Zinger Reloaded

We all have fond memories of KFC when they opened their first franchise in the country. They were among the first international food chains to come to Pakistan and we literally grew up loving, craving and fantasizing their succulent, juicy fried chicken. However down the road, with so many new entrants KFC was somewhat sidelined. But then came the Zinger and once again everyone was hooked on! Zinger was the first burger of its kind that had fried chicken in it. No one could compete with Zinger and proof lies in it becoming a generic name for all fried chicken burgers sold in local cafes, restaurants and even dhabbas and thelay walas. 

Zinger Stacker is the latest in the Zinger series. This is a massive burger for serious burger fans. Two fillets of fried chicken with mayo, cheese, lettuce and jalapeños are served between a freshly baked bun. I tried it last week and I was blown away by both the size and taste. The addition of jalapeños adds a little tinge and makes it somewhat different form the regular Zinger. Overall the burger is a good addition in the their menu and is a must try for KFC lovers. 

KFC has also launched a summer drink with 2 different flavors: mint krusher and passion twist. The mint krusher with lemon juice was very refreshing to cool you down on a hot day. The addition of fresh peppermint leaves gives it a very minty and earthy flavour. 

The verdict: I went to KFC after a long time and thoroughly enjoyed my meal; glad that they have relaunched the classic Zinger which is bigger and better! 

Firehouse - A review

Last week we were invited to the launch of Firehouse a recently opened grill and steakhouse located in Badar Commercial. It was a fun event all set with a photo booth, colourful backdrop along with funny props for both kids and adults. The idea of an exclusive steakhouse is very tempting for a Karachiite since there are no speciality steakhouses in the city. The place is quite spacious and bright with striking yellow and black interiors.

Peri Bites at Firehouse

For starters we ordered the peri bites. They were huge with an abundant filling of cheese served with the perfect mayo sauce. They reminded me of Nandos when I used to go there once every week just for the peri bites. Firehouse is my go to place for them now!

For main course we ordered the Medallion steak in beef and the Chicken Tarragon steak. The Medallion steak was served medium rare with char grilled exterior and a rare done interior; just the right amount of flavour and heat with a nice pepper corn sauce. For sidelines we ordered grilled vegetables and potato gratin. The serving size is quite big and filling. The steak was as good as the ones served in Arizona and Roasters,  in fact a little on the finer side. The vegetables were slightly overdone as I prefer mine a bit crunchy. Potato gratin a personal favourite was delicious with a creamy cheesy sauce between thin layers of potato. 

Chicken Tarragon Steak at Firehouse

Beef Medallion Steak at Firehouse 

Chicken Tarragon steak was served with the classic white sauce. For sidelines there was spinach purée and baked potato. The chicken was nicely grilled, well done and the sauce was creamy and hot. The sidelines need improvement with fresher veggies and more tasteful options to choose from. 

The staff was very courteous and the host was personally going from table to table to attend to the guests. Overall a nice place specially for families with good food and reasonable prices. Since its quite spacious it can be a good place for parties and birthdays with a very appropriate menu.  However more options should be included to cater to those looking for fine dining and variety.  

Break-the-fast at NY Coffee - Cafe

A lazy Saturday morning was well spent at New York Coffee. I had been planning to go there ever since it opened up at Zamzama and always caught my eye during the morning commute. The interior is quite spacious and cozy with good amount of sunlight coming in through the large windows.  

  

I always feel my breakfast is incomplete without eggs :) so I convinced everyone to order omelets. We ordered NYC Club omelet and Cheese & Pepperoni Omelet. Both were perfectly done but my favorite was the cheese and pepperoni one. NYC club was also good but I felt that the fillings (roasted beef, grilled chicken, mixed peppers, cheese) were a bit overpowering. The cheese and pepperoni omelet was just perfect with toasted bread and hash browns. 

The latte had fantastic aroma and body but could be better if served with a dash of cinnamon and whipped cream (just a personal choice) 

After the breakfast we ordered the New York Cheese Cake. Now I am very particular about the way a cheesecake should be specially the plain one. It should be creamy with the perfect amount of sweetness along with tanginess to balance the flavors and most importantly it should not feel heavy. So glad to taste the cheesecake at NYC it was all of the above! Highly recommended to all cheesecake fans!

An Egg a Day! - Cheese & Mushroom Omelet

I was pleasantly surprised to receive my free sample of Nature’s Ranch extra large eggs. As per mentioned on their fb page they were considerably larger in size as compared to the regular eggs you get in the market. The eggs were very clean and hygienically packed. They even had small expiry dates printed in pink on them! And the best part is you can get them delivered to your home as per your need (weekly, bi-weekly etc)

The eggs kept lying in my fridge for 2 days until I finally decided to make a cheese & mushroom omelet (ala Espresso style) with them. Following is the list of ingredients I used:  

2-3 eggs

1 tbsp milk or water2 tbsp butter
Green onions (finely chopped)
Cheddar cheese (sliced or shredded)
Sausage slices (optional)
Button mushrooms (sliced)

Salt & pepper

Method

Slice the mushroom and sauté them with butter in a frying pan for 3 minutes. Take them out in a bowl and add shredded cheese and chopped green onions and mix them with the mushrooms. Now break the eggs in a separate bowl mix one tablespoon of water, a pinch of salt and give it a good whisk. Melt 1 tbsp remaining butter in same pan on medium heat. Add the egg mixture, tilting to coat base evenly. The eggs will begin to set after 1 minute. When almost set, top evenly with cheese & mushroom mixture. Fold over and cook for another 1 minute. Carefully slide onto the serving plate. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions.

The omelet turned out perfectly and I must say the eggs were quite wholesome as I couldn’t finish all of it.

No Cheese Cheesecake

Ladies and Gentlemen I present to you the No Cheese Cheesecake!

This cake has all the attributes of being the perfect cheesecake yet it is not made of deadly cream cheese :) Its main ingredient is the much hyped Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a healthy high-protein, low-carb alternative to the regular yogurt. You can have it for breakfast with fresh fruits and cereal or use it in a variety of dips and salad dressings (will be doing a post on more recipes of Greek yogurt soon!)

A healthy version of the New york Cheesecake with just the right tinge and texture. I stumbled upon this recipe during my search for healthy dessert recipes and after 2-3 attempts this recipe was finalised. Its very easy, requires minimum effort and gives impressive results. If you are looking for an easy dessert recipe do give it a try.

Ingredients: 
2 kgs plain yogurt
1-1/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 lemons
1tbsp cornstarch

For crust:
8 to10 digestive biscuits
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp brown sugar

Garnish:
Fresh fruits, cream or jam



To make Greek yogurt, lay a piece of cheese cloth or muslin in a bowl. Add yogurt and either let it drain as is by either keeping in a large sieve or by gathering up the edges of the cloth and knotting them over an upper cabinet handle so that hangs over the bowl to drain. Drain the yogurt for about 2 hours. 





While the yogurt is draining you can make the crust.  Crush the digestive biscuits and add butter and brown sugar to it. Put the mixture in a 9-inch spring foam pan and blend it well with your fingers. Press it on all sides of the pan to form the crust base. Now keep it in the preheated oven (180C) for 8 minutes. Once its nice and brown take it out and keep it the fridge to cool. 

To make the filling  combine the eggs, sugar, yogurt (strained for 2 hours)  and vanilla and blend with a beater or a  food processor. Add cornstarch, lemon juice (2tbsp) and pinch of salt and blend again. Now pour the mixture into the prepared crust and bake (180C) in the oven for 35-40 minutes.

After 35 minutes check the cake for firmness. It is done when its set from the edges and still a bit shaky from the center. Take it out from the oven and let it cool in the fridge for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. 

Once its completely cooled release the springform and take it out in the serving dish. Pour over some slightly heated blueberry/strawberry jam or decorate with fresh fruits before serving.  

Pulished in Express Tribune on 28, June, 2013
http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/17674/no-cheese-cheesecake-the-weight-watchers-dream-dessert/

Row row row your boat!

"...had I known how to save a life" that's just what Rowtisserie knew, how to save my life! The song kept playing between the meal and made us believe that we were actually saved by a roast chicken ;)

Had a busy day and by the time it was evening, was hungry as hell with nothing in the fridge. So like a true Karachiite headed out hunting for prey and landed at Rowtisserie.

The place is nicely done and despite being small it looks clean and happy. We ordered the Mezze Platter and the Row Meal. The sidelines were New Potatoes and Mash & Gravy. Mezze Platter arrived early with all the exquisite dips (mutabbal, tzatziki, hummus, feta and olives) pickled veggies and chicken bits. Everything tasted very fresh with balanced flavors. The accompanying pita was fresh and hot.

Mezze Platter

The Row Meal followed with the 2 sidelines. The chicken was crisp from outside and equally moist and well done from the inside. Everyone loved it and devoured it with the amazing Row Sauce in minutes. My only take on the chicken was that it was a bit bland for my taste but coming from a die hard desi style spicy tikkas, bihari botis and bbq fan nobody paid any heed to it :p

Mash & Gravy was dreamy, the melt in your mouth kind and new potatoes had crispy skins with hints of dill on them.

Row Meal 

Overall a good addition to the Karachi food scene, lacking on the Lebanese/Mediterranean taste buds.

Mash & Gravy and New Potatoes

DIY: CupCraze!

OK I know they are everywhere, and almost everyone is making them. Still I decided to give it a shot and see for myself what's the hype all about? Yes I am talking about the over whelming cupcake craze that has taken over our beloved city with a bang and refuses to let go. Here I am sharing my first hand experience of making cupcakes for a one dish get together. Despite all the hype they were pretty simple and easy to make. And since its summer vacations try to get the kids involved. Its going to be a fun activity and they would love to help and decorate them.


Here's a list of ingredients: 

1/2 cup unsalted butter

2/3 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup (60 ml) milk

Preheat oven to 180 C

Beat the butter and sugar with an electric beater or hand mixer until light and fluffy 

Add the eggs one by one and also the vanilla essence

In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder, and one pinch of salt

Now add the flour mixture and milk to the eggs mixture. Do it batches, first the flour then milk then mix

Repeat until all the flour is mixed and you have nice batter

Line baking tray with paper cupcake liners

Fill the cupcake liners with batter and bake for about 20 minutes 

Frosting: 

For frosting I melted some chocolate with butter, cream and icing sugar. To mix them evenly I used a whisk. Now I am not an expert or a pro and obviously didn't have any other instruments like those decorating or piping tips (Wiltons etc.) at home, so I just grabbed a knife and spread the icing on the cupcakes. They seemed fine, though not like the pretty ones you see at the shops! For kids you can have colored bunties, jello-s etc. to make them interesting. 

For those who are not choco freaks there is a simple lemon frosting which you can do. Mix 1 tbsp of butter and 1 tbsp of lemon juice into half a cup of icing sugar and simply pour over. It will harden a bit, leaving a nice sheen and give a nice fresh lemony flavour to the cupcakes.  

DIY: High Protein Breakfast

A lot of us skip breakfast on work days without realising how it can actually affect weight loss, mood swings and concentration level. A high protein breakfast is surely gonna keep you feeling fuller longer and eating less throughout the day. 

So how about treating yourself with some yummy breakfast that could be put together in a jiffy also on a work day.

This is a pretty simple breakfast of fried eggs,canned beans (Heinz) and mushrooms. For mushrooms I have sautéed them with a little butter and garlic and sprinkled some freshly grind black pepper. You can use either the widely available canned ones or fresh ones. 

Happy breaky :) 

The final verdict on pizza

I am literally surviving on pizza since morning! It started yesterday when we were coming back from a shadi. We grabbed a midnight deal from Pizza Hut. It was almost 2:00 am, we were so hungry and stopped at the first food place we saw. Now I don't need to give details about the pizza since all of us know how PH tastes like: good on the go, but that's it.

For lunch I was supposed to meet some friends at Bistro 76 (Dolmen City). We ordered some chicken dishes, a lasagne and their Four Season's and Margarita pizzas. The pizzas left me so totally impressed! They were hand tossed, thin crusts, perfectly done with crispy edges. The toppings were fresh and the cheese was abundant and melting in the mouth. A must must try for pizza lovers!  Loved the artistically done pizza box; reminiscent of a Paris bistro :)

Lasagne & Mediterranean Chicken

Choc Bounty Cake

The lasagne and Mediterranean chicken were both flavourful and a hit among the chicken lovers. Our little friend Rayan ordered a slice of Chocolate Bounty Cake that looked delish with a layer of coconut in between chocolate. I sneaked a bite from his plate and couldn't stop myself from having more so sneaked a few more :) It was just like Bounty itself. Good place for a late Sunday lunch with excellent pizza. 

Sundays are always overloaded. So more pizza was served at a small gathering for friends at dinner. Now here is the interesting bit, after going through all the ravings about Pizzo and their famous thin crusts, we decided to give it a shot. We went for the black pepper salami and veg thin crust ones and baffalo chicken and chicken tikka in thick crust. They arrived in about 40 minutes. Boxes were nice and hot. But the pizzas were way too salty! I could only taste salt and more salt. The crust was also not that crisp either. Thick crust ones were satisfactory and far better. 

Pizzo thick crust

Final verdict for day: If you want a freshly made, hand tossed pizza with customised toppings go for Bistro 76!

Meethaa!

Went to Koel café last night to have some desserts. I was a bit skeptic at first since I always thought of Koel as a food place and not some place for desserts. But I was proven so completely wrong and I am so glad!

We ordered the baked chocolate pudding and the banoffee pie. The chocolate pudding was warm and oozing with chocolate, the best I have had. Banoffee was freshly made with perfectly ripe bananas, caramel and the whipped cream. However it felt a bit too sweet for my taste and perhaps the whipped cream could go without the added sugar to balance sweetness. All in all good ambiance and great selection of music to enjoy with your besties.

Forgot to take pics hence sharing banoffee pie's pic from Koel's fanpage. It looked exactly the same!