Latest news with #American-style
The Hindu
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Smoked briskets are slowly making it big in Thiruvananthapuram
Steven Netto, owner of Big Poppa's Bistro, located at Kazhakuttam in Thiruvananthapuram, attributes his motivation to start an American-style diner in the city to a trip he took to the United States a few years ago. After falling in love with 'the art, music, and Hollywood', Steven wanted to pay tribute to his travels across the States, choosing to start a 'very New York' and modern diner. Among other dishes, his menu featured an American classic, the beef brisket — something he often drove down to Kochi to enjoy. Brisket, a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef, is one of the nine primal cuts of the meat. Loaded with fat and muscle tissues, it is a tough cut and requires long yet rewarding hours of cooking. Eateries such as Big Poppa's Bistro, Tex&Mex by Chefjee and Smoky Ridge, are those serving this slow-cooked delicacy to residents of the State capital. Steven says, 'The response to brisket has been great, especially over the last three months. Earlier, we served briskets only on weekends; but, now we have it every day. While earlier it used to sell out by the end of the day, now it is sold out by around five in the evening.' Since 2023, there has been a rise of smokehouses in Kochi with Smoke Culture by Steve, Rebbi's House of Barbecue and Eracci, says food vlogger Anjana Gopakumar. 'However, in Thiruvananthapuram, we were still searching for places or home chefs making briskets,' adds Anjana. Something new Jeevanandam Sreekumaram or Chefjee, as he prefers to be called, started Tex&Mex located at Ambalamukku, an eatery with flavours of Texas and Mexico. He explains, 'People in Thiruvananthapuram are used to dishes such as beef fry, beef roast and so on. The brisket cut, however, is not suited for a curry as the meat is tough. Curiosity for new dishes is always there.' Anjana says, 'Beef is a thing we Malayalis love so much, there's no reason why we can't love the brisket, for its meaty, fatty flavours.' Tex&Mex serves beef brisket two days a week — with barbeque sauce, chimichurri sauce, mac and cheese, coleslaw, potato wedges and bread. The marinated meat is cooked on open smoke and then further smoked by wrapping it in aluminium foil, followed by a resting period. 'This takes around 18 to 20 hours, in between it is sprayed with a mixture of apple cedar and water,' says Chefjee. The meat is smoked with mango, jackfruit and tamarind wood. Chefjee also aims to prove that it is possible to serve briskets without a premium price. 'We have premium food being served in big restaurants at a high cost. It is possible to bring that same quality to street food, by stripping off the additional expenses.' Initial challenges One of the initial challenges for the owners was finding a smoker. While Chefjee purchased it from Thrissur, Steven had a smoker custom-made from Bengaluru. For Abhiram SS running Smoky Ridge at Nedumangad, it involved making his smoker with a neighbour's help. 'It was expensive to buy a smoker and that's when I saw some people using metal barrels to smoke the meat on YouTube. My neighbour said he would give it a go by welding metal sheets and we made our smoker,' says Abhiram. The 25-year-old home chef picked up cooking during the pandemic. 'I came across Texas-style barbeque online and I found the method very interesting. I later found videos by a pitmaster called Kochin Foodie aka Joel Rebbi,' says Abhiram, who started his endeavour after training at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Kochi. 'Just having a smoker was not enough, because I didn't know how to cook with it and control the temperatures. We tried chicken first and then beef. The first time I made beef, the 2.5 kilograms meat weighed 1.5 kilograms after cooking. It was burnt and dry,' says Abhiram. 'We needed at least five kilograms, and a lot of butchers wouldn't give just the brisket. I failed six times before I figured out how to do it. And each brisket takes 18 hours to cook,' says Abhiram, who is currently only handing takeaways. 'I am setting up a place but I don't think food alone is enough, we also need the ambience for it,' adds Abhiram, who also serves pork ribs and pork belly. Half a pound of brisket costs ₹800, pork belly costs ₹700 and pork ribs cost ₹750. The gradual expansion of smokehouses in the city is not a mere fad, says Anjana. 'It is something long-term and sustainable. Thiruvananthapuram as a market is both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Even though it took time to come, it is here to stay.' Additionally, Steven says, 'We have expanded the menu and have introduced a whole range of smoked meats as well. We have Pastrami that has been selling out pretty fast, which is still a brisket piece of meat, undergoing a different process.'
Fashion United
2 days ago
- Business
- Fashion United
Vietnam launches crackdown on counterfeits amid US pressure
Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci… Tran Le Chi loved fashion, but the US customs crackdown wreaked havoc on her wardrobe of counterfeits 'made in Vietnam,' caught in Washington's crosshairs. 'Clothes help me look trendy,' explained the 53-year-old woman, who sells illegal lottery tickets in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital. 'What does it matter to me whether it's fake or not?' she stated. Chi openly admitted to wearing counterfeits, which never cost her more than one million dong each. 'The real products are not for people like us,' she declared. Vietnam has become one of the world's largest hubs for clothing and footwear production, attracting international brands with its abundant and cheap labour force. However, the communist country is also a hotspot for counterfeiting — a fact that has not gone unnoticed by its main client, the US, which is increasingly concerned about the influx of fakes into its market. This issue has taken centre stage in ongoing talks between Hanoi and Washington, with the US threatening to impose a 46 percent customs duty on products imported from Vietnam as part of a protectionist push to rebalance trade in its favour. Repression 'I never cheated anyone,' defended Hoa, who runs a shop in Hanoi's Old Quarter selling fake Nike, Lacoste, and North Face products made in China but stamped 'made in Vietnam' to appear genuine. Her clients, she claimed, buy fully aware of what they are purchasing. Speaking under a pseudonym, Hoa described the crackdown launched by the communist government, scheduled to last until mid-August, which has led to the closure of sales sites in both Hanoi (north) and Ho Chi Minh City (south). Among the targets was the Saigon Square shopping centre in Ho Chi Minh City's tourist district, identified by American authorities as one of the world's most important physical markets for counterfeits. A 2024 report by the White House's United States Trade Representative (USTR) noted that 'weak penalties had little deterrent effect' and that counterfeits 'remained widespread.' Authorities seized approximately 1,000 fake Rolex watches in the first five months of the year at this mall, located just opposite the modern Saigon Centre—an American-style complex with shops, a hotel, restaurants, and offices, representing its antithesis. Between January and May, Vietnam confiscated more than 7,000 counterfeit products valued at eight million dollars, an official from the national market surveillance agency stated in mid-June. Around 53 cases have been transferred to the police for investigation. Fake socks In Hanoi, law enforcement discovered over 25,000 fake speakers from the British brand Marshall, smartwatches, and pseudo-Japanese vacuum cleaners. A man was arrested at the end of May for selling more than 200,000 pairs of socks bearing Adidas, Nike, and Uniqlo logos—priced at less than 20 euro cents each. In another case, police arrested a man accused of buying six tonnes of confectionery from China and repackaging it to appear as if it originated from Japan or South Korea by altering expiry dates. Vietnam has pledged to strengthen controls over the origin of goods sold abroad. Washington has accused Hanoi of lax enforcement against transhipment fraud, which allegedly enables Chinese products, subject to stricter customs duties, to enter the US via Vietnam. The crackdown on counterfeiting 'plays a role in the strategy adopted by Vietnam to appease the US,' believes Nguyen Khac Giang, a Vietnamese researcher based in Singapore. Meanwhile, Hoa had to close her shop two weeks ago amid fears of police raids. 'I sold these kinds of clothes for a decade without problems,' she said. 'Now they are targeting us, and it's hard to imagine how I'm going to continue.' This article was translated to English using an AI tool. FashionUnited uses AI language tools to speed up translating (news) articles and proofread the translations to improve the end result. This saves our human journalists time they can spend doing research and writing original articles. Articles translated with the help of AI are checked and edited by a human desk editor prior to going online. If you have questions or comments about this process email us at info@
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
American burger chain to open second UK restaurant in Wales
American burger chain to open second UK restaurant in Wales Carl's Jr chose Cardiff for its first UK location and its second will also be on Welsh shores The chain is known for its famous charbroiled burgers (Image: Carl's Jr ) Months after opening its first UK branch in Wales, Carl's Jr is gearing up to launch a new location. Signs of Carl's Jr arrival have been spotted by eagle-eyed locals on Swansea's Wind Street where the popular burger chain will be opening, taking one half of the former TGI Friday's restaurant. With its signature American-style menu featuring favourites like the six dollar burger, hand-scooped milkshakes and charbroiled turkey burgers, Carl's Jr will be sharing the building with Slim Chickens, another American chain which recently confirmed its opening date for Thursday, June 26. Founded in California in 1941 by Carl and Margaret Karcher, Carl's Jr is expanding across the UK and Ireland through a franchise agreement with Boporan Restaurant Grou, which also operates Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccio's and Slim Chickens. The branch promises to bring a slice of California to the streets of Swansea (Image: Carl's Jr ) For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here Its first UK branch opened in Cardiff's St David's Centre earlier this year and the Swansea restaurant is expected to follow in early September, with a opening date to be confirmed. Article continues below After its opening WalesOnline tried the new Cardiff restaurant and you can read our verdict here. Carl's Jr fans have taken to social media to express their excitement about the US chain's growing presence in the UK, with some claiming it's "better than McDonald's." One user on X commented: "Carls JR is easily better than McDonald's Burger King and probably most of the other American fast food chains you have currently in the United Kingdom." Another added: "Carls jr is better than Mcdonalds, el diablo is tasty as f**k". Alongside the Swansea location, the Sun has reported that plans are well underway for five more Carl's Jr restaurants to open across the UK before the end of 2025. These new sites will reportedly be located in Southampton, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and York. Article continues below Ahead of the opening, a spokesperson from Carls Jr, said: "We are extremely excited and love the amount of Love the Welsh people are showing Carls Jr!" Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
UK's most iconic department store plots its first shops outside London after 318 years in business
Plus UK stores returning to the High Street SHOP TO IT UK's most iconic department store plots its first shops outside London after 318 years in business THE UK's most iconic department store plots its first shops outside London after 318 years in business. The upmarket store currently has four UK stores that are all based in the capital. Advertisement 2 The UK's most iconic department store plots its first shops outside London after 318 years in business Credit: Alamy 2 The department store is well known for its luxury products Credit: Alamy Fortnum & Mason was established 318 years ago in 1707 and was founded by William Fortnum, a footman for Queen Anne, and Hugh Mason, his landlord. The pair started operating from a small store in St James Market and a spare room in Mason's house. The store quickly became known for its innovative and high-quality products, appealing to the tastes of the affluent and aristocratic clientele. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Fortnum & Mason expanded its offerings, becoming a purveyor of fine foods, wines, and spirits. Advertisement Currently, Fortnum & Mason has stores in Piccadilly, St Pancras station, the Royal Exchange in Bank and in Heathrow Terminal. But now the upmarket department store is thinking about venturing outside of the capital. The retailer said earlier this year that it was no longer seen as a 'Christmas focused' business as shoppers were snapping up its luxury food products to 'stock their own larders' throughout the year. The retailer's chief executive Tom Athron told The Telegraph that he would be interested in having branches 'up the spine of the country'. Advertisement He said the business would look at sites in a 'beautiful location' with 'beautiful architecture'. 'This isn't about ubiquity. But there are other locations across the country where we think that Fortnum could offer both retail and restaurants, where it would be relevant. The Viking Centre: Britain's first American-style mall faces demolition "And we're looking at those now,' Athron said. The news comes as the retailer says there is a surge in demand for its luxury teas, biscuits and jam. Advertisement The store underwent a significant refurbishment in 2007, celebrating its 300th anniversary with a rejuvenated look that honoured its storied past. History of Fortnum & Mason Fortnum & Mason was established 318 years ago in 1707. It was founded by William Fortnum, a footman for Queen Anne, and Hugh Mason, his landlord. The pair started operating from a small store in St James Market and a spare room in Mason's house. The department store eventually set up shop at its current location at 181 Piccadilly. One of Fortnum & Mason's earliest claims to fame was its invention of the Scotch egg in 1738, a portable and filling snack ideal for travellers. The store quickly became known for its innovative and high-quality products, appealing to the tastes of the affluent and aristocratic clientele. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Fortnum & Mason expanded its offerings, becoming a purveyor of fine foods, wines, and spirits. It was also during this period that the store became renowned for its hampers, which were meticulously curated and became a staple of British festivities and picnics. These hampers were often sent to British troops during times of conflict, providing a comforting taste of home. By the Victorian era, Fortnum & Mason had firmly established itself as a symbol of British luxury. The store's association with the royal family was further cemented when it was granted its first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria. This distinguished honour recognised Fortnum's as a supplier of goods to the royal household, a tradition that continues to this day. The 20th century saw Fortnum & Mason adapting to the changing times while maintaining its commitment to quality and tradition. During both World Wars, the store remained open, offering solace and a sense of continuity to Londoners. Post-war, the store further diversified its range, introducing new departments and expanding its international reach. In more recent years, Fortnum & Mason has continued to evolve, embracing modernity while preserving its heritage. The store underwent a significant refurbishment in 2007, celebrating its 300th anniversary with a rejuvenated look that honoured its storied past. Today, it offers a wide array of products, from gourmet foods and fine teas to exquisite homewares and beauty products. It offers a wide array of products, from gourmet foods and fine teas to exquisite homewares and beauty products. Meanwhile, a popular British retailer has returned to the high street after collapsing into administration is set to open more shops. Earlier this year ASOS also revealed plans to relaunch a Topshop website. Advertisement And major brand Wilko is already back on the high street after closing 400 stores in 2023. Its new owners, CDS Superstores, have opened branches across the UK.
7NEWS
4 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
American tradition set to flood AFL blockbuster as Geelong celebrate Patrick Dangerfield's 350th
Geelong will flood GMHBA Stadium in an American-style white-out as they celebrate Patrick Dangerfield's 350th AFL game on Friday night. White t-shirts will be draped over every seat in the stadium ahead of the top-four clash with Brisbane, free for fans to wear and keep. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Geelong set for stadium white-out to celebrate Patrick Dangerfield's 350th. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Fans wearing t-shirt handouts in club colours has become a customary tradition in the NBA, particularly in the playoffs, and American college football, where hosting teams strive to extract as much home-court (or ground) advantage as possible, making for a hostile environment for visitors. With the NBA Finals between Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers in full swing over in the US, Geelong are following suit, according to 7NEWS Melbourne's Xander McGuire. 'Geelong is bringing one of American sport's most famous traditions to GMHBA Stadium,' McGuire said. 'Inspired by Penn State's famous white-out, Geelong's kitting out the Cattery with white, Geelong-themed t-shirts. 'All 40,000 seats will have a free tee on them, with the Cats hoping to ramp up their home-ground advantage with a college football-like cauldron.' But they'll be without star young defender Sam De Koning, who has damaged his left shoulder. De Koning will need surgery to repair an AC joint injury he suffered in their 95-point thumping of Essendon. De Koning was substituted out of Saturday's game in the third quarter at the MCG after a ground ball contest with Bombers midfielder Will Setterfield. The 24-year-old is expected to miss four to five weeks. Geelong teammate Zach Guthrie is backing the depth in their defensive stocks as they look to extend to mark Dangerfield's milestone with a win against the third-placed Brisbane Lions (9-4-1). The Cats (10-4) are second on the ladder and boast a five-game winning streak. Star utility Mark Blicavs was deployed in De Koning's role against Essendon, while Guthrie has pointed to youngster Connor O'Sullivan as another option. 'Sam is a really important player for us. He's one that we really depend on every week to play on those taller types,' Guthrie said on Monday. 'He's been doing a really good job for us but we've got a number of guys who can roll through that position.' Guthrie's brother Cam has suffered another setback in his return to AFL. The older Guthrie, after having surgery on his left achilles in February, was forced to sit out of a VFL game last week with a calf complaint. The 32-year-old onballer has not featured at AFL level this year and has played just ten games in the last two seasons. Cam Guthrie gets a handball away during last season's VFL semi-final against the Southport Sharks. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS) But Zach Guthrie, 26, remains confident his brother's return is imminent. 'He ended up missing the VFL game on the weekend, just to hopefully try and get it right,' Guthrie said. 'I think the positive signs are that it's hopefully not too serious. 'Fingers crossed, I'd like to play some footy again with him soon.'
