Monica Saigal Bhide's Blog, page 5
August 3, 2016
A Regional Tour of Indian Curries at Indique
Sign up here!!
Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken (Bodes Well Publishing, 2016) is now up for pre-order!!
Les Dames d’Escoffier
Washington, D.C. Chapter
invites you to
A Regional Tour of Indian Curries at Indique
Dame Monica Bhide and Chef K.N. Vinod team up to provide a delicious look at the variety of curries found in the Indian subcontinent. Join us as we explore the different curries (both veg and non-veg) of
India. Monica will present an informative seminar on the regional cuisines of India and her presentation will end with India’s most popular curry imports: Butter Chicken! “Just as every state and sub-region in the U.S. South has its own version of barbecue, every region and sub-region of India has its own curry. Think of it this way: you can have a simple chicken curry five nights of the week and each one is completely different from the other. For a country that boasts over 30 types of cuisines within its borders this is an easy task to accomplish,” says Monica Bhide.One of the oldest known civilizations, India has greater cultural, culinary, geographic, linguistic and religious diversity within its borders than, say, Europe. Home to a billion people, speaking over a dozen languages and of hugely different ethnicities, India boasts at least thirty-five recognized cuisines. Each cuisine is greatly influenced by local ingredients, geography, history and religion. At the end of the evening, Monica will sign copies of her new novel, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken.
DATE: Tuesday, September 27, 2016
PLACE: Indique, 3512-14 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20008
(202) 244-6600 www.indique.com
TIME: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
PRICE: Members of the Public $90; Dames (Members Only) $80.
Ticket price includes a copy of Monica’s book, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken, everything on the menu below, one glass of wine or Mango Lassi, and gratuities. Non-member’s price includes a $10 tax exempt donation to Les Dames d’Escoffier scholarships.
RESERVATIONS: Reservation or cancellation deadline September 20, 2016
METRO: Cleveland Park Station is just a few feet from the restaurant.
PARKING: Street parking
REGISTER:
Click here
to buy your tickets on Eventbrite!
Click here to print out a copy of the program.
MENU
Family-Style Dinner
Chicken Tikka Makhani (Butter Chicken)
Chicken Curry
Lamb Roganjosh
Konkani Fish Curry
Macher Jhol
Pork Vindaloo
Lal Maas
Potato Uralakizhangu
Pulao Rice
Cucumber Raita
Assorted Breads
Dessert
Kulfi
Drinks
Wine or Mango Lassi
(Ticket price includes full menu above.
Anything extra is not included in the ticket price)
Visit us on the web at www.lesdamesdc.org
(I will also be signing copies of my forthcoming novel, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken, at the event)
Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken (Bodes Well Publishing, 2016) is now up for pre-order!!
The post A Regional Tour of Indian Curries at Indique appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
July 25, 2016
My debut novel: Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken
My dear friends and readers: I am so delighted to let you know that my debut novel, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken (Bodes Well Publishing, 2016) is now up for pre-order!!
The photographer behind the stunning cover is none other than Simi Jois! I have an amazing and global team that worked hard on everything from editing to design to cover to marketing and I am very grateful to each and every one of them.
I hope you will order the book! It is currently for sale in the US and UK only but we are looking at Indian distribution at the moment and I hope to make an announcement shortly.
ADDED: Thanks to all your support, the novel hit #2 on Amazon’s HOT NEW Releases today, July 25th, 2016
A little about the book:
Described as “Slumdog Millionaire meets The Hundred-Foot Journey,” Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken follows orphaned Eshaan as he attempts to feed and nourish his nation’s hungry. Constantly thwarted as he works toward this monumental goal, Eshaan finds a sliver of hope in the form of a local TV cooking competition. Winning would offer the solution to all his problems: money for his mission and the chance to impress the girl he loves. But to win this competition, Eshaan has to first face a dark secret that has the potential to destroy his life and his dreams.
Can a young life that has been defined by a crisis ever really thrive? Or will Eshaan’s demons – and the handsome European who steals the love of his life – ultimately win?
Bhide dishes up a page-turning story of sacrifice and determination while leading readers through an honest exploration of the human spirit. Set in contemporary India and seasoned with gentle love, dramatic loss, enchanting verse, and exotic food, Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken escorts readers to a place where past and present keep uneasy yet delicious company.
“Monica Bhide has managed to blend her unique lyrical writing with an uplifting and powerful story of love and sacrifice. A beautiful book,” says Kathleen Flinn, author of the New York Times bestseller The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry
Engineer turned writer Monica Bhide is the author of three cookbooks, a short-story collection, and essay compilation. Named by the Chicago Tribune as one of seven food writers to watch, her food writing has appeared in Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Saveur, The Washington Post, Health, The New York Times, Ladies Home Journal, and many other well-known publications. She is a frequent presence on NPR and a presenter for organizations that include Georgetown University, the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ), London Food Blogger Connect, and the Smithsonian.
Ebook – $4.99 (pre-order available! Releases Sept 15th 2016)
Print – $13.00 (releases Sept 16th, 2016 US – nationwide)
The post My debut novel: Karma and the Art of Butter Chicken appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
July 17, 2016
10 Things you did not know about turmeric
I spoke with the lovely folks at BravoTV about turmeric! It is one of my fav spices. You can read the story here!
Of course, I talk about it in more detail in my book: A Life of Spice! It is available in ebook form and print book.
Enjoy!!
Photo Credit – Simi Jois
The post 10 Things you did not know about turmeric appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
July 15, 2016
SOLD OUT – Self-Publishing Seminar – Smithsonian Associates
Hello, friends!
I am going to be teaching a self publishing seminar for the Smithsonian Associates in Sept 2016. Please see details below! Hope to see you all there.
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE. (the program is sold out but the link has a number you can call to be waitlisted)
Here are the details –
The business of the book world is changing at a rapid speed. Self-publishing, once dismissed as “vanity publishing,” is competing with traditional models and, some would say, overtaking it. Previously unknown writers are cracking the New York Times and Amazon best-sellers lists with their self-published books. The options for authors looking to self-publish continue to grow, ranging from complete do-it-yourself projects to partnering with a full-service publishing house. In a practical and informative seminar, writer and self-published author Monica Bhide covers the basics of self-publishing, following the process from completed manuscript to published work.
Bhide examines how the new types of self-publishing differ from more established models, looks at the advantages and disadvantages of each, and offers guidelines to best match the genre of the work with the most appropriate self-publishing method.
Other topics include the financial aspects of self-publishing; developing a realistic cost estimate and timeline for your project; and selecting and working with a copy editor, proofreader, and cover designer. Bhide examines the largest self-publishing platforms—Amazon Createspace for print books and Amazon Kindle Publishing for ebooks—and outlines the step-by-step process of creating a book and ebook using Amazon.
The program concludes with a panel of authors who have successfully self-published, as well as founders of local publishing houses. They share their experiences in self-publishing, how to find the right audience for your book, and online and offline marketing options for your self-published work.
Panelists include Dallas Hudgens, founder of Relegation Books and Stillhouse Press, who has written for large publishing houses and self-published; Danielle Tate, author of the self-published Elegant Entrepreneur: The Female Founder’s Guide to Starting & Growing Your First Company; and Richard Peabody, a poet, editor, and short-story writer who is the founder and co-editor of Gargoyle magazine.
Bhide is an award-winning author whose work has been published by Simon & Schuster and Random House. Her first self-published book of short stories, The Devil in Us, was a Kindle bestseller in December 2015.
The post SOLD OUT – Self-Publishing Seminar – Smithsonian Associates appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
Self-Publishing Seminar – Smithsonian Associates
Hello, friends!
I am going to be teaching a self publishing seminar for the Smithsonian Associates in Sept 2016. Please see details below! Hope to see you all there.
Here are the details –
The business of the book world is changing at a rapid speed. Self-publishing, once dismissed as “vanity publishing,” is competing with traditional models and, some would say, overtaking it. Previously unknown writers are cracking the New York Times and Amazon best-sellers lists with their self-published books. The options for authors looking to self-publish continue to grow, ranging from complete do-it-yourself projects to partnering with a full-service publishing house. In a practical and informative seminar, writer and self-published author Monica Bhide covers the basics of self-publishing, following the process from completed manuscript to published work.
Bhide examines how the new types of self-publishing differ from more established models, looks at the advantages and disadvantages of each, and offers guidelines to best match the genre of the work with the most appropriate self-publishing method.
Other topics include the financial aspects of self-publishing; developing a realistic cost estimate and timeline for your project; and selecting and working with a copy editor, proofreader, and cover designer. Bhide examines the largest self-publishing platforms—Amazon Createspace for print books and Amazon Kindle Publishing for ebooks—and outlines the step-by-step process of creating a book and ebook using Amazon.
The program concludes with a panel of authors who have successfully self-published, as well as founders of local publishing houses. They share their experiences in self-publishing, how to find the right audience for your book, and online and offline marketing options for your self-published work.
Panelists include Dallas Hudgens, founder of Relegation Books and Stillhouse Press, who has written for large publishing houses and self-published; Danielle Tate, author of the self-published Elegant Entrepreneur: The Female Founder’s Guide to Starting & Growing Your First Company; and Richard Peabody, a poet, editor, and short-story writer who is the founder and co-editor of Gargoyle magazine.
Bhide is an award-winning author whose work has been published by Simon & Schuster and Random House. Her first self-published book of short stories, The Devil in Us, was a Kindle bestseller in December 2015.
The post Self-Publishing Seminar – Smithsonian Associates appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
June 16, 2016
Dare To Be, Penguin 2016
You can order the book here
I am so grateful and SO SO honored to be featured in this book about women who gave wings to their dreams. (Dare to Be, Penguin 2016)
What I have learned is this: trust your heart. It knows what your purpose is better than anyone else. It is not easy, it is not simple and it is definitely worth it. For years I had naysayers laugh at my feeble writing attempts, at my insistence on trying to make a career out of a passion. I failed miserably many times and I know I will continue to fail. It is imperative to fail, to be rejected by editors and to know what darkness is like in a creative life. But it makes days like this all the more sweeter.
Thank you, Rinku Paul for such a fabulous and terrific opportunity. I am very grateful.
You can order the book here.
The post Dare To Be, Penguin 2016 appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
June 6, 2016
Final offering: Introduction to Food Writing
My dear friends and readers:
This is my final offering of my immensely successful online workshop: Introduction to Food Writing.
I have taught this workshop for close to seven years and have met such incredible writers on that journey. Many of my students have gone on to sell books and also write food stories for magazines and newspapers.
I will be back in Sept 2016 with a line-up of new courses.
Many thanks again to all of those folks who have attended the class and supported my vision and my work.
A big huge thanks to Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell who started me on this journey.
The class starts today but since it is the final class, I am keeping the registration open through this week.
Here are some testimonials .. in case you are interested in how the class would benefit you:
“I learned so much from Monica’s class. Thanks to Monica’s guidance I wrote my most popular blog post ever. I love that Monica will help you push your own personal boundaries. She also gives you much insider knowledge about food writing outside of blogging that it really opens your eyes up to what is out there. I have always found her inspiration heartwarming, and have looked to her guidance to pull through when burnout happens. I highly recommend taking this class, it will help you determine how to improve your writing skill, determining what you should do next, and she gives invaluable guidance on how to move forward in your food writing career.” Stephanie Manley.
“”Monica Bhide’s Introduction to Food Writing course was instrumental in giving me the skills AND the encouragement to take the next step in becoming a food journalist. Her course covers the basics of learning how to describe food and dining experiences without using cliches, tailoring your writing for a specific publication, and understanding specifically how to pitch your story ideas to magazines and other media. Her practical course is a terrific way for new authors to understand the marketplace for their writing, as well as seasoned journalists to gain perspective of other mediums (like Recipe Development or Food Essays). I highly recommend Monica’s course to anyone who is passionate about food, and loves to share their knowledge and experiences with the world.” Christof Laputka
“Monica Bhide’s foodwriting course is pure joy. Her love for the subject and enthusiasm comes across in her meticulous course materials and generous feedback. Many internet courses skim the surface of the subject matter, but Bhide dives in straight and deep. Not only do her lessons cover the pros and cons of different food writing aspects, she includes targeted Q&As with food writing professionals and carefully crafted samples that drive the information home. While Bhide’s exercises require serious commits of time and thought, they aren’t just “busy work”. The assignments mirror real life scenarios or build practical skills you can put to immediate use. The highlight of the course is Bhide’s feedback. She gives unrestrained praise where earned and constructive, helpful suggestions to fill the gaps. I highly recommend taking this food writing course. My only complaint is it ended too soon.” —Charmian Christie
“During the six weeks of Monica’s food writing class I learned one invaluable tip related to creating recipes, developed my first essay related to food and sent it to an appropriate market, and created an idea for a cookbook. On top of that, Monica offered highly personalized attention throughout the course. I highly recommend this class – and working with Monica – to anyone who wants to learn about and/or expand their knowledge of food writing, its joys and its challenges. —Lisa Waterman Gray
“After taking Monica’s class, I understand the world through the eyes of a food writer is not as simple as it may first appear. It takes finding your voice, finding your passion and realizing the value of hard work. It is invaluable to hear the lessons and feedback offered by Monica to help you understand what it takes to make a successful communicator — and how to actually get your work printed. A great jump-start to anyone interested in breaking into food writing or thinking about changing careers. — Dana Wallace
The post Final offering: Introduction to Food Writing appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
May 31, 2016
DC Embassy Chef Challenge 2016 in pictures
I was so honored to be one of the judges for this year’s DC Embassy Chef Challenge 2016. The superb chef from Barbados won our heart and our votes. It was a dual honor to be the only home chef on the judging panel. The judges included DC greats like Chef Ris Lacoste and Chef Cathal Armstrong.
Here are some pictures of the terrific event:
The post DC Embassy Chef Challenge 2016 in pictures appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
May 24, 2016
Cookbook Writing Workshop – Smithsonian
I recently conducted a full day cookbook writing workshop at the Smithsonian Associates in Washington, D.C. The workshop included discussions on recipe writing, the cookbook market, understand food photography and more. I conducted a very special exercise — I requested cookbook editor Francis Lam to send me his four favorite cookbook acquisitions and also asked him why he purchased those books. I turned this into an exercise for the students. They had to go through each of the four books and see if they could determine why the editor purchased these books. Once they were done, I shared with them why Francis did buy the books. We all learned a LOT from this exercise. AND – I might add — understood why all four books have become bestselling cookbooks!!
Here are some photos from the event. The workshop concluded with a panel discussion. I had invited Bonnie Benwick, Joan Nathan, Domenica Marchetti and Nevin Martell – all amazing cookbook authors – to share their expertise with the group.
Below – Joan Nathan, Domenica Marchetti and Nevin Martell
Betty Ann Quirino is a student of mine and she was my assistant for the class.
The post Cookbook Writing Workshop – Smithsonian appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
May 17, 2016
Monica Bhide featured in “Those Immigrants”
So very honored to be profiled in the book, “Those Immigrants: Indians In America, A psychological exploration of achievement,” by James Beard award-winning Dr. Scott Haas.
Some of the other immigrants featured include super talented folks like Raj Chetty, Visi Tilak, Pawan Dhingra, Priya Natarajan, Madhavan Rangaswami, Nirav Shah, Maya Ajmera and others.
The book explores 30 immigrants in the US and per its description features stories of , “hope, belief, dreams and an indefatigable spirit.”
I am very grateful and honored to be included.
Dr. Haas is giving away a signed copy of the book. In order to enter, please post a comment below. Of course, it would be so great if you all could share this giveaway with your friends and family as well!
Open to US residents only. Giveaway closes on Friday, May 20th, 2016
Dr. Haas will pick a winner.
The post Monica Bhide featured in “Those Immigrants” appeared first on Monica Bhide | Recipes, Stories, Inspiration.
