changing of the guard
Almost every season of MasterChef Australia, one contestant ends up setting part of the counter on fire. And sure enough, even with the season underway, attempts to smoke radicchio leaves literally went up in flames. But it was the calm presence of one of the new judges, French chef and restaurateur Jean-Christophe Novelli, that brought the situation under control. This season has been one of change, marked by the conspicuous absence of chef Jock Zonfrillo, who passed away last year. His sharp comments, sense of humor and chemistry with fellow judge Andy Allen added warmth to the show. Allen will continue the show with three new judges, including Novelli. Novelli stands out for his unique teaching style, and his simple but specific advice transforms the way food is prepared and presented. —Avantika Bhuyan
vertical movie magic
A few years ago, when YouTube bet big on vertical video and Instagram Reels entered our lives, the vertical video format became the norm for smartphone users. Creators have continued to innovate with this format ever since. One of his Instagram handles, Vertical Cinema, has brought a vertical touch to some of my most treasured films.imagine interstellar, Veer Zahra, Tamasha, Dill Se… Did you make it vertical? The Vertical Cinema’s reel shots are immersive and offer a new way of looking at these popular films. You can also send a message to the handle and request to see a vertical shot of your favorite movie. In five months, the handle has amassed nearly 80,000 followers, showing how the format has become ingrained in so many of us. —Nitin Sredar
Also read: Rishikesh restaurants offer divine cuisine
Make the most of your mangoes
Is there such a thing as too much mango ice cream? i don’t think so. Maska Bakery in Mumbai serves a decadent bowl of mango ice cream, aam panna sorbet mixed with diced aam papad, topped with fresh mango pieces and crispy rose cookies. Yes, it’s a mouthful. The sweetness of the ice cream, the sourness of the sorbet, and the layered texture of the chewy papad and crunchy rose cookie are well balanced. The only downside is that it’s not usually on the menu. They offer it during pop-ups. That might be a good thing if you want to avoid overconsumption of mango and sugar. Good things come to those who wait, and this is the Ice Cream Summer Party. —Janaby Boller
That light-headed feeling
Leaving oil (especially Ayurvedic hibiscus oil or bhringraj oil) on your hair for 30 minutes to an hour before washing your hair can be a pain in the summer as the weight of the oil makes it hot and messy. So, I was quite skeptical about the non-sticky promise of his Chemparathyadi Thailam by Qi Ayurveda, which I started using in early April. Qi is the co-founder of Kama Ayurveda and founder of India Design Forum, Rajshree Pathy’s latest company with the idea of creating Ayurvedic products that give a modern feel. But the coconut oil and hibiscus-based formula lived up to its promise. It has a light herbal scent without the heaviness and viscosity that Ayurvedic oils tend to have, and leaves your hair feeling smoother. At Rs 18 per ml, it’s a price that burns a hole in your pocket, but its lightness makes it worth the price. —Shalini Umachandran
Also read: The ultimate summer beauty routine for oily skin
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