Ditch fancy meals, truffles and blueberries, going vocal for local can save you money
Restaurateurs reveal how going local can give you amuse-bouche on a budget.
By Glynda Alves, ET Bureau |
iStock
Going vocal for local produce is something that can cut down on your spending budget and also help with your big, stomping carbon footprint. Chefs and restaurant owners share what local counterparts we can use instead of the imported ingredients that usually come with a hefty price tag.
Nothing but truffle
Italian black truffles can cost Rs 19,000 per 450 gms and are sometimes hard to come by in the Indian market. Gauri Devidayal , founder of Food Matters Group, has a solution. “I would recommend switching out an Italian black truffle in a recipe with Kashmiri morels. They are full of umami and taste delicious,” she shares.
Keenan Tham, director of Pebblestreet Hospitality, has seen a rising trend in people eating raw fish in the city. One of his favourite dishes is Hamachi (white fish) Carpaccio. “You can recreate this using local red snapper as the flavour profile is mild, sweeter and doesn’t have a strong fishy flavour,” says Tham.
Pooja Dhingra, founder of Le15, swears by two hacks when it comes to swapping international for local produce on a budget. “Vanilla beans are usually very expensive and the best ones come from Madagascar. However, Indian vanilla beans from Kerala are a great replacement,” she shares. When it comes to a savoury stand-in, Dhingra suggests replacing quinoa with daliya (bulgar wheat) or amaranth.
Berry good
Chef Prateek Sadhu, co-owner of Masque, is a big fan of local produce and his gourmet budget tip is to skip the expensive, international berries. “Try local varieties of black raspberries, which have a subtle but fruitier flavour, or kafal, sweeter and less acidic than most of its cousins,” says Sadhu.
Executive Chef at Hunger Inc, Hussain Shahzad, agrees and adds, “Blueberries are revered for their distinct taste and bright colour, but a hefty price tag makes them inaccessible. Instead, opt for the Indian phalsa berry. Its sweet-tart flavour profile and bright purple hue make it ideal for sweet and savoury applications.”.
As fancy as it sounds, the idea of boosting immunity, has proven to be difficult to materialise in reality. For years, researchers from across the world have been struggling to figure out the accurate formula to achieve a good immune system. Until the formula is known, it is recommended to adopt a healthy lifestyle for an enhanced immune function, and to keep the body intact and healthy.
Making healthy lifestyle changes in terms of diet, exercise and managing stress, in addition to other factors, can go a long way in helping the immune system get the boost it requires.
On International Immunology Day, Chennai-based clinical nutritionist, lactation consultant and diabetes educator - Ramya Ramachandran - shares five tips that can give your life a healthy spin.
Nothing but truffle
Italian black truffles can cost Rs 19,000 per 450 gms and are sometimes hard to come by in the Indian market. Gauri Devidayal , founder of Food Matters Group, has a solution. “I would recommend switching out an Italian black truffle in a recipe with Kashmiri morels. They are full of umami and taste delicious,” she shares.
Keenan Tham, director of Pebblestreet Hospitality, has seen a rising trend in people eating raw fish in the city. One of his favourite dishes is Hamachi (white fish) Carpaccio. “You can recreate this using local red snapper as the flavour profile is mild, sweeter and doesn’t have a strong fishy flavour,” says Tham.
Pooja Dhingra, founder of Le15, swears by two hacks when it comes to swapping international for local produce on a budget. “Vanilla beans are usually very expensive and the best ones come from Madagascar. However, Indian vanilla beans from Kerala are a great replacement,” she shares. When it comes to a savoury stand-in, Dhingra suggests replacing quinoa with daliya (bulgar wheat) or amaranth.
Berry good
Chef Prateek Sadhu, co-owner of Masque, is a big fan of local produce and his gourmet budget tip is to skip the expensive, international berries. “Try local varieties of black raspberries, which have a subtle but fruitier flavour, or kafal, sweeter and less acidic than most of its cousins,” says Sadhu.
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Executive Chef at Hunger Inc, Hussain Shahzad, agrees and adds, “Blueberries are revered for their distinct taste and bright colour, but a hefty price tag makes them inaccessible. Instead, opt for the Indian phalsa berry. Its sweet-tart flavour profile and bright purple hue make it ideal for sweet and savoury applications.”.
Making healthy lifestyle changes in terms of diet, exercise and managing stress, in addition to other factors, can go a long way in helping the immune system get the boost it requires.
On International Immunology Day, Chennai-based clinical nutritionist, lactation consultant and diabetes educator - Ramya Ramachandran - shares five tips that can give your life a healthy spin.
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