Amid the world-wide pandemic-induced lockdown for months, the need to be self-sufficient is something that is being echoed across the country. “Atma Nirbhar!” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech , stressing on the importance of using products made in India. Here is a list of some interesting food brands that have come up with innovations that are relevant to the current times.
Biriyani by Kilo (BBK)
The biryanis are cooked in individual handis (vessels) for each order and are delivered in the same pot to guarantee freshness. They take the biryani eating experience to another level as earthen Angeethis (Aanch) accompany each order to give it a smoky flavour and retain the aroma of spices. The basmati rice is naturally aged for two years and the spices are procured from Kerala. All the other ingredients are very prudently selected to meet the most rigid quality standards. For the Galouti kebabs, BBK minces the meat multiple times and marinates it in the most authentic way to make it melt in your mouth. Kormas are cooked in the most traditional way. It is available in over 20 cities across the country.
Qmin by Taj Hotels
With a gamut of gastronomic experiences, Qmin brings signature dishes from iconic restaurants under the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) at your fingertips, offering an opportunity to enjoy Taj hospitality at home. Qmin offers curated dishes made with the highest quality of ingredients, offering a variety of cuisines delivered at your doorstep. Every delivery comes with a Qmin assurance—a commitment to ensure the highest levels of safety and hygiene. Qmin has a dedicated delivery fleet, provided with mandatory protective gear and extremely sanitised transportation, while conducting contactless deliveries. The packaging of the meals is eco-friendly utilising bio-degradable materials and customised insulation boxes to preserve the food. Guests can order from iconic and celebrated restaurants across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad. For the ease of use, IHCL has also launched its mobile application for Qmin. Available on both, Google Play Store for Android users and App Store for iOS users, the Qmin app is currently live in Mumbai and will roll out in nine other cities in the coming weeks.
Gourmet Couch Menu by ITC Hotels
This comprises an assortment of premium cuisines from the kitchens of ITC, bringing the pleasure of acquainted flavours from award winning restaurants at ITC Hotels. Over the years, ITC Hotels have earned a standing for serving the best of Indian and global culinary traditions, unique by its accurate flavours and quality ingredients. ITC Maurya, for example, has consistently proven to be one of the most popular dining destinations in New Delhi. Crafted with care at ITC Hotels and handled with utmost hygiene to ensure well-being, the mindfully curated menu brings unique food experiences with local offerings from the region for diners across all major cities in India. ITC Hotels has implemented stringent measures and protocols, including mandatory temperature checks for all chefs and food and beverage associates.
Naturals ice cream
Naturals started with kulfi . It takes great pride in making ice cream from the churner, just like how it started, and has grown considerably owing to its USP of using only three ingredients—fruits, milk and sugar. The ice cream tubs are packed and sealed in the factory that complies with highest safety standards. It has been a much-loved brand since 1984 when it started in Juhu, Mumbai. Today it has 129 outlets in India. Tender coconut and mango are hot sellers.
Sleepy owl coffee
This Indian coffee brand makes products with a purpose to redefine the native coffee experience by simplifying the process. The existing selection includes cold brew packs, hot brew bags and ready-to-drink coffee bottles. This venture kicked off in June 2016 and the products are shipped across the country.
Sattviko
Don’t we all love snacking on something while binge-watching a series. What if these snacks are super healthy? From peri-peri flavoured makhana to healthy khakhra chips, Sattviko has launched a range of products that are delicious as well as healthy. Recognised by the Ministry of Skill and Development as the ‘Best food brand of India’ under the ‘Make in India’ programme, these snacks are made of indigenous ingredients that are not only organic but also beneficial for health. The sabudana supermeal tops the list of favourites; it is a ready-to-eat namkeen (salty snack) which is a perfect substitute for instant noodles. This mixture of Indian superfood—sabudana, peanuts, moong dal—is prepared by simply adding hot water to it. It has a shelf-life of 180 days. The khakhra superchips (baked wheat chips) is the perfect snack for a game night. Khakhra or dry chapati, which is a Gujarati household favourite, is made into a chips version and the best part is that it is baked and not fried. If you are looking at losing a couple of pounds, then these superchips are a healthy alternative to all the fried snacks. Sattviko’s paan-flavoured superfruit raisins are a perfect substitute for saunf mouth freshner. A treat for the paan-lovers, the superfruit is rich is iron and prevents tooth decay.
If you have a sweet tooth, try the gur chana shots—roasted chickpeas mixed with jaggery. While chana is full of protein, gur is an excellent source of antioxidants and minerals, which not only makes snacking healthy but also guilt-free. What makes you really love these preservative-free snacks is that they are pocket-friendly. Prices range from Rs70 to combo packs that go up to Rs1,080.
Saffola Fittify Gourmet’s Hi-Protein soup
This delicious soup is curated by chef Kunal Kapur and comes in interesting flavours like French mushroom garlic, Mexican sweet corn, Spanish tomato and Italian mix vegetables. These ‘hi-protein soups’ are healthier as they have up to four times more protein than regular soups along with the goodness of five superfood like moringa, quinoa, amaranth, turmeric and buckwheat, combining the best of taste with health for a fitter life. The product can be bought from modern trade store chain Metro Cash and Carry and e-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart. A pack of three (24g each) comes for 098 only.
Goeld Frozen Foods
Here is a range of ready-to-cook-and-consume-within-minutes packed frozen foods offered by the Goel Group. On offer are a range of products right from Indian breads including Malabar paratha, garlic naan and aloo paratha to snacks that include quinoa patty, soya shammi kebab, beetroot and cheese tikki, and a range of desserts including the very delightful papaya halwa and sewai kheer. The corn and cheese bites delivered to us in immaculate packaging and carefully taped boxes were spot on with the taste even if they weren’t just as oozy as claimed. Vegetable seekh kebabs had a range of flavours packed in, making one almost forget that this after all was a frozen food that has just been heated up before serving. Even as the company claims that these are ‘100 per cent veg frozen foods made at 100 per cent veg kitchens with no added colours, flavours or preservatives,’ nutritionist Aayushi Lakhapati, chief health officer, 23BMI, a health care venture, cautions against “too much consumption” of ready-to-eat frozen food.
Bun & Only
What more does one need than a big, fat cheesy and messy burger to take the lockdown blues away? As Gigi Hadid once put it, “Eat clean to stay fit, eat a burger to stay sane.” If your definition of a decent burger is limited to that which is peddled at that nearby McDonalds outlet, then it is time for a crash course into the real deal. On a wet weekend evening, Bun & Only decided to surprise us with a classic chicken and cheddar burger and another with black bean and guacamole and a number of dips as accompaniments. Not only was the quantity good enough for one person’s full meal, it was way beyond expectations. The burgers never turned soggy even when they were opened up about an hour post arrival, rather both offered a strong punch of taste and feel. If you love the salty earthiness of blue cheese and mushroom, there is The Portobello & Blue Cheese Burger. And if all things slow-cooked and pork make you happy, then the pulled pork and barbecue burger should be your choice. Expect to shell out between Rs350 to Rs500 per meal.
