Namaste Breakfast

Get set cook!

Food Food, Tuesday, 12 noon,

Namaste Breakfast on Food Food is about the most important meal of our day. Host Jasmin D'Souza whips up some simple 30-minute recipes (though a couple of them like the carrot idlis she showed and we assume don't include the preparation time…I mean all that chopping of carrots, onions, not to forget the assembling of all the ingredients for both the idli and chutney go beyond 30 minutes) in the stunning studio kitchen — the pots and pans she uses are to die for — sometimes with a healthy twist. For instance, she made upma, not with semolina but with cornmeal. There were idlis but made with veggies or theplas not with methi but the humble lauki or bottlegourd. Apart from the Indian breakfast dishes with a twist, she would also show western dishes with an Indian spin (like hash brown potatoes but made with sweet potatoes and peas) and healthy drinks and beverages.

Each episode has at least three recipes with viewers calling in and the hostess giving out interesting tidbits about the dish she is churning out. For instance, the virtues of a banana walnut oatmeal smoothie or the goodness of a lauki thepla, lauki being one of the best aids in weight loss! Interestingly, all the recipes we have seen so far are made from ingredients that are commonplace and easily available in the local market. So far, the dishes have all been that one has already read about or tasted, considered the increasing awareness of various kinds of food, be it through food magazines or assorted cookery shows on different channels.

It would be interesting if the makers decide to showcase breakfast options for the different kind of viewer - for instance, the single woman, the single man, the younger lot who are probably living alone in hostels and have no one to fall back on, people on the move and even for children who are plain interested in cooking. Considering the recipes are not elaborate ones, it shouldn't be a problem for anyone to pick them. Jasmin, with her bright and cheery demeanour, only makes it worthwhile to tune in. Her easy going approach and no-nonsense way of functioning makes the show a delight to watch.

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