Gluttons and Epicures Fusion Party

May 20 my birthday! A good reason to party! Since my birhtday fell on a Monday, I'm planning a weekend party on Saturday 25 May 2013. I designed an invitation of the party and here it is



The venue

I have a spacious garden which can accommodate maximum 8 people for a party. I would love to host an early evening party with the Fusion Gourmet Menu. I would decorate my garden venue like this. I have been thinking of wooden seating and tables with lights floating from the trees above! It would be a dreamy fairy tale set-up


The music on the background will be some smooth non-distracting jazz

Food:

Appetizers

Roasted Corn served with Hot Mango Chutney from the Kitchens of India. Roasted corn is so simple, yet delicious. When we add herbs and spices to the ear of corn before grilling it. It tastes heavenly



Lamb Shami kebabs served it with Mint-Coriander Chutney. This is a popular Iranian and Indian variety of kebab. It is also found in Pakistani cuisine. This is a small patty of minced lamb meat, with ground chickpeas, egg to hold it together, and spices. Shami kebabs are a popular snack throughout Iran and in India, particularly the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Main course

For vegetarians : Parathas , Paneer Darbari from the Kitchens of India, Vegetable Biryani made using the mix from the Kitchens of India.





For non – vegetarians : Parathas, Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani and Mutton Kolhapuri made using the mix from the Kitchens of India.





Paneer is all time favorite for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Kids to elders, everyone likes it. Paneer Darbari is a very rich and a delightful dish! This makes an excellent accompaniment for Indian breads specially parathas.
Making briyani is an art! Be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is the most wanted main course item in marriages and parties. For non-vegetatians Hyderabadi chicken biryani is a gastronomical delight. Mutton Kolhapuri is a mouthwatering spicy dish. This recipe serves excellent with chapattis, parathas, idly, dosa etc

Salad
The Greek style healthy and yummy potato yogurt salad


Dessert

Jodhpuri Moong Dal Halwa again from the Kitchens of India and seasonal fresh fruits. Moong Dal Halwa is a delicacy from the state of Rajasthan in India. It is rich, creamy and pudding-like dessert madee with split yellow moong dal. This is a popular and delicious dessert during the winter months





Drink:

Ginger ale and water



After the dinner we would have a jamming & karaoke session

This post was written for the 'My Gourmet Party' contest at Indiblogger in association with Kitchens of India

Eating chicken biriyani alone

Hey ladies have you ever tried eating along in a restaurant? in Chennai?
Well I don’t see ladies eating alone in Chennai, but that was the adventure for the day. I have to eat alone. I have to order my favorite food and eat the spread slowly relishing the food.
Yeah and I did eat alone…..and it was a real weird experience. I had to go the gas station before I drove to the restaurant. I was driving out of the apartment gate, there was this mortar cycle guy who was almost going to hit my car. He started yelling at me on the top of his voice. I ignored him but he wouldn't stop. I saw a cop and I pulled over my car. On seeing the cop that guy fled. Then I explained the story to the cop. The cop was very nice to me. He asked me if I had noted down the guys motorcycle number. I said "no”. He said don’t worry go, next time if something like this happens note down the number

Then I went to the gas station. There was a long queue ...I waited for 10 mins or so. 

I had decided to go to the food court opposite my office! I parked my car in the office parking and walked to the food court. I was hesitant, I felt everyone was watching me. For a moment, I thought of a to-go. But I gathered all the courage and ordered food and looked for an empty table. I found one in the corner near a pillar. I went and sat there. My favorite chicken biriyani, hard boiled egg, onion cucumber salad, and some brown curry from the Hyderbadi Biriyani counter!

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I looked around to see who was looking at me. I could see that few guys and girls were looking at me and as soon as I saw them they turned their heads pretending as though they were looking elsewhere! I drank little water as my throat was going dry! Then I looked around again. This time I wanted to see how many people are sitting alone and eating. There were couples, group of guys, group of girls, few guys were sitting alone far away, families, but there were no girls seated alone.

I looked at my plate and said now I have to eat this all alone sitting here. I took my mobile out, opened the galleries folder, there he is, the guy who is the reason for this dare! I looked at his face, his smile, his eyes... he must be peacefully sleeping for he lives in the other side of the globe!
I zoomed into his face. The first time the snake and the hawk didn’t attract me much. He has this picture with a hawk on his shoulder and another picture with a snake around his neck. Whenever I open this picture to look at his face, the snake and the hawk take away my attention. His smile, I just thought if he was sitting here opposite to me, he will be looking at me and smiling like this...His face has this geometric shape like the ones the models have
Looking at his face, I didn’t know how I ate, I had consumed half of the food. When I started looking at him, little did I remember that I was sitting and eating all alone! This white European-American guy has every time been so amusing, that I forget myself. He has his ways on the phone or with his mails.
I ate a little more quickly, left a little food in the plate...and walked out of the food court....

Mission accomplished .....sigh sigh

Sangeeta called and I told her that today's adventure "Eating alone in a restaurant"
She asked me "You never did that" I replied "No"
She was surprised, she said “Girl you are kidding!”
I replied "No girl, I am not"
She started laughing, and I started laughing

psst: for people who don't know what a Hyderabadi chicken biriyani looks like