Ice cream! Come to me!

After a hearty main course it was time for a dessert. Four cranky yet beautiful souls headed to Alwarpet to this beautiful place called “AMELIE’S”. Though people would mistake the exterior for a humble inning, the inside was housing a wide range of delicacies.

“Mirror mirror in the wall, which is the most beautiful room of them all”

The interior walls were studded with a wide variety of paintings. Every room was a masterpiece of art which the walls bore with grace.

Oh yes! let’s not forget the most salient piece of art- ICE CREAM! There were so many flavors including coffee, chocolate fudge and so on.

But what I found the most interesting was MANHATTAN CHEESECAKE. Two scoops of ice cream was topped in a cone and my eyes pounded with joy! The ice cream had bits and pieces of cake and it was finger licking. It was sweet with a hint of sourness yet perfectly balanced. People can customize their ice creams here and there are a number of topping ranging from choco chips to gems and also few  sweet syrups. The dessert was yummy and the accompaniment of three people I love just enhanced the whole spirit and the room was filled with laughter and smiles!

The next time I visit the place I’m sure to indulge in the other desserts they offer and you should too!

– Sanjanaa Madhan

 

 

 

 

December 6, 2018

“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate”. -Alan D.Wolfelt

Waffles are possibly the only thing that I could eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner-without any complaints. Waffles have been from around the 14th century and loved by many, mainly as a breakfast food. Maybe that’s why the world celebrates it glory as International Waffle Day,  on the 25th of March.The ancient origins of waffle trace back to th Greek Medieval times. Chefs cooked flat cakes, known as obelions. Interesting right ?

Leige and Brussel waffles are two types of Belgian waffles.

The Leige waffle is assumed to have been invented by the Prince Bishop of Leige, who had ordered his chef to prepare a pastry loaded with sugar, and then was the birth of a crowd pleaser.

Brussel waffles were invented by Maurice Vermesch. They are prepared using a lighter batter, as compared to Leige waffles.

My personal favourite is the Brussel waffle. They sure are a treat to my tastebuds. Serve me a plate of crispy, hot and golden waffles, with some sticky maple syrup and a scoop of strawberry ice cream, and I’m CONTENT. All my senses dance with delight ,when beautifully scented waffles, with a crunchy top soak up golden maple syrup, and when its heat complements the cold ice cream. Eating waffles gives me warmth and a feeling of comfort, for it is DIVINE.

Waffles are so diverse that they can not only be eaten as a dessert, but also as a hearty, savoury dish. Rub a wee bit of butter on a hot waffle, top it with some grated cheese and some baked beans, and they’re good to go. The list, for the number of toppings that can be added on a waffle is endless.

“The word waffles first appeared in English language in 1725.”

– Shaziya Begum

 

THE TRAVEL..

Train journeys are so blissful.Though cram-full at times,they give you so many good memories.As the clock ticked 9,we ran to board our train.As usual mother sacrificed her window seat for me.The nature on the way to Trichy was breath-taking.Coconut trees swayed and the land was verdant green.Yellow,red,white flowers studded the lush green bushes.Due to recent rain,the waters of Kaveri spread like a cascade of blue gems glittering in the afternoon sunlight.

“HOT HOT SAMOSAS,VALAKA BAJJIS..but the best of all is a LADOO” 

The yells of the vendors passing by made me hungry.The aroma filled my nose and my stomach was clamoring.Though i was offered chapathis and puris,my tummy knew something more tasty was on the way.After 4 hours of travel our destination arrived and soon I was standing outside my house.The smell of elaichi was so good it drew me into the house.I was greeted with warm hugs and smiles of my grandparents,but most importantly- my grandmom’s homemade LADOOS.  The miraculous little ball of sweet is the perfect blend of besan,dry fruits and lots of love.I have been eating it since my childhood and i know it’s the best dessert in the world!

-Sanjanaa Madhan

 

December 2, 2018

“There is no sincere love than the love for food”-George Bernard Shaw

On 29 July, 2018, my hot cup of tea had found a perfect partner for itself- the delectable buns from Pappa Roti. I was first introduced to them by one of my friends, who had had theirs in Dubai.

The birth of Pappa Roti

Pappa roti came up with a unique concept of making buns with roti (Indian bread) dough, in Malaysia, in 2003. At present, after 15 long years, there are around 400 cafes, running successfully around the world.

Pappa Roti had become the talk of the town, when one of its outlet had opened in Chennai recently. The hype had me desperate to give the buns a try, and it sure was justified. I had tried the classic bun, topped with some nutella and chopped oreo biscuits. It was a melange of textures- a crispy surface with a soft and fluffy centre, and a buttery base. The radius around the cafe is always pregnant with the aroma of coffee. It is this special ingredient, whose glaze is carefully piped in concentric circles, right before the well rested and proofed buns are baked. This glaze gives the buns a satisfying crunch and crack on its surface, that appears beautifully brown. Every spoon of it had me wanting to dig in for more and more.

Apart from the famous buns, Pappa Roti’ s menu feasts it’s customers with hot brews of coffee and chocolate. There are other savoury items too, that I haven’t personally tried, but seen a few friends of mine have them. My next visit to Pappa Roti sure is going to have savoury items on my bill, along with my all time favourite classic bun, that has no excuse to not be eaten. I strongly recommend people to give the buns a try, for they are heavenly.

Pappa Roti’s tagline-“The Father of all buns” after all serves to be true

-Shaziya Begum

A dessert is a sweet dish which is served after the main course dish. It comes from the french word “desservir” which means to “clear the table”.Desserts consists of variations of flavour, textures and appearances. It can be ranged from fruits or dried nuts to multi-ingredients cakes and pies. Kulfi is a frozen dessert which is described as traditional Indian ice cream which is made up of milk. It has the similarities of a ice cream but it is more denser and creamier. Due to its density it takes longer time to melt. It is available in different flavours. The word kulfi is derived from the Persian Qufli meaning the covered cup. It has a different taste due to Caramelization. Kulfi is not whipped like normal ice cream. Kulfi is also served with faloodah which is made out of starch. Kulfi is sold by vendors who keep the kulfi frozen by keeping it inside a large pot filled with ice and salt. It is similar to traditional custard based ice cream. It is originated in the 16th century in the Mughal empire. It is a national cuisine in India, pakistan and Bangladesh. Kulfi can be prepared with the help of condensed milk along with milk and cream. It is served in different ways. It is served by placing it in a small pot decorated with badam, cardamon and pista. But mostly badam is used. It can also served on a stick. It is a traditional dish in india.

– Roshini S

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of desserts? If it is ice cream or popsicles then you’re with me! Come on, let’s take a look at the stories of these important commodities.

In 1905, soda pop had just become the most popular drink on the market in the United States. An 11-year-old school student Frank Epperson decided to make it at home to save money. Using a combination of edible powder and water, he managed an iced drink before it was time to go to bed. He absent-mindedly left the mixture on his porch all night. That night the temperature dropped below the freezing point. When the boy came out to check his home-made soda pop, he didn’t find it. Instead he had a frozen bar of what he had made at night. And his stirring stick was stuck in the middle! So, ladies and gentlemen, that’s how the POPSICLE was born!

The ICE CREAM CONE was born at the 1904 World fair. Before that, as you can guess, ice cream was served in cups and dishes. An ice cream stall at the fair was doing so well that the stall owners were quickly running out of plates. Looking around for containers, the ice cream shop assistants noticed that the neighbouring Persian waffle stall was hardly selling anything. The two stall owners hit on an idea. They would roll up the waffles, plop a scoop of ice cream into each, drop a squiggle of cream on top and sell it! Voila! They had found the ideal serving dish for their ice cream – a dish that was delicious and didn’t add to the garbage pile.

– Sanjana Suresh