Friday 27 July 2012

Indian restaurants – a growing food phenomenon


India has become the Prime Donna when it comes to food. The talent of infusing spices, condiments and herbs along with vegetables or meat is found only in Indian households. Indian restaurants have flourished at every nook and corner to create a platform for Indian cuisine on a worldwide market. With numerous foreign dishes inspired from its Indian counterparts, this cuisine has created sensation in the food world. Dosas are one of the dishes listed by the British magazines as one of the top ten dishes to try before dying. Bagging such tremendous responses and feedback, the number of restaurants inspired by the Indian cuisine has become an on-going success. Dishes prepared here are for the subtle palettes as well as the spicy savoury lovers who dwell on the range of flavours to create an explosion of flavours on the tongue.

Indian thali is one of the most innovative dishes ever created to amalgamate the components available into a single platter without creating a monotonous taste pattern. Not everyone is equipped to enjoy this wholesome meal but the inviting aura is tough to resist. The rich creamy curries combined with the sweetened deserts create a balance between the sharp flavours. The visual aspect of this dish is the main attraction which extenuates the facts that the chef is the artist and the dish is his master piece. The thali has the capacity to captivate the consumer by its mere presence and the only way to enjoy it is to indulge. The main mountain to climb is to finish off the large portions on the plate because with such huge amounts, it gets tough to complete. Tradition and authenticity are the key components of the dish that sets it apart. The aroma and the combined taste are the main stand out features that appeals to the customers.

Gujarati food is the subtle combination of mild flavours that enhance the natural produce to create a sensational preparation. Exempting meat and poultry in the cuisine completely, the individuals have adapted to adopt healthy eating as a way of life. The highlight of this cuisine is the simplicity in flavours that combine to stir complex flavours. The weird names are a little of a put off but the taste compensates for it. The sweet and sour elements enhance the dishes to create a feisty dish meant for people with complicated palettes as well. The style of cooking is meant to preserve the elements and reduce wastage.

Indian restaurants have an ethnic feeling to it and the variety of dishes provides a rich diversity to choose from. The varied dishes and cuisines are a complete crowd pleaser. Especially restaurants comprising of Gujarati food are popular because according to statistics Gujarati population is high not only in India but also worldwide. Indian thali is a representation of the different communal cuisines on a single platter. The fame and increasing trend of Indian dishes and cuisines have become worldwide spectra that excite people to indulge despite the drastic change in flavours and components.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Veg restaurants - a healthier choice


With the diverse range of cuisines available, it becomes tough to choose the right one to fit the palette. But individuals have started looking for healthier options that balance the acidity and taste without the usage of meat and poultry in the food. Meats like mutton, chicken, pork and beef contain food preservatives and fat, that has the tendency to block the arteries and cause cholesterol related issues. To overcome this, people have turned to veganism as a way of life to cleanse their system form any kind of blockage or health hazard. Veg restaurants have flourished on every street to cater to the needs and demands of the vegan population. Packed with flavors and loaded with intense amalgamation of fruits and vegetables along with spices, the delicacies have the same charm and authenticity that meat preparations have. Substituting meat and poultry with healthier choices like tofu and goat cheese, vegetarian dishes can be incorporated with bangs of flavors that will cause a pleasant explosion of taste in the mouth.

Vegetratian thalis have become a customer’s favourite dish as it exemplifies Indian culture on the plate. The blend of sweet and scrumptious food on a single palate without squishing the flavours requires passion and penchant to prepare this extravagant meal. Compromising on the quantity as well as quality should be avoided. The thali portrays to be so inviting and majestic, that it appears to be fit for a king. Inspired by the Mughal kitchens and Rajashthani temperament towards food preparations, different communities have come up with their own take on the thali by adding a unique taste combination.

Lavish and exuberant restaurants have adopted veganism as a part of their menu to encourage healthy eating. Food experts have also regarded veg restaurants as a contemporary change in the culinary world as it promotes wiser eating without compromising in the taste quotient of the food.  In a country like India where the cow is worshipped as god and slaughtering of animals is looked down upon, veganism is not really a trend but a way of life. Here diversity is seen not only in terms of population but also the delicacies, though vegetables are considered a must. Indian kitchens are flooded with a variety of spices and herbs that can be incorporated with the fruits and vegetables, thus veganism is an age old practice by different local communities.

Vegetarian thalis are a perfect example of vegetarian food with an edge. Ample in proportionality and filled with abundant flavours, thalis are meant for the individuals that can savor the hearty meal and enjoy the exceptional taste. Thalis are actually a representation of culture and heritage of a community on the platter with a unique touch that differentiate the taste element of the dish. Owing to its gaining popularity, it has become a part of the menu in certain foreign restaurants around the world as a specimen of pure Indian cuisine. Accompanied with all the rich assortment of ingredients and spices, the thali has become a meal for all the people that indulge in satisfying delicacies.

Veg thali - an authentic representation of food


The food and culinary industry has picked up momentum in terms of its popularity and have gradually become a favourite amongst individuals worldwide. Innumerable communities and religions have tried to leave a mark in the food world through their diverse preparations with their own personal twist in amalgamating simple elements. Especially India has emerged to be a food lover’s paradise owing to the rich assortment of spices and herbs infused the knowledge of the available ingredients. The dish that exemplifies Indian culture and its authenticity is the veg thali. The elaboration of flavour and zing accompanied by the variety of small portions of preparation all in a single platter, shows how much thought goes into blending the different ingredients.

Thalis are not only a local delicacy but internationally also it has managed to excite the taste buds of food critics. The dish is originally inspired from the royal kitchens of Jaipur, where chefs would constantly fuse different elements and disturb it evenly on the plate for the guest to enjoy the flavours. The ethnic feel and a sense of grandeur is what summarizes the first look of a thali. Only an artist that understands the vitality of the constituents can create a masterpiece with passion and dedication. Similarly, a chef that acknowledges the intricacies of the ingredients can actually blend the flavours to create such a divine dish.

Thali restaurants have flourished in corners of the globe to promote this dish not as a choice in a menu card but as an actual delicacy. They master the art of representing their state on the plate through the diverse flavours and encourage customers to indulge in a little piece of India. These restaurants have emerged as a pathway to the flavours and roots of India. These restaurants cut the monotony that prevails in the culinary world and adds an element of diversity on the menu. Not everyone is equipped to handle the intense flavours and explosions of taste on the palette but most individuals enjoy the occasional dynamites of taste.

Veg thalis actually portray a feast made for a customer with a king size appetite and who enjoys saffron rice laden with clarified butter or chucks of goat cheese cooked in oil and cream or a lavish kheer with sugar and cinnamon all in a single platter. These vegan dishes eliminate the meat and poultry dishes which ravishing preparations inspired by mere vegetables and fruits. Thali restaurants have produced a platform to really encourage customers to splurge and indulge in the heaps of delicious food. The motto of the restaurants is similar to any Indian household and that is to feed the guest till he is satisfied completely. With the amalgamation of such delirious herbs and spices with simple fruits and vegetables the chefs cater to the variety of palettes and produce thalis varying in the spice content. The trend to promote delicacies like the thali worldwide has become a challenge for the Indian food economy, so it’s just a matter of time that India will reign as the supreme food nation.