THE SILENT BONG

N ow , when you ask a foodie about Valentine's Day, he’s definitely gonna talk about Food. This is so very natural, right? However, today in the memory of the great Saint, I would not talk about food that is so very normal, but would rather share something that is everyone’s cup of ‘tea’ – the Valentine Tea.  So, what is this tea all about? Will you fall in love after having this tea? Will this tea find you your soulmate? Well! Well!! Well!!! If you have been looking for true love in a teacup, then you're sure to fall 'head over heels' on this Valentine's Tea. It deliciously combines the luxurious flavor of fresh-dipped chocolate-covered strawberries with the taste of premium hand rolled Assam tea. The Valentine Tea has the perfect blend of Peony tea which is sun dried and hand rolled with dark chocolate, imported strawberries, blue berries, dry rose petals and a blender’s secret.  Blended to perfection with ingredient that induc

S ize do matter and it definitely does a lot, especially, on the last day of Poush or the eve of Magh. Scientifically in Uttrayan -- it’s about size and shape.   Since the break of dawn on Tuesday, 5.15AM to be precise, it was an undeclared competition in Assam. Though nothing fishy about the affair but the mad rush for fish started early morning. If not the best catch then definitely the best bargain for the evening.  No matter which day of the month or in which shape the country’s economy is, being the head of the family if you return without the fish for the feast you are not man enough.     Though there are no written strictures but ‘Macch’ is a Must on Uruka -- the day before the Magh Bihu in Assam. It’s the Chitol, Borali and Bhokuwa that makes it to the choice and preference of their admirers.  Note worthily, fish today mean only local ones from the rivers and water bodies which are alive and guarantee exquisite taste. At the start, it wa

M aking its foray into the world of barbeques, Hotel Atithi, Guwahati launched its new venture with a bang. Barbeque Grill by Atithi is nothing less than a gastronomical delight that is sure to take you on a food ride . Barbecue is one of the world’s oldest cooking methods and trust me, with gorgeously tender meat and flavourful smoky vegetables, people want it all the time! It was a grand launch of the Barbeque Grill by Atithi, the third barbeque restaurant in Guwahati after Barbeque Nation & Absolute Barbeque. The stage was set, all decked up and I was too invited for the launch party. Everything was put in to place perfectly to make it a memorable dining experience; and I must say it was a great night. Right from the Master Chef Naushad Ali, all the way from Lucknow, to the staff and the music, the night seemed to be exciting.  THE STARTERS I started my 3-course meal, with a mocktail (beer and wine was also being served) and quickly gorged on to som

I always remember the time Maa cooked Khichdi (or Khichuri in Bengali) during festivals at our house. We were a joint family then of at least 16 members and every festival was a grand occasion followed by a massive feast. Though it was all veg items in the menu, the taste would give any non-veg platter a good competition. It was fun as all my cousins would come to pay us a visit and and we had a merry time. Soon grandfather would enter the temple and the puja rituals began. It was a diving experience.   Soon after the puja ceremony, ‘prasad’ was served followed by a grand lunch, also called ‘bhog’. It was a delicious spread starting from Khichuri, Beguni (deep-fried Brinjal coated with Gram Flour), Labra (mixed veg), Peas Paneer, Potato-Cauliflower Dum, Chutney and Kheer. Though we don’t celebrate festivals in such grandeur anymore, but all that I remember, is the love that all went in cooking the ‘bhog’. Maa, accompanied by other senior women of the hou

It is difficult to make your way through the bustling crowd at the normally serene Kamakhya Temple in Assam during the Ambubachi Mela. Almost every square inch of the ground is covered with crimson-clad devotees who sing, chant, meditate and shout their devotion to the Divine Mother. The Ambubachi Mela, also referred to as the Tantric Fertility Festival, is a yearly four-day festival celebrated during the monsoon season. It is, by far, the most important Hindu religious festival of Assam. It is believed that during these four days, Devi Kamakhya, an incarnate of the Mother Earth (Shakti), goes through her annual cycle of menstruation. The word ‘Ambubachi’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘ ambuvaci ’ which means ‘ the issuing forth of water’ referring to the swelling of the Earth ’ s waters from the onset of monsoon. As the holy month starts, soon, one by one, they arrive “from the wild forests of Assam, remote wilderness of the Sunderbans, snow-capped peaks of the Hi

“N o love is sincerer than the love for food” and this quest for the best took me to one of the fine dining restaurants of Guwahati – Oriental Bistro. Looking rather inconspicuous on the busy GS Road in Guwahati, Oriental Bistro has quietly etched out its name as one of the finest restaurants serving Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine. As you step in through the front doors, the exclusive feel takes you to another level. Established in 2018, Oriental Bistro is a perfect place for a great dining experience – be it with family, friends or colleagues or hosting a party. The restaurant carries a classic look that demands a certain respect and a certain dignity. Once inside, I do a quick scan of the premises – theme based lightings, decorated walls, flags on the roofs, a few Buddha statues and a bar counter making the place chic in the aristocratic sense. I quickly settled down and hoped over the menu card; it had all from dumplings, to dimsums, to sushi an