Tag: feast

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Food Lite Blogs

A Feast of Culture, Cuisine, and Creativity in New Delhi

Scheduled from December 22nd to 24th at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (gate no 14), New Delhi, the festival is set to draw a diverse audience…reports Asian Lite News As the festive spirit blankets the capital, the North East Festival gears up for its 11th edition, promising a vibrant showcase of the region’s rich culture, tantalising cuisine, and artistic prowess.Scheduled from December 22nd to 24th at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (gate no 14), New Delhi, the festival is set to draw a diverse audienceThis year’s edition promises an exciting array of events that celebrate the beauty, diversity, and integrity of North East India. Among these is a lively Christmas special bazaar showcasing Northeastern crafts and stalls from Delhi’s bakeries. The festival’s culinary delights are poised to attract a massive crowd, offering authentic Northeastern cuisine.Expressing his enthusiasm, Shyamkanu Mahanta, Chief Organiser of North East Festival, said, “Delhi holds a special place in our hearts, and the city’s warmth has always been overwhelming. The North East Festival has evolved into a symbol of identity for the people of the North East. Our primary focus has been to forge marketing connections for products from the Northeastern states. With the backing of the Ministry of Tourism, we will host a tourism B2B meet, and, supported by the MSME Ministry, a B2B meet for the textile and food processing sector. These meetings will facilitate meaningful interactions with buyers.

We’ve extended invitations to well-known North East entrepreneurs from various sectors to showcase their products. Additionally, cultural performances, games, the display of our authentic food, and more will enhance the festive atmosphere. With this edition, we anticipate an even greater footfall, marking another milestone in our journey.”Besides, with a dynamic lineup featuring 300 folk artists, a Meitei martial arts showcase, a doodle art masterclass by the globally known artist Santanu Hazarika, a North East Rock Battle, the festival is set to be a cultural extravaganza. The musical spectacle will showcase a diverse lineup of artists spanning various genres, ranging from folk to rock, pop to jazz. Notable performers include the well-known Indian Nepali rock band from Sikkim, Girish and The Chronicles, Assam’s heartthrob Zubeen Garg, Bollywood playback singer and composer Papon, and Bollywood actor-singer Shruti Haasan and her alternative rock band. The evenings will be further electrified by the stellar performances of renowned DJs from the region. A poignant moment during the festival will be a tribute music performance dedicated to the late playback singer KK. Widely adored, KK’s untimely demise resonated deeply within the industry and among his fans. His band, accompanied by a selection of popular singers, will pay homage by performing some of his timeless songs.Fashion enthusiasts can look forward to designers showcasing local fabrics and designs, emphasising the rich textile heritage of the region.

The exhibition arena will host over 100 MSME entrepreneurs presenting ‘Made in North East’ products, creating a marketplace for visitors to explore and purchase authentic items. With 150 stalls, the exhibition aims to promote agri-horti products, handloom, handicrafts, and processed food. Tourism stalls will highlight popular and off-beat destinations, encouraging visitors to explore the diverse landscapes of the North East.The North East Festival goes beyond being a mere celebration; it strives to nurture cross-cultural awareness, encourage economic prosperity, and promotes unity.

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Food Lite Blogs

Festival Feast without Guilt

Festival seasons are that time of year during which our health goals tend to take a back seat. Many times, given all the culinary temptations on offer everywhere, even getting back on track after the festival season seems not just difficult but impossible.

To stay on the right track we need to maintain at least a few healthy habits during this period which can be achieved by sticking with simple, healthy recipes. Here’s where RAW recipe options for traditional festival dishes are the perfect answer and replacement which will go a long way in ensuring that one does not feel deprived during the festive season! Here are some recipes curated by Chef Joy Mathew, Wellness Chef at Prakriti Shakti.

DATE SQUARE

Ingredients:

Date Orange juice Pistachio Almond Cinnamon powder Orange zest

Method:

Soak the dates in orange juice and cinnamon powder for 2 hours.Coarsely blend the nuts in a jar and mix the soaked dates and orange zest and pulse the two times and make in to thick dough.Shape in to a square mould and serve.

ANJEER BURFI

Ingredients:

Dry fig sliced Soft dates chopped Pistachio chopped Cardamom powder Honey

Method:

In blender, add sliced fig and pulse it two to three times.Add chopped soft dates, cardamom powder and pulse the mixture again.Take out the mix and knead well with hand.Shape the mix into squares in a pan and glaze it with honey.Cut and serve in desired size and garnish with pistachio slice.

APRICOT BITES

Ingredients

Dried apricots chopped Dried grated coconut Vanilla powder Raisins chopped

Method:

Add all ingredients in the food processor and blend till it forms “dough”.Make gooseberry size balls and rolled it in dried grated coconut.

BROWNIE BITE

Ingredients:

Cocoa nibs Almond Walnuts Dates Vanilla Salt

Method:

Powder the cocoa nibs in a blender.Add walnut and vanilla salt and pulse again.Add dates and blend well, don’t blend too much it will release the walnut oil.Remove from blender in to bowl.And make small dumplings and roll over little cocoa nibs and serve.

PUMPKIN ENERGY BITES

Ingredients

Pitted soft dates chopped Pumpkin grated Dried grated coconut Walnut chopped Vanilla bean powder Cinnamon powder Nutmeg powder Salt

Method:

Reserve 20 gm grated dry coconut Blend the rest to obtain dough consistencyForm the dough to small ballsCoat the ball the reserved dry coconut and serve

RAW CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

Ingredients for Brownie

Soft dates chopped Peanut powder Walnut coarsely powder Almond powder Cacao powder Vanilla bean powder Salt

Ingredients for Glazing

Honey Water Cacao powder Vanilla powder

Method:

Grind the all nuts separately in a coffee grinder (or food processor) until powder. De-seed and chop the soft dates.Blend all nut powder and walnut coarse in food processor add dates and mix well and make like dough and moulded in a tray.Combine the glaze ingredients in a blender and make in to a smooth sauce that can be poured over the brownie.Cut a square piece and garnished with tender coconut and cashew nuts sauce.

COCONUT WALNUT BAR

Ingredients:

Walnut Almond powder Raisins Dehydrated coconut Fresh grated coconut Cardamom powder

Method:

Blend the raisins in blender in paste form.Add walnut and blend again in to powder form.Change to mixing bowl add rest of the ingredients and mix well.Arrange on tray in to 1 cm height and cut in to diamond shape and serve.

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Feast, music awaits Sunak in India

PM’s maternal uncle of Punjabi heritage said all relatives have been asked to come to Delhi to mark his arrival…reports Asian Lite News

Rishi Sunak is expecting a warm welcome in India. Not only at the G20 Summit but also by his family. Britain’s prime minister has Indian ancestors and strong ties to the country.

The 43-year-old, who is said that he is proud of his Indian roots, was born in India to parents who immigrated to the UK from East Africa. His wife, Akshata Murty, is the daughter of Narayana Murthy, India’s billionaire tech czar, and philanthropist and educator Sudha Murty.

The Daily Telegraph reported over the weekend that Prime Minister Sunak’s relatives will host a feast with flower bouquets and “non-stop dancing” to Punjabi music.

Dr Gautam Dev Sood, 65, a maternal uncle of the UK prime minister of Punjabi heritage, said all relatives have been asked to come to the Indian capital to mark his arrival. “It is a great honour for us that he is visiting his ancestral land,” Dr Sood told the newspaper.

Subhash Berry, Rishi Sunak’s paternal uncle, added, “We can’t divulge exact details but a plan is in place to welcome the (British) prime minister. We are gearing up for a night of non-stop dancing, mostly to the lively beats of the traditional Punjabi music, although I imagine we might also groove to a few English tunes along the way.”

The newspaper notes that Rishi Sunak is unlikely to attend the event because of an intense work schedule between Friday and Sunday for the G20 summit and bilateral talks on its sidelines. Rishi Sunak, 43, was born in Southampton to parents Yashvir and Usha.

The British leader will be accompanied on his first visit to India as prime minister by his Indian wife, Akshata Murty. While Sunak has extended family in northern India, Murty’s relatives mostly live in Karnataka.

When asked if he discusses Indian politics, technology, or the challenges he encounters running the United Kingdom with his in-laws, Rishi Sunak told PTI that it is cricket that they talk about. His daughters support India when it comes to cricket, just as they support England when it comes to football.

“It’s very important to keep politics separate from family, but of course my wife and two daughters very much guide my values, as do my parents and parents-in-law,” he added.

“I am, though, incredibly proud of my parents-in-law and what they have achieved — going from nothing to building one of the world’s largest and most respected companies, which employs thousands of people in both India and in the UK,” Sunak said.

“It is wonderful to be able to travel to India for the G20 with Akshata, and hopefully we will get a chance to visit some of the places we went to when we were younger – we’ll both be very busy the whole trip though,” he said.

The British premier is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussing how India and the UK can work together to address numerous global concerns.

According to reports, a bilateral meeting between Sunak and Modi is expected on the sidelines.

“My ministerial colleagues who have visited India in the past year have all returned with a renewed enthusiasm for the UK-India partnership,” he said.

“Beyond the work of the G20 itself, it has been fantastic for so many people to see the breadth and depth of India by travelling all over the country for meetings and discovering the unique cultures on display all over India,” he added.

“When I meet Prime Minister Modi again this week it will be an opportunity to speak about some of the global challenges we face, and the huge role that the UK and India have to play in addressing them.”

He described India as an “indispensable partner” of the UK across all spheres of bilateral cooperation during a Cabinet meeting with his top team at Downing Street this week.

“He [Sunak] said negotiations around a free trade deal were progressing and that he would only agree on an approach which worked for the whole of the UK,” noted a Downing Street readout of the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who returned from a visit to India after talks with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal last month, also updated the UK Cabinet on the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations, saying that “India is already one of the UK’s largest trading partners, with a relationship worth GBP 36 billion a year”.

The FTA talks have completed 12 negotiation rounds and according to a joint outcome statement issued at its conclusion recently, ministers from both sides “took stock of the FTA and agreed ways to progress the negotiations”.

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Food Lite Blogs

‘Daawat-e-ishq’ during the month of Ramadan

Try the superb chicken and paneer changezi for sure.. Explore by yourself so that you can suggest others…reports Asian Lite News

The month of Ramzan and the charm of Old Delhi! Even if you haven’t paid a visit to the Jama Masjid Road during this time yet, you must have heard loads of stories about this place from your friends. All these stories must be connected by a single thread, which is called food.

From juicy kebabs to Shahi Tukra, from fresh sharbat to sheermal… this place can be termed as the ‘heaven’ (Jannat) for the food-lovers. To increase your gastronomic appetite, let’s walk through the lanes of Jama Masjid Road which invites people from different parts of the world to savour their delicacies, especially during the month of Ramzan. The festive glory remains incomplete if you haven’t tasted the kebabs and nalli here!

Qureshi Kebab Corner – Situated just opposite Jama Masjid, this is a place for juicy and succulent kebabs. This is a must one in your list.

Haji Mohd. Hussain – For some juicy succulent fried fish and fried chicken taken out fresh from the frying pans to your plate, this is the address you need to search for. This place is located close to Al jawahar and Karims and serves some lip-smacking meats.

Aslam Chicken – You can’t miss this place for the legendary butter chicken. It’s not your usual gravy butter chicken. It’s a tandoori chicken topped with real butter. Try this with a Roomali Roti and write a food blog later.

Haji Shabrati Nihari Wale – For outstanding Nihari with a khameeri Roti, this is the place. Must try the brain curry too. The Nihari is cooked for for 8-10 hours. So it’s no wonder that it’s tender and the gravy is just outstanding.

Karim Hotel – Visit this place only for the legendary value. Try some kebabs and mutton stew here nonetheless.

Al-Jawahar – Try the superb chicken and paneer changezi for sure. Explore by yourself so that you can suggest others.

Cool Point: Even though you will find the entire street lined with shops selling the melt-in-mouth delicacy of shahi tukda and freshly made phirni and kheer each evening of this entire month, Cool Point serves the most heavenly form of it. The royal bread pudding, topped with rich dry fruits is considered as the must-have ones prepared specifically for the occasion.

What are you waiting for now? Book your date before Eid and savour all your favourite delicacies with your loved ones! (ANI)

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