Day: November 27, 2016

Guilt Free Indulgence at the Diabetic Dessert Trail…!

As part of the Diabetic Food Trail, Diabetic Dessert Trail was a day of guilt free indulgence for me. The event which was conceived with the objective of offering diabetics, pre-diabetics and health conscious people a reason to enjoy their food and desserts without any apprehensions, has tied up with 200 restaurants across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune. The Diabetic Food Trail is presented by Britannia Nutrichoice Essentials in association with Biocon, the largest Indian Insulins Company. Britannia and Biocon have once again partnered with DFT, this year along with Fitternity.com, Health & Nutrition and Burrp. Its been conceptualised by Seema Pinto,  Director, Semora Entertainment Works along with her husband.

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This particular dessert trail meant restaurant hopping with 4 different participating outlets showcasing their healthy desserts and it also meant that we were going to eat a lot of desserts but without feeling guilty about it, so all I had to say was bring it on..!!

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We began our sweet journey with Bercos in Greater Kailash I, in a cosy atmosphere, we were served with Sugar –Free Lemon Cheesecake (Kcals: 162.2, Fat: 14.2g, Carbs: 4.1g, Protein: 6g) and Sugar –Free Caramel Custard (Kcals: 378, Fat: 28g, Carbs: 32g, Protein: 6g). The Cheese Cake was so delicious and sugary sweet that not even for one moment it felt that it was sugar free, I simply loved it. The Caramel Custard wasn’t as sweet as the cheese cake, but it was nice too.

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Our next stop was right across the road, and after one fulfilling experience we went to explore the other. Getafix too appeared a cosy and comfortable place where you could enjoy a happy meal with your family or friends. Here on the menu we had Sugar –Free Carrot Cake (Kcals: 396, Fats: 26.1g, Carbs: 37.1.6g, Protein: 4.9g) and Sugar –Free Lime Pie (Kcals: 136, Fats: 4.7g, Carbs: 21.3g, Protein: 3.1g). The Carrot Cake was simply mind blowing, dense and yet super moist, I could just go on and on with it, it was so delicious, and you must try. The Lime Pie was good too, but somehow I was hooked to the Carrot Cake.

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Our next halt was Bohemia in Greater Kailash I, N Block Mkt, the place oozed out comfort and a suave ambience. Though we were now already full from the last two indulgences, I was really looking forward to this one, because they had my favourites Sugar –Free Tiramisu (Kcals: 340, Fat: 18g, Carbs: 40g, Protein: 4g) and Sugar -Free Chocolate Fudge (Kcals: 250, Fat: 10g, Carbs: 38g, Protein: 3g). Guilt free chocolate desserts are like a dream come true. Both the Tiramisu and the Chocolate Fudge were awesome. Extremely delectable they didn’t taste as if they were sugar free, they tasted as normal as prepared with sugar. I loved them both.

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Oh, after 3 stops, this dessert trail really seemed very fulfilling, filling the stomach too :), but nevertheless, we reached our last stop, which unlike others wasn’t a restaurant, but it was a bakers den called G’s Patisserie. Here we were served Sugar –Free Warm Apple & Cinnamon Cobbler (Kcals: 237.2, Fats: 9.8, Carbs: 36.7g, Proteins: 3.5g), Sugar –Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake (Kcals: 160.2, Fats: 6.4g, Carbs: 25g, Proteins: 3.3g), Sugar –Free Banana Oats Bar with NutriChoice Essentials Oats Cookies (Kcals: 87, Fats: 1.8g, Carbs: 17.2g, Proteins: 21g). I personally loved the Apple Cobbler and the Oat Cookies, which were also live demonstrated by the owner of the place. The entire experience was worth remembering.

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The Healthy Dessert Trail was introduced to give food bloggers and media a glimpse of some of the innovative and healthy desserts that restaurants in each of these cities had specially designed, for the Diabetic Food trail 2016. With desserts featuring on a larger number of menus this year, it was a perfect window to showcase these treats, while debunking the myths that desserts could only be high calorie, and hence not suitable for diabetics.

A key aspect of The Diabetic Food Trail has been to address certain myths associated with what a diabetic can and cannot eat. The most common one being that desserts are a big no no. And thanks to our restaurant partners on the Dessert trail, we were able to demonstrate how easily desserts can be made healthy yet delicious, wherein not only a diabetic, but also a regular individual with a sweet tooth could enjoy them. I am glad I was part of this journey and I really urge to the restaurants to keep continuing these items in their menu on a regular basis so that people can really eat guilt free!

 

 

Rich Graviss Organised Rich’s Gourmet Guide, Showcasing Foods and Trends in Savouries, Beverages, Desserts and 250 number of Cakes

Rich Graviss recently organised a world class event, Rich Gourmet Guide, where in the showcased the latest foods and trends in savouries, beverages and desserts. The chef team  live demonstrated these global trends in foods in event via applications of their existing Rich’s products available in India. It was a visual delight to see plain Jane cakes turning into a work of art.

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Rich’s also displayed a showcase of more than 250 cakes in the show. With different categories like logs, buttercream decoration, whipped cream decoration , macaroons, glaze cakes etc, this was one mouth drooling exhibition. The cakes were so beautiful that I could not take my eyes off it.

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There were concept stalls wherein live demos went on in each of the stall round the day, which emphasised on different decorations using whipped cream, the use of Rich’s products in making beverages and savouries.
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The main objective of the event was to make bakery and food service customers aware of global trends and also global cuisines which could be made using Rich’s Products. The purpose was to inform and upgrade the quality of offerings of both bakery and food service operators to general public.
A new product named BETTERCREME was also being launched first time in the market. It is a unique Non-Dairy product with a buttery flavour, heavy mouth feel & good stability. It is ideal for bakery preparations for making colourful & robust cake decorations.
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They also highlighted its unique benefits on their Educational Booth that will be especially focussing on various applications of Bettercreme ICING & FILLINGS. Rich also launched its android based app where in we can multiple recipes, know about the products and do so much more.
I thoroughly enjoyed this event, tasting goodies made using Rich’s products, the demonstrations and the showcasing of so many beautiful cakes.

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ABOUT RICH GRAVISS PRODUCTS PVT LTD
Rich Graviss Products Pvt. Ltd. came into existence following the collaboration between M/s Rich Products Corporation (USA) and Graviss Food Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (India).
The launch of Rich’s Whip Topping in 1996 sparked a revolution in the Indian bakery industry; as it became the first-ever and the largest-selling non-dairy whip topping of the country. Since then, the market reputation and business growth has only elevated.


Today, Rich’s produces a wide range of products for both the bakery as well as the food service segments.
Rich’s in India has 2 manufacturing facilities at Pune (Maharashtra) & Kala Amb (Himachal Pradesh). The combined production capacity of both the plants is approx 24000 tonnes per annum. This directly translates into assured quality products for its customers, as well as a consistent supply throughout the year.
The company caters to more than 150 cities across 27 states through a highly competent cold chain distribution network.
For more details ,pls visit on www.richgraviss.com

FICCI organised Foodzania, a food service retail conclave, partnered by Foodmaniacs

FICCI organized, the first ever Foodzania, a Food Service Retail Conclave on November 18,2016 at FICCI, Federation House, New Delhi. Invited by Vickrham, owner of Foodmaniacs a food based portal, which happened to be the Online Partner for the event, we felt privileged to be a part of such a prestigious event.

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The whole day conclave started with a nice spread of Tea, Coffee and Breakfast for the participants. The Conclave was divided into six sessions each touching a particular aspect of the Food Retail Industry. The first session touched upon the State of the Industry & Food Policy. After the welcome address by Piyush Patodia, Chairman FICCI Task Force, the session was addressed by Sh.Hem Pande, Secretary, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food n Public Distribution, (MoCA). He touched briefly on the state of Food Industry and emphasized on the need for the Industry and the Government to work closely for the benefit of the Consumer.img_6230

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The session was also addressed by Shri Pawan Aggarwal, CEO, FSSAI, who strongly believed that more n more of eateries of all tiers be recognized by FSSAI so as to be able to educate and monitor even the smaller players there by ensuring safe n hygienic food to reach the consumers.

The session saw a wide range of speakers like Mr Scott S.Sindelar, Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, American Embassy in New Delhi, India. Mr Sunil Kapur, Chairman,K-Hospitality Corp, Mr Rahul Singh, Hon.Secretary, NRAI, Founder & CEO, The Beer Cafe, Mr Henrik Osterstrom, Country Food Manger, IKEA and Mr Amit Lohani, MD, Max Foods and Conveyor, Forum of Indian Food Importers. Each one them spoke about the on growing demand for the Industry to be given its due recognition by the Government to ensure further organized growth in this sector.


Session 2 saw the discussion moving to another very important aspect of the Food Retail Service Industry, the availability of skilled manpower. Rightly titled Skill Development Gaining Critical Importance in F&B Sector-“Elevating Skills”. The session was addressed by Mr. Praveen Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council, Mr Chetan Arora, Development Agent and Multi Unit Owner, Subway India, Chef Y B Mathur, Executive Director, Culinary Design & Application Group and Ms Diksha Pandey, Head, Mountain Trail Academy. They emphasized on the need for more training centers for the F& B sector and especially in two or three tier towns n cities to facilitate the young there to pursue their dreams of joining the Food Industry.

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Session 3 namely Creating one stop shop-“Making Food in India & Ease of doing Business” was addressed by Mr Atul Chaturvedi, Joint Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy n Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Mr Rajat Wahi, Partner and Head, Consumer Retail and Agri Sectors, KPMG in India, Mr Sumitro Ghosh, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Starbucks India, Mr Unnat Verma, MD Pizza Hut India Subcontinent, Mr Pankaj Chaddah, Co founder, Zomato, Mr Murli Parna, CEO, Sagar Ratna, Chef Sabyasachi Gorai, Celebrity Chef, Entrepreneur, Restaurant Owner and Mr Rakesh Banga, Founder, Farmland Premium Foods LLP. Lots of grievances on part of the Industry were put forward, the main being the License Raj, which surprisingly continues to harass the industry. Multiple government departments issue licenses for the same project often over lapping each other. It was really sad to know that to even start a Restaurant in our Country it needs anywhere between 20 to 30 licenses which may take over a period of six months to a year to acquire.


Another session to follow was Disrupting Food Pallet which was addressed by Mr Rajesh Sawhney, Founder, Inner Chef. Mr Nandan Reddy, Co founder, Swiggy, Mr Saurabh Kochhar, CEO, Food Panda, Mr Raghav Verma, Co -founder, Sunshine Teahouse Pvt. Ltd (Chaayos), Mr Ankur Gupta, Co founder, Drifter’s Cafe, And Mr Vikrant Mishra, Co founder, Eggjactly & Sushi House Mafia. The emphasis here was on the emergence of increasing online business in Food Retail and some innovative offline business models like Food Trucks, Food Aggregators and out of the box OSR models. These business ideas are in for a quantum leap in the coming years and do seem to be the disruptive force to regular Food Retail.

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The session Extraordinary journey of Extraordinary Chefs saw Ms Kavneet Sawhney, Director Culinary Communications, Founder of The Gourmet High Street talk us through with Ms. Nita Mehta, Celeberity Chef, Author and now a Restaurant Owner. She traced her journey from Ms. Nita Mehta being a housewife to now a Celebrity on her own. Ms. Mehta shared her personal experiences, her trials and tribulations along her journey. A real role model for any budding entrepreneur.

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I also got a chance to get clicked with the legendary Ms Nita Mehta and she came across as a very warm person. She also shared a beautiful message for all aspiring chefs.

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The last session “Going Beyond Borders” With Celebrity Chefs Ranveer Brar and Vicky Ratnani was a really enjoyable one with their most candid comments. Everyone at the event was waiting for this finale of the conclave and looking forward to their interaction with these both celebrity chefs. Ranveer as usual had his answers ready for everything with a heavy dose of wit in them, while Vicky was at his intellectual best. I also got a chance to get clicked with my favourite chefs.

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All in all a wonderful Conclave. Kudos to FICCI for organizing it and bringing forth the problems of this ever-expanding industry to the fore. The Conclave also had lunch catered by The Embassy, New Delhi.

Cocktails and Dinner was followed at the end of the conclave. I am really grateful to Vickrham and Foodmaniacs for making me a part of this amazing journey of learning about the food industry and a chance to rub shoulders with who is who of the food world.

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