Fusion fashion

Victorian gown with rich zardosi work and much more…. The twain has finally met not just in music but also in ensembles, says Saurabh Malik

Intricate zardosi work on the corset spelling sheer elegance, happily billowing bottom with look that is heavily embroidered in modern silhouette, emphasis on empire-cut waistline; and sheer fabric with a rhythmic and energetic flow that keeps up with the trends abroad — that’s Victorian gown with ethnic touch just for you.

Right folks, you have guessed it correctly. It’s meeting between the East and the West again. Nay, not just in fusion numbers so often bellowing out of the radio sets. But in gowns and so many other ensembles femininity tweaked for the globetrotting damsels!

And the “fusion fashion” stuff with a charming interplay of the classic and the modern has hit the fashion stores nationally and internationally with the active efforts of a young Chandigarh-based fashion designer with her own studio in the US.

Talk to young designer Roop and she says the invigorating vintage stuff with a beautiful and contemporary twist designed by her for that “ah-inspiring look” is very different from the clothes contemporaries work on.

“My kind of fusion fashion involves more than just Indo-Western trouser suits,” she asserts. “For, I believe in not just taking the Indian apparels to the West with little modifications here and there, but also in infusing the Eastern art of embroidery in the Western outfits. So, instead of just designing salwar-kameej with chic styling for the fashion-conscious abroad, I go in for Western outlines and cuts embellished with Indian embroidery. The result is Victorian gown with crystals cascading down 100 meters of sheer fabric.”

Flashing abroad smile, she says: “The embroidered stuff in rich fabrics, totally cool in a nonfigurative way, has a great market abroad. You see, embroidered stuff with little touches of ruffles and laces interspersed with brilliant splashes of sparkling gold is hanging in the fashion malls there also. But the work is just not delicate.”

The young fashion designer knows what she is talking about. For, Roop has done a two-year degree course from New York-based Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) after completing a course in fashion designing from Delhi-based National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

Otherwise also, designing comes naturally to her. Her mother Jaswant Kaur, so used to designing clothes for close acquaintances in her free time, launched her own label “Anoop” in 1990. For, the disappointment of never finding the right stuff was too much for her. She started designing clothes on a large scale and her creation is a blend of classic traditional Punjabi suits with subdued degree of sophistication to suit the tastes of middle-aged women. Wow! All in the family!

Designer den
Gayatri Rajwade

Haute Couture: Checking out on the designer wear at Samsaara. — Photo by Manoj Mahajan

Fashion is a state of mind, say vogue gurus, but when some of the country’s hottest designers come under a single roof that sure can boggle the wits!

Call it Samsaara, the ‘regeneration of life (or style perhaps!)’ as this Delhi based haute couture store sets up home in the city at Taj Chandigarh—17. Gathering posh labels under their awning, they are here to ensure that you definitely that invite to Parmeshwar Godrej’s next la-di-dah dig!

From Manish Malhotra’s berry red sequinned sari to JJ Vallaya, Pallavi Jaikishen, Rohit Bal’s garnished prints, Krishna Mehta, Deepika Gehani, Raghuvendra Rathore and even Shobhaa De’s festive wear, these are just some of the glittering feathers to crown the couture cap!

Are we ready for high fashion? You bet we are if the parent company, Genesis Colour’s Managing Director, Sanjay Kapoor’s confidence is anything to go by. “Expensive is a mindset. Here, people look at value for money and then go ahead and buy what they like,” he says. “And would we be expanding if we did not expect the sales?” he smiles.

The outfits have been selected to suit the city’s sensibilities (think less strappy and more intricate work!) but that does not mean last year’s stuff for these are latest designs on the block, so no fashion gaffes here!

And it is not just the big names that find flavour here; even fresh talent is encouraged so our city’s wannabe designers should spruce up their works and get set!

In the meantime, here’s a quick peek at some of the delightful creations up for grabs: Aparna Chandra’s white cotton pajami suits with flower-shaped embellishments (Rs 4500)

Mona Pali’s chiffon outfit with bright stitches running down the entire length of the kurta with gold coloured trimmings on the sleeves and around the neck (Rs 6900)

Raghuvendra Rathod’s water bubble printed shirts (around Rs 4000 to 5000) with sequins in blue, beige, brown and even red.

Ravage Classic for Shobhaa De has a funky melange of gypsy-esque skirts, tunics and saris striking for their fusion clothing like the burnt orange chiffon kaftan with phulkari edges (Rs 4200).

Deepika Gehani’s beautiful chiffon sari with a brocade blouse in a splendid shade of purple grapes

Rohit Bal’s shirts with cutwork and embroidery and spry butterfly prints (Rs 10890)

Monisha Tharyamal’s kurta in sky-blue in brocade and bandhini stripes on georgette

Bhairavi Jaikishan’s black kurti with a cluster of cutwork flowers at the bottom (Rs 7300) and of course a whole range of shirts and ties for men from Manish Malhotra, Krishna Mehta and Rohit Bal in spotted, striped, printed and animal growls!

Beads and buttons, sequins and pearls, knotted scarves, dancing baubles with skirts, strips of fabrics and stripes of threads all find expression here as do the accessories like bags, shoes and even jewellery. And as for the affordability of it all—well you can wait for a ‘coffee invite’ and join the kitty to buy it all!

Extraordinary!
One can take a lesson from city residents on how to accessorize their cars, says Shreyasi Thakur

If you regard accessorising as girlie stuff, you need serious modifications for your vision range. With unique, jazzy cars pacing up and down the city streets, you got to be anesthetic to be insensitive to the pleasant splash of creativity they spill, while smoking their way past you. And post these special effects you would surely gasp at the wonders a man’s accessorizing skills can craft.

Yes! The city residents who have a fetish for cars also know how to pamper their so lovingly nurtured possession. For this, they go for all kinds of accessories and modifications and when these plush cars hit the roads, ‘a whose car is it anyway?’ reaction is, but, natural.

From front to rear and inside to outside, you can get it all done. For the interiors, one can get customised dashboards, door and body panels, matching seat upholstery and roof and carpeting. One can also get steering wheels in wooden and leather combinations.

For the exteriors, readymade body kits are available but they could be custom-made as well. Boot and roof spoilers are also preferred for better aerodynamics and for show. One can also go for manual or automatically reclining sunroofs, fog lights, underbody neon lighting and xenon projection headlamps.

Deepak Sethia, a law student of PU, says, “I am totally car-crazy and I want my car to stand out in the crowd. Also, it feels nice when all the females say that my car is pretty amazing.” His black Lancer has the front and rear bumper modified with side skirtings for the low-slung sports look. His car also sports alloys and ultra low profile tyres, which other than enhancing the looks improve handling. The popular brands of alloys these days are Flying Eagles, Neo and K-Street and the range lies between Rs 8,000-20,000. The vogue of spinners is also catching up.

Rahul Luther, a resident of Sector-8, Panchkula, has basically enhanced his Safari’s interior. With a DVD player, LCD screen, reverse camera, eight speakers and three woofers, what more could one ask for? “I’ve been changing cars for the past 15 years. I’ve had Toyoto Camry, Pajero, Honda City, Cielo etc. and every time I want to get something unique done to my car,” he shares.

The market is flooded with MP3’s ranging from Rs 6,000-15,000. The latest among these is from Sony with storage capability of 1GB. In DVD’s, the latest is a DVD with an in-dash screen costing around Rs 38,000.

Sunny Bhardwaj of Sector-6, Panchkula, has GPS, Playstation, DVD in-dash, remotestart, Mercedes E class electronic sunroof installed in his Honda CRV. “I was looking for a good stereo for my car. When I couldn’t find it in India, I got one imported which cost me around $ 1700,” he says.

You can also get some paint jobs done. There are solid/ metallic shades, pearl ascent finish shades, multiple shade effects and colour shifters to choose from which can add that ultimate zing to your car. So the next time you come across a car, which remotely resembles itself, you should be able to guess rightly that it’s the case of an ordinary car with an extraordinary twist.

COOL STUFF
France enters Indian Footwear market

TOPY, one of the leading company specializing in premium quality rubber sheets, rubber soles and rubber heels for the footwear industry, has announced its entry in the Indian footwear market. Headquartered in France, TOPY has to its credit manufacturing some of the most innovative rubber soles and heels, which have redefined the “comfort,” factor in the international footwear industry.

TOPY has tied-up with Kanpur based Aggarwal Traders for the import and distribution of its products in India.

Cleanest wash ever

Godrej & Boyce - Appliances Division, an innovator in consumer appliances, has introduced a New Range Washing Machines with ‘Force 4’ Technology that dislodges the toughest dirt from the most difficult to clean areas, giving you the cleanest wash ever.

This high tech ‘Force 4’ technology combines the advanced four-way action of pulsator and punch. The clockwise and anticlockwise movement of the pulsator and the vertical movement of the punch generates a four-way water force, which provides the ultimate cleaning of clothes.

The ‘Force4’ technology is available in both semi automatic (GDS 665 and GDS 663 in a capacity of 6 kg) and fully automatic machines (GDF 1204 in a capacity of 5.5 kg). The prices of the washing machines are: GDS 663 – Rs 6,990/-, GDS 665 – Rs 7,990/, GDF 1204 – 11,400/-.

Smart Phone

I-mate™, the specialist in Microsoft Windows™ devices and applications announces the launch of I-mate SP5 with new Windows Mobile 5.0 and Quad-band GSM, which is an excellent tool for a businessman on the move. Weightless and handy device is seamless and global roaming with quad-band antenna. SP5 offers more connectivity with Blue Tooth and WiFi. The phone has a mini SD card and full HTML browser. Instant massages are also possible in this device.

Luxury bath faucets ‘Plazza’

Hind ware, the market leader in sanitary ware in India, has introduced ‘Plazza’ bath fittings, a series that combines precision and elegance perfectly. The product range comprises of 16 models exclusively designed to blend gorgeous looks with subtle contours. Crafted in tune with all new 3c technology each of these models ensures a complete perfection from outside to inside.

This luxury range is priced from Rs 1000/- to Rs 4500/- complements finest décor and conjures up simply inspirational images.

The return of Superman

KFC, the world’s largest chicken restaurant chain is celebrating the spirit of Superman Returns with an exciting range of KFC Power Toys. Customers purchasing the Chicky Kids meal or Chicken Bucket Feast can avail of this offer, which is valid from July 8th, 2006 till September 5th, 2006. The KFC Power Toys have been created for and are available exclusively at KFC outlets across India

During this eight weeklong promotion, a new Superman Returns toy will be introduced every fortnight. In all, there are four Superman Power toys available for collection. The first toy of the fortnight will be the Superman Returns Power Punch, followed by Over the Planet for the second fortnight, Power Top in the third fortnight and the last toy of the fortnight is the Crystal Spin. These toys are inspired by and recreate memorable moments from the film. So, if you’ve seen the movie, and loved it, here is your chance to take home some memories with KFC’s limited edition Superman Returns Toys.

Attacking the virus

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the launch of BARACLUDE™ (entecavir) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection following its approval by the Drug Controller General of India.

BARACLUDE (entecavir) is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease. BARACLUDE™ is an oral antiviral therapy specifically designed to block the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the liver.

A Citizen for a Citizen’s Initiative

Practicing its philosophy of inclusive journalism Channel 7 introduces Citizen Journalism to the Hindi news space. Hitherto CNN-IBN was empowering the common man through the Citizen Journalism initiative. Channel 7, the Hindi news channel of TV 18 Network is now offering Citizen Journalist. Citizen Journalist gives viewers the opportunity to contribute in the news-making process. Citizens can report on news items of importance across the country by sending in a MMS to 2622, SMS CJ (Story) to 2622 or by calling Channel 7’s help-line at 0120-2515340. Citizen Journalists may also e-mail their stories to citizen@ibnlive.com or even post their stories on www.ibnlive.com

GARDENS: Coasters, candles, bags and boxes
Joyshri Lobo

Coasters, candles, bags, boxes and jewellry. Strange items related to a garden! However, all these and more can be created from flowers and leaves from the plants in your garden.

Take a plain candle, preferably a large one. With Fevicol, paste on leaves and flowers on the sides. Paint over with varnish and allow this to dry for two days. When your candle is lit at night, the dry material will look good in silhouette. During the day it will be a beautiful conversation piece and will add to the decor.

Coasters can be made by pasting small flowers and leaves on saucer sized paper. Glue this onto similar sized plywood or hardboard. Cover with a round glass and have it framed. This kind of round framing is expensive but the effect is very unusual. Coasters of this kind can be given as gifts to friends.

Instead of the usual wrapping paper, create your gift bags. Open up a common, brown paper shopping bag. See how it is pasted and folded. Use hand made paper to create your own bag. Punch in holes for manilla string handles. On a contrasting square of paper, paste a large, well shaped leaf or flower. (A red bag with a white square and a large, dry pipal leaf is a good idea.)To create a festive look, outline or dot the leaf edges and white paper with gold or silver fabric paint.)

For gifting cash at weddings, buy saffron colored, silk threaded, hand-made paper. Fold it into the size of a thousand rupee note. Paste it. When it is dry, add your flowers and leaves in a corner. I prefer using dried, crimson rose petals and ferns, as the contrast is wonderful. Spray on a few drops of your favorite scent, put in the cash and tie it with gold thread. Your message is written on the envelope or enclosed inside. For larger gifts, cover old cardboard shoe and crockery boxes with colored paper and decorate them in a similar fashion.

Jewellry with dry flowers and leaves is another personal option. I take mother of pearl circles and smoothen their edges with fine sand paper. With a small hand drill, make a hole on the thickest edge. Be gentle as mother of pearl is fragile. Coat them with colorless varnish or lacquer. Place the leaf or flower and let it dry. Cover again with plain varnish or lacquer. Dry and string it to wear around your neck or as a bag ornament. Matching earrings can also be made.

Remember that letter hangers, stationery, book-marks, jewel and napkin boxes are other gifts which can have leaf and flower motifs.

K(L)IKING OFF A BEAUTIFUL GAME
Gaurav Kanthwal

The beautiful game is rolling to its crescendo in Germany and football fans of City Beautiful are closely backing their own hot favourites. But if you think that the soaring passion is limited only up to watching World Cup matches then you ain’t have seen anything yet! You just need to ask any teenager and a whole virtual sporting arena will come alive in front of you beckoning you to be a part of this colorful high intensity sporting extravaganza.

Reconciling olden days, video games hardly meant anything except a gun wielding Contra or a head bopping Maryo or that thrilling Car Race which gave a few moments of frenzied excitement.

But techno-savvy teens today have loads of collection of PC games that they brandish so enviously. Not only chock-a-block collection of CDs/DVDs, their PC hard disks are too are crammed with games, games and more games. If today the number of PC games available in the market is mind boggling then the entertainment is simply mind blowing. This new age games mania has gained an unprecedented popularity among children and youngsters.

Confirming it, Anu Katoch, a mother of two kids says, “My kids spend most of their pocket money on hiring CDs/DVDs and the games mania starts as soon as they come back from their school.” These games are making huge waves with amazing graphics and absolutely super stunning sound effects. Sleek-swanky cars, breathtaking acrobatics, elegant square drives, incredible tactics and fire spewing demons make for an unparalleled visual delight..

Pro-Evolution Soccer, Unreal Tournament2004, Brian Lara2005, Smack Down Vs RAW 2006, Need For Speed Underground2, Mortal Conduct, Doom4, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are some of names setting the games circuit on fire.

Nischajit, football player of St.Johns School, says enthusiastically, “Being my favourite sport, I can play it from morning till night.” If only his mother allows the poor soul to play. And if have what it takes to dribble the ball away from the likes of Beckham, Ronaldo, Owen and Henry, take it from me Unreal Tournament2004 will be a real toughie for you.

Pro Evolution Soccer gives an amazing playing experience where one can virtually execute cycle kick, banana kick and ball jugglery

If soccer is here can cricket be far away? Vivek Sharma, a student of DAV College and an avid videophile says, “You can play a cover drive, square cut the ball, hook and pull Mc Grath just sitting at your chair. What else do you need?”

Need for Speed Underground 2 is for those who love to drive on fast lanes. It is an ultimate thrilling experience with intense fast paced action dotted by sharp turns and number of colorful cars vying for podium finish. Priyanka Kalia, a student of Government College of Arts, explains excitedly, “Since I have a passion for cars, I love to play this game because I can choose my car and select from a number of tracks accordingly.”

For those who wish to give a chock slam or try a pedigree at your opponent, Smack Down Vs Raw 2006 is your take.

The flexible software enables to customize surface, layout and hazards, giving a compelling game play for everyone, be it a novice or a champion. A real icing on the cake-all this outrageous fun can be enjoyed in the cozy confines of your room itself. With the summer sun in all its tyranny, children can expect a little reprieve from mothers.

Riding High
Gayatri Rajwade

Shadowing the rain clouds, breezing through the rains and biting into their bullets, yet again! No guns here, just the exhilaration of being ‘Road Survivors’—spirited adventurers of the city’s Bullet riding club— recounting feisty road tales astride their Enfield bikes.

For this passionate bunch of buccaneers, summer is typically ‘snow time’ foraying into the sweeping landscape of Ladakh where the ice has just begun to melt and the pristine white of snow is all they need to see until they go back next year.

This time too the motley bunch, divided into two riding groups (for the sheer dynamics of convenience), are getting ready to complete their annual sojourn.

The first cluster of 24 (including three women) is back after their 15 day trip riding over 2600 kilometres of breathtaking rugged terrain which took them to Jispa via Manali onto Pang, the three lakes, Leh, Khardungla Pass, Kargil, Dras, Sonmarg, Srinagar and back to Chandigarh via Patnitop, averaging 150 to 180 kilometres a day.

For some it is a first time ride while for others like Swarnjit Singh it is his fourth year running. A veteran of sorts, Swarn completed the trip in 8 days with his personal best being 850 kilometres in one day! “The time and days just pass by; you forget it all in the beauty around you. No tension, no worries, everything gets left behind,” he smiles.

Deepak Arora (alias Master) ventured into Ladakh on his trusty Bullet for the first time and the “snow everywhere” astounded him as did the headaches from the lack of oxygen! While for “Hellraiser” Garry (Gurneet Singh), acclimatisation at Pang (nicknamed Panga by the gang for the severe climactic conditions—a mere 150 kilometres from Leh) was tough going due to his asthmatic condition. Will he do it again? You can bet he will for what epitomises their riding spirit is how Garry describes them all, “like-minded people ready for anything.”

“Anything” certainly seems to the buzzword for Swarn tells us of how he along with three others rode up to Baralacha Pass (at 16500 feet above sea-level) from their base camp four kilometres below at 8:30 pm at night. But that is not the end of it all. “It took us an hour and a half to come back because there was so much snow and the bikes kept skidding and finally we spent the night in a tent set up by locals there,” he laughs.

So what makes it so worthwhile?

“The thrill of uncertainty,” says old hand Jaskaran, “nowhere to stay, nothing to eat except what we have carried with us and 750 kilometres of riding with no petrol pump in sight,” is his insightful take!

For petite final year student from SD College Ekta Sharma, riding pillion with fiancé Jaskaran, the whole trip was all about breaking myths. “Who says girls cannot do this sort of thing” she retorts.

And finally for garrulous Garry, it was his precious supply of rum in his water-bottle with the mean road beneath that sums it all up—these fine moments of adventure—for each of them has ‘survived the road’ to tell their stories.

Have a Bullet, want to join? Log onto www.roadsurvivorschd.com and get started. 

FILM & FASHION
When slightly means more

British beauty Keira Knightley was left stunned when she saw posters for the movie King Arthur for the first time, for her breasts had been digitally enhanced to gigantic proportions. The Oscar nominated star revealed that though she had been told by the studio that her breasts would be made ‘slightly larger’ in the promotional posters, her jaw had dropped when she saw what ‘slightly’ meant. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star admitted that she was vastly revealed when her “double E droopy breasts” were then modified to a lesser C-cup.

Barbie Depp

Actor Johnny Depp is really in a league of his own, for while most boys, let alone grown up men, would not be caught dead with dolls, the actor admits that he has a whale of a time playing with a girl’s best friend - Barbie.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star revealed that he liked playing with the doll because it gave him something to bond over with his daughter Lily Rose. “I do like playing with Barbies. It’s a great thing to do with your kids,” Femalefirst quoted him, as saying. And, he also gets into the real spirit of things by exploring different characters with the dolls - something his daughter doesn’t quite approve of.

Conservative Ashlee

While her sister Jessica Simpson may have no qualms about flaunting her sexy self, Ashlee Simpson has made it clear that she will save herself for her boyfriend. The singer turned down $ 4 million to pose naked in Playboy magazine because she feels that her body is only for her boyfriend Braxton Olita. Despite the staggering offer, the singer says she was reluctant to share herself with millions of male readers. “My body is for me and my love interest, and that’s the only person who gets to see it,” she was quoted by Contactmusic, as saying.

Oh to be in the man’s world!

British actress Kate Bekinsale may be one of the most beautiful women in showbiz but she has revealed that she would not mind swapping it all to be a man. The Underworld star grew up surrounded by boys and insists she relates more to the men than people of her own sex. “I have four brothers and I long for that part where boys tease each other. I long for that matey boyness that you never get as a girl. I wish I had that,” she was quoted by Contactmusic, as saying. —ANI

Same wavelength
Pankhuri Sood

Thinking of adding volumes to your hair? Getting your hair styled? Looking for solutions for problematic hair? Then this is the place for you. Welcome to the Wavelength Salon and Academy.

A scintillating fashion show was organized here to showcase the latest trends in hair styling and make-up. Models from in and around the town sashayed down the ramp and enchanted the spectators. Jeet Brar was the choreographer and the newest fashions were publicized. The idea was to acquaint the clientele of the salon with what’s in these days.

Salim Junior, the head hairdresser and tutor says, ‘‘There is a difference between designer hair cuts and plain hair cuts. We take care not only of the exterior but also the interior of the hair.’’

Salim was previously working with Tress Lounge and has recently returned from a 10 day course in Delhi conducted by Servillies Academy, New Zealand.

There are three categories of international haircuts introduced. These are increased layer to give volume to the hair, uniform layer to decrease the volume and solid forms which include all the normal cuts.

Not only hair cuts but improvements are also provided to those not satisfied with their hair. For curly and wavy hair, slicing is done and notching for straight hair. The rate depends on the time and extent of the problem. The basic aim is to control the thickness and give a controlled look to the hair.

Various courses are offered and the minimal qualification is metric. Courses include Basis Beauty and Hair Culture, Crash Courses of 10 day duration, Self grooming and Advanced Courses for Hair. There is a proposal for hair shows throughout India and 15 academies throughout India, this being the first. So far there are fifteen students and three batches.

There is a special inaugural discount of 50 per cent till July 31.

Monsoon Madness

Seasons have their share of special savouries and monsoon time offers a valid reason to gorge ourselves on steaming hot delicacies, says Anandita Gupta

Rains, in a country like India, have always meant unlimited joys—battling freshets of sparkling rainwater sweeping across our faces, cupping our hands to collect some of these rushing torrents, jumping into dicy puddles and playing with the water zigzagging and trickling down our bodies mischievously. But more than all this, rains seem to pour down within our tummies a strong desire to gobble something that is piping hot. And when it comes to gorging into a crunchy, munchy, steaming hot snack, nothing beats the good old pakoras.

Think the sizzle of spices, the golden brown colour of deep fried delicacies and the wholesomeness of veggies. And what pops up before the eyes is an irresistible pakora. And since rainy season is the time when this snack sells the most, most sweet shops in the city are busy deep-frying these golf-ball-sized snacks to woo the palettes. But there’s one sweet shop in the city, that’s been serving sizzling hot pakoras to its customers for 25 years now.

A stunning variety of pakoras—that’s what greets you as you enter the 40-year-old Nanak Singh and Sons(more popular as Nanak Sweets), Sector 19, Chandigarh. You may have walked in to protect yourself from the rain outside, but what seems raining inside is a baffling variety of pakoras. Potato, Spinach, Onion, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cheese and Chillies, all deep-fried into crispy delights.

Informs owner Tejwinder Singh, “Most of our pakoras are used as takeaways on a rainy day. People working in offices get these packed and savour them in their offices with garam chai. And guess what,” he smiles, “we end up selling 70 to 80 kgs of pakoras per day in this season.”

And the shop’s USP? “Good quality combined with variety and reasonable prices. Our veg pakoras cost Rs. 70/kg while Cheese pakoras are Rs. 100/kg. But our speciality is bread pakora with cheese and potato stuffing, which is Rs. 10/piece,” he signs off.

Adds big bro Jagjeet Singh, “ We also make other Indian snacks that are the rainy-season-favourites, like Malpuras, garam gulab jamuns, jalebi, Amerti and paneer ki jaleebi. Though people here enjoy Malpuras a lot, pakoras are the first preference.”

And how does it feel to be dubbed as the pakora kings by fans in the city? Laughs Tejwinder, “ Well, pakoras today are going places. They are selling internationally.

In Pakistan, Muslims make pakoras in Iftari dinner in the holy month of Ramadan

In Scotland, pakora is sold in fast food takeaways as an alternative to chips or Kebabs during evenings and early mornings. So who knows, the two of us might land at Scotland some day?”

Of course, with the amount of hardwork and spicy sizzle these enterprising sardar jis are putting in their work, who knows they may be the next rain-food kings?

Pleasure sandwiched!

Forget rich-in-calories samosas and patties! Go for sandwiches packed with pleasure. They are low in fat and are scrumptious, recommends Saurabh Malik

Scrumptious sandwiches grilled to perfection are hot among the city residents. And it’s not just “Paneer-tikka” and “Veg. Club” sandwiches that are encouraging thought for food. Even “Spicy Mutton” and “Chicken Salad” sandwiches are ticking the taste buds, graciously.

The whiff of the grilled delicacy is unmistakable. As you cross the fast food and quick-eat joints offering mushroom, cheese and so many other sandwiches, the aroma of fresh bread grilled in the impressive toasters lures you inside. It mingles with a hint of white and black pepper to give you the taste of grilled excellence.

If you too are hot for the stuff, no need to grill yourself. Just drive down to your favourite haunt and gratify your taste buds with an abundance of “Tomato Cheese” and “Chicken-Tikka” sandwiches.

Right folks; forget all about counting those loathsome calories. For, some of the sandwiches are actually not fat-rich like the ones Subway is offering internationally! In your favourite haunt, just order mouth-melting chicken sandwiched between two loafs of bread with mustard and chili sauce. The choice is yours, entirely

You see, until a few years ago, one had few options as only a few bakeries across the city were offering simple vegetable sandwiches full of cabbage and mayonnaise. And most of the times, these were not even grilled.

But now the variety is more and merrier. Pick up the menu card in a fast food joint and you will find stuff like “Veg. Supreme” and “Veg Masala Sandwich”. You can also order “Spicy Veg.” and “Multi Grain Veg.” sandwich.

A word of caution here: As some of the sandwiches mentioned in the menu card may have “strange names”, just do not hesitate in asking the member of the staff serving at table, lest you land up with something you have no appetite for.

If you are going to Oven Fresh in Sector 17 or 35, remember to go in for “Signature Grilled Sandwiches” costing anywhere between Rs 75 and Rs 90 plus taxes. “Chicken Cheese”, “Chicken Salad” and even “Spicy Mutton” sandwiched under the category are good.

You can also go in for “Bistro Crescent Sandwiches”. Costing between Rs 60 and Rs 70 without taxes, you get scrumptious “Spicy Chicken” and even “Paneer” sandwich prepared with that extra warmth. The stuff is worth the price, actually.

At Food Swings in Sector 17, you can go in for both soft and grilled sandwiches. In fact, you should taste their “Green House” and “Coleslaw” sandwiches. Even “Paneer Grilled” sandwich is good. Non-vegetarian food lovers can go in for “Smoked Chicken” and Chicken Ham” sandwiches!

The stuff is not very expensive either. The vegetarian sandwiches are costing Rs 30, while you will have to pay something like Rs 10 more for the non-vegetarian ones. Well guys, VAT is extra.

At Café Coffee day outlets, you will get “Rustica Cheese”, “Foccaccia Veg.” and “Spicy Veg.” sandwiches. Their “Multi Grain Veg.” sandwiches are also good. The ambience, and the setting, is fit for a perfect snack for two.

Just in case you are going to Nirula’s, order “Cheese `n’ Garlic Toast” under their “Hot Number” series. It is costing just Rs 28 plus taxes. Red Skewers in Sector 8 offers nice “Sub Sandwiches” stuffed with paneer, chicken and even fish. Guys, what are you waiting for!

Plush yet earthy at the Dera
Gayatri Rajwade

Celebrate the confluence of cultures; the mingling of robust flavours and the delightful relish of peppery spices wafting right to your table. Gather under the flowing sweep of the Dera, Taj Chandigarh-17 where the two Punjabs merge into the warm spirit of a shared epicurean heritage. Just a few months since its inception and a spanking new menu makes its culinary way into this specialty eatery.

Having travelled right through the refined charms of Amritsari food to the heart of Pakistani tehzeeb in Lahore savoured street food, harvesting old, faithful recipes, the chefs have created a wholly authentic menu but not without its splashes of modernity to keep that palate dancing! And the new additions are surprisingly vegetarian, innovations of the Taj’s new Executive Chef, A N Mishra, who took this revamp as his first priority since joining a month ago.

So the perpetual mushroom and paneer make way for the attention-grabbing tawey wale kathal de tikke (Rs 250), tawa paneer khatta pyaz, cottage cheese with pickled onions and spices (Rs 300), kurkure nadru, crispy fried lotus stems in dry grounded tangy masala amongst others.

Indeed as General Manager, Anil Malhotra puts it, “These are age old recipes going back two generations using freshly ground along with a no-fridge concept where everything is cooked and used the same day.”

From the kesar-pisteywali lassi to the traditional matha, spiced, iced buttermilk to the Dera trademark ganne ka ras, freshly squeezed with a hint of lime to the murg badam di yakhni (Rs 95), roasted chicken and almond soup with fresh herbs or the bhutte mircha ka shorba, a spicy blend of fresh corn-kernel and green chilli, the start is traditional.

Thereafter, the interactive kitchen where you can see the tava rustling up aromatic delicacies to the show kitchen with its tandoor and mouth-watering kebabs to the curry corner.

Lasooni palak (Rs 250), rassmissey bhein wadiyan (Amritsari wadiyan with lotus stems), the dal amritsari and the in-house speciality lahori choley (Rs 250), the vegetarian options are pure pleasure.

Signature dishes from the interiors of Pakistan find pride of place too with Gujranwala represented by the anda fry bataer (Rs 375), the taxali tar korma (Rs 450), boneless cubes of mutton shoulder simmered for an entire day in tomato gravy symbolising the Taxali gates, one of the 13 gates of Lahore to the baluchi raan and even the fabled haleem (Rs 450), fine minced meat with pounded wheat grain simmered overnight on mild ambers.

Accompanied with bataer da parat pulao (Rs 350), basmati rice layered with quills cooked in traditional brass ware to champ ka khurma pulao or even the old favourite of Punjab, lal moth ka pulao along with channe da pratha or the lahori naan and even a divine chilli olive naan, there is novelty to look forward to.

Enchanting desserts from the chikki kulfi (Rs 110) to the lychee badam ki kheer to the divine thoothi, flavoured, sweetened grounded rice pudding.

And it is not just the food that enchants, the split dining experience with roti and tadka trolleys coming right to the table to the spry pista green and tangerine orange blushes to the frosted glass walls to whole spices peering from glass corrals make the dining experience a plush yet earthy one with the décor reminiscent of the legacy of the region with beige and rich silks defining the upholstery.

But it is the reverie of food, indulging the senses (and open only for dinner) that make the Dera Punjabi decadence at its peak!