Family recipes tantalise the city’s taste buds

ISLAMABAD: Ancestral recipes make their way to tantalize Islamabad’s taste buds. Drawing up on her grandmothers recipes, Irene Fernandez finally opened up a concrete outlet for Nana’s Kitchen at Cloud 9 in sector F-6/3 two months ago. Irene’s 87-year-old grandmother, Vanancia Norris, passed down old family recipes to make delectable chocolate and vanilla.

“I have learnt how to bake and cook from my grandmother and all the recipes we use are the ones she taught us,” explains Fernandez.

After getting throngs of orders daily and being tired of baking over 500 cupcakes a day, Fernandez decided it was time to open up an outlet so people could come and pick up their cupcakes from the store. The brand name started getting its acclaim from the sale of their homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Having served as a sergeant in the RAF, Vanancia Norris found a way to keep the tradition of cooking and baking alive. “This is so surprising for me and I am in shock that I have lived to see this day. I never even in my wildest imagination would have expected to see the recipes of my ancestors being produced on such a massive scale,” says Nana.

The cupcakes have already made their mark on Islamabad’s food lovers and party throwers. However, the décor and interior of the bakery is especially worth noting. The fireplace in the far corner of the outlet is handmade using original river stone. Instead of using chandeliers, the enterprising confectioner improvises and artistically uses bamboo ladders to hold the lighting fixtures. “Irene has always been so creative and I am glad she has finally opened something so spectacular,” remarks Tamara Mohmand.

The outlet has been a massive success as the ready-to-eat cupcakes sell by the dozen daily. The novelty store doesn’t only specialize in cupcakes but has added other delectables to the menu to entice their clientele. From apple cider to mozzarella sticks the venue is steadily increasing its customer repo. “The place is beautifully done and the apple cider is one of the best in Islamabad,” comments Armando. With a hint of cinnamon and a whole lot of apple, the cider has been an instant hit amongst the crowds.

“Little did I know that we would become so popular and this day would come,” chimes in Irene’s mother, “This outlet is a surprise for Nana and we are very excited for her to see how her recipes are being used.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th_, 2011.