KIDS in the KIDchen!

"That's pumpkin seeds, frozen banana and peanut butter! We're going to make smoothies and ice creams" announces a rather excited anika smiling all around. Her enthusiam is rather contagious!

When letsstalkfood walked into the kitchens at FRENCH TOAST, ten of the tiniest cooking enthusiasts you ever did see were busy chopping up a variety of vegetables in the best julienne style they could and wetting up rice paper to make some fresh veg rice paper rolls. There was a mise en place station lined with colourful bowls filled with vegetables and herbs. 

When KIDCHEN founders SANAA and JALAJA gave root to their project, little did they expect the kind of response and encouragement they would receive! Kidchen, a Bangalore based venture was brought about to inculcate a sense of culinary adventure amongst children. A variety of activities organized by Sanaa and Jalaja help children discover ingredients, flavours, much needed kitchen skills and the best of all, love for good food. “Helping kids develop a healthy attitude towards food is quite important to us” shares Jalaja.

The goodies on the menu were VEGETABLE RICE PAPER ROLLS, BANANA ICE CREAM and a healthy version of a FREAK SHAKE! Quite a handful for these little ones you might think but my god did they do a stunning job! Under constant supervision from the founders, the children, chopped up the vegetables (some even jumping up and down to name them all), wetted the rice paper rolls and quickly made lovely looking veg rolls. I asked a little Anitha for a bite of her perfectly made roll and she had this to say “I’m saving this for my mama!” How sweet!

Kidchen goes beyond cooking. It teaches children to create real meals with honest flavours. Children get to understand how different foods tastes, develop their science, math and motor skills; but most important of all, they learn how to work together, giving each other space and helping each other out. “At Kidchen, we encourage children to be curious about where their food comes from. Instead of restricting them, they have an opportunity to measure, chop, knead, whip, roll, count, grate, mix, follow instructions and lick their fingers” says Sanaa. Everything that I saw first hand!

Children are generally termed as being fussy eaters. This is probably because food has not been introduced to them in a delightful manner. Most children are made to sit in front of a plate of food and forced to finish every last crumb. This method might earn an empty plate but it also brings about a disinterest in understanding what makes good food and snaps the door shut on any culinary journey the child might go on. Kidchen aims at bringing children into a one on one mode with food and giving them control over their meals. Today the average amount of junk food children consume is alarming and Kidchen, with their workshops aims to create a dent in the growing trend. Cleverly incorporating vegetables and other healthy food items into forms they love, say spinach chips or carrot hummus is the kind of way this venture wants to go.

After the rice paper rolls were done, the children with utmost pride, cleared their work station themselves; mopping up any spilt water, throwing refuse into the bin provided and preparing themselves for the next dish. Sanaa lines up a few dishes on the work station and proceeds to tell the children about what NUT BUTTERS are. There were peanut, sunflower seed, cashew nut butters and the children were allowed to taste them all to determine what nut butter they liked the best (My favourite was the cashew!). 

Soon, the children chopped up bananas (using plastic knives) and guided by Jalaja, each of them had a go at the food processor. After the bananas were mashed up, they quickly placed them in the blast chiller to ready their banana ice cream! Then in wee bowls, more chopped banana was added and each child selected their favourite nut butter to mix in. Milk was poured in and the contents blitzed to mark the beginnings of the freak shake! 

The anticipation around me was absolutely palpable! While some of the tots filled their glasses with the shake, the others rushed to get their ice creams out of the chiller. How they jumped for joy when they discovered that it had achieved the perfect consistency! Sanaa and Jalaja then showed the kids how to decorate their glasses. The children skilfully lined their glasses with nut butter, sticking on delicious bites of caramel popcorn and pretty pink desiccated coconut. The delight on their faces was simply adorable!

There was such a sense of accomplishment and thrill that I unknowingly became part and parcel of the happy banter! Many of the kids saved their precious ice creams, shakes and rolls to share with their moms and dads and this gesture was simply wonderful. I think more than cooking skills or acquiring a love for food, children also learn the beautiful art of sharing.

The moment the parents walked in, the children ran to them holding up their prettily decorated glasses. How proud both parents and children were. I was so glad to have been part of that deliciously precious moment! I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of mothers while they enjoyed the treats their little ones had made for them. When asked about what they thought of the concept behind Kidchen “Absolutely! I think it is brilliant! Let them know what food is all about!” said one mum as she happily downed the freak shake. And when asked about how the ice cream and shake tasted “Healthy and very nice! I wouldn’t mind giving these to my children often!”

Sanaa and Jalaja, what a fantastic initiative! As mother to a two year old who shows an inclination towards cooking, I can’t wait for the next Kidchen workshop in Cochin!

Sanaa is a writer, passionate cook and is mama to a gorgeous little one. Free time always finds her cuddling under a blanket with a bottle of homemade peanut butter!

Jalaja is a writer and biker who loves to explore places and its wealth of people, music, culture, cuisine and experiences. She is currently learning to play a trumpet!

Follow Kidchen on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidchenbangalore/

                                Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidchen.in/

For enquiries on their next classes and workshops call: 9916660328, 9986663214

Walk inn hungry...Walk out happy!

“Tummy full and value for money! That’s our motto” says BABU DINESH, OWNER, WALK INN DINER at Panampilly Nagar. When Letsstalkfood was invited to review Walk Inn Diner, I had misjudged Babu’s effervescence over the phone. He bubbled over with sheer energy and proclaimed to be a proper Mumbaikar with his Heart set in Kerala. He further surprised me by speaking impeccable Malayalam whilst introducing himself and his food venture.

With an MBA in Marketing and Finance, Babu was always involved in his family business of garments and textiles manufacturing and export in Tirupur. He first tested waters with a popular establishment in the year 2000. Fan Fang was a well-received Chinese restaurant that had presence both in Mumbai and Cochin.

With over 10 years of experience in the restaurant business, the idea of starting a food venture with a unique offering, led to a re launch with Walk Inn Diner . “Our basic concept is to invite everyone to simply drop in, relax and have some delicious food” states Babu. The diner was first located on the Ground floor with about 4 tables serving sandwiches, burgers and a variety of drinks and desserts; it was a small set up with people thronging at their doors for their signature club sandwich. Post renovations, Walk inn Café has shifted one floor up with more seating area and a promise of a wider variety of cuisines: combo lunches and dinners, burgers, shakes, sandwiches, hot dogs, wraps and rolls

The café looks at providing its customers good value for their money. Quality, hygiene and taste are factors of equal importance. Babu feels that residents of Cochin are careful about where they spend their money. Even if it is to buy a glass of juice, one needs to feel completely satisfied and only then will that glass of juice get a repeat order. The same principle is followed here as well. Walk Inn Café delivers tasty food that is worth every penny! Tried, tasted and approved.

Pepper Chicken Burger

When asked about the USP of the café, Babu summed it up in one word “MINT”. “All of our dishes have incorporated mint in some form. That is what sets us apart.” I’d have to agree. I love mint! It tastes so fresh and vibrant and truly gives a different dimension to the dish it is used in! In fact, their their MINT-MAYO condiment is so popular, it has to be re made every 10-15 minutes! “We don’t keep sauces for a long time. We ensure that the house made sauces that we serve are made to order and are extremely fresh!” 

Mint Mayo Dip

The obvious next question would be why mint? We foodies have an arsenal of digestion abetting pills and liquids to aid us on our gastronomic journey and I’ve always felt most relief while consuming Pudin Hara. So yes, aiding healthful digestion was one of the aims of introducing mint into the menu. “I have noticed how people feel totally stuffed and bloated after consuming fast food and snacks and I want to eradicate this trend. I want the food I serve to be flavourful and light on the tummy.” I was assured that I would not feel the least bit stuffy or heavy after the tasting. “Let’s see” I thought to myself!

Babu has all his cheeses imported and vegetables and fruits brought in daily. Every part of the diner is inspected personally by him. I have done quite a few interviews and this was the first time a restaurant owner asked me to check out his kitchen and work area. My assessment? A place for everything and everything in its place. “Concern for quality is my biggest vice. I am stringent when it comes to the place being neat and the food we serve being of the best quality. I run a tight ship” he states simply.

Mix Double Cheesy Wrap with chicken and egg

I loved the personal rapport that Babu has with all his customers. Customers who walk in chat with him for a few minutes, place their order and leave all smiles. This personal interaction really helps cement the diner in the minds of its recurrent customers. Apart from the walk ins, there are quite a few delivery orders; especially for their sandwiches. “We have the office going crowd in during lunch time and after 5 in the evening, delivery orders start coming in. We also undertake party orders. Our best sellers would be our Walk inn CLUB SANDWICH and the Walk Inn SPECIAL BURGER which we have in both chicken and beef variants. We also have wraps and milkshakes, a popular one would be the KIT KAT SHAKE. However, we don’t serve aerated drinks.” Says Babu

Walk Inn Club Sandwich

At this point his mother Jaya walks in. The masterchef behind the recipes; especially that of the mayo mint dip, Jaya aunty was a bubby personality, full of life and enthusiasm. Chatting up with her, gave me a glimpse into how she discovered her cooking talents. Year after year of making goodies for her children’s birthday parties and the wonderful reception they received helped her understand where her potential lay. She’s been a rock hard support in the development of every aspect at Walk Inn Diner.

Chicken Chatpata Sandwich

With the Diner shifted to the first floor, branding exercises have begun in full swing, mainly over digital media. With the aim to create individuality and appeal in the minds of discerning customers, Walk Inn Diner has a vast menu that journeys across the orient apart from its offerings of sandies, burgers and other treats.

Honey Chilli Fries

Babu presented a selection of sandwiches and some Asian dishes to review. The CHICKEN CHATPATA SANDWICH was just as the name signified. Apart from the fresh tasting, homemade chicken patty, there was a layer of delicious potato filling that was absolutely lip-smacking! The second sandwich I tried was their famous WALK INN CHICKEN CLUB SANDWICH. A word of caution…do NOT be fooled by the size of this sandwich…it packs a sizeable punch! With layers of chicken, veges and egg, this sandwich left me with my happy face. What I liked best was that every bite was loaded with freshness! And yes, as Babu had said, it left my tummy happy, not heavy. I also tried the HONEY CHILLI POTATO FRIES. The fries were sufficiently crisp, thoroughly mixed with a honey and chilli based sauce. I would have liked a little more crispiness and a lot more of that sweet honey but it was a good dish none the less. The LEMONGRASS CHICKEN was something I was dreading because I am not a fan of lemongrass. Fortunately for me, the dish was more about the succulent, well-cooked pieces of chicken and the spicy sauce with just a hint of lemongrass at the end. Lemongrass fanatics need to dig into the gravy as it contained a good amount of chopped up lemon grass. 

Lemon Grass Chicken

But the one item that I have to say stood out the most was their MINT MAYO DIP. Oh my god! It was pure heaven! I could not get enough of it! In fact, I wanted to smother it on everything! I mean, what was there not to love? The creaminess of mayo marries perfectly with the freshness of mint and that final sprinkling of chilli flakes to add a little fire make a perfect little dip!

“Branding is our future agenda” says Babu “We want our food to speak for itself. Yes, we will be pushing our brand through various arenas but at the end of the day, our food should have the final say. We have re vamped our menu but we have stuck to being a simple café that delivers good taste”. All the very best Babu! Letsstalkfood can’t wait to “WALK INN” again (especially for that mint mayo dip!)

Walk Inn Diner is located at: Main Avenue, Panampilly Nagar, 1^st floor, Opposite to Bank of Baroda