A drive launched by Noida Authority against the signboards put up by shopkeepers in Sector 18 has not gone down well with the traders.

[caption id="attachment_338" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Which one is your favourite?"][/caption]

Teksons and Crosswords may pass their verdict on the current best-sellers in town, but roadside books vendors often have a different tune to sing. Illiteracy doesn’t keep them estranged to the best running numbers, as they remain in tune with the count. A well-updated bookwala, who sits adjacent to the famous Calcutta roll corner stall in Atta Market, knows much about his job. Though his formula of judging books on their sale is simple, it sometimes hits the jackpot with his customers. The man, who refused to be named, handpicks some books on his choice for the regulars. This time, he says the hot properties are ‘Bride’ by Paulo Coelho, ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khalid Hosseini, ‘The White tiger’ by Aravind Adiga and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ by Khalid hosseini. He listed these books as the best-selling copies. Whether a foul play or a real job, this evaluation at least helped some girls thronging at his book stall to leave others and purchase the same.

[caption id="attachment_329" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Gifts galore"][/caption]

Wondering what to gift to a little child on his birthday, just visit Gift Bazaar in Noida sector 18, D Block, J.S.Arcade (Ground Floor). The shop is stacked with sports related items, kids’ toys and other household gift items. Unlike Archies and Hallmark, gift items here are reasonably priced. They will certainly not burn a hole in your pocket as the range is concerned

You will find a great variety of gift items from laughing Buddha to G.I. Joe toys. Good quality of sports item like Bats, leather balls, basket balls, footballs and many more are present in the store at economical prices.

Other items are also available like art pieces, Crockery, artificial flowers and other household items. The shop also laps up some swanky decorative products like photo frames, stylized wax candles, crystal statues, wall clocks and table lamps.

Needless to say, this one stop destination is a favorite place of housives and childrena s well. The kiddo stuff falls within the price range of Rs 35 to Rs 650. The children’s section is crammed with electronic toys, teddy bears, dolls, sports items and many more. The only problem with the store is the lack of space. The store looks quite congested, as entire place is full with towering racks full of display products.

(With inputs from shruti Kakkar)

[caption id="attachment_319" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Have a sweet tooth?"][/caption]

My fondness for Hyderabadi biryani hasn’t kept me at bay with any store in the vicinity offering this “Nawabi” dish, only to my disappointment though, I realized that none of the them is not even an inch closer to what I savored in Hyderabad. Unfortunately, each time my craving has to be pinned down with a Biryani being locally made, but, if you don’t want to substitute the authentic taste of Bengali sweets with its savor less surrogates, check out the Sondesh sweet shop in Dharma cloth market, Noida.

Giving you a reason to rejoice, this old shop , specifically located in Sector 27, is a haven for cultural deserts with an authentic Bengali flavour. Gaging their authenticity is a task best suited to Bengali sweets buff, but certainly their attempt to come close to the typical Bengali sweets comes through. Offering an irresistible variety of Chamcham, Kanchagulla and Dorbesh, this decade old store is a house of authentic “Babu Mosai” sweets and usual Samosas and Kachoris.

An ambitious venture of Samanta family, the outlet was started back in 1992. According to Rajesh Samanta, owner of the shop, “I shifted from Kolkatta to Noida in the year 1989; thereafter in 1992 I started this sweets shop in Atta”.

Before you enter the shop, please bear in mind the sooty interiors of the store might turn you off, but, the goodies wrapped inside that seedy cover are luscious and savoring.

Obviously, those visiting this shop in great numbers ought to be Bengalis, right? “No”, Samanta said, the store is more popular amongst non-Bengali crowd; nevertheless, it also boasts of a string of loyal customers in Bengli section as well. On being asked, the hot favorite of people amongst the delectable array of sweets, Samanta said, ” The best-selling sweet is special Nalen Gur Sondesh, people love to have it.”

The exclusivity of “Sondesh” rests in its nominal prices and distinctive flavors. Typically prepared from Chena i.e. cow’s milk, these seasoned sweets taste good without leaving a dent in your pocket. Giving you a perfect option to relish, all sweets are dished out at a reasonable price range of Rs 6 to Rs 12, highest being the popular Kamalabhog. You can feed your own taste buds or gift wrap the aroma, as ‘Sondesh’ offers a line up of uncompromising choices for gifts or otherwise with its moderate prices and mouthwatering flavours.

If you are also a foodie like me and want to share a recent “eating out” experience, good or bad. Please write into us.

(with inputs from Saurabh Das)