VANILLA NO MORE!

“I love simple cakes. Whichever cake I make, I want people to want to immediately cut a big slice and eat it!” says LAKSHMI RATISH, Owner and Baker at VANILLA BEAN CAKES, Tripunithura.

My introduction to Lakshmi’s baked delights was truly serendipitous in nature. Many months ago, my boss walked in with a box full of cute little chocolate cupcakes. As corny as it may sound, it was love at first bite! I had yet to taste a cake as moist as the one I was chomping on! And that buttercream! It was something special indeed! Unfortunately, the box didn’t have a label and I was left floundering for a little while. A few hours later, after a ton of enquiries I finally zoned in on Lakshmi and Vanilla Bean Cakes.

In my quest for good food and terrific food entrepreneurs, I always like to shine the spotlight on those who want the edibles they make to create a difference. Lakshmi is one such person! “More than anything else, my research is on how to make my cakes as moist as possible. I don’t use any artificial ingredients to do the work for me. Naturally enhanced moistness is the key factor I focus on when I bake my cakes.”

And moist it is! Lakshmi’s cakes have this fantastic combination of textures which I love! Her cakes are dense but with a moistness that is beyond compare! That is the kind of cake I love indulging in! Before settling in Cochin, Lakshmi was an HR manager working in a leading oil and gas company. She came into baking purely by chance, again serendipitous! A horrible mishap with her daughter’s first birthday cake led her to vow that only she would bake her daughter’s birthday cakes in the future. One thing led to another and for over 3 years, Lakshmi has been baking for her family and friends. Finally in 2015, Vanilla Bean Cakes took root and there has been no turning back.

“I’m someone who cannot sit idle. I constantly want to keep myself engaged in something or the other” she says as she sat on the couple rapidly shaking her foot “The orders for my cakes and cupcakes come from mostly word of mouth. I’ve been blessed to have many repeat clients.”

The home baking scene is quite competitive in Cochin and Lakshmi agrees as well. “There are so many enterprising home bakers in Cochin! The competition is intense. What I feel that if what you give your customer is tasty, then they will keep coming back to you. I love that customers are slowly straying from the usual chocolate and vanilla and trying to experiment with various flavours and types of cakes. I personally love naked cakes!”

Lakshmi has one basic cake flavour: Vanilla, which is a special recipe which she tweaks to produce a myriad of different flavours and textures. Her forte is heavy, dense moist cake and I for one am not complaining. She recalled some of her top favourite cake orders. “One of my most favourite orders was an orange clutch bag I made for a customer’s fiancée. He was just getting to know her and asked me to make a cake in the form of her favourite clutch purse in her favourite colour, orange. It came out well. This has infact turned out to be one of my signature cakes.”

Lakshmi focuses on simple cakes that look homemade and taste delicious. Vanilla Bean Cakes has baked goodies for every budget.  “I love doing tall cakes! They are so pretty! Customers are slowly getting attuned to varieties and that’s a relief because there are so many things I want to try” gushes Lakshmi. But it’s not been a pleasure trip all along. There have been several challenges that have been overcome, especially as mum to a rather energetic pre schooler. Word of mouth is considered to be the most effective medium but Lakshmi agrees that she needs to up her online promotions. As a staunch believer doing things yourself, Lakshmi has come a long way as a home baker. “Learning on your own gives your cakes a signature touch. There is a lot of research that goes into perfecting a recipe and I enjoy it!”

Lakshmi had a hoard of goodies waiting for me to sample. A box of RED VELVET AND CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES, they were super moist and chewy with the knobs of cream cheese adding a lovely tanginess that cuts through the rich red velvet. 

Another flavour profile with the red velvet was a box of RED VELVET CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE. It may sound like just another cupcake but oh wow! The moist factor is out of this world! 

The final box contained some BLUEBERRY CUPCAKES WITH LEMON BUTTERCREAM. The cake was as always dense yet moist with hidden jewels of blueberries, topped with a seriously delicious lemon buttercream frosting!

Lakshmi had only encouragement for all home bakers and home makers who are would be food entrepreneurs in the making “Do not sit idle. Every person is born with a unique talent, all you have to do is use it! So take that first step, you will thank yourself that you did!”

For orders please call: 9995147119

Visit Vanilla Bean Cakes at: www.instagram.com/vanillabeancakescochin

A SQUEEZE of goodness!

“Almost 1kg of fruits and vegetables go into making 300 ml of Rawsqueezed juice” says Tess James of RAWSQUEEZED.

With refreshing cold pressed juices delivered to your doorstep, RAWSQUEEZED and its army of five have been making waves in Cochin. The moment I saw the ad for their website on Facebook, I knew I had to try the product. Enter into a cheery website that offered a cornucopia of juices from the simple (Pure Carrot and Pure Orange) to complex concoctions (Liver Lover- Baby Spinach, Carrot and Celery and ABC- Apple Beetroot and Carrot). The wide varieties have one thing in common; they are absolutely delicious and hearty!

“We were a bunch of friends who love great food and always wanted to start a food related business. After several discussions and research, we came to conclude that quality fresh juice delivered home was a niche that was waiting to be filled. We started digging into recipes and consulting nutritionists about a year back. Six months ago SARUN MURALI, Founder imported the required cold press machinery to Cochin and we had a soft launch on April 6^th”, shares Tess  who is the brand consultant, content writer, and advisor to RawSqueezed. She works with alternative movements and ideologies close to earth, community and self-care.   

Cochin has been a slightly tough nut to crack when it comes to innovative products, especially the ones lean toward a heavier price range. Rawsqueezed first hit Infopark with a selection of their juices, talking to customers about the health benefits each mix offered and by two in the afternoon, they were completely sold out! With awareness spreading amongst Kochiities, the number of bottles sold slowly started to rise, and with many loyalists ordering juice daily, Rawsqueezed will be starting subscriptions from next month on.

Pure Pomegranate

“I think the biggest challenge we have faced is the feedback about the pricing range of our products” says Tess as she divulges into the amount of effort taken to produce each bottle of juice. First off, the difference between a regular juicer and a cold press machine needs to be understood. In the former, fruits and vegetables need to be mercilessly chopped up and ground bringing about a large amount of wastage. In the latter however fruits and veges can be added whole (skinned) and the machine ensures that every drop of juice is extracted. The remaining waste can be used as bio compost. To get a better idea about how a cold press machine works, visit this link:COLD PRESS MACHINE

More than the amount of wastage, the way the juice tastes in both methods is extremely different. Juices from cold press machines taste vastly fresher, thicker and almost alive! It leaves one invigorated and refreshed!

The quality and safety aspect of fruits and vegetables used for juices is another concern raised by customers. The company is hoping to build their own organic farm source in the near future but for the time being, only the choicest fruits and vegetables (seasonally available) are sterilized and detoxified before it hits the machine. “70% of the so called ‘organic’ produce available in the markets are a sham. In the current scenario, having juice would be considered safer than having a fruit or vegetable whole!” says Tess.

We are joined by Chef James Antony who has over 10 years of experience working with major hotel brands from the likes of Sheraton, Dubai to Taj, India. Pursuance of his food dream lead to him joining the Rawsqueezed team and has been juicing up a storm ever since!  “Rawsqueezed is not just about throwing some raw ingredients together. There is a lot of tasting and balancing of flavours to be made before the product reaches the customer. We use no sugar or preservatives and produce juices aimed not just at quenching thirst but to provide specific health benefits” says Chef James. “For example, COLD BREEZE: Cucumber, Pineapple and Mint is great to ease joint pain, KIWI LOVE- Kiwi, Green Apple, Cucumber and Mint is chockfull of Vitamin C and MIRACLE GREEN- Spinach, Parsley, Cucumber, Lemon, Green Apple and Celery is a Vitamin and Antioxidant factory!”

The team however makes it clear that no amount of fresh juice would substitute a good, healthy food filled with fibre. Raw Squeezed promotes a ‘HEAL YOUR GUT’ option on their website which has an array of detox juices that help your body get the adequate rest it requires.

ABC

The team is planning to add Kottayam, Calicut and Trivandrum into their range of delivery but for the time being they plan to create more awareness and attain more customers in Cochin. With the concept of holistic living and natural hygiene in mind, Rawsqueezed has in mind to include smoothies, a variety of nut milks, chia seeds and cococnut milk based drinks in the near future. They are currently researching good options for drinks during the monsoon.

Pure Carrot

“The community needs to be educated. People need to understand the wealth of goodness our products offer. Cold pressed juice is raw and hence is teeming with live enzymes, carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. With Rawsqueezed, you get your daily target of required nourishment from fruits and vegetables for your body in its most easily absorbable form.”

Cold Breeze

Chef James had brought me three juices to try: ABC- Apple, Beetroot and Carrot, PURE CARROT and COLD BREEZE. I was a little skeptical about the mix of fruits and vegetables but oh wow! It was so good! Rich and thick with the sweetness of Apple and Carrot and an earthy tang of beet,  ABC was a hearty drink. PURE CARROT has become a favorite drink period! It tastes smooth, sweet and nourishing. COLD BREEZE was like a invigorating whisper of cucumber with the sweetness of Pineapple highlighted with fresh mint.

Miracle Green

I am a fan and constant customer. End of story!

For more details/ to place an order, visit: RAWSQUEEZED

Other team member details:

-          SARUN MURALI (Founder)- A vegetarian by choice and an avid cold presser at home, Sarun started the project in early 2016. Passionate about food and owner of Shradha Speciality Products, he has been dreaming about into the business of food for many years.

-          JAYADEV SUKUMARAN (Marketing Manager)- With over 14 years of experience in sales and marketing, Jayadev joined rawsqueezed with the understanding that his wealth of experience and capacity to learn quickly in new environments would help his close friend’s dream venture.

-          JOJI BABU (Delivery Manager)- Handles deliveries across Cochin. With more than 8 years of experience in sales and marketing, his patience and jovial attitude comes highly valued at Rawsqueezed.

-          AJITH (Technical Consultant)- also known as the “Machine Doctor” at Rawsqueezed, he takes care of the cold press and is an ingenious technician.

COFFEE BISCUIT PUDDING

COFFEE BISCUIT PUDDING is a poorer cousin of the Tiramisu which takes half the effort to make with no compromise whatsoever on taste. A non bake dessert so rich and delightful, you'll look forward to every get together to show off this yum treat! 

INGREDIENTS: 

Custard powder- 3 tbsp

Condensed milk- 1 tin

Milk- 2 packets

Marie Biscuits- 1 small pack

Sugar- 8-10 tsp

Cashews- chopped 50 gms

Coffee powder- 2 tsp

Water- Half Cup

Cherries- To garnish

Method:

To prepare the CUSTARD: 

- In a large saucepan, add one and a half packets of milk, one tin of condensed milk and bring to a slow boil.

- Add the custard powder into the remaining half litre of milk, mix till fully dissolved.

- Pour the custard mix very slowly into the boiling condensed milk mixture. 

- Stir till the mixture thickens. And switch off the stove.

- Roughly chop some cashewnuts and mix into the custard. 

To prepare the COFFEE MIX:

- In a pan add water and sugar. Boil and keep stirring until it takes syrup form. 

- Into the sugar syrup, add the coffee and stir to combine. 

To prepare the LAYERS: 

- In a deep tray, spread a thick layer of custard

- Dip Marie biscuits into the coffee mix (do not soak) and arrange on top of the custard

- Follow with another thick layer of custard, then a layer of coffee dipped biscuits

- Repeat until the topmost layer is custard

- Stud the top layer of custard with cherries to garnish

- Refrigerate overnight to attain perfect layers.

- This dish is best served with a dollop of cream or fresh fruits to cut through all the richness. Enjoy! 

PIGGING OUT with Ranch Pork

“Our meat has a traceable lineage” says Mr.O.K.Sanjit, CEO and Chairman of DLG, the parent company of RANCH PORK.

Mr. O.K.Sanjit

I was drawn to the On Flea K solely because of news from foodies far and wide about a rather exciting stall that was wooing everyone with their amazing pork barbecue! I wound up at the Ranch Pork stall with the tantalizing aroma of barbecue being my sole guide! Tending the pit and dishing out plate upon plate of glistening, barbecued pork chops, succulent grilled ham and juicy ribs, (all smothered in a house made barbecue sauce that was beyond mind blowing) was a rather jovial individual whose excitement and energy was quite contagious. Ranch Pork sold out on both days during lunch and dinner; which was of course no surprise! The people crowding the stall fell in love with the tender, delicious meat and the pure effervescence that was O.K!

The following Saturday found me in conversation with Mr. Sanjit at the swanky DLG office in Tripunithura. As an individual who was well travelled, he did have some exciting tales to share with me…about the time he became a cook at a mutual friend’s house in the US when his visa expired or how about the time he turned from cook to accounts manager due to his prowess with numbers or how about the time the accounts manager turned owner of several companies…yes…Mr.Sanjit had some fantastic tales to share!

A farmer by choice, Mr.Sanjit had his beginnings in the field of electronics, then sales, real estate and finally into farming. “Money doesn’t excite me. The excitement and challenges of new ventures is what I enjoy. My work chart is like a rocket…it rises and drops…but I do that on purpose because I need a constant sense of challenge.” Explains Mr.Sanjit.

In action at their food stall

Ranch Pork was a venture that was entered into solely for the reason of trying something new. With a deep rooted love for animals, Mr.Sanjit decided to try a hand at farming and livestock breeding. From breeding the company moved to sale of pork meat and products sensing a wide opening for the same. “Goa, Kerala and the North East are the largest consumers of Pork. Till 25 years back, only black pigs was available for consumption. These pigs have no ancestry to trace and their meat is not of the best quality. Pork meat should be rose in colour with good marbelling” Ranch Pork provides consumers with top quality cuts and products made from white pigs that are grown in the most hygiene of environments and can be traced back to their great-greats in France!

When the common man thinks of livestock breeding, the used to concept of mating a random animal with another surfaces. That’s not the procedure at DLG. Here, they go down to the DNA level to ensure that the resultant offspring is in every way perfect.  This is possible through the use of a rather fascinating software (yes, software!) into which data of the pig in question and its relatives are manually entered. The software then does its share of mix and match to arrive at which boar and which gilt (a female pig that has not birthed) or sow would produce the ideal set of piglets. There are mainly three strains of dominant pig genes in the world: Land Race, from Europe, Large White, again from Europe and the Duroc from the US; most of the offspring are a mix between the three strains.

Dr.Gopakumar

To explain the software to me, Mr. Sanjit brings in Dr.C.P.Gopakumar, Managing Director of DLG and a pioneer in pig breeding. Prior to DLG, Dr.Gopakumar was working with the Kerala Government in the Livestock Development Board for 18 years. Credited with introducing the Duroc breed in India, Dr.Gopakumar gets right down to business and shows me a hands on run through of the software. “Each of our piglets has a tag which gives every details possible about it; right from its mother and father, grandparents and great grandparents to when it was last vaccinated, its weight etc” shares Dr.Gopakumar. He then proceeds to show me details of a piglet’s grand uncle in the UK and I was beside myself with wonder. The breeders, farmers and sales outlets that handle Ranch pork is also traceable right to who processed the meat and where! This ensures that a safety net is thrown on the product with reference to good quality and hygiene.

The pork farms are located in Mysore, spread across a 100 acres. This farm is the largest producer of Traceable pork in India. The farms upholds international standards through its computerized breeding and feeding programs, management systems and hygiene practices. After birthing, the piglets are fed concentrated feed, corn, rice, ragi and maize. After they reach 20kgs, they are handed over to documented farmers for fattening. When the offspring reaches a desirable weight of 120kgs, they are bought back from the farmers by DLG. “120 kgs is the standard/ideal weight for a pig. At this weight, the meat to fat ratio is pretty much even. After 120 kgs, the fat ratio increases and the ensuing product becomes less than desirable.” Says Dr.Gopakumar

“Our hygiene conditions at the farm are extremely stringent. Even if I want to visit the breeding area, I will be put under quarantine on a resort located in the farm for 48 hours. On the 49^th hour, I will be allowed to visit the breeding area, after a chemical cleanse and appropriate attire!” shares Mr. Sanjit. Ranch Pork supplies portioned meat- Prime cuts, chops, ribs, around 10 types of loins and baby back ribs and processed meat products such as sausages, bacon, ham and salami all throughout India.

There are several non vegetarians who have an aversion to consuming pork. This stems from the belief that pigs are unclean animals. The gentlemen at DLG believe that the knowing the pedigree of an animal helps dispel many of the quality and hygeiene rumours surrounding the animal. Around 90% of the animals that come to Kerala are from the roadside but DLG provides meat that is traceable and high in quality.

“The time at which meat is cooked and consumed is quite crucial. For the meat to be juicy after cooking, it should be able to hold water. The best time for consumption is 2-4 hours after the meat I processed. Do not put the meat into the fridge fresh from the butchers as this reduces water holding capacity. This makes the meat dry and mealy once cooked” Says Dr.Gopakumar. DLG thus does not sell pork wholesale to suppliers. The meat stored at the right time and temperature is packaged and branded and then sold to various suppliers. The product has been such a hit that advertising was not really deemed necessary for the time being. Word of mouth has been their greatest ally, what with satisfied customers spreading the word across town.

“It took 7-8 years to build up Ranch Pork. The first two years were dedicated to the set up. No business becomes successful without a solid base and that is what we did to get a strong stand in the market. We are sure we can keep our customers happy and thusly we can be assured of a positive future for Ranch Pork” says Mr. Sanjit in conclusion. Letsstalkfood wishes you more success for the years to come!

Visit: Ranch Pork Farms to read up about the company. You can also purchase products online, home delivery available.

Baking things the JEEMOL way!

The woman behind Eva's Healthy Bakes

I met Jeemol Koruth Varghese, OWNER AND BAKER at EVA’S HEALTHY BAKES at the On FleaK hosted at the Gymkana Club. Surrounded by mountains of delicious baked delights, this chirpy baker was all about “big things come in small packages!”

The class all set to bake

A conversation ensued, a goodie box of lip smacking baked sweet and savories sent in for a review and I decided that Letsstalkfood simply had to be present at Jeemol’s next baking class!

Delicious, Cheesy pizza

Last Sunday found me outside KK arcade (diagonally opposite Radisson Blu) doubtful of my sense of direction when the smell of rich, buttery garlic rolls beckoned me in! A few floors up, I saw on display freshly bakes pizzas, olive and tomato studded focaccia and golden loaves of bread. I also saw Jeemol surrounded by a dozen students ardently explaining baking with a passion that was contagious.

Golden Loaves ready to go under the knife

 A warm smile and hug later, I sat in rapt attention as I was given a crash course in baking. Other than the focaccia, milk and wheat loaves and pizzes, the other recipes that were being taught were garlic rolls, cinnamon rolls, masala buns and Dil Kush.

Jeemol addresses the class

A proud mother to three little darlings, Jeemol says that her children love bread. She has inclined her recipes towards healthier versions and the multigrain added into her muffins, brownies and pies don’t stop her children from gobbling up the freshly baked goodies right as they come out of the oven!

I have a terrible weakness for olive and tomato focaccia

“Baking is love made visible” says Jeemol and we all smile. “Baking is an art that requires all our senses. It is a process that is absolutely rewarding. I love making bread for my family. There is such joy in seeing the smiles on their faces.”

Oh so soft loves of wheat bread

Jeemol takes the class through various aspects of baking, from kneading the dough just right and the kind of fillings to put in to different baking temperatures and storage. It’s amazing how so much knowledge is packed into one tiny, energetic person!

Unearthing baked treasure

Though I just pottered around helping with the dishes and didn’t really get my hands around the dough, there was a palpable sense happiness as the class shaped and stretched their balls of dough. Their happy squeals when the milk bread was cut into perfect, delicious slices was one of the highlights of my review!

Picture perfect slices

Jeemol, proved an excellent mentor, helping whenever necessary but mostly giving free reign as she believes that each person has his/her own style of baking. Once the basics of baking are down pat, individual styles can be nurtured along with recipes so that something new and even more delicious could be created out of the ever versatile dough!

The primordial dough from which all baked goods evolve

“I am emotional when it comes to bread. To me, bread is an absolute passion. Bread making is a constant learning and you must have a connection with your dough; then all falls into place. You learn only the method from this baking class but the art of baking with passion you learn all your own!”

Cinnamon raisin rolls all set for the oven

You said it Jeemol! Bake on!

The makings of butter garlic rolls

Visit Eva’s Healthy Bakes on Facebook or Message in @evashealthybakes on FB messenger / you could also call: 09526634777

Get set, bake!

Coconut, cherries and spice mix to be stuffed into the dough for Dil Kush

Here we go!

Let's get rolling!

X marks the spot

A Christmas style braided wreath heading towards the oven