The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - The Tribune Lifestyle

Say cheese!
If you have tried those cheese slices and loved them, then there is more on the platter that you must try
Vasudha Gupta

"A dinner, which ends without cheese, is like a beautiful woman with only one eye."

Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

(French lawyer and politician, epicure and gastronome, 1755-1826)

No meal is complete without the little yellow slices of Jerry's favourite food. No matter how we graduate from eating the cheese dripping pizzas to the more sophisticated forms of blue berry cheese cakes, parties are still incomplete without wine and cheese. We try to understand from the experts in the field how cheese has taken off the casual look and now adorns a very fine texture in gatherings and gossip sessions.

There was a time, when only pizzas were related to cheese and the only variety available were the cheese slices, which were fondly opened up, spread on bread and gulped down with the evening glass of milk. "Most of the cheese delicacies that we make are based on authentic recipes. It's really not possible to make a cheese cake using the regular off the counter cheese," shares Nita Sukhija, of the Upper Crust. A skilled dessert expert, she prefers to use the real mascapone cheese for her exotic cakes and recipes.

From using six-seven varieties of cheese in different dishes to making customised cheese platters with flags of respective countries, Nikhil Mittal understands the pulse of cheese-loving city and uses only imported cheese in his famous bakery Nik Bakers. "Chandigarh is definitely aware of cheese and demand authenticity. We are the pioneers in using Blue cheese with mould as a delicacy in our salads," he shares. Planning to start a cheese fondue meet to look after the hunger for cheese in Chandigarh, Nikhil will also introduce a cheese making course in his upcoming institute. "We will also be offering a wine and cheese certification course," he shares.

There are very sophisticated reasons and for some, there are those very health-based reasons to use mozzarellas and cheddars. Chef Swatantra Gautam, executive chef of Page 3 shares the other side of the story. "People in general, have now started understanding the health benefits of cheese. It has now become more of a medicinal ingredient," he shares, tossing his corn and cheese spring roll. "We are the only one's making this," he smiles. Complete with the dosage of calcium, sodium and phosphorus, the right kind of cheese introduced in breakfasts and dinners can actually help strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis. "Mindsets have changed. We don't confine the use of cheese only in European dishes. I make several oriental meals with a generous amount of cheese in them," he shares. I am sure, we all know of at least one person, who wakes up in the middle of the night, crawls to the kitchen and pulls out a cheese slice to look after the mid-night hunger pangs. "Yes, I am one of those," smiles Ajit Mann, a cheese lover. "Cheese is the type of ingredient that forms a secondary base for any dish I eat. Nothing tastes as good till it doesn't have cheese dripping out of it," he says, biting into his cheese roll.

"Travelling has played a major role in exposing people in Chandigarh to the variety of cheese available," says Nitin, owner of MG Stores, Sector 9. Selling all kind of imported cheese for parties and gatherings, he is sure there is no stopping the cheese fad that has enveloped Chandigarh. From selling Danish Brie Cambert, Feta, Gouda, Dam Cuts and Smoked Cheese, here, it's almost like you name it and it's there to lay your hands on.

vasudha@tribunemail.com

Pick and choose

n Mascarpone: It is an Italian cheese made from cream, coagulated with citric acid or acetic acid

n Feta: It is a brined curd cheese traditionally made in Greece. It is an aged crumbly cheese, commonly produced in blocks and has a slightly grainy texture.

n Gouda: is an orange cheese made from cow's milk. The cheese is named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands.

n Blue: is a general classification of cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat's milk cheeses that have had cultures of the mold Penicillium added so that the final product is spotted throughout with blue and carries a distinct smell.

n Mozzarella: Mozzarella is Italian in origin and generally white. It may vary seasonally to slightly yellow depending on the animal's diet. It is a semi-soft cheese.

n Cheddar cheese: It is a relatively hard, yellow to off-white, and sometimes sharp-tasting cheese. It has its origins in the English village of Cheddar in Somerset.

	Britney is loving it! Pop princess Britney Spears says she doesn't have anything to prove to the world and keeps making records and touring because it's fun. The 29-year-old singer has kicked off the European leg of her tour promoting seventh album 'Femme Fatale' in St Petersburg, Russia, and after selling over 70 million albums in her career so far, she doesn't feel the pressure to do anything more than have fun on stage. "I don't really have anything to prove at this point. I just do it for fun and see what happens. I have a good group of people around me. We have the show at a certain time every night. And we just try to stay consistent on having a routine and staying fit and healthy," said the 'Toxic' hitmaker. Spears also promised the stage show for the Femme Fatale Tour is as lively as ever. "The show is really fun for me, it's one of the most entertaining shows that I've ever done. There are six or seven costume changes, the dancers are just on fire and it's a lot of fun. It's a fun show," she said. The singer is set to turn 30 in December, but isn't worried about reaching the landmark age, as she feels she is growing all the time. "I hear the older you get, the wiser you get and the more you know what you want. Hopefully it'll be a good year," she said. — PTI
	Astro Turf p Khurrana ARIES: Today is open for a lot of excitement. Conquer your fear and take a chance to live in reality. There could be delays with certain business ventures or personal projects. Socializing and attending events can be costly. Tarot message: Outline your goals ahead of time. Lucky colour: Deep red. Magic number: 28. TAURUS: Things happen quickly so you need to take quick decisions. You are aware to make use of opportunities. Children will be a source of joy. Work out at your own place or indulge in a session of yoga or TAI-CHI. Tarot message: Don’t build into accepting situations you dislike. Lucky colour: Yellow. Magic number: 34. GEMINI: There is good news on the cards. You will be in a relaxed mood. If you need to make any personal decisions, go with your gut instinct. Romance will lead to happiness. Tarot message: A bird in hand is worth more than two in the bush. Lucky colour: Orange. Magic number: 36. CANCER: The wisdom of “The Hermit” inspires you to make new beginnings and move in a creative direction. Spending time with family will bring about a sense of well-being. A casual conversation can lead to romantic times. Tarot message: Beware of wasting your energy on others. Lucky colour: Forest Green. Magic number: 46. LEO: “The Magician” conjures up some travel opportunities. Partnership, past disappointments - all need your attention today. Stop waiting for the right time to attend them. Tarot message: Trust your heart and intuition rather than confusion yourself. Lucky colour: Sky Blue. Magic number: 54. VIRGO: You are articulate and others are ready to tune in to what you are offering. By evening you can be in an irritable mood and will be prone to losing your temper with friends and family and may resent their advice. Tarot message: Avoid frictions with business partners. Lucky colour: Brown. Magic number: 62. LIBRA: A very busy day ahead. An important task to maintain a sound relationship seems difficult. Your chances of success are better today than ever before. Practice yoga to relax, overcome your anxiety disorder and to live happily. Tarot message: Be firm and stand your ground. Lucky colour: Pink. Magic number: 59. SCORPIO: The Prince of Wands rides in his flaming chariot of gold to instigate dynamic changes at work. Don’t trust unreliable friends or relatives. Traveling will yield valuable information. Don’t depend on others to do your important work. Tarot message: Remember, not to fall for rash promises. Lucky colour: Purple. Magic number: 52. SAGITTARIUS: Today mixing with friends could be tricky business. If you don’t want to be alone, choose a companion carefully. Don’t get involved in petty arguments with your partner. Tarot message: Consolidate your gains instead of throwing security to the winds. Lucky colour: Grey. Magic number: 58. CAPRICORN: Passionate emotions are likely to accompany your actions and you might be more impulsive. You will have a better chance of getting through odd jobs connected family affairs if you can to promote team work. Tarot message: Lack of confidence can leave you in losses. Lucky colour: Rust. Magic number: 45. AQUARIUS: Spirituality beckons and you are inclined to try and find out more about it. You struggle to keep your temper in check today. Take your partner or a friend for a movie this afternoon and enjoy escaping into fantasy and adventure together. Tarot message: Focus on your dream project. Lucky colour: White. Magic number: 56. PISCES: Relax with your mate in the evening; it’s just the antidote for the trials and tensions of the day. Someone you are attracted to at work feels the same way. It is for you to make the first move. Eat wisely. Tarot message: Take limited risks while speculating. Lucky colour: Crimson. Magic number: 55.
	The Year Ahead Madan Gupta Spatu If your birthday is September 26... On your birthday, an experienced person may have some valuable advice for you. Forewarned is forearmed. Domestic harmony and an air of romance will be just the ticket for you on this great day. Your mood is cheery, cordial and inspiring to others. Why not plan to do something with your loved ones at home? Your birth on the 26th day of this month improves your life path by increasing your capability to function and succeed in the business world. In this environment, you have the skills to work very well with others thanks to the 2 and 6 energies combining in this date. There is a marked increase in organisational, managerial, and administrative abilities. You are efficient and handle money very well. Ambitious and energetic, while generally remaining cooperative and adaptable. On this birthday, you are practical and realistic, often seeking material satisfaction. Your capacity to react quickly to safeguard a situation or avoid a crisis could take you by surprise. At times like this you discover who you truly are. Knowledge gained in the past or some training you thought you would never need to use will now work to your advantage. If you help a friend in need, you will find much good fortune returning to you. An emotional issue needs tactful handing fast. Professional opportunities are likely. You will have lucrative job opportunities. Health will be well. Being helpful to friends, instead of getting lost in your own desires gives you purpose. Mood: Prone to mistakes. Compatible Signs: Taurus, Cancer. Lucky Colors: Red, Hazel. Lucky Days: Sunday and Monday. Lucky Numbers: 2, 8, 15, 18, 20. Lucky Flower: Petunia. Lucky Gem: Iolite - The Gemstone of Vikings. How romantic you will feel to celebrate your birthday with 88 years old Dharam Dev Pishorimal ?nand (September 26,1923 ,Gurdaspur), second of three Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand. Their sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of renowned Hindi and English film director Shekhar Kapur. He graduated in English literature from the Government College, Lahore. Dev began his career in the military censor office at Churchgate, Mumbai, for a salary of Rs. 160. He was soon offered a break Hum Ek Hain (1946). Dev was offered his first big break by Ashok Kumar as the hero in Ziddi, co-starring Kamini Kaushal (1948) which became a success. Dev’s autobiography Romancing with Life was released by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Astrologically Dev Sahab’s Mercury, the magnetic planet is very strong along with Saturn. While Saturn gives a very long life, Mercury helps him to remain dynamic and evergreen.
	Chatter Box English show, desi version Unlike others, even television actors have their personal favourite stars and shows. Most actors find international sitcoms entertaining and we got some of your favourite actors, to tell us which are their favourite shows and who would they want to see in these shows if they were made on Indian television. Aamir Ali My favourite international sitcom is Everybody Loves Raymond and I love all the characters of the show. If this show is made in Hindi, then I would love to play Raymond. Sukirti Khandpal My favourite sitcom is Sex & The City because it is fun and very real. The story is about regular working girls like us. They are stylish, independent and above all they have a lot of fun. As for if it was reproduced on Indian television I would want to see Priya Wal, Roshini Shetty, Madhuri Naik and myself playing the lead characters. We all already share many of the qualities from the original cast and have our own Sex & The City gang. Aishwarya Sakhuja I love The Office on Star World and How I Met Your Mother. If these shows are made in India, I would like to play the role of Robin. I relate to the character a lot and I would also love to play the lead in The Office. Karan Wahi Entourage is my favourite International show. I don’t think it should be made in Hindi. If it did, I want all my friends – Raj Singh Arora, Jay Soni to be the part of this show. Priya Wal My favourite shows are Friends and Grey’s Anatomy. I couldn’t watch Friends and Greys in Hindi or with any other actors because in the process of Indianising the shows, we might ruin them. So no, I don’t want to ruin my favourite shows. But for Grey’s Anatomy, it would be great fun to see Sukirti Khandpal as Izzie Stevens, Roshani Shetty as Meredith Grey, Madhura Naik as Addison and myself in the role of Cristina Yang. Gaurav Gupta as George, Kunal Kapoor as Alex, Siddhant Karnick as Derek Shephard. Meiyang Chang House is a mind blowing American Medical drama which revolves around an eccentric doctor and his team who solve tough medical cases. It is an award winning drama and I don’t think it should be remade in India. I don’t think any Indian actor could play House but if ever, I would like to see Ram Kapoor in that role. Riddhi Dogra Friends and The Family Guy both are iconic shows. I feel no actor can replace these actors from the Friends gang and other one is an animated series and I don’t really want all these shows to be remade. Kinshuk Mahajan My favourite international sitcom has to be Friends and How I Met Your Mother. But I don’t think, these shows should be made in Hindi because they are iconic. There is another show called Full House which is superb as well and I would like to play the role of Tony. Off to a great start The recently launched UTV stars – the official channel of Bollywood which went on air on August 19, 2011 has garnered a phenomenal response from audiences nationwide in a very short span of time. In just 4 weeks, UTV Stars has acquired No.1 spot in the Bollywood genre. The channel is ahead of its competition, in the Bollywood entertainment genre with 23.5 GRPs, which makes it the leader in the genre as per the TAM data for week 38. With Preity Zinta hosting one of the prime shows of UTV Stars Up Close and Personal and fans getting to live a starry life on Live my Life, UTV Stars has caught the viewers’ fancy universally. Raining stars Zee’s upcoming singing reality show Star Ya Rockstar is grabbing headlines with the celebs coming on board. After Manish Paul, now Ragini Khanna and Neha Marda have signed on for the show. Moreover, Chavvi Mittal and Anu Mallik too will be part of the show- though it isn’t clear in what category. screen presence: Neha More the merrier Colors wants viewers to watch their shows more often so the prime time shows Phulwa and Parichay have been extended to Friday. The shows will now be on five days a week. tIME ZONE: A still from the serial Parichay The concern is mutual Zee TV’s singing reality show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs will soon have a gala finale on October 1 and gracing the occasion is none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The superstar will be promoting his film.
	Star Track Worth the wait Some of the biggest films this year have re-scheduled their release dates for various reasons. Which one are you waiting for: Rockstar or Ra.One? Take a look. Love's labour lost Agent Vinod: Saif's ambitious second production would have ideally released a year after Love Aaj Kal (2009). Pre-production was continuously delayed, some cost-cutting had to be done, and both Saif and Kareena got busy with other projects. The action thriller has been shot at exotic locales across the globe. Some patchwork shooting is still going on. The spy thriller sees the light of the day on December 9. Rocking at the right moment Rockstar: A summer 2011 release was planned for Imtiaz Ali's saga of rock and love. It was changed to September and the film is finally gracing silver screens on November 11, 2011. It was delayed because there were too many films releasing in the summer and they wanted a solo date, Imtiaz had to modify the ending, there were problems with the production company, and the film has been shot at locales as varied as Kashmir, Delhi, and Prague. Rockstar is one the most monumental films of the year so the makers wanted to make sure that everything was absolutely perfect before it released. Hoping to get lucky Ra.One: SRK had planned a summer 2011 release for his cherished and super-expensive sci-fi family film. Additional post-production work on the visual effects, added promotional activities and generation of buzz along with conversion of some portions to 3-D has pushed the release to Diwali 2011. Dating issues Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: Shakun Batra's film for Dharma Productions was supposed to release in November, it then got pushed to December, and it is finally releasing in February 2012. Producer Karan Johar has been very busy with Student of the Year and Agneepath and this film is still under production because it was difficult to get dates from both Imran and Kareena. Back to square one Heroine: Kareena turned down Madhur Bhandarkar's film so he decided to make it with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. If everything had gone according to plan, it would have released between Diwali and Christmas this year. The shooting had begun when news of her pregnancy came out. So the film was stalled as Ash was no longer a part of the project. His beloved film has taken off again with original choice Kareena and will go on the floors only around March next year. — HRM Kalki, the lucky one? Director Vishal Bharadwaj and producer Ekta Kapoor have been searching for the leading lady for their film Daayan. Vishal approached Rani and then Vidya but both actors said no so later they approached Kalki Koechlin. Now, Kalki Koechlin and Konkona Sen are likely to be signed to play the principal leads. Emraan Hashmi is already there in the film. Leading lady: Kalki Koechlin Power game Director Sudhir Mishra will soon start shooting for his next film starring Chitrangada Singh and Arjun Rampal. "The film is about sexual harassment at the work-place, break-up of relationships, the power game and what it does to people," says Sudhir Mishra. — HRM One more shot Actor Alexia Fast has joined the cast of One Shot, a crime thriller that co-stars Tom Cruise. The project, an adaptation of a 2005 Lee Child novel, centers on Jack Reacher (Cruise), an ex-Army cop who gets sucked into the mystery surrounding the arrest of a sniper accused of killing five people, a publication said. Fast will play Sandy, a seductive siren.— PTI Out of the box Every production house is trying something new and UTV Motion Pictures is inviting people to suggest the title of India's first-ever dance 3D film (is it a copy of Step Up 3-D?) on Facebook. The lucky winner will get a chance to dance with Prabhudeva and the film will be directed by Remo D'Souza. Step up: Prabhudeva Search ends with Katrina The hunt for the hottie is over! After an extensive hunt for a new face for the leading lady for Dhoom 3, which included international aspirants as well, Yash Raj Films is now pleased to announce and confirm that Katrina Kaif will play this role. Director, Vijay Krishna Acharya (Victor), along with Aditya Chopra, has made this choice after considerable deliberations. When asked on the selection process, Victor said: "After almost a year of searching for a new face, we were still unable to find the perfect debutant to play the lead role. We even reached out to international talent but were still unable to find someone who stood out. Both Adi and I really wanted to be sure that the person we chose would be perfect for the role. Once we decided to go with a known face and not pursue the new-comer route, Katrina was the obvious choice for all of us. She is someone who we all know will bring tremendous enthusiasm and commitment to the film. The first time pairing of Aamir and Katrina will also certainly add value." Produced by Aditya Chopra, Dhoom 3 is written and directed by Victor, who had also written Dhoom and Dhoom 2. Apart from Aamir Khan, who plays the anti-hero in the film, both Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra will continue in their now iconic roles of Jai Dixit and Ali. The shooting begins end of this year and the film is slated for a 2012 Christmas release. — HRM Next best friends Glee star Amber Riley wants British singer Adele to live with her in the US and be her best friend. The 25-year-old actor, who plays Mercedes Jones in the hit show, says she was thrilled when the British singer emailed her after seeing her perform on one of her tracks in the musical drama but the US star now wants to take their bond even further, reported a television channel online. "When I covered Adele's song, she emailed to thank me. I love Adele, I want her to be my best friend. She could come to the US, live with me and sing to me every morning," Riley feels she has a responsibility to her young fans and tries to be a role model. "I feel like I have a responsibility to young girls. When you're a celebrity, you have two choices - you're either just famous, or you can be an example,” she said.— PTI Depression is normal: Kirsten Hollywood actor Kirsten Dunst has revealed that she believes most humans suffer from depression and those who do not suffer are weird. The Spiderman actor, who had reportedly struggled with the condition earlier, says that this kind of mood disorder is perfectly normal and people should not hesitate to talk about it as there is nothing weird about it. "People are embarrassed to talk about it, I would never put anyone down [who] was in that kind of space," a publication quoted Dunst as telling. "I think most human beings go through some sort of depression in their life. It’s not weird," she added.—ANI Presidential pause Hollywood star George Clooney says he had to put his new movie Ides of March on hold after US President Barack Obama was elected. Clooney, 50, stars as a Democratic presidential candidate in the new film, alongside Ryan Gosling as a campaign worker, a publication reported. "We were in pre-production on this film in 2007, before the Obama election. And then we realised that a good portion of the country was elated with what happened in that election, so we had to shelve the movie until people were cynical again," he said. The Ocean's Thirteen actor says he began work on the film in 2007, a year before Obama won the 2008 American presidential election. — PTI