#GoNutsOnDonuts With Dunkin!

Donuts are a dessert of choice in America and have gradually become popular in India as well. Dunkin Donuts is one of the leading brands when it comes to this fried dough confectionery, and this weekend, I had a chance to gorge on the same.

How, you might ask? A shopping spree with friends that culminated in a dessert treat.

With quite a few restaurants rolling out their Monsoon Menus this time, it came as no surprise to me that Dunkin had slashed their price point for a box of decadent happiness. :)

In Dunkin's words, getting a six pack has never been easier.

Here's the scoop. Picture an assortment of five flavors in a pack of six pieces of joy. Add to it the thrill of having to save your favorite flavor from a claim by your friends or colleagues!

Thus, here's what to expect when you #GoNutsOnDonuts...

Classic Glazed
Classics are evergreen, aren't they? Classic Glazed Donut is as steadfast with its flavors as is your love towards your pet. Take my word for that.

Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been one of the most versatile spices known to the world so far, finding use in savory as well as sweet preparations. As for the donut, it finds its apt place in the form of powdered goodness. As soon as you open the box, its sweet scent is the one that fills the room.

Cutie Fruity
White chocolate icing and a vibrant striped pattern that is delicious. What is more needed to discover a new favorite in the world of donuts?

Chocolate Frosted
Chocolate pairs itself with any sweet concoction and same is the case with donuts. One bite is enough to teleport you to Willy Wonka's world.

Jelly Filled
Dusted with powdered sugar and filled with somewhat viscous strawberry jam, Jelly Filled Donut is unique in terms of its taste as well as preparation, because the other four donuts in the deal are ring donuts whereas this one is filled with syrupy goodness. :)

All in all, #GoNutsOnDonuts is a complete steal deal this monsoon, with each of the five variants being priced at a mere ₹49, making it an economical deal being marketed at ₹294 a box.

So, when are you planning to treat your friends as everybody #GoNutsOnDonuts? :)

Swedish Delicacies Courtesy Chef Vollmer...

What?
Master Class with Chef Ebbe Vollmer of Sweden

When?
Wednesday, June 7

Where?
The Lodhi

Food is a thread that binds us on a global scale, exposing us to various cultures and cuisines. And, Masterclasses are an effective means to witness first-hand, gastronomic delights from the best-in-industry chefs.

India has also made its mark on the culinary map with many homegrown chefs having conducted Masterclasses in the past, but this time was bound to be different as The Lodhi hosted Chef Ebbe Vollmer who spearheads Vollmers, a two Michelin starred restaurant in Malmo, Sweden.

Sweden, being a Scandinavian nation in Europe, their cuisine is centered mostly around cultured dairy products, crisp yet soft bread, berries and stone fruits, beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and seafood. Potatoes often figure as a side dish and are often served boiled, while meatballs are often paired with Lingonberry Jam.

Hosting an interactive session with Chef Vollmer that consisted of three signature delicacies prepared by him, Chef Vijay Thapliyal on behalf of The Lodhi felt elated on this association and expressed his gratitude to Chef Ebbe on coming over to India to provide us a glimpse into Swedish culture through its cuisine,

Here is a peek into the dishes prepared by Chef Ebbe Vollmer in a session that drew to a close with hi-tea.

Crispy Potato Cake with Smoke Sour Cream & Salted Fishes

Method: 

• Get four big potatoes, peel them, slice them very thin. 
• Julienne those slices and put them in water to get rid of the starch.
• Heat oil to 130-140 degrees and put some kind of mold inside the oil till the cakes turn brown and keep them together.  

• Roll the potato in hand like yarn put it in the mold. Wait for five seconds and slowly push all the edges with a tweezers or fork. 
• Let it slowly cook on one side as it takes time and then carefully flip it to the other side. Cook it till it stops bubbling and turns light golden. 
• Serve with choice of garnish like spring onion, cheese, or caviar. 

Pan Fried Loin of Lamb with Charred Leeks & Pickled Green Tomatoes 

Method: 

• Fry the lamb in the pan fatty side down. 
• When the lamb is cooked nicely, cover it with rum and leave it for some time with extra butter and base it with a spoon. It will become golden brown all over. 
• Put it in the oven at 150 degrees and then rest it for ten minutes. Garnish it with pickled green tomatoes. 
• Slice completely hard green tomatoes. 

• Luke warm pickling liquid is prepared using mustard seeds and blanched first to remove the spiciness from it. The liquid consists of one part white vinegar, two parts sugar, and three parts water plus spring onion. 
• For sauce, a red wine reduction is performed. 
• Roast it for some time and split it with a bit of oil. 

Lingonberry Apple with Light Cream Cheese Mousse 

Method:

• Take four Granny Smith Apples / Green Apples and slice it thin and long. 
• Make a brine solution from Lingonberry. For four apples, 300 grams of Lingonberry is needed. Add 150 grams of sugar and 250 ML of water to it. 
• After boiling it, soak sliced apple into it and keep it for six hours. 

• For the mousse, take 225 grams of cream cheese and then add some sugar. A nice and light cream cheese mousse is obtained on whipping the mix. 
• For plating, take a spoon full of the mousse and decorate the apple slice. Dry some lingonberries to obtain a powder and sprinkle it over the mousse. 

All in all, it was an insightful as well as indulgent Masterclass courtesy Chef Vollmer and The Lodhi. :)

Oven Story Redefines Love For Pizza...

Last weekend at home was Pizza Weekend. Though Pizza has lost me as a fan because of not-so-great preparations being done by the regular names in the market, I had heard a lot about a new home-delivery-only joint in my vicinity going by the brand name - Oven Story - a brand which believes that Pizza emulates life, and thus decided to give it a try.

How is Pizza = Life? Thus opines Oven Story's Pizza Pedro:

"Flour, butter, veggies and cheese, if not put through grueling heat and tests of time, they will never become a beautiful pizza. On the other hand, we’ve often seen people find the completion of their story, in a warm pizza. In life-like situations like these, how can the only variety be that of toppings?

At Oven Story we know how your pizza resonates your story, so we’ve got you our 4 signature cheese bases- one for each of your mood. From alive and hearty Peri Peri and beautiful mellow roasted 4 Bell Pepper to hot Chipotle and el-Classico - a classic cheese spread that’s perfect for all.

So go ahead, choose a flavor that completes your story."

This particular analogy seemed interesting enough for me to go ahead and craft a story at Oven Story. From their impressive range of Pizzas, Garlic Bread, Bruschetta, and Dessert, I decided to opt for Pizza and Dessert to form my first impression of their brand.

From their quad bases, I opted for El Classico, Chipotle, and Peri Peri. Going by their About Us, I already had a feeling that Oven Story would be a class apart from run-of-the-mill Dominos or Pizza Hut, and I was proved right.

My order placed with them consisted of the following:

• Chipotle Gourmet Veggie (V)

• Peri Peri Big Western (NV)

• Classico Picante (V)

• Sicilian Red Velvet Cake 

Not only were their 9" pizzas thin, crisp, steaming hot, fresh and light on the palate, but also they were loaded with life-size chunks of respective toppings and melt-in-mouth cheese that went without saying. I finally got rid of my gradual aversion to Pizza because of the other well-known brands having degraded their name in the market by utilizing ingredients/toppings just for namesake, as Pizza had just become mere refined flour and cheese for me over the passage of time. 

Not the case with Oven Story, though. These people impressed me and how! Also got to know that they had partnered with Faasos for their delivery operations, hence handling the logistics like a pro. 

 I also observed that their bases were not just flour, but also some herbs were visible on the underside of all the three bases. Poking holes in the pizza base also proved to be a good idea for even cooking, thus making the pizza soft, crisp, and flavorful. :)

However, the star of the meal was their Sicilian Red Velvet which was a delicious cross between a regular Lava Cake and an aesthetic Red Velvet. The cake was topped with nuts, which were the icing for me. This dessert is my must-have when ordering from Oven Story.

Oven Story as a brand has been present in other major metro cities of the country and Delhi is their newest arena. I am sure that with such mastery in their preparation, presentation, and delivery, Oven Story will steal hearts all across the capital city. :)

Taiwanese Tarts At Moon Of Taj...

Moon Of Taj is an elegant Taiwanese Sweets outlet situated in Lajpat Nagar. I visited the outlet this week and was introduced to the concept of Taiwan in India courtesy Master Chef Hugo Wang, who himself hails from Taiwan and has taken the onus upon himself to present Taiwanese Sweets with an Indian Heart, here in Delhi.

Moon Of Taj prepares authentic Taiwanese delicacies - Fruit Tart and Nougat, both of which are a changeover from routine Indian sweets, being presented elegantly and being smooth on the palate.

Infusion of fine-quality ingredients like butter, spices and hand-picked dry fruits makes these confectionaries balance health and taste. More than anything, quality of the sweets being presented to the Indian audience and the fact that hygiene is maintained is of utmost importance to Hugo, adhering to Taiwanese ethics and Indian FSSAI regulations. 

The vibe at Moon of Taj is calming, to say the least, and Hugo's hospitality is a class apart with the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony being emulated at Moon Of Taj in an aesthetic partition made at the entrance of Moon of Taj itself.

Here at Moon Of Taj, Fruit Tarts are made using an assortment of Indian pineapples, other fruits, and Californian almonds. Fruit Tarts date back to times as ancient as 2^nd Century and are considered auspicious in Taiwanese ceremonies hence making these an ideal gifting option here in India as it would be a welcome change from the monotony that giving and receiving gifts faces here in our country.

Essentially, these fruit tarts and nougat are meant to be consumed with Green Tea, a variety of which was presented at Moon of Taj and was not at all bitter, refreshing nonetheless.

These fruit tarts are available in the following four flavors catering to the Indian palate:

• Mint Mango 
• Latte Butter 
• Cheese Pineapple 
• Chocolate Orange 

A reason that further adds to their nifty appeal is the fact that they come in per piece packaging, thus they can be purchased loose or in a packaging of boxes having a certain number of pieces with pricing depending on the weight.

The elegance of packaging makes these fruit tarts come across as a sophisticated gifting option for sure.

Apart from fruit tarts, Moon Of Taj also manufactures Nougat that dates back to the 10^th Century as an Arabian delicacy. Soft and tender on the inside and chewy and crunchy on the outside is how I liked this one. Nougats at Moon Of Taj are available in Chocolate and Vanilla flavors. These nougats too come in per piece packaging and are generally available in a box of twenty priced economically. 

Moon Of Taj is Chef Hugo's attempt at presenting East Asian delicacies that try to blend in the Indian culture and appeal to the Indian audience. That is why Moon Of Taj's tagline fits it best - Taiwan Sweets 💗 Indian Heart. :)

Love On Cloud Nine With Food Cloud...

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach... 

In fact, the way to most people's hearts are through their stomach. And this Valentine's Day, Food Cloud promises to tease your appetite with a twist. So do up your home in candles, add those fragrant flowers and that special table mat, chill the champagne and let Food Cloud give you a magical dinner date at home.

The web portal, Food Cloud, that is the brainchild of Vedant Kanoi and Shamit Khemka,  which connects home chefs to customers has two special Valentine's Day offerings -  a "Valentine's Special" page on Food Cloud where eleven chefs have curated sixteen special two-course and three-course meals; and the best five dessert chefs have curated fascinating desserts from chocolate bars that are a proposal, by Chocazure to naughty cupcakes crafted by All things Yummy, bouquets of edible delights to smooch mini brownies prepared by G's Patisserie.

To make our V-Day celebrations sweeter, Food Cloud chose Chocolate Day, i.e. 9 February with their aesthetic truffles placed in a heart-to-heart gift-wrapped hamper delivered to our doorstep. 💑 👫 💝 🎁



With over 300 chefs on board providing delightful meals to over 25,000 customers on a monthly basis, across Delhi-NCR and Kolkata, they've recently been inducted into the Govt. of India's start-up initiative as well, and are one of the few food tech firms that continue to hold strong, while quite a few have shut shop in the recent few months.

These Valentine's specials are available from now till Feb 14 on Food Cloud's Valentine's Special Page.

Take a moment to make your V-Day celebrations so much sweeter by indulging in such sweet proposals by Food Cloud! 💝

Of Extraordinaire At House Of Commons...

House Of Commons is situated in M Block, Connaught Place and is a Gastro Pub which draws inspiration from United Kingdom's Parliamentary House. The ambiance and decor elucidates the look and feel of modern-day as well as archaic London, though the interiors are dimly lit.

From Victorian Era to Manchester United to Charlie Chaplin to London Bridge to the guards of Buckingham appearing on their Menu, HoC has London written all over its premises.

We begun the foodie stint with thick shakes - Strawberry Melody - which is essentially strawberry flavored - and Hide and Seek - which is Vanilla topped with Choco Chips and biscuit crumbs. The shakes were creamy and of the right consistency.

There were also on spread, Sangria and Smoked Apple Mojito as cocktails. Towards the end, also tried a Fresh Lime Soda, presented in a glass which spoke of 'Fashion'.

For starters, went ahead with Non Veg Platter consisting of an array of Kebabs and Tikkas, Paneer Tikka Pizza accompanied by caramelized onions as topping, Cheese Loaded Nachos, Fried Calamari (squid), Mutton Tacos and the must-order signature dish at HoC, Palak Patta Chaat - crispy spinach leaves topped with Sev and Tamarind Chutney. Leaves a tangy taste lingering on the palate. 

Their Platter, being a platter presented the best of starters at House Of Commons

Also tried their Caesar Salad, which was well presented and scored well on the palate. The portion-size was quite good.

Ordered the tried and tested classics - Dal Makhni, Paneer Lababdar, and Butter Chicken. All the curries were prepared fantastically and I found myself taking a second helping. 

Went offbeat with Goan Prawn Curry and Laal Maas with an assortment of breads. Also tried their authentic Chicken Biryani and it was most finely prepared. I cannot decide the front-runner between the one here and the one at Biryani Blues.

The Brownie Cheesecake served as a fitting conclusion to a sumptuous meal. It was plated quite aesthetically and tasted really well.

My Gourmet Party: West Meets East

My friend, a French citizen, came to visit me last week. She was really anxious to see and feel everything about our beloved India which I shared with her for the last six months when we became friends on Facebook.

I took her for 'Delhi Darshan' to start with. She was really excited to see all the historical monuments - Lal Quila, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple etc. which she had seen only in pictures so far.

Then came the turn of culinary skills. On Sunday we decided to have our gourmet party with our other friends. I decided to give her a surprise of Indian food as she always talked ravishingly about her burgers and pizzas. Her favorite dialogue was "How you Indians eat such oily and spicy curries daily?". So I wanted her to have a taste of our relishing curries and change her mind and dialogue too. But it could not have been possible by using my daily recipes. I stormed my mind and then the best idea flashed in my mind. I rushed to the market and bought Kitchen Of India's delectable curries and to give it the titillating turn I bought their sweet and tangy chutneys. In curries I selected Mughlai Paneer, Murg Methi, Paneer Malai, Mirch Ka Salan and Daal Bukhara. I selected Shredded Mango, Tamarind and Date Chutneys.

Dinner was served and my friend was surprised

to see all these dishes on the dining table. She gave a hesitant look to me as if saying that she won't be able to even try them. I assured her that she could certainly taste a bite of each of them and then decide to which she agreed. I served all the dishes to her - a spoonful of each with fried rice. The aroma of the dishes brought a smile on her face. I got my 30 marks then and there. Then

I saw a twinkling shine in her eyes when she tasted the first serving. I got my 30 more marks. She kept on asking for more and more servings and relished each and every curry, dal and chutney. Result was obvious as it was a magic from Kitchen Of India for which I was dead sure to get 100% result.

But my 40% was yet left. So I served her the dessert - Delicious Gajar Ka Halwa and Moong Dal Halwa. That worked as icing on the cake. She couldn't control herself and hurled all the adjectives - tempting, delicious, palatable, yummy and savory. She persuaded me to gift her lots of packets of each of these dishes from Kitchen Of India to take back home and surprise her family too.

Hence I got my full 100 marks. Actually not me but Kitchens Of India is the winner.

This post is my entry for the "My Weekend Party With Gourmet Food" Contest organised by ITC Kitchens Of India in association with IndiBlogger.
You can vote for my post here.