A Perfect Aftar Platter

CORPORATE AFTAR
JUICE WARS
MANGO PANNA COTTA
The most Desirable Drinks
A Feast to Remember
Blessing in a Plate
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EAT.PRAY.
LOVE.
ME T R O . P K S U MME R 2 0 13
THE
RAMADAN
ISSUE
All food is comfort food and comfort food has been
there for all of us at one time or another. It helps us
feel better about our lives, vent out what may be
bothering our minds and feel loved. It puts us outside
the regular orientation of human conguration and
adds strange satisfaction to our discomfort. But how?
What does food have, that makes it so therapeutic?
The truth is, when you serve and do so consummately,
youre sharing a bit of yourself; giving out the good in
you with food you cook and letting the other feel it. He
or she may not know it and may never acknowledge
your bit of the deed and all credit may just go to food,
but what counts is, you knowing what you did there.
Cooking is an art! Projecting your good in the meal
you assemble, is just what every artist does. For
some it may not be with food but colours or words.
These all are but accessories. There is no food that
you cant cook and there is no dough that you cant
raise. It makes you limitless. With so much power at
your end, it is only fair to give it heed and exercise it
over the masses.
Talking about experiencing and practicing your
culinary expertise in the Ramadan issue makes all
the right sense, for Ramadan is just about the perfect
month to put in effort, share and let the good through.
Hop to it! And if you read this issue through, you will
have the perfect ideas for rebooting your menus and
taking your job a step ahead.
Happy Ramadan and Happy Eid!
Your INSPIRATIONS Team
INSPIRATIONS
SUMMER 2013
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METRO AT
AVARI
EAT. PRAY.
LOVE.
FRUIT
BOUQUET
CORPORATE
AFTAR
CHICKEN
FRUIT
POPSICLES
RAMADAN
CHART
PAKORA
TWIST
MANGO
PANNA COTTA
05 06
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03 02 02 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
Get a Date with
a Date!
N
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SEA
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I run a small food outlet and mostly shop for essentials like oil
by myself. The best thing about METRO-Habib Cash & Carry
Pakistans Fine Food Cooking Oil is that it is available in variant
sizes which allows me to purchase it for the entire month as per
requirement.
In a month like Ramadan where you need it to fry almost all the
food items being served for aftar, it makes a very good deal. Bulk
always costs less!
The Frozen Fine Food Samosas at METRO-Habib Cash & Carry
Pakistan are a quick and delicious treat! And it feels so good
buying them from a hygienic and well refrigerated environment;
since you simply cannot have Samosas from the unkempt street
food vendors.
Muhammad Hashim
Have you seen how they have displayed Bakarkhani here at
METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan? Its not even Ramadan yet
and Im buying them already for they look so good!
Hamna Batool
Ramadan and Dates, the two words go
so well with each other like peanut butter
and jelly. One cant conceive the notion of
breaking their fast with anything other than
this sweet, delightful and sugary treat. This
Ramadan though, try mixing things up a little!
Why should one always eat dates simply
as they are? Why not experiment a bit and
discover the avours that you can only just
imagine?
Give your avour palettes a reason to salivate
by taking the taste of dates one step ahead.
This feat is extremely easy to accomplish by
cutting your dates in halves and taking the pits
out. Then begin stufng these newly pitted
halves with nuts, cream cheese, chocolates,
ice cream and basically anything you prefer.
Now carefully cover the lled pieces with the
other halves and put the seemingly whole
dates in fridge, so they can harden.
These are easy and quick recipes! Once
chilled, take them out when you want to
indulge your sweet tooth or when its time to
break your fast. These yummy delicacies can
be served as appetizers, they will be devoured
in seconds.
METRO-Habib Cash and Carry Pakistan
provides a large variety of dates. From
Medjool to Ajwa, we have them all. Be sure
to grab your favuorites and make these dates
impossible to resist.
METRO-HABIB CASH & CARRY AT AVARI LAHORE
ROLL PATTI MAGIC
METRECOMMENDED
PEOPLES SAY
DATES
We recently caught up with the Purchase
Manager of Avari Hotel Lahore: Mr. Rizwan
Khan who was all praise for METRO-Habib
Cash & Carry Pakistan and regards it as
one of the best bulk buying wholesale
centres. Having been involved in this
job for quite some time now, Mr. Khan
accentuated on the quality and service of
METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan and
how it helped them make their work easier
and efficient at Avari Hotel Lhaore.
The idea of finding everything under
one roof that too at competitive prices is
simply great. METRO-Habib Cash & Carry
Pakistan is improving all the time and their
logistics and supply network is highly
commendable along with their excellent
customer centric approach he says.
He also emphasized that METRO-Habib
Cash & Carry Pakistan knows how to deal
and serve its corporate clients and hence
is building successful relationships.
CHOCOLATE CROISSANTS
Delightfully Yours!
FINE FOOD MINERAL WATER
Elixir Of Life!
Freshly baked every day, using state of
art technology, adhering to the strictest
quality standards, METRO-Habib Cash
& Carry Pakistan brings to you an
exclusive range of its METRO Brand,
Fine Food of Chocolate Croissants.
These chocolaty delights can easily
become a highlight of your breakfast
table or dessert to heavy hors
doeuvres.
METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan brings you
Fine Food Natural Mineral Water which is perfect
and healthy for your home and ofce consumption.
Fine Food Natural Mineral water is sourced from the
mountains and is untreated containing balanced
Purchase Manager:
Mr. Rizwan Khan
Avari Hotel, Lahore
It is common sense, right? To assume that roll patti must make rolls? Of course, thats what its been doing for so long and is adequately
good at it too. But then how many times have you ever experimented with its use? A small effort is all it takes to stand out and serve
something extra: Totally Worth It!
Roll pattis work very well in Steamed
Dumplings. Roll up any filling fit for your
Dumplings discourse and place them in
a steamer. Serve it in an authentic Nepali
style with chilli & tomato puree.
What a great way to bring a little taste of
Mexico to your table. We never imagined
how our very own Roll Patti can smartly
substitute the flour tortillas. Just pack
them in a conventional way to get the
Southwest flavour. Its an impressive-
looking entree thats as simple as it is
Simply Delicious!
This is how the South Indians do the
Taka-Tak. A lip smacking delicacy popular
in Srilanka, kothu means shredded
paratha. Simply slice your Roll Patti ream
roughly and then saute with onions, eggs,
chicken and spices powders.
ENCHILADA
DUMPLING
KOTHU
04 INSPIRATIONSS MARCH 2013 05
04 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
What should a perfect Aftar platter have?
We probed the secret and our research
led us to the head chef at the renowned
Avari Hotel Lahore, Mr. Fakhir Khan. Winner
of many awards and widely recognized
for his cooking credentials, Mr. Khan
opined that variety is the spice of life. A
Ramadan platter should be selected more
thoughtfully than a regular one and special
care should be taken to bring it in line with
the circumstances and aura of the holy
month to entice and excite the taste buds
of the customers.
AVARI SIGNATURE SANDWICH:
Chicken between two slices of gently
toasted bread with green onions,
chopped carrots, mayonnaise and
lettuce it cant possibly get any better
than this. Relish this assortment of
green onions, chicken and bread to the
fullest.
CHICKEN SPRING ROLL: There
are two kinds of people in this world,
ones who like chicken spring rolls and
ones who love them. The smooth, hot
and light spring rolls with their crisp
crackly skin are amazing four bites you
will love. The amalgamation of chicken,
cabbage and onion is a treat to have in
your Aftar platter.
POTATO SAMOSA: Any Aftar platter
would be incomplete without hot crispy
samosas. The perfect Aftar platter
makes sure your samosas are served hot
with the perfect raita.
CHOCOLATE ALASKA: This one is
extremely special. A round shaped delight
loaded with chocolate containing whipped
cream and nuts. A topping of melted
chocolate adds to the spectacular taste.
STRAWBERRY JAM PASTRY: The
irresistible strawberry jam on top of the
perfectly baked pastry is lip-smacking and
the rich cream filling will make you fall in
love with it even more. This pastry makes
your Aftar an awe inspiring experience.
CHOCOLATE BROWNIE: There
is nothing like a dark, rich chocolate
brownie. Imported chocolate, fine coco
powder and a perfect combination of milk
and butter makes up this delicacy.
CHEESE AND SAUSAGE SLICES
WITH PASTA:
Yes, Ramadan is about putting the slim back
into Muslim, but your platter is incomplete
without these luscious items. The fresh cheese
slice and the sausage slices are appetizing and
add the much needed variety to your platter.
The pasta is baked to perfection too.
CHICKEN
SPRING ROLL
MUGHLAI
DATES
CHOCOLATE
BROWNIE
MANGO
CHOCOLATE
ALASKA
STRAWBERRY
JAM PASTRY
POTATO
SAMOSA
CHEESE &
SAUSAGE PASTA
AVARI SIGNATURE
SANDWICH
THE VARIETY AT
A CLOSER LOOK:
Usi ng products from METRO-Habi b Cash
& Carry Paki stan, Avari gi ves you your
favouri te Ramadan frui t i n an exqui si te
form cal l ed the Mughl ai dates. It can be
descri bed as the l ocal versi on of Ferrero
Rochers! The best tasti ng date di sgui sed
i n an i mpeccabl e coati ng of roasted
al monds and coconut fl akes.
MUGHLAI DATES
IMPROVE TASTE
AND LOOK
To enhance the taste of a very bitter
salad, place it in lukewarm water for
a few minutes before processing. If
green salad is already a little limp, it
can be placed in sugar water for a
while.
EAT.PRAY.
LOVE.
A Perfect Iftaar Platter
A
fter an energy sappi ng day
of fasti ng, al l one can wi sh
for i s a perfect pl atter ful l of
scrumpti ous and del ectabl e
food. A pl ate bri mmi ng wi th a vari ety of
mouth-wateri ng del i ghts i s al l one can
desi re for Aftar to sati sfy a ful l days
appeti te. From pakoras, samosas to
creamy dessert and chi l l ed j ui cy dri nk to
accompany i t al l , a perfect pl atter has i t
al l to treat your taste buds and to get
yoursel f recharged.
Mango Fine Food Bread Dates Flour
Available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
07 06 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
This Ramadan, make sure to create amazingly delightful
fruit bouquets. It is an arrangement of fruits in a way
that it resembles a bouquet. It can be created, served
and eaten by anyone! Use this summer to unleash your
creativity and bring to life the artist within you. Utilize
those yummy tropical fruits from METRO-Habib Cash &
Carry Pakistan and carve the local ones to make master
pieces of your own. These bouquets can be given as
gifts in place of typical oral bouquets and can also be
used as center pieces to bring originality to your dining.
Stunning and Delicious
TO GET THAT WOW FACTOR
If you want to make the bouquet even more
amazing, then coat these fruits with syrups
of different flavours or with something as
simple as cream.
With just these few steps you now can
make your own fruit bouquet, ready to be
devoured. All these equipments are avail-
able at your nearest outlet of METRO-Habib
Cash & Carry Pakistan.
TO GET THE BOUQUET LOOK
Next items involved in the making of fruit
bouquet are mouldable clay or florist foam
and a plastic wrap. The plastic covered
foam or clay is supposed to be inserted in
a basket or pot. Stick the skewers in the
basket in any manner or fashion you want.
Just imagine the sweet mouth-watering
strawberries, strung along with juicy apples
and topped with the citric flavoured grapes.
In this pelting heat what more does one
need?
WHAT YOU NEED
You dont need to be a master chef or have
to possess any mind boggling equipment
to create it. To achieve the desired shapes
of the pieces of fruit, one can use even a
simple carving knife or a vegetable peeler
while some specific kitchen tools would be
a melon baller, cookie cutter and a wave
cutter. The crafted pieces then have to be
strung on wooden skewers.
FRUITS TO BE USED
MANGO: Add not only colour to your
creation but also packets full of flavours that
burst in your mouth.
APPLE: For a subtle sweetness and texture
that is unmatched by any other fruit.
BANANAS: To add a unique texture pallet to
the bouquet.
SWEET MELON: Overly sweet and giving
out natural syrup.
PEACHES: Sticky yet stable
Use wooden skewers to string along large pieces of fruits and tooth picks to
stick along small ones.
String the pieces along by arranging a pattern based on colour, shape or
even on the preference of the fruit; like for example grapes are attached at
the tip of the skewer.
Select large lettuce leaves to cover the clay or the foam and attach these
leaves using toothpicks. Tissues can be used in place of lettuce leaves.
Make your own baskets by using ring of large fruits such as watermelon.
Eat while fresh especially if youre using apples or any such easily perishable fruit.
TIP
FRUIT
BOUQUET
09 08 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
METROs exclusive Own Brands available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan provides you with its most alluring product known
as ready to eat Dahi Boondiyan. This versatile product has a lot of uses; most notably it
is a key ingredient in the making of everyones favourite dish, Dahi Bhalay. So what are
you waiting for, just grab this brilliant product today from your nearest METRO store and
enjoy a completely hassle free Ramadan.
DAHI
BOONDIYAN
Drizzling Goodness
CHICKEN
AT METRO-Habib CASH & CARRY PAKISTAN
At METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan, our services extend from
marinating the chicken according to your wishes to guiding you towards
different options available with us, once you share with us your kitchen
genius. Try out our meat section to get acquainted with the premium
chicken cuts collection you would have ever come across.
Chicken meat develops a stronger immune system and builds a stronger
resistance to cancer. It is one form of meat you would love to experiment
with. Toss it into a salad with a slight drizzle of olive oil on top, to make a
full on main course dish. Chicken cooked in different styles have its own
nutritional advantage and appeal.
This does, however, require a chef to be equipped with the best chicken
piece and the cut of exactly his choice for a specic dish. After all, the
comfort with which you cook has a signicant impact on the nal outcome
of the dish, and METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan, is always here to
assist and boast you in your culinary endeavours.
At METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan, we ensure quality cleanliness
and hygiene. Our staff is fully trained to ensure that they handle meat
with great care. All meat is placed in a clean and temperature controlled
environment to ensure cleanliness & hygiene. Each staff member is fully
equipped with gloves, aprons, facemasks and head covers to avoid
bacterial inuences which can affect the meat.
GRILLED CHICKEN
TERIYAKI KEBAB
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless diced chicken breasts
2 small diced green bell peppers
2 small diced red bell peppers
1 large yellow diced onion
3 heaping cups fresh diced pineapple
Marinade/glaze
3/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
3 tbsp orange marmalade
1 tsp molasses
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp cold water
2 1/2 tsp cornstarch
PREPARATION:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, light-brown sugar, honey, orange marmalade, molasses, grated ginger, garlic and
pepper. Reserve 1 cup of sauce mixture in a bowl in refrigerator and pour remaining sauce over diced chicken in a large ziploc bag. Seal bag and place
bag in a bowl (to prevent leaks) in refrigerator and allow chicken to marinate 4 hours.
To prepare glaze, pour reserved 1 cup sauce into a small saucepan. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp cold water and cornstarch, then pour
cornstarch mixture into saucepan and stir. Bring sauce just to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently. Once mixture reaches a boil, reduce heat
and allow to gently boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
To prepare kebabs, using either metal skewers or water soaked wood skewers, thread a piece of marinated chicken (discard marinade), followed by an
onion wedge, a chunk of red pepper, a chunk of green pepper and a chunk of pineapple, then repeat pattern twice and nish with an additional piece
of chicken.
Grill kebabs over medium heat, 12 - 16 minutes rotating once halfway through grilling, until chicken has fully cooked through. Remove from grill and
brush kebabs with teriyaki sauce, serve warm with cooked white or brown rice if desired (alternately you can brush kebabs with teriyaki sauce during the
last few minutes of grilling but I say why waste such good sauce that will drip to bottom of the grill).
No pantry is complete without chicken. Its avour, can literally be
mixed with anything and the amount of nutrition value it carries,
chicken has become a cookbook celebrity. Its lean, tender and
contains high amounts of protein, which is an integral part of a
healthy diet plan.
Soya Sauce Capsicums Pineapple Boneless Chicken Rice
Available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
10 11 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
People from the west may flaunt a donut and think they have
the worlds most satiating cuisine holding up, out and proud.
Someone from perhaps the subcontinent would know better. Or
at least would know that a donut can`t go as far as a pakora. A
donut just wouldnt know the way.
The traditional pakora on the other hand, is delicious, fulfilling
and the love for it has been indoctrinated down the Asian foodie
drive. It just so happens to be the staple Aftar diet which has
enough power to strip Ramadan off of its charm or redress it
accordingly.
So it really wont be an overstatement to say that serving a
pakora is simply playing safe. But how safe can you really go?
The regular pakora may never be turned down, but a twist in the
recipe to advance the flavour will just pull more people towards
your table. Especially when the entire world is grappling with
ingredients to create, innovate and recreate flavours, why are
we to let the pakora down? To keep up with the diversity of
options available, why are we to not let chick pea flour do its
thing?
What more can it do, you say?
Read on to find out.
STUFFED PEPPER MIRCHI PAKORA
The course this is to take is identical to that of the regular pakora
except that in your batter, you will be dipping stuffed peppers and
then frying those. The recipe for the stuffing is as follows:
INGREDIENTS:
2 medium potatoes
1 onion
3 long green chilies
1 tbsp ginger paste
1/2 tbsp dry mango powder
Salt to taste
1/4 tbsp garam masala powder
a pinch of turmeric powder
2 tbsp cooking oil
PAKORA
TWIST
CHINESE PAKORA
CHEESE PAKORA FISH PAKORA
If the Chinese can nail a pakora, it must make you think how influ-
ential it is.
INGREDIENTS:
1 tomato (coarsely chopped)
2 onions (coarsely chopped)
2-3 green chilies (nely chopped)
1 potato (coarsely chopped)
6-7 tbsp corn our
2-3 tbsp gram our (baisan)
3-4 tbsp soy sauce
2-3 tbsp chili sauce
Salt to taste
Chicken Breast (cut in small cubes), marinated for 2-3 hours
4 tbsp Cooking Oil
INGREDIENTS TO MARINATE THE CHICKEN:
1/2 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp Soy sauce
2 tbsp Chili sauce
1/2 tbsp Crushed red chilies
Salt to taste
PREPARATION:
Once the chicken is marinated, add all the vegetables, corn flour,
gram flour, soy sauce, chili sauce and salt to the chicken and mix
well.
Heat oil in a wok, take a teaspoon full of the mixture and drop it into
the wok.
Deep fry till the pakoras turn slightly dark brown.
INGREDIENTS:
6 cheese cubes 2
1 onion
2 green chillies
2 bread slice 2
7-8 curry leaves
1 cup gram flour 1
1 tbsp Corn flour
A pinch of baking powder
A pinch of citric acid
1/2 tbsp salt
1/4 tbsp red chilli powder
2 tbsp cooking oil
PREPARATION:
Finely chop green chillies and onions. Cut cheese cubes and bread into
cubes. Mix all the ingredients in baisan and make thick batter using water.
Heat oil in a pan and deep fry all pakoras until they turn brown.
INGREDIENTS:
2 white fish
2 eggs
2 tbsp corn flour
Chilli powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp cooking oil
PREPARATION:
Steam the sh and cut it into medium-size pieces. Beat the eggs, then
add chilli powder and salt and mix well. Add the corn our to give the
batter medium consistency. Dip the sh into the batter and fry till golden
brown.
METROs exclusive Own Brands available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
FINE FOOD
COOKING
OIL
ENRICHED WITH VITAMINS A & D
12 13 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
P
I
N
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U
P
RAMADAN
CHART
A good drink is best
enjoyed in a glass
that complements its
taste, smell, and
appearance. METRO
Cash & Carry
Pakistan provides
you with an exquisite
variety of glassware.
From Tumblers to
Stemwares, we
have it all up for
grabs.
25
20 21
10 July
16 July
22 July
28 July
3 August
11 July
17 July
23 July
29 July
4 August
12 July
18 July
24 July
30 July
5 August
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Sunday
Saturday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Sunday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
10
05
17
29 30
13 July
19 July
25 July
31 July
6 August
15 July
21 July
27 July
2 August
14 July
20 July
26 July
1 August
7 August 8 August
Saturday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Sunday
Saturday
Friday
Sunday
Saturday
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday Thursday
To lend a hand with your preparations for Sehr and Aftar, This calendar
enlists a number of ideas that you can use to make your meal more
anticipated and called for. Simultaneously, this will also cater to your
nutrition, weight control and hunger management issues.
Dont forget to follow the tips; to help what you eat last longer!
Start your Aftars with noodle or
salads. These make you feel full and
thus prevent over eating.
Take in a lot of water. Not only does it
help you manage your weight, but also
is the best of all hydrating fluids.
Do not add too much salt to salads and
other dishes. Also avoid eating salty
foods like salted fish and pickles as
they increase the bodys need for water.
Keep the most exquisite of the menu
for Mondays. Returning to work is
hard in Ramadan, so this will give you
something to look forward to.
To keep the balance between healthy
foods and weight gain, use low fat
cheese and milk, skinless chicken,
lean meat and whole wheat bread.
Sugary foods are never a good idea
when it comes to retaining energy in
Ramazan. Temporary rise of energy
make you fall lethargic in the end.
04
12
22
13 14
07
27
STEAK FAJITA AALU PARATHA
WITH YOGURT
AND CHATNI
CHICKEN
BURRITO
HARI MIRCHI
QEEMA
ALMOND
DATE SHAKE
HALWA PURI
CHICKEN
BONELESS
HANDI
PARATHA
CHANNA
CHICKEN
MALAI BOTI
PARATHA
WITH
COMELETTE &
PICKLES
STEAK WITH
PINEAPPLE
SAUCE
PRAWN
PAKORA WITH
MINT CHATNI
GRILLED
EGG CHEESE
SANDWICH
CHICKEN
JALFREZI
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14 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013 15
W
hether youre a business owner, a vice president or a
manager dedicated to move up the corporate ladder,
hosting a business dinner is an ideal way to gather
colleagues and clients. Thats a lot of work isnt it? The
perfect menuthe dcor! To save you from the mind storms, Sadaf
Atif, the founder and director of La Cuisine, being a maestro event
planner, collaborates with METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan
to present to you the perfect Corporate Aftar Plan a evening to
remember filled with scrumptious food, refreshing drinks and create
the perfect classy ambience to mingle with colleagues.
Sadaf is one of those people who were born with the passion for
cooking. I love to cook its my passion! I havent attained any formal
course or degree but I have taught myself to cook from different
sources and research describes Sadaf passionately, My mother
says I was an excellent cook at the age of 11. I adopted my love for
cooking from my mother who used to be a master of sub-continental
cuisine. This passion is something that has nurtured inside me since
my childhood. For some people cooking is a profession but not for
Sadaf, she is one of those people who enjoy cooking and create the
perfect ambience to serve it in. Im on the seventh sky when I cook
adds Sadaf cheerfully while working in her kitchen, most people lose
their nerves when they have to cook but I find it a cathartic experience.
A Feast to Remember
CORPORATE
AFTAR
With the month of Ramadan
blooming at its peak the hype of
Aftar events and the humdrum of
Pre-Eid festivities are seen all
around. While everything is
bedazzled and done with a bling,
the corporate and business sector
beseeches for a certain class and
elegance. Improvise as METRO-
Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan
acquaints you with the name
behind La Cuisine Events and
gives itself a pat on the back, as
Sadaf Atif teaches you how to
serve to the suited-ups!
16 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013 17
The dates for appetizers are partially cut and the seed is replaced
with a generous cottage cheese stuffing ready for Aftar. The drink is
prepared with a blend of fresh watermelon juice and herbs with a little
seasoning and touch of sugar!
Sadaf is very minimalistic when it comes to garnishing her food. She
finishes with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts on the fettuccini pasta,
adding a little mint and basil touch-up here and there. The food should
be set nicely and harmoniously in plates with only a graceful touch of
decorating details.
P
articularly at Sehri each guest must be made to feel so good
that he starts the fast feeling relaxed and positive. An attractive
selection of foods arranged and served with love of detail
makes this possible, depending on the amount of room available.
The Sehri food variety can be offered at the table or as a buffet for
self-service. Often a combination of the two is especially good:
certain basics can be placed beside the guest right at the table, while
sweet or savoury extras wait ready at the buffet. Hot drinks can be
continuously served fresh at the table by attentive service personnel.
The structure of a buffet depends on a number of factors,
such as available space, number of guests, kind of food,
etc. during planning the following in particular have to be
considered:
The structure of the buffet determines which way guests move
and decisively determines whether queues form or not.
A buffet can be structured as a single unit or divided into
blocks/ island. With a large number of guests division is best
to spread their movement.
The distribution of food must be structured logically. For Sehri,
that means placing bread, butter, cold cuts, cheese, jam
and other spreads close together, likewise fruit, yoghurt and
cereals.
Items at a Sehri Buffet should also be placed cuisine wise.
The continental food should be placed separately.
Plates and cutlery are placed at the beginning or at a central
point of the buffet.
Presentation of food on a number of levels makes it easy to
see everything at a glance.
If there are service points, sufficient space must be allowed for
the service personnel.
It is important that you never over-do
it, just enough to make it look
extravagent.
Sadaf applies the cooking philosophy
of world famous chef James Oliver in
her cooking, as she admires his stress
on nutrition values and detestation for
preservatives. The secret to flavour
is keeping it all fresh! I like METRO-
Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan as they
provide a diverse range of fresh fruits
and vegetables and I always find all that
I want under the same roof. It is ideal for
bulk buying.
She plans her time accordingly and starts by marinating the chicken
a day before to let the flavour and aroma properly seep through the
meat. Sadaf loves to make her food special by adding aromatic fresh
herbs such as Basil and Oregano (available at METRO-Habib Cash &
Carry Pakistan in both fresh and dried forms).
Sadaf reccommended tall stem glasses from METRO-Habib Cash &
Carry Pakistan for the presentation of Tiramisu adding a little touch
of elegance. She creates a glorious bed of a spongy biscuit rolled
in mascarpone, crme fresh, coffee and chocolate in delicate
layers that is feast for the eyes too. Individual servings are created
and refrigerated till the time of serving. Add a little magic of grated
chocolate just before serving to the guests.
Next for the preparation of the snacks and main course, Sadaf aligns her
staff to get washed up and nely slice up the fresh and vibrant vegetables
delicately according to the requirements. Round sliced onions neither
too thin nor too thick for the onion rings. The secret to perfect onion
rings is to freeze them a bit right after you batter them, that way the
batter doesnt slide off and properly stays
on it. says Sadaf as she expertly batters
the onions and sets the tray aside for
refrigeration.
The sesame chicken is delicately
hammered, seasoned and crowned with
an even layer of delicate sesame seeds.
Buffalo bites and mozzarella sticks are
also seasoned in aromatic herbs and
spices and nally coated with a crispy
coating to provide it a beautiful colour
while frying. The Peri-Peri bites are
also prepared by lling up giant green
chilies with cheese and spices and disguising the opulent taste in a
crispy crumb coating.
To compliment all these versatile range of snacks, Sadaf prepares a
variety of dressings and dips to accolade and complete the assortment
of flavours! The pasta for fettuccini is prepared in a blaze of seasoned
chicken and a hype of fresh and flamboyant vegetables of the season
making it picturesque and visually appeasing! The garden salad takes
its form; all dressed in finely julienned vegetables garnished with
chunks of deep green broccoli and cottage cheese with a concluding
generous glistening drizzle of olive oil dressing and Voila!
W
atching Sadaf execute Corporate Aftar for METRO-Habib
Cash & Carry Pakistan was an inspirational experience as she
accomplished a classy and well-designed affair. When we tried and
pried on to nd the secret to it, Its all about time-management and
paying attention to the small details is all she says modestly.
When it comes to deciding the menu, Sadaf aims to come up with
something minimalistic and applicable to the mood of the occasion.
Dates stuffed with cottage cheese
Garden salad
Pink Lady (watermelon and Mint)
Onion rings, Buffalo Bites, Sesame Chicken,
Mozzarella Sticks, Peri Peri Chicken
Low fat Ranch Dressing, Sweet & Sour
Dressing, Italian Dressing, Thousand Island
sauce
Thai style Fettucini Pasta
Individual Tiramisu
STARTER
DRINK
SNACKS
DRESSINGS
MAIN COURSE
DESSERT
SETTING UP A
BUFFET TABLE
FOR SEHRI
Chicken Breast METRO Cake Cooking Oil
Cheese
Salad Bowl
Watermelon
HoReCa Plates
Dates
Broccoli
Available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
18 19
INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
Energize with
avored Ice
FRUIT
POPSICLES
Feel a surge of heaven
down your parched throat at
Aftar this Ramadan, as
METRO-Habib Cash & Carry
Pakistan inspires you to
discover the frosty and
refreshing world of Fruit
popsicles. Revitalize yourself
with a healthy and refreshing
experience with the extensive
range of luscious fruits
available at METRO-Habib
Cash & Carry Pakistan.
20
SLURPILICIOUS
Slice and arrange fruits of your choice in ice pop moulds. Make sure the fruits fit
snugly. Combine gelatin and juice or syrup and pour into each mould just to cover
the fruit. Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until solid. Create a splash at anytime with
these eye-catching Jell-o-Fruit Pops.
EXQUISTICK!
Go a bit overboard and creative with ice popsicles using a diverse range of
moulds available in different shapes and sizes. Top it up with freshly whipped
cream and diced fruit or add crunchy layers of crushed cookies with fruit
chunks! Get inspired and become creative this Ramadan with METRO-Habib
Cash & Carry Pakistan.
MANGHURT POPS
Considering our pot luck with the weather, and the inevitable end to the
plentiful supply of ripe, juicy mangoes as the seasons change, mango and
yoghurt ice pops sounds like a great idea. To spice them up a little, add some
coconut milk and ground cinnamon.
FROZEN DIVINITY
Twirl it around delicately and add the richness of yogurt, for one of your elaborate
Aftars.
Blend yogurt, fruit (slightly defrosted if using frozen) and honey in a blender and
blend to desired consistency. Pour the mixture in paper cups about three quarters
full and freeze. Cover each cup with aluminium foil, then make a small slit in the
middle of each foil, cover and freeze for 5 hours.
INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1905 an eleven year boy from San Francisco accidentally invented the popsicle when on a cold morning he left a mixture of
powder flavoured soda water with a stir stick in it on the porch. Now, over two billion Popsicle ice pops are consumed every
year. Cherry is the number one favourite Popsicle flavour.
21
I
n the shallow crowd of heavy desserts Panna
Cotta remains aloof with its simplicity and true
nutrition value.
Worldwide Panna Cotta is a huge commercial success
due to the easiness of its preparation and economic
benets that restaurateurs attain owing to its liability as
the ultimate summer dessert. Despite its minimalistic
pearly sheath the taste and avour is rich and
stimulating. It is truly a dessert of substance!
GELATINOUS CONCEPTION
It all starts with the drainage of ripe fresh fruit, which
according to the targeted season would be best made
with Mangoes; sapped in boiling water. The fruit will
drain its juice in the water making it a pulpy coloured
liquid. Add gelatin (powder already prepared in hot wa-
ter for proper use) to the arranged fruit solution with
castor sugar and cool it down a bit. Pour the jelly mix-
ture in molds, making a thick base layer.
SCRUMPTIOUS DETAILS
Sprinkle neatly diced fruit in the jelly to make it visually
attractive. Once the jelly is set and cooled, the solid
fruit chunks would be visible from inside of the
translucent gelatinous mass.
After creating the gelatinous basis for the panna cotta,
leave the containers to cool in the freezer.
Cooking the cream & yogurt together is a whisk affair!
Panna Cotta literally means cooked cream and is
achieved by getting the cream warmed up completely
without taking it to the boiling point. The cream &
castor sugar is whisked at medium heat until the
appropriate temperature is attained. Generous
amounts of gelatin are added to the cooked cream
and a whirlwind of fresh yogurt is whisked in to
mallow down the richness of cream into a modest
constituency. The nishing brink is added with a few
drops of vanilla essence to add aroma to the dessert.
ASSEMBLING THE MAGIC!
Pour the mixture generously on top of the cooled
down jelly base in the containers, just a little near the
top and freeze for at least 6 hours.
The secret to well-made panna cotta is the right
gelatin consistency and proper freezing time to set its
gelatinous form appropriately.
Flip-It upside down in a plate once its chilled and
ready to serve! The jelly will beautifully crown the
pearly white dome of panna cotta as you assemble
your plate of blessings and joy!
The cool creamy taste crowned with a
layer of pulpy fruit jelly will hit the right
spots to revitalize your strength and satisfy
your sweet tooth after an exhausting
fasting day.
It often happens that we desire for something simple amidst of fancy intricacies. An aspiration.a craving that cant be
adequately described as we havent seen anything like it but intuitively wish for it. In all the hassle of growing bakeries and
confectionaries offering lavishly prepared desserts with exhausting preparation techniques and hefty nutritional values, all
one can wish for is something simple yet special.
Blessing In a plate
23 22 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
MANGO
PANNA
COTTA
METRO-Habib Cash & Carry
Pakistan dares to inspire you
as it unleashes a secret
straight from the mountains of
Italy. Its simple, invigorating
and a humble indulgence
called Panna Cotta.
A LITTLE OUT OF THE BOX
With a recipe as delicious and easy as panna cotta one should not
be restricted with the possibilities. The dessert can be prepared using
multiple fruits and jellies to make it more vibrant and enjoyable to savour.
Panna Cotta Al Mango being one of the classics can be played around
with different fruit contrasts to make it more edgy and exciting.
Go over board and get creative with the diverse assortments of fresh
fruits offered at METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan with the basic
Panna Cotta recipe.
Garnish your dessert with fresh mango chunks and some roughly
chopped pistachios to make it look more inviting. Serve your guests the
Mango Panna Cotta which is one of the easiest mango dessert recipes
out there. You sure will hear a lot of oohs and aahs.
Pure culinary nirvana is guaranteed when you will visualize, discover and
create with the ultimate fruit paraphernalia of METRO-Habib Cash &
Carry Pakistan this summer!
A LITTLE CHEATING

Sometimes it gets a bit technical and time taking when it comes to
getting the right consistency in preparation of the jelly. To save time and
the hassle you can use Jelly mix (varieties & avours from different
companies available at METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan) and
sprinkle fruit chunks in it to get similar results in half the trouble.
FLIPPING THE PANNA
COTTA
Flipping the panna cotta can be a technical task and
the fragile mass can collapse during the process. If the
dessert is frozen in Horeca disposable plastic ware-
available at METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan, the
ipping process is easier as the mixture easily retains
its shape with the plastic and slips out on the plate
TIP
Yogurt
Mould - Paper Cup Cream Mangoes Caster Sugar
Available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
LANGRA
SINDHRI
DUSEHRI
CHAUNSA
ANWAR RATOL
Green skinned and fibreless on the inside,
Langra is very sweet, scented and lasts
only from early to mid season (1st to the
3rd week of July).
These are a leading variety in Sindh. You
can easily recognize them by their big and
long demeanour with lemon yellow skin.
These are small or at times medium
sized mangoes with fresh yellow but thin
skin. Theyre firm and very sweet. One
distinguishing factor between these and
other mangoes is that their shoulders are
always higher than their dorsal.
This type will get all over your face, hands
and clothes, but will be ridiculously worth
it. These are small, yet heavy and very
aromatic. Its best to not peel them and
suck the pulp out from the very top.

The best thing about these is that they will
not disappoint you if you buy in bulk, for
they do very well in storage and last long.
These are medium sized and oval with
slightly thick skin. They also are very juicy.
If theres anything mangoes do, they deliver. From being divine in flesh to being pulpy in a bottle, mangoes know their thing. But while
its at it, how well do you, claiming fans, know what mango is to work for you? Most of us will go on to stand in front of mango cases
in fruit shops and ponder over why theyre all not priced the same. Whats one got that the other hasnt? To pop the bubble and clear
the air between mangoes and you, for theres a long summer ahead, lets just go through a simple chart. Now this guide may strip your
mango of its mysterious powers to surprise you with its taste every time, but this will let you be ahead of the game. Dont let mangoes
play you.
DID YOU KNOW...?
Chaunsa has a total of 3 types
commonly nown as Black
Chaunsa, White Chaunsa and
SB Chaunsa. The good news is
they are all available at METRO-
Habib Cash & Carry, Pakistan.
A guide to the sappy mangoes
MANGO
GUIDE
24 25 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
METROs exclusive Own Brands available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets
HORECAS FROZEN
CHICKEN CRISPY WINGS
FROZEN RESPITE
TEAM AT METRO-HABIB
CASH & CARRY PAKISTAN
Qurat ul ain Shahid
Senior Manager Public Relations
Corporate & Public Affairs
Rifah Qadri
Sr Manager SCO-P
Customer Management Division
Ahmar Abbas Rizvi
Senior Manager Advertising
Customer Management Division
Mehwish Khan
Sr Manager SCO - Complementary
Business
Customer Management Division
DESIGN CREDITS:
Agency
BLACK & GOLD
www.blackandgold.com.pk

Waseem Ahmed Khan
Management
Salman Uppal
Creative Direction
Mahad Kamal
Design
Sadaf Atif
Chef & Food Styling
Hussain Subhani
Photography
Anam Raheel
Content Management
Eiesha Mubasher
Khadija Batool
Ali Miqdad
Hinan Rana
Creative Content Writing
TOPICAL
Print
Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road,
Lahore 53700
Phone: +92 (0)42 37508001
www.metro.pk
Member of
26 27 INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
Summer Punch
MANGO LASSI
LEMON SMOOTHIE
CREAMSICLE PUNCH
INGREDIENTS:
1 quarter orange juice
1 quarter vanilla ice cream
1 litre pineapple juice 2 litres carbonated lemon-lime beverage
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl add ice-cream and orange juice. Now pineapple juice to
the mix and steadily pour over the carbonated beverage. Mix the
ingredients to get a refreshing punch.
INGREDIENTS:
4 scoops lemon juice
2 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
6 tbsp chopped mint
4 plums or kiwis, peeled and halved
2 cups crushed ice
1 cup orange juice
DIRECTIONS:
Just blend the ingredients in a blender and serve chilled.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped mango
4 tbsp sugar, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Put mango, yogurt, milk, sugar and cardamom
into a blender and blend for 2 minutes, then
pour into individual glasses, and serve.
Ramadan is the peak time to feel
depraved of liquids so as soon as
we break our fasts, we rush to chug
down litres of water or ready-made
drinks. Though why should you
follow the same old-fashioned
trends and drink those redundant
concoctions? This time make your
own drinks, that are easy to make
and delicious to the last sip.
JUICE WARS
INSPIRATIONS SUMMER 2013
FRUIT OF PARADISE
AT METRO-HABIB CASH & CARRY PAKISTAN
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Finest qualities from the Middle Eastern regions, available in fresh and dried varieties are
offered at METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan. These delectable and dimply skinned-
caramel coloured treats are present in Aseel, Irani, Khopra, Ajwa, Mabroom, Kalma,
Amber, Karbalain, Muzafati, Zahidi and Rubai qualities. METRO-Habib Cash & Carry
Pakistan also offers ready-to-eat almond, cashew and walnut stuffed dates.
METROs exclusive Own Brands available at all METRO-Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets