Homegrown Hotties & Sweeties

                                                                       

" It was the famous Konkan monsoon, Nature's Fury .... pouring heavily and making people sick. She had become reed thin as she was recovering from a chronic fever, She had hardly eaten anything since a week. My  mother asked her to join us children, having our Shravani lunch. She declined, majorly out of modesty and mostly cause she had lost appetite. My mother sensed her two pronged reluctance and served her freshly cooked, Varan-Bhaat ( plain Dal without any spice - Rice ) and Lemon pickle on a dewy fresh Banana leaf. The sight and aroma of wafting Varan-Bhaat accompanied by sweet-sour-spicy Lemon pickle was enticing in that splashing cold, rainy atmosphere. She took first morsel timidly, chewed it hesitantly and looked up blissfully at my mother. That first morsel of Varan Bhaat enhanced deliciously with Lemon pickle perked up her appetite. Almost for a week , my mother made her have the morning meal with us children. She recovered soon and resumed her job of household help at our home with full vigor."

Well ! Every time I read this episode of  a famous Marathi novel 'Shyamchi Aaee', I am enchanted by the glory of simple Maharashtrian lunch of Varan-Bhaat accentuated by Limbu-Lonche ( Lemon pickle). It's not just me, all of us Indians have one or other delish memory associated with our native pickles.

( * Shyamchi Aai - a movie based on Sane Guruji's famous novel Shyamchi Aaee , won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film at the National Film Awards in 1954. It is First film to win the Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal) for Best Film at the National Film Awards {President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film} source : Wikipedia  )

Freshly plucked , Red Hot #BhutJolokia , ready to be pickled ....  #AssamSpecial

 We Indians have our own state-specific, Homegrown pickles , which look tantalizing, taste heavenly and are abundantly Nutritious. Due to their local-farm produced freshness and seasoned availability the Homegrown pickles are flavorful as well as Healthy.

                                                                               

  

‘Binzzin’, was born out of a yearning for places we call home. Every Binzzin product holds within it the aromas and flavours that have crafted our lives and engulfs a warm embrace of time and places dear to us. It is the expression of love for people who have touched our lives and instilled in us a sense of belonging. Binzzin aims to work beyond the geographical boundaries in bringing every 'Homegrown' flavour around the world together. 

                                                        

 Binzzin's journey began in North-east India with a small industrial facility in 

Assam; working with farmers across the region growing Bhut Jolokia (King 

Chilli), Khorisa (Bamboo Shoot), Bogori (Jujube Berry) and Jolphai (Indian Olive). Binzzin's goal is to make farming profitable enough to sustain an economically empowered life for the group of people involved in preserving the culture and natural heritage of the land.

                                                   

Sweet and tangy Bogori (Jujube berries) is equally loved, savored by children and adults! #bogori #jujube berries #sweet #tangy #addictive#childhoodmemories #binzzin    #homegrown #assameseflavour #yummy#pickles

Binzzin's Mission: Pick fresh indigenous produce directly from the farms, which is home to the farmers who till their land and grow them with love. Process fruits, vegetables and spices to create products with great care and quality and let ‘Homegrown’ be Binzzin’s soul. Provide the creations to the ones away from home, to remind them of the land, colour, aroma and nature they have their roots deeply embedded in. Binzzin Pickles do not contain any artificial colouring agent or flavour. Its taste is authentic to the region it is grown in. Every product is a modest attempt to revive the stories that make us who we are. 'Binzzin', invites you home.

Food Lovers Feedback :

Abhishek Kansakar : "The taste is a whole new level of deliciousness, mouth watering, mouth exploding, tantalizing, exciting, teasing, exhilarating, and yummylicious melting pot of the BINZZIN experience bringing you a homely feeling. "
Akshaya Patil : "It’s beyond just a pickle. It’s my secret ingredient to make every dish a notch better than it is. I add it to everything from my meat/ fish preparations to staples like Maggi or just a plate of rajma chawal. For someone who loves eating spicy food and wants to add that extra zing to his / her each meal…THIS IS A MUST HAVE!!!"
Urmi Ghosh : My first Binzzin ,already half consumed, in less than 5 minutes after arrival:D Loved it and so did everyone else at work. Will try the king chilli next time. Thank you and good luck! Mwahhh!!!

 Indupallav Dutta is the founder of Binzzin Homegrown. He is an Educator by profession and passion, he ventured into starting a Food start-up due to his sincere love for food. He got inspired watching Food channels on TV. He has worked with many Education organisation like Gray Matter Capital, Pratham Education Foundation managing teams and supporting schools in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Assam.

FB page - https://www.facebook.com/binzzinhomegrown

Online store link - http://www.ilandlo.com/Binzzin-Homegrown (Shipped from NorthEast India using FEDEX/BlueDart)

Christmas CakeMixing at Lalit

                                                           

Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava celebration was in full swing at our colony-ground.  We the children were engrossed in the mesmerizing magic tricks of colorful handkerchiefs , pigeons in the hat , playing cards , feathers etc. Suddenly the exotically dressed magicians called one of us kids on the stage. " What is your most favorite food, that you dream to feast  on 24*7 ? " ... asked the jovial magician. " Cake , Cake .... Christmas Cake! " ... exclaimed the lucky girl. 
                                        

Lo and behold,  the angelic magician muttered the magic mantra ... 'Abracadabra '... within a jiffy an enormous slice of  chocolaty Christmas cake appeared out of thin air , in the fist of magician. He started laughing Ho-ho-ho, just like a jolly good Santa Claus and fed that nutty slice of Christmas cake to the surprised girl. All of us  gaped open mouthed at that CAKElicious Fantasy. Since then feasting on Christmas Cake has been my Dearest Dream.
                         


My Christmas Cake Feasting dream realized at  The Lalit Mumbai on December 16, 2016. We the food bloggers were invited for #TheLalitExperience of  Christmas CakeMixing ceremony as well as Sunday brunch from the FBAI #LetsEatFBAI. Have a look, yes right now , just a look, as we have to wait till Christmas to devour this Delish Dream. I must say it was a tempting twist to my Cake feast fantasy.  We had a choicest array of cakes , pastries , tarts etc.to savor from the newly launched 'Boulangerie' at The Lalit , Mumbai.
                                 

The #ChristmasCakeMixing Ceremony and Eating cakes from Boulangerie at The Lalit Hotels, Palaces & Resorts was literally the SPIRITual moment for us Food bloggers as Champagne , Rum , Wines were flowing freely in the cake mixture. The whole Poolside of #Lalit #Boulangerie .... 24/7 Restaurant, The Lalit Mumbai was fragrant with intoxicating essence of Fruits , Nuts , chocolate and alcoholic SPIRITs.



 #TheLalitExperience  was Chocolaty Sweet with  #LetsEatFBAI . Special Thanks to Ms. Namrata Kumar and Mr. Ankur Saluja with Saloni Mirchandani Malkani for grand Hospitality. 
Great many bottles of OldMonkRum, Wines that we all poured into the huge tub brimming with Dry Fruits, Coco Powder, Spices, Cinnamon, Ginger, Apricots, Prunes, Tutti fruity, Cashew nuts , Almonds , Pistachios created an amazing visual feast. Believe me , #CakeMixing is much more than pure Fantasy. That's what we call #TheLalitExperience as the Gang of Girls join Food Bloggers Association, India (FBAI) for the FUN and enjoy. 

In life good bread is more important than anything else.  “Bad bread wrecks my outlook on life.” – Jeffrey Steingarten ( The man who ate everything ) . Taking hint from  this realization, the Lalit Mumbai launched  the " Boulangerie " , brain child of  Executive Director, Mr. Keshav Suri. " Boulangerie " is all set to enhance the breakfast and high tea experience by crafting the best breads. Bread is not just a food item, but also a way of life!

At Boulangerie, we were given the fresh bread – eating experience with a wide range of ingredients and flavors. The breads are free of Potassium, preservatives and premixes; to adopt a healthier way of life. The bread selection includes Walnut Prune Bread, Gluten Free Bread, Focaccia Bread, the Boulangerie Signature Bread and many more. The Lalit Boulangerie will also serves the confectionery items, chocolates and cakes including designer and customized cakes for special occasions.

Be Happy #BaharBoloGoodknight

                                       

Always " Be Happy ... Don't Worry about Dengue / Malaria , Be Ready with Good Knight Fabric Roll-On , out of home, mosquito repellent ".

Lara Dutta and Mahesh Bhupathi with Godrej CPL launched India's 1st Anti Mosquito Good Knight Fabric Roll-on personal repellent ( 100% natural , Child safe ) on 29th September, So from now on ... 
#BaharBoloGoodknight . Just 4 dots of Good Knight need to be applied on clothes which protects us against mosquitoes for 8 hours , outdoors. 

 At present 95% of Indian population lives in malaria or dengue prone areas . 85% of Indians are aware that Dengue can be life threatening. 65% of Indians are worried that their child is prone to Dengue. 90% of Indians are unaware that Dengue mosquitoes bite in the day. However, they do nothing about it outdoors, where there are more mosquitoes. 

Good Knight ( Godrej CPL ) encourages kids to step outside with "Khul ke Jiyo Ghar Ke Baahar" , after launching India's first Anti-Mosquito Fabric Roll-on personal repellent. The range also includes Good knight Cool Gel and Good knight Patches.

Sunil Kataria, Business Head-India and SAARC, GCPL said, “There is an alarming rise of vector borne diseases like Dengue and Chikunguniya across the country, there is a lack of awareness that the mosquitoes that spread these diseases, usually bite during the day. Another reason for low adoption for outdoor and personal mosquito repellents has been the lack of innovative products. No product in the market can make it amenable for users to use everyday. Keeping these in mind, we have launched the new Good knight outdoor personal repellent range of products, which are not only easy and safe to use; but also give 8 hours of protection against mosquitos. With this new launch, we are confident creating a new consumer habit of using outdoor repellents everyday.”

                                  

The campaign “Khul ke jiyo ghar ke baahar” was launched with a panel discussion that had celebrity parents, Lara Dutta and Mahesh Bhupathi, Dr. Mukesh Sanklecha - Consultant Pediatrician at Bombay Hospital, and Sunil Kataria. The panelists discussed how imperative it is to safe-guard children from mosquito bites since they are the most vulnerable. The discussion highlighted the criticality and urgent need to leverage schools, educators and parents and kids to develop the good habit of using personal repellents daily, as that is the best way to protect kids outdoors.

                                      

Lara Dutta, a doting and an active mother herself reflected on how things have changed and how necessary it is for parents to encourage their children to play outside. “As a mother I am continuously worried about my child’s well-being and safety whenever she is out of the protective environment of the home. Given the present scare of Dengue and Chikunguniya, we are extra cautious and want to give our daughter the best protection every time she steps out.  Good knight’s new Fabric Roll-On ensures that she is protected for a long time in an easy to use and convenient way.”

Mahesh Bhupathi added, “Both Lara and I always ensure that our daughter leads an active and sporty life and doesn’t confine herself indoors. Honestly, this does get hard at times like these when the newspapers are filled with news on Dengue and Chikunguniya. My endeavour is to teach her to stay safe at all times whether from injuries or diseases when she’s out of home. Good knight’s new range does put our minds at ease and helps us to encourage more mobility and outdoor experience for our daughter.”

 

Near to Nature #BlueAir

Nature's Bountiful Beauty is all ours. By Nature , the nature is godly generous. Even the dream of walking in the lush green jungle full of flora and fauna, listening the melodious opera of chirping birds, watching the luscious and glorious bloom of fruits, breathing in the crystal clean air, fragrant with flowers ....... ascends us to seventh Heaven.

There's a Hell lot of distance and difference between the Dream and the reality. We humans have polluted the Mother Earth , with our greed for more and much more of this and that. We cut / burn jungles for wood. We capture / shoot animals to satiate our desires, which in turn destroys Bio-diversity. 'Global Warming' is not just a matter of Debate but Death as well.



A new WHO air quality model confirms that 92% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality levels exceed WHO limits*. Approximately 3 million deaths a year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can be just as deadly. In 2012, an estimated 6.5 million deaths (11.6% of all global deaths) were associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution together. Around 90% of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Ninety-four per cent are due to noncommunicable diseases – notably cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Air pollution also increases the risks for acute respiratory infections.

According to Dr Bustreo. "For people to be healthy, they must breathe clean air from their first breath to their last." Major sources of air pollution include inefficient modes of transport, household fuel and waste burning, coal-fired power plants, and industrial activities. However, not all air pollution originates from human activity. For example, air quality can also be influenced by dust storms, particularly in regions close to deserts.

On this scenario, to provide #CleanAirForEveryone ,  Blueair ( a world leader in innovative air purification technologies ) launched the hyper-efficient, street-cool and affordable Blue and the IoT-smart Classic ranges  in India.

Blueair delivers home and office users more clean indoor air for enhanced user health and wellbeing faster than any competing air purifier thanks to its commitment to quality, energy efficiency and environmental care. A Blueair air purifier works efficiently, silently to remove 99.97% of allergens, asthma triggers, viruses, bacteria and other airborne pollutants. Sold in over 50 countries around the world, Blueair is geared to help support its customers everywhere.

"Our mission at Blueair is to help Indian women, children and men confront the health challenges posed by rising air pollution by giving them access to the best air cleaning technologies that can create safer indoor havens," said Blueair Director West and South Asia Region, Girish Bapat.

"Blueair is the brand leader in the premium segment of India's fast growing air purifier market. The launch of our new Blue air purifier creates a tremendous opportunity to allow even more people to breathe clean air at home and to further strengthen our position in the Indian marketplace," Girish said

Blue looks simple, yet packs a supremely efficient punch when it comes to trapping airborne dust, pollen, smoke, allergens, viruses and chemicals. Designed to appeal to today's health-aware younger generation, Blue leverages a radical new 360-degree air intake approach to air purification with a design geared to optimize airflow, boost particle retention, minimize noise levels and harness modularity for true ease of use at an affordable price.  With a new user interface, improved filtration efficiency and a brighter-white appearance, the latest Blueair Classic comes with Blueair's must-have built-in clean air intelligence technology that helps people better understand what is polluting their indoor air. The new-generation models deliver up to 20 percent more purified air on the faster speed setting, while also ensuring substantially lower noise level and power consumption thanks to improved fan technology.

The Blueair Blue is available now from Rs. 22,990, and the Blueair new smart Classic is available from Rs. 55,000. Blueair is founded in 1996 in Stockholm, Sweden. It innovates, manufactures and commercializes award-winning air purifying technologies and products for consumers and businesses. Available in over 62 markets worldwide, Blueair air purifiers are designed to enhance user health and wellbeing by removing airborne allergens, asthma triggers, viruses, bacteria and other pollutants in home, work and leisure environments.