Sanjeev Kapoor is already one of the most celebrated and recognized names in the Indian culinary industry. A successful TV show host, author of bestselling cookbooks, restaurant consultant, architect of a unique range of food products and winner of numerous awards, Kapoor also launched the wildly popular FOODFOOD channel in India several years ago. This 24X7 lifestyle channel that serves as a destination for those passionate about the flavors, art and lifestyle of Indian cuisine, will now be coming to U.S. audiences via the DISH network (channel 713). With the growing demand for viewers who want to immerse themselves in the Indian food culture, popular programs like Sanjeev Kapoor’s Kitchen, Turban Tadka, Mummy Ka Magic and Health Mange More will now be available for even more people to enjoy. How did you get the idea to start the FoodFood channel? What made you think a channel like this would be successful? When I first thought of the idea in India, I didn’t think there would be a market for a channel dedicated solely to food. But then during the course of my international travels, I saw that many other markets had food-focused channels that were popular and successful. I really believed there should be something similar in India given the importance of food in the Indian culture and when I launched FoodFood 4 years ago, it took off and did extremely well. The channel has basically grown every year since then and is currently one of the most watched lifestyle channels in India. What do you think viewers value most about FoodFood? I think people like that there’s something for everyone on the channel. Although everything is about food, the diversity of programming ranges from learning to travel to Bollywood to reality shows to...

Indian celebrity chef Manoj Rai brings Italian kitchen to the satellite town. Navi mumbai : The city of Navi mumbai will now boast of its first celebrity Chef kitchen. Celebrity Chef Manoj Rai has launched his Italian concept kitchen “Macchiato – Pizzeria, Bar & Grill” in the city. The restaurant will be first of its kind serving exclusive and authentic Italian cuisine to food lovers in the city. Right from Wood fired Pizza to the best of Italian wine; Macchiato will provide all of it under one roof. “While working on Macchiato, we were very clear in our thoughts. We wanted to be the best, and for that we had to serve the best. To achieve that perfection we worked on authenticity. Right from our interiors, which are designed by an award winning Italian designer to our ingredients which are sourced directly from Italy.” Says Chef Manoj Rai, Managing Partner & CEO Macchiato, Venezia food and beverages pvt ltd. Chef Ripu Daman Handa – Master chef session-3 winner is also associated with Macchiato as associate director. The promoters Venezia Food & Beverages Pvt Ltd an Indian subsidiary of GC&P, Italy have plans to open Macchiato in 10 other locations in next 18 months. Apart from the restaurant the European SME facilitator has some serious investment plans in real estate and renewable energy sector in the country. “India is looking upwards and we believe that cities like Navi Mumbai will fuel the growth, and that is why we chose Navi Mumbai as the location for our first project. Sectors like F&B, real estate and Energy are looking really interesting for us. We are looking at facilitating investments close to 5000 Crores in next five years in various upcoming sectors in the country. As far as...

JUNOON TO MAKE DUBAI DEBUTAS FIRST EXTENSION OF CULINARY BRAND     Manhattan’s Acclaimed Contemporary Indian Restaurant to Open at UAE City’s Shangri-La Hotel Junoon, New York City’s Michelin-starred contemporary Indian restaurant known for its elegantly modern take on traditional dishes, will open its second location this fall as a 5,000 square foot, 145-seat  United Arab Emirates (UAE) outpost in Dubai’s five-star Shangri-La Hotel. New York based restaurateur Rajesh Bhardwaj, who founded Junoon as an expression of his passion for the food and culture of his native India, made the announcement at the restaurant’s third anniversary celebration on Wednesday evening, May 14. Which was sponsored by the UAE based Etihad Airways, Baron Tequila and Somrus.  He stated the new Dubai location will set the stage for future expansion of the Junoon brand; one internationally acclaimed for its exploration of Indian cuisine’s infinite gastronomic possibilities under the guidance of  Corporate  Chef Vikas Khanna, one of the subcontinent’s most renown culinary talents and cookbook authors.  A brand that has been awarded a coveted Michelin star annually since Junoon opened in 2011. “We feel strongly Junoon can be a global brand and have been researching cities that would be a good fit for our first foray into expansion.   One of the world’s fastest growing cities and travel destinations, with a large Indian ex-pat community, Dubai stood out as the site of the second Junoon,” Bhardwaj explained.  “Dubai’s dynamic culinary scene, with the world’s most celebrated chefs opening restaurants there, was another draw.  Having a presence in Dubai is increasingly important to the future international growth of a restaurant brand. Bhardwaj also cited the original Junoon’s popularity with business travelers from the UAE as a factor in deciding on Dubai, along with the restaurant being frequented by some of the...

Return to the Rivers RECIPES AND MEMORIES OF THE HIMALAYAN RIVER VALLEYS by Vikas Khanna with Andrew Blackmore-Dobbyn Foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama Hardcover/444 pages/ ISBN: 978-1891105-53-1 Lake Isle Press December 2013 In the realm of travel and culinary enthusiasts, few ventures are more sought-after than the adventurous culinary vacation. Food aficionados are leaving the comfort of their own kitchens to travel the globe and cook alongside expert chefs, learning the best techniques dish preparation, spice selection, and the secrets of indigenous ingredients. For those who are unable to take several weeks off to discover the wonders of international cuisines, Return to the Rivers brings the culinary expedition to you. Take a gastronomic tour with Vikas Khanna, award-winning Michelin-starred Indian chef, restaurateur, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV show MasterChef India. Both a cookbook and a travelogue, Khanna’s newest book takes us on a pilgrimage across the Himalayas as he delves into the culture and tradition surrounding these sacred foodways—everything from finding local ingredients to serving this incredible food. Vikas Khanna, along with Lake Isle Press, launched Return to the Rivers at an exclusive media event on Tuesday, January 28 at Junoon Restaurant. Return to the Rivers boasts nearly 500 pages, and 100 full-color photographs of plated dishes, exotic travel experiences, and personal and thoughtful musings that preserve the traditions, values and simple gifts that the Himalayan people bestowed upon Khanna. Khanna’s spiritual and culinary journey through the Himalayan heartland brings foodies and travel enthusiasts some of the best recipes and culture from Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, northern India, and western China. Khanna’s book explores a wide variety of cultural delicacies, as it is organized by Street Foods; Soups and Noodles; Grains; Vegetables; Fish; Poultry, Eggs, and Cheese; Meats; Breads; Condiments;...

~ Tata Motors IIFA Awards 2014 tickets go live on sale on ticketmaster ~ ~ 7000 + tickets sold out in 2 hours ~ ~ Shahid Kapoor & Farhan Akthar to host the Awards ~ ~ Shahrukh Khan to headline the event among other stars performers ~ New York, 15th January: The International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) Weekend is all set to make its American debut as they bring the magic of Indian Cinema to Tampa Bay, Florida. The 15th edition of the IIFA Weekend & Awards will be held this year from the 24th – 26th of April. IIFA management along with Bollywood superstars Anil Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are currently on a press tour in the United States, having made their first pit-stop in the home to Hollywood, Los Angeles and the second yesterday, in Tampa Bay. The IIFA delegation and the stars continued on to the last leg of the tour today, in the Big Apple, New York. IIFA today announced its celebrations ahead of the film industry’s highly anticipated weekend extravaganza which is set to include film briefings, the IIFA Film Workshop, the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, IIFA Rocks, IIFA Magic of the Movies & Technical Awards and the crown jewel of the Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend, the TATA Motors IIFA Awards. Headlining the Awards will be King Khan, Shahrukh Khan who is said to be the biggest star offering from Bollywood in present years. The 15th TATA Motors Awards will be hosted by Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akthar. The duo last hosted the Awards in 2012 in Singapore. Each year, IIFA Award tickets have sold out in record-breaking time. In 2011 in Toronto, on IIFA’s debut in North America, IIFA Award tickets for a capacity of 18,000 sold out...

Official Cocktail Reception honoring Miss America 2014, Nina Davuluri Hosted by Miss New York 2013 Amanda Mason « ‹ of 7 › »  ...

Indian consulate, 3 E 64 St. NY, NY Hosted by the Honorable Consul General of India, Shri Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay Current Miss Universe, Olivia Culpo, and Global Fashion Designer, Sanjana Jon, have teamed up to promote AIDS Awareness and the Save the Girl Child campaign: On August 21st, the Honorable Consul General of India, Shri Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, hosted the launch of Sanjana Jon’s 2013 Tour of India which will feature the reigning Miss Universe, Olivia Culpo. The tour is slated for September 27th through October 6th and will include trips to the capital, New Delhi, along with Mumbai, Agra and several other key cities in India. The tour will help promote AIDS Awareness and the Save the Girl Child campaign which strives to fight female feticide and empower women of all ages. The primary focus will be to eradicate female feticide especially in the states of Sanjana Jon began these tours in 2004 with then Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins. The tours have grown exponentially since then, evolving into an established awareness movement, with the primary focus being to eradicate female feticide especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Sanjana Jon started her career working with her brother, Anand Jon, in New York to create a jewelry line which was endorsed by the likes of Iman, David Bowie, and Barbara Hershey and supported AMFAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. They pushed the concept further with a men’s collection donned by Bruce Springsteen, the Backstreet Boys, Prince, Collective Soul, and Matchbox 20. The line even had support from royalty at the Cannes Film Festival including Prince Albert of Monaco, Princess Sorayya, Princess Sara Al Saud, and Princess Olivia de Borbon. Their efforts eventually led to invitations to fashion weeks in both New York...

The exclusive source of global news from India and the Indian diaspora in North America New York, July 30, 2013: TheIndianEYE.net, a brand new news portal about Indians and the Indian diaspora in North America is promising to usher in a revolution in connecting with India and Indians around the world. Unveiled at a glittering event in the K Lounge at Bombay Palace, New York City on July 25, 2013, the portal has received an overwhelming response, both from eminent personalities and the general public.  The event was attended by an A-list of guests from government, corporate, business, finance, entertainment, academic and media spheres. In her opening remarks, Devyani Khobragade, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of India in New York, said the portal reflected the changing dynamics of India’s global power and was an example of how Indians had consistently made their presence felt on the global stage. Though the global recession had impacted India too, the Indian economy was resilient and vibrant and had bounced back quickly, she said, adding that any attempt like The IndianEYE.net to capture that success story had to be enthusiastically welcomed. Dr. Navin C Mehta, chairman of the Board of Advisors, TheIndianEYE.net and president of the trustee committee of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, USA, said the portal was an ambitious attempt to link Indians through news and it reflected the true diversity of India. Introducing the portal, Sunil Hali, its promoter, said it promised a truly multicultural, multilingual and multimedia experience by effectively integrating radio, television and news under one platform. The portal integrated three different media products—Radio Zindagi, Crossings TV and Divya Bhaskar print editions—all of which were accessible at a single click, he added. Radio Zindagi had emerged as one of the premium Indian radio stations, reaching...

Amazing Varli Kick-Off event at Tulsi restaurant as we introduced the restaurants, chefs, and cook-off contestants participating in the 2013 Varli Kids Food Festival on April 14th ! A big thanks to B4U Media for their full coverage of the event. Be sure to get your tickets for the food festival to meet all of these culinary greats! « ‹ of 4 ›...

Varli Magazine, in association with their Diya Foundation for Children, once again brought the Indian restaurant industry together on February 11th, 2013 for a night of food, fun and glamour. The ”Indian Restaurant Charity Week Appreciation Dinner” was hosted by Rohan and Rakesh Aggarwal at their NYC restaurant, Devi. The event was Varli Magazine’s thank you to restaurateurs who participated in Charity Week (January 21st-27th) to benefit the families of the victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. The evening was a foodie’s paradise with intriguing appetizers like soy wrapped within grilled eggplant. Dinner entrees ramped up the creativity with a chicken tikka lasagna that was easy on the eyes and the taste buds. However, the food was only the tip of the iceberg, as the evening also included live cooking demonstrations by Chef Walter D’Rozario and Chef Bachan Rawat of Bukhara Grill restaurant and a silent auction for VarliWare tandoor, Maya Foods basket, Alokozay Tea cases and Sufi Wines gift bags. But of course, the highlight of the night was the announcement of the donation amounts from participating restaurants. Some of the top contributors to this fundraising event were Thali, Devi, Moghul, Mehndi, Ming, Bukhara Grill, Chola, Malai Marke, Dhaba, Raaga, Masala Times, Madras Mahal and The Masalawala restaurant. The full weight of the industry was behind this initiative as Sunil Hali of Cinemaya Media and Sudhir of Sahara TV also contributed to the cause, alongside Varli Magazine, VarliWare and their promoting partners, Bawarchi Foods & Maya Foods. The unity of restaurateurs to help those in the community affected by this tragedy is something to be applauded and celebrated. Congratulations to Varli Magazine and the Diya Foundation for organizing this fundraising effort and achieving their goal. For list of donors : Click...

Diya Foundation official website was launched today. Diya Foundation for children, a Varli initiative, is dedicated to providing education, medical care and nutrition to children in places where these basic needs are not being met. Across the globe, developing countries are struggling to address a variety of issues. Diya works with local partners on the ground like hospitals, kitchens, and schools to ensure all aid is being provided directly to the children. Support from friends and fans have helped the Varli brand achieve its mission to expand the appreciation for Indian cuisine. Through direct involvement and fundraising efforts, the Diya Foundation is our way of ensuring the next generation has the opportunity to fulfill their own dreams. For more information, please visit Diya Foundation’s Official...

VarliWare is the next evolution of the Varli brand in facilitating the expansion of Indian cuisine in the U.S. As an original designer and distributor of quality restaurant equipment and appliances, we strive to be the one-stop shop for all your kitchen needs. Our product line includes innovative forms of clay ovens, dosa grills, tawas, burner plates, copperware, rolling pins, sauce pans, cutlery, plates, and much more. Leveraging years of experience at the forefront of the Indian culinary world, each product has been specially designed for the specific needs of restaurants. VarliWare maintains the high standards of creativity, quality, and value that restaurants associate with the Varli brand. We will continue to build relationships by providing smart solutions to address the needs of our customers. Visit Varli Ware Website : www.varliware.com « ‹ of 3 ›...