The globe-encircling, whirring delights – starting from vibrant Mexico City to dreary London to nighttime Rome to cold Austrian Alps and further to dusty Marrakesh and the Sahara desert and back to London – is a sly, slick and a slump of a movie called Spectre.

In quintessential Bond style, the movie credits begin to roll 15 minutes after an exciting chase around the El dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) procession in Mexico City.

Speed, smooth operations, seductive OO7 seven women and sophistication are strong Bond movie characteristics, which have tried to make a mark in this particular movie also, yet the plot lacks development, enthusiasm and those nail biting moments which one expects from such an ancestral franchise. OO7, Daniel Craig has tried to carry the motion picture for just over two hours, exhibiting his fluency while working undercover for an Intelligence agency. Yet despite the suave suits, icy white composure, and cold romantic interests I still prefer the absolute smooth-talking and self assured Pierce Brosnan playing the role.

Having strong undertones of a Snowden-esque prowess of transparency and clean exchange of information, the movie revolves around the last words spoken to 007 by the previous ‘M’ Judi Dench of killing and attending of a so called Sciarra. Add to that an internal battle by the agency to propagate centralized exchange of information, which would eventually mean 007’s unemployment!

The biggest sorrow in the movie is Bond woman, Dr. Madeleine Swann (Lea’ Seydoux). She is portrayed as a reluctant, swankily dressed, medical professional based in a clinic in the Austrian Alps, (which offers breathtaking cinematography), refusing to accept 007’s offer to ‘protect’ her. Lo and behold, she is soon found seductively dressed on a train trip drinking champagne with the same guy. Stiff, expressionless and cold.

The movie did have some exciting car chases, lovely locales but no heart stopping twists, which eventually left me more interested in caramel flavored punchy popcorns and soda.

The magnificent snow-laden Alps, however, were breathtaking and I found myself feeling extremely cold, thanks to the white and grey locale and the super efficient air conditioning in the cinema hall. The white, cold, clean and completely assuming Austrian Alps reminded me of coconut Ice cream, the recipe which I share with you below.

Yes the climate of K-town has a welcoming nip in the mornings but ice cream is an all round treat, always pleasurable and always decadent. A refreshing whiff, delicately smooth texture, spattered with fresh, juicy, crimson pomegranate seeds - this decadence is a complete crowd pleaser, unlike the movie, if I may add.

Coconut Ice cream with Pomegranate

Ingredients (Makes about ½ a quart)

‑250 ml Double cream (Approximately 40% fat)

250 ml Coconut milk (Canned)

½ cup + 2 tbsp. Caster sugar

‑‑1 tsp. Vanilla essence

‑¼ Cup Fresh pomegranate seeds

Method

‑Whip cream, in a squeaky clean bowl, till soft peaks form and set aside.

‑Combine coconut milk and sugar in a medium sized saucepan and heat until small bubbles form at the edges and the sugar dissolves (approximately 3-5 minutes on medium heat).

‑‑Take off heat and stir in the vanilla.

‑Gently pour the coconut milk mixture in the whipped cream and stir to combine. When mixed uniformly, pour into a jug and refrigerate to chill for minimum of four hours, overnight works best.

‑To make the ice cream, simply follow the makers’ instructions of your ice cream machine and get together a creamy coconut concoction. Once chilled, scoop out and serve with pomegranate seeds

Note: For those who don’t have an ice cream machine, pour the liquid mixture in a large dish and chill in the freezer for two hours, take out and check if the sides have frozen a bit. Using an electric hand blender or whisk stir vigorously, making sure that all frozen particles are broken down. Repeat this exercise every hour, for 3-4 times. Let it freeze overnight and you should have a sublimely smooth and creamy hand churned ice cream