The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Palate pleasures
Mass produced, assembly-line products are passé. It is the hand-made goodies which have caught the fancy of the gourmets
Aditi Garg
Raised on a diet of big brands, the allure of small-quantity produce has been overwhelmingly strong in recent times. Everything that people relish and prefer seems not to be on a brand's menu but something that little known start-ups or hobbyists are dishing up.

Artisan ways

PACESETTER SWATI JAIN
Adding the creative touch to cakes
As baking and cake decoration comes of age in India, Swati Jain’s decided to set up her venture to train amateur bakers
Vibha Sharma
Swati Jain has a Bachelors degree in Commerce and a Diploma in Fine Arts. The journey to satisfy the craving for creativity began in the year 2006, when she returned to India after a short stint in Botswana. She identified the thirst inside her — of doing something of her liking, balancing the family front and satiating the artist deep within her.

Centrespread
Hair sparklers
Flowers like mogra and roses have always been used in the hair to add zing to one’s look. Designer accessories made with precious metals and gems are replacing these natural flowers
Surekha Kadapa Bose
Hair is the most striking feature of a person. So it becomes even more important to make it appear the most beautiful ‘organ’ and hence, needs good accessorising. While the hair can look good even when left free flowing, adorning the hair with an accessory will increase the enchantment value.

Bling it on
Objects of desire

Palate pleasures
Mass produced, assembly-line products are passé. It is the hand-made goodies which have caught the fancy of the gourmets
Aditi Garg

Sleight of Hand is popular for its delectable brownies; and (right) At The Flying Squirrel small batches of beans are roasted and ground on order

Raised on a diet of big brands, the allure of small-quantity produce has been overwhelmingly strong in recent times. Everything that people relish and prefer seems not to be on a brand's menu but something that little known start-ups or hobbyists are dishing up. Everything from bread, cookies, cakes and ice-cream to coffee, dips and tarts is being preferred the rustic way. Home chefs and entrepreneurs are leading the revolution as they passionately pursue their calling.

Breaking bread

A Cardinal rule for anyone who really wants to enjoy every morsel of their food is to stay as far away as possible from assembly-line produced bread. While the mass-baked product is easily available and cheap, once you try its artisanal counterpart you will want to travel the extra mile to bite into a burst of flavour and texture.

Mujahid Hussain felt the scarcity of authentically baked, fresh bread in Hyderabad so acutely that he decided to give the city a taste of the real deal. He says, "Our focus at Griffin — The Artisan Bread Store is to use the simplest ingredients, combine them using traditional methods of baking and produce the most flavourful bread. In the era of fast food, we follow the adage 'Time Equals Flavour'. A self-developed culture of wild yeast from Alfonso mangoes developed by our consultant chef, Maurice Chaplais, our stone hearth deck ovens, steam injectors and spiral mixers, all come together to form the most delicious cakes, pastries, biscotti, breads and more. While bread is not a staple in most homes that prefer rice and roti, well-travelled people love our chewy and crusty breads like sourdough, ciabatta, bagels and baguettes which are baked twice a day in small quantities."

Beyond vanilla

While the global favourite is vanilla, followed closely by chocolate, the world is craving more choices that are made the old-fashioned way. No pasty ice-creams with synthetic flavours instead of real fruit and vegetable oils in place of the milk cream will do. Gastronomes lovingly put together just a few litres of ice-cream a day and have people eating out of their hands.

Whipped based in Delhi's Greater Kailash dishes out fresh batches of mouth-watering ice-cream in flavours like Bailey's, one of the best cakes and cheese cakes and was one of the first to offer liquor-flavoured cakes. Christian Chadwick of Whipped says, "Even after four years, we see new customers walk in every day and the response has been overwhelming. Another outlet has come up in Defence Colony and delivery outside Delhi, through our website, is on the cards. It is only due to fine quality and close attention that we pay to each product that we have carved a niche for ourselves."

Home chefs

Tiffins with routine roti and sabzi have been around for a while but the latest is outsourcing speciality cuisine from home chefs who cook in small quantities that are big on flavours. Radhika Singh, a mother of nine-year-old, says, "My daughter is very fond of Mexican food and desserts but ordering fast food is not an option that I let her choose frequently. So, we order from a woman who cooks continental food from home and place the order a few hours in advance. It is fresh, sans additives and tastes delightful."

Aadore Sayani of Sleight of Hand is popular for her delectably gooey brownies. With training at the French Culinary Institute and some practice with sit-down dinners in New York, she decided to pursue baking as it was something that she enjoys.

Her ardour for what she does shines through when she says, "It started with something as simple as brownies for a friend's birthday and with lots of encouragement and help from varied quarters I have managed to start this venture. Now, I have organised myself in a manner that lets me ready more orders. The local Mumbai taxi drivers are very trustworthy and I send my deliveries with them. It has come to a point where I am couriering my products all over India and I am enjoying my work every bit."

Another talented home chef who has managed to woo taste buds is Bela Gupta who decided to take her hobby a step further. She says, "Having been a retail professional, I have had the good fortune to travel to a lot of countries and have been avidly collecting recipes from around the globe. I wanted to indulge my love for food and decided to set up Dips Sauces Dressings Seasonings. Multi-cultural cuisine, especially dips and salads, is my forte and the repeat orders that I get keep me going."

Platform to perform

Even the best cooks are destined for anonymity should they not get a platform to showcase their talent. Abhishek Singh of Imly.in provided the perfect solution to many like Aadore and Bela. With more than 160 chefs registered at the website, it offers the flexibility to offer the kind dishes that they want, to offer home delivery or pick up, number of orders to undertake and even choose when they want to shut shop while on a vacation. He says, "Food from home chefs is a growing market and we cater to 10 cities at present and will be expanding gradually. The response has been very heartening to say the least." A look at the website is sure to make you hungry.

Aromatherapy for taste buds

Everyday you make yourself the same cup of coffee; call it a matter of habit or sheer lack of choice but it persists. Not many places offer their unique flavours of coffee that will snap your senses awake. Tej Thammaiah, Ravi D'abreo and Ashish D'abreo partnered to bring home the artisan experience. The Flying Squirrel was launched two years back and is now poised to deliver the goods to your home small batches of beans roasted and ground on order. Love for great coffee and Tej's experience as a third generation coffee grower from Coorg, makes them the perfect blend. Ashish says, "We realised that coffee tasted different when grown on different parts of the same estate. From the character of the soil and amount of sunshine to fruit trees in surrounding area, everything came together to create unique flavours. We choose these environments by design, such as banana plantations, vanilla, citrus fruits etc, to get just the flavour and taste profile that we are looking for. Add to this our array of specialised washings and sun-dryings and you get to choose from six variants of our coffee that are the result of a intricate hands-on process." If that does not rouse your senses, what else will?

Artisan ways

Slow processed, tastier food: Commercial processing of food robs it of much flavour as the emphasis is to produce maximum products in least time to make it cost effective. Artisan products are made slowly using traditional techniques that retain all the goodness.

Hygienic and pure: Cooked in small batches, the artisan food is generally fresh, free from additives and high on hygiene.

Price wise: Fancy restaurants price their products after taking into account the costs like salaries, infrastructural management and advertising. But artisan products mostly prosper on word of mouth and are made at basic facilities without any frills attached.

PACESETTER SWATI JAIN
Adding the creative touch to cakes
As baking and cake decoration comes of age in India, Swati Jain’s decided to set up her venture to train amateur bakers
Vibha Sharma

Swati Jain has a Bachelors degree in Commerce and a Diploma in Fine Arts. The journey to satisfy the craving for creativity began in the year 2006, when she returned to India after a short stint in Botswana. She identified the thirst inside her — of doing something of her liking, balancing the family front and satiating the artist deep within her. Baking came naturally to her and so did creativity in the same field. The little exposure in Botswana had ignited the thought of blending both baking and creativity on cakes with the art of Sugarcraft. The thought of teaching this art brought in another level of enthusiasm in her life.

Till 2006, cake decoration in India was restricted to just basics and Swati felt the need to have the new art forms in this field and aspired to fill up the gaps that she could identify in this arena. Sugarcraft as a training platform for amateur bakers and crafters was born in 2006 and the first class was held in Habitat Center, Delhi. Sugarcraft India focuses on spreading Sugar crafting in its correct form — teaching the techniques and skills; and spreading the concept so that the actual artist in the baker feels liberated to explore uninhibitedly. The classes that are offered through Sugarcraft are spread out over a programme which is split in various stages, starting from beginners level 1 through expert level 3. There are some specialty classes and set of expert series of classes too. Swati says, "I realised how much I loved sharing what I knew and that teaching is an addiction for me." She works with a team of five to six girls, including a course developer and some are earmarked in the cities to manage the courses along with Swati.

The objective of Sugarcraft is to give the students international exposure in cake decoration and keep them abreast of the latest technologies in the trade. For that Swati needs to keep introducing the latest products and techniques that are continuously launched in this field. The intensive training imparted in the workshops stresses on widening the overall growth of the participating bakers. Finesse and accuracy are strictly adhered to at each and every step of the process of baking and decorating the cakes. As Swati says, "Just to give an example, the Gucci hand bag cakes made by Sugarcraft bakers look so real that it confuses even the ardent Gucci users immensely."

Swati continuously strives to come up with newer classes and concepts, new technologies like stencilling on cakes, whimsical cakes and much more. She has held many workshops in cities like Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Gurgaon and plans to add many more cities in the coming years. Success of Sugracraft is evident from returning students for advanced courses. Swati says, "Fondant cakes are a trend now as they have immense scope of creativity. Every cake is a work of art. Well done cakes sell in the range from Rs 1,800 per kg to Rs 2,200 per kg depending on the complications of the design and time involved."

She wants to involve more amateur bakers with her team’s attempt to take food creativity to entirely new and competitive levels internationally. She wants more people to take formal training to unlock their hidden because, "Classes help one to kickstart correctly without faltering at every step. Hence less frustration and more accolades!"

CENTRESPREAD
Hair sparklers
Flowers like mogra and roses have always been used in the hair to add zing to one’s look. Designer accessories made with precious metals and gems are replacing these natural flowers
Surekha Kadapa Bose

"Hair brings one’s self-image into focus; it is vanity’s proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices."

— Shana Alexander.

Hair is the most striking feature of a person. So it becomes even more important to make it appear the most beautiful ‘organ’ and hence, needs good accessorising. While the hair can look good even when left free flowing, adorning the hair with an accessory will increase the enchantment value.

For ages women in India, Greece, Japan, China, Hawaii, Africa and several other places have always depended on flowers like mogra, roses, hibiscus, orchids and whatever else is locally available to add that zing to their look by strategically placing these flowers in hair.

Now high-profile designers have stepped in and precious metals and gems are replacing natural flowers. A hair accessory has become a status symbol. For example, an Anna Khouri hand-crafted gold clip, Miu Miu crystal and pearl hair band, Tara’s white diamond and ruby hair clips, Mirari’s gold and diamond hair clip or any other designer hair accessory that will give you the royal touch?

And none of these come cheap! An Anna Khouri’s hand-beaten 18k gold hair clip costs $27, 771 (Rs 17,04,000), Dolce and Gabbana’s embellished head band costs $ 2054 (Rs 1,26,000), or back home Tara Jewellers, Mirari diamond hair clips or Annu Chadha, Alpana Gujaral’s maang tikka cost more than Rs 5,00,000!

Talking about the high-priced branded hair accessories, jewellery designer Annu Chadha says, "These are very limited edition or collector’s items. In the West, hair accessory is a big trend. Hair adorned with tiny clips, hair bands or even a small tiara increase the glam quotient. In India, the trend of hair accessories is catching up, especially among young girls. They are willing to experiment with their looks and accessories".

Jewellery designer Prakshi Sharma says, "It is a trendy option and young women use them. We can’t say a handful of women but most of them use it. If we talk about New Delhi and Punjab, the crowd here uses hair accessories to beautify their hair."

In India, the traditional hair accessory was maang tikka, which was used especially by north Indian married women. Today this piece has got pan-India recognition especially after several Hindi films and TV actors started flaunting it at all big fat Indian weddings on screen. From a traditional and religious ornament, it has become a fashion statement among young brides. Maang tikkas come in all pocket sizes — from simple gold to diamond or polka-studded tikkas.

Besides a bunch of white mogra venis, South Indian girls also adorn their hair with accessories made of gold studded with red precious stones covering the entire length of the braid. A typical Bharatnatyam dancer is usually seen with this accessory, albeit not made of precious metal. Unlike olden times, today very few designers create these in precious metals and stones. And also there are not many takers as it can be adorned only with traditional clothes like a sari or a half-sari worn over a long skirt, the way Deepika Padukone wears in Chennai Express.

But these are for traditional jaunts. Women today are opting for unique hair accessories, especially when they have role models in actors like Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma and others who trendily tie up their hair either with a side clip, barrette, bobby pins or a band. And there is absolutely no rule which says that you need flowy mane to sport these accessories or that these should be used only to keep your hair in check. Sometimes just to get that different look or different mood, one can accessorise hair.

The most popular international trend is the head band. And it is not only the schoolgirls who wear these. Head bands look extremely elegant when you wear your hair in a lose bun with few lose wisps of hair touching your forehead, or of course, when you want to leave your hair lose. And it can be worn with both formal as well as casual attire. You can get silver head bands with crystals attachments, gold-toned bands with gold or other flowery motifs, embellished velvet bands, or even ones in leather and ,of course, we have cheaper varieties in plastic.

Designer Sonal Sahrawat of Bijoux says, "Even brooches, single large danglers, hoop earrings can be clipped on one side of the head, just above an ear, like a Kathak dancer uses to adorn her hair. These are very trendy, and at the same time, add an aesthetic touch to an outfit. Precious metal or gems ornament can be replaced by costume jewellery for an informal occasion."

Many girls love to flaunt a tiara. A tiara is a small crown which sits back on top of the head. Designers know that the tiara is for a very special occasion and so prefer to make it into a convertible jewellery piece. A cuff with a flexible central hinge becomes easier to convert into a small tiara.

But a tiara has its limitations. Unless you are attending a fancy dress competition, walking the ramp, getting married, celebrating your 25th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversary or are a real queen, using a tiara is a complete no. Exchange the tiara with cluster of simple bobby pins made in coloured gold, white or black silver worn in five or six numbers. These make a lovely hair accessory. The best part of these modern hair accessories is that these can be worn with any attire — Indian or western. These look great on jeans T-shirts, dresses, gowns, salwar kameez or saris!

Taki de!
Sarah Painell

Royal touch
A real royal touch is added when a small tiara designed by Prakshi Sharma in white gold, white diamond and a centre large emerald sits pertly on the middle of your head. The hairpiece will make sure that you will be the all-important person of a get together.
Price: Rs 6,21,000

Pin point
Available in single pins, these roses in 18k gold and a white central diamond by R. K. Jewellers will add their own beauty to your hair. These pins can be placed anywhere on the jura (bun), on braids or all over the head. Wear it in cluster for special occasion or in singles for casual wear.
Price: Rs 25,000

Clip for a cause
The dainty hair clip is crafted out of pristinium with pave and prong set pink sapphires and milgrain work with white and pink rhodium. The novelty about this hair clip from Tara Jewellers is that it is specially designed to help patients of breast cancer. Incorporating the Pink Ribbon, 20 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of these clips will be donated to the Ogaan Cancer Foundation.
Price: Rs 1,999

Classy clip
A larger hair clip by R. K. Jewellers made of 18-karat gold and diamonds looks great even when you clip your hair in a simple pony style at the back, pin up and let your hair lose on one shoulder or use it as a centrepiece in a large old-fashioned jura. The clip can be worn both on western or Indian wear.
Price: Rs 50,000

Leaf beauty
One of the costliest hairpins, the leaf has been exquisitely handcrafted by designer Ana Khouri from 18 k gold. Wear this enchanting adornment and you wouldn’t need anything else to adorn you. To enhance the beauty of the clip, wear a monochrome silk gown in red or turquoise and watch other envy you. Of course, it is limited edition item, so try your luck to procure it.
Price: Rs 17,00,000

Clasp it tight
On a lunch date with colleagues or classmates, the casual black hair grasp, with golden-coloured teeth to hold hair tight adds a slight glamour to an otherwise casual outing. The easy to handle hair grasp by Ayesha accessories, comes in handy for an easy clipping of hair.
Price: Rs 248

Diamond clasp
Imagine flaunting a gold-diamond hair grasp. Crafted beautifully by jewellery designer Alka Kumar, the 18k gold teeth with white diamond clasp is a classy adornment for a formal party. Long tresses cascading either on an off shoulder gown or a brocade-bordered sari, will look graceful.
Price: Rs 1,20,000

Cabochon hair grasp
A romantic night out needs an equally alluring hair accessory of the right kind. A diamond and ruby cabochon hair grasp from Mirari, set in yellow gold will highlight not only the hair but also give a classy touch to your overall appearance.
Price: Rs 2,48,000

Pearl splash
There is something elfin when one wears a headband to restrict the flying mane. Rosantica’s silver-dipped headband has been carefully crafted by hand. The pearls are secured on to delicate branches, creating a beautiful 3D effect. Wear it everyday or save yours for a special occasion.
Price: Rs 20,500

Daisy headband
Adorn your tresses with Eugenia Kim’s romantic gold-plated ‘Daisy’ headband. This charming boho-chic piece is embellished with white beads and clear crystals and boasts a secure fit. Any college outing —be it films, concert, or a pizza binge will suit this headband. Looks great on jeans T-shirt also jeans and kurti.
Price: Rs 19,000

Trendy accessory
Ancient coins were a major motif at Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring show. This gold-tone headpiece features an elastic band at the back for a flexible fit. The metallic twill lining ensures it feels comfortable to wear, too. A trendy accessory for a western outfit, it’s great to let your hair lose.
Price: Rs 75,000

Gold comb
The hair loom or small gold comb by jewellery designer Alka Kumar is for beautiful Indian hair. Insert it on a typical classical hair chignon on your nape. Sparkling white diamonds forming the wide bridge on the long gold teeth will add lustre and style to your attire. This will look great on any western, Indian, ethnic or formal dress.
Price: Rs 1,30,000

Get bejewelled
Indian women are blessed with black tresses. A small pert hair clip from Mirari designed in white gold set with diamonds and pearls twinkling at a night out will add mystery to your date. And the clip suits any attire.
Price: Rs 2,44,000

Royal clasp
Pull your hair back and clasp it horizontally with this exquisite gold with white diamond hair clasp. The clasp by designer Alka Kumar is fitted in marquise-shaped diamonds studded in 18 k gold. This will not only make you look graceful but also make you feel like a royalty.
Price: Rs 2,00,000

Clip brooch
Anything designed with a motif of nature always appears ethereal and captivating. This hair clip from Mirari, which can be converted as a brooch is set in white gold, diamonds and pearls. A black Kanjeevaram silk sari with this clip on a dinner date will change the ambience of the event.
Price: Rs 2,22,000

Bling it on
Objects of desire

GLOBAL MASTERPIECE
During our school days the globe was our first detailed introduction to the world. Over the years it has undergone a dramatic change. Though inexpensive versions still abound, there are some which have taken globe-making to a different level. Online retail giant Hammacher Schlemmer is offering the world's most-detailed globe abounding with 28,000 place names in comparison to ordinary globes that list around 4,000. Cradled in a handcrafted mahogany frame in lustrous walnut finish it rolls smoothly on four casters and is almost like a masterpiece work of art—or, at least it costs like one.
Price: Rs 7.80 lakh ($13,000)

TERRAIN CONQUEROR
This contraption is for those who have extreme adventure on mind. The Rungu Juggernaut trike (as opposed to bike) has three 26-inch wheels – two in the front and one in the back making it the toughest thing ever to get a pair of pedals. Thanks to its 4.7-inch thick rubber tyres, the Juggernaut can outperform all other roadhogs and go where no bike has gone before---practically floating over sand, snow and even soft mud where the huge tyres are less likely to sink and get stuck. And for those who like the sun and sand this is a perfect bike to hit the beach with!
Price: Rs 1.50lakh ($2,500)

A MEGACAR NAMED SPEED
Talk about supercars and the first images that come to mind are those of a Bugatti Veyron or a Ferarri. Now you can add another name to that list—the Koenigsegg Agera One:1. In fact many auto enthusiasts are going a step further and calling it the world’s first megacar. Built as a celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of the Swedish boutique car maker, the powerhouse has a 5.0-litre V8 engine with a pair of variable turbochargers to produce a 1,341 horsepower and 1,011 lb-ft of torque. It can vroom to a top speed of 440 kilometers per hour—which could theoretically take you from Chandigarh to Delhi in under 40 minutes!
Prices: Yet to be announced

STUNNING ENIGMA
The Daniel Roth Papillon Voyager by Bulgari is a masterpiece the likes of which come rarely. The new travel watch in a limited edition of 99 offers an elegant and artful display that could take a long time to master. It has the local hours displayed in a vertical window. Then, there’s the second time zone, occupying the central part of the watch. Its two pivoting blue-coloured hands measure the minutes. The local time is set via the crown, while the 24 hour hand is adjusted forward and back. It has a fluted bezel, silver dial, diamond hour markers and president bracelet. Where looks are concerned the watch is a complete stunner but grasping how to read the time may be as tough as learning how to fly a plane!
Price: Rs 31.20 lakh ($52,000)

ACCESSORISING THE SMARTPHONE
Is it possible for an accessory to cost more than the smartphone? Impossible, you’d say. But Swiss-based luxury phone accessories maker Gresso will prove you wrong. The company’s bumpers for iPhone 5S made of aircraft-grade titanium can cost ten times the smartphone. There are several customization options available that include 18 karat yellow and white gold inserts and those made of special Italian calf leather. Consisting of upper and lower protective frames connected by hinges, the case is guaranteed to set you apart. And it better do that, considering you can buy ten iPhone 5S for the money you’d spend on the top-end crocodile leather bumper!
Price: From Rs 60,000 to Rs 6 lakhs ($1,000 to $10,000)

THEME FOR A CHILD’S DREAM
Amusement parks are amazing fun for kids and great opportunities for business houses. Disney realised it almost a century ago and now it is the turn of Italian luxury sports car maker Ferrari. Ferrari’s first prancing horse-branded theme park that was set up in Abu Dabhi has received such an overwhelming response that the company is venturing to build another one in Barcelona. To be called Ferrari Land it will cover 807,000 square-feet and will include Europe's highest and fastest roller coaster and a Ferrari-themed five-star luxury resort with 250 rooms and a number of restaurants. The park is being built at breakneck speed which is, says a Ferrari spokesperson, “faster than even the Formula Cars the company makes!”
Cost of the theme park: Rs 816 crore ($136 million)

BANDIT KING
Hardcore bike lovers have come to expect extraordinary designs from Beijing-based custom motorbike manufacturer Bandit9. Its latest model Eve Motorcycle is an example. Based on a 1967 Honda SS, the Eve is powered by engines spanning 90cc-125cc and features a mesmerising chrome unibody. It has custom exhaust, custom handlebars, exposed suspensions, a cattle skin leather seat and striking curves. The bike to be released later in the year has been flooded with pre-orders. Each model being built by hand is being fitted with classical instruments giving the head-turning road-scorcher an almost steampunk appeal.
Price: Rs 2.76 lakh ($4,600)

PLATINUM ART
Have you ever wanted to immortalize your face for posterity? If yes, then you need to take a trip to Japan and contact a company called Platinum Guild International K.K. that will make your portrait in platinum, one of the most expensive metals known to humankind. This unique art incorporates making a portrait with tens of thousands of platinum ingots which have been melted in a furnace at more than 1,700 Celsius. They are then shaped into balls in 2 to 5mm pitch. The dazzling brainchild of Platinum Guild International, the half-tone portrait involves the collaboration of an artist and a jeweller. If you have the moolah you can now bid goodbye to photo paper forever!
Price: Rs 3 crores ($500,000) for a 23-incx32-inch portrait.

RE-IMAGINING THE HOOKAH
Hookahs are usually associated with decadent lifestyles of the rich nawabs and sultans. But this one may not make you feel like Turkish royalty because it is made for the modern man — or woman. The state-of-the-art version of the ancient shisha has been inspired by a space rocket and created by leading Italian designer Christian Zanzotti who calls it IOOI. The radical, simple and elegant hookah is made from anodised aluminium, polished brass flourishes, crystal-clear glass and 3-D printed parts making it more an art sculpture than an ancient smoking water pipe.
Price: Rs 40,800 ($680)

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