Enthusiasm marked the Christmas cake mixing ceremony at WelcomHotel Grand Bay on Tuesday.
Several hotel guests and staff members took part in the event heralding the festive season of Christmas and capturing the spirit of New Year. Mixing of ingredients begins in advance. The cake mixing ceremony is a ritual religiously followed the world-over and said to be a harbinger of good tidings and happiness. It is an old tradition that has been around for centuries. The ceremony also has its importance in welcoming the harvest season.
Executive Chef Virender Sharma, Sous Chef Suresh Babu and others had fun digging their hands into huge piles of black currants, almonds, prunes, raisins, walnuts and spices like ground cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. The mixing reached a spirited level with the adding of honey syrup and liquor.
WelcomHotel Grand Bay Food & Beverage Manager Keenan McKenzie said advance cake orders had already started pouring in from regular guests and local companies. Mr. Virender Sharma said over the next months, the vats containing the dry fruits would be continuously churned. Thus, the fruits would soak up the alcohol evenly, he added. The baking of delicious Christmas cake will start from December 20.
