Mediaboss Marketing

While some dishes are mouth-watering, there are others that are eye-wateringly spicy

As soon as one steps into Tharavadu Family Restaurant, one is assaulted by the delicious aroma of masala cooking in the pot and a vague scent of seafood — all reminiscent of the scents of a typical Kerala kitchen.

The simple, but quaint wooden tables and comfy couches, the Ravi Varma paintings, the frangipani at the entrance and the numerous cane lamps hanging from the ceiling on thick ropes, form the décor of the eatery.

The aquarium, filled with starfish placed right at the entrance, fascinates most of the customers.

Once seated, the customer is greeted with a wide-toothed grin and is given a lota of the Kerala Special ayurvedic water, which is, basically, water boiled with a bit of jeera and a few herbs. It kindles the palate and is very refreshing.

The restaurant has an exhaustive menu comprising of both north Indian and Kerala dishes.

I opted for the most popular item on the menu — the Kerala Meal.

It arrived in a matter of minutes, and looked mouth- watering. But, a couple of the dishes were also eye-wateringly spicy! It contained the usual fare — rasam, sambar, payasam, fish curry, kaalan (a mixed vegetable stew), boiled rice and papadam, served on a banana leaf placed over a steel plate.

The presentation was both authentic and practical. The rasam and sambar though quite spicy, were delicious nonetheless.

The kaalan and the fish curry were unequivocally the best dishes of the meal. Both were cooked to perfection and tasted homely. The payasam could have been better, though.

The dishes that comprise the meal change every day. “I come here almost every week, and everything they serve is delicious,”said one excited customer. I also tried kappa served with fish curry. It is a tapioca dish, and leaves you wanting more of it. The fish was tender and had been marinated well. One cannot go to a Kerala restaurant and not try the coin parottas and the pathiri (paper-thin rice-flour pancake), both of which were excellent.

Behind the counter

The restaurant is managed by Umesh, who sits behind a counter, fashioned like a tiny Kerala-style house.

“Ever since this place opened six years ago, we have been very popular with the local Keralites and north Indians alike,” he says. The extremely reasonable price and the peaceful ambience draws a large crowd, especially during the weekends.

Although it might be difficult for those unfamiliar with Bommanahalli to locate the restaurant, it is definitely worth visiting for a taste of God's own cuisine.

The restaurant is located at BKL Building, Hosur Main Road, Bommanahalli.

See the original post here:
What else but coin parottas, kappa and meen

Mark Twain supporters, attraction operators and collectors across the country are hoping to receive a huge gift in 2016.
That’s when a commemorative coin honoring the great American author would be distributed in limited quantities of silver and gold will be produced and sold.
But there’s work getting done now to secure the celebrations four years from now. The coin would be produced by the U.S. Mint and the bill giving the department the go-ahead to do the work has to be signed by the president.
The bill has 297 signatures (it only needs 290) in the U.S. House of Representatives thanks to big pushes by Missouri’s Blaine Leutkemeyer and Connecticut’s John Larson, now it’s a matter of moving everything along so there can be talk on the congressional floor so the bill can proceed to the Senate and eventually President Barack Obama.
“The bill would normally start in the sub-committee that’s chaired by Ron Paul and because he’s out on the (presidential) campaign trail, we are going to try and have to skip over that committee and go directly to the full committee for the markup and get the bill out that way,” Leutkemeyer said Monday afternoon. “That’s our next hurdle we have to overcome, shouldn’t be a difficult process because Mr. Paul’s not going to be there, and it’s not that unusual to be able to do that.”
Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill already support the bill along with senate members from states where there are Twain attractions; New York, Connecticut and California. Included in that mix is former vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, a Senator from Connecticut.
“This coin is a budget neutral bill and what will happen is collectors buy these coins — they mint a limited quantity of silver and gold coins each year to different themes and then those coins are sold to collectors,” Cindy Lovell, executive director of the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, said. “The proceeds from this will be divided equally among the four Mark Twain sites. This has the potential to yield quite a bit of money for the museum.”
In fact the commemorative Mark Twain coin could bring in an estimated $1 million to the museum. The funds would go toward restoring the historic Grant’s Drug Store.
“It needs total restoration, and that’s a million dollars waiting to be spent. We do not have a million dollars sitting around here, so if we could keep that building in good shape and hold it together, keep our regular maintenance on it, come 2016 we could count on those funds and we could jump in there and get that restored,” Lovell said. “If a miracle hasn’t occurred in the meantime to provide those funds.”
There is an urgency to get this bill passed as quickly as possible and sent to the president’s desk. This is the third attempt in honoring Mark Twain with a commemorative coin and since this is an election year, not only the president, but a number of other politicians supporting the bill, could be voted out of office by November.
“It’s a bi-partisan effort. It’s not a controversial piece of legislation. It’s a suspension-type bill that often times leadership is looking for to be able to have extra votes on the floor and they need suspension bills to do that. It’s just a matter of getting through the process now,” Leutkemeyer said. “Hopefully by late spring, early summer, we’ll be able to get the bill through the House and to the Senate so they can get to work on it.”

Read more from the original source:
Pushing the Bill: Twain coin could benefit museum

How much will you pay for design? The $79.95 Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation gives you less battery life than competing products, but it's a lot prettier. Whether that's worth it is up to you.

The Juice Pack Powerstation is an attractive little soft-touch rectangle at 2.3 by 4.1 by .5 inches (HWD) and 4.3 ounces. Like most Mophie products, it's very elgantly designed, with a silver band around the edge that echoes the iPhone 4/4S case. There are full-sized and MicroUSB ports on the top, and a single button on the side that lights up a line of four green LEDs to show the battery's stored charge.

The Powerstation doesn't come with a power adapter; you're supposed to charge it by plugging it into a PC or using an existing USB power adapter you have lying around. Unlike the Tylt Energi ($39.99, 3.5 stars) and Zagg Zaggsparq 2.0 ($99, 3 stars), the Powerstation doesn't function as a travel adapter to charge your gadgets from an AC jack, either. That seems a chintzy omission for an $80 product. It took about four hours to charge, shorter than the same-capacity Energizer XP4001 ($49.95).

With its 4000mAh battery, the Powerstation helped a Droid RAZR ($199, 4.5 stars) get 5 hours, 13 minutes more of solid LTE streaming, and let an iPad 1 (4.5 stars) watch video for 4 hours, 16 minutes more than before. That's less performance than we saw from the 4000mAh Energizer XP4001 ($49.95, 3.5 stars) and from the 5000mAh, $79.99 Editor's Choice Sanyo eneloop Mobile Booster (4 stars).

But it could still be enough. Four hours of added juice is probably enough to make it to where you're going, whether that's through a cross-country flight or past a long day on the road. We think the Energizer and Sanyo batteries are better value for the money here, but if the Powerstation's elegant design appeals to you, that would make it worth the coin.

See the original post:
Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation

A healed Greek Achilles, well kinda sorta and along with one tasty green apple, help bulls retract Friday’s fearful losses. As of 11:15 ET the SP-500 (NYSEArca:SPY - News) is up 0.55% and in good position to “fly” higher if Leonardo Pisano Bigollo has a technical say in those matters.

A fearful weekly doji in the SP-500 etched out Friday has been placated with an upside resolution in Monday’s session. In the spotlight, Greek policymakers finally agreed to a demanding austerity plan over the weekend which will allow the debt riddled country to avoid imminent default and obtain a second round of bailout funds from the EU and IMF.  

Some trader concern of Greece successfully implementing the agreed upon austerity measures has kept a lid on bulls swapping default risk and national bankruptcy for clarity in principle, but whose execution will likely prove a difficult road.

In those intertwined markets of notice, the EUR/USD is displaying a bit of hesitancy on the part of bulls. The currency pair is up from Friday’s close but trading off 0.25% after tacking on 0.43% in Sunday’s session in a market which only sleeps on Saturday’s.

Technically in the EUR/USD, bulls are holding onto 10SMA support near 1.32 and which appears critical to their case without jeopardizing a move down to a test of 1.30 comprised of the February lows and 50SMA.

The VIX (.VIX) is off 6.0% at 19.50%. The sentiment gauge is showing tempered signs of relief from investors on the heels of Friday’s fearful spike to 22% resulting in a test of 50SMA resistance and short-term panic differential of 17% relative to its 10SMA.

And for a third straight session, an insatiable appetite for a very green technical Apple (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) is helping support the broader indices. Shares of AAPL are up 1.35% and testing the $500 numerical benchmark while striking fresh all-time-highs.

Also in the pilot’s seat on the Naz’ 100, shares of Priceline (:PCLN) are up nearly 20 points and atop the Percent Leaders board with its gainer of 3.55% on technical driven buying. Shares of the online travel giant have broken out to marginal all-time-highs this morning from a complex 10-month long inverse H & S pattern with no company-specific drivers in the mix and earnings still a couple weeks out on February 27.

On the corporate confessional side of the market, shares of cash dispensary and security systems outfit Diebold (NYSE:DBD - News) are up 8.80%. The bullish response follows some extra coin to the tune of $0.56 left in the hands of investors expecting to receive $0.84 but walking away with $1.40 per share for the fourth quarter. Looking forward, the company issued above views sales forecast of 3% - 6% growth on revenues of $2.92B - $3.01B compared to estimates of $2.89B.

Looking ahead on the earnings front, investors will see another wave of reports this week beginning after the market close. Announcements will be largely relegated to second-tier status and in general; should prove of even less influence on the broader market given where we are in the long-in-the-tooth reporting season. A couple exceptions to the general rule are Wednesday’s release from Deere (NYSE:DE - News) and General Motors (NYSE:GM - News) on Thursday.

Finally and in those sometimes accurate heat-seeking option markets, along with stock traders biting into the $500 level in Apple (NasdaqGS:AAPL - News) this morning, option traders are quite busy with more than 350,000 contracts having changed hands already compared to an average day’s work of about 250,000. Calls are favored by a fairly run-of-the-mill 2-to-1 margin with the bulk of today’s action concentrated in the February and March near and out-of-the-money contracts. Hmm, I guess you could call that “concentrated apple juice” and premiums which might just prove a bit sugary for naked long bulls chomping down to hard on those long deltas.

 

Chris Tyler
Senior Options Writer, former Market Maker & fulltime Option Hedge Hog Advocate
Optionetics.com ~ Your Options Education Site
Visit Chris Tyler’s Forum
 
The information offered here is based upon Christopher Tyler’s observations and strictly intended for educational purposes only, the use of which is the responsibility of the individual. 

Visit link:
Wall Street's Monday Lunch Options

Fees may be a fact of life but that doesn’t mean you have to simply accept them. Fees can easily be overlooked when it’s just a few dollars, but even small fees can really bust your budget.

Here are a few fees that can be avoided:

    MORE RELATED TO THIS STORY
            — How stores trick you into overspending
            —What your Starbucks habit really costs you
            —4 risky places to swipe your debit card

1. Gym sign-up fees

Fitness centres are known for pushing this fee on new customers. Initiation fees can run up to $129 or more and are pure profit for the fitness centre. The fitness market is extremely competitive, so shop around for a gym that will waive the sign-up fee.

            —Your own worst investing mistakes
            —Are credit cards for kids a good idea?

2. Mortgage life insurance

If you own a home, chances are you were offered mortgage life insurance. This insurance is not required and must not be a prerequisite for qualifying for a mortgage.

Term life insurance is much cheaper and offers greater protection than mortgage life insurance offered by your bank. Mortgage insurance is the one financial product which declines in value as you continue to pay. [More: Why you shouldn’t buy mortgage insurance]

3. Give up your landline

About 2 million Canadian households no longer have a landline, opting for wireless service.

There are some risks — 911 emergency services have a harder time identifying your location, monitored alarms and other services require either a landline or added-cost wireless technology, and during bad weather, call volumes can increase exponentially causing disruptions to cell phone service.

But if the phone is mainly used to receive telemarketing calls at dinner time, consider dropping your landline service to reduce household expenses.

Skype, Google Voice, and Voice Over IP services can often drop phone service costs down to just a few dollars a month.

4. Cellphone roaming fees

Talk to your mobile carrier about a pre-paid long-distance/roaming package before travelling to the U.S. or elsewhere.

Paying a bit up front could save you hundreds of dollars, and they usually last for 30 days so if you don’t use them on a first trip you have them for the remainder of the month. But beware - data and text roaming may not be covered, and there are other pitfalls to avoid.

5. Cellphone cancellation fees

Cancelling a cell phone contract or a cable package before the end of the contract (or “service agreement”) can bring fees of several hundred dollars.

Bell and Rogers both charge up to $400 to cancel a cell phone contract early — plus additional fees if you have a data plan. Be aware of the fine print in your service agreement and choose your time to change contracts wisely, or don’t sign a contract in the first place.

6. Annual credit card fees

Platinum and gold reward cards can carry annual fees of $75 to $120 for features you don’t use, unless you are a high spender or business user.

They offer faster accumulation of reward points like Air Miles or Aeroplan, but if it takes you more than two years to earn enough to fly, you’ve already paid a hefty amount of your reward in fees.

There are no-fee credit cards that offer rewards. They include MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard (3 per cent cash back on groceries and gas, 1 per cent cash back on everything else), or the President’s Choice Financial MasterCard (points toward groceries).

Don’t carry around extra credit cards. You can be hit with fees for forgetting to make a monthly payment on a card you rarely use. [More: Choosing the best reward credit card]

7. Prepaid credit cards

Visa, MasterCard and American Express offer prepaid gift cards that can be used just like credit cards at merchants across the country. Unlike regular gift cards, prepaid credit cards come with a host of unnecessary fees.

There’s a $3.95 fee just for purchasing an RBC Visa gift card. After six months, a $1.50 fee will be charged monthly until the balance reaches zero.

Stick to buying regular store gift cards that come without the fees and expiry dates. [More: Are pre-paid credit cards good for students]

8. Banking fees and ATM fees

Banks and credit unions usually offer accounts that waive monthly fees if you maintain a minimum monthly balance. Online banks like ING Direct and PC Financial offer no-fee chequing accounts and don’t require a minimum balance.

Avoid non-bank cash machines in convenience stores, bars and plazas. You are charged $1.50 to $2.50 at the machine and often another levy by your own bank for a total of up to $4.50 a transaction.

Plan ahead, use a smart-phone app to locate your bank’s own closest machine or be aware of other locations.

CIBC customers, for example, can use President’s Choice machines and ATMs in most Mac’s Milk outlets without fees. Credit unions have their own extensive shared ATM network. [More: How to fight your bank and win]

9. Airline fees

Pack carefully — Air Canada and WestJet charge $20 for checking a 2nd bag, and bags that exceed the maximum weight or size can cost you an additional $50. And book your tickets online to avoid a telephone booking charge. [More: Correcting credit scores takes tons of work]

10. Coin-counting fees

Rolling loose change is a chore. Many people use coin-counting kiosks, found in grocery stores and malls, which quickly convert your loose change into paper currency. This convenience comes at a steep price, however, with companies like Coinstar charging a hefty 11.9 per cent processing fee.

Skip this fee and roll your change at home. You can buy coin wrappers at a discount store, or buy a small coin-counting machine for home use.

If you insist on hauling your loose change out of the house, most banks offer free coin counting to their customers. Bank of Montreal Coin Counters are free to use for both BMO and non-BMO customers.

11. Probate fees

These are charged by provincial governments to prove that a will and executor have been certified by a court, which can help avoid potential disagreements in dealing with an estate.

These fees (really taxes) vary by province and with the size of the estate — in Ontario, the fee on a $500,000 estate amounts to $7,000. But there are ways to reduce the amount of probate fees paid, with some planning. [More: How does probate work?]

12. Credit report

Under Ontario law, you are allowed to check your credit report to see what information financial institutions are sharing about your credit history.

It’s a good idea to make sure the information is correct before you apply for a loan or mortgage. But as Moneyville columnist Ellen Roseman has pointed out, the consumer reporting agencies want you to pay $15, despite the fact it’s your right to get it for free once every 12 months.

Read more from the original source:
12 annoying fees Canadians should avoid