When Indians settled down in the UK in the late 50s, they unknowingly ended up planting something in their adopted land that was far stronger than their rich culture – a taste for richer spices. For a long time Indian ...Read More

You know you have become a wine sissy when you refer to a series of tastings as an adventure. You then sadly realise that you will never be able to brave the outback alone or accompanied and a vineyard will ...Read More

[caption id="attachment_137" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="L'Essential in Saint-Emilion"][/caption] It is very deplorable the way our liquor vends are so ineffectively called “wine shops”. You would sooner call my hair style an afro rather than refer to these caged holes-in-the-wall establishments, wine shops. ...Read More

Spain was a beautiful visit...so much to learn, more to unlearn, and so much forgotten already! I would love to put the blame on that lovely ham, that ode of culinary class - the famed Pata Negra (black footed or ...Read More

The human species is possibly the best standing example of that eternal cycle of life and death. Nothing else showcases this chronological phenomenon better; well, nothing except nightclubs. They have a similar cycle but it moves much faster – like ...Read More

Starting from the era of Adam & Eve right up till Armageddon cometh, we mortals pay for all we consume. I remember a time from a previous life when people were happy drinking whatever was classified as intoxicant; and if ...Read More

Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend some quality time in South Africa where we got plenty of time to get to know each other better. There was chemistry, attraction, serendipity even controversy...all the makings of a successful relationship. Overall, ...Read More

The world is full of places and institutions that we collectively refer to as the hospitality industry – bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, motels – all are a dot on the hospitality map. Hospitality itself can be defined as the combination ...Read More

I don't get it; for all my limited knowledge I thought we won our independence back in '47. People laid down lives for the cause; the cause of making our voices heard, making our opinion count and being citizens of ...Read More

India is (finally) shining. It may not seem like a complete even sheen but it sure does have a certain lustrous appeal about it. It’s the beam of a satiated belly, a good Indian meal downed with some good wine. No, ...Read More

Of all the things I am accused of, there is one I just don’t seem to be able to get around doing much about: commenting on Indian Wines. The problem starts from the wide-spread ignorance that Indian wines are good with ...Read More

English is a constantly evolving language and that is perhaps what makes it so beautiful - even if what you utter today is considered wrong or incorrect or just pure rubbish has a chance of making its way into ...Read More