Category: Travel

Amadeo by Oberoi has curated a new summer menu and it’s a culinary delight

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

As Mumbai gets hotter in the summers with every passing year, we look for ways to avoid getting out of our homes unless absolutely need. And Amadeo by Oberoi in BKC has given us good reasons to head out for a sumptuous meal, despite the summer heat. The restaurant has created an extraordinary dining experience that will help you remember the summer fondly.

Amadeo is known for serving all types of cuisines – Indian, Asian and Italian. But their tastefully curated summer menu, comprises four experiences.

“It is a new way to experience Amadeo – which is to have the Avacado experience, or the cheese lovers experience, so on and so forth. We have curated the best dishes from each section in a way that we would like to take you on a journey through Amadeo,” says executive chef Kayzad Sadri.
The four experiences are – The Asian Journey, Open Flame Cooking, For the love of avocado and Attention Cheese Aficionados!

Also read: 10 alcohol brands you must pick from duty free outlets in India — Check price and more

Each item on the experience that you select is paired with a “phenomenal” cocktail, Sadri says. And he isn’t wrong. After carefully studying the menu, we chose the ‘Open Flame Cooking’ and the ‘Attention Cheese Aficionado!’ experiences. When you look at the menu, you can see the effort that has been put into curating it. And you can experience it when each dish and cocktail is served.

Our Amadeo experience started with a light focaccia bread and salsa sauce. We were then served the ‘Tadka dahi kebab’, avocado cream cheese maki roll and charred carrots with goat’s cheese from the ‘cheese aficiandos’ experience.

If you could extract the flavors of the Thayir Sadam, a South Indian version of curd rice and spices, and put it into a delicate kebab – that is what these dahi tadka kebabs tasted like. At this point, we were also served cocktails No 7 and No 12. The former had guava infused pisco, guava sour, rose water, thai chilli syrup and citrus and the latter had gold rum, apricot liquer, bitters, dry vermouth and sweet vermouth.

Cocktail No 7 paired beautifully with the dahi tadka kebabs.

The avacado cream cheese maki rolls were topped with spicy mayo. They were a perfect balance of umami and cream cheese. And the goats cheese is what made the charred carrots taste to delicious!

We then moved on to the open flame cooking experience. We tried the ‘asparagus and avocado robatayaki’, ‘charred cauliflower’, ‘chicken n leek’, ‘malwani prawns from the tandoor’ and ‘black cod’, from the open flame cooking experience.

Robatayaki is a Japanese cooking method, ‘robata’ being short for it. It preserves the freshness of the flavors as you cook the items. The asparagus and avocado robatayaki was flavorful, easy to bite into, and refreshing.

The spiced curd dip at the bottom made the perfect setting for the charred cauliflower that was plated with spinach and garnished with toasted nuts. And all of it together somehow tasted like chaat! It was one of my favourites from the menu.

The chicken n leek kebabs and the malwani prawns were a hit too! The prawns had a lovely texture to them. The marinations of both dishes really brought out the Indian flavours.

The black cod has always been a favourite and Amadeo did not disappoint. The fish came wrapped in a leaf. The fish was cooked to perfection, the texture was brilliant and the sauce just made the entire experience that much better!

We tried their cocktails No 6 and No 10 in between our meals. Cocktail #6 was made with peated scotch, strawberry syrup, aperol, watermelon and fake lime. This was the one we enjoyed the most. Cocktail No 10 was made with mescal, amaro, jasmine tea and citrus.

Amadeo has an extensive cocktail menu that is divided into courses, and each drink is numbered not named. “What’s in a name,” says Garry, the one responsible for all the smooth cocktails we are served.

We were then served a hot and fresh sourdough pizza with salad on it! It’s a fairly new concept here and we were honestly quite amazed. The pizza had salad leaves on it, some cheese and avacados! Amadeo really knows how to use their avacados well.

We then went on to try the baked brie with pan perdue chips. This came with a sriracha sauce and the baked brie was topped with mulberries and raspberries. The sweet and spicy flavors complemented the cheese and pan perdue chips perfectly.

We tried our last cocktails for the night — #15 and #16. Cocktail #15 was made of cherry vodka, cointreu, sparkling rose wine. Cocktail #16 was made of vodka, kaffir lime liquer, rice syrup, fake lime.

The last dish we tried was the truffle tagliatelle from the cheese aficianados menu. The freshly made pasta with truffle mushroom and parmesan was a delight. The portion was also perfect for two people.

We weren’t done yet.

There are desserts left – a warm chocolate pudding and a tiramisu.
We cut open the pudding with a spoon, and warm chocolate came oozing out of it. It was served with a Belgian chocolate ice-cream.

The tiramisu was a surprise. It was made for us on the table. First the chef placed the two ladyfinger biscuits on the plate and soaked it with some freshly-brewed espresso. Then she piped the tiramisu mix next, dusted cocoa powder and garnished it with mulberries and edible flowers. This was topped with a burnt butter and milk chocolate sauce, giving the tiramisu Amadeo’s personal touch. This really elevated the entire experience.

“There will be a lot of food coming in,” Chef Sadri told us at the beginning, preparing us for what is coming. The Amadeo experience gets better with each bite. Amadeo’s unique touch was prevalent across all dishes and cocktails, which is what made each dish and cocktail stand out in its own way.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

This destination in Northeast India has witnessed record-breaking tourist arrivals in 2024 so far

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Parts of Northeast India have been embroiled in violence for a while now, with the situation escalating in May 2023 following ethnic violence in the state of Manipur. Despite instability in the scenic region, the state of Sikkim has witnessed record footfalls, thanks to the culture, weather and scenic locales of the hilly areas. In the first quarter of 2024, Sikkim experienced an unprecedented surge in tourist arrivals, according to official data from the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department.

Until March 31, 2024, Sikkim welcomed a staggering 2,90,401 tourists, including 2,56,537 domestic visitors and 30,864 foreigners. This surge in arrivals has been attributed to the recovery made in Sikkim’s hospitality sector, which suffered greatly due to the devastating flash floods in October 2023.

The calamity claimed dozens of 40 lives, leading to a significant decline in tourist arrivals. However, early trends emerging in 2024 suggest that Sikkim would regain its status as a premier tourist destination, reports suggest.

Also read: 12 destinations you must visit in Northeast India for a cool summer vacation

However, the economic impact of tourism on the state is significant, with the industry estimated to have generated over Rs 500 crore in revenue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sikkim Tourism Department website. As tourist numbers continue to rise, this figure is expected to witness a sizeable increase, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.

There are 1,725 travel agencies catering to tourists looking to visit the state, with a total of 38,208 beds to accommodate the influx of travellers.

Also read: Planning a monsoon holiday in Kullu, Kedarnath, Sikkim or Mumbai? Read this first

According to Tourism Sikkim data, ther has been a consistent upward trend in tourist arrivals over the past decade. Starting from 576,749 visitors in 2013, the numbers surged to a peak of 1,625,573 in 2023. With a promising start in 2024, projections indicate a potential milestone of 1.2 million tourists by year-end if the current growth rate persists.

(With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

MDH says reports on contaminated masalas are baseless, says its spices are safe

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

MDH, a leading spice brand in India, said on Saturday that its products are entirely safe, dismissing allegations of pesticide presence by food regulators in Hong Kong and Singapore. Earlier this month, Hong Kong’s Center for Food Safety (CFS) reported finding pesticide ethylene oxide in samples of pre-packaged spice-mix products from two Indian brands, MDH and Everest.

The CFS advised against buying and selling MDH’s Madras Curry Powder, Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder. MDH clarified that it had not received any official communication from food safety regulators in Hong Kong or Singapore.

Also read: FSSAI to conduct a broader quality check on spices brands amid MDH, Everest scrutiny, say sources

Addressing the alleged presence of ethylene oxide (ETO), MDH stated, “these claims are untrue and lack any substantiating evidence.” The company emphasized that neither the Spice Board of India nor the food regulator FSSAI had received any correspondence or test reports from authorities in Hong Kong or Singapore.

MDH reiterated its commitment to the safety and quality of its products, assuring consumers that ethylene oxide is not used at any stage of storing, processing, or packing their spices.

The company reaffired its compliance with health and safety standards both domestically and internationally, highlighting its tagline, ‘Asli Masale Sach Sach, MDH MDH’ (‘Real Spices of India’), as a reflection of its dedication to providing authentic, high-quality spices.

Following Hong Kong’s directive, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also ordered a recall of imported Everest Fish Curry Masala. India remains the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices globally, with exports valued at nearly Rs 32,000 crore in 2022-23. Major exports include chilli, cumin, spice oil and oleoresins, turmeric, curry powder, and cardamom.

Also read: Indian spice companies may face an export ban if presence of toxins is confirmed

The Spice Board, operating under the Ministry of Commerce, is engaged in discussions with exporters regarding the matter. The development comes after the discovery of Ethylene Oxide (ETO) residue in popular spice brands such as MDH and Everest. Consequently, both Hong Kong and Singapore have halted imports of these spices.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Airlines in US ordered to provide automatic refunds to travellers for cancelled flights

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Airlines in the US will now have to provide automatic refunds to travellers if flights are cancelled or significantly altered under new US Department of Transportation rules, a significant change for consumers that could drive up costs across the industry.

The final regulations released Wednesday outline the circumstances where passengers are entitled to refunds for all travel to, from and within the US. The goal is to make it easier for people to get money back and to make refund policies more consistent from one airline to the next.

According to the department, complaints related to airlines and ticket agents rejecting or delaying refunds made up 87% of all air-travel service complaints at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Our department just issued rules to protect people from hidden airline fees and to require airlines to give passengers automatic cash refunds when owed. No more having to fend for yourself and jump through hoops to get your money back—airlines will have to automatically do this. pic.twitter.com/Jv7dFmnNkI

— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 24, 2024

Also read: IndiGo beats Southwest Airlines to become world’s third largest by market cap

“Passengers deserve to get their money back when an airline owes them — without headaches or haggling,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

Under the new rule, passengers will be entitled to refunds if there is a “significant change” to their flights. These include:

• Departure or arrival time that moves by more than three hours domestically or six hours for international flights
• Being downgraded to a lower class than originally purchased, as from first class to economy
• Change of departure or arrival airport
• Increase in number of connections
• Changes to connecting airports or planes flown if they are less accommodating for people with disabilities

Travellers will also get refunds for checked bag fees if the bag is lost and not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight’s gate arrival. International flights will have from 15 to 30 hours to return a lost bag, depending on their length.

Also read: Air India flyers can now connect to 32 destinations in US, Mexico and Canada

Anyone who pays for a service, such as in-flight Wi-Fi or entertainment, and doesn’t receive it will also get their money back.

In addition, DOT made changes to make it easier for the passengers to receive the money they’re owed by requiring prompt automatic refunds in cash or through the original form of payment. Buttigieg said during a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday that the bulk of the new requirements will go into effect in about six months.

The refund changes are poised to add significant costs across the airline industry, which could have a disproportionate impact on low-cost carriers, according to Seaport Research analyst Daniel McKenzie. “To the extent low cost carriers have to add costs to comply, reduce growth and/or downsize, they become less competitive,” McKenzie said in a note.

The Airlines for America trade group said in a statement that its member carriers already abide by and often exceed regulation on consumer protection.

“US airlines are providing more options and better services while ticket prices, including ancillary revenues, are at historic lows,” the group said in a release.

Also on Wednesday, the department released a final rule requiring airlines to clearly communicate their extra fees upfront for checked luggage, carry-on bags or for canceling or changing reservations. According to DOT, airlines saw a 30% increase in revenue from baggage fees between 2018 and 2022.

“Airlines should compete with one another to secure passengers’ business — not to see who can charge the most in surprise fees,” Buttigieg said in a separate statement, adding that the rule will save travelers more than half a billion dollars a year.

Buttigieg told reporters at the news conference that more rules are on the way, including to expand rights for passengers who use wheelchairs and to allow parents to sit with their children on flights without being charged a fee.

DOT will also continue to pursue more aggressive enforcement when airlines violate rules, he said, pointing to the department’s $140 million record fine against Southwest Airlines Co. for a meltdown in its operations that left more than 2 million passengers stranded in December 2022.

“The level of toughness reflected in the Southwest enforcement is not an exception, but the new standard,” Buttigieg said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

US is now asking questions about safety of Indian masalas

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is gathering information on products of Indian spice makers MDH and Everest after Hong Kong halted sales of some of their products for allegedly containing high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide.

“The FDA is aware of the reports and is gathering additional information about the situation,” an FDA spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.

Hong Kong this month suspended sales of three MDH spice blends and an Everest spice mix for fish curries. Singapore ordered a recall of the Everest spice mix as well, saying it contains high levels of ethylene oxide, which is unfit for human consumption and a cancer risk with long exposure.

Reuters is the first to report the U.S. FDA’s review of alleged contamination of Indian spice products.

MDH and Everest did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment on this matter.

Everest has previously said its spices are safe for consumption. MDH has not responded to queries about its products so far.

MDH and Everest spices are among the most popular in India and are also sold in Europe, Asia and North America. India’s food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), is now checking the quality standards of the two companies, following the moves in Hong Kong and Singapore.

India’s Spices Board, the government’s regulator for spice exports, said on Wednesday it had sought data on MDH and Everest exports from authorities in Hong Kong and Singapore, and was working with the companies to find the “root cause” of the quality issues as inspections started at their plants.

In 2019, a few batches of MDH’s products were recalled in the U.S. for salmonella contamination.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Meet Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez, the 60-year-old Miss Universe Buenos Aires

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez, a 60-year-old woman, has defied all odds and smashed stereotypes to clinch the prestigious Miss Universe Buenos Aires title. Her participation and victory are not just about celebrating beauty but also a testament to what women can achieve irrespective of age.

Who is Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez?

Alejandra Marisa Rodriguez was born and raised in La Plata, the capital city of Argentina’s Buenos Aires. A lawyer and journalist by profession, her journey to the crown was inspiring and proof of her tenacity. She broke barriers and redefined expectations of age and beauty.

Alejandra said that she was thrilled to be representing this new paradigm in beauty pageants because “we are inaugurating a new stage in which women are not only physical beauty but another set of values.”

ALSO READ| Watch: A new mind blowing Chinese robot claims to be superfast and precise

She further said that she was encouraged by her family and friends to participate in the competition.

Alejandra will be representing Buenos Aires in the national pageant for Miss Universe Argentina in May 2024.

Last year, the Miss Universe organisation eliminated the age limits for the pageant contestants, and now any woman over the age of 18 can participate. Earlier, the maximum age limit to enter the pageant was 28.

Her win has been met with widespread acclaim and admiration not only for her beauty but also for her courage to defy societal norms and pursue her dreams at a time when many would hesitate to step onto such a stage.

ALSO READ | India-bound ship attacked by Houthis in Red Sea; details here

Alejandra’s victory serves as a perfect example that ‘beauty knows no age’. Her journey serves as an inspiration to women and proves that with determination and courage, anything can be possible.

Additionally, another contestant Haidy Cruz (47) is making waves, who will represent the Dominican Republic in Miss Universe 2024.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

To reduce wastage of drinking water… Indian Railways makes bold move on Vande Bharat, Shatabdi trains

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

All Vande Bharat train passengers will henceforth receive a 500 ml bottle of Rail Neer Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) during their journey, the Indian Railways has announced. Additionally, travellers can ask staff for a complimentary second bottle as well without any charge. The decision has been made to reduce the wastage of drinking water, ANI reported.

Passengers aboard Vande Bharat trains were until now provided with one-litre water bottles. But since Vande Bharat trains travel on shorter routes than Rajdhani trains, the Railways has decided to modify the regulations and allow half-litre bottles on board.

Similarly, on Shatabdi trains, the passengers now get 500 ml Rail Neer bottles instead of the one-litre bottles. Indian Railways provides passengers with limited water on trains that have a maximum operating period of 8.5 hours.

Also read: PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate 10 new Vande Bharat trains today; All you need to know

For passengers travelling on Shatabdi trains for more than five hours, the 500-ml bottle replaces 1-litre water bottles.

Central Railways has been using recycled water for coach and platform cleaning as part of a larger initiative to encourage water conservation. Through 32 recycling units, it harvests almost one crore litres of water every day.

Furthermore, rainwater collection devices have been erected in 158 sites, and three automatic coach-washing operations have been established to boost water saving. In addition, to support and maintain the regional ecology, Central Railways has planted five lakh trees at various locations as part of massive afforestation initiatives.

Also read: Mark Mobius takes a ride on Vande Bharat Express, raves about semi-high speed trains

The Vande Bharat express trains were introduced in 2019 and are presently plying on over 40 routes around the nation.

The first train was flagged off on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi line on February 15, 2019.

The trains include several contemporary amenities, like WiFi, large glass windows, enlarged footrests, overhead racks, and running at a semi-high speed.

At least 51 Vande Bharat trains, consisting of thirty-four 8-car services and seventeen 16-car services, are in operation as of April 25, 2024.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow