Author: Shanmi

Rootsandleisure_Zena Bridal

Zena Marie Kire, Owner Of ZENA Bridal Salon, Nagaland Tells Us How & Why She Makes Every Bride Feel Extra Special While Finding The Perfect Gown

Published by Shanmi

For a girl, her wedding day is undoubtedly the most special day of her life. And for a bride, an amazing wedding dress makes all the difference! When the dress has been carefully chosen, it is important for every bride to feel beautiful, confident and comfortable on her big day. ZENA Bridal Salon in Dimapur, Nagaland is the perfect store to explore for every bride-to-be in search for her perfect gown and everything else for her special day! Here’s a chat with owner Zena Marie Kire to know more about her, and her bridal shop in Nagaland. Today, we are happy to have with us Zena Marie Kire, from Nagaland – owner of ZENA Bridal Salon in Dimapur. She talks about the importance of making the bride-to-be feel extra special through her vast selection of wedding gowns – and the shopping experience itself. Hi Zena! Introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background. Hi! I’m Zena Marie Kire and I’m the owner of ZENA Bridal. I am currently based in Dimapur, Nagaland but prior to …

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#RECIPE | Manipuri Dish – Spicy Fermented Pork with Escargot (Tharoi) .

Published by Shanmi

Pork is the go-to meat in most parts of Northeast India. Whether smoked, fermented, or cooked fresh, it consistently delivers exceptional flavor. Alongside pork, another local delicacy is the snail, also known as escargot or ‘Tharoi’ in Manipuri. Today, our contributor Thanyo Lungleng, a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur, shares her home recipe for Tharoi—a spicy preparation featuring escargot cooked with fermented pork. Talk about a star dish! “One traditional tip my mother always shared was to add chili powder and ginger paste at the beginning of cooking, and then incorporate the garlic paste just before turning off the heat. This method truly enhances the flavor and aroma of the dish.” — Thanyo Lungleng Spicy Fermented Pork and Escargot by Thanyo Lungleng Ingredients : A big piece of homemade fermented pork Escargot (Tharoi in Manipuri) Wild/long cilantro Ginger ground to a paste Garlic ground to a paste Chili powder (from Sirarakhong village, Ukhrul district) Salt to taste. Ingredients (L-R): Escargot, fermented pork, ginger, garlic, long cilantro, chili powder and salt. Directions to cook : Add the …

Rootsandleisure_Fernhood School_Featured

#Faces | “Our School Gives Plenty of Opportunities to Learn Many Things Outside Our Textbooks and Meet New People” – Imliren, Student of Fernhood School, Kohima

Published by Shanmi

“This photo was taken outside my school – Fernwood School in Kohima, with my friends. We took this photo after our school hours before heading home. We had just joined our new school, so we stayed back for a while to explore the campus.  What I like best about going to school is meeting new people and making new friends. As we learn things from each other, we also build good memories and that is something I truly treasure. Fernwood School teaches us how to be independent and gives us the opportunity to involve ourselves in various extracurricular activities. We get to explore new things and it gives us the privilege to learn new things outside of our textbooks. I look forward to going to school every new day.” Imliren (third from the left) and her friends stop to take a photo before heading home, outside their school – Fernwood School in Kohima as they create some beautiful and everlasting high school memories. Imliren (middle) and her friends outside their school, Fernwood School, Kohima

rootsandleisure_josephhauzel

Talented Hairstylist Joseph Hauzel from Mizoram Wants Us To Be Inspired by His Colourful Work and His Story!

Published by Shanmi

“Follow your dreams” – is a saying we’re all too familiar with. No matter how small or big, it is much easier said than done. It takes courage to take that leap towards commiting to develop the passion that drives each one of us to achieving our dreams. When Joseph Hauzel from Mizoram decided to take the plunge and chase after a career in hairstyling, all he had was a good senses of self belief. He listened then and now continues to listen to his intuition and stays positive when criticisms do not come gently. He used it as a tool to work harder for his own personal growth. Joseph is an inspiration and a living example for all of us to follow our hearts no matter what our circumstances. Today, we are happy to feature Joseph Hauzel who is a professional hairstylist from Mizoram. He talks about the hardships he went through while starting off in the industry, what made him follow his dreams and how he’s steadily risen to the top. Hello Joseph! …

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A Chat With Mahelal Pukhrambam, Owner of Cafe “Steamin Mug” in Imphal – Famous for Its Cosy Space and Perfect Coffee

Published by Shanmi

Cafes and restaurants are gradually sprouting up in almost every corner of Imphal city in Manipur. Besides the menu, it’s also the little creative touches that the owners put into the space to make the ambiance attractive to customers. As is rightly said, “a cozy cafe is pretty much an ultimate happy place”, cafe Steamin Mug in Imphal radiates a super comfy and friendly vibe. It’s the perfect place to dissapear for a couple of hours for a well deserved coffee break, away from the busy or the mundane everyday life. Today, we chat with the owner of Cafe “Steamin Mug” Mahelal Pukhrambam, who is an enthusiastic chef, curious traveler and a football fanatic from Manipur. Read on to know more about him, his life and his cafe. Hello Mahelal! Tell us a little about yourself. Hello R&L! My name is Mahelal Pukhrambam from Manipur and I am the owner of “Steamin Mug” cafe. I am currently residing in Imphal but I have spent most of my adolescent age in Delhi. I am an enthusiastic chef, curious traveler, …

Passionate Travel Enthusiast, Riddhi Debh, Talks About Her Love and Purpose Of Exploring The World

Published by Shanmi

“Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.” – Charles Dickens Travelling is not just about exploring new places or meeting new people but it is also about finding yourself. After globetrotting across a number of countries across the world, travelling has become a big part of Riddhi’s life. Being a wanderlust and also a solivagant at times, Riddhi takes her time and challenges herself by pushing out of her comfort zone. She considers it a great opportunity to meet new people and learn different cultures from different walks of life in new and unknown cities. We chat with Riddhi Debh, a globetrotter born in Kolkatta who is currently residing in Bangalore. She believes to belong not just in one place but finds herself at home wherever she goes. Read on to know more about her travel stories. Hello Riddhi! Tell our readers a little about yourself. My name is Riddhi Debh and I was born in Kolkata. I have stayed in many cities in India …

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Meet Pito Kiba, A Hard-Working And Passionate Baker From Nagaland And His Advice On Following Your Dreams

Published by Shanmi

“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it”. -Buddha We first met Pito Kiba, 2 years ago in 2016. He shared with R&L all about the series of phases he went through in his life while discovering his dreams. Being confident and sure about his career and skills as a professional baker has brought him to where he is today. Pito has come a long way since our first chat and doing what he loves only makes him work harder and better. Let’s find out about everything he’s been up to ever since our last meeting. 28-year-old Pito Kiba from Dimapur, Nagaland is a passionate home baker who runs his own baking business under the name, “That Baker Kiba”. Hi Pito! It’s a pleasure to have you back with us after two good years! Tell us what you have been up to since our last chat. Hello R&L, thank you for having me back again. Since we last spoke, over the past few years, I have been able to cater …

rootsandleisure_aloo65

#RECIPE | Potato Lovers Will Love This Popular South Indian Dish – “Aloo 65”

Published by Shanmi

It is said that there are more than 4000 varieties of potatoes in the world, and is the fifth most important crop worldwide. Numbers and facts aside, how many of us here are potato lovers? Don’t we agree that most meals would be incomplete in the absence of potatoes? Irrespective of which culture we come from, potatoes are an important ingredient in most kitchens.  Today, we have a popular South Indian dish – Aloo 65 – contributed by Abhishek from Nepal. It is inspired by the world-famous Chicken 65, a spicy deep-fried chicken dish. Abhishek uses potatoes instead of chicken so that his vegetarian friends can also enjoy the yummy spices and crispy texture. Let’s find out how to prepare this dish! Aloo 65 is the vegetarian version of the world-famous South Indian dish, Chicken 65. It’s crunchy, spicy, and deep fried so it’s bound to be ever so comforting at any time of the day, as a quick mid-day snack or as a side dish to a homemade thali. Ingredients : 5-6 potatoes, boiled and …

Rootsandleisure_Goragala North Sikkim

“Every Cliff You Climb, You’ll Find a Lake at The Bottom of It” – Shraddha Rai And Her Friends Go On A Girls Trip To Goragala in North Sikkim

Published by Shanmi

“This picture was taken one beautiful October afternoon in Goragala, North Sikkim, which is at the China-Beijing border. My friends and I had not met for a very long time, so we planned to catch up over this trip and have some quality time together. It was a wonderful experience …going on an adventure with my dear ones, and meeting new people and learning about the local culture!” “Goragala is a very spiritual and holy place. Every cliff you climb, you’ll find a lake at the bottom of it. That makes the place even more stunning! Tourists are generally not allowed to access this place, but we were fortunate enough to get the chance to visit through our local friends.”  Shraddha Rai (22) enjoying the stunning view in Goragala, North Sikkim. Shraddha Rai with her twin sister Shreya and close friends at Goragala, North Sikkim.

Rootsandleisure_Timber Cafe imphal

A Chat with Rashingam Ngoruh, Wedding Photographer And Owner of “Cafe Timber” Imphal

Published by Shanmi

With Northeast India fast becoming a traveler’s hotspot, leisure and business activities in the region are picking up visibly. Especially with the young enterprising folks leading from the front, there is certainly much more excitement, creativity and noise – which is definitely a good thing! Amongst these new age activities, eating out is fast becoming a favorite past time, which is a drastic change from earlier days, where meeting with friends was usually limited to the house or the neighborhood. Imphal, the capital city of Manipur has seen a host of interesting food ventures with an aim to introduce global cuisines to the local folks, and authentic traditional fare to travelers from outside. Add to that, the creative minds of the young local entrepreneurs – and the ever demanding consumers, the cafe and restaurant ecosystem is fast becoming as interesting as is competitive. Today we chat with a young food entrepreneur cum photographer, who runs a cafe called “Timber Cafe” in Imphal, which is known for their simple and tasteful interiors and food.  Today we chat …