#tiki masala is really good

[band-room-quotes]

Mod Euphonium: Have you had Tiki Masala before?

Stage Manager: Ummm no

Mod Euphonium: *whispers* try this

Mod Euphonium: *slowly slides tiki masala to Stage Manager*

Bass Clarinet: I feel like I just watched a drug deal

[blkkizzat]

Hey! Indian reader here again, I'm glad you're having a great time here!!

I remember going to Agra on a trip a couple years back. Taj Mehl was amazing to see. And the history behind it is quite interesting. It was supposed to be a gift from the King of Agra to his queen though I don't remember much of the history. One part I do remember (though it's very gruesome yet romantic in a weird way) is that the king ordered that the hands of all the artisans and anyone who worked on the site would be cut off so that they wouldn't be able to create something like the palace again 😭

One tip I have is that you make sure you're not overpaying for the stuff you buy here, considering people WILL overcharge you when they realize you're a tourist. And to wear clothing which covers you up in public because short clothes are usually looked down upon here and for your own safety too depending on where you are 💔

Other than that I also recommend buying spices to take back with you if you're into spicy food!! Indian spices are extremely flavorful and vast in variety but quite expensive in other countries

Hey!! I just got back! It was an amazing trip! Your country is so beautiful. The air quality in some cities was tearing my allergies up but other than that and trying to cross the street when there isnt a traffic light in sight, I had such a great time! I never thought I could be a vegetarian but so much good non meat curries and other options there. I liked Indian food before going but loved all the new dishes I tried too! Although I don't think I will ever find a Dal Makhani or Chana Masala as good as I did at The 1944 Hocco Kitchen in Ahmedabad here in the states. I didn't even like the Dal I had on the trip up until that point it was so rich, smooth and buttery (they cooked theirs for 36hrs). Also getting to try traditional Gujarati cuisine was awesome!

The Dhokla was so good with the chutneys they'd give us as snacks. Plus I thought Japan had the best service, India takes it to a new level! I never been to restaurants where waiters are literally sprinting to your table to make sure you dont serve yourself. I only wanted a bit more curry once but I felt so bad this waiter almost tripped rushing over to me I let him put on two more scoops! Also feels like I'm back home and my grandma is making my plates cause if they see a dish nearly done and that you finished yours they will just scoop the rest into your plate. Even the fast food places (omg the paneer burger and aloo tiki burger at mcdonalds and butter chicken chalupa at taco bell were to DIE for) were far superior to what we have here and they have much more sustainable practices. I swear I gained 5lbs from all the food lmfao!! I'm used to eating either one meal or two small ones a day and my program was feeding us 3 full meals so I had to skip some at times LOL it was too much food!!

The traffic is WILD in India but its so cool to see. I don't think I would ever get used to crossing the street without feeling like I was gonna die though lmfaooo. Also omg being able to Uber a Tuk Tuk was awesome! Although there was a few times me and my friends thought we would see the pearly gates lmfaoooo. I heard that about the Taj artisans too! The tour guide we had was so knowledgable (he was a former pharmacist who went back to school to learn medival indian history as he wanted to be a tour guide instead). He told us it was because after his favored wife died (I think he said it was because she was the only one to give him children successfully) he lost his mind a bit and was locked away by one of his sons after building the Taj (Very sad too as all his sons fought and all but one survived to take over the throne). Oh yes, haha our tour consultant who travelled with us the entire time would haggle for us if we wanted something. He would actually give us a range then tell us to walk down the block then he would start haggling lol. Loved him so much, he really looked out for us!

But omg yeah I noticed that people dress pretty modestly which is wild to me considering how hot it is there but they are used to it but I was dying haha. It was 100 degrees and people were in jackets and jean pants lol. Thankfully I brought long cotton and linen dresses and skirts and was able to buy some flowly loose linen pants and brought lots of electrolyte packets. But even in the hotel (we stayed at the 5 star Hyatt Regency in Ahemedabad) that was pretty internationally catered (omg the best pasta outside of italy I swear I was so surprised haha) there were Indian men intensely staring at me and my friend wearing tight leggings to breakfast even though they came down to our ankles and we had a long sleeve shirt on too. I got on the elevator to run back up to my room for something I forgot and these guys on the elevator were so creepy. They didnt say anything but I could feel them glaring down my back. I'm glad we knew better than to wear them outside but I thought it be okay just in the hotel. That didn't sour my experience though I did meet a lot of very nice and respectful Indian men as well. Two of them (who were pretty cute tbh) helped me with my luggage on the elevator as I was leaving since I had to buy an entire new luggage for all the stuff I bought lol. Yes!! While in Delhi we went to the spice market. We took a cycle rickshaw there. We went to a tourist spice shop there though cause they seal it up well for travel and actually have premixed spice packets you can buy which makes it easier (although im sure much more expensive). I bought a ton of spices and teas haha spent like 20k rupees there lmfaooo. Mostly went so ham there cause my mom used to live in India (her 3rd husband was Indian) and she wanted me to bring her back alot of teas and spices. I got her like 4 different kinds of chai. I'm kinda sad we left right before Holi!!!! I always wanted to experience Holi!!! But since its today (or yesterday lol) and today is the first day of classes back our school had to make sure we were back for classes.

Here’s some more pics!

[theunintentionallyawesomeone]

Good news: the tower fan I got at an overstock shop for cheap works really well and will chill the fuck outta my room this summer

Bad news: I accidently got tiki masala up my nose and I am in a chilled hell

[airagorncharda]

Five Things Meme!

@temperedtempo tagged me in a “post 5 things that make me happy” post! (This might have turned into more of a “things that I’m feeling sappy and grateful about” post, but still! They DO make me happy!) 

1) Sharing my stories and art. 

In particular, my fiance and I have turned the world (and some of the story) of our Embalar story/game into a DnD campaign, and sharing it a group of friends has been one of the most inspiring and fun things I’ve engaged in in my whole life. Last night we had a session that involved a LOT of talking, but it was all “give the players new info about how the world works, with plot implications” and I was doing giddy wiggling of delight for basically the entire 3 1/2 hours of our game. 

Even sharing these things with strangers is gratifying in it’s own way, and any time I post art or writing, reading tags and comments is incredibly inspiring and encouraging and fills me with life. 

2) My fiance. 

Spending time with him, playing video games curled up in bed, excitedly sharing stories, working on DnD stuff together, cooking new recipes, playing with (and doting on) our cats, being close and cozy... We talk about our ideal future together, and our ideal someday forever house, and all of that would (and maybe will) be wonderful, but he’s also wonderful to be with in the here and now. Being happy with him in the short term AND the long term are both easy, regardless of other struggles. It’s always been that way, and I can’t imagine that ever changing. 

My life wouldn’t be the same without him, and I can’t imagine it holding anywhere near the level of joy and love it does if we weren’t together. 

3) My friends. 

My local friends, who I’ve known since we were all teenagers. Life circumstances have decreased the frequency that I see them, and sometimes I get sad about that because I wonder if we’re still as close as we were. Then I have literally any interaction with them (anything from 3 hours of hanging out to a simple text conversation or yelling at each other in tumblr PMs) and the answer is a resounding yes. They GET me on such a fundamental level, because we have so much history and so much love between us. I don’t have to hide or hedge about myself at all, which is freeing and unendingly appreciated.

My friends who I met online, too, bring daily joy to my life. The group(s) I play DnD with, in particular, give me space to be as weird and dorky and sad and excited as I need to be. They’ve managed to pry open my heart through sheer persistence and love and just being awesome people, and they’ve become the first people I really feel like I’ve MADE friends with since I was a teenager. Yelling into discord about our interests, sharing our characters, and generally supporting each other, have all become daily occurrences, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

4) My cats. 

They are goofy and sweet and beautiful and affectionate, and they give me the BEST brain chemicals purely by existing near me. Last week I finally had to cave and transfer a ton of photos off my phone (and onto my computer) to free up space on my phone, and this resulted in me transferring literally THOUSANDS of photos of my cats. Doing so freed up 1/3rd of the space my phone has to offer. You know that saying, “To know what someone loves, pay attention to what they photograph”? 

5) Food. 

I love cooking with my fiance, as well as with friends. I have always loved going out to eat and ordering in, and experimenting with recipes, and sharing meals with loved ones. 

I was going to list specific foods here (sushi, sashimi, sagwala, chicken tiki masala, salty lassis, samosas, bulgogi, gajar halwa, thai coconut soup, indian coconut soup, strawberries, brie, smoked gruyere, honey goat cheese, root beer floats, sour candy, cheese cake, jalapeno poppers, caramelized onions, lemonade, matcha, avocado and black bean quesadillas, ice box cake--) but it got too long. Food has consistently been something that will cut through even my worst moods and lowest depression, and always ALWAYS feels good even if the rest of me doesn’t. 

[bitterlemonwater]

Headcanon maybe that Steve gets really into cooking and becomes a really good cook?

Like he grew up with boiled potatoes and salt? Can you imagine how much his mind would’ve been blown to be suddenly dumped into a world of excessive seasonings and creative ways to cook without worrying about boiling the diseases away??

-----

(kind of a drabble-ish thing?? maybe?)

The very first thing Steve purchases for himself after the necessities and what he otherwise has to is a cookbook. After that, he raids the seasonings section at the grocery store. He raids the rest of the grocery store. He buys another cookbook. Then a set of three. He discovers the cooking channel on cable tv and YouTube chefs and with his metabolism he can afford to make family sized meals three times a day even if he’s only cooking for himself.

So he gets his practice in.

The first time he cooks for a group there are no shortage of jokes about the aforementioned boiled potatoes. Everyone shuts up pretty fast when they get a taste for his chicken tiki masala or his mushroom alfredo gnocchi or the absolutely ridiculous roasted salmon dish he makes.

Steve loves to cook. It’s something he feels like he can own in this new century.

Peter mentioning offhandedly how awful cafeteria food is at school, but that he never has the time to make himself a lunch, turns out to be the worst and best thing.

Steve starts packing Peter lunches.

Peanut butter and jelly? Ham sandwiches? Packets of potato chips that are more air than chip? No, absolutely not.

Steve makes Peter lasagna and home made dumpling soup and gourmet sandwiches with marinated cuts and brioche bread. Steve makes Peter spring rolls and spiced herb tuna and Brooklyn pizza he bakes from scratch. Steve gives Peter proper portion sizes for his enhanced teenage body and hits all the food groups in the proper priority proportions, twice.

Then Steve leaves fresh croissants and a post-it note inside Peter’s lunch box wishing him a good day the morning after a particularly bad patrol. The post-it winds up stuck on his bedroom wall, which May takes a picture of to send to Tony, which Tony shows to Steve (because obviously).

So Steve leaves more post-it notes, just reminders and telling him to have a good day, sometimes little jokes, sometimes little drawings. Each lunch post-it is put on Peter’s wall.

Steve loves to cook. Steve has a minor fixation on one of the only domestic activities, other than art, that he still understands while also adjusting to having to constantly be learning. Steve is great at cooking. Steve makes Peter lunch and gives him happy post-it notes and starts to see the appeal in Tony pseudo-adopting the kid.

[livingwiththeinternet]

9/14/19

I’m so glad I live right next to a city because we have a diverse population. People from different cultures open up restaurants and everybody gets to try new food. Today I went to a really good Indian restaurant and had some really good Chicken Tiki Masala. The sauce was the best part not gonna lie, I dipped my naan in it and put my rice in it. 

If I lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere I wouldn’t be able to enjoy food from many different cultures. One time my mom and I went on a road trip out in the boonies of my state and there were some villages with the only businesses being Subway and Dollar General. I’d hate living out in the middle of nowhere. I’m not giving up Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Mediterranean and Japanese food. 

[365-of-2019]

Today is August 7, 2020. I am currently on a flight home to Atlanta after spending more than two weeks out West in Colorado and Utah. Though I am coming off a desert adventure, I am sitting on this plane feeling intensely anxious. The last time I remember feeling this way was during my sophomore and junior years of college—the years in which I couldn’t see straight and didn’t sleep properly for weeks at a time. So, I am scared. I would very much prefer not to spiral in the way that I did 3 years ago. I would prefer to prove to myself that I have grown since then, and that I have ways of dealing with my anxiety other than just pretending it doesn’t exist. If it turns out that I am unable to handle my anxiety, then I will need to follow up on my years-long intention of getting professional help. Anyway. I wanted to open up a blank page and write a little bit about the past two weeks, rather than writing about my job and my stress levels.

For context: the world is still in the middle of a pandemic. In the US, COVID-19 cases continue to rise every day as public officials make laws, take back laws, and take back their take backs. In general, flying is frowned upon. When I drove up to the Atlanta airport two weeks ago, I felt enormous tidal waves of guilt. I felt selfish, ignorant, and borderline idiotic. But I still went through with it. So I guess none of those feelings really matter.

This summer, Maddie worked for Jefferson County in Golden, Colorado. She was a trail specialist and spent three days a week performing maintenance on trails all around Jefferson County. At the same time, Nevada was driving around the West Coast, spending time in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. For the past two weeks, both Maddie and Nevada have been living in the suburbs of Denver.

With both of my sisters in a city that I have always wanted to visit, and with the opportunity to work remotely from any location I choose, I felt like I could not pass up such a special moment in time. Special feels like the wrong word to use. I may look back on this decision and think, “IDIOT!” But, for now, I feel grateful for concentrated time with Maddie, who is growing and evolving so quickly and confidently.

I arrived in Colorado on July 23. That weekend, Maddie and I, along with her roommate Emma, made a drive out to Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was wild. There was sand everywhere. The hills were steep and tough to trek, due to our feet sliding backwards four inches with every step we took. But, we eventually found our own little peak to claim. And then we claimed it by eating peanuts and dancing to Harry Styles and throwing our cowboy hats into the wind. We finished the day by ordering six burritos in the drive thru of La Casita, and eating them in the Colorado wilderness. A hard Saturday to beat.

The next day, we met up with Nev to check out UC Boulder’s campus. We grabbed coffee at a Boulder café, walked around the Quad, found Varsity Bridge, and talked smack about our family members. I am so thankful for those moments—no matter how nasty or silly or irritating we may be when we are all together, we are all together.

Unfortunately (the word “unfortunately” is comical in this context), I was not permitted to take more than two days of PTO while in Colorado. For the last week of July, I worked a four-day week before we set off on our four-day weekend in the desert.

We left Thursday night and drove to an Air BnB in Grand Junction, Colorado. We woke up the next morning and drove straight to Arches National Park—the park I have been dreaming of ever since I went to Zion with Zander last year! It was 105 degrees. The air was dry. There were no trees. It was amazing.

Because I am obnoxious and feel the need to prove points that don’t need to be proven, I suggested that we attempt the longest hike in the park—an 8-mile loop through the most northern tip of Arches. To my surprise, Maddie and Emma agreed. Maybe they shouldn’t have. But they did! So we set off! We made it about halfway through the trail—seeing some beautiful arches along the way—and then spent about 90 minutes trying to locate the correct path to take to lead up through the second half of the loop. It was a little bit fun and a little bit concerning.

I love National Parks and I love the West because they make you feel small. You can look at a canyon or a mountain or the clear night sky and feel like a speck. Which then means that all of your problems and worries are smaller than specks. And that’s nice. However, when you are lost in the middle of a canyon, feeling small is not so reassuring. As we drank the last sips of our water, we decided to turn around and cut our losses. So, we did not complete the 8-mile loop, but we did complete an 8-mile hike. I was so thankful to be with my sister in nature. Not even a powerfully persistent dry mouth could ruin the day.

That night, we camped at a private campsite in Moab. We grabbed fresh corn, broccoli, and vegan sausages from the grocery store and grilled them over charcoal. We slept in Emma’s tent, sleeping on the camping pads that I purchased last November when Kristy and I spent the night on Maddie’s dorm floor. I had not been camping since I was little, and I had not felt so disconnected from technology since my time in Uganda. It was a welcome change.

We woke up to the blazing sun burning through the side of our tent, and set off for another stint at Arches. The second time around, we waltzed around the more touristy parts of the Park, taking ~4 minute walks to reach beautiful viewpoints. It was relaxing. And beautiful. And I think we were all happy to have the car within a half mile.

Arches was everything I thought it would be. I wish I could explore the that place for weeks, rather than days.

The second night in Moab, we drove to a Utah state park called Dead Horse Point. It sits at the northern end of Canyonlands National Park. It was insane. I saw the Grand Canyon last year, so I know what big canyons look like, but this one still took my breath away and had me repeatedly saying, “Wow,” like an idiot. I hope that that feeling never goes away no matter how many feats of nature I come across.

We asked the park ranger if we could stay past closing hours, and he suggested that the answer was yes. We laid on the rocks of the canyon wall for hours, watching the sky turn from neon orange to dark blue. It was the night before a Full Moon, and the light of the moon lit up the canyon walls so brightly that we ran and danced and played music until nearly 11PM. The tiny desert mice made a couple of appearances. We said thank you.

Day three in the desert: we drove to the center of Utah. Along our drive, we saw signs that said, “No Services for 100 Miles.” We thought we were in the desert in Moab. But when we drove farther West, we started to realize that Moab is a bustling city in comparison to the center of the state.

We spent the afternoon at Little Wild Horse Canyon, a slot canyon near Goblin Valley State Park. We had a photoshoot between the canyon walls and soaked up the shade that the narrow slots created. It was a beautiful, totally unique ~4 mile hike that left us in high spirits.

That night, we stayed at a campsite in Goblin Valley. Emma got us some firewood and we roasted corn over a fire. Maddie made me tiki masala with chickpeas. There were signs at the campsite that advised boiling water before consuming. We tried. It was very bad.

After dinner, we drove to the valley of the park to soak up the stars. Goblin Valley is home to one of the darkest night skies in the US, and we could tell how special that darkness was, even in the blinding moonlight. Maddie and Emma stripped and ran around the valley naked. I curled up in the crevice of a boulder and stared up for an hour. Sometimes, I wish I would not be such a square. Sometimes, I appreciate my ability to choose the things that bring me most satisfaction, even when others are telling me that I am choosing incorrectly. But that’s for another time.

We drove home to Golden the night after our rendezvous with the goblins, and we all took showers and curled up on the couch after nearly four full days in the desert heat.

I have already written this so many times, which I hope suggests that it is authentic: I am so thankful for experiences like the one I had last weekend. Particularly in the midst of a world that is stressful for me as an individual, but also stressful for global society, I feel so lucky to have the relationships and resources at my fingertips to experience truly special pieces of life. Never have I ever wanted to buy a van and live off of rice and beans so badly. There is so much that I haven’t seen and so much that I want to see again. I often feel as though I approach life like a race—trying to squeeze in experiences even when doing so is inconvenient or difficult or exhausting. I hope this is a good thing. I am not sure yet.

I spent the last four days working from Maddie’s home in Golden. She finished up her summer job this week, and is driving back to North Carolina this weekend. I am landing in Atlanta tonight and moving into my new apartment tomorrow. Jake and Dad are driving down from Raleigh to help me with the insane one-day moving process. They are kind.

I am stressed about work, stressed about moving, stressed about money, stressed about COVID-19, stressed about the social and political atmosphere of the country. Sometimes, it is so much that I break into tears without any specific triggers. But at the same time, I am feeling such immense gratitude. I have siblings who are so smart and thoughtful and unique. I have spent more time with Mom and Dad in 2020 than I did in the four years previous. Zander is loving and kind and gives me advice when I feel helpless. I have a job that is challenging, but full of some of the brightest people I have ever met. I am moving in with one of my best friends from college tomorrow, making a beautiful apartment on 14th Street into our home. I got to see the desert and soak up the dirt. So, really, life is very very good.

[wineanddinosaur]

A Montreal Bartender Wants You to Pair Indian Cuisine with (Really Good) Cocktails

Whether it’s fine dining or Tuesday takeout, when it comes to pairing beverages with Indian cuisines, most of us default to easy-drinking beer. After all, a frosty lager is tasty, refreshing, and, most importantly, foolproof.

A number of wines complement different Indian flavors, though, as award-winning sommelier Rajat Parr told VinePair. Cocktails might seem intimidating, but there are ways to approach those flavors alongside your favorite Indian fare as well.

Fidel Vasquez, the Beverage Director at Montreal’s popular India Rosa restaurant, is proof it can be done. Vasquez created simple twists on classic cocktails to play off India Rosa’s shareable plates like vegetable biryani and tender lamb kadhi.

With his cocktail pairings, Fidel Vazquez aims to “create something with balance between sweet, sour, salty, bitter.” Credit: Indiarosa.com

“To come up with this menu, I did a lot of research into spices and typical Indian dishes,” Vasquez says. “I tested homemade syrups, fruit purees, dehydrated fruits, dry flowers, macerated fruits, and smoked cocktails.” Those simple additions result in perfect pairings, he says.

India Rosa serves an array of delightfully layered cocktails—from an Old Fashioned made with Amrut whiskey and ginger syrup, to a Boulevardier featuring pink grapefruit, chocolate bitters, and grapefruit bitters. There is also a section of tiki options.

Cocktail traditionalists may browse the list with furrowed brow, but Vasquez’s pairings are undeniable. After tasting the drinks with the food, it’s clear that the bit of ginger syrup helps balance the creaminess of your lamb korma, and those earthy-sweet notes in the chocolate bitters enhance the spice of your friend’s channa Masala.

In fact, adding in a bit of fruit or spice is one of the tricks of pairing Indian food with cocktails, Vasquez says. “For people who want to make cocktails at home to pair with their favorite Indian dishes, the basic is having a nice recipe for syrups and mix those with fruit juices and purees, then with some neutral alcohol and liquors.”

The idea of whipping up some syrups for your home bar may sound like something only a pro bartender could handle, but it’s quite easy. Simple syrup lives up to its name—it’s equal parts sugar and water. You barely even need a recipe. Add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract, and you’ve got vanilla simple syrup. Steep with a few slices of orange peel and voila! Orange simple syrup.

“The point is to create something with balance between sweet, sour, salty, bitter and even adding something to pair up with the umami flavor,” Vazquez says. “In doing so, the other flavors pop—they’re both more noticeable and taste better.”

Don’t be shy about building your cocktail’s flavors, either. You want to develop both contrasting and complementing notes in the drink.

“If the dish has some spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf, or spicy powders, I would use something to calm all those flavors—something fresh and fruity so every bite is the same as the first one,” Vazquez says. “On the other hand, I would also use similar flavors in my cocktail ingredients, something spicy or salty, or cocktails that contain homemade syrups of Indian spices, so the flavor builds with every bite.”

So, let’s say you’re tucking into palak paneer. Try steeping a chunk of green bell pepper in simple syrup, and add a dash to your dry gin Martini. The infused syrup will harmonize with the vegetal notes of spinach, while cutting through the creamy paneer. If you’re a tikka masala fan, go for a Painkiller with a dash of ginger simple syrup. The pineapple juice will brighten the masala spices, and the ginger in both your drink and dish will play off each other.

Or, try India Rosa’s take on a Boulevardier. Vasquez loves it with the restaurant’s shrimp malai, a creamy spiced curry.

Vazquez riffs on classic cocktails to pair with India Rosa’s menu. Credit: Indiarosa.com

India Rosa’s Boulevardier

Beverage Director Fidel Vasquez serves this cocktail smoked but, if you don’t have a smoker at home, you can get tasty results while skipping that step.

Ingredients

1 ounce Amrut Indian Single Malt whisky

1 ounce Vermouth rosso

1 ounce Campari

3 dashes chocolate bitters

3 drops grapefruit bitters

1 ounce grapefruit juice

Orange or grapefruit twist (for garnish)

Instructions

Put all ingredients into a mixing glass, and stir for ten seconds.

Strain into an old fashioned glass with one large ice cube.

Smoke, if using, and add garnish.

The article A Montreal Bartender Wants You to Pair Indian Cuisine with (Really Good) Cocktails appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/cocktails-indian-food/

[jenguerrero]

Hi everybody! I just spent the last two weeks down at Disney and Universal with my family. It really is a magical place. I think this was our 6th trip there, so we thought we had the drill down, but they’ve changed so much since our last visit, like 6 years ago. If you’ve never gone, you should totally rectify that!

*How* magical is it? Here’s a little story from the end of a wonderful and exhausting day at one of the parks…. We were so tired but ran to Downtown Disney for a few last things the kids wanted. I looked down and the pocket I keep my phone in was unzipped and my phone was gone. We tried Find My IPhone but there was no signal. It’s such a crowded tourist area that it has to be popular with thieves because bumping into people and having someone’s hand brush against your handbag is so common that it would dull any red flags. I was so upset thinking all the photos of the kids and my niece were just gone. A security guard on a bike asked if everything was alright. I explained and he asked if I wanted his help. Absolutely sure that there was nothing he could do, I <as politely as I could but skeptical or even cynical is an understatement> asked if that ever works. He took down a report and then walked us across all of Disney Springs, slower than turtles stampeding through peanut butter. About a block from guest services, he told me he was hopeful because there was no signal. Their procedure is to turn them off before turning them in. If there’s a signal on find my IPhone, they know they don’t have it. I thought it could also be explained by my power running out. He walked up to a guest services person and they ducked into a locked room and walked back out with a phone. Yeah, the opening picture is of Alex and Kat ten years ago in front of a Mickey topiary making mouse ears with little closed baby fists. I started crying and tackle hugged the security guard. He was beaming. I actually think fixing our problem made his day, too. Only at Disney, right?!

Off the beaten path stuff that we adore…

We rented a pontoon boat at the Polynesian resort. It’s a fabulous experience. You can turn up the radio and take a super chill ride past the Magic Kingdom monorail area (the castle’s visible!), Discovery Island (Big attraction for the teenagers because there’s all kinds of legends and stories about this abandoned island. No, you’re not allowed to set foot on land there.), the Grand Floridian resort, and the Fort Wilderness resort. There were only 4 of us but I think it can seat 6 (or maybe 8). It’s $45 for 30 minutes, but you don’t have to watch the clock. We were out for 45 minutes and they charged us for that, not an hour. You have to be 18 to drive it. They had little 2 person boats that you only have to be 12 to drive. I think those were $30/half hour. The Polynesian has a great gift shop with high end Hawaiian shirts, and there are speakers playing Hawaiian music everywhere – even the parking lots. There’s a Dole Whip stand there, too. If you don’t know what that is, pineapple soft serve (twisted with vanilla if you like), and you can get it on top of pineapple upside down cake or floating in pineapple juice if you like. There are other locations to rent boats, but this is our favorite so far.

Surrey bikes. What?! Yeah. It’s a 4 person bike vehicle with a roof. There’s a little basket on the front that our youngest used to LOVE riding in when she was tiny with a bell for them to enthusiastically ding. There’s no gears, so you get a mighty fine workout going uphill over two bridges for each lap you do. We rented one down in the boardwalk area. I think it’s like $30/half hour. If you like to get in a vacation-y workout while you’re on holiday, I totally recommend it! The boardwalk also has boat rentals, beach yoga, a running trail, and a bunch of boardwalk restaurants.

New/Modified rides…

The new Avatar flight ride at Animal Kingdom is the best thing at an amusement park ever. Really. I bet you think that’s subjective, but it’s totally factual. And satisfactual. They send you in with a warning page when you enter the line. I’m afraid of heights <not too bad, because there’s nothing I wont ride at a Disney park> so I was concerned. Are they actually ziplining us all? My bet was on no because they couldn’t efficiently get through a line of people like that. Will it be like Soarin’ and just strap us in a big porch swing as images go by? Probably not. I reminded myself that Disney was in the business of delighting people, and I would probably be delighted. I’m so glad I did! I worried for nothing. You climb on what looks like a Star Wars speeder bike. You are secured in place by safety gear wrapped around your abdomen and your lower back like a big hug, and more holding the back of your legs against the bike. Then you put on virtual reality goggles. Images and wonderful smells whiz by as you’re just sort of tilted about. But it all feels so real! I looked sideways at one point and saw that there are so many rows and columns of the bikes, kind of like the wall of doors in Monsters Inc.

The Slinky Dog coaster at Hollywood Studios actually feels like you’re riding a slinky at one point. They speed you up like you’re on a hot wheels track at the middle. It’s too fun! It’s kind of the perfect starter coaster because it decelerates on the droppy parts. Yes, that’s a technical term.

The Seven Dwarves Mine Train at Magic Kingdom is a really fun kiddie coaster. I love the safety bars on it. You know how on some rides, there seem to be predetermined clicks, and you’re trying so hard to get it to click down one more? Not on this. It’s somehow more personalized, so when you pull it down, it exactly fits you. Nice. We waited a torturous three hours to get on (they estimated 1 ½), so if you want to ride it, maybe head straight there from the gate.

We always loved the Norwegian boat ride at the Norway pavilion at Epcot, so we were a little sad to hear they were giving it a makeover for Frozen. Nah, it’s awesome.

The Kilamajaro Safari ride at Animal Kingdom has been updated to be so much more informative (super yay!), but they killed off the whole “Simba 1! Simba 1! There are poachers in the area!” (Boo!)! Three of us were sad, but my youngest thinks they’ve completely ruined it.

The Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom. Okay, this was only slightly modified, but it’s my personal amusement. They select a bad guy in the audience each time. He used to be called “That guy”, and now he’s called “Sullivan”. My husband gets picked every time. Not even kidding. The last 4 trips. He did this time, too, and my sweet little niece got picked as the monster’s helper! Day made!

Food…

Disney does food so well. On our first night there, we headed to Bongos, Gloria Estefan’s Cuban restaurant at Disney Springs. The bacon wrapped plantains appetizer was amazing. The steak with chimichurri and fufu (mashed green and sweet plantains) was fantastic, and I had a tropical cocktail that was fabulous. They have live music in there, and people dancing, and it’s just buckets of fun. In terms of your pocketbook, it’s in the category “all your money”.

At Epcot, we ate at Le Cellier one day and Coral Reef another. Le Cellier is at the Canada pavilion. The filet mignon over the mushroom risotto is absolute perfection, and my personal fave at Disney. We got reservations this time, but on trips where we couldn’t get the reservation we’ve wanted at Epcot, we’ve had good luck running straight to the restaurant we wanted right when the world showcase opens. It seems to be the best shot of them squeezing you in. At Coral Reef, we had the salmon, and it was to die for. I had the mahi mahi on another trip and that’s glorious if you are in a tropical mood. They’re both in the in the category “all your money” category.

At Magic Kingdom, we always eat at Tony’s because my kids think the doggies sharing the spaghetti plate in Lady and the Tramp is the most romantic scene in movie history. I think it might actually be the almost kiss in It’s a Wonderful Life, but the kids have let me know exactly how wrong I am on that one. By the way, the ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta there is fabulous. Most of your money.

The second day at Magic Kingdom, we found a restaurant we’d never noticed before, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen. If you can’t get enough of the cheesy jokes on the jungle cruise, this is the place for you! We adored it! It’s as corny as can be and the food was great, too. One kiddo had a pineapple tofu dish, I had A Lot at Steak Salad, my hub had a whole fried hogfish, and our other kiddo had the sustainable fish of the day. All were super yummy. Most of your money. There are two cheap super-popular-for-a-reason treats that you really need to consider there: Dole Whip and Orange Bird. They are both fruity soft serve deals right before you get to the Enchanted Tiki Room or Pirates ride, and will give you delicious distraction while you’re in line.

At Hollywood Studios, we ate a Mama Melrose’s. Nice Italian food. Most of your money.

At Animal Kingdom, we ate at Yak and Yeti’s. Fantastic stuff. I had chicken tikka masala, my hub had Korean fried chicken and waffles, one kiddo had honey chicken, and the other had a shrimp and scallop sriracha mac and cheese. The sushi starter was nice, too. Most of your money.

We headed back home. On the drive, we realized our favorite Po’ Boy in New Orleans would only add 30 minutes to that 19 hour drive. So worth it. I think we’ll stop for beignets on the drive there next time.

Onto a week or two of health food to atone for vacation. We bought a new saki set at Epcot, so I think I’ll get busy making sushi! Happy week, and let me know if you need any Disney recommendations! 😀 ~Jen

Family Vacay at Disney World! Hi everybody! I just spent the last two weeks down at Disney and Universal with my family.

[ccolemcdaniel]

Day 30:

Today was a day full of markets. First stop was Camden which is north of central London. We got breakfast at the Cereal Killer Cafe, which is a cereal lover’s dream. They have tons of different cereals from the US and other countries, including discontinued cereals. They combine cereals and toppings making bowls of cereal much more exciting. I got a combination of apple jacks, cinnamon toast crunch and honey and Cole got Krave, chocolate stars and nutella. Cole thought his was a little much so I gladly finished his too. We also got a latte and iced coffee to start the day off right.

In Camden, there are 6 different markets. We walked down the street to Camden Lock Market. This market has a mix of craft vendors with jewelry, decor, paintings, and clothes as well as food vendors. I got a cute tank top here that says “Mind the Gap” and if you have ever been to London, you have heard this said over and over again on the tube. After walking around for awhile, we then went to the Stables Market. This market has been converted from horse stables, and a lot of the stables are still intact which gives it a unique style.

After spending the whole morning walking around the markets, we were ready for lunch. We walked to the close by Hauché, which supposedly had some of the best burgers in London. Cole and I were definitely impressed. I got one that was a seasonal special with pimento cheese, bacon, rocket (arugula), spicy mayo, and courgette (zucchini). Probably the best burger I’ve ever had...so good. Cole got one with truffle aioli, caramelized onions, gruyere cheese, and truffle shavings. He really enjoyed his burger as well. For dessert, we walked back over towards Camden Lock to Chin Chin Labs. This is an ice cream place that makes your ice cream after you order it using liquid nitrogen! We got chocolate with raspberry sauce and we got to watch them pour liquid ingredients into a mixer followed by liquid nitrogen and out came our delicious ice cream!

One thing we had to mark off our bucket list was to visit the apartment that they use to film the BBC show Sherlock. It’s not on Baker street unfortunately, but we knew where to go and it was awesome to get to stand in the very spot where Benedict Cumberbatch and others have stood. Next, we went to the very first department store, Selfridges, which was established in 1909. It’s massive and there was so much to walk around and see there. After, we walked down Oxford street and looked at some stores there.

The next market we went to was Borough Market. Since it was a Monday, it was a limited market, but some things were still open. We did pick up a focaccia bun with sundried tomatoes and pesto that was really tasty from a stand called Bread Ahead. We then went to see Leadenhall Market mainly because it was the inspiration for Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. We also recognized and walked through a part that can be seen in the first movie of the series.

We had some time to kill before dinner, so we started walking towards the National Gallery because it was free to enter. It’s located in the famous Trafalger Square, also seen in Sherlock, and we also passed by the famous Sherlock Holmes Pub. We arrived at the National Gallery about an hour before they closed, so we tried to hit the high points. We saw Van Gogh (my favorite painter) and Cole saw a lot of scenic paintings which are his favorite.  We also saw a painting of the water’s edge of St. Mark’s Square in Venice...that place we were at just a couple weeks earlier (on this same trip!).

When I was planning our trip, I heard that if you are going to London, you have to try the Indian food. So for dinner, we traveled to Brick Lane, the center of Indian food in London. When we were walking down the street to the restaurant I had picked out, it was like we were back in Italy where we were getting constantly asked to buy selfie sticks and roses. We finally made it inside the restaurant and since it was a little earlier, it wasn’t busy. Cole and I aren’t Indian food connoisseurs, and we’ve only had it a couple times, so we picked safe options. We split an order of chicken tiki masala, butter chicken, and naan. We thought everything was really good and flavorful and went back to our room for an earlier night.

[prague-lematic]

MER!

The time has finally come! I met Meredith and Matt at this little burger and beer joint by the center of old town square. We then walked towards the castle only to realize there was a huge czech bike race. So we watched as people came rolling down the long stairs leading up to the castle and up and over a wooden structure. It was bizarre. Then we wandered later that evening after having choir to get a drink in old town. We ended up finding the coolest rooftop terrace looking over all of old town and almost being close enough to touch the famous clock tower. We sat and got XL Mojitos which were delicious and Matt got a beer or something I’m sure haha. Then that was it for that day. We headed back and got some rest for the next big day ahead of us. It started with all the upcoming seniors of the group: Brittney, Kellie, Mackenzie, Becca, myself and Matt all running through the heat to get to the church right in the middle of Old Town: St. Nicholas Church to join a choir Dr. Foster knew the director of to join them to sing Dan Forrest’s Requiem which was near and dear to our hearts. We all sang with smiles and I know for myself, a fear teary eyed moments as the orchestra beautifully took off. It was such a magical place to sing a piece that we started with three years prior to at high point university. absolutely magical. Our performance wasn’t until later so we hurried across the bridge, even with Kellie’s awful (broken?) leg (Matt ended up carrying her across Charles in his dress shoes hahah) to sing for the Bohemian Bagel ladies. We ate there like every day so we sang “Java Jive” to them all about coffee and more. Dr. Foster said they cried. Everyone else in the restaurant looked pretty confused hahaha. but still worth running and sweating. Meredith was a lifesaver and got me a bagel to go as we hurried back to St. Nicholas to change into concert attire and perform a concert for all kinds of tourists and music enthusiasts or just to get out of the boiling sun that day. Afterwards, Matt, myself and Meredith found our way to the Prague Botanical Gardens which was absolutely green and stunning and peaceful. The skies were blue, the sun was out and the grass was greener than green. We parked our butts under some trees for the more pale and let Meredith sun bathe as we all talked about life and babies and weird stuff. The cutest baby crawled over to us and I don’t think I had ever been as happy as I was in that moment. That night, we brought Meredith to the jazz club which little did I know would be my last time. That was one of the first places I ever went. Bittersweet for sure. After listening to some good jazz, we headed out with Kellie and Matt to go to Nebe and get a fish bowl YUM. The pub crawl we wanted to go on at some point happened to be there so we got a flyer and watched it all go down around us as we sipped quietly and then danced and shouted to some Dancing Queen by Abba. MY FAVORITE. The next morning we had to sing near the Prague Castle which was pretty warm and some people felt faint but still a beautiful experience even though the lines to get in were crazy long. Meredith slept in so I ran back to grab her to get food with Matt and I. We got paninis and some got their coffee fix at a small little cafe right near the center then we lathered on some sun screen and got on a paddle boat to paddle around the Vltava River. It was such a beautiful day and there were swan paddle boats and car paddle boats and lawn chair paddle boats it was sweet. We got a normal one but it still felt nice and I let my feet dangle over at times to catch the cool, dirty water. We paddled up to a bar on the side and each got a drink to take with us as we paddled around. After taking some pictures, we almost got run over by the ferry.... you think we’re kidding but i’m being serious. The guy honked and was only a few feet away when Matt and I paddled like crazy to the other side- as our steering wheel literally broke. It was traumatic but awesome. A guy on another paddle boat was laughing watching it all and all I can remember is never realizing my legs could even move that fast. That night we got italian food down this little ally near the old town square and carb loaded for the Drunken Monkey pub crawl which quickly became our second family hahaha. It was fun! We ended up at this club that looked over Wencesles Square- pretty neat if you ask me. S/O to the British man that made my night just by talking to me- British accents are forever the most charming of all time. We made friends with English girls also and they stayed with us the whole night. Super fun. The next day we sang at a church near the dancing house for our last concert- though the “Road Home” got emotional we all kept it together and ate a big czech meal all together at the Municipal House one last time where the guy played the accordion and sang to us all in czech and then “My Little Sunshine.” Mer and I then split a yummy trdelnik with vanilla inside... so good. then we headed to the metro to go back for a bit. OH I almost forgot I tried Indian food and loved it- Chicken Tiki Masala.... yum I can taste it now. First we checked out some souvenirs though. We went to Roxy that night and met Rowan’s brother and then got a free trdelnik to take with us to walk back to the metro by malostranska. The charles bridge at night never gets old. The next day was a Mer and me day. We headed to Karlstejn, Czech Republic. It was only about an hour away from Prague by train and what a beautiful day we had to hike up to the castle. The town almost didn’t feel real, entirely based around tourism and so so small. It was basically a neighborhood leading up to the castle. That’s all! Meredith and I made friends with a coin vendor right near the castle and he ended up letting us make our own Czech Republic original coins ourselves by banging the big heavy hammer down on to the silver metal and putting it on a string for us. Pretty cool. Once we were done with our hike of a tour around the castle (tons of stairs!!!) we got some food. We accidentally got put on the Czech tour so thank god we had the nicest tour guide. He translated after everything he said to everyone else. Life saver. We learned a bit about the history and more about the infrastructure. There was even a door that you had to steer a wheel around and around to open- we both got to try it. The meal we had was awesome- Meredith finally got some goulash in a bread bowl while I had the best gnocci of all time with like fettucini almost and some chicken and spinach. to die for honestly. That night we met Matt to get some mexican food at Las Adelitas in old town square. The next day, Meredith and I walked around Letenske park with the metronome and popped some champagne and enjoyed the good weather. The open container law in America is really just going to suck. Then we made our way to the Royal Summer Palace/Royal Gardens and marveled at all the beautiful flowers. We made our rounds one last time to the castle and cathedral and then ending at the John Lennon Wall. There was a guy singing “Here Comes the Sun.” Loved it. We got some food right at the Charles Bridge on the bohemian bagel side. I got the yummiest greek salad and Meredith got a huge burger. YUM. Then we walked to the baby statue park and snapped some photos with the babies. We then walked down and across the street to go to the island where I studied a bit some vocab for my english final and Meredith tanned. I peered out every so often at the people paddle boating and laughing and the charles bridge filled with what looked like tiny ants and I couldn’t help but smile. The next day we woke up and Meredith and I grabbed breakfast from “The Art Cafe” in the flora mall/the atrium. It was yummy though not one of the workers could speak good english. Meredith had to catch her outgoing flight as I headed to my last final so it was a sad goodbye but i know i’ll visit her in New York City this summer so it was a see ya later. Thank goodness she visited. She came at the perfect time. Meredith, if you’re reading this: how cool it is to say I got to wander my favorite city with my favorite person. Love you always. Xo

[stevesupallnighttogetbucky]

First of all, points for presentation bc she is KILLING IT. Second it smells really good. Idk what to call it, I was following a recipe for vegan tiki masala or vegan curry I can't remember because I'm a dumbass but I didn't have shallots and I didn't have tomatoes so I improvised by adding some bell pepper and adding some more potatoes on top. It's mostly chickpeas lol I've never had a chickpea so idk what they are or what they taste like I just hope it's good yo. I had pretty much all the seasonings in my spice cabinet and I just had to make some quick vegetable stock. I'm really excited (and proud?) I've never made a vegan meal before, I made it for my friend BUT HER BITCH ASS AINT EVEN HERE, IM TALJING ABOUT OU @theamazingswlisnotonfire... Anyway I'm going to try it I hope I don't hate it, I've been wondering if soy sauce (for my rice dawg) is vegan bc I'm committed to this meal and I don't want to screw it up. The bran I have is la Choy soy sauce I couldn't find anything online and there's nothing particularly animal-y about the ingredients but I'll just wait.

[wineanddinosaur]

A Montreal Bartender Wants You to Pair Indian Cuisine With (Really Good) Cocktails

Whether it’s fine dining or Tuesday takeout, when it comes to pairing beverages with Indian cuisines, most of us default to easy-drinking beer. After all, a frosty lager is tasty, refreshing, and, most importantly, foolproof.

A number of wines complement different Indian flavors, though, as award-winning sommelier Rajat Parr told VinePair. Cocktails might seem intimidating, but there are ways to approach those flavors alongside your favorite Indian fare as well.

Fidel Vasquez, the beverage director at Montreal’s popular India Rosa restaurant, is proof it can be done. Vasquez created simple twists on classic cocktails to play off India Rosa’s shareable plates like vegetable biryani and tender lamb kadhi.

With his cocktail pairings, Fidel Vazquez aims to “create something with balance between sweet, sour, salty, bitter.” Credit: Indiarosa.com

“To come up with this menu, I did a lot of research into spices and typical Indian dishes,” Vasquez says. “I tested homemade syrups, fruit purees, dehydrated fruits, dry flowers, macerated fruits, and smoked cocktails.” Those simple additions result in perfect pairings, he says.

India Rosa serves an array of delightfully layered cocktails — from an Old Fashioned made with Amrut whiskey and ginger syrup, to a Boulevardier featuring pink grapefruit, chocolate bitters, and grapefruit bitters. There is also a section of tiki options.

Cocktail traditionalists may browse the list with furrowed brow, but Vasquez’s pairings are undeniable. After tasting the drinks with the food, it’s clear that the bit of ginger syrup helps balance the creaminess of your lamb korma, and those earthy-sweet notes in the chocolate bitters enhance the spice of your friend’s channa masala.

In fact, adding in a bit of fruit or spice is one of the tricks of pairing Indian food with cocktails, Vasquez says. “For people who want to make cocktails at home to pair with their favorite Indian dishes, the basic is having a nice recipe for syrups and mix those with fruit juices and purees, then with some neutral alcohol and liquors,” he says.

The idea of whipping up some syrups for your home bar may sound like something only a pro bartender could handle, but it’s quite easy. Simple syrup lives up to its name — it’s equal parts sugar and water. You barely even need a recipe. Add a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract, and you’ve got vanilla simple syrup. Steep with a few slices of orange peel and voila! Orange simple syrup.

“The point is to create something with balance between sweet, sour, salty, bitter and even adding something to pair up with the umami flavor,” Vazquez says. “In doing so, the other flavors pop — they’re both more noticeable and taste better.”

Don’t be shy about building your cocktail’s flavors, either. You want to develop both contrasting and complementing notes in the drink.

“If the dish has some spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf, or spicy powders, I would use something to calm all those flavors — something fresh and fruity so every bite is the same as the first one,” Vazquez says. “On the other hand, I would also use similar flavors in my cocktail ingredients, something spicy or salty, or cocktails that contain homemade syrups of Indian spices, so the flavor builds with every bite.”

So, let’s say you’re tucking into palak paneer. Try steeping a chunk of green bell pepper in simple syrup, and add a dash to your dry gin Martini. The infused syrup will harmonize with the vegetal notes of spinach, while cutting through the creamy paneer. If you’re a tikka masala fan, go for a Painkiller with a dash of ginger simple syrup. The pineapple juice will brighten the masala spices, and the ginger in both your drink and dish will play off each other.

Or, try India Rosa’s take on a Boulevardier. Vasquez loves it with the restaurant’s shrimp malai, a creamy spiced curry.

Vazquez riffs on classic cocktails to pair with India Rosa’s menu. Credit: Indiarosa.com

India Rosa’s Boulevardier

Beverage director Fidel Vasquez serves this cocktail smoked, but if you don’t have a smoker at home, you can get tasty results while skipping that step.

Ingredients

1 ounce Amrut Indian Single Malt whisky

1 ounce vermouth rosso

1 ounce Campari

3 dashes chocolate bitters

3 drops grapefruit bitters

1 ounce grapefruit juice

Orange or grapefruit twist (for garnish)

Instructions

Put all ingredients into a mixing glass, and stir for 10 seconds.

Strain into an Old Fashioned glass with one large ice cube.

Smoke, if using, and add garnish.

The article A Montreal Bartender Wants You to Pair Indian Cuisine With (Really Good) Cocktails appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/cocktails-indian-food/