Mind The Gap, executed by Aranya Johar, is a project that aims to make life easier for underprivileged children. That is, over two aspects: mental health and the nutrition and health aspect to productivity and education. I feel this is important as mental health is often overlooked when it comes to the well-being of an individual, especially children and poverty stricken ones. And, the gap between the classes can be eradicated by education, and mid day meals have become a motive for attending government funded schools; but is hence inefficient as children are falling ill due to the very same. This project aims are discussions with students in regard to self esteem and family life. Mind The Gap also suggests that the government put forward officials to check the kitchen of every school that provides mid day meals on a monthly basis.

Guys, I think it's an amazing initiative. It takes genuine sincerity and compassion to think of something like this and I think the idea is incredibly commendable. Here's to happiness for everyone!

Jam Jar Diner: An un-review 

 

I chose this place, I must admit, because of its decor and ambiance. (Although my teenage self who claims to only like things ironically would deny, deny, deny this). The insides looked like the set of 'Alice in Wonderland' with a hint of 'The Burrow', with topsy-turvy shelves, light wood, the abundance of jars and pots and beautiful glass, and printed pastel mismatched cutlery in said shelves.

The slight haphazardness of the books on shelves, some stacked neatly, and the others at random angles really appealed to me, and the presence of the books is what made the place seem super cozy (like, no joke). They've even got over-flowing potted plants and bottles placed on a ledge, which gives it an incredibly home-garden-esque feel, which adds to the informality and the genuine comfort level of the place immensely.

 What they've done really well, however, is their furniture. From seat cushions and sheets that look like they've come out of an expert DIY video to intricate, ornate lights that look like they could feature in any of India's average palaces, to dramatic blue-tinted windows and printed curtains, their furniture left me going "woah, this is so instagramable" multiple times. Even if I were to describe every detail on the flower-printed seats, upholstery, and the numerous shelves, I wouldn't quite do the sheer thought that went into designing this place any justice. (Also, that would be very tedious for both, you and me, so...).

The best, most dramatic bit of the entire place, though, is their jukebox. The structure looked like something out of 'Jumanji' and played happy-go-lucky (sort of christmasy) songs throughout.

 The drastic variety of the furniture, yet the impeccable way in which it worked together is something many teenagers strive to achieve when designing their bedroom, but very few succeed.

Honey mustard chicken and bacon burger: 

They just slide(er) you off your feet 

 

This dish was the epitome of Dean Winchester on a plate, and I'm sure a lot of you would adore that.

The bread was beautiful, and that isn't something you can say for a lot of burger buns. It was buttered to perfection. What caught my eye, though, was the chicken. The nuances of mustard weren't too overpowering ( it could just be my Bengali self though; our tolerance for mustard is way, like, way, too high), and the chicken itself was perfectly cooked; it wasn't chewy in the least (Although, that didn't help with the fact that I wanted it to last forever).

 The portions of the burger's contents were nothing if not generous, and I loved every bit of that bacon. For all of you who've deemed bacon as 1. too salty, 2. too oily, fear not, for the bacon here is really good at it's job, and that's more than we can say for most of us. 

The protein, together, made the burger feel like the meal that it's supposed to be, but wasn't greasy and sticky to the point where it numbed all your other senses and you promised yourself you'd never eat anything ever again (albeit vows like those last no longer than 10 minutes) . The greens and lettuce added to the experience tremendously as they weren't soggy pieces of tastelessness that I needed to dismiss to the far end of the plate, behind an empty bowl just so that I wouldn't have to look at it. ( If you can't see it, it doesn't exist, am I right? ( This is an incredibly flawed concept; please don't actually use it.))

To add to the tall glass of deleciousness- or should I say stout jar of deleciousness- the burger was plated with a herd of fluffy, hot fries. If it were up to me, every meal would be plated with those side of fries ( Yes, 'Bournvita' and 'Parle G' too), much to my mother's disappointment, but what can you do, right? The fries complimented the burger wonderfully and the amount was just right for it to keep from overwhelming the dish entirely and making the starch feel like a pile-on. 

This wooden, rustic tray of deliciousness was probably my favourite one for the day.
 

Lemon cherry pancakes 

(I'm afraid I'm not clever enough to come up with puns twice in a row) 

 

Breakfast happens to be my favourite meal of the day (I like the idea of sleeping and eating consecutively, you see), and along with my undeniably large tolerance (if not addiction) to sugar, these pancakes with the cherry sauce and squeeze of lemon were a match made in heaven. Or, rather, our feeble idea of the dramatic fluffy-clouded heaven with a large intricate gate and Dumbledore, but that’s a story for another day. 

The cherry sauce was beautifully sticky and sweet, with generous bursts of fruit that definitely added an extra element or texture to the jam, instead of being just a syrup. The jam could be passed off as almost too sweet, but the tang of the lemon cut through it wonderfully. The pancakes, however, were my favourite bit. They were thick and soft, just the right amount of brown at the top, and just the right amount of sweet to call it a pancake (Pancakes need to have sugar, okay?), stacked on top of each other with layers of luscious jam in the middle, plated on an adorable printed plate with a floral design and pastel colours. Speaking of, the cutlery went really well with the decor as well as the dish we ate, and made me feel really cozy and comfortable in a place I'd never been in before, which is something I really appreciated as 'getting comfortable' isn't one of my fortes.

Also, as someone who gets overexcited by food, overestimates her appetite, and refuses to leave any food on the plate (It's almost like a competition, and I've lost too many of those in my life), I often end up packing some of my dishes and taking it home, which lead to me discovering that the pancakes taste even better cold. 

The temperature is perfect for the jam, which stops being too sweet by itself and the cold almost numbs the sugar down . And while the pancakes are slightly stiffer, it is a tiny sacrifice for an amazing, amazing upgrade. So, that is what I recommend... even though I was half asleep, hungry, and moody after the 3rd season of Game Of Thrones at 3 am (To be honest, I could be pretty biased as the only other thing in the fridge is cold 'lauki ki sabzi', and the chances are, I had just witnessed a death (you can't keep track of them anymore.).)

Fish 'n' chips

 

 

As a bengali, I can assure you that I know a little something about fish 

(Translation: My mother knows about the fish, I just complain about the frequency of its presence in our house.) So, trust me when I say this: It was cooked to perfection. The batter on the top was gorgeously golden brown, and just the ideal amount of crispy (Although, there's no such thing as too crispy, am I right? There's only “alloo bohot kacha tha, didi.”) and you could hear the crunch resonate through your skull as you took the first bite (Gosh, I'm so metal). The interior- the actual fish- was pearl white and almost glistened, a tell-tale of the fact that it was unbelievably fresh, and nearly crumbled, or slid, into flakes when I cut into it and took the first mouthful, revealing its extremely soft interior. The crackle of the batter, and the melti-ness of the fish, while contrasting, were such an OTP, I swear.

The chips- or the fries to you free people- were hot, fluffy, and salty too, and when douzed in soya sauce worked magic with the vinegar to create a suprisingly great combination. To my amateur Nigella watching self ofcourse! (Yes, I'm the kid that needs to mix everything on the table (icecream and ketchup too), but if you get a bitchin' combo out of it, it's all good, isn't it?)).

Considering the amount of fried stuff in this, I think it deserves a spot in the comfort food section. Woohoo!



 
Jam Jar Diner had so many dishes, from savoury pancakes and waffles to the craziest of desserts to an impressive array of pastas to mocktails and smoothies, that sounded breath-taking and I'd have loved to try them all out, but my mundane little appetite decided to hold me back. So, yes, I will be returning to Jam Jar Diner... if only to hunt for some more pretty bookshelves that I can instagram.