Wednesday, May 11, 2005
MORNING MEALS
Global Breakfast Trends
Breakfast isn't called the most important meal of the day for nothing. Making time for eating a hearty morning meal is key to a healthy life. People the world over start their day with a nutritious meal to help them get through their day. Intercontinental Eros Executive Sous Chef, RAJDEEP KAPOOR takes FnL readers on a tour of what people around the world like to see on their breakfast plates.
"The general trend," says Chef Kapoor "is towards healthy and balanced meals that are high on protein and fibre content, low on fats and have the required carbohydrates too. Protein comes from eggs, milk and cheese; fibre from fruits and cereals; and carbohydrates from fruits and juices. People are spoilt for choices today, whether in juices (sweet lime, watermelon, carrot and spinach…), cereals (muesli, rice flakes or shredded wheat) or even in milk, which could be skimmed, toned, full cream or even flavoured!" All in all, global citizens prefer fresh fruits, cereals and milk or milk products early in the course of their ordinary workday.
ASA GOHAN: MORNING RICE
A typical Japanese breakfast, or asa gohan as it is traditionally called, is always fresh and lightly cooked. There is the mandatory sushi rice, popular in many Asian countries, which is eaten with miso soup, seaweed flakes, gomae or spinach flavoured with kikkoman sauce and sesame seeds, boiled eggs with donburi sauce, lightly grilled salmon on a bed of cabbages, fresh fruits and the quintessential pot of Japanese green tea. The meal, which is extremely low-fat, is mostly steamed and pan grilled so that there is very little amount of cooking involved.
Miso Soup
The Japanese begin their day with a fortifying bowl of miso soup - miso is a rich, salty group of condiments that characterises the essence of Japanese cooking. The soup is traditionally eaten with seaweed flakes. In Japan, various kinds of miso are prepared and evaluated much the same way fine wines and cheeses are judged.
A CONTINENTAL SPREAD
Over in the continent, breakfast traditionally means bread or rolls with butter or preserves, taken with coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Scandinavians, Germans and Austrians tend to start their day with a large variety of cereals, breads, cold meats, cheese, yoghurt, fruit and fruit juices, as well as tea, coffee or milk. The Dutch occasionally add a boiled egg or a little salami to their bread menu.
Breakfast Rolls
Bread and rolls are really big in the continent. They range from croissants and crumpets to assorted buns, Danish breads, multi-grained breads and whole wheat breads that are eaten with butter, honey, jam or marmalade. Soft and sweet little breakfast muffins are also very popular, they come with blueberries, bran, raisin or countless other flavours.
TRADITIONAL ENGLISH BREAKFASTS
The British Isles are famous for their multi-course breakfasts. Coffee, tea, milk, hot cocoa, eggs, wholegrain cereals or porridge with reduced fat milk, low-fat yoghurts topped with fruit, fruit juices, wholegrain breads, bacon or sausage are all standard items. And there is absolutely always toast. Americans have historically inclined toward the English tradition of substantial breakfasts, which first crossed the Atlantic with the Puritans.
Bacon & Eggs
A wide variety of meats is the traditional English favourite - bacons, sausages, grilled kidneys and mutton chops. There are also eggs in profusion, served with grilled tomatoes or mushrooms. A healthy yet hearty meal is often put together with grilled sausages, lean bacon, poached eggs and grilled vegetables.
Whether you barely grab a bite on your way to work or indulge in a leisurely multi-course affaire served from silver salvers - breakfast is the only way to start your day!
Published in IMAGES FnL, April'05
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