MPOC Bloggers meet | Palm oil and its importance


It has been quite a long time that we attended a meet up/event which educates us about the general crisis we are facing as individuals with respect to world order etc. rather than learning more and more about the thing we know best: food.

There are some serious events happening across the globe related to food security, war, terrorism etc. and it is a sad fact that most multi facet organizations and developed nations use food security as a tool to manipulate countries with huge populations (like ours!).

On the same line, we were a part of a bloggers meet on the topic of palm oil at The Vivanta by Taj-M.G. Road. It was more of an informative session than being a bloggers meet as there were an array of topics discussed revolving around the acceptance of palm oil and strategies implemented to make sure than even though on a daily basis we consume goods containing palm oil, we don’t use it because of the idea of apparent harm attached to it.

The above paragraph sounds paradoxical doesn’t it? It should, because it is! Children are always told that we should have a diet based on natural food mostly ones growing out of the earth. Palm trees most definitely fit the description and the yield of palm oil is consumed by over a million people directly and they are still alive and well. So, the question is what makes us delusional about this topic?

This meet was organized by #MPOC or the Malaysian Palm Oil Council and Malaysia is thriving on Palm Oil because it has numerous advantages over other varieties of oil. Over 70% of Malaysia is now covered with palm plantations which not only give them great yield but also maintains forest cover. There are many reasons behind the adoption of palm oil and a few are as follows:


Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore

Fried Calamari @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Fried Calamari

So what cuisine are you guys in the mood for?

We know that we have been craving for Italian food for quite some time and finally we received the chance to fulfil our craving! We have recently been to the ongoing Italian Food Festival at Sphyre, The Gateway Hotel-Residency road, Bangalore. So, are you guys ready to take your taste buds on an Italian trip?

Whatever your answer is, do read on ;)

We have been to this property before and although it is not huge, it has a separate charm of its own.

For the current festival, their Sous Chef Tushar prepared some extraordinary authentic Italian delights. It was indeed a pleasure being a part of this as the food was of a different level altogether.
 



So, coming down to the food:

The menu is very elaborate and so we tasted bits and parts as recommended and served by Chef Tushar.

First up, we were served the Minestrone and Lentil soups and both the soups were super appetizing. The best part was that all the flavours were individually distinguishable. The consistency was perfect, with fresh ingredients and a touch of herbs!

Aranchini @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Aranchini

Then we tried the Aranchini and the Fried Calamari. The Aranchini had a good bite to it and the cheesy Arborio rice was well balanced and delicious. The fried calamari was crisp fried with a uniform colour. The calamari was well cooked, slightly chewy and this was a perfect snack.

Next up, the pasta: Tortellini Chicken in Tomato Sauce and the Penne a la norma.

The tortellini was excellently made: the shape, the minced chicken stuffing with cheese and herbs and of course the sauce! Be it garnishing, the consistency of the sauce or anything else it was absolutely perfect.

Chicken Tortellini @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Chicken Tortellini

Pasta a la norma @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Pasta a la norma

The Penne a la norma was as expected. The pasta was Indian al dente and it was a good dish overall.

The Pumpkin Risotto deserves praise! The Arborio rice was perfectly done and the creaminess of the pumpkins was absolutely delightful. The combo is definitely something to relish.

We tried two pizzas: spinach and eggs for non-veg and mushroom and olive for veg.


Pumpkin Risotto @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Pumpkin Risotto
Egg & Spinach pizza @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Egg and Spinach Pizza
Mushroom & Olive pizza |Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Mushroom and Olive pizza
Both the pizzas had a thin crust with loads of Mozzarella. They were not overloaded with cheese and toppings as originally that is not the purpose. The toppings were generous and both the pizzas stood out. The eggs served in the pizza were sunny side up and it was great to see and to eat!

The mushroom and olives is a tried and tested combination and tasted the usual.
After this we tried the Grilled Salmon with Traditional orange sauce and the desserts.

The salmon was fresh and grilled to perfection. The sauce was slightly sweet and acted as a perfect palate cleanser before dessert. The orange sauce was absolutely lip smacking and added a citrusy zest to each bite. This dish is definitely a must try!

Grilled Salmon@ Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Grilled Salmon is traditional orange sauce

Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
We forgot the name: It had layers of Aubergine and parmesan

Gnocchi in Blue Cheese Sauce@ Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Gnocchi with blue cheese sauce

For dessert we had the Tiramisu and the Ricotta Cheese cake. The Tiramisu had a delicate touch of coffee, as expected. The best part was that no flavour was overpowering. The sweetness, layering and the taste was perfect.

The Cheese Cake looked like a thick slice of pizza but was soft. It was mildly sweet and had a creamy finish.

We finished our Italian meal on a happy note.

Apart from the above mentioned items, we were also served a gnocchi with blue cheese which was out of which world! It was super creamy and melted in our mouths. The blue cheese sauce was indescribably amazing!

Tiramisu & Ricotta Cheese Cake @Glimpses of Italy @ Sphyre | The Gateway Hotel-Residency Road | Bangalore
Tiramisu and Ricotta cheese cake

So that’s all from our side folks!

The festival runs till the 15th of this month so if you love Italian food, this festival is a must try!

Do let us know about your experience in case you visit.

We’ll be back soon with our tasty adventures ;)

Till then—stay tuned and bon apetit!
Sphyre - Gateway Hotel Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Sattvik Bhojan at Masala Klub | Taj West End | Bangalore



Pure Vegetarian Sattvik Thali at Masala Klub, Taj West End Bangalore
Being Non Vegetarians we hardly have food that has no meat in one meal, let alone a pure vegetarian meal. So, when we were invited to taste the food at the Sattvik food festival going on at Masala Klub located in Taj West End, we were happy to give it a shot. Sattvik Food is often called as the cuisine of Gods. Originated from the Holy Land of Varanasi, this cuisine is made with great care for the Kashi Naresh till date. The Royal chefs have to perform a series of rituals even before beginning with the preparation for the food. 

Sattvik Bhojan is not only pure vegetarian food, but is also calming for your body. So, let us take you through what the menu at Masala Klub has to offer from this cuisine. 

Rudra On Zomato

view my food journey on zomato!

The FLB on Instagram

Priyanjana On Zomato

view my food journey on zomato!