The Easter weekend is around the corner and the city is gearing up to taste global delicacies especially created for the occasion
It is that time of the year when kids and adults alike are excited about Easter bunnies, easter eggs and candies arriving in a basket. Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The word “Easter” comes from Eostre, the Norse and Saxon goddess of fertility who was honoured with feasts each spring. An egg laying rabbit known as the Osterhase, or Easter Hare, became a symbol of the season in Northern Europe. When Germans began immigrating to America in the 1700s, they brought the concept of an egg-bearing Easter Hare with them which is popular today as Easter Bunny. Many modern American Easter traditions are similarly rooted in Germany and Northern Europe. Easter eggs, probably the most recognisable symbol of Easter, are tied to the holiday for several reasons.
Eggs are said to represent everything from rebirth and fertility to the empty tomb of Jesus. The shells would often be coloured to commemorate the season. Easter baskets are re-created nests. The theory is that the eggs would show up in the baskets. But over time, the tradition changed to carrying the baskets with you to look for eggs.
A lot of quirky traditions are associated with the festival. Easter is such a popular time for Norwegians to read crime novels that publishers actually come out with special “Easter thrillers”. Pouring water on one another is a Polish Easter tradition. Boys try to drench other people with buckets of water, squirt guns or anything they can get their hands on. The tradition has its origins in the baptism of Polish Prince Mieszko.
Most Easter dishes revolve around symbols that represent Christ’s revival and death. Each Christian nation has their own way of celebrating Easter and has traditions that have stayed with their culture. From sweet breads and pastries to meat and egg dishes, even cakes and cookies, the foods that grace Easter tables across the globe vary by country and region. lamb is the one food that is common in the Easter celebrations among many cultures. Ham is a natural choice for the celebratory Easter dinner. It is most commonly roasted, a form of cooking that precedes the first Easter. Hot cross buns are another favourite. These individual yeast buns are spiced and filled with dried fruit and the lemon icing is drizzled in the form of a cross along the top. A classic British cake for Easter is the simnel cake which is filled with ingredients—spices, fruits, and marzipan.Chocolate Easter eggs are another delicious sweet treat. An easter lunch comprises a leg of lamb with side dishes that include spring vegetables such as cabbage and potatoes. A gravy and a fresh mint sauce typically accompany the meat. Magiritsa soup is Greece’s signature Easter food, made from lamb offal. Hornazo is Spanish Easter bread that is filled with meat, usually pork loin and chorizo, and hard-boiled eggs.
For Chef Deepak Bhatia, executive chef at The Westin, Gurgaon, Easter is a symbol of hope and new life. “Without Easter, Christmas will have no meaning to it. The day is best spent feasting with loved ones. Glazed ham, roast lamb or chicken is the traditional meat for an Easter brunch.”
Chef Prem Kumar Pogakula, executive chef, The Imperial feels Easter is a great time to gather together with friends and enjoy the very best food and wines. “I try to make Sunday lunch special by mixing and matching lamb and pork with fresh herbs and organic vegetables. A few dishes that I love during Easter are apple, cinnamon and clove roasted whole leg of pork, glazed pulled lamb leg and blue cheese tenderloin.”