Crossing over Croissants

Croissant fits the bill on any given day as a snack or as a breakfast item.

Getting Over Crisis

The sudden lockdowns during the pandemic, resulting in closure of operations and lack of revenue have affected many bakery business owners into dire situations. Some of them have been forced to take hasty decisions which have had long term impact on their business. It has to be realized that recovery from the current pandemic situation is going to be slow and painful. Tough times, prevalent at the moment, demand the bakers to look beyond regular situations and deal with difficult questions that need to be answered, to thrive. For survival and navigating through the crisis successfully bakers will need to understand the present situation and the impact the pandemic will have on their future business. They have to plan to tackle the situation as time progresses. Ashok Malkani tries to gauge the effects of the and how the bakers have to plan to deal with the problems as and when they arise.

Empowerment of Women in Bakery Industry - A Piece of Cake

The intrepid women have proved their mettle in almost all arenas. They have resolutely proved themselves as enterprising entrepreneurs in all industries, including the bakery segment of the food & beverage industry. From home bakers to capable industrialists, they have climbed the ladder of success and are speedily securing opportunities in what was once a male dominated segment – bakery business. The rise in female bakers in India is a testimony of the fact that they have the potential to successfully handle career as well as home by successfully harnessing technology and social media to improve their business. With more females entering the bakery industry, the sector is rapidly moving towards gender equality. Ashok Malkani, to commemorate the International Women’s Day, on March 8, views the progress and the success of the lady bakers in their endeavour to move from home baking to becoming owners of commercial conglomerates.

Flavours and Colours

While colours work by increasing the visual appeal of the bakery products, flavours help bakers to develop a unique taste of the products

Pure Flour from Europe

Good flour is the basis of good dough (both sweet and savoury). Good flour is indispensable for your baking and cooking.

Spread with Margarine

It's low cost and health value makes margarine a bakers delight. It is widely used in bakeries in making cookies, pastry dough, piecrust and main course dishes. Margarine can be used in breakfast, appetizers, side dishes, main entrees and desserts.

Bakery Trends For 2022

As we step into the New Year and communities and supply chains reopen, though still fragile, there are several changes that one is likely to see in the near future in the bakery industry. But, one may add, that though many consumers are open to something new, after nearly two years of limited options and mobility, they don’t want to be rushed into rash decisions as far as eating habits are concerned. The pandemic has increased the awareness of healthy food. Bakeries have adopted changes to cater to the demands of the consumers – and are likely to continue transforming in the New Year. Ashok Malkani tries to present a broad perspective of likely trends for 2022 and beyond.

Starting a Bakery During the Pandemic

Last two years have been challenging in many ways. COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced several lockdowns and restrictions on people, have affected almost all businesses. It has also encouraged consumers to put their health higher on the priority list making them realize the necessity for healthy food and eating habits. According to a research by Mintel almost three out of four Indians have put healthy eating at a higher priority than before the outbreak. The ongoing pandemic has led to a rising demand for bakery products not only due their health quotient but also due to their variety and functionality. This has driven more enterprising entrepreneurs to enter bakery industry. Ashok Malkani takes a look at the various branches of the industry, the requirements for starting a bakery and steps that the entrepreneurs need to examine before entering the industry.

The Role of Edible Oils

The art of cooking cannot be conceived without the essential input of edible oil. It is difficult to trace the history of edible oils, but it is safe to say that since the dawn of civilisation, edible oils have been contributing to the evolution of the taste of mankind. Today, edible oils have slowly spread their mysterious web to all forms of cooking and have become quintessential to the operations of kitchens. The role of edible oils in the bakery industry also cannot be overstated.

SLAY Coffee Introduces Special Cinnamon Brews

SLAY Coffee has introduced cinnamon as the hero ingredient in their cuppas and baked goodies.

Identifying Real Pastries

The term ‘Pastry’ often means quite different things to a consumer as compared to a Pastry Chef. Officially, in the world of baking ‘Pastry’ is the name given to various kinds of dough made from ingredients such as flour, butter, shortening, baking powder and/or eggs.

Food for the Gods

Cocoa has a high food value, containing as much as 20 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrate, and 40 percent fat. It is also mildly stimulating because of the presence of theobromine, an alkaloid that is closely related to caffeine.

Global Fast Food Launches its First QSR in Bengaluru

Charlie Chaplin has launched its F&B vertical in India through its exclusive licensing partner UnitedVegan Pvt. Ltd. The first flagship Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), ‘Charlie Chaplin LaVegano’, was unveiled in Bengaluru at New Bel Road.

Britannia Good Day Launches New Identity

Britannia Good Day, urban India’s largest biscuit brand revealed its new identity today.

Andrea's Bistro Opens in Delhi

Andrea Pauro, the restauranteur behind Amici, Andrea’s Eatery, Andrea’s Bar & Brasserie opens a global themed Andrea’s Bistro in Delhi’s Vasant Kunt at DLF Promenade Mall.

A Passionate Leader & Baker!

Chef Mohammad Hai, Pastry Chef, JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove & Spa

Emulsifiers in Baked Goods

The use of food additives is necessary to maintain the quality and freshness of the food pro product. Food additives perform important functions in baked goods such as starch complexing, protein strengthening and aeration and may also offer some degree of emulsification.

Desserts Sweets that won't Desert you

Dessert is the favourite part of a meal not only of children but of everyone present at the dinner table. No wonder 14th October is celebrated every year as National Dessert Day. Sweets are an inevitable part of almost all festivals and festivities in India. Any social event must end with a dessert – if not an array of them! In India sweets are a gesture of goodwill. Desserts thus form an essential part of the meal. Ashok Malkani looks at the various aspects of this final course of a meal including its benefits and the popularity of different desserts in countries around the world.

Lavazza Globally Launches La Reserva De ¡Tierra! India

Lavazza, the Italian brand that is among the world’s leading coffee roasters, has announced the launch of La Reserva de ¡Tierra! India, a unique premium blend of refined coffees fully sourced from Karnataka and crafted in India, for professional use in cafes, fine-dine restaurants and star hotels.

Maintaining Bakery Business in Pandemic

Bakery industry is the largest segment of the food processing sector in India. There are over 2,000 bakeries in the organized and semi organized subdivision of the industry producing about 1.3 million tones of the bakery products and another 1,000,000 small scale bakeries producing 1.7 million tones. COVID 19 affected the working of this industry, also, adversely. Though bakery products were not as badly affected as food items in the F&B sector, the industry has to adopt measures to ensure that its production and distribution attain high standards of hygiene in order to retain its status in the food processing industry. Ashok Malkani takes a look at how the industry can maintain hygiene in the production line-up (including personal hygiene), distribution and retail segments.

MAKING MERRY WITH MILK

Human being is the only mammal who drinks the milk of another mammal and this drink is most pleasurable at a cold temperature when the mercury rises.

A Perfectionist with Eye on Technique and Precision!

Surendra Negi, Master Patissier, Taj Palace New Delhi

Living it up at the Café!

Cafes are no longer places where one goes to have a cup of coffee. It has become a meeting place for friends and colleagues. With the introduction of Wi-Fi, in most of these places, cafes have also developed into substitute places of work. The changing concept of café has been as revolutionary as the changing perception of coffee. Initially, about two decades ago, coffee was available only as South Indian filtered coffee. This pick-me-up was, later, available as instant coffee and then as Espresso. Now this drink has acquired various formats like Cappuccino, Latte, Frappe, et al. Ashok Malkani, on the occasion of International Coffee Day, on 1st October, look at the changing café scenario, the effect of the pandemic on these outlets and their future. He also examines how the tipple called coffee is now available in various cocktail forms – hot or cold.

New Technology Designed to Detect Destructive Cocoa Virus

Swiss agrifood testing company SwissDeCode, in collaboration with Mars Wrigley, has created an on-site test that is designed to detect Cocoa Swollen Shoot Disease (CSSD) in asymptomatic trees in less than 60 minutes.

Passionate & Versatile!

Aavika Chhawchharia, Co-Founder of ‘Honey&Dough’ Coffeehouse & Bakery

Soya Means Health

With the excitement about healthy foods reaching its crescendo, it has become almost difficult to enjoy a sinful dessert or a creamy pastry without gulping a few slices of guilt along with them.

The Most Popular Autumn Drink

Autumn has arrived and with the season come seasonal favourites, autumnal drinks! With the classic, hot chocolate, and the modern favourite, pumpkin spice latte, vying for the top spot, which autumnal beverage is the most popular worldwide?

When Breads Speak German

The importance of bread in every society is unique in itself. Every country has many variations on the offer.

Baskin Robbins & Hershey's Team Up

Baskin Robbins India has teamed up with Hershey’s India to co-create a range of delicious ice creams and desserts.

Just Sandwiched

Sandwich is considered a humble food but it need not be. Sometime back, a sandwich in England was touted as the most expensive sandwich at £85. And it was not even at a fancy restaurant in a five-star hotel but at the Selfridges Department Store in London.