Explorer of Experiences

Don't you wish you could go back in time just to truly appreciate where you were and what you were doing with your time then? I ponder about this sometimes. I spent two years in Melbourne. That city was a treat food-wise. I tried so many new things, experienced so many new flavours! Narrow lanes used to be dotted with little quaint cafes and the fruit and vegetable market lined with food carts, and it used to be but a pleasure to walk by, trying these treats on a free day.  Chinatown in Melbourne (image courtesy: www.victoria.aussietrueblue.com) But of course every major city has to have its very own Chinatown, Melbourne included. We had a community kitchen in the lodge we stayed at. Every night after classes, the group of Chinese girls and guys used to collectively cook in the kitchen - sharing their sauces and veggies, and thereafter eating together. Laughter from the kitchen echoed into the halls and I used to envy the sense of togetherness they experienced over food!...

   A                   Image courtesy:  iskandals.com Aubergines – I don't know too many people who will jump in the bus with me on this one. This is one vegetable I love - right from its deep purple color to its flesh. At home, we deep fry thin slices of the aubergine and then sprinkle it generously with powders of coriander, red chilli, mango and salt. Deeeevine! B Image courtesy: Lovefoodeat.com Bananas – Fatty fruit this one, but lord, 4 of them for 10 bucks is a steal. And what’s more, no annoying seeds to deal with. Simply peel, bite and relish! Not just the fruit itself but I also remember loving this particular banana wafer biscuit I used to eat when I was a kid. Banana toffee or caramelized banana is nothing short of a heavenly sweet treat after a meal. If I see it on the menu, I won’t go for anything else listed in the dessert section. My shot at the JW Marriott breakfast buffet Bread – Buns...

I wrote this post in 2010. It's just me reminiscing about growing up in Nigeria. My attempt is to take you on this journey with me... It has been only a few years since I moved to the Indian subcontinent. Before this, I spent over fifteen years of my life on the other side of the globe, and it is the memories of the times spent there that I cherish most! The country I was born and brought up in is one that I find most intriguing and peculiar at the same time and I always thought it to be an interesting subject to write upon. I shall do so in two parts and here goes the first...  Just a little over two decades ago, a baby girl was born in First Consultancy Hospital located in the coastal land of lagoons, sandy beaches, palm trees and…petroleum reserves. The baby was me and the hospital was in Nigeria - Lagos city, to be precise. Yes, I hail from this busy and overcrowded African city reputed to be one of the most expensive in the world. Marred by stories centered mostly on ...

This post was written in 2011. While reading, ensure you have something to munch on. Mum's baked mac & cheese I always had a penchant for all things food. Always. I am in unwavering awe of the ability of an ingredient to tease and flatter one’s palate so ingeniously. Like with most foodies and chefs, my mum has been the biggest epicurean influence in my life. She told me that when I was little, I used to relish the simplest of things with a twinkle in my eye…things like bread & butter toast, plain Roti, Ghee Dosa and Mac & Cheese - all mom-made. This is the stuff my childhood smells of and it is heavenly! During my ‘geek years’, when I got time off my books, I would run to the kitchen and help mum sauté onions, peel garlic and give her a hand in mixing the vanilla & banana cake batter. Sometimes I’d even sneak in an additional teaspoon of spices into the curry when mum wasn't looking. Pure joy!   My other big, big influence behind this pas...

It's amazing how everyday-not-very-significant items can remind you of a certain phase in your life. The two years that I spent living in Australia seems like a lifetime ago (well it has been over four years) , but if I do come across the below grub, it would bring back a wave of memories from that time. Here I write about some of the best munchies I came across in Australia. If you ever visit the place, do try them. Here in India, I won't find most of these and what I would do to go back in time and savour them more! Arnott's This biscuit manufacturing giant is an Aussie favourite and a source of pride. Who would've thought it'd be possible to make huge turnovers from just a humble biscuit! This brand touches close to my heart because during our mid-lecture tea/coffee breaks, a huge box full of Arnott's biscuits was served to us and we'd all grab our favourites from the bunch and you could spot an Indian from a mile away dunking the biscuit into his...