Rockin Robin…tweet tweet tweet!

He rocks in the tree tops all day long

Hoppin’ and a-boppin’ and singing his song

All the little birdies on Jaybird Street

Love to hear the robin go tweet tweet tweet! 

- The Jackson 5

The chirp of the evening to you all! It’s been a while and I'm happy to be back to my blog after being busy writing articles and whatnot for websites of sorts.

I recently attended an interesting event called the Arthop that took place at various ‘artsy’ locations in Bandra that were walking distance from each other. Each location had put up a series of activities through the day that included some cool events like play readings, dances, music recitals, workshops for drama and art enthusiasts, comedy and the works. A fun way to spend a Sunday I have to say and especially for me who made my way all the way from the south over to the other side to get a taste of the exciting new cafes and restaurants that have popped up all over this exciting suburb.

One of the most recent joints is the cutest little café that’s tucked away on Waroda road, The Birdsong Organic Café and Deli. A small cheerful space with large glass windows that lets the light come streaming in, making it a happy and bright spot, is dotted with little tables and an assortment of different chairs giving it a comfy loft-like feel. The menu offers nutritious soups, salads and sandwiches amongst other assorted goodies. And don’t forget to scout the cake counter for a delicious sweet treat to go along with your coffee or as dessert. The café prides itself in sourcing organic, local ingredients and even offers their customers a few vegan options for those that have opted for the moral foodpath.

Luckily for me and since I've been angling to try out the goodies at this café, it just so happened to be one of the venues of the Arthop that had a display of paintings and a pottery workshop. But I of course went just in time for lunch and here is what I tried;

The Egg Salad Sandwich; a thick sundried tomato focaccia, filled with boiled egg slices, salad and mild but sweet slices of red onions. The sandwich although filling was a little dry and needed a topping of cheese and a bit more sauce to give it a more rounded flavour.

The Margherita pizza on the other hand was served on a thin crispy flat dough that had a punchy tomato sauce with freshly sliced juicy tomatoes, a generous helping of grated parmesan cheese and sprigs of green basil that were peeking out at us through the roasted red and white. A great little snack :)

We washed down the meal with some fresh guava juice and ended the day with a cup of good filter coffee and the most scrumptious Carrot Cake; bits of bright orange carrot that were tucked away in a beautiful moist cake that was dotted with plump sundried sultanas. Oh my! I was not at all surprised that this delicious vegan cake was sold out and felt lucky that I managed to bag the last piece. Mm mm mm! I loved the eco-friendly wooden spoon that came along with the dish and yes, apologies for the picture of a half eaten cake but as usual I just couldn't resist! :)

Throughout the afternoon the Birdsong staff were really attentive, although there was a bit of a wait until the food arrived. Even though it was one of those days and the little café was bustling and busy, I did manage to squeeze in a quick chat with one of the owners, Jennifer Mallick, who seemed a little hassled due to the orders that were streaming in but addressed everyone with a smile and a sigh :)

The café is definitely worth a revisit and sooner rather than later, if only for its delicious coffee and cake! YUM!

Address:

The Birdsong Cafe

Waroda Road,

Ranwar,

Bandra West,

Behind American Express Bakery,

Mumbai - 400050.

Tomay-to Tomah-to

What I haven’t mentioned before is that in the past I have done a chefs course in Australia and as hard as it was I did manage to complete it thank you very much and although the commercial kitchen wasn't really my calling, enjoying and appreciating the food that comes out of any kitchen definitely is :)

The reason that I'm sharing this little piece of information is because I was recently approached by an upcoming food related website to write some articles for them and I managed to save a few for my blog as well. I know that most of the writing I do is more informal and review related but I thought I just have to share these little articles with my fellow ganoush’s, so that you can try my recipes and tell me what you think. Do share your own ideas and recipes with me as well when you have a chance as I will definitely try my hand  and luck at them as well….enjoy reading!

Go Greens!

A salad is not only a healthy satisfying meal on its own, it also serves as a perfect side dish or accompaniment to just about any dish throughout the year. Cool, fresh salads in the summer or warm, wholesome salads during winter always go down a real treat.

Incorporating a salad into every meal is just about the healthiest lifestyle decision you will ever make. Fruits, veggies and greens are packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, iron and fibre to name a few. Eating fruits and vegetables, especially in their raw form not only adds a whole lot of goodness and nutrition to your daily meals it also helps you shed those unwanted kilos; when you include a salad into every meal, it helps you incorporate more of the good foods into your diet and leaves you feeling fuller for longer. On a full tummy you automatically end up eating less quantities of foods that might not be as healthy and nourishing.

Did you know that salads are an integral part of a meal in every culture all over the world? In India we commonly have a quick kachumbar or raita with almost every meal. Other popular Indian salads also include ingredients like chickpeas, potatoes, mung dal, tomatoes, onions, mint leaves, coriander, peanuts and oh! the list goes on. Don’t forget that there are a ton of salad leaves that you can choose from; spinach, butter lettuce, ice-berg lettuce, rocket, water cress, arugula, and romaine to name a few. They not only add a splash of green goodness to your meal they also add fun flavours and textures to enhance your salad, from soft and sweet to spicy and crunchy. You can just about combine any raw or cooked ingredients to put together a salad of your choice.

There are tons of available recipes that you can try to keep your salad option exciting. Let me a share a couple of my favourites that you can make in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Warm Roasted Tomato and Paneer Salad

Serves 2-3 I Time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:

3 tomatoes halved

1 clove of garlic

300g fresh paneer cubed

2 tbsp olive oil

300g of spinach leaves

1 tbsp of slivered roasted almonds

Salt to season

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees and grease a baking sheet. Toss in the tomatoes and top with olive oil, garlic and a pinch of salt. Roast for about 10 minutes tossing occasionally. While the tomatoes are in the oven, heat a bit of olive oil in a pan and sauté the spinach leaves for just about a minute and spread them out onto a serving platter. Top with tomatoes and the juice that is in the baking tray. Add the paneer cubes and sprinkle the slivered almonds on top for a bit of crunch. Serve fresh.

Chickpea Chaat Salad

Serves 2-3 I Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of Chickpeas soaked and boiled

1 cucumber chopped

½ red onion chopped

1 mango chopped (optional)

2 tomatoes chopped

½ cup of ripe, soft corn kernels

1 cup roasted peanuts

1 lime juiced

1tbsp tamarind juice

½ tspn sugar

2 tbsp chaat masala

Salt to season

Mint leaves to garnish

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a mixing salad bowl and top with peanuts and mint leaves to garnish. Serve cold.

Facebook:

Bloggerganoush

Masterchef Perth

G’day Mate! As you can tell I'm just back after a trip from the land down under. It’s a place that I call my second home actually and for a number of reasons; I studied, lived and worked there for 5 years and my husband’s family lives in Perth, which is where I've just been holidaying.

Let me tell you a little about the city of Perth. A fun, cosmopolitan, multi-cultural city with beautiful white sandy beaches, wide green spaces, trendy bars, cafes and restaurant and a stones throw away from Australia’s oldest wine region, The Swan Valley.

The one thing that the Australians seem to know all about is Food. Boy do they know their food and any food for that matter, Italian, Indian, Greek, Persian, French, Japanese…I could go on. The quality of ingredients, the fresh produce, rich tastes ad textures…sigh! A place after my own heart.

So mates, lets bog in and have some tucker (or in plain old English, let’s eat!). I’m going to share 3 of my old time and new favourite Perth bound eateries with you and hope that some day you can enjoy them just as much as I have:

Kailis at Freemantle; this popular seafood haven is located on one of Perth’s most beautiful waterfronts, the Freemantle fishing boat harbour wharf. Founded in 1928, this little café is today an establishment that is visited by locals and tourists alike for its excellent seafood menu that you can enjoy right by the ocean. I never miss going to Kailis and here is what you must try: Garlic Prawn Rolls; beautifully battered deep fried prawns, a tangy garlic sauce and fresh crisp lettuce sandwiched between a soft hot dog bun. Just delicious! A thick and creamy Seafood Chowder, served hot in a hollow crunchy bread crust that you can break off and dip in, the perfect choice for a cold breezy day. A large piece of Grilled Fish of the Day with hot chips…you can’t go wrong with this. Don’t forget to order a bowl of the Chilli Mussels; fresh fat mussels topped with a hot chilli sauce…messy to eat but you'll look darling in a bib. And lastly, try a couple of plates of Butter Garlic Prawns and Scallops on a bed of crunchy golden chips, accompanied with a side salad. Mm mm mm! So, if you’re looking for the ultimate seafood extravaganza, head over to freeo for an unforgettable afternoon at Kailis.

Hillary’s; another beautiful boat harbour that’s home to some of the most prestigious boats of Perth. This quaint, little marina is dotted with cafes, restaurants and pubs and perfect from a lazy long lunch, a quick afternoon coffee or a cozy romantic dinner. A couple of popular eatery’s include: Little Caesar’s; the menu offers a delicious array of thick crust pizza’s with fresh toppings like barbeque chicken, vegetarian, pepperoni, seafood and the works. If you can fit it in, get one of their appetizing fresh salads to go along with your food. Hippo Creek; a popular South African steak house that offers their diners a real meat feast with options like Boerewors; flame grilled African sausage, Biltong; cured, salted beef strips, a selection of Steaks, Burgers and even Peri Peri Prawns and Squid to name a few. Lastly I would recommend you end your evening at the Hillary’s marina over a ice cream of your choice from Cold Rock where you can choose your favourite ice cream flavour, add in any number of mixers from their list of items like M&M’s cookie dough, fudge, twix, snickers, fruits, nuts, candy etc etc. smash it all up together into your very own dream flavoured ice cream and enjoy….oooohhh mama!

Alfred’s Kitchen; a reputed establishment located in the historic suburb of Guilford that offer a very casual and rustic, roadside al-fresco style bench seating over a little bonfire to keep you warm on those cold, nippy nights. Choose from a list of over 40 juicy burgers that will make you drool, dig in and feel more than satisfied when you’re done. While you wait for your meal to be ready, and wait you will because of the sheer number of people that queue up to get a taste of Alfred’s, try their famous pea and ham soup or a side of crunchy golden salted chips. Make sure you go on an empty tum so that you can enjoy the full experience.

Some other must visit restaurants include; Saffron Persian in Morley; choose from an array of delicious Persian kebabs served over hot buttered chelo rice. Matsuri in the City; fine Japanese favourites that leave you wanting more. S&T Thai Gourmet in North Bridge; a large menu that offers a wide selection of deliciously authentic Thai food. The Stables Bar on Hay Street; a quaint little pub that’s nestled into one of Perth’s main streets, offers lovely, clean and flavourful pub style fine dining food.

As I said before this is just a snippet of what this beautiful city has to offer and not too far from India. I would absolutely recommend a trip over and for all you food lovers out there…this is definitely not one to miss. Aussie Aussie Aussie...Oye Oye Oye!

Before I go let me leave you with a few crazy lyrics from the famous Australian rock band, Men at Work ;)

Dying in a den in Bombay

With a slack jaw and not much to say

I said to the man, “Are you trying to tempt me

‘cause I come from the land of plenty.”

And he said, “Oh you come from the land down under

Where women glow and men plunder

Can’t you hear can’t you hear the thunder

You better run better take cover.”

Websites:

Kailis

Hillary's Boat Harbour

Alfred's Kitchen

For other Perth restaurants and ratings visit:

www.urbanspoon.com

Spice Up Your Life

As you've probably figured out by now, I love good Asian food. Thai, Malay, Indonesian, any kind and they are all available under one roof at Malaka Spice in Pune.

A restaurant that has been around for years and has only grown in both size and menu. I remember going there when I was in college and have been back on multiple occasions ever since. Through all my visits and from all the referrals I have got, I can confidently say that they have never wavered in service or quality, not something most restaurants can boast about.

The reason behind their success is the strong husband and wife duo, Praful and Chef Cheeru Chandwarkar, who have managed to grow this establishment by involving themselves in every aspect of the business; especially the food, giving their customers a taste that’s hard to forget.

Unfortunately as I learned on my most recent visit, Chef Cheeru is no longer with us and our hearts go out to her family and loved ones. She was clearly an integral and inspirational part of the restaurant as she managed the food and kitchen and I was told by our waitress Neeta, that she would make many of the sauces, masala's and recipes herself based on her many visits and experiences around Asia. Malaka Spice lives on in her memory and takes forward her motto of ‘Live life, Love life’.

The restaurant has an earthy décor with a beautiful large al fresco seating area that’s surrounded by green hedges and trees, lit with fairy lights and Chinese lanterns in shades of red, purple and yellow. A few typical ‘Asian’ themed props are featured around the restaurant like the colourful flower adorned tuk tuk at the entrance and a large Buddha head sculpture that is seated in the middle of the restaurant. On a hot summer’s night, you’re cooled off with a thin spurt of water that’s let out occasionally from the water spray machine that runs all through the outdoor table area and on a cool winter's day the place is chilly but comfortable.

The menu is extensive with a huge range of delicious dishes on offer, each one sounds more appetising than the next. So after rounds of debates and discussions with the hubs, I'm sure all you married folk would relate, we finally got around to sending in our orders and as I waited patiently for the food to arrive I sipped and slurped away at my cool, refreshing Malaka Spice special iced tea; milky iced lemon tea, flavoured with lemon grass and cinnamon. Slurrrrp!

Our meal for the evening consisted of a few starters and one main. We started with a serve of Thai Special Mutton Chops; beautifully marinated barbecued chops with browned, caramelised onions. Yum!

Chicken Satay; skewers of succulent grilled chicken pieces served with a special thick peanut sauce that had a bit of a spicy kick.

And Papaya Salad; shredded unripe papaya that was soft but crunchy and perfectly dressed with a sweet, salty, spicy sauce that adds a refreshing zing to your palate.

For our main we had the ever so popular Thai Green Curry with fluffy steamed white rice; aromatic green curry filled with tender chicken pieces and a handful of fresh vegetables. This dish was teeming with flavours of assorted herbs and spices including lemon grass, kafir lime, Thai basil, galangal and the works. Just delicious :)

At the end of the meal we were just so full that I still have to re-visit to try out the desserts and honestly I can’t wait! So, if you’re in Pune any time soon make sure you find the time to drop in to this little restaurant nestled between the trees of the popular Koregaon Park and I'm sure you'll leave as full-bellied and happy as me. 

Address:

Malaka Spice,

Lane 5, Koregaon Park,

Pune- 411001.

Facebook:

Malaka Spice

Chocolat

Forget love, I’d rather fall in Chocolate

This is a quote that speaks straight to my heart (and thighs!). Yes my name is Gitanjali and I am a chocoholic. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about.

So, when I was invited for a free chocolate tasting at the launch of the Royce’ chocolate store at Palladium I was excited. Unfortunately it was on a work day but as luck would have it, it rained and it poured and we were let off work early. And where do you think I went? Oh no, not home, I went straight to phoenix mills and to this little chocolate store that I was so keen to see.

For those people who don’t know about Royce’ and before I actually went to the store I was one of you, here is some information about who they are and what they do.

Royce’ is a chocolate maker that comes from the city of Sapparo in Japan. They have perfected the art of making fine chocolates and pride themselves not on flavoured bon bon’s like many other confectioners but on a little chocolate square of heaven called the Nama. A delicious square shaped truffle-like chocolate ganache, available in three flavours; Milk, Champagne and Bitter, delicately dusted with rich cacao powder. Once this little square hits the mouth it melts into a flavour of thick velvety chocolate cream that makes you want to devour the entire box. Mmmmm!

They also have some novelties that include, PotatoChip Chocolate; crunchy, salty, ridged crisps covered with sweet, rich chocolate, Chocolate Wafers; smooth hazelnut cream sandwiched between thin crispy wafers and covered with sweet, rich chocolate, Prafeuille Chocolate Berry; flat chocolate squares filled with gooey berry sauce and Baton Cookies; soft but crunchy biscuits flavoured with coconut or hazel, coated with sweet, rich chocolate to name a few.

It’s no wonder that Royce’ is known to have somewhat of a cult following wherever they open and I for one am definitely a recruit ;)

Us lucky enough to live in Bombay can now make our way to the ground floor of the ever so popular Palladium at phoenix mills, to indulge in a box of these luxurious chocolates that although dearly priced, will satisfy your every chocolate craving leaving you wanting more….mmm nom nom nom.

Image Courtesy Royce' Chocolate 

Address:

Royce’ Chocolate

Palladium Mall,

C/O High Street Phoenix,

 462 Senapati Bapat Marg,

Lower Parel,

Mumbai- 400013.

Facebook:

Royce' Chocolate India

Appe-Thai-Sing

A restaurant that has been around for most of my life and one that I have visited over the years with family and friends alike is, Thai Pavilion. It’s one of the most popular restaurants situated in the Taj President hotel (now Vivanta by Taj) in the very south of the city, Cuffe Parade and infact, it is one of the only consistently good Thai restaurants in the city.

I remember when you had to walk through the small passage into the restaurant that had little Thai-looking ladies sitting in traditional costume carving intricate art out of fruits and vegetables. It was truly fascinating. After the refurb a few fears ago the place has seen a modern turn which still has a touch of Thai in the decorative motifs that adorn the walls.

The restaurant is spacious and comfortable with two distinct sections. Racks of worldly wines separate the main dining area to a smaller, semi-private area that can be given out to larger groups or parties. A large open-style kitchen sits in the middle of the restaurant with bar seating around it so patrons sipping on a delicious kafir lime infused cocktails can watch the skilled chefs busy cooking up a storm while they wait for their table to get ready.

Have you ever had those moments where you just want to leave Bombay and go for a quick holiday? Often you think of a place that’s close and accessible, like Thailand maybe. But then you realise that it’s just not going to happen the way you imagined. No? Well I definitely do…atleast once everyday. And post such moments of desperation, you’ll find me dining at Thai Pavilion with friends that have a similar series of thoughts. This night was no different. 

After enjoying a cocktail and platter of sushi at Wink, the bar next door, we worked up a bit of an appetite (yes, by not doing much except waiting and chatting) and quickly made our way to a cozy table at the Pav.

We were warmly welcomed by Joe, a staff member that I was told is synonymous with Thai Pavilion, and now I know why. A happy, smiling gent that told us that he has worked in the establishment for, get this, 32 years! Amazing! He knew everything and everyone and gave us a little history lesson about all the restaurants that stood where Thai Pavilion was today. One of my friends that was with us that night really summed up Joe in one line, “What Thai Pavilion lost in the way of fruit carvers, they made up with Joe” he said. It was a real pleasure to hear him share his memories and at the end of our little chinwag he was as happy to get his picture taken as I was to take it. So with a stride in his step and a flick of his hair I clicked a picture of smiling, happy Joe.

Now, to the best part. The restaurant sports a sizeable menu that is not overwhelming and yet has enough choices to keep you wondering as to what you should order and all you vegetarians, that goes out for you too. Lots of veggie options to choose from.

So we sent in our orders and got a bunch of dishes to share. Here is what we enjoyed;

kai haw baitoey; a serve of juicy chicken pieces marinated with a thick tangy but sweet sauce, perfectly parcelled in pandanus leaves and stir fried to perfection.

phad pak bung tao jiew; wilted crunchy stalks of morning glory leaves stir fried with a flavourful yellow bean paste.

pad thai vegetarian; broad flat rice noodles flavoured with tofu, green veggies and sprouts, stir fried in a beautiful spicy sweet and sour sauce and topped with crunchy peanuts. Yum!

gaeng kiew warn je; popular as ever vegetable Thai green curry. An aromatic coconut curry flavoured with a mix of fresh flavours like green chillies, coriander, lemon grass and kafir limes. A happy burst of flavours on your tongue. We ate this with a serve of fluffy steamed rice.

I truly believe that the secret of really good Thai food is the artful intermingling of flavours; sour, hot, sweet, salty. If you get that right, and Thai Pavilion surely has, then you’re in for a real treat, every time!

Thai-rific! ;)

Address:
Thai Pavilion,
Vivanta by Taj President,
90, Cuffe Parade,
Colaba,
Mumbai- 400005.

Facebook:
Thai Pavilion

Heat and Eat

For those of you that don’t know about Gits, research told me that the Gits food company has successfully been around for the last 50 years. That’s a long time in the industry so they know what they’re talking about. They started off with pre-packaged mixes like dosai mix, idli mix and gulab jamun mix that quickly became a staple packet across not just Indian kitchens but also for travellers and college students that wanted to take a little flavour of home with them. Today the Gits mixes, dairy products and ready meals are available not only in India but across popular supermarkets in US, UK and Australia to name a few.

With a name like Gits how could I say no? It’s a common pet name for a long name like Gitanjali so, when FBAI (Food Bloggers Association of India) contacted me I sent in my details. I love getting packages. It’s so exciting to get one in the mail and make your way through the layers of wrapping to reveal what’s inside.  A few weeks later I was thrilled to receive my very own Gits heat and eat meals review box. A navy blue box with a light shine that contained 2 boxes of ready meals; Veg Biryani and Dal Makhani.

Both meal boxes had attractive packaging that definitely made you want to eat the contents. Once opened, it was as easy as tipping out the contents of each silver foil packet into bowls and into the microwave for 2 minutes. Yep dinner all ready in just 2 minutes. So if you've had a long day and need a quick fix, go Gits!

The Biryani didn't quite turn out like the image on the cover but definitely tasted the part. Flavourful loose long grains of aromatic Basmati rice mixed into lightly curried vegetables with a distinct hint of saffron.

The Dal Makhani was equally tasty. A restaurant-worthy black dal (rightly so as it does contain 5% of cream and 3% of butter), with a smoky full-bodied flavour. Although it says mild on the pack it’s packed with strong spices and you can feel the heat of the garam masala.

Both dishes were fairly spicy so for the light-spiced folks like me, make sure you include a creamy yoghurt raita to calm those taste buds and cool your insides. I would also recommend a salad to add that extra bit of nutritious roughage to your diet and finish it off with an ice cold, home made limbu paani. Burrrp! ;)

Website: 

Gits Foods

Facebook:

Gits Food Facebook

Dough Re Mi…

Fa So La Ti Dough :)

This one’s been a long time coming. A couple of months ago on my long way home from work, I drove past an attractive black and white sign that read, ‘The Bakers Dozen’ and I thought wow, there’s a new bakery in town and so, the next day I decided to pay this trendy signed shop a visit.

I walked in expecting to buy me a chocolate croissant or a cheesy puff but instead all they had was a selection of beautifully baked breads. At first I was a little surprised but then I took a minute and thought hey! where in this city can you find yourself a really good, authentic, gourmet loaf of bread? Ok, the five star hotels maybe, but that’s about it. So along came The Bakers Dozen who had the exact same thought before they started up.

Aditi Handa, her husband Sneh and her brother Siddhart left their respective corporate jobs to partner together and pursue their own business. They wanted to translate their common passion for food into reality. They wondered what it was that would work and after sifting through a number of ideas and options thought about opening a bakery. Initially, the idea was to open a generic bakery that served up a selection of breads, cakes and pastries. One that we are all familiar with but as the concept took form, it made them stick to the promise of offering their customers quality bread at convenient prices.

Aditi, the face behind the kitchen, who I had the pleasure of catching up with, told me that three days into her bread making course at the International Culinary Centre in New York, she realised that she’d found her life’s calling. Her passion while narrating the story itself said it all. She loved every minute of her course and made some great friends along the way that she gets tips and pointers from to date. When she tried her hand at pastry making it didn’t seem to excite her as much as baking bread. “It’s a totally different experience” she said. “Making bread requires a special skill and patience in a hot and humid environment. It’s not impossible to learn and if you enjoy it, the rewards are plenty.”  And so they were. After days of endless trials and errors, Aditi and her team of young bakers that have been trained by her, have put together a lovely selection of fresh stone-baked, natural, artisan breads in a number of interesting varieties.

I had the pleasure of sampling a few:

Pain de Complet Multigrain; a multigrain sandwich bread that is a little hard in nature compared to your average packaged breads.  Aditi explained to me that the reason for this is, that contrary to other processed breads, The Bakers Dozen breads are baked in a stone oven as compared to a regular oven resulting in a slightly crunchier texture. The other reason is, that all the breads at The Bakers Dozen are hand-made and have no preservatives. No bread improvers have been used to soften the dough which gives the bread a more wholesome and rustic feel. The pain de complet multigrain is excellent for toast and you can taste the goodness of the grains throughout the bread which gives it that extra crunch.

Four Grain; this delicious German bread was by far my favourite! A rich, hearty bread that has a mix of pumpkin, sesame, flax and sunflower seeds incorporated throughout the perfectly crusty top and soft doughy inside. Makes lovely, wholesome sandwiches and beautifully crunchy toast.

Challah; a deliciously decadent Jewish bread that is made with egg, sugar or honey and oil. A dense but fluffy bread that is similar to brioche in that it is slightly sweet in taste and goes excellently well with jam, peanut butter or nutella. I did a little research and also found out that Challah is the best bread to make french toast and bread & butter pudding and my Bombay brethrens, it is now available at your local bakery for the taking.

Ragi Crackers; little brown triangles of nutritious, crunchy crackers that are yummy just plain and even better when dunked into a pot of creamy homemade yoghurt dip. A healthy all day snack and something different to add to your chips and dips platter at parties.

Currently, The Bakers Dozen has set up shop in the suburb of Prabhadevi but fear not South Mumbai, there’s going to be one due to open its doors around the first week of August in your neighbourhood as well, Kemps Corner. YAY!

Before I leave you, another amazing fact that I learned about these speciality breads that I just must share. Every slice of bread from The Bakers Dozen menu, will give the same amount of protein as a bowl of dal (lentils).  Amazing! a couple of slices keep you feeling full and very satisfied.

I absolutely can’t wait to go back for more and make my way through their selection of other traditional European breads like; the sweet French Brioche and the Pain Au Levin with walnuts and raisins, the olive laden Italian Focaccia and the assortment of mini Dinner Rolls.

Aditi assured me that their menu is only going to get better and they will soon be adding croissants, muffins and possibly even ready sandwiches to their collection.

Oh and watch out, Aditi also plans to open her own gourmet school someday and I for one am sure she will and it will be just as great as her freshly baked crusty loaves of bread :) 

Ratatouille

Address:

The Bakers Dozen,

9, Jayant Apartments,

Near Century Bazaar,

Appasaheb Marathe Marg,

Prabhadevi,

Mumbai- 400025.

Facebook:

The Bakers Dozen

Farmville

Sorry all you budding e-farmers out there but Farmville is a game I never really got into at all. What I do love though are Farmers Markets. Walking through isles and carts of fresh, earthy wares. Taking in the different stories and ideas of upcoming local brands and products and of course, sampling. Oh I love the sampling! And the best part is that even when I'm scoffing down gooey brownies and chips & dip I feel good about myself. Like I'm participating in the fight for all things good and healthy.

So, when I got word of the Farmers Market that was happening in Pune, on my weekend there, it was the first place I went to bright and early on Sunday morning. Hey! 10:30am on a Sunday is bright and early don’t you think?

So off I went, to market to market, cloth bag in tow, hippie at heart, ready to meet and greet the people of Pune. The market took place at the grounds of the Westin Hotel which is a little fancy for a Farmers Market but nonetheless, I loved it.  It was a small area, not as large and widespread as I had imagined but cute and cozy and best of all we got to be out-doors but still under cover from the rain.

As I walked through stalls promoting products like organic grains, home-made sauces and chemical free produce, these are the people that I met who made all the difference to my rainy Sunday morning…

Pride Of Cows; a Bombay-Pune based operation that delivers fresh bottles of milk to your doorstep just 7 hours after the happy cow has been milked. I say happy because the company ‘prides’ itself on the philosophy that ‘Pedigree, Perfect, Proud and Pampered’ cows that are fed high quality, healthy meals, produce the best quality milk. And so it was. Rich, creamy, wholesome milk and guess what?! Just 3% Fat content. You cannot put a price on an operation like this. It’s humane, well-run and offers a quality product. So what are you waiting for? Get moo-ving and order now.

The Good Juicery; who doesn’t love a glass of bubbly….I'm talking about fruit bubbly. Goodness that the whole family can enjoy. And for us alcoholics, a great way to create your own little cocktail ;) It’s simple, fresh ingredients, no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives and the benefit of upto 2 portions of fruit in a can. Available in 3 delicious flavours; apple, guava and passion fruit. My favourite is the guava; perfectly pink and lightly fizzed to add that little bit of sparkle to every sip. Mmmm.

Cheeni; happy, smiling Anushka Aurora had a table of the most delish looking baked goods that just looked too good to pass up. Cupcakes, tarts, brownies and cookies, laid out with the cutest packaging, ready for people to pack away. So I shimmied my way over and helped myself to some of the collection and wowww…I’ve got my order ready for next weekend! Soft, gooey, melting moments of brownie. Spongy cupcakes with the perfect swirl of frosting. Crunchy tart shells with creamy lemon or chocolate filling. Heaven! Oh and your not going to believe what I’m about to tell you. This young, budding baker has picked up all her skills from the age of 10 from You tube. Say whaaaat?! Uhh huuhhh! You tube! That was really just the icing on the cake! One that I can’t wait to trial very soon.

Only Priya’z; a small counter that was serving up fresh, home-made breads in all shapes and sizes. Priya, the girl behind this bakery did not let the fact that she’s hearing impaired stop her from talking to us about her selection of whole wheat, multi-grain, focaccia and other delicious breads. She supplies bread on order to those that want their daily bread to be from a fresh loaf. Contact her on 9822306360.

Last but not least we ended the market at theindianbean.com; an online operation that runs out of Mysore by a pair of budding brothers that source coffee beans directly from small local farmers across popular locations like Coorg, Kodaikanal and Mysore. What they offer is the flavour of single beaned coffee that is fresh, fair trade and preferably organic in the form of whole beans, coarse ground or fine ground packs with interesting names. The process is simple; go to their website, choose your favourite coffee from their selection and order away. I sampled the Frowners coffee; a rich, whole-bodied coffee that went down smooth. It was just the kick start I needed to get me through the rest of my day.

At the end of the morning, it felt good to support these passionate entrepreneurs that have the courage to start new businesses that basically cater to providing us with better options. My new resolution is that I'm going to try and eat healthier, wholesome food as far as possible and I really would urge you to try and do the same.

With that done and a bag full of goodies later I made my way to the exit and left the market a happier me. Can't wait for the next one!

Facebook:

Pune Farmers Market

Pride Of Cows

Good Juicery

Cheeni

theindianbean.com