Amazon announces winners of KDP Pen to Publish 2019 Contest 
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Amazon announces winners of KDP Pen to Publish 2019 Contest 

Amazon announced the winners of the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Pen to Publish 2019 Contest. In its third year now, this contest has been conceptualised to celebrate the exceptional work among self-published authors. The contest recognises literary excellence among authors from different genres in long-form and short-form categories across English, Hindi and Tamil languages. Winning entries in each language for the long-format category won a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a merchandising deal and a chance to be mentored by the panellists. The first runners-up received a cash prize of ₹1 lakh each, while second runners-up were awarded ₹50,000 each. For the short-format category, winners were awarded ₹50,000 each while the first and second runners-up got ₹25,000 and ₹10,000 each respectively. Amol Gurwara, Country Manager, Kindle Content India – Amazon said, “Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing has been consistently seeing great interest from Indian writers and we witnessed the same in the latest edition of the Pen to Publish Contest where we received over 10,000 entries across English, Hindi and Tamil languages. It was interesting to see authors coming from various walks of life like bloggers, vloggers, corporate professionals, homemakers. We congratulate all winners and look forward to more great stories from them”. Winners across English, Hindi and Tamil languages received cash prizes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹5 lakh each Winners selected from over 10,000 entries Judging panel included best-selling authors – Durjoy Datta, Sudha Nair, Divya Prakash Dubey, Pa. Raghavan and C. Saravanakarthikeyan Following are the six winners from the contest – Winners in long-format writing (10,000 words and above) Language Book Title Author Genre English The story of India through food: OPOS Cookbook Ramakrishnan B Cooking, Food and Wine Hindi अंतर्मन: एक सेल्समैन की अनोखी कहानी ! Rajneesh Chaturvedi Science Fiction and Fantasy Tamil பேலியோ உணவின் அறிவியலும் உளவியலும்: Science and Psychology of Paleo Diet Bruno Guru Health, Mind and Body Winners in short-format writing (between 2,000 and 10,000 words) Language Book Title Author Genre English Who Killed the Kaneez? Vijay Kakwani Fiction Hindi मेरी सखी सुनीता: एक लघुकथा Mansi Dadhich Mahur Fiction Tamil 2K Kid: திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு G. Lenin Fiction The entries were judged on the basis of several criteria including originality, creativity, quality of writing, and customer feedback, by the judging panel. The panel comprised of best-selling authors Durjoy Datta, Sudha Nair, Divya Prakash Dubey, Pa. Raghavan and C. Saravanakarthikeyan. Ramakrishnan B, one of the winners of the contest said, “The KDP Pen to Publish Contest is an incredible opportunity for aspiring writers to realise their potential and receive recognition at a global level and I am quite thankful to the entire Amazon team for it. This award is a testament of how anyone who has talent and a story to tell, can take their work to readers across the world. All it took was only a few minutes to publish after writing the novel. KDP has made publishing one’s book so much easier.” Durjoy Datta a best-selling author and member of the jury said, “We came across some really high quality writing while judging and it was difficult to pick a winner. But I feel every participant is a winner as they are all published authors. Self-publishing through KDP is a game-changer enabling writers to take their thoughts and stories to their readers. And this contest has been just the right motivation to drive enthusiasm amongst budding writers across India and the world.” Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a fast, easy and free way for authors to publish their books across the world on Kindle. Authors who use KDP can earn royalties of up to 70%, retain rights such as, can get to market fast, keep control of how their work is published, distribute globally and in multiple languages, and do it all for free. For more information on the contest, visit www.amazon.in/pentopublish [envira-gallery id=”9661″] Amazon announces winners of KDP Pen to Publish 2019 Contest

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Get ready for life post lockdown
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Get ready for life post lockdown

A message from India to the world, Love 2 Humanity is a virtual entertainment experience featuring some of India’s most inspiring artists and personalities including Sudha Murthy, Latha Rajnikanth, Salim Merchant, Kailash Kher, Terence Lewis, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Nikhil Chinapa, Javed Ali, Kubbra Sait, Danish Sait, Cyrus Sahukar, Best Kept Secret and Raghu Dixit amongst others. The global broadcast is a not-for-profit experience that aims to raise funds and support the folk artists of Zariya foundation. Make sure you show your Love 2 Humanity on Sunday, 31st May 2020 7pm onwards by logging on to www.love2humanity.com for an inspiring evening while doing your bit to donate and support the folk artists of Zariya foundation. As countries across the world adapt to the new normal, it is important now more than ever to be empathetic and responsible towards our people and our planet. In these uncertain times, it is the strong spirit of humanity that will see us through the crisis. The Love 2 Humanity initiative is a celebration of the resilient human spirit and endeavors to spread love, hope and inspiration as we venture into the world again: with new hopes, new dreams and new beginnings. The virtual entertainment experience will also unveil a specially created post-lockdown anthem: a hymn of hope and happiness and a sublime song of inspiration for the future, one that invokes the compassion and strength we need to carry forward. “This is our labour of love and hope to the world after lockdown. We are beginning to foresee a future where we return to a different normal. People everywhere are uncertain and looking for ways to be inspired and hopeful about the future. This initiative of ours will help people around the world stay strong, positive and embrace the changes ahead of us through the life-affirming power of music, stories and conversation,” said Oum Pradutt, Founder & Managing Director of Phase 1 Events & Experiences. Through these incredibly challenging times, India has been a beacon of hope and thought-leader on a global front by helping countries around the world navigate the crisis. Now, comes yet another inspiration from India to the world – this time in music and melody. A spectacle of love and hope, dedicated to all of humanity. The show, produced and created by India’s leading experiential agency Phase 1 Events & Experiences will also be promoted and broadcast by Live Nation Asia, the world’s biggest entertainment company on their global online platform. What: Love 2 Humanity Virtual Entertainment Experience When: Sunday, 31st May 2020, 7 pm and 8:30 pm Where: www.love2humanity.com & https://www.livenation.asia/livefromhome   Get ready for life post lockdown

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When you’re Craving Delicious Neopolitan-style Pizzas
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When you’re Craving Delicious Neopolitan-style Pizzas

They pride themselves on their signature sourdough pizzas which according to partner Abhijit Gupta, is made from hand-rolled base of sourdough that is matured for a minimum of 24-48 hours. The pizzas are cooked in specially designed wood-fired brick ovens that can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and the end result is a deliciously thin crust pizza. The menu does not end at just pizzas, there is much creativity that can be found in the restaurant’s appetiser and main selections, each served with thoughtful presentation. Appetisers, such as Truffle oil laced potato wedges, Burrata bomb – chilled cheese flavoured with sundried tomatoes and topped with a balsamic glaze. The butter garlic chilli prawns served with soft rosemary focaccia are a few all-time favourites. If Garlic breads are your thing, then they have a whole section devoted to this speciality and Chef Nicolas says try the Stuffed Garlic Bread with Sundried Tomatoes and make it extra decadent by adding a topping of burrata cheese and rocket leaves. In the mains, Spaghetti Aglio Olio Peperoncino – long strands of spaghetti pasta are tossed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, parsley, chilli flakes & perfectly grilled vegetables. Tender bits of prawns and penne cooked to a perfect al dente are smothered in a flavourful tomato and cream sauce in the Penne Rosa. Seafood and meat lovers are well catered for and the desserts are mostly classic – tiramisu, warm chocolate cookies, cheesecake and Nutella and Mascarpone sourdough. WHAT TO ORDER Finger licking delicious TPB Chicken Wings in BBQ flavour served with a with garlic aioli. Popo’s Veggie Delight – A delicious pizza Red pepper, sun-dried tomato, zucchini, black olive, jalapeño, feta cheese, micro greens, mozzarella, technically perfect in execution and presentation. Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli – While all the pasta dishes are on point, this dish marries the best of the rich creamy filling delicately encased is fresh pasta served in a spicy Arrabbiata sauce. STYLE.WORLD TIP Add another dimension to your meal by asking for one of their Signature experiences through which you can add either a Burrata cheese Ball or Bulls Eye sunny side eye on any of their pizzas, salads, garlic breads, or pasta. WHERE: The Pizza Bakery – 2985, 12th main, HAL 2nd Stage Indiranagar, Bangalore OR RMZ Ecoworld. Visit their website: Facebook page for delivery options. Call: 080 49652607. MEAL FOR TWO: ₹1200 onwards. – By Rupa Balachandar, a designer by profession, a home chef by love and a gemstone lover by passion. Rupa is a food and lifestyle writer who happens to be a vegetarian and loves to cook vegan and vegetarian versions of international cuisines for her family and friends. [envira-gallery id=”9646″] When you’re craving delicious Neopolitan-style pizzas

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A New Ode to Femininity
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A New Ode to Femininity

Frederique Constant has unveiled five new round models in its Classics Art Déco collection. A return to the basics, both contemporary and classic, for a collection created 13 years ago and whose success is attested on the wrist of the modern woman. Art Déco? An artistic movement formed in the 1910s, and which reached its pinnacle in the 1920s. Thus, exactly a century later, Frederique Constant’s eponymous collection now has a brand-new interpretation: The Classics Art Déco Round. This new, 100% feminine model builds on over 10 years of watchmaking and stylistic achievements. Frederique Constant created the “Classics Art Déco” range in 2007. Going against the fashion grain, it already showed the family house’s spirit of total independence: although the trend was towards “oversize” and mixed watches, Frederique Constant sought a timeless classicism, with a delicate and elegant collection. It was followed in 2013 by a daring oval variation, an assertive and distinguished silhouette still in the collection. The culmination of style Today, the round form is offered for the first time in the “Classics Art Déco” collection. Long awaited by collectors and fans of fine watchmaking, it is the result of a thinking process of over ten years about the design, femininity and subtleness. Very often seen as the starting point of watch collections, the perfect circle is, for Frederique Constant, a carefully considered style culmination. The new Classics Art Déco Round line has appropriated the classic look of its elders while asserting itself as a timepiece of the age. Resolutely modern, the watch is above all feminine, with a very delicate casing, of harmonious proportions and considerable finesse, showing off to perfection the elegance of the wrists that it will adorn. For this purpose, the casing has also been slightly curved to perfectly fit the contour of the wrist. A large range of finishes Careful consideration has been given to the finishes of this new range with minute attention to detail. The casing, for example, of a delicate diameter of only 30 mm, has been grooved on its middle, in accordance with the strict standards of luxury watchmaking. On the dial, the hours and minutes are shown by needles, hand refined and polished in the so-called “cored apple” style imposed by Breguet over 200 years ago. They glide over a dial guilloché from its centre outwards which diffuses the light towards the hours expressed in Roman numerals. Four new versions on a whole new level Less than a year ago, the Frederique Constant unveiled an all-new collection, the Classics Quartz Ladies. Embodying the essence of Frederique Constant, the collection made a real impact in the space of a few short months, offering affordable Swiss Made luxury with impeccable attention to detail. The Classics Quartz Ladies timepieces epitomise subtle and feminine everyday elegance and make classically stylish and very competitively priced gifts for yourself or someone special. This year will see the collection continue to evolve in response to demand for even more luxurious models. The aim? To provide options for evening wear, special occasions, or those who simply want something more showy. The fully set bezel – Of the four new models designed by the manufacture, three are stone set. Still just 36 mm in diameter, the bezels are now richly adorned with 40 diamonds. Their delicate sparkle is revealed on two new variations of dial. The first features a mother-of-pearl chapter-ring, the centre of which is decorated with the Côtes de Genève motif, serving as a discreet reminder of the canton where the Frederique Constant manufacture is located (2,395 euros). The second dial is navy blue and provides the Classics Quartz Ladies with an attractive blue/white contrast effect, evoking the light of day and the dark of night. The timepiece is available with a steel bracelet (2,395 euros) or a calf leather strap (2,295 euros). So as to produce the most striking effect, only the watch with a blue dial features hand-polished steel hands, while the watch with a mother-of-pearl dial is finished with black steel hands. Reversing the colour combination ensures the hours and minutes are easy to read on each model, both of which feature a date window at 6 o’clock. Each timepiece is powered by a Frederique Constant quartz movement, ensuring perfect daily timekeeping for almost four years (45 months). Black & gold, a bold but stylish mix – The fourth and final model incorporates some bolder contrasts. The rose gold-plated case sets off the deep black dial with its Roman numerals and white steel hands beautifully. Available with a black calf leather strap, this new Classics Quartz Ladies watch exudes serious modern elegance, for those who want a sophisticated look without compromise, or breaking the bank (895 euros). Frederique Constant is a watchmaker located at Plan-les-Ouates, in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Our House is involved in all the manufacturing steps of the watches, from the initial design to the final assembly and quality control. Frederique Constant develops, makes and assembles its calibres in-house and boasts a collection of 29 different models imagined since 2004. In 2015, Frederique Constant launched the first Swiss Horological Smartwatch, displaying the time in an entirely analogical mode on a classic dial. This marked the creation of a brand-new category of watches in the Swiss watchmaking sector. Frederique Constant watches are characterised by their very high quality, their unique features and the precision of their design and manufacture. The value of the products is perceived through the quality of the design, materials and manufacture, a key factor in our success. Each watch is assembled by hand using the most modern equipment and undergoes thorough checks to ensure the highest quality and longest life. Innovation is a constant feature of our work to produce timepieces which are strongly creative and of exceptional value. Our cutting-edge factory covering 6,200 m² in Geneva offers the best environment for our watchmakers passionate about their work. A New Ode to Femininity

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Beat the Heat with these handcrafted summer beverages
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Beat the Heat with these handcrafted summer beverages

Enjoy seven new refreshing limited edition beverages from the comfort of your home as Starbucks resumes kerbside take-away and delivery. With an aim to celebrate the season of sunshine, Starbucks has launched seven new delectable and refreshing delights. The limited edition summer menu boasts of seasonal classics like the fan-favourite Midnight Mocha Frappuccino and a tropical and fruity delight, Mango Popper Frappuccino. The brand has also launched Honey Turmeric Latte, a robust combination of espresso, turmeric & honey along with a new variant in the cold brew section called Vegan Cold Brew. To make this season even more refreshing, customers can also relish three flavourful smoothies (Blueberry, Raspberry & Kiwi). At Starbucks, safety and well-being of the partners and community is of utmost importance.  Customers can now safely enjoy their favourite food and beverages through kerbside take-away and delivery executed in adherence to global safety standards. All orders are prepared by the partners while practicing social distancing, sanitization protocols, strict hygiene norms and contact-less transaction from delivery to payment to ensure optimum safety. Reinforcing its commitment to deliver an unparalleled coffee experience these new indulgent innovations will continue to surprise customers in their journey of coffee exploration as the range caters to diverse palates and preferences. Midnight Mocha Frappuccino Take pleasure in the whirls and twirls of black cocoa and java chips with the Midnight Mocha Frappuccino. Enjoy the black cocoa with deep, bittersweet notes, blended with ice, java chips and Starbucks coffee. This sensational beverage is layered with whipped cream and is finished with a dusting of black cocoa. Mango Popper Frappuccino To make summers even better, Starbucks introduced the season’s classic Mango Popper Frappuccino. This delicious mango flavoured beverage is a true delight to the taste buds on a summery day. Smoothies Beat the heat this summer with the delicious combination of yogurt and flavours like Blueberries, Raspberries or Kiwi, blended to perfection to create the delightful Blueberry Smoothie, Raspberry Smoothie and Kiwi Smoothie. This will be the first venture with Raspberries and Kiwi smoothies. Vegan Cold Brew Honey Turmeric Latte Enjoy the handcrafted delight Vegan Cold Brew which is enriched with soy. This slow steeped cold brew is a perfect vegan coffee delight. Build your immunity with the Honey Turmeric Latte, a robust combination of espresso, honey, turmeric and freshly steamed milk topped with honey drizzle for a sweet and smooth finish. Available in select stores of Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Surat, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai & Kolkata through kerbside take-away and delivery till July 09, 2020. Beat the Heat with these handcrafted summer beverages

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Flights Take to the Skies
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Flights Take to the Skies

India started issuing tickets for domestic flights from May 25th, which brought a relief to a lot of people but also did concern some folks regarding safety protocols being maintained due to the coronavirus. However, the officials made it mandatory to follow certain standard operating protocols by the passengers as well as staff working at the airports as well. According to reports, it is now mandatory for everyone to wear masks and gloves at all times and passengers would be boarding the planes in batches only. The ministry had set certain minimum and maximum fare rates for the flight tickets which have to be followed by the companies offering services for flying. The lowest range of the tickets of 40 minutes and the highest to 210 minutes. The price range for shorter journey has been set to ₹2100- ₹6000 and longer journeys ₹6,500 – ₹18,600. The Civil Aviation Ministry also said that the passengers are supposed to report to the airport 2 hours before reporting time and it is compulsory to web check in online. Now the whole process would be contact-less, right from the check in to online baggage tickets. Hence here are some rules to be followed: ON REACHING THE AIRPORT Masks are compulsory at all times. Everyone aging 14 years and above have to get checked at for the temperature as well as get status checked through the Arogya Setu Application or self-declaration form stating that they are free from any high temperature and symptoms of the virus. SECURITY CHECK The passengers will be guided to follow through the pre-embarkation security screening. The staff at security will practice ‘the minimum touch” concept to avoid contact with the passengers. Social distancing to be maintained at all times and santisation protocols would also take place. To maintain distance chair would be marked ‘not for use’ should not be occupied. Safety kit would be provided to the passengers which would include a surgical mask and face shield and sanitiser at the boarding gate. WHILE AT THE AIRCRAFT Passengers are advised to have minimal contact with other individuals and avoid using minimising using the toilets. Only one person is advised to accompany children and elderly. No meals, newspaper and services would be provided. Only water would be provided and passengers are not allowed to have their own eatables. ON ARRIVAL The temperature of the passengers would be checked on arrival again Sanitisation and distancing to be maintained at arrival. Health protocols that are being prescribed by the destination States/ UTs have to be followed by arriving passengers. The international flights would mostly commence from middle of June which was being announced by Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. On the whole the airports are supposed to ensure that all the rules and regulations are being followed to maintain the safety of all and regular announcements for same would be announced at all times. By Preeti Karia. Flights Take to the Skies

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Salon Management during COVId Pandemic
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Salon Management during COVId Pandemic

COVID pandemic has caused economic disaster around the world. Social distancing has proven disastrous for beauty and salon industry where professionals make a living by touching and working on clients. The beauty and salon industry is one sector that is bound to experience a tectonic transformation. The very basis of salon is touch where it has become a bad word today. This wouldn’t mean that we would wither away as people would still want to “Feel Good”. Problems during the lockdown Problems like location rent, employees salary and vendor payments don’t disappear just because of COVID. We as a salon struggled to pay rents and employees salary with minimal cash reserve. Weeks of shutdown and order to stay home, our hairstylists, beauticians and masseuses struggled financially. Managing the Lockdown Managing the lockdown financially is the biggest challenge for the salon fraternity. With clients really thinking twice to visit a salon is a big question. Though we are now living in a strange new world connected via whatsapp, Zoom, Instagram etc. we have created a virtual training platform for our staff to kill the boredom and prepare them to attend the clients with a new zest and skills to give them a new look. We have reworked the entire lockdown with new training programs, precautionary measures post lockdown and have discovered new ways to manage services keeping in mind social distancing. We have connected to our clients virtually for any homecare requirements, quick to do home tips for hair, skin and body. Our MD Sonia Vohra ran an entire session with us showing homemade face packs from available things in our kitchen. We have created individual kits for our clients which they could use at salon once we open. We have continuously been in touch with them so that there is excitement rather than fear when we reopen. Preparing for our future In normal times, change is ever present in the background. It hums steadily and slowly. This crisis will pass and all of us will learn to adapt new methods of working, new patterns of consumption and new ways to interact with people. While home care might become popular but nothing can replace the power of practitioners at the salon. We know how to make people look good and feel good from within. There would be health, economic and regulatory pressure for us to function. Every salon would have to prep themselves to start using disposable items for their clients, disinfect floor and all working surfaces. Hygiene was always our priority but going forward, it would be an OCD for us to stop spread of infections. Obviously, the well-heeled customer wouldn’t complain if we were to increase our prices given our increased overheads. We would be seeing a stronger and fitter beauty industry with new expectation of clients while retaining care and empathy. Change is always for better.

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Indian Couples Come Closer due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
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Indian Couples Come Closer due to the Coronavirus Pandemic

A survey conducted by Lasting, the leading relationship counselling app by The Knot Worldwide, shows that 74% of couples cook together, while 70% use technology to stay connected, and in love. With over seven billion people around the world practising social distancing due to the Coronavirus pandemic and crores of Indians locked in at home, people are spending more and more time with their loved ones. Lasting – the leading guided marriage counselling application from The Knot Worldwide, world leaders in the wedding marketplace – released findings from their ‘At Home Together’ survey to analyse how Coronavirus has impacted couples in India and how they have been spending time with one another during the nationwide lockdown. The survey was conducted with singles, newlyweds and married couples as well as those currently in a relationship, through the last two weeks of April 2020. The survey found that 90% of the couples polled have been spending a substantially larger amount of time with each other, with almost 40% of them have said that they are spending close to 18 hours a day with their partner! Since the announcement of the lockdown, almost half the couples polled (46%) have spent quality time with one another by developing healthier habits to improve their lifestyle. About 40% of couples have deepened their understanding of their partner by communicating more openly, with a majority of them saying they have learnt something new about their partner which has led to shared joy. While 39% of couples have conquered household chores by dividing responsibilities, a vast majority have picked up hobbies like cooking together (74%) or binge-watching their favourite shows (67%) to have shared experiences. Despite the negativity brought on by the pandemic, less than 10% of the couples said that their relationship has strained. 62% of respondents said they need ‘me time’ to feel better as well. After all, being together does not mean not having time for themselves. As for unmarried or long distance couples, a large majority (70%) stay in touch with their partners over phone and video chats, making technology their greatest ally. Almost half of them (44%) prefer to connect whenever they miss significant others, a small group of respondents (15%) like to set timelines for catching up to keep the discipline. “The global pandemic is unprecedented and has proven to be a unique and challenging time for couples around the world,” said Dhanusha Sivajee, Chief Marketing Officer, The Knot Worldwide. “As a relationship counselling app from The Knot Worldwide family, Lasting has always prioritised love and healthy relationships over the years. This is especially relevant during this time of need. We are proud to be able to support couples emotionally and help them navigate through these uncertain times to ensure they emerge from this crisis stronger. Through the ‘At Home Together’ survey, we aimed to understand how Indian couples were spending their time and what was the impact on their bonding. Insights from the survey will help us help them navigate the emotional effects of Coronavirus through personalised counselling sessions using Lasting and provide them with support that they might need.” Ankur Sarawagi, India Country Head, The Knot Worldwide, further adds “Indian society is, at large, a family-oriented set-up. As internet and technology took over and new ways of working emerged, our schedules have gotten busier. We are now always logged in, on the road, stuck in traffic, at the office till late or busy keeping up social commitments in the remaining free time. Time spent with near and dear ones has drastically reduced, especially for couples, which has led to strain on relationships. While the social restrictions and financial uncertainty caused by Coronavirus pandemic have increased stress, anxiety and conflict among individuals and their relationships, the extra time under lockdown that couples are spending together is helping them bond better. As Lasting’s ‘At Home Together’ survey findings suggest, couples across India are enjoying doing simple things together for hours which they did not get time to do earlier. This might actually help them come out of the lockdown even closer than before.” While the pandemic has instilled fear and uncertainty in various aspects of life and people are required to keep social distance for an indefinite period. This period might, ironically, bring couples closer strengthening love and relationships across the country. The Knot Worldwide x Lasting’s ‘At Home Together’ survey captured responses from over 1000 singles and engaged, dating as well as married couples in India over the last two weeks of April 2020. Respondents were recruited via email, SMS, community and social media channels of WeddingWire India. The survey was conducted on Qualtrics and covered all major metros, Tier I and Tier II cities in India. With over four decades of expertise in the wedding industry, The Knot Worldwide is the largest global wedding planning company. The Knot Worldwide is dedicated to building innovative tools and resources that simplify and inspire the wedding planning process. From the proposal to the wedding day, creating a home to starting a family together, we’re there for them every step of the way. Having inspired and empowered more than 40 million couples to plan a wedding that’s uniquely them, The Knot Worldwide provides leading wedding marketplaces, personalized wedding websites, planning tools and registry services with its brands in 15 countries across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. We help couples plan every aspect of their weddings, from finding inspiration and local wedding professionals to creating and managing all guest experiences, wedding registries and more through The Knot, WeddingWire, Bodas.net, Hitched.co.uk, WeddingWire.in, WeddingWire.ca, Matrimonio.com, Mariages.net and other brands. The Knot Worldwide also includes lifestyle brands The Bump for pregnancy and parenting, The Bash for bringing important celebrations to life with entertainment vendors, Lasting for building healthy and happy marriages, How They Asked for proposal inspiration and stories and more. Lasting is your personalized marriage health plan and the leading marriage education and skill-building app. Lasting’s mission is to empower all couples to build

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ITC Ltd. launches ‘5 STAR Kitchen ITC Chef’s Special’
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ITC Ltd. launches ‘5 STAR Kitchen ITC Chef’s Special’

In a first-of-its-kind cooking experience ITC Foods shares some easy to do regional recipes with the viewers of Star Network. These recipes come from an enthusiastic kitchen brigade at ITC Hotels. With the stay at home announcement a lot of hobby home chefs have been perfecting and experimenting with dishes.  Applauding their efforts, ITC Foods, one of the fastest growing foods businesses in India, driven by the market standing and consumer franchise of its popular brands like Aashirvaad have brought the viewers delicious tastes of India on the 5 STAR Kitchen ITC Chef’s Special. From the delectable traditional fare like Rajasthani Bafla Bati, Konkani Dodak Dosa, Bengali Chanar Payesh, Potoler Dorma to unconventional creations like Aashirvaad Multi Millet Pizza, YiPPee Tricolor pasta masala with summer amaranth and King oyster mushroom, Mad Angles Nacho with Salsa and Mango Dip, B-natural Aam papad and gur kulfi candy or a Dark Fantasy Shake to satiate a sweet craving, the 12 ITC Hotel Chefs with their exceptional craftsmanship are all set to  showcase the rich culinary heritage of our country. From the royal kitchens of Rajasthan, the dessert capital of Kolkata to the soothing flavours of Oriental cuisine each episode will spell the magic of rich traditional and contemporary food landscape in India using some of the choicest ingredients from the world class/ distinguished food portfolio of ITC Foods like Aashirvaad, YiPPee!, Sunfeast, B Natural et al. In addition, each episode will feature a guest chef who will share the screen with ITC Hotels’ Chef and journalist-turned-anchor Dheeraj Juneja who gives an interesting spin to the conversation as he interacts with the chefs about food preferences & influence of Indian culture across cuisines. The show premiered on 23rd May and will be aired every Saturday & Sunday at 11:00 am for six weekends. The 12-episode series will be aired on Hotstar & the STAR TV Network across 33 channels in 7 languages – Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bangla and Malayalam. [envira-gallery id=”9600″] Link to the promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x38WCNp_1JU ITC Ltd. launches ‘5 STAR Kitchen ITC Chef’s Special’

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Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
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Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

This month Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, (MFWF) comes to your door with a brand-new Online Edition from Monday 25 to Saturday 30 May. The MFWF, is one of the one of the most popular culinary events in the world, is usually hosted in March every year. This time, due to the lockdown, the physical edition has been postponed. However, the virtual programme for the last two days will comprise of talks, trivia, trouble shooting, tours, Q&As, and a blockbuster showcase of international and Victorian talent, along with takeaway menus, prizes and special offers. On May 29, join zero-waste hero Matt Stone for hands-on demo of chook cooking at its finest. In this masterclass, Matt will show you how to break down a whole chicken like a pro, putting it to use in three separate dishes. Born and bred in Melbourne, Starward continues to push the boundaries of what modern whisky can be. Join brand ambassador Matty Follent for a delicious cocktail a chat to end your day and kick off the night sessions of The Online Edition. The Hungry Gentlemen – award-winning wine and food writers Max Allen and Richard Cornish – bring you Friday night drinks with a difference. Streaming live from Pope Joan, the pair will tell the fascinating story of the plunder of Victoria’s ancient native oyster reefs to feed goldrush Melbourne and how today those reefs are being brought back to life. Lastly, Shane Delia’s passion for the food of the Middle East is irresistible. Tonight, he opens his kitchen at home and walks you through some favourite dishes from his new Maha Go repertoire. On May 30, Get your taste of the new home of global flavours in regional Victoria with Tony Tan, National treasure and international cult culinary idol, who will give us preview of his swish new digs. Join the founder of The Everleigh, Michael Madrusan, talking all things drinks, righting the wrongs of the cocktail world and shining a light on all the good things happening in strong drink in conversation with MFWF creative director Pat Nourse. Michael invites you to join him for a drink in real time, with the offer of a cocktail special from The Everleigh delivered hot to your door: a generous pour of Hot Buttered Rum concocted with aged rum, honey and butter topped with freshly grated nutmeg. Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

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