For the love of food and travel

Hosting a party calls for careful planning, and at the heart of it all is the food. Within that, the dessert holds a special place—it’s the sweet finale that completes the celebration. Not long ago, I prepared this dessert for a party, and it was an instant success—thanks largely to its striking presentation. Colorful, abstract, and artistic, it captured attention before the very first bite.  It may appear as though hours of effort went into creating this, yet in reality, it’s a wonderfully simple recipe.  If you enjoy jelly, this is certainly one to try. Jelly mixes are widely available in an array of flavors, made with powdered gelatin and sweeteners. Interestingly, gelatin itself has a long history—it rose to popularity during the Victorian era, when it was sold in sheets and required careful purification, a process that was both time-consuming and laborious. For that reason, gelatin desserts were once considered a luxury, reserved for royalty and the well-to-do....

Vagator Beach College days are among the most colorful chapters of our lives, filled with laughter, friendships, and unforgettable adventures. Class trips and outings, in particular, leave behind memories that stay etched in our hearts forever. In my final year of college, we set out on a trip to Goa—right around the time when the Hindi blockbuster Dil Chahta Hai was ruling the theatres. That film was my first glimpse of Goa’s charm, but experiencing it in person was something else entirely. I can still recall the joy of those days: the golden beaches, the lively parties, the endless shopping, and the mouthwatering food shared with friends. When the trip ended and we returned home, I was left with a lingering desire—a constant urge to go back to Goa again. That’s the magic of Goa. It isn’t a place you visit once and cross off your list. The first trip sparks a longing to return, and by the second, it begins to feel like a tradition waiting to be continued. Goa is renowned f...