One of my most memorable sunsets at the Hilton Marina, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, On You Tube

I love sunsets and can't help puling out my phone or camera as the case may be whenever I see a good one.

And then love to look at those photographs in my own time- recreating the time, mood and feel of that particular day.

But this one here is that I actually took a video of. We were standing just in front of the Ras Al Khaimah creek, having walked from our hotel steps-the Hilton Marina and it happened to be  Prayer time.

That coupled with the Muezzin's call , the chirping of the birds as they settled in for the night, the beautiful pink , gold and reddish hues that enveloped the sky,that particular moment in time and the overall sense of calm and tranquility that accompanied it..

In a word, unforgettable! 

On the Delhi Food trail and a Food Bus on Christmas Day

The holidays are all about food, fun and laughter and I'm a firm believer in all these. So while we went out for a traditional Christmas dinner and dance at our club on Christmas eve, we decided to mark Christmas on  a different note  and headed  out on a guided Food Tour in the Delhi Food Bus.         

Organised by a group of enthusiastic people called 'Seek Sherpa', it promised to be one of a kind culinary experience through Delhi's underbelly and since we are currently in the process of rediscovering Delhi after moving back to India after over two decades, it was something that we found ourselves looking forward to.

An overview- A day full of food, fun and more food

After boarding the bus with about 25 other food enthusiasts, and being introduced to our 'Sherpas', Dhruv and Sukhmani,we  settled down comfortably and decide to enjoy every moment of that trip. Be it the food quiz that proved to be very informative, or the food 'Antakshari' that the two teams played, it was really the little touches that prepped us for the culinary delights that were to follow.

Our first stop was at 'Hunger Strike' in Lajpat Nagar where we shared large plate of the most delicious Tandoori Momos I've ever eaten. Correction, that would have to read, the most delicious momos I've ever eaten, for I'd never eaten 'Tandoori' ones earlier. Accompanied by a green chutney, a red chilli paste and mayonnaise, it was a real palate tickler.Add to it, a whole lot of spice and we soon looked around for the nearest drink of water and when I found one, enjoyed the momos even more!

Moving on and happily looking forward to the next course, we found ourselves heading to the Moolchand flyover and soon disembarked and walked towards Sanjay Chur Chur Naan, a little stall complete with a series of Tandoors and the delightful fragrance of hot breads and rotis wafting through the air.

We learnt that a 'chur chur' naan is rather different from a regular naan and soon got a plate of two of those naans, accompanied by a glass of 'chaach'. Must admit, they looked rather large, so we are relieved to know that it was to be shared between two people.

That was when I happened to look back and saw a couple of men mixing the dough for the naans.While Im not squeamish, lets just say that that particular sight was unappealing to the extent of putting both Avi and myself off that course- entirely! 

Luckily we still had two more stops to go and knew that some delicious Kebabs were to follow so in retrospect, we really hadn't missed much. And must say that the Barra Kababs at Rajindar Ka Dhaba more than made up for it. Juicy, spicy and succulent, they were really enjoyable and I learnt something of particular interest. Apparently, these kababs are marinated in papaya and left overnight- hence the real soft and juicy texture after they are cooked in the Tandoor.

A plate of 'Barra Kababs' at Rajindar Ka Dhaba was a hot favourite for many

Our Sherpa Dhruv, explains the finer points of some really fine food

But how could  it be possible to have a Christmas Day event without a delicious Christmas pudding? Which is exactly what we got at our last stop at 'Social' in Defence Colony.For a start, Social itself was a new experience for us as we hadn't been to one of these before. We loved the buzz, enthusiasm and fun at the outlet as did many of the others on our food bus tour. On that day, there was a very special offer- A beer for Rs 16 and its easy to guess what most people chose to drink.

I'm different and for me Christmas pudding has to be accompanied by a hot beverage.After having ordered my Cappuccino I sat down o wait for it and was absolutely delighted with what I got. A look at the photograph just below, will be enough to tell you that on the trip, the Seek Sherpa  guides had clearly saved the best for the last.

Saving the best for the last- A super Christmas pudding and a Cappuccino at Social, Delhi

So there you have it in a nutshell- A delightful concept called the Food Tour on a Delhi Food Bus.We had a really great day out and are already looking to going out on a few more of these organised tours- the best way to make the most of the Delhi winter.. 

Food for Thought Turns 1 and an Arabic special with some unique Ritz Carlton Al Bustan recipes from Oman

Re visiting a landmark post

Time  flies and here we are on the 25th of June, 2014.Today,  its exactly one year since I started 'Food For Thought' and this also happens to be my 50th post. I've had a really great time writing each and every one of these posts and my journey through this year has taken me to kitchens in France, Oman and India in addition to my own. 

However, 'Food For Thought' is not merely about cuisine- I have also tried to share my love for art and culture through some of these posts  and am fairly satisfied with the outcome. I've received feedback from readers as well as many of the restaurants and locations that I've featured. Best of all, I know for a fact that I've learnt a great deal as well!

Top of mind, I recall the three sessions I had at Paul Muscat, with Pastry Chef Mohammed Kessrwani who unhesitatingly shared his  Chef's secrets, special tips and allowed me to ask him "anything at all". Similarly, a Chocolate fondue making experience at the Al Bustan Ritz Carlton, the delightful new Anar Cafe, Caramel Bakery, Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, I could go on and on.... 

Creations by Chef Mohammed Kessrwani of Paul Muscat

    

Delightfully decadent

A special occasion ought to be marked by something special and I'm going to try and do exactly that. Oman is currently in the grip of Football as well as Date fever and we are enjoying the very best of both. There are so many uses of dates in recipes and over a period of time, I will share some of these with you. Meanwhile, here's a glimpse at what most of the date palms in Oman look like at the moment.

Ripe for picking

As mentioned in my previous post on Pre Ramadan musings, I'm going to to write about some of the Ramadan Specials that various hotels and restaurants in Oman will be offering during this one month period.I will also try and get into the kitchens of some of these places and watch the chefs at work creating the most amazing delicacies and share that with you as well.

To start with, I've got some special Iftaar recipes which  Erika Anggreini, the Public Relations Manager at the Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel has very graciously shared with me.

The first one is a Rose Water Rice Pudding served with Mango compote 

Rose Water Rice Pudding

Ingredients 

·         114gr Arborio Rice

·         ½ Ltr water

·         ¼ Tblspn Salt

·         1 Ltr Milk

·         57g Powdered  Sugar

·         118 ml Heavy Cream

·         60 ml Rose Water

·         1 tbspn Cardamom Seeds

Procedure

Combine water, salt and rice.Cook until rice is tender, adding milk, cream and sugar and continue cooking on low heat until it becomes a pudding consistency. Add the  rose water & cardamom seeds and cook for 10 min. Finally, chill before serving.

Mango Compote

Ingredients

·         4 Mangoes

·         2 Oranges/ Juice

·         100gr Powder Sugar

·         1 Vanilla bean stick

Procedure

Cut two mangoes. Place all ingredients in a pot and caramelize for about 10 minutes, then blend to make sauce.

Once the sauce has chilled,  cut the remaining two  mangoes into small cubes and mix in with the compote. 

In a bowl serve the rice pudding and mango compote garnishing with pistachio crumbs. 

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And here is a great Summer cooler, a very special Ramadan inspired beverage also from the Al Bustan Ritz Carlton. This is Coconut Ice Tea which is really simple to make. Try it, I'm sure this will immediately become a family favourite!  

Coconut Ice Tea

·         ¼ cup of coconut puree

·         8 black tea bags

·         Lemon for flavor

·         Sugar

·         Ice cubes

Fill a blender with ice and blend all the ingredients.

Finally, sit back, relax  and enjoy!

To close for today, here's wishing all of you a great week ahead and looking forward to hearing from you on what else you would like to see in Food For Thought.

Cafe Ceramique, Oman- A great little place that asks, Would you like to eat first or paint first?

Cafe Ceramique in the Bareeq Al Shatti Mall, Muscat

The other day we decided to go to Cafe Ceramique in Muscat for  a weekend breakfast. Must admit the fact that there was a very special offer was the real draw but we came back converted into Cafe Ceramique fans. 

For more reasons than just one.

Located centrally in the Bareeq Al Shatti Mall, Muscat.Cafe Ceramique is   a cafe cum art-workshop. The highlight of the place would have to be the fact that  the cafe serves food  as well as offers customers ceramic pieces which they  can purchase and paint at the cafe itself.They can then enjoy creating unique personalized gifts, keepsakes, dinnerware and home decor pieces that will be cherished  forever. All one has to do is to pick a piece of ceramic off the shelf (that has many great  pieces to choose from ) and let your imagination run wild. These are then painted, glazed, fired and soon ready for pick up.


Once you select the piece you want to paint, you are given a paper,  five  colours and two outliners. These colours are handed over along with a sponge, water, and a set of brushes. Customers can paint away till they are happy and  satisfied and once completed, the piece has to be left  in the cafe for them to fire and glaze the piece (about seven days).Customers are are given a receipt which must be used to collect the piece.The pieces are microwave as well as dishwasher friendly and we were informed that  the colours do not contain any toxins, so that everyone can eat or and drink out of them.

Baking in the oven 

We are shown exactly how the operation works

The paints used 

  

Bright and Beautiful 

At our table- Puffy Paints

Starters- a delicious salad and toasted bread

The Arabian Treasure, a great start to the day

Can't close before I tell you about our meal which we enjoyed thoroughly.Called 'The Arabian Treasure', it had a range of Mediterranean favorites, Foul Medammas, Hummus, Grilled Halloumi Cheese, Zattar Crisps, Labneh with a choice of tea or coffee. 

Will we be going back soon? Well, the weekend really isn't too far away..

On the New Delhi Palate Fest 2014 and winning the # SelfieatOberoi contest

Last Saturday, the 29th of November, my friend Poonam Kodesia and I decided to visit the New Delhi Palate Fest 2014 which was on at the Nehru Park Delhi. It was a beautiful afternoon and once our immediate concern of finding a suitable parking was tackled, all we had to do was head straight into the park and make the most of all the fabulous food, fun and activities out there. 

The New Delhi Palate Fest was the first of its kind international level food festival to be held in New Delhi, India. Running for 3  days in November 2014 from the 28th till the 30th of November 2014 it showcased some of India’s best chefs, produce growers, entertainers and musicians. 

Entering the park 

On those three days, New Delhi truly came alive with a host of culinary experiences that explored a medley of tastings, events, promotions and celebrations for the first, and I'm convinced, certainly not the last time!

There was a real buzz about the whole event and before long, queues had formed in front of the popular counters. Or maybe, they were all equally crowded, it was just that we were focused on eating some authentic Indian and preferably, Tandoori food.

 Bright and Beautiful- loved the colours

And before we knew it, the number of people coming in through the gates seemed to increase. But if I was to be completely honest about it, that was a great part of the charm- there's probably nothing better than a buzzing, happening event on a beautiful November afternoon with delicious aromas floating all around.

Poonam smiles

It was a really beautiful afternoon and the flowers were in full bloom

Loved these flowers in a jar at our choice of restaurant- the Great Kebab Factory

Rang De Basanti, my favourite shot of the day.

 Moving on we discovered this beautiful stall put up by the Oberoi, New Delhi. Featuring a whole range-  coffee, cakes, delicatessen and savouries, this one really got our attention.

 What attracted me even more was the fact that there was a contest # SelfieatOberoi. All one had to do was click a selfie on the spot, post it on Instagram with the hashtag,# Selfie atOberoi and hope for the best. 

Which is exactly what  I  did.

Then forgot all about it till yesterday, when I found out on Twitter that I actually had won the contest! Talk of luck.Or being at the right place at the right time...

The Winning Entry# SelfieatOberoi

As for the prize- its a voucher for two at the Oberoi's award winning Italian restaurant, the Travertino.  Looking forward to it and really happy that we went to the New Delhi Palate Fest, 2014. 

For more reasons than one could have possibly imagined.

An early morning walk, Baguette making and a lovely breakfast in Paris

Jacques dividing the dough and getting ready to pop the baguettes in the oven

The lovely little Patissier in Volontaires, Paris

The Tempting array

Checking that all is set and ready to roll

The Baguette making machine

 It all began with the phone clock not being adjusted to the new  time zone..

And turned into a delightfully memorable early morning walk in Paris.

On our first morning in Paris I had set the alarm for 630 am as we were planning a day trip to Versailles.As it happened, the alarm rang and call it years of discipline,  I promptly woke up, had my tea and a quick shower. Something looked a little different- was a it just a shade too dark outside? The curtains were drawn and I didn't really want to open them for fear of waking the family.

About fifteen minutes later, Avi appeared- all dressed and ready but with a pained look on his face.Then he said-"Do you realise? Its only 5 am!"

And that was when I understood- what I'd thought was an alarm for 0630 hours was actually set for 0430! Well that was that and not wanting to disturb Neha,  we stepped out for  a very early morning walk.

Everything looked different, the streets were empty and every now and then a few people passed us- those returning from the night shift and work and a couple looked at us in surprise- wasn't 0530 a little too early for a walk? 

Being familiar with the area from our last visit, we knew that we would pass Pasteur, with its  famous Lois Pasteur Institute and this would be followed by Volontaires about two kms later.The sun was rising and there was a beautiful nip in the air, one which made me wrap my jacket a little more snugly around myself.

Three kms later, we were thirsty, but I'd honestly say, a little more hungry. And that was also when we saw it- the sweetest little Patissier that looked so very welcoming.

A cheerful looking lady welcomed us and asked us what we would like for breakfast. We chose the Continental one with a chocolate croissant for me and the cheese version for Avi and paid up. Looking through the glass window and smelling the delicious aroma of freshly baking bread all around, I simply asked her if I could step into the kitchen where the baguettes were bring made.To my delight, she agreed, and there I was, right where Jacques was getting ready to make the next batch of baguettes.

Look through the sequence of photographs that I've posted and its really self explanatory. With something as simple as this machine, Jacques turns out anything between 300-800 baguettes a day (depending of course on the demand.) 

Golden brown and smelling  delicious!

Yes, one batch is ready

Ready for customers coming in during the day

All that watching made us hungry- So here's a well deserved French Breakfast!

Must confess, all that walking and then clicking the pics almost had me drooling and this is what  we settled down to - a simple, delicious, very early morning breakfast on our first morning in Paris...