Valentine's Day at Yauatcha

The season of love has permeated in to our sensibilities.The gaiety of love, combined with the ecstasy of great food make for a day to cherish forever. However, the trials and turmoil of deciding where to dine can be too much of a hassle on a day that was meant to celebrate love and not scroll through Zomato for hours. If you have been struggling to find a restaurant that has an amazing fine dining experience amidst classy ambience, warm hospitality and good service, then I’ve the perfect destination for you!

Celebrate love this year, with a range of indulgent Cantonese delicacies from London's favourite Michelin starred dimsum tea house. Scroll down to get a sneak peek into the exotic dishes and scrumptious desserts that awaits you at Yauatcha...

 

Mandarin Dumpling

 

Vegetable Chive Dumpling

 

Spicy Har Gau

Chicken and Coriander Dumpling

4 delectable options of moist and steamed dumplings with an array of nummy fillings. Although made using non-traditional ingredients, they still taste very similar to their original counterparts. Pop in one whole dim sum at a single go, to enjoy the burst of flavors in your mouth. Whatever you order, be rest assured that your taste buds will rejoice in joy. For a balanced light meal for two, you could also try-

 Stir Fried Udon Noodles

 

Kung Pao Chicken

And follow it up with-

 

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse (I can vouch for this one)

& the pinnacle of perfection

Raspberry Delice

The after taste of it will keep you craving for more!

Available Date: February 14, 2017 I Time: 12 noon to 11pm I Price: Rs 3600 all-inclusive per couple

Little Tip: Try to grab a seat by the window! The stunning view from the restaurant will take you to a dreamy world far away from the buzzy atmosphere you are so used to. Perfect ambience to whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears. <3

Chicken Karaage: Japanese Fried Chicken Recipe

Fried chicken, whether it’s Southern, Japanese, or Korean, is one of my favourite foods of all time. Karaage, also known as Tatsutaage, is the Japanese version of fried chicken. Pronounced kah-rah-ah-geh, the name literally means “Tang fried” (Tang as in the Chinese dynasty). It’s one of those dishes that strike the perfect balance between flavor, texture and richness. 

Ingredients:

    ·         1 LB Boneless, skin on chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch cubes

    ·         2 Tablespoons soy sauce

    ·         1 Teaspoon sake

    ·         1 Teaspoon sugar

    ·         1 Tablespoon minced ginger

    ·         2 clove garlic, minced

    ·         ½ cup potato starch

    ·         High smoke point oil for deep frying

Method:

    1.      Mix together the chicken thighs, soy sauce, sake, sugar, ginger, and garlic in a bowl and let marinate for 30 minutes to an hour 1 hour at room temperature, in a slightly cool spot. Letting the chicken rest at room temp means that the chicken won’t drop the temperature of the oil, which means that it’ll cook up crispier. Also, it’ll cook faster than if you cook it cold from the fridge.

    2.      Prepare a wire cooling rack over a paper towel lined rimmed baking sheet. Heat up 1 1/2 inches of oil in a deep heavy bottomed pot until it reaches 325°F.

    3.      Place the potato starch in a bowl and, working in batches, coat several pieces of chicken, shaking off the excess potato starch. Use a pair of tongs to gently add the chicken to the hot oil. Fry until lightly golden, about 1 1/2 minutes.

    4.      Remove from the oil and let rest on your prepared wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken until all of it has been fried once.

    5.      Turn the heat up to 350°F and fry the chicken a second time around until deeply golden and crispy, another 1-2 minutes. Drain on the wire rack and enjoy hot with soya sauce, limes, and coriander.

5 Easy One Pot Meals

These classic one-pot meals are great any time of year, but their soul-warming heartiness makes them especially comforting during the colder months. From Baked Macaroni and Cheese and Turkey Pot Pie to Classic Beef Stew and Shepherd's Pie, these casseroles and stews are an easy dinnertime solution.

1. Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Quite possibly the ultimate comfort food, nothing can really top a good bowl of a hearty macaroni and cheese, and this classic cheddary option will leave everyone at the table wanting more. If you'd like to mix things up a little bit, try some other shredded cheese for this dish, such as Gouda or smoked Gouda, or for those who love their foods on the spicy side, Pepper Jack.

 

2. Classic Beef Stew

This classic beef stew recipe has all you expect in beef stew: tender chunks of beef, carrots, and potato. The best part about this stew is that once you put it together, it requires no attention, not even stirring. And once it’s simmered, the meat is fork-tender and the sauce and vegetables are super flavorful. For a great meal, serve it with some buttered egg noodles.

3. Shepherd’s Pie with Mashed Potato Topping

With mutton Keema, sauteed vegetables, and creamy mashed potatoes, this homey casserole is soul-warming and nourishing. It's the perfect one-pot meal for a chilly night. You can also bake the entire mixture in individual 6 to 8-ounce ramekins. Assemble up to a day ahead, cover, refrigerate, and bake just before serving.

4. Easy Lemon Veal Stew

Here's an easy veal stew that's incredibly tender and delicious. It's a wonderful stew for a family dinner or to serve to company. Fresh lemon juice and zest impart a bright lively flavor to the dish. Serve it with buttered egg noodles, brown or white rice.

5. Chicken Pot Pie

Who doesn’t like chicken, carrots and peas in a creamy sauce and topped with a flaky crust? This version will not let you down, and it's super-easy to make. For an extra kick, add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes to the filling.

Do try these recipes and leave your views in the comment section! :) 

Recipe of chocolate diyas!

Diyas are very symbolic during the festival of lights. It is lit in households celebrating Diwali to shed light on darkness. Have you ever thought what an amazing experience to make edible diyas?! There are so simple to prepare and gives a grand look to the festival of Diyas!

INGREDIENTS

Recipe Ingredients:

1 cup Coconut powder

 1 cup Khoya

3 tbsp Cocoa powder

RECIPE:

   1.      Cook 1 cup khoya in a heavy bottomed pan for 2-3 minutes till light pink in colour.

   2.      Add the coconut powder, sugar and mix well.

   3.      Remove from fire and mix the cocoa powder.

   4.      Make a smooth dough. (you can add a few tsps. milk if the dough is too dry and a few tsps. Coconut powder if too wet).

   5.      Shape the cocoa mixture into diyas. 

   6.      Fill as desired.

   7.      Refrigerate if necessary till hard. But bring them to room temperature before serving!

Have a food rich celebration! :) 

5 foods that were the happiest accidents!

1.      Chocolate Chip Cookies: Wakefield found she had ran out of baking chocolate one day, so she smashed up a bar of semisweet chocolate and added it to her batter. What resulted was a cookie studded with chunks of chocolate.

 

2.      Sandwich: Some believe Montagu couldn't leave a particularly intense gambling game, so he requested that meat be brought to him between two pieces of bread. Montagu's refusal resulted in one of the greatest culinary advances in history.

 

3.      Tarte Tatin: The story of tarte tatin was concocted in the 1880s, in a hotel owned by two sisters, Stéphanie and Caroline Tatin. A tired Stéphanie was making an apple tart but overcooked the apples, so she tried to rescue it by putting the pastry base on top.

 

4.      Nachos: In1943, unable to track down the chef and faced with ten hungry women, Anaya covered a plate of tostadas with grated cheese, passed it through a salamander, and topped the whole thing off with jalapeños. One of the women dubbed the dish “Nacho’s especiale”, which was later shortened to just “nachos”.

5.      Crepe Suzette: In1895, Charpentier, a waiter at a café Monte Carlo was preparing dessert for the Prince of Wales, which accidentally caught fire. What followed was an amazing mix of flavors and became one of the most popular crepe dishes of all time.

So, next time you're cooking and accidentally screw up the recipe, embrace the failure and see where it takes you. If you read through these examples of accidental tastiness, you'll see that history is on your side.

Holy cow!

With all the controversies revolving around the simple act of eating beef, I thought why not blog about the eateries that offers the best beef dishes in Kolkata!

  

  1.       Terlingua Buffalo Chili at Chili’s: Inspired by the home of original chili cook-off in Terlingua, this recipe is Chili’s signature dish with tender chunks of buffalo with slow-cooked onions and chilies. 

  2.      Stir fried beef tenderloin in black pepper sauce at Yauatcha: The beef is unbelievably succulent and the flavor is mesmerizing. This dish is filling yet not uncomfortably heavy. From the interiors, to service and most importantly the food is simply a delight at Yauatcha.

  3.       Beef Nachos at Irish House: These Crispy Corn Tortilas are smothered with baked pinto beans, Mexican cheese, Jalapeno, fresh pepper & shredded beef; and served with Guacamole, Sour Cream & Fresh tomato Salsa! The ambiance is absolutely perfect to catch up with your friends. The decor is funky with appropriate blend of music and lightings. 

  4.       Beef Lasagne at Rubi’s Grill: Oozing with cheese and flavor, the beef lasagna is exceptional. Rubi’s grill is undoubtedly one of the most underrated places in Kolkata with prompt service and a pleasing ambience. 

  5.       Irish Beef Steak at Mocambo: Lip-smacking, delicious, foodgasmic and you can add all other adjectives that you think could fit the dish. For us Kolkatans- who have grown up on Mocambo, Peter Cat and Bar-B-Q, this is still the place to go to when looking for great food. 

Hindu or not, if you’re a meat lover like me, don’t forget to try these dishes! :)

5 wonderful combination of ice creams to indulge yourself!!

My love for ice cream emerged at an early age - and has never left! I am perplexed by the endless supply of constantly growing flavor options. Ice cream is the perfect buffer, because you can do things in a somewhat lighthearted way. Plus, people have an emotional response to ice cream; it's more than just food. So here is a list of wonderful combinations of ice creams,that will never fail to make you happy!

1.      Chocolate Avalance at Bon Appetite:  The chocolate avalanche is the most amazing yet sinful dessert of all times. A bowl of hot brownie, with chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and chocolate sticks… Heaven in a bowl! It is very heavy though, and unless you're famished, I suggest you share it with another person.

2.      Tutti Fruity at Scoop: A combination of brightly coloured small cubical pieces of fruits, nuts, two large scoops of vanilla ice cream and one scoop of strawberry ice cream, Tutti Fruity is bound to tingle your taste buds with its tangy twist!

3.      Fresh Alphanso Sundae at Mama Mia: Available only from April to June, Alphanso Sundae is a refreshing creation made with fresh Alphanso Sorbetto and French Vanilla, chunks of fresh Alphanso mango, mango syrup and whipped cream. Now you know where to go on a hot summer day!

  

 4.      Peach Melba at Flury’s:  A delightful fusion of Vanilla ice cream, poached peach, strawberry sauce and whipped cream, Peach Melba at Flury’s will leave you moaning for more.

5.      Baked Alaska at Magnolia: The dish is made of ice cream placed in a pie dish lined with slices of sponge cake and topped with meringue and cream. The entire dessert is then placed in an extremely hot oven for a brief time, long enough to firm the meringue. Syrup is poured over the top and the ball set alight before serving. Okay enough said! Next time when you’re in Park Street, maybe you should try it yourself!