Appointment | Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala Appoints Pathikrit Baidya as Revenue Manager

Pathikrit Baidya appointed As Revenue Manager 

A hotel management graduate with over a decade in hospitality, Pathikrit Baidya has been appointed Revenue Manager at Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala.

Pathikrit holds a strong foundation in hotel front office operations with detailed knowledge of reservation procedures and inventory management. Through his decade-long career with hotels, he has worked with some very well-known properties including The Westin Sohna  Resort & SPA, Swissotel Goa, and JW Marriott Aerocity. His last assignment was with  Marriott hotels where he played an active role in revenue operations for Gujarat, and subsequently for the Rajasthan cluster. 

At Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala, Pathikrit will lead the hotel’s pricing, distribution, and revenue strategies. He will closely work with all key departments to optimize revenue opportunities for the hotel. 

NEW Opening | Avani Hotels Debuts on Bali’s Hottest Corner | Avani Seminyak

Bali: As the world starts to travel again, Avani is extremely excited to introduce you to the brand’s debut resort on Indonesia’s popular tourist island of Bali. Take a glance at the new Avani Seminyak Bali Resort:

The resort features 16 spacious private pool villas and 21 residential suites - perfect for long-staying travellers.

• The main dining outlet - GROOVE, serves classic Balinese cuisine as well as Indonesian regional favourites.

• Island excursions include beach hopping, surfing lessons and art galleries tours in Seminyak.

• Hop on a scooter and ride up to Canggu, discovering the eclectic collection of cafes as well as hidden beaches.

• The resort is situated just a 30-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

Avani Seminyak Bali Resort - Two Bedroom Pool Villa

Avani Seminyak Bali Resort - One Bedroom Terrace Suite Balcony

Avani Seminyak Bali Resort - Three Bedroom Plunge Pool Suite Garden

NEWS | IAAPI requests PM to save Amusement Park Industry from Economic Roller-Coaster Ride

The premium Himalayan destination resort is all set to offer an immersive stay experience for the discerning travelers

Amusement parks contribute nearly 40% of the total leisure industry turnover which are key drivers of growth among the service sector in India. Approximately, 30-35% of visitors are outstation visitors and thus a major source of tourism. The Indian Association of Amusement Parks and Industries (IAAPI) is a major part of the travel, tourism & hospitality sector as amusement parks in India attracts more than 3 crore visitors annually and growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 17.5% with annual revenue of approximately INR 17 billion, providing direct employment to over 75,000 people. In India, amusement parks generate 60% - 65% from gate income (ticket sale), 30% - 35% from food & beverages, and 10% - 15% from merchandise and are now suffering losses due to the black swan event encountered by the world.

Moreover, the Indian theme park and amusement park sector contributes significantly to the local economy as well as tourism while giving new avenues of entertainment of international standards to Indians with slim margins & incurring of fixed costs of operations, manpower, fuel makes operations unviable as parks operate on a seasonal basis with low footfall in monsoons. Now, this industry turnover is sinking.

This industry which is taking baby steps in India got suddenly hit by the pandemic, which is running out of working capital and is finding it difficult to meet its financial obligations such as staff salaries, advance tax, GST, PF, ESI, and other state levies, loan interest and installment payments. Sustaining business in such an environment has become a major concern and the industry is now struggling for its survival. The amusement industry is in dire straits and is now facing acute financial distress and bankruptcy, closure of businesses, and massive job losses.

The Amusement industry shall play a major role in creating employment, both directly and through ancillary and other related industries like hospitality, food & beverage, transport industry and more. It will create an economic multiplier effect accelerating the growth of the economy. The industry will employ a sizeable number of people directly and indirectly and contribute to the Government exchequer significantly. It will also form a major part of social infrastructure which plays a vital role in nation-building as it offers active outdoor recreation for kids, youth and families from middle and lower-middle-class strata of the society. The industry is on the verge of collapse and needs instant emergency support to rescue and bail out the entire amusement industry from the prevailing turbulent environment. The only way this can happen is by reducing fixed operating expenses significantly in the immediate term till consumption in the sector bounces back and the economic activity revives. The amusement park industry runs on the sole purpose of creating happiness and bonding. Let’s save this industry which has brought a smile on many faces and plans to do so in the upcoming certain & uncertain times.

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NRAI issues statement in support of Delhi Excise policy change

The national restaurant body also listed some additional suggestions it wanted to be made on further changes, which it felt would be beneficial for the sector.

The National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) cheered on the Delhi Government’s move to make changes to the excise policy which was notified on Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

In a statement used by the restaurant body, it said—NRAI warmly welcomes and supports the path-breaking reforms made by the Delhi Govt in the new Excise Policy notified earlier today. As a significant stakeholder, NRAI was very actively involved in the deliberations preceding the policy rollout and we are extremely happy to see that most of our suggestions have been incorporated in the policy. It is gratifying to see our constant efforts yielding such positive results. On behalf of the entire industry, we thank the Delhi Government for considering our suggestions. We also thank the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi for giving his express approval to this progressive policy.

The statement also listed several suggestions which NRAI wanted to make on the matter of the excise policy. They began by asking that the license fee be rationalized on the basis of the area instead of seat covers.

The body also felt that the age of selling and serving liquor should be in consonance with that of the neighboring States. They also felt archaic rules related to not allowing music in independent restaurants and pasting of public notice before grant of HCR licenses be done away with.

It also thought that the impractical restrictions relating to storage and serving of liquor should be removed and the requirement of obtaining multiple licenses prior to the grant of Bar license be done away with. Instead, the Fire NOC could be the only mandatory requirement for obtaining the Bar license.

The timings of operation of bars should be brought at par with the neighboring cities and the operational requirements of the HCR segment should be relaxed by permitting liquor service in the open spaces like terraces and balconies, and additional dispensing counters with a nominal fee, easy transfer of license, etc, it added.

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New Opening | The Ritz-Carlton Opens Its First Resort in the Maldives

The first Ritz-Carlton property in the island paradise opened on June 1.

It’s just a 10-minute seaplane or 45-minute speedboat trip from Malé’s Velana International Airport up to the Fari Islands archipelago in the North Malé Atoll, where the first Ritz-Carlton property in the Maldives opened June 1. The all-villa resort offers everything you’d want in a tropical getaway—white sand beaches, crystal-blue lagoons, overwater, and beachfront accommodations—as well as the type of elevated offerings you would expect from the luxury brand. As seen in these exclusive first-look photos, it’s all wrapped up in a striking, modern design by the late Australian architect Kerry Hill, who took inspiration for the spherical buildings from the circular forms of the lagoon, the swirling ocean breezes, and the cyclical nature of island life.

With seemingly every major luxury brand already operating in the Maldives, it is noteworthy that Ritz-Carlton is just now entering that market. “Expanding into this destination is something we have had our eye on for a long time, as we continue to evolve our portfolio, [and this] is the perfect moment for us to debut in the Maldives, as luxury travelers continue to seek out opportunities for meaningful exploration and reconnection, as well as destinations that offer access to open spaces and natural beauty,” Donna McNamara, vice president and global brand leader for Ritz-Carlton, tells Robb Report.

When asked how Ritz-Carlton might differentiate itself from the other five-star options in the country, McNamara says that “thoughtful expansion remains a top priority for the brand. We want every Ritz-Carlton property to be the gateway for immersion into the unique cultures where we operate. I love that from the moment you arrive at the resort, you feel deeply connected to the destination.” McNamara further notes that as “the Maldives offers so much more than a stunning physical environment, [the resort is] focused on bringing the rich culture to life for our guests.”

To help make these connections to the destination, guests of each of the 100 overwater or beachfront villas will enjoy the round-the-clock services of a dedicated aris meeha, or personal butler, who can organize activities such as Maldivian cooking classes, traditional drum performances timed to sunset, beach cricket matches or kids’ arts and craft sessions. Along with featuring organic products from UK-based Bamford, the ring-shaped, nine-room spa—which floats over the lagoon—performs signature treatments using local ingredients like heated sand, fresh coconut and native herbs. Guests of all ages will also be able to engage with the underwater world around the resort—home to a resident pod of dolphins—via activities led by experts from Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, with which Ritz-Carlton has had a longtime partnership.

The resort’s four sections include a dedicated “culinary island,” home to seven restaurants featuring dishes from Japan, Italy, India, Lebanon and China; the Cantonese-focused Summer Pavilion is an outpost of the Michelin-starred Singapore eatery by the same name. A large kids’ club, tennis courts, a photography studio (offering equipment rental and a range of classes) and areas for water sports round out the facilities, while the villas themselves feature private pools (the three-bedroom Ritz-Carlton Estate has two), indoor-outdoor showers, al fresco lounging space and—depending on their location—direct beach access or overwater hammocks. To help honor the destination further, the resort was designed to minimize impact on the reef ecosystem through the use of pre-fabricated materials and construction techniques, and solar panels, glazing and other sustainable methods have been employed to help lower the carbon footprint. Rates start at $1,500 a night for one-bedroom villas, $4,400 a night for two-bedroom villas and $22,500 per night for the Ritz-Carlton Estate.

New Opening | Wyndham signs 100-key property in Indore

The Ramada Encore by Wyndham in Indore is scheduled to open in 2022 and will provide 100 jobs for the city.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company with over 8,900 hotels across nearly 95 countries today announces the signing of Ramada Encore by Wyndham in Indore.

In the last two decades, Indore has become a major education hub in central India and is home to campuses of both the Indian Institute of Technology and the Indian Institute of Management. Indore is also a commercial centre for goods and services and has several industrial areas surrounding the city. These include Gems and Jewellery Park, Apparel Park, Pharma Cluster and many others.

Ramada Encore by Wyndham Indore will provide great connectivity and accessibility for guests arriving by car, train or air. The hotel will have easy access from the Ring Road and the main commercial area of Vijay Nagar.

The hotel, scheduled to open in 2022, will have a modern design and will feature 100 contemporary rooms, a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, meetings and event spaces, a business centre, refreshing wellness areas and an outdoor rooftop swimming pool.

Nikhil Sharma, Regional Director Eurasia, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA said: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Ramada Encore by Wyndham in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Ramada Encore by Wyndham is rapidly expanding in India and this signing further strengthens our mid-scale brand presence across the country. This upcoming opening adds to our existing portfolio of Wyndham-branded hotels in Madhya Pradesh and reaffirms our commitment to continued growth in this important market. We look forward to our partnership and to adding an internationally recognised hotel brand to the city of Indore.”

Once operational, Ramada Encore by Wyndham Indore will provide more than 100 jobs to Indore city.

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Covid NEWS | Agoda lists 550 hotels for quarantine stays in India

The properties have a range of price points and offer additional services as part of the package price and are equipped with amenities like Covid-19 nursing support, three daily meals, oxygen support and other services

Agoda has listed over 550 hotels in India alone for people to search and book for quarantine stays during the second wave of the Covid-19.

Agoda has created two distinct new channels for the public to source quarantine stays. In the first channel Agoda has curated a list of hotels from its accommodation partner network that are providing “hospi-tel” services, that is, accepting Covid-19 positive guests to isolate until recovery. There are over 100 properties spread across 23 cities in the countries in this list.

The properties have a range of price points and offer additional services as part of the package price and are equipped with amenities like Covid-19 nursing support, three daily meals, oxygen support and other services catering to the guest’s wellbeing, throughout their recovery. Guests will find a contact list of hotels/hospitals (hospi-tels) on the dedicated link on Agoda’s website and can call and pay directly to the property.

"We want to make it as easy as possible for Indians looking for somewhere to isolate to be able to do so. We hope to help, by doing what we do best, using our tech to connect our partner hotels with guests, and making hotel bookings quick and stress-free through our platform,” said Tarik Fadil, Associate Vice President, Partner Services, Indian Subcontinent and North Southeast Asia, Agoda.

Agoda’s second dedicated platform aligns with its alternative quarantine product successfully rolled out in Thailand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, which allows members of the public who are Covid negative, including public-facing frontliners, who wish to protect their families and live close to work. With more than 450+ hotels in cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, and towns including Mohali, Raipur, and Nashik to name a few, Indians returning home, traveling between states or self-isolating can now book their stay into a hotel to quarantine for as long as they wish via Agoda.
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New Launch | Awadhi cuisine cloud kitchen brand launches in Mumbai

With iconic F&B brands like SOCIAL and Smoke House Deli, Impresario Handmade Restaurants will now curate an extensive menu of authentic kababs and tikkas

Impresario Handmade Restaurants has launched yet another cloud kitchen brand and this time, it is Lucknowee. With iconic F&B brands like SOCIAL and Smoke House Deli, Impresario Handmade Restaurants will now curate an extensive menu of authentic kababs and tikkas, apart from a range of flavourful curries and biryanis.

In line with the superior food experience, the brand has become synonymous with, Lucknowee pays homage to Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the last King of Awadh. The legendary recipes of his royal household have been passed down from his khansamas to Lucknowee, untouched across generations. From Murgh Chakori Kebabs and Malai Khumb Tikkas to Bhuna Gosht Biryani and Nawabi Chole, Lucknowee provides a rich feast.

On the new venture, Jaydeep Mukherjee, Head - Cloud Kitchens, Impresario Handmade Restaurants says, “After BOSS Burger and Hung-Li, we bring our patrons an extensive menu of rich Awadhi food that is reminiscent of a bygone era. More and more consumers are opting for well-packaged, high-quality, and safe food delivery options, and Lucknowee satisfies cravings and whips up a feast fit for royalty. It is power-packed with flavours, crafted from the freshest ingredients, and there’s something for everyone on the menu.”

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NEWS| 250 weddings cancelled in Jaipur due to lockdown in April-June quarter

Many hotels and resorts have come up on the city outskirts to leverage the city’s popularity as a wedding destination.

Around 250 weddings with budgets of over Rs 25-30 lakh each have been canceled or postponed in the April-June quarter, according to estimates by the hospitality industry in Jaipur. While the lockdown in the state has been extended to June 8, weddings are prohibited till June 30. The three months (April-June) had over 30 days of auspicious dates for weddings.

On average, hotels and resorts on the city outskirts, in the Kukas area, get over 40% of their revenues from weddings, while for some individual properties, the segment contributes as high as 70% of their business. Chandrasekhar Joshi, general manager of The Leela Palace Jaipur, said, “The industry had a pretty decent recovery, primarily riding on the weddings that started from October last year till March this year. But April-June quarter has been a washout due to the second wave of the pandemic. In all likelihood, the industry might have lost about 250 big weddings.” In value terms, Joshi said, conservatively, the revenue loss could be Rs 100 crore.

July has six auspicious dates and after that, the hotels will have to depend on domestic tourists as there is no clarity on when the foreign tourist movement, corporate travel, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) activities will restart.

Akash Agarwal, director at Rajasthali Resort and Spa, said, “We get 65% of our business from weddings. It shows the loss of business opportunities we have suffered. Even though there are no weddings and no tourists, we pay a salary to 30 people to maintain it. Covid has hit the hospitality industry hard.”

In fact, in the absence of tourists, many hotels which were not highly dependent on weddings changed their strategy. Joshi said, “That strategy helped them to stay alive. In fact, they did well last year to recover substantially.”

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NEWS | McDonald’s and BTS Partner to Offer the Supergroup’s Favorite Order

The BTS Meal Will Hit McDonald’s Restaurants in North and East India Starting 1st June 2021 and McDonald’s Restaurants in South and West India Starting 4th June 2021

New Delhi, 31 May 2021: Get ready, because the Golden Arches are about to shine even brighter thanks to a new collaboration with 21st century global pop icons, BTS.  

This one-of-a-kind menu “tour” will arrive in North and East India on 1st June and South and West India on 4th June, when customers can enjoy the band’s signature order at participating restaurants across India. The BTS Meal includes a [10-piece] Chicken McNuggets®, medium World Famous Fries®, medium coke, and Sweet Chili and Cajun dipping sauces inspired by popular recipes from McDonald’s South Korea. 

“The band has great memories with McDonald’s. We’re excited about this collaboration and can’t wait to share the BTS Meal with the world,” says BIGHIT MUSIC, label of BTS.

Since 2013, BTS has topped music charts and brought people together from all over the world through their music and positive messages. In India, too, the band has quite a phenomenon fan following, especially among GenZ and millennials. India ranks among the top five or six countries contributing to music-video views of K-pop bands*. Over the next few months, BTS fans in India will find themselves that much closer to their favorite artists... because for the first time since McDonald’s launched its celebrity signature orders program in the U.S. last year, the BTS Meal will be available globally in nearly 50 countries, including India. You can find a full list of participating countries as well as dates for meal availability here.  

“No matter who you are, everyone has a go-to order at McDonald’s – even international superstars like BTS.” said Rajeev Ranjan, Chief Operating Officer, McDonald’s India – North and East. Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. operates McDonald’s restaurants in North and East India. “This band is truly a global phenomenon with a fanbase that knows no borders, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring the BTS Meal to our customers in India.”

McDonald’s India customers will be able to order the BTS Meal through McDonald’s App, in-store, at the Drive Thru or via McDelivery (wherever allowed by the local authorities). So mark your calendars for   June 1 and June 4, and be sure to keep an eye out on McDonald’s social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube) for regular updates on this exciting partnership!

* YouTube music-video views

About McDonald’s India - North and East: McDonald’s restaurants in North and East of India are operated by Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. McDonald’s is committed to delivering the highest quality restaurant experience to its customers in India and serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients sourced locally. McDonald’s serves millions of customers annually at its 150 restaurants across North and East of India and provides direct employment to more than 5,000 people. With a customer-centric approach, McDonald’s operates through a variety of formats and brand extensions including standalone restaurants, Drive-thru’s, 24/7 restaurants, McDelivery for customer convenience and experience.

Covid NEWS | Government warns hotels against stay-vaccination packages

The Union Government has warned hotels against offering stay-vaccination packages after reports that some hospitality sector players had started coming up with these schemes.

The government has warned hotels against offering stay-vaccination packages after reports that some hospitality sector players had started coming up with these schemes. Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan tweeted: “Hotels offering Covid-19 vaccination packages shall face strict legal action! Such activities are in contravention to rules under the national Covid vaccination program and must cease immediately.”

The Union health ministry wrote to all states on Saturday, saying it had come to its notice that “some private hospitals are giving packages for Covid vaccination in collaboration with some hotels, which is against (rules).”

The Centre has pointed out in the letter there are four available options for vaccination — government centres; private hospitals; government and private offices and “near to home” centres for the elderly and differently-abled. “Apart from this there is no other avenue to carry out (Covid) vaccination… therefore vaccination (being) carried out in start hotels is contrary guidelines and must be stopped immediately. Necessary legal and administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions,” the letter by Union health ministry additional secretary Manohar Agnani says.

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Research | Prices of a Beer aRound the World

Technology | Sony AI launches the “Gastronomy Flagship Project″ consisting of Research and Development of AI

Sony AI launches the “Gastronomy Flagship Project″ consisting of Research and Development of AI Powered Recipe Creation App, Chef Assisting Cooking Robot and a Community Co-creation Initiative

Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation established Sony AI as an internal organization in November 2019 and it became a new company in April 2020 with a global presence in Japan, the United States, and Europe. Sony AI  promotes fundamental research and development of artificial intelligence (AI) and aims to “create AI that unleashes human imagination and creativity.”

In addition to Sony’s existing business areas of “gaming” and “imaging & sensing,” Sony AI has set “gastronomy” as its flagship theme for new technical and business exploration. With the aim of enhancing the creativity and techniques of chefs around the world, the Gastronomy Flagship Project consists of the research and development of an AI application for new recipe creation, a robotics solution that can assist chefs in their cooking process, and a community co-creation initiative that will serve as a foundation to these activities.

In addition to games, Music, and Pictures, Sony AI sees great opportunities in Gastronomy as one of the global creative entertainment domains connecting chefs, who are creators, with their audiences. To this end, Sony AI will pursue its own research and development efforts in partnerships with various collaborators.

AI-Powered Recipe Creation App

Recipe creation is a very challenging research area for AI, as there are infinite possibilities for combinations of ingredients, as well as constraints such as location, climate, season, and a person’s health and food preferences, that must be taken into account.

Sony AI will utilize a variety of data sources – including recipes and ingredient data, such as taste, aroma, flavor, molecular structure, nutrients, etc. – to develop a Recipe Creation App that will be powered by proprietary AI algorithms to assist the world’s top-level chefs in their creative process of ingredient pairing, recipe design, and menu creation.

Through this App, Sony AI aims not only to assist in making delicious food but also to contribute to people’s health and the sustainability of the environment.

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Ingredient Ideology | THE AFFECTIONATE AMLA By: Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef.

THE AFFECTIONATE AMLA

Amla also known as Indian Gooseberries or Amalaki in Sanskrit which means “Nectar of Life” in Ayurveda is a fruit that has long been revered in India as a nutritive tonic and beneficial ingredient. Amla is small round berries with a light pastel green skin translucent to look at making it appear as if it is segmented and in the center of the berry lies a hexagonal-shaped stone with six small seeds. Indian gooseberry grows on trees found in the wild and cultivated in various parts of our country today. 

Amla is said to possess five of the tastes sour, bitter, pungent, astringent, sweet although sour is the dominating one. The berry is one of the three fruits in the Ayurvedic preparation which forms Triphala and is a base for the rejuvenating formulae for a chavanprash consumed by many of us to boost our immunity and more. The marble-like berries are not only used in a variety of recipes but also highly referred to and used in medicinal properties too in healing and treatment under Ayurveda.

Amla can be eaten fresh as it is though a light sprinkling of salt does make the bitterness and sourness a bit better as a mouthfeel to adapt to in for starters and at times we also soak it in a little salted water before cooking it since it reduced the pungency to an extent. Traditionally Amla has been used in India for making pickles and chutneys since it has both a dual sweet and sour application in our recipes of Indian kitchens. Amla murabba is a popular sweet preservative served with hot puris as a breakfast dish as well in various parts of India. Amla can also be baked into tarts or juice as we all know being popular to be had on its own or to flavor bottles of vinegar and marmalades. 

Amla juice with honey or jaggery can be enjoyed as a refreshing healthy shot of goodness for our overall well-being. Dried Amla powder sprinkled onto our fruit salads. Ayurveda also says that Amla can help us balance the three Doshas namely Kapha, Vata, and pitta thereby eliminating the underlying cause of many diseases. Amla holds a lot of religious significance too during the holy month of Karthik according to Hindu mythology the Amla tree is said to be germinated from the tears of Lord Brahma.

 These days Amla is available around us all year round which makes it easier to include it in our daily dietary routines to help us stay fit.

Here are a few Health Benefits of AMLA:

1. Amla is said to be a complete powerhouse of essential nutrients for our bodies.

2. Amla improves our immunity levels and protects our body against any possible infections.

3. Amla is rich in vitamin- c and helps in the detoxification of our body.

4. Amla is also a rich anti-oxidant and eliminates toxins and improves body metabolism.

5. Amla helps reduce inflammation and is good for the eyes, hair, mental functioning, and skin.

6. Amla is also considered for weight loss and weight.

7. Amla is also known to have anti-aging properties, helps indigestion, and also lowers cholesterol levels.

Let us check on 10 uses of Amla in our kitchens:

1. Amla in making our classic style Indian pickle.

2. Amla in an authentic sweet form called Murabba.

3. Amla as a healthy drink with ginger, honey, lime as shots.

4. Amla in the form of condiments like chutney.

5. Amla as dehydrated form or powdered forms.

6. Amla infused water to be had as a detox fluid.

7. Amla in the form of tempered rice preparation.

8. Amla can also be prepared in curries or subzis, methi-Amla combination, or Achari Amla ka tadka as a vegetable format.

9. Amla also finds its way in the form of Jams & candies too.

10. Amla as a snack option is good as Pudina-Amla aur chukandar ki tikki, as a side dish as a Amla- Anar ka Raita.

Here are a few recipes with The Indian Gooseberries- AMLA:

Recipe-1] AMLA GAJRELA RAITA

Ingredients:

• Amla- 3-4 no cut and de-seed and boil/steam for 4-5 mins and cut into small pieces.

• Carrot-1 med sized, peeled, and grated.

• Freshly grated coconut

• Green chili- 1 no cut into small pieces.

• Curd- 2 cups, beaten.

• Salt to taste

• Sugar if needed.

• Mint leaves- 10-12 no

• Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp.
  

For the tempering on the raita:

• Oil- 2 tsp

• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp

• Curry leaves- 10-12 no

• Hing- 1 pinch

• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

• White sesame seeds-1/2 tsp

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the Amla raita.

2. In a mixing bowl combine together the beaten curd, add salt and sugar to taste if needed.

3. Add in the grated carrots and steamed/boiled Amla pieces, green chili, coconut mint, and coriander leaves, and mix well.

4. Heat oil in a tadka pan and splutter-crackle the tempering ingredients for a few seconds and pour it into the raita, give it a nice mix and chill the raita for 20-25 mins and serve, to variate the raita further one can also add almonds, walnuts or raisins as well, we can also add flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc to add a crunch to the raita.

Recipe-2] AMLA KA ANOKHA ANDAZ

Ingredients:

Amla- 10-12 no.

Ingredients for making the Amla pickle masala:

• Kashmiri red chili powder- 1 tsp

• Salt- ½ tsp

• Mustard seeds- ½ tsp

• Jaggery-2 tbsp. grated

• Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp

• Fenugreek seeds-1/2 tsp

• Hing-1 pinch

• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

• Fennel seeds-1/2 tsp

• Sesame oil/ regular oil- ¼ cup

Method:

1. To prepare the Amla achar firstly wash them well and prick it well with a fork and allow to remain in a sieve or colander for 15 mins and steam it over boiling water for 12-15 mins, there is an option of removing the seeds once steamed and cut into wedges.

2. On a Tava lightly roast the fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds cumin seeds, mustard seeds, and once cooled prepare a fine dry powder of the same and keep aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine together the spice powders and all other spices and salt into the steamed Amla mix them all up very well.

4. Add in the soft grated jaggery and mix it into the jaggery mixture, now heat up the oil separately to smoking point and pour it over the Amla pickle and mix well, cover it and keep it in the fridge and shake the bottle occasionally and start using it from the 3rd day from the day of preparation.

Recipe-3] MASALEDAAR AMLA

Ingredients:

• Amla- 10-12 no cut into halves and stone removed.

• Oil- 2 tsp 

• Ghee- 2 tsp

• Hing-1/4 tsp

• Ajwain-1/4 tsp

• Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp

• Cumin seeds- ½ tsp

• Ginger- 1 tbsp. chopped

• Green chili-1 tsp chop

• Red chili-1 no shredded.

• Onion- 1 small chopped

• Red chili powder-1/4 tsp

• Turmeric powder-1/4 tsp

• Coriander powder-1 tsp

• Tamarind pulp-2 tsp or as per taste

• Jaggery- 2-3 tsp or as per taste.

• Salt to taste

• Coriander leaves-2 tbsp. chopped.

• Roasted crushed peanuts-1 tbsp. optional.

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the masaledaar Amla recipe.

2. Heat oil and ghee in a Kadai and add in the hing, ajwain, ginger, onion, and the seeds and allow to splutter for a few seconds, add in the cut Amla pieces which have been boiled in water with a little turmeric for 8-10 mins, remove the seed or stone from the Amla and cut into wedges.

3. Add in the green and red chili, the powdered spices, jaggery, salt, tamarind paste and little warm water as needed in order to get it all together. 

4. Cook this mixture on a low flame for 3-4 mins until jaggery is well dissolved and blended into the Amla subzi, I also like to add a tbsp. full of roasted crushed peanuts into this recipe for a crunch.

5. Check for a balance of salt, sweetness, and sourness and fine-tune it, add a nice helping of fresh coriander leaves and serve the subzi with hot phulkas, rotis, with some fresh-cut salad and a bowl of curd or raita.

Recipe- 4] TADKEWALA AMLA RICE

Ingredients:

• Rice- 2 cups cooked- white or brown- boiled/ pre-cooked.

• Oil- 2 tsp

• Ghee- 2 tsp

• Amla- 4- 5 pieces.

• Jaggery- 2 tsp grated or as per taste.

• Hing- ¼ tsp

• Mustard seeds- ½ tsp

• Split urad dal-1 tsp

• Split Bengal gram-1 tsp

• Cumin seeds-1/2 tsp

• Red chilies-2 no slit

• Green chili- 2 no slit

• Curry leaves- 4-5 no

• Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp

• Salt to taste

• Coriander leaves- 2 tbsp. chopped

• Fresh desiccated coconut-2 tbsp.

• Fried sliced cashews- 2 tsp.

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the Tadkewala Amla rice.

2. Heat oil and ghee in a Kadai and add in the hing, red and green chilies and add in the split grams and other seeds for the tempering allow them to crackle and splutter for a few seconds, also add in the curry leaves.

3. Add in little water to prevent burning followed by the pre-cooked and boiled Amla wedges or cubes without the stone and seeds, add in the fresh coconut, powdered spices, salt, and jaggery to taste in order to balance the Amla sourness, and cook for 3-4 mins.

4. Now add in the cooked rice white or brown rice can be used as well give it a nice toss with the Amla, allow to cook for 2-3 mins, and add in coriander leaves, nuts, and seeds of your choice for garnish and serve hot with a bowl of curd, papad, and pickle.

Recipe-5] AMLA KA COOLER

Ingredients

• Amla- 5-6 no.

• Sugar syrup/Jaggery syrup or powder/Organic Honey- anyone sweetener can be used avoid sugar if possible, try coconut sugar.

• Mint leaves- 10-12 no.

• Roasted crushed jeera powder- ½ tsp.

• Green cardamom powder-1 pinch optional.

• Black salt-1/2 tsp of pink salt may be used.

• Water and ice cubes as needed

• Lemon juice-1 tsp.

• Ginger- 1 tbsp. juice.
  
  
  

Method:

1. Assemble all the ingredients for the Amla cooler recipe.

2. Wash and cut the Amla remove the stone and seeds and cut into wedges. Using a mixer jar combine together the Amla, water approx. 1 cup, few mint leaves, roasted crushed jeera, black or pink salt, and give it a nice blend.

3. Remove into a mixing bowl, add in the sweetener of your choice as per taste and mix well, add a dash of lime juice and ginger juice to balance it.

4. Place the mint leaves in your serving glasses and pour this nutritive and refreshing Amla cooler and serve it immediately.

Brief About The Writer:

Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef, is a Mumbai-based Author, Writer, Healthy Eating - Lifestyle Specialist, Food Designer, Academician & having mastered over 33 International Cuisines, is also a Food & Beverage Consultant. He has worked with esteemed properties like the Taj Group of Hotels, Kuwait Airways to name a few, he has been awarded several Global and National Awards for his outstanding performance in his chosen field he loves to share his knowledge and experience of over 2 decades with the Food & Hospitality Industry.

Covid NEWS | Anantara Eases Quarantine Stays with Virtual In-Room Wellness Programmes in Bangkok

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas introduces targeted wellness programmes for guests undergoing Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) in Bangkok – a mandatory quarantine stay in a government certified hotel for all travellers arriving in Thailand. Designed to refresh and balance the mind, body and soul, the Enhance. Detox. Restore. programmes elevate a luxurious ASQ stay, ensuring guests arrive in Thailand rejuvenated and ready to explore the Kingdom.

At a glance:

• Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel and Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort are the only certified ASQ hotels in Bangkok to offer virtual in-room wellness programmes for quarantined guests.

• The Enhance. Detox. Restore. in-room wellness offerings encompass a series of curated digital programmes featuring personal lifestyle wellness consultations and supervised health classes with an Ayurvedic doctor

• Wellness ASQ packages at Anantara Siam and Anantara Riverside have been developed in partnership with Bangpakok 9 International Hospital to transform a quarantine stay into a luxurious wellness experience.

NEWS | Burger King Q4 results: Posts net loss of INR 26 cr

Its total income during January-March 2021 stood at INR 199.45 crore, against INR 192.95 crore in the year-ago period.

Burger King India Ltd on Wednesday reported a consolidated net loss of INRE 25.94 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2021.

It had posted a net loss of Rs 37.41 crore during the January-March 2020 quarter, the quick-service restaurant chain said in a regulatory filing.

Its total income during January-March 2021 stood at Rs 199.45 crore, against Rs 192.95 crore in the year-ago period.

Burger King India's total expenses in the March 2021 quarter stood at Rs 219.81 crore.

For the full financial year 2020-21, the company reported a total income of Rs 522.93 crore. It was INR 846.82 crore in 2019-20.

Shares of Burger King India Ltd on Wednesday settled at INR 156.35 on the BSE, up 2.26 percent from the previous close.

Appointment | Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel appoints Debarati Bose as CDoSM

Prior to this, Bose was the Director of Sales & Marketing at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu.

Debarati Bose is appointed as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing at the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center and Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park. In her new capacity, Bose will play a pivotal role in driving and overseeing all aspects of sales and marketing strategies, optimizing both the hotel’s revenue and market share.

Bose comes with a rich experience of over 13 years in the sales and marketing industry, a stickler for perfection and attention to detail, she has motivated her team at all times to achieve targets and has been responsible for business growth in her previous roles. Her contribution goes beyond the growth of just the hotel. She encourages and drives the team to deliver the best results and puts immense focus on their personal and professional development.

Prior to this, Bose was the Director of Sales & Marketing at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. Unparalleled strategies and innovative ideas consistently implemented by the team under Bose’s leadership have distinguished the hotel and strengthened its position to remain the Market Leader on RGI.

She has worked with reputed brands such as The Oberoi Hotels in the past and joined the Marriott family in April 2017 at the JW Marriott Pune as the Director of Sales and Marketing.

Source

Appointment | Tanmay Vaidya joins Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield as Director of Operations

Vaidya joined the Marriott family in 2018 as a Director of Food and Beverage in Mumbai where he played an instrumental role in orchestrating successful restaurant openings and product enhancement.

Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center has recently appointed Tanmay Vaidya as the Director of Operations. Vaidya is a result-driven individual with a track record of guiding teams to deliver optimum results with his creative and practical approach. He will be responsible for driving the hotel operations and guest engagement.

Vaidya is a graduate of The Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development (OCLD). He began his career at The Oberoi, Mumbai. As he grew up the ranks, he learned the nuances of hospitality with industry exposure to hotels like Trident Nariman Point Mumbai, The Oberoi New Delhi, The Oberoi Cecil Shimla, The Oberoi Rajvilas Jaipur. His last assignment with the Oberoi group was at The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius. During this tenure, he has conceptualized and spearheaded numerous Food and Beverage projects at various luxury locations.

Vaidya joined the Marriott family in 2018 as a Director of Food and Beverage in Mumbai where he played an instrumental role in orchestrating successful restaurant openings and product enhancement. During this role, Vaidya also assisted the openings of The Ritz- Carlton, Pune and conceptualized and supported the launch of Port Muziris, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Kochi.

Covid NEWS | HAI appeals to PM to extend help for the hospitality sector

HAI, in its appeal, highlighted that more than 40% of hotels have shut or are on the brink of closure and 70% of overall jobs are now in danger directly or indirectly.

Hotel Association of India (HAI) has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for immediate intervention to provide relief to the hospitality industry in five key areas.

The key areas are one-time settlement of loans and extension of loan moratoriums till September 2021, waiver of all statutory liabilities at Centre, state, and municipal levels for the pandemic period, stimulus package subsidising of salaries of hotel employees, and to bring hospitality to the concurrent list of the Constitution.

HAI, in its appeal, highlighted that more than 40% of hotels have shut or are on the brink of closure and 70% of overall jobs are now in danger directly or indirectly.

In its representation to PM, HAI has strongly urged the government to consider the one-time settlement of loans and extension of loan moratoriums till September 2021, pointing out that the increasing loan burden at a time of almost non-existent income may serve only to increase the NPAs of banks and moratorium will provide a breathing space to the already crippling industry.

HAI, therefore, has requested the PM to offer a stimulus package-subsidizing of salaries of hotel employees by 50% from April 2021-March 2022 as is being done by many countries as a part of their economic recovery programmes.

While lauding the government’s effort to promote domestic tourism the industry body also stressed the fact that expansion of domestic tourism will require the creation of suitable accommodation to meet the incremental demand.

The Indian hospitality sector has a critical role to play in the post-pandemic economic revival and has been announced as the fourth pillar of the Indian economy. HAI urged for the PM's bold intervention and directions for implementation of the suggestions to save the Industry jobs and the lives and livelihoods of the citizens employed in hotels and to enable the industry to get on its feet so that it can make its contribution to the national economy added HAI.

Source

Appointment | Sanjiv Kapoor is the new Oberoi Group President

Sanjiv Kapoor will be the new president of the Oberoi Group from June 1, 2021. Kapoor used his Twitter handle late on Thursday night to make the announcement.

“I am delighted to share that I will be joining the Oberoi Group as President effective June 1, 2021. Oberoi is a storied brand and wonderful institution, a true home-grown and world-class Indian success story. I am honored and privileged to be joining them and look forward to working with the Oberoi family from whom I will have a lot to learn. Quality, brand, operational & service excellence, and above all basic human decency are things I am truly passionate about, and those are the essence of the Oberoi DNA and culture,” he said in his post.

Kapoor, who is an aviation industry veteran, worked in SpiceJet as its chief operating officer, before switching over to Vistara as chief strategy and commercial officer. He then left Vistara in 2019 to become a senior advisor at Alton Aviation Consultancy based in New Delhi.

Kapoor is a graduate of Wharton School and Dartmouth College and completed his schooling at La Martiniere For Boys in Kolkata.

The Oberoi Group was founded in 1934 and owns and operates 32 luxury hotels as well as river and backwater cruises. Kapil Chopra was its last President before leaving the company in 2017.

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