The Brekking Point: Recent Episodes
Nalme Nachiyar
The average human being eats anywhere between 3 to 6 times a day, and breakfast is said to be the most important of these meals. Despite the delicious diversity - from the traditional idli, dose, poha and poori to instant noodles, toast, sandwiches and cereals - breakfast is the least talked about affair of our lives. Thus, The Brekking Point, a brand new podcast where we let the humble Indian breakfast have its day. The show will see Nalme Nachiyar and her guests talk about their favourite morning meal and share the most enduring memories associated with it. Food. Stories. People. All in a pod.
In this week's episode of The Brekking Point, food and nutrition expert Dr. KC Raghu sheds light on food racism in India today. He talks about how the Indian diet is being threatened by the "cereal killer" and "fast carb" culture, and how the constant presence of polished rice and sugar on our plates reveal a "white supremacy" bias. Could a gradual shift to traditional grains and millets, more mindful, balanced eating and an exploration of our culinary diversity stop our breakfast menus from becoming more and more homogenised? Happy listening!
In this week's episode of The Brekking Point, we are joined by the extraordinary Vasanthi Hariprakash who ruled the airwaves as a primetime breakfast show RJ on Radio City 91.1 FM! She talks about being privy to people's morning routines and their breakfast tables through the show, all the while having the city's culture for her own meal. She urges us to find out where our food comes from, become ambassadors of sustainable foods and small farmers, and cook and let cook. Happy listening!
In this week's episode of The Brekking Point, legal consultant, entrepreneur and food influencer Srinidhi Hebbur walks us through some of the best breakfast places in Namma Bengaluru - something he does literally IRL by way of the Bangalore Breakfast Walks community. He talks about how these guided food meet-ups have made BBW a community of practice and also reveals his favorite breakfast joint in the city, whose crispy, thick and ghee-ful doses he swears by (and it's not what you think!).
In this week's episode of The Brekking Point, we are joined by Ajit Bhaskar, a research scientist who calls the kitchen his second lab. He loves to cook and bake and is keen about where his ingredients come from. He talks about including local produce in his culinary experiments, being blown away by the breakfast scene in Bengaluru and the science, or the scientist's view, of cooking. Happy listening!
The Brekking Point is back again with part two of the interview with food columnist and commentator Madhulika Dash! This seasoned writer strongly believes in not skipping breakfast, but she does have an opinion on how much is too much when adding modern touches to good old breakfast dishes. In this episode, she also takes us on a historical journey down Odia cuisine tracing its commonalities with South Indian cooking while urging us to embrace and celebrate the gourmet in our thalis. Happy listening!
In this week's episode of The Brekking Point, we have food writer and columnist Madhulika Dash whose in-depth, anthropological stories combine a deep passion for food and intrigue of its cultural and historical journey. As someone whose life is defined by and revolves around food, she talks about innovating with breakfast and how Indian cuisine is as gourmet as it gets. This is part one of a two-part episode. Happy listening!
Actor, teacher and my mother, Usha Bhandary is back again on this week's episode of The Brekking Point! In part two of our conversation, she lists her favourite sweet breakfast and her love for all things made of rice, jaggery and coconut. When Amma is around there's never a dull moment and only more stories! Go listen to Part 1 of this conversation to hear us gush over some lip-smacking jackfruit idli while we give out its recipe. Happy listening!
In this week's episode of The Brekking Point, actor, teacher and my mother, Usha Bhandary takes us through decades of her culinary journey and explorations with food in her inimitable style of storytelling. Listen till the end for some delicious jackfruit idli recipe and give it a try yourself. Amma and her stories are never-ending, so this will be a two-part episode. Happy listening!
In Episode 8 of The Brekking Point, teacher, traveller and coffee lover Vijayashanthi Murthy tells us how small local eateries, devoid of the commodification of food, hold a special place in her heart for their intimate eating experience. She also speaks of how they provide women an opportunity to claim their economic independence. Happy listening!
In Episode 7 of The Brekking Point, I talk of an essential component of breakfast, the beverage. Am I Camp Coffee or Team Tea? How do I decide which beverage to drink when and where? All this, and my father's meticulous tea-making process this week. Happy listening!
In Episode 6 of The Brekking Point, we have writer and poet Rajendra Prasad whose love for words finds a delightful match in his passion for cooking. He tells us how literature sparked in him a philosophical connection to food and how food-making is an art of survival that all must learn. Happy listening!
In this week's TBP Bytu, Vivek MV and I talk about how the act of eating alone in legacy food points like CTR can alter our dining experience. Happy listening!
In Episode 5 of The Brekking Point, sports journalist and film critic Vivek MV tells us how the two worlds of food and friends collide, and how the act of eating together has strengthened his sense of community. He also talks of Bengaluru's Darshinis, the cultural sites that have redefined both breakfast and socialisation in the city. Happy listening!
Presenting TBP Bytu, short bonus clips and outtakes from my conversations that didn't see the light of the day. In this week's Bytu, Himabindu Chintakunta, my guest from Episode 4, gives us a grandma-certified recipe of Koshin Chakori. Happy listening!
In Episode 4 of The Brekking Point, communication researcher Himabindu Chintakunta tells us how she rediscovered a traditional grandma dish during this lockdown while also speaking of the class connotations of popular breakfast items and how the culture of breakfast is, in fact, one of excess. Happy listening!
In Episode 3 of The Brekking Point, journalist and food writer Farheen Hussain talks about food trends on social media and some of the craziest but lip-smacking combinations she has tried as part of her job. Happy listening!
In Episode 2 of The Brekking Point, the lovely Deepa Bhaskar, an actor and voice coach, tells us about her experience and experiments with Karnataka's own Bisibelebath! Happy listening!
In Episode 1 of The Brekking Point, I talk about Neer Dose and Chicken Sukka, a Mangalurean specialty, and a 6-year-old's love affair with it. Happy listening!
Welcome to The Brekking Point with Nalme Nachiyar! Food. Stories. People. All in a pod.