Gujarati Platter!!

Fafda, Jalebi, Gaanthiya, Thepla, Patra, Undhiyu, does these names bring water to your mouth? Ofcourse it should!! If not I would surely now

Being a Gujju, how could I miss to write on such a tasty and healthy topic. Ofcourse there would be places where the sentences would seem like hyperbole, but hope that is what would automatically happen by each and everyone whoever would write on their favorite topics (Human tendency you see!!) Also would try using typical gujju words keep the feel more authentic!!. This topic is too wide and scattered to explain or to just write about. Would take the help of the daily routine of a typical Gujju to make it more simpler..

Gujarati cuisine is primarily a vegetarian cuisine, despite having an extensive coastline for seafood, due to the influence of Jain vegetarianism and traditional Hinduism. The typical Gujarati Thali consists of Rotli, Dal or Kadhi, Rice, and Shaak/Sabzi (a dish made up of different combinations of vegetables and spices, which may be spicy or sweet). Gujarati cuisine varies widely in flavor and heat, depending on a given family's tastes as well as the region of Gujarat they are from. North Gujarat, Kathiawad,Kachchh, and Surti Gujarat are the four major regions of Gujarat that all bring their own style to Gujarati food. Many Gujarati dishes are distinctively sweet, salty, and spicy at the same time.
Gujratis are know for their food world wide. The famous Atithi Devo Bhava, concept is followed the best only by Gujjus as nobody who visits a Gujju's house goes back without having something be it a simple Cha (tea), Sharbat, Lite snacks like Patra, Thepla, Bhusu, Khandvi,etc etc (yes that is what is called lite snacks for a Gujju), and ofcourse not missing the Jalebis and Fafdas or even a full course menu (thali) which is the option preferred quite often. Even the expression of asking "How are you?" invites the use of foody language which is replied by saying "Khai Pi ne Jhalsa" (an expression mentioning eating happily and enjoying life).

Hope this short introduction gives the importance of food in the life of a Gujju be it eating or making others eat (which is in most of the cases). So now lets start with the daily routine of a well renowned Gujju worldwide Mr. Patel

Mr. Patel gets up in the morning and starts his day by going for a walk in the ground, mostly people go for a walk in the morning. The he is introduced to the first food item of the day - Juice, mostly its Dudhi (bottlegoud) or a mixture of all or some of these: Gajar (Carrot), beet, Amla (aavla), Phudina.

Comes back home, has a cup full of Cha (tea) and Thepla (the staple breakfast as we say which is had even for lunch, snacks, dinner, supper, midnight meal, etc etc) along with Jalebi and Fafda for Naashta

Then its time for lunch, and if its a Sunday the items would just flow like Niagara falls. Some of the mouth watering items would be: (Not to forget the flow of Chaas - Gujju beer (Butter Milk), Pickle and salad throughout)

Starters (though had with the main course) Khandvi (Roll made of gram flour and yogurt topped with mustard seed, cilantro, and Grated coconut.) , Bharela Marcha (stuffed chillies), Patra (Taro Leaves, coated with gram flour, rolled and steamed. Sometimes, the steamed roll is sliced and stir-fried with mustard seed and Grated coconut.).

Breads which would include:

• Bajri no Rotlo: Thick millet flour flatbread usually grilled over coals.
• Bhakhri: Made with whole wheat flour, thicker than Rotli, crispy.
• Fulka rotli (Also called Rotli or Chapati): Made with whole wheat flour, rolled thin.
• Parotha: Fried whole wheat flatbread.
• Puran Poli (Also known as Vedmi): Whole wheat bread filled with sweet moong dal filling usually made for special occasions.
• Puri: Made with whole wheat flour, deep fried.
• Thepla/Dhebra: Made with a mixture of flours, pan fried, mildly spiced, usually contains shredded vegetables.

Shaak (sabji/vegetables) which would typically have various combinations of Potato, Tomato, Okra, Bitter Melon, Chickpea, Bottle gourd, Cabbage, Onion, Fenugreek and Egg plant. Some of the famous combinations would be:

• Bateta nu Shaak (Potato Curry)
• Bateta Sukhi Bhaji (Dry Potato Curry)
• Bharela Bhinda (Stuffed dry Okra)
• Bharela Karela (Stuffed dry Bitter Melon)
• Chola nu Shaak (Chickpea Curry)
• Dudhi Mag ni Dal nu Shaak (Bottle Gourd and Mung Bean Curry)
• Kanda Bateta nu Shaak (Onion and Potato Curry)
• Kobi Bateta nu Shaak (Dry Cabbage and Potato Curry)
• Ringna no Olo (Roasted Eggplant's mashed Curry)
• Sev Tameta nu Shaak (Curry made of Green (Unripe) Tomatoes) 
• And the world famous Undhiyu: A mixed vegetable casserole that is traditionally cooked upside down underground in earthen pots fired from above. This dish is usually made of the vegetables that are available on the South Gujarat coastline during the winter season, including (amongst others) green beans, unripe banana, muthia, and purple yam. These are cooked in a spicy curry that sometimes includes coconut. Surti Undhiyu is a variant that is served with puri at weddings and banquets. Again it is a mixed vegetable casserole, made with red lentils and seasoned with spices, gratedcoconut, and palm sugar in a mild sauce. It is garnished with chopped peanuts and toasted grated coconut, and served with rice or roti. This dish is very popular all over Gujarat, and most Gujarati families eat it at-least once a year on Makar Sankranti

Dal: Normally the typicaly slightly sweet Gujrati Dal (boiled, strained and seasoned) is served, Kadhi is also a choice here.

Bhaat: Along with plain Rice, some other items would include:

• Khatta-Mittha Bhaat (Sour and Sweet Rice): Rice, boiled with potatoes and spices, yellow in color and accompanied with lemon peel.
• Khichdi (Rice & Dal): Cooked like porridge accompanied with ghee, yogurt, and pickle.
• Pulao (Rice with vegetables)
• Khichu: Kneaded rice flour made by heating it with water, salt, green chilies, and cumin.

Mithai: And finally this is the second last item in the Thali of Mr. Patel. Some of the famous dishes include

• Kheer: Rice Pudding made by boiling rice with milk and sugar, and flavored with cardamom, raisins, saffron, cashews, pistachios, or almonds. It is typically served as a dessert.
• Shrikhand: (a thick yogurt-based sweet dessert garnished with ground nuts, cardamom, and saffron)
• Laapsi: (coarse ground/ broken wheat cooked with butter and sugar)
• Doodhpak: (a milk-based sweet dessert with nuts)

No No!! This is not the end of the Sunday Meal. This all ends with a Paan (usually Culcutta sada for adults and a Meetha Paan for kids, yes kids also) Burrpppp!!

After such a Healthy lunch :P, Mr. Patel would take a sound and long sleep (obviously you would need one).  

Next comes the evening Snacks (yes we do have a capacity). There should be something sort of a Chakna (munching) with the evening Cha. Some of the famous Naashta as it is said include Chakri, Chorafali, Fafda, Ghanthia, Khakhra, Mathia ,Sev, Sev mamra ,Lasaniya mamra, Patra, Dhokla.

Now this Platter would finally end with the Dinner which would be quite lite, very lite as compared to the lunch. Some of the famous dishes would include:

• Bhajiya (Deep fried savory snacks. A popular variety is Pakora.)
• Dahi Vada (Fried dumplings soaked in yogurt and topped with salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper.)
• Handvo (Steamed cake made of rice flour, Various beans/lentils, yogurt, and calabash.)
• Khichu (A thick porridge-like mixture made of rice flour and seasoned with cumin seeds. Once prepared, the mixture is often topped with oil, cayenne pepper, and salt.)
• Lilva Kachori (A variety of kachori made with pigeon peas.)
• Methi na Gota (Fried fenugreek Dumplings)
• Sev Khamani (Khaman topped with crispy, fried gram flour.
• Dal vada, Vaati dal na bhajiya.

Finally Mr. Patel would end his day with Gupshup (Chit-chat) with friends at a soda shop of-course having a Soda. Good Night :-) Burp Burp Burp!!

Hope this has helped tantalized your taste buds.

Soon would be back with some more Foody blogs till then keep Stay Hungry and Keep Hogging!!

(Courtesy: Wikipedia)

The Coffee Pot

On a fine chilly evening, savoring the great coffee, allowing the aroma to waltz through the room, putting your hands around the warm cup of coffee are some of life’s small pleasures. Well the idea of writing about coffee on m blog also dawned upon me on one of these cold evenings sipping coffee. Well I simply love everything about coffee. Right from the taste, the aroma, the warm feeling you get after having hot coffees, just everything!!

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. 70% of the world consumes Arabica coffee which is mild and aromatic. The remaining 30% drink Robusta which has a more bitter taste to it, but has 50% more caffeine content than Arabica. Similar to wine, coffee gets its aroma from the climatic environment in which the plant grows. The common coffee flavors are fruity, floral, earthy, buttery, caramel, nutty, smoky, etc.

Coffee cultivation is basically done in the tropical belt of the globe. This belt typically has moderate sunshine, rain and steady temperatures with rich and porous soil, which is the most favorable environment for the coffee to grow. Everywhere across the globe, coffee notes differ depending upon the type of soil it is planted in. The coffee bean is actually a seed inside a bright red cherry, the fruit of the coffee plant. Coffee berries are dried and stripped down until all that’s left of it is a green bean. Once stripped, the beans are roasted at about 500^o F, and a few minutes later a bean will pop once more. The second pop means that the bean is done and is ready to be served.

Well, as we all know that coffee is a very large base to cover, am going to just write about two coffee types, i.e., Espresso and Americano.

Espresso coffee is basically prepared by judiciously blending of the finest grinds of various coffees with very little amounts of water and very high pressures, which helps in creating a rich, intense aromatic and velvety body. An espresso always has a high caffeine content and a very strong and thick taste. It is topped with a creamy hazelnut colored foam. The aroma has a touch of floral, fruity, chocolaty notes. Espresso acts as the base coffee for all the infinite variations of coffee such as latte, cappuccino, mocha, etc, to suit every taste. I would not delve into the details of other types of coffees here (maybe some other day). Espresso would be mainly categorized into Espresso Con Panna which is a double shot of espresso finished with whip crema and Espresso Macchiato is a double espresso shot with foam. Espresso is usually served in small sizes as it has a very high caffeine ratio. Espresso is served immediately out of a brewing machine, in a pre heated cup.

Americano on the other hand is a a style of coffee by adding hot water to an espresso. Almost 20-25% is the espresso and 75-80% is the hot water. Americanos, and especially long black style americanos, are well suited for beans that produce strongly-flavored espresso. Some drinkers may find undiluted espresso shots overpowering, that’s why they choose Americano over espresso. There are many variations to an Americano. Iced Americano combines espresso and cold water. A lungo is made by extracting the espresso shot for a longer time. It makes for more volume and a more bitter taste. A caffe crema is made by extracting the espresso shot for period of time even longer than a lungo.

Well I being an avid coffee drinker, I would prefer pure coffee over diluted ones.. I like espresso shots more than Americano, and white coffees as well.. More on coffee, hot and cold would be on some later date. Till then keep sipping… J

For small talks & grape vines !!

As the name says, 'Di Bella', this coffee place sure is charming, exotic and fashionable. This Coffee Chain has an Australian origin and serves a range of signature blends. And a few of such retail outlets have even found their way to Mumbai. Di Bella serves a wide range of aromatic coffees with tempting gourmet desserts, authentic hot chocolates and inviting tea leaves.

Di Bella is an exclusive place with a good lively formal ambiance, a typical coffee place in its own way. The menu is elaborate. The signature blends are creamy and delicious. Well, when I was here with a couple of friends, I got a chance to experience the exquisiteness of this place. I tasted the Macchiato, which is a black espresso  with a dollop of milk which believe me tastes great. There are various other coffee here which taste and look awesome with extra shots of different flavors such as caramel, mint, hazelnut, irish creme, vanilla etc.

There are various hot chocolates served here., These drinks are made from rich belgian chocolate to which crunchy waffle balls, chocolate delights, melting marshmellows, coconut overtones, soft toffee notes of your choice are added as per your choice. I basically have described the entire hot chocolate section for you guys here. :). Allll these hot chocolates are garnished with shavings of dark chocolate which gives a different tone to the hot chocolate altogether.

Moving on to the Coolers available here, the classic cold coffees and iced teas are a compulsion to any coffee place. The icy shakes are AWESOME. lol.. I tried out the Danish Toffee Chocolate Frappe. I won't say much on it.You just have to go and try this one.Its a blend of rich Belgian chocolate, Danish toffee and cold milk. The taste of Danish toffee is more or less like that of caramel, but the Danish toffee is more gooey and thick which you can feel in every sip you take.
I've also tried the Cookie Shake, Its made of white Belgian chocolate, oreo cookies, icy cold milk and caramelized pecans. Its rich with oreo cookies. So if you're a big fan, then you shouldn't miss out on this one as well.

They have various desserts on their menu which look delicious. I'm going to try one soon.. The gourmet is as typical as it gets. A wide range.. Am guessing they're good by the looks of it.. :D

Di Bella is a good coffee place to hang out at. Am sure people who have visited this place are not disappointed. Well.. I wasn't.!!! The place has a digital interactive platform. They give you tablets on which you have to place your order. And then you just await your drink/chow. You have access to internet browsing and emails here as well on the tablet. The services are good. Good drinks and desserts. Maybe a little pricey, but not soo much for a once in a while tour. You guys should give a chance to this coffee chain. For me its a Thumbs Up..!!! :D

P.S.: Their motto is : Quality Coffee
                                Unparalleled Service
                                Inspiring Passion
Am sure they're living up to this..!!

Outlets: BKC, Shivaji Park, Phoenix Market City, Colaba, Versova & Andheri

Breakfast on the Go !!!

There existed a term named 'Fast food' which enticed people all over a decade back but it simply meant that the time from kitchen to plate would reduce and it would be more of a sit down affair. Times have changed and the food has become more 'fast'. Mumbai was a city full of hustle and bustle and things just got even more hectic and cramped. Although some traits never die. One of which is to have that same delicious food no matter how much you are in a hurry.

The Gen X of Mumbai seems to be having anything and everything on the go !! Be it the breakfast,  the lunch or even the snacks !! Dinner seems to be the only 'sit down - have peacefully - chew 32 times' activity of the day. Its a food tailspin I say. But lets focus on the most important meal of the day - The Breakfast.

Ideal breakfast for an average Mumbaikar is the old traditional pohas and the upmas. Barely getting time to shit-shave-shower who has the time to prepare the more traditional delicacies Maharashtra has to offer. Behold .. at every nook and corner there is a new story developing and that is of the poha-upma guy. He is middle life crisis man devoid of any other business standing with two huge containers having the yummiest poha and upma at 10 bucks. Yeah the value for money is important. Well equiped with small plates and spoons, he is a favorite of the bachelors and the PGs who often have a monthly account with him.

Then there is the horn clad, huge vessel atop the head, mustache styling guy who provides the not so hygienic but at the same time fast and awesome idlis and medu wadas for a buck or two each. This on the move kind will always be seen on busy streets, playgrounds, around schools & offices etc. He has this stationary sibling who operates on busy streets especially the station and bus terminus areas tickling the taste buds of the early snackers. The chutney is slimy and the sambhar is watery but who cares if you have to gobble your breakfast in 2 mins flat.

Then there are the typical poli bhaji kendras and the restaurants who offer service but surely that is not on the go. Its more of 'A waste of time' nowadays !!

Then there are those morning bakeries where caring aunties bake nice croissants and rolls for the foodies to have one on the go. Such bakeries are omnipresent in small sections of the city and are difficult to find out with the only exception of Bandra. In Bandra, every fourth shop will be either an established or a makeshift bakery for sure. The chicken and the plain varieties are always a must have but it requires one to be on time. Limited batches you see. 

Not far behind are the McDonalds and the bigger chains who have these breakfast menus. Luxury breakfast items at not so affordable rates but a big thumbs up for the working and pancakes craving kind. The Pancakes with butter and maple syrup stands out although degradation of quality with time is bound to be there. The Sausage Egg Muffin is delectable too but its not quite there. Hash browns are getting smaller and smaller by each passing day.

Coffee is reasonably good when you consider its coming from McDs. Order, pack it and have it in the cab seems to be the new mantra !!

All in all such is the status of a metropolitian city that people are finding it difficult even to sit down peacefully and have breakfast with their loved ones. 'On the Go' seems to get the nod. So what next ?? Maybe a pill for breakfast and each delicacy will have a separate one. 3-4 pills popped and you are good to go Mister !!

P.S: Keep Hogging !!!

Prakash: The Sunshine of Authentic Maharashtrian food

This particular topic of discussion is very close to the author's heart as almost all the 26 or so years of it have gone in hogging at this gourmet heaven. Located in the heart of Shivaji Park-Dadar area, it is the holy place for many a Maharashtrian when it comes to quality food. Although they have a branch in Girgaum too. Infact that was the first and the Dadar one came later. This place is one to look out for if one has not been here as it dishes out one of the best savories when it comes to authentic Maharashtrian food.

Although this place has seen an epic change. From the era of lots of attitude given by staff and the dingy interiors with slightly fixed benches to somewhat open to change staff and slightly colorful and light interiors with more sturdy and clean benches. The glasses (half of which used to break while handling) have been replaced by steel counterparts. There is an overhaul in the cutlery too. However the light pink uniforms of the waiters remain the same together with the Gandhi cap. Once upon a time the service and the takeouts were a serious problem not that it has improved a lot but still the people rush in. That speaks for the quality of food Prakash has to offer. Over the past several decades people have benn thronging at this place be it sportsmen or politicians and even filmstars. The list is endless.

The fare is strictly vegetarian and can be categorized more as of a breakfast place or a place for snacks in the evening. Although it also dishes out mini meals which help satisfy the cravings for certain Maharashtrian delicacies. They do serve the likes of Potato bhaji with Puri and Dalimbi (Field beans preparation) with Puri. Then there is also Pulav and Masala Bhat (Spicy Masala rice) among others.

But the highlight of this place has to be the snacks or the breakfast items served day in day out. The Sheeras, the Upmas and the Pohas are all very traditionally made and the usual self. The speacialities start with Sabudana Wada (Sago Fritters) which are spicy fritters made from Sago, Peanuts and Potato - an ideal preparation for people who are fasting or even otherwise. Truly the cult dish of this gourmet heaven it also has a slight variety with Sabudana Puri which is slightly flattened variety sans the peanuts. Both are extremely tasty and depict the richness of Maharashtrian cuisine till the very last bite.

Then there is Batata Wada (Potato fritters) which is a super spicy fritter made from potato mixture fried in chickpea batter. The normal chutney is peanut based and stands out as an experience in itself. The Thalipeeth (Multi flour pancakes) are made with a mixture of flours and herbs with onions and served with a different chutney made from chillies and curds. Then there is Misal which is a concoction of various foodstuffs put together to create this unique spicy sprouts preparation which has a spicy curry base of sprouts along with potatoes, onions and other spices and condiments.


There are many more dishes and just describing them in words wont do justice to their existence. In terms of drinks one particular drink stands out is the Piyush which is a yogurt based drink which possesses all things nice like sweet pedhas and even shrikhand with oodles of Kesar. They have a small wing were various sweets are on display and all are worth a try. The one I would really suggest is the Narali Paak which is a coconut based barfi with dry fruits and kesar.

All in all its a rich experience and any true Mumbaikar should not miss on it. The place where it currently hold fort might go for renovation and it is scheduled to open just across the road. So all those foodies wont miss the taste one bit. The best bit of it is that those long benches cater to one and all so the next time you enter in and have your food you dont know who the person next to you is. Meet new people seems to be the motive here !!

P.S: The author was so busy in all the eating that never in the 26 years he found the chance to take photographs. Special thanks to Google.

How to get here: A 10 min walk from Dadar station to the West towards Shivaji Park.

Address: Off Gokhale road, Dadar Mumbai 400028

Indulge

Nothing is more alluring than the taste and the aroma of a freshly baked cake. And Indulge specializes in cakes for all occasions. Whether you desire an elegant, classic cake for an anniversary or an elaborate theme based creation, Indulge will accommodate it for us. It is run by a lady named Fey, and she does an excellent job. Right from excellently beautified cakes to the perfect customer service. She herself along with her helpers designs the cakes, who will guide you through the perfect creation of your made-to-order cake. For my taste, perfect is light, moist, creamy and the right amount of sweetness, which Indulge promises to cater to.

Indulge, being a gourmet bakery, caters to a wide range of daily indulgence and the celebration needs. This place is a haven for desserts, offering freshly prepared treats ranging from the traditional chocolate cakes to the ‘made-to-order’ recipes. The confectionery’s menu offers an abundance of a variety of cakes and chocolates. Cream cakes, cheesecakes, Mousse cakes, Tea cakes, Cupcakes, Chocolate cakes, chocolates (with filings) are some of the irresistible products here.

I just ordered a Red Velvet cake from here a couple of days back. And man, it was indeed awesome. The legendary ruby colored cake looked beautiful, was rich, delicious and to a moralist, it was sinful!! Various other treats were also ordered by me from here such as the Blueberry Cheesecake. This decadent cheesecake had a swirl of fresh blueberry puree over the cake for a double shot of a delicious berry flavor. I’ve also Indulged in many other chocolate cakes, Walnut Fudge Cake and Ferrero Rocher Cake being the other best. The Walnut fudge filled cake was delicious, which was my birthday treat! It was delicious as I’ve always had a thing for fudge’s and brownies. The Ferrero Rocher was killer in itself. Being the best chocolate (for me), the cake was delicious and finger-lickin good!! :D

If you’re throwing a theme party and want a cake to go with it, Fey will do it just about right. Her ideas combined with your theme will give you the perfect ornamented cake. You have a particular theme on your mind and you’ll have that. Here are a couple of pictures for the same. J

The custom made chocolates are made from the finest of the Belgian Chocolate, with a choice of filings which are exclusive. Not being a big fan of the home-made or custom made chocolates, I haven’t tried any of the chocolates made here. But I can promise you chocolate lovers, that Fey will definitely give you the best of her lot.

All the cakes and chocolates are neatly and fabulously decorated, addressed as per the occasion. The quality and the ingredients used are good. Also this confectionery is not at all over-priced. Here, they take care of everything. Fey makes sure that you get your money’s worth and you get what you wanted.

Indulge in Sinfulness!! 

Call: 02265025050 / 9819787328

e-mail: info@indulgecakes.in

Facebook page: Indulge Custom Cakes

Ray's Cafe & Pizzeria

Ray's Cafe & Pizzeria certainly did impress me!! This one's a beautiful lil joint!! Can't imagine how tiny a place it is.. Has barely 10 tables and the food (from how much of it I've tasted) is mind boggling.!! I know am writing about pizzas again, but I just visited this place a couple of days back and thought that you'll must know about it.

Ray's is a cafe which comes out of nowhere behind Godrej Nature's basket in Bandra and is adorned with beautiful Christmas lights & creepers.. Once you enter here, you'll feel that you're in some other place altogether.. I really liked the ambience as it is peaceful and nice with good RnB tracks playing in the background. And to add to it, the wooden staircase connecting to Moshes and the wine cellar at Godrej Nature's Basket adds to its charm!!

I'll start with what I ate here and then mention about the other dishes served here. We chose to have the thin crust 12" pizzas were delicious and baked in the typical Italiano way!! The one pizza which we had ordered was topped with cheese and sundried tomatoes (which I love on the pizza, as it adds a tangy flavor to it) and the other one was a nice pizza with all kinds of toppings a jain foodie can indulge in. We also ordered the cheese and jalapeno fondue, which got us to new levels of #FoodOrgasms. Delicious would be an understatement for the Fondue. Simply Amazing!!
The pizzas were coupled with drinks. I had the cranberry juice which was good. The taste of the typical cranberry was increasing with every sip taken!! The chcocolate milkshake was a lil too sweet and chocolaty, but a few sips were heaven. The Mojito was great with just the right mix taste of lemon and mint!!

The eatery serves pizzas,salads, pastas, raviolli, risottos,sandwiches, burgers, hotdogs, desserts and drinks and many more on the non-vegetarian side which did look promising as well. Too much to serve for too small a place. The pizzas are also served by the slice. Also you get to choose you own preference of the pizza crusts. :). The portions served for every dish are generous giving it an international poise.

Am sure you might just miss this Pizzeria if you pass by walking in a haste! A lil pricy, but you'll get you're money's worth here!! #NotExaggerating.

P.S: I'd like to thank my cousin Naman, who introduced me to this place!!

Enjoi Indulging!! :)

Address:

Gazebo House, 133 Hill Road, Behind Godrej Nature’s Basket, Bandra. Mumbai-50

Website: www.rayscafeandpizzeria.in

Email:- rayscafeandpizzeria@gmail.com