Someplace on first visit connects your inner soul and you tend to forget other assets. Let’s take an instance of watching Bollywood melodrama is fun but what do we realize why they start to dance and full orchestra is on the air? The stars simply feel music on the air and everything starts looking beautiful to them. This is not a script of some Bollywood melodrama but my love is there where effort and noble concept is there. In first when I heard the name salsa, it didn’t indulge me and with hesitation I made my way towards Thapathali, behind the Aangan attached with Blue Bird Mall. The board behind the Aangan was reading Salsa Café. My Friend made his way from the back door and the entrance was opened. However looking at small round cut of pine wood decorated on the entrance with hand craft logo was certainly showed great effort. Once entering inside the place suddenly took me back to Mahabharata or Ramayana period. I felt that I was inside some Gurukul where I have been sent for better education. In vague expecting Dronacharya was a disappointment but honestly meeting the brain behind this place, who actually designed everything and put her year effort to make it so personal is appreciable. The Couch style seating on the entrance left leading to bar with 4 seating was definitely appealing. The Log cut wheel on the bottom and small window with bark attached resembles a car. The car nothing less to Family Vehicle, I would say something like Volvo. The name is something christened as Benz car. Probably the luxury was on the mind but my suggestion was if the bar table could have been bit bigger so the bar nibbles and dining in bar could have been easy. On my back was big aquarium with pyramids on top was destined for good omen from Vastu. And moving down, African art work lying down on the seeds of Lapsi’s (Lapsi ko chyampatti) was creativity to watch about. On my way up, balcony concept with low seating with a comfort not to take the shoes off was a tremendous effort to make the guests feel comfortable. The rough cut table without any geometrical shape was something not tried before. I did my about turn like some good soldier and found segmented   section partitioned with Miniature Bamboo (Skinny bamboo) though artificial provides a personal touch. Again, the arm of the chairs were wrapped and decorated with jute ropes. My only concern was comfort zone but they seem to go well. On the balcony, left out branch kind of support given to the table fit for two looking down to lounge section is something to feel at ease. The part of walls also shows the effort of the lady behind it as she has used recycled newspaper mashed, pasted and painted into mandarin fading off gives like Kuti or Village home feel. My only concern was why this place is named as Salsa not Kuti or Balmiki etc. like that. The vibration and ambiance is fit to calm people. The ceiling was decorated in Abstract geometrical art with wasted bamboos, barks and more. The color painted in form of simple baby art flowers makes you little mischief at times. I understand it is vital as you don’t want to feel completely spiritual there; you are sitting in a Restaurant for fun. Isn’t it? http://www.fnw.com.np/?p=609

Moneyminded · Jun 27, 2009 7:27 AM

Glazed Duck Breast By admin • Jun 24th, 2009 • Category: Cocktails and Recipes Ingredients •    2                         Duck Breast •    2 heaped tbsp                     Honey •    50ml                         Red Wine Vinegar •    2 1/2 tbsp                     Olive Oil •    Zest of 1/2 Lemon •    Garlic Clove, Crushed •    Few sprigs                     Fresh Thyme •    To taste                    Salt and Pepper •    1 tbsp                        Ground Black Pepper 1.    Preheat oven to 220C. 2.    Wash the duck breasts in cold water inside and out and pat dry. 3.    In a large bowl, combine the honey, vinegar, oil, lemon zest, garlic, thyme and plenty of ground black pepper. 4.    Add the duck breasts and rub in the sauce. Allow to marinate, breast side down, for 30 minutes. 5.    Place in a baking tray (breast up), pour over the marinade, season with salt and drizzle with a little olive oil. 6.    Roast in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove to a serving plate and keep warm while you reduce the sauce a little, in the pan or in a saucepan, over medium heat. 7.    Pour some of the sauce over the duck breasts and serve.

Moneyminded · Jun 27, 2009 7:29 AM

GANGTOK, India – Tashi Wangdi was dressed for his day off. He wore flip-flops, wind pants, a sweater, and a knitted wool hat. “I look like a Sikkimese farmer,” he said with a grin. His home in West Sikkim sits at over 5,000 feet on a hillside dotted with cardamom. It was a breezy April day, and outside his mother sat on the grass shelling peas. She sipped tongba, Sikkim’s traditional millet beer (a bit like warm Japanese sake), through a bamboo straw. Sikkim is located to the north of West Bengal and between Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. Formerly an independent kingdom, it became part of India in 1975. It is India’s least populated state with less than 600,000 inhabitants, a drop in the bucket of the country’s billion plus population. The province has expansive forest and mountain terrain that includes the third highest peak in the world: the Khangchendzonga (Kanchanjunga) peak in northwest Sikkim rises to 8,598 meters, and the Sikkimese people worship its spirit in autumn festivals. In his work attire, Mr. Wangdi was supervising the construction on his new farmhouse hotel, an addition onto his “ancestral home,” as he calls it, in Chumbong village. He was born here in 1971, and three generations of his family still live in the same house. Now, Mr. Wangdi, 38, and two of his childhood friends are all building hotels here, the first ever in their village. With a population of under one thousand, Chumbong is spread out along nearly ten kilometers of hillside below Pelling, which is one of West Sikkim’s most popular tourist destinations. Pelling has long drawn visitors for its impressive views of the mountains, including Khangchendzonga, so buses and jeeps pass frequently through; in Pelling, hotels, tourist shops, and multi-cuisine restaurants are the norm. Chumbong, on the other hand, can offer a much different experience. “We got together to talk about it,” Mr. Wangdi said, “and we don’t think that Pelling caters to all kinds of tourists. We are all interested in sharing our land with foreigners, and we want to provide a rural setting where people can relax and get a sense for the real way of life in a Sikkimese village.” http://www.fnw.com.np/?p=605

Moneyminded · Jun 27, 2009 7:32 AM

“Put me in coach, you bet I’m ready to play!” Every coach loves that type of player attitude and mind set.  Managers and business owners also love to hear those words from their associates.  A “can-do” and “will-do” attitude is key to getting your staff engaged and committed.  How does one build such a workplace esprit de corps? It is as simple as ABC. Here are the ABC’s of securing associate commitment to the company’s culture, mission and objectives, while strengthening them as a team player. A    -Acknowledge:  Always make the time to tell the staff how much you appreciate them and their contributions. B    -Benefits: Provide something that the competition doesn’t (training and education, industry certification, flexible work schedule, competitive wages). C    -Communicate: Share company objectives and plans.  Aid staff in “buying in” and taking personal ownership. D    -Determine Hot Triggers: Identify those things that reenergize your staff.  What gets their motor moving? E    -Encourage Risk Taking: Remind employees of all the chances other coworkers took that failed.  Show confidence in their judgment. F    -Forgive & Forget: Everyone makes mistakes. Live, learn and let go. G    -Guide: Help associates navigate through workplace challenges. Outline expectations. H    -Honesty: Being honorable is the best policy, even when the news is unpleasant. Honesty begets respect. I    -Incentives: Set up incentive programs that tie associate achievement to company success. J    -Job Descriptions: Update on regular basis to keep them current. K    -K.I.S.S.: Keep it so simple. L    -Listen Actively: Allow associates to share their opinions, concerns and opinions. M    -Mediocrity: Weed out workers who are inadequate, incompetent and unskilled. N    -Negotiable: Be willing to see things from different perspectives while being open minded. O    -Opportunity for Growth: Establish paths for associates to achieve their personal goals with the organization. P    -Pay: Good rule of thumb..Equal pay for equal work.  Male or female. Q    -Quantum Leap: Establish a work environment that reinforces innovation and creative thinking. R    -Reward All Producers: Every contribution is valuable to the success of the company.  Reward accordingly.

Moneyminded · Jun 27, 2009 10:20 AM