TRADITION: 1 :: 

CHRISTMAS CAKE MAKING BEGINS

BY P. S. SUNDAR

                    Tomorrow, Dec 22, 2014, cake making will start at Gem Park Hotels and Resorts, Ooty, the hotel's Executive Chef Surendran told me now. 

                    The cake will be made from the mixture kept soaking for over a month now.  

                     On Nov 15, 2014, my article on cake mixing ceremony conducted at this hotel appeared in The New Indian Express:

CAKE MIXING CEREMONY HELD FOR CHRISTMAS

by P S Sundar

Coonoor: Christmas festive mood has caught up in Nilgiris with the traditional ‘cake mixing ceremony’ beginning on Friday (Nov 14).

“We hold cake mixing ritual annually as an inheritance of European influence in Nilgiris and as harbinger of good tidings. In British time, this was a family affair but thereafter, it is a community ceremony before Christmas and New Year”, Ismail Khan, Resident Director, Gem Park Ooty told Express after leading enthusiastic tourists at the ceremony.

“We mixed dry fruits like raisin, black currant, prune, date and cherry besides orange and lemon rind, cashew, pistachio and almonds. Adequate volume of liquor, fresh juice and honey has been added to soak them. We have quoted the fruits and nuts with freshly ground spices”, Executive Chef Surendran explained.

“This mixture will be stored in large containers with occasional stirring till two days before Christmas. Once the nuts swell due to soaking, we will make cakes”, Food and Beverage Manager Pradeep Kumar added.

Photos::

Visitors donning chef attire joining professionals at  hygienic ‘cake mixing’ ceremony at Gem Park Ooty on  Nov 14, 2014.