

Recipe: Orange & Ginger Glazed Grilled Chicken

I'll let you in on a secret. You will usually find some grilled chicken in my fridge to do with as I please, for salads, wraps, pastas or even stir fries. I cook up 2 fillets and use them over the next 2 days. This also makes sure that when I am actually tossing up dinner, the preparation time is absolutely minimal. 

Inspiration struck today and I decided to do an Orange & Ginger Glazed Chicken Fillet for lunch. Now, as you already know, I had a fillet ready in the fridge. So, it was a matter of 5 minutes and I had this mouthwatering fancy dish ready. Here's how: 

RECIPE

For the Chicken (you can prepare and store for 2 days) 

Ingredients:

Chicken Thigh (2 pieces) (with bone or without)

Salt/ pepper

Italian herbs (I like parsley, rosemary also works)

Garlic (3 pods, ground into a paste)

Olive oil (1 tbsp)

1) Wash the chicken fillets and pat dry. Make cuts in the meat on all sides so that the marinade goes inside. 

2) In a ziplock bag (or just a bowl, if you don't have one), mix the other ingredients. Add the chicken fillets to the bag, one at a time, rubbing the marinade into them with the tips of your fingers. Seal and leave in the fridge for a few hours (I prefer leaving it to marinate for a day, turning the bag on the other side whenever I see it, a couple of times). 

3) Take a pan and heat it up. Put the fillets in the pan and sear one side by not moving them around for a minute. Turn to the other side, lower the heat (simmer), cover and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat but leave the pan covered (and do NOT peak or remove the cover even for a minute) for another 10 minutes. 

4) Grilled chicken is ready. Cool, cover and store. 

You can use this (as I said before) for salads, wraps, pastas or just about anything. 

For the glaze 

Ingredients

Orange juice (half a cup)

Pepper to taste

Ginger (2 slices)

Mustard sauce (1/2 tsp)

1) In a pan, add all the ingredients, together with the chicken fillet. 

2) Turn up the heat and let the juice boil. Turn the fillet a couple of times so it gets coated.

3) In around 2-3 minutes, you will get a thick glaze consistency (almost like a marmalade) with just a lil extra jus for dipping. Serve immediately.