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Five Ridiculously Ethereal Ethnic Cakes – and Where to Find Them

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) These ridiculously ethereal must-try cakes seem to have won over even the most die-hard, “no dessert diner.” You can include me, and a host of others in that statement because when you have a perfectly balanced meal, you don’t want to mar that perfect last bite.

Ayla Barreau celebrates with a Berry Chantilly Cake

Berry Chantilly Cake

This Whole Foods Market exclusive southern belle of a treat features layers of delicate vanilla cake, fluffy Chantilly cream frosting and fresh berries. It’s so irresistible, in fact, that people have been known to stand in line for it through power outages and impending natural disasters. Curious what the hype is all about? Read on for more delicious details about Berry Chantilly Cake.

The famous Berry Chantilly Cake from Whole Foods Markets

This cake first made its debut 13 years ago at the Arabella Station store in New Orleans, where one of our talented Bakery team members formulated a recipe based on her grandmother’s original creation. It was an instant hit, and other stores picked up the recipe.

Two sizes of Berry Chantilly Cake Whole Foods Markets. Slices are sold out.

The cake is available in two sizes at Whole Foods Market for six or eight people. Slives are available if the cakes aren’t spoken for already. This rarely happens. I know. I tried the month of December.

//www.wholefoodsmarket.com/departments/bakery/berry-chantilly-cake

The Restaurant at Mr.C’s Merengue Cake

Restaurant Manager, Miguel Morales and server Derek made the lunch special. Service is attended to with old-school charm and aplomb.  This makes the food and the dessert we came for taste even better.

We had spotted the Vanilla Meringue Layer Cake on a tray prepared for guests at a spirited 21st birthday party outside earlier in the year. Restaurant Manager, Morales, told us it is the “signature cake” of the hotel worldwide. We had come back and try it.

Vanilla Meringue layer cake at The Restaurant at Mr. C’s

Instagram – //www.instagram.com/mrchotels/

Facebook – //www.facebook.com/mrcbeverlyhills

Website – //www.mrchotels.com/hotels/beverly-hills-los-angeles-ca/dining/ 

Mr. C’s Beverly Hills, Rest1224 Beverwil Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90035, (310) 277-2800

Equally light and angelic is the chocolate cake at The Restaurant at Mr. C’s

Tres Leches Cake

Light, richer than rich Tres leches (three milks) is one of the most popular Mexican desserts, let alone cake.

On the ARO-LATIN menu is a light, most moist, tres leches cake, created by Candy Garcia Raina, co-owner of with husband, Karan.

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AROLATIN,Co-owner, Candy Garcia Raina ‘s moist, tres leches

AROLATIN, 1019 Mission Street, S. Pasadena, CA  91030 (626) 799-9400. (//arolatin.com/). Order online for pickup or delivery below.

Tres Leches Cheesecake

The description, “Tres Leches Cheesecake,”  at Chalio Mexican Restaurant , accurately describes this signature dessert there. The tall, round supremely moist tres leche cake made with three kinds of milk has stripes layers of sponge with cheesecake.  Perfection.

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The homemade tres leches cake at Chalio restaurant

www. ChalioMexicanRestaurant. com, Chalio Restaurant, 760 S Atlantic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90022

Gulab Jamun and Ras Malai Cake

Gulab Jamun is a classic, tried and true dessert at every Indian Restaurant. Banana Leaf is no exception. The elevated presentation here, however, adds to the intensity of its individual components . Here it is in a little black bowl on a banana leaf embellished by one single drop of cardamum

Gulab Jamun at Banana Leaf in Culver City
Baker Vivek Kiran’s airy Gulab Jamun sponge at Banana Leaf Restaurant in Culver City

The desserts require a special flour and a deft touch.

Vivek Kiran’s Gulab Jamun and Rasmalai sponges at Banana Leaf in Culver city

Banana Leaf, 10408 Venice Blvd Suite: B, Culver City, CA  90232, (SW corner of Venice & Motor),(310) 838-2130 (www.bananaleafla.com)

                                             

Chai Tea with cinnamon is perfect with any of the desserts

Lemon Hazelnut Torte

My heart belongs to this Lemon Hazelnut Torte that was once served at the Rose Cafe as a slice and then as a little round cake on its own. The baker once worked for the brilliant Amy Pressman in Pasadena.

My all-time favorite lemon hazelnut torte now available at Back at the Beach and Il Forno

Back on the Beach //www.backonthebeachcafe.com

Il Forno 2901 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405. (310) 450-1241. //www.ilfornocaffe.com/

Makar Sankranti and How to Celebrate It!

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Happy Makar Sankranti with very special food! This holiday celebrates the sun’s calendar transition from fall to winter. Also known as the winter solstice with the longest night of the year, it marked the astrological transition of Sagittarious to Capricorn.

This festival is one of the few Hindu festivals aligned with the solar cycleThe ancient holiday is so old that even with the change in the sun’s relationship to earth that moved the holiday back a a little bit, it is celebrated on January 14 and 15 this year!

Getting ready for Makar Sankranti at Banana LeafLA restaurant

Makar Sankranti is considered a day of happiness and prosperity by Hindus. It is also a day to make a fresh start. The wishes are: Let Makar Sankranti take away all the pain and usher you with blessings and the hope of a better tomorrow.

Getting ready for Makar Sankranti at Banana LeafLA restaurant

The holiday is so important that is observed all over the country with different names in different areas: magh Bihu in Assam, Maghi in Punjab, Maghi Saaji in Himachal Pradesh, Maghi Sangrand or Uttarain in Jammu, Sakraat in Haryana, Sukarat in central India, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, uttarayan in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh

Makar Sankranti is celebrated to observe sun’s transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn. It marks the sun’s transit into Makara (Capricorn) raashi (zodiac sign). It marks the beginning of the harvest season when people worship new crops and happily share them.

For Hindus. The festival is mentioned in the scriptures to remember to practice tenacity, worship, charity and sacrifice. Dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun God). The day starts with a dip in the holy waters of Ganges. Then food and sweets are offered to the sun god and worshipped. Khichdi forms an important part of Makar Sankranti celebrations at home as well. It is prepared with utmost devotion and offered to the god. It is then consumed by everyone in the family as prasad.

Banana Leaf LA FESTIVAL BOX: $12.99

Holiday menu FESTIVAL BOX: $12.99

Manago Tamarind rice (Andhra)

Venn Pongal (Tamil Nadu specialty)

Venn (white in tamil) Pongal ((Tamis nadu specialty) Light on the stomach and easy to prepare

this traditional South Indian dish  made with rice, split yellow mung dal, ghee, cumin, ginger, pepper and curry leaves 

Vada/Eggplant Curry (Andra)

Sweet Pongal (South Indian)

Sweet pongal is a delicious South Indian dish made with rice, moong lentils, ghee, jaggery or sugar, cardamoms and nuts.  

Curd rice (South Indian) & Pickle

Curd rice, also called yogurt rice, refers to unsweetened probiotic yogurt. It is most popular in the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; and also in Maharashtra.

Liven Up Sun in Capricorn with the Best Goat Dishes!

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) Celebrate sun in CAPRICORN with us.  Capricorn is symbolized by the sea goat, a mythological creature with the body of a goat and tail of a fish. The figure comes from the shape of the constellations in the sky determined in ancient times. The hardworking and loyal Mountain Goat that rules this zodiac sign are known to be persistent, determined, and willful, high-minded and focused. 

The goat represents sun in Capricorn (Deember 19-January 20)

Yet this the rugged little goat still has all the makings of the most marvelous, complex rustic dishes.  And we have Stepladder Creamery Rocky Butte goat cheese made from 100% farmstead goat milk. You can also sponsor a goat at the Creamery, and visit them although tours are now on hold.

We have Goat Halal Dum biryani, goat marinated in yogurt, spices, saffron and cooked in the special Dum (sealed lid) method Banana Leaf Restaurant, along with Rogan Josh, a fragrant goat curry prepared form a special masala spice mix. The goat is remarkably tender from long hours in marinade.

Rogan Josh features goat at Banana Leaf LA Restaurant
Goat Halal Dum biryani, tender goat marinated in yogurt, spices, saffron
Goat is made unbelievably tender by marinating in natural ingredients for a long time

Stepladder Creamery adds Rocky Butte goat cheese made from 100% farmstead goat milk only available this season.  Mynor at the farmers market tells us how Rocky Butte goat cheese is a washed curd cheese aged at least four months in the cave it is named for at the end of the Santa Lucia range.  The creamy, mild cheese is delicious on its own, with crackers or fruit.

Added to greens, dried cherries or cranberries and toasted hazelnuts Rocky Butte goat cheese combines to make our favorite salad that only needs a drizzle of basil-infused olive oil, a squeeze of meyer lemon and a sprinkle of pepper. 

Stepladder Creamery Rocky Butte Cheese, hazelnut and dried fruit salad

Mexican Birria is a house specialty of Chalio Restaurant in East LA. Birria is a Mexican ancestral stew from the state of Michoacan. The Spanish term “birria” is used to describe immaterial things without value or quality. It is a traditional ancestral soup or stew made from a combination of chili pepper-based goat meat adobo, garlic, cumin, bay leaves, and thyme, and cooked at a low heat. Read the story in 

Birria served in a stone pot at Chalio
Birria reflects the ancestral stew of its origin

For there’s decadent rasmali or tres leches cake for even the most disciplined Capricorn!

Tres leches cake at Chalio
Ras Mali Cake at Banana Leaf

What Is Halal and Why It Is Going Viral

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) With everyone turning every which way to be healthier these days (vegan, non-GMO and raw), it was just a matter of time before healthy eaters turn to Halal. And, like it’s close relative, Kosher, it definitely implies and means eating meats, foul and poultry on a certification list that you can trust to be clean, and that are slaughtered in a humane way. You can expect a lot more restaurant tauting this feature in the coming year.

The Non-Government Modified logo

Like “kosher,” too, the term is often misunderstood. It is not an ethnic food, it is not a style and it does not refer to a style of cooking.

Lamb is in the halal category when raised and slaughter properly

Lawful halal animals include cattle, sheep, goats, camels, deer, antelope and rabbit. Although not banned, it is considered offensive to eat horse, mule or donkey. It is not permitted to eat the meat of any animal with canine teeth, fangs or tusks. Followers of Islam can consume any sea creature that has scales.

Goat and all meat at Banana Leaf restaurant is certified Halal

Kosher is acceptable to halal other than , but halal is not acceptable kosher because kosher laws are stricter.

Halal is an Arabic word that means “permissible.” Halal food is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran.  Halal foods meet Islamic dietary guidelines and are allowed for consumption. 

In culinary terms, it means food that is permissible according to Islamic law. For a meat to be certified “halal,” it cannot be a forbidden cut, such as meat from hindquarters) or of certain animals not considered clean, such as pork.

Banana Leaf Fish is certified Halal,

Halal meat is reared—and slaughtered—differently from conventional meat. Muslims who eat Halal do not consume the fresh blood of animals. So once an animal is killed, its blood must drain completely.  The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe.

Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all blood is drained from the carcass. During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication. This is known as tasmiya or shahada.

There is debate about elements of halal, such as whether stunning is allowed.  Stunning cannot be used to kill an animal, according to the Halal Food Authority (HFA), a non-profit organisation that monitors adherence to halal principles. But it can be used if the animal survives and is then killed by halal methods. The debate rages in the UK and Greece continually.

If slaughtered/harvested properly, beef, lamb, goat, venison, bison, chicken, turkey, fish and shellfish can be halal meats. Pork and alcohol are considered haram (forbidden).

Kosher food complies with Jewish dietary law, known as kashrut, which  governs what can and cannot be eaten by practitioners.  Both methods require use of a surgically sharp knife and specially-trained slaughtermen. Jewish law strictly forbids the use of stunning and meats are not blessed after an initial blessing.

Both Kashrut forbid the consumption of certain parts of the carcass, 

New Indian Banana Leaf

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) Banana Leaf officially taking over the site of beloved Zafran Pot changed the perfection of a restaurant closing.  The small cafe continues the legacy of offering superlative Southern Indian dishes.  New owner, Sridhar (Sri) Sambangi, a close friend of the previous owners, oversees the kitchen.  Sri’s expanded menu includes variations of their biryani that he championed.

Banana Leaf’s fresh, healthy food includes the first-ever organic chicken tikka masala in LA.  Other exclusive Southern Indian regional specialty dishes on the menu in the category of biryani are Paneer (Cottage Cheese), Chicken 65 and Dindigul (Chennai Style). The appetizer category lists Hyd Boneless fish fry; Pizza Samosa; Gobi 65, and Chicken Manchurian. The curry section features Lamb Tikka Masala, Mango Dal and Andhra Chicken Fry. Photos and descriptions are on (www.bananaleafla.com)  

The menu is small and inviting, filled with the fresh, bold flavors that have made this regional cuisine so beloved in India for centuries.  It is lively eating, filled with unusual combinations of home and street food. Standouts include fun, informal Dabba Box Lunches. A two-week rotation of new, exclusive regional items on the menu will introduce guests to as many dishes as possible. 

Hospitality at Banana Leaf follows the philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhava, “the guest is equivalent to god.” Five full meals will be offered daily to customers unable to pay.  Sri has also established a sponsoring affiliation with the UCLA hosted dinner project. 

Sri’s Hyderabadi, India background is the starting base of the Banana Leaf menu.  The area is famous for its Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, as well as the residents’ passion for it. Other Southern Indian dishes are based primarily around rice, lentils, and stews. 

Sri is already an integral part of the close-knit ethnic food community on this stretch of Venice Blvd. that has earned the reputation of serving the best Indian food in the city, if not in the country.  Sri’s passion and knowledge for authentic Indian cuisine in California are also shown in his restaurant video series on YouTube.

He has worked with close to 1000 chefs and owners in Southern California as founder-owner of Clorder, Inc.  Using the latest cutting-edge technology from his two-decade long, successful career in the high-tech industry, he designed a white label restaurant branding platform that also acts as a liaison between restaurant and delivery systems.

10408 Venice Blvd Suite: B, Culver City, CA 90232 (650) 872-9304. Hours: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5 PM to 9:30 PM.  Closed Wednesday. (www.bananaleafla.com)

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