The Devil chef

I love food. I am in the food science for a reason. I want food to be in my career, my drive, my inspiration and my end. I dedicate this blog to yet another Swedish property-MAX burgers, that I think is worth writing a blog about.

The fast food culture in Sweden is slow, for the lack of a more descriptive word. Its slow not because its cheap, its because the legislative bodies concerning food safety and welfare take it to a level like no other. While studying food science in SLU, we had more than many chances to attend classes by people at high level in commercial food and food law governors. Heres and interesting fact, there is a great deal of interest in avoiding Salmonella (species of bacteria that cause severe food poisoning) that the imports are regulated based on the suppliers frequency with Salmonella cases. This is in regard with Egg, meat and processed food ingredients also.
However, the main reason why I was intrigued was when I saw no KFC in Sweden or that I havent seen one yet. KFC has the reputation of creating havoc with animal welfare and safety. They have been known once to treat chicken farms like it was an abuse factory. One might recall the case about chicken nuggets, that if one could trace back the meat to its source farm (a concept used in the food industry called traceability).

MacDonalds and Burger King have ruled the fast food franchise all over the globe. They might even have one set up in Antarctica someday in search of more land to setup a drive-in-takeaway. This burger joint franchise called MAX is something else.

This is one such joint with that emblem. Not very attractive to be honest but wait till you read what it did to me.








Coming from a country (India) that was earlier not used to eating meaty burgers  as a part of their daily diet, I was quite fond of burgers. Burger king was my previous no.1. As much as I loved that name, I could only think of having like a flame grilled Aberdeen Angus like once or twice a month. MAX seems like a strange unappealing name for a burger joint. No mascot, no grinning idiot with the make up at the front, no old bearded man with glasses, no gimmicks. Didnt know what to order when I got to the counter once. Took a chance and ordered the cheapes meal they had- Maxmal original. The student card fetches a 10SEK discount on sale over 50SEK. The burger is larger than what the competitors offer in the same range. When I sank my teeth into the sandwich, it was a stampede of flavours on my palate. I could feel the freshness of the tomato, the crunchiness of the lettuce and the sweet sting of red onions. What makes this stand out is that the buns are toasted to perfect caramelisation and the sauce! The sauce is the recipe to die/kill for. Perfect combination of fat and flavour that compliments the succulence of the perfectly seasoned beef pattice.

The prices are very competitive, but not as low as MacDonalds. I guess there is a reason behind that. One could always question the fact that the franchise communicates to its customers the exact carbon footprint that each of its product has.
http://www.max.se/download/Press%20release%20Max%20080506.pdf
Or if it could be another tactic to lure people inside.
They have a menu called Delifresh lunch menu with baked meat options and salads. Also a range of items for the diabetic customers.

All I am saying is, one could turn to the most ignorant person regarding food safety and welfare once he gets to taste a MAX burger. Its the Devil chef that makes it too good to be true. You forget all else. Nothing matters.
;)

Get together one more time

Its time the term comes to an end. The flock of Erasmus students who came to Uppsala to experience a Swedish lifestyle and education have almost packed their bags to return home or to new avenues. International committee of SLU organised an event using BBQ as a bait to lure all at student housing in Lilla Sunnersta. A public event where everyone got their favourite BBQ meat and drinks to chillax together.

Coal was all set in a cement bin with a metal mesh to rest the muscles. A pretty large congregation of students showed up. Weather was pleasant but slightly windy with overcast weather afterwards.

To some it was like a weekday BBq event. The bunch by the table were local students living in tha area who had generously set up a small table with music from a laptop and wicked small speakers.

Thanks to Francesco Poggi we had a nice couch at our disposal. Ilona and Mithun enjoy their drinks.

Lasma, Marine, Francesco and Julian take time to pose for the camera when I mention the words, " A picture for our college blog".

The mesh with chunks of meat getting ready. The place was filled with appetising aromas as one could imagine. The highlight was also exchanging cuts of their exotic sausages and home marinaded bits. There were Chinese recipes, Latvian dash, French preferences and baking in aluminium foil. I had a bunch of bratwursts that seemed so pale that everyone asked me what meat it was. I assure you, it was scrumptious.

To the bunch I came along with, it was having a "craick" with friends soon flyin' home. It was also the day where students asked others staying back if they wanted to buy their bicycles. I snagged one of a mate for a great price.

Huaxing, Mithun and Harsha gladly pose. Harshas look either reflected the sadness he bears while saying goodbye to his friends or was on his way to get mashed.  ;)

The general feeling I got from my Erasmus friends that enjoyed every bit of what living in Uppsala could offer. Needless to say, some are planning to come back to Uppsala in the future if they ever got the chance. Most fly away in the first two weeks in June.

Sad really, saying bye but thats part of the package. Hopefully, Facebook will keep the borders short if one really wanted to stay in touch or had to get together one more time.

Questionable constitution

This blog is for all out there who have jumped at a sight of an insect or a rodent, all who have flown to egypt and not walked through the pyramid tunnels, all out there who went numb when a micrphone was put in front of you on stage. Phobia-a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding despite the fear, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational.

A trip was planned by the international students association last week to bring together the Erasmus students from parts of Europe other than Sweden, for one bash. The place was Grona Lund, an amusement park set by the bay on the outskirts of Stokholm. 28 signed up as soon as they saw the event posted on Facebook. Truly a place to be on a day like on the 7th, bright and warm with not a cloud to veil the sun for an instant. The crowd showed up on time and the bus galloped with its horsepower to Stockholm at 12 noon sharp. The damage was 250 sek a head including bus ride (privately organised), entrance fee to the park and an all day valid pass for the rides. Large groups of student command a very decent rebate on the entry fee, I was later told.

Excited about the rides and jacked up on surplus Vitamin D every one scattered in groups. A kid comes to me and hands me these coupons- one for a free ice cream serving, coupon for the carnival like games and a popcorn/cotton candy ticket. The family was on the way out and he thought he will donate away his unused coupons valid only on that day. Too good to be true? Well, thats what I told myself.

I am Acrophobic, atleast, I was. Thought I ll describe all the good things and bad things that you experience when you are on crazy rides. We warmed up with carousel swings behind us in the picture above. That was just to get a tingle down us to face the bigger and bad ones after.

The first ride was a rollercoaster called Jetline. I love speed but scared shitless at heights. This was so fast and furious that I didn't have my chance to react to fear. Thats when I had this epiphany- all that fear was irrational and it was powerful based on my subconscious suggestions that its impossible for me. Thats when I began to like the feeling of fear.

My favourite one was this one called 'Extreme'. This one looks harmless as the seats dont reach a great height. Its a Ferris wheel with more degrees of freedom than one can imagine. Bravely standing in line I could hear the screams of people on it. I thought to myself, it is called Extreme for a reason. With three star rating on the brochure, this ride seemed inviting till we sat on it.
Imagine you are in a washing machine ten folds greater than the greatest one you have seen. Minus the water and imagine what clothes go through during the wash cycle, and thats close to what your body feels. You literally dont know which side is up. The torque on your body is stupendous. Sometimes the blood rushes to the back of your body and sometime to every other extremities.

This one was called 'Tilt'. Three sets of seats go to a great height like a building lift. The red sets of seats stay parallel to the ground. The purple set of seats tilt once you are at the summit, right before you drop at terminal velocity to a gradual standstill. I was on the purple one. Yes. I wanted to face it in style.

The cocktail of emotions that one might expect an Acrophobe to have are of a very wide spectrum. Personally, I tried not to think at all. That was hard. When I was strapped to the seat, I began to question the safety of the seat. A quick check on the faces of the fellow passengers would either make me confident or scared as shit.

The rides didnt break and for some reason I cant help but admit that I have now developed a taste for heights. I questioned my constitution, my instincts and fear to realise fears are irrational mostly.
Face yours.

Spring back with Valborg

An event that almost every person waits during the year is Valborg (30th Apr, Saturday the last). Its a festival celebrated in Uppsala to mark the end of winter and the onset of spring and man is it something to blog about!

Its a cold country, Sweden. Sunlight is a real treasure round here cos the winter is harsh and biting, with almost no sunlight. So, when winter dims out and the sunlight gets louder, people have arranged a day to celebrate the onset with a great big bash. Basically, the entire town turns to one big party hall. No one stays home, the old and the toddlers alike. Individuals from the inbetween age group are the most active and creative and reckless. Adds to the fun. This event is so popular around here that two days prior to the event, the Nations organise handing out guest passes for students from outside of Uppsala to have entry to the student clubs and bars.

The day starts at 9 AM where people get together by the river line that runs through the heart of the town centre. People grab juicy spots to witness a raft parade. What this is, students handcraft rafts made of thermo bead boards and plywood to shapes of their interest with a theme. These rafts start at a point upstream of the river and run along the gathered crowds. The vikings on their crafts flash their attire while the crowd roars with either laughter or encouragment depending on the theme. An array of pictures that follow will show you how myriad the themes were:

 A capsized raft with a killer message. Atleast the guys had a great sense of humour. The phallus however makes this picture unsuitable for underaged lot.

 A Scoop Crane raft.

 Pulverised by the little rapid fall.

 A bit of drama showing his sense of pride

 Unbalanced rafters trying to gain new balance.

 Some just wanted to cool off.

 Duracell bunnies and their charge at the turbulence.

 My personal favourite- Lloyds and Harrys from 'Dumb and dumber' on their Mutt Cutts

 .. needless to say, they were too dumb to handle the drift.

 The Royal flush.

 Couchsurfing dudes

 Lego land

 The Flintstone craftsmanship seemed Jurassic for our time.

 The radical TMNT.

After that it goes numb for a while, when all public goes scattered looking for a picnic spot in the parks around to open their packed baskets of grub. It was a day of Champagne and relaxing. I was hoping that it would be bright and warm and was in my shorts. The forecast was cloudy and windy and it went cold at times.
From then on it was the consumption of beverages. Beer mostly. The nations had their versions of entertainment, most with music. Vastgota nations had a band going on. Some pictures from there:

 With an entry fee of 150 sek, one could have been a part of this madness. Champagne fizz being showered everywhere, it was a day like no other.

A mad band on a rooftop just next to the stage. This reminded me of the Woodstock look

Raving music also at the well packed Stockholms nation. The music was reverberating the whole place up. There was a perpetual shower of Champagne.

 The best part was at Norrlands nation. They had a swing band ready with gifted singers who played classic American swing and Jazz music. Thats my kinda music and the crowd had a small but dedicated fans. Nothing like good music for drifting souls.

 People couldnt help but dance along on the sides of the street. Happy feet all over.

When they got to the song 'I'm a Gigolo' by Frank Sinatra, the crowd went mental. I must say, the singers had a spark.

 The singers did a lil' bit of a jive and twist themselves.

One girl in the crowd got possessed by the music.

The very much spic'n'span Uppsala was covered in litter. Anything went that day. And then I saw something interesting.

 I saw these two kids on the left who had large bin bags with them. While under the supervision of an elderdly, most likely their mom, collected tin cans and bottles with value from the litter. For people who dont know- there is individual value assigned to recyclable packaging of beverages. They can use the recycling machines by any supermarket and get cash in return.

I quickly asked them, "Is this for your pocket money?". The guys said, " Park gets clean and we get money to buy candy".

I was much impressed by the response. Shows a great deal of civic sense encouraged by their parents.





So looking forward to proper summer.