At this time of the year, the only thought that pours in – this year just whizzed by! A bit of reminiscing and I realise that it was long enough for me to have eaten some of the most amazing foods – from street food to fine-dining and every food in between. Also, it was long enough for me to have travelled to some brilliant destinations and have some of the most enlightening moments. I would like to sign off the year by sharing the Best of 2012 Food & Travel Posts from my blog and announcing the end-of-season give-away. And this time there are 3 cookbooks to be grabbed – essential MEDITERRANEAN, essential ASIAN and obviously a sweet sign-off – essential DESSERTS!
These Murdoch Books Test Kitchen has been published in more than 20 languages, the hugely successful Essential series has now been revised with stunning new contemporary design and photography. Still an indispensable reference library for enthusiastic beginners and advanced cooks, it provides a comprehensive guide to cooking techniques, expert tips and hundreds of timeless recipes.
Essential Asian (256 pages) guides you through the cuisine of 12 Asian countries – from China to Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia. Traditional recipes are supported by detailed Asian ingredient and utensil information, step-by-step photography and authentic cooking techniques.
Essential Mediterranean (256 pages) takes you on a journey through the food-loving countries of Greece, Italy, France, Turkey, Spain, North Africa and the Middle East with a collection of reliable and authentic recipes. and supported by step-by-step photography and detailed information on ingredients and cooking techniques, including tapas, meze and pizza.
Essential Desserts is where you will find everything from the perfect fruit pie to deliciously rich cheesecakes, the classic soufflé, comforting puddings and elegant chocolate creations.
Click here for the blog Giveaway!
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Best Food Trips of 2012
Phuchkas in Vivekananda Park, Kolkata
Firni or Ferni, Ramadan or Ramzan, Mallick Bazar or Karama?
Searching for Shiraz Golden Restaurant – From Lucknow to Kolkata and Finally Dubai
An Authentic Emirati Food Experience (First Time Ever!), Al Fanar Restaurant, Dubai
Pickles… Mother (-in-law) Of All Pickles!
Sikarni Raan/Marinated Lamb Shank from Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu, Nepal
Lafayette Gourmet’s Festive Menu… Christmas Is In The Air!
An Evening of Wine Tasting at Asado Wine Club, The Palace Hotel, Dubai
Eating Out Is A National Pastime – Singapore
Khichuri As Harbinger of Hope & Kolkata Soaked In Rains
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Best Travel Trips of 2012
The Abandoned Women Amidst Many Prayers, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
Flying over Mt Everest – Nepal
Gift Wrapped & Preserved For Each Tourist – Chitwan, Nepal
Deep Sea Fishing & Fish Barbeque – Persian Gulf, UAE
In the land of Paella – Valencia, Spain
Locavorism, Friday Market & Tok Palong/Sour Spinach Chutney
Things To Do In Dubai – Like A Tourist In My Own City
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While many posts have been written, many are still lying in the blog queue. For example, my incredible culinary experience in Prague recently (above) where I ate through all my senses – from road side kiosks to traditional Czech food in the Farmers’ Market & Christmas Markets; from savouring 19th century recipes to eating in a restaurant visited by The Brangelinas; from gobbling up home-made Goulash in a Caverna/Café to having a ‘haute-couture’ Goulash in Grand Hotel Europa of Mission Impossible fame!!! 
Or the unique contemporary Bengali Cuisine that we tasted in a restaurant called Bohemian (above) in Kolkata. Absolutely free spirited and Bohemian, the menu offered by Chef Joy’s deli is good enough to inspire one to break out into a Bohemian Rhapsody. You’ll get a snapshot of all the food and drinks that went into my tummy in my Facebook Page, specially those which haven’t yet been tumbled out as blog posts.
A lot of recent events happening around us have often made me think whether it’s preposterous for me to keep on writing on yummy food and far-away destinations. I have purposely refrained myself from making any religious and political comment on the blog. This is a Culinary Travel Blog and it should solely remain so. Many of my readers feel that I should keep on writing on Food and Travel, irrespective of whatever happens around us because ultimately travelling and food matters connect a lot of threads together – of different places scattered all over the world, of different spices evolving through communal interaction and binding these strongly is an element of Hope. So, here’s wishing all my readers a wonderful New Year – safe and secured, healthy & happy, peaceful and prosperous. Also, all the best to all of you – there’s going to be not 1 but 3 winners for the Cookbook giveaway. Happy cooking!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
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Disclaimer: I hope you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals. While you enjoy seeing them please don’t use them as some of them have been taken from our personal albums just to make your reading experience more pleasurable. You can see more pictures of my travel and food journey here.
IshitaUnblogged 
Nice
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Thank you:)
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Your food related trips are always such a joy to read! Happy new year, Ishita. Keep up the good work!
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Thank you Nadia… Wishing you a very Happy New year as well:)
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your travelogue about dubai is amazing. Now only need to give my friends your blog address to know about real dubai
Loved your post Things To Do In Dubai – Like A Tourist In My Own City
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Thank you Huma for your lovely comment. I’m so glad that you liked the post… it probably needs to be updated a bit right now. Wishing you a Happy 2013!
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I have loved reading your posts and LOVED gazing at the amazing photographs…. although they do tend to make my mouth generate more saliva than I can control… 😛
Wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous New Year!!
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Thanks Ria… control not:) Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year as well!
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lovely pictures and description too…………………………………………
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Thank you very much! Good wishes for the new year:)
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Happy New Year Ishita… always love reading your posts..wishing you all the very best of food adventures in the new year too 🙂
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Thank you Raji… am so touched by your beautiful compliment. Hapy New year to you and your family as well!
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Don’t stop writing! keep it up darling, into 2013 and beyond. Happy New Year xx
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The same holds true for you as well… Wishing you a Happy 2013… Love you Hedonista:)
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Hey, Keep up the good work! It always interesting to read your blog 🙂
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Thanks very much Kamla. Good wishes for the New Year:)
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New year greetings to you Ishita! I absolutely enjoy reading your posts. Love your writing style and the colorful & lively pictures which give us a great insight through your food journey & travel trips. Personally, I hardly traveled anywhere last year, I wish to cover up for that this year 😉
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Good Wishes for this year Insiya… hope you get to travel a lot this year. And thank you very much for the lovely compliment!
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Congratulations Insiya! You are one of the winners of the Essential Cookbooks… do mail me your PO Box details:)
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Hi ,
I’m Rita Moudar , Project manager at Buzzeff Middle East,
we are a social advertising platform and we are looking for bloggers who can participate to our clients campaign by seeding videos or publishing sponsored articles ,
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Thanks very much Rita. Unfortunately your offer doesn’t suit my blog. It is an unsponsored, independent blog writing on particular issues of food and travel. Good wishes to you:)
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