Natural Yoghurt

Natural low fat Yoghurt. I bought this small cup of Marigold Yoghurt at Cheers outlet at En Teng Fong hospital.

I am not sure of the content of fat but it was so thick that it felt like glue. The cup says natural. But totally loaded with sugar.

I think the consumer forums should be formed to test products and approve the lables before they enter the market. This product's labeling is very misleading as it is not at all natural.

Gold bought in India

Now a days there is a huge discussion on the quality of gold sold in India. Big brands are charging premium rates claiming that the gold quality is maintained. Small retailers are charging huge sums claiming they have to survive.

Whatever is the reason, there are a hundred ways in which the consumer is being robbed of money and peace of money.

How to know the quality of gold ornament? Here in the picture, are two sets of ear rings I bought from a shop in Hyderabad, India at two different times. The shop is the same but the quality of gold can be witnessed after a couple of years.

When gold ornaments are made, depending on the design, different pieces are made and attached to create a single piece. To attach pieces, again gold is used. Its like soldering. However, to save gold, the manufacturer can use copper or another metal to glue design pieces together.

In the photo above, the top picture shows blackish bluegreen shades at design joints. Here the manufacturer used a low quality metal to attach the design pieces. The picture below shows no such colouring. It means it is a complete gold piece. In the above pic, the gold shade has gone down a couple of degrees than the one in the bottom.

It is difficult to know the quality of gold immediately unless one takes the piece to another jeweler and offers to sell it.

Gold purchase in India is very fascinating but a daunting task to a customer to make it a clean purchase.

How good are pain killers?

 Its not just Ibuprofen. In fact, many pain killers and medications are not good for long term or for frequent use. All the modern medicines are nothing but a combination of known chemicals
clinically tested to ease a discomfort. However, clinically tested cannot be 100% sure of every possible scenario that is present in the real world. That is the reason drug companies issue warning in small print about their limitations.

We have to personally understand our own system and make sure that we do not abuse the natural healing process.

Anything in limits is good.

Paradise Biryani - Hyderabad, India

Paradise Biryani.

I remember this Paradise Biryani from my good old school days. Those days travelling to Secundrabad to have a meal was a great deal. In fact going to a restaurant itself was a huge event. However I used to hear some of my non-vegetarian friends talk about a biryani shop with drooling mouths and dreamy eyes.

When I reached college, I said enough is enough. Even if they don't serve vegetarian stuff, I am going once. I felt left out! When I reached the place with my entourage, and got seated, then the reality stuck me. What am I going to do when all are feasting on their chickens and muttons? I decided to take a chance and called the waiter and softly asked him if he can get me something, ANYTHING vegetarian. He got puzzeled and asked why I don't order Biryani? I said, I cannot. He got more puzzled and confused. Then I blurted out that I am a vegetarian and cannot eat Biryani. Then he asked if I have a problem with the Biryani or being a vegetarian. This was my turn to get confused. I said neither. This so called puzzling and confusing and talking went on for a few mnts. Finally it was he who got it and simply said, Would you like to order Vegetarian Biryani? I took a moment before saying Yes.

I was under the impression that Biryani was made only with chicken or mutton. Our vegetarian biryani was made at home by mom and grandmother. Restaurants were relatively few and far, I had no idea that they could serve biryani. That too at the famous Paradise Biryani.

Those days and even today, Paradise is famous for its Dum Biryani , Chicken or Mutton. For vegetarian version, there is no Dum as it is not required for the vegetables to cook.

After the first encounter, my perception of biryani changed. Wherever I went, and was offered vegetarian biryani, at the first spoonful, my mind checks it with the Paradise Biryani. Nah! till now I didn't find equal to it. A different version I had was at Asha's in Dubai. Thats a different story.

Recently Paradise Biryani opened many outlets. Thanks to McDonald's virus culture. Paradise Biryani is now not only available at Paradise, Secunderabad, it is available at many places in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad. I have to check if it is in any other city too.

A couple of weeks ago as I stepped into the Paradise Biryani, I started wondering if the Biryani tastes same. Do they still make it as fresh as it can be? or like any other franchise outlet, the taste and the service are diluted?

We ordered Vegetarian Biryani and waited for its arrival with a sort of excitement as a kid waiting for his birthday cake. At the first sight, ok, the version changed but still looked good. As it was served, the aroma from the freshly cooked spices and vegetables touched my nostrils and made me salivated.

The first spoon into my mouth confirmed that it is the Paradise Biryani. Yeah I found less vegetables in the portion. But the masala paste felt sooooooo good that I got ready to finish the entire portion without sharing with my husband. OK. Finally I couldn't. The portion was simply enough for both of us. The cloves, cardamoms, Anise, dalchini were generously added.

Usually now a days any restaurant is adding extra chillies to "spice" up the dish or put some more oil to make the spices sizzle a little more. However, we found the biryani almost "oil-less"! As we all know that it is not possible to make biryani without oil, what i meant to say is that, the oil and the chillies used were very balanced!

Do I go ago again? Of Course!

Hot Chocolate craze at ION

Hot Chocolate - my all time favourite. Anytime of the day. Any weather. Anywhere, possible. I look for hot chocolate for dessert, early morning drink, after supper, mid day casual, client meetings, family outings, girl-gossip moments, or on date with my husband. Its just hot chocolate for me.

On one of such moments, I came across this hot cup of chocolate drink in ION Orchard. May be it is the same at every outlet of DUNKIN DONUTS. However, as I have not tried in any other outlet, I will talk only about this outlet.

First of all, the girl at the counter was very nice. Usually the part-time students are grumpy by evening. Either they are stressed trying to remember all the instructions or they are simply tired. But this girl at the counter greeted me and my husband with a nice smile. She listened when I said I want my hot chocolate to be really hot with no sugar. This part of listening is very important to me as many counter staff totally ignore it thinking if they don't serve it cold, then it is hot. Even Starbucks staff failed many times to listen to my request.

When my hot chocolate arrived, I opened the cap, sipped on it, I instantly knew, I will be back for many more cups of hot chocolate if not for donuts. Long ago I realised that plain donuts without a hint of extra sugar powdering with chilli sauce is my type. The variety of donuts and DUNKIN DONUTS are absolutely fabulous. But a diabetic like me, its once in a year treat. I hope companies understand the increasing problems with excess sugar and still come up with good snacks.

Anyway, so far, in Singapore, DUNKIN DONUTS at ION is my spot on place for hot chocolate treat!!

Cream Cheese - Sweet Chilli

Mable's Sweet Chilli

To my Indian eyes, Chilli is like a flower to a bee! Though I thought of it hard and long going around Mustafa, seriously contemplating on the pros and cons of buying a non Asian product which says Chilli.

Money, of course I have to pay for good quality. Chilli, how hot will it be? Sweet, how much of sugar added? Sweet Chilli, is there something like that? Cream Cheese, does it mean its just very smooth or additional cream is added? If additional cream is added, then will it be chilli enough for my taste palate?

After 30 mnts of back and forth, inside and outside trolley, I bought home one packet thinking it will be a good adventure if not anything else.

It turns out to be a cheese with added cream and sugar with bell pepper and a hint of Jalapeno.

To me as the red bell peppers already not considered as "chilli" enough, adding sugar and cream literally made it sweet cheese.

However, the company's Rennet Free claim made it worth buy and try. May be not chilli enough to me or in fact to any SEAsian, I am sure many vegetarians around the world will love it on their warm bread slices for their early morning breakfast.

Fruit Cheese - Melon & Mango

As a vegetarian, I go around look for new food options and tastes. One of such quests took me to Mustafa's diary section. Loads and loads of varities of butter and cheese. From various sources. As I carefully scrolled through the ingredients, I found this fruit cheese.

No animal rennet.

The taste was little strange to my Indian tongue. I never mixed Melon and Mango. In this cheese there was more melon than mango. It is smooth and the very sweet.

I prefer to have it on focacia bread type than on any plain or milk bread.

Will buy again? Perhaps no. Too sweet and smooth for me.