indian food – The Jellybeans Edit

A taste of authentic Indian cuisine at Annapoorna, Quezon City

For a long time, I thought that Indian food is not for me. Having grown up with an aversion to spicy viands, as well as a strong bias towards my mom’s Pinoy home cooking combined with Western fare courtesy of movies and TV shows, South Asian cuisine to me was as exotic and almost alien as food can get.

Thankfully, I later developed a more adventurous palate, thanks largely to my husband who, over the years, took the necessary pains to introduce me to food items that have a little more kick to them.

It just so happens that one of his favorite cuisines is Indian food.

So when Annapoorna opened its branch right across my office building, I was more than ready to give it a try.

Indian cuisine is a celebration of diversity, with each region boasting its own unique culinary traditions and signature dishes. Fortunately, when Annapoorna serves up these diverse options, it makes them fresh upon order so that spice levels can be customized. This way, aside from bringing an authentic taste of home to its loyal clientele of Indian nationals residing nearby, it also allows us Pinoys who are unfamiliar with Indian food to easily expand our culinary horizons with its offerings.

Curious on delicious dishes that await at Annapoorna? Check these out:

viber_image_2024-04-26_22-05-30-557 — A sumptuous array of flavors at your fingertips at Annapoorna!

From personal experience, exploring new and unfamiliar cuisines may seem daunting at first, but, if my foray into Indian cuisine at Annapoorna is anything to go by, the delicious discoveries you’re bound to make are definitely well worth the effort!

Here are some tips to prime you up for this extraordinary gustatory experience and make your dining journey at Annapoorna even more memorable:

Start mild. Indian food may be known for its myriad of spices but it does include milder dishes like Butter Chicken and Malai Chicken tikka to get you started. Ask the staff for recommendations or request for milder versions of the spicier dishes.
Use your hands. Annapoorna’s naans are great for scooping up meats and dipping into flavorful sauces.
Enjoy the accompaniments. You’ll notice that most of the dishes are accompanied by dips and sauces that add a whole new dimension of flavors to the dishes.
Bring your friends and fam along. Most of Annapoorna’s dishes are good for two to three people so go ahead and share the experience with your loved ones.

Head over to Annapoorna’s branches for a taste of delicious and authentic Indian cooking, open for dine-in and orders from 11am to 1am:

Unit 4, Gateway Regency, Robinsons Pioneer, Mandaluyong (Tel: +63 966 1443154; Follow on Facebook and Instagram)
Mother Ignacia Avenue across ELJ Communication Center, Quezon City (Tel: +63 977 0642263; Follow on Facebook and Instagram)

Photo Credit: Selected individual food shots courtesy of Glenn of The Adventures of Jogpen.

Novotel’s Prana Indian Cuisine hosts Taj Uncorked: An Indian Champagne Dinner

Indian food has long been celebrated for its creative use of healthy ingredients including aromatic spices, as well as its rich and diverse flavors.

However, there is one aspect of this exotic cuisine that is largely unexplored: how it pairs with western wines.

Well, Novotel Manila Araneta City’s Executive Chef Massimiliano Pauletto recently brought this extraordinary experience to selected guests with Taj Uncorked: An Indian Champagne Dinner held at the hotel’s restaurant, Prana Indian Cuisine.

Together with my husband (an avid lover of Indian food!), I was able to join this gastronomic exploration consisting of dishes especially crafted by Prana’s very own Indian Masterchef Rajan Veeranan and variants of Champagne Deutz Ram’s House of Wine.

Champagne does significantly add to the enjoyment of Indian cuisine, thanks to its versatility; its acidity and bubbly nature complements the complex flavors and contrasts with the rich and creamy textures of various Indian dishes. It also acting as a palate cleanser in between bites, allowing diners to fully savor and appreciate the nuances of every dish. Champagne’s fruity tones also harmonize well with the aromatic herbs and spices used in Indian cooking.

Chef Rajan’s multi-course dinner included these masterpieces:

Cocktails

Served at the restaurant’s anteroom with generous refills of Deutz Brut Classic, these whetted our appetites for the rest of Prana’s culinary creations yet to be unveiled.

Appetizer (Kshudaavardhak)

Panch Phoran Tandoori Jhinga. Succulent tandoori prawns, marinated in a blend of yogurt, five aromatic spices, and fragrant herbs and expertly cooked in a traditional clay oven, resulting in a delightful combination of smokiness and tenderness on a bed ofluscious broccoli cashew nut puree.

Afghani Murgh Kebab. Tender grilled chicken, meticulously cooked in a clay oven and served accompanied by a velvety blend of mashed chickpeas and a decadent mix of cream infused with cashew, pepper, melon, and poppy seeds.

Paired with Deutz Brut Classic.

Soup (Shoraba)

Murgh Makhanwala. Tandoori chicken bathed in a luxurious buttery gravy, enriched with cream and an array of aromatic spices and served in a velvety almond broth together with freshly made naan.

Paired with Amour de Deutz Brut Millesime 2011.

Main Course (Men Kors)

Lamb Nihari with Saffron Biryani Rice. Slow-cooked meat stew, delicately infused with a medley of aromatic spices and Indian-style durum whole wheat flour accompanied by fragrant saffron-infused biryani rice.

Paired with Amour de Deutz Brut Millesime 2011.

Dessert (Mithaee)

Sweet endings to a wonderful meal which includes a White Chocolate Gelato garnished with saffron and cardamon and Petit Fours consisting of filled white chocolate dome and French Macarons and Italian-style Dark Chocolate Cookie.

Ready to explore the bold flavors and textures of Indian cuisine? Be sure to drop by Prana Indian Cuisine located at the Ground Floor of Novotel Manila Araneta City, General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta City, Quezon City. For inquiries, call +63 2 89907888 or email H7090@accor.com.

Know more about the hotel and its restaurants by visiting its website or following Novotel Manila Araneta City on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Novotel Manila Araneta City:

5 reasons why Novotel is your family’s staycation destination

Four reasons to gather and celebrate at Food Exchange Manila, Novotel Manila Araneta

Ice cream indulgence at Indulge, Novotel Manila Araneta

Weekly Italian gastronomic treats from Novotel’s “secret ingredient”: Chef Massi Pauletto

Authentic Indian cuisine at New Bombay, BGC

Considering that Indian cuisine has always been cited as one of the most delicious in the world, it is a wonder that it is not listed among my favorites.

I would probably blame it on a particularly spicy curry dish which was served to me when I was young, which then turned me off the entire culinary tradition for quite some time.

Articles from various food mavens attribute the appeal of Indian cuisine to its healthy ingredients (lots of vegetarian dishes!), its use of a wide array of fresh spices and its practice of combining contrasting flavors in its dishes.

Well, Hubby is an Indian food fan, who for over fifteen years marriage, has been largely unsuccessful in converting me to Indian food.

Until recently, that is.

While we were running some arounds around Bonifacio Global City, Hubby took the opportunity to introduce my daughter #ExhibitA and I to Indian cuisine at New Bombay.

Here, we enjoyed a flavorful lunch which consisted of:

Vegetable Kadai (Php355). Delicately spiced North Indian dish made of assorted vegetables cooked in a red gravy using the Indian equivalent of the wok, called the kadai, from which the dish gets its name.

Butter Naan (Php95). A butter-infused yeast-leavened white flour bread baked in a clay oven called tandoor.

Chef’s Special – Mutton Dry (Php395). Mutton sauteed in various Indian spices and served dry with a special desi gravy on the side. I paired this with the butter naan by wrapping mutton morsels in pieces I tore off the naan.

Chicken Biryani (Php395). Delicious Indian rice dish made with basmati rice layered with chicken pieces and spices then steamed together to produce an aromatic and flavorful viand with a subtle heat.

Lassi (Php125). Sweet blended drink made with fruit, yogurt and spices.

Since we were able to request the kitchen to set the spiciness of the dishes to very mild, we were able to enjoy their exotic flavors and the slight tickling sensation of heat in palates.

Now, I wouldn’t mind trying out more of Indian cuisine in my future foodie adventures.

This New Bombay branch is located at the Second Floor, Crossroads Building, corner 32nd and 7th Avenues, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (beside MC Home Depot). For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 82451609, +63 939 1142481 or +63 916 2291470.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, Sagittarius Building, HV Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 88192892 | +63 2 88043788 | +63 939 1197794 | +63 906 2711300)
Ground Floor, Glorietta 3 Ayala Center, Makati City (Tel: +63 2 89868622 | + 63 916 2291445)
Fifth Floor, The Podium Mall, 12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City (Tel: 63 2 86374367 | +63 939 1108623 | +63 916 2291445)

Timberland Highlands Resort’s Ridge Cafe introduces Arabic Dinner Buffet

Would you like to give in to your flights of fancy and embark on an exciting journey?

A journey among extraordinary flavors, that is. 🙂

Well, head on then to Ridge Cafe at Timberland Highlands Resort up in the mountains of San Mateo, Rizal. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the fresh mountain air as you dine in style, thanks to its opulent interiors and al fresco area overlooking the metro.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Resort — Ridge Cafe from outside

Here, your tastebuds can certainly go on a flavor tour, thanks to its recently unveiled Arabic Dinner Buffet.

Expanding gastronomic possibilities in the Rizal area

Every Saturday, from 6m to 9pm, you can eat your fill of flavorful and nutritious viands that boast of having Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian origins, as well as free-flowing iced tea, all for just Php980++.

This exciting culinary curation is the brainchild of Timberland Highlands Resort’s new Executive Chef, Ranuka Hettiarachchi, who sought to include healthy Mediterranean dishes in Ridge Cafe’s buffet, as well as providing guests with vegan and vegetarian diets with suitable options.

Ridge Cafe - Timberland Highlands Buffet — A preview to the Arabic Dinner

Also, given that restaurants offering Arabic food are not that common in the Rizal area, local residents now have a new convenient destination if they want to expand their food horizons.

Representing exotic flavors from the Mediterranean and Arabic regions

Ridge Cafe’s Arabic Dinner Buffet presents travel-hungry foodies with the opportunity to enjoy signature dishes of regions such as Greece, the Middle East, Egypt and South Asia, all cohesively curated and mouthwateringly presented in their respective stations.

Carnivores will be (quite understandably!) drawn to the carving station where beautifully roasted beef striploin and leg of lamb take pride of place, accompanied by roasted veggies and a variety of sauces to choose from.

Those seeking healthier fare can always go to the cold section and check out the fresh salads comprised of crisp greens and veggies as well as filling proteins.

Then diners can hop from station to station to sample distinct tastes from various countries in a virtual food trip across the Mediterranean, Gulf and Indian subcontinent with these flavorful offerings:

Dessert lovers can also look forward to sampling the popular desserts from these regions as well as their favorite sweets in the dessert station.

While you can always take this journey by yourself, it’s best to experience it with family and friends!

Ridge Cafe also offers other buffet meals including:

Top of the Morning Buffet: intercontinental breakfast menu and classic Pinoy almusal favorites at Php650 net per person (weekends from 7am to 10am)
Filipino Buffet: favorite Filipino dishes with free-flowing iced tea at Php980+ per person (lunch from 11.30am to .30pm | dinner from 6pm to 9pm)

To reserve a table, email timberlandfbm@timberlandresort.com or message 0999-889-2659 | 0995-840-3206 | 8891-8288 local 1030 and 1032.

Ridge Cafe is located at Timberland Highlands Resort, inside Timberland Heights, Barangay Guitnang Bayan II, San Mateo, Rizal 1850 Philippines.

Book your room via Klook today to enjoy great savings!

To know more about Timberland Highlands Resorts latest updates and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous posts about Timberland Highlands Resort:

Go on a virtual food trip with Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia

While I do enjoy traveling to new places here in the country and abroad, what I really look forward to are the new and exciting dishes I get to try.

I do travel through food and whenever possible, I include my family, especially my kids, in the experience. For me, delving into local cuisines is one of the best way to get to know a foreign culture. It paints a picture of the area’s agricultural scene as well as tells the story of its history, food traditions, values and influences.

However, traveling can be quite costly, time-consuming, and during a time a worldwide pandemic, well nigh impossible.

The solution? Going on a virtual food trip at home.

We might not have the means to always be ordering food from various restaurants to be able to go on our virtual food trip, but we can try to whip up exotic dishes ourselves for the fam to enjoy.

If you find cooking foreign cuisines quite intimidating, brush your fears aside. We now have a set of handy kitchen aids that will help us in achieving our lofty culinary goals.

Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia

These new additions to Del Monte’s line of mixes and sauces are set to make cooking exotic dishes so much easier not just for kitchen newbies, but also for more experienced cooks who may not have the time to study unfamiliar recipes.

Perfectly seasoned and blended to approximate the authentic taste of Asian dishes but still appeal to the Pinoy palate, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Flavors of Asia packs are made with real ingredients, bringing out real deliciousness in each dish with every bite.

By following the recipes in the packaging like I did, anybody can whip up real sarap Asian dishes at home, while saving on time and effort in securing and preparing various ingredients.

Get ready for your culinary adventure with these!

Teriyaki Marinade 80ml

Teriyaki is a cooking style used in Japanese cuisine wherein food are grilled or boiled with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin and sugar.

Made with real ginger and soy sauce, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Teriyaki Marinade brings out the signature sweet and savory flavors of a Japanese-style Teriyaki dish!

Chicken Teriyaki

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
1 80ml sachet of Del Monte Quick n Easy Teriyaki Marinade
1/4 cup spring onions sliced thinly
1/2 tbsp sesame seeds

Procedure:

Marinate the chicken in Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Teriyaki Marinade for at least 30 minutes.
Place the marinated chicken into skewers
Pan-grill the chicken while basting with the marinade.
Garnish with spring onions and sesame seeds before serving.

This recipe makes 6 servings.

Green Curry Mix 30g

Sweet green curry – also known as kaeng khiao wan – derives its name from the creamy mild green color of the dish brought about by the combination of green chillies and coconut milk.

Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Green Curry Mix contains turmeric, ginger and other spices which brings that fresh taste of Thai-style sweet green curry dish.

Green Curry with Chicken

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
1 30g pack of Del Monte Quick n Easy Green Curry Mix
2 tbsp oil
1 400ml can coconut milk
1 small eggplant, sliced
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 bunch Thai basil leaves

Procedure:

Heat oil and Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Green Curry Mix in a saucepan until fragrant.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add in chicken and simmer in a covered saucepan for 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add eggplant and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add red bell pepper and basil. Simmer for another minute.
Serve and enjoy!

This recipe makes six servings.

Red Curry Mix 40g

Curry originated in the Indian subcontinent with its name coming from the Tamil word kari which refers to a sauce or soup eaten with rice. While Indian cuisine is highly diverse, it is also highly influential: India’s spice trade with Europe sparked the Age of Discovery. Indian cuisine’s influence is present in the food cultures of Britain, the Middle East, Southern and East Africa, Southeast Asia, North America and the Pacific Islands.

Made with real paprika, cayenne and other spices, Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Red Curry brings out the spice and richness of Indian-style curry dishes!

Red Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo chicken breast, filleted and cut into thin slices
2 tbsp oil
1 35g pack of Del Monte Quick n Easy Red Curry Mix
1 400ml can coconut milk
1 bunch French beans
1 red bell pepper cut into strips
1/2 cup cilantro

Procedure:

Heat oil and Del Monte Quick ‘n Easy Red Curry Mix in a saucepan until fragrant.
Stir in coconut milk and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add in chicken and simmer in a covered saucepan for 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add French beans and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add red bell pepper and cilantro. Simmer for another minute.
Serve and enjoy!

So if you feel like broadening your culinary horizons, stock up on Del Monte Flavors Asia on Lazada.

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