[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]
Surbhi
Sahni has a unique perspective to Food. The early influences in her life and
the vast experience she has gathered while on the job with few of the best
restaurants in the world gives her creations an inspirational touch.
We know you started off in India, what was your
turning point and why did you move to the US?
My father has
been a big influence in my life, who wanted me to do my Masters and to flourish
in life. I have always been keen on learning the workings of a kitchen. When I
started working I realized there was more to Food than what was communicated to
us in college. I completed my Anthropology in Food course in NYU .
Was it easy to start afresh in the States? What has
been your experience with Indian food in the States and how do people take it?
I was offered a
job at an Indian restaurant ( Tamarind) even before I finished my course at
NYU. Then, I started baking from home and there was a time when I was catering
for 7 bakeries.
 |
| Surbhi Sahni |
Indian food is
not new to New Yorkers and they are really open and enjoy Indian food.
Please share some of your experiences in starting a
restaurant abroad.
It is really
important for a Chef to be an Entrepreneur in the current day and understand
the nuisances of doing this business. Starting from ambience, to food and to
people management. Understanding everything is important. Business is not only
about the Product, it is about the People working with us, Customers, Suppliers
and everyone involved with us.
Your baking has an Indian twist to it. Please share
some of the people's reactions to this?
It has worked
really well. NYC is great when it comes to opening their arms to new
experiences. When you present classical with new creations they choose the
latter.
Who or what taught you to love food?
My
father is an artist and I wanted to follow his footsteps. But, he pushed me
join the kitchen, as he knew I loved Food and the creative aspect of the food
industry.
I
had tried my hand in all the aspects of the kitchen and finally settled with
the cooking aspect of it. I started off at an all women’s kitchen at Maurya
Sheraton, Delhi.
What's your regular comfort meal?
I love the
classic Rajmah & Chawal.
Tell me about one of your Kitchen disasters.
Tulsi’s kitchen
was a challenge for me as there was liitle to no time for me to test run my
desserts. I felt they turned out to be disastrous on the opening night,
although most people appreciated it on the opening night as well. I had to rush and make a lot of changes to them but eventually they turned out really good
and garnered many accolades!
While in India, you must have had your share of
experiences with food from different parts. What was your most memorable food
related experience.
I love Food in
general. But, staying in India of course, I loved street food. I specially
remember Chaats from Delhi , Dhoklas from Gujarat and almost everything from
South India. I love anything that has been cooked at home.
Tell us about one of your most interesting experience
while tasting new cuisines.
I remember
visiting ISKON temple in Bangalore where we had eaten at the cafeteria. It was
definitely an interesting experience. I also love the Gujarati thalis in Baroda
and any home cooked meals.
 |
| Surbhi in action |
Imagine you were on a trek high up in the mountains.
There is no sign of civilization for miles on end. What five foods would you
want with you? What would you make?
Potatoes,
Boondi, Yogurt, Rice, Salt, Ginger and Red Chili powder, Sugar. I would cook
spiced potatoes, Rice, Boondi raita and
Yogurt with sugar.
What are the two most essential items in your kitchen?
Ginger, it’s so
versatile and flavourful and definitely whole garam masala.
What do you cook at home that you never cook at the
restaurant?
Aloo parathans, Bhindi,
Jeera Aloo.
BitterSweet NYC is also your blog. Tell us more about
that. What do you want to tell people through your blog?
I would like to steer
my blog away from recipes. I would eventually like to focus on the human aspect
of the industry, maybe also steer it as a day in the life of a chef.
Visit my blog
at: http://www.bittersweetnyc.com/
Which is your favorite Indian dish? What's your
favorite recipe?
Not sure about
my favorite recipe, that’s a really hard one. But I guess I am one who
loves simple homemade food so I think I would love to share my cauliflower
paranthas with cucumber yogurt. My fondest memories are of hot paranthas
for breakfast in India and so I absolutely love it.
Cauliflower Parantha with
Cucumber Raita
Makes 10 paranthas
Ingredients:
For the dough
4 cups chapati flour,
sifted
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon
clarified butter
1 1/3 cups lukewarm water,
or as needed
For the filling
1 cauliflower, stemmed and
cut into quarters
A 1 1/2-inch piece of fresh
ginger, peeled and grated
3 green chilies, finely
chopped
2 tablespoons finely
chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon carom seeds
1/4 teaspoon red chili
powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
Salt to taste
To make the paranthas:
Chapati flour for dusting
2/3 cup clarified butter
or canola oil
Special Equipment
Grater
Rolling pin
Sheet pans
Parchment paper
Kitchen towels
Pastry brush
Griddle
Method
Combine the flour and salt
in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle in 1/3 cup clarified butter, and using your
fingertips, rub into the flour until the mixture has an oatmeal consistency.
Pour in 2/3 cup of water to moisten the flour and mix until it adheres into a
sticky mass; then slowly incorporate the rest of the water, a few drizzles at a
time, until it forms a medium-soft dough.
Knead the dough until
silky smooth (there should be no air pockets), about 10 minutes. Shape the
dough into a ball, rub all around with remaining clarified butter; wrap with
plastic wrap and let it rest for 1/2 hour.
To make the filling, grate
the cauliflower with large grating slots (should yield about 4 cups). Add the
ginger, chilies, cilantro, carom seeds, red chili powder, garam masala and
salt; and mix well. Set aside.
Knead the dough briefly.
Divide equally into 10 pieces. Cut each of the 10 pieces into 2 and roll them
into smooth balls; and then place on a sheet pan and cover with a damp cloth.
Preheat the griddle over
moderate heat and brush a thin layer of clarified butter, or canola oil. Place
some flour in a shallow dish for dusting.
To roll out the dough,
flatten each dough ball into a 2-inch round. Use the rolling pin to form a
6-inch round. Lightly dip both sides of the dough in the dusting flour, just
enough to avoid it from sticking. Roll evenly with gentle pressure, easing the
dough into a round rather than stretching it. Set aside. Repeat the process
with another ball of dough.
Dip a pastry brush in a
small bowl of water and paint a border around the edges of one of the 6-inch
rounds. Place about 1/3 cup of the cauliflower filling on the round and spread
evenly, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edges. Carefully place the other
round on top. Gently press down from the center to the edges to get rid of any
excess air; and then press around the edges to seal in the filling. Lightly
dust with flour on both sides and gently roll out until it is a 1/4-inch
bigger. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and lightly dusted with
flour. Repeat the process with the remaining dough. Layer the breads with
parchment paper to avoid sticking.
When the griddle is hot,
carefully place the bread on the griddle and cook for 1 minute. Turn over and
cook the other side for another minute. Meanwhile, drizzle a teaspoon of
clarified butter, or canola oil, on the cooked side and spread evenly over the
bread using the back of a large spoon. Flip the bread over and cook another a
minute, while you drizzle with a teaspoon of butter, or oil, on the side that
is up. Then turn over and cook for another minute. Continue to butter and flip,
cooking for a minute on each side, until both sides are golden brown and evenly
coated with the clarified butter, or canola oil (4 to 6 rotations). Serve
immediately with cucumber raita.
CUCUMBER RAITA
Makes 3 cups
Ingredients:
2 cups Greek-style yogurt
1 small cucumber, seeds
removed and finely grated
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
3 fresh curry leaves, torn
into pieces (optional)
1 large garlic clove,
thinly sliced (optional)
2 fresh green chiles, finely
chopped
Salt to taste
Method:
Place the yogurt and
grated cucumber in a small bowl; mix well.
In a small sauté pan, heat
the canola oil and add mustards seeds, cook until they crackle. Add curry
leaves and garlic, if using, cook while stirring constantly until the garlic is
golden brown. Add the green chilies, cook for another 30 seconds and then temper
the yogurt mixture with the hot oil mixture. Mix well and season with salt to
taste. Serve cold.
[Discover the India of your dreams @ www.oddroad.com - The Way I Like.]
Trivandrum
or Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala brings together a refreshing
balance of two ways of life. The paced development as well as the old-world,
time-stopping charm, becomes a part of this city. Placed between the Arabian
Sea and Tamil Nadu, the city is the first in India to have had a massive Techno
Park that put it on the IT map of the world. However, it is difficult to
separate it from its pagoda styled, red-tile-roofed houses and the quaint
winding streets that run across the city, giving it a staid, other-worldly
charm. 
The city’s usual slow
lifestyle becomes a whirlwind of activity during the months of
August/September. For it is then that Onam arrives. Onam brings together the
city’s love for food, spirit of culture and a hint of the carnival. During this
time, the state government holds the Tourist Week Celebrations, with an
authentic art, food and culture carnival. The food was served in banana leaves
and we had to sit down and dig in with our hands, making it an ideally
authentic experience. The fish pollichathu
was a favourite. 
