Little Bee!

 

Namaste and Sat Sri Akal to my Incredible !ndia!

One of the biggest trips one would want to take is to a famous country in the south of Asia. It's well known shape borders the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The famous Taj Mahal and Golden Temple are just starters for the touristic attractions of this country and famous gulab jamun and butter chicken adds to the great atmosphere of fun and pleasure. From the stretch of the Himalayas to the tip of country, this country welcomes many types of languages and ethnicities. This magnificent country is none other than India!

It really is my Pride!

Did you know that? Well now you know!

Here are some interesting facts about India you might not have known before:

• The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC.
• India never invaded any country in her last 100000 years of history
• India was one of the richest countries till the time of British rule in the early 17th Century
• The value of "pi" and the Pythagorean Theorem was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana
• Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world
• Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
• Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.  
• Chess was invented in India.
• Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus are studies, which originated in India.
• The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C.
• India is the largest democracy in the world, the 7^th largest Country in the world, and one of the most ancient civilizations.
• The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
• India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
• The largest employer in India is the Indian Railways, employing over a million people.
• It is the second most populous counrty in the world.   

http://india.gov.in/myindia/facts.php
http://www.yourguidetoindia.com/content/view/20/32/

  

Me & India!

In November 2005, I got my first chance to visit India. It was AMAZING and it turned out to be one of my favourite trips ever. From my trip to the Taj Mahal, to the Golden Temple and to my grandmother’s house, my voyage to India inspired me and has continued to inspire me to learn more and more about the country. The food, culture, history and tourism aspects have attracted me like a magnet to the country. So to share my understanding about my country, I have decided to create this bIog for all you people who haven’t visited India yet. I hope this blog gives you a massive understanding about my country, India.

My Grandmother! An Exclusive Human Interest story!

As a lady living in a little village named Bahadarpur, in Punjab, India, my grandmother would always have to cook food in season. Her and my grandfather owned a farm just outside the village where they grew sugarcane, corn, and wheat and raised cows and chickens. My grandmother had to wake up every morning to milk the cows, gather the eggs and collect wheat or corn to make the meals for the day. In the morning she would make flat breads named parantha and serve it with achar, a preserved pickle. For lunch or dinner, she would make sarso ka saag(pureed spinach dish), paneer(cottage cheese), sabzi(vegetable mix dish)  and much more. She had a big family of four kids and a husband to care for, so it wasn’t easy for her. During the day, she would make achars, churn her own ghee (clarified butter), make homemade yogurt and store dry food away for the days to come. During her years in India, she had to use up all her perishable items such as milk and yogurt since the weather was quite hot and she did not own a fridge. So practically every dish she made contained a perishable ingredient in it.  My grandmother was well known for her achars as well. She would always take fruit such as mangos, lemons and limes and add chillies, spices and brine to them. Then she would store them in a cool dark place in her house in order to preserve them. On the other hand, cooking was a daily duty and passion for my grandmother. She had to use all the ingredients she could get that were local since no imported items were delivered to her village. Throughout the twelve months of the year she had to use seasonal vegetables. This was sometimes hard for her if there was really hot weather or really rainy weather because most of the vegetables would have died. But in the end she managed to pull through due to her supply of food she had stored away. My grandmother was an amazing person who made some of the best food in the entire world. She followed great cooking rules such as eating in season and eating locally. My grandmother is a person whom I admire everyday for the food she has made, the mentality she has kept about local and seasonal cooking, and for her passion about food.

What time is it Mr. Food? It is time for a restaurant review!



My Visit to The Keg!

On Saturday, June, 4, 2011 from approximately 8 o’clock to 10 o’clock in the evening I attended a restaurant on 376 Hunt Club Road in Ottawa to have dinner with my family. The name of the restaurant was called The Keg.

Upon my arrival, the staff welcomed us with warm arms and took us to the bar to have a couple of drinks while our table was being prepared. During my sit at the bar, I helped myself to a non alcoholic Raspberry Ice Lemonade cocktail. The lemonade included lemon, raspberries, ice, and fizzy water. It was honestly one of the best lemonades I had ever tasted. After a couple of minutes, our table was prepared and my family and I were escorted to our booth for dinner.

 For dinner I had Creole Chicken. It was a full grilled chicken breast seasoned with spiced diced tomatoes and a light sauce, then topped with cooked shrimps and scallops which were sautéed in Creole seasonings. As I side dish I ordered French fries. The dish was very simple and nice. One aspect I liked was: when the food came, the server, Heather asked us if we wanted pepper on our food, and if we did, she would season our food with pepper for us instead of us doing it ourselves.

 The atmosphere was remarkable and very cozy. It felt just like home. The tables and booths were placed at a perfect distance from other tables to prevent a clustered feeling. The lights in the restaurant were dim and created a relaxed atmosphere and the chairs were so soft and well cushioned as well. The pictures hung up on the walls and the plants made the restaurant look so nice and beautiful.  I loved the way the restaurant was setup. It gave such an inviting welcome to the customers. The bar was nicely done with the stone wall and the wall mounted flat screen televisions. Although I have got to admit, the dining room must have been my favourite part.  It was not cramped up and it had a delicate feel. I really liked the fact that the families surrounding us were not to close that they could hear my conversations. One aspect I did not like was the price of the food. It was just a tad too expensive. For example, the cocktail I ordered was around nine to ten dollars for a glass. I found that a bit ridiculous for a small to medium sized beverage.

The waitress, who served my family and me, was named Heather. She is an employee who was hired around two months ago. Her service towards us was incredible. She was very sweet, a bit timid but overall very friendly and inviting. She was well trained towards the menu in general but if she was stuck on a question she would take some time to find out the answers for us. This occurred when I was asking her some questions about the way the food was cooked. When she didn’t know the answer, she went to the kitchen and brought out a cook to talk to me about it. Otherwise, she knew the answers to the other questions I had.  For example, I asked her where the food comes from and if the food used is in season and she claimed that the food comes fresh from their farms every day, the food cooked is always in season such as asparagus, yellow beans and green beans and preciously mushrooms, and the steaks, sirloins and in general beef products come from grain feed cattle. She and the cook who visited me also said that the menu changes according to the food in season to promote seasonality.

Improvement wise, I think that the chicken needed to be cooked properly. This is because the outer part of my chicken breast was burnt and the inner part was perfect. In my opinion, I would have cut of the burnt parts of the breast or I would have cooked a breast that is evenly sized. In terms of atmosphere, I felt that the waiter was having trouble hearing what my family had to say sometimes. So I would keep the atmosphere less busier in order to hear what the customers have to say. Finally, I think that the waitress, Heather should become more familiar with the menu in order to prevent herself from asking other waiters and waitresses questions.

You can visit the menu for The Keg at:
http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/en/menus/dinner-menu/dinner-starters-soup/

History behind Indian Food!

Indian cuisine is actually one of most the complex cooking styles in the world. Because of its complexity but magnificence, Indian cooking acts as an art. The cooking is extremely difficult to master in a short period of time. Many Indians, preferably women started making Indian food before they are even ten years old. Now, 20 to 40 years later they can easily prepare the food easily without a recipe or a cookbook. Indian cooking is also a type of ethical food where one does not have to use a cookbook to make a dish. For hundreds of years, when women used to cook, clean and take care of their families while their husbands were at work, they had no time to keep on following recipes through a cookbook. Therefore they memorized what their moms taught them or what they had learned from others. Then they would teach their children, most likely their daughters what they had learnt. This practice of cooking was passed down from generation to generation and is the reason why no Indian dish has the same taste as another.

Indian mom making Indian food without a cookbook!

Top 10 Indian Restaurants in Ottawa!

The Haveli Restaurant.

1. Rangoli: The restaurant is well known for its delicious Indian food which is sold at an affordable price. The restaurant features an enormous variety of Indian sweets as well. Located at 2491 St Joseph Boulevard.
2. Host India: The restaurant uses the freshest ingredients and combines the elegance of food with a great price. Located at 622 Montreal Road.
3. Haveli: This restaurant creates luxurious food to compliment the dishes eaten by royalty in India.Located at 39 Clarence Street.
4. Pearl of India: The high end restaurant serves dishes that the emperors and kings used to eat in India hundreds of years ago.Located at 2181 St. Joseph Boulevard.
5. Coconut Lagoon:This restaurant is special for its authentic South Indian food. Vegan and vegetarian food is included in the menu as well. It is located at 853 St.Laurent Boulevard.
6. Little India Cafe:This restaurant includes a huge variety of Indian food that includes non vegetarian and vegetarian meals. Specializes in mystic South and authentic North Indian food. Located at 66 Wylie Avenue.
7. Light of India: Specializes in the traditional dishes of northeastern India. Located at 730 Bank Street.
8. Karara: The Indian Takeout: Located on 4100 Strandherd Drive, Karara is known for its great butter chicken and quick but tasty Indian meals.
9. East India Company Restaurant: This restaurant is well known for its five star rating. Its high quality food and atmosphere makes the visit worth it. It is located at 210 Somerset Street West.
10. Taj Indian Cuisine: Specializes in North Indian food, mainly including Mughlai food. Located at 3009 Carling Avenue.

http://www.eastindiaco.com/index.htm
http://www.coconutlagoon.ca/
http://www.hostindia.ca/  http://www.urbanspoon.com/f/250/26515/Ottawa/Indian-Restaurants
http://www.restaurantica.com/on/ottawa/c-indian/
http://www.tajindiancuisine.com/
http://www.pardesi.org/littleindianew/
http://www.lightofindia.ca/
http://pearlofindia.ca/
http://www.haveli.com/
http://www.restaurantthing.com/ca/on/ottawa/listing.php?ID=1001

Top 10 Indian Restaurants in India!



The Dakshin Restaurant.

1. Dakshin: The best South Indian restaurant in India which serves curries, appams, and delicious seafood.
2. Sagar Ratna: A restaurant which serves vegetarian, Udupi style south Indian snacks such as dosas, idlis, rasams, etc. 
3. Swagath: A great place in Mumbai where people can taste their famous Konkani seafood.
4. Dumpukht: The restaurant serves excellent food such as kormas and biryani. Located in New Dehli.
5. Karim's: Serves traditional Indian food from the olden Indian aged times. Famous for Muglai food (creamy food). Located in New Delhi.
6. Kudla: A restaurant famous for their Mangolore- style seafood. Located in Bangalore.
7. Chor Bizzare: Convenient place in New Dehli to entertain. The restaurants sells Indian food at a value-for-money price. Chor Bizzare is very famous for their Kashmiri spread as well.
8. Aap Ki Pasand: A local restaurant in New Delhi that became very famous for their quality Indian food.
9. Fire: One of the first restaurants in New Dehli that attempted to make contemporary Indian food such as the restaurants you usually find in London, England.
10. Kwality: A Raj- era restaurant in Delhi which specializes in Punjabi food and specialities such as vegetable au gratin.  

 http://indiafoodandtravelguide.com/top-10-indian-restaurants-in-india/

A Punjabi Specialty - Makhi de Roti and Sarso ka Saag!

The recipe provided below is a very popular Punjabi dish that is derived from the state of Punjab in north west India. Many villagers and even urban residents, who live in India and around the world absolutely adore this food for breakfast, lunch and maybe even dinner. The dish is made up of two components. The first one is called Sarso ka Saag. It is a simple, hot dish that is made by boiled and pureed spinach and spices such as cumin. The second component is Makhi di Roti. It is a type of flat bread made from maize, cilantro and water and practically goes with any vegetarian Punjabi dish, especially Sarso ka Saag. Enjoy!

For the Sarson  ka Saag

 
Ingredients:

1 big bunch Sarson leaves (mustard leaves)

1 bunch Spinach leaves
½ bunch Bathua leaves (Chenopodium album) (optional)
2 onions chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
4-5 garlic pods finely chopped
½ inch ginger piece crushed
½ tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp Makki flour (Cornmeal)
Salt to taste
1tsp butter for cooking and as much as you can have for topping
1 tsp oil
2 tbsp of water
 
Method:

Roughly chop the cleaned, washed leaves of Sarson, Spinach (don’t remove spinach stalks) and Bathua.

Pressure cook for ½ hour. Cool and coarsely puree in a food processor. In a pan heat 1 tsp butter and oil.
Add cumin seeds, chopped garlic, crushed ginger and onion.
Sauté till onions become translucent.
Add chopped tomatoes and cook till they become tender.
Add the Sarson puree and cook for almost 15 minutes.
Add water if required.
Add salt. Dilute the Makki Flour in 2 tablespoons of water and add to the saag.
Cook for a few minutes.
Serve piping hot with Makki Roti.

For the Makhi di Roti:

Ingredients:

3 cups Maize * (available in Indian stores by name of Makki Atta)

1-2 green chillies, sliced thinly (or as per taste)
salt to taste
Hot water to knead the dough
Few sprigs of chopped cilantro/Coriander leaves **

Method:

1. Mix the all the dry ingredients together.
2. Make a hole in the middle and pour hot boiling water to it.
3. Mix it lightly with a spatula (you don't want to burn your hand).
4. Let it sit for few minutes or until you can handle the dough. Why hot water? Well, a friend once informed me that this helps the flour to settle well and also makes it easier to flatten it without getting the edges all frazzled looking. I am not sure but I think I used about 1/2 -3/4 cup of water. Make sure you add carefully. You want thick smooth dough which is not too tight or soggy. You should be able to shape the dough into a ball without it sticking all over your palm.
5. Knead it well until smooth.
6. Divide the dough into small balls. Place it on a lightly greased zip lock bag or any plastic sheet you have on hand.
7. Flatten it slightly with your palm
8. Now place another plastic sheet on top of the flattened dough and slowly pat it down to flatten it further.
9. Flatten it to a size which fits my palm. I do that to make it easier on me to transfer this to a tawa ( a flat type of pan to cook Indian flat breads).
10. Remove the top plastic sheet. Now very slowly transfer the pancake on to your palm. Be careful since the dough can break easily at this point. That's why the one fitting in your hands will make this process easier. The plastic sheet will peel away easily since you have greased it.
11. Remove the top plastic sheet. Now very slowly transfer the pancake on to your palm. Be careful since the dough can break easily at this point. That's why the one fitting in your hands will make this process easier. The plastic sheet will peel away easily since you have greased it.
12.Turn it on the other side after about 3-4 minutes of cooking or when you see it turn a deeper shade of yellow and brown red spots.

Above is the completed and tempting dish known as Sarso ka Saag and Makhi di Roti.

http://currybazaar.blogspot.com/2007/07/makki-di-roti-and-sarson-da-saag.html
http://chefinyou.com/2010/02/makki-roti-recipe/

And now for the best part. DESSERT!

This next dish is truly amazing. Your mouth will absolutely water over this dessert. The scrumpcious dish is calld Rasmalai. It is a very popular Indian dessert which actually usually served with Sarso ka Saag and Makhi di Roti.Rasmalai is a dish which consists of dumplings made from ricotta cheese and drenched in sweetened, thickened milk. Below is the recipe for this delicious dessert dish.

Ingredients

4 Measuring cup milk for channa (2% milk)
3 measuring cup milk for Ras
4 - 4 1/2 tbsp. sugar for Ras
1 cup sugar
3 cups of water
saffron, cardamom, pista, almonds

lemon juice

Method

First keep the 3 cups of milk for ras to boil until it remains 1 3/4 cup.

Bring 4 cups of milk to boil. Now to curdle the milk add lemon juice to it stirring continuously.

Then drain it in a thin muslin cloth or handkerchief.

Hold it covered with cloth in the running water. Drain the excess water by pressing the cloth there must not be water remaining.

In a pressure cooker take 3 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar.

Take the channa out of the cloth in a dish, mash it and make around 15 small size of balls out of it

Toss that balls in the pressure cooker and bring two whistles.

In the mean time see the milk for ras may be ready.

Add the sugar for ras to it and add cardamom, pista, almond and saffron to it. Let it cool aside

As the pressure cooker is warm now open it take out the balls of channa with the spoon in a dish and let the water drain by pressing it little and let it cook.

When the milk is cool add channa balls to it.

Refrigerate it.

And it is ready to serve.

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Above is the finished Rasmalai dish ready to be eaten.

Now this is Mmm Mmm Good!

Above is an example of a heavenly Indian meal. The meal consists of Garlic Naan, Butter Chicken and Lassi.

NOW TO TOURISM!!!!!

One Little Tourism Story!

Since India is a country of great cuisine, culture and especially tourism, there ought to be some interesting places to go to, some festivals to attend, some places to stay, right? Indubitably, there is so much to do in India that there is a minuscule chance of you getting bored during your stay. Throughout the whole year, India's busy schedule as a running country is fully booked. From festivals, to shopping, to hotels and much much more, the lively country never stops and takes a break.

During one year India hosts, on average 64 festivals including eight food and drink festivals. The eight food and drink festivals include: The Tea and Tourism Festival (Tamil Nadu), the Rajgir Dance and Food Festival (Bihar), the International Mango Festival (Delhi), the Goa Food and Culture festival (Goa), Tea Festival (Assam), Teesta and Tourism Festival (Sikkim and West Bengal), the Seafood Festival (Goa) and finally the Darjeeling Tea festival (West Bengal). Out of these eight festivals, the International Mango festival is one of most recognized food festivals known around the world and in India itself. The International Mango festival is celebrated by mango lovers all around India during the month of July. The festival is three days long and showcases more than 400 species of the fruit. The highlights of the festival include a mango eating contest, mango quizzes, and sales on preserved pickles and mangos and chutneys.  The festival gives a great opportunity for farmers and exporters to advertise their mangos as well. This festival is a great place to visit to experience taste of fresh and juicy Indian mangoes.

Other than festivals, India is commonly known for the street vendor’s snacks. All around India, one of the most famous snacks sold by street vendors is called Golgappas. When walking around monuments such as the India gate or maybe just even a walk through a street, you will find these delicious Golgappas everywhere. Golgappas are hollow spheres of fried dough that are filled with potatoes and topped with various spices and tamarind sauce. So during visit to India, one must be determined to try a Golpgappas since they serve as one of the greatest specialties in India. 

Withdrawing from food, when a tourist visits in India, they must consider their accommodation. From Delhi to Agra to Mumbai, accommodation for a tourist is so important. The top five hotel accommodations for tourists include the Taj Palace and Tower in Mumbai, India, Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan, The Imperial in New Delhi, and finally the Leela Palace Kempinkski in Bangolore. So where ever you go in India, there is always a five star hotel to welcome you. From my personal experience I would definitely recommend a stay at the Lake Palace in Udaipur. It is a hotel located in the middle of the Pichola Lake that was actually converted from Maharaja Jagat Singh II’s palace. The incredible architecture and royalty experience will make you want to stay for a lifetime.

While you are India, it is worthwhile visiting some famous touristic attractions. India is country honourably known for culture, food, and history. When travelling to North India, tourist would be most delighted to see the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Lake Palace, the Qutab Minar, the Lotus Temple, the Golden Temple, the parliament of India and the India Gate. Whereas in south India, tourists would love to see the Char Minar, the Kerala backwaters, the Golconda Fort, the Mysore Palace, Bollywood and especially the beaches. These tourist attractions are wonderful places in India to experience the royalty, heritage and culture. It is definitely worth taking a trip to India to visit all these attractions offered.

India is a country who is very famous for shopping as well. There are hundreds of thousands of bazaars located all around India. The bazaars act as little markets which sell food, clothing, crafts and much more. One of India’s famous shopping bazaars is called Chandni Chowk. Located in Old Delhi, Chandi Chowk is many of the biggest markets in India. Many domestic citizens and foreign tourists visit Chandni Chowk to get their shopping needs fulfilled and to expose themselves to the art of Indian shopping. So, while in India be sure to visit Chandni Chowk since it is a great place to buy any Indian items you may need.

From the International Mango Festival to the Taj Lake Palace, India is truly a magnificent place to visit. The tourist attractions keep visitors busy and the foods bursting flavours explode when tried by tourists. If anyone goes to India and claims they are bored, they must have done something terribly wrong. India definitely deserves its title as Incredible !ndia.

http://travel.mapsofindia.com/Top-10-Travel-Destination.html

http://www.exploredelhi.com/places-to-visit/chandni-chowk.html

http://www.trip-to-india.com/highlights/southindia-highlights.html

http://www.northindiatourism.co.in/tourist-attractions/

http://www.rbstravels.com/festival_of_india.htm

http://www.festivalsofindia.in/mango/

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in India!

1.       Taj Mahal (Agra)

2.       Red Fort (Delhi)

3.       Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir)

4.       Goa Beaches (Goa)

5.       Backwaters of Kerala(Kerala)

6.       Old Delhi (Delhi)

7.       Golden Temple (Amritsar)

8.       Ajanta and Ellora Caves (Aurangabad)

9.       Darjeeling (West Bengal)

10.   Khajuraho Temple (Madhya Pradesh)

http://www.worthview.com/top-10-tourist-attractions-india/


http://travel.mapsofindia.com/Top-10-Travel-Destination.html

Incredible !ndia

Above is a poster that promotes the Indian tourism campaign known as Incredible !ndia.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://travel.13blogs.com

Tourism Facts!!!!!!

 

1. India is one of the most praised countries in Asia due to its tourist attractions.

2. In the year 2004, foreign tourists spent around 15.4 billion US dollars in total to visit India.

3. India is ranked in the top three as a country with adventure tourism destinations.

4. Compared to many worldwide countries, India is ranked at ninth place in terms of its tourism.

5. The top five countries where tourists travel to India from are: USA, UK, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Canada.

6.Top five states visited by foreign tourists include: Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

7.The Ministry of Tourism in India promotes tourism in India mainly through a campaign named Incredible India (shown above).

8.India is visited by so many tourists due to the heritage sites, cultural attractions, beaches, landmarks, the Indian civilization, Indian cuisine, health and wellness(yoga and Ayurveda) and shopping.

9. India welcomes over 5 million foreign tourists and 562 domestic tourist visits a year.

10. The Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi in 2010 boosted the tourism industry quite a bit.

Information:
http://www.nriol.com/indiantourism/about-tourism.asp
http://indiatourismonline.blogspot.com/2011/02/india-tourism-vital-facts-and-figures.html

Pictures:
http://www.atrip4india.com/indian-cities/mahabalipuram.html
http://www.easydestination.net/blog/media/1/IncredibleIndia30s.jpg

1/7 Wonders of the World!

India is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, known as the Taj Mahal.  The Taj Mahal was built  by a Moghul emperor named Shah Jahan in 1648 to honour the memory of his "favourite", yet deceased wife named Mumtaz Begum who died after the delivery of her 14th child. The monument acts as a tomb where the empress and emperor now lay to rest. The Taj Mahal is visited by 15 million Indian citizens and 3 millions foreign tourists each year.

In Essence!

India is a country filled with history, art, religion, culture and especially flavourful food. The food in India compliments the authenticity of spices and techniques used. From garam masala to tandoori masala, one never becomes exhausted from eating the pungent food. India is a great country to try something new and spicy.