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Plateful
of choices PACESETTER
Jasleen Royal
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Click & shop Earlier, one could just book travel tickets, cinema tickets or at the most, pizzas. But now you can shop — from baby products, apparel for men and women, designer wear, branded clothes (both Indian and international); lingerie; jewellery (funky and high-end); accessories (bags, belts, eyewear, shoes); electronic gadgets; art work, luxury goods, travel tickets, the works. The best part is almost all sites accept cash on delivery or COD. Most of these portals have been started by netpreneurs who have felt the gap in the marketing of particular products. For example, Bangalore-based Richa Kar of zivame.com found it difficult to get the type of lingerie that she wanted and was also irritated by intrusive salesgirls. She felt there was a huge gap in the lingerie section in what was available and what consumers wanted. “Retailers stock and sell only those brands and sizes which sell fast. If a person has a different body shape and size, it can be embarrassing to ask for unusual or big sizes. Our website stocks hundreds of brands with every possible size. You can even get 32D, 38G to 44E cup size bra at our site,” says Richa. Similarly, when Dhinkars of hushbabies.com settled in Coimbatore, they found it difficult to source baby products which were easily available abroad. They co-founded the portal with two other friends to meet the need of their child and other such children and parents. “Besides the usual lotions, creams and diapers
Most Indian e-commerce portals have entered the market in the last couple of years, and claim a high success rate. These sites receive orders from remote places like Manipur, small towns of Bihar, Meghalaya etc. These netpreneurs mainly attribute this success to the gaps felt by the customers in the market. And also to the excellent after-sales service offered by most portals and an opportunity to source a product which isn’t available locally. With over 90 million Net users in India who claim to use the internet at least once a month, according to The Next Web, an online publication, the picture looks promising. By the year end, young Indians are likely to spend $9 billion plus on mobile internet, according to an industry report. At least 56 per cent smart phone holders in India access internet on their phones multiple times in a day in comparison to 53 per cent in the US, according to a survey conducted by Google in partnership with research firm Ipsos. The fledgling industry has yet to witness a major fraud, which is reason enough that young people are buying stuff using their smart phones. Most e.com portals do not charge extra for shipping and also offer replacement if one is not happy with the product bought. Some sites even offer free consultation. Says Pradeep Katyal, CEO, utsavfashion.in, a Jaipur-based portal which offers Indian ethnic fashion, “In case, dresses bought from us don’t fit properly, we offer alteration facilities also. One can choose fabric from our sites, give our designers the measurements. They will design and stitch according to specifications and send. ” But what about leisure and luxury vacations? There are portals that offer even those. A well-known site is makemytrip.com but there are others like Urvashi Bahuguna Sahay’s excluzen.com, Yogi Shah’s backpackers.com that plan the entire trip, help you not only get tickets, but arrange for good accommodation, tour personal guides etc. The site excluzen offers even personalised charter planes, yachts, golf coaching classes, whiskey tasting in Scotland, other exotic trips like bear and whale watching, glaciers in Canada, Alaska, white deserts in Egypt etc. Urvashi says, “We sell experiences! And any visitor to our site not only gets travel information but also can buy other products like electronic gadgets, accessories etc.” Time you hopped on to this bandwagon and enjoyed shopping from your home!
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Plateful of choices In
these hurried times, elegant table settings and polite eating manners may have been relegated to the background. But even in the era of fast food, one must know the right etiquette of dining and entertaining formally. Such occasions can be an important business lunch, a meal with a loved one or a formal dinner at an important family function. Ceremonial dining has been elevated to an art for another important reason. The exquisite tableware produced by some of the world's leading companies is not just keeping the tradition of fine dining alive but giving it a new impetus. What these companies produce are not your run-of-the-mill plates, bowls, teacups and saucers. Many of these are high-end creations made by accomplished artists and designers are no less then precious works of art. Artistic concepts The world's leading crockery makers are creating such artistic concepts and designs that they have given a new meaning to table setting. Plates are no longer merely to place food on. At high-end tables, you will have service plates, starter plates, dinner plates, side plates, salad plates, bread plates, meat plates, condiment plates, dessert plates and a host of other crockery items. Similarly, other dishes, too, have come in for big changes. A well laid-out table would have soup bowls, fruit bowls, cream bowls and dessert bowls. It could also have a hostess bowl, pedestal sugar bowl, a relish set, oval platter and special casserole for soup. Besides tea and coffee cups, there could be demitasse cups, which are very small cups used to serve Arabic coffee and dark espresso. This dinnerware could be ceramic or made out of natural materials such as china, earthenware, porcelain, ironstone, and sometimes even specially treated wood. Five-piece setting Formal dinnerware comprises the basic five-piece setting that includes a dinner plate, salad plate, soup bowl, cup and saucer. A more elaborate one would have serving platters, casseroles, bread basket, salad and dessert plates. Some of the most elegant settings would be a lot more elaborate. Besides the platters and service bowls, the tableware could include a gravy boat, pickle dish, creamer, accent plate, charger plate on a stand and also a ramekin (a small dish for baking and serving an individual portion of food). The dinner plate in a formal setting would be either nine or 12 inches in diameter, whereas both the salad and dessert plates would be four to eight inches in diameter. Colours and designs Though fine china comes in many colours and designs, a large number of sets still come in white so that they match the dining room décor, no matter how many times you change themes or colours. However, many high-end companies also offer them in a variety of bold hues. Some companies like Old Country Roses have traditionally been offering fine china in floral designs, Wedgewood’s deep blue and gold Renaissance is the stuff of dreams. Others like Hermes have miniature paintings on them and many like Mikasa, Monsoom and Ralph Lauren have recently come out with eye-catching Mandarin design creations. Lenox, on the other hand, has created an intricate heirloom-quality dinnerware designed with its classic plaid ribbons and 24-carat gold bands that looks stunning. Depending on your taste and style, the options are mind-boggling. From a few thousand rupees you could spend a king’s fortune for tableware that could transform you into a classy host.
WHAT CROCKERY IS MADE OF
Though crockery is produced from a variety of materials, the high-end sets are still made from bone china or porcelain. Some of the popular materials used: Bone china: Crockery made from bone china is popular because it is light, durable and glossy. A mix of porcelain and bone ash gives it a translucent hue. Porcelain:
When porcelain is fired at high temperature, it acquires a mirror-like shine which makes it a favourite for durable dinnerware. Corelle: Made of two layers of laminated tempered glass, Corelle is thin and lightweight but because of its double layer. It is also tough. Melamine:
Very popular in the 1960s and 1970s, the popularity of melamine crockery is on the wane because it is not microwave proof. Earthenware:
Pots and pans made from earthenware have been around ever since crockery was invented. It is still valued for its durability and sturdiness. Ironstone:
Crockery made from stoneware is hardy and long-lasting, which is ideal for casual and everyday dining. Stoneware:
Incredibly strong, water-proof material has been used for generations to make hardy crockery that is glazed to give it lustre. Natural wood:
Though some companies use specially treated wood for crockery, natural wood is best suited for serving trays,
cheese boards and bread baskets.
English company Monsoon's dinnerware collections blend together the exotic allure of eastern colour and prints with western bohemian styles and influences. A fine example is its chrysanthemum range of tableware that has been inspired by the bold 19th century Japanese textile pattern in charcoal and gold on fine, soft cream china. Price:
$132 (Rs 7,260) for a 16-piece dinner set
Those who thought Hermes was only into high-end couture should rethink. Its dinnerware products, too, are legendary. The Cheval D'Orient, for example, has been the choice of the high-rollers for long. Intricate and refined decoration in the style of Persian miniatures, it recalls the Silk Route caravans and the conviviality of the Orient. Price:
$1,075 (Rs 59,125) for a five-piece place setting
ROYAL WORCESTER: SHEER ARTISTRY
Royal Worcester of England has been known for luxury tableware ever since the company started manufacturing in 1751. Its signature white porcelain dinnerware called Evesham Gold is sheer artistry with luscious plum and peach designs, which are almost three-dimensional a befitting tribute to the company's 200-year-old commitment to excellence. Price:
$50 (Rs 2,750) for each 10-inch plate
Johnson BROTHERS: BRITISH CASTLE SET
With Johnson Brothers' crockery, you can visit the English countryside without ever leaving home. Each piece in the Old Britain Castle’s fine dining collection features different British scenes and castles, along with a name and date inscribed below the scene. Reddish pink and ivory add more to the refined pieces. Price:
$100 (Rs 12,100) for a 20-piece set
ROYAL CROWN DERBY: TITANIC MEMORIES
The Royal Crown Derby is one of the oldest porcelain factories in the world and has enjoyed British royal patronage since 1775. Its dinnerware was on board the luxury liner Titanic when it drowned. The same timeless pattern has been revived as part of the Titanic anniversary. The Royal Crown Derby English bone china set is still highly coveted. Price:
$400 (Rs 22,000) for a 30-piece set
VERSACE: Medusa Icarus Collection
The classic Versace collection designed by Rosenthal and titled Medusa Icarus has Price: Each item ranges from
$55 to $695 (Rs 3,025 to Rs 38,225)
One of the oldest and most respected companies producing fine china, Wedgewood was established in 1759 in England. Today, it is a name to reckon with in tableware. Its deep blue and gold Renaissance line is embellished with intricate garlands, oval links and a fanciful dragon motif. It evokes Europe’s classical Renaissance period. Price:
$300 (Rs 16,500) for a five-piece set
The legendary Japanese tableware company offers some of the most elegant pieces of table luxury. One of its popular series is the Colourwave set that comes in mix-and-match coupe and quad shapes that lets you customise your tabletop to reflect your style. It is also available in a wide range of fun and funky colours. Price:
$175 (Rs 9,625) for a 16-piece dinner set
LENOX: LASTING GRACE
Price:
$100 (Rs 5,500) for a five-piece set
WATERFORD: DINING AT ITS FINEST
Price:
$125 (Rs 6,875) for a five-piece set
MIKASA: TIMELESS APPEAL
Price:
$80 (Rs 4,400) for a 16-piece dinner set
ROYAL DOULTON: EXQUISITE CHINA
Price:
$2,295 (Rs 1,26,225) for a 45-piece set
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One-woman orchestra Music gives meaning to her life. Playing the guitar and the mouth organ at the same time, Jasleen Royal has also created ripples with her voice Vasudha Gupta She
is young. She has a good voice and she knows that. Jasleen Royal is as unconventional as her surname. Bubbling with energy, this 21-year-old came into contact with music the first time through her brother. It was his attempt to teach Jasleen to play a piano that introduced her to music — the love of her life. Trained to play a guitar and a mouth organ at the same time, her voice matches her passion. “Initially, I had no idea how to complete the song my brother started teaching me,” she says. It was the urge to complete that one song, which made Jasleen a star performer at school functions. In Class IX, she started learning the guitar. “My music teacher wanted to take off his load and asked me to start teaching,” she says. Her experiments with music lead her to learn more instruments and a few of them together. A graduate from Hindu College, Delhi, she had no idea what she was getting into when she signed up for the first season of India’s Got Talent. Dressed in shorts, wearing flipflops, she entered, did what she does best and floored the judges’ panel. “I never knew it would end up becoming such a big deal,” she says. As soon as her unconventional voice was revealed, friends, family, agents, everyone approached this multi-talented girl. In another stroke of luck, Jasleen was at a concert and was spotted by Subir Malik while playing keyboards for the famed band Parikrama. Subir liked Jasleen’s talent. A quick chat over a cup of coffee, and Subir has been managing Jasleen’s voice since that day. Her recently released song “Panchi Ho Jaawan” has several followers already. “It’s a healthy sign, when the industry notices a soothing voice,” she grins. Based on Shiv Kumar Batalvi’s composition, the song has also been selected on Roots, a popular show encouraging artists on MTV. All set to release her next English track, her feelings find a way in her music. Her song titled “Next Bus Back Home”, as free-spirited as Jasleen, was inspired by the fact that she had no place to stay in Delhi. A non-planner, she endorses the idea that musicians can hardly have a set agenda to work on. “I go by what I like, rather than sticking to a strategy,” she chips in. Her hopes, too, are as different as her voice. “Amit Trevidi is someone who is constantly working with fresh voices. I hope to work along with him,” she says. Quite obviously, for any singer her age, A. R. Rahman is the god of music. Coming from a family of non-musicians, she had to pave her way. Her mother and brother are still the first ones to listen to her compositions and give encouraging inputs. The credit goes to her music teacher, Dheeraj, who gave her the strength to realise her dreams. “Till the time something interesting does not come my way, Bollywood is not on my wish list,” she says.
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bling it on Price: $14.4 million
(Rs 7.92 crore)
GO FLY A KITE
Price: $200 (Rs 11,000)
Old is gold. This is an adage that the Heidsieck Vineyard in the French district of Champagne knows too well. One of the oldest wineries in France, Heidsieck had shipped a special order of 200 bottles of the 1907 vintage French Champaign to the Russian royal family in 1916. A shipwreck in the Baltic sea near Finland resulted in the fine bubbly being lost at sea. The bottles were recovered in mint condition by divers sometime back and are now out on sale. If your are ready to pay a king’s ransom, you can possess the coveted bubbly.
Price: $ 2,75,000
a bottle (Rs 1,51,25,000)
CRYSTAL-CLEAR WINE
Price: $695 (Rs 38,225)
TABLET FOR GEEKS
Price: Rs 11,990
For watch lovers this is as good as it gets. The Haas-Suisse 1899 Swiss lever pocket watch comes in a rare gold case with a shutter over the small gilt dial with Arabic numerals and blue steel hands. The 18-carat watch is meant to be a family heirloom. It's Swiss quartz movement assures accuracy. Under the glass are two gold leaves which open when the gold button at the base is pressed. The leaves remain open until the button is pressed again when they snap shut. So go get the past made in modern times.
Price: $9500 (Rs 5,22,500)
EYES ONLY for spidey
Price in India: Rs 9,740
Take off in style in a Martin Jetpack and soar in the skies to have the time of your life. Designed by New Zealander Glenn Martin, the strap-on jet reaches a speed of around 100 kmph and an altitude of 8,000 feet. It can be airborne for 30 minutes on a full fuel tank. Originally designed for sports and leisure, the Jetpack is eliciting some serious interest of organisations engaged in emergency services and defence. But if you just have recreation in mind, go ahead strap on the device and fly up above the sky so high!
Price: $1,00,000 (Rs 55 lakh)
This is a mouse even a lady is going to love. No it’s not of the jumping variety with a tail but the one that glides under your hand. That it is encrusted with diamonds is quite another matter! The luxury computer mouse from Swiss laptop and mobile accessories company Pat Says can be personlised with diamond initials or a pattern of your choice. So go ahead gift your wife/girlfriend/partner a Pat Says diamond mouse and make her surf the net in style.
Price: $26,730 (Rs 14,70,150)
COLOUR-ME BARBIE Barbie has inspired girls to dream, discover and explore a world without limits. For young girls who are artistically-inclined or are fashion designers-in-the-making, the new Barbie H2O Design Studio Doll opens up a new world of imagination. You can now customise and transform Barbie fashions over and over again for tons of fashion fun! The pack includes a Barbie doll, a water pen, a spray bottle, a stamp tool and a stencil. Just add water to design tools then spray and draw on Barbie and voila designs magically appear! The colours on the dresses stay for about an hour before they dry and disappear and can be re-drawn all over again. So kids, get ready to explore your artistic skills with Barbie
Price in India: Rs 1,099
Note: All prices are converted at the rate of Rs 50 a dollar
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Sonali
Seth
You’ve
there are many other things like car baby seats, DVDs, CDs, books for child entertainment and also information etc., which aren’t easily available in many cities. This is where we stepped in. Within a year of setting up our portal, we are getting nearly 1,000 orders a day!” explains Sridhar Sheshadri, CEO, husbabies.com. 
Citing an example, New Delhi-based Mayank Kay of nikites.com says, “If one wants to buy jewellery or apparel, normally one lands up in a mall or a shop which may have very few choices available. Even if our site do not have the item displayed, we have tied up with several jewellers all over India and can procure whatever is asked for.” 
MONSOON: BLEND OF EAST & WEST
HERMES: MINIATURES ON FINE CHINA
brilliant colours and exudes a sophisticated elegance. The dinnerware in vibrant tones of red, pink and lilac is embellished by Versace's classic geometric motifs in deep shades set off by a precious golden thread. A perfect setting for a romantic dinner.
WEDGEWOOD: CLASSIC DESIGNS
NORITAKE: COLOURWAVE DINNERWARE
From casual dinnerware for everyday dining to ivory and white fine china banded in platinum and gold, Lenox's motifs and their classic plaid ribbon creates an elegant set of five-piece place settings from its trademark holiday dinnerware and dishes collection. Scrolling accents and a rim of 24-karat gold finish the look with a timeless appeal.
With each graceful swirl of black ribbon, the 2012 Waterford Ballet Ribbon dinnerware collection promises a night of fine dining. Each piece echoes the form of an elegant dance interpreted on fine china. The dinnerware collection is a work of art which will make elegant fine dining an experience to cherish.
Mikasa was established in 1930 in New Jersey. Though wholly American, it looked to Japan for inspiration. Today, it is one of the most recognised brand names in the West. It has introduced a number of path-breaking designs that have been widely popular. Its Andria set is one of the best selling because of its reasonable pricing and timeless appeal.
One of the world's best known tableware companies, the Royal Doulton's Centennial Rose set, is an exquisitely rimmed bone china featuring a delicate floral design accented with gold trim. Its subtle colours lend themselves to a variety of linens and centrepieces, and its traditional shape will fit beautifully with a variety of crystal and silverware.
It’s a piece of religious art that is invaluable. The Dainichi Nyorai or the Supreme Buddha was created 800 years ago by ancient Japanese sculptor Unkei, considered by many as the greatest artist the world has ever seen. The 26-inch tall gold-painted Buddha sitting in a lotus position was discovered recently. It became an object of great curiosity as religious items were found stored in its torso. Made of Cyprus wood, the Buddha is elegantly clothed with hair bound in a knot. It was put up for auction by Christies and received an enthusiastic response. Speculation is rife it will be re-auctioned soon. So be ready with at least $20 million!
Has kite-flying always been a challenging sport that has tied you up in knots since childhood? Now you can have your kite and fly it too and like a pro at that! Only there will be no cord but a remote control in your hand. New York-based retailer Hammacher Schlemmer is offering a kite that not just flies with the press of a button but also executes a variety of aerial manoeuvres. The small engine mounted on the kite provides multi-directional movement that enables quick climbs and loops. Made of lightweight fibreglass, it can fly upto 500 feet providing hours of fun and baffling rival kite-fliers who want an aerial combat but can’t get to it as it has no tether!
CHEERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
It’s a vessel that showcases champagne at its finest. The Lido champagne/wine chiller, made by Austrian glass company Riedel Crystal, in a limited edition of 800 brings back the vintage classiness of the 1960s highball era. Crested by a sensual scalloped rim, the Lido recalls that perfect shell found on a sun-drenched beach. The limited edition is Riedel Crystal’s first-ever wine/champagne chiller. Created by Daniela Behr in lead crystal, it is a study in grace and form. Named after Venice's famed Lido Beach, the chiller will make your evenings most memorable.
India sure is going global. Zync Global Private Limited, an indigenous tablet maker, launched its first Android tablet Zync Z-999 with a 7-inch LED screen, an 800 x 480 pixel resolution, along with 3G and voice calling. Add-on practical accessories such as screen guard, lycra sleeve and earphones, apart from the standard USB cable and a charger, are included. The Z-999 plus boasts of a 1.5GZ single core ARM Cortex A8 processor and 512 MB RAM. Though it has a price advantage what remains to be seen is how it stands up to global competition.
TIMELESS BEAUTY
Want to avoid getting caught in the sticky glare of the Spiderman? If yes, buy yourself a pair of Spidy sunglasses. Maui Jim, the American luxury brand of polarised sunglasses, has launched its limited edition of 70 Spiderman-influenced eye coolers which feature a lightweight red frame and lenses with webbed mirroring. It can be seen by someone looking at the glasses, but not by the person wearing them. In a tribute to the superhero’s unique abilities, each pair is individually numbered and comes with a custom-branded case, storage pouch, and package. 
RIDING THE AIRWAVES
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS A MOUSE
