Quarantine Skin Care
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Quarantine Skin Care

With majority of us currently confined to our homes, our skincare regimes have significantly changed. While most of us are off makeup and giving our skin a break, we should also use this opportunity for self-care and not forget some basics; after all, it is not so bad to pamper ourselves even in the smallest way possible. The Flipkart team gives a few essential tips that you should be careful to keep up through this period. Protect yourself from the UV rays It is a myth that one needs to apply sunscreen only while stepping out. Whether you are staying at home or going outdoors once a day for exercise, it is important to use a full spectrum sunscreen as glass windows and fine curtains can let UV rays in. Lakme Sun Expert Ultra Matte Lotion| Rs.230 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock Cream| Rs.191 Lotus Herbals Safe Sun UV Screen Matte Gel| Rs.267 A regular skin cleanse can do wonders When it comes to skincare, amidst the lockdown, many of us may find our skin to be a lot drier and are witnessing unexpected breakouts along with a dull, tired skin. This is mainly because of the change in environment, constant stress and anxiety, and new habits that are impacting the skin. To combat this, be sure to use a cleanser adapted to your skin type — cream, oil, micellar water — and complete your cleansing ritual every evening. Make this a part of your routine as it is vital to remove dirt accumulated on your skin during the day and to ensure that your skin can regenerate itself optimally at night. Along with it, keep yourself hydrated inside out and it will work wonders and bring back the glow to your skin. Olay Total Effects 7 in 1| Rs.269 L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser X3 Power Water| Rs.925 Stay home, Stay Moisturised While it is important to regularly wash our hands to keep the virus away, all that washing, and hand sanitizing dries out the skin. Many people are experiencing cracked and chapped hands. Therefore, moisturizing your hands regularly is very important. Ponds Triple Vitamin Moisturizing Lotion| Rs.250 Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore Body Lotion| Rs.265 Parachute Deep Nourish Body Lotion| Rs.165 Nivea Cocoa Nourish oil in lotion| Rs.300 Don’t ignore Lip care Lastly, that one thing that should not be ignored is lip care. A lip balm is not only an essential beauty item, but also a healthy skin need. Lips happen to be one of the most sensitive parts of the body and need the most extreme consideration and care. So, the next time you take care of your skin, do not forget to keep your lips hydrated too.   BIOTIQUE Bio Fruit Whitening Lip Balm Fruity| Rs.157 Himalaya Shine Lip Care Strawberry| Rs.138 NIVEA Shine Caring Lip Balm Cherry|  Rs.131  Stay hydrated with the Face Mist If you are looking for the perfect skincare treat to deal with the hot weather, try out a cooling face mist? It will keep your skin feeling hydrated even in the worst heat. Simply spray the mist on your face for a refreshing look Plum Grape Seed and Sea Buckthorn Nutri-plenish Face Mist| Rs.360 Kaya Youth Hydro Replenish| Rs.319 Quarantine Skin Care

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New Innings for the Retail Industry
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New Innings for the Retail Industry

Akhil Jain, Executive Director, Madame shares his views on how the retail industry is all geared up for business post the lockdown. Even before the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic traditional retailers were struggling to get customers to visit their stores instead of shopping online. However, with the imposition of the nationwide lockdown the scenario changed for everyone concerned. Innumerable stores that were catering to the non-essential segment were temporarily shut from the last week of March due to the government’s response to the pandemic. In what is undoubtedly the most difficult crisis the retail industry had ever faced along with a daunting challenge of staying relevant in people’s minds as they stared at a bleak future. However, the situation is now changing as senior management’s have re-kindled their plans having got time to get some control over the way things can be put in place. Companies have implemented a lot of safety measures and have implemented the government’s guidelines to permit limited number of staff at any given time in any store or factory, that too with strict implementation of the social distancing and hygiene norms. Since a while retailers had been requesting the government to allow fashion and luxury outlets to open several lockdowns have been relaxed and factories have been allowed to open in low risk exposure areas with a plan to gradually exit for other areas in phases. With these measures the retail segment is hoping that it is well prepared for the Post covid-19 situation that will be about things people need and not what they want. A certain economic downturn and its potential fallout is looming many retailers are facing uncertainty in the year ahead. The only positive is that there is some predictability when it comes to what consumers want and their preferences. As the landscape changes convenience above other considerations will become an important part of the equation while the quality of the product will continue to be important, brands who differentiate themselves on the service, delivery, and overall convenience effectively than their competitors do will be the new game changers. Realising that convenience is the new normal. Retailers will have to invest in convenience and make consumers lives easier. Meeting customer expectations will not be an overnight job it will require cross-functional coordination and can present many challenges companies will have to transform their supply chains or risk becoming obsolete. Digital supply networks (DSNs) that leverage internet of things (IoT) sensors, applications, and AI to make real-time decisions. Traditional supply chains may no longer be sufficient for retailers seeking to meet customer expectations. A lot of mall-based clothing retailers were already struggling before the pandemic as they haven’t been successful in the online space as their businesses are not built for their stores to remain shut for such a long period of time. The government’s economic package is a welcome measure for many who hope the situation will improve as some analyst expect a V shaped recovery while others expect it to take close to 18 months for the economy to get back and stage a significant recovery. However, consumer behaviour is unpredictable whether the fear of stepping out will be overcome by the will to get on with life and live without holding back is going to be the key to what the consumer space will look like in the next few months. That will definitely have a big impact on the retail industry. Since CY2019 various analysts and industry experts have been of the opinion that the Indian retail industry is likely to grow to US$ 1400 billion by FY2024 and the e-commerce market too was estimated to grow to US$ 98 billion in FY2024 but only time will tell how things will play out in the post Covid world. New Innings for the Retail Industry

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Alpine delicacies from the Swiss Alps
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Alpine delicacies from the Swiss Alps

As we face restrictions on global travel, Switzerland encourages people to ‘Dream Now Travel Later’, assuring the world that the beautiful country will pause time and stay the way it is to be ready to welcome visitors when the world opens up. Till then, it is a good idea to travel through your kitchens and experiment with dishes that are symbolic to Switzerland and experience the cuisine from one of the most loved destinations. Here are some top easy-to-make recipes with ingredients available in your kitchen. ‘Alpine Macaroni’or known to the Swiss as Älplermagrone, is the ultimate comfort food one can find on the slopes of the famous Alps. This alpine dish is found everywhere on restaurant menus from Appenzell to Zermatt, through Lugano and St. Moritz. https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/food-wine/recipe/alpine-pasta/ Has this quarantine been too tough on you? Then indulge in some ‘Cheese Fondue’for a generous dose of creamy pot of cheese with the pieces of bread just like the Swiss do. Switzerland is known for its best fondues, however there are many different styles and versions. One of the best variations is the Fribourg one, the moitié-moitié, made from spicy Gruyères and softly melting Vacherin cheeses.   Looking for a Saturday night cheat meal? Then melt up the cheese and serve it with vegetables, lavash, croutons and potato wedges, this gives an interesting twist to your fondue palette while you binge watch on your favourite shows. https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/food-wine/recipe/fondue/ ‘Rosti’or also known as “Röstigraben” (Rösti ditch), originally a farmers’ breakfast from German-speaking Switzerland, is now a Swiss national dish with each region having its own version. The Bernese, for example, are known for their crispy Rösti fried in butter. This classic comfort food is surprisingly easy to make, with some tricks along the way, and it turns potatoes into a main meal. The recipe can be summarized in five words: grate potatoes sautéed in butter. The resulting dish is a pancake of potato, crispy brown on the outside, gooey, buttery, potato-licious inside. This is a dish that is very easy to create in your kitchens for a lazy Sunday brunch. https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/food-wine/recipe/recipe-for-roesti/ Meringue, a sweet kiss with egg whites is a sugary pastry invented around the year 1600. Since the delicate and airy pastry made from egg whites and the thick battered Gruyères cream complement each other so well, one easily understands why Meringue is a favourite dessert in the land of Fribourg. You can enjoy your meringue in two ways – one can be slowly baked, transforming into crisp cookies or as dessert on top of cake’s layers. It is a good start to your love for baking delicious desserts. https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/food-wine/recipe/meringues/ So, bring out the foodie in you and experience the taste of this magical destination by trying out some of the famous dishes. You can find more such interesting recipes here, https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/experiences/food-wine/typically-swiss-recipes-search/ Alpine delicacies from the Swiss Alps

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Simple Recipe for Tawa Pulao
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Simple Recipe for Tawa Pulao

We Indians are masters at the art of cleverly turning leftovers into delicious meals, and this is very evident in the dish created by the industrious stall owners of Khau Galli (a very popular street/by lane that houses food stalls in downtown Mumbai) called Tawa Pulao. The base of the dish is the bhaji, or the gravy part of an immensely popular anytime snack, Pav Bhaji. There are many stories as to the origins of this dish and the most plausible story to me is that it was created for mill workers. The cotton mills in central Bombay used to work 24 hours a day and worked in multiple shifts, the night shift used to break very early in the morning and needed a little something to quench their appetites, here was born the Pav Bhaji. Pav Bread was very easy to procure and store. The Bhaji consisted of leftover vegetables smashed together with rehydrated green peas, a healthy amount of spices thrown in and finally sprinkled with the classic salted Amul butter to enhance all flavours. Now taking this delicious dish a bit further and as an alternative, the Bhaji is mixed with leftover rice, which acquired a posh version when steamed basmati rice was used. Tossed along with the Bhaji and aromatics like coriander and mint leaves, crunchy diced onions and green capsicum along with copious amounts of salted butter on a very hot tawa or cast iron griddle, the Tawa Pulao was created. I particularly love this dish, not just because it unites two very obvious Indian loves of something chatpata and soothing rice, but because there is no “authentic” recipe! Just toss whatever leftover vegetables you have on hand, add a good amount of butter and the star, which is Pav Bhaji masala. I sort of fake my way through this dish every time, since there is no “strict” recipe – just a method and a single masala (you can use whichever garam masala you have on hand), this dish can turn leftover vegetables into something spectacular, go ahead and give it your twist. Recipe for Tawa Pulao Ingredients 3 cups cooked rice (basmati if possible) 2 cups par boiled, finely chopped vegetables of your choice (cauliflower, peas, potatoes, green capsicum, french beans, carrot, cabbage, sweet corn) 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes OR 1/2 cup tomato purée 1/2 cup finely chopped onions 3-4 tbsp salted butter 1 1/2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 3-4 tsp pav bhaji masala 2 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder 2 tsp cumin seeds Salt to taste Coriander leaves, lime wedge, salted butter and finely chopped onion for garnish. Method Heat a wide skillet/tawa or a wok, add the butter, cumin seeds and let it sputter. The rest of the dish is cooked on a high flame. Add the ginger-garlic paste, onions and let it cook for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes and Pav Bhaji masala and Kashmiri red chilli powder. Cook until the tomatoes turn pulpy. Toss in the vegetables, and cook until the vegetables are coated, constantly mixing to prevent the them from burning. Add the rice and toss everything until well mixed. Add the coriander leaves, extra butter, toss again. Serve warm with chopped onion and lime wedges. – 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. Simple Recipe for Tawa Pulao

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What’s the Hullabaloo About?
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What’s the Hullabaloo About?

An enriched life is a life pursuing one’s purpose. And if you find your purpose at a very young age, chances are, you will enjoy the process of honing it constantly. At Hullaballoo, we believe that this seeding of possibilities has to be sown during a child’s formative years itself. The more children are exposed to the myriad ways of expressing themselves, the more they will be inspired to make some of it their dreams and ambitions. The team believes in having serious fun. They identify possibilities and experts, discuss and curate, set up the experience and conduct the fun. They also conduct live sessions. They carefully curate these experiences for your children that they can absorb on their own, or can enjoy with your participation. Each live session is meant to be highly interactive and are being capped at eight kids only. Their USP is that they tie up with professionals who are experts in their field. They believe that every child needs professional assistance to mould them better. The Hullabaloo team is founded by Anuja Gupta and co-founded by Danvneva Phira and Nithya David. Mothers of three year olds who felt a vacuum which needed to be filled, started this venture. They have made the pricing very reasonable so that everyone can participate. The session starts from Rs 350 for one session and Rs 2200 for all nine sessions. More details on www.hullabalooblr.com [envira-gallery id=”9510″] What’s the Hullabaloo About?

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JCB 2.0 Is Paving the Path For The Beauty Industry Post Lockdown
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JCB 2.0 Is Paving the Path For The Beauty Industry Post Lockdown

In light of the ease of restrictions for salons and spas in certain states, Jean-Claude Biguine Salons have officially begun operations in Bengaluru. The salons have received an overwhelming response from clients that is encouraging and in praise of the superior safety and hygiene standards that the French Experts have adopted. “I have to compliment the care and safety measures that the Indiranagar branch at Bangalore, took to cater our much needed grooming requirements after our lockdown. The pedicure was a few minutes of my day but made up for the entire few months. As we adapt to the new normal, I must applaud all of you. Here’s to going back to things the way they were very soon. Best wishes to the team.” said Raksha Hegde who visited JCB salons post lockdown. “I acknowledge that you all have done great homework and are implementing it. This shows your dedication towards customer satisfaction. I am truly satisfied and my heartfelt thanks to the team for delivering such a safe yet stylish service,” added Vignesh who was one of the first clients to visit JCB Salons at Lavelle Road. During the lockdown, their 400 strong workforce individually put in 40 hours of extensive training to build and put into action a new safety manual and upgrade their skill-sets to ensure a seamless salon experience on re-opening. They have strictly ensured that all the salons are well equipped with the best sanitization methods, industry-approved PPE Gear including capes, masks, gloves and shoe covers, stringent safety manuals and strict code of conduct for employees and clients. The global salon chain has also sourced efficacious single-use service kits for most of the services and are inculcating contactless payment and greetings. Samir Srivastav, CEO, Jean-Claude Biguine Salons further sheds light: “Safety and hygiene were always a priority at JCB even before the pandemic hit us, but this time we’re going the extra mile to take additional precautionary methods. We have joined forces with our global brand partners L’Oréal, Wella as well as Beauty & Wellness Sector Skills Council, India to conduct extensive safety and hygiene trainings and educational exercises in multiple languages for all our employees. We want to leave no stone unturned when it comes to safety and health.” A specially appointed JCB Task Force has created a JCB 2.0 safety manual to ensure they observe optimum hygiene and safety standards and take statutory precautions to safeguard customers. Deep disinfection of high-touch points, tools & equipment, mandatory temperature/health checks, use of Aarogya Setu App, reduced appointments to avoid over-crowding are some of the other key mandates they are adhering too. JCB 2.0 Is Paving the Path For The Beauty Industry Post Lockdown

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Zoya, India’s Answer to Timeless Luxury
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Zoya, India’s Answer to Timeless Luxury

The creator of exquisite jewellery from the House of Tata, Zoya makes its foray into South India with a flagship boutique in Bangalore’s most iconic luxury hub. Over the last decade, this luxury Maison, with artistry and craftsmanship at its core, has been redefining the way fine jewellery is experienced in India. Located on Vittal Mallya Road in the heart of the city, all 3300 square feet of this boutique speak with a quiet eloquence of a love for fine jewellery, a deep appreciation of the handcrafted and bespoke, and above all a reverence for the sheer artistry that goes into the creation of each resplendent finished piece; a perfect union of design originality with age-old techniques of jewellery creation. With its walls corniced in delicate shades of white and blush, the facade of this homegrown brand is stately yet inviting. The visual language is contemporary and modern while doffing its hat ever so subtly to the power of the artisanal. Walking up the marble steps leading to the entrance, there is a sense of awe that mingles with anticipation about what awaits inside. A spreading chandelier of blown glass in honeyed hues of amber and blush hangs over the entrance area, the falling drop-like shapes luminous and plentiful. A quaint and poetic expression of life’s ability to create and diversify, it sets the tone for the rest of the boutique experience, as one discovers details large and small that have been created exclusively for Zoya. The high foyer area under the chandelier’s warm glow allows for absolute silence; a space in which to soak in the ambience of the lush, feminine interiors. The juxtaposition of this softness and restraint with its layered complexity, one realizes, hints at the inner layers of the Zoya world; minimal yet intricate, effortless yet crafted. Smoothly painted in shades of white, the softly coved walls are refreshingly bare but for the leggy plinths where the first pieces of wearable, highly contemporary jewellery are displayed. One takes a deep breath before being greeted warmly by the jewellery advisor, and subsequently whisked away on a wondrous walk through the boutique and its bejewelled secrets. The diamond section is a circle of pure white light over a round display in cool grey, enhancing the sparkle of these exquisitely selected pieces in the finest of settings. There is a sense of discovery in seeing the two niches on the right flank of the space, as one moves from the wearable through the more expressive collections all the way to the most prized high value pieces where the finest of diamonds and coloured stones are formed into jewellery of exquisite beauty. One after the other, these niches reveal themselves, the faceted mirrors in the corners rimmed in the brand’s signature rose gold. Plush, roomy chairs specially designed for Zoya invite the visitor to spend time with the friendly advisors, admiring and enquiring about the jewellery, setting a leisurely pace. Offering an island of creative immersion and self-expression in the centre of the boutique’s linear floor plan is the Bespoke Area, where clients interact with the brand’s jewellery designers to co-create custom pieces of art flowing into fine jewellery. It is here that one senses the pulsating heart of the brand, where inspiration, ideas and conversations are all thrown into the melting furnace from where the finest designs emerge. With curved separators on either side, this space forms a semi-private niche cleverly cordoned off from the rest of the boutique, striking just the right balance of exclusivity and openness. Everything one sees and experiences on this heady journey leads to the ultimate piece de resistance, the Private Lounge. Set in hues of blush at the far end of the boutique, its sheer curtains revealing as much as they conceal, is the exclusive space that clients are invited to for the ultimate in customer experience; conversations about jewellery over a cup of hand brewed filter coffee and fresh hors d’oeuvres. The plush wall paneling and soft carpet are stunningly contrasted by the Art Deco-inspired centre seating in shades of creamy white, with the signature faceted mirrors returning once again to remind the Zoya woman that she is indeed at the heart of this dramatic story. The brand’s expression is global as its soul is Indian. Finding inspiration in history, art, architecture and cuisine, the narrative weaves textured stories that find their way into our souls, transporting the visitor to the falling Chinar leaves of the Kashmir Valley, bringing alive the mesmerizing architecture of Italy or the nostalgia and glamour of Hollywood’s golden eras. Patrons of the age-old methods of Indian karigari, Zoya prides itself on designs that give contemporary form to traditional craft. From the most stringent selection and sourcing of precious stones such as Emerald, Ruby, Tanzanite to unusual stones such as Rutilated Quartz, Peridot, Yellow Citrine; Zoya’s pieces are brought to life by the steadiest of hands and sharpest of eyes. Just as each piece of jewellery is created to a vision, so each detail of the boutique is a labour of love by designers and local artisans. The display windows are adorned with finely crafted paper art telling the stories of the inspiration behind each piece. Elements from Zoya’s numerous inspirations are subtly embroidered onto rhythmic screens that help create private niches within the larger space. At Zoya, no detail is too small, no story too insignificant. “Zoya is a brand with its heart in India and an eye on the world”, says Business Head, Amanpreet Ahluwalia. “Zoya’s collections are inspired by myriad journeys, from the ones that take you across the world to the ones that help you discover your own feminine self. The creative process of each jewellery piece can take up to a year from the idea to bringing it alive, resulting in artistic masterpieces, each with its own story to tell. Having received a wonderful response from the North and West of India, we couldn’t have found a location for our Bangalore boutique

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PPE fundraiser receives huge support from celebrities
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PPE fundraiser receives huge support from celebrities

Journalist & Photographer Rubina A Khan’s PPE fundraiser in Mumbai has been supported by industrialist Ness Wadia, businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla (Executive Director – Serum Institute of India, Pune), filmmaker Karan Johar (Dharma Productions), actor Amrita Arora, film costumer Ana Singh, art advisor Wendy A Coutinho, businesswoman Eesha Sukhi and jeweller Siddharth Kasliwal (Director – The Gem Palace, Jaipur) with generous financial contributions. The fundraiser has received contributions from Queenie Singh, art patron Shalini Passi and filmmaker Gaurav Chawla and 200 safety eyewear have been purchased from the money contributed by them. Ever since 53 press personnel tested positive for the Coronavirus in Mumbai three weeks ago, journalist and photographer, Rubina A Khan couldn’t stop thinking about the health risks the Mumbai media were being exposed to, reporting on the virus, whilst she stayed safely at home, in quarantine, on government orders. Everyone was lauding the first responders and medical teams, the police, the hygienists and the cleaners, and rightly so, but nobody seemed to be talking about the photographers, videographers and journalists that were bringing in the news and visuals of the virus and the heart wrenching devastation and strife across the world, every single day, by going out and reporting from containment zones, risking their own lives, and livelihoods. “A conversation with a photographer on Coronavirus news duty every single day since March 2020, impelled me into thinking about the health risks our media community faced, being exposed to the virus on the job, whilst I stayed safely at home, in quarantine and the lockdown, on government orders. On hearing about people I have known, and worked with, going out to work in red zones and containment areas for the coverage, I just had to do something that would protect them from the virus. I feel that the risks the media personnel are taking carrying out their duties on the job, which is their livelihood in this uncertain, broken economy, are not being recognised for the extremely important and essential role they are playing in this pandemic. Everything we know about the virus is through the eyes and lenses of the media as we are all in lockdown and quarantined at home – their photographs and stories are telling us how the new world looks and the steps that are being taken to contain the virus and flatten the curve. I spearheaded a fundraiser to purchase Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) as a preventive measure for Mumbai’s news photographers and media personnel covering the Corona crisis on the front lines, by reaching out to my network on April 23, 2020 for contributions as a collective, humane responsibility to shield them. I am ever so thankful to the people – from all walks of life in India – that responded empathetically towards the fundraiser with their fiscal largesse like industrialist Ness Wadia, businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla (Executive Director, Serum Institute of India, Pune), filmmaker Karan Johar (Dharma Productions), actor Amrita Arora, film costumer Ana Singh, art advisor Wendy A Coutinho, businesswoman Eesha Sukhi and jeweller Siddharth Kasliwal (Director, The Gem Palace, Jaipur). The PPE’s reached Mumbai and were distributed to the media personnel. These PPE’s are certified by SITRA – South India Textile Research Association, Coimbatore for fabric and garment – and are for one-wear only. Since then, the fundraiser has received contributions from Queenie Singh, art patron Shalini Passi and filmmaker Gaurav Chawla. The kindness of all the contributors should be highlighted and not go unnoticed as anonymous benefactors, because talking about them will go on to inspire many others to come forward in this crisis to help each other in our country. Every contributor has stepped up as a humanitarian to help our media community, and that is reason enough to laud any helping hand. All of them have made this little fundraiser of mine a bigger success that I ever envisaged it to be and we, the media community, are ever so grateful for their kindness. The PPE’s and safety eyewear bought with the funds raised so far have been distributed to the Mumbai media personnel and I am ordering the second round of PPE’s now. I intend to keep raising funds to provide the PPE’s for as long as they are needed during the pandemic.” [envira-gallery id=”9464″] PPE fundraiser receives huge support from celebrities

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Pasta Masterclass and DIY Pasta Kits by Little Italy
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Pasta Masterclass and DIY Pasta Kits by Little Italy

Cooking is an act of love. Little Italy, the Italian restaurant has on offer DIY Pasta Kits which can be ordered through Swiggy or directly from all their outlets in the city. Each kit has 3 & half portions of pasta as per Little Italy servings. The kit contains 500 grams of pasta, sauces for two portions, recipe for third portion, sachets of chilli flakes and oregano. You will also be provided with a digital copy of how to make the pasta as well. Choosing Pasta Choice of pasta is very important and its determined by your sauce, some pastas suit better to carry more sauce for best flavour. Spaghetti for example is more likely to be eaten with an olive oil based sauce or creamier sauce as it can hold maximum of the sauce which a penne or fusilli couldn’t. Fusilli is great when you want to eat more sauce with your pasta as it holds the pasta in its l shape. Penne works perfectly for tomato based sauces as it can have sauce inside its cylindrical shape for a burst of flavour! Within penne also there are two types of rigate (furrowed) and lesce (smooth) the smooth version has a smooth texture and does not likely hold on to a chunkier sauce while the rigate has a rough exterior texture with some lines within its shape to hold on to more sauce. So once you have chosen your type of pasta and sauce you start with the processing of boiling the pasta which is one of the most important part of the dish How to make the perfect Pasta -Bring 1 litre water to boil. Add 10 grams of salt Chef’s tip: Salt in the water will help your pasta get a depth of flavour and also increase the boiling point of the water. -Cut open Little Italy penne pasta packet and add 150 grams of pasta to boiling water for each portion. Chef’s tip: Add pasta only once water is boiled because otherwise you will dissolve the starch and loose texture of the pasta. -Cook for 10-11 minutes (can cook for more time for softer pasta as per preference) Pasta cooked the traditional Italian way will always have a bite to it and won’t be as mushy and is called “Al dente”. However, Indians prefer cooking the pasta more for it to be softer. You can choose your preference. There is no right and wrong in cooking. It’s all about what you like and that’s the beauty of cooking for yourself you can customise it and develop new recipes along the way! – Keep in mind you are further going to cook the pasta with the sauce so don’t overcook while boiling it. Keep it al dente and finish it off in the pan with your choice of sauce – Strain the pasta and cool, drizzle little extra virgin olive oil on pasta. Chef’s tip: Olive oil helps the pasta not stick together. Boiling Pasta The Little Italy arrabbiata sauce is fresh homemade tomato sauce cooked with fresh garlic, herbs and chilli. This is the most simple classic tomato sauce recipe to which you can add vegetables, ragu, chicken or even have only sauce and pasta with Parmesan cheese! Pasta Al’ Arabbiata -In a sauce pan, heat 10 ml extra virgin olive oil. Add 125 grams of Little Italy’s arrabbiata sauce. Chef’s tip: Always use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour in your dish. – Add boiled pasta, salt, pepper if required. Tear in some fresh basil leaves. – Can add some vegetable like mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini or broccoli to make your pasta healthier. – If you prefer saucier pasta add 1 cup of the pasta water that you have saved after straining the pasta and cook the pasta a little more. – Once you think the sauce has mixed well with your pasta and reduced to how saucy you want it to be you take it off the heat and its ready. – Garnish with lots of Parmesan cheese and basil and pasta is ready to eat! Buon Appetito! One of the most popular pasta dishes at Little Italy fondly called pink sauce, the Pasta del barone is made with our fresh with our tomato sauce, béchamel sauce, Parmesan cheese and chilli, this noble sauce is one of their signature dishes and can be enjoyed with all pastas! With this sauce if you want you could add vegetables (Mushroom, broccoli, zucchini). Chicken and bacon go well too! Pasta Del Barone -In a sauce pan, heat up your Little Italy’s Pink sauce. – Add your boiled pasta with 1 cup of your pasta water and bring to a boil. – Once the water is evaporated and the pasta has absorbed all the flavour, the pasta is ready – Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley and its ready to eat! Buon Appetito! Pasta Aglio Olio E Pepperoncino Aglio olio is a simple olive oil and garlic sauce pasta which can be made easily. “Aglio” means garlic and “olio” oil. Always use extra virgin olive oil for best flavour. This classic Italian pasta sauce that can be made with simple ingredients available readily at home. – What you will need: Chopped garlic, Extra virgin olive oil, Chopped parsley, Black pepper, Parmesan cheese, chili flakes, spaghetti pasta. – Spaghetti is perfect for this dish. You can also make with other long pasta like tagliatelle or buccatini. – Once your pasta is boiled, in a sauce pan add extra virgin olive oil add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan. – Add finely chopped garlic and on a low heat wait until the garlic is blonde – You could also add some vegetables while you roast your garlic in your pasta, some vegetables that work will with this recipe are zucchini, red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli. – Add in your pasta, – Add a tea spoon of chilli flakes, – Toss pasta with

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Ranga Shankara’s play streaming program Staged@RS starts today
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Ranga Shankara’s play streaming program Staged@RS starts today

“Staged@RS”, Ranga Shankara’s play streaming programme will be laBackend Editorunched on Friday, 22 May, 2020. The programme will kick-off with some plays for children that have been staged under Ranga Shankara’s acclaimed AHA! – Theatre for Children. Six plays will be streamed, starting from 22 May till 27 May at 5 PM. The plays will go online on Ranga Shankara’s YouTube channel. They will remain there for a week after premiering. The plays have been chosen carefully to ensure the viewers get a variety in terms of age, language and format. All the plays are favourites of both children and grown-ups when they are staged at Ranga Shankara. The list of plays are: Fish Tree Moon, Circle of Life, Chippi the Chipkali, The Zapperdockel and the Wock, Robinson and Crusoe and The Garbage Mouse. “We have always recorded our plays with one camera positioned in the 4th row. In these times of lockdown, we thought it was a good idea to share these. We hope our viewers enjoy these while we all wait to get back to real theatre!” says Arundhati Nag, Artistic Advisor of Ranga Shankara. Fish Tree Moon An Indo-Korean production developed and presented in partnership with InKo Centre, ‘Fish Tree Moon’ is a magical tale about destiny, pursuit, friendship, fear, fascination and revalations. Inspired by Indian and Korean Folk tales and folk painting traditions such as Madhubani, ‘Fish Tree Moon’ follows an odd group of creatures – an old fish, a spirited girl, an eager boy, an ascetic and a Deer tree – making a long journey to the top of Mount Kailash so they can have their wishes granted. But here, on top of this mountain, the universe has other plans for them. What do they find and how do they find it? Circle of Life From childhood to old age, a human life goes through various stages – physically and emotionally – and each stage is a miracle in itself, with its own unique gift to offer. Life at every stage is precious, and each stage of the human life cycle must be nurtured and protected. Chippi the Chipkali Based on an Indian folk tale, ‘Chippi the Chipkali’ tells the story of Chippi, a baby lizard who loses her tail! The object of much ridicule owing to her missing tail, Chippi embarks on a long journey to find her tail. Will she ever get her tail back? Will she become beautiful again?   Zapperdockel and the Wock Zapperdockel is yellow, tiny, unsure and a cry baby. But that’s the way he is! Wock is blue, fat and grumpy. But that’s the way he is! Is there still a chance that both get along with each other, despite these differences? Robinson and Crusoe ‘Robinson and Crusoe’ tells the story of two soldiers, Robinson and Crusoe, who get stuck on an island and discover that they are from opposing war camps! With only one roof to share, the ocean all around and no common language to communicate in, will friendship prevail? The Garbage Mouse ‘The Garbage Mouse’ follows the story of Mullmaus, a little mouse, who suddenly finds herself homeless! With all her ingenuity and imagination, she creates a new life and lives happily until the scary and mysterious Picture Book Cat makes an entrance. How will Mullmaus face this battle? Ranga Shankara’s play streaming program Staged@RS starts today

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