Spotlight

Celebrating friendship day

Yeh dosti
Hum nahin chhodenge
Todenge dum magar
Tera saath na todenge…

An immortal hindi movie with immortal Indian actors and an immortal hindi song. I'm sure the meaning need to be specified because what is important at this point is the message these four lines emphasise. As we approach another friendship day (first week of August), I will not rant on about the importance of friends because that is no concept in need of defining. We are all well aware of the roles our friends play in our lives and this is the best opportunity to let them know just how much you cherish them.

It need not be anything fancy so you can start off with gestures that are warm and simple. Give your friend(s) something special like a handmade card, a baked cake or a hand picked bunch of flowers. On a more personal level and with a little more time, a scrap book or any other form of compilation with special photos and other memoirs will definitely bring on a smile. If none of these options are feasible, there is the traditional and trademark gift of friendship bands that are made especially for this day. For the ultimate friendship day party, arrange a sleepover with your closest friends and catch up on old times and look forward to the new throughout the night. The most important thing is to spend time with your friends and catch up with ones that you have lost touch with.

With the friendship fever caving in, most outlets in the city will have something special arranged to celebrate the day. Visit any Archies and Hallmark shops for the best cards, gifts and friendship bands. Most restaurants and boutiques will also be running special discounts throughout the week so make full use of the opportunity and while you're out celebrating with friends, be sure to get the best buys as well.

By Subhi Shama Reehu

---

News flash

Buckaroo- Cowboys and Sea Food

Buckaroo is the new shout in town. With a title that literally translates to "cowboy", the restaurant is currently flaunting its latest conception: "The Sea Food Festival".

Buckaroo rode in in 2003, with an assortment of primarily American foods. These included the Original Texas Burger (which is apparently the "best burger in the city"), Mexican Hot Wings, Sizzling Stake, Italian Spaghetti and various grilled delicacies.

At its inception, the capital investment was small, but as the Cowboy proved to be a popular choice, it began to expand. The restaurant can now accommodate up to 106 people, offering about 60 dishes. As the founder, Suzan uddin Talukder explained, Buckaroo is soon opening a branch in Gulshan (Road- 104).

The Sea Food Festival, with much flair, will go on throughout August 2006. Amongst the sumptuous dishes are the grilled fishes- pomfret, hilsha, red snapper, prawn, rui, bhetki, crab and catfish. Most of these fishes can also be ordered in the form of jhaal fries and steamed fish. There are fish cakes, kebabs, chops and fish fingers to complement them.

Mr. Talukdar further maintains that hygiene is given foremost priority in Buckaroo. It has teams in several areas of the country including Chittagong and Khulna, where the "raw materials" are processed and tested for traces of formalin. All the while, it attempts to retain the freshness.

Moreover, many of the key ingredients, such as majority of the herbs are imported from abroad. This naturally pulls up the cost. Nonetheless, Buckaroo aims to keep the prices favourable.

More interestingly, if you happen to like one of the dishes presented in the festival, you can ask for the recipe! They will mail it to you.

The restaurant arranges many events and festivals such as the seafood festival on a seasonal basis. For instance, last monsoon it brought forth its Hilsha Khichuri. Last month, it also featured a Malaysian food festival. Both of these were successful with customers.

Buckaroo Steak and Barbecue: House-6, Road- 2/A, Sector-11, Uttara Model Town. Phone: 8961318, 0191482039.

By Shahmuddin Ahmed Siddiky

.................................................................................................................

Friendship day at Angeleena

With all the friendship day craze that has hit the city, it is no wonder that the various cafes, card and gift shops and boutiques will be offering special promotions to commemorate this day in their own ways. One such outlet is Angeleena Designers Collection that is offering a week-long discount package starting from the 1st of August. To celebrate this friendship day in style make sure to stop over at their outlet located at Pink City, Gulshan 2, Gulshan Avenue, Road Number 103, Plot Number 15.

-LS Desk

---

A true taste of asia

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Ingredients:
1/4 cup fine dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons minced onions
1 teaspoon salt
A dash of pepper
2 cups water
1 pound lean ground beef
1 egg, well beaten
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup sliced celery
1 red bell pepper, cut in strips
1 green bell pepper, cut in strips
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 slices pineapple, cut into quarters

Method
In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the minced onions, salt, pepper and 1/2 a cup of water. Add ground beef and egg. Shape beef mixture into 16 meatballs. Brown slowly in a large skillet over medium low heat.

When browned and cooked thorough, remove meatballs from skillet and set aside. Cook celery and pepper strips in skillet for about 5 minutes. Add remaining water, vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Mix cornstarch with a little cold water then add to skillet; stir well and cook for about 4 minutes. Add meatballs, pineapple slices. Cook until heated through.

Mom's Swedish Meatballs
Ingredients
1 pound veal or beef or a combination, minced
2 tablespoons bread crumbs
Warm milk, about 3 tablespoons
1 cup cream, divided
1 egg
Salt & pepper
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons water
1 egg yolk
A dash of lemon juice

Method
Soften bread crumbs with milk and add to meat. Add just under 1/2 cup cream and mix. Add egg and seasonings and stir. Roll into balls and cook gently in stock for 15 minutes. Remove meatballs from stock and set aside.

Just before serving, mix flour with water and add to broth. Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Add remaining 1/2 cup cream blended with the egg yolk and lemon juice. Season to taste and pour over meatballs.

For the love of food


By Kaniska Chakraborty

Lunch, in a different country

My mother's smiling face greeted me upon my arrival at the Calcutta (I refuse to call it Kolkata) airport. After a very emotional and difficult last seven days in Dhaka, when I vacillated wildly between spells of happiness at the thought of returning home and the pain of leaving the city that is so close to my heart, it was indeed a very comforting sight. We packed in the three huge suitcases, for which I miraculously did not have to pay any extra baggage, into the waiting two cars and set off for home.

My senses were awash with mixed emotions. I had just left my existence of the last seven years, my lovingly made up apartment, my great job and my super colleagues and friends, whom I wasn't sure when I'd be able to visit again. On the other spectrum was the expectation of a new place, a new assignment, a set of new challenges that never fails to thrill me. I guess “dazed” is a pretty good word to describe me at that moment.

When I reached home, I was not surprisingly relieved to be there. It was evening by the time we reached home. A little unpacking was followed by a shower and a quick dinner, where the conversation between my mother and myself seemed not to end. I'm sure I fell asleep while still talking. There was so much to talk about, so much to plan, and so much to do. So much to look forward to.

Isn't it funny how I haven't mentioned the food yet? Please realise I was swimming in a sea of emotions and at the same time, manfully trying to be an Indian all over again.

It was next morning, after solid, dreamless sleep of, oh, 10 odd hours that my mother decided that she would take me to lunch, bless her. Finally, some sign of food in this particular piece.

Off we went to this almost fancy yet everybody's favorite Chinese place. It has a little bit of history attached to it. Many moons back, in the Lord's year 2001, if I am not very mistaken, I had gone there with two friends. This place had a famous all-you-can-eat lunch for some peanuts. I remember us packing in so much that the next day there was an ad in the newspaper announcing a price hike of the said buffet!

Naturally, expectations were high this time around as well. Seems that the restaurant has come a long way. The smartly attired maitre 'd asked for our names and told us that there would be a twenty-minute wait! We were shown to the plush motif sofas designated for waiting guests.

Time flies when you are having fun. Soon our time came and we were smartly escorted to a nicely laid out table. All this for a lunch buffet!

Then there was the actual buffet. Non-vegetarian and vegetarian items lined up on two walls. Soups, noodles, fish, prawns, chicken, veggies, mushroom (yes, I do consider them not just as veggies), tofu (yet another not-just-veggie) and the like.

My dish was piled mile high. I forgot that I could actually go back and get more. I wanted it all right then and there.

The moment of truth. First forkful in mouth. The world came crashing down. Soggy noodles. Fish too sweet. Chicken tolerable. Prawn okay. And worst still, frozen dessert!

I realized that I had come of my own. My senses are back to the scathing best. I have recognized bad food for what it is; bad food.

I quietly said to myself, “welcome back, my friend”.