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Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Mexican magic in India: Eateries offer special menus for Cinco de Mayo celebrations
If Monday blues are setting in, let Cinco de Mayo spice things up this week. This Mexican celebration has made its way to India, and restaurants are dialling up the fiesta with special menus and experiences. Cinco de Mayo, which falls on May 5, commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when a small Mexican army won against French forces. It's not Mexico's Independence Day, but it's now a worldwide celebration of Mexican culture. Head to EnCanto in Gurugram with a vibrant Mexican street-style evening where flame-grilled BBQ, spiced street snacks, and fresh fruit carts await. 'Guests can also settle in for a special screening of the film Coco (2017),' says EnCanto director Tusheeta Khanna. Meanwhile, chef Sumit Choudhary at Monkey Bar in Delhi has a special menu featuring Elote Style Street Corn, Mushroom Mexicana, Prawn al Pastor, and tequila-based drinks like Pina Picante, Tomatini and Daisy Dia 'We've embraced the diversity of Mexican chillies such as chipotle, guajillo, ancho, arbol and habanero. We're using also locally sourced ingredients as homage to fresh, handmade salsas,' he shares. Over at Someplace Else, Mumbai, golden, crispy tostadas loaded with fresh toppings, smoky chipotle chicken skewers, Indo-Mexican fusions such as Mutton Kakori Tacos, and a Tex-Mex flatbread are setting the festive tone. Wrapping it up all neatly are classic margaritas and a bold and fiery Picante. Carnival by Trèsind in Mumbai is curating a special food festival with highlights such as Pani Puri Aguachile, Marinated Tuna, Papas a la Diabla, Corn Chaat, Portobello Steak and Champaran Style Carnitas, among others. 'The inspiration comes from Mexico's rich culinary heritage, and how it combines earthy ingredients with fresh herbs and spices. We chose ingredients that are authentic but also resonate with our guests' palates,' shares chef Sarfaraz Ahmed. While at Someplace Else in Mumbai, chef Parikshit Joshi has incorporated the Indian flavours and given a twist to Mexican cuisine, maintaining the culture and heritage of Mexican food. 'We have prepared several dishes for the occasion, such as Charred Chipotle Skewers with spicy, vibrant flavours of Adobo Chillies and Sour-Cream. The Crispy Tostadas and Loaded Nachos are fan favourites, and we looked to amalgamate Indian flavours while retaining Mexican Heritage, with our Mutton Kakori Tacos, which features an Awadhi flavour-packed Seekh Kebab, served with Red cabbage slaw and Charred Red Bell Pepper Chutney on a soft-shell Taco,' he adds. Marièta in Gurugram also introduced a special cocktail menu featuring zesty Margaritas, refreshing Palomas, and fiery Picantes, which capture the bold and spirited flavours of Mexico.
News18
23-04-2025
- Health
- News18
Gaurav Taneja AKA The Flying Beast Defends Gauri Khan In Fake Paneer Row: 'You Can't Test Purity With Iodine'
Last Updated: Influencer Sarthak Sachdeva accused Gauri Khan's Mumbai restaurant Torii of using bad paneer. YouTuber Gaurav Taneja has criticised the iodine test used. News18 Gauri Khan's restaurant Torii in Mumbai was recently accused of using bad-quality paneer by influencer Sarthak Sachdeva. He shared a video testing paneer from different celebrity restaurants. The video got over five million views before it was removed. Torii said the claims were not true. After that, many others started doing similar tests. But YouTuber Gaurav Taneja, who also owns a dairy company, said the test used in the video isn't a reliable way to check paneer. He said the iodine test isn't a good way to check if paneer is pure. It only shows if there's starch, and most fake paneer doesn't have starch, so it can still pass the test. '99% of fake paneer can pass the iodine test. A recent report cited safety officials as saying that the number one most adulterated product in the market is paneer. You must've noticed that every influencer nowadays is carrying iodine with them wherever they go. But the truth is that you can't test the purity of paneer with iodine. I've worked in this industry, that's not how things are done," he said. Gaurav added, 'You take milk, you separate the fat from the milk. You make cream and ghee from that fat. What you're left with is worthless milk with no fat. So then, they are forced to reintroduce fat into the milk, either by adding vegetable oil or palm oil. That milk is sold in the market, and that's the milk with which paneer is made. There is no starch in this milk, because all the fat in it has come from vegetable oil or palm oil. You can put all the iodine in the world on it, but you won't be able to catch it. It won't blacken, for the simple reason that it has no starch. Now you decide for yourself, what kind of paneer you're eating, and what kind of paneer is being sold in the market." The Controversy Around Fake Paneer At Gauri Khan's Torii A YouTuber recently went on a spree to find out if the poshest of the eateries in Mumbai, especially the celebrity-owned joints, offer quality paneer. During his journey, the content creator apparently found out 'fake paneer' at Gauri Khan's Mumbai restaurant Torii. YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva took to Instagram and posted an elaborate video where he could be first seen ordering a paneer dish at these eating joints. Soon after the dishes arrived, he removed the fried coating from the paneer, washed it in a bowl of water and put iodine drops on it. Sarthak started off with Virat Kohli's One8 Commune, next he visited Shilpa Shetty's Bastian, followed by Bobby Deol's Someplace Else with a vial of iodine tincture. All these restaurants passed his iodine test. Torii's statement The restaurant issued an official statement that read, 'We are utterly surprised at the news of 'fake paneer' being served at Torii. The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer. For all dishes that contain soy-based ingredients (a staple in Asian food) this reaction is expected. From sourcing our produce to the food being served on the plate to our patrons, there are quality checks at every step of the way. Our commitment to excellence in the food we serve remains unwavered." First Published:
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Gauri khan's restaurant responds after ‘fake paneer' claim goes viral
Listen to article Gauri Khan's luxury restaurant, "Torii", has responded to viral claims by YouTuber Sarthak Sachdeva alleging the eatery served fake paneer. The video, which has since sparked online buzz, shows Sachdeva performing a basic iodine test on paneer served at celebrity-owned restaurants. In his video, Sachdeva visited several high-profile establishments, including Virat Kohli's One8 Commune, Shilpa Shetty's Bastian, and Bobby Deol's Someplace Else. Paneer samples at those locations showed no indication of starch when tested with iodine. However, during his visit to "Torii", the paneer reportedly turned a blue-black shade after the tincture was applied—a result commonly associated with starch content. Reacting to the results, Sachdeva said he was stunned, calling Shah Rukh Khan his idol and expressing concern about whether the video might affect his chances of meeting the actor. Photo: Instagram The official Instagram account of "Torii" has since responded directly to the video. 'The iodine test reflects the presence of starch, not the authenticity of the paneer,' the comment read. 'As the dish contains soy-based ingredients, this reaction is expected. We stand by the purity of our paneer and the integrity of our ingredients at "Torii".
