Year: 2016

Matriarch of Moplah Cuisine – Ummi Abdulla’s menu at Dakshin, ITC Windsor (Palace Road)

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She carefully inspects the thickness of the pastry that encases the succulent chicken filling. A cross between a samosa and a gujia, the Kozhi Ada is a Moplah specialty that is actually served as a tea time snack. She laughs when I ask her about the equally enticing Ulliyada which has a caramelized onion filling. ‘Moplah cuisine is not high on vegetarian delicacies’ she says smiling, but she improvised to please the vegetarian guests. She signals to the ITC staff that the Ada is up to the mark and then settles down to regale us with tales from Moplah land. After two hours of abject gluttony and childhood stories, I’m floored by this 80-year-old diminutive food adventurer called Ummi Abdulla. Her first love – traditional Moplah cuisine, is being showcased by Dakshin, ITC Windsor till the 12th of September. Right off the bat, let’s just say you need to experience it!

15 minute Tiramisu – for real!

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I might have suddenly gone all Jamie Oliver and tried to find recipes that can be made under 15 mins. The slow food movement guys can have their leisurely life, but if I have to lovingly watch over a stew for 24 hrs, I think I might bust a blood vessel. In my defense I do Yoga and Meditation to ‘slow’ down, but all areas of my life are filled with a frenzy of activity. Tiramisu under 15 mins sounds like a bad clickbait title but I’ve tested this multiple times and it’s definitely for real. I’ve obviously not counted the time it sits languishing in the fridge before you serve it, but you need to cut me some slack for that!

German Sliced Apple Cake for an early Christmas

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This is the cake you make when you have a bounty of Apples from the farm or you have a large number of people around the dinner table and you need a dessert that smells like Christmas. I like making non-fussy desserts – a bowl of ice cream with hot chocolate sauce, a large slice of chocolate cake, a decadent brownie or a fruit bowl with custard. This is not to say I don’t like a frilly mielle fuielle, or a triple layered cheesecake – it’s just that I don’t have the skill or the patience to attempt it. When I need to serve a fancy dessert, I just buy it from a patisserie and that’s that. Why mess with the experts, no?

Asia hopping and turning two @ The Fatty Bao (Indiranagar)

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And just like that, Fatty is all grown up! Two, to be precise – that’s how long we’ve been regaled with glorious baos, ramen and sushi from 12th main. Celebrations start today with an anniversary menu that spans treats from 10 countries across South East Asia. Fatty’s even ensured every guest gets a chance to win a return air ticket to Singapore from Tigerair! So pack your bags and get ready to hop across Asia – maybe the culinary trail will inspire you to do the real thing 😉

A Wheat Loaf that doesn’t need kneading!

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Yes, I’ve been lazy again. But it was the lazy people that invented the wheel and the bicycle because they didn’t like walking or carrying things (Lech Walesa). In my case, as established before, I hate kneading bread. I probably need the arm exercise but it just bores me to pound around a ball of dough. Maybe some people use it as a form of stress relief, but I can think of more creative options to gain back my sanity. So it’s not very surprising that I’m always on the hunt for things that say no-knead. If there’s no need to knead (ha ha ha), I’m in!

Chase away your Monsoon blues with the Soup and Dim Sum Festival (Hunan, Koramangala)

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Hunan has grown from strength to strength. This Chinese restaurant started off with humble roots as an outlet in Bowring Institute over 10 years ago and moved to its own standalone space in Koramangala and then BEL Road. With the addition of Chef Pema as its Head Chef the menu underwent a dramatic transformation which resulted the restaurant winning not one but four ‘Times Food Awards’ for ‘Best Chinese Restaurant’. Hunan has been a mainstay dining option for me in Koramangala for its excellent Chinese food and the innovations that they always bring to the table. The Soup and Dim Sum Festival is an excellent showcase of what the restaurant has whipped up for the monsoons – perfect comfort food!

Loaded Baked Potato Wedges to get the party started!

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I have a weakness for Potatoes. So much so, that I think it’s my favorite vegetable in the whole world. I remember coming across a meme on the Internet that echoes my sentiments – “Potatoes can be used to make Fries…and Vodka. Other vegetables – please get your act together!’. There’s nothing that gives me greater joy than a bucket full of golden, salty fries or a bowlful of creamy Potato Salad, even a simple Aloo Jeera will lift my spirts up!