Latest news with #Adda
New York Post
19-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
These 14 new NYC restaurants were just added to the Michelin Guide
They're officially on the map. Fourteen Big Apple restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide on Wednesday, and shockingly, most of them were not in Manhattan. Brooklyn had the most Michelin newcomers, with eight. Manhattan managed only six. The borough of churches boasted Middle Eastern restaurant Yemenat in Bay Ridge; 6 Restaurant, a European eatery in Carroll Gardens; Mango Bay, a Caribbean place in Fort Greene; Café Kestrel, a a contemporary joint in Red Hook; Taqueria El Chato in Greenpoint; and Enso, a sushi spot in Williamsburg. Two Brooklyn Thai spots — Glin Thai Bistro in Fort Greene and Hungry Thirsty in Carroll Gardens — also made the cut. Manhattan's new entries were: Adda, an Indian restaurant, and Caribbean Kabawa, both in the East Village; Joomak, a contemporary restaurant, and Central Asian spot Laliko, both in the West Village; along with French restaurant Maison Passerelle in FiDi. Glin Thai Bistro in Fort Greene was one of the 14 new NYC restaurants mentioned in the Michelin Guide. Glin Thai Bistro / Facebook Adda, an Indian restaurant in the East Village, was also amongst the newcomers to the list. Adda / Instagram The one Manhattan newcomer above 14th Street was Papa San, a Japanese-Peruvian eatery on West 34th Street. When looking at all the NYC entries in the Michelin Guide, Manhattan leads the way with 263 restaurants mentioned. Brooklyn is second with 82 entries; followed by Queens (18), the Bronx (six) and Staten Island (four).
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Chef Vijay Kumar of Semma in New York on winning the James Beard
In the heart of Samudirapatti village, an unexpected flex board now stands tall and proud. Bearing a picture of Vijay Kumar who recently won the prestigious James Beards award for best Chef in New York State, the banner declares that the village 'congratulates son of Chinnazhagu Ambalam and Kanthammal for winning the award', helpfully comparing it the Oscars, to underline its importance to passersby. In New York, Chef Vijay swivels his chair in delight, holding up his phone to give us a better look at a picture of the banner. His parents wanted him to become 'obviously an engineer, or a doctor,' he says, but he defied tradition, much to their disappointment. Now, arguably one of the world's most celebrated chefs, his restaurant Semma, set in the heart of Manhattan has won a Michelin, and become the first Indian restaurant to top the New York's 100 best restaurants list. But it was only last week, after he won the James Beard, that his mother was truly impressed. 'She didn't understand what I was doing for a long time. I tried to explain to her... what is Michelin, what is New York times, but she didn't understand. Now the whole village is celebrating. They put up a flex for me, near where I went to school. I thought it was funny, but also kind of cool,' says Vijay, with his trademark disarming honesty. 'My mom is now, like, my son is doing something big, because the whole village is congratulating her, buying sweets and feeding her...' he adds, visibly thrilled. 'And my sister said people were crying in her office when the announcement was made.' India, and specifically South India, has been celebrating because this is being seen as a win for regional cooking, which has been dismissed on the world stage for so many years. Backed by Roni Mazumdar and Chintan Pandya, who run the popular restaurants Dhamaka and Adda in New York, Vijay was given the freedom to not just cook the food he grew up eating, but also to celebrate it. 'My hometown is Natham, near Madurai. My dad was from Samuthirappatti and my mom is from Arukkampatti, which is super tiny. When we went there for school holidays, there was no TV, no electricity, nothing. My grandparents would take take us hunting and fishing. We would forage for snails in the paddy fields and cook them in a mud pot. It was such simple food, but it tasted so good when we ate it off the banana leaves – I miss all those moments.' So he, Chintan and Ronnie decided to take a risk, and recreate that meal in the food capital of the world. 'We cook unapologetic food – we want to cook just how we cook back home,' says Vijay. 'It took us so long to have the guts to do this – even when we started Semma, I was really scared. Who is going to eat snails on the menu? Who is going to eat goats intestines or deer? It was very risky, but we took a chance. Someone had to do it.' That was not all. Just like the food, they decided the menu would also be unapologetically South Indian. 'We made sure we make all the names of the food were in Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu. The moong bean dish, for example, is Mulaikattiya Thaniyam on the menu. After all, Italian and French restaurants list their dishes in Italian or French.' Of course, there were push backs and some inevitable negative comments from diners more used to stereotypical Indian fare, like chicken tikka masala, vindaloo and naan. But Semma's loyal clientele, specifically the Indian diaspora clapped back fiercely. Most memorably television host, model and author, Padmalakshmi, went on Instagram to declare 'Semma isn't made for you; it's made for us. And I'm pretty sure if nobody but Desis went there for the rest of its existence, it would still be booked solid for the next decade.' 'I have never felt this much love in my whole life,' says Vijay. 'I feel like I am a child of Tamil Nadu, a child of India actually. India has been celebrating so hard... I am still trying to catch up on all my Instagram DMs, I am still overcome.' He adds, 'Coming from my background, when I look back at my journey I just get goosebumps. I cant's express how blessed I am. I know I use this word all the time, but I have to keep using it.' It was always tough to get a reservation at Semma, now it seems close to impossible. He holds up his phone, 'I have 1,290 people waiting for reservations tonight, and we can seat 65. People are also standing in 100 degree fahrenheit heat to get in, from 4 pm. I feel so bad we can't seat more of them.' However, even as guests stand in line for his cooking, Vijay craves food from home. 'My mother does a really good fish curry, nice kurma and idli, idiappam... She is a really amazing cook,' he says. She has not been to New York, or eaten at Semma yet, so the last thing he made her was rice and sambar before leaving for the US. 'She is a a tough critic. Very hard to please,' he confesses. It has been a long time since he has been home. 'I haven't been in India in years, even before Covid – things have been happening back-to-back here,' Vijay says, adding that he looks forward to coming home. 'I want to touch the soil and just get its blessing. I am thankful to everything that soil gave me. I want to eat on a banana leaf, to take rice and sambar, and mix it all with my fingers,' he says. Among his list of things to do when home, he has been asked to speak at his old school in Samudirapatti. 'They want me to tell my story to the students, as they feel it will inspire them. I think I have lot of responsibility now. I always work hard, but I think I need to work harder.' Vijay has been thinking about what to say to the students, who pass by his flex banner everyday now. 'Keep trying. Nothing is easy in life. If it comes easy what is the point? I remember when I went to this school, for two years I had to walk two km in bare feet – I had no shoes, because we couldn't afford them. But I would not change any of that, because it has led me here.'
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily Briefing: Gill era gets going
Good morning, A fresh chapter in Test cricket unfolds today as England and India lock horns in Leeds. However, this isn't your typical clash of the titans. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent from the playing XI, India enters the series with a younger team eager to prove themselves. At the helm of this next-gen squad is Shubman Gill. To make things interesting, the sun is shining in Yorkshire, observes National Sports Editor Sandeep Dwivedi, reporting from Leeds. The unusually dry conditions could tilt the balance, and at the pre-match press conference, Gill said, 'We will have to take the call on the team combination after having one last look at the pitch.' For fans, the draw to enjoy cricket and the sun remains Jasprit Bumrah, the world's premier fast bowler. We'll dive deeper into the Test series later in the newsletter. For now, let's turn to the rest of the day's headlines. It's been a week since Israel's attack on Iran, which has triggered an ongoing air war between the two nations. On Thursday, Israel continued to bombard Iran's nuclear sites. Iran, in turn, launched missiles and drones at Israel, striking a hospital overnight. Israel has stated that its ultimate goal is to ensure the enemy does not possess the means to produce a nuclear weapon. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not completely ruled out the possibility of regime change in Iran. He mentioned that while it wasn't Israel's 'formal goal', it could be 'a result'. The risk: US President Donald Trump, who has been contemplating joining Israel's campaign against Iran, has now stated that he will make a decision in two weeks. He cited potential discussions with Iran as a reason for delaying this decision. Notably, Tehran previously refused to engage in negotiations while under attack. For Trump, who came to power with the promise of ending 'forever wars', the choice to enter the conflict risks fracturing his support base. Influential MAGA leaders like Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson have publicly voiced their disapproval of US involvement in Israel's war. For peace: Europe has been advocating for diplomacy amid escalating tensions. Iran's foreign minister is poised to join a meeting with his counterparts from Germany, France, and the United Kingdom in Geneva later today. The calls for diplomacy have also emerged from an unexpected source, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has proposed that Moscow could assist in negotiating a deal that permits Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic programme, thereby alleviating Israeli security concerns. Trump responded by advising Putin to concentrate on securing an endgame to his conflict with Ukraine. 'If the Opposition fights us, we will welcome it. But where is the Opposition?' Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joined The Indian Express at a recent Adda held in Mumbai. In a session moderated by National Opinion Editor Vandita Mishra and Executive Director of The Indian Express Group, Anant Goenka, Fadnavis spoke about addressing corruption, political opportunism, and the transformation of Mumbai. Read. Past clues: Investigators probing the June 12 Air India crash are closely scrutinising a prior incident at London Gatwick. In February 2020, an Airbus A321 issued a Mayday call after both its engines malfunctioned shortly after takeoff. The aircraft returned to the airport 11 minutes later. Officials hope that information from the UK incident could yield clues regarding AI171's malfunction. Path to peace: Over two years ago, the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and the Kukis altered the landscape of Manipur. The two groups have been geographically separated, which has complicated the movement of people and goods. The government's negotiations with Kuki militant groups are nearing an agreement that would end the blockade and help restore normalcy to the state. Poll watch: The Election Commission collects videos and photos of the entire election process, from checking the voting machines to counting the votes. Last year, it decided to store this footage for a period ranging from three months to a year. However, the EC has revised these guidelines to reduce the retention period to just 45 days after the results are declared, citing 'misuse' of such material. Cool heads: Recently, the government proposed capping air conditioner (AC) temperature settings between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius. In this week's Dis/Agree column, two experts discuss whether this is a sustainable method for conserving energy. Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, says the proposed cap, although not a game changer, facilitates essential discussions on an urgent developmental need. 'India cannot afford billions of energy-guzzling ACs. This will break the grid and the environment.' Concurring with Bhushan, Trishna Sarkar, an economics professor, notes that the solution lies in planning cities in ways that mitigate heat islands. This would involve green spaces, buildings designed to remain cool naturally, and an efficient public transport system. Green thumb: India has made a significant investment in green hydrogen as the next major alternative fuel. However, weak export demand, driven by geopolitical instability, is hindering its expansion. My colleague, Aggam Walia, speaks to industry experts to comprehend what is afflicting this emerging sector. A big question mark hangs around India's wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav's fate in the England-India Test series. Will he play the first match today? Yadav has been training hard at the nets. He has proven his mettle. But with a relatively inexperienced batting unit, India may turn to another player, a better batsman, for insurance. Meanwhile, Dwivedi caught up with maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who had much to offer the young team preparing for battle. In his interview, Tendulkar outlined customised solutions for individual top-order batsmen to tackle their potential challenges. That's all for today, folks! Happy weekend-ing! Sonal Gupta Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Devendra Fadnavis Express Adda Live Updates: Maharashtra CM soon to be in conversation with Anant Goenka & Vandita Mishra
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Express Adda Live Updates: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is our guest at Express Adda in Mumbai. He will soon be in conversation with Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group, and Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express. A changemaker Fadnavis has emerged as a key political figure in Maharashtra, especially after the BJP 's victory in the recent Assembly polls, where they surpassed the two-thirds mark. Over the last 35 months, he has focused on strengthening the BJP and advancing major infrastructure projects initiated during his previous term. Notably, Fadnavis has demonstrated a unique ability to foster bipartisan relationships, contributing to alliance stability. What is Express Adda? The Express Adda is a series of informal interactions organised by The Indian Express Group and features those at the centre of change. Previous guests at the Adda include Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, philanthropist Bill Gates, and actors Pankaj Tripathi and Tabu among others. © IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM, is guest at Express Adda today
JUST OVER six months ago, after significant losses in the 2024 general elections, he became the architect of a remarkable victory in the Maharashtra Assembly polls that saw the BJP and its allies cross the two-third mark and the BJP secure close to a majority on its own. Key to BJP's strategy of wresting power from the Maha Vikas Aghadi in June 2022, Devendra Fadnavis has over the past 35 months seen through the strengthening of the BJP and progression and completion of largescale infrastructure projects that began during his first term as Chief Minister, in Mumbai as well as rest of Maharashtra. From Atal Setu, the 21-km-long sea bridge connecting South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, to the coastal road connecting Marine Drive with Sea-Link and the Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway — Chief Minister Fadnavis's vision is marked by his mission to transform Maharashtra so that it plays a crucial role in Viksit Bharat 2047. Fadnavis will be the guest at Express Adda in Mumbai on Wednesday. He will be in conversation with Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group, and Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express. In this polarised polity, Fadnavis is among the few at the top who can reach across the aisle — a skill that has also ensured stability in his alliance. Just a month after forming the new government, he signed a record number of MoUs for investment worth over Rs 15 lakh crore in the state at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January this year. With an illustratious political career spanning over 25 years, Fadnavis started as a corporator of Nagpur Municipal Corporation. He rose to become the country's second youngest mayor. Elected as an MLA for five consecutive terms since 1999, Fadnavis with his oratory skills always stood apart as a politician. In April 2013, he took over as the state BJP president and led the party to victory in the 2014 Assembly polls after which he became the Chief Minister for the first time. He completed the full five-year term in office. The 2019 post-polls developments were a body blow to Fadnavis as BJP ally Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray joined hands with the Congress and NCP to form the government. In 2022, he returned to power, although as the Deputy Chief Minister in the Eknath Shinde government. The 2024 Lok Sabha polls was a major jolt to the BJP, which won just nine of the 28 seats it contested. As questions were raised on his leadership, Fadnavis again bounced back, turning the party's fortunes within six months in the Assembly elections. Since he took oath as the Chief Minister on December 5, 2024, he has initiated a slew of reforms and policy initiatives to bring greater accountability and transparency in administration. The Express Adda is a series of informal interactions organised by The Indian Express Group and features those at the centre of change. Previous guests at the Adda include Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, philanthropist Bill Gates, actors Pankaj Tripathi and Tabu, oncologist and writer Siddhartha Mukherjee, musician T M Krishna, ecologist Romulus Whitaker and writer William Dalrymple.
