Now, ice-creams go designer
After specially-designed costumes, accessories, sets, and mandaps in big fat Indian weddings, it is ice-creams that are now going designer.
By Purva Bhatia, TNN |
AHMEDABAD: After specially-designed costumes, accessories, sets, and mandaps in big fat Indian weddings, it is ice-creams that are now going designer. Savour a ‘paan ice-cream’ or burn your tongue with a 'chilly ice-cream' at weddings you attend this season. Wedding caterers say there is a rising demand for ice-creams that not only taste different but also have good aesthetic appeal. Mumbai-based caterer Vinit Modi of Chetak Caterers, says: "We provide various flavours as rare as chilly ice-creams, paan ice-creams and mix 'n' match kulfis.
Italian Gelato, prepared with fresh fruit and other ingredients such as pure chocolate, cocoa, dried fruit and nuts, cookies or sweets is also the flavour of this wedding season. Demand for exotic ice-cream flavours has risen by 15-20% from previous season."
Indian marriages have become style statements with innovations in the choice of venue, delectable cuisines, themes, and exotic flowers.
Willingness to experiment and 'look different' has encouraged people to try things like these. Swati Pandya Sood of Bollywood Secrets says the concept is increasingly becoming a trend in high-profile weddings. "Culinary experimentation was till now restricted to different cuisines from within and outside India. Icecreams, though a part of every wedding, were not much innovated," she says.
Such ice-creams have a long manufacturing process and are therefore, much expensive than regular ones. The concept is, therefore, just limited to high-end weddings right now. "The price range for these ice creams starts from Rs 450 per kg and goes much beyond that depending upon the flavours," says Vinit Modi.
"People usually love to adopt innovative concepts in weddings to show off a certain international consciousness. Adventurous cuisines and desserts are now becoming a fad in Indian weddings. Italian ice-creams, Ricotta cheese flavor, Guava ice creams and frozen desserts including ice-cream cakes are high on demand," says Sumer Mehta, Delhi-based Kitchen Art.
The trend has, however, not yet caught up down South at all. Bangalore based wedding planner Saif Abdali, Maverick Entertainment, says, "Innovations in weddings has just been restricted to just locations as of now. People aren't too willing to experiment with food and designer ice cream is something not even heard of here." Agrees Joe of T J Wedding Planners, Bangalore, who had not heard of such a concept.
Though top brands in north have not introduced any special range for weddings or parties, some of the local brands have lots to offer. Vadilal is introducing a range of what it calls 'artisan ice creams'. "Considering people's demand for something innovative in ice creams for weddings and parties we are adding a range 'Artisan ice creams' this season. We will have three layered Tartufo, an Italian ice cream dessert made of gelato; a range of fruit shaped and sweets shaped ice creams, decorated with varakh and nuts," says Rajesh Gandhi, managing director, Vadilal.
Havmor, in Gujarat, has a party special menu. "During the wedding season we have a special range of ice creams which are not available otherwise. Kulfis are preferred the most along with sweet-shaped ice creams. Our four-flavoured Vibgyor kulfi is quite popular.
Italian Gelato, prepared with fresh fruit and other ingredients such as pure chocolate, cocoa, dried fruit and nuts, cookies or sweets is also the flavour of this wedding season. Demand for exotic ice-cream flavours has risen by 15-20% from previous season."
Indian marriages have become style statements with innovations in the choice of venue, delectable cuisines, themes, and exotic flowers.
Willingness to experiment and 'look different' has encouraged people to try things like these. Swati Pandya Sood of Bollywood Secrets says the concept is increasingly becoming a trend in high-profile weddings. "Culinary experimentation was till now restricted to different cuisines from within and outside India. Icecreams, though a part of every wedding, were not much innovated," she says.
Such ice-creams have a long manufacturing process and are therefore, much expensive than regular ones. The concept is, therefore, just limited to high-end weddings right now. "The price range for these ice creams starts from Rs 450 per kg and goes much beyond that depending upon the flavours," says Vinit Modi.
"People usually love to adopt innovative concepts in weddings to show off a certain international consciousness. Adventurous cuisines and desserts are now becoming a fad in Indian weddings. Italian ice-creams, Ricotta cheese flavor, Guava ice creams and frozen desserts including ice-cream cakes are high on demand," says Sumer Mehta, Delhi-based Kitchen Art.
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Besides popularity of international flavours, it is the traditional kulfi that is becoming designer. "Even if people have all western cuisine they like to have kulfi in desserts. The demand for kulfis as well as kulfas (Pakistani ice-cream) has risen this year. We have tricolor kulfis served in thellas, which is how people like the dessert best," says Sumer Mehta. The trend has, however, not yet caught up down South at all. Bangalore based wedding planner Saif Abdali, Maverick Entertainment, says, "Innovations in weddings has just been restricted to just locations as of now. People aren't too willing to experiment with food and designer ice cream is something not even heard of here." Agrees Joe of T J Wedding Planners, Bangalore, who had not heard of such a concept.
Though top brands in north have not introduced any special range for weddings or parties, some of the local brands have lots to offer. Vadilal is introducing a range of what it calls 'artisan ice creams'. "Considering people's demand for something innovative in ice creams for weddings and parties we are adding a range 'Artisan ice creams' this season. We will have three layered Tartufo, an Italian ice cream dessert made of gelato; a range of fruit shaped and sweets shaped ice creams, decorated with varakh and nuts," says Rajesh Gandhi, managing director, Vadilal.
Havmor, in Gujarat, has a party special menu. "During the wedding season we have a special range of ice creams which are not available otherwise. Kulfis are preferred the most along with sweet-shaped ice creams. Our four-flavoured Vibgyor kulfi is quite popular.
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We have Mango Barfi ice-cream which looks like a barfi with varakh or silver-foil on it; Dry fruit Katri ice-cream; ice creams with a base of malai and nuts; kesar bhog with golden foil on it. Such ice creams cost anywhere between Rs 20 to Rs 30 per head," says Kamal Dixit, marketing head, Havmor.Too busy to trade in stocks? Invest in Mutual Funds with ET Money!
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