All posts filed under: PLACES

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Siblings Ayush and Rhea from Pondicherry Talk About their Food Venture ‘Mel Whisks’ – and Their Best-Selling Desserts!

Pondicherry will always have a special place in my heart, as it reminds me so much of home (even while traveling). Although this beach destination is a contrast from my hilly hometown (of Nagaland), the overall vibe of this small town feels pleasantly familiar to the place I grew up in. A former French colony, the local food in Pondy is an eclectic mix of French and South Indian cuisines. And thanks to Pondy friends, I was introduced to a host of cafes and bakers out there, who make the most amazing baked goodies and desserts! On one of my Pondy food expeditions, I came across ‘Mel Whisks’ – a home-based cloud kitchen run by a sibling duo in Pondicherry. They sell mouthwatering gourmet food and desserts. I have been following their Insta page even since the lockdown happened, and have even ordered their desserts jar for my friends there, who have been raving about them ever since! So I got on a call to interview the two people behind ‘Mel Whisks’ – siblings Ayush …

Rootsandleisure_Nitesh Chamling_Mu Kimchi

‘Mu Kimchi’ Restaurant in Gangtok, Sikkim is a Korean Food Lover’s Paradise | Chat with Owner Nitesh Chamling

  ‘Mu Kimchi’ is a super popular restaurant in Sikkim – serving authentic Korean cuisine. With its cozy welcoming ambiance, this place is a must-visit for all Korean food lovers for a fun night out with family and friends. Customers from all over the world – including Koreans, have been spotted in this happening spot in Gangtok. We recently chatted with the owner – Nitesh Chamling, a young entrepreneur from Gangtok, who has been running this restaurant for the past 6 years. A Civil engineering grad from Bangalore, he left his job in the city to pursue his dream of opening a restaurant in his hometown. Over a quick chat, Nitesh gives us a run-through of the top 5 Korean cuisines to try, his favorite leisure activities, and more. Nitesh Chamling – Owner of ‘Mu Kimchi’ restaurant, Sikkim Hi Nitesh, welcome to R&L! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Nitesh: My name is Nitesh Chamling, I come from a small town called Temi in South Sikkim now I reside in Gangtok. I did my schooling …

Rootsandleisure_Soccer Cafe_Dikhri Wezah

Die Hard Soccer Fan and Coffee Lover Dikhri Wezah Opens Soccer Cafe in Kohima to Bring His Two Passions Together

Introducing a dear friend of mine, who has inspired me all these years with his ‘can-do’ attitude, and a zealous attitude towards life. Say hi to Dikhri Wezah from Kohima – a passionate and hardworking comrade of mine. At just 25 years of age, he has accomplished a major goal he has set for himself. Knowing the kind of person that he is, I know that this is just the beginning. A year ago, over a casual conversation, he shared about his dream to open a cafe, where he can merge his love for football and food – specifically to promote a healthy lifestyle. So when I received an invitation to the opening of his restaurant last November, I was overjoyed and told myself with a smile ‘The deed has been done indeed.’ And true to his vision, Dikhri’s ‘Soccer cafe’ is a hip hang out spot for football lovers in Kohima, where one can enjoy live screenings, healthy food, and great coffee. So let’s have a chat with Dikhri to get more details. Dikhri …

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Gugu Kuotsu, Owner of Gutouch Restaurant In Kohima, Gives You A Touch of Authentic Naga Dishes

I’Gu we offerThe Gutouch Cafe is a cute eaterie in Kohima Town with an aesthetic setting, adding to the ambiance of the restaurant. The place is famous for its ‘Galho‘ and has been the talk of the town for a while. We decided to have a little chat with the founder of the restaurant , Gugu Kuotsu to get more insight into her restaurant. Hello Gugu. Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I am Gugu Kuotsu from Kohima. I am the founder of the Gutouch restaurant, I also have a jewelry brand by the same name –  that offers traditional and fusion-made jewelry. What is the story behind ‘Gutouch’ Well, the name of the Cafe was suggested by my friends like Mengu Suokhrie, Onen Nenty, and Athe Rhi, since I already have a brand name Gutouch, a jewelry brand. In addition, my love for food – especially homemade Naga food pushed me to add a restaurant to my existing brand. I finally launched Gutouch – the restaurant in the September of 2018. Tell …

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Moments & Events Captured At Hornbill Festival 2019!

To add to this festive time of the year, Nagaland hosts its famous Hornbill Festival to celebrate music, art, food, and culture. Started 8 years ago, every year the festival brings with it a different experience for attendees. The vibrance and the energy only increase with every new edition of the festival, and 2019 was no exception!  Today, we bring to you some of our favorite moments and sights from the festival. Brew your tea, sit back and take a look at these beautiful shots that sum up Hornbill ’19. The festival wraps up tomorrow, make sure you drop by!  You can find different varieties of handicrafts to choose from. Morungs (Naga traditional huts) from different tribes of Nagaland. In case you’ve missed the fun, don’t worry. There’s still a day left, so hurry up and get to Kisama before you get a case of FOMO! More from Hornbill Festival across the years HERE.

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Koko Yiese, Owner Of The Multi-Cuisine ‘Meet Up’ Cafe, Talks About Running A Restaurant & More

With new eateries opening each week in Nagaland, offering new delicious meals, The Meet Up is one such restaurant which serves authentic Korean and Chinese cuisines. The restaurant also lets you have fellowships, gatherings or prayer meetings free of cost. This makes the restaurant a special place not only to try their delicious food, but also for a good ol’ gathering! We met up with Koko Yiese, the owner of the restaurant to have a little chat! Head to the link in bio or below to read the interview.  Hi Koko. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Hello. I am Koko Yiese, a 30 year old food enthusiast, and the founder of The Meet Up. I live in Kohima, Nagaland. Ever since I was in my early teens, I was very fond of cooking and learning new cuisines, but I never saw myself becoming a ‘foodpreneur’. However, the love for the art of cooking led me to Korea to learn about the Korean cuisines and I learned from home cooks about the basics …

Rootsandleisure_Hornbill Nagaland 2019

Hello December. Hornbill Festival 2019 is Happening in Nagaland!

  December is here, and Christmas is right around the corner! The air is crisp and cold with the temperature dropping steadily to welcome the season . . . and what better way to start the celebrations than with the pomp and grandeur of the much-awaited Hornbill Festival! This annual festival that happens every year in Nagaland from December 1 to 10, is something that you should not miss if you are looking to experience the Naga culture in all of 1 week! The festival formula is essentially the same with a heady mix of traditional customs and modern pop culture coming together in one big celebration – but what sets it apart every year is the eclectic mix of performers and festival goers that gets even more colorful each year! Hornbill Festival has something for everyone – for the young, the old, the local, the tourist, the artist, the performer, and the audience… So come one and come all, and be a part of the most happening festival in the North East region to …

rootsandleisure_amrapali-house of grace-goa

Meet the Face Behind “Amrapali – House of Grace” a 100-Year-Old Portuguese Home Converted Into a Boutique Hotel in Goa

Simran Kaur is the face behind Amrapali, a boutique hotel built on the strong bones of a 100-year-old Portuguese home. She is a true multi-talented woman with a major in English, a minor in photography, and is a pastry chef certified by Le Cordon Bleu in London. With her skills, love for the craft, and collaboration with local artisans, Simran brought Amrapali back to life. The hotel is renowned for its warm color palettes and carefully curated details that adorn every corner of the space. It has been featured in various lifestyle magazines such as Travel and Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, Vogue, and more. Amrapali is a humble abode that focuses on providing exceptional service, despite being the base for many worldwide fashion brand photoshoots and even being featured in the film ‘Golmaal Again’. Hi Simran, could you please give us a brief introduction of yourself? Hi, my name is Simran Kaur and you can find me either in Mumbai or in Goa. I am an English major with a photography minor from Bryn Mawr …

rootsandleisure-Artsy Cafe-kolkatta

Artsy Cafe, A Creative Cafe Run by a Mother-Son Duo is a New Meeting Hub of Artists and Creatives in Kolkata

Kolkata, a city of deep history and culture, is embodied in Artsy Cafe, a place for every flavor of arts and expression you can imagine! Authors, musicians, visual artists, and more gather in this hub to support each other and create a thriving community of artists. Created by a mother-son duo, Manjyot Kaur and Arshdeep Singh, Artsy had been a long-time dream for both of them. We had a lovely conversation with the duo to see how far the cafe has come and what is just around the corner.  Hello! Thank you for inviting us to your cozy corner. Please introduce yourselves to our eager readers. Arshdeep: My name is Arshdeep Singh. I was born and raised in Kolkata. I have an undergrad degree in Business and have worked across various industries (Development, EduTech, Policy, and Hospitality). I simply love collecting experiences and knowledge each job has to give. Along with Artsy, I also run my own Branding & Design Studio – Kwa:zi which is based out of New Delhi. Manjyot: Hi I’m Manjyot and …

R&L Folks From Across The Country Share Top 5 Travel Locations in India

First of all, a very happy Independence Day! To celebrate this day, Roots & Leisure has curated a very special list of places that you must visit in India. Not just that – this list has been curated by the R&L community. We got responses from Kochi to Spiti and were amazed to learn about the places from locals.  Scroll down to find out what our friends have to say about their hometowns, and why you should plan your next holiday to these places! (Stand a chance to be featured by submitting your own Top 5 on any subject that you love and are passionate about. Heading over to this link; Fill it out and hit submit!) Fort Kochi, Kerala Hello, my name is Nijil and I’m from Kannur, Kerala. Although I’m not from Kochi, I’ve visited it more times than I can count. It is a place that has my heart and is a must travel spot for anyone visiting Kerala! Fort Kochi is a beautiful island a few kilometers away from Ernakulam. It is …