Book Review: Roomies/ Foodies

Book Title: Roomies/ Foodies - Fun 'n Easy Cooking for Desi Students Abroad

Author(s): Laxmi Ashwin and Meghana Chaudhary Joshi

Pages: 193 Pages

Genre:  Food & Drink / Cookbook

Price: (Kindle): INR 200
File Size: 5210 KB

Publisher: Bloody Good Book

Imagine what its like to travel all away from home for the very first time with an intent to stay there for the next few years and not knowing how to cook food!
That exactly how PhD student Laxmi (Lux) felt, but than she had saviour, comrade and roommate Meghana (Meg) to her rescue.

This book is designed by the authors as 'a handbook as much as a cookbook to spare students the painful trial and error part' when living on their own abroad.


What I liked about this book:

I could completely relate to the book as I've lived on my own during my college days and had to fend for food myself. And it will too for anyone who has studied abroad at some point in their life.
Meg and Lux have wonderfully described their experiences and their culinary adventures whilst sharing their tried and tested recipes. Their memory building up to each recipe is a yummy piece of nostalgia.


What I did not like about this book:

That it did not come with a serving of each dish! :P


Why you should read this book?:

It is indeed a handbook for those who want to focus more on their studies/ work but at the same time do not want to miss out on eating Indian/ Desi food. The time saver and money saver tips are mighty useful for desi students who are taught to be skinflints from day one of their lives.

I would readily recommend it to my friends who plan to study/ work and live abroad. Will be trying out 1-2 recipes from this book in the next few posts.


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Book Review: India on my Platter

Normally, I do my book reviews on my flagship blog. However, this book is about a book on food trail cum travelogue hence it was wise to have it reviewed here.

Thanks to the Flipkart Book review program, here's my review:

Book Title: India on my Platter

Author: Saransh Goila
Pages: 320
Genre: Travelogue
Price: INR 277 (Flipkart.com)
Publisher: Om Books International

Shot to fame on Sanjeev Kapoor's Show 'FoodFood Maha Challenge' in 2011, Saransh comes from a background as a trained chef with a deep homegrown interest in food. In his maiden book, he shares his experiences as he covers most of India in a 20,000 km food journey and sets a Limca Book of Records (2014) for the 'Longest road journey by a Chef' while hosting Roti, Rasta aur India on FoodFood Channel.

It is a fairly easy read and can be read in one sitting. I like how Saransh has described some unique experiences, eg. his visit to the sacred kitchen of The Golden Temple in Amritsar and serving langar as 'Seva', his experience of having food on the go - literally in the middle of the road with the truckers of North India, and many more such wonderful travel nuggets.

Such experiences are truly relished and cherished for a lifetime. Moreover, I loved that along with the delectable delicacies with a twist dished out, there are recipes for readers to try it out themselves. And that is a major plus I believe. One can savour the various tastes from the far flung corners of our country. 

However, I was a tad disappointed with the language use and grammar in some parts of the book. Perhaps it was overlooked or ignored. Those typos can add much dismay in the reading flow.

All in all I felt the book, was not from a thorough writer but from a traveller and food enthusiast who has penned every memorable experience right from his heart.