the desi dish

Jump for Jhumpa

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:46:00 +0000

She’s at it again. Jhumpa Lahiri of The Namesake fame has recently released Unaccustomed Earth, a collection of short stories once again focusing on Bengali immigrants. Alcoholism, adultery, arranged marriages, and aging parents are just the tip of the iceberg.

What I love Lahiri’s books is her ability to reach deeper than the typical ABCD lit. She explores the bi-cultural identity of first generation Indian children, without pandering to stereotypes. The burden of family wishes and yet the desire to follow your own dreams, the guilt, and the expectations that many Indian-Americans can relate to, are themes which Lahiri makes so poignant and real in her stories.

Ruma must learn to get along with her father without the comfort of her deceased mother. Hema confronts her feelings for an old crush when she is on the eve of entering an arranged marriage. An American man falls in love with unavailable Indian roommate.

Heart wrenching, delicious, and soulful, Unaccustomed Earth is a delight to the senses. So put away your Us Weekly and read something substantial this summer.

Buy it here Unaccustomed Earth

Bombay Bred

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:14:00 +0000

There are times when you really need to make a statement. Pack a punch. Which is why you have to ditch the delicate gold strand necklace and throw on something a little more exotic.

Bombay bred Shahnaz Hughson is the owner of Bombay Gal an Atlanta boutique specializing in clothing and hand crafted jewelry. Shahnaz’s designs are not for wallflowers. She sources from far-flung places like Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Africa, Brazil and of course India. Think Masai glass, gold horns, copper disks. The result is big beautiful exotic pieces that can go just easily with a tee as they can with an evening gown.

Multi-tasking jewelry? Now that’s a hot ticket.

For more info check out www.myspace.com or

www.bombay-gal.com

My Table is Prettier than Yours

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:43:00 +0000

“Whoa, this wedding between Arjun and Archana is amazing, but geez this tablecloth sucks!”

“I know, seriously, what loser thought white linen with embossed flowers was cute? Hello, this is a desi wedding!!!!”

Duh. It ain’t easy being an NRI. Unlike your 5^th cousin Niraj, you can’t have elephants, horses, and trumpet players in your wedding. And forget about dancing in the streets unless you have a permit. How on earth are you ever going to represent?

Well thank GOD, you at least have Magnolia Linens. Founded by mother-daughters team Anjum and her betis Asema and Talaiya, the 2 year old company has already been featured in Town and Country, collaborated with designer extrodinaire and Oprah BFF Colin Cowie, and several royal families (although they’re not saying who).

The elaborate linen tablecloths are the perfect solution when you don’t want boring old white. In fact the cloths are more sari-like then tablecloth-like. They come in colors such as royal blue, chocolate brown, are adorned with beading, crystals, and sequins galore!! Party time!!!

And the fun doesn’t end there. Napkin rings, candles, containers, and towels are just some of the other goodies Magnolia can help you with.

Your wedding will be sooooo much better than Archana’s.

For rental and sales visit their website www.magnoliasgroup.com

Snoop Comes to Town

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:34:00 +0000

This is amazing….

This is just a sneak peak. We’ll keep you posted when the real video is out…

Lost

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:25:00 +0000

“Are you lost?”

“No dude, I’m just fabric shopping”.

Welcome to Lost City the New York based fabric company dedicated to rediscovering the fading art of hand embroidery. The multicultural capital of Lucknow serves as home base for the local artisans employed by Lost City. The goal is two-fold, for local artists to revive their ancient crafts and for affluent westerners to get a piece of the action.

The stunningly beautiful fabrics are influenced by everything from art to poetry to music. So intricate is the fabric that a yard of fabric can take up to three weeks to produce. Damn! And you thought making chapattis took too long!

For more info, mosey over to www.thelostcityproducts.com

Everybody's Rich

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:31:00 +0000

OK, Frieda and Dev do not make the best couple, but leave other than that, this movie is fucking amazing. With music by A.R. Rahman and M.I.A., a stellar cast (including Anil Kapoor) and the GENIUS Danny Boyle directing, this movie does not disappoint. It's nice to see a mainstream movie that shows the not so pretty movie. And unlike the typical Bollywood Blockbuster, I actually enjoy seeing the boy get the girl.

Pretty in Pink

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:53:00 +0000

This is amazing. I cut and pasted it from www.marieclaire.com

"Vigilantes in Pink

Fed up with abusive husbands and corrupt officials, India's poorest women are banding together, taking up arms, and fighting back. Even more shocking than the pink saris they wear: Their quest for justice is actually working.

By Jan Goodwin

In the hot, dusty district of Banda, situated in India's remote, rural north, acts of domestic abuse among the region's poorest are as commonplace as electricity outages and child marriages. And yet three years ago, when Sampat Pal Devi learned that a friend had been beaten by her alcoholic husband and that the local police, chronically indifferent to violence against women, had looked the other way, something inside her snapped.

Incensed, the 47-year-old mother of five gathered dozens of her female neighbors, armed them with sticks, and taught them how to fight back. Together, the self-declared Gulabi Gang, or "pink gang" (for the candy-colored saris that double as their makeshift uniforms), have beaten up accused rapists, profligate officials, and husbands who've abandoned their wives.

Last year, they even intercepted a group of black marketers pilfering from a local food bank. In this rigidly patriarchal region, where members of the lowest class earn as little as 75 cents a day, vigilantism, according to Devi, is the only way to empower women. "With no income and no skills, this is a desperate situation," Devi explains. "Women are completely vulnerable."

That's no longer entirely true, thanks to Devi and her ragtag band of unlikely warriors, who now number in the hundreds. (So popular are these local folk heroes that neighborhood shops can't keep up with the demand for pink saris, which women in surrounding villages have taken to wearing in support of their Banda sisters.) Devi says there are fewer rapes in the area now and more girls attending school. "We don't use violence much anymore," Devi says, beaming. "Now just our name and that we are coming are enough."

Bombay Babe

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Frieda Pinto is in Blackbook Magazine this month! Click here for the full articleBlackbook Magazine

No love for Sanjay

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:07:00 +0000

Aasif keeps it real. Watch him tear Sanjay Gupta a new one.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Medicine Cabinet

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Ski You Later

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:57:00 +0000

I hate midtown New York as much as the next person. Lame-o tourists, excessively, bright neon lights, and some dude trying to get me to go to a comedy show, is not my idea of a good time. Thankfully there’s finally a respite from hell known as midtown. Aspen Social Club is a comfy Colorado ski lodge right in the art of the Big Apple.

The themed bar is located in hotelier extraordinaire Vikram Chatwal’s new hotel Stay. Frankly, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to stay anywhere near Times Square, but I digress.

The rugged menu features such Rocky Mountain favorites as Elk Sausage Cranberry Compote, Trout Taco, Colorado Lamb Lollipops, and a tribute to former Aspen denizen, Hunter S. Thompson, a shot of Bailey’s topped off with Chivas Regal.

While, I’m definitely not trekking to Times Square just to hang out in a faux ski lodge, the next time I have to take an out-of-town friend/relative to a Broadway play, you know where I’ll be afterwards getting toasted.

Aspen Social Club. 157 West 47^th Street, New York, NY. 212.221.7200 www.aspensocialclub.com
www.stayhotelny.com

King Kool

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:39:00 +0000

He’s whack. He’s Desi. And he’s not fucking around. I’m talking about King Khan. Born Arish Khan, he’s Canadian, German, Indian, and maybe part alien. I had the pleasure of seeing him last summer at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn, and I wasn’t sure whether to be amused or puzzled. Although I’m sure he has plenty of words to describe his music, his James Brown-meets-60’s boy band, complete with dancing backup cheerleaders, is a mashup the likes of which most people have never seen.

And let’s not forget the gold lame cape, gold chain headpiece, and gold panties. Now that’s an act you can’t forget.

Check out King Khan and The Shrines on tour now.

www.myspace.com/kingkhantheshrines

Blackballed

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Playing the guitar with their penises, threats of jail, homosexual acts, and dogs eating camel carcass, stolen passports, and crazy promoters. All in a days work for Atlanta band Black Lips. After being kicked out of India, for a plethora of shenanigans, the Black Lips share their experience on tour in India with spin magazine. Check out the article here www.spin.com

Money Money Money

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Yesterday on Oprah, the talk show high priestess interviewed young millionaires including Gurbkash Chawal. The desi boy is living the high life after selling his company for millions at the ripe old age of 18. And ladies, he’s still single! And cute! Pretty impressive to say the least, especially considering I spent most of 18 being hungover.

Watch him here on Fox News.

Electric Elettaria

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Oftentimes fusion food can be soooooo contrived and predictable. So I was presently surprised by Elettaria, where I finally dined on Sunday after much anticipation. Chefs Akhtar Newab and Noel Cruz seem to be more influenced by their Asian-American (India and Philippines, respectively) upbringings more than by a specific desire to cook “fusion” food. The first generation boys use the spices of their respective homelands, while still acknowledging their American upbringings.

I had the triggerfish with sunchoke fondue, ravoli and papadum. When’s the last time you had that at a fusion restaurant? I’m guessing never, which is exactly what I loved about Elettaria. The combination of European, American, and Indian elements was well-executed and blended in such a way I hardly thought of it as fusion. I finished off with the milk doughnuts served with ginger custard and chai gelato. I was licking the plate clean it was so good.

Tres delicious.

Elettaria, 33 West 8th Street, New York, NY. Tel: 212-677-3833 www.elettarianyc.com

Bad Ass Bitch

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:32:00 +0000

M.I.A. is so fucking bad-ass she is actually performing onstage at the Grammy Awards on her due date!!! WHAT??? Wouldn’t it be cool if she went into labor onstage?

Miss Maya is nominated for “Record of the Year” for “Paper Planes”. According to reports, she has been asked to perform with Jay-Z, jailbird TI, and Lil Wayne on “Swagga Like Us”.

I don’t know about you, but I think this might be the most interesting thing to happen at the Grammys since Eminem performed with Elton John.

Watch the Grammy's at 8pm EST on CBS.

Keepin' It Real

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:02:00 +0000

M.I.A. is looking FLYYYYYYY in her polka dot bikini!!! Watch her hold her own with the big boys of rap, Kanye, Jay-Z, TI, and Lil Wayne.

Shiny Hair

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:30:00 +0000

Padma Lakshmi is the latest spokesperson for Pantene Pro-V. As an avid watcher of “Top Chef”, I can attest to the fact that I am extremely envious of Padma’s luscious locks. If Pantene can do that for me, I’m in.

Bitter Bachan

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:59:00 +0000

Has Amithabh Bachan’s outsized ego finally exploded out of his head? On his blog the “King” of Bollywood says:

“SM [Slumdog Millionaire] projects India as [a] third-world, dirty, underbelly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky underbelly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations……..It's just that the SM idea, authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a westerner, gets creative globe recognition. The other would perhaps not."

I’m confused Amitabh, are you pissed because you didn’t get nominated for your song and dance number in Kajre Re??

The idea that the film is only getting press because there’s a Western director is absurd. What about Mira Nair? Were you asleep when she was nominated for an Oscar? The reality is that there haven’t been many Indian directors that are capable of not only making a non-masala film, but bringing it to a large audience.

The reality as we all know is that India does have a dark side founded on corruption and baksheesh. There is a huge percentage of the population that lives beneath the poverty level and yet many people (some in my own family) want to pretend it doesn’t exist. The fact that Bachan loves playing the hero in Bollywood films is probably the same reason he hates Slumdog. Why portray anything real, when you can gloss it over with songs, dancing and predictable story lines? We’ve all seen the beggars with limbs missing, the child servants, the animals on the street, and the filth, and you’re lying if you haven’t.

What's even more silly is the expectation that one film is supposed to represent all of India? Is Revolutionary Road supposed to represent every marriage? Is Amelie supposed to represent France? Is ABCD supposed to represent every American-born Indian? The implication that any form of art is supposed to represent an entire group of people is a completely ignorant and absurd assertion.

What’s amazing about this film, is how Danny Boyle takes these seemingly negative elements and weaves a visually stunning rags-to-riches fairy tale where love triumphs all. If that isn’t Bollywood I don’t know what is. So do us all a favor Amitabh and suck it.

And the Winner is.....

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:00:00 +0000

OK, I’m no fan of the circus that is the Oscars. It’s contrived, pretensions and boring at best. But if you’re any kind of desi at all you will be glued to your TV this Oscar season to watch and see what becomes of Slumdog Millionaire’s TEN nominations.

The list includes

· Best Director

· Best Adapted Screenplay

· Best Cinematography

· Best Picture

· Best Score

· Best Song

Alright outside of Slumdog’s nominations, most of the ceremony may still put you to sleep. One can only hope that Sean Penn punches a cameraman and hurls obscenities. Either way, you had better tune in!

The 81^st Annual Academy Awards airs February 22 at 8pm EST. For more info check out www.oscar.com.

Madame Aishwarya

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Aishwarya Rai for Madame Figaro magazine.

Tony!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Yea!!!! No Doubt announced they will go on tour this summer. Join desi boy Tony Kanal, Gwen Stefani, and the rest of the gang this summer.

Says Tony, "Get there early...this is going to be a great night from the moment the lights go down."

You heard the man, buy your tix soon!

Slum No More

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Woo!! Slumdog Millionaire CLEANED up at the Oscars!!! Just as in the movie, in real life the underdog came out on the top. Not only was the movie almost relegated to direct-to-video, the cast is almost entirely unknown (except for Anil Kapoor and only amongst Desis), and most of Danny Boyle’s movies have been commercial flops. This is definitely one time when Oscar got it right.

In other Slumdog news, Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls has announced that she is recording her own mix of the song “Jai Ho.”. Apparently she found the movie “spiritually uplifting.” Wow, I can’t wait to hear that piece of crap!!!

And finally it what is a surprise to no one, bitterella Salman Rushdie proves again that he is an imbecile. In critiquing Slumdog Millionaire, Rushdie says that the movie is “full of impossibilities.” No shit Sherlock!!!! It’s a movie!!! Besides the idea of a 60 something, chubby, balding, short writer marrying a gorgeous model seems next to impossible but it happened. Thanks Einstein for the rousing critique.

Down Under Thunder

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +0000

In what seems to be a totally genius idea, Kylie Minogue will be recording a song written by none other than A.R. Rahman. The Australian pop nymphet is currently in Mumbai filming the song and dance number alongside Akshay Kumar in the Bollywood movie Blue.

I don’t know about you, but I love Kylie. Her over-the-top dance numbers, cheesy pop lyrics, sparkly costumes, and incessant toothy grin seem perfect for the likes of Bollywood. Plus she survived being dumped by Oliver Martinez, battling cancer, and at 40 she’s dating a hot male model 10 years her junior and dancing alongside Akshay Kumar. If that isn’t a Bollywood ending I don’t know what is.

No Fun at the Airport

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Shah Rukh Khan questioned at Newark airport!!! Read it here:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-india-star19-2009aug19,0,3848373.story

What's more bizarre is that his fans are protesting. Hello people don't know him outside of South Asia! Besides he's just going through what millions of other people with Muslim names go through.

So Cheesy

noreply@blogger.com (the desi dish) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:26:00 +0000

And the winner for best comfort food is... Peanut Butter and Jelly? Khichdi Kahdi? Nope.

The absolute best comfort food has got to be good ol’ fashioned mac n’cheese. Which is S’Mac in New York’s East Village is the best thing to ever happen on planet Earth.

Owner, chef and desi girl, Sarita Ekya was all ready to pursue a career in biomedical engineering, when she realized what the world really needed was not another engineer but more macaroni and cheese.

At S’Mac (“S” being short for Sarita), she whips up a variety of tasty delights including the 4 Cheese, Manchego, Goat Cheese, and Cajun. Deeeeeeelish!!!!!

Our stomachs thank her.

S’Mac, 345 East 12^th Street, New York. Tel: 212.358.7912.