Category: Hotels and Restaurants

Sankalp: The Home of Delicious South Indian Cuisines

Today we have so many South Indian food serving restaurants in different parts of the country, but none is more popular than Sankalp. The success story of this Indian restaurant is really incredible. The style and broad range of dishes present in the menu of this restaurant is nonpareil. One of the main reasons of their popularity is the presence of the innovative food items in their menu. The experts call this restaurant chain as the perfect combination of the western and the south culture. This first restaurant of this amazing Indian restaurant chain was opened in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in the year 1981 under the reigns of the veteran businessman Mr. Kailash Goenka. He had a dream to spread the delicious South Indian cuisine to every corner of the country and after about 33 years since its first flagship restaurant was opened one can proudly say that Sankalp is one of the India’s best restaurants. They have the vision not to compromise on the quality, service and the hygiene while continuing to satisfy the customers with delicious foods.

Currently there are more than 110 restaurants under this group spread over each and every corner of the country. Its popularity can be determined by the fact that this group has also opened its franchise in other countries such as Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada and United Arab Emirates. They further have plans for their expansion. Under the flags of the Sankalp Group other than the Sankalp restaurant which offers the south Indian cuisines, they also have Saffron restaurant which offers North Indian food items prepared in the Gujarati style. The foods served in the Saffron restaurant are simply amazing as they have a completely different taste and are very much innovative. Moreover, the Sam’s Pizza outlet which specializes in offering delicious salads, pizzas, breads and soups is also the part of this Sankalp group. With the Sam’s Pizza this group has tried to enter into the world of western food culture and here too they have managed to build a satisfied customer base. The latest initiative of this group is Sankalp Xpress, a fast food restaurant which specializes in Indian-Western fusion foods.

The immense success of Sankalp south Indian food serving restaurant chain is only because of their commitment, dedications and the high quality of food which is served here. They believe that the satisfaction of the customer is the top notch priority. One can be sure of experiencing a wonderful dining experience once they enter into the premises of Sankalp restaurant and this has helped them to build very strong consumer bases who visit this restaurant regularly. Sankalp is among the few Indian restaurants who have managed to inculcate the much desired loyalty among the food lovers. A person always returns satisfied with the food and the service provided in this restaurant. One of the best times for visiting the Sankalp restaurant is during various South Indian food festivals which are celebrated here.

The USP of this restaurant is the ambience and the service provided to the customer. You will feel as if you have entered into the South Indian states and will be treated royally according to their cultures and traditions. The foods will be served to you in a royal manner and you will surely be delighted with the experience. The culinary preparation of this restaurant is truly authentic. Some of the most famous dishes of this restaurant are Kura Mura Dosa, Rava Dosa, Idli, Telangana Dosa, Kaikari Biryani, Three Barrel Dosa, Iddiaappam, Cheese Uttampam, Spring Dosa and many more. All these food items are delicious and exquisite. You will surely have craving for them in future.The interior of the Sankalp restaurants is well designed which gives you the perfect ambience. Further, the waiters are well dressed and are always ready to help you in selecting the best dish as per your choice. The service in each of the Sankalp restaurant is top notch and impeccable. It makes you visit this place again. This makes Sankalp a top rated place for the south Indian food and so each time people are craving for such food items, Sankalp is the first name which pops up in their mind.

The chutneys and Sāmbhar prepared in the Sankalp restaurant have amazing taste. They are prepared with so much perfection that people love them. If you are not much of a fan of the South Indians cuisines, then you must pay a visit to this restaurant and I assure you that the tempting foods served here will surely change your opinion. For a family outing, Sankalp is the best place to visit. The Sankalp restaurant got its name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records twice for preparing the world longest Dosa. I guess this is enough for you to get impressed by the dedication of this restaurant towards the South Indian food. Once you finish your meal, you will be served with Meetha pan which surely makes your visit even more pleasing and rewarding.

July 30, 2014
Enjoy this monsoon with hot and crispy Pakoras
Monsoon is here to make the whole environment vivacious with its drizzling effect and make it lively. Monsoon comes with different flavors and have lots of fun embodied in it. For example for children it is the time to sail their handmade boats, for farmers it is like a blessing and some people enjoy the tiny droplets falling over the ground. So different people enjoy this season in their own different ways but common part amongst all of them is that their fun is always accompanied by eating crispy pakoras. Monsoon is said to be complete when you have enjoyed the rain with hot and crispy pakoras along with the tea or coffee. The best thing about pakoras is that they are easily prepared and taste delicious when served with chutney or sauce. It is known fact that pakoras are the main reason behind the rise of cholesterol in the body but eating it once during the whole season did not affect anyone’s health. They are quite easy to be prepared so avoid eating pakoras at road side stalls and start the intake of home-made healthy pakoras.

In southern parts of India, pakoras are known with the name Bajji. This hot, crispy dish is famous in Pakistan too. But it is not treated as a separate snack rather it is served with curry and this dish is known as Pakora curry. It is also an important part of Afghani Cuisine. In China people used to refer it by the name Pakoda.

Pakoras come with its different flavors. There are various ways of making pakoras like onion pakora, paneer pakora, cabbage pakora, egg pakora etc. But here tastes and its nutritional value is the most concerning factors. So here are the few recipes that you can enjoy while sitting along the windows served with hot tea.

Onion pakora:

During monsoon season your tongue definitely demands something crunchy, something spicy and something hot and then suddenly onion pakoras rings a bell and the aroma of these onion pakoras are felt. It is very popular and common snack preferred during this season. It has a quite simple recipe and ingredients required are easily available in everyone’s kitchen. Ingredients required are:
- 1/2 cup Besan
- 1/2 tsp Chili Powder
- 2 large Onion
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
Initially take sliced onion and put turmeric powder, red chilly powder, coriander powder and salt to it. After mixing all the ingredients add besan to it and at the same time pour water to it so that sliced onion is properly coated with the besan. Take oil in a frying pan and allow it to be heated for some time. After this slowly add the prepared batter into it and allow the pakoras to be fried. The excess oil must be absorbed with the help of paper. Now onion pakoras are ready to be served with hot chutney or sauce.

Paneer Pakora:

Paneer pakora is another famous recipe for paneer loving people. Ingredients required are same as onion pakoras but instead of onion you need to have cubes of paneer and chat masala. Its recipe is again quite simple. Add cubes of paneer to the prepared batter of besan, red chilly powder, ginger paste and salt. Now let the paneer cubes marinate for half an hour. Now slowly fry this batter in the hot frying pan containing oil. After taking out absorb the excess oil and sprinkle the chat masala over it. Now the paneer pakoras are ready to be served.

Bread Pakora:

Evening snacks during the monsoon season with the hot cup of tea is one the best thing your tongue demands..! It is a popular street food in the northern parts of India. Ingredients required are:
- 2 potatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 inch ginger
- 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp chat masala
- Salt
- Slices of whole grain bread
- 1 cup besan
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/2-1 tsp chili powder
Boil the potatoes and mash them properly. In a bowl, heat the oil. Add mustard seeds and after they popped, add ginger, chillies, urad dal and onions to it. Now add salt and all the spices according to your taste and then add mashed potatoes to it. If it is the season of peas, then you can add peas also. Now take the slice of bread and spread the mixture prepared over it. Now cover this with another slice of bread and cut it into two pieces. Now prepare the batter with the besan, turmeric powder, salt and chilly powder. Dip the slice of bread into it and make sure it must be coated properly. Fry this coated slice in a pan containing oil till it turned reddish brown. Remove the excess oil from it and now it is ready to be served with chilly sauce or chutney.

Experiment with all the above discussed recipes and enjoy this monsoon with the different flavors of hot and crispy pakoras..!
July 30, 2014
Go on and try some Bread based meal
Bread is one of the oldest foods which people use in their daily life. It is available all around the world anywhere and anytime. It is the simplest and the easiest option available to the people whenever they are hungry and are not in a mood to do any type of effort. It is a type of staple food which is prepared by mixing water and flour together. The dough we obtained is then baked and given its ordinary shape. Since from the emergence of agriculture, it has found its existence and till now it has come up wide varieties which are differentiated on the basis of shape, size and color. Bread is sometimes taken as the most popular snack item and sometimes it is used as ingredients in our dishes. It is hard to believe the fact that bread has found its existence in religious rituals too in Europe and East Asia.

Bread is a rich source of carbohydrate and at the same time it consists of various other nutrients such as iron, magnesium, Vitamin B and fiber. Regular intake of bread will tends to increase the overall intake of grains in our body. So to maintain the regular amount of grain and carbohydrate in our body we must take the bread or dishes involving bread into our meal. To defeat the hunger, bread dishes are the best way as they are very easy in their preparation and at the same time it fulfills all the demands of our stomach. . Bread can also be used as an ingredient in various other preparations like bread crumbs are used to provide crunchy and crispy crusts. Some common bread recipes which are popular all over the world are:

Bread Patties:

It is a very famous snack which was originated and firstly prepared in Maharashtra. It is perfect when eaten in rainy season along with the cup of tea.

Ingredients:
- Chickpea and rice flour
- Red chili powder
- Baking Soda
- Carom Seeds
- Turmeric powder and salt
- Potato and green chillies
- Ginger paste and chat masala
Preparation:
- Heat oil along with mustard seeds, pinch of hing, ginger garlic paste and salt.
- Add green chilies which are chopped, turmeric powder and salt together.
- Add chat masala to the boiled potatoes.
- Take a bowl and add besan, rice flour, red chili powder, carom seeds, salt and any other spices if needed.
- Mix and add some amount of water and prepare a batter.
- Cut bread into a shape required. Spread the prepared potato filling on the slices evenly.
- Dip potato filled slices into batter and fry till it gets golden color.
The patties are ready to be served with tamarind chutney or mint chutney.

Bread Roll:

A Bread roll is hot and crispy in nature and is very popular in the northern parts of India.
- Large Potatoes and Green Chillies
- Pinch of hing and garlic paste
- Turmeric powder and salt
- Lemon juice and oil
- Coriander Leaves
- Bread slices
Method:
- Initially blend green chilies and garlic together and make a paste.
- Grind to make that into a coarse paste.
- Heat oil and add hing along with the paste prepared above.
- Also add turmeric powder to it.
- After this heat is turned off and the mixture is mixed with the mashed potatoes.
- Add potatoes with salt and lemon juice and mix it well.
- Then take the slices of bread and trim its edges.
- Dip slices into cold water and drain out all the excess water.
- Now take that potato mixture and roll it out into a desired shape.
- Stuff that roll in bread slices.
- Fry till it gets golden color and then absorb all the excess oil from it.
- Bread roll is ready to be served..!
Bread Cutlet:

Bread cutlet is a very appetizing and tasty dish liked by all the children. It is usually prepared on several occasions like parties, picnics and sometime eaten as an evening snack too. They are crispy and crunchy in nature.

Ingredients:
- Potatoes
- Green chili
- Ginger piece
- Red chili powder
- Garam masala
- Mustard seed
- Oil and Salt
- Slices of bread
Method:
- Heat oil and add mustard seed and curry leaves. After 10 minutes, add mashed potatoes along with green chilies, ginger, red chili powder, garam masala and salt.
- Now make small round balls from that mixture.
- Dip slices into cold water and drain out all the excess water.
- Cover the balls with the slices of bread and evenly spread the mixture.
- Now heat the oil and let the cutlet to be fried in it till it gets golden in color.
- Take them out and sprinkle out the chat masala over it.
- Serve the cutlet with green chutney.
So if your mouth is craving for something chatpata.. And you are only left with bread, then go on and try these simple recipes to prepare a bread based meal.
July 30, 2014
Rico’s-Adding taste to North campus

If you are a student of the University of Delhi and that too North Campus, then you must have thanked your stars making your life worth living by blessing you with innumerable cafes in Hudson Lane. Move towards GTB Nagar metro station’s gate number 3 from Patel Chest and you will find yourself on a street that is never tired. There are people going crazy for photocpies and then, move a bit forward and voila! BYD or Big Yellow Door stares at you with watery eyes asking you to come inside and feel the epicurean heaven. However, if you move a bit more onward, you will come across the father, mother and whole family of cafes-Rico’s. This place has been sent to the students of DU by God himself. Be it the amazing ambience, the gripping books, great staff or most importantly, amazing food; you just cannot sayy no to Rico’s. You do not need a reason to fall in love with this place. You automatically will. For all the foodies and non-foodies too, Rico’s is a great option for birthday celebration and much more. If you have not been to Rico’s yet, I would highly recommend you to ditch your next meal and go, hog at this wonderful cafe. You will not be left dissatisfied. Before you go, there are a few things that you must know that you must try. Some of those things are:

1. Classic Mojito

Classic mojito is a drink that finds its origin in Cuba. Mojito is also said to be the favourite drink of the author, Ernst Hemingway. The drink is an absolute bliss and provides great soothing effect in the scorching heat of Delhi. The best part of the classic mojito that is served at Rico’s is its presentation! The huge pitcher in which it is served is bound to make any adult feel like an over-excited child from inside. The pitcher can easily serve 6-8 glasses, which makes it a great value for money drink as it costs a meagre Rs. 200. The refreshing taste of mint and lime is just what one needs after attending torturous lectures back to back in the worst summers ever possible. This drink beats all the other drinks in the menu and make it an all time favourite for most of the people.

2. Vegetarian Enchilada

The menu at Rico’s gives a brief description of vegetarian enchilada as “baked tortillas rolled around a filling and covered with chili pepper sauce”. That is sufficient to give you a clear glimpse of what an enchilada would be like. What it does not inform is the immensity of its fabulous taste and its aptness in filling one’s hungry stomach. Vegetarian enchilada is a dish that is not too heavy and not too light. It is perfect for the pangs of hunger when you are not able to identify whether you really are so hungry or not. The filling is rich and tempting. The baked cheese over it just makes it all the more interesting and delicious in flavour. It has a perfect blend of crisp and gooey, which speaks volumes about the chef(s) at Rico’s. For those who feel that vegetarian food is just about fruits and leaves, this is a response that totally is in-the-face!

3. Nachos Grande

Nachos are chips that are made out of corn. Nachos Grande is a dish that has nachos which are loaded with various dips and sauces like salsa, sour cream, mustard and hummus. These sauces double, tripple or in fact, quadruple the already amzing taste of nachos. That feeling that you get when you dig into that dish with your fingers and have created a mess due to those lip smacking dips and sauces generously poured over the crispies, is just out of the world. Nachos Grande is a dish that serves as a brilliant side dish. You can add chicken to it for just Rs. 40 extra and make this dish from the Extra Innings section,more sinful. Nachos grande are great for munching and provide a brilliant alternative to the otherwise unhealthy fries.

4. Spicy Arrabiata Pasta

This is that variant of pasta which never gets old or boring. It is a clasic recipe that never fails. The brilliant spicy and tangy tomato based sauce, infused with garlic, gives the pasta a rich taste. The texture of the pasta at Rico’s is absolutely correct, not too gooey, not too hard. The consistency of the sauce is one that you would rarely find in most of the cafes. The spice is never over done and is thus, a great option even for those who cannot handle their chili. Spicy arrabiata pasta tastes brilliant when had with a glass of chilled, classic mojito. The sweetness of mojito and tangy flavour of pasta gel up in an awesome way, making the foodie inside you crave for more and more.

July 27, 2014
Madras Filter Kaapi!

The coolest hangout for today’s generation is to sip on a coffee in a costly coffee shop. Every street corner has a coffee shop these days, where they serve the regular cappuccinos and hundreds of other varieties of coffee. It is a relatively new trend in India, but people of Chennai and their neighbors are accustomed to this more than anyone else. New age coffee shops, with their swanky couches and bloated prices, may have introduced the culture of drinking coffee to a new audience, but many youngsters have chosen to keep alive a living tradition, where the filter coffee is not just another drink. In a traditional South Indian restaurant, you will see young and old people sipping on their coffee after every meal. The Madras Coffee is the primary stress buster and the perennial favorite drink for most of the people in South India. You will see a lot of self confessed coffee addicts who have travelled around the world say No other coffee can match the taste of the traditional “filter kaapi”. Most people cannot start of their day without drinking “Filter Kaapi” and reading “THE HINDU” newspaper.

The Madras Filter Kaapi

The Madras Filter Kaapi is a part of South Indian tradition. It is the most widely served drink to visitors in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. During the British Rule, all the four South Indian states were under the Madras Presidency and all of them have similar roots and traditions which has a stark variation from other parts of the country. The other common names for “Madras Kaapi” are “Kumbakonam Degree Coffee” and “Mysore Filter Coffee”. The traditional South Indian Coffee used to be served in aluminum tumblers and until the 1960’s it was served with honey or jaggery instead of sugar.

Roots

The coffee bean itself is a very foreign substance which has its roots in Ethiopia. How coffee made its way to India has several theories. Though it is said to have reached the shores of India, along with tea, in the 17th century, it was not until the end of the 19th century that coffee and it’s ‘cultural other’, tea, became a phenomenon in India. Coffee, unlike tea was mostly a drink for the upper class society. Even thought “filter kaapi” is very much a South Indian specialty, even North Indians especially those who have settled in South India have taken a liking to this wonder drink.

The first person to bring Coffee seeds to India was Baba Budan. Folklore has it that, Baba Budan went on a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca and while returning brought seven coffee seeds as a gift for his people. It is said that, he actually smuggled those coffee seeds from Yemen, the biggest coffee bean producer in the world back in the 17th century. These seeds were planted on the Chandragiri Hills, which from that day came to be known as the Baba Budan Hills.

Indian Coffee Market

When recently, Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee retail chain decided to open in Chennai, they knew it was one of the biggest battles they would face because of the competition they were likely to face from local rivals like Saravana Bhavan, Kumbakonam Degree Coffee and Café Coffee Day. Chennai is undoubtedly the coffee capital of India. The Indian Coffee Market is an ever growing one, with more number of people taking to coffee every year. According to the Coffee Board of India, over 30,000 metric tons of coffee is consumed per annum in Tamil Nadu with filter coffee cornering 54% of the market and instant coffee 46%. Pan India, over one hundred thousand metric tons of coffee is consumed per annum and this market is growing at 5-6%.

How to make the Traditional Filter Kaapi?

You’ll need a traditional percolator which is made of 4 parts. Buy grinded coffee powder, if you are not a person who is patient enough to grind the coffee seeds, though I would recommend you to try doing it occasionally. Use a clean filter, remove the lid and umbrella. Put 2 heaped table spoon of coffee powder per person and press it down with a spoon. Keep the umbrella back and gently pour fresh water and wait until the water percolates down slowly depending on the quantity of powder placed. Six to eight table spoons of coffee powder will take the decoction almost 6-8 hours to collect at the bottom. If you’ve put a lot of coffee powder, you wouldn’t have a chance to put enough water to percolate resulting in very concentrated but less quantity of decoction at the bottom. In such a case, you might have to add more water every time and do it repeatedly three or four times.

Now, to prepare the traditional Madras Filter Kaapi take a tumbler(a steel cup) and pour up to 3/4th level milk and add decoction with constant stirring to make a coffee to suit your liking, mild or strong and add sugar if you wish. You can also use jaggery or honey instead of sugar to get the traditional “kaapi” flavor.

Traditional kaapi is best served hot. Drink it when it is steaming hot and slowly get lost in the aroma and flavor of the most wonderful drink in the world- The Madras filter Kaapi.

July 26, 2014
Milkshakes! 5 interesting recipes to follow!

Give a child a glass of plain milk, and he’ll shirk from it forever, blend some ice-cream into it, fuse a fruit or two into it or maybe shake it up with some chocolate syrup and the kid will love having milk for almost every meal! Yes, what I’m talking about here are milkshakes! Be it the scorching summers or the dull monsoons, a chilled milkshake is always appreciated by everyone, be it a kid of 5 or the parents at 35.

A milkshake is a cold, sweetened beverage with a milk-base and is usually flavored with ice-cream and flavouring agents like caramel or chocolate sauce, butterscotch or fruit syrups. It is also known as a thickshake or a frappe in New England.

The term ‘milkshake’ was coined in 1885 for an alcoholic whiskey drink, which was a tonic as well as a treat. However, by 1900, the term was used for wholesome drinks made with chocolate, vanilla syrups or strawberry. Soon, people were asking for the new treat with ice-creams. This treat started gaining popularity soon enough, they were a must-have on all food outlet menus.

Though restaurants and food outlets serve exotic milkshakes served with sides that can serve as a complete meal and keep your stomach full for half a day, blending a milkshake at home is not big deal either. Call it a frappe, velvet or a frosted shake, this treat will never disappoint you. These liquid treats are not just packed with nutrients but many of them also aid weight loss.

Following are some innovative simple milk-shake recipes that have been tried and tested by me.

OREO MILK SHAKE

Ingredients:

10+2 Oreo cookies

4 scoops of Vanilla Ice-cream

50-100ml milk

A pinch of salt

Procedure:

Crush the Oreo cookies coarsely with hand and place them in a blender. Add the scoops of ice-cream and the milk.

Pulse till cookies are completely crushed.

Add a pinch of salt and blend till completely smooth. Add more milk according to the required thickness.

Pour into a tall glass and serve with 2 Oreo cookies sitting pretty on the top!

TIP: You could add a drizzle of dark rum to turn it into an adult treat for your cocktail parties!

VANILLA MILK SHAKE

Ingredients:

4 scoops Vanilla Ice-cream

2 teaspoons vanilla essence/ extract

50-100 milk

Sugar if needed

2-3 mint leaves to garnish

Procedure:

In a blender add the ice-cream with a splash of mil and blend until completely smooth.

Add the vanilla extract and blend again.

Check for the taste and thickness and add sugar or milk if required.

Pour into tall tumblers and serve chilled with mint leaves placed on top.

TIP: You could garnish with chocolate syrup and chopped walnuts for the extra flavor.

CARAMEL MILK SHAKE

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar+1/3 cup water

¾ cup heavy cream

A pinch of salt

1 table spoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 scoops Vanilla Ice-cream

1/2 cup whole milk

Procedure:

Add the water to a medium saucepan and set it over high heat. Pour the sugar directly into the centre so that none of it scattres onto the sides.

Bring to a boil and cook till the sugar starts to brown. Do NOT stir the pot. Let all the sugar melt uniformly.

TIP: You could give the pot a gentle swirl to help melt all the sugar.

Once the sugar turns into a deep brown sauce, carefully and gradually add the cream. Add the butter, salt and the vanilla extract.

Swirl the pot to dissolve all the ingredients evenly into the sauce.

Drizzle a bit of the caramel sauce so prepared into tall glasses along the sides and put the tumblers into the freezer to chill. The sauce will set and produce a gorgeous effect on the glasses.

Take the rest of the sauce and pour into a blender with the whole milk. Blend until smooth

Pour the shake into the glasses that had been prepared in the freezer.

Serve chilled.

DATES ALMOND AND BANANA MILKSHAKE

Ingredients:

2 large ripe bananas

1 cup of almonds soaked overnight in water.

1.5 cups of almond milk

8-9 ripe dates (stones removed)

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon Powder

1 teaspoon butter

1 teaspoon Vanilla essence

Whipped cream and chopped almonds to serve.

Procedure:

De-skin the soaked almonds and blend them to form a fine paste. Add the bananas and dates, with a small amount of the milk and blend to form a smooth paste.

Pour the remaining milk, cinnamon powder, vanilla essence and butter and blend until smooth and uniform.

Pour into talk glasses and serve chilled with whipped cream and crushed almonds on top.

TIP: You could also add a drizzle of honey on the top.

MEXICAN COFFEE MILKSHAKE

Ingredients:

¼ cup granulated sugar

1 cinnamon stick

2 tablespoons orange zest

1.5 tablespoons instant coffee powder.

2 scoops Coffee ice-cream

1/2 cup milk (optional)

Whipped cream for serving

Procedure:

Combine 1 cup water and the sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously till all the sugar dissolves.

Split the cinnamon stick with your hands and add it to the pot. Add the orange zest and let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes till all the flavours infuse. Remove from flame.

Remove the cinnamon stick and add the instant coffee powder to the syrup.

Add the ice-cream and the syrup in a blender and mix until smooth.

Serve chilled in tall glasses. Garnish with the whipped cream.

TIP: you could use ground cinnamon powder/ coffee powder/ roasted coffee beans/ orange zest as additional garnishes.

Enjoy these treats for breakfast or have them as a healthy snack; you’ll love these either ways. You could also experiment and come up with interesting recipes. Happy Blending!

July 20, 2014
Food Walk – Part I

Photo Walk.

Sure.

But how many of you have heard of “FOOD WALK”?

Food Walk (definition):

You walk. You go places. You try out different delicacies. You eat, eat and eat.

Your knowledge of food increases tenfold. Your waist-line – not so much, since you are literally walking the whole way and that makes up for all the calories you intake.

Going around the city with my friends from college, I have learnt a great deal about my Kolkata and its food culture. We, more often, hit the old cabins of the yesteryears than the posh Park Street restaurants – because, well, we are students at the end of the day with just enough cash for our endeavors.

One of the very first places we went to was Das Cabin, situated in Gariahat. We googled it’s speciality : Moghlai , Kosha Mangsho( Spiced Chicken/Mutton) with Roti and Kobiraji. And the foodies that we are, we ordered all three. The prices were quite reasonable and the food was impeccable. The Moghlai was small and soft with a considerable amount of filling. I would have to say I have had better – in South Pole, to be precise, which is also in Gariahat(Note: South Pole serves Moghlai only after 3 p.m.). The Kosha Mangsho was delicious and can give good competition to the one in the famous Golabari in Shyambazar. And the Kabiraji – o the kabiraji! – was crisp, made with the right amount of spice in the patty and with each bite, you could literally hear the angels sing.

A try-at-home recipe –

Fish Kobiraji

Ingredients: 10 bhetki fillets, ½ tsp mustard powder, ½ tsp black pepper powder, 1 tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp coriander and mint leaves (chopped), 10 Eggs, 2 tbsp cornflour, 2 tsp Breadcrumbs (optional), Juice of one lemon, Salt

Direction: Wash the bekti fillet under running water, pat them dry and soak in salt and lemon juice for 20 minutes. Mix the mustard powder, red chili powder, black pepper powder, coriander and mint leaves together and apply on the each side of the fillets evenly and refrigerate it for another 20 minutes. Beat the eggs and mix the cornflour, breadcrumbs with salt. Heat some oil in a pan and add two tablespoons of egg mixture. As soon as it becomes fluffy add the marinated fish fillet and quickly cover it with the egg mixture. Fry on low to Medium heat till done. Serve hot with kasundi (Bengali mustard sauce) and salad.

Another day, we decided to walk from Presidency University to New Market, from there to Sudder Street and thereby, in the end, landing up in Park Street. If you walk to the right of Presidency University, a little near College Square, you will find a tiny old cabin reminiscing its old world charms. Favourite Cabin is a cabin which has tales etched in all its nooks and corners; oft frequented by the older generation, it felt amazing to sit there, the only people below 55, sipping 3-rupees-milk-tea, biting into crunchy Cream Roll and observing the theatric conversations buzzing around us.

Sudder Street, however shady it may be, has quite a few good food places – Blue Sky Café and Spanish Café being the most popular ones. I’m yet to visit Blue Sky Café but having chanced upon Spanish Café, I got to say it serves reasonably priced and yummilicious food. Their Café Bombon is a must-have! The Chocolate Pancake is simply a piece of ambrosia. The Mint Tea is refreshing – the way you feel when you hear Richard Stoltzman’s The Maid With Flaxen Hair. In short, you absolutely must try them!

Here are the home-made alternatives –

Chocolate Pancake

Ingredients: 1 cup refined flour (maida), 3 tbsp chocolate grated, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, ½ tsp soda, 1 cup Milk, 2 tbsp butter melted, 1 egg, ¼ cup sugar, ½ tsp salt, Castor sugar (to sprinkle)

Direction: Sieve together flour, baking soda, cocoa powder into a bowl. Add milk, melted butter, egg, sugar, salt and mix well. Heat the skillet and pour a ladleful of batter on the skillet and cook on both sides until brown. Serve hot sprinkled with caster sugar and grated chocolate on top.

Mint Tea

Ingredients: 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves (pudina), 2 tea bags or 2 tsp tea leaves, 2 and half cups of water (each cup being equal to 250 ml), milk, sugar (as per taste)

Direction: Wash the mint leaves in water. In a tea pan or tea maker, add water. Add the mint leaves. Boil the water for 3-4 minutes till the flavors and aroma of the mint starts infusing in the water. The water will start becoming green. Let the quantity of green color in the water increase considerably. Add the tea leaves. Add sugar. Add milk and let the tea come to a boil. Serve the mint tea with light tea-time biscuits. If using tea bags, then put off the burner. In the hot water, dip the tea bags for 2-3 mins. Add sugar and hot milk. Stir and serve.

(To be continued)

July 7, 2014
Best hotels you could visit in the world!!

There is hardly someone who does not like travelling and hasn’t ever dreamt of going on a world tour yet. But it’s not possible to visit and every city and if at all you happen to be in one of these cities below, here is a list of great hotels that are almost close to heaven. Luxury and ambiance of these hotels has captured hearts of international tourists ever since they were constructed!

1. Palms, Las Vegas

Planning a party in sin city? I tell you, it is impossible to get a place better than the Palms in Las Vegas. It is everything that a perfect party place should be! Rooftop suites, Jacuzzi, glass elevators that will show you the night-time Vegas, gym, full fledged bar and what not! You name it and you get it here. Its is a dream come true for every party loving guy out there.

2. Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai

You sure have seen a floating sail-shaped hotel in a lot of Bollywood movies or even in photographs. We all know its USP, don’t we? It is the one and only Burj Al Arab. Breathtaking views, luxurious suites, tennis courts and a helipad (I know it’s grand!) are the remarkable amenities of this hotel. Burj Al Arab has made everyone enthusiastic to visit it ever since it was built. Royal treatment is something you can expect off the polite and helpful staff here.

3. The Westin Excelsior, Rome

Rome, as you think about it, incredible history is something that comes to your mind first. Situated in Via Veneto district, this hotel was built in 1906 and has been recently renovated to suit the modern lifestyle. It now consists of the largest suite in Italy called ‘the Villa Cupola Suite ’. Even though it was renovated, the hand-frescos and antique furnish still gives it the royal look. Domes, gyms, sauna, formal dining rooms are other enthralling facilities available here.

4. The Plaza, New York City

Would you like to visit the best hotel in New York which gives awesome views of Manhattan? We all know, only The Plaza can get you requirements fulfilled! Visiting this place gives you a feel of turn of centuries. Libraries, gyms, kitchen for personal chefs, private elevator, and a great Butler service and of course, best views of Manhattan are the specialties of The Plaza. This place was built a long ago i.e. in 1907 which is why the architecture reminds you of the old era

5. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas

The submerged Atlantis city has always been a fascination for everyone. The stories claim that it was no less than paradise. This hotel is built as an accolade to Atlantis. Now you know why people flock around here so much. This 141 acre place is actually a resort. Their Royal Towers Bridge Suite is located on the 23^rd floor and offers posh rooms with pianos, a 22 karat gold chandelier and a formal dining room.

6. CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, Anguilla

Originally designed and built for the owner himself, this resort later started made room for guests. Villas and the large well-furnished rooms here are located on beautiful fascinating beaches. The Golf course, Spa and fitness club are the major attractions which have succeeded in attracting even a lot of celebrities here.

7. Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

Have you watched Yeh Jawani hai Deewani? I am sure that you marveled at the place where Aditi’s (Kalki’s) marriage ceremony was shot! It was none other than Udiapur’s Oberoi Udaivilas. After watching the movie, you don’t really need a description of this Marwadi beauty. A boat ride takes you to this private 50-acre land located in Lake Pichola. Views of Udaipur palaces, wildlife in the nearby forests and grand special rooms with private swimming pools and terraces together form a great combination for the guests.

8. The Boulders, Arizona

Can you imagine something which is 12-million-years old? Well, the rock formations here are! This spa resort got its name from the rock formations and it is nurtured by Mother Nature herself. The Boulders is spread over an enormous 1300 acres of the Sonoran Desert and offers two golf courses as well. Extreme privacy and secrecy about the guest celebrities is the top priority for the extremely loyal staff.

9. The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay, New Zealand

Golf being the chief attraction, such a lodge is ought to lie in the North Island countyside. This place offers 22 suites, two tennis courts, three swimming beaches, indoor/outdoor fireplaces and also one of New Zealand’s best spas .The Owner’s Cottage offers wonderful golf course views, two bedrooms and a large 4200 square feet for your leisure.

10. Nayara Hotel, Spa and Gardens, La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a serene place and so is this hotel. Along with lush green scenery, wildlife, white-water rafting and kayaking are the things that tourists look up to. The owner Leo Ghitis has thought of an irresistible combination of huge decks, hot tubs and plantation furniture for the guests. The wine bar here which is an all-time favorite serves best vintages to the guests whenever required.

So, aren’t these places really worth visiting? After looking at this list of features, anyone will go crazy thinking about visiting these hotels which are believed to be the best in the world!

July 7, 2014
Famous Cheese Recipes for Cheese Lovers

Think about Cheese and the image which comes to our mind is melted cheese on pizzas, vegetables covered with melted cheese, cheese sandwich etc. The list is endless. Cheese is popular all over the world and is one of the ingredients loved by each and every heart. A person who loves cheese is entitled as turophile. In ancient times, there had been a special kitchen in Rome, which is especially maintained for the preparation of cheese. Every cuisine in this world is incomplete without cheese. In 16^th century, it is known to be the currency in Denmark.

Cheese is a food obtained from the milk of buffalos, cows, goats or sheep. It is formed by the coagulation of milk and milk must be acidified. Finally solids are separated out and given a final form. United States, being the largest producer produces 2000 varieties of cheese. It is a large source of protein, calcium and phosphorus.

You must be thinking now cheese is ready and this is all about cheese, but actually now the picture starts. All the cuisines all over the world use cheese as special ingredients. Every dish is incomplete without cheese whether it is margarita pizza, cheesecakes, Savory Corn tarts, Gratin of potatoes, pasta, fondue, macaroni, etc. The list is not completed here, rather it is endless. The preparation of these dishes requires cheese as the main ingredient, but they also require some other ingredients to complete its preparation and now we will discuss some of them.

Oreo Cookie cheesecake is a much loved dessert by the children. It contains oreo cookies, melted chocolate and creamy cheese. Initially crushed down the cookies and mix it with butter. Then beat sugar, cornflour and cheese along with egg one by one. After this add vanilla essence and melted chocolate in it. Pour the solution over the crust and allow it to bake at 180 degrees C for 10 mins and then decrease the temperature to 100 degrees C for 2 hours. Allow it to cool down and then cut down the slice and it is ready. In every bite of these slices you will have a taste of creamy cheese on your tongue and after every bite the only thing you will speak is “yummy cheese”.

When you talk about cheese, slideshow of hot sizzling pizza flashes across your mind. Isn’t it? So here comes the best cheese based pizza’s recipe i.e. Margharita. Take the dough and place it on the tray for pre-heating. Cover it with a layer of mozzarella cheese and spread a layer of pasta and basil leaves. Put the prepared material into the oven for 10-12 minutes. Now, after this drizzle down some olive oil and pepper on it. The pizza is ready to be served and cut down the slices too.

Cheesy dip items are all we want now days. Then how could you forget about gratin of potatoes along with garlic cream. It is a yummy dish with very easy recipe. Cut the potatoes and grate down the cheese. Now add salt and pepper to the potatoes.Now layer the pieces of potatoes and add all the grated cheese along with the garlic cream to it. If the bowl is empty add another layer of potatoes with the garlic cream and cheese. Cover it with butter and allow it to bake at 180 degrees C for 25 minutes. After the potatoes are fully cooked and surface of potatoes covered with cheese becomes brown, then it is ready to be served.

If cheese and pasta lovers are together then four cheese pasta will be there in their menu definitely. This item is as cheesy as cheese. Initially boil the pasta in salted water and mix it with the olive oil. Boil milk with thyme, bay leaf, rosemary and onions and mix the butter with flour. Add both the mixture slowly along with the pepper and salt and stir it. Grate different varieties of cheese like Parmesan, Brie, Emmental and cheddar. Add this to the above sauce. In a pan, add garlic, chili flakes and tomatoes to it. Now mix it properly and serve.

Melted cheese is far more delicious and yummy than the melted chocolate. Here comes another melting cheese dish known as ‘Cheese Fondue’. Fondue is prepared with the help of melted cheese and is a popular Swiss dish known all over the world. Varieties of cheese such as Gruyere and Emmental are added to white wine. Now hot mixture is ready and next you have to add vegetables like baby corn, broccoli to it. Enjoy the cheesiness in every sip of this fondue.

These are some recipes famous all over the world. So if you haven’t tasted any of these dishes, then what are you waiting for. Go to the nearby cuisine and place the order. Spend some cheesy moments with the cheese. Go cheesy, think cheesy and eat cheesy…!!

July 1, 2014
Ooooo Sauce-y !!

Sauces are the splendor and glory of French cooking.

-Julia Child

I remember ordering an egg roll at Bedwin, a well known roll shop here in Kolkata. (To those who love their rolls, kindly don’t take offence) They served the egg roll with potato and onion filling and no ketchup or sauce of any kind. A healthy roll. Well, for me, that’s not a roll – it’s chapatti with potato and egg. I mean, where’s the sauce?

A roll without sauce is not a roll. Period.

A sauce, whoever insignificant it may seem, adds flavor, moisture and visual appeal to a dish. Nowadays, most of the sauces are store bought, like Soy Sauce, Tomato Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce and the like. But by watching Masterchef, the one thing I have learnt is that there’s nothing like a fresh home-made sauce. The taste of a store bought one is nowhere near its zing.

Anyhow, here are a few easy-peasy sauce recipes for you to try out (some even take less than 15 minutes to make) –

Barbeque Sauce

Time- 30 minutes

Makes- 450 ml

Ingredients- 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 onion (finely chopped), 400g can chopped tomatoes, 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped), 85g brown sugar, 3 tbsp malt vinegar, 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp tomato purée

Directions- Heat oil in a saucepan and add the onion. Cook over a gentle heat 4-5 minutes, until softened. Add remaining ingredients, season and mix. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until thickened. For a smooth sauce, simply whizz the mixture in a food processor or with a hand blender for a few seconds.

White Sauce

Time- 15 minutes

Makes- 500 ml

Ingredients- 500ml whole milk, 1 onion (halved), 1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, 50g butter, 50g plain flour

Directions- Gently bring the milk to the boil in a small saucepan with the onion, studded with the bay and cloves (step 1, above). Turn off the heat and leave to infuse for 20 minutes.Melt the butter in another saucepan, and add the flour. Stir continuously until a paste forms (step 2) – this is called a roux. Continue cooking for 2 minutes.Remove the onion, bay and cloves from the milk with a slotted spoon and discard. Add the infused milk to the roux gradually, stirring as you go, until you get a smooth sauce (step 3). Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring continuously, until the sauce has thickened. Season well.

Tomato Sauce

Time- 50 minutes

Serves- 8

Ingredients- 4tbsp olive oil, 2 onion (finely chopped), 2 carrots (finely chopped), 2 celery sticks (finely chopped), 2 garlic cloves (crushed), 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp sugar, 4 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

Directions- Heat the oil in a pan and add the vegetables and bay leaf. Stir in the sugar with some salt. Gently cook for 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the tomatoes and 150ml water. Simmer very gently for 30 minutes until the sauce has reduced by two-thirds and is very thick. Stir occasionally, particularly towards the end of the cooking time, so that the sauce doesn’t catch on the bottom. If you like your sauce a little thinner, then add a splash of water. Serve half with pasta and chill or freeze other half in 1-2 batches for later use.

Pesto Sauce

Time- 10 minutes

Makes- 250 ml

Ingredients- 50g pine nuts, large bunch of basil, 50g parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), 150ml olive oil (plus extra for storing), 2 garlic cloves

Directions- Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook the pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with the remaining ingredients and process until smooth, then season.Pour the pesto into a jar and cover with a little extra oil, then seal and store in the fridge. It will keep in a fridge for up to two weeks.

Bread Sauce

Time- 25 minutes

Ingredients – 600ml milk, 50g butter, 1 onion (chopped), 6 cloves, 6 peppercorns, 2 garlic cloves, 1 bay leaf, 3 thyme sprigs, 100g white breadcrumbs, 4 tbsp single cream or mascarpone, pinch nutmeg (freshly grated)

Directions- Simmer the milk, butter, onion, cloves, peppercorns, garlic and herbs in a pan for 20 minutes. Strain and return the liquid to the pan. Add the breadcrumbs and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the cream or mascarpone. Add nutmeg, season and serve. Can be made up to 3 days in advance and heated up on the hob or microwave on Medium for 3 minutes.

Caramel Sauce

Time- 10 minutes

Servess- 10

Ingredients- 250g caster sugar, 142ml pot double cream, 50g butter

Directions- Tip the sugar into a heavy-based frying pan, stir in 4 tbsp water, then place over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Turn up the heat and bubble for 4-5 minutes until you have caramel. Take off the heat, and then carefully stir in the cream and butter. Leave the sauce to cool, and then tip into a bottle.

Butterscotch Sauce

Time- 10 minutes

Serves- 8

Ingredients- 100g caster sugar, 25g butter, 300ml pot double cream

Directions- Dissolve the caster sugar with 3 tbsp water over a low heat. Bring to the boil but don’t stir at all. When the sugar is a dark golden caramel, whisk in butter. Remove from the heat and stir in double cream.

July 1, 2014