Christmas, like other festivals, has become synonymous to the food and beverage associated to it, especially for non-christens. Not to undermine the importance of the day but it would be hard to forget the plum cakes that we look forward to the rest of the year, or the ginger bread cookies. These products, which always lack a certain something if consumed any other time of the year, help you really get into the spirit of Christmas and festivities.
So if you are someone who remembers festivals by their gastronomic importance rather than their cultural or religious importance than bakeries and restaurants across the city hold great treasures for you this Christmas. Starting with traditional Christmas cake, The Yule Log cake originated in France and it’s colonies in the 19th century, this cake has now become a staple Christmas dessert. Those willing to try this delicacy should head to The Claridges’ Ye Old bakery. Chef Sahil Sabhlok, explains the process which goes in to the making of this elaborate cake, “The Yule Log cake, a traditional French dessert, is an elaborate representation the log’s largest end which is burnt in the hearth during the Christmas season. The Yule Log cake is made of a chocolate sponge roll layered with chocolate cream, the outside is covered with chocolate ganache and given a look of a tree bark, decorated with mushrooms, berries and leaves made of sugar or meringue. The whole idea is to make sure that the cake looks like a cut off branch.”
Moving on to a more popular and rather more complex cake to make, the Plum Cake. This, quite intoxicating cake finds its roots in England and goes back to the 1600, when it was called a fruit cake and later a plum pudding. In India, the cake is very popular in Kerala and is prepared in masses during this time. If you are a fan or want to become one, your any good south Indian grocery store will be able to serve you a fine plum cake. The bakery restaurant, Bred and More too is serving some invigorating Christmas treats, like ginger cookies, plum cakes and rocks. Apart from this they are also serving Italian Christmas classics like Panetonne bread and also gelatin whipped spongy and rich Marshmallows all in a season’s hamper. New places like Social have a Christmas menu which includes several desserts. These wonderful treats savored with simple red wine will help you really feel the festive warmth of Christmas and put end to the year long wait.
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