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Skirted in Denim Khushboo Sandhu Funny Side
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Go green but not with envy. Gayatri Rajwade gives you a complete update on the salad choices in the city. So take your pick of gherkins, jalapenos, pasta and cheese with myriad dressings.
THE city is going green! Not the vegetarian green, heaven forbid, but a certain light, crunchy, leafy and ‘in-the-pink’ green with a smattering of chicken fajita to add that delightful zing! Yes, salads are in and hearty meals are teetering on the edge of good, healthy reason! Leading the pack is the city’s golden oldie the ‘Hot Millions Salad Bar’ at Sector 17. With four staple dressings—Vinegar, French, Thousand Island and Mayonnaise—the menu spans nine different salads. Spicy Chicken, Chicken Pineapple, Peanut Rice, Chick Pea and Cottage Cheese, it is one substantial meal with a soup of the day and a sinfully delicious dessert (fruit cream or kheer) thrown in for good measure! At Rs. 135 (plus taxes) per person with unlimited helpings, the feast begins! A stone’s throw away is new entrant, Hotel Shivalik’s Le Café, which has a live sandwich and salad, all of three months old! Their ‘health in a bowl’ comes at a modest rate of Rs. 120 for a soup, salad and sandwich spread and is available for lunch only. With 20 to 25 different fruits and vegetables including exotica like broccoli, gherkins, jalapenos, black and green olives, the chef makes the meal an absolute funfest, adding and mixing the ingredients, the generous assortment of dressings, combining it with a brown, white, garlic or submarine sandwich bread and handing it to you with a thick brothy soup! With cheerful red and green tiles, a small yet elegant patio, streaming glowing evening sunlight, Taj Chandigarh’s Café 17, delights with its diverse menu. With nine to eleven varieties of salads to go with their buffet, Taj brings on its experienced chefs to mingle unique flavours on the city’s palate. With a soup, salads and desserts—think ‘Ummali, a hot Arabic bread and butter pudding, sugar free mousses like Strawberry and Kino and Apple tarts—at Rs. 375 (at lunchtime only), the price may be steep, but the goodies are aplenty! The flavours are Mediterranean and so what you get is Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic and Olive or then the light and breezy Grilled Cottage Cheese and Plum Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil Pesto. Then there are the all American favourites Subway and Pizza Hut! Subway with an array of dressings (12 at last count!), which includes some delicious ones like Sweet Onion, Bar-be-que, Caesar, Red Chilli Sauce and Marinara, offers the largest selection of non-vegetarian salads to choose from. In fact any of their sandwiches can be made into a salad by simply adding Rs. 20 to the existing price. So what you can chomp on are wonders like Chicken Teriyaki at Rs. 129, Tuna Salad at Rs 99 or Turkey Breast at Rs. 139. Pizza Hut with its wooden counter following the pizzas at a close distance, at Rs. 80 for a ‘cram-it-up’ bowl, is plentiful filler! Another surprise Salad Bar comes from Ruby Tuesday at Fun Republic, Manimajra. With the bar set up right at the entrance on a wooden table with a stained glass canopy, this mixed bag offers 25 to 30 different types of salads (vegetarian) ranging from romaine lettuce leaves to fruits in season. Soup and Salad comes for Rs. 149 plus taxes. With six dressings including a delicious ginger honey the fiesta on offer are shredded carrot and raisins, American potatoes in mayonnaise and cream, zucchini, onions, capsicum and of course pasta and salsa and tortillas for good measure. The Orchid Lounge in Sector 34, with its Norman Rockwell prints and wooden floors, offering pan-Asian food, may not have a salad bar per se but has an unusual selection of salads from the South-East Asian countries. Similarly, Bedouin Lounge at Whispering Willows, Zirakpur, with specialties from Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, Italy and South of France offers delicacies like a medley of crabmeat, prawn and mixed seafood, Roast Salad with Baked Garlic and Yoghurt dressing, Fattoush—a Moroccan salad with Mediterranean vegetables, toasted pita and vinaigrette, all in all a traditional Middle-Eastern dining experience. Dak Bungalow, the Indian specialty restaurant at Whispering Willows gives off a propah English appeal! So Bloody Mary Shell Fish Cups, Shamiana Chicken Liver Pate, Cucumber stuffed with spicy cheese and nuts salad are some of the delicacies on offer! So come and detox! Or better still, leave the diet behind and dig into these healthy delights especially since the city knows how to dress its salads! |
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Working out at the workplace Corporate sector and public sector undertakings have woken up to the idea of keeping their employees fit and have started ‘flexing their muscles’. Gone are the days when people walked or would drive down to gymnasiums to keep themselves fit. The latest trend is to provide gymnasiums to the employees inside the office premises. The basic stress of most employers nowadays is how to best manage the human resource at his disposal. A vital aspect of this is to woo the employees with welfare measures. The advantage is double-fold—the first, of having agile and healthy employees and the second is an increase in the output of work.
— Prem Chand Dogra In private offices, where there are longer working hours, it becomes essential to go in for some tone up exercises to remain alert. With the IT park coming up in a big way in the region, the concept of health clubs will gather rmomentum. For the smaller offices though, the weight training machines and treadmills serve the purpose. In the City, gymnasiums have been set up in Civil Secretariat, offices of various public sector undertakings, Chandigarh Press Club and DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8 in addition to those set up in various sports coaching centres and private clubs. |
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Forget jeans, the hottest trend in Denims these days is of long and short skirts . For all those who wanna know more,
Anandita Gupta describes it all
THE Gen-X blue cult no longer boasts of Jean-Genies alone. Come October and denim dons a new avatar that’s refreshingly chic. A piece of your fav denim that enhances your appeal from girly cute to a sizzling hottie. It’s sassy and snuggly, ideal for the cooler days. And yet, it zips up your super cool quotient. No wonder, city based denim-divas are stashing up their wardrobes with this must-have fashion delight- Denim Skirt. “Some things just don’t fade away. A denim skirt is one such wardrobe asset.” Says a smiling Shweta. This young bubbly management trainee based at Chandigarh, is passionate about denim skirts. “My wardrobe has lots of them in different shades of blue. Wearable and very playful, they add to one’s feminine appeal. The best thing, however, is the dual advantage of these skirts.” She giggles. And as one wonders what this dual-advantage is all about, her friend Sakshi, Deputy Manager at NIFD, Chandigarh, explains, “ One can team these skirts with lots of accessories and a funky top to get that casual and glam look. And, if you pair them up with a crisp white shirt and a scarf, you can even sport them at formal places.” Adds a girlie-sweet Jonsy, a hosteller from Chandigarh, “ I love to shop clothes and my fav remains denim skirts. I have lots of them in all kinds of lengths. Trendy and hep, they help me make a style statement.”
Chirps B.Sc Student Harmeet, who’s another sucker for denim skirts, “I just love denim skirts. I’ve got three of them, all sporting different tints of blue. They have an amazing fit and look so trendy.” Harmeet, who loves to collect clothes and footwear, adds, “ Personally I’m very brand conscious. But, I wouldn’t mind picking up a denim skirt of a lesser known brand. If it is well fitted and hep, I’m all for it!” chirps this young woman, flashing those pearly whites. Well, the city girls are dancing to the beats of denim dhoom in delightful denim skirts. Why let them dictate the trend alone? Join the denim- skirt brigade and put your best foot (or do we say best leg, huh) forward! |
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YOUTHSPEAK THE youth of any nation is its force, the energy that it thrives on. It can either lead it on the path to progress or towards its decline. But the thought that troubles them most is what will happen to their future- Will we get a good job? Will we be successful? What does the future have in store for us – prosperity or doom? For someone just observing a group of youngsters sitting and laughing at a café, it may seem that all they are concerned about are clothes of the latest fashion, places to hang out, the party they are going for that night or at the most a broken heart. We may be all that, but there is more to us. We have a large number of young achievers in India. Some like Sania Mirza are relatively more famous than others. They have made a mark in their respective fields, be it music, sports or business and achieved what most people would envy. At every stage there is a crucial decision to be made. What subjects to take up after class tenth and graduation? And then, should we study higher or should we work? For some, the answers are given by parents. The others are asked to take their own decisions with a polite warning that every choice they make would affect their future. Though the desire that their child should be a doctor, engineer or a civil servant would be on the top of the wish list of most parents, these days, there are a number of alternatives to choose from. Colleges have come up with a wide range of vocational courses like Functional English, Advertising, Industrial Chemistry, Office Management, Informational Technology and many more. These guarantee jobs immediately after graduation. Though the number of students opting for them has gone up, they are still apprehensive to move away from the traditional subjects. With the increasing competition, the stakes are very high. But always take up something you are really interested in. You would always be the best. Do not follow the herd. The best thing to do would be following your heart. It would guide you in the right direction. The opportunities are vast. You just need to grab the one which suits you the best. — Khushboo Sandhu Young and bubbling with creative vibes? Have something to say? Well, send your views on something you feel strongly about to
lifestyle@tribunemail.com,
Lifestyle, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh. The best will find place in Lifestyle. |
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Funny Side I have been busy relearning driving techniques since I arrived in Chandigarh – or rather India. My training and discipline of the last fourteen years of driving in the USA required a radical alteration. Some days, the trauma of shifting mental gears can be quite agonizing – other days my pugnacious self quite enjoys the wrestling rounds on Chandigarh roads. I have been observing the traffic culture and have come to the conclusion that our city has a few distinct groups of traffic participants. There are the Little Mussolinis – they are bullies and they rule by sheer force, and have no faith in the concept of sharing the roadways. They clip you from the side, swing out from side alleys in full force onto your track, tailgate you till you move out and take turns from wrong lanes without impunity. ‘Right of Way’ is as alien to them as a fur coat is to a Pygmy. Then there are the houses on wheels. Cars designed in the latest American SUV fashion, with gigantic proportions. In Chandigarh, traffic – size can be a key determinant. Try going round the roundabout a few times – just to validate my theory. The bigger cars come from the right and the left and keep going as if your medium or small size car is invisible. At that point, you step on the brakes in order to avoid being perishable too. Whoever said –‘Less is More?’ But there are exceptions to the supremacy of size. If you are participant in the traffic system and happen to drive a two-wheeler, then your style can simulate that of a kamikaze airplane. The scooters and the mopeds and such others buzz around like hyperactive bees, often totally oblivious to the wrong or right side of vehicular motion. Some of these brave-hearts jump red lights with alacrity, scoot down the wrong side of the road, take short turns skipping the roundabout all together, and throw themselves in the path of sure death (and frequently occurring miraculous escapes) without a thought. Sometimes, I think, it is a wonder I don’t find them driving under and over me as well. Then of course, there are the rickshawallas and the cyclists. They claim their space with resolute valiance. They are everywhere, sometimes riding in double or triple files. They throw themselves on your path, extend a hand possibly in the right direction of the turn and never make eye contact. They should carry the sign – ‘Hit me if you can or else Stop.’ A technique that is quite effective, I must admit grudgingly. The upshot of all this is quite constructive. My driving skills are boundless now. Next time I am in Mexico City (known for its obdurate traffic), I will show off my newly acquired, amazingly rakish style of driving - much to the utter disbelief of my American friends. Thank you, Chandigarh!! |
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Sharon turns songwriter for charity! 'Basic Instinct' star, Sharon Stone, who has recently confessed that her hectic schedule has left her with no time to consider entering into a new romantic relationship, has however found the time to do her bit for alleviating the sufferings of America's hurricane victims. It is her song-writing abilities that will help raise funds for the survivors of America's worst-ever hurricane. According to MTV News, Stone has enlisted the likes of Celine Dion, the Game, Chingy and Joss Stone to perform a new track, 'Come Together Now' that she has written with songwriter and socialite Denise Rich, which will be unveiled on today during a press conference in Hollywood. The proceeds from sales of the single, which also features Nick Carter, John Legend, Angie Stone, Wyclef Jean, JoJo, Jesse McCartney and American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard, will go to the charity, 'Habitat for Humanity'. — ANI
Hilton involved in paparazzi fight Socialite and actress Paris Hilton was caught in a fight when her bodyguard attacked a photographer outside Los Angeles' Mood. According to Hollywood.com, Hilton was with Bijou Phillips at that time. The pair was making their way out after partying with the likes of Bruce Willis, Lindsay Lohan and Eddie Murphy. The bodyguard got offended and went for the attack when a photographer got too close to him. — IANS Drew Barrymore —'Missoni’s new face Hollywood actress Drew Barrymore has reportedly been chosen as the official "face" of the world famous design house "Missoni". The 30 year old star is currently in Ibiza posing for the Italian fashion house's Spring-Summer 2006 Collections with Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot, reports Femalefirst quoting the Woman's Wear Daily. The 50-year-old fashion house, Missoni is known worldwide for their distinctive bright zig zag prints and patterns. The actress's last modelling assignment was for French cosmetic house Lanctme.
— ANI Jolie against making Iraq a minefield UN goodwill ambassador and Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie is against the proposed mining of Iraq's border with Syria. Jolie said she is nervous about suggestions that carefully monitored land mines might slow the tide of insurgents and weapons into the war zone. The 'Tomb Raider' star said that even though it was difficult for her to forget the legless children she met in Cambodia, Afghanistan and other countries where mines have been used, she was open to learn more about the proposal. "Land mines are a dangerous tool that have killed and injured many civilians. The idea of using it in that way makes me a bit nervous," the New York Daily News quoted Jolie as saying. The UN Association, which two years ago honored Heather McCartney for her campaign against mining, supports Jolie's stance.
— ANI |
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U Share your birthday today with
Simi Grewal SHE was of course the petite lovely teacher in ‘Mera Naam Joker’ who sizzled up the classroom (and the screen) with her short skirts. And the glamorous vamp in Subhash Ghai’s Karz. But oozing oomph only is not what this charming lady is all about. Feminity, dignity and class are the words that better describe her. For, with her sweet charm, sugary voice and gentle probing, she’s created a new benchmark in tele-interviewing. She may not have donned the superstar image, but has made tempestuous innings in compeering and interviewing. Her famous talk show- ‘Rendezvous with Simi Grewal’ has dared to bare countless celebrity souls. The state-of-the-art talk show has pulled a loyal band of viewers, thanks to Simi’s comforting style and gentle interviewing. With her long lustrous mane, flawless skin, well-crafted features, scintillating white attire and unique poise, this lady has created a distinct brand of Feminity. Hats off to her sweet mannerisms, feminity and lovely grace, one keeps wondering, will she ever grow old? |
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HEALTH A jug of wine should last a long time! Recent studies have shown that a glass of wine or a small drink can help protect against heart disease, more than it can cause health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer.
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TAROT TALK
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ARIES
: You feel unburdened, free and happy like "The Fool" today. This is no time to be ashamed of your ambition. Libra will encourage you. Lucky number : 12 Lucky colour : Dark Red.
LIBRA : Be gentle when expressing bitter truths to people. Remember ; silence is golden. Best approach take advice of seniors. Don't let blocks stand in the way. Lucky Number : 10. Lucky Colour : Golden Yellow. 
TAURUS
: There should be a sense of triumph in your life today. You can look forward to creative company. Focus on meditation for clearing your third eye Chakra. Lucky Number: 2, Lucky Colour: Orange.
SCORPIO :
Energetic Mars will settle a number of ongoing personal complications, hopefully with decisive action. A reversal of fortune should work in your favour. Lucky Number : 2 Lucky Colour : Wine red.
GEMINI : I must tell you that your card " The Empress" brings content and touch of genius. Remain quiet if you wish to avoid disputes with the loved ones on trivial issues. Lucky number: 7. Lucky Colour: Turquoise. 
SAGITTARIUS : Today you can be really happy and also truly sad as destiny takes you through ups and downs. Try to use new ways to energise your relationship. Lucky Number : 3. Lucky Colour : Peacock green. 
CANCER : Don't try to build Rome in one day. Its time to stop being the dull; develop imaginative , inspired and intuitive qualities. Personal relationship can be demanding. Lucky Number : 11. Lucky Colour : Scarlet. 
CAPRICORN : Your card " The Sun" is set to encourage you. Your strong opinions won't always meet with general agreements, so try gentle persuasion instead. Lucky Number : 1 Lucky Colour : Sky blue. 
LEO : The past is likely to catch up with you. Its time to appreciate your vivid and colourful imagination , but to remember that fact and fantasy aren't always the same thing. Lucky Number : 8 Lucky Colour : Creamy white. 
AQUARIUS : A commitment on the cards. Relationships are infused with passion and positive attitude. The card " Six of Wands" is reverse ; so be wise and objective. Lucky Number : 19. Lucky Colour : Lush green. 
VIRGO : The "Knight of Disks" supports you with healing & earthy energy. Its best to let go the past and make a new beginning, which is likely to be more gainful and rejuvenating. Lucky Number: 7, Lucky Colour: Silver. 
PISCES: A sticky start will find you irritable. There is almost nothing in your chart to do with work and responsibility and a great deal to do with dreams and fantasy. Lucky Number : 4. Lucky Colour : Royal Blue.