METRO Inspirations - Winter '13 Issue

METRO.pk

W I N T E R 2 0 13

The Sweet Life

sweet inspirations The Real Stars

the art of catering Unique and Tongue-tantalizing

oum ali

T H E

e v i t s e f E ISSU

Raise Your Glass

new year’s eve

the

FESTIVE ISSUE INSPIRATIONS

WINTER 2013 One word. Nine letters. Three months. Celebrate.

Just when it’s chilly enough to exhale fog and make a party out of hot chocolate, our traditionally reserved festivity months hop on the calendar.

A random person would run to shop and get makeovers but a chef, ideally, grabs his pastry cutters and rolling pins to get even with the oven. Are you that kind? Do you spend your fall and winter cooking good food and making dinner tables memorable? Then this issue is your custom made bible. Follow it and we promise you hearty evenings-cum-benchmarks for your dough’s potential.

So what is in the pages that are to follow? From plating your extra mutton to getting professional catering ideas, we have your winter accessories stocked up. But what you must remember, while reading and penning suggestions, is that we are not the real deal. Even if we will be tweaking the platter that would have otherwise been put up, you are the one delivering and so you are what matters. As mentioned earlier, we only have your accessories stocked. And what we really hope for is to get you ready and in the atmosphere fit for some grand cooking.

Eager to have our effort plug you in for the eventful months ahead, we wish you a very Happy New Year and a Holiday season!

Your INSPIRATIONS Team

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

contents wedding menu guide

METRO AT dynasty

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hot drinks

seafood

new year’s eve

oum ali

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06

the art of catering

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a perfectionist’s grilling

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09

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14

sweet inspirations

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dry fruit Surges of

METRecommended Pangasius Fillet

Satisfaction

METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan brings to you the finest imported “Pangasius Fillet”. It is directly imported from Vietnam because of its exotic taste and quality. It is available in 10kg packs, best suited for our professional customers. This winter season Pangasius Fish is surely going to be sensational.

Tarrington House Coffee Maker

N NOW I N SEASO METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan offers a variety of factory processed, clean, shaven and packed dry fruits. They are tempting and reasonably priced for you to buy in large quantities. They offer instant energy and lots of health benefits. So don’t miss out on METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan’s dry fruit variety. Because hunger and quality is not something that can be compromised!

What can be a more convenient and reliable source of perfectly brewed soothing cup of coffee than the “Tarrington House Coffee Maker”. Establishing its trust in people for years METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan brings to you the premium range of Tarrington House appliances including its “Coffee Maker” as a specialty for the winters.

THE WINTER SOUP Chunky Vitamin Soup

Soups are winter’s most beloved attendants. Those who love a good ladleful of vegetables and steaming goodness warming them to the bone, should not let go of this particular favorite of ours. It brims with healthy goodness and goes by as the fuss free, one pot diet.

A little extra tip from our end: Try creating dry fruit laddu with nuts and dates to raise the bar of ordinary festivity in these months of celebrations. Get to inspire others!

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INSPIRATIONSS M A RCH INSPIRATIONS WI 2013 N TE R 2013

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METRO Cash & Carry AT DYNASTY, AVARI

Manager at Dynasty: Mr. Kamran Khan Avari Hotel, Lahore

Mr. Kamran Khan of Dynasty at Avari, having just introduced the restaurant’s new menu to METRO INSPIRATIONS, told us that it’s hard to shift to other wholesalers for meat and spices. If he is ever compelled to do so by the circumstances, his customers complain about not having experienced the true Chinese cuisine that they expect from the place. “There are people who come back to taste the same flavors. It’s just not possible when we buy from other places. With around 150 customers everyday, we cannot afford to make them unhappy”, he explained.

“And that’s not it, you see. We are charging for quality. Trying other brands is a risk I cannot plate. I trust METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan, and would recommend it to eateries looking for a reliable source”.

METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan remains our top supplier and plays a pivotal role in maintaining good reputation with its customers.

holiday food Most people spend this time savouring wholesome food and good company.

While the latter is not something we can help you with, however METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan always has a way to make good food better. Read on to get an insight into edibles that reassure wellbeing, be it at family reunions, or a quiet day at home.

stop counting calories

If you’re already planning your days off from work, start by getting your fridge and pantry stocked. And remember, METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan is ready to assist you all the way to delectable platter of your favourite cuisine.

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the sweet life

Sweet Inspirations

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

The passion for baking is in Panzu’s blood and she inherited it from her late mother, who was a highly qualified pastry chef. As Panzu grew up, her passion transformed into a hobby that got admired so much that it has become a popular business by the name of “Frosted Fantasies”. Watch out for unharnessed temptation and craving as Panzu S. Cheema collaborates with METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan to unveil her ultimate sweet secrets!

O

h what if life was as sweetly dressed as a mouthwatering perfectly frosted cupcake? Sprinkled with icing sugar like stardust and topped with chunks of rich chocolate and cream…..Ah! What would it feel like to have such a sweet life?

Well as reality pops our sugary dream bubble when you long for something divinely sweet, METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan brings to you the fledgling, lively and wide-eyed baker “Panzu S.Cheema” as your ultimate saviour.

HERE’s how the expert designs a perfect “dessert menu” for the best WINTER birthday ever!

This sweet party has a three course menu and it only comprises of “sweets”, so watch out for your mouths watering and tongues dropping at the fantastic sight of amazingly baked goodies, ethereally frosted to stand as a vision on your party tables!

Macadamia Cookies TARTS Our Hensel & Gretel party kicks off with “Macadamia cookies” for starters. The deliciously baked cookies are encrusted with macadamia and hazelnuts and the right kind of Hawaiian white chocolate flavour to it.

Followed by the crunchy and nutty cookies are the classic and impeccably baked Chocolate Tarts. Oh no…. it’s not what you are thinking.

These are not just the regular chocolate tarts; these ones are layered with custard and cream cheese inside the main tart crust, before getting the final dollop of chocolate sauce for topping. These tarts are the ultimate companions for you tea or coffee on a cold winter evening.

Hummingbird Cake Last but not the least we present to you with a drumroll, Panzu’s speciality and a perfect winter delicacy the “Hummingbird Cake”. A priceless recipe inspired from the renowned Hummingbird Bakery in England, this cake is super moist due to generous amounts of butter used. The exotic flavour is whipped together with vanilla passion, blueberries and any of your favourite fruits and nuts all flogged into a thick batter. The super moist sponge is stuffed in the middle with cream cheese and condensed milk whipped into a

rich and creamy filling. This divine and unique cake would be a shining star on any party table or dessert menu this winter!

Panzu dresses her baked goods in picturesque frostings and icings that make them visually appeasing besides being amazingly delicious. She loves to frost her baked goods in attractive coloured icings and creative toppings. Her work is fresh and fun which is one of the reasons she became a baking sensation at such a young age. METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan feels proud in presenting new talent, who have done inspirational work using their products!

“I buy most of my baking materials from METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan. It is really convenient and fun to find all the things that you need under one roof! I find flour, sugar, icing sugar and other classified baking products in good deals and packages and I just love the bakery. METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan has the most amazing freshly baked biscuits and croissants. It’s a baker’s paradise!”

Panzu S. Cheema Frosted Fantasies

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets

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frozen raw japanese ebi shrimps

Coated in light bread crumbs, readyto-cook Japanese Ebi Shrimps that simply melt in your mouth.

Available exclusively at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets 08

 INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

Drinks you’d want to snuggle with

hot drinks

METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan inspires you with a warm welcome to the oh-socold winter by presenting its thoughtful suggestions for your beverage menu.

Warm your insides to brave a cold winter’s day!

kashmiri chai For the puritans, winters are simply inconceivable without the traditional “Kashmiri Chai”. The irresistible amalgamation of special tea leaves, milk, salt, pistachios, almonds, and cardamom that give out divine aroma and hue. A little swish of cinnamon and baking soda and your guests will be impressed for sure! What else could be better than finding all these ingredients under one roof and materializing your passion for Kashmiri Chai? This traditional drink is a must at all casual and formal winter gatherings.

EGGNOG The whole aura of winter conjures images of curling clenched hands around a mug, with fire blazing and scarves draped around necks! Winter holidays bring along the taste of traditional “Eggnog” as you find yourself surrounded by loved ones at festivities! The thick, milky beverage topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with nutmeg materializes around midNovember, hangs around until New Year and then disappears for another ten months.

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan is here to instigate you and set you free from the usual. Introduce “Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate” on the menu and you’re in for a treat! It’s like serving a molten chocolate bar covered in peanut butter—definitely a dessert of itself and best topped with whipped cream and roasted peanuts.

This winter METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan also brings you all the ingredients along with a beautiful range of mugs and tea cups to convert your beverage menu, the whole town’s favourite!

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets

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SEAFOOD at METRO cash & carry pakistan

METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan prides itself in offering the widest and healthiest range of sea food in the country.

Who doesn’t like their fair share of delicious sea food? The idea of having some makes ones tongue muscles tingle instantly. It’s tasty, nutritious, easy to cook and quickly consumed when made. Not even tiny, agitating bones or pesky shells can mar the bundle of wonderful flavours of seafood. At METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan, the opportunity to have that perfect seafood experience is provided in the form of the availability of the best type that is present in the country all year around. The variety alone is astounding as you can find different types like Pomfret, Seer, Mackerel, Sardines, Rohu and Catla, with extended range of Crabs, Lobsters, Prawns and Shrimps stored safely for your satisfaction.

The customers concern when it comes to buying seafood is hygiene, quality control and storage, METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan has all these points covered. Here, the seafood is not disrespected or kept out in the open so that germs, bacteria, microorganisms can contaminate it at any moment as seen in fish markets of the country. The merchandise is kept under strict temperature of -8 degrees in the iced containers, with the sole intention of keeping the fish fresh. The staff at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan is fully trained to have in-depth and expert knowledge on how to handle the merchandise without compromising its quality or hygiene. They are also geared up with the proper attire, plastic gloves and hair caps which are compulsory for them to atone while handling the merchandise. At METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan regular quality checks

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

of the merchandise take place in addition to assessments already made by the trained experts to avoid any chance of error. The consumers are given adequate answers to all their queries with an attitude that is helpful as well as understanding. With these preventive measures the consumers are also protected from being adversely effected by even slight negligence.

Seafood in general is regarded as the healthiest part of ‘meat’ food group all over the world and METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan is proud to promote and provide good nutrition to all its customers!

Golden Silk Coated Prawns A casual winter usually talks of hearty fires, epic gourmet travelling, sumptuous meals and cozy gatherings. Out of all these, METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan makes sure you live up to at least the most important of all; Good food. We believe that there is never a shortage of dining possibilities, a warm bowl of soup or a well done shrimp is a party all by itself!

If you’re still planning on what to relish or serve, we’ve got a great deal! Chef Er Bing of Dynasty at Avari Lahore is serving a beautiful combination of METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan’s finest ingredients. It’s called ‘Golden Silk Coated Prawns’. Not only is this specialty of his delicious, but it also comes to pure aptness with one’s winter whims!

He begins with cooking the prawns to a crispy texture. Then simply by mixing in lime and mayo, he creates the dip that will coat the prawns once he is done molding them into round balls. A simple final layer of crispy fried thin potato shreds is added on top and the dish is ready to serve!

But professionals like Chef Bing don’t simply serve dishes as they are. On a good day, he would carve a marvelous sparrow out of carrots and place it by the prawns so the entire plate looks like a bird’s nest. To top everything off, a complementary serving of Chinese tea will follow, to moderate the rush of flavors and help put the final touches to the Chinese culture the table is to perform.

Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Chef Er Bing of Dynasty at Avari Lahore has over ten years of experience in five star hotels, his specialty being Szechuan, Cantonese and Jiang Su Cuisine.

Chef Bing attributes a significant portion of his experience to METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan’s quality products and also recommends them to all home and professional chefs.

King Prawns

Capsicums

Potatoes

Fine Food Mayonnaise

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets

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The real stars behind the star studded events!

the art of catering Growing number of event management companies & entrepreneurs in Pakistan have generally upgraded the aesthetics of the public.

Weddings have become a designer affair and special attention is given out to each and every detail. It’s not easy to create an ambience according to the client’s likes and serve equally delicious food to a gathering of hundreds. This trend of immaculately executed events is not restricted to just weddings. The brewing fashion & media industry has given birth to the raging red carpet events and launches. Appropriate menus for beverages and snacks are designed for such circumstances. And that’s just not it! With the burst of creativity and the introduction of new talent in the market birthday parties and baby showers have become a “fantasy come true” obsession.

The question is, who creates the magic? As METRO Cash & Carry covers the wedding and festive season for you, how could we not solve this intriguing mystery for you?

Well here METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan brings out the pioneers of classy “Event Management”.

HANIF RAJPUT CATERERS “A taste of Legacy” From perception to perfection, a journey of Hanif Rajput, who created a master piece by giving gourmet bussiness a class and artistic profile.

An event sculptured by Hanif Rajput has always been memorable and according to traditional taste of the puritans. Established since 1979 Hanif Rajput has maintained its trust in customers and have served generations by making their special events into a grand and lavish reality!

Even today with all the theme obsession in the market, when we ask for a special recommendation for the winter weddings, a traditional Rajhisthani Mehndi event is what they suggest. Set in royal purple and vibrant shades of orange and yellow Hanif Rajput artistiscally set up the ambience for a Rajhisthani Mehndi with dazzling peacocks illustrated and flower curtains cascading from every corner. The food is kept traditionally festive with their “Punjab Menu”. Main course dishes include the lavish Mutton Kunna and Yakhni Pullao served with kulchas sprinkled with sesame seeds as Hanif Rajput’s signiture specialties. Dessert blends in with delectable jalebi & gulab jaman served hot. The feast concludes with steaming servings of aromatic Kashmiri tea.

Hanif Rajput believes in quality and they praise & prefer METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan due to their strict balance and quality maintainence in wholesale bulk products such as rice, flour and spices. “Good quality makes all the difference”, says Kamran Khan( Management Head) while giving us his feedback on METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan products.

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

“No matter how much people get into themes and western style parties, when it comes to weddings and especially the Mehndi nothing is more exciting than a vibrant Rajhisthani themed event with traditional menu consisting of soup and kashmiri chai for warm beverages, and Mutton Kunna with kulcha or naan as a main course speciality.”

“The Dream Weavers”

“A Wedding is as personal as it is public” is what Shazreh say about the ideology they follow while planning an event.

As we delve in this world of event management “Zareen & Shazreh Khalid Events” stands out like a shining star. Zareen Khalid is considered tobe the pioneer of modern Event Management in Pakistan. Zareen Khalid introduced the concept of personalized event management to the Pakistani audience and championed the service with great elegance and style.

Zareen Khalid’s legacy lives on now through her daughter, Shazreh Khalid. Once Shazreh came from London after graduating from Central Saint Martins, they collaborated to turn the company into what it is now. The company handles all sorts of wedding events, launches, fashion shows and exhibitions, cultural festivals, formal dinners, baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, corporate events and many more.

As METRO Cash & Carry asks Shazreh Khalid for a special recommendation for a winter event according to the latest trend, her reply is, “The current trend is defined by the demand of the clients which, these days is setting up live cooking stations. The presentation has to be of five star hotel standards and of impeccable quality & service.”

Zareen & Shazreh Khalid Events are known for transforming client’s dreams into reality! Shazreh admires the quality maintenance and versatile product range available at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

We feels great joy and pride in being preferred and trusted by such experts and artisans of hospitality!

Saadat Siddiqui “The High-Fashion Chef”

Where modern education meets culinary passion, all entwined in a modern ideology of “food”, is where we meet celebrity Chef Saadat Siddiqui. The high qualified chef has acquired foreign education in not only culinary arts but also in management & hospitality and has a refreshingly modern perspective about food. Chef Saadat believes in strict time management, quality & hygiene and complete synergy when it comes to serving clients and guests.

We asked Chef Saadat for his special recommendations for a winter event if he had to host, what would it be like?

“Well if it comes to me I like food that is freshly served and is healthy.

For instance if I’m hosting a red carpet event, which is basically a stand up event, I would present my guests with fresh finger food

including hot Mexican tapas with exciting dips, quiche, fried finger fish, bready shrimp, smoked salmon & chicken satay with peanut sauce. I would love to present all the lovely one bite hors d’oeuvres with French dips and barbeque sauce.

And for beverages nothing would be more glamorous and exciting at such an event than Apple Cider and Hot chocolate shots!”

Chef Saadat keeps things simple yet classy while suggesting a menu for a red carpet event. He keeps it light yet scrumptious with all the seasonal vegetables and specialties. He admires METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan for their consistent quality management and controlled rates on wholesale items.

“I buy all the local products I need from METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan. Besides that, when it comes to winter specialties, METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan have the best variety in fresh seafood! HoReCa disposable products and wrapping materials are available in good range and variety and it’s just too convenient to find all I need at one place that I can rely on in terms of variety and quality!”

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PIN-UP 14

the wedding menu - AW13 Mayuun

Mehndi

STARTER

STARTER

Potato and Chick-pea Fritters with tomato and barbeque sauce

Open-faced mini burgers

MAIN COURSE

MAIN COURSE

Kabuli pillau with Nargissi Kofta

Grilled Fish served with lemony tinge of Hollandaise Sauce and Scrumptious Pasta with fresh tomato sauce

DESSERT

DESSERT

Lemon, Vanilla and Chocolate Sorbet

Crème Brûlée

INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

The wedding season is upon us all once again and that basically entails a lot of food. If one is the organizer of a wedding then it is imperative that each little detail of the event should be flawless. We believe that instead of making the same old dishes and getting the same old redundant response from the guests why not try something new? Try our innovative combinations of dishes for different days of a typical Pakistani wedding and amaze the guests with your creativity.

Baraat

Walima

STARTER

STARTER

Grilled chicken and spinach pockets

Buffalo wings with an array of dips

MAIN COURSE

MAIN COURSE

Spicy and delicious Mutton Kunna with assortment of flavored Naans coupled with Chicken Sindhi Biryani

Roasted basil and cheese stuffed chicken breasts with garlic and chilli fried rice

DESSERT

DESSERT

The Wedding Cake

Chocolate Fountain with fruit and cookies

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Raise Your Glass to

new year’s eve

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

Rima Farid is a PR and Event Manager with a flair for putting together events that are both awe-inspiring as well as symbolic. She is fast becoming a highly sorted out organizer with several high profile events to her credit and many under her belt. Together with Zaman from Kabana Caterers and with the ever- present services of METRO Habib Cash & Carry Pakistan, Rima showed the reason for her popularity with an event that truly became a night to remember.

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New Year’s Eve becomes the most nostalgic night of one’s life, voluntarily or not we find ourselves sifting through good and bad memories of the year on the brink of its extinction. It’s a night of no regrets because we all know that the dawn literally would bring in a new beginning in the form of a new year.

Keeping the emotional aspects of the night in mind, everything takes on a new turn. The food has to be extra lavish, the décor has to extra classy, the drinks need to be super tasty and even us in our own need to look our best. New Years’ Eve is a celebration that has its own interpretation all over the world. It signifies a prelude to an event that is as frightening as it’s exciting.

This night truly resembles an emotional roller coaster, something whose cure is nothing but quality food and close company.

All of this organized in a true food lover fashion by the Rima in collaboration with Zaman from ‘Kabana Caterers’. The power packed twosome made a formidable team for the occasion, churning out an intense combination of eye pleasing ambiance with mouth pleasing food. They took a few ingredients, some of which we buy and eat in our everyday life, and turned out some master chef quality dishes.

Rima talked about her experience as an Event Manager, lamenting over food being the most important yet difficult task of all. In her expert opinion her life has become much easier ever since she started shopping at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

“Everything is so fresh there, easily available and easily accessible”, this comment was followed by a short laugh over her previous fumbling experiences. “Since I first started shopping there I haven’t ever looked back”.

Despite having a very adverse menu, Rima was confident that all the ingredients would be available at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan. The theme for the event was to focus on ‘Canapés’ - one bite food and Petit Fours desserts. The menu was concocted by Rima and executed perfectly

by Zaman from Kabana Caterers. Following the theme, all courses as well as the dishes were reduced into portions that were easy to consume but had double the flavour.

These things don’t necessarily have to be taken into consideration when organizing an event but the PR and event Manager Rima just went that extra mile. She became the brains behind the recently held celebration on New Year’s Eve. Her sense of style and her personal touch in the event organized showed a meticulous understanding of planning a smooth, flawless occasion.

The dark sky seemed to stretch endlessly and the inkiness of the background seeped into the event itself making the chic décor look ethereal. The decoration which combined the eccentric air of beads with the humility of flowers enhanced the beauty of the whole set up.

Candles in glass that brightened up everything around them, despite giving out very little light, made the already mouth-watering palette of food look simply irresistible. Every tiny detail was dealt with utmost precision and an overwhelming attitude.

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

The celebration of food for the night started off with a dish known as ‘Fried Okra’. It was a spicy blend of an ordinary ingredient with fresh lemon and cooked with a restaurant quality style. This was accompanied by juicy and crunchy bits of fried ‘Baby Corn Tempura’. The corns were fresh, something that isn’t available anywhere else in the whole city.

It was both spicy and sweet at once, bringing in a swirl of flavour that would linger long after being eaten. If those two weren’t enough then an added weight of ‘Stuffed Mushrooms’ became the metaphorical icing on the cake, the mild salty flavour of button mushrooms complemented by the melted cottage cheese was a surprise combination that turned out to be a success. The quintessential routine was not broken though with the inclusion of crispy and crunchy prawns with a delicious blend of starter sauce that just begged to be devoured. There was also a tempting bowl of Nachos accompanied by possibly the best salsa in the world.

The ‘One Bite Food’ rendition of a burger was done with the inclusion of ‘Mini Burgers’, they were open faced and had a base that was freshly baked with the flavours of both white and brown bread. The second main course rendition was presented as ‘Paneer (Cottage Cheese) Shashlik’. The tomato and cheese laden chicken was accompanied by yellow and green bell peppers , courtesy of METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan, where you can find imported as well as off-season ingredients. The skewers looked absolutely delectable and tasted just as divine.

The finale to the taste fest above came in the form of tempting Petit Fours. The dessert was composed by scores of chocolate with a dense fudgy feel and coated in three different ways that were roasted crushed almonds, chopped walnuts, chocolate chips and silver coloured sprinkles.

“The plan was to focus on quality and taste”, Rima quipped and she hit the nail right on the head with those five above.

This wasn’t all though, there were three different kinds of drinks creatively named as ‘Apple Mintini’, ‘Virgin Bloody Mary’ and ‘Carrot & Orange Juice’ presented for the occasion. They looked beautiful and tasted just as amazing, the uniqueness that they gave out can’t ever be replicated. Rima with her skills and vast experience made the night unforgettable, as it honoured the very thing that can make or break any occasion which is food. She laughingly dedicated the success of the night to METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan and went in detail of how convenient it is to step into a place and be able to find everything from food equipment to ingredients under the same roof. According to Rima, as an Event and PR Manager “there is nothing better in the world”.

Chicken Breast

Shrimps

Olive Oil

Baby Corn

Okra

Button Mushrooms

Capsicums

Cheese

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets

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Unique and tongue-tantalizing

OUM ALI

Originating from the ethnically sound lands of Egypt, Oum Ali is a deceptive dessert. It has the taste and the appearance of any irresistible yet completely unhealthy food but under the layers of flavor, lays a heavy dose of complete and utter wholesomeness.

Did you know…?

Oum Ali was the first wife of Sultan Ezz El Din Aybek from Egypt who also had a second wife, Shagaret El Dorr. After the death of the Sultan, Oum Ali devised a plot bribing the second wife’s handmaids. While the second wife went to the hamam for a bath, she was beaten to death with slippers, by her own handmaids. To celebrate her death, Oum Ali distributed bread with milk, honey and nuts among the people of the land. This became a dish known as Oum Ali.

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

T

he dessert has an array of stories linked to its conception, some more brutal than the others but the name itself cannot be disputed. Oum Ali literally means ‘Mother of Ali’ and despite not having any connection to motherhood according to the tales told about the dessert, it certainly tastes like a mothers’ love. Also known as the Egyptian version of bread pudding, it is incredibly easy to make. Even the ingredients are all vastly and abundantly available. You can find all these conveniently at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

Oum Ali depends solely on your taste buds; it does not have any set parameters to be followed to turn out perfect in the end. A dessert of this decadent cannot be simple right?

Wrong! This dessert requires humble ingredients like bread, milk, sugar, cream and a lot of nuts.

crush & shred To make this dessert, you first have to shred dried bread, puff pastry or anything of that variety. Use the flakes to half fill the ramekins. Top the flakes with generous helpings of crushed nuts.

Gooey in the Middle Next, sweeten the milk by dissolving a large amount of sugar to it at a high flame and then quickly add it to the ramekins.

The addition of sweetened milk gives the characteristic of gooey and creamy center to the dessert.

Crusty on the top The final step is to cover the ramekins, with nuts and flakes submerged in milk, with a hefty dosage of whipped cream and powdered sugar. Lastly, let the ramekins bake in a pre-heated oven till the top turns golden. Garnish your dessert with more of those delicious nuts. Serve it hot!

Tip

Fine Food Bakarkhani

Whipped Cream

Milk

Coconut Flakes

Dry Fruit

Icing Sugar

The ideal product to obtain a very fine flaky base is to use the good old “Fine Food Bakarkhani” exclusively available at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan. It is the best in the town and essentially made to be used in desserts like Oum Ali. Grab your fill of this delicious, delectable and fresh Bakarkhani from your nearest METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan store.

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets

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A PERFECTIONIST’S GRILLING Now that the weather is finally pleasant enough to host backyard barbeques and put to use all the extra meat, let’s get down to raw details.

From choosing the right cut, to delivering fine juicy steaks, here’s our input into making things easier for you.

Choosing Your Menu To start off you need to be extra careful when it comes to selecting what you’re going to offer. For example, if you’re serving a crowd and want to keep things elegant, go with the lamb’s leg but if it’s only a table for two, chops will do. Housefuls usually go with getting their processed meat into shape for kebabs and serve what never gets old; burgers. Take a note of what your guests would be delighted with and then decide.

Marinades Once nice and firm, you need to marinate your meat. Lamb’s leg already has a strong flavor which requires stronger marinades that can saturate it. Not only will this require a night’s rest in the fridge but perhaps a herbaceous garlic marinade.

Simply mix rosemary, thyme, orange citrus plus zest, garlic, salt and apply. Most people wait to add salt till the hour of grilling but that’s a common mistake. If the submersion of salt is any later than the marinating period itself, it will not blend in the flavor fully.

Putting a variety at display is also a good idea.

Another flavorful option you can utilize is the Indian styled barbeque. Mix together onion powder, garlic powder, curry powder, and all spice powder with lemon juice. Nothings better than spicy food on a fall evening!

Overnight refrigeration is ideal but 4-6 hours is enough time for necessary absorption of your

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marinade. Let it sit at room temperature for 45 minutes before you finally take it to the grill.

Don’t forget to pat your lamb dry before grilling to prevent flare ups.

But do you have a good enough grill to get this done?

Firing it Up

Your one visit to METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan will mend your grilling dismay.

We maintain a wide selection of grills with excellent ranges in cooking power and those too, with interchangeable surfaces!

Naturally, boneless will cook faster than bonein meat. Start by grilling the leg over mediumhigh direct char surface so you get a crispy and textured outer layer. Turn sides punctually to evenly sear both sides.

There are no fixed time frames in which you have to move the meat to indirect grilling because this really depends on the size of your piece. Once you notice leveled crispiness, move meat to indirect heat and let it take its time. The slower the process, the more flavors you will hoard.

Check if it’s done from the thickest bit, away from the bone, and if it is, take it off the grill.

Serving This is where you can skip the guideline and get really creative all on your own. If your short on time to think, try anyone of our favorites: • • • •

Roasted lemon rosemary potatoes Asparagus soufflé Minted pea puree with crème fraiche Butter fried mushrooms.

A wide selection of salads and sauces can simultaneously be made useful to color up your dish.

INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

chutney

The Real Spice of Life Chutneys give off an aroma that just screams ‘Asian’, the herbs and the spices all retain their flavours even when meshed into a semi-solid mixture. The diversity and barrage of flavours that chutneys offer are matched by none of the other condiments. They are easy to make and even easier to consume. Though nowadays all we eat in the name of chutney is mint/chili paste or something involving mango paste but that is not all there is to chutney. There are some wonderful ways to celebrate the concept of chutney with some really surprising ingredients with an abundance of garlic and chili, after all what is chutney if not spicy? You can find all these ingredients at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

Crunchy Peanut-Garlic Chutney Gather 6 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon of roasted cumin seeds and 4 dried red chilies into a blender. Blend them fast and numerous times to break them into smaller chunks. Then add 1 cup of roasted peanuts and a pinch of salt. Blend the mixture again. You can grind it more to be a bit finer if you don’t prefer it that crunchy. Do not overdo it as that will make the peanuts release their oils which will result in a soggy mixture.

Heat 1 teaspoon of unsalted butter in a non-stick frying pan. Add the mixture and cook over low heat until golden. Allow it to cool and store in an airtight container. It can be used to add flavour and texture to any savoury dish you like. Those who have peanut allergies can substitute the peanuts with dry coconut flakes, sesame seeds or a combination of both.

South Indian Chilli Chutney Roast 6 red chillies in 2 tablespoons of oil and set aside. In the same oil add garlic and sauté until it turns slightly brown.

In another pan add ¼ cup of curry leaves, small sized tamarind and sauté for a few seconds.

Next blanche a tomato and leave it to cool. Lastly grind everything together, adding salt to taste. Add ½ teaspoon of mustard seeds to a single spoon of oil, when it splutters add it to the chutney. This chutney also tastes delicious when served with hot steamed rice.

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Designing a Bidd The tradition of giving “Bidd” to guests as a good will gesture at weddings is one of the most beautiful customs. It is an Islamic tradition to offer the wedding guests an assortment of dry fruits that particularly includes dried dates, almonds, sugar crystals (locally known as misri) and coconut pieces along with some sweets to celebrate a joyous union.

As METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan covers the wedding season for you in detail, here are some inspirational ideas on how to present a Bidd that will definitely impress your guests!

Themed Gift Boxes/Pouches Add a little thoughtful touch and get tiny themed gift boxes or pouches with the bride and groom’s name printed on them. Some romantic patterns and flowers can make it more picturesque and touching. Organza and silk bows for a little extravagant look as it’s all about presentation!

Filling the Box! The essential dry fruits can be presented with different appropriate coatings. Chocolate coated almonds and salted cashews would be a delightful surprise for your guests. One bite cupcakes with appropriate frostings would look amazing. For instance a wedding ring illustrated or “I do” written in frosting would look lovely. The space can be further filled with chocolate truffles and toffees for a touché of luxury. METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan is a place that will offer you variety and more ideas in unbelievable wholesale rates to inspire you this wedding season!

Dry Dates

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Almonds

INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

Assorted Cocolates

Candies

Coconut Slices

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets

Culinary delights for all your senses

The ideal meal companion. – Cutlery by H-Line at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

Modern cooking styles, new table decorations and the appropriate dish for all occasions, the H-Line cutlery will compliment all of your ideas. They will always be a distinctive expression of your personality. It will be a relationship that lasts. Be it the visual appeal, feel of the ergonomic handles and perfectly smooth surfaces you look for, H-Line Cutlery will become indispensable to your culinary pleasures.

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Sizzler of the sweet kind

sizzling BROWNIE SUNDAE

A scrumptious hot crumbly brownie with a dollop of ice cream served with sizzling, melting, dripping dark chocolate sauce, doesn’t that just scream mouth-watering?

This heavenly combination is known as ‘Sizzling Brownie with Ice cream’ or more commonly as ‘Brownie a la mode’. It is the definite answer to all your dessert cravings!

The individual elements that make up this wondrous dessert are not hard to acquire, you can easily get all the ingredients at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

Ingredients: ›› ›› ›› ›› ››

Fine Food plain chocolate cake 1 cup roughly chopped dark chocolate 1/4 cup liquid milk 2 scoops vanilla ice-cream 2 tablespoon of castor sugar

preparation: For the chocolate sauce 1. Microwave the dark chocolate, castor sugar and milk in a bowl for 1½ minutes.

2. Remove from the microwave, mix gently and keep aside.

Procedure 1. Heat the sizzler plate on the flame till red hot.

2. Pour 2 tbsp of the prepared chocolate sauce 3. Cut a thick piece of Fine Food plain chocolate cake and place it in the middle of the sizzler plate, top it with 2 tablespoons of the prepared chocolate sauce, 1 scoop of vanilla ice-cream and finally drizzle a lot of chocolate sauce on top.

4. Sprinkle with roasted nuts.

5. Place the plate on the wooden tray and serve immediately.

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INSPIRATIONS WI N TE R 2013

Fine Food plain chocolate cake at METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan‘s bakery section has a feathery yet rich texture, packed with dense chunks of bittersweet chocolate chips and a satiny-smooth finish.

peoples’ say “Being a doctor and meat inspection expert in Saudi Arabia, I like the meat section in METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan. I always found it fresh, high quality & according to international standards.

Meat is hygienically packed and stored in a chilling environment to keep it safe and germ free. I would highly recommend it to everybody.”

Dr. Inamullah Qadri

TEAM AT METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan Qurat ul ain Shahid Senior Manager Corporate Communications Rifah Qadri Senior Manager Advertising Mehwish Khan Head of Communication & Branding

“I’ve been exploring the best spots in the city for breads, cakes, pastries and more. I think I hit jackpot with METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan, Thokar Niaz Baig. There bakery produces so many wonderful items and all so perfectly categorized and shelved. I just love it.”

Muhammad Yousaf

DESIGN CREDITS:

“METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan is doing an excellent job with quality and pricing. The store is spacious and tidy. My family and I depend on METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan for all our shopping and groceries. My favorites however are their garlic bread, pizza, donut and cake from the bakery section” Maira Ali

“At METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan, I personally applaud the space, its utilization technique and product placement. Millions of items and brands stacked under one roof with the perfect setting and ample moving space. I understand the ‘one-roof’ concept has been adopted by many local stores nowadays but people nudging each other, trolley jams, loose trolleys, no shelf managers or direction signs and above all suffocation is also part of their parcel. I’m glad to have METRO stores in my city which provokes this obscure fashion of grocery shopping and strives hard to maintain a customer centric pleasant shopping experience.”

Taha Zaidi

Agency BLACK & GOLD www.blackandgold.com.pk Waseem Ahmed Khan Management Salman Uppal Creative Direction Aabiya Ahmad Content Management

TOPICAL Print

For endorsement or advertising, in METRO Inspirations Magazine, contact us at:

subscribe We hope that you enjoyed reading this is issue and are in anticipation for many more to come! We urge you to subscribe to this magazine so you can continue receiving ideas that not only explore food on the surface but dig deeper into the basis of the concept, from eating to dining and even to serving! To subscribe please fill out your details in the subscription card and send it to our postal address. You can also fill out an online subscription form at ----- and submit.

Come join us on at www.facebook.com/metro.pk page to see a cluster of ideas that you will love and appreciate to the fullest capacity.

Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road, Lahore 53700 Phone: +92 (0)42 37508001 www.metro.pk Member of

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Rise and Shine with an egg at a time

Early hours of the morning and you just want the answer to all your needs? Well lo and behold we present to you ‘the egg’. Cook them in oil, steam, dry heat or boil because no matter what medium you choose, you will get satisfactory results in the end. you choose, you will get satisfactory results in the end. Eggs are the powerhouse of nutrition and most versatile in the food group. Imagine the variety it possesses, packed with nutrients over flowing with wholesomeness, eggs promise you not only mouth-watering taste but it brings in you such vitality that just screams ‘good health’. Fill up your stocks from this bundle of health and extremely good nutrition by visiting your nearest METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan.

get the grade a organic eggs for an extra dose of vitamins

Available at all METRO Cash & Carry Pakistan outlets