Designs on furniture

The table at the Mathur residence.

PECfest is bigger than ever
Excitement fills the air, faces shine with enthusiasm, attendance of students is cent per cent — after all they have been waiting for this day to come for a whole year! The campus just looked like one perfect Masti ki pathsahala. This is that time of the year when almost all colleges in the city are a buzz with activities more than usual. Techies are at it yet again. No references to the approaching examination. No prizes for any guesses. It’s the much-awaited PECfest that has gripped students all around the city. A visit to the campus revealed what does the fest means to the students. No books to be seen around and empty corridors.

Soup up!
Sprigs of rosemary, flakes of chilli and dusty-black peppercorns all muddled up with tomatoes and simmered on a slow flame. Just as the broth bubbles up ladle it into your waiting cup. Wrap your fingers around it, take a slurp and feel the warmth deliciously curl right down to your toes. Yes home-cooked potages are great, but how that nondescript soup in some of its more appealing avatars? For that ‘larger-than-life’ option, the Mizutaki Family Soup it is! Lots of vegetables and chicken bring up this honest-to-goodness broth at Chopsticks 2 in Sector 7 on Madhya Marg. This Chinese eatery believes in welcoming the whole family, so the Mizutaki serves up to 8 to 10 people from one single bowl!

No decorative urn this, instead this ‘pot’ houses the ‘Mizutaki Family Soup’ serving up to eight people at Chopsticks 2, Sector 7.

BON APPETIT
Take the citrus route
Orange, lime, lemon, tangerine, all these vibrant colours are so apt, so evocative of the fruits they’re named after. They themselves radiate sunny warmth, inviting you to partake of their tangy burst of sweetness (all, except the lemons, I daresay!) We are all aware of the benefits of the citrus family, with their abundance of Vitamin C in the form of pectin. The Vitamin C (Ascorbic and Folic acids) can reduce the levels of artery-blocking bad cholesterol in the blood.

Delightfully French
Croissant, named for its distinctive crescent shape, which once served as breakfast of Frenchmen, is now satiating almost everyone’s desire for patisserie foodstuff. Remember the last time you visited a bakery and noticed a turtle shaped bun with layers, lying on a shelf, having a shining top surface? Well, in reality, a lot goes into the making of the base of this otherwise tantalising croissant. This butter laden flaky French pastry is made by layering yeast dough with butter and rolling and folding a few times in succession.

Dazzling rose sandwiches
When a carload of guests land up suddenly, you can delight them with special dishes using roses! Try this delicious rose sandwich. Cut the flowers of your favourite colour, when they are nearly open. Take the most fragrant petals, chop and mash them into a batter for your special sandwiches. You can even put rose petals in your cake batter. Rose petals make a lovely and tasty sandwich filling and can also be put into a salad.

COOL STUFF
Love’s in the hair too
It’s the time for love, time for togetherness and time for Valentine’s Day. This Valentine, add a splash of colour to your hair and look absolutely gorgeous with Garnier Nutrisse. Priced at Rs. 225, Garnier Nutrisse is available in 12 shades ranging from natural shades like black and dark brown for complete grey coverage, to fashion shades like Reds, Browns, Plums, Golds and Coppers. Garnier Nutrisse is available at all Garnier outlets in India.

The sound of fame
The rhythmic notes of fame are just a soundtrack away for jitterbugs. They now stand a chance of playing live in five cities across the country with “happening” and “ internationally acclaimed” disc jockeys (DJs) by recreating their own versions of tracks. It may sound music to your ears, but the “winning compositions” will be released along with  tracks by professional DJs in an exclusive album with Universal Music. The contest, open to all, is scheduled to commence on February 9. The last date for receipt of entries is February 25.

Ik Chadar Maili Si vows London
Ik Chadar Maili Si has now premiered in the UK, thanks to Indian-born director Sneh Lata Verma. A Sheet Soiled and Torn in English, the play has been adapted from the one written by the award-winning writer, the late Rajinder Singh Bedi, in the ‘60s and is set in a rural Punjabi village. It tells the story of Rano who is pressurised by the village elders to marry her brother-in-law after her first husband is murdered.

FILM REVIEW
Hard-hitting, well made
Black Friday will leave you stunned. It is one of the most amazing, hard-hitting movies of its time. A bold story, perfect execution and strong performances by the lead stars will sweep you off your feet.

YOUTH SPEAK
Cricket in India is more of a passion now than a sport. Millions of Indians watch the game with great enthusiasm. As usual, they sat glued to their TV sets when during the recent Mini World Cup. If the players don’t deliver, it hurts the sentiments of millions of their countrymen.

Champu ko freeze kiya jaaye?
City lad Sunil Grover to host Kaun Banega Champu
Continuing with its tradition of wacky entertainment, FILMY is now ready with it spoof on Kaun Banega Crorepati. Kaun Banega Champu is hosted by Ruk Ruk Khan, played by Chandigarh lad Sunil ‘Lallan’ Grover. Says Sunil, "Playing a role inspired by superstar Shah Rukh Khan is an honour. But I’m looking forward to the bouquets as well as the brickbats." Watch out for the quirky play of the master as he goes all out to quiz you because Kuch sawaal aapki zindagi barbaad kar sakte hain! With Sunil on the pot seat is Suresh Menon, who will be playing various roles from Amitabh Bachchan to Karan Johar to Sachin Tendulkar and even Rani Mukherjee!

FILM & FASHION
Wear skirts Hillary!
Fashion mogul Donatella Versace has some valuable style tips for America’s presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Italian designer feels that Mrs Clinton needs to feminise her look with skirts and dresses instead of serious-looking pantsuits. Donatella Versace told a German newspaper: “I can understand (trousers) are comfortable but she’s a woman and she is allowed to show that. She should treat femininity as an opportunity and not try to emulate masculinity in politics.” Versace believes Bill Clinton’s beautiful wife’s signature look should consist of knee-length skirts with a short jacket in chic black, instead of her usual granny blue.