Last post of the first quarter..

Today is the last day of the month & also the last day of the first quarter.
The year started on a Friday, ruled by Venus[alas..I was also born on a friday!!], however, it didn't have anything special, as it was routine job.The first two months have showed little things than what this month could show.
 I still remember what happened on March 1st, 2010. I was feeling terrible that day & fortunately, I had a friend with me, who could feel & understand the traumatic condition I was passing through that day. "A friend in need is a friend indeed"--I was taught this proverb when I was in school & over & over again. Certainly I thank that friend with all my heart & *brain* for giving me company.
Secondly, I had trust in myself & in God & fortunately, I was able to come out of this situation & things improved. However, once the mirror is cracked, no matter how many times you mend or try to mend it--it will still bear the cracks. But I will never give up--how difficult it is. Life becomes difficult as it moves on & on, new scenarios, new circumstances, new people & also the *new* attitude in old people. Yes, people change--they change in a couple of minutes sometimes, sometimes it takes years, for "Change is the only constant". Once I tried explaining this to a friend who later said that people will have their own ways of explaining this quote. I gave up explaining this to him.
My connection also got screwed up in the meantime, so I took a new connection. I met my cousin here in Dubai this month & I think I met her after years now. In fact, she came here for the first time, we had a short meet in the hotel & then back to work.
Work has been tiring sometimes..sometimes long days & sometimes short. When the day has been short at work, I tried going out with friends, or sometimes, alone exploring places around or may be for a long walk. Fortunately, Dubai has less pollution than India, so walking here is really good. But alas...Summer is on, so evening, specially post Sunset is wonderful for a walk.I love walking as it doesn't cost anything & secondly, it keeps me healthy, specially when my tummy is coming out.[I am always afraid to be pot-bellied!!]

When I was young, I used to complain to my mother, "Maa, those guys keep on bullying me". My mother would say, "What happens when you grow up? When you grow up, you will find these are nothing. Life becomes more complex then...". Now I see what she said was true. When I was young, I always wanted grow up...but now..."What the hell I used to think???".

Tomorrow is the April Fool's day & the second quarter. I am sure this quarter will be pretty eventful, for me..if not for all!!!
Au revoir....

An Ode to the sea..

It being a day-off, after my afternoon nap, I thought of strolling along the beach--especially during the sunset. So that I can witness the setting sun getting merged in the deep sea.
Whilst roaming around the beach, I started recollecting the day I was afraid of water & gradually I started liking it. I remember at the age of 5, we went to Puri- a beach resort, also famed for it being a city for pilgrimage. I was afraid when my father took me to the sea for dips but the fear later went away & then I could learn swimming. Then so many times I have visited any beach resort, bathed in the sea--but didn't get afraid--learnt to love it. Sometimes, I feel I have come from the sea--I am born in Pisces ascendant sign-Fishes. I am the fish of the sea, my origin is the sea & my destruction is in the sea too [sometimes in the plate of five star hotels& restaurants!!!].I wanted to take a bath today also, but I didn't carry any other clothes or a towel for myself...so I hope to take a bath soon...


I have never written a poem in my life, but today's powerful feelings, made me write one. Wordsworth said poetry is the overflow of powerful feelings, so is my little Ode to the sea...[Never mind if the poem is senseless to you!!!!]

An Ode to the Sea

Once ago I was afraid of the sea,

but then I loved the sea

And the sea loved me.

I was frightened, I ran away,

but you embraced me

with your heart to follow your waves.

I could never think that

I would come over & over to you again.

I am made of you & a part of you,

Only you know my pain.

You have been crying & roaring for ages,

No one could understand--

what are you looking for ages.

The sun rises from you,

And it sets in you too.

You are the source of everything

And you are the destiny.

The fishes in you joyfully play,

They dance, they jump, they swim--

All your way!!

The blue water, can it be blue??

It is the sky, that lends the color to you.

From distance, you are blue, but when I am closer,

I find the colorless you.

You dont take anything--they say,

For you are born to give & give--good or bad.

Be it the pearls that glitters a neck

Or millions of lives which you take away.

Now I stand by your side,

And I look at you. I am mesmerised,

I am puzzled & I am baffled

By your beauty, by your serenity

And your everlasting eternity!!!

E. & O.E.

Gaurav Ghosh.

Dubai, March 30, 2010.

Off day cooking--Lamb

Fortunately another day-off after a stressed out week. These days I feel pretty stressed than before [Is it due to the onset of summer??] so this day-off will help me to rejuvenate myself for another tiring week!!!
A big question in the morning is what to cook???A problem with a life away from family is "What to cook?" or "What to eat???". It is a question & answer session with myself--not with my mother that I used to have back in India.
For many days I have been craving for lamb, in other words didn't have lamb for months now--though I cook mutton, once in a month & eat it very rarely, but I love lamb. So yesterday, I went to "Carrefour", a supermarket in Dubai & bought myself a steak of Australian Lamb Leg. Advantage of this meat is that it cooks pretty fast, compared to Indian Lamb. I dont prefer medium done lamb--I would go for well-done lamb---only for beef I would be little liberal to medium-well or medium done beef!!
Anyways, coming back to our topic of discussion i.e. on Lamb---another preparation of lamb I love is grilled lamb chops. There is no fuss in it---simply marinate with extra virgin olive, little salt & crushed pepper, some oregano & grill it & may finish in the oven...Voila!!!C'est Excellent!!!
Now my preparation for the day. It is slow roasted lamb steak with rosemary jus, ratatouille & grilled polenta. Its a pretty simple stuff. A thick slice of around 300 gm of Lamb Leg is marinated with garlic, some seasoning, some rosemary, some mustard, chopped garlic & olio di oliva extra virgino. Then it is seared in hot plate or a pan if you dont have hot plate & finish off in a very slow oven. Alternatively, you can do the complete process in an oven also.
For the polenta, it is very easy stuff. Make a polenta with water & put milk if you want. Finish off with butter & blue cheese. It will make your polenta a little sharp. Pour it in a flat container & allow it to cool. Once cold, put it in the refrigerator for cooling it down. When ready for plating, take it out, cut into desired shape & grill it, brushing with a little melted butter till heated through.
Ratatouille is another easy thing, which I used to love cooking & also to eat it along with grilled meats.
For dessert???Chocolate pot de creme with strawberry compote!!
So the menu...

Slow roasted Lamb steak

with Ratatouille, Grilled blue-cheese polenta & Rosemary Jus

--

Dark Chocolate pot de creme

Dark chocolate with a hint of orange & strawberry compote

Recipes:

Slow roasted Lamb Steak

Ingredients:

For the Lamb

Australian Lamb Leg slice- 250 to 300 gm

Seasoning- As required

Mustard, Dijon- 1 tsp

Oil- 15 ml

Rosemary, dried- 1tsp

Chopped garlic-1/2 tsp

For the Sauce

Brown stock- 50 ml

Rosemary- 2 sprig

Seasoning- As required

For the Ratatouille

Oil- 10 ml

Garlic, finely chopped- 5gm

Colored bell peppers, chopped- 50 gm

Carrot, chopped- 50 gm

Zucchini, colored, chopped- 50 gm

Fresh tomato puree- 50 gm

Seasoning- As required

Basil, chopped- 1/2 tsp

For the polenta

Polenta- 25 gm

Blue cheese, crumbled- 10 gm

Butter- 5 gm

Seasoning- As required.

Method:

For the Lamb

Marinate the lamb overnight with the required ingredients. Set the temperature in the oven at 150 deg C. 

Once ready to cook, sear the lamb on both sides & finish off in the oven.

For the sauce

Heat the stock with rosemary until a syrupy consistency is achieved. Adjust seasoning & keep hot.

For the ratatouille

Heat oil in a pan, & add in the garlic & all vegetables except peppers. Once the vegetables are well-cooked, add in the peppers & tomato puree. Adjust seasoning, finish off with freshly chopped basil & a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

For the polenta

Heat water until boiling[around 200 ml]. Add the polenta & cook until it leaves the sides of the pan. Finish off with blue-cheese, butter & seasoning.Put in a hotel pan & allow to cool. Cut into desired shapes & reserve.When ready to use, grill in a hot plate, until heated through.

Final assembling:

Put the grilled polenta as shown in the picture. Cut the lamb steak into two & put one on top of another. Put the ratatouille on the side & drizzle the sauce around.

Recipe of the Dessert??

Well, go through my previous posts & find out the recipe of Chocolate Pot de creme. Only difference is that I have put some orange zest in the mixture & served it with strawberry compote instead. Why strawberry compote??Some acid will help to cut down the rich & heavy dessert.

Buon Apetito!!!

When I take shelter at the feet of God...

[Caveat:A non-culinary post]
An incident which I listened from my mother, when I was 2 years old--My granmother & my mother went to a temple & took me alongwith them. After the visit in the temple, they went to the book sales office & were looking for books. A nun in the temple took me & asked me which book I would like to buy??Obviously, by then I didn't know what to answer, but I pointed my fingers to a book on Holy mother Sarada devi.
After then, few years later, when I grew up, my only *play* used to be worshipping God. I never knew any mantras then, but as if I am worshipping God. My supporter was my grandmother. Eventually, I stopped it, since my mother was not supporting me.
My faith in God was mostly during examinations, though I used to visit a temple nearby my house, quite often, specially during the evening prayers.
In the year 1997, when I was 12 years old, I witnessed a hindu priest worshipping Shri Ramakrishna. That re-initiated my interests in worshipping God. At this point, I must tell you, if you are not aware that members of Hindu religion are divided in four castes, viz., Brahmins- who are supposed to earn through teaching, worshipping [i.e. performing holy acts], Kshatriyas- who are protectors of people & religion, Vaishyas- who are the trading class & Shudras- who are supposed to serve the aforesaid three classes. I belong to the class of the second one, that is Kshatriyas, by birth. So worshipping for us, is a kind of a blasphemic act. But still I continued & I learnt how to do a worship, as a Hindu Brahmin should do. In due course, I installed a puja altar at my home & started worshipping my God on daily basis.
At the age of 14, in 1999, I was initiated with the Holy Mantra of Shri Ramakrishna & since then, I took my shelter at the Holy Feet of God. Amongst my daily readings, scriptures found a revered place, specially Upanishads, Shrimat Bhagavat Gita, Vedas, Puranas, Tantras & many more. But when shall we seek his refuge??A question for all. Mostly people ask God for help, when in distress but when they are out of distress???An ideal man is who is undisturbed during unfortunate times, who is calm during fortunate times, and who is free from anger, fear & passion--such says Gita. Which means, in distress & when not in distress--seek the refuge of God. For me sometimes, its a distant possibility, but nothing is impossible. Its all about practice. Such says Swami Vivekananda. He said, "Be & Make". If you can become, you can also make.
Visiting temples to find the existence has been weird, as God dwells in everyone's heart. One who serves God in the form of Human beings, has served God Indeed--Swami Vivekananda said long back. However, visiting temples, helps in gaining some spiritual power. Any place, which has a number of congregation is obviously blessed as such place has special presence of God--else people would have never visited that place---I strongly believe in this.As of now, I visited few of the important temples of Bengal, few of the 12 most important temples of Lord Shiva, Jagannath temple in Puri, Tirupati temple, Kanyakumari, Shirdi Sai Mandir, Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum, & many more [Cant recollect all now].But now, only aim is to visit the temples in the lap of Himalayas, for centuries...where sages were enlightened, they had vision of God..

On different religions...well, I have deep respect for all religions. You call "water" in so many languages, but you refer to the same water, which is life. Similarly, all rivers lead to the same ocean...so all religion lead to the same God. Vedas proclaim "Ekam Sadvipra vahudha vadanti"--The same lord is many--the learned people say so. Very recently, I have come to Dubai, however, on requests of colleagues, I also attended the Church services. One is of St. Mary's Church, a Roman Catholic Church & another one "Kings Revival Church" a church of Protestants. Fortunately the ruler of Dubai is equal to all religions, so despite it being a Muslim nation, it has got a Hindu Temple & a Gurdwara too.

Change of religion has never beckoned me--for I strongly believe that ones own religion is better than any other religion. Still, people convert--its their prerogative!!

There have been times, when I have gone through worst moments of my life--personal, professional, family, financial & many areas of life. I have never lost faith in God--all I did prayed to God to give me power to face the worst conditions in my life. Sooner or later, my prayers were answered. Sometimes, he has denied my prayers--but later I found out it was for my benefit. Sometimes, we dont know what is good for us & what is bad. We just demand things from good, which are bad for us indeed in the long run, but when we can foresee the outcome, we tend not to ask which will be harmful in longrun. Sometimes I run after something yelling "C'est, C'est, C'est", but later God told me, "No dear son...not this one!!!" & then I give up!!!I can always feel, God is always with me, protecting me from every fall...

A final message--Dont lose faith in God or never give up your prayers. He listens, He sees the truth but waits--He waits for the right time, when to kickstart for you to enjoy the ride... :)

Rethinking Breakfast....

Since I have joined the hotel industry, I have been focussing only in breakfast--Indian, Oriental & in Dubai, Cold breakfast. However, prior to this, I have never been serious about my own breakfast. Usually, my own breakfast since childhood, used to be a glass of milk, two slices of milk bread with a spread of butter/mixed fruit jam & sometimes an egg fried [Bengalis incorrectly call fried eggs as poached eggs!!], may be a banana[though I never used to like fruits..except grapes, orange in winter, that too peeled n segmented]..sometimes I used to keep it short..especially if I used to get up late.
When I started growing up, I got addicted to tea, specially black tea, with milk & a couple of biscuits & then follows corn flakes, or oats porridge, or may be on Sundays, chicken sausage, fried eggs, corn flakes & then carrying on & on...till I used to get tired. Sometimes, I used to prefer a pure bengali's breakfast --Kachauri, Daal n many stuff..

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day--it fuels our brain for the overnight fast. The brain needs some energy to get started for the day. However, breakfast need not be too oily, very sweet, too salty or too much of calories, but it must be healthy. Some of my favorites, that may be yours too...

O.J.--Dont think it is some kind of jockey or anything, but I am talking about fresh orange juice. It is a really healthy drink in the morning, especially loaded with Vitamin C. I would prefer freshly squeezed orange juice than the canned one, since the fresh one has more fiber than the fortified ones.

Eggs-- Its a whole food & provides all that you need for your energy. Eggs are versatile too, boiled eggs, omelettes, scrambled, poached eggs, fried eggs & numerous preparations too, for example Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros etc. Even eggs for your waffles [ I love waffles!!], & French Toast--Kids love it too!!American Heart Association recommends at least 4 eggs a week. In India, a nutrition firm suggests "Sunday ho yaa Monday, roz khaao Aandey"[Be it Sunday or Monday, an egg every day].

Good Old Oatmeal-- My alltime favorite Oatmeal is loaded with Vitamin B & densed with nutrition.Be it the quickcooking rolled ones or the old fashioned ones...Advantage of the rolled ones is that it cooks fast. However, in nutritionwise, the old fashioned ones are better. Sweeten it up with honey, sugar, & load it with fresh fruits, dry fruits, yoghurt, applesauce, nuts etc. Also it has a lot of fibre, which helps to keep a clear stomach.

Muesli-- It is another of my alltime favorite, since I was initiated in the hospitality. Since, then morning breakfast must have some muesli in my plate [though I often avoid nowadays...].
Dr. Bircher Benner wanted to give something healthy to his patients, so he created the most-famed bircher muesli. It has rolled oats, milk, yoghurt, walnuts, raisins, grated apples & to sweeten up--honey!! It is so delicious if you pop in some berries to it....

Chhola Bhature--Its an Indian breakfast food[sometimes all day dining too..], to be precise it comes from Punjab. Fermented doughs are rolled out & deep fried in hot oil, so that it puffs up. Served with a stew of chickpeas. And the taste??? Well, to me its heavenly...only one can tell who has tasted it.... :)

Croissants-- I have been addicted to croissants since I was introduced to it.  A warm croissant with a cup of tea or coffee...a perfect combination for a long chat in a cafe...[now I am restricted diet though..]

Muffins--I remember I used to make it often at home. Then stopped, started buying it from outside & eating it from outside. Specially, chocolate muffin & after coming to Dubai, at least one blueberry muffin a day!!! Voila... :D


I think its enough for the day, unless its all-day dining!!
Bon Appetit.....

Buona Pasqua & Onset of Summer...perfect Italian menu!!!

By now, you must be knowing that I am a lover of Italian cuisine..sometimes it supercedes the love for Bengali or Indian foods...
I was thinking of a menu, keeping in mind the onset of Summer. Most of the hotels & restaurants change their menu according to seasons, to use the most of the seasonal fruits & vegetables, which in accordance supports & controls various factors, first & foremost being offering changes to their taste buds, controlling the cost factors & budget & many other stuff.
Secondly, this menu is carefully selected for the upcoming Easter holidays or even you may cook it for your Easter dinner/lunch. I am not claiming that this is the traditional Easter menu,however, this menu is just to give a change to your taste buds.
Anyways, instead of beating around the bush, let me put the menu that I have been planning today..

Buona Pasqua!

Antipasti

Pomodorini e Mozzarella grigliata spiedini con olio di basilico

Grilled cherry tomato & Mozzarella Skewers with basil oil

Primo Piatto

Risotto alle Fragole e rose rosse

Risotto with red roses & strawberries

Secondi Piatto

Quagliette Bardate con polenta grigliata, peperonata e salsa di arrosto

Pan roasted quails with parma ham, grilled polenta, stewed peppers & roasting jus

Dolci

Zuccotto

Tuscan Icecream Cake

Note on the "Antipasti"
Antipasti if broken comes as "Anti" & "pasti", simply means "what is served before pasta". The Antipasti that I have selected is pretty simple. The traditional combination of mini Buffalo Mozzarella & cherry tomatoes[pomodorini] are put into skewers & drizzled with some basil oil, thus resembling the colour of the flag of Italy--Red, White & green. Prior to putting the tomatoes in skewers, they are being lightly tossed in pan in high heat, to render a little color. Alternatively you may grill them. Once they cool down, put the tomatoes & the mozzarella in skewers & drizzle the basil oil. Adjust seasoning & you must serve cold.

Note on the Primo Piatto
Generally in the traditional Italian courses of Menu, pasta is served as Primo Piatto. Else, it is risotto, soup, polenta, gnocchi is served in this course. Why starch is served in this course basically??I need to find an answer to this question..
Sometimes fish is also served, if the main course is not a fish.
Strawberries are in their peak in this season & it will well-merge with the colours like red rose & also the risotto. Red risotto, an artist wanted to make--so he added some rose petals in the risotto. This risotto is finished off with grated emmenthal--not in compliance with the traditional parmesan[or its reasonable substitute Grana padano].

Note on the secondi piatto
I have thoughtfully selected Quail as it is quite uncommon to find in the table. Generally, we select lamb, chicken, beef, pork or veal for the main course, so to make quite distinct, I have selected quail. This is pretty simple as like the other courses. The small birds are pan roasted with some white wine, which again helps in making its sauce [pan juices].
Grilled polenta is one of the easiest stuff, whilst stewed peppers are too!!!

Note on the Dolci
Zuccotto is the Tuscan Ice-cream cake. Traditionally made in a dome shaped mould--"zuccotto" has come from the word "zucca" in Italian it means "Pumpkin", so is the mould. Sponge fingers are used for making the cake, which are soaked in orange liqeuer [Cointreau or Drambuie] & start lining your mould.  Then starts filling with whipped cream, an array of nuts, berries , chocolate & finally refrigerate overnight.
The result...well, its really worth making & testing....

Recipes???Well...after planning this menu, now I am planning to cook this & then pass on the recipe to you...
Looking at my food habits, sometimes people start wondering my nationality or religion [celebrating Christmas, Easter & many more stuff...certainly its not an act of blasphemy I consider]but I am happy with what I am or I have....but perhaps I was born in Italy....so that I could always *hog* in Bologna..

Buon Apetito!!!

Pros & Cons of making good food....

Today I was making muesli for breakfast & asked my colleague to taste it. I asked him,"***** can you please taste it??I dont want to listen later it tastes like sh**". He replied, "No it looks to be good..but dont make good everytime--we will be in trouble".
I was really awestruck!!!What was he talking?Yes, it is a little pain to make things over & over again, but we cant serve sh** everytime...so that we can indulge ourself in lethargy....[now thats bad..]
In my employments so far as of now, seldom I have tried to make *bad* food for the guest. Pros of a good food is that it will finish off early, specially in a buffet food service or in an ala carte restaurant, repeat orders & many more stuff...
I love good food always..for example, once I made Chicken Schnitzel in the lunch buffet when I was in Chennai. The sous chef told me that its excellent. But I didn't know that it would sell off like hotcakes & later it was painful for me to make again & again & again...
Sometimes, I made horrible food for lunch buffet, when there had been high reservations & I have hardly any mise-en place--fortunately, hardly anyone touched the food---but at the end of the *show* I seriously felt bad, as all the hardwork just wiped away..
Right now, I have nothing much to say [Even if I have...cant...just because I am high!!!], may be sometime later, I will write something more on it.
Till then...See you...
Pampered Chef.