"Thoda pyaar thoda magic" is a phrase commonly used in Hindi language, which translates to "a little love, a little magic" in English. This phrase encompasses the idea of finding happiness and joy in life through a combination of love and magic. Love is a powerful emotion that has the ability to transform lives. It can bring people together and create a sense of belonging and contentment. Love has the potential to heal wounds and mend broken hearts. It is a force that can give purpose and meaning to life.
While all the 11,000 books at Kitchen Witch are for sale, it’s hard to imagine how Phillip can let them go. Pick up any one at random, and he can tell you where it came from and a little nugget of gossip about the author. While the topics and categories are vast and varied, the collection’s particularly useful for tracing the history of New Orleans through titles on Cajun cuisine, soul food and the one million and one ways to cook a jambalaya.
Now vegan, besides butter, Phillip briefly dreamt of opening a sort of vegetarian Dairy Queen and tried to raise the capital by selling quiche at music festivals. Also, we are just not your usual bookstore--music blares, twinkle Christmas lights are strung all about, wine is offered, dogs are welcomed, we love tourists and pretty much adopt them.
It is a force that can give purpose and meaning to life. Magic, on the other hand, represents the element of surprise and wonder. It is the ability to create something extraordinary out of the ordinary.
New Orleans’ Kitchen Witch Cookbooks Is an Ode to Its Owner’s Adventurous Life
At Chopt Creative Salad Co., we love to travel. Every 60 days, we offer three new salads inspired by street vendors, local food producers and home chefs we’ve met from Vietnam to Mexico, and everywhere in between. Our blog, Chopt Travels, is how we share our research, and, most important, the stories of the characters who stole our hearts and filled our bellies.
As the creative director at Chopt, I travel around the world to eat, photograph and connect with the people and places that inspire our menu. I smuggle home ingredients and make connections with like-minded innovators working in the world of food. Dream job, I know.
Come along as we take your lunch to places it has never gone before.
—Julia Sherman, Creative Director at Chopt, and author of the blog and book Salad for President.
When your job is to research regional foodways and culinary traditions, you read a whole lot of cookbooks. Of all the expertly curated shops and collections I’ve visited in my travels, New Orleans’s Kitchen Witch Cookbooks is the rare example of a bookstore that also functions as community space, pop-up kitchen and gateway for exploring regional cuisine. Last winter, I visited the shop with Chopt’s co-founder Tony Shure. When we entered the colorful, hand-painted building bedazzled in Mardi Gras beads, a group of punk kids were pouring wine and serving vegan stir-fry in the parking lot. Owners Philipe LaMancusa and Debbie Lindsey floated about the space, entertaining customers with personal stories and colorful reminiscence of lives lived to the fullest.
While all the 11,000 books at Kitchen Witch are for sale, it’s hard to imagine how Phillip can let them go. Pick up any one at random, and he can tell you where it came from and a little nugget of gossip about the author. While the topics and categories are vast and varied, the collection’s particularly useful for tracing the history of New Orleans through titles on Cajun cuisine, soul food and the one million and one ways to cook a jambalaya.
You would assume Phillip had dedicated his life to the collection alone by the looks of the place, but in fact he cut his teeth in professional kitchens long before he was in book business. Phillip began his culinary career in the kitchen of a Jewish country club in Denver before joining the Navy as a cook, preparing meals for his fellow soldiers in the Vietnam War. Newly out of the service and looking for a fresh start, he explored New Mexico, California (Monterey, specifically) and even Polynesia. He worked under the saucière from the famed Paris restaurant, Maxim’s, and as the pastry chef at the Las Vegas MGM Grand. He made fish tacos in Ensenada, Mexico with a woman whose secret was to, “add mayo and Coca-Cola to the batter—it’s fabulous.”
But New Orleans was always calling, so when he got a gig in one of the city’s most famous restaurants, Commander’s Palace, he knew his life on the road had to come to a pause. At Commander’s Palace, still one of the most beloved spots in the city, Phillip cooked alongside Creole cuisine’s most iconic chef, Paul Prudhomme. That stint in fine dining led him back to his hippie roots, opening a cooperative restaurant for a brief period of time.
Now “vegan, besides butter,” Phillip briefly dreamt of opening a sort of “vegetarian Dairy Queen” and tried to raise the capital by selling quiche at music festivals. That turned out to be a pretty challenging way to fund a fast food empire, but what he lacked in funding, he more than made up for in cookbooks. By 1999, his collection was hovering around 5,000 titles, and he wasn’t slowing down. The only logical solution was to leave the restaurant business behind and open the collection up to the public.
Eighteen years later, and twice the inventory, Kitchen Witch Cookbooks has become a space for gathering that offers the opportunity to try something new and enrich oneself alongside members of the community. There’s often someone cooking, and there are always fascinating characters communing over for food. Turns out a restaurant and a bookstore have a lot in common, and in this way, Kitchen Witch Cookbooks is not just a shop but a living, breathing homage to Phillip’s adventurous life in food—the way our salads at Chopt reflect our travels.
As the creative director at Chopt, I travel around the world to eat, photograph and connect with the people and places that inspire our menu. I smuggle home ingredients and make connections with like-minded innovators working in the world of food. Dream job, I know.
Magic has the power to inspire and ignite the imagination. It can bring a sense of awe and excitement into our lives. When we combine love and magic, we create a beautiful and enchanting experience. Love allows us to see the world with empathy and compassion. It enables us to connect deeply with others and build meaningful relationships. Magic, on the other hand, adds an element of excitement and adventure to our lives. It gives us the ability to dream big and believe in the impossible. In a world often filled with chaos and uncertainty, "thoda pyaar thoda magic" reminds us to embrace love and magic as guiding forces in our lives. It encourages us to find joy and happiness in the simple moments, and to believe in the power of both love and magic to transform our lives for the better. So let us remember to cultivate love in our hearts and embrace the magic that surrounds us. Let us find beauty in the ordinary, and let love and magic guide us towards a life that is filled with joy, wonder, and possibility..
Reviews for "The Importance of Fantasy in 'Thoda Pyat Thoda Magic"
1) Rahul - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations from "Thoda pyat thoda magoc" but unfortunately it turned out to be a disappointment. The story lacked depth and the characters were poorly developed, making it difficult for me to connect with them. The comedy in the film also fell flat and felt forced. Overall, it was a forgettable experience.
2) Komal - 1/5 stars - "Thoda pyat thoda magoc" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was highly predictable and seemed like a rehash of similar Bollywood movies. The songs were forgettable and felt forced into the narrative. The performances were average at best and failed to leave any impact. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.
3) Ravi - 2/5 stars - I was disappointed with "Thoda pyat thoda magoc" as it failed to deliver on its promises. The story had potential but the execution was weak. The comedy was forced and the jokes often fell flat. The dialogues were uninspiring and lacked depth. Overall, it was a forgettable and mediocre film.
4) Priya - 2.5/5 stars - "Thoda pyat thoda magoc" had its moments but overall it failed to impress me. The pacing was off and the film felt too long. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. While some moments were funny, the comedy was hit or miss. It was an average film that didn't live up to its potential.
5) Karan - 2/5 stars - "Thoda pyat thoda magoc" had a good premise but failed to deliver an engaging story. The screenplay felt disjointed and the narrative lacked coherence. The performances were average and failed to elevate the weak script. Overall, it was a forgettable film that didn't leave any lasting impression.