Celebrations galore!

 

 

The countdown to the end of the year has already begun, so here’s wishing everyone a belated Merry Christmas – hope you all had a great time with fun, food, family and friends! Just a few more days left when we all will usher into the New Year – let us all make some realistic resolutions and complete them in full spirits!

We celebrated Christmas in the office with the colour theme of red and white and some surprise gifts for all from the Secret Santa. Unwrapping presents in any form is always exciting and it sure makes one a child again!

In Bahrain today for The Yellow Chilli’s first anniversary celebrations. Time really flies – its already a year since I had gone to open the store there. TYC at Seef Mall, Bahrain is no more an infant. People all over Bahrain visit and patronize this place.

Today, the day will begin with an interview at Your FM Studio, following that, a meeting and lunch at Sun City Venture’s new office with directors. Next in line will be the cake cutting ceremony and press interactions later in the evening and finally the day shall end with a Road Show at The Yellow Chilli store. It’s always ecstatic to be a part of any event related to TYC…and similar is the case with this one. All charged up for a great day filled with some amazing food, interactions with enthusiastic people and an exciting time!

After all of this, I have a morning flight to Dubai on December 28, 2012. Dubai has 3 restaurants of mine namely Options, Khazana and Signature. All doing well and creating waves…various events, meetings and trials lined up. A two-day trip and I shall be back to India on December 30, 2012.

Just after my return, will be again tied-up with the shoots of Master Chef India Season 3. The technical will happen on January 2, 2012 and then the actual shoots will begin. Meanwhile, in office, there is a round of shoots for Youtube with Chef Anupa doing videos for beginners. Keep a watch on our channel “sanjeevkapoorkhazana” to catch the easy recipes. Will keep on updating as and when more of the schedules unfold.

All set for today and more to come in the coming days…

 
Till I write again.
Sanjeev Kapoor

 

Christmas Undertakings

As the Christmas day approaches the feverish activities reaches its peak. Ingredients for the Christmas cakes and cookies are shopped from the choicest of specialty shops. Guest lists are made and menus decided with much animated discussions. Homes are spruced up, with whatever paint or polish touch-ups needed to make it look absolutely spotless. It is time to shop for new furnishings and linen so that freshness comes into the home to welcome the Lord. Dried fruits and nuts are soaked in rum and kept away till they are needed for the cakes and cookies to be made for the big day. The centre pieces that steal the show are the Christmas cakes and baked goodies. Goodies smeared and loaded with the richness of chocolate and whipped cream. The delectable layered treats with the goodness of fruity surprises are homemade and exchanged as gifts on the Christmas day.

On the Christmas Eve sincere Christians will not miss Midnight Mass which is held to rejoice the birth of the Lord with prayers, hymns and carols. People come to Church dressed up in their new clothes and pray with full devotion. Greetings of ‘Merry Christmas’ reverberate in the air and it is nearly at dawn that they enter their homes for a short nap if at all there is time for it! The children are restless for their gifts and early Christmas morning they rush to where their gifts await. As gifts are exchanged, the cake is cut, vintage wine brought out and members of the family toast each other and wish for happiness and prosperity.

The meal most often relished on the occasion of Christmas is the family Christmas dinner. In India due the diverse regional difference the main dish can be stuffed-chicken or turkey served along with stir fried vegetables and a rich sauce that oozes with the aromas of local spices used in the dish. Other popular items include Chicken-and-Spinach Casserole, Barbecued Chicken Lasagna, Chicken Cutlets, Vindaloo etc. Chicken or mutton biryani and sometimes the expensive turkey biryani is prepared and consumed widely during the Christmas time. While, vegetarian menus include Vegetable-and-Rice Casserole, Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie, Corn-and-Cashew Cutlets, Mint Salad, etc. Desserts like home-made Banana-Chocolate Pancakes, Christmas Plum Cake, Chocolate Cups with Chocolate Mousse, Eggless Pineapple Mousse, Frozen Fruit Pudding, Apple Brandy Cheese Cake, Cherry Berry Cheesecake,and Quick Strawberry Cheese Cake,among many others ensure that you wind up the Christmas meal merrily.

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Chicken and Spinach Casserole
Quick Strawberry Cheese Cake

                  

Busy Week Endeavors

 

Press conferences, shoots, sessions and meetings are keeping me busy this week. Yesterday, the entire day was dedicated to the grooming sessions for the upcoming Master Chef Season 3 with Star TV, while in my office studio second day shoot of “Maa Ki Daal”- show was going on.

The winners of Maa Ki Daal contest held in different societies, malls and all over Mumbaiare participating in the show, which is being hosted by Chef Harpal. This show has already generated a lot of interest amongst all and the buzz is getting stronger. Tata i-Shakti Dal (pulses) -the main sponsor of the show is quite upbeat about the outcome of the events and how the show is shaping up.

Chef Anupa from my team is judging the dal recipes prepared by various contestants and I am sure she must have not eaten this much of dals in her entire life! This show is really turning out to be very special; recently my mother graced the office sets with her presence and cooked her special Maa Chole De Dal. Her dal recipe was quite a hit and we both (Alyona and me) immensely appreciated it.

Also, “Secret Recipe” season 2 is in full gear. The show went on air from December 15, 2012 at 7.30 pm on FOODFOOD and was quite a hit. Don’t miss the upcoming episodes!

Next the very important cause of Autism cannot be missed. So, as and when time permits yours truly is training and running around to show support and solidarity to the worthy cause. I am giving my support to The Forum for Autism, a registered Charitable Trust, which is the parent support group, formed to help out parents of the Autistic children in our society. United Way of Mumbai is the Official Charity Partner to the Standard Chartered Mumbai who is organizing a Marathon run in January 2013 to spread awareness and raise adequate funds. Do not forget to participate.

Got to run for now…

Till I write again.
Sanjeev Kapoor