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PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE, THEKKADY, KERALAPeriyar tiger reservelocated at Thekkady, is the oldest & largest protected area in Kerala.There are a number of community based eco tourism programmes. Bamboo lodge situated in this reserve is an ideal place to listen to nature. There are a number of activities conducted bythe government and forest division. Some of the programmes are, bamboo rafting, jungle camp, jungle scouting(night patrolling to experience night life in jungle programme with armed guards),nature walk, tribal dance etc. There is also a museum where one can feel the jungle and listen to the sounds of animals and birds. |
YOU CAN COOK PERFECT PASTA1) Pastahould be cooked only just before serving it. |
HOW TO MEASURE PASTAPasta doubles in volume after cooking. It is always better to measure pasta by weight and not by cup. Cooked pasta can be measured by cup. Approximately 100 gms. of pasta = i cup dried pasta = 2.5 cups cooked pasta. There may be slight variations according to the shape of pasta. |
WORLD COOKIE DAY---DECEMBER 4THCookie day is celeberated on December 4th. It is not very popular as yet. The word cookie is derived from the Dutch word "koekje", which literally means little cake. Earlier Dutch bakers used to test their oven temperatures by placing small amounts of cake batter in the oven and baking. These tiny pieces used to taste delicious. Thus was born the cookies. |
WINE- DRY AND SWEETWine is made from fermented grapes or other fruits. Wines are classified into dry, sweet and semi-dry depending upon the residual sugar level. In a dry wine all residual sugar is converted into alcohol. Sweet wine will still have some residual sugar left. Semi-dry wines have a small level of sweetness. Residual sugar is the natural sugar left over by the fruit after fermentation process is over. |
TABLE NAPKIN ETIQUETTEA table napkin is placed to the left of the forks or on the main plate or even folded into neat shapes and placed in glasses. There are certain rules in using a table napkin, specially in a formal setting. |
LIQUEURA liqueur is an alcoholic beverage that has been flavored with fruit, herbs, nuts, spices, flowers, or cream and bottled with added sugar. Liqueurs are typically quite sweet; they are usually not aged for long but may have resting periods. It is usually served after meals. Kahlua is used to make cocktails and as a topping or ingredient in several desserts, including ice cream, cakes, and cheesecakes. Most liqueurs have a lower alcohol content (15%-30%) than spirits, but some liqueurs contain as much as 55%. There are berry liqueurs, chocolate, coffee, cream, flower, fruit and herbal liqueurs. |
TRUFFLESThe name truffle is derived from their shape. Truffle is from the Latin word tuber, meaning "swelling" or "lump".There are two types of edible things referred to as truffles. One is the chocolate made with chocolate, cream and any flavoring etc. The other is the highly prized black fungi (mushroom) found mainly in France. A type of white truffleswhich are prized more than the black ones are found in Italy and is usually eaten raw. French gourmet Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin called truffles "the diamond of the kitchen". Truffle oil is made by dropping a few shavings of truffles into extra virgin olive oil. |
PANCAKESPancakes are eaten in English speaking countries on Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake day), which is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, (the first day of Lent. Pancakes are eaten on that day as they are made of main foods like sugar, fat, flour & eggs whose consumption was traditionally restricted during Lent. |
TODDY IN BREAD BAKINGWhen Portugeuse came to Goa, India, they missed bread as yeast was not available locally. So they added little toddy to bread dough and thus was born Goan local bread known as Goan pao. Goan bread is made in food fired ovens known as 'forn'.Even though pao is the Portuguese word for bread, there are some stories revolving around the origin of the name pao. One is that, that the pao dough is kneaded by feet (hindi word for feet is pao)hence the name pao. Another story is that, since pao buns are small, it is considered as a quarter of a normal bread and hence pao( In hindi, pao means quarter). Goan bakers bought pao to mumbai and it is quite famous there. |
WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE CHOCOLATETo'ak chocolate is said to be the world's most expensive chocolate. The origin of to'ak is Ecuador in South America. To'ak is an Ecuadorian word, which when translated to English means 'earth' and 'tree'. It is considered the absolute purest chocolate bar containing only cocoa and cane sugar. And the cocoa and cane sugar is organically grown. The cocoa seeds are first harvested from the coast of Ecuador, before they are fermented and turned into liquid chocolate. This liquid chocolate is then hand-moulded and a single, hand-selected, hand-measured and shelled cocoa bean is placed in the centre - this must measure between 7mm and 8mm. In 2014 company produced only 574 bars, each bar weighing around 48 gms. and costing rs.16,100. It comes packed in a wooden box made of spanish elm, which is a local wood. |
POMELLOPomello is the biggest citrus fruit in the world. It has pale green to yellow skin when ripe. The flesh is usually white, but sometimes rarely the flesh is pink or red. It has a very thick rind or skin. This is similar to grape fruit but with a drier pulp than grape fruit. |
BAKERS TRADERS, ERNAKULAMA complete shop for all baking and cooking enthusiasts. You get almost all the necessary ingredients, equipments, pots and pans etc. required for both professionals as well as amateurs. All, the employees and management are really helpful. However special mention should be made about Mr. Raghu who is quite knowledgable about the baking aspects. |
GELATO ITALIANOGelato italiano located at Panampilly nagar is a good place for ice cream lovers. Their gelatos were smooth and melt in the mouth kind in different flavors. |
FRECH TOAST, ERNAKULAMGreat food, good ambience and a great chef--what more could you ask for in a Patisserie. It is a cute little place located in a bylane at Panampilly nagar. Headed by Sruthy Nayar, a Le Cordon Bleu (France) chef, this place is a must visit if you love sweet things. As the name indicates, they specialize in French toast. Also their Bostock and fizzy drinks are also a must try. They also make good brioche, baguette and different pies and cakes. |
VRINDHAVAN MIST CITY, KANTHALOORSerene, unpolluted and beautiful, thats Vrindhavan mist city for you. A farm stay at kanthaloor, kerala. Kanthaloor near to Munnar, (a hill station in Kerala), is famous for vegetable and fruit cultivation. Blue skies beckon you, the atmosphere is tranquil. This resort is about 5200 metres above sea level, perched on the top of the tallest hill. Though the drive to this farm is bumpy, (which can be done only in their jeep), youll forget it once you reach there. At the time we visited there were potatoes, beans and amla. A few months before that,we were told, they had strawberries in full bloom, about 5000 plants laden with this red luscious fruits. The unique feature of this farm is the organic farming adopted by them. You get simple,rustic food, and they use the vegetables from their farm too. More than the beauty of the place, what makes the stay memorable and pleasant is the hospitality and enthusiasam of Mr. Govindraj, who looks after the farm and guests with utmost care. |
ALTERMEDIA, ORGANIC SHOPAltermedia is a shop selling organic products. Mr. Anil has been selling organic vegetables and other products from 2001, when the organic movement had not really caught on in the true sense. |
KODAI CHEESE SHOPKodai cheese shop at Kodaikanal has a wide range of cheeses to choose from-- the most common Mozzarela (pizza cheese) to Bocconcini. Bocconcini are small mozzarella cheeses the size of an egg. They are semi-soft, white and rindless which originated in Naples and were once made only from milk of water buffaloes. |
SRISHTI, MUNNARA welfare centre for the differently abled at Munnar supported by Tata global beverages Ltd. They have different units like a bakery, dyeing unit, fruit preserving unit etc. The employees are differently abled and Tata has done a great job in rehabilitating them. These youngsters, even with their limitations are able to earn their livelihood. A must visit when in Munnar. |