Indian fermented pickles
How many times have you shelled out Rs. 300 for a bottle of kombucha and wondered why there was no Indian equivalent? Where were all the gut-friendly, probiotic fermented drinks (and foods) in Indian cuisine? Of course, there are. As with anything in India, every state has its own variations. In this piece, I write about Rajasthani Kanji and Karnataka's Karindi.
Foreign languages/Harvard’s Nieman Storyboard
Do you think in English or your native tongue? I wrote this complex essay about mother tongues, foreign languages, and how they influenced-- and continue to influence-- my writing. Also whether you can use them to improve yours. For this, I listened to stories and poetry in my mother tongue, Tamil. I also listened to Pablo Neruda in Spanish and Russian poets in Russian. I don't understand these languages but they helped my writing. Read the post to know how :)
Raj Parr profile/Mint Lounge
Some time ago, I drove three hours from San Francisco down the coast of California to a picturesque town of Cambria-- to meet iconic winemaker, Raj Parr. As you will read my profile of him here, Raj Parr can identify wine varietal, vintage and producer by simply smelling the wine. Which to me is the thrill of tasting wine. The nose is an under-used organ and wine-tasters have figured out how to make it work for them. Read about how Raj Parr does it.
Dance Conference- Maya Rao
When the multi-talented Madhu Natraj asked if I would chair a dance conference in her mother's name, I was honored and touched. I am a failed bharatanatyam dancer. But I love dance and the world of dance. So I happily accepted. For the last several weeks, we have been planning. And here it is-- happening on Saturday, September 18th from 10 to 3 at the Bangalore International Centre (BIC). You have to register for the event to be there in person at the BIC. Details in the post and on the BIC website.
Personal essay/Harvard’s Nieman Storyboard
Harvard University's Nieman Foundation has a wonderful website called Nieman Storyboard, which is a terrific resource for anyone who wants to learn how to write. I wrote an essay about using a global event as a hook for hanging a personal essay or memoir.
The Bengalurean snack that nobody has heard of
About the wonders of the Kodubale and the Maddur Vada There are some snacks that have a pan regional jurisdiction, while there are those that are authentically linked to one particular state. Mention chivda and quite a few North [...]
Bangalore Talkies: Uniquely Bangalore: the nipattu
About the much-loved crunchy snack that Bangaloreans reach for When the monsoon makes its appearance in Bangalore, as it has done now, the oil starts sizzling. South Indian kitchens keep their tryst with their gastronomic destiny, not wholly or in [...]
Let’s talk about South Asian mental health
Just because mental health issues are not visible doesn’t mean they don’t exert a pull on your psyche. For a culture that is supposedly warm and family-oriented, many families here in India are adept at dismissing individual feelings and emotions, all in the name of being practical and rational.
Food as a gateway to heaven
interview Shoba Narayan’s new book shows food as the gateway to heaven By Dipti D August 6, 2021 ‘Food and Faith, a pilgrim’s journey through India,’ as its author Shoba [...]
Bangalore Talkies: What does Karnataka’s new CM like to dine on?
BENGALURU NEWS Bangalore Talkies: What does Karnataka’s new CM like to dine on? By Shoba Narayan PUBLISHED ON JUL 30, 2021 04:05 PM IST Through a variety of channels, the answer was the same. He likes Uttara Karnataka’s banana leaf [...]
A question of faith: book review
So lovely to get this email and this review. Dear Ms Narayan, I trust you are well. I wanted to write to you and tell you how much I loved your book - Food and Faith. It really spoke to [...]