Written in 2010 - in India ... When we lived in Indonesia I experienced firsthand the joys of trying to find a half decent loaf of bread. As a result, I had a pretty good idea what to expect in the bread stakes once we got to India and I haven't been disappointed.
The solution I came up with in Indonesia was to purchase a bread making machine in Singapore and source bread flour and yeast from one of the big hotels. This was a so-so solution which was ultimately irritating, frustrating and unreliable so I decided to come up with a more convenient alternative this time around.
Before we arrived I had decided I would not bother at all with baking commercial/traditional yeast breads and would instead; once we were established, pursue the bliss of sourdough. The other reason for this is that both Geri and I don't cope well with most yeast breads but do ok with genuine sourdough.
The day we arrived at the apartment I went into the sweat box aka the kitchen, and took a look around ... okaaaaay .... no oven.
'Servicable' is the word that comes to mind me thinks ....
... and perhaps slightly skody ...
A crappy microwave and health hazard kettle (No dishwasher either, but that's another story hehe) completed the picture - gee thanks Chris! He then proceeded to assure me that there were LOTS of bench tops ovens available in the shops and the next day we headed out to find one. HMMMM Can you guess what I discovered?? Steeeerike! Do not pass go, do not collect $100. The 'ovens' were glorified toasters and I informed Chris that the only thing they would accomplish would be to turn the kitchen from a sweatbox into a room sized oven. Sorry dear .... time to think again .... this is not an acceptable solution ...
We were also on the prowl for a number of other things at this stage. These being an Espresso machine. I hadn't had a decent coffee for over a month and Chris was just starting to understand how important it was to remedy this situation - and FAST. An HDMI LCD monitor (which we had found out were rarer than rocking horse shit in Gurgaon) and a kettle completed the list. After a month of searching for these items; and you have no idea just how hard it is to shop around (not to compare prices mind you.... just to find anything suitable) in Gurgaon... we were beginning to get mighty frustrated and irritable as the models on offer; if any, were 'interesting' to say the least.
Finally we found ourselves in Reliance which is a reasonably large (for Gurgaon, that is) appliance store in one of the major malls. There, we thought we had hit pay dirt. We discovered they had everything we were looking for - and all under one roof what's more. After accosting a sales assistant we showed him what we wanted. We breathed a small sigh of relief, were we finally in the home straight? Nope! Time to think again .... We were told they didn't have any of the four items in the store .... Oh ok, well, we asked, can we order them please? We waited for 45 minutes until the sales rep came scuttling back to inform us that none of the items were available at all ... OMFG!!! At this point I left Chris to it and wheeled Geri off so I could find somewhere to sit down. An hour later Chris emerged from the fray; with steam erupting from his safely valve, and told me that we had purchased the store demo monitor, kettle and Espresso machine and that they were going to call us about the oven. The store refused to deliver, so we lugged everything outside and waited in the 46c heat for the car to turn up.
On arriving back at the apartment, the anticipation of that first cup of coffee (having also tracked down some coffee beans - another miracle...) was immeasurable. I ground beans, Chris plugged in the machine and filled the water tank. He turned it on to prime it.... nothing .....I hovered anxiously .....nooo! He turned it off, fiddled, turned it on .... motor noise, no water, no espresso .... I levitated.....NOOOOOO! As my levels of 'irritation' rose and my "I've had enough and am going to go home" vibe began seeping; once again, out of every pore Chris really started to sweat .... poor man. We tried everything we could think of and finally; admitting defeat, packed the damned machine back into its box and banished it to the top of the fridge. The good news was that the kettle and the monitor did work. Just as well....
Sunday morning dawned and as we read the paper over breakfast I spotted a tiny advert for an Italian Espresso machine at an electronics 'superstore'. The store was put at the top of the list for next weekend, I dared to hope that I may yet get to enjoy a proper cup of coffee and went online to research the Espresso machine. The good news was that from the accounts, reviews and video I found on the web it looked like a little gem.
Saturday dawned and off we went to 'The Electronic Store' on the quest for the holy Espresso machine. We also went to Croma; another 'super store' to test the waters there. True to the form we have come to expect in India the Electronic Store didn't have the model advertised in store. However they promised they could have it delivered that afternoon... however they couldn't give us a price and said they'd email us with a price during the week - umm yeah right! NOT! Alrighty then... next stop Croma. We cased the joint for ovens and didn't see anything remotely suitable and as Geri had been hassled by some unpleasant men whilst she was waiting for us downstairs in her wheelchair (no lift) we gave up and headed to the Leela for some lunch and some time out.
Later that week a flyer for Croma arrived with the paper. I looked through it but not closely. When Chris had a look he spotted what looked like a good quality Samsung Convection/Microwave oven that looked like it might be what we were looking for. It was looking like Saturday was going to be another round of exhausting searching.
Armed with the flyer and the newspaper advert we swooped on both stores on Saturday morning. No, neither store had either item in stock but we were beyond caring what the price was ... we just wanted it sorted, once and for all. We ordered and paid for the oven then arranged for delivery the next day. Then we went to the next store and did the same for the Espresso machine. It was to be delivered that afternoon. Ok... good.... maybe the pain was almost over ....
Saeco arrived as promised that afternoon; prompt, efficient and on time - utter heaven. They also informed me that they could supply me with beans as they do their own roast of Indian beans. I'm keen to try them as hopefully being local they'll be cheaper and fresher than the only other beans I've managed to find which are imported. The delivery of the oven was another matter entirely ... We waited for 7 hours.... waited, waited, waited, stewed and steamed ...After a couple of very confused phone calls the oven was eventually delivered. The weekend was over and we were in business - coffee and cake was back on the menu!
The solution I came up with in Indonesia was to purchase a bread making machine in Singapore and source bread flour and yeast from one of the big hotels. This was a so-so solution which was ultimately irritating, frustrating and unreliable so I decided to come up with a more convenient alternative this time around.
Before we arrived I had decided I would not bother at all with baking commercial/traditional yeast breads and would instead; once we were established, pursue the bliss of sourdough. The other reason for this is that both Geri and I don't cope well with most yeast breads but do ok with genuine sourdough.
The day we arrived at the apartment I went into the sweat box aka the kitchen, and took a look around ... okaaaaay .... no oven.
'Servicable' is the word that comes to mind me thinks ....
... and perhaps slightly skody ...
A crappy microwave and health hazard kettle (No dishwasher either, but that's another story hehe) completed the picture - gee thanks Chris! He then proceeded to assure me that there were LOTS of bench tops ovens available in the shops and the next day we headed out to find one. HMMMM Can you guess what I discovered?? Steeeerike! Do not pass go, do not collect $100. The 'ovens' were glorified toasters and I informed Chris that the only thing they would accomplish would be to turn the kitchen from a sweatbox into a room sized oven. Sorry dear .... time to think again .... this is not an acceptable solution ...
We were also on the prowl for a number of other things at this stage. These being an Espresso machine. I hadn't had a decent coffee for over a month and Chris was just starting to understand how important it was to remedy this situation - and FAST. An HDMI LCD monitor (which we had found out were rarer than rocking horse shit in Gurgaon) and a kettle completed the list. After a month of searching for these items; and you have no idea just how hard it is to shop around (not to compare prices mind you.... just to find anything suitable) in Gurgaon... we were beginning to get mighty frustrated and irritable as the models on offer; if any, were 'interesting' to say the least.
Finally we found ourselves in Reliance which is a reasonably large (for Gurgaon, that is) appliance store in one of the major malls. There, we thought we had hit pay dirt. We discovered they had everything we were looking for - and all under one roof what's more. After accosting a sales assistant we showed him what we wanted. We breathed a small sigh of relief, were we finally in the home straight? Nope! Time to think again .... We were told they didn't have any of the four items in the store .... Oh ok, well, we asked, can we order them please? We waited for 45 minutes until the sales rep came scuttling back to inform us that none of the items were available at all ... OMFG!!! At this point I left Chris to it and wheeled Geri off so I could find somewhere to sit down. An hour later Chris emerged from the fray; with steam erupting from his safely valve, and told me that we had purchased the store demo monitor, kettle and Espresso machine and that they were going to call us about the oven. The store refused to deliver, so we lugged everything outside and waited in the 46c heat for the car to turn up.
On arriving back at the apartment, the anticipation of that first cup of coffee (having also tracked down some coffee beans - another miracle...) was immeasurable. I ground beans, Chris plugged in the machine and filled the water tank. He turned it on to prime it.... nothing .....I hovered anxiously .....nooo! He turned it off, fiddled, turned it on .... motor noise, no water, no espresso .... I levitated.....NOOOOOO! As my levels of 'irritation' rose and my "I've had enough and am going to go home" vibe began seeping; once again, out of every pore Chris really started to sweat .... poor man. We tried everything we could think of and finally; admitting defeat, packed the damned machine back into its box and banished it to the top of the fridge. The good news was that the kettle and the monitor did work. Just as well....Sunday morning dawned and as we read the paper over breakfast I spotted a tiny advert for an Italian Espresso machine at an electronics 'superstore'. The store was put at the top of the list for next weekend, I dared to hope that I may yet get to enjoy a proper cup of coffee and went online to research the Espresso machine. The good news was that from the accounts, reviews and video I found on the web it looked like a little gem.
Saturday dawned and off we went to 'The Electronic Store' on the quest for the holy Espresso machine. We also went to Croma; another 'super store' to test the waters there. True to the form we have come to expect in India the Electronic Store didn't have the model advertised in store. However they promised they could have it delivered that afternoon... however they couldn't give us a price and said they'd email us with a price during the week - umm yeah right! NOT! Alrighty then... next stop Croma. We cased the joint for ovens and didn't see anything remotely suitable and as Geri had been hassled by some unpleasant men whilst she was waiting for us downstairs in her wheelchair (no lift) we gave up and headed to the Leela for some lunch and some time out.
Armed with the flyer and the newspaper advert we swooped on both stores on Saturday morning. No, neither store had either item in stock but we were beyond caring what the price was ... we just wanted it sorted, once and for all. We ordered and paid for the oven then arranged for delivery the next day. Then we went to the next store and did the same for the Espresso machine. It was to be delivered that afternoon. Ok... good.... maybe the pain was almost over ....
Saeco arrived as promised that afternoon; prompt, efficient and on time - utter heaven. They also informed me that they could supply me with beans as they do their own roast of Indian beans. I'm keen to try them as hopefully being local they'll be cheaper and fresher than the only other beans I've managed to find which are imported. The delivery of the oven was another matter entirely ... We waited for 7 hours.... waited, waited, waited, stewed and steamed ...After a couple of very confused phone calls the oven was eventually delivered. The weekend was over and we were in business - coffee and cake was back on the menu!
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