With its purple watertight jacket encasing a firm white interior, the humble eggplant really doesn’t look like much. And indeed, on its own, it is pretty plain. But give it a stage and a couple of flavours to work with, and you will be marvelled by the things it can do. In this series, we…
Tag: Italian
The Mystique of Monochrome (Part 2)
Last time, we started our exploration of monochrome food with a close look at three out of seven dishes from the monochrome menu of Ottimo. This week, we will examine the remaining four dishes. As in every meal, not every course is perfect, and this menu too had its ups and downs. We will work…
The Pud Thickens (Part 1)
Starches and Gels There are a number of ways to thicken a sauce, soup or curry. Thickening helps intensify flavour and provide a better texture; a creamy clam chowder is definitely much more appealing than a watery bowl with bits of seafood floating in it. There are a number of possible thickening agents the resourceful…
La Dolce Vita
Italian Food 101 (Part 7) We’ve reached the final part of our Italian odyssey, where we end on a sweet note, talking about treats like gelatos and panna cotta, and finally wrap things up by talking about the importance of traditionalism in this fact-paced world of rapid change, innovation and fusion. Click on the link…
From Savoury to Sweet
Italian Food 101 (Part 6) We’re almost near the end of our journey, at that momentous point where we shift from the savoury domain to the realm of dessert. This week, we discuss Italian mains beyond heavy meat dishes, from veggies to seafood to even chicken. From there, we move on to dessert, with heavy…
Beyond Pastas and Pizzas
Italian Food 101 (Part 5) Italian food has a lot more to offer than just pastas and pizzas, and it’s time to look at some of the other classics of this amazing cuisine. We begin with the risotto, a particular favourite of our guest, before moving on to some other Italian meat dishes. Click on…
Pizza Italiano
Italian Food 101 (Part 4) Pizza is probably Italy’s most popular culinary export, and over time it has morphed into countless forms, from the classic Neapolitan pizza to Chicago’s deep dish, with toppings as varied as chicken tikka and pineapple. A pizza series will have to wait its turn. This time, we will stick strictly…
The Glorious Italian Antipasti
Italian Food 101 (Part 2) The Gourmet Glutton podcast is on its way. Last time, we kick-started our discussion of Italian food with Chef Apar Chatterjee with a look at the Italian antipasti. We looked at some of the integral components of any self-respecting antipasti platter, including the cold cuts and the breads. This time,…
Cold Cuts, Breads, and Beyond
Italian Food 101 (Part 1) Today, The Gourmet Glutton starts something new. A podcast. In the first season, we will talk about Italian cuisine. And who better to show us the way than Chef Apar Chatterjee, one of my oldest school friends who has tremendous knowledge of Italian food. Incidentally, it is also his birthday…
Red, White and Pink
The first plate of pasta I ever had was a 120-rupee plate of penne in red sauce from an obscure little restaurant in Shyambazar, North Kolkata, around 10 years ago. It had these tubes of pasta mixed up with all sorts of exotic veggies in a red sauce, sprinkled with a generous helping of dried…
The Gourmet Glutton 