By Ratna Raman. Aubergine. Brinjal. Baingan. Begun. Celebrated and reviled. Loved and devoured. The humble vegetable adorns the kitchen in every corner of the world. Including all over India.

By Ratna Raman. Mangoes breathe life and meaning into the summer season. Mango ice cream, mango shake, and kulfi remain perennial favourites. The avant garde are spoilt for choice with desserts such as mango soufflés, mango cheesecake, plain mango cakes, mango yoghurt, mango jellies, jujubes, sandwiches and more. Mango jam, mango toffee, mango burfee, mango, halwa, mango kheer, mangoes in cream, are eternally delicious household visitors. Mango is the Queen.