NEW YORK FOOD..... YUMMMMMMMYYYY

Now let’s come to very important and popular aspect of any city.... its Food :D.. Yes, food is only topic, on which any person... of any gender, any country, any religion, any educational background can talk with complete confidence. And hence Food is everyone’s favorite..:D

Let me tell you in beginning I am total Foodie.. That doesn’t mean I eat a lot.. But I eat most of the things that are cooked :D.. If it is edible.. It’s mostly mine....
After coming to New York I could have variety of food.. From every part of world... You can have Mexican burritos.. Falafel from Mid-east.... Italian Pizzas and Pastas... Afghan Rice.. Bangla fish.. Japanese Sushi... Or Spanish Fondue... You can have Indian cuisines.. Or Chinese diet.. On same road you can have American Berger and African salad.. You can very well order Egyptian morayana as starter.. Chicken Kebabs with Mongolian rice as main course and Swiss Cake as Desert
When I started going to office new food items came in my way and I started liking food life of New York more and more.. First new thing I had is Bagels... It’s basically a bread and some kinds are really tasty.. wow.. I liked the cheese beagle with coffee on first day itself.. if you see you will see brown paper bags in hands of most of the people going to office.. generally coffee and some bread is the breakfast of Americans..
Cereals.. the very inseparable part of American diet... in morning it is the best breakfast one can have in however fast lifestyle.. in USA you get so much variety of cereals.. actually I too started eating cereals daily after coming to usa... the fastest and rather simplest breakfast ...

other than this.. Coffee occupies vital part of American diet.. Even though we feel that coffee is our (Indian)domain.. after experiencing the variety here I will say that these ppl have also got the taste.. I had coffee of variety of flavors.. coffee with cocoa.. coffee with ice-cream.. ice coffee.. cappuccino.. mocha.. coffee with cow milk.. goat milk.. even yak milk.. Yes in Chinatown I even had coffee with yak milk.. it was also not that bad...

"Chai".. I read this word in champs (a coffee shop chain).. I was curious and asked for this "Chai".. I was expecting something strange will come in my hand.. but no.. it was pure Indian tea.. with milk and sugar (even she asked me if I want Ginger chai)... I was little pleased to see this word in day to day English.

I can easily say Lunch is not restricted here with dabba or some common kind of food.. I had so many different kind of food and flavors as part of lunch if I think it makes even me amazed... Truly New York is Mecca of food... I will discuss the three dishes as if I start with all variety, a separate blog I have to create..
The first one is Falafel.. its mediterian dish.. Invented by Egyptian / Jews... they are kind special spicy balls... Falafel is usually served as a sandwich wrapped in pita bread, and the term "falafel" commonly refers to this sandwich by synecdoche; falafel in a pita is typical street food or fast food. Along with the falafel balls, which may be crushed onto the bread or added whole, various toppings are usually included. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a mezze. During Ramadan they are sometimes eaten as part of an iftar, the meal which breaks the daily fast after sunset. The food is so popular in Israel, it is often referred to as the national dish of Israel. But let me tell you this is really Amazing dish ...
Second is Afghan Rice.. Wow.... Brown Rice with some strange sauces.. and chicken pieces in between which are well roasted and spicy... similar taste also has in "Qabili Palau", which is baked in the oven and topped with fried sliced-carrots and raisins. Chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds may be added as well. The meat is covered by the rice or buried in the middle of the dish.
And last but not the not the least is Fondue.. Swiss/Spanish cuisine .. it is long term dish and amazing when you are having food with very close friends.. with fondue the duration of food can be as long as several hours.. it’s an earthenware pot over a small burner called as "rechaud". the liquid (which can be melted chocolate / Cheese) keeps boiling.. you get variety of things in one platter which includes potato chips.. biscuits.. some chicken starts etc.. you have to deep it in the melted sauce and have it.. your whole afternoon can be spent with fondue and the mate you have with you...

Talking about Deserts.. Just can’t stop praising cakes.. especially variety of Chocolate cakes.. real Yummy.. and chocolates are as you know you can get variety here... But frankly speaking icecreames disappointed me.. either I did not go to good shops or there are very less flavors available... other than baskin robbins (max 32 flavors) no other store had even tht many flavors.. While in India you get every flavor somewhere ....

On bad side..Fruits are artificially ripped and hence no nutritious value as well as not good for health.. Banana you bring all rips on same day.. Water is not very drinkable. filter is must.. (yes I am not talking about India.. its USA)... Also water does not have all necessary minerals like Fluoride etc..

Thts why people are not that healthy here.. I mean they look strong and all.. but they have various problems like low intake of vitamins.. minerals.. iron etc.. ppl need to take daily piles for these things.. vegetables are also artificially grown under controlled conditions which make them innutritious

actually however tasty may be food but I miss the ice ka gola.. ya fir vada pav.. or the yummy very unhygienic pani puri.. or bhelpuri.. but above all no food on earth I have tasted as gr8 as the one cooked by my dearest mom :D

A New (York) Story: "NEW!!!"

Till few days ago.. the word "New" was not a frequently used word in my life. There were very few things that I was experiencing or hearing or talking were "New". And if I got something new I used to be happy.. But in last couple of weeks.... whatever I am facing, experiencing is NEW.. my every movement, every action... every second is bringing me something "New".. something that I never experienced.. and now if I come across something "Old".. I feel really old is gold :)

First new thing that came into my circumference of concern is the city itself "NEW York".. (the word new starts from here itself.. :)... the day my boss told me that with in few week u need to fly to New York.. the world around me started moving.. till that point it was so routine that this line from boss just shaken normal lifestyle.. office also didn’t allowed me wait and think and within 2 weeks I was ready with Stamped VISA. And is been told that with in a week I will be flying.. So for my preparation I got just one week (without any holiday of course)..

Ohh I had to complete so many things.. I wanted to meet so many ppl .. luckily most of the ppl I had met a week before.. but still some were remaining.. but I was helpless. I had just 6 days to pack my old world in two bags (each of 32kgs ;) ) and proceed to new world :D.. so it was not me alone but my entire family, friends and office mates working for me.. sab log kaam pe lag gaye.. Office mein daily topic was wht to take along with and what to keep there itself..:D how to go.. whom to contact.. what to eat.. who are ppl there.. their tradition n all.. also they were helping a lot by not assigning much work to me :D On the other front my parent were verry busy in shopping.. only for cloths and shoes I did shopping myself.. baki sab unpe chhod diya.. beside this I was very very tense about documents and procedures (as usual).. all office mates wee busy in minimizing the tensions...

Beside this, log milke jaa rhe the.. my aunt came to meet me all the way from Pune.. Ppl calling me from long distances.. I was truly touched.. Ghar pe toh khub care li jaa rhi thi.. I was treated like a king for last week :D.. And after very long week with all tensions, curiosity, "fear of unknown" and excitement of journey THE DAY arrived.

It was really "THE DAY".. since morning I was feeling for every action, that this is my last action in India for next few months.. or may be couple of years.. :D... full alag lag raha thaa.. went to office as usual.. got plane tickets.. sab office public ko bye bye .. everything was different.. everything was pleasant .. still there was fear of unknown somewhere deep in mind.. as it was Friday. I didn’t miss the non-canteen day.. ;).. had lunch outside.. Anu (as usual) cheered and lowered my tension.... after saying bye to shubham, anu and jepsi.. it was turn of project ppl.. their wonderful farewell with good wishes .. everything was nice.. Manjusha, ashwini and anish came to say bye bye till bus.. it was so nice gesture..

At home all packing packing and packing till last minute.. The friends arrived at home.. and then we went to airport.. and the journey of "NEW" things begins.. the air journey for completely new for me.... all family members, and very dearest friends came there to see me.. I was about to be in tears when I was saying goodbye to them.. but as usual I controlled my feelings to be shown (sorry guys I rarely show my feelings :D).. after this emotional scene.. it was the immigration, customs etc.. and then in the Air Plane.. a new thing.. airplane was nice.. first half till London I got non window eat to appreciate inner beauties of plane ;).. luckily a sweet gal was beside (in matter of gals.. mostly luck is with my side )... though we talked lil.. as she was sleeping all the time..

Then at London we had to come down to Heathrow.. a verrrrrrrrry confusing airport.. again all security check .. but till now in plane there were very less "gora" public.. but even after London.. most public was "Desi" only.. may be air India was the reason... but let me tell you I like the moment when plane landed or took off from London.. it is very neat city..and the day was clear.. I could clearly see London bridge.. big ben and parliament house before landing and after take off.. it was really great.. finally I touched the land of british ;)..

My next and final stop was new york... JFK.. the airport that I had seen in many movies.. I was going to see actually.. and it was really nice.. the process of immigration and customs was very smooth... bags also got in 15-20 mins.. so I was set to head towards New york city..
My booking was in RAMADA hotel in jersey city.. and a lemo was booked for me for transportation.. it was nice.. the first sight of city was nothing but tallllllll towers and skyscrapers... and toooooooo much cars on road.. moving very fast.. and in opposite directions than India...:D

We crossed some bridge. it was same like Brooklyn bridge (kal ho na ho).. but it was not that.. (earlier I thot it is the same :) ) and I reached the new york .. the birth place of American dream.. the door of capitalism.. the gateway of America.. the most metropolitan and biggest city of world was welcoming me with its own pace.. own light and own style.. and really like this first sight of city... it was going to be "My city" for next year...

A New (York) Story: First Visit to Down town

If you ask me (I know you won’t ask this ;)) to Define New York I would say “New York is the ‘showcase’ of the World”. You just name the religion, Culture or Community in this world... You will find equal representation here at New York. A real New-Yorker can be an American, Black, European, Chinese, Japanese or Indian…or can be Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Baudhha… when you are in New York you are New Yorker….

The pace of this city make you run along… this city has charm... a global face... smell of money is every where.. Neatness... you will find something familiar to your culture... But still you are alone… This city is running... Walking... Crawling... Singing... Dancing… eating... Roaming... whatever may be the time but city is always busy... Indeed, it is a very “Alive” city.

As I said earlier, you will always find something similar to your own culture/place somewhere... But if you are from Mumbai (Like Me) for you everything is familiar, similar but still different. And hence you can’t stop comparing the cities… It has everything that my Mumbai has... it has Local trains... It has Very fast life... It has mix population... It has variety of food... It has Awesome downtown... Nevertheless it has hawkers and beggars too ;)

My Job Was on The famous Wall Street... and at one of the oldest stock exchanges in the world “New York Stock Exchange”. My First Working Day was something like a dream..
With help of one of my friend I catch the train... The way of getting tickets was simple and effective.. My mind automatically (and rather unnecessarily) started comparing the two cities.. There unless you punch your ticket you can enter the Station… But then I though if we want to implement this kind of system.. I am sure for most of people it will result in miss of usual train .. I wan simple system but was it feasible for large crowd like stations like CST or Churchgate??

Any way I caught the train.. Surprisingly the train was crowded.. With my knowledge through movies about USA was nice trains with proper seats.. But here train was pack like Mumbai.. With my expertise knowledge of catching train ;) I could get into it.. It was as pack as our train.. but difference was there was no space to stand in door.. as doors closes .. and second difference was crowd was very decent.. No horrible perfumes... and no body contact.. people leave train if they cant get in properly.. (Of course here in India it is not feasible to leave a train :D)

I get down At WTC station.. World Trade center.. The Station was beneath the famous twin towers.. From here you can see the Ground zero.. It was first glimps of new york for me.. I came out of train and saw that even at this crowded place.. Same huge crowd as in any big station in India.. and the ticket validation was working as effectively as in journal square.. (So for me it is nice simple and implementable system in India with People cooperation)..


I came out with the large flow of people and my first view of New York was nothing but Tall Sky scrapper.. buildings are really tall.. so long that if you wear hat and try to see top floor.. your hat should fell definitely :D

So I was in downtown.. The New York down town... I was on mid of Wall street.. I was among few who were entering in “New York Stock Exchange”… I was among few who get to work in Down town of New York... I was the one who was beginning new American Journey in very new city .. with new hope… new dereams… Or you can say I was in very friendly and wonderful city with many new things.. some already in front of me and many yet to come…