With the dazzling lights and sparkling decorations all over, Jaipur’s Diwali has always been much talked about. However, the Pink City has been witnessing a new celebratory trend in the last few years. Even before the Diwali festivities come to an end, it is time to ring in the Christmas season. And nothing says Christmas better than a slice of the rich and delicious Christmas cake. Come November and there are a host of cake mixing ceremonies taking place in the city’s hotels and cafes.
What’s it all about?
Cake mixing is an age-old tradition where large quantities of dry fruits, nuts, grains and spices are combined together to form a mixture. This mixture is then soaked in alcoholic blends for some days to let them soak all the flavours and aroma. Lastly, it is divided into smaller batches which go into the cake batter, from which the Christmas plum cakes are finally baked.
A 15 feet long table for mixing
This year, the cake mixing kicked off with Hotel Holiday Inn’s cake mixing ceremony. Adorned in red and white décor themed Christmas, the ambience was set at the hotel lobby for the annual Cake Mixing Ceremony. The guests donned aprons, gloves, and Santa caps, and gathered around the 15 feet long table to prepare the fruit mixture for the Christmas cake. A wide array of fruits, like raisins, glazed red cherries, orange peel, tutti frutti, black currants, dates, figs, dried apricots, and prunes, were added in with nuts and flavourful spices. The mixing reached a spirited level as the guests poured the choicest of spirits into the fruit mixture. The kitchen staff of the Hotel then topped it up with golden syrup, molasses, honey, and vanilla essence.
The Executive Chef of the hotel, Raj Kumar said that Cake Mixing Ceremony is a ritual which hails from Europe, wherein the mixture is emptied into large containers and stored for days before Christmas with occasional stirring in between.
Non alcoholic cake mixings
A new trend that was observed in cake mixings this year was that of non-alcoholic cake mixings. Due to the use of alcohol in cake mixings, children are unable to partake in this festive activity. City’s popular food consultants, Cauldron Sisters, organized a non-alcoholic cake-mixing ceremony for the children in the Bagadia Bhavan situated cafe Quyu’s Taproom. “I do a non alcoholic cake mixing for my 9 year old son every year but this time I thought of involving other children also in this activity. The children came with their mothers and loved mixing dried fruits and berries with juices”, says Ratika Bhargava of Cauldron Sisters.
Hotel Clarks Amer’s popular 24×7 cafe, Zolocrust also organized a non-alcoholic cake mixing this year keeping in mind the hotel’s ethos of sustainability and healthy living.
Larger than life culinary spread
Adding a gastronomic edge to their cake mixing, Hotel Crowne Plaza blew away the attendees with their larger than life culinary spread. From a host of salads to high tea snacks like rolls, puffas and tartines, the hotel also served delights like chicken satay and paneer tikka. Wholesome meals like kadhi pakoda, dal makhani and chulhe ka shikaar with steamed rice were served in kulhads. Not to forget, desserts like Black forest roulade, Coconut lamingtons, Rose and almond choux buns, Classic chocolate mini éclairs, you name it and they had it!
Cocktails and Canapés
The string of cake mixings concluded with a lively poolside ceremony replete with cocktails, canapés and live music at Hotel Jaipur Marriott. On the occasion, General Manager of the hotel, Rahul Maini said that over the years, cake mixing has become something of a ritual and is an occasion one looks forward to. The ceremony also had a unique set-up with juices and cherries for children.
Tusharika Singh
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