Dev ,the Michelin dilemma and Thanet

Hi friends! The Indian Princess finally got recommended in the Michelin guide this year. However the excitement was shortlived as the initial jubilation was drowned in a series of events that followed. First it was rumors of The Indian Princess closing down followed by a follow up visit by an anonymous Michelin inspector who wasnt happy with the building and location of the restaurant. The final blow came as an enforcement by the local licensing authorities on the alcohol license. I had a taste of local bureaucracy neat on the rocks. Life all of a sudden turned very dramatic. I remember waking up one morning and thinking "Why is it so difficult? What is going to hit me today? My heart goes out to all the people who came out to stand by us during these turbulent times. I received help from unexpected corners. Genuine people and real friends who follow section 27 of "The Common sense Act". Thank you Mariette, Tim, Liam Louise and all other friends and well wishers in TDC. The story of The Indian Princess is getting more and more interesting as months go by. My determination to stay and serve customers in Margate is also getting stronger.

February, Valentines and Aphrodisiac herbs

"Aswagandha & Basil tea "

Ashwagandha – Withania Somnifera. It is considered the king of Indian herbs.Another natural herbal aphrodisiac, an herbal miracle that works mainly on the reproductive and nervous systems as a sexual and an energy tonic with a rejuvenating effect

"South Indian sea food extract “Rasam” made with fresh local Scallops, tiger prawns and rope mussels flavoured with asafoetida."
Asafoetida: It is a well known Indian aphrodisiac (in laboratory studies, it has been compared favorably to sildenafil, known by the brand name Viagra).

I have been busy brewing herbs to create an unique aphrodisiac sampler on Sundays this February. I wish to offer my guests a very different dining experience where they are trying the real herbs rather than just remnants of flavour lost in a variety of other strong ingredients.
In this process I have realised how common and intrinsic aphrodisiacs are in the social fabric of a country that potrays itself to be highly conservative.

Warm Memories
“It is the myriad colours on a bright day, the sultry mid afternoon heat, the mysterious aromas in the evening, the distant noises of laughter and cries” These are the memories that unlock themselves when I think of my adolescence days in India. On retrospection it seems amazing how there is constant struggle between the intrinsic forces of human sexuality and the serious and sombre moral gurus of society trying to cover it up.

Aphrodisiacs in day to day cuisine
Like most other things with Indian culture, aphrodisiac ingredients enjoy a sort of immortality in time. The skills and knowledge of using them is never lost. They just flow incessantly from generation to generations. Indians have a very different approach to food compared to the rest of the world. Most people just enjoy them without asking any questions. Traditional chefs are these strange groups of mystic men who secretly guard their knowledge and keep it to themselves. They have no fear of losing their skills as the rest of the world is not interested to grasp them. Chewing a betel leaf before bed time or serving a glass of milk laced with saffron before the wedding night are examples. There is a strange sense on beauty even in the prohibitions. As a child I spent a lot of time in Orissa, a land with some parts magically lost in time. The temples are covered in highly erotic and beautiful carvings of men and women from the Kama Sutra. Sometimes even in groups!! I have never seen such an energetic celebration of the sexual energy. These temples were built in the pre Islamic periods when people enjoyed sexual freedom in society. These stone sculptures used to baffle my teen age mind. “If sex is sinful and ungodly, then how come the abode of the Gods are covered with sexual impressions”

India has a thousand years of lost culture of beautiful sexy people and incredible exotic aphrodisiacs . We are compiling some amazing recipes with aphrodisiac ingredients on Sundays this February. Lets celebrate!

Woodcock and Sika Deer

I am back to serious cooking after a short break. There is a surge in woodcock population in the Deal area and a local game dealer had a record catch. He in fact got seventy five birds within a few hours! I have never cooked Woodcock before.My initial reluctance turned to curiosity and I ended up buying thirty birds. It turned out to be pure magic. The bird has a unique rich taste and a "melt in the mouth" flavor. I plan to match the breasts with allspice and nutmeg. Flavour or ingredient matching is a fascinating science but needs in depth research. I spent the entire night yesterday trying to crack flavors to match with the highly prized Sika deer. We all understand that the sense of pairing comes from similar flavors in different ingredients.However ,where should one start? Is it the diet of the animal that decides the flavours of the meat? Or is it the molecular or chemical structure of the meat? Sika deer is the "champagne" of venison. It is a taste of Japan in England. The first few deer were introduced by the Victorians to the tiny island off poole harbour. They thought they will develop a confined sanctuary for the deer on the island. What they did not know that these Japs are excellent swimmers! The next morning all the deer were in mainland England! Dorset boasts of the purest breed of Sika in the country. I am planning to match this amazingly flavorful meat with Gremolata ( parsley, garlic, lemon jest,black pepper) and cinnamon ...maybe a bit of dark chocolate too!!!

2010

2010 is finally here. For me the new year crept in rather quietly this time. Usually I start getting quite thrilled towards the end of December with a child like anticipation of a chance to start things fresh in the coming year. This year was different. It felt like the end of a voyage when you finally come ashore. On retrospection, 2009 was a year of whirlwind happenings. It started in the midst of thick recession and stormy down turn. Overnight customers thinned and I was compelled to change focus and direction. The business was no longer a business but became more of a life boat. The team here were like a group of defiant sailors unwilling to give up. By the mid year we had started coming to terms and began accepting the new market .We did have a few irreplaceable and precious casualties in staff members. The end of the year brought fresh and new openings . A short trip to Mumbai to see Mum refreshed things up for me. India has taken giant steps towards a homogeneous global world but the powerful undercurrents of culture, values and customs still run strong. Back in the UK , I was excited to start work with Quex Museum on function and wedding caterings. Some close friends and advisors warned me that the nature of the work in the new project might be monotonous and unappealing. I think I can weave a dream around the venue. It is mysterious and secretive, sort of hiding in the Kentish country. Looking back , I think it has been a really long and winding year...

Winds of change

Hi

The storm is still not over but we can feel winds of change blowing now. This week started off with a bang! We had a full house on Monday and the restaurant was booked out till Thursday.It was a little taster of the great old times the business has seen here. But the weekend fell like a pack of cards. The wild and exotic festival was a success. We had fun creating the wonderful dishes and the local press backed us up with great coverage. Thank you to Tom Betts and the editorial team at Kent on Sunday. Should we keep selling a premium and expensive product in the current climate ? Will cutting into profits by reducing prices ensure volumes? I am always looking to find answers to these questions.My beloved Margate had a carnival today. I wonder if the town needs these events? Does it really help local businesses by bringing the right people into the town? Or do we need more serious events directed more towards families and a more mature audience? Two things seemed to have done bumper sales today...balloons and endless pints of beer in plastic tumblers.

Travel to the heart of Kent

I am in love with the Kentish country side. Some places seem to be unreal...as if from a painting,untouched and unspoilt.Our search for Kentish wines took us to Biddenden,the oldest vineyards in Kent. Its also the new home of friends David and Karen. The shop at the vineyard was full of elderly people on guided tours. I picked up a brilliant crisp and dry white made from ortega grapes. Wasnt too impressed with the red wine (dornfelder). Though smooth and easy drinking, I felt it lacked character.Streams of thoughts flow through my mind when I drive through this beautiful country side. I think of the people who live here. Do they realise what they have? Is life boring and monotonous or is it total bliss hidden away from the hustle and bustle?Some day I should have a home here in these endless meadows and valleys...etc etc. May was a great month for the restaurant. June has rolled on slowly and sleepishly. I have created a challenge for myself. The vision is to pass on skills in Eastern cookery to budding chefs from the local area. The first interview is tomorrow. People ridicule me when I talk of English boys making Naan breads and cooking South Indian Chettinad sauces.But somebody has to make a beginning. Lets wait and watch ...
Dev

Hello

Sometimes we all go through stages in life where there is a lack of control and consciousness. Life is more of existing on a day to day basis than living. The current climate has pushed us towards a similar state of being. Reality of the market, a lot of appreciation but no tangible support from a lot of patrons has chipped the pillars of aspirations we had built in Margate. At times I feel as if I am standing on the shores of a vast ocean poised to jump as time passes beneath my feet. I have been swept away by a different kind of pressure . The team at the Indian Princess is now reduced to half of what it used to be. We are artists. We weave dreams ,concepts and ideas , create beautiful food and live flavours and tastes. Today we are busy looking at profits and losses and cash flows. A big and heartiest thank you to those who have stood by us in these two and a half years. They are truely our special people.