Indian cuisine with a western touch...

Jipsa was craving for my cooking ...for long...n finally, she got to taste food from my hand. I was planning a special menu for her,something unique that she has had, but she will have it differently. But when I am cooking for her, my aunt will also be able to taste the *experience* & so my family members...


It was a very simple fare...very light ...& yet ...it was elegant. Who didn't have Lentil Soup???Well..this time, this is with an Indian touch, but prepared as you do in a western kitchen[Remember, when I put ginger in mushroom soup, chef George asked me, "So is this with an Indian touch???"...I just smiled].

Well..this lentil soup, rather cream of mung beans, was definitely cooked for the indian palate--it had carrot, leek, celery, mascarpone in it...and same time, it had onion, cumin, garlic...n a dash of olive oil. Yes..the soup was delicious[Unfortunately..I didn't taste it..I relied on their feedback].
Moving on to the next one...well..you know it..Chicken Tikka. You must have eaten this ...or its siblings..Kababs...what I tried this time, is a little innovative. Grilled Chicken Tikka...I didn't use any tandoor for cooking it,but it retained all the textures of what a Kabab looks like. What I did, I used a Chicken breast & applied the marinade as you do for Tikka & grilled them in a hot plate & finish off in the oven..n for the smokey flavour??Well...burn some woodchips beneath, while it is being cooked in the oven--the smoke will impart some smokey aroma in the chicken. Sauce???How about the famous makhni gravy[Yes, the same gravy used for numerous dishes...Murg Makhni, Murg Tikka Masala, Butter Chicken etc] being put in its refined form...Makhni sauce.
This time a different mashed potato...hint of cumin ...quite akin to our own kitchen's Aloo-Jeera & some shahi subzi..but alas...with Mushroom, Zucchini & Carrots!!!I hope it was decent...

Well..now time for desserts. Few of my friends claim that when it comes to desserts...I am the best...perhaps, its because of my long term relationship with sugar, pastry & my sweet-tooth. I thought of doing a rasgulla cheesecake or gulabjamun terrine...but changed my mind...Rice-pudding Mousse???Yes..I told my mom to make some rice-pudding..as we make at home...& call it as "Payesh"...n then I converted it into a vegan version of Mousse..of course..with some decent addition of Mascarpone & a little hint of cinnamon. Jipsa couldn't recognise it to be "Payesh"...n it was served with some forest fruit coulis....[All this took place yesterday]...

And today...I cooked Mutton Biryani again..this is my favorite out of North Indian cuisine & perhaps it is next to my love for Bengali foods...& one & only...Italian.As usual it was good...[thank god..no one praised me to skies...thus pampering my ego..over n over again...:) ]& finished with Phirni..a rice pudding with rice-flour, milk & again..a generous addition of Mascarpone.

Since, Sunday...I have been doing a lot of cooking..apart from cooking my own breakfast..but I am now in a departure mood...I will have to leave this Saturday..."Maa..break my chains & let me free..."!!!

Sunday cooking.....

This is not an ordinary Sunday…sorry, not an ordinary Sunday lunch, but something special…very special. It is again Italian lunch—Viva Italia!!!

I have been longing to cook something for my friends, family members & relatives, ever since I came to India for my vacation. Though I have been disappointed by the conduct of a couple of people, but at last, I took this stupendous task of cooking for 7 people. I got some ingredients from Dubai, specially frozen porcini mushrooms, frozen forest fruits, pecorino romano, grana padano, mascarpone—either not available in Calcutta or the price is sky high!!!!

For the first course, I prepared Risotto Al funghi—porcini risotto. It was excellent & my relatives, who didn’t have risotto in their life before, tasted it & I earned some compliments[see…people have now started pampering my ego…]. Yes, it was really creamy---thanks to mascarpone, which I popped in, instead of finishing off with cream.

Now, moving on to the main course, I was in a dilemma—fish??or meat???Well..if meat then options are endless, since I can’t serve beef[Hindus are not supposed to eat beef—don’t talk about me—I am just a blasphemer!!!] & mutton---then I will have to make a stew…not grilled or something..similarly, for pork, specially when swine flue has resurfaced in Kolkata. So the only option I was left with was chicken. Grilled chicken…simple & classy. Served with mashed potato & ratatouille. Samrat didn’t like the risotto much & said, “I like this better than the risotto”.

Time for desserts…rounding off the meal with a sweet note. I prepared another Italian Classic—Panna cotta- [not latte panna cotta]. This is quite akin to the crème caramel—the difference is it is without eggs & no steaming!! Instead, it is stabilised with the help of gelatin, free of eggs….& I created my own version [or variation..whatever, you would like to call it]. I flavoured the Panna cotta[which means, cooked cream] with Bailey’s Irish cream liqeuer. Yes, it was nice—not the regular vanilla flavoured & I served it with forest fruits compote. Simple & Sexy—like me!!! ;)

Samrat liked it better than the main course—which I told him, before he had his share of desserts….

Yes, I cooked after 2 weeks…since during the vacation, I was reluctant to cook—rather rely on mom to cook whatever, she wants me to eat..seldom eating out…

I have some heavy cooking challenge coming in a day or two…in one it will be pure Indian meal..Mutton Biryani, for my aunt who has come down from California on vacation & loves to eat Mutton Biryani…& in other one, it will be for another aunt..who has been craving for my cooking…n for them..I have something special in mind…kinda fusion cuisine…Indian food ala Francaise…difficult to digest???Just watch out…

Recipes???send me mails… 

Till then…

Buon Appetito!!

[Written on July 25th, 2010]

Revisiting Lycee...

I have not been to Lycee for more than a year now..and today I went to Gariahat for speaking to my bank & then also to meet a couple of friends. After I was done, I was hanging around Lycee, with a question in my mind, "To go or not to go inside???". But finally, I had the courage to go inside & meet my favorite teachers.
The building of Lycee is very small, compared to the gigantic buildings around the school, which has grown over the last few years. Anyways, after asking some keepers about my favorite teacher, I went upstairs & I saw her...yes Mrs.Koely Ghosh aka Koely mam. I dont know whether she was stunned or not, but I saw her really after 8 years[well, thats long...isn't it??]& the first question she asked me was about my hair. Yes, its thinning, but despite her advice of getting artificially weaved or wutever, I expressed no interest--I rather said, "I am happy with it--hairs wanted to go & I let them" :)--and then she was asking my & my bro's whereabouts, since she knows both of us pretty well.She also recollected the blockbuster we did, "Kaun banega crorepati" in the dialect of Bangladesh...& it made me famous too[thank god..people still remember] & was telling whether we can do that again or not...but now..it is not possible.
I remember once Koely mam threw me out of her tutorial due to my poor performances in her class..securing 7 out of 20 or 8 out of 20...awful...though she took me back in a short period of time.
Then I met Gayatri mam...who used to teach us Bengali...& apart from asking about my hair, she asked, "Have you got married??"..."No...no...too early" & I brought some other topic...& then went to visit other teachers too..
I was feeling good..specially to be in contact with teachers who I saw after a real long time...& fortunately, they remember me well....
However, got a compliment from Koely mam.."You're looking great, despite your less hair"...accepted the compliment graciously... :P..she has been one of the smartest women I have seen.

Seriously, miss you lycee..the days were full of fun, since 1990 till 2002..these 12 years in Lycee..backstabbing, sitting in the last bench of the class with friends & having fun behind, first crush, first fight...flunking in mathematics...scandals, rumours & gossips...& also gifted me my best friend, Samrat. Also politics...yes...real politics for the class prefect..where I was the leader to nominate members from our group, but I never nominated myself :D.

I hope to attend some re-union of Lycee...as I have never attended any.

Shopping in South City Mall

By now, you must be knowing that I am not a shoppaholic[btw..research shows frustrated people=shoppaholics!!!]. I just buy when I want to buy...no compulsion & secondly, when there is heavy discount going on. It is a fact, that heavy discount means clearing off old stocks & replenishing with new ones.But, I am picky when buying clothes for me...if it suits my taste..else...Naah!!!
South City Mall perhaps is the biggest mall in the Eastern part of India & it is so close to home in Calcutta. Not even 10 mins. walking distance, but I like going there catching an auto-rickshaw[remember, those tuk-tuks of Singapore???] when I am in a hurry..else...a good walk..specially for my tummy!!

I show this mall "growing up" in front of me, but my question was, will this mall be able to run the show?Never mind, the developers of this mall, also constructed four residential towers just behind the mall, a school & & some more stuff. Back in 200-, as far as I can remember, it opened & ever since then, it became a great place for me to hangout. Meet someone, date, eating, shopping, window-shopping...it became one of my favorite places nearby!! However, above all these, it was "Spencer's Hypermarket", that actually attracted me a lot--for buying some cooking stuff...n shopping rarely.

Some good brands for the first time in the city, like Guess jeans, Marks & Spencer, n many many ones.Also Pantaloons & Shoppers' Stop started here together[these are business rivals] & the "Fame Cinemas" also, a popular multiplex, but not as popular as Inox is in the city. As you know, I love books, so Starmark also opened a giant store...books, books, n books :)

The ultimate attraction, is the food court & also few standalone restaurants in the top floor. All nice, but in 2008, I found the food court very boring--less covers & also less crowded, except on weekends, specially post-evening.

I haven't been to the city for more than 1 year & last week I went to do some shopping in Pantaloons- a mega store for clothes, with my best friend. Before buying, we met in the food court & never saw such crowd before. The food court was full...I had the Zingerburger from KFC & was chatting with Samrat over there & to our surprise, we saw a group of women, in their 60s, buying food[the fried chicken stuff!!oops..I hate it..i mean the fried chicken] from KFC & having their lunch....incredible!!!

After chatting with him for a couple of hours, I started my shopping from Pantaloons. I am never picky about clothes..what matters is the fabric...Don't wear too thick..else I will start sweating ....thin is ok...but certain fabrics, make feel warmer even before I start wearing it...& colors...my choices are boring.I bought a couple of denims, tee shirts, short shirt....n then pack up!!!
Then we started our window shopping....n finally back home..

Yes, this mall is a nice place to shop [Shop till you drop???Nooooo], almost all popular brands you will get in India, is present here...never mind the mehndiwallas, or the florists....off late, frisking has led it into a long queue...n in weekends...OMG!!!!

Shukno Lonka: A review

Yesterday, I was planning to watch a movie, a bengali movie especially, since I haven't seen in one in a movie hall for ages, & secondly, in Dubai its probably impossible to see a newly released Bengali movie. I am not a die-hard fan of Bengali movies, but there are certainly movies, which are really worth-watching.
My mom was recommending "Shukno Lonka", a movie based on those side-actors who contribute in one of the insignificant supporting roles in any movie--and one of those supporting actors, get a chance to work with a famous director of Calcutta, in a lead role.
Joydeep & I went to Priya Cinema Hall[no its not a multiplex!!!] & I met him after a real longtime. The movie started on right time & it started with some glimpses of Berlin Film Festival where Mr.Joysundar Sen, an eminent film director, who hails from Calcutta is being felicitated[the role being performed by Sabyasachi Chatterji] whilst some novice actors in Calcutta are watching & abusing him[well, the movie had a little too much profanities--totally unexpected from a Bengali movie!!!] & then the story drifts to Chinu Nandi[done by Mithun Chakravarty]& his life-- he earns Rs.250 a day, when he gets to act in a movie, for a supporting role & when he doesn't get to act--nothing!!!!
The established actors of Calcutta treats Nandi with contempt till the famous bengali director, Mr. Sen selects Nandi for his upcoming bengali film,"Parashpathar"[the magic stone] as a protagonist. Certainly, Chinu Nandi was taken aback & didn't expect this--it was too much for him. He was seen praying to God, "God, I just wanted to live...nothing much". Secondly, it was the first time that the director sent a car for him, to be picked up for shooting & then dropped to his home too. The respect that he was getting, was a little too much & the money that he got for acting in the movie, he spent some of them in renting a tonga[an open coach, pulled by horse]& travel around Kolkata with his beloved wife, & share all the memories of his life--from being the supporting actor to lead role in the film industry.

***
Sabyasachi is an eminent actor & his acting was brilliant. Just done--as we may in culinary term, so was his acting--there was rare scope of overacting.
Debashree Roy also did well, specially when she could smell that her husband, Mr. Sen doesn't love her anymore & she was trying to figure out perhaps Mr. Sen has fallen for Isabella Farkas, an Australian film-maker & producer[performed by Emma Brown]. She was going through such a trauma that she went to the shooting spot & create a mess. Her dance was just ok, though people were praising it to skies!!!
Mithun Chakravarty also did well, in his role, as it was demanded or required.Others were good too.
Now coming to the flaws in the movie--yes everything comes with a flaw....
This movie had few problems..too much & too frequent songs. I am a lover of music, but too much of it was not good...Joydeep may argue with me those are not songs, but jingles...but it was too much. They could have edited the movie well, so that it doesn't get boring. It was good that the movie was giving us glimpses of Calcutta, but it was too much, specially travelling in the tonga throughout the night & flashback of Chinu Nandi's stories.The movie was unnecessarily lengthy--& sometimes, I was getting bored!!! :(
Cinematography, as Joydeep would say, was good. Overall rating of the movie, in a scale of 5, will 3.A must watch???Depends....

How is vacation going along?

Many colleagues who know I am on vacation, ask me this question, "How is vacation going along?" & my typical answer is so far so good. The day I landed here, it was raining[I dont know...it seems to be a coincidence--whenever I am coming to Calcutta, its raining here]. I am not totally fond of rains, unless it is a hot & humid day when the heavy spells of shower are total relief, at least the temperature drops for sometime. But the light drizzles doesn't help much, as the humidity is high.However, too much...Aah!!!...messes up everything...
Yes, I had big plans for this vacation..many things in mind...20 days are not big enough for anything to handle carefully & smelling the sense of success in it...but I am trying my best with my limited resources & having immense courage in myself & complete faith in Almighty...

I was excited about this vacation..apart from handling something big, I wanted to visit places, like Goa, where I have never been to...but this desire seems to be too distant...so many things to take care here...n for me...banks, this n that..bla bla bla...

In family..everyone seems to be well..except a few arguments with my father, mother & my bro...to which my mother told me, "Don't come here again..."...Hmm...I was a little disappointed. If I dont come to Kolkata...where should I go??Does that mean I should not visit India during my vacation...

Hmm...disappointing :(

Me, Myself & I--Part 4

I was born in the sign of Pisces[not the moon/sun sign I am talking about, but rising sign/ascendant sign of Sidereal Zodiac], which symbolises two fish, curled  & trying to touch each other.I assume that you have seen how this sign is representated.
This sign is highly symbolic--it is the last sign of the zodiac, the end sign. But is it the end of the beginning or beginning of the end? Once this sign is over, again a new sign starts, a new cycle. People say, that these two fishes try to touch each other, but never succeed. They represent opposites in life...Black & white, good & evils, Ups & Downs...& so on & so forth.
This sign resembles pretty my character...full of opposites. Yes, I am full of opposites within myself...which you can never imagine. For me, there is no set limit boundary, no taboo. I do what I want to do...Be it sex on one hand or being too religious & devoted. Yes, I say what I did, what I do & what I will...no hypocrisy. My life is an open book...but don't judge it by the cover page!!!
Sometimes I love to talk...talk anything...whether it makes sense or not[Come on..in school, my report card always used to have "most talkative student in the class"]n sometimes, I prefer silence. Specially when 100s of things are going in my mind+lot of work+tension. Seldom I express my anger. I may get angry on whatever you say, when I have 100s of things in my mind, but I will not express it. Expression is better than keeping it inside, what do you think?I used to get angry on almost everything, if things are not going my way. However, I was taught by a person who has influenced & inspired me. He told me, "When you know you are getting angry, only then you can control yourself". So true!!!In any case, displaying anger & getting angry leads you nowhere.

I am little more demanding also. I expect lot from people the way I treat them...family members, friends, colleagues, relatives....but I forget that all people are not same. Different people, different views may be :)..a thing I need to change & make myself *adaptable*.

On the way back home...

Yeah...at last...back home..vacation for the first time. Well, I meant for the first time from Dubai...
Yes...I am delinquent when it comes to packing my bags...my mom has always shouting at me, especially when I have been late in packing my bag before travel.I did...cleaned my room...n bla...bla...bla..
Boarded the cab, n whilst chatting with friends over phone, reached the airport in no-time. Yes, its pretty big than any airport in India[forget about Kolkata].
I am smart..so I opted for Self Check-in, gave my luggage for loading.After the immigration process then security. A little disgusting...open this & that...even my kara [steel bangle] & after a couple of minutes...heading towards Dubai Duty Free. I was excited to see Dubai duty free..as I have not seen it whilst I came to Dubai. So lets check out & buy something worthy...
I was checking the liquors as I wanted to buy some good wines & liqueurs for my cooking in Kolkata. I thought I would buy Cointreau, Grand marnier [Grand Marnier Souffle??? ;) ], Bailey's Irish Cream[Cheesecake???? ;)],  Kirschwasser [For Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte?] & some red wines...white wines...but poor...Liquor restrictions when coming to India :(
So, I could help myself with a Chianti Classico red wine & Bailey's Irish Cream & then headed to check out some perfumes. I was not in a mood to buy one..but I didn't mind checking out a few colognes...You never know..if it fits the pocket..
But ..Holy Christ...the colognes over there are damn expensive. For example, Davidoff Coolwater 75 ml is some 155 AED, but the shop below our building sells it at 65 AED!! What a difference..isn't it?
I was also checking out a couple of Diesel colognes. Fuel for Life, another one that I like --the 75 ml version is 200 AED!! But the shop from where I buy, its only 155 AED!! Wanna buy?? Naah....
Then I was checking out other shops..bought some chocolates for my bro & cousins...n then headed towards the gate.
N guess what...flooded by bengalis....hmm..so I am heading back to kolkata.
The trip was nice, except the passenger behind me...n kids crying around..n the hostesses poking in....
N finally...back to kolkata. Nothing seems to have change..specially the people of Kolkata...the pot holes in the city & the loopholes & 1000s of holes in the roads haven't changed--diversion here & there...construction here & there...traffic..horn...& the pollution....God!!! Will this city ever develop????
I thought my mom would come to the airport but I was a little disappointed when I didn't see them. Am I demanding too much???Or their excuse is "Guddu, I want you to be independent..." Hmm...ok!!!
I was afraid...I would forget my way back to home..but fortunately I didn't forget!! :)

Anyways...100s of things to do...fix a lot of things..hopefully I can make good use of this short trip back home.... :)

Vacation time...

Dear Readers/Followers,
Everyone needs sometime to relax[Kaustav says, "Chillax"], sometime to be in energy savings mode[i.e. being lazy]--So do I. I was feeling tired for a couple of months & also it is a nice time to go on vacation. For obvious reasons, I am going for a short vacation & opting for the balance to be taken the following year.
As usual, I will be available in gtalk[masterchefgaurav@gmail.com], yahoo messenger[gaurav.ghosh@yahoo.com & gg_0202@yahoo.co.in], apart from facebook[My brother will allow me to use his net connection--Hopefully].
Definitely, my contact number in Dubai will not come to any use in India, however, I will temporarily use my previous contact# in India, i.e. +919831287426[Make sure you dont call me at odd hours, the TZ of India is 5:30 hrs East of GMT].[The aforementioned cell# will be active from June 11th, 2010 after 1500 hrs GMT, i.e. the day from when my vacation starts...]
Posts may be infrequent...I have many plans...small plans & big plans...Keeping my fingers crossed to make it a successful trip back home. I want to go to Goa also...never been there...n so many plans...
I will be back to Dubai by July 31st evening & start my life afresh in Dubai from August 1.
Till then....take care...
Gaurav.

Sunday offs ...& cooking at friend's place..

"Gaurav, can you please come over to our place, with the software,", Mrs. Sahai was asking me.
It was June 27th, early morning. Father's Day, if I can recollect correctly.Mrs. Sahai was requesting for the astro software for long, last time, I went to her place but without the software, despite her endless requests.
"Okk..I am not doing anything today, I can go to your place", I replied.
"One more favour Gaurav, if you can cook something here. Paavani [her daughter] wants to make something special for her father, since its Father's Day--I was thinking Lemon Souffle...", Mrs. Sahai added.
Now its my turn to ask, "Hot Souffle or cold souffle?". She answered,"Make the cold version---our oven is not working."
"Ok...fine,so will you pick me up from Mall of Emirates, "I asked.
She said, "Yes...around 4 pm, will buy our grocery from there n dont forget the software."

***

Cooking with friends have always been fun. I remember cooking at friend's place when I was in Kolkata. All my middle school batchmates,who were with me in my elementary grades also, asked me, "Gaurav...lets cook someday--we'll help with the preparation & you do the cooking, ". Since they were ready to do the mise-en, why should I worry??Only I need to cook...
I think there I cooked, Pork Stew, Herb Rice & dessert was the Classic Creme Caramel.
In another case I cooked a special Chicken Curry[obviously my innovation] & followed by Phirni[a rice pudding, made with rice-flour & milk]. Though fun, cooking with them is tricky--if the end result is not good???

***

After reaching MoE, I caught up with Mrs. Sahai & then we went to Lulu's Hypermarket, to do the buy the ingredients for making our Classic Lemon Souffle...also she had to buy her daily needs...& fortunately, I didn't forget about the software she was looking for.
Once I reached home, I had a cup of tea, followed by astro-chat & predictions n bla bla...n then we proceeded to the kitchen for making something special for Paavani's dad. Mr. Sahai was not home by then..
I started with making the lemon custard, [got some help from them...]with eggs obviously, & then mixing in gelatin, folding in beaten egg whites & whipped cream & set....for 2 hrs...n then "Classic Lemon souffle...Done!!!"[Can you hear Gordon Ramsay???? :P]
Once I put it in the freezer to set, Mr. Sahai was at home & then started a chat with him--food, India & Kolkata, since he spent most of his boyhood in Kolkata[the then Calcutta].
After a long chat, dinner was served. I was a little worried about the souffle...went to see whether its done or not....Oh yes....its done!!
At the end of dinner, it is the dessert course....Good or bad????
Everyone had their portion...I didn't take it first...Many thing lies here, specially when Mrs. Sahai told her daughter, "I will get you the best chef in town for making the lemon souffle, " & I made it last in college--in 2004.
"Wonderful...excellent", Mr. Sahai exclaimed...Thank God, my cooking was a success. Kids also liked it. Intentionally, I made less sweet, as Mrs. Sahai is diabetic so that she can also enjoy. She also relished it..till the last tits-bits on her plate...

I am going home soon...perhaps some more cooking over there also.... :)