The Solo Fork

When I moved in to delhi 3 years back, I had a bag full of excitement for a life all by myself.My own apartment, my own rules ..just me incharge.
However, there was just one thing that would I would dread the most.And that was eating out alone.
But given the foodaholic that I am, ignoring the smorgasboard of flavours and tastes that a new place has to offer,is just impossible .It feels like im insulting the spirit of the place, if i settle for a safe takeaway sandwich .
But eating out,all alone?

But fret not fellow gastronomically challenged readers.Help is just a click away.Welcome to the world of Solo Dining

Pull up a chair and join in. The company's fine. Sooner or later,everyone faces the challenge of eating out alone"

This website introduces you to 'food clubs' in different parts of the world, that single travelers can join and sample the local cuisine .These clubs are very unique in what they have to offer and will be more of a addition in your sightseeing itenary than just a simple meal.


One of such intriguing clubs is the Home Food project,a homecooking organization in Italy.

Started in 2005 by The Ministry of Agricultural Politics ,in collaboration with the University of Bologna this project allows you to become guests of Italian families who have signed up for this project.It is a very unusual way of getting to taste the typical Italian cuisine,learn about their culture, and maybe even pick up a few tips to improving the pesto sauce, all at the home of a Cesarine(The empress or the lady of the house), in company of her family and a few other members.

The menu is pre decided ,the atmosphere is warm and inviting and you will definitely go back feeling that you were a part of Italy for a few hours and not just a tourist passing through.

Risky Business

Tennyson hit the nail on the head when he propesized "It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all".

But does this philosophy hold true across matters other than love?

In the Tom Cruse starrer 'Risky Business',Joel finds out the hard way that a few bad decisions can lead to all kinds of problems and possibly ruin your future.
However I can happily vouch that it is 'better to have made impromptu travel plans and failed than to never have come up with any wild ideas' :D

From falling in love to seeking a career change, research shows that the more you take risks the more content you will be.

According to Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty "Taking the easy path is playing safe and that never gives you the hapinness that taking a risk and succeeding does".
Well what about the few hundred billion individuals that I know who are extremely happy without having attempted anything remotely risky?What about the content few who are already on the path of nirvana. Is this exclusive 'hapinnes' that risky adventures have in store, meant only for the crazy few who need to dip into uncharted waters to get that extra high?

Research goes onto show that
1)Tall people are more prepared to take risks than short ones.
I have always agreed with this very obvious logic.However, I just need to convince everyone else that I do not fall in the 'short ones' category.

2)Women are more carefull than men.
No one can even possibly dream about questioning this cardinal rule.

3)Children of more eductated parents are more likely to take risks.
As long as risk is defined as 'calculated/intelligtent risk'.Otherwise this seems counter-intutive.

4)Smokers are more willing to take risks than non smokers.
Given that the world is divided in active smokers and passive smokers, this statement is definitely null and void.

5)A habitual risk taker will in probability marry a person with similar traits.
We normally talk about divisions in terms of geography, caste, age, gender etc.Charactarestics that can be very quickly verified.However, a 'risk' taker is not very easy to indentify by sight.
Would life be easier for countless couples who have had a rather unhappy fallout if they knew their risk aversion levels from day 1?

Also,if risk takers marry only other risk takers, society will get neatly divided in two groups based on appetite for risk.And indeed, risk taking is considered a family trait!!! So, even though end of the day we all might be able to break the social norms and marry who we want, our internal programming will ensure we follow certain genetic laws.
Talk about free will!!

Coffee Breaks

I'm not too fond of the taste of coffee.I cannot stand the bitterness at times, and the coffee our vending machine at work spits out...seriously seems like a residual of boiled cigarette butts.
But somehow coffee , over the last few years, has become an inseparable part of life.

The gorgeous warm smell.
The feel of a crowded cafe bursting with coziness.
Snuggling up to someone with a glass of cold coffee,after a hard days work ,on summer evenings.
Walking down a windy road with a coffee cup warming your hands.
Dissecting life, professors and everything around you , with friends over ten buck cold coffee after tiring lectures.
Pouring out a cup from the vending machine on days when the work load is too much and a coffee break is a valid excuse to steal a few minutes away from the laptop.
Catching up with buddies at work who otherwise are too busy ,over a cup of coffee that you will either gulp down in distaste or will just pour and never drink.

Coffee breaks have a whole different dimension to them , which is way way beyond just the beverage itself.