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HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Reminisce the good ol’ school days here
PHOTOS: HTCS/ AMAL KS
Ankita Rawat
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power-packed evening saw who’s who from Bollywood, fashion frat and politics coming together as The Classroom — a microbrewery pub — opened its doors for public, recently. Hosted by owners Jaspreet Singh, Shikhir Dhingra and Vishank Kapoor, the do saw guests reminiscing their school days while mingling over sumptuous food and chugging St. Martin — Belgium’s finest abbey beers “One always looks out for an out-of-box concept,which has a perfect mix of good food, drinks, ambience and
Try these fun outdoor activities with health benefits
PHOTO: ISTOCK
great vibe. The decor of The Classroom is quite cool as it reminds me of my school days,” said actor Mahima Chaudhary. At the event, Dhingra, co-owner, said, “As the creator of this space, it was gratifying to see the entire house come alive buzzing with people. The soaring popularity of the house beer, St Martin among all age groups, was another high point of the night.” The massive brewery, housing four storeys was packed with people including politicians Bhupinder Singh Hooda, actor Gulshan Grover among others. n
ankita.rawat@htlive.com
Jaspreet Singh and Bhupinder Singh Hooda
WELLNESS
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pring is finally here, giving us a boost of motivation to head outside and embrace the new season with a new workout. Getting out into nature has its own health benefits — it improves mood, concentration and sleep quality. It is thus, one must indulge in outdoor activities and even take workout outside. Here are three activities worth trying:
ROLLER SKATING Roller skating has many health benefits, giving you a complete cardio workout that raises heart rate, burns calories and increases leg muscle strength. Its effects are even comparable to those experienced from running and cycling.
SLACKLINING This fun activity will boost your mood in just one session no matter how good or bad, you are at it. All you need to get started is a slackline suitable for your level to tie beneath two trees in your local park. Many videos are
GETTING OUT INTO NATURE HAS ITS OWN HEALTH BENEFITS — IT IMPROVES MOOD, CONCENTRATION AND SLEEP QUALITY available online to show you how to set up your line and get started walking. You’ll fall a few times, but that’s all part of the fun! And once you get going, it’s a great activity for core muscles, strengthen the lower body, boost mental concentration.
Gurcharan Singh Raju and Maninderjeet Singh Bitta
Shalini Dhingra, JK Dhingra, Sunaina Dhingra
OUTDOOR BOOTCAMPS Bootcamps are a great way to improve fitness quickly. The variety of exercises works many major muscle groups, and thanks to the fast-paced, high-energy atmosphere many find it harder than their regular gym workout or class. It is a great way to build strength by just using your own body and by leaving the weights in the gym.
RELAXNEWS
Vishank Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Mahima Chaudhary, Shikhir Dhingra
Amarjeet Kaur Lovely and Deepika Madaan
Sipika Mathur, Aakansha Bhanot, Swarmita Tannan and Mehak Chopra
THE CURIOUS CASE OF MISSING PLATES In a bid to provide unique experience to guests, restaurants are replacing plates with quirky objects FOOD Abhinav Verma
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ecently, 2012 Masterchef winner Anton Piotrowski decided to introduce a new concept at his restaurant, Brown & Bean, in Plymouth, England, where diners were instructed to make a fist over the plates, so that the food can be served on the back of their hand. But the locals didn’t like this idea. They took to social media to criticise the gimmick, which sparked a debate on how much is too much, when it comes to food presentation? Where have all the plates gone? And when did Instagram-worthy took priority over hygiene, quality and comfort of
Paneer and Chicken Tikka served on a miniature staircase; (above) Food served in a cart; (right) a new concept at restaurant in Brown & Bean, in Plymouth
eating? This presentation trend also led to a Twitter campaign — We Want Plates. While Indian restaurants may not be asking guests to eat off their fists, many have replaced plates with quirky objects such as miniature carts, cycles and ladders. “I’d agree to this, in my opinion hygiene, food quality and the ease with which you can consume it, take priority over the presentation. It’s true you eat with your eyes first. But, if the presentation is done in a manner that makes it uncomfortable for one to eat, then there’s no point,” says chef Sabyasachi Gorai. So, the question remains how one can be creative without going overboard, at a time,
when food innovation is prevalent and diner’s experience matters the most. “I think in this case, the chef (Anton) was trying to provide an experience to his diners and I don’t see anything wrong with it. Presentation of food is an integral part of the experience. However, it shouldn’t make it inconvenient for the diner to eat,” states chef Manish Mehrotra. Chef Kunal Kapur echoes the same view. He says, “People from different cultures and places have their own way of eating. Some use coconut leafs to serve food instead of plates. But when it comes to restaurants, I’d say it doesn’t matter whether you use plates or not, as long the food is hygienic and people have no difficulty eating it.” Diners’ eating choices and preferences are always subjective, so it’s hard to figure what exactly works for the diners. “I definitely agree that too much emphasis is placed on food presentation at restaurants,” says designer Rina Dhaka. And restaurants can’t be blamed for trying to provide a new experience to the diner. “After all, they are catering to a generation of people who validates every aspect of their lives on social media,” says Papa CJ, comedian. n
abhinav.verma@htlive.com
In this presentation of golgappas, pani is provided in a syringe
It’s important that the restaurants should let people eat the way they want to rather than forcing them to eat in a certain manner
If food presentation makes eating uncomfortable then there no point. A global movement called We Want Plates, has already started
MANISH MEHROTRA, CHEF
SABYASACHI GORAI, CHEF
People from different cultures have their own ways of eating. Some instead of plates use coconut leafs to serve food
Food presentation should not make it inconvenient for diners to eat and neither it should make your meal unhygienic
I am not a fan of Instagrammable food. I feel it is a distraction from the actual dining experience
KUNAL KAPOOR , CHEF
RINA DHAKA, DESIGNER
PAPA CJ, COMEDIAN