India has one of the most diverse culinary traditions in the world, but a large part of it is quietly disappearing. Recipes passed down through generations are being replaced by convenience, and the regional dishes that once defined entire communities are becoming harder to find in their most authentic form. Novotel Vijayawada Varun is doing something about that.

The hotel has launched Culinary Voices, a six-month Sunday brunch series dedicated to bringing forgotten regional Indian recipes back to the table. Once a month, the brunch will spotlight a different culinary tradition, each edition curated in collaboration with home chefs who carry generations of cooking knowledge within them. It's a thoughtful initiative that goes well beyond a regular food promotion, treating cuisine as what it truly is: a living record of culture, tradition, and memory.

The first chapter of Culinary Voices opens with Marwari cuisine from Rajasthan, and it's a strong start. The menu reads like a journey through the flavours of a Rajasthani home kitchen. Pyaaz Kachori and Kalmi Bada set the tone as starters, followed by the comforting depth of Panchmel Dal paired with Bajre Ki Roti. Gatte Ki Sabzi, a beloved speciality from the Mewar region known for its robust, rustic character, anchors the main spread. For dessert, Ghevar with Rabdi brings a festive sweetness to the meal, with Churma available for those who want an extra touch of indulgence.

Executive Chef Shivaramakrishna J shared what drives the initiative. "With Culinary Voices, we wanted to celebrate the depth and diversity of India's culinary heritage. Each edition of the Sunday brunch will spotlight a different set of heritage recipes, thoughtfully recreated in collaboration with home chefs who bring with them generations of culinary knowledge. This initiative further underscores our commitment to staying ahead of the culinary curve by constantly introducing guests to meaningful, culturally rooted dining experiences in a contemporary hospitality platform."

Over the next six months, the series will travel across India's regional food landscape, one brunch at a time. It's the kind of initiative that reminds you how much richness still exists in Indian cooking, and how much of it is worth preserving before it fades further into memory.
The first Culinary Voices brunch is scheduled for March 15th at Novotel Vijayawada Varun.

Washington DC's Cherry Blossom season is one of those annual moments that the whole city looks forward to and Tamashaa Restaurant is making sure the table matches the occasion.

Executive Chef Sanjay Kumar has unveiled a seasonal Cherry Blossom Menu that's been put together with real thought and creativity, a limited-time dining experience that draws from the festive spirit of the National Cherry Blossom Festival while staying rooted in the bold, layered flavours that Indian cuisine does so well.

The result is a menu that feels celebratory without being showy, each dish carrying its own personality while fitting naturally into a larger culinary story.

Small Plates That Make a Big Impression

The starters set the tone beautifully. The Mushroom Galouti is a standout from the first bite delicate mushroom kebabs with a melt-in-the-mouth texture, paired with aromatic saffron bread. The Eggplant Sago Tart brings an interesting contrast of textures, with eggplant ratatouille sitting on top of crispy sago fritters. For seafood lovers, the Alaskan Crab Cake,crab and fish with a sweet mango chili sauce,is refined and memorable. And then there's the Chicken Nachos, which is exactly the kind of playful, cross-cultural dish that makes you smile,Thai-spiced chicken over tortilla chips with creamy guacamole.

Mains That Comfort and Satisfy

The large plates lean into comfort and depth. Chicken Nilgiri Korma brings bone-in chicken simmered in a fresh coriander-mint curry,aromatic, light, and deeply satisfying. The Lamb Haleem, inspired by Hyderabad's culinary tradition, is slow-cooked to that characteristic rich, hearty texture that makes this dish a classic for a reason.

On the vegetarian side, Gatta Curry,gram flour dumplings in a tangy yogurt gravy from Rajasthan,is a lovely nod to regional Indian cooking. And Singara Palak, with sautéed baby spinach paired with pickled water chestnuts, is the kind of dish that surprises you with how much flavour a few well-chosen ingredients can deliver.

Breads, Rice and a Sweet Finish

Nazza,a three-pepper cheese naan,is the bread of choice here, and it pairs beautifully with most of the mains. The Jackfruit Pilaf, with masala-spiced jackfruit and long-grain basmati, rounds out the savoury section with a fragrant, satisfying note. And the meal ends on a familiar but well-executed note,a classic New York Cheesecake with fresh berry compote.

Chef Kumar summed up the vision behind the menu,"Spring in Washington, DC is a beautiful time of celebration, and the Cherry Blossom Menu is our way of honoring the season through food. We wanted to create dishes that reflect both the vibrancy of Indian cuisine and the festive energy of the Cherry Blossom season. Each dish on the menu has been thoughtfully crafted to bring together bold flavors, seasonal inspiration, and a memorable dining experience for our guests."

For anyone in Washington DC looking for a dining experience that captures the spirit of the season,Tamashaa's Cherry Blossom Menu is a genuinely lovely way to celebrate spring.

Some cocktails just stand the test of time. The Negroni is one of them, and Woodside Inn in Indiranagar is using World Vermouth Day as the perfect excuse to put it front and centre.

Three ingredients, perfectly balanced: gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Bold, bittersweet, and unmistakably classic. The Negroni doesn't need much explaining because the glass does all the talking. It's the kind of drink that's been ordered confidently at bars around the world for over a century, and for good reason.

At Woodside Inn, the Negroni fits naturally into what the gastropub has always been about. Cold beers, classic cocktails, hearty food, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere where conversations stretch longer than you planned. The Indiranagar outpost has a warmth to it that makes an evening there feel easy and unhurried, and a well-made Negroni in hand only adds to that.

World Vermouth Day is a good reminder of just how central this ingredient is to some of the greatest cocktails ever created. And there's no better way to mark it than with a drink that's been getting it right for generations.

Head to Woodside Inn, settle in, and raise a glass to the classic that never goes out of style