#AllthingsSizzle- Sizzle Food Festival at Hard Rock Cafe

Bacardi Gold Sour

SIZZLE IN INDIA, PARTY IT UP IN BARCELONA!

Indulge into a month long steamy affair with Hard Rock Cafe

Spice things up with a multi-sensory experience at Hard Rock Cafe.  You will be treated with a chance to savour the exotic delicacies, as part of the celebrations for the ‘SIZZLE’ Festival. During this month long celebration, indulge in a large spread of delectable sizzlers which will take you for an aromatic journey through the spice fields and citrus farms.

Bacardi Rum Punch

Look forward to a sizzling journey of exotic food and music, in true Hard Rock Cafe style. The unique fiesta will tantalize your taste buds with a large spread of classic and delectable dishes sizzled to absolute perfection such as Smoked Chipotle Pepper, , Hungarian Steak Stew,  Lebanese Veg Fajita, Herb Lemon Crusted Chicken Scallopini and many more. Sizzle on as the DJs spin some groovy ‘rock n retro’ tunes on weekends along with electrifying live performances by bands that battle out to win a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform at a global stage in Barcelona, every Thursday.

Hungarian Steak Stew

Lebanese Veg Fajita

Join in the Sizzling celebrations and get a chance to say Hola to Espana!! Participate in #SizzletoBarcelona contest and four lucky ones win an all expense paid trip to Barcelona along with VIP tickets to Hard Rock Cafe LIVE Concert, featuring 2015 Rising winners in a three day music festival alongside some of the biggest musicians alive in an international setting!

 

What: Sizzle Festival

When: February 20 – March 22, 2015

Venue: Hard Rock Cafe, Delhi & Gurgaon

Time: 11:30 am – 11:45 pm

Telephone No:  011 – 47158888, 0124 –4949630

Irresistible Valentine’s Day offerings at Harry’s

Come spread the love this Valentine’s Day with a special Food Menu coupled with exciting new Parisian Themed Cocktails to bring out the true essence of Valentine’s Day.

Add a little flair to your love life, with exclusive ‘Tigre Blanc’ Vodka cocktails aptly termed the Parisian Crush and Rouge Toujours (Always Red). Blended with crushed ice, fresh mint, sugar syrup and Tigre Blanc Vodka with a splash of lemon juice topped with Crème de Cassis to give the Parisian Crush the true essence of Paris. Rouje Tajoure is infused with Tigre Blanc Vodka, Mint Leaves, Sugar Syrup, Grenadine & Anise flavoring and Lemon Wedges, all muddled with Fresh Watermelon to give it a fruity yet delectable flavor. For the less adventurous, Harry’s is also offering you your all-time favorites- Lychee Martini and Passion Mint Margarita both with a Valentine’s Day twist.

Forever Red

Sweet Passion

The special Valentine’s Day Food menu crafted by Chef Mohit includes a four course offering with a Salad, Starter, Main Course and Dessert to choose from.

 

The Salad termed ‘Love on a Yellow Plate’comprises of Red bean hummus, roasted pepper and zucchini paired with sesame garlic chicken skewers and sour cream, all priced at Rs. 329/- (taxes as applicable).

Orange scented prawns tossed in garlic, basil, peppers and asparagusawait you as an appetizer followed bythe main course- Lover’s Mess which comprises of Shitake mushroom, asparagus, Pak-Choy and Babycorn in a Smoked Chilly Soy Oyster Rice Wine Sauce messed with Jasmine Rice.

 

Satiate your sweet cravings with Love Flame Strawberry’s and Chocolate- Our favourite Chocolate volcano cake with macerated strawberries, vanilla gelato and triple sec flambé.

Harry’s Interior

Pick your individual favorites from the options above, or simply go in for the exciting Set Menu Package for you and your partner comprising of 1 Salad, 1 Starter, 1 Main Course, 1 Dessert and 2 Cocktails all at very exciting prices. Harry’s also has some stirring giveaways for all the beautiful couples giving themeven more reasons to be romantic this Valentine’s Day! Exclusivelyavailable atall Harry’s outlets across Bangalore, Dellhi and Mumbai.

Parisian Kiss

Locations:
New Delhi: 2nd Floor, Select CITYWALK, Saket
New Delhi: Flat No.62, 2^nd Floor, Above CBTL, Khan Market, New Delhi
Mumbai: Ventura Park IT Building, 103, 1st Floor, Central Avenue, Hiranandani, Powai
Mumbai: No. 14, Silver Beach Estate, AB Nair Road, Opp. Juhu Post Office, Near CBTL, Juhu
Bangalore: No.2006, First Floor, HAL 2nd Stage, 100 Ft. Road, Indiranagar

Rajasthani Food Festival at Sanskriti Mumbai

Dal Baati full thaali

If this huge thali doesn’t satiates your taste buds then I don’t know what will. Concept of Thali’s have its roots in history, from the time of Maharaja’s of Rajasthan this is considered one of the royal treats. Although there are a certain people in today’s time who consider it an old fashioned concept, but I for once totally enjoy this kind of meal be it in a restaurant or at a household in Rajasthan.

Allure your senses to Rajasthan’s strikingly evocative culture and colors congregated into a ‘Royal Thali’ with aromatic delicacies from the state at the Rajasthani Food Festival hosted by Sanskriti, the essence of India on the 23^rd of January 2015. Sanskriti’s Rajasthani Food Festival will focus on showcasing the limitless varieties of food from what can be termed as the most colorful state of India in the most colorful manner.

In this one month long festival, Sanskriti offers a hearty spread of the choicest specialities ranging from the most native Dal Baati Churma to the most sought after Kachoris, Chiladas, Ker Sanger, Jhor (Kadhi), Papad Mangodi, Kathol and many more. You can explore over 100 distinctive food items with different combinations of mouthwatering chaat, mithais and snacks to possess your senses at prices ranging from Rs. 50 to 600! The food is a tasty mix of authentic Rajasthani dishes and modern favorites. Treat yourself to Sanskriti’s Dal Batti Maha Thali and indulge into a wholesome meal that serves three people; so that you enjoy sharing the Thali like the typical Rajasthani tradition.

Full thali

Mahathali1

Sanskriti is celebrated for its nutritious Maha Thali with splendid dishes that are light on the stomach. The food festival will have specially sourced vegetables and dairy products with scientifically developed spices, devoid of any colours, preservatives or additives. What could be better than getting your cravings satisfied, while you stay healthy with the ‘sattvik’ food that Sanskriti is distinguished for!

You can now treat your eyes to watching the scrumptious dishes being prepared, right in front of you, hot and fresh at the Infiniti Malad outlet of Sanskriti. Embellished with multicolour patakas and draped in traditional bandhani, the ambience at all Sanskriti outlets will bring to Mumbai, the vibrant ethnicity of Rajasthan, as the staff will be serving patrons wearing traditional outfits. Come and discover the true flavours of Rajasthan at Sanskriti, the essence of India at Inorbit Mall in Malad, Infinity Mall in Andheri and Malad!

Biryani

PARATHA THALI

Duration: 23rd January  to 22^nd  of February 2015

Location:  Infiniti Andheri, Inorbit Malad, Infiniti Malad

Website: http://sanskritiindia.in /index.html

Happy eating & Happy reading!!!

Tex Mex Delights at Eros Hotel

As far as my knowledge of “Tex Mex” food goes, it isn’t exactly Mexican and not really different from it as well. You might think I’m confused, but actually the whole story behind this type of Mexican cuisine is quite confusing. In order to make it simpler let me give you a little brief about this particular kind of food and its origin.

Tex Mex

“Tex-Mex” is a term describing a cultural fusion cuisine of American cuisine and Mexican cuisine, deriving from the culinary creations of Tejanos. It has spread from border states such as Texas and those in the Southwestern United States to the rest of the country as well as Canada. Tex-Mex is most popular in the state of Texas.

Some ingredients are common in Mexican cuisine, but other ingredients not typically used in Mexico are often added. Tex-Mex cuisine is characterized by its heavy use of shredded cheese, meat (particularly beef and pork), beans, and spices, in addition to Mexican-style tortillas. Dishes such as Texas-style chili con came and fajitas are all Tex-Mex inventions. Moreover, Tex-Mex has imported flavors from other spicy cuisines, such as the use of cumin, introduced by Spanish immigrants to Texas from the Canary Islands and used in Berber cuisine, but used in only a few central Mexican recipes.

Coming back to the Tex Mex festival at Blooms,Eros Hotel, the famous tequila company from Mexico had roped in an expat chef Tania Tovar exclusively for this festival. It is Tania’s first visit to our mother land. She’s a 24 year old and hails from Mexico city. 

Professionally, she likes to learn the flavors and culinary techniques from other cuisines. With an experience of different practices in hotels and restaurants of different cuisines such as , Japanese, Thai, kosher food, and of course Mexican traditional and author, among others, the most exotic food that she has tasted is insects used in certain Mexican regional food. She loves to travel and eat and so this profession gives her the best of both.

Chef Tania Tovar

Mexican food is not just about Nachos and salsa dip that you get everywhere (mostly) in India. I hardly remember any restaurant that mainly caters to Mexican food or does pairing of the authentic cuisine with Tequila, which actually how it is supposed to be. Earlier TGIF ( Thank God Its Friday) in Vasant kunj, Priya’s complex had Tex Mex cuisine and back then tequila shots were a rage or the “In Thing”, the place has been shut down now. Apart from TGIF, Rodeo In Connaught Place still serves some Mexican food, which initially was planned as a stand alone Mexican restaurant but now serves almost everything. So yes, we had totally forgotten about this cuisine and thanks to Corralejo we got this chance of experiencing the long lost cuisine once again.

There was a wide spread of live Tapas Bar (Cold & Hot), Mexican Wraps, Main course and Desserts to choose from. A few dishes that I tried from the extensive menu were, Chicken Chipotle Wrap (Quesadillas), Corn Kernel & Cheese ( Tacos), Esquites, Chilli – Mexican tenderloin stew with chilli peppers, tomato & beans and in desserts we had, Capirotada (Baked bread pudding with almonds & raisins), Tequila Truffles and Coconut Dumplings.

Chili (braised tenderloin)

The food was a total stand out in terms of authenticity and taste. A few things that didn’t go down well in my throat were Tacos, they were a bit dry and a little flavorless as compared to other dishes. The Mexican tenderloin stew was outstanding! It was as perfect as it could be, cooked to perfection and spiked with right amount of spices. Not just me but everyone who tried it on the table loved it to the core. Tequila was another highlight of the evening, it was the smoothest tequila I had ever tasted. No after burn in your throat too.

Tacos

The festival was started on 12th January and lasted till 20th. The tequila brand Corralejo plans to take this festival all around India, covering at least 12 cities. Apart from tequila, Mexican Rum was also there and some of the cocktails too were prepared by the same rum. Yet again, the rum just like tequila won our hearts. The event was organized in the coffee shop area of the hotel, which is named “Blooms” It’s a pretty cosy space with buffet aligned in the center and sitting space outside for the weather like Delhi winters.

Blooms

Happy eating & Happy reading!!!

 

Harry’s New Menu by Chef Vicky Ratnani

Singapore’s favorite bar- Harry’s has launched its all new menu to cater to the strong bar culture that the brand is grounded in. Curated by Celebrity Chef Vicky Ratnani, the food menu comprises of Greens, Bar Nibbles, Mains and Desserts for the foodies to celebrate the New Year.

Get ready to be spoiled for choice with delectable yet healthy ‘Greens’ including Watermelon & Feta and Caesar Salads; relish over 30 varieties of ‘Bar Nibbles’ such as Buffalo Chicken Winglets, Fondue Stuffed Mushroom, Smoking Hot Sausages and Crispy Chilli Potatoes.

Take your pick of yummy signature ‘Sliders’ or dig into ‘Bowls’ with a variety of Asian, Italian and Indian options to choose from.

Harry’s has been on my list of favorite’s since the time they opened up their Khan Market outlet which is above Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. This place for some reason can never go wrong with their food and drinks and just like any other day I visited Harry’s with the same zeal and enthusiasm this time too for the launch of its new gastronomic menu. Chef Vicky Ratnani had flown down from Mumbai especially for this launch and paid attention to each of the person present at the launch.

Our evening was started with some cocktails from the new menu. I decided to go with White Sangria as it is my current poison these days. The sangria as expected was freshly prepared with all the fruits soaked in white wine but to my surprise it was on the sweeter side. After much discussion we asked the server and he said the drink had mango juice in it. Well I’ve had sangria’s at a lot of places now and I’m very well aware of the taste and contents but this was first of its kind having mango juice. I’d leave it on to you people for the feedback because food is something very personal I believe. For me it was way too sweet for my taste buds.

The next drink was Dirty Harry made with vodka, litchi juice and some caster sugar. Again, not a very impressive trick.

For the starters we had Ratatouille Stuffed Mushroom Caps, Vietnamese Spring Roll, Wasabi Cottage Cheese, Mumbai style Potato Wedges, Fisherman Basket etc.

The mushroom caps were surprisingly delicious and it was more like “You didn’t want to know what’s there inside it and just gulp it down” as said by one of the bloggers while eating the caps. And I most definitely second her on this thought. They were the best I’ve had so far. Vietnamese Rolls were though a little loosely packed, tasted good. Wasabi Cottage Cheese were again a hit on the spot dish, with perfect tinge of wasabi in it.

Vietnamese Spring Roll

Wasabi Cottage Cheese

Ratatouille Stuffed Mushroom Caps

Fisherman Basket and Potato wedges were perfectly cooked and spiced dishes which were amongst the most enjoyed and loved by everyone from the new menu. Although I’m not a potato person, I thoroughly enjoyed eating these wedges with tangy sauce.

Fisherman Basket

Potato Wedges

Watermelon & Feta salad is what I had next. After much discussion and speculations all of us decided to order this salad, and my my such a wonderful salad it was. But the only trouble I had was with the feta cheese, it was a tad bit on the harder side as compared to how cheese is supposed to be in this salad.

Watermelon & Feta Salad

From the main course I had Thai Curry with Rice. As expected the curry was beautifully made with vegetables and complimented well with sticky rice.

Thai Curry and Sticky Rice bowl

Desserts are the best part of any and every meal. For a person like me who definitely has a mini stomach especially for desserts, it’s difficult to leave without tasting at least one out of many and oh boy this dessert swept me away from my feet. The Volcano Chocolate Cake with flamed rum was one mind boggling dessert I had or you could imagine. You gotta eat to believe it! Highly recommended by me, a 10/10 to chef for this amazing addition.

Volcano Chocolate Cake

Next time you are in khan Market or SelectCity walk and looking forward to spend some quality time over drinks and food, head over to Harry’s and you won’t be disappointed.

Happy eating & Happy reading!!!

Chef’s table at FIO – Cookhouse & Bar Epicuria, Nehru Place

Ever since Sex and The City happened the concept of brunches has been evolved and flourished from European countries to Asian countries and now even in India most of us are aware of this concept, especially if you’re living in Delhi and its winters.

Fio- Cookhouse & Bar, Epicuria, is one beautifully thought and conceptualized fusion patio in the otherwise busy and bustling Nehru place area of South Delhi. The love and labour of restaurateur Mr. Vineet Wadhwa is visible in every nook and corner of this place. From a huge library which is designed in such a way that one its one side there’s bar counter and other side is the kitchen area, stands tall and beautiful and the same time you’ll see outside garden sitting with marble tracks and umbrella shades. Yes! you heard it right this place is not only just one floor sitting unlike other restaurants that turn the place into a mezzanine Mr. Wadhwa has kept it one story restaurant with a little garden area outside for one of those bright days perfect for brunching.

A deep passion for food and a penchant for perfection are evident in every aspect of the Fio experience. Look forward to an unforgettable gastronomic excursion as the culinary masters at Fio bring together the finest recipes from Europe and contemporary India to tease and provoke your palate.

Interiors

Interiors

I took a look at their newest menu. To start off I had Amuse bouches-  Rum Flamed Cured cheese and olive. A perfect amalgamation of cheese infused with rum flamed olive was a good start for the rest of the gastronomical journey which was about to begin.

Cheese and olive

Smoked Salmon Salad was the next thing i tried and I must say being a salad person I’m quite possessive about how my salad tastes and this was just amazing. The salmon was smoked to perfection with fresh veggies and right amount of seasoning.

Smoked Salmon Salad

Prawn Minestrone Piemontese- tomato broth with small cut vegetables with prawn on the top was an interesting medley of the flavors.

Prawn Soup

Butter beans– mushrooms, butter beans, spinach, sundried tomato and parmesan cheese when baked together taste just as good as these small buns which were so soft and tasty on their own.

Butter Beans

On the other hand drinks were another hit on the menu, Apple martini, peach martini and choices of wines (Sparkling or Dry). Do try their martini’s as they have some unique choices layed down on the menu.

Peach Martini

A meal is incomplete without desserts and for our brunch we were surprised with a widespread of desserts infront of us. Orange Cheesecake, Raspberry & Chocolate pudding, Tiramisu and Plum cake. Tiramisu and Raspberry & Chocolate pudding were my personal favorites from the lot.

Desserts

At Fio- Cookhouse every experience is made for entertaining your senses and taste buds.

Happy eating & Happy reading!!!

Celebrate the Season of Joy with Delicious & Luscious Traditional Treats

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf  is gearing up for Christmas with its hearty selection of seasonal offerings. Food enthusiasts can enjoy temptingly cheerful, colorful and sweet gifts along with goodies that will to add to the cheer and make your holiday season even more special.

To satiate your cravings, this limited edition holiday special menu is infused with flavoured cappuccinos such as Cinnamon Mocha Cappuccino, Salted Caramel Cappuccino and Spiced Honey Cappuccino. Combine these with irresistable traditional treats – Stollen Bread; Plum Cake; Turkey Sandwich and Yule Log Pastry.

To make a joyous year-end gift for star employees or favorite relatives near and far, you can choose from the specially designed gift hampers named as Mistletoe Hamper , Reindeer Hamper and Santa’s Hamper. These assorted hampers are loaded with Plum Cakes, Tea Cakes, Stolen Bread, Chocolate Muffins, Coffee Mugs, Almonds and Cashews. Available at select outlets till the end of December, the price range of hampers start from Rs. 450/- plus taxes.

Cinnamon Mocha Cappuccino, Salted Caramel Cappuccino and Spiced Honey Cappuccino

To make a joyous year-end gift for star employees or favorite relatives near and far, you can choose from the specially designed gift hampers named as Mistletoe Hamper , Reindeer Hamper and Santa’s Hamper. These assorted hampers are loaded with Plum Cakes, Tea Cakes, Stolen Bread, Chocolate Muffins, Coffee Mugs, Almonds and Cashews. Available at select outlets till the end of December, the price range of hampers start from Rs. 450/- plus taxes.

For these season’s special goodies, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf have tied up with Pay TM. Under this tie-up, customers who buy Christmas products will get Rs.50/- Paytm cash coupon valid on a minimum recharge of Rs.100/-  through login from Paytm Site. These holiday special offerings are available at all the outlets till the end of December, 2014.

Christmas Hampers

Head to #CoffeeBeanAndTeaLeaf and make this season extra special!

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is available across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Pune& Kolkata. Marking its presence across 9 cities, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has over 30 cafes. Recently, the brand has opened its stores in Ludhiana and Gurgaon to be followed by launching their new store at Kurla in Mumbai.

Turkey sandwich

 

About Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf:

 

Founded in 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is the oldest chain of specialty coffee and tea stores in the United States. With a reputation for excellence, the company is a leader in product innovations, having developed “The Original Ice Blended® “beverages. Providing the highest quality coffees and teas for over 50 years, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® currently has more than 1000 stores across the globe. These stores blanket the world in markets such as California, Arizona, Nevada, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Brunei, Indonesia, UAE, Israel, China, Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar, Philippines and continue to expand both domestically and internationally.

In India Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is an independently owned & operated franchisee of CBTL Franchising, LLC. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® had made a mark by offering the International coffee experience along with gourmet food menu specially designed for the Indian market. The USP of the brand is that the “Coffee Beans” and the “Teas” are sourced from the best plantations across the world. The brand entered India in 2008 and presently operates over 30 Cafés across 10 cities. The brand is increasing its presence in India along multiple formats including high street stores, Mall Locations and corporate office buildings. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® – India won the “Best Café Award – Gold” at the India International Coffee Festival, 2012.

My personal favorite was Yule Log Pastry and Salted Caramel Cappuccino good creamy coffee topped with caramel that leaves a bit sweet and salty flavor on your palate and the pastry was moist on the inside and covered with think layer of chocolate and matched perfectly with the coffee.

Yule log

Happy eating & Happy reading!!!

  

A not so Oily Oil- Canola

Delhi witnessed an interesting and fact filled event recently by Canola Council Of Canada in association with BlogAdda.  The main highlight of the event was to educate and inform the already well informed audience about the benefits of about Canola Oil, the better alternative to traditional oils that dominate our kitchens.

Mr. Bruce Jowett, Vice President of Market Development, Canola Council of Canada, Ritika Samaddar, Registered Dietician and Nutritionist and Chef Surjan Singh (aka Chef Jolly) shared interesting insights on consumer research, Health benefits and how Canola Oil adapts well to all the cuisines. 

Bruce Jowett, Ritika Samaddar and Chef Jolly

There’s a secret weapon in many kitchens today: Canola Oil. It’s the healthiest, most versatile  and cost-effective cooking oil available to us, as said by Bruce and second by Ritika. Canola oil has the least saturated fat of any culinary oil- half that of Olive Oil- and is free of trans fat and cholesterol. Canola oil comes from the seeds of the canola plant, Once harvested, canola seeds are crushed and the oil contained within the seed is extracted. The average canola seed is 45% oil.

Canola oil is heart-healthy. It has the least saturated fat of any common cooking oil. In fact, it has less than half the saturated fat of olive or soybean oil. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a qualified health claim for canola oil’s ability to reduce the risk of heart disease when used in place of saturated fat.

The term Canola comes from ‘Canada’ and ‘ola’ respectively as “Can-ola”. The canola plants grow from three to five feet tall and produce beautiful small, yellow flowers, as told by Mr. Bruce Jowett. He also shared a greater deal of information about the consistency and percentage of oil in canola as compared to other oils. Bruce said, ” The canola oil comes from the crushed seeds of canola plant. These seeds contain about 44% oil- double the oil content of soyabeans.”

Bruce sharing the insights

Next was Nutritionist and dietician Ritika Samddar’s turn of shedding some light on the health benefits of the oil. I would like to explain her facts in points.

• Free Of trans fat and cholesterol- Trans fat increases the risk of heart diseases in two ways:nit raises “bad” LDL cholesterol and lowers “good” HDL cholesterol.
• Low in saturated fat- Saturated fat has also been linked to increase risk of heart disease by increasing bad LDL cholestrol.
• High in monounsaturated fat or MUFA- Monounsaturated fat may help reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering bad LDL cholesterol and controlling blood sugar.
• High on omega-3 fat- Alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) must be consumed because the body cannot make it on its own. Omega-3 fat is anti- inflammatory and may help protect against heart attacks and strokes.
• A source of omega-6 fat- Linoleic acid (omega-6) is also essential in the diet because the body cannot produce it. Omega-6 fat is essential for human growth and development as well as for skin health.

Remember, not all fats are created equally! The type of fat matters as much as the amount.

The most fun and awaited part was Chef Jolly and his demo about how to use Canola oil in different dishes and quantity. According to chef Canola oil is ideal for any type of cooking.  From salad dressings to sautéing, canola oil’s neutral taste and light texture make it a great match for just about everything. Furthermore, its high heat tolerance means you can use canola oil for anything from baking to stir-frying to deep-frying or grilling.

Chef Jolly demonstrating chick pea patty

Chef Jolly

Canola is a very stable oil that doesn’t break down at high temperatures, so it’s ideal for sauteing, stir-frying, deep frying and other high-heat applications. Its smoke point- the temperature at which it begins to smoke and degrade is one of the highest of all cooking oils at 468 degree F (242 degree C). This is one of the main reasons why JAPAN has adapted Canola as their first preference. If you’re wondering how can your mother or grand mother will accommodate Canola with their traditional mustard oil then let chef Jolly clear your doubts too ” Some traditional dishes and cuisines should not be touched especially when it carries a tradition of ones family because then it is a matter of emotions as well and they should be made in a manner how they have always been prepared.”

Dishes prepared in canola oil at Shangri-La

Mini French pastries

All the desserts and starters were made in Canola Oil by the chef of Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi at the event!

Happy Eating & Happy Reading!!!

LIIT tasting session at Hard Rock Cafe

What : LIIT tasting session

Where : Hard Rock Cafe, Saket

Before I tell you anything about the bloggers meet or the flavor of LIIT’s at HRC I would like you all to know a bit more about this drink which is spiked perfect alcohol combinations and everyone’s favorite.

“Drinking a Long Island Iced Tea when not thirsty is one of the few things that separates us from the Beast.”

– Rosebud

The world famous LONG ISLAND ICE TEA was invented in 1972 by Robert Butt, while he was tending bar at the infamous Oak Beach Inn. Nicknamed “Rosebud” by the owner of OBI, Bob Matherson, he participated in a Cocktail creating contest.

Triple Sec had to be included, and the bottles started flying.  His concoction was an immediate hit and quickly became the house drink at the OBI.  By the mid-1970’s, every bar on LI ( Long Island) was serving up this innocent looking cocktail, and by the 1980’s it was known the world over.  Though it looks like the Iced Tea your Mom serves on a summer day, it is actually a combination of 5 different alcohols, with a splash of Coke.  Mention Long Island Iced Tea at a party, and almost everyone has a story to tell…

Table Card

Now this insight about the drink should interest you in knowing about what we tried and tasted at Hard Rock Cafe, Saket. Our guide in the world of LIIT was JD, oh not Jack Daniels but the man named JD who took us in the past and explained us everything from the origin of the name to the mixing of the alcohols. So apparently only colorless spirits were used in this drink and just to give it a color and feel of ice tea the drink was topped with coke, which by the way happens till date. This is how a Classic Long Island Ice Tea is made.

Classic Long Island Ice Tea

Now let’s share the recipe with you all:-

The Recipe

2 cups ice cubes

1 part vodka

1 part gin

1 part white rum

1 part white tequila

1/2 part triple sec

1/2 part sour mix

1 splash Coke

Lemon wedges for garnish

7 LIIT list

Second on our list was Long Beach Iced Tea, the preparation was almost similar the add on was Cranberry juice which added a flavorful taste to the drink and changed the color too. It was good but I couldn’t find much difference so I may not go for this if given an option.

Long Beach Iced Tea

Next came on the table was Long Caribbean Iced Tea, when we say Caribbean what comes first in our mind is MALIBU! Yes, so this iced tea had Malibu and i really liked this one, since Malibu has a little flavor of coconut and sweetness so does this drink. Surprisingly, the flavor was just doubled and the drink wasn’t too sweet at all.

Long Caribbean Iced Tea

Channel Iced Tea, is a twist to the original Long Island Iced Tea where tequila is added to the drink to add the zest in the already high on alcohol drink. This was another favorite. I will give 3.5/5 to this concoction.

Channel Iced Tea

Raspberry Iced Tea was close to the Beach Iced Tea instead of cranberry juice Raspberry juice was added but it was a little different from the previous one.

Boston Iced Tea, Oh my favorite coffee iced tea. You read it right, this was a super drink where the bar tender used an espresso shot to this cocktail. I would highly recommend this if you are a coffee freak or if in case you are looking for something different in your drink.

Last on the list was Texas Iced Tea, a whiskey based iced tea. Well I would like to add something here, whoever said women and whiskey don’t go together then let me correct you here, I truly loved this combination and I would recommend this blend to everyone looking for a change. A 5/5 to this version of LIIT!

That’s me having my Texas Iced Tea

You can try all these 7 Long Island Iced Tea’s at the HARD ROCK CAFE in your city (If you have one) this festival ends on 14th December,2014. So Don’t wait and go hurry up!!! 

Order any 2 LIIT shots at just 99/- INR

Sample the festival variants at just 199/- INR

Package of any 5 LIITs at just 2099/- INR (455 individual)

Happy Eating & Happy Reading!!!

Gelato Italiano unveils ‘Rich Scoop Fiesta’

Bring in the festive celebrations with Gelato Italiano’s ‘Rich Scoop Fiesta’ – a Limited Edition of premium flavors for all dessert lovers. The brand in addition to its existing signature range will be introducing four premium flavours made with all exotic ingredients.

The Limited Edition ‘Rich Scoop Fiesta’ flavours are Tiramisu Gelato, Black Forrest Gelato, Belgian Chocolate Gelato, and Fruit & Nut. The fiesta will be available from 20^th October, 2014 and till 31^st December 2014. These four unique flavors are made with all natural ingredients:

• Tiramisu Gelato – Crema, Coffee Powder, Cheese Mascarpone, Cocoa powder and Egg less sponge
• Black Forest Gelato –  Crema, Chocolate Truffle, Cherry, Dark chocolate flakes and Egg less sponge
• Belgian Chocolate Gelato – Crema, Dark chocolate, Cocoa powder, Coffee powder and Chocolate flakes
• Fruit & Nut – Crema, Orange crush, Mango pulp, Toppings (Rose syrup, Chocolate sauce and Almonds)

Gelato lovers can now treat their family & friends with gourmet delights of the ‘Rich Scoop Fiesta’!

You guys remember how Preity Zinta craved for Belgian Chocolate ice cream in Salaam Namaste? Yes, this is the same gelato which one would crave for because it is the most creamy, chocolaty and amazing ice cream I’ve ever had!! It goes into your mouth and you don’t wanna stop eating, the need for more will keep you on your toes to come back to the nearest Gelato Italiano store.

BlackForest

First on my tasting list out of four new flavors was the Black Forest. This is the best Black Forest ice cream I’ve ever had, yes I mean it! It was as good as having a Black Forest cake with big chunks of chocolate, cake and cherries. I am drooling even while writing about it so now you can imagine how good it must be. This is my personal favorite and i would recommend everyone to try this at least once.

Fruit & Nut

Crema, Orange crush, Mango pulp, Toppings (Rose syrup, Chocolate sauce and Almonds) this is what you will get when you will order this flavor and if you have a tooth for everything sweet like really SWEET then this ever green flavor is to die for.

Tiramisu

Tiramisu is one of the most sort after dessert across the globe and Gelato has brought it to us in India, the best dessert in form of ice cream. With Coffee Powder, Cheese Mascarpone and Egg less sponge this ice cream took me back to the time when i was in Russia and had the best Tiramisu of my life. I could feel every ingredient individually on my tongue and it was a joy ride for my taste buds. Looking for something different? Go try Tiramisu Gelato and thank me later.

Available at all Gelato Italiano outlets across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore

About Pan India Food Solutions:

 

Incorporated in September 2000, Pan India Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Blue Foods) commenced its operations in Mumbai and fast expanded its orbit covering other major cities across India. Being one of the lead players in the organized retail-food business in India, Blue Foods operates in the food & beverage segments with its lead brands– Spaghetti Kitchen, Copper Chimney, Bombay blue Gelato Italiano, Noodle Bar & The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

In a span of 10 years, Blue Foods is operational across more than over 125 outlets across India and serves more than one million customers monthly.

Pan India Food Solutions has been awarded the prestigious ‘Coca Cola Golden Spoon Awards’ in two main categories, one in ‘Excellence in Food Court Brand – Spoon’ in 2010 & 2011 and  2012 and as ‘Best Restaurant Chain’ for the year 2010.  The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf also won the Best Café (Gold) Award at India International Coffee Festival 2012. Spaghetti kitchen has won the Times Food Award in Best Italian Restaurant category at Kolkata and Bangalore for 2011.

Happy Eating & Happy Reading!!!