Author: varun kn

The Business of Food
Every business has a set of people who it targets, in some cases a particular group of society. They fight competition to satisfy their target customers and attract them with different marketing strategies. Every business might have a particular saturation point beyond which it is tough to expand or experiment. But, if there is one business which doesn’t have any such restrictions it is “The Business of Food”. The food business either small or large doesn’t have restrictions. You are free to explore, there is both scope and necessity for experimenting, and most importantly food has no seasons! Every business has one major goal which is “money” and you will be surprised with the amount of money involved in the food business.

Recent Trends

The Food business had not taken off until a few decades back in India, mainly because of the mindset of our people who were still not open to the idea of eating out. Indians love their home food and there were several caste restrictions when it came to eating out. But over the past two decades people have come out of their inhibitions, which have been helped by the number of people leaving their hometowns for studies and jobs.

India is the world’s second largest producer of food next to China. The total food production in India is likely to double in the next ten years and it gives immense opportunity and scope for people to invest money and effort in this huge yet budding industry.

People have started realizing the possibilities, and it can be seen with the steady increase in the number of people getting involved in food business. The myth of family business has been broken and people from all walks of life are starting to invest on food, which includes setting up small restaurants or sometimes kiosks. The youngsters especially have started taking this seriously and it is not very uncommon to engineering graduates setting up restaurants these days.

Scope

Scope and choices for food business are abundant and it requires much less effort and thought compared to most other jobs. There is immense scope since all you need for your business to shine, is to provide quality food and a few hungry people which is not very difficult to find.

There is no one way to success but the favorite choices for people who are new entrants to food business have been:
- Chat shops
- Fresh juice shops
- Ice cream parlors
- Shewermas and khatti rolls
These fast foods don’t require any huge investments in money or place. They require modest capital and just small kiosks in front of places like supermarkets and restaurants.

Food business is not restricted to these fast foods and restaurants. The raw materials required for making food, packing and selling these raw materials are also an important part of the food industry.

Employment

India is an agricultural country and still more than 70% of the people in the country are farmers, the food business has kept the trend by employing over 10million people which includes food packaging, catering among other disciplines. Catering and Hotel Management which had very few takers until a decade back are some of the hottest courses for students these days, which is an obvious indication of the job opportunities.

“Sakthi Masala” a South Indian based masala and kitchen Materials Company has a distinction of having a workforce which consists of 27% people who are physically challenged. There are several other food packaging industries which are tapping on these disabled work forces.

Food for Thought

Despite the growing interest in food industry as a source of income and employment India still contributes only 1.4% in terms of food export which is behind even some of the under-developed countries. There is a lot of demand for Indian food materials in Middle-East and Western countries which is not being utilized properly.

In addition, it is said that India produces 250 million tones food every year out of which only 220 million is consumed, while the rest is wasted. According to WHO, India wastes about Rs.58,000 crore worth food every year which is the highest among all the nations. In a country where still millions of people go to bed hungry, these stats are mind-boggling and inhuman.

The Bright Spots

In spite of all these challenges, the Indian Food industry in a pure business point of view is a real source of inspiration because of its massive success and growth in such a short span of time. The food business has caught on like a house on fire with the people, and more people have started investing heavily on food and food-oriented businesses.

There are several major business houses which are looking to enter the food business, the latest being the interest shown by Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani. These heavy investments will definitely boost the food business further.

Most importantly unlike other businesses it is highly unlikely that the food business will face a recession because “Living well means Eating well” and there is never a bad day to satisfy your taste buds!
May 26, 2014
The X-Men and their Origins
The Title might be a little misleading. No we are not talking about the popular movie series X-Men but about the most important “men” read “food” for a typical Indian. Food is part of our identity. They say “We are recognized by the food we eat”. There are certain kinds of food which originated from our land and have been an important part of Indian lives. These staple foods are an integral part of every Indian’s diet, and they also have deep roots with our culture.

Some of these dishes have history dating back to the 7^th and 8th century and have been mentioned in several writings of yesteryears. Some of the most ancient foods which originated in India and still an important part of the everyday meal are South Indian dishes like Dosa, and idly. There is also a popular frozen desert called “kulfi” which is my personal favorite.It is often described as “traditional Indian Subcontinent ice-cream “and quite popular in places such as India, Pakistan and the Middle East, and widely available in Indian restaurants in Australia, East Asia and North America.

Idly

Idly is a soft steamed cake which is very popular in Southern parts of India such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. These are small round, soft cakes which are prepared by steaming fermented black lentils and rice. The idly is considered to be the very healthy and it can be served to anyone from a new born baby to an ailing old person. Scientists have found that idly is one of the healthiest foods among the ones served for breakfast. The fermentation process involved in preparing idly helps in breaking the starch molecules thus making it easier for the human body metabolize.

Idly is the most preferred breakfast in South India and are equally popular among the people of North India as well. Idly is not a monotonic dish as it may sound. There are several types of Idly’s like the “Rava Idly” and “Sanna Idly” are popular among people of different places.

Origins

Idly has been known to India since the 7^th century and has been a constant in the diet among various people of India.Earliest mention of idly occurs in the Kannada writing called Vaddaradhane by Shivakotiacharya in 920 AD, and it seems to have started as a dish made only of fermented black lentil. The preparing pattern of idly’s have changed a lot over the years but the basic ingredients still remain the same. Tomake idly, place four parts uncooked rice to one part split black lentil in a pan and soak separately for at least four hours.Grind the rice to a coarse paste separately in a heavy stone grinding vessel. Mix both the lentil and rice paste thoroughly. Leave the paste to ferment overnight, until it has expanded to about 2½ times its original volume. In traditional methods a pure white cloth is placed on moulds and batter is poured over it after the dilly’s are cooked the trays along with cloth are inverted upside down in a plate & water is sprinkled on the cloth, then the cloth is pulled and the idly’s come out without sticking to the cloth. So that idly’s are prepared without a single drop of oil or ghee.

Best Served with:

Anyone who wishes to taste the traditional idly should visit “The Murugan Idly Shop” a chain of restaurants in Chennai which specialize in serving different types of Idly’s and its various side dishes. It is traditionally served with:
- Sambhar
- Coconut Chutney
- Milagai Podi
Dosa

Dosa is another famous South Indian dish and it is probably the most marketed Indian dish and it has a wide reach across the globe. You will probably find a restaurant serving Dosa in most of the European and North American countries. Dosa is similar to idly in many ways including the basic ingredients such as rice and black lentil. The paste obtained from fermentation of rice with black lentil is spread over a griddle. Itis spread out evenly with the base of a ladle or bowl to form a pancake. A dosa is served hot, either folded in half or rolled like a wrap.

Dosa, like idly doesn’t contain any fat and is considered to be easy for the human body to metabolize. It is a very light dish and is most commonly served for breakfast in most Indian homes. There are several varieties of Dosa, but the favorite ones are Masala Dosa, Onion Dosa, Ghee Roast and Rava Dosa. There are restaurants which are entirely dedicated to Dosa and serve about 100 different varieties of Dosa.

Origins

“The Story of our Food”, a book written by K. T. Achaya, an eminent Indian food scientist and food historian, states that foods like Dosa and Adai were already known in ancient Tamil country around 1st century AD, as per references in Tamil Sangam Literature.

Best Served with:

Dosa can be stuffed with fillings of vegetables and sauces to make a quick meal. They are typically served with a vegetarian dish which varies according to regional and personal preferences. Common side items are:
- Sambhar
- Chutney and
- Indian Pickles
Kulfi

The “kulfi” is an Indian frozen desert which is similar to an ice cream but a little creamier and topped with nuts like cashews, almond and pista. “Kulfi” unlike western ice creams is not whipped and hence has the ability to not melt for a longer time as compared to ice creams and it is similar to the traditional custard based ice creams.

Kulfi is prepared from evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk and heavy cream. Then sugar is added and the mixture is further boiled and cornstarch-water paste is added. This paste thickens the mixture, although it is boiled for an additional few minutes. Then flavorings, dried fruits, cardamom, etc. are added. The mixture is then cooled, put in moulds and frozen. If frozen in individual-portion custard bowls for service with a spoon, bowls are removed from the freezer 10–15 minutes before serving to allow for melting at the edges.

Kulfi’s are usually sold in four-wheeled carts and its specialty is that “kulfi” is usually sold during night times and the familiar sound of “kulfiwallhs” bell in itself pricks the taste buds making us crave for these delicious kulfi’s. Generally kulfi’s come in various flavors like pista, rose, mango but there also new variants like strawberry and even apple flavored ones.

Origins

This rich dessert is likely to have been introduced in the subcontinent of India and is found in neighboring countries in the Middle East. While history does not point to one specific inventor, Mughal emperors who reigned in the 16th to 19th centuries in India are thought to have originated kulfi. Inhabitants who lived near the Himalayas had come across freezing methods that included sweets or desserts.

There has been a heavy influence of western cuisine in our everyday lives, with all these it is also important to remember these traditional dishes not only because they originated here, but also because they define who we are. Like language and ethnicity the food one eats describes a person’s roots and it is important to have a grasp of our roots. They really are our X-Men!
May 23, 2014
The World’s Food Festivals

Travelling is a stress-buster for many people. They cherish going to new places, meeting new people, knowing new cultures, listening to new languages and their nuances, and of course trying new and exotic cuisines. Eating while travelling is a high for most foodies but the chance to travel to eat is as irresistible as it can get.

Food Festival is one such alluring event where we travel to an entirely new place, sometimes a new country to taste the authentic bites as well as some of the best international foods which are showcased by the best in the business. Food Festivals happen round the year in all parts of the world but there are certain food festivals in the world which are known for their uniqueness as well as for their wide range of mouth-watering cuisines showcasing some of the best foods in the world specially prepared by the best chefs.

There are several food festivals across the globe, and some of the most unique and popular one’s are listed here :

1.Mendzona Wine Harvest Festival, Argentina, South America

Food is such an important part of South America’s culture such that most festivals in South America would include lots of food, fun and party. There is a saying that in the Latin America “You will never go home hungry”. South America boasts of some of the world’s most colorful carnivals and food festivals, especially in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Uruguay and Bolivia. Among these festivals, The Mendzona Wine Harvest Festival is one of the most popular food festivals in all of South America. This annual harvest festival in Argentina’s wine province is an opportunity for its eighty communities to come together and celebrate the food and harvest season which makes this event very special. It is a festival that is celebrated over all the 18 departments which make up the Mendoza Province. The event begins in December and goes on until the first weeks of March.

Here, you can spend the day wandering the grounds trying some of the most fabulous wine you will ever get to taste and the wine chocolates are a specialty of this festival. The food festival has a carnival atmosphere and there is a lot more to look out for during this festival

2.Taste of Melbourne, Australia

Australia has one of the world’s most cosmopolitan societies and the “Taste of Melbourne” highlights this fact even more. Every year thousands of food lovers visit Melbourne to take part in the annual food festival “Taste of Melbourne”. The people come here to enjoy the brilliant sunshine, have a drink or two and walk around the thousands of stalls which are lined up serving food from some of the city’s best restaurants and also some of the world’s favorite dishes prepared by the best chefs themselves.

This is a three day event which takes place during the month of November during which the city develops a special craving for food and many people can be seen visiting these food festivals with family and friends. The taste of Melbourne’s success has resulted in springing up of many new food festivals in other major cities like “The Taste of Sydney”, “The Taste of Perth” and so on. The food and wine varieties in these festivals are abundant and are a must for any foodie who visits Australia during the months of November.

3.The New Orleans Food and Wine Experience, USA

The New Orleans often called the most “unique” city in USA is located in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience is called a feaster’s fantasy by many people because of the out of the box eatery options provided to the people during these festivals. They include eating in food trucks and sipping glasses of grape in a typical street party atmosphere.

The Mardi Gras of food fest, this May marks New Orleans’ 22^nd annual foray into food and wine with “The New Orleans Food and Wine Experience”. This event unlike other food festivals which offer just different types of food adds a whole new perspective by organizing seminars about food and also organizes events like “The Big Gateaux Show” display which shows the areas affinity for desserts.

4.Versoix Chocolate Festival, Switzerland

The Versoix Chocolate Festival, Switzerland is definitely one of its kind. The entire festival is dedicated to chocolates and it is a dream for any chocolate lover. There are two different areas to the festival. As you walk out of the Versoix train station you head into a tunnel and at the end of this tunnel you can either take a left or a right. The left turn heads downhill to the Favarger chocolate factory while the right turn heads to a White tent of chocolaty goodness. There are other vendors outside the tent for those who seek substantial food in addition to the sugar overload. I think the vendors end up selling more water and items to drink than food, as it is a necessity to have something after a few minutes of consistent chocolate tasting. The festival provides an excellent opportunity to sample the different varieties of chocolate available from the many chocolate makers in the Geneva area. You also enjoy seeing the many different Easter bunny creations made by these shops.

The fact that Switzerland is known for its chocolates is known, but the Versoix Chocolate festival is a rich experience and one which should not be missed by anyone who has a “sweet-tooth” for chocolates.

Festival of Happiness

Festivals generally bring a lot of joy and happiness to people, and it reminds us of the special festival sweets and savories our mom’s make. But if the festival itself is dedicated to FOOD, then there can’t be a greater happiness. Enjoy the food, Enjoy the festival and when they come together never miss them.

May 18, 2014
The Flavor of Marina

The Marina beach in Chennai is one of the prime tourist destinations for anyone who visits Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The beach boasts of a coastline which can rival any of the top beaches and is often called as the “World’s second longest beach”. The place is famous for its stone statues and people who visit Chennai never miss going to this beach. But for the people of Chennai, the Marina Beach reminds of the innumerable kiosks which include the children’s favorite ice cream shops, the famous “bhajji kadai’s” and of course who can forget the cheap, yet tasty fast foods! The Marina Beach offers some of the tastiest yet affordable food in Chennai.

The choice of cuisine is exceptional and almost unbelievable when you look at the price and size of these shops. The Marina offers food at all prices for all seasons.

The Typical Chennai Humid Day

The Chennai weather can be really cruel during summers because of scorching heat and the beach offers a pleasant change during evening’s .It is the most popular place for evening walks and jogs. The people who visit the beach during summer evenings crave for the sugarcane juice which is definitely Marina’s favorite drink. The sugarcane juice is made from fresh sugarcanes as and when they are ordered and they don’t use any essence. The fresh sugarcane juice gives a real pleasurable feeling and at a maximum cost of Rs.10-15 it is certainly a bargain.

The other thing to look out for is the little ice-cream shops on wheels which line up the service road adjoining the beach. These ice cream shops are the hotspots for all the love-birds and family alike. There are various outlets which offer ice creams but “Kwality Walls” is certainly the most preferred choice. The Choco-bar ice-creams and Cornetto are worth a try and the premium “Magnum” range of ice-creams is a feast for any ice-cream lover.

Another life saver on hot afternoons is the freshly cut watermelons. They satisfy your taste buds and also manage to quench your thirst! A real “double dhamaka” I should say!

The Occasional Cool Days

There are days when the weather God’s show some mercy and Chennai has a relatively cooler climate. The Marina offers its classic “filter kaapi” for a true chennaite who loves his coffee. This is not the best coffee you will have in town but certainly good enough on a pleasant evening and the best thing is that “filter kaapi” can be bought from wherever you are sitting as these “coffee-wallahs” walk around the beach selling their coffee and you are saved from the trouble of walking a long distance to buy them. Watching the sea sipping on your coffee on a pleasant evening is a real kick!

If watermelons are for hotter days then definitely cut green mangoes with chilly powder and salt is the perfect way to cap off a pleasant evening. The sour sweet fruit tickles your tongue and can make you yearn for it all the more!

Food for Every Season

There are certain foods though which actually define your day at the Marina and they don’t have any particular season or time. You haven’t seen the best of Marina if you haven’t tasted the “beach bhajji”. There are various joints and several food chains which offer “bhajji” in the city but the “bhajji” you get in the beach is definitely the best. The “bhajji” consists of chopped vegetables incorporated into a dough made from rice and gram flour, spices, and sometimes herbs, then fried until golden. The “chilly bhajji” and “onion bhajji” are certainly the favorite among foodies at the beach.

The other favorite of people who visit the beach often is the “sundal”. It is a familiar sight to see young boys from the nearby fishermen areas who go to schools in the morning sell tasty “sundals” in the evening. The “sundal” like “bhajji” is definitely a specialty of Marina and “beach sundals” definitely taste better than even some of the home-made ones. The “maanga sundal” and “pattani sundal” are something to savor from your visit to the beach.

Finally, the “Marina Fast-Foods” which are merely 10X10 feet shops which get exceptional crowds especially during the evenings. They offer complete dinners at exceptionally low prices and are a must try for any foodie who visits the Marina. These shops offer everything from Chinese to Thai to North Indian foods. They offer starters like Chilly Paneer and Chicken varieties like Chicken 65, Chilly Chicken and some exclusive Chinese starters like Dragon Chicken, Pepper Chicken are a hit with youngsters who are the main targets for these fast food kiosks.

Hygiene Concerns

The beach food for all its variety and affordability has always been scorned upon by people because of its obvious hygiene issues. There have been several questions which have been raised about the hygiene and sub-standard products which have been used in preparing these foods, especially the oil used for making “bhajjis” and vessels used for making the food. But the shopkeepers have realized these concerns and have started using standard products and are quite open to suggestions made by customers. Though the hygiene issues are not completely forgotten the people are starting to open their mind to these kiosks after these assurances.

In spite of all these issues, one cannot deny the fact that these food outlets are an integral part of the Marina beach and they deserve to be so, after all “No place is a good place, if it can’t offer you good food!”

May 18, 2014
One True Love

Dedicated to my true love,

For a long time we’ve been made to believe that the greatest romance is been between that of a man and a woman and we believed it was true because it all seemed legit. But is it really true?

Last week I was walking back home from a hard day where I had to stay back and work on my lab classes which was pending and it was the week before exams. The time was 7 in the evening and I decided to take a direct bus home. It was a bad decision, very bad decision. I had not eaten for the past 7 hours and even then it wasn’t a proper meal. The bus stopped 200 meters away from my college due to an election rally which was happening nearby in the middle of the highway and my house was still a two hour drive away. Next to me was Neha, the girl who I always wanted to talk to. Apparently she had been staying back for her lab as well. This moment should have been “WOW”. But on the contrary it was depressing. I was sitting there hoping for the bus to move. I couldn’t think straight and all I wanted to do was eat a cheesy burst pizza or cream n onion pasta. I turn to look at her and a craving for hot south Indian masala dosa fills my mind. But isn’t she the girl I always wanted to talk to? I should have made the move! I’ve seen heroes jump off rooftops to save their girl and here I was thinking about pizzas,”yum, and the thought of it even now”. We did strike a conversation atlas and all I could ask her was “You hungry too Neha?”

The bus moved at snail’s pace and on the way I saw a Chinese restaurant and immediately that guy inside me wanted to jump out of the bus and into the restaurant,”Ohhh the spring rolls and noodles!!” but wait a minute “Is it starting to drizzle?,wow this must be my luckiest day! Rain in the middle of a cruel summer!” And at the same time my mind is still dreaming about French fries and I couldn’t take my mind off cream n onion pasta! I decided I was being stupid surely! It’s NEHAA next to me.The girl who I’ve been wanting to talk to all these days and here she was next to me doing nothing and definitely ready for a chit chat, I turn to her and the smell of Roti and dahl from the nearby dhaba fills me.Oh my God! I just found a new love ROTI N DAHL Makhni!

The Paradise Found

After all these hardships and distractions I reached my bus stop at 10pm and I didn’t turn back to look at her, I got down and made a dash for my home and on my way I was still dreaming about the possible delicious steamed idly with sambar my mom would have made.I reached home and what a “pleasant” surprise! A locked door greeted me and my dog Sheeba looking at me from our balcony. I called my mom and asked her where she was for which she replied the whole family had gone out for a wedding reception and they were going to eat there! This whole thing was becoming too cruel. It’s not funny anymore! I walk out to the nearest hotel and yes you are right the hotel closes at 10pm sharp!

I hadn’t eaten in 10 hours and it was likely that my stomach would actually die a painful death! The vision was blurring and all I could think of was food, watermelon juice and the wild strawberry cream I had in my friend’s birthday party the day before. Then there was a smell of onions and spinach. The familiar smell of road side chat! I turn to look and yes I was right! It wasn’t my imagination. It was “Kumar anna” who was pushing his 4 wheeled cart and selling his famous pani poori and dahi poori!

After that moment for the next 15 minutes I don’t remember what happened or what I ordered.I remember eating a lot of poori’s curd and the final moment of drinking sweetened lassi ,the taste which still fills my mouth or maybe my heart! I realized the truth behind the saying “The easiest way to a man’s heart is through his mouth!”

The Real Love of my Life

I have been single all my life. I’ve been longing to talk to this beautiful Neha for the past three years. The old logic man-woman true love should have made me talk to her! At least get her number. I should have walked her home! But at that moment all I could think about was the delicious smell of chilly parathas, the crispy finger chips and MY GOD the cream n onion pasta! The girl was a dream but she was second to food and I think she will always be. I found my true love that day. I love my food and yes all kinds of it and I think in moments of need the craving for food outlasts and outclasses my craving for the so called true boy-girl love.

I have found my paradise, I have found my love, I LOVE MY FOOD. period.

May 16, 2014