TRAVEL TALES of ranaruby

DERBY – the   entrance to the stunning Peak District As far as I could recollect, I first heard of the word ‘derby’ in connection with horse racing contests. That was quite a way back, perhaps during my college days in Calcutta, when at local tea stall 'addas', small groups of people interested in horse racing used to discuss derbies at the Calcutta Race course. In the new millennium, people have begun debating the rivalry between two major football clubs, East Bengal and Mohan Bagan. I have never taken any interest in horse derbies, but in the case of football, which I love, the phrase ‘derby’ stumped me when I first heard it during one of the post-COVID clashes between East Bengal and Mohan Bagan at the Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta. Why Derby? The answer to this seemed to have been waiting for me when, along with my wife, I visited the town of Derby in England. Even the name of the city, Derby, stemmed from ‘Djura-by’, meaning 'the village of the deer'...

  Ethiopian Cuisine : Great Tastes from Africa Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post has affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Minchet Abesh & Injera : Memories of Columbus & Ethiopian Flavour at Home There are some unmissable culinary experiences in our wandering days in India as well as abroad. One of them is Ethiopian cuisine, which left a lingering mark on my taste buds, at least for a gourmet like me.  During our stay in Columbus, the capital of Ohio, we frequented Ducem, an Ethiopian eatery. A piquant standalone single-story building with a ranch house look. Whenever we visited Ducem, our son Arjun used to drive across the river Olentangy (a strange name which quite often slips out of my mind). I only remember that the river ran close to the medical centre of Ohio State University.  The atmosphere inside used to be gay, warm and...

     🖨️ Print Recipe Ruby's Kitchen Special Cambodian Prawn Amok Amok Bongkang (Siem Reap Style) Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Serves: 2–3 A classic heritage dish from Siem Reap, this aromatic Khmer curry infuses succulent king prawns with fresh homemade Kroeung (yellow lemongrass paste) and silky coconut cream. Perfectly balanced, fragrant, and comforting. Ingredients For the Fresh Yellow Kroeung Paste: 2 stalks Lemongrass (inner white part only, finely sliced) 2 Shallots, peeled & chopped 3 cloves Garlic, peeled 1-inch knob Fresh Ginger or Galangal 1 tsp Ground Turmeric 1 Fresh Red Chilli (deseeded for mild warmth) Zest of 1 Kaffir Lime (or regular lime) For the Prawn Curry: 300g Raw King Prawns (peeled, deveined, tail-on) 1...

SHERWOOD Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post has affiliate links. If you buy a book through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Introduction: A Lifelong Dream of Robin Hood There are certain niceties I cherish, which remain firmly fixed in memory. Particularly, some fleeting moments in the city where I grew up. In the early sixties, when TV and smartphones were unheard of, we developed a fondness for books. What I could recall was an attractive, hardcover, tabletop-sized book on Robin Hood , peeking out from a showcase at Universal Book Depot in Hazratgunj, Lucknow. As much as I could remember, my parents gifted me that book on my birthday. Then, after almost thirty years, Bryan Adams mesmerised me with his song ‘Everything I do, I do it for you’. The song was from Oscar-nominated Kevin Costner’s blockbuster movie ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’. After another three decades, on a bri...