Stories from the Kalita Spectrum Kitchen

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August 2, 2018

A rainy evening subsided the rising humidity of the day. Looks like fresh sheets of carpet have been flopped across streets and lanes. The old-tiring trees stretched and fluttered once again with the gentle breeze. Aha! A perfect evening to chomp some fries and coffee.

As I scanned for a parking space, the distinctly lit branding of “Kalita Café” grasp my attention. I indicated toward the left to park my scooter. Lucky are those who find a space in G.S. Road (Guwahati) to park their vehicle. I was one, for the evening.

I walked up the staircase, only to divert my attention to the exquisite looking glass doors of Kalita Spectrum, located in the same building. It was around 7 O’ clock. The restaurant was crowded and most of the tables were booked for dinner. As I scan for an empty seat, one from the staff guided me to a vacant table near the AC. Before slipping me the menu, a glass of aam panna followed by a plate of panipuri rested on my table.

My previous craving for coffee and fries dwindled after a good scrutiny at the menu. Resisting Italian bite seemed painful. Hence, I settled with Chicken Bruschetta, Chicken Enchiladas, and Crispy Mexican Tacos. The waiter suggested cocktails or mocktails blend great with Italian, not merely coffee.

Phew! I had to ditch coffee for a Malibu Beach. Oh, I didn’t regret at all. The tall glass sparked an impression of a smoothie bursting with flavors. A decent blend of pineapple, cream, and berries gladly embraced my sweet buds.

Crammed with creamy chicken, olives, onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, basil and other herbs, Chicken Bruschetta was charming. The firm base of the toast quite handsomely complimented the soft and cheesy concoction.

Tortilla and Tacos here are one of the finest I have tasted in Guwahati. The creamy and sour salsa dip balanced the cheesy zest quite delicately.

While there were few hits and misses in the service corner, a thumbs up for an exquisite essence-filled evening and friendly indulgence with Italian flavors.

A restaurant in Guwahati abused its customer for complaining about food quality

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

May 7, 2018

0

Over the years, Guwahati has developed gracefully with a number of restaurants, cafes, pubs, and clubs blooming amid the support of its inhabitants. These wings have flapped smoothly with time, offering excellent services and hospitality to its customers. Consequently, there are also some restaurants, who, with their appalling services, have disheartened many of the city’s food fanatics.

I remember visiting a café in Rajgarh road, Guwahati, sometimes back. As a café hunter, I popped to this restaurant in search of good coffee and ambiance. To my utter disgust, I was served with green chutney and chickpeas (chola) salad with pasta cooked with an emptied bottle of parmesan dressing and a cup of error-filled coffee.

I left the place and swore never to go back there or recommend anyone. But when I thought to drop a review on Zomato, I was surprised to see their enormous all-good reviews with four and five stars. And later that evening, a magazine carried an exclusive article praising their food. Horrible!

Another grievous tale

With tight deadlines and demanding schedules, it often becomes an arduous chore to balance family and career life. As a means to connect with those lost dots, 23 YO Rahul Rajkhowa, a musician by profession, thought of taking his family on an elegant dinner to a restaurant called Chung-fa, located in Zoo Narengi Road, Guwahati.

Because one pays a substantial amount to spend quality time with their loved ones, how can they not whine the uncooked food that was served after an hour of waiting?

On complaining about the “rubbery” under-cooked noodles, the waiter called the manager who instructed him with, “Array Garam kar de, phir kha lenge.”

When they questioned about serving them cold food and re-heating it, the waiter started arguing why they can’t eat that food or packed it home. And later with emotive throws like “You cannot talk to me like this just because you are from a stable economic background.”

As they moved to the cash counter, the owner, hiding behind her computer, began tossing them with rebukes. Furthermore, the waiter, along with another waiter started attacking him and his parents with abuses of being a liar.

Rahul took his social media account to shared his sour experience with Chung-fa restaurant.

This is what he wrote:

More horrifying abuses

Isn’t it distressing to pay a hefty food bill and earn such harassment in turn? Well, this reminds me of the scam momo sellers of Guwahati perform. The dispiriting onions and cabbage fillings (in the name of chicken and pork momos), covered with thick-unhealthy layers of maida, makes one realize how terribly these restaurants have deceived them.

And then comes the servers, who often gives you the feeling that you work for them, and your job is to feel fortunate whatever you get.

What are your views to change such a degrading scenario?

Let us know in the comment section below.

A soft and fluffy date and coffee cake recipe

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

July 2, 2020

2

I can never get enough of cakes. Indeed, baking has proved as the most therapeutic means to manage my anxious mind. Amid all others, baking a date cake and a banana cake seemed stress-free for me; given the fact that I am left with minimal utensils to wash and the cakes turn delectable and fluffy. However, the road to baking a moist and soft old-fashioned healthy date cake consist of not much hard work. Just some great quality dates and brown sugar and the win is all yours.

Ever since I developed this cherished bond with baking aromatic cakes, there’s no stopping. In fact, all the eggs and fruits that my husband brings would go into my cakes or tarts. I love how my fervent desire for cooking (or baking) is molding so perfectly each day. From blazing a cake to ashes to baking that perfectly soft and spongy cake, I have got my hands on precision.

How temperature or material of the vessel affect while baking

And this date cake is the result of weeks of experimenting with temperatures, ingredients, vessels, and techniques. In case of baking, it is imperative to know that every oven has different features and the baking differs from an aluminum to a silicon vessel. So, you need to experiment with your vessels and temperatures of your oven before settling for a perfect spongy cake.

Unlike my other gooey or sticky date cakes, I decided to keep this a bit light, fluffy, and moist at the same time.

Date cake baking temperature may vary depending upon factors like vessels used, materials or size of the cake, etc. For this date cake, I used a rectangular silicon mold and an OTG to bake. I kept the temperature at 185 degrees Celsius for less than 20 minutes.

Here’s the recipe on how to make a perfect date cake, or a date and coffee cake:

Pick a fistful of good quality dates and remove the seeds.
Boil half a glass of water.
Put the dates in the boiling water, stir in between intervals.
Once the water soaks to half, leaving a mushy bottom, add a tablespoon of instant coffee powder.
Stir for about two minutes and remove the pan.
Once cooled, transfer to a food processor and reduce it to a smooth paste. You can also use a few tablespoons of milk if the blend seems too dry.
The date paste is ready.

Print

A Date and Coffee Cake Recipe

This is not a sticky date cake but a fluffy and moist date and coffee cake

Prep Time15

Active Time25

Total Time40

Equipment

Pan
Bowl
Oven
Whisk
Cake Mould

Materials

For the mush

10 Dates Good Quality
1 tbsp Coffee powder Instant coffee
½ Cup Water

The Date Cake

1 Cup All purpose flour
2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
2 Eggs
½ Cup Sugar White and brown
1 Tsp Butter
3 Tbsp Refined oil
1 Tsp Baking powder
1 Tsp Vanilla essence
1 Pinch Baking soda
1 Pinch Salt

Instructions

Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, coco powder, and salt in a bowl and seive the dry ingredients once or twice.
In another bowl, break 2 eggs and add the granulated sugar and date mush.
Using a hand mixer, beat the concoction for about 3-5 minutes, until it turns smooth.
Gradually add the the vanilla essence, refined oil, and butter and beat again.
Once all the ingredients are incorporated, add the dry ingredients in batches and beat using the electric whisk.
Mix the ingredients well using a spatula.
Transfer into a well-greased mold.
Bake into a pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes.
Insert a skewer to check your cake.
Ta-dah!

For a fluffy date cake, make sure your mixture is not too concentrated or neither too runny. It has to be a smooth batter that doesn’t stick on your spatula in a “never-leaving” way.

Also, for mixing the wet ingredients, I used the same pan that I used for boiling the dates. Saved my time washing another utensil. 😉

Did your date cake turn out this good?

Share your experiences in the comments or write to me at [email protected]

Have an aromatic baking experience! 🙂

A summer time madness at 11th Avenue

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

July 3, 2018

0

I skip my breakfast and settled for a tall ice-cold glass of watermelon juice. Summers have become awful in Guwahati. I cannot even devour my favorite cappuccino or an awakening masala tea. Sigh!

Smoothies and juices have made my buds bland, sunscreens don’t work, damn! Why can’t winters stay forever?

“You hate winters as well, remember?” Prasanta poked.

As he gets ready for his office, I decide to switch off all my communicating devices and lie flat on the floor. I crashed, mulling over where to sabotage my fatigue; only to wake up at the scream from my tummy.

But sadly, the gloomy fridge has only butter and mayonnaise to chomp. And going to the kitchen means shoving myself into an oven. Instead of getting baked, dining out seems a better idea, and 11^th Avenue, an intelligent one. Not just because they cook wonderfully flaky crust pizza but also serves the purpose of brimming one’s gut with contentment.

A heavenly delight awaits in the new menu

My tummy is screaming louder than the honking horns. I don’t know if Guwahati’s rise in temperature is directly proportional to its congested traffic. As I scroll my Instagram feed, I stumble up a post that describes how succulent their tortillas were. Tortillas, oh! I can die for a good bite.

The traffic blink green. I park my scooter and raced inside the café. Something is different. I gawk, watching the menu parade with its new makeover in every table, proudly. And I watch her flaunting and getting hold of people’s interest.

It is now my turn to appraise her.

Whoa!

TORTILLA.

My thrill jumps in joy. While I wished for Thai Green Curry Pasta, my Tortilla tooth was seeking Roast Chicken Tortilla. Hence, a nod for both.

Laughter is brightest where food is best

Waiting for food to arrive is probably one of the world’s difficult tasks. Phew! I could barely wait for my order to walk from the kitchen.

About 20 minutes later, my order walked in. The Thai Green Curry Pasta, escorted by two pieces of garlic bread, rests elegantly on the white plate. My pasta plate looks gorgeous.

It boasts a blend of mellow yet a robust smack of its varied spices. The recipe embraces an assortment of ingredients like coconut paste, vegetables, spaghetti, chicken, and Thai sauce.

The Tortilla, on the other hand, recounts a superior touch of taste and texture. Besides, the chicken bites were ladened with crispy and soft chicken sautéed in aromatic spices. Crumble of tomatoes garnished with chives and cheese added a refined feeling to the crunchy corn base. The sour cream and salsa dips, on the other hand, were goodness added to the glory.

Contentment contained and restored

While the service is friendly, they seem to have sauteed their food a bit “more” gently. I thought my order lost its way. 😀 But it was worth the wait. I was literally lost, amid the lush Thai Green Curry Pasta and Chicken Tortilla.

Post Script: The new menu has a number of tongue-teasing cuisines to munch on. Until I hit here for some Lamb Bolognese and Ramen Noodles next time, keep supporting for my next review.

Lavazza- Redefining the aroma of Guwahati

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

May 27, 2018

0

A coffee mug is something that always stands on my desk, irrespective of whether I am at home or at my workplace. I wasn’t a coffee fanatic until the caffeine rush hit me during my finals one day. And since then, it has been my favorite choice of beverage.

Growing café culture of Guwahati

While Guwahati is blooming in the different spheres of trade, communication, and lifestyle, advancement in its sub-categories, too is rising rapidly. In the last two-three years, Guwahati witnessed a massive growth of cafes, restaurants, and hotels. But often it is disheartening to discover that behind those gracefully crafted cafes, its visitors could barely track down a good cup of coffee. Only a spattering of cafes like 11^th Avenue, Kalita Café, or Café brew bakes tends to serve an aromatic cup.

In the quest to procure a pure cup of caffeine, oftentimes, people here, dive into a puddle of pesticides and chemically preserved coffee. I realized that the veil draped by instant coffee is hard to tear when my mother complained about the freshly grounded coffee packet that I brought from Nagaland. To my horror, she said she had replaced the packet with a Nescafe jar.

An aromatic entrant in the city

Beyond the flawed practices like brewing coffee in boiling water or drinking plain premixes, Guwahati brewed a neat aroma on 24^th May. Lavazza, since 2008, has been cultivating better coffee brewing culture in India. Consequently, with a brisk upsurge in café trends in Northeast India, the company hosted its first-of-kind coffee workshops in Guwahati and Shillong.

Baristas, chefs, café owners, and coffee fanatics from the eight states, are connected to brew an impeccable essence in the region. It was rewarding.

Coffee connoisseur and Training Manager of Lavazza, Mr. Abdul Sahid Khan, adroitly persuaded the participants to brew luscious aromas all over Northeast. He narrated how by playing with different techniques, procedures, and equipment, one can experiment and invent recipes of their own. Besides guiding to attain flawless shots of espresso, he also demonstrated frothing milk and supervised latte art.

Cooking with chemicals

Coffee Cavier, prepared using the molecular gastronomy method

Among those numerous coffee recipes that he exhibited, what thrilled me the most was the molecular gastronomy technique. A concoction of my curiosity and fate mingled with astonishment when I ate espresso. Coffee Cavier is an exclusive recipe of Lavazza. It is prepared by converting liquid to a solidified state. This process is done using calcium chloride with alginate.

The workshop was a pure indulgence of bliss and contentment, in particular. This workshop was a much-needed grasp for the region that believes in pouring a fantastic cup of coffee.

About Lavazza

Ruling for the last 120 years, Lavazza is one of the biggest manufacturers of coffee products from Italy. The company combines coffees from different parts of the world. These are then harvested, processed, mixed, and roasted to create several different and balanced blends, as well as satisfy the coffee-tooth of every fanatic.

Here are some of the pictures from the Guwahati as well as from the Shillong session.

Lavazza workshop in Guwahati — Participants from different states of Northeast India

Note: If you are in Northeast India and wish to get hold of some finely roasted beans of Lavazza, you can ping Jyoti Brothers (Jyotishman: +91 9864311100) or Sumon Bora (Area Sales Manager: +91 9707639828).

Also, feel free to knock us for any queries or questions related to coffee/coffee making. Until then, like this article and don’t forget to share it in your circle.

A Happy-Tummy Day with Cheese and Chicken

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

July 23, 2018

0

For years now, Dominos and Pizza Hut has been ruling the taste buds of Guwahatians when comes to feasting one’s Italian desires. While a smattering of restaurants and cafes could console those peering needs, quick-eat outlets like Foodies World have grabbed the interests of people promptly.

I had been here before, once for pizza and again for a quick drink. This eatery stares at me every day, on my way and back from the office. I make sure to get an insight into its inside, every day until my car would take a right to the small lane few meters ahead. I often see people feeding their Instagram and Facebook stories with tales about snacks, pizza, and pasta of this joint.

Heaven falls in my table

There is this peculiar thing about my workplace. It is being surrounded by oodles of fast food and quick-bite chains- all of them providing lowly food, is expensive, and is not quite service friendly. Thus, without much choices left, I scoff a plate of ghughuni on the roadside, at times (Perhaps better than chomping heaps of refined flour).

And such was this third bump at Foodies World. As I wait for my Creamy Fondue Non-veg Baked Pasta and Chicken strips to arrive, I engage myself on the familiar walls that always provoke me to stand for a picture.

A tantalizing gust of air conveyed a note that a creamy-cheesy plate of pasta will arrive in no time.

I shove my spoon deeper into the pasta, trying to break through the protected shield of cheese, likely melting in its own way. Graciously opening up to its guests, the pizza bowl exhibited a perfect blend of cheese and meaty texture, generously mingling with the penne. Pure delight!

Moments later, a tall glass of Masala Pepsi and a Cappuccino, accompanied by Chicken strips followed.

Not quite like the chicken strips one finds in KFC, contrary, holds more crispiness and less visibility of oil.

I assure, you will never be heartbroken and or get a drill in your pockets. Soft and “more” juicy chicken bites will wave all the smiles back home.

Let Your Egg Coffee Do The Talking Tonight

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

June 27, 2018

0

I wasn’t a caffeine person but fate intended to weave a new love story with coffee. I accepted. A surprising obsession grew, stronger each day. Primarily because, my coffee has its own set of styles- always hot and smells good, enough to lure me every time. And when I narrated my aromatic tale to my coffee buds, it started demanding me to delve deeper and explore its diverse features.

Well, that’s how I bumped into Vietnamese Egg Coffee. At first, a speck of disgust blew past me.

“EGG COFFEE? Who drinks that?”

Probably this will be the first non-veg coffee of my life.

A series of unfortunate events

I appreciate my refrigerator. It carries all the load at such a tender age. “Awesome, I have four eggs.” Next was to knock on my neighbor’s door for milkmaid.

Whoa! My ingredients are all set. Time to embark on a new journey with coffee. But egg coffee was obstinate to shake hands with me. A failed attempt. Followed by two more unsuccessful shots.

I lost all hope. Sigh! A glass of sadness, disappointment, and despair stared at me. I drank it all. Burp!

The fruit of hard work is sweet

I woke up drowsy, as usual. To eat the leftover biryani from last night was the first thought to pop up that morning. Second, to amend the mess. After much contemplation and research, often landing in peculiar theories, I finally grasped that air bubbles are what can make the mixture float. Voila! It worked. Finally, I could make it float.

Give a nod to Egg Coffee. It is sweet, bitter, creamy, mellow, and awesome. Here is the complete Vietnamese Egg Coffee recipe.

Things you will need:

Milkmaid
2 eggs
Coffee beans (Grounded)
A large glass bowl
A glass
2 forks
Vanilla essence (optional) *I haven’t used it in my mixture

The Method

Separate the egg yolk from its white in the bowl.
Add two tablespoons of milkmaid in the same bowl.
Merge two forks with tape. You can also use a hand blender or a frother as per convenience and availability.
Time to whisk. But here lies the real game. A slight mistake can mess up your whole recipe. So be careful while whisking your egg mixture. Make sure it contains enough air bubbles.

I had to whisk it for about 10 minutes to make it look like this. In the meantime, brew your coffee. For consistent strength, I used Lavazza beans. You can use beans as per your taste.
Once done, pour the brew into the glass. And then, the egg mixture gradually.
Congratulation, you have successfully made yourself a glass of happiness.

Don’t forget to share this recipe in your circle.

Have a query? Don’t hesitate to ask. I shall be happy to guide you toward a perfect cup/glass.

For busy people: Easy and effective hacks to stay healthy

By

Madhuri Saikia

-

April 7, 2018

0

Sedentary lifestyle, hustling schedules, and the race to stand tall among other competitions has disturbed numerous lives. Competitions have killed the world’s sleep and eating habits more than an outbreak. Lack of time is a major account why people buckle under unhealthy eating and sleeping patterns. As a result, prevalence rates for the number of ailments and afflictions have increased rapidly.

The body achieves what the mind believes. Thus, it is essential to watch out both the mind and the body in order to maintain the balance.

Highlighted below are some of the easy and effective ways that will help one engage in a healthy state, physically as well as mentally.

Exercise it out:

Source: BBC

Engaging in physical exercise is a great way to eliminate toxins from the body. Besides toning the muscles and tissues, regular exercise also helps in the release of the brain’s reward chemicals, the ones necessary to enhance one’s state of mind.
Cut off the intake of caffeine

The widely used mood-altering drug in the world, caffeine, when consumed in moderate proportion can yield a number of health benefits. Unlikely, heavy intake, more than 500-600 mg of caffeine a day, on the other hand, can lead to health issues like insomnia, nervousness, irritability, an upset stomach, restlessness, aggravated anxiety, and muscle tremors.
Switch to chamomile tea

Source: Medical news

Chamomile tea possesses a number of health benefits. The beverage is stacked with antioxidants that cut risks of life-threatening diseases like cancer and diseases of the heart. Additionally, chamomile tea treats sleep disorders, promotes digestion, better skin, controls blood sugar, boosts immune health, as well as helps one to relieve from mental clutters like anxiety and depression.
Expose to sunlight:

From regulating the level of insulin to maintaining cardiovascular and lung health, Vitamin D plays numerous roles in keeping the body hale. Exposing to sunlight, at least 15-minutes every day can also help in breaking-free from stress
Listen to good music

Music has the ability to influence one’s mental and physical state. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) announced music therapy as a therapeutic and effective means to combat problems of the mind. Distinguished philosophers like Plato, Confucius, and the kings and monarchs pronounced music as an effectual medium to heal aggravating conditions of their mind.
Replace your regular cup with green tea

Source: Prehab

Green tea has been known as an effective agent to treat issues of the stomach, skin, and brain. Besides, green tea also helps to curb blood pressure and drop an escalating heart rate. Amino acid or L-theanine present in green tea is an important agent required to abate stress and anxiety.
Yoga and meditation:

Source: Woman fitness org

Accepted since ancient times, yoga, and meditation are powerful antidotes for a healthy body and mind. Pranayama (breathing techniques), asana (body postures), meditation, and the ancient yoga philosophy, has strengthened millions of people with positivism and a new perspective on life.

It is not always possible to maintain a healthy diet. In such, balancing with alternatives can work wonder as well. Keeping alongside ditching smoking and drinking at least 8 glasses of water every day, sleep is an important factor to grasp while considering one’s health.

Albeit there are numerous ways to stay healthy, practicing a few simple and basic steps can prove beneficial in retaining one’s health in the long run. So, which are you going to adopt? Let us know in the comment section below.

Also, don’t forget to share this article in your circle.

You may also like to check out Asanas For Weight Loss.

Food

Phew! I had to ditch coffee for a Malibu Beach. Oh, I didn’t regret at all. The tall glass sparked an impression of a smoothie bursting with flavors. A decent blend of pineapple, cream, and berries gladly embraced my sweet buds.

Crammed with creamy chicken, olives, onions, tomatoes, bell pepper, basil and other herbs, Chicken Bruschetta was charming. The firm base of the toast quite handsomely complimented the soft and cheesy concoction.

Tortilla and Tacos here are one of the finest I have tasted in Guwahati. The creamy and sour salsa dip balanced the cheesy zest quite delicately.

While there were few hits and misses in the service corner, a thumbs up for an exquisite essence-filled evening and friendly indulgence with Italian flavors.

Another grievous tale

This is what he wrote:

More horrifying abuses

How temperature or material of the vessel affect while baking

Here’s the recipe on how to make a perfect date cake, or a date and coffee cake:

A Date and Coffee Cake Recipe

Equipment

Materials

For the mush

The Date Cake

Instructions

A heavenly delight awaits in the new menu

Laughter is brightest where food is best

Contentment contained and restored

Growing café culture of Guwahati

An aromatic entrant in the city

Cooking with chemicals

About Lavazza

Heaven falls in my table

A series of unfortunate events

The fruit of hard work is sweet

Things you will need:

The Method

Separate the egg yolk from its white in the bowl.

Add two tablespoons of milkmaid in the same bowl.

Merge two forks with tape. You can also use a hand blender or a frother as per convenience and availability.

Time to whisk. But here lies the real game. A slight mistake can mess up your whole recipe. So be careful while whisking your egg mixture. Make sure it contains enough air bubbles.

I had to whisk it for about 10 minutes to make it look like this. In the meantime, brew your coffee. For consistent strength, I used Lavazza beans. You can use beans as per your taste.

Once done, pour the brew into the glass. And then, the egg mixture gradually.

Congratulation, you have successfully made yourself a glass of happiness.

Exercise it out:

Cut off the intake of caffeine

Switch to chamomile tea

Expose to sunlight:

Listen to good music

Replace your regular cup with green tea

Yoga and meditation: