An Evening At Hokey Pokey

I went back to Hokey Pokey to try out the winning ice cream combination that one of the team of food bloggers had won. “Secret Affair’ was the creation I was looking for.  It was not yet listed on the hall of fame, so I opted for mango delight with crushed nuts.

15days ago, I was there with my food blogger friends. It was a fun event, when all my food bloggers had gathered outside Hokey Pokey one evening to taste different ice cream flavors. It was not just that, we were divided into four teams, and each team had to make 3 different kinds of ice creams using our imagination.

In a competition, each team had used their imagination creating amazing combinations that included ice creams, nuts, Indian sweets, chocolates, etc. Team B had won with their creation of ‘Secret Affair. They had used coffee ice cream. They had added few pieces of crushed honeycomb and few chocolate chip brownies to come up with new creation to be included into hall of fame.

At Hokey Pokey, the main idea is to be creative in three steps. Pick the flavor, pick the mix in and watch them churn out an ice cream on cold stone. But I am afraid, not many people are noticing that. The friends that I took along with me; did not bother to see ‘hall of Fame’, nor did they notice the cold stone that is used for churning ice creams, they headed straight to the area of ice creams, tasted a spoonful of each flavor and then decided on the flavor they wanted.

That is really sad. Nobody pointed out that Hokey Pokey is more than just spoonful of a scoop. Nowhere was the fact stressed that Hokey Pokey outlet also have a live kitchen, where customers can order an ice cream creation and get it made in front of their eyes.

I learnt the first hand knowledge of mixing Ice Creams when I met Founder, Rohan Mirchandani. He explained that they custom make every scoop taking into account the taste and the preference of the customer. The brand has to overcome the unfamiliarity of the customers with made-to-order assembly. The pounding of ice creams with chocolates, nuts and sweets and do it with flourish on the cold stone is what sets it apart from other parlors.

That is the brand’s sole focus.

Hokey pokey is a flavour of ice cream in New Zealand, consisting of plain vanilla ice cream with small, solid lumps of honeycomb toffee. Hokey pokey is a New Zealand term for honeycomb toffee. Wikipedia

It is this idea that Rohan has brought to India.

Rohan says he wants to position Hokey Pokey in the same league as Haagen Dazs and Ben&Jerry ice creams. He explains how the product has more fat content (16%milk fat), less air and is all vegetarian to cater to larger segment of Indians. To take its interactive ice cream counters beyond its own stores, the brand has tied up with different outlets that include coffee chain across the country.

I turned to my friend and asked her to watch while I select my favorite. She saw him remove a scoop of mango ice cream (that I had selected) and keep it on the cold stone, crush few pieces of cashew nuts and almonds (on my request) and mix it with flourish. She was impressed.

“I too, want one like this for me” she said

The good news is that Food Food Channel was there to record the event and in case you missed it, you can see it on U-tube .here

Sista! Look I Cook Keralas For You!!!

My sista from Lagos calls me to ask for a recipe of Karelas (melon bitter). I promised to send her one by posting it on my blog. How else should I share? It is difficult to explain it on the phone. Posting and sharing a recipe through my blog is the easiest way. Moreover, I am always hunting for content to post on my blog; when any member of my family asks me for a recipe, I am always happy to share. So, here we are, with one more recipe, this time on bitter melons or Karela as we know it.

In the recent times, I have learnt to develop a taste for this vegetable and am actually enjoying its’ bitterness. Moreover, this bitterness is not too strong because most of it is replaced by saltiness. But it has great medicinal value, besides cleaning the system; it also plays an important role in reducing the diabetes. Not sure if this works but I have seen people drinking the cups of karela juice early in the mornings during their walks at Carter road.

I like the cooked vegetable or simply deep-fried too.

This is the method I use.

I chop the ends off, slit it length wise and put 2tbsps of salt and keep it overnight. Next day, I wash it in two changes of water, squeeze it dry and deep fry.

The deep fried bitter melons can be cooked in different ways. I have cooked in onion masala.

Step one

In a pan add oil, 2chopped onions, 1tsp crushed garlic, 1inch grated ginger and 2chopped chilies.

 Step two

Place the fried bitter melons on it

Step three

Add 2chopped tomatoes

Step four

Add the dry masala like 1tsp of turmeric powder, 1tsp red chili powder, 2tsps of coriander powder, 1tsp of cumin powder and salt. Add 1/2cup water. Cook it on medium heat till onions are light brown.

Step five

When onion begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, mix it well. Add coriander leaves and slit green chilies

Step six

Cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes or till the oil separates.

Serve it with hot roasted chapattis.

The deep fried bitter melons do not get spoilt if you leave it in the fridge for several days. In fact, the flavor improves with age.

I like to eat the fried bitter melons with khichree or plain roti.

Also fusion roti turns out great.

I stir fried bakchoi and chives and added little salt.

I had made pesto some days back by mixing in the blender: 50gms of cheese, 50gms of mixed dry-fruit (almonds, walnuts and cashew nuts) 6green chilies, 1small bunch of basil leaves, 2tbsp of lime juice, and 2tbsp of olive oil.

I used this pesto for my fusion roti.

Take a hot roasted roti.

Layer it with pesto

Arrange the stir-fried bakchoi and chives

Arrange fried bitter melons

Roll it

The combination of saltiness of bitter melons, the sweetness of greens and spicy pesto was quite good . It tasted yummicious.

Try it

image source: Dr. Health Press

Also the Dr. Health Press suggests this lovely drink…

Dunkin’ Donuts Comes To My Town

I am having spongy, melt-in-mouth chocolate donut, stuffed with dripping hazelnut cream; dusted with Dunkin’s special sugar and I am immediately transported to another world. When was the last time I tasted this delicious bite? I think it was in Europe.. oh yum!! I am so glad that now I don’t have to travel abroad to get the taste I like, it is now in my home town, so close to my house, that I can feast as often as I want.

Yes, Dunkin’ Donuts is on my mind and it has opened its doors at Linking Road (actually two restaurants on the same day-10^th May2014). It is the world’s leading baked goods and coffee chain hub where young adults can relax and munch on delicious ‘wicked’ wraps and sandwiches, or get ‘whipped, cut up, baked, and be so imperfect” for the brief time when they stretch their minds at their donut outlets.

Speaking at the grand opening, Mr Ajay Kaul, CEO, Jubilant Foodworks Limited said, 

“We are encouraged by the appreciation Dunkin’ donuts has received from consumers right from the time we opened our first restaurant in Delhi. This opening of our restaurant in Mumbai marks the beginning of this exciting journey for us. We are confident that with the differentiated, all day part food and beverage menu that we offer, consumers in Mumbai will love Dunkin’ Donut”

Dunkin’ donut does not only boast about its big variety of donuts that range from classic to shell to ring donuts, it also has sandwiches, burgers and wraps too.

I tasted the ‘tough guy Burger’ that had spicy and succulent meat patty in the bed of salad and coated with creamy mustard sauce. I was happy with the rich taste of the sauces that is perfect for Indian taste. Most of the restaurants have food that is initially very good but it loses its luster after some time but Mr. Dev Amritesh, the President & COO, cleared my doubts by saying that their products have always tasted the same at all their outlets.

I just loved the wraps. Wrapped in Multigrain tortilla, they were just plain wicked. The crunchiness of nachos, the sweet tang of raw mangoes, the spicy jalapenos and chipotle sauce..It was superb!!

And then came the great Stirr’accino, the one of its kind, a unique brand. One cup with two coffees- Espresso shot of dark roast Arabic beans for strong coffee experience and original blend of light roast Arabic beans for mellow fruity flavor. I didn’t need sugar, the sweetness was just right for me.

Okay, my tummy was protesting.. “STOP” it grumbled… but still I went for ‘Spiked Iced Tea’….

The tea is actually brewed with fragrant sweet spices. It was very refreshing. It was a good experience and I am sure I will be spending many more evenings at Dunkin’ Donuts for sure!!!