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Humble
sandwich goes gourmet Let
there be leather PACESETTER
Shreejith Jeevan
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Humble sandwich goes gourmet Britain's biggest gastronomical gift to the world, the sandwich is said to have been invented by the fourth Earl of Sandwich. Essentially, a carbohydrate exterior, mostly bread, that holds together a filling of anything ranging from veggies and meat to fish and cheese, a sandwich takes on varied forms around the world. The quickest and easiest on-the-go food, you can order it from your deli or eat a sophisticated version at a fancy restaurant. From jam sandwiches that are a childhood staple to the exotic sandwiches that we fall in love with as we grow up, these keep us satiated in a delightfully tasty way. Worldly cuisines With the onset of global culture, popular international chains are mushrooming at every corner and local chains are offering a wider spectrum of sandwiches than ever before. There was a time when the only fancy sandwiches available were the white-bread club sandwiches but all that changed when players like Subway and Cafe Coffee Day entered the field. With it came a host of options such as breads of varied kinds and fillings that surpassed all expectations. You can eat sandwiches all day without feeling bored for you can choose between a wide variety of cuisines ranging from Continental, Italian, French, Indian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and those with Chinese filling. Fast forward to the present day and you have before you locally a true international representation of what you might expect to find in a cafe anywhere around the globe. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Co., headquartered in Los Angeles, has numerous outlets all over India. They offer a multi-cuisine sandwich experience, with their popular roast vegetable with hummus sandwich offering a Middle-eastern flavour, an Indian grilled kulcha and chicken tikka, and an Italian classic grilled cheese, among other options. It is their Indian interpretation of the sandwich, the paneer tikka, that is their hottest selling item, according to restaurant manager, Sunny Abrol. Healthy or indulgent A sandwich cam be made healthy if you choose the right ingredients like a multigrain bread stuffed with fresh vegetables; or you can be indulgent with mayo, sweet onion, honey, sweet chilli and a host of other dressing with patties of chicken, meat, potato or paneer. You can get your daily recommended portions of veggies, carbohydrates and proteins without compromising on taste. A favourite with the young crowd, Mocha offers healthy sandwiches that will not send you on a guilt trip. Their panini is a much sought-after item with varied flavours It is definitely one of the best sandwiches out there. While all their outlets draw ample crowd, the ambiance at Mocha Arthouse, DLF Promenade Mall, New Delhi, is a big plus. Karan Singh, the restaurant manager at Mocha, Elante Mall, Chandigarh, says that with increasing health consciousness, more and more people are choosing to enjoy their nutritious sandwiches. Roadside to gourmet delight We have all grown up relishing the roadside chana-stuffed kulchas that were a permanent feature near all schools and colleges. The throwback to the days when calories were something taught only in the home science class. Another favourite is vada pav that is a quintessential Indian sandwich from before we knew sandwiches in their connoisseur avatar. Nothing beats the charm of a quick bite by the road, fresh from a rehri that holds back on nothing to put forth a burst of flavours, a true representation of the spicy Indian food. Or you could go all posh and order a Rubens at Between Breads in Mumbai that offers meat, sauerkraut and gouda cheese. While there, do not miss the Rocky Road Sandwich that indulges your sweet tooth. From caviar to foie gras, nothing is off limits when it comes to the plush sandwich experience. Suit your mood and go all out or rein it in with options galore. Meal or anytime snack Given that sandwiches can be as elaborate or simple as required, they can be a plated meal or can be devoured on the go. Choose your level of hunger and fix yourself one accordingly. For a meal, a chicken patty or paneer patty sandwich with a generous-sized bread is just perfect. To curb between meal cravings, a half or quarter helping of a peanut butter and jam sandwich or tomato cucumber sandwich works like a charm. Many a wonderful memories are associated with sandwiches as a midnight snack during exam time or during sleep-overs. Backpackers, Chandigarh offers a host of sandwiches on its menu and has people ordering them around the clock. Madhav Dhakal, manager, says, "We have orders for sandwiches from breakfast till late at night and all the time in between. Given our choice of ciabatta, French baguette and garlic bread sandwiches, customers are never short of options."
Dishing out the dope on sandwiches
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Let there be leather A petite girl strolls into Delhi's Ambience Mall looking chic in her tight leather jeans, tee and boots. She is a part of a growing fashion brigade that loves leather clothes and accessories. Though these have never gone missing from the ramps of international fashion weeks or from racks of retail stores, this time these are being touted as fashion’s favourites. This season, global brands and Indian fashion designers are offering an amazing array of leather wear and accessories that include jackets, trousers, handbags, wallets and shoes. A lot many times leather has been replaced by denim and other fabrics that don’t need much care. But now that fashion designers are giving it an interesting twist, it is finding many more takers. As far as business goes, the market has never been rosier. It is all about style Though clothing made of animal skin have a history to it, today leather garments have less to do with functionality and are more associated with style and panache. Men in leather trousers, jackets or trench coats can look really handsome and women can look chic in these. The leather jacket gained instant popularity in the 50s when Hollywood gave it a masculine appeal. Movies showed stars like Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, James Dean, Charles Bronson and Peter Fonda wearing these as they rode bikes. The leather jacket has come a long way since then and has become a part of the ensemble of global fashion labels like Gucci, Christian Dior, Armani and other luxury brands, who have not just given it a haute charm, but a unisex appeal as well. Likewise, leather jackets and trousers are increasingly becoming a part of the women’s wardrobe as well. How to wear it right While handbags, totes, clutches and waist-belts have always been featured in the list of must-have accessories, shoes are a considerably new and interesting addition. Companies like DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Miu Miu and others have also come up with their collections of leather tops, skirts and one-piece dresses. Leather gained its initial fan following when rock stars like Joan Baez and Madonna started popularising it. Rihanna and Shakira have more than often performed on stage in black leather jackets or skin-tight leather skirts, lace tops and boots with silver adornments. At a recent fashion show in Delhi, models sashayed down the catwalk in leather and that drew applause from potential buyers, socialites and fashion followers. Many Indian designers like Ravi Bajaj and Namrata Joshipura have experimented with leather. Some new and emerging names are also dabbling with it. Boutiques and online fashion portals also have a special line of leather goods in the offing. As far as collections from international labels are concerned, these boast of leather clothes and accessories in their portfolio. Ranging from Burberry to Louis Vuitton and from Armani to Gucci, Timberland and Valentino all the big names in the fashion world are tossing up interesting leather designs. Array of designs Having scored a major success on the runways, leather is now firming its position as a hot seller in retail stores as well. Brands like Indian Terrain, Hidesign, Allen Solly, Pepe Jeans, Arrow Sport, Kosher, Suxus and many others have on their racks stylish jackets ranging from an affordable Rs 3,000 to a steep Rs 35,000 and beyond. Established players like Levi’s, Wrangler, Mango, Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Marks & Spencer, United Colours of Benetton and Jack & Jones have introduced styles like structured jeans, tapered waist jackets, trench coats, fit-and-flare shaped leather dresses and vests with bold zipper detailing. Leather jackets have also been adorned with hoods, fur cuffs, quilting and metal zippers. Colourful palette Shades of leather jeans and jackets that till now were only limited to browns and blacks have now been made an addition to. On the platter are clothes and accessories in hues of blue, green, red and even pink and mauves, which look very chic when teamed with other outfits. Leather is now being accepted in the corporate corridors as well. It is not uncommon to see men and women showing up for work in a well-suited leather jacket over a smart shirt. It is a convenient way of merging casuals with formals, or even retro with contemporary fashion.
On the bikers’ list
Just like a rockstar
Be a sport
Go stylish with peplum
Quilted to perfection
Pair it well
A chic party wear
Style meets comfort
Edgy fashion
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Keeping indigenous crafts alive Fashion designer Shreejith Jeevan has made his mission to popularise quirky embroidery on hand-woven cloth Surekha Kadapa-Bose At the recent Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festival, fashion designer Shreejith Jeevan paid a tribute to hundreds of artisans and their unique craftsmanship through his show titled “Strung Together”. But this is not the first time that Kochi-based designer Shreejith Jeevan has acknowledged the contribution of grassroot workers in the world of fashion. “It’s these craftspeople working at the grass-roots level, who can keep our age-old crafts alive. It’s they who make a huge contribution towards keeping our heritage and culture alive. And we all need to encourage them,” says the 27-year-old designer, who retails his creations under a year-old label, Rouka. Having graduated in textile designs from the National Institute of Design, Shreejith followed it up with a brief stint at the Paris-based Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Arts Decoratifss and also assisted senior designer Rajesh Pratap Singh before deciding to return to his hometown with the sole purpose of working with those who have kept indigenous crafts and arts alive. Taking about the sad state of European textile scene, he says. “Without retaining a touch with their roots, they opted for modernisation severing relation with their rich heritage. The situation is so bad that they don’t have any indigenous crafts left. It is all dead now. In India, however, modern or westernised we may be, we still continue to wear sarees, dhotis, kurtas, etc. keeping our sartorial culture vibrant.” Working with handloom weavers gives Shreejith resources to work with natural fibres. At a time when bling, synthetic fabric and cheap fabric sourced from abroad is the vogue, he has opted to design his creations with Indian silks and cottons. He sources cotton fabric from his home state weavers while for silks, it is the Bhagalpur weavers. Like other young Indian designers, Shreejith, too, is a great fan of traditional Indian textiles but has cleverly contemporised its use. As he says, “Clothes belonging to my label are simple, elegant and quirky but still retain the product’s sensibilities.” His clothes, at first glance, may look bland. Go closer and you are likely to be surprised by the embellishments — either hand-made needlework or machine-made embroidery with quirky motifs. For instance, his monsoon collection features motifs of umbrella, paperboats, raindrops, etc. The “Strung Together” collection has motifs of white mogra buds and petals similar to the buds strung like a garland on a silk body. The clothes showcased the art of stringing, with garland-like collars, strung together seams, threaded flower patterns and quirky detailing. Convincing the local Kochi women to embroider quirky motifs has been difficult. As he says, “They want to stick to the age-old motifs. Many left midway as they were unconvinced with my ideas. Some even fled away with the fabric given to them to embroider never to return. The karigars now have realised that my clothes are saleable and I have a dedicated clientele. In fact, they have become partners of my success.” With the aim of bringing both the weaver and the wearer of his creations closer, Shreejith wants to continue associating with craftsmen to create unique products and to dress the modern women in hand-woven clothes.
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Bling it on
Hunting for chess
Looking Spec-Tacular
Royal Design
Workplace workout
Ultimate Lounging
Classic drive
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Aditi
Garg
In New York City, due to taxing concerns a Massachusetts Judge ruled that a Burrito is a sandwich, causing much
furore.
Price:
Rs 1.82 lakh
It’s different & durable
Regal appeal
Easy to carry 
Magic of blue 
Signature touch 
Right for all times 
SPREADING FRAGRANCE IN A GLASS BOTTLE
‘Light’ Sleeper
the smart watch
BLUETOOTH GOES VINTAGE
