March 28, 2006
Tablas against teabagsFood
A brand-new tea bar called Tavalon just opened by Union Square in Manhattan. 
It sells high-end loose leaf teas in a microscopic but slick storefront decked out like a lounge. The founders are young corporate law dropouts, a turbaned Sikh dude named Sonny Caberwal and his biz partner John-Paul Lee. Sonny is also a tabla-ista who rocked out on a Thievery Corporation album a couple of years ago. It’s the second gen version of the ‘I’ll open a little restaurant’ dream:
There’s a new wave of Indian restaurants as lifestyle businesses being started by young, desi Manhattan professionals. Indian Bread Company, Chinese Mirch, and their granddaddy, Kati Roll Co., remind me of the second wave of upscale restaurants in London’s Brick Lane; they’re slicker than the usual desi joint… As young restaurants, owners, friends and relatives still work behind the counter… educated urbanites… A lot of the initial marketing of these places goes through word of mouth, friends of friends in the high-speed desi network; it’s the ‘I’ll open a little restaurant’ dream made real. [Link]
The place is decorated with white tile in a fabric texture like Tamarind, white orchids, uplit shelves like a cosmetics counter and menus on 32” LCDs. It sells teas in tins and test tubes. My buddies DD Pesh spun in the DJ perch yesterday, and Sonny played stand-up tabla by the door.
The teas themselves mimic vitamin water with frou-frou, we’re-not-Lipton themes like anti-aging, energizing and balancing. The bar also carries some wicked-looking paraphernalia including a tea stick, a perforated, stainless steel cylinder which you fill with loose leaf tea; stainless steel honey spoons shaped like honeycombs; and sinuous, double-sided sugar spoons. It’s all very SoHo-boho chic (tongue-in-cheek).
They’ve got a blend called Ceylon King for the days you’re feeling Ravanous. Thankfully, they don’t carry any redundant-dundant ‘chai tea,’ but do stop by and give Sonny shit for his ‘secret Indian spices’ 
Kama Chai Sutra: … teas just don’t get any more flavorful than this organic chai, made with a secret blend of Indian spices.
Gratuitous tea pr0n:
Related posts: Indian scientists create “tea pill”, The Empire Kind of Strikes Back, Star-rupees, Peace, love and breakfast cereal, Her 58th Year of Freedom, Electrohop therapy
manish on March 28, 2006 02:15 PM in Food, Music · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post
For all folks in the tri-state area... There's a new Indo-fusion restaurant in North Brunswick, New Jersey called the The Rupee Room. It's on Route 1, next to Pizza Hut. Apparently the food is excellent there. Tried to go once, but the wait was an hour long.
M. Nam
So, when do we get a "food" tab at sepiamutiny.com? Hopefully including comments for restaurant reviews.
Unsurprisingly, SF also has a tea lounge called Samovar. Surprisingly, it is less new-agey than Tavalon appears to be. ;)
MeMeMe
I'll third the food tab and I can't wait to check out this place. I guess I have that "little restaurant" dream too so I love seeing others carry it out.
MeMeMeMeMeMeMe and Me
moornam, thanks for that tip! will have to check it out. now, if only they'd get more indian grocery markets in the lehigh valley...i'd be thrilled.
HoleeGuacamolee - I think we've got a weiner there - all in support raise your grubby sepiate hands
ooohhh definately meeeeeeeee!
this reminds me...i was talking to some friends online one night, and they noticed i had tea. they aksed me what kind of tea i had, and i said the stuff with the teabag. they looked at me like i was nuts. a teabag? i didn't know here we have teabags an flat lipton like stuff, and in india, there's chai....yet more proof why india's better. but anyhoo....
those tea doohickies look interesting!
For a cuppa chai, Chez Dhaavak
One cup water.
Half cup 1% milk
Three pods of cardamom, shelled and crushed
One knuckle length of ginger, peeled and sliced into long slivers
Half tea-spoon of crushed basil
Two teabags of Lipton yellow label (prep by tearing open bags)
Add all of the above, except for the tea, into a saucepan until it comes to a boil. Turn heat down to prevent it from boiling over and leave it at a rolling boil for a few minutes. Add tea leaves (for the love of god, do NOT, do NOT!!! drop in the tea bags. you'll be reborn as a nematode) and stir. Let it all boil for another few minutes. Pour through a strainer into your cup. If perfect, you should have just one cup of the brew come through. Add honey to taste and enjoy.
Now I can die in peache
Wow, I know one of these dudes -- it's a small (Sikh) world. Well, good luck Sonny, if you're reading this.
If I started my own tea bar, it would be called "To a Tea."
Or maybe: "Teasm" (pronounced Tee-asm). Not to be confused with Dupont Circle's own excellent "Teaism."
Not to go against the grain on purpose :), but I am concerned about a separate food tab...not because it isnt a good idea in theory, but that would mean a yummy chunk of food-related postings would be taken off the main page, and I kind of like waking up in the morning to three or four assorted SM postings-of-the-day on the same page, without having to click on a separate tab to read just about food stuff...
Also some readers, like er myself, don't live in New York where most of the restaurants that are reviewed are located, but I enjoy reading about them and making a side note to visit the next time I'm there...I fear that by separating the food section, it might not only over-'tabbize' (?) but also 'New Yorkize' the food section! :)
Soooo..my vote is to keep it general and inclusive :)
I'd call my place T-BAGn.
I'd make my place with miniature golf and call it "Tea-Off"
holy chit... i didn't realize it was that high up there.
dang. that's REALLY high. hmm... could be fun looking at girls boobies from that high.
This dude played with Thievery Corp?? "Mirror Conspiracy" is incredible. My absolute favorite coffee shop sound.
On the topic of tea house names, Oxford Bookstores in India have an inhouse one called Cha-Bar. If I had a tea place, I'd call it ChaT (pronounced ..um.. Chat). Because the conversation is what tea places are all about.
hey B. numnums -
The "events" tab lets you select locations for listings, so it could be like that. And the "news" tab doesn't stop the regular SM news postings, it just gives us additional news posted by readers. The reason I suggest a food tab is so readers could post more restaurants and food picks, and comments could help verify the quality. I, too, would be sad if the "Idaho Seven" didn't put their special spin on food news in the blog.
Manish, you manage to temper every moment of brilliance with a slice of tack! For example:
is a shocker, but followed up by the garam-hot corker:
Anyway.
Yeah, big up Brick Lane, hoi hoi! Manish remember when we were in Brick Lane, I was telling you about Spitalfields? There was a great doc on TV the other entitled Brick Lane which told the history of one of Britain's best roads and the surrounding Spitalfields area. Home to immigrants for hundreds of years - Huguenots, Jews and most recently Bangladeshis. Maybe BBC America will show it. But I severely doubt it.
Oh yeah and turbanhead, you're a dirty berty.
Surely it's obvious what I would call my tea bar?
Mister Tea, zucker?
Eh. It sounds like more tea pr0n with little actual tea
sexcontent. If you're really into tea, try Tealuxe in the Boston area. They have over 100 different types of tea. It's a gourmet experience with great ambiance, although not as hip as Tavalon.Holy shit I think I just had an orgasm. I'm going there this week!!
Manish, that's [almost] unforgivable!
Whoops, forgot to take off the blockquote...
Er, yes, and more tea porn at t2Tea.
But this was the best part of the whole write-up! It would even look good on a menu. But then, I get a huge kick out of chai-tea too. Although it would be ridiculous to say that in an Indian shop.
holy chit... i didn't realize it was that high up there.
dang. that's REALLY high. hmm... could be fun ........
could also be fun checking out face fuzz. anyhoo.....that is daaaammmnnn high. i could never sit up that high without serious protction from falling. turntable don't frickin' count. but the place is becoming cooler by the moment.
i think amardeep and turbanhead should co-own a tea bar.
i'd prolly call mine The Ol' Bag. I like a little sarcasm if evenly spread about and not overdone. I like the tea-off idea. that's kewl.
Sorry, off-topic, but:
Has anyone seen the menus at Cafe Coffee Day in India (I assume they're the same everywhere)? They have: "Masala Chai - for that ethnic feel." wtf??
lol! why would desis living in india want to feel "ethnic" - arent they already?
This reminds me of a Jerry Seinfeld one liner - "Why would they have any Chinese restaurants in China? Aren't they just... restaurants?"
speaking of chai - i dont think this place has soul - overproduced - reminds me of all these brewing machines popping up in india these days - and it's basically warm milk and water and a teabag sitting in it - agghh.. -
my more favorable memories are drinking out of a kulhar (a clay cup) in bikaner and random thoughts ... speaking of tea - i am a huge fan of chekov (for those not in the know, the translations by constance garnett are the best) - and he describes russian tea drinking habits as very similar to thos in india - as in drinking out of a saucer etc. - tho' he does describe practices in which people suck tea through a sugar cube - which is where the practices are smimlar to the persian habits...
i bet those dippy yuppies in NY cant do all that with those shmancy doohickeys. nyah
there is such a thing as chai masala - some extra powder they put in it for added zing - sometimes it isnt so wtf little frog - there's also masala omelette - which is really very very tasty - yum.. made in peanut oil with generous servings of grease - but really very yummy - and because i think the stuff is so damn hot - it's pretty safe (i think)... personally i prefer to eat at these roadside places where the guy's right in front of you - it's the restaurants i'm wary of - i kept having thoughts of some guy scratching his sores and adding extra 'spice' to the eggs.
pattie, you like face fuzz? had no idea.
dhaavak:
no problem - but how'd you know I'm a little frog?
Where does the name come from? It makes me think Tea-Avalong, which is a bit of weird NYC reference for me.
I love the fact that whenever Pattie Kaur posts a message on SM, it always sounds like she's been smoking something dubious ;)
(Pattie -- 'bhang' is only for Nihangs, although technically even they're not supposed to indulge in the wicked weed).
But there is bhang tea ... just not at T-avalon
Do you have roots in madurai ?
To stay topical - I have fond memories of hazelnut (I think that's how it was told to me) flavored coffee/tea from tamil nadu... and served in those little bowls.
For those not in the know - tea tastes much better when it is aerated - so folks pour tea from a lipped cup into a bowl and back again a few times to cool it/mix sugar/aerate it. I tried it at home once but just made a big mess. Bet they dont have this in ny - score one for madurai.
http://www.cafepress.com/sunmits
Ninja Q,
Yes, but I was just teasing Pattie as Sikhs are supposed to refrain from certain dodgy intoxicants, although there is a sect of Sikhs ("Nihangs") back in India which includes some members who apparently indluge in bhang. That's what I was referring to in my insinuation -- I was just joking around because Pattie sounds permanently high as a kite.
y'all some tea-drinking fools!
Did u guys see that link?? fuck gandhi? looks like indra...
wait wait... let me tell you about the tibetan tea with yak butter... and the kashmiri tea with saffron and almonds...
see... at the end of the day, proust got it right .. it isnt the tea but the preparation and the memory that lingers... and i'm left cold by all these gizmos up there ... although i was reviewing a psychographic segmentation the other day and there are some out there who'd find that engaging - we know you and we're going to get you.
I think it's mostly about the 'Avalon' -- mythical Saxon place where King Arthur lies in permanent rest. That's the nod to New Ageyness.
i like teany in nyc, owned by a fave artist moby :)
and the kashmiri tea with saffron and almonds...
Kashmiri tea--the pink variety--is most delectable. There a guy on Gerard Street in Toronto who maketh a wonderful, steaming cup.
my cup spilleth over in anticipation. how about you shareth the addreth, Eddie.
Ooo, Eddie, does the guy have a shop or a name? I've never had Kashmiri tea, too busy stuffing my face with Kashmiri paan to even remember the tea. Now that spring is mos def here I can venture once again to Gerrard to eat dosa, hopefully drink some kashmiri tea, and be ogled be uncles and aunties.
Also, I think that sounds like a great meetup idea...hint hint to you Toronto folks, I know you're reading this! Whine whine whine. Why don't we EVER have meetups? It isn't cold anymore, time to leave the igloos behind...
Siddhartha is on my wavelength. I was beginning to despair no one got my zucker/suckah gag.
How would you like your tea Mister Tea?
TEA fool. With lots of MILK! I LOVE MILK!
Etc.
dhaavak (#35):
Towards the end of a college year in India program I went on, a fellow student remarked, "South India: hot beverages served in metal containers."
i like women who have the skin tone of the color of chai
ohh-kayy - i bite - i have wanted to try out the udupi place on gerard for a mysore masala dosai - the last good dosa i had, was in of all the places, Kansas - how about a stopover at the udupi palace followed by a kashmiri chai and a kashmiri paan... mmm..mmm..mmm - besides i've heard there's a pakistani dude there who sells fresh guavas all the way from pakistan - got to try that out, no?
show of hands - 04/01 at 5:30 p.m. - Udupi Palace on Gerard or any other?
I promise to (not) sing you
"... khan will serve me tea and guavas all the way from pakistan..." (to the tune of suzanne)
open mike - suggestions ... suggestions... until the americans get tired of us and kick us out.
p.s. neha - btw i met your m.p. the other day at her new digs in kensington - the warrior scored a pastry and some noodles from the enemy camp
how about "Teatotal" ? I only drink tea, therefore I'm a teatotaler?
actually come to think of it, i would call my tea house "Mad Hatter's"
with Ennis as the hatter (turban, hat, whatever)
Bong Breaker as the March Hare
A N N A as Alice, of course
nominations for the role of the Dormouse is open. Great if you like getting stuffed into teapots.
we're all mad here!
peace
Siddhartha - what's an oteler?
say what, brother?
I'm in for Udipi Palace this Sat. at 5:30, then chai and paan and guavas in the torrential downpour that is sure to be upon us this weekend.
Who else is in?????? Do we have a crowd? I can't be seen in public without a posse, really.
Dhaavak, how exciting! She's such a Kensington hippie, did you get to meet her dreamboat of a husband too? Please tell me where they live so I can shave off his mooch while he sleeps. It'll do wonders for his career, I know.
Bong - Ah pity you foo for not thinking of this before me! My tea bar would deffo be called "Teatea Bar".
pattie, you like face fuzz? had no idea.
gotta have someone to counter act the silicone watchers.
and as for the *interesting* comments about me beinh high as kite, and of course bhang, nihangs....a lot of people seem 'high'...especially those who are quick to call others 'permanently high as a kite'. they're often equally as zonked. but such is life, we all have to deal with each other and ourselves. pattie doesn't have the time of day to really care what others think of her, it's just a reflection of themselves
Yes, but I was just teasing Pattie as Sikhs are supposed to refrain from certain dodgy intoxicants, although there is a sect of Sikhs ("Nihangs") back in India which includes some members who apparently indluge in bhang. That's what I was referring to in my insinuation -- I was just joking around because Pattie sounds permanently high as a kite.
ah, jai, so, you dabble in the shit. sorry, but all i can lay claim to is raj bhog and strong coffee. that does me in fine. this will really make you drop bricks, but i don'r even drink alchie. ...anyway, we've spent waaayyyyyy to much time on this, back to the tea.
and the kashmiri tea with saffron and almonds...
YUMMMMMM........
i like teany in nyc
i love the curious illuminated little teapot on the website. that is just so quirky, it's charming.
Sounds like a great name for a milk bar, actually.
Or I could call it: "I Got Chai On It".
For the record, coffee kicks tea's ass.
Pattie (who for some reason has now taken to referring to herself in the third-person) is taking certain people's jokes too seriously. There is no need to "retaliate".
Jai is actually a very clean-living individual in these matters and does not dabble in any intoxicants, apart from the occasional coffee.
@dhavaak & Neha
Its a lil hole-in-da-wall paan shop, right near that library, next to, I believe, a place called Chandni Chowk. If you STILL can't find it ask some uncleji to direct you to the dude with the pink tea.
There is no seating, so order a large cup to go, and let it cool a bit--its hot.
Cheers!
I would call it "Tut tea", as in "tutti." For example, "Oh, I love Tut tea, it tastes so good once it hits your lips!"
Eddie - where you at? why don't you want to hang out on Gerrard with us? do we smell funky?
On that Tealuxe tip... I loved it in Beantown on Newbury. The best, in my (biased) opinion is the Pomegranate Pear. Be sure to get the pita and hummus plate to go with although i think they changed the pita. I went all the time in high school and they used to have these freshly baked pillowy soft pita goodness. I went a few years ago when I was back in town and it was normal Sahara-esque pita. Has anyone been recently and know if they switched it up again?
Also what has been bugging me since I moved to New York is the HUGE Tealuxe banner on the side of the CitiGroup Building at 51st and Lex. Does anyone know if there's a Tealuxe somewhere inside? I looked high and low in that place and found zilch and can't figure out why a banner would be on the outside of the builsing if it's not inside. No locations in New York on the website yet the banner is the same logo as my beloved in Boston so I'm pretty sure it's referring to it.
I love tea.
i prefer tea houses like this one, in the middle of oakland's diverse and working class fruitvale district. very community-oriented.
Neha,
Oh I so LOVE Toronto, but alas I live way down south in Jersey :( I am sure, however, that the spontaneous Toronto uprising will attract more Mutineers in due time. Sip away y'all!
because some people choose to cross the lines of 'joking'. some things just 'aren't' funny, the pot references being one thereof.
Jai is actually a very clean-living individual in these matters and does not dabble in any intoxicants, apart from the occasional coffee.
now, that is indeed funny. besides, i don't consider coffee an intoxicant. aphrodesiac, yes....but definately not an intoxicant.
nina, that's quite invetntive, 'teatotal'...i like that.
For the record, coffee kicks tea's ass.
as much as i love my tea....i have to agree there. and the stronger the java, the better.
nominations for the role of the Dormouse is open. Great if you like getting stuffed into teapots.
I claim role of cheshire cat.
and abhi might make a good Caterpillar.
To each his/her poison....
Back in the day, long nights on call, the "khadaa chamacch" cup of tea was what got me through.
Dont know If I can take it again though.....
Short on time here.
Tea ROCKS, coffee SUCKS. I don't drink any hot drinks, I really don't like caw-fee but tea is cool. I mean hot.
Tut-tea - good. Teatotal - better. Tea tea bar - breast.
The March Hare! Awesome. No room! No room! I smoked tea once, it was crap.
Neha, yes you smell funky. You, not the others. Just. You.
No seriously. F*CK COFFEE.
and abhi might make a good Caterpillar.
i bet jai has me tapped for that role. oh, well...i like caterpillars too!
-note to self - must change socks today.
lingus... a mutiny of two aint mutinous? oh well - will wait and see how it develops then connect offline
Bong Breaker,
Have you ever had a cup of oh-so-creamy-rich-poured-from-tumbler-to-davara-and-back-by-loving-hands South Indian coffee? If you have, I don't know what you're thinking, still voting for tea. If you haven't, I recommend you reserve your judgement. Really, you might find your mind completely blown after a cup.
If I had one, I'd call my tea place "Tea hee." tee hee.
Tut-tea - good. Teatotal - better. Tea tea bar - breast.
umm...right...the first two rock. 3 times is just *not* a charm.
I smoked tea once, it was crap.
there ya go jai, a confession.
F*CK COFFEE
reminds me too much of coffee enemas. I love my coffee but not that much.
That would be something fun to go into Starbucks for.
Bong, I just had my annual bath this past Friday, my stank is barely a week old!
Dhaavak, looks like the force is weak in Canada. You're right, we should keep hi-jacking the threads till we meet the desired response. Badmash said he would be down this summer so we may be able to organize a nice meetup then...
Eddie, fair enough, let us know when you're in the north woods and we'll do up a party-sharty.
I've seen postings on Craigslist for Tavalon seeking servers/hosts/or something all over the place.. I had no idea it was being run by Sonny :D Congratulations, man! :)
That can't be THE Punjabi Boy, can it?
Wow, if that's a week's worth I don't want to be anywhere near anywhere that even RHYMES with Toronto on day 364.
Pattie, that is surely one of the less interesting confessions I've made on here. But true nevertheless. I was about 12 or 13 and first we tried it with some paper, but that blew away (we were on scout camp) so I chopped the cigar tube my friend stole off his dad up and fashioned a rudimentary pipe. We smoked some tea and channeled our spirit guides.
Madurai, can't say I have my friend. Perhaps I'll change my mind, but one reason I don't like coffee is that I'm so unaccustomed to caffeine one cup puts me on edge, sends my bowels into somersaults and makes me piss more than beer.
On that note, have any of you tried caffeine-enriched beer? I have! I urinated for three days. Without stopping.
So I guess this should be a helpful tip.
That would be something fun to go into Starbucks for.
lmao!
Pattie, that is surely one of the less interesting confessions I've made on here. But true nevertheless. I was about 12 or 13 and first we tried it with some paper, but that blew away (we were on scout camp) so I chopped the cigar tube my friend stole off his dad up and fashioned a rudimentary pipe. We smoked some tea and channeled our spirit guides.
lmao..i dunno about that....i like that little accoint much more than some of the others. lol...it just seemed fit in perfectly with jai's 'what have we been smoking' trip. you 'channeled you spirit guides'...lol...sounds more like a sitting bull or geronimo impression going on there, but interesting.
On that note, have any of you tried caffeine-enriched beer?
eewwwwww.....i love my caffiene too, dearly, but beer tastes like soap water and does messy things to the brain. i'll pass. now, some badam kersaria with caffiene. oohh..
BongBreaker,
It's a bit of a mystery. Our friend here surfaced on the "Nessie-Desi" thread a few weeks ago, and DesiDancer and I decided to screen him to test his authenticity but he's playing his cards close to his chest.
(Take a look here and scroll down a bit: http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/003103.html)
I've noticed that our other new friend Jay Singh on PP also sounds remarkably like Punjabi Boy, although he denies being the same person ;)
Is the name "Tea-Bagh" already taken? If not, I am opening my stall in Pankot Palace.
Neha, Dhaavak - yessir mutiny meetup in TO this summer!!! I've learned than some mutineers from across the border will also be it the city in said time frame. I'm going to be in al-emaraat over June and I'm hoping to make a stop on the way back (early July). Will you guys be around? Drop me a note: thebadmash at gmail dot com and we'll work out the details.
so far, you're good to go, mola.
Neha, Dhavaak, other torontonians.... I am up for a TO meet-up... this summer that is. I'm due for a TO trip. Bring yer friends and companions. Or if you don't have any friends, bring your companions. Or if you don't have any companions, only friends, bring them along. Or if you have friends and companions, but prefer your friends to your companions, they're more than welcome.... I'm sure you get the picture.
Metric ang - yes and for admissibility to the meetup, please bring proof that you are indeed a bona fide mutineer. What kind of proof you ask? Well, "A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven."
;)
I'm sure the proprietors of Tavalon are wishing now that they could steal some of these Tearrific ResTearant TiTeales. Tavalon isn't half as memorable as "Teatotal."
Another contribution from me: Tea Me.
Or perhaps: Tea Ball (A tea sports bar)
Anna, if you're reading this -- consider a "name my restaurant" themed Friday. Instead of 55 words, readers have to come up with clever 2-5 word titles around a Teame... I mean, theme.
Could also be: name my novel, or name my movie...
Amardeep, you're teaming with good ideas. That's a corker. I enjoy punning, after all I have tabloid roots.
I forgot you were all American with all this tea. I had a cup of Earl Grey in Manhattan. Sweet fancy Moses, it was AWFUL. HORRIFIC. They brought it in a coffee push-down filter thing. No no no.
Tea+Pot.
Now there's a shop I'd go to. All those who've come up with good names - just hope no one tealeafs your idea (sic).
Madurai Vivekan, I think tumbler davara coffee totally kicks ass. Maybe Leo Coffee in DC/NY would convert these 'tea'thens :D
"I forgot you were all American with all this tea. I had a cup of Earl Grey in Manhattan. Sweet fancy Moses, it was AWFUL. HORRIFIC. They brought it in a coffee push-down filter thing. No no no."
i have to admit, i've never had a really decent cup of regular tea (not the multi-hyphenated chock-a-block-with-everything tea) at any American outlet. the water is always lukewarm and the tea insipid. i did go to a tealuxe in Cambridge and wasn't impressed. maybe i ordered the wrong thing.
See what happens when you don't give us a new post all day? We reach 95 posts on a tea shop!
Badmash - Haha, amazing! I kinda miss that Jean, he was funny.
I've tattooed Abhi's name on my bicep inside a heart with a garland of thorns around it. That should do for proof, I hope.
Metric Ang - *tapping fingers* Excellent! I'm really excited!
Bong - Don't worry, I've got enough Yardley Lavender on me to powder a caram board for 12 hrs. Geez. That's really gross. Why are you making me say these things!?
badmash, metric ang, neha ... we're cooking with gas now... na? metric ang, see if you can drop me an email and that'll keep us all in the loop...
besides i think the natives are getting restless .
Neha - That's such a coincidence! Meself, I've got me a Manish tattooed twixt a skull n' crossbones on me drinking arm..... beautiful!
Badmash - Jean was great, but I think my fave was Canada's 10th PM, though he was before me time. Ya know, the bill of rights n'all - gotta love it.
As for authentication, I think there can be a better test for mutineers... i.e.
1. Who is Patti Kaur hot for?
2. What's Razib's topic of choice?
3. What's Abhi's dad's name and is he cooler than your dad?
And many more.....
Answers:
1. anyone with 2 legs and a pugri.
2. genetics and the hotness (A+ factor) of random blonde females.
3. "yo dad" and yes.
:-)
Gah TO meetup! That's so close... and yet... I'm off to the motherland for the rest of the year. If you guys decide to have another meetup sometime when it's winter and you know, frigid and the sidewalks are icy and nobody wants to leave the house after 3pm because it's already dark, I'm down. We can all wear monkey caps and "mufflers" annnd, on the topic of this post, drink that horrible haldi-aada-pepper-honey-milky-tea concoction to keep colds at bay.
Ha, I have a tattoo of Ennis' face. On my face.
Oh yeah and my back has been entirely dedicated to Anna. It's a photo montage of Anna through the ages, from high school to Sepia Mutiny. It's called an Annathology.
Metric, yo' quiz is too easy. That won't discern the sepiites from the sepians. Drive-by one-day visitors know who Pattie Kaur's hot for!
Neha, it ain't THAT gross. Not compared to some of the stuff I'd written and then deleted before hitting 'Post'. Well...then again it is Yardley, that is gross.
Geez..you leave the computer for 16 hours and it's a full on tea party/rave...
siddharta, I'm your dormouse. I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat.....
Way back in comment..I dunno, 50-something: aeration is important; the Chinese traditionally would pour hot water from on high into the teapot or cup (gai wan). other claim you must only heat the water until the bubbles appear, boiling water "scalds the leaves."
Ritual is everything with tea.... Here's a nice article from Jenny Diski on tea.
And for pink Kashmiri tea: go here!
I'm guessing they're hard at work on the big April 1st conspiracy.
You heard it here first.
Oh Brownfrown, we hardly knew ye...hope you see some amazing monsooning...
+++
Okay, okay, I've got another shoppe name...it's on the third floor...and it's called...guessguessguess..."TEAsri Manzil". Thank you and good night.
Heres a nice piece from George Orwell - Eleven musts of making a good cuppa tea:
http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/cupoftea/features/a-nice-cup-of-tea
I agree with 9 of his 11 points, most of all this one:
Ha, I have a tattoo of Ennis' face. On my face.
i have no comment. this is too clean a site...i think. and i have the dastar trio on my no comment.
Metric, yo' quiz is too easy. That won't discern the sepiites from the sepians. Drive-by one-day visitors know who Pattie Kaur's hot for!
kittens?
Actually, I was very surprised to learn that Indians are very wimpy tea drinkers compared to the Brits. They take their tea darker, stronger and many, many more cups than desis.
Why - I believe it was a Nina, on these sepiate pages. Why? Someone you know?
bong, now i see why they keep the caffeine locked up as a "dangerous substance" in the lab.
we're yet to open many tea bars down under; but there are plenty of specialised retail chains. most good cafes (!) now serve excellent leaf tea. my favourite is the "infused chai," marsala chai in hot milk to imitate the original indian version. even more amusing is when they ask if I want "milk with that."
anyone seen the Clipper tes range? They supply "Ayurvedic blends" like Tavalon and they are as idiotic as you would expect. Who drinks aloe vera for pete's sake?
TeaTotaller!! Best Name!
The chai on Gerrard is something else. Never knew
chai could be pink with badam floating in it :-)
Have fun guys.
pram:
I'm so glad someone else is on the same page!
everyone else:
Has there been a mutiny or mini-mutiny in the Desh? Is anyone down? Tumbler davara coffee abound!
tho' i am quite sure i detected that jibe on some such page in sepia bloghistory i confess it could be that i missed my centrum today and am all muddled up - tho' the paley postulate rolls off the tongue quite well, wont you say - let's say it all together now - per the paley postulate, the popular portal portends pestilence.
but not if it bothers you of course. tho' this could be immortalized like the bacon game - figure out the people, person, place's sepiate linkage in six relationships or less.
madurai vivekan: i'm with you! there is nothing like tumbler davara filter coffee lovingly "aathified" by your mom first thing in the morning.
um...
i don't think any of you should drink tea or coffee ever again.
115 posts?
please. stop.
bahahahahha
another vote for davara-tumbler coffee!!
P.S. - Avalon is a mythical Celtic, not Saxon, land.
CONGRATS SONNY AND JP!! I'm so proud of you guys! Can't wait to come up to NYC to see Tavalon! xxoo, Mirs
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