Secrets of writing
Metaphors are the language of the psyche and the spirit. To fashion them, I have to be in touch with my inner world, a hard thing to do. That is the craft of writing.
Are your kids driving you nuts this summer?
Before scrapbooking became a verb, a subculture with its own norms, colour-coded pens, communities and hashtag, it was an object that my mother and grandmother owned. Perhaps yours did too. Ask your grandma.
The Languid Wines of Languedoc
Languedoc needs a “train puller,” says Samuel Guibert. We are standing atop a hill with a spectacular view of Mas de Daumas Gassac, a domaine founded by his father, Aime Guibert and mother, Veronique fifty years ago.
Is Bangalore the foodie capital of India?
Is Bangalore the foodie capital of India? That it is the one city that takes food seriously to the point of forming communities around it and obsessing over obscure and mundane recipes? I believe so.
The Wine Geeks of Silicon Valley
Wine is a combination of history, geography, geology, people, chemistry, all resulting in a product that the ancient Greeks and Romans attributed to the God who was a giver of ecstasy: Bacchus and Dionysius.
Secrets of ageing well
What is the secret of aging well? To me, this combination of having a passion, a routine that includes physical activity and family, and a hobby that keeps you engaged and surrounded by people is a great way to age.
Wining and Dining in Bangalore
I am a member of two wine clubs here in Bangalore. The difference between them can be counted in the air-time that wine gets. TWC is a small group. BWC events are held at glitzy five-star hotels.
The nature community in Bangalore
If you are a nature buff, Bangalore is a great place to be. Its climate allows people to do the one thing that is needed to engage with nature: be outside. When I go to Delhi or Mumbai, I often wish that there was a primer for nature activities or folks I could connect with. Here then is one such primer for Bangalore.
Make Mozart and Beethoven rock for you
To become a connoisseur—of the arts, ideas, food, wine, languages, movies, sports, economics or history—is ultimately a selfish exercise. You begin because you cannot help yourself; because of an abiding interest, one that will not let you go. Digging deeper becomes self-perpetuating after a while: The more you know, the more you want to know. At some point, you reach a crest and flip over. Once you pass that stage, beautiful things happen. You will hear a snatch of a Bollywood song and be reminded of a symphony. You will make uncommon connections that are ultimately the gift and pleasure of learning something new. A butterfly’s flight will look like an adagio, which refers to slow tempo in music.
Radio France on The Milk Lady of Bangalore
In which my book, La Laitiere de Bangalore or The Milk Lady of Bangalore made it to Radio France. Thank you so much, Isabelle Martinetti, for this feature. We found a quiet spot in the [...]
Interview with Chef Dominique Crenn
An interview with a chef I admire, Dominique Crenn. For Fine Dining Lovers-- based in Italy. There is also an India connection. The founder of Upside Foods, based in CA is an Indian doctor, Dr. Uma Valeti. I didn't interview him though. Maybe for another piece. Lab cultured meat is a new thing but the fact that a chef of the caliber of Crenn is endorsing it means something.
Why are hospital billing systems so bad?
Is it just Bengaluru or are hospital billing systems bad all over India? My aunt suffered a fall and had to be hospitalised. In a city that prides itself on using technology to ease business, why are hospital billing systems so archaic and the opposite of user-friendly? Hospitals use phrases like “patient care” as a marketing tool. Yet, when the time comes, they fail us. Automating hospital billing systems is the only way to improve the patient experience. It isn’t rocket science. Why aren’t hospitals doing it? I talk about a recent experience.