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Showing posts with the label umami

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The Role of Umami: The Fifth Taste in Indian and Global Cuisines

on September 23, 2024

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Restaurant Review - Vandanam (South Bopal, Ahmedabad)

It was in my last kitty when I had a chance to visit this newly opened eating joint. The last-minute change of venue took our kitty group in front of this newly opened restaurant. In the last few years, South Bopal has seen many outlets serving South Indian cuisines. Vandanam is the latest addition to this ever-increasing eateries. My first impression was a feeling of positivity. Seating was okay, not crumpled. The decor is simplistic and minimalistic. It is a buffet restaurant with 20+ dishes on the offering. You will find popular dishes like dosa, idli, vada, sambhar, and rasam along with Malabar paranthas and accompaniments like coconut chutney etc. The welcome drink was refreshing. The dessert is Kesari, a permanent fixture in all South Indian cuisine restaurants. And all this for a price of 299 per head. Isn't it worth trying? As the number of dishes is small, I could taste almost all. And I loved this approach of fewer dishes and less confusion . This resulted in eff...

Gujarati Thali @ Iscon Thaal - Review Post

When I relocated to Ahmedabad from the Delhi-NCR region over two decades ago, I found respite in the city's milder summers. Unlike the relentless heat of North India, where April through June offers no reprieve from the scorching temperatures even at dawn or dusk, Ahmedabad's mornings and evenings were once an oasis of coolness. However, over the years, the tendrils of climate change have also insidiously tightened their grip on this city. The early morning hours are still cool, duration is reduced, blending into an oppressive daytime heat even from 9 AM, and the evenings, which used to bring a soothing breeze, are often stifling. The increasing intensity and duration of heatwaves, driven by global climate change, have not only made summers harsher but also strained the city's resources and tested the resilience of its inhabitants. The transformation is a stark reminder of the broader environmental crisis, reflecting how even the most familiar of climates can become hostile...

Chana-Kulcha Love: A Delicious Roadside Encounter

If you’re a fan of street food like me, you know the magic of stumbling upon that perfect little stall where the food is not just tasty but served with love. Recently, I had a delightful experience that reminded me why street food holds a special place in my heart—and my stomach! After a long day of shopping with a friend, we were hungry, tired, and craving something delicious yet comforting. Enter a modest roadside vendor selling chana-kulcha, the ultimate street snack. What set this little stall apart wasn’t just the food, but the warmth of the vendor lady and her husband, who were running the show like a well-rehearsed duet. But here’s the twist: we were too exhausted to eat standing, especially after all that walking. Noticing our fatigue, we asked if there was any place to sit, perhaps in the shade. To our surprise, the vendor lady immediately rolled out a mat on the sidebar, creating a cosy little sitting spot for us. The gesture was so simple, yet so thoughtful, that it made the...

The Science of Flavour: How Chemistry Shapes Our Culinary Experiences

When we think about flavour, we often focus on taste—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami*. However, the experience of flavour is far more complex, involving not just our taste buds but also our sense of smell, sight, touch, and even sound. At the heart of this intricate experience is chemistry. Understanding how chemical reactions and interactions influence flavour can transform our culinary adventures, making us better cooks and more appreciative eaters. Let's delve into the fascinating science of flavour and uncover how chemistry shapes our culinary experiences. The Role of Molecules in Flavour 1. Aroma Compounds: Aroma is a crucial component of flavour. When we eat, volatile molecules are released from food, travel through our nasal passages, and bind to olfactory receptors. These receptors send signals to our brain, which interprets them as specific smells. Hundreds of different aroma compounds contribute to the unique scent of each food. For example, the distinctive aroma of...