Travel

I have been a biker riding various commuter bikes for about 15 years now. These bikes were a mix of Indo-Jap commuter bikes, totally trouble free best for point to point travel  but they all lacked something... something that would strike a chord within... something that would light up the day... sigh.. sadly these commuter bikes came with a complete lack of  attitude. Attitude... well.. that department was reserved for one name in the Indian two wheeler market... Royal Enfield.

Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twin-spark 

 Royal Enfield.. the name brings goose bumps, its a name synonymous with style, royalty, passion, love, poetry and of course The THUMP! yes the thump, that sweet exhaust note which few affectionately call it the beat as in the heart beat of the bike, the same beat which makes many heads turn as it passes by on the road breaking a few hearts, I was one of those aching hearts until that September of 2009 when I bought my dream machine The Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twin spark.

Its been over two years and more than 23000 kms of sheer joy. The experience has been a pleasant surprise.... Yeah because many people had advised me against buying this machine citing various mechanical problems related with Royal Enfield bikes.

People said that you may spend more time at the mechanic shops than riding, and that you become friends with the mechanic than with your bike and so on....
I studied a lot about these bikes and the people who ride these machines through various forums... understood their views and their reasons for choosing their Royal Enfields

Also read a lot about the reliability of the new generation twin spark engines and how modern engineering merged with vintage passion gave birth to today's Royal Enfields.

 I then understood that the people who advised me against buying the bike were so naive about these beasts, they  knew so little yet they proclaimed to be ohh so knowledgeable. I decided buy the Thunderbird twin spark and today after more than two years of ownership I am glad I made that decision.

Today I leave you with few of the pictures I clicked on its second year with me...  Feast!

curvy

The legendary name

An apt picture for the name a Thunderbird under the Thundering clouds!

Wine & Good Health -1

Better red than dead is affectionately said by many wine lovers.  Drinking wine has long been considered a healthier option compared to consumption of other alcoholic beverages primarily because of the way it is prepared. In its simplest form it is just a fermented juice of freshly gathered grapes.

People have been drinking wines since the birth of civilization itself, they always knew about the good qualities of wine, especially red wine, it is only recently that science has been able to pin point these qualities and bring out the results for everyone. 

In this two part series  I have tried to bring out the good effects of wine consumption on our health and to support my statements I have given references of the studies conducted all over the world. 

The Red wine & Heart Disease: According to the University Of Bourgogne researchers, People who drink up to four glasses of wine daily have higher levels of HDL (good cholesterol that escorts the bad cholesterol away from artery walls). 

The famous French paradox study revealed that in spite of having rich, creamy, cheesy & starchy food, The French Gallic wine drinkers were found to be having healthier hearts than their teetotaller counterparts.

Today in many hospitals around the world heart attack victims are advised Red wine consumption during their recovery.

 Red wine & Healthy blood:   At a 2001 conference at the University Victor Segalen in Bordeaux France, a discussion raised the possibility that the 200 phenolic compounds used in the red wine maybe effective against a number of ailments ranging from heart diseases to cancer.

 Many of these compounds come from skins and seeds of the grapes that are used in the making of red wine.

Red wine & Blood pressure:   Red wine helps in calming the blood pressure British journal of Pharmacology associated the relaxation of blood vessels and reduced blood pressure with red wine consumption.

 A study done by the same journal exhibited the positive effects on people with high blood pressure.

White wine & healthy lungs:  White wine also enjoys some of the healing benefits enjoyed by its colored cousin. In the early 2002 a survey of more than 1500 New Yorkers done by the University of Buffalo uncovered that Anti-oxidants in the wine prevent the creation of free radicals, harmful molecules that damage lung tissues.

Wine & Food Poisoning:  Wine of both colours help against constipation and diarrhoea, while white wine in particular stimulates the urinary functions. An Oregon study that was also reported in the Journal of Food Science suggested that wine combats both salmonella and E. Coli. It also kills cholera bacteria and combats typhoid.

In the next part: 

* Looking at a few more ailments that can be reversed/ controlled/avoided by the consumption of wines.

* What quantity is exactly good and if you are to start then how much is too much.

Cheers!

Vodka Cocktails @ home

It so happened during one of the parties at home, the mixers(soft drinks)  got over and it was quite late in the night to get new ones, the party was still on and people needed their drinks , I looked around in the kitchen and found some unusual looking amla crush bottle(believe me, this drink was born out of necessity) , so I fixed one vodka drink with this amla crush, I added a regular vodka shot to about 60-80ml of amla syrup , cold water and few cubes of ice and voila the drink was ready. 

The drink was such a hit that everyone wanted to try one of those drinks. That day I happened to look around the house and found so many different and interesting mixers that since then I have stopped buying regular aerated drinks as mixers for my parties.

All of us might have such items @ home that we may just tend to overlook, but one may never know that those mixes might turn out to be a super mixers that may make your party a hit, people might remember your party because of that one drink or may be they come to your parties just to try your unusual mixes.

I have tried to list down a few mixes which are easily found at home or are easy to procure, & these make such wonderful cocktails that your guests are bound to get surprised when you tell them the ingredients of their drinks.

Kokum syrup

Amla syrup

Rose syrup

Tea

Strawberry/ mixed fruit Jam

Paani puri

 For the base alcohol I have considered vodka as it provides the best versatility for mixed drinks.

So for Kokum Delight you need the kokum syrup, soda or plain water, chaat masala, a dash of lime and ofcourse vodka.

In a glass add 45ml vodka, 60-80ml kokum syrup, pinch of chaat masala to it add water or soda whatever you prefer and then squeeze half a lime and drop it in the glass. Your kokum delight is ready.

The same recipe can be applied for Amla syrup, just remember to minus the lime as amla is tangy enough.

For Rose Garden (many might be familiar with Rooh afza sharbat) one can add vodka: 45ml, rose syrup: 45ml, water (you may want to try sprite) chaat masala (rock salt powder will work too) & a dash of lime. It’s simple & yet very refreshing.

 The same recipe may be used for mixed fruit or strawberry jam, just whisk about 20gms of jam to a paste and add rest of the ingredients.

Iced Tea surprise: Prepare black tea using two tea bags & let it cool, Remove juice of one lime and sugar syrup about 20ml. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes, add 45ml vodka then pour the cooled black tea further add the sugar syrup and then the lime juice you can garnish this with fresh mint leaves and lime slice.

Vodka Paani Puri shots: This is your ohh so delicious paani puri with a wicked twist. Prepare paani puri liquid using readymade paani puri powder mix. Then in a shot glass add 15-20ml vodka pour the paani puri liquid & garnish with khara boondi. Best way to have these is to try to gulp it in one shot just the way you have paani puri!! 

Cheers!

Enjoy responsibly!

Must have Glassware...

 They say the best beer in the world is the one available in the refrigerator and if you have friends for company then the scene is set for one chilled out evening!

 A similar thing happened on a recent weekend,   the match was on… India was doing well on the field…. I was at a friend’s place with enough beer in the fridge. It was a  perfect scene for a chilled out evening until the beer was brought out… well I didn’t exactly know it was beer till the time it was placed in front of me…. In a steel tumbler…. Reason… the bloke didn’t have enough glassware…  That day while having that steely beer I realized the importance of proper glassware for different drinks.

 I was unable to enjoy the beer, it tasted different I cannot exactly describe it but I concluded it was because of the steel ware. Ultimately I ended up drinking straight from the bottle.  

That brings us to the must have glassware at home guide.  I believe every one should invest some capital in buying sets of proper glassware.

The following is a list of glassware that would cover most of the common drinks served at in-house parties.

   Beer Mug: The mug is an old beer tumbler that was made popular by the beer gardens of Europe where they would serve all sorts of beer (ale, stout, lager etc.) in mugs in open gardens. The mug comes in different shapes and cut. Apart from beer it may be used for serving fresh juices and punches.

Pilsner Glass: An ideal glass for a chilled beer, because it is tall and has a less wide opening than a mug it retains the fizz of the beer for a longer time. Apart from beer it may also be used for tall cocktails and Mocktails (Long Island iced tea or just iced tea).

Old fashioned glass: Nothing old fashioned about this glass though it is a perfect glass for straight drinks such as whiskey, Dark Rum, Vodka etc with ice. It also comes in beautiful cut crystals.

Wine glass: Wine has been a topic of discussion for ages and the people who know their wine know a lot more about the wine glasses too. So,  if you plan to open wine, make sure you have proper wine glasses, normally there are two types of wine glasses, red wine glass has a bigger cup and a shorter stem while a white wine glass has a longer stem and smaller cup. Nowadays though, people prefer just one type of glass to keep things simple. 

Highball Glass: This is the most common  of all… a kind of an all purpose glass,  used for a variety of drinks ranging from mixed drinks, juices, cocktails , straight drinks to just plain H2O. Keep an extra set of these.

Martini glass: This stylish glass is originally used for martini cocktails, but it can also be used for variety of other mixed drinks. It makes the drink look very stylish. Nowadays one can find many designer varieties of these on the shelf.

Shot glass: A must have fun glass, not only tequila but can be used for all spirits. One can be innovative and make layered cocktails in these miniature glasses.

Well then these are the most common variety Hope the guide would help you all choose the right glass. Today there are many options available in the market at different price points so go ahead and buy the right one for you.  It’s a good gifting option too and glass is 100% recyclable.

Always remember good glassware goes a long way in showcasing style, taste & class of the host.

Cheers!!

Freedom to choose

You have a right to vote at 18 and decide the government that would run the state & the country.

You have a right to join the Army, Navy, Air-force or IPS at 18 and pledge your life to the country.

You have the right to get married at the age of 18/21 (girl/boy) & start a family.

But you do not have the freedom to drink alcohol till you are 25.

The government of Maharashtra recently proposed a policy to raise the drinking age from 21 to 25 citing some ridiculous reasons like maturity. It means that you are mature enough at 18 to decide a government or decide to lay your life for the country but not mature enough to drink responsibly.

At the outset let me be very clear that I do not support alcoholism, it is a personal choice, but I believe that choice to should be of the individual and not of the government. 

The thought behind the government’s de-addiction campaign is Nobel but the path taken to reach the goal is totally incorrect. Instead the government should think of ways to promote responsible drinking. Couple of years back the state government decided to crack down on errant drivers who drink & drive, simultaneously it also ran many publicity campaigns on the same subject. The drive has been very successful and the streets have become much safer since. 

But by imposing such age related barriers the government is not going to succeed rather it will lead to more corrupt practices. Have a look at Gujarat, our only dry state, ya right, the state has been under prohibition since long, but it also has witnessed alarmingly high number of deaths due to consumption of adulterated alcohol. 

The point of the matter is, prohibition in Gujarat has given rise to black marketing of hooch & moonshine (illegal manufacturing of alcohol) & that is having an adverse effect on the health of its population. Some say that if one knows the right place to go & ask, they can get such a wide choice of brands that would shame even some well stocked bars in metros.  So we see imposing restrictions doesn’t always work the way it is supposed to.

 

Recently Bollywood actor Imran Khan filed a PIL against this decision, there has been a lot of support generated for this initiative, not because everybody wants a free license to drink but because such restrictions are not in the right interest of democracy.

I therefore strongly feel that imposing absurd restrictions is not the solution, rather an individual should be given the freedom to make a responsible choice. 

Vodka... Connecting People

“Vodka” The drink with which many may have taken that first plunge in to the world of alcohol or as some may say started their…. ahem …. “drinking careers”

I don’t exactly remember my reason behind choosing vodka as my first alcoholic drink over others but the fact that it smells less or is completely odorless (as advised by the veterans of those times!) might have tilted the decision in favor of this colourless, and somewhat odorless spirit (read on to bust this myth). For me it was a real social lubricant in those early days. 

Today vodka has evolved in to a completely new drink, One look at the vodka brands will give you an idea of the kind of variety they offer in terms of flavours and number of distillations. The choice has become so varied that it is no longer easy to order a simple vodka drink at the bar or buy a bottle across the counter.. its  almost at the brink of confusion, Its like going to Starbucks and trying to order a simple cup of coffee.

So what to look out for when buying a bottle of vodka?

The Brand …. of course, Many international & Indian Brands are present in the market today, I have listed a few major International ones

Absolut, Grey Goose, Ciroc, Belvedere

Few Indianized Brands (well not exactly Indian but..Indian enough)

Smirnoff, White Mischief, Magic moments (They have some great flavoured offerings… a must try), Shark tooth, Fuel etc.

Number of times it has been distilled: Normally vodka would be distilled twice or thrice, few premium brands even have more than five times distilled vodkas, distillation 

removes esters and impurities therefore in short the more times it is distilled the better it becomes.

Flavors:  Vodka blends itself superbly with a variety of juices and soft drinks, most vodka brands today Indian or International have a range of flavored vodkas in their lineup (These help you decide on the kind of mixers (juices & soft drinks) to pick up to make that cool blend).  From orange, apple, vanilla to Nordic berries & chocolate the choice is really wide. The kind of flavors offered may also make you switch between your favorite brands. 

Now That you have decided your Vodka bottle let us bust some vodka myths:

Vodka is made from Potatoes

Well not entirely true, Most common Vodkas today are made primarily from grains, rye & maize  being the most common. Potato vodkas are going out of fashion though if you like to taste real potato vodka, ask for “Chopin “ 

      Will vodka freeze if I keep it in my refrigerator’s freezer?

     

 No it wont!! Anything that has more than 35% alcohol by volume (and vodka has  

      it) would take a much lower temperature to freeze about -110 dc. (Domestic   

      freezers  can’t even think of going that cold) So bring out that priced bottle out of 

      the cupboard from behind your clothes and store it in the freezer J

Can my Vodka go bad/expire?

Unlike beer & wine, vodka is distilled and as long as you have stored it under normal conditions it will not go bad.

Does vodka smell?

Oh hell yes it does!! I know there is a myth that has been floating around for years and years that you cant smell vodka, but after all its alcohol and it will smell… only that it has less distinctive smell than your whisky

Can I use vodka to sterilize some small cut or a bruise?

Sterilize: no

Disinfect: maybe

Again why waste vodka on cuts and bruises, use Dettol for those and later gulp a shot of vodka you may feel better.

Cheers!!

The Great ‘Indian Beer’ Belly

Watched Delhi Belly the other day… what a mad mad movie!! It was simply hilarious to the core. I in fact, was very happy to see a few stereotypes in the Hindi cinema being broken.

I mean, in Bollywood mainstream cinema when was the last time you saw characters mouthing such bold dialogues, when was the last time the reality of a bachelor’s accommodation was showcased in such cruel detail & when was the last time you saw your on-screen heroes enjoying beer after a hard fought battle. (yes Of course many Bollywood movies have shown beer being served or drunk, but not in the recent past due to some new censor rules).  

The thing is, I tried hard to get the name of the beer used in the movie but couldn’t identify the brand, also knowing Amir Khan’s professionalism & attention to detail in keeping with the storyline I am sure he must have used some local beer brand, which in turn got me thinking… in the past few years with the Indian market flooding with international beer brands where have those old beer brands disappeared. 

Discounting the big players like kingfisher & Hayward’s what happened to those lesser known yet equally loved brands which used to enjoy the same shelf in wine shops along with the kingfishers & Hayward’s. Today their place has been taken by the Budweisers, the Tuborgs, Heinekens Carlsbergs & many more, not that these aren't great beers, but I miss the nostalgia, the excitement, the drama that was associated with those beers   Few of the beers I enjoyed were

Sand Piper beer.. a super smooth beer. This beer looked great in those days due to the silver covering and was the least bitter of the lot.

Royal challenge (RC Beer) another light and smooth beer.

London Pilsner (LP). This is the beer I still enjoy for its light aromas and smooth flavor, This is the closest to sand piper in terms of taste. Also it was the least expensive.

Khajuraho: This beer was a bit stronger than the ones listed above and was a favorite among friends due to its exotic name.

Some stronger beers were

Knock out

Canon 10000

Zingaro 

These beers really had that punch to knock out one's brains.

Lion beer that was made by Mohan Meakin (the same company that makes XXX Old Monk Rum) was one of the first lager beers of Asia.

The golden eagle is another beer that they used to make. few years back they supplied only to the Indian army. Recently its made a comeback in the market.

I know a few of you hate beer because of the way it tastes, but the rest of you would surely agree with me that we Indians just love ‘our’ beer.

The way it was showcased in Delhi belly just endorses the fact that its an ultimate way to relax after a hard day’s work. 

So the next time you buy beer spare a thought for those Indian beers and if you get a chance, try them, enjoy them before they completely vanish behind the heavy marketing of international giants. 

Cheers!!!

Planning a cocktail party?

Being in the hospitality industry, I am always forced to assume a critic’s role whenever I am at a friend’s party, they want to know whether their choice of drinks is ok or the quantity of snacks is right etc. other times when I attend formal gatherings, I involuntarily  tend to start assessing  the host’s choice of venue, food, drinks music etc. I start thinking about the thought that may have gone behind the host’s choice & appreciate the effort taken to organize that event.

Many times I am amazed at the attention to detail people pay to host parties, these people are no where related to the hotel industry or any event organizing firm and still manage to plan some fantastic parties. Other times at some other parties I am compelled to think of improvements that could have made the party click. So here’s my question… What is that classic recipe for a great party….A party that would be remembered, a party that could highlight you as a super host…. Well the answer may not be a straight forward one but yes if one follows few basic guidelines & pepper it with their own individual style then chances are that they maybe able to perfect that classic recipe.   

 One of the easiest types of party to throw during any season is a cocktail party. Now, many of you may ask what exactly a cocktail party is, to cut the long story short it’s a kind of party that has a nice blend of a comfortable venue, cheerful guests, good music, delicious food and great drinks. 

Drinks would have to take the centre stage here, you may serve straight drinks, beers, wines, juices and cocktails (Cocktail: A mixed drink that has alcohol as a base & the rest of it is a juice or a mix of juices/carbonated drinks/syrups/squashes/fruits etc. with a good garnish & unique glassware.)

Here is a simple & easy to follow checklist for that special cocktail party

The first step in cocktail party planning is to select a comfortable venue, by comfortable I mean it should be easily accessible by your guests and should be large enough to accommodate them. The primary focus is the drinks along with good conversation. For this reason often there is not a lot of concern to have tables and seating for everyone, as the setting is more commonly designed for people to mill around as they munch and drink.

The next crucial step is to create your guest list. You do not want to target one personality type. Variety is the spice of life. Include guests that are interesting, cheerful, outgoing and friendly.

Music should be able to compliment the mood at the party, If you have a DJ then make the DJ understand the purpose of the party and the music choice likes & dislikes of the guests. Always remember a good DJ with a great collection of music can take your party to that next level.

Get as much of your food and decoration shopping done ahead of time as you can. Plan your menu out ahead of time and buy the necessary ingredients so you will have them on hand that day.

Decide on the number of glasses you will use, and what type. This 

usually is an overlooked item on this part of the planning stage, even though it is actually a high-priority aspect of any celebrated event.

Plan the kinds of finger foods you will serve and make arrangements to have them delivered an hour before the start of the party. The amount of food is optional on your party because it is not a dinner party.

Use special recipes in concocting your drinks. Keep printed copies of them readily available, just in case. Never fail to measure your mixes. Do not just estimate because your guests will not appreciate overly strong drinks.

Try new cocktail recipes or present new twist to the classic recipes, this way the guest can enjoy the pleasant new taste and you can showcase your skills as a great cocktail host.

The garnishes can be prepped ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator. The drinks you serve will determine what garnishes you need. I always prep limes, oranges, cherries, pineapples, cocktail onions and olives.

& finally always have on-hand plenty of ice, drink stirrers and cocktail napkins.

So there it is you have got yourself a checklist which should surely see you through a successful cocktail party.  Don’t forget to have fun.. cheers!