Now this is what you call an aggressive ad

Source: http://epaper.livemint.com/

Living up to LE's aggressive ways.

 

Technorati Tags: Oracle,Larry Ellision

The 'Samosa Index'

The eyes lit up! The excitement and buzz was back in office today. All it took was sight of the enticing Samosas on the plate.

One of the shouts that could be heard was "Is Recession Over, kiya?!?" besides the regular "Wow!", "Awesome!" and the "Arre Wah Singara!". Singara being the local parlance of samosa.

Alas it was not the case, it turned out to be one of the more benevolent colleagues way of celebrating a small success at office.  Here in Kolkata offices, we are simply crazy about this sinful flour paste and potato fillings, deep fired in saturated fat. 

Economists talk of the McDonald Burger Index and Underwear Index. Why not the Samosa Index then?

Till mid of last year, the evening office snack - samosa used to be a regular feature. Now in Kolkata, the city of joy and more so the city of foodies, Samosa holds supreme as a evening time snack.  If the company is not offering it, the foodie will fight monsoon rains and summer humidity to have it from the road-side store.  

For the organization it is a necessity that they are offering to the employers, as the "overtime incentive". Its a different matter altogether that people slog it out for a good 10-12 hours anyway. If Chai is the stress buster and then Samosa has to be boredom killer.  

With recession in the high tide, alas SAMOSA the evening office snack was the first of the many cutbacks. So we can safely deduce within the confines of this old office building that as and when the Samsoa makes its comeback as the regular evening office snack recession would have gone back to its shell!

Hey! You mighty Samosa, make that comeback. Bring back the joys to the office-goers in this office.

Recession Simplified ~ Capitol Hill Baby-Sitting Co-op - Goes through the Business Cycle

Paul Krugman quotes the Sweeneys' anecdote to explain recession.

Economy ~ 100 odd yuppies in Capitol Hill form a Co-op for baby-sitting.

• Couples baby-sit for other couples in exchange of COUPONS
• COUPONS can be redeemed for free baby-sitting hours by another will couple
• Each couple is given a fixed COUPONS on joining the co-op.

Buyers : Redeem the COUPONS for bay-sitting hours

Sellers: Earn COUPONS by selling bay-sitting hours

Central Bank role ~ Board members managing the co-op

Business Cycles comes to play. Over a period of time couples start saving their COUPONS for future use. More couple are willing to earn COUPONS rather then use COUPONS. Not enough are willing to spend or redeem their COUPONS for free evening. SAVE SAVE SAVE!

Liquidity Crisis ~ Not enough COUPONS are in circulation. Members of this economy are focused in earning the COUPONs rather then consuming the goods.

Cash in this economy ~ COUPONS

Goods or Services in this economy ~ Baby Sitting Hours

STIMULUS PACKAGE ~ Central Bank ~ Offers a stimulus packages. Increases circulation of COUPONS in the economy. The economy bounces back.

A foodie's guide to Goa

The Portuguese had come for the spices. I was there for the spicy Goan delicacies. The idyllic South Goa beaches, Old Goa history, the Aguada & Chapora Forts was the bonus.   :)

Breakfast @ Sea View Guest House, Patnem, Canacona, South Goa

After previous day's tiring long travel from the airport to South Goa, nothing like a sumptuous early breakfast to pep you up for hectic sight-seeing through the length & breadth of Goa.

American Breakfast: Coffee/Tea, Bread toast, Bacon, Backed beans, Mushrooms,  Eggs made to order,  a choice of fruit juices   (Price: INR 150)

Cornflakes with curd : (Price: INR 35)

My take: Filling :)

Lunch @ Ritz Classic, Panjim, Central Goa

When the hunger pangs kicks in and attempts to find the highly recommended restaurant takes you close to 2 hours, the spicy Goan curry is your only saviour from your visibly irritated wife.

Goan Fish Curry : Plain rice with curry, Fried fish, with two vegetable side dish (Price 100)

Chicken Vindaloo: Red hot fiery chicken curry (Price INR 150)

Lunch @ Lobo Suza, Calungate Beach, North Goa

The sea facing restaurant has an elaborate menu of Goan dishes. The crab peeling attempts just added on to the fun.

Fish Masala Fry, Crab Curry, Chicken Vindaloo, Fish Xacgute

Dinner @ Martin's Corner, Verna,  off NH17

Upmarket crowd. Live Music - 70s & 80s. Exotic Fish platters

Goan dishes again?  Bring it on:).   Xacgute, Vindaloo, Shark fish masala fry.

~ The Mumbai Stopover ~

How does a foodie spend 6 hours in Bombay ?

Snack @ Gateway of India, Colaba, Mumbai

Samosas with cutney from the road side hawker (Price INR 10)

Snack @ Leopold Cafe, Colaba, Mumbai

A visit to Colaba without a visit to Leoplold is highly unlikely.

Club Sandwich (Price INR 120)

Snack @ Cafe Mondegear, Colaba, Mumbai

Draught Beer Mug (Price INR 100) to while away an hour.

Lunch @ roadside restaurant, Domestic Terminal, Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Lassi, Pav Bhaji & Egg Burji is a perfect finish to this 3 day frenetic gastronomical affair. (Price INR 110)