Love for Food

Hi readers … Have never confessed this.. but as far as I remember, from the time I was a podgy kid to very self-conscious (of my weight!!) teen to being an HM student, professional and now an full fledged faculty …one thing that has been constant {not the weighing scale .. dud} …. is me - a self-confessed full-on “foodie”.

As they say, some eat to live. I border towards the lot who live to eat. Yes. It is true. Though not very proud of it – but a fact nonetheless. I simply love food. I find cooking therapeutic (and for me, cooking does not involve baking, which in my opinion is less of judgment and more of a science – and am so science-challenged!!). Anyways, I have always loved being around food. During my food deprived teens {have been off butter from when I can remember... and please do not judge me here ;) }. I started indulging family, relatives and friends with yummy treats. Truth be told - I indulge {ya… ok .. over - indulge} in food, which like money and shopping is never done with.  I am not much of a saint when it comes to food, and am happy exploring new cuisines and foods. The weirdest ice cream flavours and never-tried before meat never fails to excite me. Safe foods are boring.  They are mundane and predictable. Oh, to correct myself here – I do dig every day food too. Ghar ka khana, maa ke haath ka khana, dal-roti, varan bhaat, rajma chawal and all those yummy staple growing up foods constitute  who I am and if deprived of home-goodness for more than a couple days, crave for them terribly. So for all the times that I need a comfort stroke, turn to food– a piping hot khichdi with aam-ka-achar (also chocolate, any meetha for that matter) never lets me down!

For us Indians, food is an important part of our social lives. Birthdays, friends, festivals, get togethers, so much so that even travel – food is the centre of all our plans. So given that, I think about food a great deal.  

I am sure that a few of you to say the least, can relate to a few of my thoughts. If you do, I invite you to pen down your thoughts on food – anything.. ranging from what you love, most memorable meal, your food wish list.. or anything. Also, since Pune is burgeoning with so many eating places .. lets also start a Food Lovers’ Club, right here online .. let’s have restaurant reviews rolling (overly critical is good than paid reviews we get to read.. wotsay). So ciao and awaiting to posts from you all. 

Prof. Arti Prabhu

5 Myths about Hotel Management

Hello friends!

Been the student of Hotel management and now being the faculty, I’ve experienced quite surprising reactions, comments by people regarding career option of ‘Hotel management’. And trust me I got an opportunity to prove them wrong and now it’s your turn.

The Hospitality industry is a hot career option for students. However, there are a few misconceptions about the career that students should be aware of before or even after taking a course in Hotel Management.

MYTH #1: It’s all about cooking and drinking

Reality: Hotel Management is not about enjoying food and having fun. It’s a serious business wherein experts from hotel industry teach the culinary part of food and beverage industry.

MYTH #2: It is open for only those students who are not good in academics

Reality: Academics have nothing to do when it comes to choosing hotel management as a career option. Instead it totally depends upon an individual’s choice of interest. In addition, students are admitted on the basis of entrance exam that are quite competitive. The course curriculum has right balance of theory as well as practical demonstration/performance.

MYTH #3: One has to start from low grade jobs

Reality: Hotel Management work life begins with basic job that takes an individual closer to guests and customers which enables to experience real job situation and prepares to handle tougher situation in coming future.

MYTH #4: Growth is less in this field

Reality: This is entirely false as this field is one of the fastest growing industries in India since people are spending more money on food industry.

MYTH #5: Opportunities are very few in hotel management

Reality: The truth is lot of opportunities are available in this field like airlines, travel and tourism, restaurants, railway catering, private/ public sector and so on. 

I’m sure there would be more myths than these 5 and so it will take time for people to understand and eradicate these myths.

http://www.prepsure.com/news/5-myths-about-hotel-management-careers/

http://hospitalitytechnology.edgl.com/news/Three-More--Busted--Revenue-Management-Myths54936

Dhananjay Kshirsagar

Facilities for Women

Facilities for the Single Lady Traveler (SLT) in Hotels

With globalization, women got through the glass ceiling and are making their presence felt in boardrooms. The initiative of  having only Women`s Floor in Hotel holds importance as the needs for a single lady traveler differ from the regular customers. When rooms are allotted by the front desk staff to the single lady guest, special confidentiality is maintained. Security is the main concern for these customers, so most of the hotels have free pick-up and drop services from the airport. When entire floors are dedicated to women customers in the hotel, entry is allowed only through swiping the card in the elevator to direct it to the women's floor and others do not have access to it. The floor is guarded by women security guards, service is given only by female staff, rooms are allotted near to the elevator for easy access, video phones are placed in the rooms to check the identity of the person seeking entry into the guest room and the screening of telephone calls is done at the desk. The guest rooms have feminine needs like full-length mirrors, makeup mirrors, skirt hangers, appropriate sized bath robes for females, and an assortment of extra organic cosmetics.

 The SLT is pampered by service of a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres in the room in the evenings. The mini bar in the rooms has champagne and smoothies instead of beer in the rooms. The hotel staff help the lady customers to drape the perfect sari and many hotels do the stitching of blouses in a day`s time for their customers for special occasions. The hotel has a 'Dial a Chef' programme where a lady guest can ask for a special diet meal, according to her preference. The restaurant has the “Business Women's Networking Table” for those touring alone. It also has a

special lounge where female guests can unwind after a long day's work. The hotel has a private women-only fitness room with lady trainers at convenient timings. .

The foreign guests are offered cultural experiences through complimentary yoga and cookery sessions.

Surely the lady guest is the special attention guest in the hotel.  A woman would definitely feel safer and secure in such hotels and, in a way will encourage more independence among working women.

Rasika Gumaste

Mind Body Soul

Mind Body Soul

Hi reader! I am glad that you chanced to glance upon this article, and hope you have a good read.

Health, as understood by all of us, is the state of well being and fitness. It is well being of the body and mind. As the adage goes “Health is Wealth.” I take the liberty to generalize and say, that most of us take our health for granted. Which means, we do not take care of ourselves? We are fit by default, and only when we are unwell that we do something about it. Servicing is not only for our bikes and gadgets, but it is utmost important to take care of ourselves, irrespective of any constraints we may face as part of our daily lives. To identify and honor our body’s needs, being sensitive to ourselves and unhesitantly taking instant help – is what we owe to ourselves and our loved ones.

If we are not feeling well physically – the problem is easy to detect, we go to the doctor and administer medication. But what when we are not feeling fine in our minds. Does that not happen? It does. To all of us. At different times. Perhaps manifested in different ways.

Everyone feels anxious, worried or stressed out sometimes and life can seem overwhelming. It's easy to see why when we think about all the pressures that are heaped upon us: society, family, work... where does it all end?

The different manifestations of these symptoms are termed mental illness. Mental illnesses are no different to any other illnesses - they have a biological basis. In the same way as cancers develop as a result of both external and internal factors, so too do mental illnesses.

The important question then is – Why do we not seek immediate help, or acknowledge the fact that we need help. One of the most common reasons is the social “stigma” that a mental illness attracts. Having spent most part of my childhood in Delhi, all South Indians are called “Madrasi”, similarly we tend to call all people with mental illness as “pagal”. It is ignorant and insensitive on our part, and this stigma is a major deterrent to seek help.

It contributes to delays in seeking care, impedes timely diagnosis and treatment for mental disorders, serves as an impediment to recovery and rehabilitation, and ultimately reduces the opportunity for fuller participation in life.

Like any other physical ailment – like a headache, fever – the condition does not treat itself, but if not dealt with, aggravates with time and creates an internal imbalance. This manifests in terms of psychological conditions.

We must, therefore, know how we are feeling, in body and in mind. Alcohol, cigarettes or a chocolate cake are a quick fix in our weak periods, but add to the problem than tackling it. Instead we must aspire to lead a healthy and wholesome life - full of people who support us, and activities that rejuvenate us. Any time we feel the slightest discomfort, we must not hesitate to seek expert attention. And why not!

http://www.phfi.org/our-activities/research-a-centres/centres-of-excellence/869-centre-for-mental-health

http://inthealth.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/1/6.abstract

http://www.thebanyan.org/html/mentalillness.html

By: Arati Prabhu