This Is Why You're Fat - Where Dreams Become Heart Attacks

I recently came across this website where users can upload pictures of meals they just had. It gets more interesting. The meal cannot be your ordinary daal-chaval or a burger from McDonalds - it has to be a meal that can potentially cause a heart attack. Here are the top picks of this week's heart attack friendly meals. Are you seriously surprised that this website primarily caters to Americans? Really?

Hot Beef Sundae - A LOT of ice-cream with pretty much, beef stew. 

 Cinnabon Pizzabon - yes, that's pepperoni. 

 The Juicy Lucy. A cheeseburger that has cheese inside the meat patty, rather than on top.

 Mc Donalds Mc Gangbang. A sandwich made from a double cheeseburger and a McChicken sandwich, where you put an entire McChicken sandwich inside a double cheese burger. 

 Wendy's Pretzel Burger. 

The Foodista

Watch How You Eat. Eating At The Table Can Reduce Your BMI

In a recent study, Dr. Brian Wansink and Dr. Ellen van Kleef examined the relationship between BMI and dinner practices. Can watching TV while you eat have an adverse effect on your BMI? Can eating at the table also affect your BMI or would simply helping your mother out with dinner lower it?

Unfortunate Truths of Scrumptious Bacon

You love it or you don't. And if you don't, chances are you're vegetarian. Regardless, I have an undeniable love affair with bacon. According to the Huffington Post, Americans each eat up to 18 pounds of bacon a year. "And considering the number of people who don't eat pork or any meat at all, some of them are scarfing down a disproportionate number of the approximately 5,760,000,000 pounds of pig strips consumed across the country each year".

Bacon has become a staple breakfast diet for many and was famously subscribed to by none another than Sigmund Freud. It's unbelievable unhealthy, but hey, there's a good side to it too! Here's an interesting list of what's good and what's not. 

India Warns US Over Food Stockpiling As WTO Deal Goes Down To Wire

With elections coming up and the Indian government scampering to cover frauds and corruption allegations, every person following Indian news will know that the Congress government has been the laughing stock for quite some time now. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may not utter a word, but his government makes some valid points from time to time. In the upcoming WTO meet to be held at Bali, the Indian government is pushing for poorer countries to be exempt from limits on subsidies when they stockpile food to support low-income or resource-poor farmers. Whether or not the rule gets amended, Singh's government has to be commended! 

The Humble Vada Pav

Maharashtrians share a love-hate relationship with the humble vada pav. It is fondly termed "India's burger" and seduces all vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike in this pav-loving state. When I first came to Pune I was fascinated by the number of vada pav stalls that filled Pune's busy streets. Every nook and corner boasted "the best vada pav". While at first I was hesitant to try this Maharashtrian delicacy, not so much because I don't like street food, but because I was so sick of pav. Everything here I noticed, is eaten with pav - keema pav, chicken pav, pav bhaji, misal pav, vada pav... 

This simple fried aloo tikki (potato patty) sandwiched in a pav, sprinkled with spices is truly India's vegan burger. It's not only the common man's food but Maharashtra's elite are also known to be fond of it. It's free of every class and caste divide that we find in this rich state. Although not very healthy, it's light on the pocket and takes no more than fifteen minutes to cook and eat. 

This little pav delight, fondly etched in every Maharashtrian's heart, has proudly declared August 23rd "Vada Pav Day". With its humble origins in Mumbai, today we  see it's influences across the country. Globalization too has affected it. Just the other day I remember trying a double cheese vada pav!

Someone summed this snack up very well - "heaven on the tongue and hell on the arteries"!

You Don't Have Anything If You Don't Have Stories

So many of us love coffee and drink this aromatic beverage nearly everyday. But do all of our societies have stories, rituals and ceremonies attached to this lovely drink? I know in India some communities do, but I'll leave that for different post. Today, The Foodista brings to you the birthplace of coffee - Ethiopia's - ceremonies associated with coffee. 

The below article, "Coffee Ceremonies in Ethiopia" is written by Gabriella Paiella in September, 2013. Food History 101, has also published the same article. 

Preparing and drinking a cup of coffee is ritualistic for each and every one of us. Think about it: we're loyal to our equipment of choice, whether it's a French press, an espresso machine, or even the trusty automatic office coffeemaker. We have a specific taste for how we take each cup (dark roast and black, please), and we even become attached to our certain favorite mugs. How we drink it says even more. We can slowly sip our coffee before work, enjoying the last few minutes of solitude before a busy day. We join up with old friends and size up potential partners over a cup. Maybe we even tell our fortunes. 

Indeed, across cultures, drinking coffee is a practiced art. In Ethiopia, it very well may be the most important ritual of all. 

Ethiopia is a large and diverse country, with its coffee beans varying greatly amongst regions. One thing that unites the population is an absolute reverence for the stuff: only 40% of the ubiquitous crop is exported. The remainder is used in many forms. At weddings, newlyweds enjoy a porridge of roasted coffee cherries with butter and salt; coffee is mixed with honey as medicine; a certain blend of tea is made from coffee leaves. But above all is the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Arthur Karuletwa, a director on the Starbucks Global Coffee team, about his many experiences with the ceremony. He's spent extensive time in Ethiopia, meeting with everyone across the spectrum of the coffee production chain from farmers to government ministers. In turn, he's extraordinarily well-versed in the deeply embedded ritual. 

The Ethiopian Buna (Coffee) Ceremony is a long process, averaging around 1.5 hours. While these coffee ceremonies can be an everyday occurrence, a major purpose is to come to a certain important conclusion -- someone asking for a hand in marriage or looking for resolution to a conflict that cannot otherwise be solved. 

First, a fire is built to roast the coffee beans. When the coffee has roasted, the woman who's preparing it -- dressed to the nines, by the way -- carries the metal pot that the coffee's roasting in around the room so that everyone can capture the aromas. Think of when a sommelier asks you to approve a glass of wine at a restaurant -- if it's not up to par, you can send it back. 

The first cup enjoyed during the ceremony is known as Abol. This is the strongest cup, and therefore has the most significance. If you're looking to resolve a conflict, you must show up during this stage -- anytime afterwards during the ceremony would be pointless. 

The second cup is known as Tona: water is added to the cup but it still maintains a significant amount of strength. If a resolution isn't reached by the second cup, then a third cup does not happen. 

The third cup of the coffee ceremony is Baraka: it's the weakest cup, but it symbolizes acceptance, resolution, and joy. People celebrate at this cup, and the younger generation is often invited to drink that cup. 

Of course, I was curious as to whether food was served during this process (it is, after all, nearly two hours long). Arthur assured me that there is popcorn, nuts, or seeds to snack on. 

Arthur continually emphasized that one could turn down an invitation to a wedding but absolutely could not do so for a coffee ceremony. I needed to know how he found this out.

So he told me about the time that he and his driver/interpreter were out in a rural area speaking to a group of elders about sourcing practices, but running to meet a minister in the city shortly afterwards. Since it was the rainy season, his driver was adamant that they leave immediately afterwards, lest the roads get too muddy for them to drive on. 

As he was shaking hands with a village elder, he learned through translation that the elder had invited him to a coffee ceremony. His interpreter was indignant, passionately conversing with the elder since he had to attend a meeting shortly after and he knew that he absolutely could not turn down the invitation. Arthur was baffled at why this argument was even happening, but then his interpreter explained what a grievous social error it would be to turn down the coffee ceremony. 

The result? Arthur attended the coffee ceremony, rescheduled his meeting with the minister, and wound up sleeping in a car in rural Ethiopia that night.

You may access the original article or read more from the author here: http://food52.com/blog/8259-coffee-ceremonies-in-ethiopia

The Foodista

Goodbye Kitty, Welcome Hooters!

While we have all heard of Japan's famous cat cafe's where you can take your cat along for a cup of coffee while you purr together or cuddle, the latest fad seems to be owl cafe's. Here you can take your owl along or pet some of the cafe's own owls. Innovative? I don't know. But these cafes are doing well around Tokyo and Osaka. The most famous of them being Fukurou no Mise (Owl Shop), Fukurou Sabrou (Owl Teahouse) and Owl Family.

Regardless, if you're in Japan you shouldn't miss this opportunity to dine with our wide eyed friends. 

If More Of Us Valued Food And Cheer And Song Above Hoarded Gold, It Would Be A Merrier World

Ziti, Hyderabad

The Basics - Small, good service, good food, parking might be a problem, Rs.1000 for two, open for lunch and dinner.
The Address - #8-2-334, 1st floor, Aditya Court, Road no. 5, Banjara Hills. Or call 040-65552442 if you're lost.
The Verdict - Must try, especially for main course and desserts.

A small restaurant that is rather hard to find in the posh Banjara Hills is Ziti. Keeping up with Hyderabad's (and India's) love for all things Italian, the name Ziti, is in fact, a type of pasta. Located in what used to be an apartment building, Ziti proudly sits on the first floor. It is indeed "comfort food" and what is most striking about the menu is the first page itself, where a beautiful J.R.R Tolkien quote "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world" sits. It got me and my friends thinking and kept our conversation alive.

The petite restaurant looks like an apartment that's been artfully converted to a restaurant serving continental food and catering to Hyderabad's swish crowd. Having opened just a few months ago it's decor is simple, it's walls splashed with a pleasant yellow and olive green and covered with photographs from travels across the world. A door separates the main restaurant from the kitchen, but the wonderfully talented chef Hussain plays perfect host and tries to cook a homely meal for his customers.

We tried to keep our order simple and went by our well-trained waiter's suggestions. We were served a complimentary bread basket that consisted of soft foccacia, pesto and buns. We started off our meal with Baked potato skins with smoked chicken and mozzarella. The chicken was cut into small pieces and the potato jacket was crisp and the creamy stuffing was delectable. Vegetarians, don't fret, they cater to you too - they have a vegan baked potato skin option for you.

From those who love chicken and craving buffalo wings, Ziti's Maple and chili smoked chicken wings come slightly close. Semisweet, the wings were well cooked but rather messy to eat. It comes in a plate of eight pieces and is filling. So if you're looking to stuff up on the main course, you should probably give this a miss. This is also not a starter that may be relished by all. Nevertheless, I liked it.

Stuffed from our starters and drinks, we barely had space for our main course. Having enjoyed our starters, we thought we wouldn't do justice to the restaurant unless we did try some of their extensive items listed on the menu.

We ordered a Fish escabiche, a basa fish with lemon sauce that's served with Mexican rice. Escabiche is traditionally a Mediterranean dish that is sometimes served with chicken. Basa, being a bland flavor is rather tricky to work with and requires a skilled chef. It is however my favourite fish and some may say I'm being a little biased to the review of this particular dish. Nevertheless, the citrus flavour stood out and of course, the lemon sauce as a side added to it. The fish was so soft it melted in my mouth and the Mexican rice was spicy yet tasty. However, if you can't handle spice, chances of you liking the dish are low.

Finally, we ended our main course with Sausage and scamorza filled grilled chicken breast. Scamorza is a type of Italian cheese made of cow's milk and goes perfectly well with chicken. The dish was extremely filling and heavy, what with the tinny cut sausages and cheese oozing out from every corner and gap it could find. The chicken was easy to cut through and was scrumptious.

And the best part of the meal? The desserts. We ordered Bits of Heaven, a dessert comprising six small pieces of crispy short crust sandwiched with gooey caramel and white chocolate. It lives up to its name and is truly heavenly! While I personally haven't tried any other desserts, I know my readers and loyal Ziti-eaters, swear by their Banoffee and Chocolate mousse.

When you go out to eat, it's not so much the ambiance that you always look for - it's ultimately the food that defines the place. And Ziti definitely scores high here. I would go back just for the desserts and might even consider skipping starters altogether to have a hearty burger or full meal of fish or chicken with steamed veggies on the side! I like it. I hope you will too.

What's hot - Sausage and scamorza filled grilled chicken; Bits of Heaven

Your Foodista

Starbucks Little Secret Menu

I've walked in and out of Starbucks a million times but not once have a come across this secret, innovative menu. There's a lot from this list that I would like to try starting from the Dirty Chai. What would you like to order? 

Here's a link to the menu :) 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/noelchaput/25-secret-starbucks-drinks-8wcd?sub=1987466_832319&s=mobile#832319

The French Connection

Arthur's Theme, Pune

The Basics - French and Continental, good food, quantities enough for one, good for lunch and dinner, date friendly, reservation recommended, bar, 11:30am-3:00pm; 7:00am-11:00pm.

The Address - 2, Vrindavan Apartment, Lane 6, Koregaon Park. Or call 020-26152710 if you're lost. 

The Verdict - If you're craving Continental/French, give it a try.

Arthur's Theme is a stylish restaurant offering decent French food catering to Pune's swish crowd. It's tucked away in a small lane, almost hidden from the common man's eye. It's small and cosy, reminding me of a den, and the waiters are friendly and well trained. Although they got my order wrong once, the owner, a lovely man, willingly agreed to replace it.

The dishes are creatively (or some might argue, not-so creatively) named after célèbre de française - famous French people. You have Don Quixote, Queen Marchell and Antoinette.

Queen Marchell - Broiled mushrooms stuffed with cottage cheese and herbs, cooked in an oven and served with Santa Monica salsa. It might sound boring, but simplicity is a good thing here. If you like mushrooms and cottage cheese, you can't go wrong with this. If not, Don Quixote might suite you better - it's a pure cheesy delight.

Alfredo - If you like your meat, this kalamiri starter will be your thing. It's marinated in tempura batter and is presented with grated cheese sprinkled on top. It comes with a chili garlic dip and that some of you might find too garlicy, but honestly, it was perfect for moi.     

Zola - Basa fish grilled to perfection and accompanied with Indonesian curry sauce and potato croquettes. While some of you may find the fish bland, the mustard flavoured Indonesian sauce makes up for it. The fish was crisp yet soft and melts in your mouth. Regardless, the dish would perhaps be better with a different selection of fish, especially for those of you who like a more flavourful dish. If not for this, I would suggest Konrad I, a lovely fish dish served with a deadly lemon butter sauce. 

Abel, Henry the VIII - If you generally like chicken, you can't go wrong with these two. The former is chicken cordon bleu and it's just as you would expect it to be. The latter might not sound very appetizing and the chicken-baby corn combination is rather schizophrenic, but the chef gets it right with the red wine sauce.

For dessert I stuck to the classic Crepe that came with chocolate sauce and honey. Sadly I was disappointed. This French pancake was slightly thick and chewy. I'm not sure if I'm ready to give it another try just as yet.

Overall, I was pleased with the courteous waiters and liked the fact that owner would walk around interacting with his customers, taking suggestions and hopefully, implementing them. In typical French style, each dish is made for one and sharing isn't recommended, unless you want to go home hungry. Top off your meal with red or white wine or some beer.

Would I come back next time? I would, just for the food.

What's hot - Alfredo
What's not - Crepe

Your Foodista

The Spicy Lure of Southeast Asia

Malaka Spice, Pune

The Basics - Quick service, helpful waiters, good food, expensive, known for cocktails, Southeast Asian cuisine, lovely ambiance. Rs. 1500-2000 for two.
The Address - Lane # 5, Koregaon Park, Pune.
The Verdict - Must go for Asian food.

If you want top-notch Asian food any time of the day, visiting the hugely popular Malaka Spice is probably a good start. It is a chic restaurant located in the happening Koregaon Park and sometimes doubles as an art gallery. Upon entering you are greeted by Southeast Asian spices and their aroma that fills the space. There is a lovely outdoor seating with trendy paintings, lamps, lanterns and plants surrounding you. The atmosphere is romantic with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background. 

We were promptly seated, but the later into the night you stroll in, the harder it is to get a table. We were quick to order our food and were happy that the service was good. A let down was the price of the food and drinks, but hey, it is an upmarket restaurant, seducing expats and Pune's high society. 

Prawn tempura with mango sauce

For starters we ordered the Prawn tempura, which was so light on the batter that the wonderful smell of fresh seafood reaped through it. The cold, orange-ish mango sauce that accompanied it was tangy, spicy yet sweet but tasted heavenly with the prawns. If you love seafood and especially prawns, I would highly recommend this dish for you. 

Next came the Steamed Basa fish in basil lemon sauce perfect if you're on a diet. All the way from the rivers of Vietnam, the fish was light, and the distinct lemongrass taste lingered on in my mouth. While most people might find this dish bland and the flavours too subtle, I personally liked it this way. 

If you don't like your meat from the sea, their mutton and chicken concoctions might suit you better. The Mutton pepesan, ground mutton parcels steamed in banana leaves, are a must have. The presentation is so beautiful it felt like Christmas on my plate with the nicely wrapped mutton in banana leaves. 

For those of you who like momos there's an interesting array of them here. Chose from vegetable, tofu, duck, prawn and chicken. While I'm not the biggest fan of their momos - I find them expensive and the sauce bland - they are usually on travelers' wish lists. If this is still not your thing, their pork and lamb chops are succulent and cooked to perfection. Chicken satay and vegetable tempura also score high on the "must have" list here. 

As for their rice, I dig their Pad Thai which was well made and the omelette on top was wonderful and craftily placed. Top this off with their lamb curries, Mutton and pok choy and chili or the red or green Thai curry, perfectly cooked with the right amount of natural coconut milk. 

I would skip deserts and concentrate on starters and main course. While the rest of the food ranked high on creativity, the deserts lacked originality and generally disappointed. 

While a lot of their food may not be absolutely "authentic" they try to keep it real, and generally do. I love the fact that their menu is well designed and provides you with "Goes well with" drink options for every dish you order. They are known for their cocktails and they live up to the hype surrounding them. Finally, there's no better way to sum up my experience here - If I was in Pune for a day, I wouldn't miss Malaka Spice for a thing!

What's hot - Mutton pepesan
What's not - Desserts in general

Your Foodista

  

Bitter. Black. Bean Juice

Start off this beautiful Monday with a wonderful poem on coffee written by my dear friend Valmik Kumar.

"Bitter. Black. Bean Juice" 

Bitter. Black. Bean juice.
Liquid morning elixir. Caffeinated wake-up call.
Alarm clock in a mug.
Medicine for the Monday Blues (or any Blues).
Bitter. Black. Bean juice.

A visual delight -
White dissolving into black with languorous inefficiency,
Reaching out, tentatively, with serpentine grace,
Coiling its way with achingly gradual poise
At the base of a styrofoam cup.
 
An olfactory journey -
From the first hint of roasted bean,
Seeping its way unassumingly under cracks and through key-holes
To the long, deep breath, a drag from a liquid cigarette
That cajoles you into awakening.
 
A gustatory exercise -
You can feel the heat before it even reaches your lips
But you dive headfirst into a taste that remains
From the tip of your tongue, where forgotten names lie
To the back of your throat. A bitter tribute to -
 
Bitter. Black. Bean juice.

For more from Valmik, follow him on: http://porcupinearmd.tumblr.com .... he won't disappoint!

Your Foodista

Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread Ice-cream Sandwich Recipe

Today's featured recipe is something that you'll die for - Chocolate Hazelnut Shortbread Ice cream Sandwich! It looks tempting and the picture isn't lying. Happy Sunday everyone!   

• 1 cup All-purpose Flour
• ¾ cups Ground Hazelnut
• ¼ cups Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ cups Granulated Sugar
• ½ cups Brown Sugar
• 2 sticks Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
• 2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
• 2 teaspoons Espresso Powder
• ½ quarts Ice Cream Of Your Choice
• ½ cups Sprinkles Of Your Choice

1. Pre-heat oven to 300 F. Line two baking trays with parchment paper. Set aside. 
2. In a large bowl, sift the flour, ground hazelnuts, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream the sugars, butter and espresso powder with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.Gradually add the flour mixture into the creamed mixture and beat until just incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Cover and refrigerate the dough for an hour.
4. On a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut the dough with floured 3-inch round cookie cutters. Put the cookies onto the prepared pans leaving an inch or so between each.
5. Bake the cookies for 20 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through the baking time. Remove pans from oven, set them on a rack and let the cookies cool a few minutes on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. To assemble the sandwiches, let the ice cream sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften. Place 2 scoops of ice cream into the centre of the bottom of one cookie. Place another cookie on top of the ice cream. Lightly press to evenly push the ice cream to the outside of the cookie. Use a small spatula to smear the side of the cookie to avoid ice cream to overflow. Set the sandwich aside while you finish assembling the rest. Put the sprinkles on a plate and roll the sides of the sandwiches in sprinkles.
7. Note: If you want a smooth ice cream disc between the cookies, you need to plan ahead and prepare the ice cream the day before. Let the ice cream soften at room temperature for 10 minutes. Line a large shallow pan with plastic wrap leaving a large amount hanging over each side. Scoop and level the softened ice cream into the pan. Fold excess plastic wrap over the ice cream to cover it. Place the pan in the freezer overnight.
8. Take the pan out of the freezer, uncover the ice cream, use the same cookie cutter as you used for the cookies to cut out rounds of ice cream and sandwich the ice cream between two cookies. Continue until all the cookies are sandwiched. Put the sprinkles on a plate and roll the sides of the sandwiches in sprinkles.
9. Serve immediately. Or wrap each sandwich with plastic wrap and place them in the freezer.

P.S - Thank you Oh Sweet Day for this recipe!

Your Foodista

Are Oreos as Addictive as Cocaine?

A recent study from Connecticut College suggests and adds to the growing evidence that food can be addictive. And one these foods, is our beloved Oreo. 

Anyone that has eaten an Oreo knows that they cannot stop at one. Study designer, Jamie Honohan said "even though we associate significant health hazards in taking drugs like cocaine and morphine, high-fat, high-sugar foods may present even more danger because of their accessibility and affordability". The researcher used a two-sided maze and conducted the research on rats. On one side of the maze the researchers gave the rats Oreos and on the other side, rice cakes. The rats could then choose which side they wanted to explore. The rats were left alone and the researchers recorded the amount of time the rats spent on each side of the maze.

The same experiment was conducted on the rats but this time they were injected with cocaine or morphine on one side of the maze and were given a placibo on the other - a shot of saline. Finally, the researchers looked at the effect Oreos' had on the rats' brains by examining the number of neurons in the brain's pleasure centre, or the nucleus accumbens, that were active when consuming the Oreos. 

The results?

The rats that were given Oreos spent just as much time as the rats that were given cocaine on the maze and the cookie-eating rats experienced more pleasure than the cocaine-injected rats. This shows that Oreos may in fact, be as addictive as the drug cocaine and helps us understand why people have trouble controlling their food intake, especially junk food, or food with high amounts of fats and sugars. 

Yet, the validity of the study is still unknown. Results from lab rats cannot be generalized to humans and the labs rats, did not show the traditional "signs of addiction", but showed great amounts of pleasure in consuming the cookies. 

P.S - I'm not asking you to go cold turkey on Oreos, just eat everything in moderation - it ain't gonna do any harm then!

Sources: CNN: http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/16/oreos-as-addictive-as-cocaine-in-lab-rat-study/?hpt=he_t5

Your Foodista