Not that diary

If you are like me, you are probably thinking life was just a lot easier in the past when people invited you over for dinner, or when you were on a flight the attendant asked: Veg or Non-Veg? Not any more. Amongst the mind-boggling range of food and life choices now available, I discovered today the existence of The Flexitarian'.  This appears to refer to a person who is not quite vegetarian but appears to have chosen to eat less meat. Hang on- so that's everyone who is NOT vegetarian (!) because 'less' is a relative term. Despite my initial disdain, I have decided there is some weight behind this idea. Mainly since it suggests that people who choose to be flexatarians have had some realisation, usually on moral, health or environmental grounds that either they or the planet may benefit from more plant-based foods. So far, so good. In fact I have some solid evidence from my London social circle that shows they were already 'on-trend' before this term wa...

I can't quite recall when I started caring so much about food that I felt the need to write about it. Those who know me well compare my eating habits to that of a bird (sparrow rather than the French fries-addicted overweight pigeons of London). To say I was a picky eater as a child would be an understatement. I doubt if it was anything to do with the food itself- I just found other things around me more exciting than eating. So it is surprising to now find myself waxing lyrical about food- in this case the awesome vegetarian curries and starters at  Chamkar Restaurant in Siem Reap (Angkor Wat). I discovered it first via a web search while planning the trip to Cambodia. After a shaky experience in Ayuthhaya (Thailand) where the only well-rated vegetarian restaurant turned out to be a dilapidated eatery with the displayed food looking like it was a few days old, I prepared myself for the worst. My sister and I decided to do an early reconnaissance of the venue and the menu b...

Recently I had chance to visit the historic seaside town of Brighton on the south coast of England again. In continuation with the theme encountered in previous visits, this springtime visit culminated in chucking rain as well. Brighton's history and its fancy Regency past is the stuff of books and paintings. However this post is dedicated to the kitsch shop facades in Brighton's city centre. A shop for Friends: This shop below is clearly not selling carcasses: Continuing with the theme some shoes for the serious veggies. Initially this shopfront made me go 'Whaaat' (ala  TheLydiaBennet of LBD ) but then it clicked - shoes made without leather or animal skin. If fact, it shouldn't have surprised me at all. It is not uncommon for some Hindus in India to wear non-leather (canvas/ cloth-based or faux leather) shoes. In fact I can count a few family members who are pretty serious about this and extend the principle to bags/ purses too! This...