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RUMmy Rainy Days

Rum, in yon days of old was considered as a pirates' drink. Known as the Devil's drink as it warms you up, trickling down the throat, today it is a popular alcoholic beverage that is there on almost everyone's bar shelves. International Rum brands have elevated the experience of the spirit and the focus is now on new aromas, flavour profiles and a range of interesting distillation methods. From the cocktail-ready white Rums to the elegantly sippable best dark Rums, today the drink has become a favourite of not only gents but also ladies. Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that two Rum days - "World Rum Day" and "National Rum Day" - are celebrated in July and August, respectively. Ashok Malkani examines various aspects of this beverage, which is becoming the most desired drink during the rainy season.

Intricacies Of Olive Oil

While most traditional bakery recipes include the usage of butter, fat, lard, or sometimes vegetable, the Chefs constantly try to tweak things to discover healthier and newer options. However, such efforts may not be required for olive oil. The fact is that olive oil of different grades and quality has been part of the Mediterranean diet for a long time, and it continues to find favours with the Bakery Chefs around the world.

Meditating on the Scrumptious Mediterranean Cuisine

Mediterranean cuisine, which does not belong to any particular culture but refers to culinary styles of people living in regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, is popular in India due to the huge variety it offers. Mediterranean food has developed not as national cuisine of any country but as a variety of regional cuisines based on diversified regional influences. Since olive oil is the most commonly used ingredient in Mediterranean cuisines, it is considered to be healthy. There is no traditional way of serving the Mediterranean food. This cuisine is a popular genre for dining out in India. Ashok Malkani examines various aspects of this cuisine and the reasons for its popularity in the country.

Greet & Meet Fellow Foodies at Pop Ups!

“I believe the purpose of pop up is to create a memorable experience which tickles you to revisit the restaurant again and again”-Chef Harangad Singh, Chef & Founder at Parat

The Perennial Taste of Kebabs

Whether it is a night party or an evening of introspection and irrespective of whether there is a glass of whisky or beer accompanying the treat, kebab is the perfect partner at any such occasion. If you are a meat lover, a plateful of well-prepared kebabs do have the potential to take you to a different world; a world where only aroma and taste reigns and the worries melt in the warmth of the mouth… like the glitter of diamonds, the taste and aroma of kebabs too can delight many generations. They are for all seasons, and their gastronomic appeal does have the potential to perennially flow across ages.

Bright Sunshine for Cloud Kitchens

The pandemic has created new norms in all walks of life. Restaurateurs, with SOPs like social distancing and allowing only 50 percent accommodation for their dine-in clientele, after adopting drive-ins and takeaways, are now contemplating on cloud kitchens. A cloud kitchen is, basically speaking, a restaurant with no costs on rent, electricity, waiters or any other fixed charge. In the post-Covid world cloud kitchens have become a favourite venture for investors. Ashok Malkani examines why they are gaining so much popularity

Coping Up The Impact of Pandemic Challenges

As with other industries, the food and beverage sector is making endeavors to bounce back in business.

Whisky… A Spirit to Raise Your Spirits

Whisky is a drink that is cherished by both men and women of all ages. It is a drink that is slowly sipped, with friends or alone. Whisky is compared to liquid sunshine whose pouring into a glass is like light music for whisky lovers. Its amazing taste and flavor and large number of varieties make it one of the most popular drinks in the world. Whisky is also considered to be good for your health. It also makes you lose weight. Ashok Malkani takes a look at the variety of whiskies available and the countries manufacturing this nectar. Questions like what is the food that pairs well with this golden liquid and the cocktails that can be concocted from this liquor are also discussed.

Realta Ventures Acquires London Bubble Co.

Realta Ventures has announced the acquisition of premium Waffle brand, London Bubble Co.

White and Sweet Delight

Lychee is a tropical tree, which is native to the Guangdong and Fujian provinces of southeastern China. Its height generally varies from 13m-28 m.

Masterclass with Chef Saransh Goila and Olives from Spain

Olives from Spain participates at IHE Expo with a Live masterclass conducted by Saransh Goila to surprise his Chef colleagues with creative recipes using olives from Spain to create his version of Indian tapas.

Packaged Sweets is Revolutionizing Packaged Food Industry

With packaged food industry as a whole evolving and maturing in the country in recent years, packaged sweets have come to register as an integral part of that process.

ITC Hotels Launch The Biryani & Pulao Collection

‘Ten Flavourful Favourites Now Available Pan India’

Food for Thought

The pandemic, which resulted in lockdown has had an ominous effect on the food & beverage industry. The subsequent unlock, which has started in a phased manner, has not eased the problems of the restaurant industry due to the SOPs that have to be followed by the restaurateurs. Getting the people, whose psyche, due to corona virus scare, refrains them from dining-out, back to the restaurants is only the tip of the iceberg. Reducing the seating capacity due to the social distancing enigma and maintenance of hygiene are some of the other major problems. According to a 2019 report of National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) the restaurant industry employs around 7.3 million people in the country. An adverse impact of the pandemic on this industry would have an effect on the country’s economy. Ashok Malkani discusses on how the industry plans to tackle these problems and how long it will take for the industry to regain the pre-COVID status.

Mamagoto and Foxtrot

For Perfect Gastronomic Delights, Two in One!

Dine in a Television Series

In India’s foodservice industry, theme restaurants have gained currency during recent years.

Restaurants' Buddy In The Cloud

Several industries in India have been adversely hit by the pandemic, and among them, the hospitality industry is one of the industries which have been hit really hard. The restaurant business in the country has also been very badly hit by the pandemic. Post lockdown we are seeing a scenario where some restaurants in India’s foodservice industry have been closed permanently and many are finding it hard to run the show amidst the daily costs. However, amidst this depressing scenario, the online food delivery market has a huge potential to grow in India.

Facilitating A Hygienic Kitchen

Hygiene doesn’t come on a platter, especially in commercial kitchens. A number of elements must interact with each other seamlessly to produce the perfect recipe for a hygienic kitchen, which is a must for ensuring food safety in restaurants as well as guest satisfaction. Out of these multiple factors, two players in this process stand out – the importance of clean utensils and pest control. While cross-contamination through utensils is often neglected, pest infestation is a widely acknowledged and yet a difficult-to-control problem.

Need For A Vegetable Washer

As the growing trend or consciousness of having rich nutrient based wholesome food is increasing, we sometime apply that technically and loose on the front that is so obvious. True, we tend to divert from the fact that the very vital procedure towards ensuring food safety is proper cleaning of vegetables before it goes to the chopping board.

Love for Seafood Nothing Fishy

Seafood has been consumed by humans for centuries. They have loved it and have mastered in making various dishes from the sea animals and plants. The consumption of seafood has increased and many restaurants globally cater to this need of giving best-in-class seafood to customers. India’s coastal areas are known for their beaches and seafood. With a wide coastline, India has emerged as one of the major seafood exporting countries in the world. However, there has been an impact on the consumption of seafood due to the belief that corona virus originated from wet market in China and its consumption could cause COVID 19. Ashok Malkani takes a look at the consumers’ love for seafood and gauges whether the pandemic has affected their yearning for this food.

Apple a Day

Apple is a widely consumed edible fruit, which is borne by the apple tree (Malus Domestica). Appletree was originated in Central Asia. It is believed that the apple was domesticated between 4000-10000 years ago in the Tian Shan mountains, a large system of mountain ranges in Central Asia.

Eating With A Conscious

Maintaining ecological balance has become important with almost everyone today. This is also affecting eating habits of individuals. Protecting ecological balance is an issue in which everyone has become involved. One way of achieving this, according to some, is to consume organic food. It may be mentioned that organic food profile rose in the early 2000s, as consumers began to see connection between diet, health and environment. As shoppers today turn to clean labels and demand transparency in the foods they eat and the beverages they drink, organic food seems to be poised for growth. Ashok Malkani views the scene of organic food and finds that the growth isn’t expected to slowdown. A recent TechSci Research report estimates the global organic food market is projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of more than 14% between 2016 and 2021.

The Digital Influence in India's Restaurant Business

The wave of digitalisation has greatly influenced many of our industries, and foodservice business is no exception to this trend. The digital wave has opened up many new possibilities for the foodservice business and has also induced our foodservice industry to become more sensitive to its consumer responses and preferences.

Red Ginger Opens its First Casual Dining Concept, “Cafe Cinnamon”

Red Ginger Hospitality India Pvt. Ltd., the F&B Master Concessionaire has opened the first outlet of Cafe Cinnamon, its exclusive casual dining concept, at Shri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport, Amritsar.

Intricacies of Starting a Restaurant

Globalisation has influenced various aspects of Indian society including the change in food habits. Over last two decades, due to several economic developments, increasing spending power and a willingness to try new diets the F&B industry has seen tremendous growth. This has induced several aspiring entrepreneurs keen on entering this sector. In fact, breaking the stereotypes, several women too have entered – and made a success – in this field. Ashok Malkani examines the pros and cons and discusses the intricacies involved in opening an F&B outlet and running it successfully.

Burger Singh Signs Master Franchise Deal in Gujarat

Burger Singh, India's brand of fusion burgers, has signed a master franchise deal in Gujarat.

Reading Books Keeps the Mind Ticking

You know you have read a good book, when you turn the last page and feel you have lost a friend – an avid reader

Nothing Nutty About it

Cashew nut is regarded as a popular dry fruit with wide applications in food preparations, though it is neither a fruit and nor a nut, if one were to analyse scientifically.

Milk - a Healthy Choice

Human being is the only mammal who drinks the milk of another mammal and this drink is most pleasurable at a cold temperature when the mercury rises.

Ambro Asia: An Innovative Model for India

Over the years we have witnessed many collaborations between Indian and Italian companies, but few of these have been able to sustain for a longer period of time.