Happy Republic Day!

Indian Republic Day is the day we celebrate when India gained it’s independence and adopted a democratic governmental system.  In India we celebrate with a grand parade near Raipath in New Delhi.  The parade also includes many traditional dance troupes, to symbolize the cultural heritage of India. It traditionally ends with a colorful flypast by Indian Air Force jets in a tiranga formation. Similar parades are held in the capitals of all the states of India, where the governors of respective states take the salute.

Come by Ruchi to celebrate this day with one of our dishes and a glass of cold imported Indian beer. Cheers! 

Dosa

When traveling throughout India, the sites, sounds and tastes always tend to grab hold of any visitor.  The tastes alone can overwhelm one with a plethora of adventure.  One famous dish that is indigenous to Southern India is the Dosa.  Dosa’s are fermented crepes or pancakes made of rice and black lentils and often eaten for breakfast or as street food. Dosa can be stuffed with fillings of vegetables and sauces to make a quick meal. They are typically served with a vegetarian side dish which varies according to regional and personal preferences.  Ruchi offers a variety of dosa including one of our favorites the Masala Dosa.  A masala dosa is made by stuffing a dosa with a lightly cooked filling of potatoes, fried onions and spices.

Happy Pongal!

Makar Sankranti also known as Pongal in the South is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India that celebrates the transition of the lunar calendar, when the sun moves from the Tropic of Capricorn to the Tropic of Cancer.  It commemorates the beginning of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India.

Makar Sankranti, apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture. It is known as the 'holy phase of transition'. Makara Sankranti identifies a period of enlightenment, peace, prosperity and happiness followed by a period of darkness, ignorance and viciousness with immense sorrow. The six months of northern movement of the sun is followed by six months of southern movement.

Since the festival is celebrated in mid winter, food prepared for this festival is such that it keeps the body warm and gives high energy. Laddu of til or Tila Laddu is made with Jaggery and is a specialty of the festival. Below you can find a recipe to make these treats at home.

Til Laddus photo by PKShine

Tila Laddu( Til Laddus)
Ingredients
Til (sesame seeds) - 1 cup
Grated jaggery - 1 1/2 cup
Peanuts - 1/2 cup
Ghee - 1 tsp

Directions
- Dry roast the til till it turns slightly brown and keep aside.
- Dry roast the peanuts. When they cool, remove the skin, by rubbing between palms of hand. Then make a coarse powder of the peanuts
- Heat the kadhai, put the jaggery in it. Mix well until it melts and starts lightly frothing.
- Add the ghee to it, and the til and peanut powder. Mix well and then take off the heat.
- When still very warm, but able to handle, make laddus balls from the mixture immediately.
- Cool completely before storing.

Happy New Year!

As the new year has arrived, we would like to sincerley wish everyone a happy 2012 filled with prosperity, health and joy.  For many, this time of the year is a time of reflection and commitment to wellness and health.  Our philosophy has always adhered to the importance that food has on our lives and well being.  Our fresh ingredients are carefully selected in order to make sure that the fusion between nutrition and taste go hand in hand.  Indian cuisine exemplifies the myriad of flavors by integrating the 6 "tastes of life": sweet, salty, sour, chilli hot, bitter and tart. We believe in the integration of newer philosophies with older tradition in order to create a harmonious balance.   Here is to balance in 2012!