Wash black rice in several changes of water and then cover with fresh water. Leave to soak for 30 minutes. Drain the rice and add 4 cups or 1 litre fresh water.

It has been socially the role of a new mother-in-law to appease her new son-in-law, and as they say — the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, much of which is attempted through lavish dinners, special dishes, and everything associated.

While Bangladeshi desserts and sweets are predominantly served at the end of a meal, some cultures believe in serving sweets at the beginning, and then there are cultures that lack the concept of desserts completely — some just like to top off with light fruits, instead of rich sweets.

Drinks are an important part of any wedding, be it the wedding reception drink, welcome drink upon arrival, or drink with the meal. In our country, wedding drinks are mostly non-alcoholic.

In 2007, most had hardly heard of destination weddings, and during that time, we were dependant on venue booking. We booked the venue and fixed a local caterer to cook the local favourites for our guests.

You will be shocked to hear that there are some who do not care for, or even know about face wash products. Leaving such blasphemy aside, the fact is that your skin needs to breathe.

The betel leaf has a long standing history with our culture. One simply cannot forget the image of elderly grandmothers, their lips reddened by the betel leaf, always chewed while narrating stories on winter evenings.

Wedding diet plans for couples ensure a glowing skin, as well as the energy levels that are so important for the big fat wedding to go through without a hitch.

Haven't we had enough of saturated fatty acids, and luscious red meat already? Isn't it time we gave a break to nehari, tehari, or biryani? Also, why ignore the equally delectable options available, and if cooked properly, something that will make you feel passionate about your palate?

On a heated pan, roast the puffed rice for about 2 minutes until nice and crunchy. Take out the puffed rice in a bowl. Add crushed puri, chopped onions, chopped potatoes, coriander leaves, red chilli powder, salt, lime juice, coriander mint chutney, date and tamarind chutney. Mix well.

A few months ago, I was under fire for mourning a death. My favourite celebrity Anthony Bourdain had died. I fell in love with Bourdain in my 20s — long before I became a vegan or even a vegetarian, and long before I entered the field of animal welfare.

Of the myriad services offered by various financial institutions, Eastern Bank Limited (EBL) has a set of propositions and services designed for women account holders. EBL features dedicated Women Banking help desks to cater to women's banking needs in all their 85 branches throughout Bangladesh.

As the temperature continues to drop, it becomes increasingly challenging to maintain a healthy body, although we can easily steer clear with minor changes in our diet, using only some fresh ingredients found in abundance during winter.

Saffron is one of the most sought after spices in the world. The threadlike ingredient that imparts a yellow hue are quite literally, imbibed in myths and legends.

With the festive mood of Durga Puja in full swing, there is no better time than this to try out the following recipes, straight from the kitchen of Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort, by their Director of Food & Beverages, ATM Ahmed Hossain.

These nine days across the world are charged with spiritual fervour as it is a time for worship, festivities, fasting and spiritual enhancement. The nine days of fasting and prayers culminate in Bijaya Dashami or Dussehra, the tenth day, which marks the victory of good over evil.

Durga, the goddess who symbolises shakti, or power, is worshipped in this season as she visits the mortal plane to bless her followers. Yet, this is not her only form. From the legends and words of scholars, we find there are nine avatars of Durga, better known as Navadurga. These nine avatars are worshipped over the nine nights of the Durga Puja (aptly named Navaratri) mainly in various regions of India.

Whether it's a quick morning breakfast or a midnight snack, who doesn't love to find a bunch of ready-to-heat/fry/frozen goodies in their refrigerator.

Biting into one of these during meals has to be one of the worst feelings ever, yet it is found in pretty much every dish, sweet or savoury.

Nothing turns a bad day into a happy one like a refreshing drink in a quiet corner of a café. Whether you want to spend a serene afternoon with your best friends, or whether you want to spend some quality time with yourself and a book on a rainy day, cafés are the perfect place to be.