Secret behind delicious pizza

We all love pizza’s whether it is thin crust or thick crust. Pizza is a dish where we can experiment various types of combination. Our Executive Sous Chef Rahul Dhavale gave a sneak peek into making delicious pizza. Try this at home and let us know your views.

How to knead the dough

Ingredients: (for 20 pizzas)

Refined Flour             18oo gm

Olive oil                      250 ml

Sugar                          5 gm

Dry Yeast                    10 gm

Salt                              30 gm

Water                          900 ml

Method of preparation:

1. In a small bowl take some water and dissolve the dry yeast and sugar together and keep it aside till froth is formed on the surface.
2. Now take refined flour in a mixing bowl, add salt and olive oil to it along with the yeast mixture.
3. Slowly add water and start kneading the dough either in a dough kneader or if it’s a small batch you can knead using your palm of hand.
4. If using a dough kneader keep on slow speed initially and gradually increase the speed so that all the ingredients are mixed thoroughly to form dough.
5. Dough is ready when it no longer sticks to the mixing bowl.
6. Keep the dough for resting for 30 minutes before use.

How to make the sauce

Ingredients:  (for 1 liter)

Fresh Tomatoes         2kg

Chopped garlic           100 gm

Chopped onion           80 gm

Chopped leeks            80 gm

Chopped celery          80 gm

Fresh basil                 30 gm

Fresh Oregano           30 gm

Olive oil                     100 ml

Salt                           10 gm

Crushed peppers       10 gm

Method of preparation:

1. Take a pan and heat olive oil over a medium heat.
2. Now sauté garlic, onion, leeks and celery.
3. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and add to the pan.
4. Allow the tomatoes to cook and stir it frequently to avoid it sticking at the bottom.
5. Season the tomato sauce as per your taste and let it cook till all the water evaporates.
6. Add sugar to cut the acidity in the sauce.
7. Cook the sauce till it becomes thick.
8. Add basil and oregano and blend to form a smooth paste.

Toppings for Pizza:

Vegetarian:

Onion, sliced olives, sliced bell peppers, Mushrooms, baby corn, broccoli

Non vegetarian:

Chicken cubes, prawns, pepperoni, salami, sausages, ham

Tip for Pizza toppings:

It is always advisable to cut the toppings in small size and cook the toppings before putting it over a pizza. This will avoid the pizza getting moist due to water content in the toppings.

How to make a pizza if you do not have an oven at home

If you don’t have an oven at home use a flat non stick pan instead. 

First half cook the pizza base on both the sides.

Then apply the sauce, cheese and the desired toppings on top of the pizza.

Place the pizza on non stick pan and cover it with a lid.

Keep it on medium heat and let the pizza cook slowly.

Remove it once the cheese melts. Cut it and enjoy.

How to make a pizza if you do not have an oven at home

If you don’t have an oven at home use a flat non stick pan instead. 

• First half cook the pizza base on both the sides.
• Then apply the sauce, cheese and the desired toppings on top of the pizza.
• Place the pizza on non stick pan and cover it with a lid.
• Keep it on medium heat and let the pizza cook slowly.
• Remove it once the cheese melts. Cut it and enjoy.

A few tips for making pizzas at home

To make pizza at home you can either use a microwave oven or you can even cook it on a flat non stick pan.

Keep it simple and do not over load the pizza with lot of toppings as it will make pizza soggy and you won’t enjoy all the flavors.

PIZZA RECIPES

Pizza Margherita

Ingredients: (for 1 pizza)

Pizza dough                            100 gm

Pizza sauce                            80 ml

Shredded mozzarella cheese    80 gm

Fresh basil leaves                  2 leaves

Method of preparation:

1. Prepare the pizza dough as per the recipe mentioned above.
2. Take around 100 gm of dough and roll it on a working table using a rolling pin.
3. In the mean while Pre- heat the oven to 300 deg Celsius.
4. Dust the pizza base well at the bottom so that it doesn’t get stick on the table.
5. Using a ladle pour the pizza sauce on the base evenly leaving an inch from all the side.
6. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on the sauce and place it gently in the pizza oven.
7. While it gets cooked turn it around so that the pizza is cooked evenly from all sides.
8. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till the cheese starts to melt.
9. Remove from the oven and put fresh basil over the pizza.
10. Cut it into 8 pieces and serve hot.

Tips:

If you don’t have a pizza oven you can cook it in a domestic gas oven using a baking tray.

Pizza Primavera

Ingredients: (for 1 pizza)

Pizza dough                            100 gm

Pizza sauce                            80 ml

Shredded mozzarella cheese    80 gm

Sliced onions                          30 gm

Sliced bell peppers                 30 gm

Sliced mushrooms                  30 gm

Black olives                           30 gm

Method of preparation:

1. Prepare the pizza dough as per the recipe mentioned above.
2. Take around 100 gm of dough and roll it on a working table using a rolling pin.
3. In the mean while Pre- heat the oven to 300 deg Celsius.
4. Dust the pizza base well at the bottom so that it doesn’t get stick on the table.
5. Using a ladle pour the pizza sauce on the base evenly leaving an inch from all the side.
6. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on the sauce similar to Pizza Margherita
7. Now sprinkle sliced onion, bell peppers, sliced olives and mushrooms on top of the pizza and place it gently in the pizza oven.
8. While it gets cooked turn it around so that the pizza is cooked evenly from all sides.
9. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till the cheese starts to melt.
10. Remove from the oven.
11. Cut it into 8 pieces and serve hot.

Pizza Diavola

Ingredients: (for 1 pizza)

Pizza dough                            100 gm

Pizza sauce                             80 ml

Shredded mozzarella cheese    80 gm

Sliced Pepperoni                    80 gm

Sliced red bell peppers          30 gm

Red chili flakes                      10 gm

Method of preparation:

1. Prepare the pizza dough as per the recipe mentioned above.
2. Take around 100 gm of dough and roll it on a working table using a rolling pin.
3. In the mean while Pre-heat the oven to 300 deg Celsius.
4. Dust the pizza base well at the bottom so that it doesn’t get stick on the table.
5. Using a ladle pour the pizza sauce on the base evenly leaving an inch from all the side.
6. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on the sauce similar to Pizza Margherita
7. Arrange the sliced pepperoni all over the pizza along with sliced red bell peppers and place it gently in the pizza oven.
8. While it gets cooked turn it around so that the pizza is cooked evenly from all sides.
9. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes or till the cheese starts to melt.
10. Remove from the oven and sprinkle chili flakes on the pizza.
11. Cut it into 8 pieces and serve hot.

My daily dose of coffee

A busy day goes more smoothly with a cup of coffee in our hands. We at Heavenly Spa thought of adding that extra caffeine to your life through new and modern techniques. A combination of coffee scrub along with a massage will rejuvenate your day, a perfect way to release all that tension in the nerves. 

Enjoy our luxurious coffee scrub which neutralizes the free radicals, improves blood circulation and gives you a rosy and natural glow. The caffeine found in coffee scrubs typically increases blood flow and may reduce the appearance of cellulite. Even the action of applying the coffee scrub helps the body to release toxins and fats held in the skin. Coffee scrubs are made with coarse grounds and sugar, they act as an exfoliater for the skin. Regular exfoliation of the skin removes residual dirt and dead skin to give you younger looking, fresh skin.

A coffee scrub followed by our revitalizer body massage to make you feel refreshed, energized and more flexible is the perfect remedy to reduce stress levels. A full body massage which combines ling and gentle strokes with intense and firm kneading movements to stimulate circulation leaving you feeling calm and relaxed.

Here are some thoughts of our guests who experienced Morning Coffee Escapes:

Manisha Motta, “The coffee scrub was excellent. A very nice experience”

Vrushali, “Recommendation of the coffee scrub was enjoyable and effectively great!”

Mukund Kamat, “The Coffee skate treatment was fabulous”

Morning Coffee Escapes

Till 31st October 2012

7 am - 9 pm

Happy Feet

Move the Nation, Lead the World, Stepathlon is spreading its mantra all over the world. The movement has raised awareness about health and the benefits of every step taken by us to improve our lifestyle. The program is about keeping ourselves healthy and spreading the joy of a better quality of life. Stepathlon is about covering a minimum of 10,000 steps in a day. The Stepathletes are crossing 10,000 steps daily. The teams are motivated and energized to make their lives healthy and enduring.

To encourage Stepathletes to cover the steps, Stepathlon organized an event ‘Step out with the Leaders’, an early morning walk at Joggers Park, Bandra, Mumbai on Saturday 13^th October 2012. The senior most to junior level executives of companies participating in the Stepathlon were all present at 7.30am with their pedometres to support the initiative. The focus of the walk was to cover steps for the day and also provide an opportunity to interact with other Stepathletes. Our team from The Westin Mumbai Garden City participated with their pedometers to join the leaders.

The activity was fun as the team enjoyed meeting other people and a morning walk with a few laughs to start the day afresh. The Westin Mumbai Team is taking steps to wellness and a better life, as we say ‘a morning walk will leave you feeling energized’. Happy Feet, Happy Body, Happy You!

Happy Birthday Mr. Amitabh Bachchan

A superstar of all generations, movies which made us laugh and cry, dialogues which we remember forever more, words are not enough to define the personality of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. Mr. Bachchan is humble, versatile, talented, humane, polite, down-to-earth, well spoken, charismatic, wise and much more. He has made his mark in the film industry with remarkable films. He is a legend of the Indian film industry. At the age of 70, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan continues to work with sincerity. With Kaun Banega Crorepati Season 6, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan is back with an eventful show.

On the sets of Sony Entertainment Television's hit show Kaun Banega Crorepati, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan celebrated his 70^th birthday. To help celebrate the occasion, The Westin Mumbai Garden City’s culinary team prepared a huge cake. The brief given to our culinary team was to prepare a cake to celebrate the 70^th Birthday of this legend Mr. Bachchan. Our celebrity Chef Ajay Chopra along with Pastry Chef Shubham Paliwal and the culinary team brainstormed to find the perfect cake. Our team decided to make 3 parts, one part as number 7, another part as number 0 with the KBC logo and the last part containing a picture of Mr. Bachchan. The total weight of the cake was 10kg and our Pastry team spent over 4 hours preparing the cake.

Indian Idol 6 winner Vipul Mehta opens the episode with a birthday song composed especially for the occasion. The episode of the 70^th Birthday celebration aired on 12^th October 2012. The Westin Mumbai Garden City team wishes Mr. Amitabh Bachchan a Happy Birthday. He is an inspiration and will always be a superstar for every Indian. Click Here to watch the Episode.

From left to right: Chef Amit Kumar Suri, Chef Ajay Chaudhary, Chef Ajay Chopra, Mr Amitabh Bachchan, Chef Omkar Patil, Aparna Agarwal, Chef Shubham Paliwal

The Westin Mumbai Welcomes…

Kallol Saha

Training Manager

Kallol Saha has been appointed as Training Manager in The Westin Mumbai Garden City.  Kallol has over 6 years of experience in the industry and his previous assignment included Training Manager, The Westin Sohna and Gurgaon and Assistant Manager Training & HR at The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon. He completed his Bachelor of Hotel Management from PES Institute of Hotel Management.

Pallavi Gore

Heavenly Spa and Recreation Manager

Pallavi Gore has been appointed as Heavenly Spa and Recreation Manager for The Westin Mumbai Garden City. Pallavi completed her Diploma in Cosmetology from Carsten Aveda Institute, New York and Diploma in Esthetics from Atelier Esthetique Institute of Esthetics, New York. She has over 5 years of experience and her previous appointment includes Spa Manager at The Leela Kempinski and Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur. 

Spend an extra night!

Over time, extra workload, not enough sleep, no time for a holiday, these are common symptoms of an employee working in the corporate world. In our busy lives, it is difficult to go on a long holiday but we all manage to take 2 days off for a relaxing holiday. Even a short holiday for 2 days rejuvenates our mind, body and soul. When we go on a holiday, all we wish for is to stay for an extra night or more time to renew and revitalize. With Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), a dream of an extra night will come true. We’ve given you the perfect excuse to stay longer.

Book 2 nights at our hotels and resorts across India and get another night for free. This offer includes buffet breakfast and usage of the swimming pool and WestinWorkout^® Fitness Studio.

Take this opportunity on the last day to book this exclusive offer! Log onto http://www.starwood-ap.com/stayindia2012/en to book your holiday.

A delicacy like no other..

As the city enjoys the arrival of the Seafood season, fishermen all over are on a fishing spree to find fresh seafood from the treasures of the ocean. We at The Westin Mumbai Garden City are in the midst of a Crab Carnival to entice the taste buds of seafood lovers. Each venue will feature signature recipes in consonance with its cuisine specialty. Crab meat is delicious and can be made into dainty nibbles, tasty appetizers, a snack or even as an entree. Relish the mouth-watering fare.

Our Executive Sous Chef Rahul Dhavale gives an insight into the fascinating world of crab delicacies and has shared some appetizing recipes of various crab dishes. Try these recipes in your very own kitchen and share your experience with us.

Tagliolini con granchio                                                                          

(Tagliolini, whole mud crab, cherry tomato, capers)

Recipe serves: 01 portion

Ingredients                                      Quantity

For Tagliolini dough (04 portions)

(Tagliolini is thin ribbon shaped long pasta and due to use of only egg yolks the pasta will be yellowish in color.)

Refined Flour                                     500 gm

Olive oil                                               10 ml

Egg yolks                                             20 nos

For sauce

Mud crab                                             1 whole

Olive oil                                               10 ml

Chopped onions                                10 gm

Cherry tomatoes                               10 gm

Capers                                                  5 gm

Bisque or seafood stock                  80 ml

Salt                                                        To taste                               

Pepper                                                  To taste

Lettuce arugula                                10 gm 

Method of preparation:

To make Tagliolini dough

1. Break 20 eggs in a clean bowl and separate egg yolks from them. Reserve egg whites separately.
2. Sieve refined flour in a mixing bowl, make a well in the centre, add olive oil and egg yolks to it.
3. Start to mix the ingredients slowly. Knead the dough with hands or a dough mixer.
4. Once the dough is ready, cover the dough with cling film and keep it for resting for approximately 30 minutes in refrigerator.
5. Make tagliolini with the dough using a pasta machine.

To make Tagliolini con granchio

1. Put a pot of water for boiling enough to immerse the mud crab.
2. Once the water starts to boil, cook the live mud crab in the boiling water for 20 minutes.
3. Remove the crab from water and shell it. Leave the claws for garnish at the end.
4. Remove rest of the crab meat from the crab carefully ensuring the crab shells don’t get mixed with the meat.
5. Now over a medium flame, heat olive oil in a pan.
6. Sauté chopped onions and allow it to sweat. Add capers and put the crab meat to the pan along with bisque/stock.
7. Prepare the sauce adding cherry tomato halves to the pan.
8. In the mean while cook a portion of tagliolini in salted boiling water (ensure the pasta is cooked a la dente, (firm to the tooth, just about 3 – 4 minutes).
9. Once the crab sauce is ready, season it and add the cooked tagliolini to the sauce.
10. Toss the pasta well ensuring the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
11. Finish it with fresh arugula lettuce and olive oil. Check and adjust seasoning.
12. Place it gently on a serving plate and garnish with the crab claws.

Crab salt and pepper

Recipe serves: 01 portion

Ingredients                                                      Quantity

Crab, cleaned and shelled                            350 gms

Corn flour                                                            60 gms

Green capsicum, chopped                            10 gms 

Red capsicum, chopped                                 10 gms

Yellow capsicum, chopped                           10 gms

Green chili, chopped                                       10 gms

Spring onion, chopped                                   10 gms

Ginger, chopped                                               10 gms

Garlic, chopped                                                 10 gms

Oil vegetable                                                     for deep-frying +20 ml

Chicken broth powder                                    5 gms

Salt                                                                        to taste

Powder white pepper                                     to taste

Black peppercorns, crushed                         to taste

Wine cooking Chinese (optional)               20 ml

Method of preparation:

1. Coat Crab meat with corn flour, deep fry until cooked and strain on absorbent kitchen paper.
2. Heat 20 ml oil in a wok/kadhai, sauté all chopped vegetables.    
3. Add fried crab meat pieces & seasonings, toss well with chopped vegetables. 
4. Finish with Chinese wine (optional).  

Crab Masala

Recipe serves: 01 portion

Ingredients                                                                      Quantity

Crabs cut into halves (with shell on)                        250 gm
Garlic pods, crushed                                                       10gm
Ginger, chopped                                                                5gm
Green chilies, (slit)                                                          2 no
Tamarind pulp or paste                                                 10ml
Tomato, (chopped)                                                          2 no
Onions, chopped                                                              2 no
Curry leaves                                                                       1 sprig
Dry red chilly                                                                     1 no
Garam masala powder                                                   1 tsp
Turmeric powder                                                              1/2 tsp
Chili powder red                                                               1/2 tsp
Salt                                                                                        to taste

Oil vegetable                                                                     15 ml
Water                                                                                    300 ml
Coriander leaves                                                               to finish

Method of preparation:

1. Heat oil in a pan; add curry leaves and red chili, Add ginger and garlic and sauté.
2. Add chopped onions and cook until translucent, add green chilies, turmeric and salt, stir and cover for 2 minutes on a slow flame
3. Add tamarind pulp and cook for 2 min.
4. Add the chopped tomatoes, crab pieces and mix well, add water to cook on low heat for 30 minutes, until the crab is cooked. Adjust seasoning.
5. Finish with Garam masala and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

For all those coffee lovers

Coffee is important beverage of our life. Every morning when we wake up, all we need is a cup of coffee. When we are tired in the office, all we need is cup of coffee. When we are working, all we need is a cup of coffee. When we are reading book, all we need is cup of coffee. Whether it is morning, afternoon or night, we love to drink coffee.

It is said that coffee contains caffeine which is not good for your health but there are many health benefits of drinking coffee. To name a few, people especially women who drink coffee have a lower risk of depression than those who don’t. Drinking coffee is associated with decreased chances of developing prostate cancer. Coffee also helps in lowering Type 2 diabetes risk.

With everybody taking coffee in their own personal style, this is a completely new way to add caffeine to your body, inside and out. We at Heavenly Spa are introducing a Morning Coffee Escape. Pamper yourself with a rich coffee scrub and soothe your skin with a body massage. Caffeine which is in coffee is a natural antioxidant. When we use coffee within a body scrub, the skin absorbs this antioxidant and can help prevent premature aging. During exfoliation, dead skin is removed giving light to radiant, younger looking skin. Complete your rejuvenation with a gentle body massage.

Feel refresh, feel revived as we all know nothing works better than coffee. Call for a cup of coffee and indulge in a new wakeup call.    

Morning Coffee Escapes

1st – 31st October 2012

Heavenly Spa, 7 am – 9 pm