AAA The Extra Mile. January 2023. Tired of layering in winter gear, shoveling snow from the driveway, and spending the evening in darkness? Winter blues, aka seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real thing. Thankfully, you don’t need to spend the entire season in hibernation as there are plenty of spots around the world that […]

Fodor’s Travel. January 2023. n the opening scene of the blockbuster James Bond movie, Spectre, you may notice the intriguing tall skeleton puppets and skeleton-clad dancers parading the cobblestone streets. Many of these puppets were created by a third-generation local Mexican artist who is one of the few carrying on this artisanal Mexican tradition. Hermes Arroyo […]

Georgia Trend Magazine. Jan 2023 print. On a Friday night, downtown Alpharetta is bustling with families celebrating, groups of friends grabbing drinks and romantic couples having a date night by candlelight. In the past few months, this suburban enclave has become a hotspot with the opening of new, innovative restaurants, such as the Spanish-Latin restaurant […]

HuffPost. December 2022. While many familiar Christmas traditions originated in Western countries, people from all around the world and from different cultural backgrounds celebrate the holiday with the same spirit of gratitude and togetherness. No matter where, recipes passed on through generations are central to family gatherings. From callaloo to chicken tikka masala, find out […]

Georgia Trend. December 2022. The first thing that you think about during the holidays? Food. Parties, family gathering and baking together are integral to the festive season. A new book shows us how to approach our food with kindness, respect and dignity. If you are inclined to eat well and give back not only this […]

Atlanta Journal Constitution. December 2022 print. The one-room History Museum in the former Mount Carmel Baptist Church on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, contains a sewing machine, rocking chairs, an old piano, coins, black-and-white photographs and other random artifacts that reflect life on the island. The provenance of those objects may have been lost over time, […]

Khabar Magazine. December 2022 print. During the holiday season in India, I remember shopping at the local halwai shops for colorful boxes of freshly made sweets and gold foil-wrapped hampers filled with dried fruits. We would purchase dozens of these to give to colleagues, friends, and hosts. Over the years, these gift baskets became more […]

HuffPost. Nov 2022. Inez Cook is a member of Bella Coola’s Nuxalk Nation who was forcibly taken from her parents by the Canadian government at the age of 1. Today, Cook operates the only Indigenous restaurant in Vancouver, Canada. Through her food, she tells the stories of First Nations people and businesses and fosters dialogue […]

Georgia Trend. Nov 2022. How many times have you wandered the wine aisle at the grocery store and been overwhelmed with the selection of countless bottles? When you are scrambling to make your Thanksgiving dinner or to buy Christmas presents, the last thing you want to do is read every label and figure out which […]

Khabar Magazine. Nov 2022 print. With Indian cuisine becoming mainstream in the U.S., kitchens, grocery markets, and online stores are stocking up on new varieties of instant frozen, canned, and boxed Indian dishes. Over the years, I have tried many of these and have been disappointed with the cardboard stale aromas and chalky flavors. Also, […]

Atlanta Journal Constitution. Nov 2022. Oak-lined streets dotted with historic homes, charming shops filled with locally made art, a park packed with families. The small Southern town of Madison is a destination preserved in history and amended with time. Established in 1809, Madison was named for Founding Father and fourth president of the United States, […]

Georgia Trend. Nov 2022 print. Portraits of King Richard and a young David Bowie are featured on exposed brick walls. Original hardwood flooring and a wide wooden bar complement a dark interior with low ceilings. The ambiance reminds you of a traditional pub you might find in England. But this one is located at the […]

Khabar Magazine. Nov 2022 print. Thanks to modern tourism, one can experience the rugged beauty of Antarctica the coldest, driest, and remotest continent, juxtaposed with savoring homely indulgences like uttapam, poori-chana, and chicken tikka masala. Of course, it is the breathtaking vistas and wildlife of the planet’s final frontier that will stay in your memories […]

Fodor’s Travel. Oct 2022. Growing up in India, I often watched many Bollywood movies where the actors magically broke into a vibrant dance and song in a foreign land. Backgrounds of pristine white sand beaches, dramatic waterfalls, and seven colored Earths profoundly influenced the lifestyle and thinking of the viewers. With its proximity to India […]

AAA The Extra Mile. Oct 2022. While staying on the Las Vegas Strip puts you in the heart of all the action, many off-the-Strip properties offer authentic art/entertainment, late-night dining, and a local vibe. With tons of great amenities and easy access, these off-the-Strip resorts are generally less crowded and less costly.  VIRGIN HOTELS LAS […]

Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Oct 2022 I wake up at 4 a.m. to the sound of an imam chanting the Muslim call to prayer from the loudspeaker of a nearby mosque in Srinagar, India. At this early hour, darkness still envelops the city, the largest in India’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir. Normally, I am […]

Georgia Trend. Oct 2022. Changing foliage, dropping temperatures, the aroma of cinnamon, and all of a sudden, pumpkins are everywhere — at grocery stores, on porches and on restaurant menus. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 80% of the U.S. pumpkin crop is available in October. Whether you like to carve them into jack-o’-lanterns or […]

AAA The Extra Mile. Oct 2022. Booking travel has become more complicated over the past two years. Pandemic closures, labor shortages, higher gas prices, and surges in demand for travel have significantly affected the prices of flights, hotels, cars, cruises, and campsites. What may have been considered the best times to book travel in previous […]

Park Magazine. Fall 2022 print. Glitz, glamor, shopping, nightlife, suntans and beaches – there are plenty of reasons to travel to the coveted Magic City. The ultimate playground for today’s jetsetter, Miami’s action packed vibe and glamorous happenings are dynamic all year round. This year, one of the nation’s top resorts, The St. Regis Bal […]

Khabar Magazine. Oct 2022 print cover story. This collection of cherished memories and recipes from food enthusiasts is sure to put you in the mood for the holidays. Kheer: Nothing beats my late Grandma’s Punjabi recipe! Growing up in northern India in a multi-religious household meant that I had the rare opportunity to celebrate many […]

HuffPost. Oct 2022. Angel Medina is a Mexican-American restaurateur who is passionate about showcasing a version of Mexican cuisine that existed before colonists came to the Americas. He started sourcing Mexican coffee to raise money and awareness for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients ― immigrants who came to the U.S. as children ― and founded […]

Southern Living. Oct 2022. It was a crisp fall morning. I woke up on the couch of my host, a charming older couple, as I had recently arrived from India. The aroma of Folgers coffee, homemade blueberry pancakes, fried bacon, and eggs filled the air in the small townhouse. I instantly gravitated to the pancakes. […]

Georgia Trend. Sept 2022. Helen is located only an hour and a half northeast of Atlanta, but this alpine town transports you across the Atlantic without a passport or an airline ticket. It boasts one of the longest-running Oktoberfests lasting seven weeks, from September 8 to October 30, with plenty of German polkas, waltzes, parades, live […]

Atlanta Journal Constitution. Sept 2022. An elevated stone surface rises above a plateau surrounded by dense forests harboring pine, oak and maple trees. The majestic mountain is endlessly gray, with dramatic swirl patterns and natural rock formations. There are no visible trails, just an unforgiving rock-solid mound that reflects the heat from the day and […]