BRING FLAVOR INTO YOUR THANKSGIVING MEAL

By

Hari Nayak

Thanksgiving is a time when friends and family come together and enjoy the warmth and comfort of food cooked using traditional recipes. Traditions are a big part of the Thanksgiving holiday, and every family has their own way of celebrating. This is perhaps the only meal of the year when you know what to expect at the dinner table. But since I celebrate Thanksgiving with my extended family in the US, I always expect the unexpected! Trust us to add a desi twist to everything around us! I have been served quite unusual items like Tandoori Turkey kati roll!!! Mutton Curry and Take out Indo- Chinese to name a few. Loved it!

 

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MOTHERS DAY

TOP AMERICAN RESTAURANTS!!!!!!!!

There are two main families of salmon: Pacific and Atlantic. When buying salmon in a fish market, you might have the option of wild or farm-raised The taste, texture and cost between wild and farmed can be significantly different, so determine which type will work for the dish you’re planning to prepare before you buy.

Wild Wild salmon is dense and lean, with a more complex flavor than farmed. The vast majority of it comes from Alaskan rivers, and is caught between mid-May and late September.Salmon is generally designated by species (king, silver, sockeye) and the waters it was pulled from (Copper River, Columbia River, etc.).All commercially available wild salmon is Pacific salmon. There are seven species of Pacific salmon, but only three are commonly sold fresh: king or Chinook; sockeye or red; and coho or silver.Fresh wild salmon remains seasonal and in limited supply. It doesn't come cheap-it's normally about three times the price of farmed. Much of the wild salmon catch is canned or frozen and sold during the off-season.

Farmed

Pairing wine with Indian food is challenging, as there are a lot of competing spices and seasonings to contend with. Here are some suggestions and guidelines when selecting wines for Indian cuisine.

Kelly Magyarics Wine Consultant of www.trywine.net says

Gewürztraminer: Since “gewürztraminer” literally means “spicy grape” in German, this wine can pair perfectly with the spices and seasonings in Indian cuisine, especially ginger and cardamom. And since many bottles have a bit of residual sugar, gewürztraminer will tame the heat in curries and other spicy dishes.

Riesling: With aromas and flavors of crisp apple and peach, good acidity, and often a hint of sweetness, riesling is a match made in heaven for Indian cuisine. Try a glass or a bottle the next time you have a curry dish made with fruit like peaches or apricots. And, as with gewürztraminer, the touch of sugar in the wine will counter the heat in chili peppers and other spices.

Make this the most romantic meal of the year

Avoid abandoning your valentine too long between courses by choosing dishes you feel confident about. Prepare as much as possible in advance and focus on enjoying dinner — not to mention the fun that'll ensue after you eat!

Set the scene for romance. Use your fanciest tableware, low bowls of floating candles, fresh flowers and a sumptuous tablecloth. Or, go exotic by decorating with tea lights, colorful place settings and a couple of comfortable cushions on the ground for seating.

Keep portions small and enjoy your meal at a leisurely pace to avoid feeling overstuffed on rich foods. (The goal here is to create a meal that excites — but doesn't overload — the senses.)

If you both love to cook, plan and prepare the meal together. Designate one head chef to avoid arguments about techniques or taste. If you both love to lead, then just alternate years.

Little touches make all the difference. Try warming plates in the oven, adding elegant garnishes or selecting just the right stemware to set the mood.