Explore French-Vietnamese cuisine with Chef Luke Nguyen at TLC Channel

I always follow TLC Channel for some exotic recipes from celebrity Chefs and their travel programme on around the world. When i got to know about Chef Luke's progamme on TLC , I  thought to pen down the information for my readers. 

Chef Luke Nguyen 

A new series of  French -Vietnamese cuisine is coming up in TLC Channel . Chef Luke Nguyen who hails from France is going to showcase his expertise in Vietamese twist to French cuisine  which is going to be aired every weekday at 8pm as Luke Nguyen's France .



Luke's journey commences in Paris where he explores Parisian and tradition. In lyon, Luke cooks alongside the country's top chefs and home cooks. He travels along France's famed southern coastline from Nice to Biassitz and experiences the generiosity of the locals as they not only open up their homes but also share their treasured family recipes . Luke's journey will also take him through the iconic Loire Valley and later to Brittany where he enjoys French food heritage at its finest.   On his journey via TLC he will uncover the gallic influence in Vietnamese cuisine with an art of regional French cuisine .




We will discover France's diverse cuisine as Luke whips up tantalising dishes including classic recipes like melted goat's cheese on sour dough and French Vietnamese fusion .
So lets catch Chef Luke Nguyen on TLC Channel for French and Vietnamese cuisine ., every weekday at 8pm. Cnt wait for its telecast .



* Information sourced by
Liopnion group. 

Spirit -"ology" ... Lets Rock and Storm with Blue Eyes White Lily and Green Apple .

We drink for different reasons: to quench thirst, to loosen up or get drunk, because it tastes good, to enhance a meal, because we’re addicted, as part of a ceremony, to celebrate, to mourn. We drink when we’re happy. We drink when we’re sad. And then there are the non-drinkers, for whom abstaining may be as much of an issue as drink.Whatever  is the reason for others , I drink when I feel like to relax  with good company. 

 Last month I got a call from Silvicpr company to try  two newly launched Vodka ( Green Apple and Blue Eyes White Lily ) of  Rock and Storm Distilleries, I was thrilled to try their cocktail recipes .  Sometimes I wonder why didn’t I learned Mixing Spirits professionally., As I love to try new recipes of cocktails .  All the five recipes were fruit  and tea based , so I loved  all of them.  Let me share their all five recipes of Cocktails . These summer based drinks are perfect  for  Delhi weather . Blue Eyes White Lily Vodka is pure grained so it was nice to mix all kind of fuits and liquors to get a good punch.  Green Apple is a flavoured one , and it was going very well with Green Tea.

   








Blue Eyes Green Tea

photo courtesy : silvicpr 

Ingredients: Blue Eyes Green Tea, Green Tea Bags – 2, Boiled Water - 20ml, Gin - 20ml, Blue Eyes Vodka - 40ml, Sugar syrup, Lemon juice, Whisky - 2 to 3 ml, Sprite

Method: Dip 2 Green Tea Bags in 20ml boiled water in a Shaker, Squeeze a little, pour the water in a Glass already filled with Ice Cubes. Add 20ml Revolution Gin n Lime Duet with 40 ML Blue Eyes Pure Grain Vodka, Sugar Syrup & lime Juice to taste.

• Top up with Sprite

• Spray 2-3ml of Big Boss Whisky

• Garnish with Mint Leaves







**Blue Eyes White Lily

Ingredients:White Lily, Blue Eyes Vodka - 45ml, Lychee Juice - 60ml, Limca - 60ml, Lemon Juice - 2-3 drops
Method: Put 1/3 part of Crushed ice in a Glass, Pour 45ml of Blue Eyes Vodka, pour 60ml Lychee Juice, Limca 60ml & 2-3 Drops of Lemon Juice. Slightly Stir.Garnish with Fresh Lychee bulbs. 

**Blue Eyes Summer Crush
Ingredients: Summer Crush, Blue Eyes Vodka - 45ml, Tomato - ½, Cucumber - ½, Melon - 1/8, Sugar Syrup, Mint - 5-6 Leaves

Method: Blend Half Tomato, Cucumber & Melon in a Blender with Some Crushed Ice.  Add Blue Eyes Vodka 45 ML Add Sugar to Taste Pour in a Glass.

Garnish with Twisted Slice of Cucumber....

**

Blue Eyes Mango Sunrise

Ingedients: Mango Sunrise, Vodka - 45ml, Mango Juice - 45ml, Coke - 60ml, Crushed Ice, Gin - 15ml

Mthod: Put Some Crushed ice in a glass, Lock it on base and fix a Long shot Glass filled with 30ml Blue Eyes Vodka & 30ml Chilled Mango Juice In the glass. Pour Coke 60ml and Revolution Gin n Lime 15ml

Photo courtesy : Silvicpr 

**Blue Eyes Masala Twist 

Photo courtesy Silvicpr 

Ingredients: Blue Eyes Masala twist, Blue Eyes Vodka - 45ml, Lime chunks - 4 to 6, Mint Leaves, Brown Sugar, Chaat masala, Sprite

Method: Pour 45ml Blue Eyes Vodka in Shaker Put 4-6 Lime Chunks, add Brown Sugar Muddle Them Slightly , Add Tapped Mint Leaves, Add Some ice and Chaat Masala Shake Well and Double Strained in a glass topped, with Sprite, Garnish with Lime Chunk or Mint

**Let me share a brief description on the brand , which i have gathered from the PR of the company.
The company "Rock and Storm Distilleries " is a ventured by Arundeep Singla . It was launched in 2010 and has since then made its mark in Whisky, Rum , Vodka and Gin with both premium and semi premium brands. Distelleries is headquatered in Punjab and retail in Delhi. 

, 

Too much French for me - L'Opera - The Patisserie

Come birthday month, my people start discussing about Cakes and Pastries from L'Opera . For the

past three years , we have been regular at this French Parisserie . As my birthday is approaching , I overheard some chinese whispers at home about celebrations and immediately Mango Macaron of L'opera which i had at their Nehru place outlet ,came into my mind . This newly launched Macarons were very smooth in texture and just melted into my mouth .  I also had some fantastic cakes and toffees . Hang on , I must share this story in detail.

Although this story is two months back , but i must share it with you. When I got a call from my friend Veta Ratra about new Chef  and his new ventures , I joined her along with my blogger friend, Nimmi Vashi.  It was an euphoric moment to meet Chef Cedric along with Laurent Samandari , Man behind this authentic French Patisserie and his excellency Francois Richier , Ambassador of France. 

Pattisserie - L'Opera , Nehru Place 

After a brief discussion with Chef Cedric , got to know that he hails from a bakers family and his passion brought him to India and work at L'Opera .  He is planning to launch an extensive array of products including some sugar free pasteries and cakes . 

Chef Cedric giving a brief on his latest creations

inside view of the outlet . 

So talking about some of his creations which i had was Mango Macaron which is made with fresh mango and cream .,  Rum Truffle , Oats , Toffees ( Pistachios with White chocolate, Honey milk chocolate , and White chocolate and Museli) and Biscuits ( Oats and sesame and Green tea ) . I also had two newly launched Cakes at their outlet - Banana chocolate Chip and Carrot and Walnut Cake

Rockstar of the event - Mango Macaron

Toffees. 

Cakes . 

some more view of Toffees 

loved these Oats and Green tea biscuits 

I am not a very biscuit person but loved their Oats and Green tea biscuit . I can still feel the taste of Mango Macaron . I am sure on this birthday too , I am going to blow candles on L'Opera Cake . :)

Me and My Espion team wish them all the best for their new venture and many more such delectable innovations . My gratitude to Veta Ratra and Laurent Samandari , Co-Founder of L'Opera for giving me an oppurtunity to attend Chef Cedric event for show casing some of his fantastic creations . 




List of their outlets in NCR

*Khan Market
*DLF, Promanade Mall, Vasant Kunj
*Galleria Market , Gurgaon
*Hauz Khas village
*Epicuria Food mall , Nehru Place
*French Embassy
*Ravissant Blliis , New Friends Colony
*DLF Golf and Country Club , Gurgaon
*German Centre , DLF , Cyber City Gurgaon . 

* Although Espion pay their own bill but this event was on invitation by  Ms.Veta Ratra . 

COL- Chickens of Ludhaina - My love story of falling in love with Yellow Butter Chicken of Ludhiana .

My story of falling in love with the "Yellow Butter Chicken" started with a general discussion with my friend . I was initially not very surprised when he told me that he only eats chicken because i know people from Punjab love the "Kukkad" . I insisted on him to try out other meat too and so started the discussion on famous curries of Punjab ( Butter Chicken , Tandoori Chicken , Cream Chicken etc). When he asked me whether I have ever tasted Yellow coloured Butter Chicken, my curiosity to know more about it grew and then he told me about anewly opened outlet in Gurgaon  called "Col-Chickens of Ludhiana"  which is serving three famous curries of Ludhiana.

The menu

After meeting my friend , I couldnt wait for another day and asked my friends whether they are game for trying this outlet with me .So next day me  and few of my friends ( +lakshay gumber , +Shalini Pereira and +Naju Medhi )  decided to meet for lunch with some Ludhiana special food. Although it is a "Take away outlet" , they have seating capacity of 10 people .  While waiting for my friends , I got a chance to chat with the owner of COL-Chickens of Ludhiana , Amit Khanna. I was more curious to know about Yellow coloured Butter Chicken , because living in Delhi , Butter Chicken for me was red coloured gravy with huge amount of cream over it . Apparanently Ludhiana is famous for three curries - Butter chicken, Cream chicken and Rada Chicken. So according to Amit, during partition of Indo-Pakistan, when people from Pakistan moved to India, they brought their special  recipe of Butter Chicken , which is yellow in colour . Since then Butter Chicken curry is yellowish in Ludhiana with a base of  onion and cream. According to him , Amit has not compromised on the quality of the ingredients and they use their inhouse spice mix to maintain the authenticity of the curries .

After going through their menu, we decided to order all the three famous curries - Butter Chicken, Cream Chicken and Rada Chicken. As per my friend's recommentation, we ordered Mirchi Paratha to eat with the curries . For starters we ordered "Stuffed Tangri Kabab".

Stuffed Tangri Kabab 

Butter chicken was not tangy unlike what i get at most of the outlets in Delhi . It had a very distinct flavour . Cream chicken was perfect blend of onions, cream , black pepper and fenugrek . No ingredient was overpowering with other .  It blended  very well with Mirchi Paratha . Btw dnt get scared when you look at the amount of Mirchi over the Paratha , they use degi mirch for the colour and to make it mild spicy. Rada Chicken was slightly spicy than other two gravies , so we ordered plain Tandoori roti to polish the curry. Although spices used are their inhouse spices but i could smell the aroma of Javitri and Pipli .  I must say that all the three gravies had distinced flavour and aroma. Talking about Tangri Chicken , i think it should be talk of the town. They stuff the Tangris with a lavish amount of Keema and spices and serve it with refreshing mint chutney .

Cream Chicken . 

Rada Chicken .

t

Talk of the Town - Yellow Butter Chicken of Ludhiana 

Mirchi Paratha - layered with cream with a sprinkle of Degi Mirch 

Btw their menu has lot of options for Vegetarians too . They claim that their Soya Chaap and Stuffed Mushroom are high in demand . I have kept the list of veggie items pending to try out on my next visit .

Although we all were full but wanted to try something in dessert section , so as per Amit's recommendation, we ordered Fruit Cream . We all loved the dish and saw a smile at Amit's face as he proudly told us that its his wife's recipe .

Fruit Cream

With all the mentioned (half portion each) curries, one portion of Kabab with two Mirchi Paratha and one Tandoori Roti and dessert , our bill was 1500/-  which is quite reasonable .
Espion team  congratulates Mr. Amit Khanna for introducing such delicacies of Ludhiana and wish for his succcess in  his venture.

COL has maintained the tradition to serve Jaggery to their guest after the meal . 

To Reach
COL-Chickens of Ludhiana
Supermart - 1. DLF - Phase 4
Gurgaon . ( 9999-763723)
* They accept plastic money
* They are closed on Tuesday.
* A Lavish meal for two - 800/- 
* The Kitchen Espion pays their own bill to review .