Gastronomic crisisCuttack administration recently found itself in the midst of a culinary identity crisis. At the ‘dahi bara dibas’ celebration, it was accused of committing a ‘gastronomic blunder’. Instead of showcasing the iconic, spice-soaked, soul-stirring Cuttack-style ‘dahi bara aloo dum’, the promotional posters apparently featured glossy images of the ‘dahi bhalla’, more famous in India’s north. The administration drew flak from food lovers and purists who reminded it that Cuttack’s ‘dahi bara aloo dum’ is not just a dish, but an emotion, and a legacy. Fuel for thoughtOwing to the crisis in West Asia, some petrol pumps and LPG distribution centres have been witnessing a heavy rush for petrol and cooking gas. There was a long queue on Friday at a petrol pump in the city. When asked, many of them expressed apprehension they may not get fuel as the supply of crude oil is getting affected due to the war. However, the petrol pump manager said people should stop reading and forwarding social media messages regarding fuel shortages. Fuel has been coming as usual, the manager said. Spelling errorsSpelling errors were spotted on billboards welcoming Union home minister Amit Shah during his visit to Odisha on Friday. The errors quickly went viral, attracting widespread ridicule and drawing attention to the negligence of those responsible for preparing the content.(Contributed by Team TOI)

