Month: March 2018

After Jackfruit, Sardine Stimulus to Kerala Economy

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Sardine Fry

Sardine Dark Red Curry

Coconut Gravy Sardine Curry – Yum Yum

Cleaning Sardines 

Viewers discretion Advised!

Come all ye sardine lovers. This post is dedicated to sardine lovers – yes, all those who swear by the smelly sardines. I love sardines in any form – curry, dry with coconut or fry, but not too deep fry. It feel it takes the taste away. Well, occasionally it’s fine, the crisp fried one.

The most important things is that sardine should be fresh!

Here in Trivandrum, sardines are available all through the year. During, breeding season, sardines usually get’s a shinny coat of fat. I love it, but something it’s smelly.

Well, this post is not just about the mathi fry or curry, it’s something beyond these home cooked fish. It’s about the new backbone of the Kerala economy.

Welcome to Sardine Economy!

For a long time, we’ve beard a lot on print, TV and online media about the declining remittance from Gulf to Kerala. With job becoming scare in Middle East region, it’s financial crisis for many Malayalee famalies. Just couple of days back ( March 28), I came across this article in the news –  As “Gulf Money” Dries Up, Half-Built Bungalows In This Kerala Village , also another article hinting at the recession in Kerala.

Now, the news is about one village in Kerala, but I’m sure it’s going to spread to other villages and towns.

I’m a pessimist. That’s what my friend says. So, bear with me, when I portray a bleak picture.

Do We Stand a Chance to Revive our Economy

With our attitude, I doubt on what we can do. Unless, we shred the bossy, superior attitude. Btw, my version of this is from my observation, not by studying the micro or macro economic indicators of this state.

Arrogant Attitude of Malaylees in Kerala – Well, Meek Pussies Outside

One thing that’s event is our attitude. Walk into a Govt office, or a shop, or hire a union worker, or visit a restaurant or hire an auto. Well, all are not as bad as I portray, but the majority has a negative vibe an unruly talk.

 Recently, I went to Kovalam with my friend for a beer. It was the first day of the month, and it’s dry day in Trivandrum. Most sea facing restaurants is Hawa Beach said NO, however, few agreed to serve. And out of this, we picked one.

While we settled for a beer, another group of three foreigners sat in front of us. And, suddenly a waiter ( could be a partner as he had a look of authority) started a verbal fight with one of the lady in the group saying that there’s no food for you. You can leave, you are not going to be served in this place.

This group of senior people walked away. Later, this aggressive waiter explained to another customer that he got pissed b’cos the lady didn’t give any specific order. She said that any soup is fine. He lost his temper for that!

Okay, it’s fine to loose one’s temper, but it’s not acceptable for sales staff to shout at customers in public, and worse, when abusive words ( in Malayalam or any native language) is used. Why did he use swear words in Malayalam, and why didn’t someone stop him. Probably, it’s the accepted behavior.

I have seen situation when nagging customer is politely, and tactfully managed by the sales staff, without making other customers uncomfortable.

Well, I can share many more real experiences, but what’s the point. Interesting part is that these people when they go out of Kerala, are meek, obedient and shepherd orders from the boss. All the show of aggressiveness is only in their home-ground. Have you heard the voice of Malaylees in Gulf or in any other part of India.

COMING BACK TO SARDINE ECONOMY

My thesis is simple, but looks workable as long there’s supply of sardines. It’s based on this hypothesis that we as a state of fish eaters can make a business out of sardines. Make our economy revive a bit, based on this!

Here’s a way to implement.

1. Declare sardine as the state sea fish of Kerala. ( Get some buzz in media, just like jack fruit. It’s Karemmen which is declared as the state fish)
2. Govt teams with hotel industry, home chef’s, individuals. Probably, a competition to new recipes, dishes from sardines. Not just typical curry, but a wide choice of menu. Focus on grills, less oil.
3. Promote sardine barbecue in all coastal towns, dedicate parks for barbecue, booths, where public can hire barbecue and grill sardines. I heard of such places in Gulf area.
4. Facilitate small shop restaurants to sell sardines curry and puttu for breakfast
5. Give training to small metal work industries to make portable coal and electric barchecue sets.
6.  Give training to Kudambashree teams to setup up sardine themed tea restaurants, tea shops
7.  Sardine fishing trips – give the experience to tourist and natives on the way sardine is caught
8. Sardine burgers, pickles, momos and more
9. Start Sardine and beer joints ( Good combo) It would be the best shot for the economy.
10 Along with sardines, suggest people to add mushroom in their diet. We have many mushroom growers in the state, but it hasn’t still got into the menu of common people.

What does this do for the economy?

1. Job creation, wealth from new restaurant biz
2. A new food sector opens up ( sardine
3. Skilled chefs gets an opportunity to share new recipe
4. Good health, when barbecue is popularized
5 Mushroom business also gets a boost. ( Mushroom kurma), stuffed mushroom with sardines or paneer

What’s your Feedback? Will this Sardine Theory Work? 

Who will take this up? I doubt if our politicians have the will to implement or even think of any plans like this to bring some income to the state.

Moru Curd Milk to Beat Summer Sizzle

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Buttermilk – Save us from the Summer Blast

Summer is Trivandrum! 
We are just at the footsteps of April, yet summer heatwave has already picked its pace. I dread this time of the year, especially when I have to travel outside in the hot sun.

Cool the System!
Drink lots of water, if possible drink curd milk with curry leaves, shallots, and bit of crushed ginger. Btw, why should I complain this weather, when many of our brothers and sisters in Middle East bear even worse weather.

I’m not sure if curd milk is a staple drink in Middle East during peak summer. In Trivandrum, I keep asking shop owners if they think it’s a good idea to sell curd milk during day. So far, none has complied. Why? Most people don’t have manpower to manage an extra activity, few people say that it will divert people from having lunch to a cool drink.

What do you say? Will Kudambashree ladies take this up? For which rate can they sell a glass of curd milk?

What’s the big Idea here!
If you’re running a shop, you can give free curd milk to your customers and to public. It’s a goodwill act and they will thank you for it.

Sponsor a person to setup a curd milk booth or on a cart. If you’re a member of any of the clubs ( Rotary, Lions, Inner Wheel) or voluntary organization ( Red Cross), you can propose an idea to fund a small biz project – provide means to open a curd milk counter by the road side.

Sanitary Napkin Dispenser Project Bangalore

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#whisper #carefree #sanitarynapkin

A friend got her period while she was out in a mall. With no shops to buy a napkin, she had to go out of the mall to buy a pad. Imagine if there’s no place to buy pad in a mall, just imagine the scenario in places bus stands, railway station,etc.

Every problem is a business opportunity…says, somone!

It’s commonsense to install a napkin dispenser in the ladies toilet, or in railway station, or in bus stands or airport.

When I searched online, there are many vendors selling napkin dispenser and even demo of such pieces are on the You. But, I haven’t seen one that’s run by any of the healthcare or sanitary napkin company.

Are they not seeing the opportunity?
Or it’s a machine that’s not useful. Now imagine a multi-tasking machine, which can manually or automatically dispense napkin, tissue pack ( small), a pouch of perfume, or even fresh jasmine flowers, or kid’s diaper, bottled water, wet tissue, ipill… yes, all from one machine!

Is it possible?
What about keeping something like this in colleges, Majestic bus tand, or railway station, one in Bangalore Metro station.

Just thinking! Probably, this could be a kiosk maned by a person ( employment opportunity).

Tata Cha Experience

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Poha at Tata cha

Buzz at Tata Cha 

Another new tea brew experience in Bangalore is here. Out of no where, TataCha has carved out an audience with it’s affordable priced tea, snacks and light refreshments.

First, I like the location, second the ambiance ( indoor space and outdoor). I’m not great at judging the size and variety of menu – however, I like the small bites, though I found it a bit on the higher side.

Also, the vibe at this place is different from the similar places like Coffee Day or many other joints in this locality. Also, I wonder if this is a TATA’s venture into hot beverage business. Anyway, I like the way they talk about their business.

Read, about us section of TATA Cha

How Clean are the Public Toilets?

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Dirty Loo Project

I don’t have to tell you how bad, dirty and smelly are our public loos. No amount of public slogans, or Swatch Bharat Campaigns are going to change the way we maintain the public loos. Sometimes, when I visit a loo, I feel like taking a brush to clean the crevice. Well, I have done it once. It was in a hotel in Goa – I couldn’t stop myself from cleaning it. ( Sometimes I find myself as a obsessive compulsive cleaner)

Now, why am I writing this post. Here’s the story…
Not long ago, during one of the rainy messy day in Trivandrum, I had a refreshing hot bath with with scented oils. Our house, is  2 km from Medical College, Trivandrum. While, I thoroughly enjoyed the warm bath in the background sound of splashing rain.

It’s when I thought of this…

What if there’s a hot water, clean bathroom for people who visit medical college hospital. Imagine the messy loos in the general pay ward area of Medical College. The scores of patients, bystanders who use the loo – with the limited staff what could be the state.

What if they are given a choice to take a bath like the way I had?

Would it be a luxury? Or perhaps, a nice refreshing bath will take some pain, worry or tension they face while they are in the hospital. And there are may people who can’t afford to take a  room for rent.

Providing Clean Public Toilets

Will a clean toilet project work? It’s difficult, but it can. Provided, someone leads a project with a dedicated heart to put into practice. Well, I have a plan to build one – but first, I need to setup the finances. Hopefully I can reach such a stature to donate money to such a purpose.

It’s Not Just Hospitals – Public Offices has bad Loos

Well, it’s no just Medical College that’s lacking a clean loo. Most hotels, government offices, and even houses have bad loos.

I remember going to a loo in a gold shop at East Fort in Trivandrum. While they were selling precious gold in two floors, the loo was tucked in some corner area, where you have to reach after crossing some other rooms. And it was not as glittering as the other rooms filled with gold and diamond studded ornaments.

So, what’s the big or small idea?

1. Build and maintain clean loo in every locality
2. Use unused terrace space to build clean loos
3. Loo should be clean – if users don’t clean, keep a person to clean

Forgotten Railway Juctions

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Chai Chai – With Real Chai

Here’s a book for railway buffs. First, I should thank Medha for this book – Chai, Chai. It’s an easy flowing story of the old railway junctions in India which has lost its relevance with time. It has interesting patch of events which took to my thoughts – such as the old brand that are not around anymore – like North Star Shoes ( my fav) or Action shoes, or TV brands like Weston, Solidaire, etc that got decimated by the big innovative brands.

Railway Trips to Quaint Places
As a railway lover, I feel that someday I should travel to those discrete places or get down at those quaint stations and book one of the hotels in the vicinity. But, so far I have never done such carefree trips or trips just for exploration. Probably, I will do it this year.

Small Business and Me
Coming to a new topic….I never thought I’ll become such a die-hard fan of small business concepts. During my college years I thought Government provided jobs and having a government job is a ticket to safe future. After having worked in government sector, I got fascinated with private sector jobs. A change in my mind, attracted me to private jobs.

It was time when the IT and BPO sector mushroomed in places like Bangalore. I used to look at people wearing office tags as super heroes and heroines. I badly wanted to be in such a group working in big glass building. My deep desire got answered. I succeed in getting a job in a ITes company. I was happy with the glossy existence, the pay, the new lifestyle, credit cards, etc.

But after a decade of working in such glass buildings, I got the itch to move to something better or seek to a full-filling activity. I felt trapped in a building, insulated from the outside buzz and opportunities blooming outside. \It’s when I thought of doing something different from the job I do. What could that job be? Without any backup plans, I quit my job.

Well, that was some two years ago

Now, I’m on the stage of incubating small ideas, such as teaching terrarium. So far, I have taken classes in Trivandrum and Bangalore. Just like the concept of terrarium, which is a mini-garden, it’s a small step for me to earn, choose what I like. 

Fish Curry Love Bangalore

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I love fish. Probably, I was born this way? I remember a time when I used to dream of frying fish and having the entire one! Well, it was at a time I bed ridden with typhoid. 

Fish Probe
So, are you a fish lover? What are your favorite preparation? Where do you buy fish in Bangalore? Do you get fresh fish most of the time? Have you tried online fish delivery services like Licious, Fresh to home, or Seafresh? 
Best Seafood Restaurants in Bangalore
I’m a mistrust when it comes to ordering fish in a restaurant in Bangalore. Reason, I’m very finicky about the freshness of fish. So, on the safe side I stick to meat. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t tried fish. Here are few names that I have tasted fish and few places referred by my friends.
Mangalore Peals
Vembanad at Paul
Ente Keralam
Kairali
Achayan at Indira Nagar
Little Home at Koramangala

At my Task  
Parava Fish Cleaned and Ready ( White Fish or False Trevally )

Sear Fish Head Curry

Fish and Prawns

Pondichery Trip

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This trip to Pondy was an unplanned trip. Yet, it was short with good memories of visit, new places we saw and ate. The house we booked through Airbnb was a bit disappointing, yet it was okay stay for a day.

So, what do you like about Pondicherry?
Is it the French part of town?
Auroville (City of Dawn) and it’s surroundings
Promenade area during evenings
Booze and good food

Pondichery Fish Market
Restaurant in WhiteTown

Fish Sold by Ladies

Pondichery Station

Park in Pondy

Arch at Aoroville 

Donate for a cause

Banana at the park

Cookies at Pondy

Dried Fish for Sale

Ladies selling dried fish

At a church in French Quarters in Pondy

Love the color of Papaya

Post office in Nagapattanam

Goods train passing in Nagapattanam

At one of the parks near White Town

At the entrance

Options Beyond Blant Railway Food

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Kochu Veli Express departing from Majestic railway station has no pantry facility. So, just before the train departs at 5:PM, there are few people who sell dinner packs to folks bound to Kerala. Imagine having cold food at 8:PM, when the same food can be bought at Kuppam.

Well, that’s the way most food delivery happens in railway. Is there a way to serve homemade and warm food for railway commuters?

Business Opportunity! 

Imagine an enterprising homemaker and a good cook decides to sell food at Kuppam? Well, that’s not possible in the current scenario? There are big boys who control the supply of boring food.

Why can’t we let few homemakers to get a share of the food money?  As we know, malayalee folks eat a wide range of meat and vegies – from pork to mutton, fish to beef and tasty thoran and so on.

Why are we depriving options to train commuters? Is it the safety standards or the moral standards in food or is it a cartel that’s in charge of food distribution in trains? Who know?

Koshy’s Restaurant – Roll Back on Time

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Tea at Koshy’s

Beer or Tea ( At Koshy’s)

I’m regular at Koshy’s restaurant. Well, not so regular, but sticks to the routine of stopping here for tea after the Sunday mass at St Patrick’s Church.

First Experience at Koshy’s
As a small time fella from a small-town, I had a cultural shock and awe when I first visited this iconic restaurant in Bangalore. It was a time when smoking inside the restaurant was the norm. I still remember the sight of a lady in blue silk sari, who casually smoked a cigarette. I kept on looking at her, between my drink on how she let out the smoke in a gush in a casual, confident style. A poise filled with confidence, something alien to me. Well, that was around 2005.

So, what has changed in me from that moment till now?

Did I get savvy as the people who comes to Koshy’s?
Did I grow along with this city?

Not much – I’m still wading around in this city, like many others – living that automated, unknown existence.

New Topic
Just wondering on this point – Imagine this scenario – I liked a restaurant’s menu and, which I like to replicate? How do I go about it? Is there a simple, a short cut way to learn how to replicate the menu or an organization or a culinary institute which can decode the recipe and give it.

Just posting!

What’s the Idea?
Well, what more can an old-time restaurant dish out? How well can it narrate the stories? How do they tell? Do they really care to share the story of their beginning to new patrons?