The Fat Duck!

My love for the show Masterchef Australia initially, had nothing to do with food. In the dichotomized world of "live to eat" and "eat to live", I belonged to the latter half.

I can barely cook. I can't claim to be a true fan for a true fan would wanna cook but it did change my perspective about food and how passionate people can be about cooking. Will definitely try picking it up sometime soon though.

Masterchef Australia Season 2 was such a pleasure to watch and being as weird as I am, it helped me focus to study during the most crucial phase of my prep for civils. The regular one hour quota didn't suffice so I ended up watching episodes online.. about 84 One hour episodes in all if I am not wrong. I watched at least 3-4 hours per day while breaking in between my marathon study hours. No wonder I refrain from giving people advice. :p

It was a show watched at the right time as far as I am concerned. My prep was strenuous, put me under a lot of pressure and also required me to tap into all my reserves of energy I never knew existed. Well, same was the case with those amateur cooks. Amateur were they? I guess not!

Loved Marion for her brilliance, Jonathan for the grit and of course the season winner Adam Liaw. He was a figure as determined as they come. Totally deserved to win!

Anyway one of the best episodes was when these guys had to reproduce 4 stunning for Heston Blumenthal recipes. You gotta take a look at those dishes!

Here are the two part videos:

If you do not have the patience to watch the whole episode, watch it from 07:25 onwards and the first few mins of the second episode.




Heston Blumenthal! Magician ain't he? :D

I would sure love to go eat at his restaurant, The Fat Duck in London. You wanna take me out? Is it a date ;)

Day 14!

P.S. Masterchef Junior is almost unreal. Kids these days do the impossible!

Glory

Artist : The legend Sattiraju Lakshmi Narayana fondly called Bapu!


Notice something unusual in the pic?

The snake around his neck is missing. :)

Exudes power on one hand and warmth and peace on the other. The Broad shoulders and the lean body, the posture, the positioning of the hands, Amazing work of art!

This is an image very close to my mind, body and soul.
Only a handful know it's significance.


Day 9!

// Jagadaananda Kaaraka //

My day started with a 10km drive at 5.30 in the morning listening to Carnatic Classical Music.

Bliss !

I am attaching the video of my favourite Tyagaraja Pancharatna Kriti "Jagadaananda Kaaraka" sung by the legend herself MS Subbulakshmi!



Lyrics: (The order of the verses in different versions vary)


Pallavi

Jagadananda Karaka jaya janaki prana nayaka

Anupallavi

Gaganadhipa sathkulaja raja rajeswara
Sugunakara sura sevya bhavya dhayaka sada sakala

Charanam

Amara tharaka nichaya kumuda rahitha paripoornanagha
Sura sura bhuja dadhi payodhi vasa harana
Sundhara thara vadana sudha maya vacho bruntha Govinda
SAnanda mavara ajaraptha shubhakaraneka

Nigama neerajamrutha poshakaa nimisha vairi,
Varidha sameerana khaga thuranga sathkavi hrudayalaya
Aganitha vaanaradhipa nathangri yuga

Indra neelamani sannibhapa Ghana chandra soorya nayana prameya vaa
Gheendra janaka sakalesa shubha nagendra sayana samana vairi sannutha

Karadruta sara jalaasura madhaapa haranaa vane sura suraavana,
Kaveeja bhilaja mouni krutha charitha sannutha Sri Thyagaraja sannutha

Srushti sthithyantha karaka amitha kamitha phaladha asamana gathra
SAchepathi suthabdhi mada hara anuraga raga rajitha kadha sara hitha

Pada vijitha mouni saapa sama paripala vara manthra Grahana lola,
Parama santhi chitha janakajadhipa Saroja bhava varadhakila

Purana purusha nruvarathajasritha paraadheena Khara viraadha Ravana
Viravana anagha Parasara manohara avikrutha Thyagaraja sannutha

Sajjana manasabhdhi sudhakara kusuma vimana surasaripu karabhja
Lalitha charana avaguna sura gana madha harana Sanathana janutha

Omkara panjara keera pura hara Saroja bhava keshavaadhi roopa,
Vasava ripu janakanthaka kaladhara kaladharaptha grunakara,
SAranagatha jana palana sumanoramana nirvikara nigama sara thara

Aganitha guna kanaka chelas ala vidhalana arunabha samana charana
Apara mahimadbhutha suka vijana hrud sadana sura muni gana vihitha,
Kalasa neera nidhijaramana papa gaja nrusimha vara thyagarajadhi nutha



Someday I will get here!

Day 8!