Oye Lucky Oye- Biryani

 If you lived / worked at a certain time in Bandra Khar Juhu in the late 90s to 2010 … for a Biryani your go to place was Lucky Biryani.

It still is quite and institution even today with my contemporary food writers and presenters Kalyan Karmakar, Kunal Vijaykar and few dozen food appreciators you wouldn’t have heard of…

The toss up was between Lucky, Candy or if on a tight budget Rajasthan Restaurant which had nothing to do with Rajasthani food but more about Paya Kabab Biryani and Kofta and even Kaliya but really cheap…

Origins and History 

Lucky Restaurant in Bandra, Mumbai, is a legendary food destination established in 1938, renowned for its Irani-influenced biryani and extensive menu. The restaurant is a staple of Mumbai's culinary scene, with a history tied to Iranian settlers who moved from Pune

Establishment: The restaurant was originally opened as "Bombay Restaurant" on Bazar Road in 1930.

Renaming: It became known as "Lucky Restaurant" on September 9, 1938.

Founder: Founded by Sayed Ali Akbarul Huseini.

Location History: The current, iconic location in Bandra was previously a British car showroom.

Evolution: The restaurant started with a limited menu of four or five dishes but has since expanded to offer over 200 items. 

Biryani Style and Features

Style: Lucky Biryani is a popular Mumbai-style biryani, known for being flavorful and rich.

Distinct Elements: Unlike the classic Kolkata style, Lucky's biryani contains small pieces of potato, but not the large, whole potatoes found in Kolkata, often featuring a distinct, thick gravy-like masala paste (jhol) integrated into the rice.

Specialists: Many of the cooks at the restaurant are from Uttar Pradesh.

Celebrity Patronage: Due to its location in Bandra and its long history, it is a well-known hangout for Bollywood celebrities. 

Legacy

Today, the restaurant is managed by the sons and grandchildren of the founder and remains a 24-hour spot known for its biryani, non-vegetarian food, and Indian-Mughlai cuisine. 

Now, today I had to replicate Lucky  Chicken Biryani…at home at New Delhi about 1200 km as the crow flies…

Humble effort in the kitchen huge step for Biryanidom was able to bring about a similar taste smell look aroma with a memory of the Channel [V] Star days and nights spen in Khar Juhu Bandra Pali Hill Union Park and Santa Cruz ….remembering all the people Mohit,  Debu Ranvir Shorey Gaurav Kapoor, Mandar Thakur Shaji Mathews, Sanjay Das,Vivek Arora,Suresh Bala, Mahesh Murthy, Shashank Ghosh , Arnab Choudhary, Jignesh Shah.  Albeit Vegetarian, Vivek Paul , Rahul Merchant and a million more

Which is your favourite Biryani..

When the Cookie Crumbles

 The story of Biscoff goes back almost a century—and it started very simply.

Origins (1930s)

Biscoff was first created in 1932 in a small bakery in Lembeke, Belgium by Jan Boone Sr., founder of Lotus Bakeries.

The biscuit was originally called a “speculoos”, a traditional spiced biscuit popular in Belgium and the Netherlands, especially around winter holidays.

The name “Biscoff”

The name Biscoff came later and is a mix of biscuit ” + “Coffee” (portmanteau)

because it was designed to pair perfectly with coffee 

Rise in popularity (1980s–2000s)

Lotus standardized the recipe and began mass production

Airlines and cafés started serving it with coffee, which made it globally recognizable

It became known as that “little caramel biscuit you get with coffee”

The game-changer: Biscoff spread (2007)

A Belgian TV show, De Bedenkers, featured an idea to turn the biscuit into a spread.

Lotus took the concept seriously and launched Biscoff spread, which became a massive hit worldwide.

Today

Sold in 100+ countries

Used in desserts, drinks, and even gourmet recipes

Considered one of the most recognizable European snack brand

Despite global popularity, the recipe has stayed almost unchanged since 1932, which is why it still has that signature 

caramelized taste.

I was unaware of all this, I had seen the biscuit mentioned in many menus combined with desserts, but didn’t pay heed to it…

One day looking for other stuff on Blinkit… I saw this and ordered… and I was hooked… the caramelised… crunch.. the simplicity of the taste… the layering and depth it offered was overwhelming… and now I am a fan … offering it to all .. 

just amazed at him simple things can have so much success without changing and producing the same product for a century…truly a Centurion

The Story of Baan Mhi - The Vietnamese Roll

 The Story of Baan Mhi - The Vietnamese Roll

France brought all manner of new and exotic items to Vietnam during its colonization of the region, from beer to bread, carrots to coffee, but didn’t hand them over willingly. The story of how the modern banh mi came together, the sort of banh mi you can pick up today at a farmers’ market in London, or from a food truck in Los Angeles, recounts 160 years of Vietnam’s history in one single, fiery package.

In unison, the visitors bite down into the bread’s fragile outer shell. A few fire off selfies as the customary explosion of crumbs covers the table. This is how all banh mi experiences begin. The bread gives way to the paté, then homemade mayonnaise, tender ham and cold cuts of pork. Pickled carrot and daikon add sweetness, cucumber brings a cool crunch. Cilantro. Unmistakable. A dash of Maggi Sauce for depth. Every taste bud gets hit. Then comes the chili, like a short, sharp slap in the face. “Wake up sunshine,” it says. “You’re in Vietnam now.”

My experiences are pre Vietnam, during Vietnam and Post Vietnam…

I must have seen the sandwich an umpteen times with Anthony Bourdain and many other food and travel shows a decade and a half ago… I dreamt of it I had to have it … Somehow in 2011 I got to taste a proper Banh Mi.. so they said at  Blue Ginger at Taj Palace .. left me a little underwhelmed.. and yes the family wasn’t impressed either..

The search was on the next opportunity was a hole in the wall Little Saigon - HauzKhas Khas Market, where I went with a dear friend.. nice food , summer rolls and Pho too but the the real Banh Mi was still elusive..circa 2018-19

Yet another adventure to the Vietnamese embassy with the dear friend again,which allowed guests for lunch on Friday at the Embassy Canteen..the food was literally grabbed from the kitchen by me as they had run out.. the drinks and beer from the fridge.. lots of summer rolls, Pho and beer and fried chicken.. but no Banh mi circa 2021-22

Cut to 2024

On my first time in Nam though I had visited it so many times before on Bourdain’s shows (he was biased to Vietnam and Vietnamese food), with Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Forrest Gump… Deerhunter I had been to Vietnam several times 

In the summer of 2024 me and now not so little An (Ananya) landed late night at Ho Chih Minh City earlier known as Saigon we stayed at the Heritage property Hotel Majestic.. a fine blend of South East Asian and Parisian best defined…by the idiom Indochine…

After a late night dinner of pho and Saigon beer interspersed by 333 all light beers of Vietnam.. went to bed to welcomed by the most heartfelt heartwarming and beautiful Banh Mi for breakfast at the Hotel… the pate, the buttery goodness dribbling everyday in my chin and tshirt.. the goodness moved the earth for me ..I feasted on Banh mi for breakfast … absolutely the best ever…

Back in India… the last two years have seen the swarming of so called gourmet sandwich shops all over India/ Delhi/ ofcourse the Mecca and epicenter of almost every cuisine available in India… GK2 

I heard and watched, Pete’s Deli, Kona, Dumbo, Savage..I had to go to one of them … I had to go to Kona by the people who own Fig & Maple… the reason clearly.. they serve the Banh Mi and Vietnamese Coffee… I was conned the only thing right this time was the baguette, everything was wrong, the meat was hard chunks of curried pork.. no salads no sauces and atrocious over priced Vietnamese coffee and Banh mi absolute disappointment…. Which poor Ananya paid for… now makes me want to go Vietnam or close enough.. again and soon…

What’s your Sandwich Story ….

Hand Churned Ice Cream Anyone…

 Once during the summer holidays.. visiting Delhi as a young boy .. visited my Paternal Aunt .. in Pratap Bagh near Delhi University..

Her son who later was ordained to become a granthi (priest) in a gurudwara .

He was then an unemployed youth and he had set up an ice cream stall/ shop in the market .

So all afternoon on a summer day we toiled in churning ice cream out of fresh cream,  milk, fresh fruit, tutti-frutti and cherries to make this wonderful ice cream ..

Then loaded it to to the market and vended them all evening and late into the night ... with nothing to eat or drink and counting our earnings and feeling good about it ..

Many  lessons learnt in enterprise, hard labor, rewards in selling the fruits of your labor at a very young age .. besides memories are invaluable..

The ice cream looked something like this .. and we sold it for a one Rupee each ... it’s long but I can still taste a hint of salt in our hand churned ice cream

A Day in the life of an unknown Indian

 Interesting life…Dealing and interacting with all 

Its nearly dawn… I hear the birds for nearly and a half and finally wake up to a dry mouth and  a few deep breaths and a sip of water…A few responses on Whatssap some interaction 

1.Interactions with Mom early morning 

Early banter over toilet and tea

2. Servants and Maid … Chet over menu for the day etc

3. ⁠Gurudwara interactions and smiles with devotees, staff, Bhaiji , the lady at the donation counter who is praying… pauses does a Sat Sri Akal.. a hint of a smile resumes prayers pauses again to give a receipt, smiles just a hint and again a Sat Sri Akal that’s all, you could call it a acquaintance..

4. ⁠Breathing excercises and Pranayama and tapping with Mom…

5. ⁠Quick dress up and then the bullying in the football field where players come from every strata and profession, banker, master, music teacher, dress designer, cab  fleet owner, caterer, politico, political fixer, analyst, Hr, wheeler dealer, priest and Carol singer … and me with all of them the variety is endless and so is the conversation..

6. Dress for College and Breakfast… where the balance usually breaks taste over benefits… food packed for college 

7. Prayers in the car brief interaction with Driver his life neighborhood and general cars update and ofcourse shopping list for the day and special tasks of the day. He’s my go to man my man Friday

8. A cheerful good morning to the CRPF security staff at the metro station before that a nod a good morning to the vendors outside the station..

9. ⁠The metro, largely get a senior citizen seat unless there is some who needs it more than me senior or otherwise, largely immerse in prayers with a call or two in between.. with poor connectivity …. A social pause 

10. ⁠I emerge at Model town a good 40 kms away from home from underground to overground… check messages stocks and some urgent tasks and payments and I haven’t reached work yet…

11. At College more prayers at the Ganesha idol… my banter with the receptionist and his weekend escapades… he and his new wife visited a Greek restaurant on the highway, watched the IPL , prepared for higher studies…

12. ⁠Now the pantry and the waiter,  he readies a cold glass of water for a throat rinse and a black coffee for my liver rinse and probably soon some day a promising jaw line.

13. The day rushes by interspersed with classes corrections, corridor walks and newspaper reading… 

14. ⁠The staff room it’s conversations and people and their peculiarities should be left for another day and post.

15. ⁠The journey home is largely uneventful… other than a Pitstop at the popcorn and peanuts stall where a handful of peanuts are for ₹ 10 the only place that currently gives some thing for ten other than perhaps a Cadbury’s Gems or a Lollipop or some chewing gum..

16. ⁠Home is a quick snack change and rest and sometimes a walk with the mystic clerk cleric and multilingual and deeply read Mr Bhargav he is in his 80s we discuss his afternoon Hollywood movie and his latest gourmet treat.. and I share mine… it’s friendly banter despite the age difference 

17. ⁠A catch up on the phone with dear daughter and some home  errands ..and its time for a unwind… sometimes a movie or an episode of the latest series .. but lately business news snd geopolitical news ..caring for my loved  ones and ofcourse assets and investments 

18. ⁠Most nights a quiet dinner with Mom conversation her health and her trials and tribulations..Once in a while we have drink or two in memory of Dad , she has a Gimlet with Soda and me with a Whisky Soda.. in the recent times 

19. ⁠This is most what days look like when I am not going out or having a drink… or both and for that please refer to my social media which love kicking and quite a thing especially with food dmd my relationship with it..

20. ⁠It’s  the still of the night when I drift into a quiet and intermittent stupor dreaming sometimes of known face sometimes unknown faces and places…. Sometimes sequential sometimes disjointed and sometimes a loop I can’t get out of…

21. ⁠That’s pretty much a day unless I am focusing on the Consulting business where I wear many hats of a mentor a guide a beacon and sometimes it’s back to soft selling.. throughout voice internet and phones..

22. ⁠More on form and feelings and emotions…. In the days of my life … I’d like to know what your day feels like like…

Memories of my Dad with a Biscuits Brand

 My evening snack has tons of History for me and my family and of the brand…firstly Cheeseling first introduced to us by my Dad in the late 60s or early 70s… I am sure he knew of it before..

He had it as a teatime light snack or even with a drink which was usually a whisky…I think it worked wit both and still does.

Light was the key word it still is. Dad in his later years continued to like it … and had it due to lightness and did sit heavy on the stomach.

He introduced it to us … a few days ago I thought of him and chased to order it through our man Friday at the local Kiran’s store.. out of stock everywhere… finally ordered it online…

Don’t know lots of brands aren’t available in the stores and  available online..and for some brands vice versa…

1. Perhaps starve the stores and urge customers to go online 

2. ⁠Have separate set of merchandise for offline and and online 

Enough of our family and it’s history with Cheeselings now for the real History 

The origins of Cheeselings trace back to 1956, when they were introduced by the Parle Products company in India 

Parle Products

While often compared to Western cheese crackers, Cheeselings are officially classified as a "peculiar indigenous preparation" and an Indian namkeen 

Historical Timeline

1929: The Parle Products factory was founded by the Chauhan family in Vile Parle, Mumbai, initially producing confectionery 

1942: Parle launched Monaco, India's first salted cracker, which laid the brand foundation for future savory snacks 

1956: Cheeselings were officially launched as a new way for Indian consumers to enjoy cheese

Although the name sounds international, Cheeselings are considered uniquely Indian. 

Childhood Staple: Over the decades, Cheeselings became a nostalgic staple in Indian households, often served during tea time or packed in school tiffins

Etymology: The name likely follows the naming convention of adding "-ling" to denote something small or a derivative, similar to how "duckling" is a small duck.

Beverages unite us and Divide us

 Beverages are a generational thing … there are some beverages popular with a certain segment of people both demographically and psychographically… .

Beverages are also a brand extension of one’s personality and it’s also important to be instagramable to qualify as a good beverage..

A good example is yesterday’s coffee is today’s macha. 

Rustic beverages aren’t cool and fashionable but for the artistic and Indian Ocean Band inclined Kulhad Chai has made such a comeback and a rage as tandoori chai…

Nimboo Pani, Satu, Bael Sherbet, Thandai etc our ethnic powerhouse are great at , at home consumption but seldom ordered by a select generational group out of home.

The new coffee and Korean, Japaneseand other Asian Beverage Bar are cool hangouts.. often referred to as to as the third place ( between home and work/institute)

Quite similar to clubs were for the boxwallahs and Chai addaas and Choupals and Halwais and Coffee Homes were in the good old days..

It was more about the place people and conversations than the beverage 

However, in Pubs and bars it was also the beverage..

However, todays generation bury themselves into themselves even in a social hangout place unless with company… 

The more we evolve more similar we continue to be …

Bars & Warfare today

 On a very quiet night at a very quiet bar on the Western Front… Signalman Manohar educated me on Godawan 01 and 02 .. At the Electronic Warfare Mess. Yes, on another note warfare and the ethos of the defence services have changed so much in the the last three wars…I question do we need such large standing armies… as battle lines and warfare has changed so much

Do we really need 

thousands of of tanks

millions in the infantry 

large gunships

5 th and 6th generation fighter aircraft 

While the job can be by missile or a drone which are much much cheaper adroitly and effectively…

 More of this and the future of warfare and the decline of the Institution of The Officers Mess….

More coming up soon…

Life’s Doorbell Has to be answered

 The Tourist and even the The Purist will have to go through this life… largely alone…. Some legs of the journey there will be companions and some none … there will be places of rest food and play … and some will be work work and more work… some will live free … and some imprisoned in their own thought… there will be phases of good health and some  phases will bring ill health… some phases of scarcity and some of wealth…. 

Some will grow spiritual and then turn agnostic and become non believers and believers again… some parts will modify your faith… bring in new trust new…. Friends and then No friends…. Some friends…. Lots of friends…

Sometimes very little to do … sometimes so much to do and then nothingness …. Cruise along … and sometimes your plate will be full…

Surrounded by friends and family spoiled for choice and then suddenly none

The cellar and larder are overflowing with fine liquor and food… the tables groan under the weight of the food and sometimes there is hardly a morsel or two..

There could be Wealth, the coffers so full you could pay a king’s ransom and sometimes so little a little treat may mean the world…

Spiritually so full sometimes and disenchanted and empty…

It’s reality one will have to go through this …

The Life’s doorbell has to  be answered….

The Bags of Life

 The Green Teal Bag

The bag you carry, the shoes you wear, the car you drive, the cigarettes you smoke, the scotch you drink and ofcourse the clothes you wear. 

Even the food and drinks you order, say a lot about about you as a person.

It’s often said clothes maketh a man of course amongst many other things…

However, in recent times Gautam Singhania the fraudulent owner of the famous Raymond’s brand has let down the company logo and tag line - the complete man. Who is a complete man is a discussion and debate we will leave for another time or take up in another post.

Accoutrements and Accessories say a lot about the person you are.. like hats … that even defined the person you are and perhaps the profession and ofcourse the story of the seven hats…wearing different hats is also a proverb.

But why are we meandering, let’s talk about bags… waiting at the Berlin airport… my friend Kamal Lamba remarked… 

yaar ye gorey koi bhi bag le len to acche lagte hain

Aur hum Hindustani mahenga se mahenga bag le kar bhi evaiyen dikhte hain ( the best impact is in chaste punjabi)…

Also Indians dress for comfort rather than style at the airport… which makes them look like the ugliest race at the airport… old parents travelling to baby sit their grandchildren in USA and Canada often carry… plastic shopping bags… the dark fat guy in a round neck tshirt and Capris should be summarily shot on sight…

Yes, the Indians do not dress up for travel and definitely do not consider their body type and sometimes get carried away… like wearing sleeve less T-shirts while traveling to Goa or Thailand..

My God the flights to Goa have such specimens… aunties and young behnjis in saare bandhan tod do in  exhibiting tons of  jelly like cellulite…dressing for travel is another post.

I have always believed that the immigration of a country treats you the way you are dressed… hence I always throw a smart dark  jacket or light linen one… the job is done..

Talking of bags I have had interesting bags like my growing up and professions I have had.

The very small aluminum briefcase in early school

A green backpack also called basta while my brother Sanjiv had a khaki one albeit more robust.. in later school

In college doing History ( Hons) I was a true blooded Marxist smoking non filter cigarettes a jhola for a bag jeans and khaki kurtas with Quo Vadis sandals

That gave way to a small pack 08 and FSM0 big pack in training for the Indian Army training for combat with the full kit weighing 21 kgs and 5.5 kg rifle… those were some days

Back to business school I for some reason carried a briefcase with black leather trimmings and black and white silk ikkat print..I slowly converted to a more conventional sling bag seeing my contemporaries who were much younger to mix in the melee..

A smart ad sales executive days got me back into a smart leather satchels (the wife had something to with the theme) paired with Oscar dela renta hand my down suits from my dear brother..Sanjiv

Cut to TV Days .. Discovery Channel we became the bag experts of the TV industry we made 5000 gym bags three times over for cable networks… everyone wanted one.. they were great useful for daily use , gym and urgent travel..

The Story going around was I was always packed and could get onto an airplane any time…which wasn’t far from the truth. Similar style days at StarTv

There was an era of an unsettled life … between Bombay Delhi Chandigarh…I succumbed to a back pack or a small shoulder bag from Kumho tires or Glenlivet or any promotion at the duty free..shops.

Then I got into an era of hands free a small folder wallet had everything I needed.. cards, cash, toothpick, urgent medicine pill, prayer mantras and condoms ( okay okay an exaggeration). late tv days..

Hotel… Senior Executive saw me only in suits and jackets… my suit jacket or sports jacket became by bag … worked very well with  wallet charger, blackberry, a book and a lot more…sometimes a bar of chocolate too. I did buy bags too in this era… for family and self… learnt about Hermes, Feragamo etc … bought but used the humble Kipling.

With Askme.com  I was back with a small over shoulder bag and sometimes hands free with the hold everything wallet often persuaded by my dear friend to carry a satchel .. I succumbed to one.. which was gifted by the friend…

A lot of the crinkly tan soft leather bag and a matching gym bag my Mom Got me and stood me well when I carried a lunch and was scurrying and meeting the mass affluent in the Luxury Liner Cruise Business… Celebrity Cruises in India..

Now for nearly five years I was work from home consultant at large was totally hands free combined with a sports jacket became if travelled and went for meetings… which I did quite a lot especially the year consulting for Hinduja’s…

Finally, the penny dropped when I took a professorial role and had to carry lunch among other things… the same crinkle leather shoulder bag and sometimes my friend’s satchel got me through  a  year or two…

Now my Mom insisted she’d like to replace the Dulichand&sons bag by yet another… I was reticent, not more of the same she went hobbling thrice once with me .. I was reluctant to… finally today eyed this green- teal leather bag and  I wanted .. here I am gathering a rush of memories of bags of life and my life both virtually and metaphorically…

My Tribute and Accolades,

My Friend Moncho’s NGO  RDT

Which is such a small word for a gentle people’s organisation that has uplifted the lives of 4 million people or more and making it the second largest district that produces ground nut which competes with a District in Gujarat..

Sunk over 500 wells, educated and equipped for sport and provided health care and also nutrition to a few millions.

Every IAS , every Banker , Policeman, Teacher, Cab driver and Business owner has been nurtured by RDT

As a cab driver told be once in Bangalore once

When I said Mein Moncho ka Dost Hoon…

Saab hum RDT ka naam leke sotey hain aur RDT ka  naam lekar jagte hain… that says it all..

Congratulations Visha and Moncho and the team of RDT for bringing us Utopia and equanimity in this unequal world.

Dolma - Dr Dolkar’s- Bonding in the clinic-

Bonding in Adversity 

The Divided over years for the lack of communication and several situations and with a bubble of a decade of quiet and solitude… how a Tibetan Doctor and her clinic was instrumental in binding us in adversity.

She, the younger one was just  back from America…the older one distant for years was diagnosed by Barrett’s we were worried…though we were in the hands of a very senior and sensitive gastroenterologist by far, after the initial help with allopathy the situation wasn’t getting better. 

Then like divine providence I heard the words …Dolma … by Priyam Ghosh a colleague in the College Staff Room as I talked of my woes…of illness in the fam..I said that’s very far perhaps Dharamshala… no in your neighborhood in Kalkaji…..she said.I was superbly delighted..

On a Sunday on a July Morning at the crack of dawn I got the token number one… and there we were at 8.30 am again talking to the Doctor… then medicine… followed by a essentially South Indian breakfast… we did Dosa & Coffee ( name of a restaurant), Yamuna Canteen, Chidambaram, Naivedhyam with an occasional A2B or so thrown in. Or even a The Paris Coffee House or Pour Over..It became a jovial family gathering the Sunday morning ritual…

More importantly it was Dr Dolkar who developed a relationship with each one of us ..her jovial disposition brought back sanity, good cheer and a semblance of a family. So much so we would look forward to the weekly visits to the Doctor’s Clinic….

We had a choice of meeting her once a month but we chose once week, It helped with better monitoring, more importantly it was bonding time.

It was for the bubble of a decade and a half the daughter had missed.. it was for the complete family the Dad craved for at airports, when he saw families take vacations… mom was happy for the little one and support mechanism of love and care and more importantly a feeling of being wanted…which in return helped us all.

After three holidays and 50 outings… the dark clouds began to appear, the self doubts of the efficacy of the  Tibetan medicine… the travels of the Doctor to Bombay and Bangalore.. the travels of the mother patient.. to several places, brought back the clouds of distress disbelief and dismay…again.

Bad health bad tempers and bad outcomes..

With the the Ides of March came strangely better fortunes.., better health better elevation of moods and spirits..Medicine was working.. and so was the festooned jovial succour of Dr Dolkar … for better communication her drawing room .., okay waiting room became our planning board for vacations, purchases and outings… 

We were back amidst and despite all the back stories and odds to meet and bond Dr Dolkar respectfully called Dolma’s Clinic.

We have had more than seven months of Tibet in our lives…,bodies, minds and souls… the kindred spirit of Tibet.

Siri Fort Smiles Back

 Siri Fort Smiles Back

Every one in this life needs an Aqualung in the city that feels like an escape, a carvanserai, a shangrila of your dreams.

I found mine nearly two decades ago at Siri Fort Sports Complex aka Asiad Village…

There I feel alive, the air, the speed , the motion, the velocity… the kinetic energy enhances your mood or gives a lift to drooping shoulders and morale…

One can find many corners of their happiness which elevate the Chemical in one’s body, the good ones but more about Chemicals in another post…,

On a day it’s very hot it turns into an oasis of coolness on a very cold day the sun always creeps out to warm my bones… it’s almost like a friend and well wisher that controls the place for me.

There are hundreds of sports from shooting to fencing to swimming and golf . Really walking, yoga and strolling bare feet, sometimes, interests me the most..

A ritual coffee or juice at the cafe..adds to the joy of the place. I have many friends at that place who are just friends no names and numbers… just lets call these anonymous friends as Siri Fort friends.

I walk with immense regularity with my friend Ajit and most times with dearest daughter Ananya… its lovely and almost therapeutic discussing our woes and joys…

For all the the people I care for and love there isn’t a single one that I haven’t taken  or invited to Siri Fort. If you haven’t been invited to on your visits here you are not yet in the evoked set or haven’t made it to that list thus.

Which means I still think of you and will soon invite you to my Mecca, Jerusalem, Gaya, Varanasi and so on.

There isn’t a trouble that doesn’t melt there, there isn’t a joy that’s not celebrated there..

In times of trouble, mother Mary walks with me…

Speaking words of wisdom let it be ….

Boss In Sartorial Sense At-least….

 Boss In Sartorial  Sense At-least….

Hugo Boss … his suits had a smart cut almost like a uniform.

The 4.3 € Billion company from Germany has two brands… Boss and Hugo…

They have done it all made uniforms for the Nazi party, the German Army and then the SS - Schutzstaffel too. 

After the second world war they made uniforms for the French Army, Red- Cross, Railroads, Post- Offices and the Police.

No wonder the lines were so well defined, a suit that had genetics deep into uniforms…

My association with brand started with gazing at the suits apparel and accessories at Airports… one of my bosses (Sanjay Khanna) had a Hugo Boss suit… again it was sharp..and ofcourse he is too.

My perceptive daughter may have seen me gazing at the show windows at the airports as child a few times, … When she came of age and went to Cambridge one Summer… what do you think she got me.. A Boss Sweater Jacket and the again with her Masters at America University…at Washington DC another exquisite Polo T-shirt as gifts.

By now I was hooked and Dabbled with the brand myself…yes brands are friends, brands with a strong story and brands with a legacy, good or bad make these brands intriguing and interesting…

I may not be a Boss in real life all the time…. but Sartorially yes I can be the Boss all the time and forever.

Soft Serves - Hard Battles

 Soft Serve- Loss Leader 

Mc Donald’s Soft Serve Cone which old timers call Softy… began the surge of the loss leader strategy… 

A soft serve vanilla cone at ₹ 14 and dipped in chocolate at ₹ 21 or so then, which is now ₹ 28 and ₹41 respectively .

The objective was to clearly increase footfalls and then enhance and gradually extend the spend and then finally expect a loyal Customer.

Let’s take a lower middle class or middle class family of four goes today and orders 4 vanilla soft serve cones at ₹112 nearly the price of one decent branded ice cream on a cart. Here the family gets, air conditioning, a table to sit and enjoy the ice cream, clean toilets, pleasant staff and perhaps a photo opportunity with good old Ronald. All for ₹ 112… a premium or even a luxury experience for some…

The story progresses, Junior now eyes the Happy Meal and Sister would want a aloo tikki burger, tired Mom wants a wrap and the hard working Dad would like a Chicken Mc Grill. They postpone it for a  later trip.

However, the seed is planted… when they have the next celebratory surprise surplus they will be back . Each demanding their identified targets. So that’s how it works. We all know that and knew that.

So what’s new…

There is a twist in the tale there is sampling to the loss leader, at ₹10 the small guy you see in the picture… that’s him at ten bucks in a waffle cone yes waffle cone and in three flavors… vanilla chocolate and mango… brilliant… this to induce trial to a trial …

I have always felt and believed in a pricing strategy based on a experience  and slowly inviting engaging and enticing the customers… some examples from my Corporate Life

Invitation Pricing in newspapers as in cover price and Ad rates… Times of India Group

Discovery Channel…, and Star TV free…priced low and the popular pricing for Cable Subscription… and then a tsunami of viewership.

A low hurdle and barrier to Hotels and their Room Tariffs and then extending the experience for the leisure travelers and superlative service for the Corporate travellers and building the brand … I am Lalit (I am the Brand)

Askme.com the 4 th largest e commerce provider exceedingly successful subsequently lost the race as the ecommerce world is “Surviival of the richest and not the fittest”  I could wite another book on that.

With Celebrity Cruises a luxury brand of Royal Caribbean cruises we made it and positioned it as an affordable luxury … experience targeted the mass affluent in India…

So the lesson from a humble Soft Serve triggered and re triggered this post and  a walk down my Corporate Strategy Journey..

Meanwhile both the Soft Serves were extremely enjoyable… Enjoy the Post and the Ice Cream..

Benne - Busted Today

 Benne - The Dosa Story 

I grew up in South India, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and then Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Although a Punjabi born and bred, I grew up with Telugu and Tamil sensibility. So I called myself a Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing (pun intended).

I visited Karnataka as a Child, was acquainted with Udupi style food but missed the Benne bus…

Launching the Mint newspaper … I was stationed at Church Street… Life there is another story for another time , and another post…lets stick to Dosas..and the Dosa story 

I was exposed more to Bangalore cuisine by Rajesh Kannan and gang…among a million places we visited MTR was bowled over till I went with the family to Vidhyarthi a legend and sorcery of dosa making.

Slowly my Dosa footprint got bigger and stronger.

All over India, on my travels with a companion and partner in crime or without I seeked the thick Bangalore Dosa and the Workshop Idly ..

With a million misses I would find one hit. Later in my hometown Delhi before the surge of South Indian restaurants I somehow found solace at Udupi at ITO, at the Karnataka Bhawan at Motibagh and then ofcourse Many times at Carnatic Cafe.. often called Benne Dosa, Davangere Dosa, Bombat , Malleshwaram again some hits and misses…

Then came the third Wave.. Amudam, Sangeetha, A 2 B, Gokulam, Rediscovered Chidambram so the Sunday morning for 30 odd weeks was at South Indian Tiffin…place

Then about 8 weeks ago Benne opened in my neighborhood.. lines as long as 100-200 people.. on a Sunday, every Sunday… we laughed at the waiting patrons we we drove past , sometimes taking a picture and saying Bhandara or Langar.. but deep down I wanted a piece of the pie.. sorry dosa..

So there was breakfast life which was BB and AB  (Before Benne and After Benne at the Delhi South Indian breakfast scene) quite similar to BC and AD in History Chronology 

Sagar, Naivedhyam, Dosa & Coffee albeit strong Chains were losing their prominence and mindspace with me slowly 

And then the night will fall bringing peace to all … I called Benne and figured there low turnout periods… I somehow extracted it from them by charming them and disarming them..( you can do the same to know the secret from me).

Finally, this morning after the prayers at the  Gurudwara..we landed up there .. walked in like a breeze ordered on the video wall quite like Costco food wall , well mannered staff, unassuming, polite and almost charming, despite their huge success and recent crowds and incessant performance…

The food very nice, crisp benne dosa, Podi workshop idli and Bunz.. from Mangalore and Konkani breakfast ( which I was inspired to have at Cafe Bhosle- Porvorim Goa - our second home..though the original recommendation of  Sachin Tendulkar was Cafe Tato also in Goa)

The Bunz was good …here too..

Would we again absolutely.. not only for the experience the food and the staff but also need to experience more of their repertoire…

Cheers to Benne Bunz and Bullets..

The Story of the Tally Counter…

 The Story of the Tally Counter…

Many moons ago I saw Swami Premanand talking about a digital counter to be used for chanting.

I chant nearly everyday sometimes without the discipline… I would ideally desire. I wanted the counter saw it  online and elsewhere and forgot about it. The design was ungainly I thought.

Cut to my daily commute from Haiderpur to HauzKhas on the metro..I met Sharif a quiet small built man. We got talking I was reading the Hanuman Chalisa and he was chanting the Kalma on his counter.

After a while we got talking after his initial hesitation, the plurism of religion and many paths to one goal in very simple language. We both smiled and agreed. 

He works at a fruit merchant at Azadpur Mandi and boards every day nearly my time and heads to Chawri bazaar carrying some nehmat as calls it for his family as it’s Ramzan for the evening Iftari meal… dates, fruits, milk supplements  and sweets etc.

I am a Professor of Practice in the Outskirts.

We usually acknowledge each other and smile…

Yesterday I asked him to get me a tally counter… he was very keen and excited .. he tried to synchronise my train timing for today.. called me a few times. Finally, he handed it over to me today .. I paid him and got busy chanting and so did he until Chawri Bazaar… He walking away with his goodies. And I continued my journey of chanting with my new pluralistic device to meet and one day glimpse and experience the almighty…

Kingdom of Bhutan - Paradise Regained

 It was somewhere circa 2002-3, Vivek ( both of us then from Star TV) and I flew into Paro Airport, from possibly… Kolkata..from Kathmandu… We checked into a Hotel near Druk Hotel (everything was Druk… the airline.. the beer.. the cannery etc all owned by the royalty)… Our appointments were to start the next day…

Shooting the breeze… on the busiest street in Thimphu with 4 cars and 14 pedestrians… we walked into an open air bar and drank imported beer .. Tiger ..possibly imported from Singapore.

That’s when the penny dropped, we should eat at the most expensive restaurant in town at obviously Hotel Druk…

We sauntered into the red and ordered the most traditional dish .., Ema Datsi and rice .. ( cheese and chilli broth) we kind of liked it..

Cut to the internet influencers age .. and Deepika Padukone and her dog are talking about it . I mean Ema Datsi..

I neglected the chatter as been there done that and worn the t shirt..

Today on a Holi Evening with the quietness around me decided to replicate my memory… made Ema Datsi at home enjoyed it with buttered bread this time.. memories revisited after 23 years..