A New Café Adventure at Kaldi Bean

 

You know you’ve married the right person when she is always on the lookout for new places to eat, making sure there is never a shortage of café adventures. This time, we found ourselves at a charming little spot called Kaldi Bean.

To start things off, I ordered a refreshing Kaldi Bean Cappuccino Frappe, while my wife went for the rather interesting Kaldi Bean Honey Cinnamon Cold Brew. Both made for the perfect companions as we waited for our main course to arrive.

When it comes to food, sharing is always the way to go for us, which meant we got to enjoy a bit of everything. On the table was a hearty Meaty Monster Pizza along with a comforting plate of Penne Alfredo—a combination that worked surprisingly well and left us more than satisfied.

Kaldi Bean turned out to be another lovely addition to our growing list of café discoveries. Good drinks, satisfying food, and yet another new place explored together—definitely another café happily ticked off the list.

A Foodie Adventure to Taste Assam

 

You know you’re a true foodie when you’re willing to drive halfway across town just to try a cuisine you haven’t explored before. Having heard about an Assamese eatery called Jaluk – The Taste of Assam, we decided it was time to give it a try.

We already knew this wasn’t going to be one of those polished fine dining experiences. In fact, it was more of a hidden gem—a proper hole-in-the-wall kind of place. But that only made us more curious.

Tucked away in one of Salt Lake’s backstreets, finding the restaurant was a bit of an adventure in itself. Between the ongoing Metro work and dug-up roads, getting there was not exactly easy. Still, after a little persistence, we eventually found the place.

At first glance, Jaluk is quite nondescript and very simple, but thankfully the place was clean and welcoming enough. We placed our order and settled in. The food did take some time to arrive, but once it did, the wait felt entirely justified.

The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the Assamese Thali. Full of flavour, comforting, and wonderfully different from the usual fare, it gave us a lovely introduction to Assamese cuisine.

The restaurant itself is as basic as it gets—even down to the fact that we had to step across the road afterwards to grab some cold drinks. But honestly, none of that mattered much.

What Jaluk may lack in décor, ambience, or frills, it more than makes up for in taste. Sometimes the most memorable meals come from the simplest places, and this was certainly one of them.

An Enchanting Evening with RuMac at The Tollygunge Club

 

Some performances stay with you long after the evening is over, and this was certainly one of them. We attended a live performance by RuMac at The Tollygunge Club, and what a spectacular show it turned out to be.

From the very beginning, the energy in the room was electric. RuMac’s stage presence, combined with his undeniable talent, had the audience completely captivated. Every performance was delivered with enthusiasm and flair, making it impossible not to get drawn into the atmosphere.

A particularly memorable part of the evening was when he played a selection of traditional Scottish tunes on the accordion. The music brought a unique charm to the performance, showcasing both his versatility and deep musicality.

But the true highlight of the night came with the grand finale. RuMac’s rendition of the iconic Baccara hit, “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie,” was an absolute crowd-pleaser. The performance was lively, nostalgic, and utterly engaging, leaving the audience spellbound and ending the evening on a high note.

It was truly a fantastic performance—one of those nights where great music, talent, and atmosphere come together perfectly. An evening well spent at The Tollygunge Club.

A Day at RAIL UTSAV 2025

 

PMW's IR WAG9 & WAP7 Models in HO Scale.

I recently had the opportunity to attend RAIL UTSAV 2025, organised by the Rail Enthusiasts’ Society in association with the Calcutta University Institute. It turned out to be a wonderful day dedicated to all things railways, model trains, and enthusiasts who share the same passion.

The main reason for my visit was to assist my oldest and first model railroad friend, Kaustav, at his stall. Some longtime readers may remember him from his impressive Wrightsville Port Layout, which I had featured years ago on my blog. You can revisit that memory here: link. He was representing his venture, Precision Model Works with a stall showcasing a compact layout alongside an impressive collection of Indian Railways model trains.

On display were several beautifully crafted HO Scale models, including the WAG9, WAP7, WDM2, and the charming NMD6 from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Also featured was a detailed Kolkata Tram model, along with a prototype of the Kolkata Tram in O Gauge, which drew considerable attention.

The event itself was packed with engaging discussions, informative lectures, and plenty of opportunities to interact with fellow railway enthusiasts. The Precision Model Works stall was especially well received throughout the day. There was always a steady crowd gathered around—some mesmerised by the locomotives moving back and forth on the tracks, while others eagerly asked how they could get their hands on these precision-crafted Indian models.

Although it was a long and tiring day, it ended on a very positive note for Precision Model Works, with a healthy number of orders and encouraging appreciation for an Indian venture dedicated to quality railway modelling.

As for me, most of you already know my long-standing love for trains—both real and miniature. If you share the same passion, do drop by my other blog, Indian Train Spotter, where I share my photographs of trains from across India.

For a railway enthusiast, it was a day very well spent.

Kaustav checking if everything is working fine.

Kaustav, Aritrim & Myself taking a closer look at the fine details of the WDM2 Model

A Shopping Day at Gariahat and Lunch at Kim Ling

 

One of our favourite places to shop has now become Gariahat Market—a destination that never disappoints when you’re looking for things you simply won’t find in a regular mall.

This visit had a clear purpose. We had a few pictures that needed framing, along with some kitchen items to buy, so off we went to navigate the familiar chaos and charm of Gariahat. As always, the market had exactly what we needed, proving once again why it remains such a dependable shopping destination.

After checking everything off our list, all that walking, browsing, and bargaining had naturally worked up quite an appetite.

With hunger setting in, there was only one logical next stop—Kim Ling for some tried-and-tested Chinese food.

We ordered what has now become one of our absolute staple comfort meals: Mixed Hakka Noodles, Mixed Fried Rice, and Chilli Chicken. Sometimes, when you know what works, there is simply no reason to experiment. The meal was as satisfying as ever and exactly what was needed after a busy shopping session.

A productive day at Gariahat followed by comforting Chinese food at Kim Ling—honestly, that sounds like a pretty perfect outing to me.

Lunch at Germinnaa: New Finds & Comfort Food Favorites

 

There’s always something exciting about discovering a new place with an interesting menu, and today’s lunch adventure led us to Germinnaa.

With the afternoon heat calling for something refreshing, we started our meal with two chilled beverages — a creamy Biscoff Cold Coffee and a refreshing Vietnamese Cold Brew. Both drinks were exactly what we needed to beat the warmth and ease into a relaxed lunch.

As we browsed through the menu, their selection of pizzas immediately caught our attention. We decided to go for the Italian Sausage Pizza, which arrived loaded with flavourful toppings, a crisp crust, and just the right balance of cheese and seasoning.

To round off the meal, we also ordered a Club Sandwich — simple, hearty, and satisfying. Packed with layers of goodness, it paired perfectly with our drinks and made for a wholesome addition to the spread.

Overall, Germinnaa turned out to be a lovely new discovery with a menu that definitely deserves more exploration. Good food, refreshing drinks, and the joy of trying someplace new made this lunch outing a memorable one.