PAC Talks

Continue reading “Kerala : Refreshed Kerala will be welcoming the Guests soon..!!!”

Kerala : Refreshed Kerala will be welcoming the Guests soon..!!!

The God’s Own Country, one of the best travel destinations of the World, Kerala is a place which is in the wish list of any traveller. The beauty of Kerala is that it has different types of destinations for every kind of traveller. Beaches, wild life sanctuaries, waterfalls, hill stations, back waters, scenic places, cultural festivities, pilgrimage locations, etc. gives the traveller in you a plethora of choices.

Vijay Krishna C VAugust 23, 2018February 24, 20192 Comments

Passion, Travel

Kondan The Retreat : Abode in the midst of Nature : Resort good for weekend drives from Mumbai and Pune

Monsoon and road trip compliment each other really well. It gets even better when you decide to explore the natural beauty hidden behind the hustle and bustle of cities. The anxiety of finding a hidden gem at the end of the travel , makes the journey exciting.

Everyone is looking to explore new roads, new destinations, new resorts, and all this to get away from the regular work and to enjoy the time with family and friends.

The search for such a new experience ended with finding a resort named Kondan The Retreat. This is a 2 year old resort situated in the interiors of Pune district.

Continue reading “Kondan The Retreat : Abode in the midst of Nature : Resort good for weekend drives from Mumbai and Pune”

Vijay Krishna C VAugust 16, 2018September 30, 201910 Comments

Continue reading “Vanakkam : Tamil Vazhga Tamil Sapadu Vazhga, Authentic Tamil Cuisine, Restaurant started by five foodies”

Vanakkam : Tamil Vazhga Tamil Sapadu Vazhga, Authentic Tamil Cuisine, Restaurant started by five foodies

‘Vanakkam’ Namma pasangala, Namma tamizh sapadu now in Thane.

The typical day for a Tamil person starts early in the morning with reading the newspaper while sipping hot coffee. These are two inseperable things in most of the traditional Tamil families. The aroma of filter coffee in the house makes your morning fresh.

Vijay Krishna C VAugust 3, 2018March 23, 201922 Comments

Food, Passion, Technology

Rabbito : Annoyed by the exorbitant delivery charges, friends start a new Food Delivery App in the capital city of Kerala

Food delivery is very synonymous to pizza home delivery. It goes back to as long as late 19th century when the first pizza was delivered in Italy. The evolution of food delivery has slowly and steadily moved up notches. In 2001 Pizza hut even managed to send a pizza to the space.

The next big bang moment which happened for the food / restaurant industry is the online ordering service. It was in 1995, the first online order service was started (in USA) : world wide waiter, now known as waiter.com. At that time they used to deliver food from approx 60 restaurants in Silicon Valley.

Continue reading “Rabbito : Annoyed by the exorbitant delivery charges, friends start a new Food Delivery App in the capital city of Kerala”

Vijay Krishna C VJuly 30, 2018August 28, 20195 Comments

Food, Passion

Maggi Dosa to Puttu Kadala : Mallu Couple’s Kerala Konnect restaurant

“Life is a Kitchen : put on your prettiest Apron & whip up something Incredible”

It is great to see people following their passion and glistening through the journey with utmost determination.

When you have a corporate job and a monthly salary then it is difficult to come out of that ‘comfort zone’ to try something different and put your hard earned money in a mini startup.

Suraj , whose passion is to experiment with cooking, decided to quit his ‘mundane’ corporate job and open his own restaurant. To manage a restaurant all alone is a tough nut to crack. Understanding the tall task ahead of Suraj, his wife Shreeja also quit her job to support him in this new entrepreneurial venture.

Continue reading “Maggi Dosa to Puttu Kadala : Mallu Couple’s Kerala Konnect restaurant”

Vijay Krishna C VJuly 26, 2018September 4, 20193 Comments

Continue reading “World Cup 2018 : Poka Russia, Alttalaa Qatar”

World Cup 2018 : Poka Russia, Alttalaa Qatar

World Cup 2018 : One of the best World Cup tournament played in the recent past.

It all started with Iceland holding Argentina. Germany had to exit at the group stage. Portugal and Spain the next casualties. Iran and Morroco got everyone’s attention. Host nation Russia also stretched their opponents and reached the Quarter finals.

Finally it came down to four teams Belgium, England, Croatia and France.

England with their young squad finished fourth. Well played England.

Belgium secured the 3rd spot. The Red Devils played excellent football and they were my favorites.Great come back against Japan. Thrilling encounter with Brazil. But one error and they lost the semi final against France. They signed off in style winning their final encounter against England.

Vijay Krishna C VJuly 15, 2018February 24, 20198 Comments

Continue reading “Croatia: Independence War to World Cup Final: The Winning Spirit keeps them going”

Croatia: Independence War to World Cup Final: The Winning Spirit keeps them going

Croatia who were considered the underdogs are one Win away from scripting history in the Football World Cup. They defeated Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland in the group stage. This was followed by three knock out matches all of which went in to extra time which adds up to 90 minutes of extra time. So it is like they have played one match extra. Players should have been hit with fatigue but none of the players have shown even a glimpse of that.

Croatia will play their final World Cup 2018 match on the 15^th of July, 2018. A Win against France will make sure that Croatia will be part of the elite list of World Cup Winners. Till now only 8 countries have managed to win the World Cup.

Vijay Krishna C VJuly 15, 2018February 24, 20193 Comments

Continue reading “Belgium : The Red Devils with One Dream”

Belgium : The Red Devils with One Dream

#WorldCup2018 #Russia2018

The Red Devils secured the 3rd place.

The golden generation of Belgium lost just one match, that too 0-1 against France, in their entire 2018 World Cup campaign.

This is Belgium’s best performance in a World Cup. The previous best was 4th place in 1986.

They have won 25 of their last 26 matches.

They have 10 different goal scorers in this World Cup which is equivalent to the current World Cup record.

21 out of the 23 players in their squad played in at least one of the World Cup matches. The 2 players who missed out were the reserve goal keepers.

The dressing room photo says it all. Their passion and dedication to win this tournament was their dream.

Vijay Krishna C VJuly 14, 2018February 24, 2019Leave a comment

Vijay Krishna C VJune 30, 2018June 30, 2018Leave a comment

World Cup 2018 : From Messi Vs Ronaldo to Messi & Ronaldo

Probably this might be the last World Cup for both Messi and Ronaldo. Their El Classico fights will continue but the World Cup clash is going to be an elusive one for these two players who probably will have the biggest fan following.

The questions / debates like ‘did they play really well?’, ‘team mates played to their potential?’, etc. will take place over the next couple of days. But it is curtains for the sensational CR7 & magical LM10. But the respect for the players and game will continue. Continue reading World Cup 2018 : From Messi Vs Ronaldo to Messi & Ronaldo

Vijay Krishna C VJune 30, 2018June 30, 20182 Comments

World Cup 2018 : France unleashed a 19 year old & he was too hot to handle for Argentina

But this 19 year old : Kylian Mbappe Lottin (the costliest teenager signed by any club – currently playing for Paris Saint Germain on loan from Monaco FC) showed the World that age or experience does not matter when it comes to showcasing your skills. He played with ease and with great maturity. Mbappe definitely will feature on all the newspaper headlines tomorrow. What a way to announce your arrival on the big World arena…!!! Continue reading World Cup 2018 : France unleashed a 19 year old & he was too hot to handle for Argentina

Vijay Krishna C VJune 30, 2018June 30, 2018Leave a comment

World Cup 2018 : Ronaldo Vs Messi on the cards ?

Two superb matches on the cards.

Will they be as interesting as expected or will it be a one way traffic ? Are we going to witness the magic of Ronaldo and Messi ? The star names of France, Uruguay, Argentina and Portugal will shine tonight ? This night will witness a new star emerging from the shadows of super stars ? Will the matches go to extra time and penalty shootout?

World Cup 2018 will get a chance to witness a potential Ronaldo Vs Messi quarterfinal ? If that happens then the whole footballing world will be glued to their TV sets on the 6th of July. Continue reading World Cup 2018 : Ronaldo Vs Messi on the cards ?

Vijay Krishna C VJune 25, 2018June 25, 20184 Comments

World Cup : Disgrace of Gijon : Reason behind the final group games starting at the same time

Did the Algerian players take offence? Not at all, Merzekane says. “We weren’t angry, we were cool,” he says. “To see two big powers debasing themselves in order to eliminate us was a tribute to Algeria. They progressed with dishonour, we went out with our heads held high.”
“Our performances forced Fifa to make that change, and that was even better than a victory,” Belloumi says. “It meant that Algeria left an indelible mark on football history.” Continue reading World Cup : Disgrace of Gijon : Reason behind the final group games starting at the same time

Vijay Krishna C VJune 22, 2018June 22, 2018Leave a comment

World Cup : The question that almost won the World Cup Trophy

The question, which I felt was similar in magnitude to which Morocco would have felt when they conceded an own goal against Iran in the dying minutes of their first match, similar to the way Colombia felt when they conceded their first goal against Japan, similar to the way Argentina felt when they lost their match against Croatia, thrown at me was by none other than by my mother.

Very simple question but it hit me like a powerful football shot struck right on my face. It took couple of seconds for me to recover and stand up to answer the question. Continue reading World Cup : The question that almost won the World Cup Trophy

Vijay Krishna C VJune 19, 2018June 19, 2018Leave a comment

World Cup 2018 : Group Stage 1st Round : Top teams face hurdles

“Well begun is half done” ..this may not hold true for majority of the top ranked teams in the on going Football World Cup. Countries like Iceland, Japan and Senegal have shown the World that anything can happen in 90′ and even Champions can be beaten. Some may say that these countries were lucky or it was bad luck of the higher ranked countries who … Continue reading World Cup 2018 : Group Stage 1st Round : Top teams face hurdles

Vijay Krishna C VJune 18, 2018February 12, 2021Leave a comment

“Ronaldooo” – Super Energetic Malayalam Commentator – Shaiju Damodaran – Malayala Karayude Romanjam

‘Ronaldoooo’ why this man is called a genius in this globe, the genius of football world, Portugal’s favourite son : This makes him deserving for all these titles, it is 3-3.. My goodness, This must be his last World Cup and Ronaldo wants to leave his signature etched in this edition, and the commentator ends the celebration in style by mentioning the famous Tamil dialogue from Rajnikant’s movie Kabaali “Vanthuten Sollu, Thirumbhi Vanthuten Sollu” (Tell them I have come, Tell them I have come back). Continue reading “Ronaldooo” – Super Energetic Malayalam Commentator – Shaiju Damodaran – Malayala Karayude Romanjam

Vijay Krishna C VJune 16, 2018November 23, 20221 Comment

World Cup 2018 : Iceland making an early impact

#ISL the smallest nation ever to qualify for #WorldCup scores against #Argentina in their 1st match. Country with only 3.35 lakh people make an early impact. Elves are swiftly capturing hearts. Tmw is #fathersday & the 11 ‘Son’s of #ISL team are celebrating early 😉 #ARG #ARGICE No wonder #ISL has pulled out an impossible result. They’ve been performing really well in last few years. … Continue reading World Cup 2018 : Iceland making an early impact

Continue reading World Cup 2018 – 32 Teams, FIFA Ranking Info

World Cup 2018 – 32 Teams, FIFA Ranking Info

Vijay Krishna C VJune 15, 2018June 16, 2018Leave a comment

Technology, Travel

Picture your Future 2.0 : Travel , Technology and Tales

Technology is undergoing a paradigm shift and has transitioned at a supersonic speed in the last couple of years. Things which you would have never imagined is happening right in front of your eyes. Be it the hearables like Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, etc. or the wearables like Apple smart watch, Fitbit, rings activated with locker passwords, etc. – it is true that World is moving into a different horizon in regard with the onslaught of technology and the speed at which it is getting accepted by everyone.

Travel on the other hand has also found it’s own share of innovations with the help of the new age technology. Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Video chats, live streaming, recorded footages, etc. helps us to know about new places, new cultures , new cuisines, etc. But the urge to try this on your own is making people travel. The number of travellers have increased exponentially in the last decade. With the help of technology , people are very well aware of places that appeal to their tastes. Hashtags are the new style statement and it is also the go to search mantra. Instagram, in particular, has created a wave in this regard especially in the travel world. Insta Stories and Insta posts is helping the New Age travellers to get the knowledge of new places. But all this while the technology has only helped in creating the excitement to Travel.

Soon Travel enabled with future technologies will give a whole different experience. Be ready to get personalised welcome to the aeroplane. Artificial Intelligence & Facial Recognition will give the details of each and every passenger to the air hostess / stewards.

Continue reading “Picture your Future 2.0 : Travel , Technology and Tales”

Vijay Krishna C VMay 1, 2018May 1, 20181 Comment

Continue reading “ChewBao – KungFu Panda’s fav food with an Indi-Paw”

ChewBao – KungFu Panda’s fav food with an Indi-Paw

‘Your Honour’ please listen to my argument. This is the typical way in which a lawyer’s day would begin. But lawyer Mehul starts his day by taking a count of the number of Baos he has sold till now.

KungFu Panda’s pursuit of Baos made him the chosen Dragon Warrior. Similarly the story of this lawyer turned restaurant owner is no different.

The beginning of ChewBao was also accidental. The need for helping his sister to expand her cake shop made him wear the Chef’s hat. The law college stint at South Mumbai made him try different cuisines. One such cuisine that stuck his taste palate is Bao. Bao is a soft steamed bun which is served along with a patty filing. The name ‘ChewBao’ was finalised keeping in mind that Bao is going to be the main dish and also it sounded similar to ‘ChaBao’ which means to chew in Hindi. The moment Mehul realised that this is what his heart wanted to pursue , he wore the Chef’s white coat and the Lawyer’s black coat was sent as a take away to his attic.

Vijay Krishna C VMay 1, 2018May 1, 2018Leave a comment

Food, Passion, Travel

Indian International Restaurant: Filter Coffees, Dosas to Wiener Schnitzels : Homely Food in Vienna

The love for food can take you to places. You end up traveling miles to try a new cuisine or wait for hours to get a table at your favourite restaurant. The satisfaction you get after achieving this Foodie feat cannot be explained in words.

Sridharan aka Roger ended up traveling 7000 miles to fulfil his passion for food. The story goes back to 1986: At the age of 17, he was working part time at a small restaurant in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. He would finish his college classes and rush to the restaurant to take care of their cash counter in the evenings. All this in return for free dinner at the restaurant and a salary of around INR 2 or 3. Seeing this crazy craving towards food, his brother who was working in Germany gave him an opportunity. An opportunity to do a Hotel Management course from a reputed institute in Zurich, Switzerland.

Sridharan was in a fix. He was thinking “Whether I should leave everything behind and go abroad to study ? “ , “Is it worth to sacrifice my free evening dinners ? “, etc. But as the saying goes fortune favours the brave, he decided to move to Zurich to study Hotel Management.

Continue reading “Indian International Restaurant: Filter Coffees, Dosas to Wiener Schnitzels : Homely Food in Vienna”

Vijay Krishna C VApril 28, 2018August 28, 2019Leave a comment

Continue reading “Greek Gyros in Thane : Eat Big, Eat Greek : Νοστιμότατο (Nostimotato)”

Greek Gyros in Thane : Eat Big, Eat Greek : Νοστιμότατο (Nostimotato)

Greece is a great destination and it is one of the best places to visit for many reasons.

Greece :

The place where Olympic Games originated.

The place known for its warriors Hercules , Achilles, and so on.

The Aegean Sea which houses some of world’s best islands and party places like Santorini & Mykonos.

And one of the few places in the world which offers variety of delicious dishes for both Vegetarians and Non-vegetarians.

Greek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine.

They have one of the best salad options as the supply of good fresh vegetables is easily available. Pita bread also plays a middle role in between the Indian/Asian rotis/breads and the western breads. So it is worth a try for people from across the globe.

Vijay Krishna C VApril 16, 2018May 1, 20181 Comment

Food, Passion

The Fooze : Kitchenography of Life, Music , Feels and Food

“Millennials are behind the Start up revolution. Lot of Global start ups are minting millions and billions. But then there is another bunch of Millennials who follow their passion and start new ventures which help them fulfill it. Here the main focus is to be happy and enjoy life doing what you like to do and not the millions and billions.”

The Story behind the start of ‘The Fooze’ is interesting.

There will be a lot of us who would have had friends in school with common interests. But once the School days are over then you never get to go ahead with your interests.

The story of Kartik Pendse and Shivam Limaye is also similar. They both had a liking towards cooking during their school days. They left the school but their love of cooking continued.

Continue reading “The Fooze : Kitchenography of Life, Music , Feels and Food”

Vijay Krishna C VMarch 28, 2018September 4, 20193 Comments

Continue reading “Portico : Fuel your Belly Fire with Yummy Food”

Portico : Fuel your Belly Fire with Yummy Food

“Portico” restaurant, which has opened up recently in Hiranandani Estate Thane, offers a variety of haute cuisines.

Portico welcomes you with a lively ambiance (Still some work is happening around the restaurant). Caricatures and wall paintings along with filament bulbs lights up the place. The pool view enhances the charm of this place.

The restaurant has an interesting menu with a mix of international & Indian cuisine.

I fueled my belly with few mocktails, starters, sizzler and finally the chocolate biscuit.

Mocktails:-

– Spicy Papaya Margarita (Mix of Papaya, jalapeno, rosemary, etc.) :

This was a thick serving of papaya with a tinge of jalapeno. Salt n chilli powder was applied on the rim of the glass and a slice of papaya placed on top. It tasted okay.

– Blackberry Caipiroshka (Black berry, mint, lime, sprite):

Though Caipiroshka is a popular cocktail in Latin America, the one served at Portico is for the Teetotalers. For those who love the blackberry taste, this mocktail served with blackberry and lime, is a must try at Portico.

Vijay Krishna C VMarch 6, 2018April 16, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “The Walk, Hiranandani Estate : Thane’s New Food Junction”

The Walk, Hiranandani Estate : Thane’s New Food Junction

‘The Walk’ is the new shopping arcade which has come up in the midst of the sprawling Hiranandani residential apartments in Thane.

As the name suggests – ‘The Walk’ is restricted only to pedestrians and vehicles are not allowed inside this arcade. So you walk around and enjoy the bustling atmosphere.

Haiko Supermarket is the main attraction here for shoppers who visit the supermarket to refill their groceries and other daily essentials. Westside has opened up a big two floor outlet and it is definitely going to attract the shopping enthusiasts.

The Walk is getting more popular not because of Haiko or Westside but for the number of restaurants which have come up.

The moment you Walk in to ‘The Walk’ – you will be welcomed by KFC and Pizza Hut which have opened up their outlets next to each other. Aromas takes up the next spot.

Bombay Avenue with its multi cuisine offering is the next one on the same line.

The outlets of Chaayos, Starbucks and South Bombay adjacent to each other adds to the restaurants’ list.

Vijay Krishna C VFebruary 27, 2018March 7, 20182 Comments

Continue reading “Virgin Courtyard – Chandigarh’s Chak de Italiano “

Virgin Courtyard – Chandigarh’s Chak de Italiano

If you are a foodie then Chandigarh should be a must visit on your cards. One of the best time to visit the ‘City Beautiful’ is during the start of Winter season.

Evenings are very pleasant with the mercury hovering slightly below 10 degrees. If you are from that part of the country where you don’t get the chance to take out your winter clothes then you will be super happy. The jacket that you had bought and kept safely secured in your wardrobe will come to your help while you are in Chandigarh.

The first thing that comes to your mind while thinking of the cuisine here will be Paranthas, Kulchas, Chole Batture, Sarson ka saag & makkai di roti, dahi bhale, etc. When I was planning to have my dinner I had all these dishes in my mind. I started searching for the best restaurants in Cgarh. There were some great Punjabi cuisine options which popped up when I hit the search button. My eyes caught the attention of a restaurant named “Virgin Courtyard” 😉 . This was rated as one of the top 10 restaurants in Chandigarh. I clicked on the link to check the details. To my surprise it turned out to be a fine dine Italian restaurant.

Vijay Krishna C VNovember 28, 2017March 10, 20182 Comments

Continue reading “Goa – Destination known for Beaches, Shopping and Awesome food”

Goa – Destination known for Beaches, Shopping and Awesome food

Goa the pristine beach location is situated to the West of India. The beaches are running alongside the Arabian Sea. Goa has a long history and was also under the Portuguese rule from 1510 to 1961.

Languages spoken in Goa: Konkani, Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, English

The two things that come to your mind while thinking of Goa are Beaches & Beers.

Goa is clearly demarcated in to South Goa and North Goa.

South Goa is pretty much laid back with lot of five star resort properties. The resorts here will give you an option of private beach. The beaches here include Varca, Benaulim, Palolem, Bogmalo, Mormugao, Majorda beach, Colva, Varca.

North Goa is the happening party place. Starting with Sinquerim beach at one end to Ashwem at the other end – you can enjoy the best happening beaches here.

Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim, Arambol and Ashwem are the main beaches stretching from one end of North Goa to the other end.

Vijay Krishna C VNovember 24, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “Kill No Kalories – It’s a Crime – Keep eating and Save the Calories “

Kill No Kalories – It’s a Crime – Keep eating and Save the Calories

‘Burn Calories’ is the trend everywhere.

People are doing everything possible to burn the precious calories, earned from eating & drinking at some point in time, by joining a gym or following a strict diet, etc.

I was surprised to see a restaurant which has propped up two months back in Thane which has gone against this tide.

“Kill No Kalories” – yes you read it right. That’s the name of this cosy small cafe started by the Bhatt brothers – Drupad and Yashit.

The ambience and decor is apt. Wall decor contains captions which will bring a smile to your face and will make you decide that this is my “Cheat Day”.

Vijay Krishna C VNovember 19, 2017March 10, 20182 Comments

Continue reading “Street Food Diaries : Jai Malhar – Hot bhajiyas and Vada pav near the lake “

Street Food Diaries : Jai Malhar – Hot bhajiyas and Vada pav near the lake

Gaimukh Chowpaty – The new upcoming hang out place in Thane is bustling with lot of visitors especially in the weekends. There are also lot of people who stop by this place on weekdays to have a cutting chai / snacks / smoke a cigarette.
Though it is an upcoming spot in Thane , still it lacks eatery joints / restaurants. So when you visit Gaimukh Chowpaty – the first question that arises in your mind is ‘kya khaaye aur idhar se khayega toh pet karaab hoga ?’

So if you are fond of Bhajiya and Vada pav then there is a good option.

Vijay Krishna C VOctober 24, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment

Random, Technology

#JimikkiKammal – Social Media goes gaga over this Song – Sheril becomes an instant celebrity

#JimikkiKammal is a Malayalam song released during the mid of Aug, 2017. The song is part of the movie “Velipadinte Pustakam” which was released two weeks later.

The first line of the song itself is very catchy and you will keep humming it once you listen to the song.

“Entammede jimikki kammal Enatappan katonde poyi,

Entapante brandy kuppi Entamma kudichu theerthe”

(My mother’s ear rings were stolen by my dad,

My dad’s brandy bottle – my mother drank & finished it”)

It is a peppy song and you will start tapping your feet or moving your body once you start listening to this song.

The original video of this song has till now got 12 million views (Mohanlal – Lalettan fans will be happy)

https://youtu.be/FXiaIH49oAU

Just 25 days and YouTube already has 300+ videos of different versions, remixes, memes,trolls of this song.

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram is having a gala time with hashtag #JimikkiKammal . The data uploaded by the fans of this song has seen an exponential rise in the last couple of weeks.

Continue reading “#JimikkiKammal – Social Media goes gaga over this Song – Sheril becomes an instant celebrity”

Vijay Krishna C VSeptember 12, 2017March 7, 20183 Comments

Continue reading “Street Food Diaries :Healthy sumptuous Litti Chokha “

Street Food Diaries :Healthy sumptuous Litti Chokha

Health, Fitness, diet – In the last 2 – 3 years everyone has become conscious about their lifestyle. For some it is about maintaining their ‘body’ and for some it is about keeping themselves fit to increase their ‘shelf life’. Many people make new year resolution as well on these topics. But having said that, if you are a foodie then the urge to eat outside and that too at a Street food outlet becomes the barrier in accomplishing the said lifestyle or resolution.

Being a foodie myself, who is trying to get in to a healthy lifestyle, it was really tough not to eat from my favourite street food stalls.
I was delighted when I figured out that there is a healthy street food option – Litti Chokha.
Litti Chokha – the staple food of farmers and peasants in Bihar, UP and some parts of MP is a healthy and tasty dish. The earthiness of the dish will give you a rustic feel.

Vijay Krishna C VSeptember 3, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “It’s Tea Time : Ketley Brews”

It’s Tea Time : Ketley Brews

The first thing that comes to your mind after a 3-4 hours of shopping with your family on a rainy day is ‘Garam adhrak Chai Chahiye’. This craving for Tea on a Sunday afternoon led us to this small Restaurant in Thane.

Ketley Brews and Bites – as the name suggests – they brew some lovely varieties of tea and also put together good food as well. It is located near to the TCS Campus on Pokhran Road Nos.2 Majiwada, and focuses on Speciality Tea offerings.

The first thing that impressed me was the ambience of the place:- Great décor, creative wall painting, low floor seating and unique ‘Ring For Tea’ concept to call the Waiter. The restaurant can take maximum of 25 – 30 customers at a time.

Vijay Krishna C VAugust 14, 2017March 7, 20181 Comment

Sports, Travel

The Leap of Faith : Bungee Jumping : Extreme Sports

“30 seconds is all it takes to let go of your fear and take the leap.

It is all over , even before you realize that you’ve jumped from a 200 ft high bridge. But it takes couple of minutes for the feeling to sink in & become conscious of the fact that you have dared to do this ‘extreme sports’, when the swing comes to a slow stop.

The whole experience will stay with you for a life time.”

(July 2017) The moment I realized that I will be daring to jump of a bridge with just a string of ropes holding me together was a scary thought.

In the first place, I was not planning to do the jump and was not even going to join the group who had to travel almost an hour to reach the location. But I knew that this is going to be a once in a life time ‘dare to do’ opportunity (I know about people for whom bungee jumping and other adventure sports are just like turning the page of a book but trust me it is not an easy decision if you are not an adventure enthusiast).

I was put up in Athens and the Bungee jumping location was at Corinth Canal – which is one hour’s drive from Athens, Greece.

‘Zulu Bungy’ – the organizers of Bungy / Bungee jumping in Corinth Canal looked very pumped up to help us with the Jump. It is very crucial for the organizers to show that they are in control and make you feel comfortable. This will help gain the much required Confidence.

Zulu Bungy : the spot where right below you is the scenic water body whose magnificence will captivate your heart and in front of you the open sky that welcomes you to fly. The sound of the subtle breeze is the only thing that you will hear before the jump.

Vijay Krishna C VAugust 2, 2017October 6, 20196 Comments

Continue reading ” Once upon a time in Mumbai : A 1983 Mumbai Taxi Driver”

Once upon a time in Mumbai : A 1983 Mumbai Taxi Driver

I was lucky to get a ‘kaali peeli’ taxi from the international airport departure terminal yesterday night. I had to literally jump in as taxis were not allowed to pick up passenger in front of the terminal. I was happy as I saved the walk as well as the wait to get an Uber / Ola.

When you imagine a ‘kaali peeli’ taxi, the image of the driver that pops up in your mind is that of an aged driver with a long white beard. I was using the KPT ( kaali peeli taxi) after a long time or rather I cannot instantly recollect when I had hired one in the near past. So I was happy to see the driver with similar features.

The pressure to get inside the KPT before airport authority guy stops him made me jump into the co-passenger seat rather than the rear seat. This quickly helped me to get into a conversation with the Driver ‘Chacha’.

Driver Chacha was quick to comment ‘aaj hum dono ki kismat acha hai beta, mujhe airport se savaari mil gaya air tumhaara time bach gaya’.

Vijay Krishna C VJuly 4, 2017March 7, 20183 Comments

Technology

Who will manage your Facebook account when you go to live with the God?

It is definitely a spooky feeling when you think or even read about “Death”. Suddenly lot of things appear in front of your eyes and you will feel that there is a lot that is left unattended / to be completed.

I had a similar feeling when I read about the Facebook’s ‘Memorialized’ and ‘Legacy Contact’.

So how will your name appear once you are ‘Memorialized’? –

Continue reading “Who will manage your Facebook account when you go to live with the God?”

Vijay Krishna C VJune 21, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment

Future Technology, Technology

PICTURE YOUR FUTURE PART 1 : Wearables to Hearables to Tearables

Before I start writing Part 2 (which will be written as a separate blog post), thought of sharing the article I had written in Sep, 2014.

My 2014 article on “Picture Your Future”:-

Capturing a Picture is always a combination of Art and Science. Photographer should have the artistic view to visualize the right moment and make use of the Science of photography to capture ‘the moment’. It is very easily said than done and when it comes to business, economics, finance and management you have to be adept in capturing ‘the right moment’.

Speed of Connectivity and Connections will be the name of the game in the coming years.

‘Connectivity’ here means the literal meaning of being connected. Speed is the key word going forward. Faster you connect to the people around you, faster you will succeed in your ventures. Speed at which customers know about the company will make or break the success story of that company.

‘Connections’ capture the importance of making use of the technology around you to get connected to your customers. You need to be at each and every place where the customer will be present. Going forward Customers will not come looking for you but Companies will have to place themselves at Customer Convenient locations. You have to make use of the all technology touch points to be ‘connected’ with your customers.

Continue reading “PICTURE YOUR FUTURE PART 1 : Wearables to Hearables to Tearables”

Vijay Krishna C VMay 31, 2017March 8, 2018Leave a comment

Technology, Travel

Uber Talks : Driver gives you earning opportunity tips

Uber has become one of the best transportation support system when you don’t want to drive your own car.

Whenever I travel alone in such taxi app cab then I try to get into a conversation with the driver. Normally I start of the discussion with what is the current incentive system they have in Uber / Ola ? Is the cab owned by the driver and if yes how much does he earn a month ? Depending upon the responsiveness of the driver I tend to divert the topic to understand Consumer Buying Behaviour. Since I work with an automobile company I always try to understand the basic points considered by him before buying this car. So my set of primary research questions include : Why he bought this particular brand of car ? What is the USP? Was he offered any special discount by the automobile dealer? Whether service support was kept in mind while finalising this brand ? etc.

So as usual, I took an Uber today afternoon, and got into a conversation with the driver. I started off with my regular set of questions and the driver was very happy to answer all my questions in length. The moment I finished my set of questioning then he told me that ‘those who say that Uber drivers are not earning don’t know the earning opportunity’.

Continue reading “Uber Talks : Driver gives you earning opportunity tips”

Vijay Krishna C VMarch 25, 2017May 1, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “Unwind : Travel to a Beach destination with an awesome photographer”

Unwind : Travel to a Beach destination with an awesome photographer

Everyone needs a break from their hectic lifestyle or mundane work.

The search for the perfect family destination ended up when we found out a superb beach resort near Chennai. This resort was cut off from all other resort properties and still had all the required facilities to enjoy our stay.

The location was around 40 kms away from Chennai en route to Mahabalipuram.

The drive from Chennai to Kadal Resort took almost one hour. Once we were out of Chennai city traffic the drive was smooth. Good roads and less traffic helped us to reach our destination well on time. The resort was overlooking the Beach.

The view itself is so scenic that you forget your busy life and your mind will relax instantly.

Vijay Krishna C VMarch 20, 2017May 1, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “Iyer’s Food Corner : South Indian Delicacies : Started by Three Sisters “

Iyer’s Food Corner : South Indian Delicacies : Started by Three Sisters

(This restaurant is not functional now)

Three sisters, hailing from Pudukad a small town in Thrissur Kerala, who were in to different walks of life have come together to open up a South Indian Restaurant in Thane.

All of us who are part of the corporate world have at least once thought of quitting our job and starting some business on our own. The same thought has given life to this new restaurant. Three sisters – one who was working with a MNC , second one a homeopathic doctor and third one who was running a play school came together to open an authentic South Indian Iyer Restaurant.

Vijay Krishna C VMarch 13, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “Street Food Diaries : Loni (White Butter) Dosa – Davangere Special”

Street Food Diaries : Loni (White Butter) Dosa – Davangere Special

Being a South Indian myself, normally I don’t get satisfied with the taste of Dosas i get to eat outside – either at restaurants or at the street side stalls.

Then I came across this variety of Dosa, a popular type of Dosa from Davangere ( a city in Karnataka State). Davangere Benne Dosa , as it is known in Karnataka, is popularly known as ‘Loni Dosa’ in Mumbai.

The USP of the Dosa is that white butter (instead of oil or ghee) is used in the preparation of Dosa. This gives a different texture and taste to the Dosa.

Vijay Krishna C VFebruary 16, 2017March 27, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “India Bistro: Master Chef inspired dishes served in interesting cutleries”

India Bistro: Master Chef inspired dishes served in interesting cutleries

India Bistro is the newly opened restaurant in Thane, Maharashtra by Foodlink Restaurants.

Foodlink Restaurants, started by Sanjay Vazirani, have Glocal Junction, China Bistro, India Bistro and Bungalow 9 under their group.

India Bistro Thane outlet is the latest offering from this group. Located on Pokhran Road No.1, this Restaurant is slowly and steadily becoming the must visit restaurants in Thane.

Ambience: Well lit and the spacious seating makes you feel comfortable.

Service: Quick service and customer friendly staff. Staff is well versed with the detailing of all the dishes.

Food: Master Chef inspired dishes served on interesting cutleries

Paani puri : This was served as a complimentary starter. Syringes were filled with the khatta and meetha paani.

Vijay Krishna C VFebruary 16, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment

Continue reading “Madeira & Mime : Drink and Enjoy, Food does the talking here”

Madeira & Mime : Drink and Enjoy, Food does the talking here

It is always great to see when people come out with Restaurants with a Social cause connect.

By now most of the people in Mumbai would have either dined at or heard about Mirchi & Mime. For those who have not heard about Mirchi & Mime : This is a restaurant in Powai which serves mainly Indian Cuisine. The speciality of the restaurant is that the employees here have the special ability to communicate with the help of sign language. The specially abled employees (who cannot hear or speak) take orders and make sure that they serve the right dishes each and every time.

Madeira & Mime is the second offering from this group.

Vijay Krishna C VFebruary 10, 2017March 7, 20184 Comments

Food, Passion

Street Food Diaries : Yummy, Delicious Tirunelveli Idli available at Mumbai

Street Food at its best…!!!

Mumbaikars don’t have to travel all the way to Tirunelveli to taste the authentic Tirunelveli special Idli. It is available right here in Mumbai.

‘Shaktivel Idliwala’ is what the owner Shaktivel has named his cycle on which he sells the yummy delicious idlis.

Idlis are served with a topping of special South Indian Coconut Chutney and Tirunelveli Sambhar (the taste of this Sambhar is slightly different from the regular South Indian Sambhar).

He also serves “Medu Vada’ along with Idlis.

Continue reading “Street Food Diaries : Yummy, Delicious Tirunelveli Idli available at Mumbai”

Vijay Krishna C VFebruary 8, 2017September 4, 2019Leave a comment

Continue reading “Food Truck : Darjeeling Momos : Best in Thane”

Food Truck : Darjeeling Momos : Best in Thane

Food trucks have slowly and steadily found their place in the Thane street food line up.

Lok puram , Hiranandani Meadows area have seen a major surge of food trucks in the last 5-6 months.

The recent addition to this Food truck line up is ‘Darjeeling Momos’. Darjeeling Momos was an instant hit and people are spoiled for choice at this outlet. What began in a small modified Tata Ace truck has now been changed to a bigger food truck. The transition has happened in just 5 months.

Vijay Krishna C VJanuary 21, 2017March 7, 2018Leave a comment