Month: October 2019

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#RECIPE | Axone With Smoked Pork and Perilla by Avi Rochill

Festive season is just about to kick in and preparing a delicious meal is almost every household’s ritual! Today we have a delicious axone recipe with smoked pork and perilla by Avi Rochill. This recipe uses a traditional Naga ingredient to create a sumptuous meal that’s ideal for when you want to treat yourself or even when you have guests over! Ingredients : 4 medium sized smoked pork (500 grams) 1/2 or 1 full slab of axone (depending on how thick you want the curry to be) 10 to 15 pieces of local green chillies 1 large juicy red tomato 15 pieces of sichuan pepper (roasted and pounded) Perilla seeds (40mg- roasted and pounded) Salt to taste    1. In thick bottomed pot, add all the ingredients together except for the perilla seeds. Add just enough water to cover the meat and slow cook in a medium flame. 2. Add the pounded perilla seeds once the meat is half cooked ( around 15 mins approx). 3. Keep adding water in small quantities until the meat …

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Meet Chef Moa – Owner of Dimsum Restaurant in Kohima

Nagaland is home to not only one of the most delectable cuisines in India but also amazing chefs who experiment with food. Today, we have one such master chef with us – Chef Moa from Kohima.  He recently opened his own eaterie called Dim Sum Restaurant. Serving different Asian cuisines, this place aims to give you food that is not only tasty but served well and easy on the pocket. Read to know his story and how he opened his restaurant. If you happen to be in Kohima, be sure to visit his lovely restaurant!  Hi Moa! Please introduce yourself. My name is Moa and I’m currently residing in Kohima. I studied hotel management from Dusit College, Bangkok. It is all due to God’s grace that I was able to complete my management course. I did my course of multi cuisine chef, especially western cuisine. Now, I have opened an eaterie in Kohima, by the name Dim Sum Restaurant. What inspired you to open a restaurant? Before coming back to Nagaland, I also had the …

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Ishrat Sahgal, an Entrepreneur From Delhi, Blends Sustainability & Creativity With Her Venture Mishcat Co. Carpets

Ishrat Sahgal is known for her creative vision as well as sustainable business ideas. She grew up in Chandigarh but calls Delhi and London her home today. After studying interior architecture and art history, she created a new venture – Mishcat Co. The company boasts a beautiful array of uniquely designed carpets. The special aspect of these carpets is that they are made by using sari yarn which is leftover scrap after creating saris. This upcycle is reducing waste by repurposing it into something incredibly inspired. The carpets themselves are made with the collaboration of artisans in small villages in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.  Ishrat is incredibly attached to this cause of bringing traditional Indian culture and craft to a global platform. She has been in an impressive list of achievers – and the most notable achievement being one of Forbes 30 under 30 in 2018.  We had a chat with her about what makes Mishcat Co her passion venture and how it all began, below.  Hi Ishrat! Thank you for taking the time to …

Shweta Verma from Goa is a Family Photographer Whose Pictures Will Leave You Smiling

Shweta Verma was originally from Bihar but now lives in Goa and is a family photographer. Her work stands out as she has an eye for capturing the true essence of each child and family. What started as street photography and taking pictures of her lovely daughter, her love for photography grew with each picture she took. She believes in creating history with her pictures. Something that each client can preserve and protect. She has a chat with us about what keeps her motivated and her process working with babies, children and lovely families.  Hello Shweta! Please introduce us to your life and photography. My name is Shweta Verma, I am originally from Bihar but now I stay in Panjim, Goa. I am an engineer by education but I left my consultant job to pursue photography as a profession when my daughter was born. What initially sparked your interest in photography? My initial days of photography were all about streets. It all started in the country my daughter was born in – Basel in Switzerland. …

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#FACES | A Naga Girl Captured Carrying Timber

“My name is Talimoa Pongen and I work in a media house. I also love taking candid photographs, through which  I want to tell stories. I took this photo of  a little girl, helping her folks by carrying timber. She was taking two or three rounds, carrying the heavy logs to the destination. I just wanted to capture this beautiful moment. This photo was taken in Mokokchung at The Woods resort, where I was camping with my friends.” – Talimoa Pongen from Nagaland Follow Talimoa Pongen on Instagram

#RECIPE | Kerala-Style Fish Curry by Akhila Shekhar from the ‘Pepper Delight’ Blog

Today, we have an authentic Keralan recipe by Akhila Shekhar. Thengapaal Ozicha Meen Curry or Kerala-Style Fish Curry is a rich recipe to balance out your lazy Saturday! Akhila discovered her passion for food only after she got married to her husband, Praveen, the critique for her recipes! When they shifted from India to live in Missouri, USA, she started her blog, Pepper Delight, to improve her culinary skills, learn food styling, and master food photography.  Pepper Delight was made to spread a love for cooking and showcase how easily authentic dishes can be made at home with a focus on native spices. Black pepper is Akhila’s favorite and is a spice native to Kerala, but at the same time, pepper is a global spice and resonates with dishes throughout the world. So, the name Pepper Delight aptly summed up the vision of her blog – staying true to her roots yet not limiting herself in her exploration.  “All authentic Kerala dishes evoke fond memories, but fish recipes like today’s recipe, Thengapaal Ozicha Meen Curry …

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Kimte Guite, Author of 51 Accidental Inventions that Changed the World, Talks About Her Book and Her Inspirations

Today, we managed to grab a quick word with Kimte Guite, the author of 51 Accidental Inventions that Changed the World. We chatted about her love for literature classics, her obsession to read since her childhood, her love for the countryside and old Bollywood cinema. As a bibliophile herself, she’s also planning to organize book-readings in primary schools and her plan is to expand the project into a travelling library to spread the joy of reading. She is an Assistant Professor at Churachandpur Government College.  She conducts small book club/book reading sessions as well. Get to know more about this creative soul as we chat with her!  Hi there, please start by telling our readers a bit about yourself! Hello! I am Man Lun Kim and I also go by the name, Kimte Guite. That’s the name I use for my social-media handles. My hometown is in Churachandpur (Lamka) in Manipur. I am your typical tribal girl with a taste for all local cuisines and a heart that will never get enough of the rolling …

Owner of Papermelon, Devi Chand from Chennai Creates Sustainable Paper-Based Jewellery

Devi Chand, from Chennai, works out of her little studio and creates impressive paper-based jewellery. She found a way to roll paper to create interestingly shaped beads and that gave her an idea to further use in accessories. The sealant she uses also works to make the paper splash-proof! Back in 2009, she started her paper jewellery venture, Papermelon. Even now, she finds joy in collecting all types of paper and upcycles them to make her creations. Just like her, her jewellery is upbeat, happy and colourful. Check out her collection and wear some as a conversation starter. Also, read through our conversation with this cheerful wife, mother and entrepreneur who is living her dream!  Hello, it’s great having this chat with you! Give us a small bio. Hey! I’m Devi Chand, and I make some exciting sustainable paper jewellery. I create from my little home studio in Chennai. I’m a mother of one, who is also a regular visitor at my quaint shop.  Tell us about your venture Papermelon.   I studied design at NIFT. …

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Meet Nzanmongi Odyuo, a Talented Musician and a Music Instructor from Nagaland

There is no doubt that Nagaland is a hub for talented musicians. Music thrives in this beautiful place like no where else. Today, we have another gem from here — Nzanmongi Odyuo, a musician from Nagaland! She is a pianist who has been playing the piano her whole life. We chatted with her to know more about her music, her inspirations and more. Hello, please tell us a bit about yourself! Hi, my name is Nzanmongi Odyuo. I’ve been a piano instructor for almost 8 years and counting. I’ve been performing at various events, weddings and play the piano for our home church. I’ve also performed with various artists and bands in Delhi as well as in Nagaland. I am Currently teaching at TIME. Since childhood I was very interested in music and learnt piano from a very young age, and after my formal education, I went to Delhi to pursue music. I’ve also taught in music schools in Delhi, before I finally decided to return home. Sounds lovely! What got you into music? I …

Punya Arora, from Bangalore, is Kicking Up a Storm in the Stand-Up World

Punya Arora is a comedian born and raised in Bangalore and is a self-proclaimed Biryani connoisseur! Her style of comedy is observational, light-hearted and may involve more than one accent. She is also a part-time photographer who is a visiting faculty member at Light & Life Academy, Ooty. What’s amazing about this strong woman is that she has touched every aspect of the media – radio, TV, web series, trailer launch, the stand-up stage, panels and more. The amount of perseverance and courage it takes to keep reaching for a new opportunity is definitely inspirational! Let’s have a deeper look into her life, on our blog. Link in bio and below. Hello! It’s great meeting you, please tell us a little bit about yourself? Hello, my name is Punya Arora. I’m a Punjabi but I was born and raised in Bangalore. I spend half my time in Bangalore and the other half in Mumbai for comedy shows. I’ve done my Bachelors of Business Management from Bangalore and then my post-graduation diploma in Professional Photography (specialising …