GELATO : FROM ITALY TO DELHI

While walking in the busy streets of Hauz Khas Village and being a voyeur to the fight amongst the car driver, the traffic man and the bike driver, we (me and my friends) spotted an ice cream van which somehow caught our attention. The employee (Lalit) who was there was saying that Ma’am please try these flavors and it is only after trying that you can buy if you want to. Owing to the slow processing of my brain,it was after a minute when he finished talking that I realized Lalit was talking to me. We tried Swiss chocolate and since chocolate is the only flavor I know or want to know in the world, I loved it. So we bought a cup of Swiss chocolate and the next time, Swiss chocolate plus chocolate chips.

‘Gelato Roma,’ which literally means ‘icecream’ in Italy is owned by three Italians. One of them, Michael (hope I spelt you right Michael or forgive me otherwise) stays here in Hauz Khas Village. Michael is in India since 10 years. The other partner who is in Italy is an actual Gelato Chef and it was him who came up with this idea. And since Michael is the one who knows better about India, he is the one who manages everything here. It was just an experiment they wanted to try (and in my eyes they are doing wonderfully!). And since it would be out on streets, they were pretty apprehensive that if it would attract much crowd (I lost the count of no. of people who were coming for the icecreams!). They have around 10-12 flavors and they keep each of them covered so that they don’t oxidate. All what they use are real ingrediants which they get from various markets in Delhi like INA. For vanilla they get their ingrediants from Kerela. They prepare everything fresh in the morning, everyday and for that they have imported machines from Italy.

Your Hygiene is their concern
The employees wear gloves while serving

Michael told me that in Italy every ice cream parlor is a brand in itself. If you have an ice cream parlor and a name for it, it’s a brand in itself. The best thing about Gelato Roma is that you can actually try every flavor before buying it. And you would be welcomed very warmly by the staff who is way too polite and Michael himself.

Its been one and a half months since they are here and Hauz Khas village is their first and only place. But they do have future plans of opening up different branches at various places. Already they get so many invitations from weddings and various festivals.

Michael was very keen on making us try the lemon flavor. We understood this enthusiasm when the taste of fresh lime melted into our mouths making us feel as if we are having fresh lemonade. It was a delight to our taste buds!! For the whiskey cream flavor, he told me that they don’t put whiskey into it actually, they just have raisins in it which are little dipped in whiskey. The amount is negligible,since it would be heavy on pockets.

Michael is from an IT background and when asked that why this completely different field, he said When you make things by your own hand and give it to people and when they feel happy, the happiness actually reflects on their faces and you feel so good about it. Well Michael, I did feel happy for the Swiss chocolate and lemon the most! 

Michael with his amazing creation: Gelato Roma

The thing which stole my heart: Swiss chocolate

Four Countries On Your Breakfast Plate!

When we talk about cuisines, breakfasts are generally the most neglected part of the meals.Around the world not only there are different dishes which befriends the taste buds but also there is a different mood and style with which they eat.
Here are four countries (Turkey, Italy, China, Korea) and their breakfast choice. Four countries on your breakfast plate!!
P.S. : I didn't include India because that would require a whole blog post which I would be doing very soon.

TURKEY

image courtesy:  http://oddstuffmagazine.com/top-50-of-the-best-breakfasts-of-the-world.html 

A proper Turkish breakfast is like any other full course meal. It can take a lot of your time to prepare a proper Turkish Breakfast. That's the reason why usually most Turks prefer to have it on weekends, like a brunch. A Turkish breakfast plate 'Kahvalti' (breakfast in Turkey is called Kahvalti, which means 'before coffee') usually includes cheese, butter, tomatoes, cucumber and olives. Its eaten with plenty of bread and jam. Turks consume lots of tea with breakfast and coffee after that. In weekdays, working people eat pastries called pogaca, similar to croissant. 

Breakfast in Turkey is not only about food but about family time and gathering. Its all about sitting together with your family and stealing all the good breakfast moments. 

ITALY

image courtesy:  http://oddstuffmagazine.com/top-50-of-the-best-breakfasts-of-the-world.html  

Italians consume a very simple breakfast as breakfast is the least important meal of the day to them. It includes coffee (espresso, cappuccino or caffelatte) , hot chocolate or tea with bread, butter and jam. They also like to eat Cornetti (similar to croissants but slightly sweet), pastries and cookies. 

Nowadays cereals like oatmeals are becoming popular in Italy for breakfast. People often eat their breakfast at bars to socialize with others. 

CHINA

image courtesy:  http://oddstuffmagazine.com/top-50-of-the-best-breakfasts-of-the-world.html  

Since China has a huge population like India, its food is like Indian food, its divided by regions. But as we are talking about breakfast here, they like to have plain porridge with salted eggs, preserved raddish, soy bean milk, fried noodles. They consume ;Baozi' which is a bread with meat and/or vegetables in middle, ;Jianbing' which is an egg pancake wrapped up and eaten by itself or with a crunchy middle.

What we get in India as Chinese food is actually Sino-Ludhianvi. As pointed out by Vir Sanghvi in 'Rude Food' column in Brunch under the article 'What Happened To My Chinese?,' "Sino- Ludhianvi is cooked by Nepali or Pahadi chefs who slave away in restaurants that are usually owned by punjabis who have told them what to cook and how." " Till the early 1980s,  Sino- Ludhianvi cuisine did not really exist. It was invented after the Taj famously opened the house of Ming in Delhi and told North Indians that Chinese food could be 'teekha' . Once that message had sunk in, every 'thelawallah' , worked out that if you mixed ketchup and chilli sauce, you could create your own kind of chinese menu."

KOREA

image courtesy:  http://oddstuffmagazine.com/top-50-of-the-best-breakfasts-of-the-world.html  

Their breakfast contains rice, soup, several kinds of Namul or seasoned vegetables. The most important thing which Koreans can't do without in their breakfast is 'Kimchi' (fermented, pickled vegetables). They eat it with grilled meat or fish. Koreans give a lot of preference to side dishes in their morning meals. Their meals are kind of similar throughout the day, be it lunch, dinner or breakfast.

Most people are now eating western style type breakfast. Gaeran tost-u is basically a toasted egg sandwich which has onions, eggs, carrots, brown sugar and cabbage inside it.

Koreans are health conscious and therefore their meals are nutritious and healthy. So if you are on a diet or aiming for a healthy meal, Korean breakfast should be on your diet list!

So which one is your choice for breakfast?