A book on food, that has a few pieces of history and a lot more about how certain foods through globalization, and better economic and weather conditions have made the plants and food thrive in countries that otherwise we had no idea were so resourceful. But the question remains – How much food changes in taste and Quality and how with hybridization, food has been growing across the World?
Some of the insightful details from the book.
Did you know?
Certain food items like barley are used to the fullest of the 100% –
2% of barely is eaten by humans.
60% of barely is used as Animal
Feed.
While 38% is used for brewing and Distilling beer.
0.50% barely is used for Soy Sauce and Miso.
So many things are made of just one food item.
The world’s largest collection of banana diversity is in Belgium
There are about 8 varieties of citrus fruit and lemon, oranges, Grapefruit and lime have been produced through hybridization
Lemons is actually A hybridization of citron and Sour Oranges.
Oranges come from a hybridisation of Mandarin and Pomelo
Lime is hybridization a Citron and Mandarin cross
Grapefruit Is a Hybrid between a Sweet Orange and a Pomelo.
It’s interesting to know how the fruit changes and how through hybridization we have produced so much in the world.
These are some of the details, but there is a lot more in the book.
Having travelled by Air, Train and Road the only mode of transportation left to experience was to travel by Sea, The cruise experience, was one of its kind. We were very sceptical about travelling and experiencing the Cruise and the Sea Sickness, How were we going to manage on the ship for so long and how do we go about the whole journey? Fortunately, We bumped into the Man who would make the whole cruise experience seamless and memorable. From the moment we checked in to the cruise, We had surprises waiting to unfold. We had an invite sent for the exclusive meet-up with the team and a few guests who were part of the Heaven Suites. On our first day during the dinner at Manhattan Restaurant, Where the menu changes every day and doesn’t require a reservation, We had a table ready for us. We had meal suggestions from the chef. The meal had seafood dishes,0% Alcohol Wine and Mocktails with Meat and desserts. We had a team who had planned our next few days on the ship including our restaurant reservation for the whole journey. The first Dock at Cannes – Was another experience of priority guests for the tender boat. ( Cannes is a tender port on Cruises, The Ship docks at a distance Before the tenders are released in Slots and on Reservation only. ) We had the priority to get on board the cruise. Cannes, We do it again! A city known for the Film Festival is a beautiful stroll in the Promenade de la Croisette, The Cinematic painting on the walls and the walk through narrow steeped lanes while a red carpet awaits you to walk the steps of an auditorium that overlooks the French Rivera. While that was the glamorous walk on the stage, the walk off to the Marche Forville A weekend food Market was an interesting experience with so many fresh herbs and cheese available to taste, Before we headed to the beach. Back on the Ship, We took a break to explore the ship before we headed to change for Dinner. We explored the Reading Room – The Reading Room had an amazing collection of the new popular bestsellers with a view of the sea. Also a gaming room for ones who like to play chess with their mates. Walking around the bars, We had a photographer doing photo shoots with backdrops and Art being displayed on the sides while we walked.
The next day we visited another port Civitavecchia and it seemed like the hottest day!
The highlight was Naples! We had made a reservation for Michele’s pizza!Rated as The World’s Best Pizza.A 150 years old pizzeria ` Just 4 choices on the menu to choose from and order, Margheritabeing the original. Legend has it, that the Queen ordered and loved the pizza so much! That it was named the Margherita. If you don’t have a reservation? You can take a takeaway from The one-mile-long Queue side of the Restaurant. Braving the rain was worth it here!
And for those who are avid Football fans! Here, is an interesting Trivia. Mardonaa was from Naples, and there is a mural and Fan made space in Naples!
Cagliari, Sardinia though a beautiful town, We hardly had any time here! Spain Palma De Mallorca was the surprise city For us! It was beautiful with a mix of the Middle East, Tangier in Morocco and hints of Europe! The cathedral was beautifully built with the best view of the sea and a sunset worth coming back to! Ibiza! We would have liked to be here overnight to experience the Nightlife, but the day trip! Reminds you a lot about Greece.
Coming back to the cruise!
Each dinner meal was an experience! Right from Indian delicacy Butter Chicken, Samosa and South Indian style Jumbo prawns and indian style Fish that were specially curated for us. The dessert Gajar ka Halwa! Couldn’t have been a better conclusion to our Indian Meal. The French Meal at Le Bistro on the Escape ship was esquite with Jumbo size lobster and nice chunks of Sea Bass! With French onion Soup and herbed butter that was made of snails. The Italian Meal at La Cucina- The pizza was at par with Michele’s we had in Naples! Our Italian meal were with Risotto fungi mushroom truffles, With Amaretto liqueur and limoncello on ice on the sides. For dessert, we had one of the best Panna Cotta till date, Tiramisu It was so good, that We went again the next day to Only have one more slice of tiramisu. Teppanyaki – The Japanese Experience! This was Very good + Entertainment. A table of ten with a total of seven of us and it was a fun interactive dinner for us with tricks while our food was being prepared. Tried a Wasabi Cocktail! And it was a sweet and spicy fusion drink. The Moderno – The Brazilian steakhouse was reliving our Brazil meal again that we had a few months ago! And it was as good as that one! With meats and bread. Cagney Steakhouse: a signature Restaurant that is there is most of the NCL cruises was an American steakhouse experience where we had very good Crab Cakes, Lobsters and calamari! The last but not the least Bayamo was the best seafood dinner meal with very huge size shrimps! And fish! That just melted away! And the birthday Surprise meal with a huge cake was the highlight of Dad’s 60th. They also set up the room to celebrate the birthday to an amazement with chocolates, A spa voucher and a bottle of Wine and champagne!
The ship had a lot of other offerings, the gaming arcade, Table Tennis , Pools, The Mini Golf course, a Jogging track, Water slides for the kids or the kid in You! Rope walking For the adventurous one. For the one’s who like to drink, there are about 15 odd bars to choose your drinks from and many spots you would like to Keep hanging around ,While you enjoy your drink. Many other interactive activities are scheduled throughout the cruise, and you have the freedom to attend or skip them! If you haven’t cruised yet! Now is the perfect time to take control of your cruise Break.
Cruise Route:
Travel to Barcelona
9 Days
Barcelona – Cannes – Livorno- Civitavecchia-Naples- Cagliari-Palma De Mallorca – Ibiza- Barcelona
Mediterranean Cruise…
Port of Call: #barcelona Day 1: #Cannes Day2: #Livorno- #Florence and #Pisa Around the port Day3: Overnight at #Livorno Day4: #Civitavecchia – #Rome is close to this port Day 5: #Naples Day6: #Calgilari Day 7: #Palmademallorca Day 8: #Ibiza Day 9: #Barcelona
Barcelona sightseeing:
Parkguell
Gaudi
sagradafamilia
Casabatlo
Cafes: @nomadcoffee
Food: @tapatapabarcelona
Food:
Churros #patatbravas
Cannes:
Marché Forville -Food Market
Livorno: Cathedrals
Naples: @pizzeriadamichele : Bucket list, Done after a decade!
It’s always exciting to start with a new hobby! The moment you begin something, You are hungry to know everything about it. The Rules, The loopholes, the prize, the strength, the weakness, the opportunity that lies and the threats you face in continuing your hobby.
And then there comes a point, in persuading your hobby, where you don’t enjoy it anymore and you start thinking about how time flew by all these years.
Reading was an accidental hobby, I came across right when I turned 18.
It was only after reading a couple of books, that I realised what I enjoy reading and explored more on those genres and topics.
When I was looking to read more newer topics and stories, I came across the prestigious award that have been recognising talent.
While reading about all the books, that had been awarded or had been nominated.
I picked up a book. I genuinely loved the way it was written and narrated.
After that moment, I waited every year for the announcement to read more of these nominated and award-winning books. This I did for about a couple of years, and then moved to some of the other prominent awards and so on…
Then I realised, these book awards were representing a certain style of writing, and storytelling and were very depressive and emotional.
Also either, they wanted to reach a new audience or wanted to market a newer country, when they awarded books to a writer belonging to that region or country.
These book awards were also biased towards authors from certain countries and not equal to the rest who had equally good writing talent.
The book awards, too were very inclined and favouring genres that represent political views, Race, Gender and a cultural movement, which they believe were more important than voicing one’s story.
Similarly same goes for Academy awards… That is considered a landmark of success!
They too seem to have similar criteria, since these awards are reviewed and judged by selective jury members, who believe are the only voice that matters in making decisions.
There have been films and books that have been better than the ones that have been nominated or awarded but are given little importance too.
It was a couple of years ago when I decided to move past these book awards and read books for the stories, they want to tell and to my surprise, there are so many stories in each country in the world, that are worth reading and investing your time into, than to read books that have either been awarded or read by certain nationalities.
Now, looking to read my next book, I either visit the local bookstore in the cities or go through the most-read books in the country and read the synopsis and see what I would like to read next.
I had been wanting an Aeropress. And for my 27th Birthday got it as a gift. Ever since then, I have been thinking of participating in the Indian edition and last year! It was my first time.
Aeropress is so versatile you can use the ratio of coffee to water the way you would like to have your cup of coffee. Espresso Style, French Press or a Pour over style.
Aeropress was founded by Alan Adler in 2005 in the united states who was a toy manufacturer.
It wasn’t until 2008 when A friendly competition of who can brew the best Cup of Aeropress Coffee Began as a joke in 2008 in Oslo, Norway.
Three Friends competed and two of them then founded the Tim Wendelboe by Tim Varney & Tim Williams.
It became a global phenomenon with more than 60 Countries hosting the Aeropress Championship.
In 2017 Mithlesh from Nagpur who owns a cafe Now “Corridor Seven” Became the 1st Aeropress Champion from India.
The championship begins with A country hosting regional rounds in a state or city.
Each State/City will have participants who would be participating in four rounds.
First would be like an Elimination round, then a Quater, Semi-Final and Final. Depending on the number of participants.
Each Participant gets 3 minutes for preparation. Where one can heat water, Weigh the coffee beans maximum of 18 gms, and setup the Aeropress.
Each participant then gets 5 minutes to brew his cup of Coffee on the day of the competition. You could preferably carry your own Aeropress. Or could borrow another competitor at the venue. Other equipment is available and provided by the organisers at the venue
As a Participant, you would also get the coffee as part of the registration that would be used on the day of the competition to try your recipes at your residence, a couple of days before the main day!
On the day of the competition, there were 100+ participants each competing against 3 brewers and each time one winner would be chosen to compete in the next round.
So I was competing with one home brewer & a barista from a popular cafe in Bombay. And couldn’t qualify for any of the rounds.
Cut to a year later 2023!
I participated again this year! And hadn’t tried the coffee that would be used for the championship even once! But, having Practised for over a year, With a lot of different coffees from India and my travels around I figured out the coffee recipe and participated and Qualified 3 Rounds #Top13
It was a huge improvement from the past year! Hopefully, 2024 Will be better!!!
Just keep brewing & explore the equipment.
A fun experience for coffee enthusiasts and professionals.
A K H I L N A N D A 