Choco for the Soul

Numerous studies have found that chocolates not just benefit the body but are food for the soul too...
One of my greatest joys is flying down from Mumbai to Chennai to spot talent that hums in home kitchens and cooks and bakes up delights. At these fabulous, fun and exciting What’s Hot tasting sessions, anyone who wants to take part calls 9884065010 or emails rashmiudaysingh2010@gm ail.com, anjalisharma966 @gmail.com.We then invite them to bring their culinary creations and join us. And each time I get amazed and delighted with the amount of talent and diversity. It’s also such a joy to meet the dedicated and passionate home talent. It is at the very latest such session that I meet Jayashree Manohar.
The healing power of Reiki and chocolate
Grandmaster in Reiki, Jayashree Manohar turned her attention to making chocolates eight years ago. She continues to give Reiki, but it is her chocolates that are in multi-generational demand. Other than her clients, her parents as well as her children love them. Ask for her chocolate roses (created on sticks, like lollipops and priced at Rs 25 each), they make for great party giveaways. She also makes a boule d’ amande, spice almond chocolates, truffle balls, swirled marble chocolates and crunchy peanut coins. The creative Jayashree also makes ‘model of Taj Mahal’ chocolates with imported chocolates. Rates differ according to the varieties and she offers special discounts for bulk orders. Jayashree makes chocolates for the Rotary Club of Chennai. “Do you believe in the healing power of chocolate?” I ask her. No prizes for guessing that she responded with a big resounding “yes.”
Jayashree Manohar, 482, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai- 8. Ph: 9841974601/9176069367 /42146706.
Yummy research
I admit, I am a chocoholic. But what follows is not the delirious outpouring of an addicted chocoholic. This is the result of the most recent research and it was not supported by any cocoa or chocolate companies. I follow not just the culinary advances, but also the medical and health research that is being done on my favourite subject. We are all aware of the beneficial effects of dark chocolate on blood pressure, but here comes a research which presents another beneficial aspect. This study was conducted in May at the University of Reading in England where researchers measured the visual awareness and motion detection skills of 30 healthy young adults two hours after they ate either dark or white chocolate. It might interest you to know that dark chocolate contains antioxidants from cocoa beans called cocoa flavanols or CFs, whereas, white chocolate contains only trace amounts. 30 people were divided into two groups One group ate dark chocolate (containing 720 mg CF), and the other was given white chocolate.
They were then given a series of tests two hours later, when the CFs would produce their physiological effects. The effects on vision were measured by various complex tests. The researchers recorded the results and then, a week later, they actually repeated the same experiment with the same 30 subjects, only this time they swapped sides. The 15 white chocolate subjects now ate dark chocolate instead, and viceversa.What they found, both weeks, was an improvement in the visual and cognitive performances of the subjects who ate the dark chocolate. Quite clearly, CFs increase blood flow to the eyes and brain, and this is what leads to enhanced functioning of those structures. Chocoholics are rejoicing!
FOODLINE
• Mamta Ki Rasoi is having a culinary workshop for teenagers and adults. Learn to make north Indian dishes, ice-creams, chocolates, cakes, cookies, etc, between August 15 and 31. Ph: 9840724819.
• Sajjad Khan from Al Nabeel Briyani takes orders for all kinds of biryanis. Ph: 9094527808.
• Salt and Pepper caters ready-to-fry chicken rolls, nuggets and cutlets for Ramadan. Ph: 9043616371.
• For oil free mixtures in 40 varieties, peanuts and dates candy, oil and sugarfree nutribars for diabetics, etc contact Eco Nut at 24919592.
• For brownies, cookies, tarts, fudges, mousses, soufflés, etc, contact Nanditha Sashidharan at 9962062735. Her cupcakes in many colours and designs are popular for kids’ parties.
• Priya Singh from Alwarpet takes bulk orders for phulkas, chapatis and oil-free rotis. She also specializes in varieties of parathas such as aloo, gobi, methi, onion, palak, pudina, cabbage and paneer. Ph: 9884053791.
• Deepti Shah from Besant Nagar takes orders for parathas, chaat and north Indian food. Ph: 9962752033 and 24521973.
• Geeta Mehta from Ba Nu Rasodu has mixed vegetable, chunda and khatta aam pickles ready for sale. Date and ginger pickles are only made on order with a two-day notice. She also takes orders for Gujarati and north Indian meals. Ph: 6164841 and 9840066263.
• Thyagaraj from Aynavaram supplies breakfast, lunch and dinner to hostels, mansions and functions. Ph: 9841694670.
• Naaz from Parrys takes orders for a variety of cakes, and vegetarian and non vegetarian puffs. Ph: 42117867 and 9840131918.
• R Sohanlal from Vepery makes kesar kulfi, matka kulfi and gola ice cream. Ph: 9381008399 and 9444008319.
• Sameena Rauf from Vepery specializes in icecreams and makes them in vanilla, strawberry, custard apple, mango, fig and honey and choco-nut flavours. Ph: 9940426472 and 45126228.
For any queries or recommendations, call Anjali at 9884065010 or email anjalisharma966 @gmail.com