Cover Story: Asia's Richest Businesswomen

Never say never. When this business story came my way, every logical thought in my head told me to refuse it. It was a hardcore business story, for a hardcore business magazine, which is not my beat. Moreover, it was based on the carefully guarded high-profile lives of Asia's 15 richest businesswomen, all of whom happened to be Chinese.

But I shut those voices out. And I told myself that if any other author was capable of doing this story, why couldn't I. So I did. Racing against a crazy deadline, trying to get in touch with the PR teams of firms who do not even have websites on English or any sort of information searchable on Google (they have cryptic sites searchable on Baidu, China's answer to Google, without translation). The story is finally out, and shall be on stands this week. I couldn't have been happier with it and what gives me even greater joy is the fact that my editor thought it was perfect - a refreshing angle to profiling business giants.

Get your copy now or see the preview by clicking this.  

The ruins of this palace town called Mandu

India is a quilt weaving together thousands of hidden gems that together make the country as unique as it is. There is something for everyone... if you like to travel for food or for history, for architecture or natural beauty, there is no dearth of places to choose from.

But places stuffed to the brim with crowds may not be my scene as much as one which yet lies undiscovered. Madhya Pradesh has a handful of these and the crown jewel is Mandu. A tiny town near Indore which is rarely ever spoken about. Yet, if you think Hampi is the ruin capital of India, you haven't seen nothing yet. 

Read more about this undiscovered palace town that lies in gorgeous ruins by clicking here - Mandu. 

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..