Category Archives: Foods

Franchise Business Opportunities And Food In India

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Expanding of business at the same time involving interested entrepreneurs in the same has of late gained big momentum. Opening of chain outlets or stores no doubt add to the extensive market presence and an enhanced brand identity. But that involves a good amount of investment besides liability and other factors associated. This is where a franchise business comes into play. Franchising, the practice of using another firm’s successful business model, had been at a nascent stage for quite some time. Today, it is not only in India but also across the world that franchise business is gaining impetus. Offering franchise business opportunities, concerned companies not only see their business expand even beyond geographical boundaries but also get returns. No investment, no maintenance, no liabilities! The franchisor’s success is the success of the franchisees.

Explore the various segments where franchise business opportunities are offered, consider your interests and accordingly choose the right company. If you choose a reputed name, you can look forward towards making some big money in no time. Building a brand rapport takes time and when you get a brand the rapport of which is already built you do experience a win-win situation. You can opt going for a food franchise. Of course, you will have to invest for the set-up, food processing equipments, follow space and food menu conditions followed by the parent group, pay royalty, pay part of income generated and more. Compared to other segments, you need not invest big in a food franchise. You will have to consider the location. The better the location, the more lucrative will be your food franchise chosen.

When we speak of food in India, we cannot think of a counted few items. There are countless food items specific to each region; most of you must have not yet explored the regional food in the towns and villages of each state. Start exploring, especially if you are a travel freak and love exploring cultures. You will be surprised at the countless delicacies with each dish tasting different. Well, food in India commonly offered in the restaurants is same in the menu no matter which part of the country you visit. It can be South Indian food or North Indian food. And again food in India is not only limited to meals; there are sweets, snacks, chaat, namkeen, vegetable snacks, and more.

Those who have tasted South Indian food never let the taste disappear from their palate. Whether it is breakfast or lunch or dinner or supper, they would love to have any of the South Indian food items to appease their appetite. Right from plain dosa, masala dosa, onion rawa masala, rawa plain dosa, rawa masala dosa to plain uttapam, vada sambhar, mixed uttapam, sambhar idli, etc. you have a myriad range of options in the menu to choose from! It is not only in South India but across the country that you will find South Indian food in the restaurants.

Why Invest In Food Industry In India

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Food joints and restaurants have been flourishing in the Indian market since long time. Moreover, with the growing urbanization, globalization, and changing lifestyles, the food industry has set a firm foothold in the market which is worth INR 580 bn and shows vast prospective to grow and prosper in future.
The changing trends of eat outs and increased proportion of young population alongwith changing lifestyles of people has driven the market.

It is wise to know about investing in food joints whether you want to earn profit from public interests in restaurants and eateries or just want to earn the name of the firm or to provide support to the food company youre investing on. If you really want to invest, youre at the right path to have chosen the food industry especially in metros.
But there is a problem. Before you make any decisions, though, be sure you understand the ins and outs of investing in this growing industry.
With numerous food joints and chain of restaurants in the market, you might be perplexed over the thoughts as to which company to choose from to invest upon. Luckily, there is a solution to it. The best way you can firm up your decision over which food joint to choose ends at Moti Mahal (www.motimahal.in) chain of restaurants.
Moti Mahal has been the pioneer of Mughlai and tandoori restaurants; the creator of the original Indian Butter Chicken & Tandoori chicken which is now having more than 90 branches all over the country with a history of expertise in restaurant management and catering services going back to 1920.

Although investment under Moti Mahal restaurants is sheer assurance of myriad funds but one, for his core satisfaction, can also appraise the eatery (or any other) and his investments for the following assessments-:

1.It is not advised that you assume you cant lose money just because the food joint is growing and is having a great prospect. You must first decide upon the investment that you can put up making sure not to lose more than what you can afford.

2.Get a clear concept over the companys ethics and various other aspects. Make sure it has a regulatory department that is always fair trade, or socially or environmentally not hazardous.

3.Undertake research works over different food companies. Once you have a clear vision of your investments, start your research with manufacturers and gradually to food chains you already buy from. Look for companies to invest in and shortlist firms you believe would result in good investments.

Investing in food joints isnt about investing in best firms and ideal companies but rather the decision to pick out companies on the right track.

Food restaurants are the way of life. The Indian food restaurants arent going to break up anytime soon either. Due to its enormousness, there might be times it changes.
The only restriction they can encounter is the banning of items such as Trans fats etc. Health related issues are the most eyed on problem that can surface with the progress of food restaurants. Thats why choosing fast food restaurants to invest upon can turn out to be problematic. At such stages, ethical Indian restaurants such as Moti Mahal can keep their heads unshaken. After all, Indian restaurants like Moti Mahal are the food firms that have taken the Indian culinary to a global new echelon.

Fast food chains cannot adopt to all the measures overnight. Worldwide, this cause has triggered consumers and investors to choose from Indian food chains and Indias culinary which now without doubt has a great prospect ahead not only in India but globally.
While many of us love fast food joins and might consider choosing them, Indian restaurants like Moti Mahal are the brand new emissaries to taking the Indian food industry to the zenith of worlds culinary map.

Is a Weight Loss Plateau Stopping Your Diet

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Every person sooner or latter is faced with a problem with plateaus or set points. Usually they occur after 20 lbs. of weight loss but in some
people they occur early or even later. Here are the two big issues to face when it happens to you.

Managing Portion Sizes.
This is a dilemma in each and every weight loss plan. Neglectfulness, monotony, and tiredness usually lead to the consumption of larger portions. Make certain you stick to the foods that offer simple portion control. Many containers or packages of foods, even low-calorie foods, hold more than a single portion. To determine the number of calories in the container when it is not a individual portion (and this should scare you), multiply the amount of calories per helping by the actual number of servings in the container. Forget about trying to determine calories per portion using grams or ounces; which may get too difficult. The majority of people acknowledge that a family-size bag of chips or snacks contains more than a single portion and then they assume that a smaller bag consists of only a single portion. Nevertheless, this might not invariably be the circumstance! The medium-size packages are frequently deceptive. If the package contains a solitary portion, eat just that amount. Better yet, look for foodstuff that offer “natural” portion control. Moreover, frequently snacking prevents very low blood glucose and guarantees simpler portion control.

Seeking for Concealed Calories.
Another typical issue that has contributed to stalled weight loss is “hidden calories.” These are the calories in high-calorie foodstuff that men and women eat without even realizing they are doing it. A number of well-liked food items have disguised . calories. Sometimes, the little things-not the large slices of cake-stall weight loss. Understand that eating 100 excess calories per day can lead to a 10-pound weight gain in a calendar year. In addition, burning off those additional a hundred calories necessitates up to thirty minutes of nonstop walking, Twenty minutes of nonstop riding a bicycle, 15 minutes on a treadmill machine, or 10 minutes on an elliptical trainer every day. The following table lists several of the high-calorie everyday foods that may contribute extra calories to your diet:

Condiments :Butter, margarine, mayonnaise, tartar sauce, olive oil, oil, cream cheese

Salad Dressings Caesar, bleu mozzarella dairy product, ranch, olive oil vinaigrette, croutons

Mixed Alcohol Drinks: Margaritas, martinis, bourbon and cokes, vodka and tonics, screwdrivers, Pia Coladas

Food And Wine Pairing Made Easy!

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If you like to follow the rules then here are two basic ones that should get you through the night:

Rule One: Drink red wine with meat, white wine with fish and poultry.
Rule Two: Disregard rule one and eat and drink what you like. You will hear this over and over again and it’s so true. Always go with your personal preference first!

Of course, there are some classic matches that satisfy again and again and bring out the best in both wine and food. Wine can often enhance the flavors of your food tantalizing your taste buds in ways you never knew possible and vice versa. A prime examplemy husband HATES white wine. When he tries it he makes a face like someone just gave him a spoonful of cough syrup. One day we went to a wine and cheese paring and he was given Blue Castello and Sauvignon Blanc. It was then that I heard words I never though would come out of his mouth, “This wine is not bad. I actually like it.” It was a breakthrough among breakthroughs! It was his first true experience of food enhancing wine and bringing out flavors in the wine he had never experienced before. Food can have that sort of magical effect on wine and when you find that magic you just can’t help but searching for more of it.

Here are some of our favorite and classic food and wine pairings. I also like to say if you don’t know what to serve, then serve champagne or sparkling wine. It’s fun and extremely food friendly.

APPETIZERS & STARTERS
ANTIPASTO – Pinot Grigio, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
ARTICHOKES – Usually a no no with wine, but I love them with Chardonnay
ASPARAGUS – Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
CARPACCIO (beef) – Pinotage, Shiraz, Shiraz/Pinotage blend, Malbec
CARPACCIO (tuna) – Sauvignon Blanc
CAVIAR – Chenin Blanc, Champagne!
COLD MEATS – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
NUTS AND/OR OLIVES – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
OYSTERS (raw) – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA SALAD – Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH CREAM SAUCE – Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
PASTA WITH SHELLFISH – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay
PASTA WITH TOMATO SAUCE – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
PASTA WITH VEGETABLES – Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec
PATS – Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
QUICHE – Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage Ros, Merlot
SCALLOPS – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
SMOKED FISH (Trout, Herring) – Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc

SEAFOOD
CRAB – Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
LOBSTER – Chardonnay, Chardonnay/Sauvignon blend, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
MUSSELS – Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc
RED SNAPPER – Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SALMON – Pinotage Ros, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SASHIMI, SUSHI – Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
SHRIMP – Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio
STRIPED BASS – Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc
SWORDFISH – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Pinot Grigio
TUNA – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay
OTHER WHITE FISH – Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc

MEAT & POULTRY
CHICKEN – Chardonnay, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage
CHICKEN SALAD – Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Ros, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio
CHICKEN (smoked) – Pinotage, Merlot, Malbec
DUCK – Pinotage, Merlot, Pinotage Ros, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec
HAM – Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage, Malbec, Pinotage Ros
HAMBURGER – Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
LAMB (grilled, broiled) – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage
PHEASANT – Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
QUAIL – Pinotage, Malbec
RABBIT – Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Malbec
SAUSAGE – Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Ros, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec
STEAK (grilled, broiled) – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, Malbec
TURKEY – Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinotage Ros
VEAL – Chardonnay, Merlot
VENISON – Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec
COUSCOUS – Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage Ros
CURRY, FISH or CHICKEN – Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage Ros
PIZZA – Merlot, Pinotage Ros, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Malbec
SPICY CHINESE – Savignon Blanc, Pino Grigio, Merlot, Pinotage Ros
SPICY MEXICAN – Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Malbec
THAI – Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio

CHEESES
*GOAT – SOFT: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage
– HARD: Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon

*COW & SHEEP – MEDIUM: Pinotage, Shiraz
– HARD: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc

If you are a true rule follower here are some more:

Generally, wines and foods belonging to the same culture are compatible; for example, think Italian wines with Italian food.

Good red wines tend to be dry and rich, sometimes with a tart or astringent quality. They will go better with hearty or highly seasoned foods such as beef, pork, game, duck, goose and pasta dishes. The ‘red with red’ rule works well because the astringency of the tannins cuts through the viscosity of the fat. Reach for a tannic Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Petite Syrah or Zinfandel, especially if the meat is served with a heavy sauce. Rare prime rib tastes almost sweet, so it’s perfect with a lighter bodied Merlot or Beaujolais.

White wines are usually lighter in body and flavor and can range from dry and crisp to sweet and fragrant. Serve these wines with foods such as chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, ham and veal. Pair a honey or brown sugar glazed ham with a white wine that’s not too dry – possibly a Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer or Riesling.

Ros wines are in fact pale red wines; their lighter color is due to the shorter time the skins are left with the juice during fermentation. Ros, or blush, wines can range from dry to sweet. These wines should compliment ham, fried chicken, shellfish, cold beef and picnic style foods.

Ahhh, holiday stress. In my opinion if you can’t decide what wine to serve, then serve Champagne. You can find a great budget friendly champagne that will really get the festivities kicked off in the right way. Gloria Ferrer has some really nice sparkling wines to try that won’t hurt your wallet. ORIf you serve turkey with sweet side dishes like glazed carrots or sweet potatoes, choose a white wine with a hint of sweetness, like Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Gewurztraminer. If some dishes have a more savory flavor, try Sauvignon Blanc or a lighter bodied Chardonnay. For a bird with spicy sausage stuffing, serve Pinotage or a try a Pinot Noir.

Don’t match strong to delicate. Pairing a big, powerful, high-alcohol or high-tannin wine with a light, delicate dish (and vice versa) is rarely a good idea.

Acidity is your friend. People tend to be wary of wines described as “high acid,” like Sauvignon Blanc or Muscadet. But there’s no better quality in a wine for matching rich, creamy or cheesy sauces, deep-fried foods or fish dishes; also note, tart wines go better with tart foods.

Follow the don’t-upstage-the-star rule. If you have an amazing bottle of wine you want to show off, especially an older vintage (they tend to be more subtle, their flavors less flamboyant), don’t serve a wildly complex dish with it. A simple dish will allow the wine to be the center of attention.

Dessert, or fortified wines, are heavier and sweeter than table wines and frequently have a higher alcohol content. They are usually served alone or with cheese, nuts, fruit or sweets at the end of the meal.

If you don’t like rules, like me, then toss all of these out the door and start experimenting. I’d love to hear about combinations that have worked for you that you can’t get enough of. My rule-breaking favorite is steamed artichokes dipped in butter and a nice oaky California style Chardonnay. Send me your favs and I’ll post them here!

CHEERS!

Spicy Food- How Much Important And Avoidable It Is In Our Diet

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Nowadays spicy food has become the top menu in many of the restaurants. It can surprise you to the extreme to know that even though this savory known as spicy food causes heart burns, it is still liked by people. By logging to your internet service provider like XFINITY internet, you will find that most of the delicious spicy dishes have their origin from India, Japan, China and Malaysian. The culture of these places involves consuming spicy food as a part of their daily diet.

Besides stimulating the cardiovascular system and good aphrodisiac, it makes you feel hot and causes a pain. The pain that is caused by the fiery spices secretes endorphins which can make you feel high. According to the ancient history involving spicy food, our ancestors discovered the spicy advantage around 7000 BC and often used it in food and religious rituals. Nowadays, spices are used in preserving food, cosmetics, and perfume.

Spicy food has become almost a part and parcel of our life that the people celebrate various festivals for it. The love of spicy food has lead to the establishment of various festivals like the International Spicy Food and the National Fiery Food show in the USA. Now let us look into the merits and demerits of the spicy food and how it affects the human body

Merits

The basic and most common merits of consuming spicy food are the following

Weight Loss

One of the best and unique methods to reduce weight is consuming spicy food. Many researches have shown that the main compound in chili and pepper, namely capsaicin has a stimulating effect which causes the body to burn calories while chewing food for twenty minutes. That is why fat people would rather eat sweets than eating spicy food.

Stress Buster

This can shock you that spicy food is a good source of stress buster. Consuming spicy food increases the production of the hormones that gives a sense of fun like endorphins and serotonin. This helps in relieving pain and gives the feeling of comfort and relaxation.

Preventing Flu and other contagious diseases

It is believed that spicy food is a good medication for preventing flu and cold. Capsaicin one of the basic ingredients in capsicums and jalapeno helps to increase transpiration and relieves flu-symptoms that interfere with and eliminate the disturbing symptoms of flu. Spicy foods will also help to open airways, reduces sinusitis and other flu-like symptoms that can disrupt your health.

Cancer Prevention

Many studies and researches have shown that regular consumption of spicy food will reduce the risk of cancer. The capsaicin slows the growth of cancer cells and in many cases kills the cancer cells without harming the surrounding healthy cells.

Demerits

The above were the basic advantages of spicy food and like an old English proverb that says with something good comes along with it a bad, excessive spicy food can cause the following things

Excessive Diarrhea

Spicy food can lead to excessive diarrhea. This is because spicy food speeds up the movement in the intestine that leads to diarrhea. When the food is up in the colon, the irritating effects of the food will be directly felt and the body will send more water into the bowel to relieve the symptoms of the irritation.

Insomnia

Do you know that spicy food can cause insomnia? The human body should be in a relaxed state when you go to sleep especially in the first cycle towards sleep. Spicy food can increase body temperature and triggers heart beat faster. So that is why you should avoid spicy food in the hours before bedtime.

Inflammation of the Stomach

Sometimes consumption of spicy food can cause the gastric surfaces to become brittle and vulnerable. That is often called as gastritis or inflammation of the stomach. Spicy food has the properties that can cause a dangerous inflammation of the lining of the stomach.

Reduces the sensitivity of the tongue

Have you felt that your tongue is not able to sense the taste of food? Well it could be because your sensitivity is gradually wearing out. Consuming spicy food, could lead to the fatal disaster where your tongue can no longer function optimally which could lead to the lack of awareness of the portion of spicy food that can be tolerated by the stomach.

Now to conclude, it can be hard to avoid a diet that does not have spices in it. Seriously, the aroma and the taste which spicy food gives can make your mouth water. Whether it is the Indian or Chinese dish, the spicy flavor will just hook you up to have more.