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Top five exciting food experiences
Fancy hunting truffles? Want to
try a tea trail? Here are must-try food trails
TRUFFLE HUNTING IN ALBA
As unconditional food frenzy, you
would love the hunt for the white truffle, especially if you have enjoyed the
delight that the white truffle brings. Famed for its intense aroma and
flavour, the Alba truffle is Nero (black) or bianco (white) and is sniffed
out of the ground by dogs. In the past truffle hunters used pigs to find the
truffle, but the pigs that were there tried to pig out the truffle right away
and also be cause it is easier to train a dog. The best time for truffle
hunting is early in the morning owing to the moisture in the air which helps
the dogs smell the exclusive and gorgeous aroma easily .
The one hour drive from Melbourne
comprises some of the most remarkable and vibrant collage of vineyards and
picture book villages. Set on 16 hectares, the Choco laterie combines
striking architecture with a unique food experience overlooking the
farreaching Yarra Valley views, the landscaped garden and the orchards. Six
qualified chocolatiers especially recruited from Belgium and France handcraft
from the best produce. The 150 different varieties of chocolates feature
truffles (showcased in a specially created cabinet to house 2500 truffles),
pralines, chocolate bars, nut clusters, rocky road, nougat, macaroons, fudge,
biscuits, chocolate sauces and spreads. Chocolate baby animals have been
created for the younger and young at heart visitors. Do not miss sampling and
enjoying a delicious Hot Chocolate in the café at the end of the tour.
If you happen to be in Muscat, do
try a meal at `Bin Ateek', or any Omani restaurant if you appreciate culture
and tradition. These restaurants are divided into private rooms, guests are
seated on the floor, and food is brought on large traditional round trays to
be eaten community style, just like at the home of any Arab. The star dish is
the `shuwa' which is lamb cooked for upto two days wrapped in banana leaves
in an underground clay oven while mari nated in herbs and spices such as red
pepper, garlic, cumin and co riander. In a few places Islamic laws also make
it unimaginable to have alcohol with the meals so the locals enjoy water,
light teas, a lemon mint refresher or a yummy sweet and sour drink made from
tangy flowers.
Most of the Champagne houses offer
pre-booked visits, usually with a glass of Champagne thrown in. Some charge
an insignificant admission. Many cellars are quite beautiful, being set in
former Roman chalk mines. Try and arrange a tasting of an array of champagnes
from a house to get the feel of a house style and to contrast different
blends and vintages. For watching grapes being pressed do go in September or
October through the harvest and even then, many houses presses are out in the
countryside. The Champagne Houses and restaurants are dotted around Reims and
Epernay . To ensure the excellence of your Grape Escape, go on a short grape
tour for around 24 people.
This begins with green tea,
followed by hopping on to a bus, with the guide giving interesting trivia on
tea. The first stop is at Chandni Chowk where all eager passengers are
transported into rickshaws! The `Jain' Chaiwal lah tea is something else in
spite of it being it being over brewed. The trick is the right balance of
fresh whole milk with tea leaves topped with slivers of almonds served with a
`Matthi' sprinkled with some special masala.
Rupali Dean is a senior food
& travel writer based out of Delhi
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