CEO Vol 1
Issue 9
December 2014 `100
flair, fashion and frost
Be hot this winter
gastronomical pleasures
Culinary experiences from the most expensive restaurants across the globe
Destiny’s chilD
Schauna chauhan
P E OP L E
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Style Check
Create the perfect look this winter with suggestions from some of the best fashion bloggers in India
Queen of the masses
The Parle Agro CEO Schauna Chauhan talks about managing the best of both worlds
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Flyinng high
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Prodigy, uninterrupted
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Kuoni MD Rajeev Wagle talks about his love for the tourism industry and travel
Owner of luxury designer story DVAR as well as Vijayta Entertainment, Vijayta Gandhi on the feathers she dons
A village of quirkiness
The unassuming Rimzim Dadu and her unmatched skills in redefining fashion
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When travel meets luxury
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Luminous Luxury
Discover the most exclusive, suave travel bags from across the globe
Light up your homes with the most fabulous and ornate candles manufactured by the best in the candle making industry
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PA NAC H E
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Brand Factory
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Great gastronomical escapes
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BMW: Packing a Punch
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Ladies, Tech up
The elitist’s library of new launches
Our pick of the world’s most expensive restaurants with their awe-inspiring cuisines and exceptional dining services
Add the Bimmer to your shopping list
The five best apps for tech savvy, go-getter women out there
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PL ACE S Modern country, ancient wonders
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A serene adventure
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The Towering, rare glory
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The Andaz of Hyatt
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A look at the breathtaking wonder that is Jordan
Discover Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia’s seafood haven
The style and panache exuding Palladium, Mumbai
Japan’s first ever Andaz hotel by Hyatt is vast and vivacious
Designer Diaries
We speak to three designers about their bespoke furniture creation
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122 WINE & DINE
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Arola, The Spanish Spark
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To the Moon and back
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A Tipple of Thai
Star chef Sergi Arola talks about the authentic Catalonian cuisine and his brain child Arola restaurant
A gastronomical tour to the Irish pub, The Moon and Sixpence, in Chennai
Drink up the Thailand’s young wine industry
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DECEMBER 2014
H E ALT H
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The M-word? Me-No-Pause!
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Eating right on the go!
132 136 137
Don’t let the much-feared ‘M’ word interrupt your life
Tips to let your wanderlust and diet plan go hand in hand
Goodbye, wintery woes
Protect yourself from dry, flaky skin by indulging in spa treatments
e ve n t s Kites Ho!
Kick in your New Year with the Uttarayan festival in Gujarat
Turn up the volume in Goa Goa plays host to the biggest music festival in South Asia
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CEO Vol 1
Issue 9
December 2014 `100
flair, fashion and frost
Be hot this winter
gastronomical pleasures
Culinary experiences from the most expensive restaurants across the globe
Destiny’s chilD
Schauna chauhan
RAADIA MUKADAM GROUP EDITOR & BUSINESS HEAD raadia@eyeballmedia.in ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR Arathi M FEATURE WRITERS
Nifty Jacob Isha Sharma ART DIRECTOR
Veeranandhan Kittappa GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Narayanan Sathish MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT R. Rajasekar K.N. Karthikeyan SALES COORDINATOR
Indu Vigneshwaran
indu@eyeballmedia.in CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION A. Rathinavel Pandian rathinam@eyeballmedia.in G.SAKTHIVEL MANAGING DIRECTOR Eyeball Media Pvt.Ltd. 30-32, Subramanian Street, Abiramapuram, Chennai 600018, India. Tel: +91 44 4567 1150. www.ceolifestylemagazine.com Printed and published by G.Sakthivel for and on behalf of Eyeball Media Pvt. Ltd. Published at 30-32, Subramanian Street, Abiramapuram, Chennai 600018, India and printed by IKON Print Solutions at Shed No.B-10, Quaide Milleth Street, SIDCO Industrial Estate, MMDA, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600 106. All rights reserved. The different trademarks published in this issue belong to their respective owners. CEO Lifestyle cannot be responsible for unsolicited material. The contents of CLS shall not be published or reproduced in any from without the written permission of the Group Editor, Raadia Mukadam. The copyright in the contents of this magazine, including photographs printed and published, rests exclusively with Eyeball Media Pvt. Ltd.
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EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Reader,
Famous for their exclusivity, exotic locations, rare foods, and unique atmospheres, luxe dining hot spots offer more than meals; they offer once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences
My friend, a famed Mumbai millionaire, who has me sworn to anonymity, recently took off on a world tour, but with a difference. His aim being, to fine dine at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, come at any cost. Some outstanding dining experiences he has ear marked include castles in Switzerland and an underwater culinary experience in the Maldives, Masa in New York City, Restaurant Le Meurice in Paris and Aragawa in Tokyo to name a few. Recession or not, I realise that from Japan to Europe to the Big Apple, luxe dining menus at extravagantly expensive restaurants, where dinner for two costs hundreds of dollars and a bottle of wine can fetch more money than the average Indian household makes in a week continue to lure the discerning foodies who revel in gourmet indulgence at some of the world’s most luxurious and priciest restaurants. Famous for their exclusivity, exotic locations, rare foods, and unique atmospheres, these hot spots offer more than meals; they offer once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences, impressive offerings not to mention their celebrity-status chefs. Frequent diners here often report to have got their money’s worth. Indeed, the fact that the world’s fanciest and priciest restaurants continue to become fancier and pricier suggests that foodie culture reveres indulgence and rewards exclusivity and prestige. While some would argue that it’s exactly these features which contribute to the excitement of any dining experience, it’s perhaps disappointing to those on a modest budget that international calibre, high quality dining isn’t a little more accessible. CEO Lifestyle this issue has put together a list of seven of our favourite exclusive gourmet hot spots where the meal is priceless and the ambience is nothing short of opulent. We encourage you to indulge yourself at these prestigious Michelin star restaurants for an experience of a lifetime. Of course, if you prefer more basic or franchised food, this is most definitely not the list for you. I for one, still find my ultimate gastronomical extravaganzas in the same place I have been going to since I was ten. The Michelin stars might be missing, but the sheer familiarity of faces and fragrances make the whole epicurean experience second to none.
Raadia Mukadam
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Contributors Momy Saikia is an engineer, writer, communication specialist, marketer and an entrepreneur. A jack of all trades but master of one - writing. She finds writing very liberating because it provides her a medium to express.
Jyoti Balani An independent culinary writer and wine enthusiast, Jyoti started her culinary journey in a hotel management institute. When not writing, reading or traveling, she can be found in the kitchen, the garden or on some vineyard !
Aparna Kaistha Shivi Saxena Shivi is a perfect concoction of wit with the right jugglery of words. The zany copywriter dwells in Mumbai, is an outlandish ideator, and her high jinks have a rib tickling impact on others. She also pens down life’s happenings unimpaired.
Interior Decorator, Stylist, Writer and Teacher. A lifestyle junkie in general. When not involved in dĂŠcor can be found partying, travelling or shamelessly pinning every free moment of the day.
Bhisham Mansukhani Saving the world one pour of sublime ferment at a time, Bhisham hopes to retire to life amongst the vines someday and until then, part time between a battered keyboard, deadline violations and a smattering of wines, beers and cognacs.
Prachi Joshi Prachi writes about food, travel and lifestyle for various publications. She loves exploring new places and cultures, and will travel anywhere for good food.
Kingston David In an eternal affair with technology and gadgets, an obsessive automobile freak, avid gamer, passionate about cricket and driving. An electronics engineer by chance and a writer by choice.
Karen Brost
Always ready to pack a suitcase at a moment’s notice so she can take off on her next adventure, travel writer Karen Brost lives in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona.
Winter Vogue
PEOPLE
STYLE CHECK
Amidst chilly nights, foggy mornings, and garam chais, winter is here, which also means it is time for your closet makeover. With adept advice from leading fashion bloggers, we bring you styles that are trending this season.
Roxanne D’Souza , Creator and Director at head2heels Styles for the winter – Winters can be translated into oversized sweaters teamed up with boots. You could also try a huge cardigan and add a pair of wedge sneakers for a casual-cum-sophisticated look. The ever trending – For a classic spin, try a monochrome palette. Black and white are safe colours that are forever in vogue, the best part being you can never go wrong with them. Of course, the little black dress, preferably knee length, is a staple. All day stunner –A cardigan held together with a belt makes for a comfortable casual wear. You could add a change of accessories and footwear depending on the event. Another favourite that works throughout the day are jeggings or a pencil skirt. Fashion faux pas to avoid – Never leave before checking yourself in the mirror. The Indian woman is uniquely beautiful and curvaceous. So, clearly one size doesn’t fit all. Follow what suits you and above all, be your worst critic.
Picture Courtesy:www.head2heels.co
Akanksha Redhu, fashion and lifestyle blogger at akanksharedhu Styles for the winter – To add colour to your winter, try prints. Floral themes can help brighten an otherwise dull winter. These work well during the day. For formal look, work with a monochrome palette, which is simple, easily available and as always, something you can never go wrong in. The ever trending – Trench coats are a wardrobe staple you must not do without. Classic and elegant, these can work wonders on a plain attire and also suit all body shapes. All day stunner – Keep a scarf or a shawl handy. You can replace them as required and it also acts as a good accessory. Also, pair printed tops with a trouser. To add to the style quotient, work it with a black or camel coloured coat, high heels and statement accessories. Fashion faux pas to avoid – There are no rules to be followed. Be confident and you will look stunning. During winters, mind the layering and make them interesting and comfortable.
Picture Courtesy:www.akanksharedhu.com CEO LIFESTYLE
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STYLE CHECK Manou, Fashion blogger at wearabout Styles for the winter – The men folk may find it a good time to dabble with tweed pants and a trench coat while stepping out. Add on a shawl to complete the look. Manou also recommends high brogues for footwear and if you are up to it, a full beard. Fancy? The ever trending – While the frost dies down, a white tee shirt and a blue jeans is an age old combo that never goes wrong. If you would like to go by something more vintage, the Indian Nehru jacket is a good option. A dhoti or a safari suit makes for a more dramatic effect. All day stunner – Team a pair of black cotton pants with a white round neck tee or even a grey one. Add to that a trench coat and a shawl (if you like) and you are good to go. The style works for almost all occasions. Fashion faux pas to avoid – Do not overdo the look, for example platform heels that come in leopard prints. Styles that work on one person may not suit another. Find out what works best for you and carry it with confidence.
Picture Courtesy:www.wearabout.wordpress.com CEO LIFESTYLE
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Chandana, fashion and lifestyle blogger at thegirlatfirstavenue Styles for the winter – Finally, this is for those living down south where winters are a pleasant affair. Capes make for an interesting layer and can be teamed with denims or pants. Another style trending is sports luxe. Pair tees or vests with tights or even track pants. Add to that a bomber jacket and hi-trainers and you are ready to take on the world. The ever trending – Blazers, be it in plain black or pastel shade, these add structure and character to your look. Plaids remain another classic that look fabulous. Work with plaid shirts to add colour and style. Pair them with skinny jeans and boots. Plaid skirts and dresses also do the trick. All day stunner – A tunic with printed jeggings looks great. You could also try a casual tee shirt or cardigan during the day. Make it stunning with a chic blouse, belt and statement accessory for an evening event. Fashion faux pas to avoid – Do not wear something that is uncomfortable. Know what suits you and dress accordingly. Also, stay away from ill-fitting clothes. Picture Courtesy:www.thegirlatfirstavenue.com CEO LIFESTYLE
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TITAN TALK
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DECEMBER 2014
ueen
of the masses She is a doting mum who loves taking her kid to the park but also the kind of woman who loves the adrenaline rush of a fast car. A pro at both and many other things, Schauna Chauhan’s biggest goal is to make Parle Agro a household name globally. Momy Saikia chats with the young CEO who is at the helm of one of India’s biggest FMCG companies.
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decisions,” she adds. With guidance from her father and unflagging support from her sister, Schauna is all set to turn this homegrown company into one of the first Indian global food and beverages company. Although work is the only priority at office, her sole focus is her family as soon as she steps out of it, with her one year old in tow. That’s right, little Chauhan Saluja is already a witness to his mum’s business genius at Parle Agro every day. “Even though I was given a choice, my son won’t have that liberty. His fate is already chosen – by me,” says the mogul mom with a devilish smile.
A Kodai kid, Schauna Chauhan went to the Business School at Lausanne in Switzerland to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree soon after graduating from high school. She immediately joined the family business upon returning from Switzerland, at the young age of 21. “I always knew that I was going to be in the family business without anyone influencing me. I grew up with the business, and although at some level it was probably chosen for me, it was only obvious and natural for me to accept it and want to be in it,” says Schauna. “Having family members in the business makes things much easier as there is certain comfort and immense trust in taking CEO LIFESTYLE
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TITAN TALK
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At this point, Chauhan recounts her first tryst with Bikram Saluja, her husband and a renowned model. “You know I asked him out first. He thought I wanted to discuss work,” the confident and unconventional woman recounts with a smile. Weekends are mostly family time for the Chauhans. “I like taking my son out to see and experience different things, like the beach, or duck park at Vile Parle, or the pigeon park, or just to the mall where he can go on some kiddie rides. Unfortunately, unlike abroad, there are limited things available for children here and the weather is not always ideal for much outdoor activities. So, one needs to come up with something creative each time. I also love spending time with my sisters and visiting art galleries at Kala Ghoda with my husband,” says the doting mother, sister and wife. Although family time on the weekends is filled with activities, during the long vacations Chauhan prefers to just relax, which does not include shopping or much of sightseeing. Her favorite holiday destination is Europe, Switzerland and Sicily in particular. Sharing an anecdote about her visit to Sicily, she says, “My first visit to Sicily was when I was still in school. I loved the place so much that I decided that I was going to plan my honeymoon there. And, so we did.” Chauhan also cherishes her lone time, which is often on the driver’s seat, quite literally. Passionate about driving, this CEO likes to drive herself everywhere. She explains, “Driving gives me the personal space – to think and plan things. So I do not want a driver in close quarters. Besides, you feel more restless if you are not behind the wheels when you are stuck in traffic.” Schauna currently drives a Skoda, but this unhappy Skoda customer is planning to switch to a different brand soon. “I am extremely unhappy with the performance of my car. Please do write that in your column,” she insists, with a grin. With the exception of her car, Chauhan otherwise likes familiarity and stays loyal to all things tried and tested, as for that matter, even tasted. Once a week, Chauhan visits Celini at the Grand Hyatt with her husband and orders the same minestrone soup and pepperoni pizza. “I do not try anything new if I have found something I like or found my comfort zone, when it comes to such things.” Even for her shopping destination, her only favorite place is the internet and in particular online stores of Mango, ASOS, Macys, Bloomingdales, Victoria’s secret and Zara. Though not fond of jewellery, Chauhan is seen rarely without her strings of pearl necklaces. A trendsetting business woman, who is comfortable in her own skin, it is no surprise that she does not believe in fashion trends For someone who could probably afford everything with a price tag, Chauhan’s most prized possessions are actually priceless to her - a gold heart shaped Tiffany necklace and a Ulysse Nardine watch, both of which are a husband’s token of love for his wife. “Bikram gave me the watch after his first independent project,” she reveals. CEO LIFESTYLE
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Chauhan also preserves such emotional and significant moments with family and friends through the medium of photography. “I have always made it a point to put my collection of photographs in scrap books,” says Chauhan. Her other personal collections include sculptures, typically those that speak of a (personal) story. Ask her about her own personal story and she would say that the only thing she misses in her otherwise perfect life is horse riding. Immensely passionate about her work and equally dedicated to her family, this queen of the masses is an epitome of today’s women business leaders. Putting India on the global food and beverages market in addition with the vision to make Parle Agro products affordable to even the marginal local population, Schauna Chauhan Saluja has her head above the clouds but her feet firmly planted on the ground.
For someone who could probably afford everything with a price tag, Chauhan’s most prized possessions are actually priceless to her - a heart shaped Tiffany necklace and a Ulysse Nardine watch, both gifts from her husband
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Painting by Bob Freimark (1922-2010)| Sculpture by JD Hansen & Cheryl Ekstrom
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TITAN TALK
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Flying high Enthusiasm that spills from his professional to personal life and the brilliance to transform the tourism industry as we know it today, Kuoni’s Managing Director Rajeev Wagle has it al. Arathi M talks to the genius about his love for travelling and his backbone that is his family
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Unassuming, yet charismatic. This is the best way to describe tourism king Kuoni’s Managing Director Rajeev Wagle. The 54-year-old is soft spoken, humble and dynamic. Even while heading home after a day’s hard work, Wagle is brimming with energy and is also more than happy to answer all our questions. Growing up in an upper middle class family in Mumbai, the voracious reader has always been an achiever and go getter. Ask him about his childhood, and he readily says, “While growing up, I was more into sports. I have also represented my college in the inter-collegiate badminton tournament,” says the former stamp collector. “But that does not mean I did not concentrate on my academics, even though my mother chided me quite a bit,” laughs Wagle. Reminiscing about his younger days, Wagle says the friends he made during his school days in St. Teresa’s and college years are the ones that still remain close to his heart. “Now, all we have are either acquaintances or colleagues. But, the bonds we made back then stay intact even now,” adds the B.com graduate from Mumbai University. The qualified chartered accountant started his career as Management Accountant of Garware Wall Ropes Limited, then moved on to become the General Manager of Finance of Datamatics Ltd and later the CFO of AFL Limited, one of the leading logistics companies in India. Didn’t we tell you he was an achiever? It doesn’t end here. Wagle was recently honoured as one of the most influential persons in the award category of Tour Operators and Business Travel, which was presented by the Outbound Travel Mart. Yes, we could go on and on. When asked what he loves to do outside of work, the astute professional, not surprisingly, says travel. A complete family man, he prefers to satisfy his wanderlust with the company of his wife and his son and daughter. The love for travelling and “ever present hunger for new destinations” are evident in his tone, when he lists the places – Switzerland, Hong Kong, Macau – he has visited with his family. It is no wonder that he has been associated with the leading tourism company since 2000, where he joined as Chief Financial Officer. A philanthropist at heart, Wagle adds, “I would love to help the less fortunate whatever possible manner I can.”
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A self-acclaimed sweet tooth, Wagle admits that his family makes sure he stays fit. Walking every day with a speedometer is his ideal fitness regime. “Sometimes, health does take a back seat as my work includes a lot of travel and cramming a lot into a day,” he adds. Wagle’s extensive experience in the travel field is a standing tribute to this as, the former Group Financial Officer in UTV Software Communication, was instrumental in setting up of Shared Service Centres for accounting as well as expanding Kuoni’s services to over 40 countries. The Shared Service Centres added a prominent medal to his achievements, as they were first of its kind in India in the travel industry. A lover of Chinese and Italian cuisines, he swears by the Royal China restaurant in Mumbai, where he tries to pay a visit at least a month. “My family is absolutely fed up with my love for Chinese cuisines. They have vowed never to accompany me to any Chinese restaurant, hereafter,” laughs Wagle. When asked whether he himself likes to don the chef’s hat, Wagle, with a sheepish grin, admits, “I have never CEO LIFESTYLE
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wandered into the kitchen. That is my wife’s kingdom.” The proud, loving husband adds, “The dishes that she prepares are number one on my list.” Ask him about his most-prized possession, and pat comes the reply, “The Tag Heuer watch my daughter gifted me. More than anything else, it is the sentiment behind it that has touched me to a great extent.” A person who swears by what is comfortable and is not brand conscious, Wagle says his choice does not lie in something “outlandish”. The man is also not active on social media, calling it “intrusive to an extent”. He laughs while mentioning that his son and daughter are very much active on Whatsapp, Facebook etc. A loving father, a doting husband, a hardworking professional, and most of all a straightforward and distinguished human being. These are just a few of the feathers that don Rajeev Wagle’s cap. It can be rightly said that it will not be long before this brilliant man comes up with some other dazzling change to the tourism field. DECEMBER 2014
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Prodigy, Uninterrupted From film marketing and promotions, to running her very own luxury multi-designer fashion store, Vijayta V Gandhi dons many hats. Prachi Joshi talks to the serial entrepreneur about her beautiful life.
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We are surrounded by glittering Indian wear, well-cut gowns and a full-skirted black dress that one could instantly fall in love with. Most of the clothes, despite sporting designer labels, are surprisingly affordable. DVAR, the luxury designer store at Juhu, Mumbai, is Vijayta V Gandhi’s newest baby. Gandhi started working at the age of 13, assisting her father, and at 15 started her own event management company in college. At 17, she was helming her new venture Vijayta Entertainment, a full-fledged film marketing and promotions company. Having marketed some 40-odd Bollywood films, Gandhi recently presented and co-distributed the Marathi film ‘Mai’, which marked Asha Bhosle’s acting debut. While business was good, the desire for reinvention and creative satisfaction led Gandhi to start thinking of a new venture. “I was really itching to be a part of the retail arena and I was toying with a couple of ideas,” says Gandhi. She partnered with her friend Parth M Sanghavi and within eight months, DVAR opened in May 2014. The collection of designer wear is curated by Gandhi and Ramola Bachchan. With a mix of established designers and some newbies, the store is a melting pot of ideas and designs. Born and brought up in Mumbai, Gandhi attended several prestigious education institutions, Maneckji Cooper school, where she was House Captain as well as Miss Cooperite, and N M College (where again she was crowned Miss NM). She topped most of her exams, led college festivals and won accolades for her elocution and drama skills. She dropped out of junior college, much to the horror of her parents, to pursue her passion for films. Gandhi was one of the pioneering forces behind the trend of taking film promotions beyond the usual circuit of press conference, music launch and premiere. CEO LIFESTYLE
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But if you think she’s a workaholic, you are wrong. “I am always ready to pack my bags and go,” laughs Gandhi. She has vivid memories of childhood road trips with her parents. “I believe that travel makes you wiser than any education or any number of books possibly can,” muses Gandhi. Los Angeles and Bangkok are her current favourite destinations. “Four things are an absolute must on my holiday – shopping, natural beauty, excellent food and a casino because I love gambling”, says Gandhi. When in LA, Gandhi has to make a pit-stop (or several) at Chipotle and also gorge on sushi, especially the California roll variety. A visit to Bangkok is incomplete without heading to Siam Paragon and maxing out her credit cards. Singapore and Goa are top choices when it comes to beaches and casino. Her bucket list includes Istanbul, and South India, not to mention a three-month slow travel across Europe. Gandhi is also big on food. “I enjoy sampling new places, and Chinese and Japanese are my favourite cuisines,” she says. Royal China, Ming Yang and Thai Pavilion are her regular haunts in Mumbai, and Skky at Ramada, Powai and Aer at Four Seasons are her favourite lounges. She enjoys cooking at home as well, especially pasta, and baking is a passion of hers, with flourless chocolate cake taking the top spot. Quiz her about her favourite possessions and pat comes the reply, “my clothes, bags, shoes and perfumes!” Chanel No. 5 is her favourite perfume followed closely by Lancôme’s Poême. “I associate Poême with DVAR,” she says. As far as bags go, Gandhi swears by Furla. “I find Furla’s designs very cool and I am huge fan of their Candy bag,” she adds. Her collection also includes a Furla vintage coral clutch and a Yves Saint Laurent bag handed down by her mother. But it is Louis Vuitton that she considers her prized possession. Her eyes light DECEMBER 2014
TITAN TALK
up when talking about clothes and designers, and her favourites include Aarti Vijay Gupta, who according to her understands an Indian woman’s body, Jayanthi Reddy (for ethnic cuts) and Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla and Sabyasachi (for heritage value). “My mother, though, is a Ritu Kumar fan, so I have also inherited her lehengas and sarees,” says Gandhi. Amongst international labels, Gandhi’s tastes range from Zara and Forever 21 to Marc Jacobs and YSL. On top of her priority list is spending quality time with her family as well as her boyfriend, Nikhil. “Both of us are super busy people and matching our schedules is quite a task,” she says. Another thing that she always makes time for is prayer. “Once a month, I do a sort of Mumbai darshan – I start off with Siddhivinayak Temple CEO LIFESTYLE
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in Prabhadevi, then Mahalaxmi Temple and the nearby Swaminarayan temple followed by Babulnath Temple near Chowpatty, and finally Mahim Church, before returning home,” says Gandhi. If there is one thing that she wants to check off from her to-do list, it is getting back into shape. “I used to be quite fit and used to jog regularly and practise yoga, but over the past couple of years work pressure, erratic travel schedules and back problems have side-tracked me,” says Gandhi. She has recently started with walking and aquaaerobics, and is charting her road back to fitness. Smart with an unmistakable entrepreneurial streak and that ‘let’s get it done’ attitude, Gandhi clearly comes off as someone who has it all figured out. DECEMBER 2014
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A village of quirkiness
When she was 21, Rimzim Dadu set out to materialize her ideas and passion, the result of which was nothing, but pure brilliance. Nifty Jacob catches up with the designer, who has constantly deconstructed and defied conventional norms to create a world of sensational themes, to discuss her label ‘My Village’, faux pas moments and everything else in between.
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When Rimzim Dadu put together a portfolio for the first time, combining some assignments from college with a couple of newly-crafted designs for the Lakme Gen X fashion week in 2007, she probably wouldn’t have anticipated of what was to follow. Fast forward that event, and seven years down the line we have a curator who has broken away from the clutter to formulate the exceptional. Unlike many who adhere by the fashion’s rule book of colours and cuts, Dadu begs to differ. “I would not alter my idea to fit a trend,” she asserts as confidently as she would spell her name or that of her muchappreciated label, ‘My Village’. “I am just someone who enjoys making clothes,” Dadu explains in her unassuming, simple manner. Her debut into the world of fashion doesn’t come as much of a surprise to those who knew her as a little girl and realized her passion while she played with the trims and laces from her father’s clothing unit. “When kids my age bellowed of being a doctor or engineer, I always knew what I wanted to be, although I had no idea what being a designer meant,” she quips. A degree from Pearl Academy and a few months of feeling constricted by the order of ideas later, she set up shop and plunged deep into experimenting and culling out the extraordinary. The designer serves as her own master and guide behind ‘My Village’, which started as an ode to a small clearing in our minds “where ideas and imaginations are manifested”. One can be certain that conferring to norms is not her strong suit. Instead, she prefers to play with her robust and CEO LIFESTYLE
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quirky ideas of how to bend the rules of nature. By the time she is done, natural elements such as cotton or leather seem to be a far cry from what one would expect of it. “My label has many people expecting something rustic or traditional, but that is not true, as most of my creations are modern and contemporary,” adds Dadu. “Silhouettes are not my strength,” she confesses. Neither is intricately woven embroidery or zardozi. Her rare and unmatched skill lies in redefining textures and fabrics. The Wills India Fashion Week conducted in May 2014 saw the unanticipated marriage between chiffon and leather. It not only defied the fluid fall of chiffon and the smart edge of leather strands, but also fused them to form a stunning futuristic and versatile collection. What happens when Dadu’s genius decides to test the waters by breaking chiffon into fine chords and sewing it in an interesting pattern, is simply breathtaking. Her grit and zeal breaks away from the conventional notions of what the fashion fraternity has been dabbling with. In addition to this, the products are quite wellreceived by them and even sported by fashion diva, Sonam Kapoor. But a muse, she has none. “I create keeping in mind the everyday woman,” she states. When it comes to designing, Dadu has a huge soft corner for textures. Call it her trump card or the result of her inquisitive nature, her fascination has always been bound with deconstructing elements and exploring its properties to create an entirely unprecedented vertical. “Textures intrigue me,” she says. “I love the tenacity of various fibres and the DECEMBER 2014
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structure of fabrics as well as working on it to revamp the original content.” The creative flow is generally marked by formulating an innovative vision of the fabric. Once a constructive idea is in place regarding the texture, silhouettes and colours soon follow. Currently working out of her atelier in Noida, Dadu is a hands-on person who prefers to personally oversee all the momentum of her label. “I am a one-man army,” she confesses divulging that more than often than not, she has trouble delegating work. ‘My Village’ is stocked in outlets across the country and internationally in the US, Middle east and Japan. For a couture creation, Dadu is ever open to personal meetings at her atelier that can be arranged through a phone call or an e-mail. Apart from showcasing her work at eminent trade shows and events such as Tranois in Paris, Dadu makes it a point to take a break and find time to indulge in the local culture. When asked what inspires her, she explains as to how the simplest of places, from the flea markets in Hong Kong to the streets of Paris, right up to the antique stores in London, can create a spark in her. One of Dadu’s priced possessions is a vintage leather bag she bought from an antique store in London, her penchant CEO LIFESTYLE
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for bags being another factor that draws her to the high-street fashion. Her latest collection on 3D textures for the European market was a result of a visit abroad. While her work has been making waves for a while, her personal take on the subject may come as bit of a surprise. “I am not a fashion person,” she tells us in her unreserved manner, divulging her ever-present fear of being “overdressed”. The designer who can usually be seen sporting rolled up shirts or tees, jeans and flip-flops, always tries to downplay the tone and absolutely detests over doing the style factor. She also confides that her fashion faux pas moments have been one too many, and counts her look at the Lakme Gen X as one among them. She also empathises with the perils of not being able to find the one true denim with the perfect fit. At the end of the day, Dadu is just another average girl who likes to hang out with her friends, have lengthy discussions and eat sushi or just about any cuisine. If not for fashion, gastronomy would have been an alternate career choice, she reveals. In fact, down the road, that is the plan. Until then, Dadu is going to be up and pulling new styles complimented by quirky textures, clearly a forte she highly banks on, as do we. DECEMBER 2014
# 21/11, Craig Park Layout, M.G. Road, Bangalore - 01, T: +91 80 25321786 Bangalore International Departure, Devanahalli, Bengaluru-10
Luxe Central
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When travel meets luxury A suave, stately and comfy travel bag is every person’s best companion on a holiday, be it an exotic vacation or an adventurous time off. Shivi Saxena brings you the best in luxury luggage options to make your travel stylized and convenient.
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We all have our bucket list of places to visit, most of which comprise exotic destinations or tranquil holiday spots. Travel is a way of life today, with social media flooding our newsfeed with articles on ‘best places to visit in your lifetime’ and ‘travel hacks’. While living out of a suitcase is exciting, it is imperative that we do it in style. After all, if our clothes speak about us, so does our travel bag! It is necessary to accommodate our traveling needs as per the place we are visiting. Or, rather, carry the comfort with us wherever we go. Designer
retro look with uber-cool designs, the Indian brand Rajasthan Trunk Company, has enabled Indians to travel light, in style. A perfect mix of luxury and heritage, the brand is lightweight and available in a multitude of hues. These extremely highend polished metal trunks are a great way to carry home the extra shopping as well. With special designs for the wedding season and other customized patterns, they are scratch resistant and have secret pockets to keep valuables. Remember those antique trunks shown in movies like Titanic, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, et al?
luggage brands like: Noble & Graff, Nappa Dori, TUMI, T.T.TRUNKS, Williams-Handmade, Delsey, Rimowa, Globe Trotter and the Louis Vuitton travel collection or the Porsche Driver’s Selection are redefining the way travellers look at luggage options to trot across the globe. Noble & Graff specializes in producing the world’s rarest and finest travelling trunks, each of which is hand created by highly-skilled European craftsmen and artisans. Unlike other long-standing or mass-producing trunk manufacturers, Noble & Graff produces exclusively for a prestigious clientele, with a limited number of less than 50 annually, each piece extremely scarce and sought-after. Products range from travelling trunks, jewellery boxes, wine cases, hatboxes, attaches, steamer trunks, to name a few. Beautifully combining the nuances of the conventional
They transport us to the era of travelling chests made of hardwood slats or metal hardware, which were originally used as luggage for extended trips by stagecoaches, trains, or steamships. Nowadays, given the weight limitations on airplanes, most people use these trunks as vintage furniture or chests for storing memorabilia, blankets, linens, papers, etc. Nappa Dori is one of India’s top shops for the classic travel trunks. Ishaan Bharat, visual artist at Nappa Dori says, “Our design aesthetics mostly draw inspiration from the old and quintessential British Raj era of Indian history.” Carefully handcrafted with attention to detail and finish, every Nappa Dori piece is unique. The most expensive trunks from Nappa Dori’s stable is the Westgarth & Steamer Trunks, which are made of genuine leather and heavy canvas fabric, with leather trimming running along the edges, while the
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most popular one is the Classic Yellow Trunk, which has become a trademark colour for Nappa Dori. Not just special vanity boxes and luxury briefcases for business travellers, Nappa Dori also made an exquisite trunk for a chef to carry his knife collection, and lens-friendly travel cases for photographers. That’s called adding a dash of vogue to the olden charm. The Founder and Director of Nappa Dori, Gautam Sinha, believes in the originality of thought and designs, while catering to the quintessential Indian sensibilities. Sinha
D’Estournel (vineyard from Bordeaux) and “888 Trunk”, for Prince de Polignac (cognac brand). Talk of celebrity luggage brands and TUMI tops them all. Be it influential leaders, sports personalities, celebrities, TUMI is the ultimate choice of the world’s most discerning professionals. It is no surprise that the US President Barrack Obama relies on TUMI Alpha 2, among other celebrities like David Beckham and Brad Pitt. Priced at Rs. 53,000, TUMI Alpha is the ultimate style statement. Genesis Luxury Fashion Pvt. Ltd. is India’s leading
asserts, “Our brand philosophy is to make travel friendly products which are chic, timeless and personal.” With a price range from Rs. 8,500 (154 dollars) to Rs. 16,000 (290 dollars) Nappa Dori’s luggage line is perfect for today’s traveller who values fuss free fashion and functionality. Get a feel of its breathtakingly beautiful designs at www.nappadori.com. A brand that accounts for its precision, T.T TRUNKS has been the favourite of celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, who once brought a customized cigar trunk from them as a gift to her partner. Founder and CEO of T.T. Trunks, Julien Trossat, explains, “Travellers desire luxury baggage because they look for differentiation and yearn for elegance and functionality.” Some of the interesting collections from the brand are: Millésime Trunk (champagne), “La Verticale”, for Cos
fashion conglomerate and markets TUMI in India. TUMI’s core collections: Alpha, Alpha Bravo, Vapor, Voyageur and Arrive/Astor are a blend of the modern and classic styles with the old-world craftsmanship. TUMI is soon to offer its unique “Accent your Alpha” service that will allow customers to adjust the look of their bag with the addition of colored components along with monogramming. Thus, gone are the days of tying a ribbon on one’s bag to differentiate it. The brand’s upcoming attractions include the debut of its Tegra-Lite Max travel case, which is highly durable. Tegris has a wide variety of useful applications, including use in watercrafts, motorsport vehicles and protective armor. In India, TUMI has stores at Palladium in Mumbai, DLF Emporio in Delhi, UB city in Bangalore and Quest mall in Kolkata. So pack it light and satisfy your wanderlust!
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Luxe Central
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Luxury
uminous
Swaddled inside gilded boxes that open up to release wafts of heady perfume, luxury candles are not ‘just another home decor element’ anymore. Isha Sharma takes you on a trip around the world to introduce you to some of the finest candles and their creators who turn wax into fabulous masterpieces.
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Fornasetti’s ‘Otto’ conjures up images of herbs and wood, or their ‘Malachite’ may remind you of a mixture of pine and sage, blended with a hint of sandalwood. If you like flowers, then Jo Malone is the best pick. And how can we forget Cire Trudon that is steeped in earthy yet royal notes. Then, there is The Faraway Tree by Dimple Kapadia that spells luxury. No, we are not talking about the world’s finest perfumes or tobaccos, but candles. From a Roman church to fresh-cut grass, from oudh and agar to exotic, your home can become a new-age temple that can calm your olfactory senses. Replete with complicated fragrances, their price could vary from 60 US dollars to 500 US dollars. Welcome to the world of luxury candles. December is the show time for candles. With Christmas CEO LIFESTYLE
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and New Year approaching, they make for the best gifts, which is why many companies roll out limited edition scents and boxes. Certainly, giving someone an Astier de Villatte Commune de Paris candle would make a statement. Their candle named ‘Delhi’ can definitely take you on a trip to the oldest part of the capital where a thousand flavours will invade your senses. If you are looking for floral scents, then The Faraway Tree’s tangy orange or soothing lavender fragrances is the option. The luxury candles by veteran actor Dimple Kapadia comprise aromatic, sculpted candles and experiments with motifs. The brand caters to a high-end clientele and the prices can go to any level, depending on the complexity of the scents and the motifs. DECEMBER 2014
Luxe Central For those who love to splurge on turning their homes into heavens, there is ‘A Vivid and Wild Beauty’, a candle by 12.29, worth 150 US dollars. The company even makes custom scents for brands such as Prabal Gurung. Le Labo and Diptyque, two French brands whose standard candles fall in the range of 60 US dollars to 75 US dollars enjoy a cult following by the entertainment and fashion industry. Diptique’s Holiday 2014 collection is available for pre-ordering. Priced at 68 US dollars, the candles come in three scents, ‘Epice’, ‘Resin’ and ‘Hiver’, all promising a burn time of 50 to 60 hours. ‘Epice’ has a distinct softness mixed with cinnamon. ‘Resin’ has a natural green smell, with a mix of bark, resin and crushed needles. ‘Hiver’ sensually evokes the wintery feel and smells of firewood and chestnuts. Since the past few years green living has been on a rise, and to cater to this, Jennifer McNabb, founder of M&J London, has combined ethics and luxury in a desirable range of scents. “It is important for me to know that nothing in my candles or business practices is hurting any person, animal or part of the planet,” McNabb explains. When it comes to the ethical side of the candle-making industry, from the boxes being carbon neutralised to using 100 percent soy wax, grown in USA, so that it burns clean, to donating money from all the sales, every minute detail is paid utmost attention to. The brand even makes custom candles for private clients and shops. It takes around six month to create a bespoke scent and sometime even more if the scents are complex. M&J London makes candles in two sizes, the small candles burn up to 30 hours and are priced at 23 pounds. The large candles burn
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up to 60 hours and are priced at 35 pounds. Another French brand, Cire Trudon, promoting itself as the oldest wax manufacturer in the world, sells an unscented 125 US dollars candle that is shaped like Marie Antoinette’s bust. The candles come in all sizes, from the ‘mini’ to the ‘Great Candles’ that can weigh up to 3 kg and burn for a few hundred hours. Another name to be reckoned with when it comes to luxury candles is Fornasetti Profumi. Milanese artist, sculptor and interior decorator, Piero Fornasetti is celebrated as one of the most original creative talents of the previous century. Thus it was very natural for his son Barnaba to broaden the range of decorative items. Their home fragrance collection, called ‘Fornasetti Profumi per la Casa’, is a selection of fragrances that come in containers and have whimsical and surreal Fornasetti designs. Some of the best Fornasetti themes include faces (especially that of opera singer Lina Cavalieri) and the sun. Fornasetti has five fragrances, whose prices range from 130 US dollars to 180 US dollars. They recently introduced ‘Malachite’, which is inspired by the dark green stone and is priced at 180 US dollars. However, if you are looking for an ultra luxurious treat, then British brand Jo Malone, a name synonymous with extravagance, is what you should go for. Malone makes a four-wick candle in a glass container, which is priced at a whopping 445 US dollars. With the many brands available when it comes to luxury candles, it can take some time to decide which one you prefer. But once you light your room with one of these, it will definitely be hard for you to spoil your space with a Rs. 50 candle.
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PANACHE
BRAND FACTORY
BE EUPHORIC Dazzle this wedding season in Diagold’s new Euphoria collection. The entire range of stunning neckpieces, earrings, cocktail rings, etc. has been designed with perfection to make the ultra-modern woman the head turner of the occasion. Opulence and quirkiness mark the precious and semi-precious stone-studded collection a delight to own. Price on request
BEST FOOT FORWARD Corneliani’s diverse footwear collection AW ’14 symbolizes elegance and sophistication, bringing forth the gentlemanly look. Designed for all occasions, Corneliani’s ankle boots, loafers, desert boots, sneakers, etc., with a seamless blend of quality and finish, truly enhances your look and confidence. Price on request
WEAR THE LOOK Tom Ford’s AW ’14 collection offers everything from classy and elegant to bold and provocative. The models for men include traditional optical frame that can be modified with metal sunglass clip-on lenses. With the aviators embracing masculine elegance and sporty chic and the sunglasses mixing vintage with a tinge of contemporary, what exactly are you waiting for? Price: `20,790
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DEFINE YOUR STYLE Catering to the needs of the bold and beautiful women, who believe that fashion is a way of life, I.AM.Me has introduced its new collection this winter. Bright colours and chic cuts etc. form the collection, converting your wardrobe into the perfect mix of formal as well as casual. Price on request
‘WATCH’OUT, LADIES Montblanc introduces the Bohème collection for the stylish, elegant go-getter ladies out there. These ladies’ time pieces bring out the aesthetic beauty in a feminine manner. Delicately curved horns in red gold or stainless steel and the floral Arabic numerals enrich the sophisticated watches like no other. Price on request
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY The Salvatore Ferragamo collection for men is, without a doubt, the perfect mixture of elegance and allure. Wear the square, clean-cut, thick metropolitan glasses to welcome this winter in all its glory. Available in havana red, tortoise as well as havana blue colours, the collection truly enhances the brand name. Price on request CEO LIFESTYLE
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BRAND FACTORY
EXCLUSIVE MUCH! Manero ChronoPerpetual, a stunningly unique combination of chronograph and perpetual calendar, is the latest from Carl F. Bucherer. The limited edition watches have a timelessly functional look crafted on them in fine rose gold. Adding to the chic factor is the case with the integrated sapphire crystal and the hand-stitched Louisiana alligator brown leather strap. Price on request
MIGHTIER THAN SWORD S.T. Dupont’s new White Knight Limited pay tribute to the souls of knights and drives inspiration from the splendor of their armour. Reflecting the elegance of the brand, the pens are delicately carved, with a glorious helmet adorning them. The pen clip is enhanced with flamboyant rubies and a central gemstone. The edition comes with just a limited number of 515 pens. Price on request
BRING ON THE TRANQUILITY Miolette, from the German brand Hulsta, comes home with an upholstered bed, high degree of comfort by way of corner units, individual lamps etc. An attractive mixture of ambient lighting at the bed headboard and subtle background lighting on the pedestals, this oasis of relaxation is a must-have for the comfort conscious. Miolette is available in six different colours. Price on request
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TEA DELIGHT Love bonding over tea? Alchemy De Luxe’s introduces Tea Treat collection in silver, a lavish, perennial glory to own this season. Flawlessly-carved kettle, tray and other necessities are immortalized in silver’s grandeur. Price on request
FOR THE VIBRANT HOME Address Home captures the hottest vase design trends in its latest collection. Promising to glam up your living space, these vases come in all shapes and sizes and range from frosted vases, high gloss finish vases, and textured vases to ceramic metallic ones. The vibrant shades of amber, blue, cyan, purple and grey and metallic finishes in copper, platinum and pewter will definitely gloss up your homes. `2890
TOAST IN STYLE The Royal Cup collection by Frazer and Haws makes for a perfect addition to your bar at home. Bring home the Champagne Cooler horse, Wine Bottle Case Vineyards, Wine Glass Romanov by this British brand with an Indian soul, to embellish your drinking space. The royal amalgamations rank first as options, while decorating your bar and are crafted with the perfect sterling silver. `94,400 CEO LIFESTYLE
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ELITE CLUB
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Exquisite
culinary marvels Be it a table d’hôte menu or an À la carte, the experience of dining at some of the most expensive restaurants across the globe is a pleasure in itself. Isha Sharma writes about such plush restaurants, where the masterchefs present to you a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience.
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Sublimotion, Ibiza
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If you have been promised an escape from the humdrum life, then Sublimotion will nail it down still further. The recently-opened restaurant, which costs 2000 US dollars per person, is located in the Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza and is currently the world’s most expensive fine dining establishment, thus giving the party island of Ibiza in Spain one more reason to boast of. Sublimation has been described as an unparalleled gastro-sensory venture that is spearheaded by Michelinstar chef Paco Roncero, who promises an experience like none other. This gestalt restaurant vows a culmination of all the senses rather than just the taste buds. Yes, that is the dream! The restaurant is Roncero’s canvas where his culinary vanguard meets technological innovation and creates a unique and until-now-unseen emotional experience; an experience that transcends the usual gastronomy and indulges the palette in an infinite abyss of feelings and sensations. Known for its avant-garde style of cooking Spanish food, Sublimotion takes 12 guests at a time into a sensory trip that spreads across 20 courses. The white table top transforms into a canvass upon which various lights dance throughout the evening. Explaining the concept further, a spokesperson from the hotel said, “Guests will travel in a world of sensations from the North Pole, where they will taste a cold snack carved out by themselves from their own iceberg, to the baroque Versailles, where the subtlety and elegance of a rose will melt in their mouths.” Simply put, Sublimotion is not in the business of providing food, but of helping you delve in an experience through the 20-course performance. It is much more than a physical venue, it is a set of emotions, it is a space and time travel capsule, it is a platform that pushes you towards unique sensations, it is a pleasure intensifier, and it is a presentation as passionate as it is innovative. In other words, it is an unmatched experience that is only understood by those who enjoy the experience firsthand. Picture Courtesy:Sublimotion
ELITE CLUB
Noma, Copenhagen
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How does the idea of indulging in Moss and cep, Shrimp and goosefoot or Caramelized milk and monkfish liver for dinner sound? Tucked into a harbour warehouse in Copenhagen, Noma has been making the waves as one of the best restaurants when it comes to Nordic cuisine, not to mention the presence of two Michelin stars. Noma is an 11-table restaurant and serves from a tasting menu with nothing short of 20 servings. Chef René Redzepi works on a modern twist with classic dishes to provide nothing short of a gastronomic delight. Perhaps, much of the acclaim and flavour comes from the chef’s dedication in sourcing rare and fresh ingredients by foraging in the depths of the wild. The rest comes from an extensive network of farmers and purveyors, which is uniquely narrated into exotic dishes to keep up with the sensibilities of a cuisine that is less heard of and perhaps widely underrated. Of course, the menu is replete with innovative concepts and a truly experimental presentation which may surprise you, and for those unprepared, may even baffle you. With dishes such as reindeer moss, radishes served on a bed of edible soil or live ants with yoghurt, this is definitely not for the orthodox or the faint at heart. For those who would like to experience this, reservations need to done weeks before, and sometimes maybe even months in advance. Bookings can be made online or via telephone. The cost of lunch or dinner is 267 US dollars per person. There is also an option of bespoke events by Noma for guests who want something exclusively customized. This, however, can be availed for a group of over 18 guests. As an update for those who would like to reserve a spot, the restaurant is set to close for winter holidays by December 20th and will re-open only on March 24th, 2015. So, pick up the phone, make a reservation and enjoy Nordic cuisine at its very best.
Picture Courtesy:Mikkel Heriba CEO LIFESTYLE
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Michel Bras Restaurant Toya Japan
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There are very few restaurants in the world that with the gastronomical delight, also provide us with a calm and inspiring view. Michel Bras, located in the Windsor hotel in Hokkaido, which is a solitary building on the rim of a vast volcanic crater, is one such restaurant. The crater has a large volcanic lake, Toya, which consist of transparent blue water and beautiful islands. One side of the restaurant looks over the lake and the other side, the crater rim over the Pacific Ocean. One can, no doubt, sit in this aweinspiring fairytale setting for hours. The restaurant is a replica of the legendary Michel Bras in France. This three Michelin-star restaurant is headed by Head Chef/Director Cedric Bourassin and reproduces the dishes of the original restaurant. This said, the place or the food is in no way inferior to the one in France. Michel Bras has the same food creativity, spirit and even the service, but with a difference. Being in the middle of nature, the cuisine is cooked with local produce with a French twist, which gives the menu a slight edge. Their most popular dish, both in France and Japan, is the Gargouillou of young vegetables and has been adapted in restaurants all over the world. This dish consists of dozens of vegetables, herb and flowers, some raw, some cooked, prepared in a variety of ways. The final result is beautiful to look at as well as to taste and can have up to 80 separate components. Michel Bras, with its menu changing every day according to the seasonal products, can easily be called a destination restaurant in every sense of the word. For Christmas and New Year, the restaurant is preparing two special and unique menus. The most expensive menu at the restaurant costs roughly 287 US dollar per person and the fine cooking is worthy of the truly remarkable setting. Picture Courtesy: Ghanasingh Be True Picture Courtesy:Windsor Hotel Toya
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Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London
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Who doesn’t remember Gordon Ramsay from the popular American reality TV cooking show, Hell’s Kitchen. So, it is not unimaginable that this British culinarian and reality TV chef, Gordon Ramsay has an eponymous restaurant in London, which definitely has to be on this list. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay combines contemporary elegance, an intimate ambience and unparalleled service, and has all the hallmarks of true excellence. Being one of the two London restaurants that have held three Michelin stars since 2001, the chic restaurant offers classic French dishes. Each dish is beautifully presented and uses the best ingredients and spectacular flavours. The demonstration of each dish speaks volumes about the excellent technical skill of the Head Chef Clare Smyth and her team. The fact that Smyth is arguably the highest-paid chef in the UK is testament enough. The restaurant holds a special place in the Ramsay canon; it was his first solo venture and since its opening in 1998, has become a cornerstone of his burgeoning empire. And why not, with the restaurant’s tunnel vision for perfection and every plate dressed like a Picasso’s painting, the diners are always pleasantly delighted. It is not just the food that they pay for, but the experience as Smyth’s team is trained at the skill of observing every table. If a soup is lying on the table untouched, she will insist on making a fresh bowl and ensure it is served at the right temperature, regardless if the customer has asked for it or not. For a service like this, it is not outrageous to ask for 335 US dollars.
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Picture Courtesy:Chris Tubbsa DECEMBER 2014
ELITE CLUB
La Pergola, Rome
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Sitting pretty on the Roof Garden of the Rome Cavalieri Hotel, La Pergola has one of the best views for a restaurant. The panorama of the hotel goes as far as the horizon with domes of the most famous monuments dotting the sight. Led by the master of gastronomy, Heinz Beck, whose unique interpretation of the modern kitchen goes beyond his undisputed culinary talent, but includes the utmost attention towards the selection of ingredients and their transformation into highly innovative flavours. The restaurant is more than a famous menu, proof of which are the three Michelin stars attesting the excellence of its cuisine. The restaurant boasts of a wine cellar with its 3,500 labels, a water menu with 29 choices, vintage balsamic vinegars and olive oils from the best producers in Italy, and the finest ingredients in the Mediterranean; all for the pursuit of culinary excellence. According to the chef, “My cooking is based on excellent raw materials, the mastery of modern techniques, particularly the principle of a kitchen, always healthy, full of taste as well as recognizable. I love solar cooking in all its expressions ranging from the lightness, the delicacy of the ingredients, compared to the pure Mediterranean tradition.” Attention to excellence is paid not just in food, but also in ambience. Everything about the restaurant exudes luxury, from the fresco ceilings, prestigious furniture to tapestries and paintings of the eighteenth and fourteenth centuries. The table is laid with vermeil plates and cutlery and a wonderful collection of hand-blown glass by Emile Gallé, are few of the things that will leave you awestruck. But nothing can influence an evening at La Pergola as much as Rome itself. Beyond the panoramic windows the Eternal City is spread beneath you and all this can be enjoyed along with a nine-course meal for around 260 US dollars. Picture Courtesy:La Pergola
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Ithaa, Maldives
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Fancy a view of technicolour fish, stingrays and other intriguing reef fauna flutter past your shoulders as you sip your champagne? If yes, then Ithaa undersea restaurant in Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, a gorgeous luxury resort that is spread out over two islands in the Maldives, is best suited for you. The restaurant sits five metres below the Indian Ocean, where the waterscape changes all the time. You need not be a scuba diver to spot turtles, occasional sharks, grouper and a whole host of tropical fish. All you need is a table in this 14-seater restaurant to see them floating over your head. But it is not just the 180-degree view that the cost 320 US dollars, per person, for a dinner. Diners from across the world come to revel in their sixcourse set dinner, which is served to all the guests at the same time, so that they can experience this unique culinary and underwater journey together. Set in vibrant coral gardens surrounding the restaurant, the way to the restaurant includes a walk to the end of a pier and a descent down a spiral staircase. The magical, almost surreal restaurant is encased in five million US dollar of see-through curved acrylic that opened its door on April 15, 2005. It is aptly called Ithaa, meaning ‘mother of pearls’ in the Maldivian language of Dhivehi, as it is submerged between the resort’s coral reef and lagoon. The surprises at the restaurant don’t just stop here. In spite of being a fine dining restaurant, the guests can enjoy their lunch barefoot. The food sets the restaurant apart with its fine balance of Western cuisine and Maldivian flavor. Come Christmas, Ithaa is hosting a festive lunch for 225 US dollar per person and a festive dinner that can set you back by 350 US dollars.
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Crissier, Switzerland
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Crissier can be called a part of history, as the establishment has been around for 40 years with many legendary chefs having passed through its kitchen. Since 2012, the restaurant has been under the stewardship of Benoit and Brigitte Violier, who took the baton from Philippe Rochat, who in turn had taken it over from Fredy Girardet, marking a renaissance of the gastronomic institution when it reopened. Even though the kitchen has passed from one hand to another and there have been several transitions, the quality cooking has not changed, the proof of which are the three Michelin stars that have been a constant since the time of Fredy Girardet, also referred to as the Pope by Rochat. Describing it as a sensorial experience, many swear by their set meal that runs into several courses and costs 415 US dollars. Dedicated to haute cuisine, use of the highest quality produce is a driving force at the restaurant as well as at the Hôtel de Ville, where Crissier is located. A lot of thought has gone into its inception. Quaint, if not a bit dated, this iconic gourmet Swiss restaurant makes the guests feel instantly warn with the beige walls and chocolate-coloured flooring. The warmth transcends to the dishes as well when Violier takes over the dish and transforms the plate into his canvas using an approach completely unheard of, indulging your every sense. The subtle flavours can also be relished at a lesser price, too. The chef’s tasting experience can be tried for 318 US dollars per person, which also runs to a few courses.
Picture Courtesy:Crissier
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BMW Experience BMWs have always been focussed on being a Driver’s Car. Driving is an art and you need the right machine to paint a masterpiece on the tarmac. Kingston Davidshares his experience with a Bimmer both on a track and on public roads.
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German cars are known for their robust build, high-speed stability and an engaging driving experience. For years now, many are sceptical about the idea of buying a BMW over its other German competitors. Audi’s plush interiors and the legacy of Mercedes make a strong statement and then there is the highly-debated case of practicality with the run-flat tires on BMWs. However, all this takes the back seat as soon as you take the wheel of a BMW. We were invited to the BMW Experience Tour in Chennai recently and were able to find out what it feels like to be in control of cars that are conceived, built and destined to feel connected to your soul. At low speeds, even a heavy BMW X5 feels tame and when speed builds up, so
does the weight and feel of the steering. A lot of cars with electric power-steering try to achieve this but none get close to the way a Bimmer feels. After an exciting day on the track, we felt the urge to dig deeper into the technology which BMW proudly calls ‘Servotronic’. In plain English, it is a highly assisted electromechanical steering which gives you the near-perfect feel of the road while allowing you have complete control of the car using minimum effort. It is one of those things which need to be experienced to feel the impact of the technology used. Out on a track, the brakes are your best buddy. Anyone can build up speed on a track but to keep the car within the asphalt, good brakes are imperative. Even a
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humble businessman’s vehicle like the BMW 520d is equipped with enormous ventilated discs on all wheels which provide sharp bite that would easily fool you into thinking that you were in a supercar. Stopping power is one thing but stopping without a fuss is completely another. You just slam the pedal hard and the car does the rest for you. Being driver focused by default, does not come easy. It has to be infused into the DNA of every BMW. All their cars have the famed 50:50 weight distribution. Technically, this means that the weight of the car is split equally on the front and rear axles, giving the car a perfect balance around corners. This is very evident if you have not driven a BMW and step into one and decide to go hard with it. There is negligible to nil body-roll even at the insane three-digit speeds. And if you decide to keep pushing the car beyond its limit, it barely loses composure and with a host of electronic aids kicking in, you feel that the vehicle is being pulled back to the apex of the curve without the feeling being too artificial. So for a road car, a BMW is unbelievably good on the track. We wondered if it would do nearly as good out on the regular roads filled with pot-holes, hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic and badly-maintained highways. Shortly after the Experience Tour, we had the chance to drive the mighty BMW 530d M-Sport for a few days. This car with a 258bhp V6 under its hood was way more powerful than the 520d that we drove on the track and we were a bit nervous. Out on the normal roads of Chennai, the size of the car or the 3-litre engine displacement disappears all of a sudden. The light steering, spectacular gearbox and the driving modes contribute to the split-personality. We have been a fan of the silky smooth DSG gearboxes from the VW group (includes Skoda and Audi) but the regular 8-speed automatic from BMW is an absolute gem and a new benchmark for drivability. BMW have kept it simple and the three driving modes make all the difference. The default Comfort mode is the most practical mode with the throttle response practical yet snappy enough to make quick ground. The car does upshift soon with economy in mind but should you choose to floor the gas pedal, it drops a few gears and shoots forward eagerly. The Eco-Pro mode is for the economy conscious and is immensely helpful in heavy traffic. The throttle response is heavily muted and even the AC compressor works conservatively. It would be ideal for chauffeurs driving around businessmen who are not in a hurry. On the highway, though, the Comfort mode is more than enough to leave other cars as a tiny speck on your rear-view mirror and the cars begs you to put it in Sports mode. That is when the fun begins, as the gearbox holds each gear longer and the throttle/steering responses quicken. The car darts forward and reaches barely legal speeds in the blink of an eye. And as it is with other German luxury saloons, high speeds do not feel nervous with a perfectly flat ride. The speedometer is the only indication that you have to slow down. There are niggles like the space at the rear which is not much and the level of equipment when compared to a Mercedes. We ended up using my phone for navigation most of the time since the iDrive, though simple, cannot match the swiftness of a touchscreen. However, all this does not matter once at the wheel of a BMW, for there is not a more rewarding driving experience elsewhere.
Tech tracker
Ladies,Tech Up Sure, technology has made life easier. But why is always the men who get away with everything technology has to offer? Ladies, it is time to go high tech and we have just the thing. Nifty Jacob introduces you to five apps that will not only make mundane, arduous tasks easier but also pump in some fun.
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Who says technology is only for the boys or that only the men can be called tech-savvy? We bring you five mobile apps that all the ladies out there must have on their phones. Read on to know more.
Mixology Planning a party at home but don’t have a bartender? So what, you can be the bartender. Who says you have to take classes for that? If you want to serve something innovative apart from the Long Island Ice Teas and Jaeger Bombs that have been tried and tested to death, there is Mixology for you. All you need to do is feed in the drinks you have along with the mixers available and voila! You will be presented with recipes to awe all your guests. The app also lets you mix liquers, mixers and glassware to create new cocktails. With this fancy cheat book, the parties are guaranteed to be hip and fun. The app is available to iOS and Android users.
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Tech tracker
Stylebook
We know how increasingly cumbersome it has become to manage your wardrobe, not to forget the concept of innovatively pairing those stilettos with your blouse or a belt with white trousers. Stylebook is a great app that helps you to not only manage your wardrobe, but also get inspiration for the latest trends and looks. The Closet feature lets you to store images of what you own, while ‘Looks’ helps you catalogue your favourite combinations. You can also track recently worn apparel, separate your laundered clothes from those in the laundry bag, or even organize your outfits for the entire month with the Calendar option. You can also shop across various brands and stores or simply surf through ShopStyle to find what you are looking for. The only downside of the deal is that Stylebook is only available for Apple users.
Fitocracy Between juggling your office files and the dinner, finding a time slot to hit the gym is a truly daunting task and we empathise. Fitocracy, is a fitness app available for iOS and Android users that could help you go attack those calories. Gather a ton of vital information from the world’s best coaches and expert advice on nutrition, which will help you in developing an action plan. Even better, track your activities from the number of miles walked right up to the after-hours intake to give you a fair idea of your workout graph. Once you have streamlined a comfortable routine, you can earn points as you complete your sessions and receive badges based on your performance. Moreover, with the support of communities and like-minded people, there is no dearth of motivation to keep you at your game.
Dollarbird Money managing can always be a pain, especially towards the last week of the month. So, if you need help to stay on track, Dollarbird is for you. The app (available for iOS and Android users) works as a personal finance planner that helps you keep a track of your savings and expenses. Went grocery shopping yesterday or had dinner at a gourmet restaurant? Simply plug in your purchases in the calendar to calculate your balance. You can schedule reminders for your bills and also set up recurring transactions for accounts like rent, electricity etc. While Dollarbird has a free version available for iOS and Android users, the Pro version is a paid service, which comes with additional advantages. The app can be synced on different devices that makes it quite easy to keep a track of your personal finance. So go ahead and make sure your well never runs dry.
Bsafe Coming to our last but not the least important of apps, a little something so that you and your girlfriends know how to get instant help if need be. Bsafe can be used on iOS and Andriod systems and can be used in any country. You can enlist your dear ones and increase your safety net. One among them can be chosen as a primary contact and will be texted and also called in case of distress. The app also goes on an audio and video recording mode if an alarm is triggered and makes your contacts available of your location as well. The Follow Me function enables you to list contacts in your vicinity. Other fun features like the Fake Call saves you from a bad date or awkward situations by setting a faux call alarm. So girls, download pronto and stay safe.
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Lifestyle Holidays
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Modern Country, Ancient Wonders With just one visit to the Kingdom of Jordan, you can be transported back in time to visit multiple ancient civilizations without giving up any of the modern amenities you are accustomed to. This peaceloving country in the heart of the Middle East is a welcome haven in a region of the world known for its turbulence, says Karen Brost.
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It is no wonder that Jordan has been described as the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’ or even more descriptively, ‘a quiet house in a noisy neighborhood’. Imagine following in the paths of ancient Romans, Bedouin tribes and larger-thanlife figures like those of Alexander the Great and Lawrence of Arabia, or visiting Biblical sites that you have only heard or read about. All of these cultural experiences and many, many more await you in Jordan. Unlike its neighbours, Jordan is not rich in oil reserves. In fact, the country has none. Instead, Jordan counts among its riches, its people and the abundance of historic sites and natural wonders. English is spoken widely here and Jordanians are eager to share their culture, history and heritage with visitors from around the world. Amman is the nation’s capital and home to Queen Alia International Airport, the main gateway to Jordan. Nearly half of the country’s population resides in Amman, making it a thriving city where modern hotels, restaurants, shops and galleries coexist with CEO LIFESTYLE
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ancient buildings that serve as ongoing proof that it is one of the oldest and continuously-inhabited cities in the world. For an authentic Jorda ian dining, try Saniyat Dajajis, a traditional feast of baked chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and onions seasoned with an aromatic blend of spices. Jordan’s national dish, which comes from its Bedouin culture, is Mansaf, lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt and served over rice. Be sure to accompany your choice with a refreshing glass of mint lemonade or a cup of rich, dark Arabic coffee, accented with cardamom. Shopping in Amman is as diverse as its dining and ranges from the designer boutiques and shops selling hand-woven rugs and other handicrafts to the Gold Souk which specializes in handmade gold and silver creations. Amman is the ideal starting point for exploring all that Jordan has to offer, and before you take to for other parts of the country, be sure to explore some of the city’s ancient sites. The Citadel (also known as Jabal al-Qal’a) occupies DECEMBER 2014
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the highest point in Amman and is believed to date back to the Bronze Age. Today, it is home to a series of ruins, including those of a Byzantine church and the Temple of Hercules. Don’t miss the sculpture of Hercules’ hand — it is astonishingly large and virtually all that remains of a monumental tribute to the famous Greek hero. His statue is estimated to have measured more than 13 meters tall when it was created. Less than an hour’s drive north of Amman is the ancient city of Jerash, one of the best preserved cities in the world. Archaeological excavations are continually underway at this massive site, which means there are undoubtedly many more treasures yet to be discovered. Sights you would not want to miss include Hadrian’s Arch, the Hippodrome, the temples of Zeus and Artemis and the magnificent colonnade that encircles the Forum. Heading south from Amman, a stop at Mount Nebo will bring you to the very spot where Moses first saw the Promised Land. From this high vantage point you can also take in a panoramic view of the West Bank city of Jericho and the Holy Land in the distance. Nearby, you can tour Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan, the sacred site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. The site has been preserved just as it existed more than 2,000 years ago and is considered to be one of the holiest sites in all of Christianity. John the Baptist once lived here in a cave on Elijah’s Hill. Continue your tour of holy sites with a visit to Madaba, the ‘City of Mosaics’, to view the historic mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land that was created in the 6th century. This fascinating ancient artifact is housed in the
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Greek Orthodox church of St. George. To learn more about the art of mosaics (and perhaps even purchase one), be sure to visit the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration where you can watch talented artisans create these beautiful, meticulously detailed works of art. While in Jordan, a visit to the Dead Sea — the lowest and saltiest spot on earth — is highly recommended. Many luxurious resorts have been built here and travellers come from around the world to experience the sea’s incredible buoyancy and indulge in therapeutic spa treatments that incorporate the Dead Sea’s mineral-rich mud. Even the legendary Egyptian queen Cleopatra traveled here to bask in the Dead Sea’s restorative powers. To experience Jordan’s other seacoast, head south to the port city of Aqaba on the Red Sea. This modern resort city is known for its beaches, warm weather and some of the best diving and snorkeling grounds in the world. Those who aren’t water sports enthusiasts can still enjoy the spectacle of the colourful marine life below by taking a cruise on a glassbottomed boat. Aqaba also makes the ideal base from which to visit the ‘crown jewel’ of the Kingdom of Jordan and its top visitor attraction, the ancient city of Petra. It was built by the Nabateans, a society so advanced, they engineered an intricate system of spillways and cisterns to capture every drop of water possible in this arid desert. In 2007, Petra was named one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of the World’. After seeing it, you will easily understand why. This immense site is filled with detailed facades that are carved into its sandstone canyons. Even the entry into Petra is a distinctly memorable experience. As you hike or take a horse-drawn carriage through The Siq, a spectacular gorge, you will suddenly catch
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a glimpse of the Treasury, an elaborately-carved sandstone tomb and Petra’s most breathtaking sight. As one guide aptly described the experience, “You only get to see the Treasury for the first time once.” And that one time is truly unforgettable. Fans of the Indiana Jones movies will recall the prominent role that the Treasury played at the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. However, nothing can compare to seeing it in person. Another not-to-be-missed experience in southern Jordan is a tour, whether by jeep with a Bedouin guide, by camel or in a hot air balloon, of Wadi Rum, the vast, awe-inspiring desert made famous when the movie Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here more than 50 years ago. The desert and its towering sandstone cliffs are virtually unchanged since the real Lawrence of Arabia, British officer T. E. Lawrence, occupied the area in 1917. Of his Wadi Rum experience, he said, “No man can live this life and emerge unchanged. He will carry, however faint, the imprint of the desert . . . and he will have within him the yearning to return . . .” You may very well feel the same way after visiting the Kingdom of Jordan.
Jordan counts among its riches, its people, the historic sites and natural wonders. English is spoken widely here and Jordanians are eager to share their culture and history
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A serene adventure A visit to Kota Kinabalu will not only just calm your senses, but also provide you with the necessary adrenaline rush to wake you up from the humdrum life. Arathi M explores the wonders of this Malaysian city in all its glory.
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Think Malaysia and pristine beaches, knotty jungles and aweinspiring cities create a myriad of images in your head. But what if you add a mountain to this equation? Perfection, thou name is Kota Kinabalu! Kota Kinabalu or KK is the capital of Sabah in Malaysia. Be it snorkelling with not just a school, but a university of fishes in the Tunku Abdul Rehman Marine Park, a date with orangutans at the Sepilok sanctuary, or river-rafting along the limpid waters of Kiulu River, KK offers it all. The city gets its name from the world’s 20th most prominent mountain Mt. Kinabalu. Set amidst evergreen forests and national parks, this city of 6,28,725 is steadily making its mark in the tourism map of Malaysia. Generally seen as a getaway for those who visit Sabah and Borneo, KK’s population comprises ethnic Kadazans as well as Chinese Sabahans. The best way to reach here is to catch a connecting flight from Kuala Lumpur to the local Kota Kinabalu International airport. An ideal place to begin touring this never-ending surprise of a town is the Heritage Walk, which lets you explore the colonial KK with its lantern-lit small winding streets and Chinese herbal shops. You can observe the British colonial buildings merging silently with the state military monuments. The tour can be arranged by your tour guide or you can ask the hotel front desk, which would be more than happy to help. A trek up the towering glory, that is Mount Kinabalu, can offer you the opportunity to enjoy the sunrise in its entire splendour. Even though it’s cold, the trek is not marred by
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snow. Interestingly and alluringly, the trail to the mountain is well-maintained with wooden railings and ropes. But wait, it gets better. There is a flush toilet after every kilometer as well as rest houses half way up, which serve food as well as beverages. KK is a utopia for those who love seafood, which is generally caught and grilled by Filipino fishermen, who moved to Kota Kinabalu for a better life. The Hinava, a dish made of raw fish, grated ginger and salted bitter gourd, is definitely a must try. The city has several night markets, where the long tables piled with seafood await you. Grilled stingrays and prawns, mixed in sauce made from lime, chilli paste, salt and sugar are quite popular. Ever wanted to see how life looks like upside-down, literally? Head to Rumah Terbalik Tamparuli, the first upsidedown structure in South East Asia. The building, which opened its doors in 2012, has since then managed to attract people from all over the world. Furnished in the Sabahan décor, everything in this house, from the furniture to the utensils to the garage, is upside down. Even though less developed than its cousin cities Kuala Lumpur or George Town, KK has many popular luxury hotels such as the Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa and Gaya Island Resort at Pulau Gaya. Just a short drive from the city, Shangri-La is a tranquil retreat for those who wish repose after a convivial day in KK. You can wake up to the lapping of the sea waves on the beach and a cool breeze slowly caressing your face. Deriving inspiration from Borneo’s rich cultural heritage, this luxurious resort is the perfect place to kick up your shoes and enjoy a day of sitting by the sea, sipping cocktails and enjoying the delectable seafood delights. The resort also organizes a sunset cruise, which starts from STAR Marina, to enjoy Borneo’s famous sunset. To round up a perfect holiday, you can pamper yourself at the resort’s CH1 Spa. Another resort that will definitely have you yearning for more of this serene city is the Gaya Island Resort at Pulau Gaya. Located within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and along the coast of Malohom Bay, it’s a natural sanctuary nestled in the hillside of an ancient rainforest with a stunning outline of Mount Kinabalu on the horizon, an ideal paradise for nature lovers. Set in the mangroves, the Spa Village at this tropical tranquil haven offers the privilege of delving into the healing arts of the region, which draws its inspiration from the elements found in abundance in the surrounding mountains, forests and sea. This unique spa has its treatments and therapies rooted in the healing traditions of Sabah’s indigenous community. A perfect amalgamation of an adventurous holiday and luxurious indulgence, Kota Kinabalu is a much favoured getaway for those visiting Borneo and Sabah. So, plan a much-deserved trip to this awe-inspiring land and treat yourself to some trekking, scuba diving, snorkeling or relaxing on the beaches.
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Towering, Palladium grandeur Nestled within the luxurious High Street Phoenix, in the heart of the Maximum city, Palladium hotel exudes style and a vibrant energy. Jyoti Balani takes a tour of the plush ambience, warmth and luxury that is Palladium.
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The Palladium Hotel has been in the news lately as Mumbai’s most sought-after lifestyle destinations. The best part about visiting a hotel in Parel, especially when one is driving down from Pune, is that it takes just about two-and-a-half to three hours if you start in the morning. Approximately 50 minutes away from the international airport, this hotel sits proudly between the city’s two main commercial areas – Nariman Point and Bandra Kurla Complex. After a hassle free check-in, we were escorted to a luxurious suite on the 25th floor of the hotel. An eclectic mix of classic and contemporary décor, designed with Indian tikri work specially commissioned from master craftsmen of Rajasthan, makes all the rooms at Palladium a treat for the eyes. A hand-written note by the Hotel Manager, Abhishek Malik, and a box of fine chocolates from Seven Kitchens made us feel even more welcome. The windows offered a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea and, with Palladium being the tallest hotel in the city, I could see the shrine of Haji Ali from my room. Yuuka by Chef Ting Yen is the latest restaurant to open in Palladium and this is where we decided to do lunch. Located on Level 37, this 50-seater Japanese-inspired space houses soaring ceiling-height and eternity-edged window frames that afford fabulous views of the city’s skyline. Elegant raw silk chairs and solid wooden and slate block tables draw inspiration from the traditional Japanese Tatami seating. Yuuka showcases plenty of innovations specially created for this restaurant along with some signature dishes from the brilliant chef’s Boston menu. We started a meal with the unique Avocado Tartare (Crispy Carrot Chips, Corn Dashi, Beurre Monte Served on ice), followed by Tiger Tear Maki and Vegetable Tempura. The meal ended with beautifullystyled desserts such as the Coconut Sphere with Coffee Mousse and Yuzu Sherbet and Green Tea Layer Cake with Matcha Dust and Aged Rum Soaked Raisins. The beverage menu also houses specialty Japanese teas like Genmaicha, Gyokuru, Matcha, etc. that form an essential part of the traditional Japanese dining experience. Declaring Mumbai to be “an inspiring city”, Masterchef Ting Yen, says “Mumbai captures all my senses – my imagination is on overdrive in this city, and I thoroughly enjoy being constantly driven. I have treated the menu at Yuuka as my official introduction to the Indian palate and thought it best to re-craft some of my original dishes with passion.” After a property show around, it was time to visit the spa on Level 10 of the hotel. An entire floor spanning 22,000 square feet is dedicated to wellness at the sprawling hotel, where the gym, spa and an outdoor infinity pool are located. The spa consists of nine therapy rooms CEO LIFESTYLE
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that include a couple suite and is done up in muted shades of beige and brown and decorated with modern oriental accents. Therapists at the spa specialize in incorporating natural botanical extracts, which rejuvenate and rebalance the mind and body. On the recommendation of the spa manager, we decided to try the Aroma Nodal Massage. The therapist administered a tight and penetrating massage particularly suited to facilitate lymphatic drainage and muscular detox. Aromatic oils and the relaxing ambience coupled with soft music ensured that we almost drifted off into a mild slumber. Then came the exotic dinner at Mekong, an authentic Asian restaurant located on Level 37. With fabulous views of the DECEMBER 2014
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Lifestyle Living Holidays IN-STYLE racecourse and the Arabian Sea, Mekong’s ambience is lush. The menu is elaborate and so we requested the restaurant manager to select signature preparations from the menu for us. Cuisines of Vietnam, Thailand and China complemented with a vast Dim Sum menu ensured that there is something for everyone in this elegant eatery. We tried the dimsums, Thai grilled fish, the stir-fried spinach with garlic, the tom yum soup, the Thai red curry with steamed rice and ended a fabulous meal with Thap Thim Krop, a mock pomegranate kernels of water chestnuts in flavoured coconut milk. The next day we decided to revisit our roots and visited the much talked about Indian restaurant in the hotel for lunch. The Sahib Room & Kipling bar is a restaurant that showcases rich, flavourful and traditional Indian food inspired by the lives and times of the ‘Sahibs’ in the colonial era. An empty seat is always reserved for the literary genius Rudyard Kipling in the bar that takes its name from this prolific writer. We had an interesting interaction with Chef Paul Kinny, who has conceptualized a unique menu that showcases specialties from Hyderabad, Awadh and Kashmir. We tried the Lucknowi
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Seekh, (hand ground lamb mince infused with fresh mint and spices), the Sahib Ki Khaas Gilawat, (a ‘tikki’ made from avocado and bamboo shoot served with citrus-mango chutney) and the Purvanchal Ka Saag, ‘tawa’ (cooked puree of fresh organic greens). In the evening it was time to visit Li Bai, the bar and lounge at the Palladium Hotel, which draws inspiration from the famous Chinese romantic poet of the Tang dynasty and is located on Level 37. Li Bai, with its percussionists, live music and plush ambience, is the perfect place to unwind after a hard day’s work. The cocktail menu at Li Bai includes signatures like the ‘Shandong Mary’ (inspired by the place Shandong, where Li Bai joined the ‘six idlers of the bamboo brook’, a group dedicated to wine and literature), ‘NanKing’ (Li Bai’s favourite wine drinking spot) and ‘Yangzi’ ( inspired by the famous Yangzi River where Li Bai set sail in his twenties). Palladium hotel is ideal for those who enjoy visiting or staying at new age hotels that combine warmth, brilliant food, efficient service standards and a buzzing nightlife!
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The Andaz of Hyatt As simplistic as the interior design is, it is the attention to details that will impress you at the Andaz Tokyo, Japan’s first ever Andaz hotel by Hyatt. Blending modern minimalism with Japanese rich culture and tradition, ‘boutique’ is the word that will come to your mind. Isha Sharma talks about the hotel that lets you play, work, live, shop, dine, and much more while providing you popular hotel branding, incredible views and proximity to two beloved icons.
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Intimate boutique ambience and urban contemporary design describe the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills. Located at the heart of the vast, vivacious and ever-pulsating flux that is Tokyo, this is Hyatt Hotels’ first Andaz hotel in Japan. Andaz is a Hindi word that means ‘personal style’. This luxury boutique hotel, perched atop the Toranomon Hills skyscraper on floors 47-52, has distinctly Japanese interiors and offers sophisticated style and locally-inspired cuisines. The ambience of every Andaz hotel offers a kaleidoscope of the local culture. Keeping true to this, the Andaz Tokyo provides a Japanese touch mixed with luxury. Clean, contemporary and clear designs rooted in Japanese aesthetics define the hotel. The interior has been designed by Tony Chi and Shinichiro Ogata, who have integrated local culture into the design by using natural materials such as washi paper and Hokkaido walnut throughout the building for the interiors. Enter the hotel and you will feel that it is intentionally trying to keep away from perfection. It is authentic and real, but in a more non-scripted way. On the way up to the lobby on the 51st floor, the beautiful washi, which is a traditional Japanese craft paper, welcomes the guests. The décor surpasses all expectations. From bonsai, that will be replaced every season to the exquisite wooden fretwork that adorns the wall behind the reception desk, from lanterns to abstract sculptures, the CEO LIFESTYLE
hotel makes the city’s upscale hospitality industry fiercer than it already is. Although getting to the hotel from the airport can prove to be a bit tricky, just a look inside Andaz Tokyo will transcend you to a state of subliminal bliss. The first surprise is a set of smart and stylishly-dressed hosts armed with tablets to greet you as soon as you step out of the elevator. The area that was once frequented by geishas playing shamisen, and samurais, today features a hotel that is redefining luxury accommodation for travellers by doing away with check-in counters that divide the customers from the hotel staff. They have done away with the master-servant kind of relationship, which is a sign of modernity. At Andaz Tokyo, you can check-in wherever convenient, at the lounge where you can relax on comfortable chairs while sipping your drinks or in your room, in case you’re too tired. The guests don’t pass a receptionist, nor do they have to pass a desk clerk or a bellhop. The staff should get a special mention here; they are not overbearing with their care, but are quick to respond when you seem in need of assistance. The hotel has about 164 chic and contemporary rooms, including eight suites, at your disposal. Standard guestrooms have 50 square metres of floor space and offer unmatched views of the Tokyo skyline. The hotel’s modern aesthetic boasts of a
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minimal yet classy décor against calming white walls, with mostly wood paneling and simplistic furniture, all of which have a very soothing effect. The hotel has left no stone unturned when it comes to indulging their guests and providing them with a complete Japanese experience. And we are not just talking about the Japanese elements on the walls. It is not just the hotel’s common areas that are traditionally inspired. The rooms will remind you of the rich Japanese tradition, mingling with a modern twist. The rooms have various traditional elements such as a cotton yukata, a dressing gown and zori slippers for guests. And the bathrooms will leave you really pleased. Behind ingenious folding doors, once again harking back to traditional design, is the bathroom which is one of the key features of the room design. With wooden enclaves with huge, deep-soaking bathtubs, inspired by the Japanese bath culture, you can have a relaxed morning’s indulgence. Our definition of a perfect morning. Regardless of which room you choose to stay in, you will be greeted by a panoramic view of Tokyo. The south-facing rooms overlook the Tokyo Tower and the north-facing rooms provide a glimpse of the city’s largest structure, the Tokyo Skytree. The 51st and 52nd floors have three Andaz Studio rooms that come with kitchen counters and four conference CEO LIFESTYLE
rooms. Apart from this, the 52nd floor features the highest standalone chapel as well — the highest place to say ‘I do’. Andaz events are also held on these floors, which gives the guests an opportunity to meet the Japanese artistes, celebrities and singers. Perched atop the 51st floor is the Andaz Tokyo’s signature restaurant, the Andaz Tavern. The prospect of tucking into a sumptuous spread might be tempting but what adds another dimension to the palette is a touch of the local flavours to the dishes. All this, along with a breathtaking view of the city is the cherry on the cake. The restaurant, serving refined European provincial cuisine using the local Japanese produce, the restaurant offers indoor as well as outdoor seating with floor to ceiling windows, so that diners can marvel at Tokyo’s skyline. For those looking to relax with a heavenly cocktail, the Rooftop Bar is the place to visit. Crowning the hotel on the 52nd floor, the highest in all of Tokyo, this bar serves cocktails that focus on seasonal fruits and teas. Critics as well as guests swear by the ambience and the drinks here. For an intimate and authentic nightcap, you can order hot Sake and sip it while looking at the Tokyo Bay. Keeping true to Japanese tea culture, this rooftop also has a tea counter, which is a modern take on the age old tradition of tea house. Remember what we told you about sticking to the traditions?
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At Andaz Tokyo, you can checkin wherever convenient, at the lounge where you can relax on comfortable chairs while sipping your drinks or in your room, in case you’re too tired.
CEO LIFESTYLE
Another of the hotel’s casual eatery at the street level called Bebu focuses on beer and burgers. It is located on the first floor of Toranomon Hills and focuses on a variety of select craft beers and unique burgers. Just like Andaz Tavern, the eatery, too, sources locally-grown, seasonal ingredients. But it is the presentation that will take your platter to a whole new level. It is wholesome, very Japanese, but with a western twist. If food is not your thing, then you may also make use of the 37th floor’s AO Spa & Club, which comes complete with a fitness centre and a 20-metre swimming pool. What better way to look at the Imperial Palace grounds than while swimming, right? So, if you ask for our verdict, we would say that Andaz Tokyo is a welcome addition to Japan’s chock full of hotels, and it’s fascination with the Japanese culture is what sets it apart from the others. Staying true to their Andaz philosophy to make the stay as personal as possible, this Hyatt’s latest property truly makes the guests ‘arrive a visitor and leave a local’.
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Designer
Diaries
Bespoke furniture, though not a new business, has never had it as good as it has in recent years. There are quite a few reasons behind this development, from globalization, to the regular buyer becoming more brand conscious. Aparna Kaistha speaks with three designers to find out more about this latest trend. CEO LIFESTYLE
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PortsideCafé, India
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Bobby’s association with design and leather started in his early years, while he was living in Mumbai. The turning point came when he was offered a job by a leading shoe company where he designed footwear for the brand. The range was called ‘Rugsac’, a stylish yet urban take on the work boot. Encouraged and excited by the growing market’s response to it, he finally moved on to designing bigger things, furniture. And so, in 2006, PortsideCafé was born, a name that he derived by putting two things close to his heart, together – the port of Mumbai and ‘café’, something he has always wanted to own. From being just an export oriented company, PortsideCafé now has four stores in India and one franchise in Luxembourg. “When they walk into the store, I want clients to feel a certain sense of nostalgia, a bout of déjà vu and a feeling of warmth and familiarity,” says Aggarwal. “My inspiration comes from a sub-conscious level, but not without catalysts from the outside world. Clint Eastwood and Gregory Peck classics, with their leather saddles and holsters, movies like Out Of Africa and Agatha Christie’s mysterious characters with their heavy luggage on the Orient Express have all had a major impact on my formative years and influenced my design sensibilities,” he reveals. “Luxury for me rings a complete sense of ‘comfort’. I feel there should be an ‘ownership’ of the brand and the product itself should have a sense of belonging in your environment. So, luxury is as important to me as a person as it is to my brand. Of course, in conventional terms luxury products have certain values which are a given, like the use of high quality materials, high standards of production, high ethical standards and an emphasis on good human relations.” But how responsive are Indians towards bespoke furniture? “I would say the acceptance of good design and well-made furniture and products is on the rise. People are very aware and are looking for unique interactions with their purchases. Nowadays, they make informed decisions and tend to buy at least one or maybe two high-end products to complete a look in their homes. For example, an investment in a good bar or a coffee table always complements the surroundings,” he says. “Internationally, the luxury market is extremely mature and has reached a peak. They are now willing to experiment and explore new markets for designers,” he adds.
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Kenneth Cobonpue, Philippines
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An international manufacturer of high-end furniture made from wood and bamboo, the company started in 1978 by Kenneth’s father as a small furniture workshop manufacturing designs for other companies in the US and Europe. In 2001, a few years after Kenneth took over the family business, he decided to formally launch the brand. It was in 2010 that the brand opened four international offices in Washington, New York, Maia (Portugal) and Kempten (Germany). Now, aside from adding new names to the list of retailers that carry the brand, it continues to expand its collections, experimenting further with new materials both for indoor and outdoor. “Innovative, handmade and fun is how I would like people to describe the brand,” says Kenneth. “I find inspiration absolutely everywhere – from the most mundane things around me to the most exotic locales. I find that in constantly searching for inspiration everywhere and all the time, the mind somehow becomes more open to finding it and the ideas flow faster as a result. The things I design are synonymous to acquiring pieces of art. It isn’t something we need but it is something we want to indulge in and enjoy. That’s true luxury.” Cobonpue observes that the Indian market has come a long way as far as designer furniture goes. “In a place where brands and origins were unknown, it was about raw style and look; it was also a lot of shine and bling. Today the market has become more sophisticated. People travel a lot more and see what’s new and noteworthy abroad.” And what about Asian brand acceptance internationally? “I think that the accessibility of luxury brands and good design has definitely changed. What used to be reserved for a select few who could afford the luxury has now been made available to many. Luxury clients have more informed choices and this has heralded in a whole new era and appreciation that is transforming the way we live,” he says. The challenge for designers from Asia, as he says, is to change the perception that luxury products can also be made in Asia, not just in Europe. “For instance, I am now working with different interior space projects, space installations, public interiors, etc. I designed a luxury eco-tricycle, the Eclipse which is a very modern and lavish take on this traditionally modest form of transportation. The electric tricycle is not only a primary means of transport for so many Asian countries but is also widely used in many cities in Europe and America,” he says.
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Exhibit D, India
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“Exhibit-D is now five years old. This studio was started as a bespoke design house for interior detailing to create some design distinction in modern homes as they were beginning to look very similar. The thirst was to craft pieces which would stand out and add life to spaces,” explains Gautam Dhawan, owner of Exhibit D. The brand specializes in all kind of home accessories like wall cladding, wall art, coffee tables, side tables, doors, powder room concepts and mirrors. What’s the mystery behind the name, you ask? “I came up with the name just before we started the studio. The idea is simple. The works are like Exhibits in a home while the D is for Drama!” states Dhawan. Talking about the luxury factor of Exhibit D, Dhawan says, “Clients want to showcase their homes but in subtle ways. While it is easy to just fill a space with luxury finishes and materials, the way the overall look is put together is where the challenge is and quite honestly, mixing material is where the fun lies.” Though now conscious about luxury, is the Indian consumer really looking for designer furniture? “Definitely. One’s home is now a very important area to showcase not just luxury, but also design. A lot of Indians are buying furniture and other home products from all over the world. In fact, in the last five years that I have lived here, the trend is on the rise and is set to grow. One’s home is where one spends the best times so why not?” he says. What about the luxury market internationally? Are the Asian designers getting their due? “Internationally, this is a huge industry, with the trends and exposure growing. I love a lot of international as well as Indian designers. This awareness is growing but like with every new thing, it will take time. Having said that, I feel, with the communication and digital expansion, it is becoming quicker and easier. We finally have a design platform in India called IndiaDesign, the studio has been part of this for the last two years. I know fellow designers who are taking part in shows internationally and are doing well. So, the process is moving,” he states. As for interior space, Dhawan believes that metal and stone, which have been around for the last three years, will stay popular for a while and bling is coming back too.
WINE & DINE
PERFECT BITE
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Arola, The Spanish Spark The irrepressible Sergi Arola’s approach to food is sublime as he has discovered that the secret to culinary greatness is connected to the satisfaction of his creative and innovative soul. A definitive proponent of authentic Catalonian cuisine, Arola conceptualized the trend setting ‘Arola’ restaurant and bar at JW Marriott Mumbai and has changed the way Indians look at Spanish cuisine, says Jyoti Balani.
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Celebrity chef Sergi Arola’s various restaurants all over the world are trend setters. In fact, prior to the launch of Arola in JW Marriott Mumbai in 2012, Indians were wary of experimenting with Spanish cuisine. This immensely talented Masterchef’s restaurant has earned two Michelin stars and he is the proud owner of six celebrated restaurants around the world. Chef Arola grew up in Olesa de Montserrat, a town in the city of Barcelona in Spain. For many years, he lived with his maternal grandfather Joaquin Arola Giralt, a guiding force for the talented boy in the process of creating his own modified homemade recipes. Arola is not only passionate about food but also about rock music, so much so that he quit school to pursue music. In 1994, Chef Arola joined the Talaia Mar team owned by celebrated three Michelin Star Chef Ferran Adria in Barcelona. Working with Ferran helped him learn the essential skills of developing a rational manner while creating innovative cuisines. He trained under Pierre Gagnaire CEO LIFESTYLE
(a well known French chef), after which he was given the opportunity to manage a small restaurant in Madrid, La Broche in 1997. This restaurant earned two Michelin stars within just two years under his guidance. He sparked an extraordinary change, and has been instrumental in Madrid, which has been given the title of one of the most significant gastronomical capitals of the world. “It depends on what kind of a chef you are; most chefs are extremely passionate about their profession, so for me everything about being a chef is nice, it’s cool. Of course, in my career I have got the opportunity to travel, try different cuisines and meet people all round the world. For instance, if anywhere in the world someone talks to me about curry, I know what it is because I have tried it many times in India. So yes, according to me the best part about being a chef is that it allows me to travel,” says the dynamic chef, when we ask him what he loves most about his job.
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Food trends evolve constantly these days what with so many brilliant chefs around. “It’s difficult to say what the latest food trend is. Even though I come to India very often, I am generally at my own restaurant and don’t get a chance to visit other restaurants. For me, food is a part of fashion and lifestyle and now the trend is everything or nothing. For instance, fusion food used to be a trend some years back but now it’s not. As cuisines get more global, it is difficult to predict food trends. Events and food festivals are nice but I’m not sure if they are the solution, because in the last 15-20 years, the gastronomic scene in the world has changed completely. But yes, they do promote interaction between chefs and for us chefs, this is a great opportunity to exchange our food experience and different food tendencies from around the world. My favorite Indian preparation is Naan. I love the different kinds of naan you get in India. I also really like the variety of curries that are available here,” he says. Apart from the very popular Patata Bravas (potatoes deep fried, filled with a spicy tomato sauce and topped with aioli), which happens to be one of his signature dishes and the most popular preparation at Arola, Arola enjoys cooking different kinds of rice preparations. “This is going of be one of the new things we’re going to incorporate in the new menu. It is probably one of the easiest items to pair Spanish cuisine with and to introduce to guests. Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, people from all over the world enjoy rice. In Barcelona, we are working on introducing fish and chips, Arola style,” says the chef, adding, “Wine is the perfect drink with Spanish food. Spain is one of the biggest producers of wine and hence wine is always a part of the party. With tapas, one can drink cocktails or beer or wine, but if we talk about a serious gastronomic experience, wine is the best.” With his popularity soaring every day, it comes as no surprise that he has a tremendous fan following in Bollywood as well. “Akshay Kumar was present for the launch of my restaurant at JW Marriott Mumbai. Chhaya Momaya is one of our regulars at Arola. Hrithik Roshan considers Arola as one of his favorite restaurants,” he reveals. According to Chef Sergi, the best way to promote a cuisine in a country is to go from bottom to the top, from visiting the local market to the most famous restaurants in the city and get to know what the locals are eating. “The last time I was in Istanbul, I spent a lot of time in the market trying to see what people buy. It depends a lot on the country, the religion they follow or the restrictions they have. So I adopt my perception of the cuisine and try to create a dish with some common element.” So, what is the secret ingredient to creating the perfect Spanish meal, we ask. “To enjoy! That’s the one and only secret. Spanish people love to enjoy their food and we have this in common with Indians. We, too, have a table where everyone eats together. I’m sure this is one of the reasons Arola is so successful in Mumbai,” he signs off with a smile.
FROM TOP: Mushroom Forest, Gambas Al Ajillo, Patatas Bravas
PERFECT BITE
To the Moon and back Irish beer, food, ambience and a great culinary experience. This is what Irish pub The Moon and Sixpence has to present to Chennai. Isha Sharma takes a gastronomical tour of the pub, with its funky beats and tavern-like settings.
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For a pub, The Moon and Sixpence is uncharacteristically quiet. Named after W.S. Maugham’s novel of the same name, the Irish pub, with its short green corridor leading to the entry, will prepare you for what is to come. The corridor is painted with quite a number of many Irish toasts, in which one read, ‘The Irish, they don’t know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it’. Reading them all, we thought we were entering an Irish inn, with fiddle, pipes and accordion playing and ceili dancers dancing to their tunes. But the place can best be described as a modern version of a typical Irish tavern with all the finishing materials shipped from the emerald island itself. Polished wooden floor with bar stools and high chairs, caricatures and some more Irish toasts on the walls, old photographs and quotes by some of the famous Irish bards such as Oscar Wilde and WB Yeats will definitely make anyone feel they are in Ireland. Strategically placed between Le Meridian and ITC Grand Chola, The Moon and Sixpence is inside The Hablis. Adding to the constantly-growing hospitality industry, the pub provides a great culinary and gastronomic experience. Visually, the pub is a surprise. In the day time, when it is not too crowded, we can get our laptops and work there listening to some great music, whilst drinking chilled beer. Old books, corner booths, endowed with comfortable sofas, which can also work as reading areas and a pool table, more than a regular pub with drinks and short-bites, this one has a lot to offer. From the outside, it may seem small, but the place boasts of being the largest pub in the city. Ample walking space due to the strategically placed tables makes the place look even more spacious. Though the corner booths are small, they make you feel cozy instead of cramped. It looks like a rustic tavern and you can easily imagine Gandalf sitting and smoking his pipe with a mug of ale in hand.
PERFECT BITE Places like The Moon and Sixpence make you wish you had the appetite of a dinosaur. The pub is divided into two parts — the main area and the lounge that is always buzzing, more so on Wednesdays as the hotel showcases indie movies from 7:30 pm onwards. The best part is that they don’t charge any entry fee, neither for the pub, nor for the movies. Come Saturday nights, the pub transforms into a musical haven with live performances by some of the upcoming and famous musicians. As we made ourselves comfortable, a crisply dressed waiter came in with the menu. Apart from the power lunch menu, which is served from Monday to Friday, between 12 noon to 3 pm, and the à la carte menu, they also have a Sunday brunch menu that is available from 11 am to 4 pm. The hotel tries to use as less paper as possible, so their à la carte menu comes in an iPad, complete with the description of the dish. However, the hotel has taken screenshots and pasted them, so some of the descriptions are incomplete. The menu boasts of a huge collection of liquors and food items, but not everything may be available on a given day, for example Irish whiskey and stout beer were not available the day we visited. The waiter suggested the bartender’s special and a fruit juice. Mojito and fresh watermelon juice arrived at the table and we took a sip after raising a toast. Meanwhile the music from the speakers got louder and the country music added to the ambience of the place. The pub takes surprisingly good care of smokers. No dingy smoking area, but an entire, well-ventilated, covered balcony is provided for the smokers’ delight. The staff, we must mention, is a pleasure to interact with. Quick on their toes, they will answer any queries that you might have or be
even prompt in recommending dishes, should you ask for one. Our dishes arrived in quick succession - their specialty, lamb steak with succulent mushrooms with a thick layer of mashed potatoes on top, and The Moon and Sixpence Stew, a concoction made of lamb, cooked to perfection. The lamb though beautifully plated and fresh lacked flavour. The lamb steak and mushroom, however, was excellent. All the tastes blended perfectly. Braised, soft and juicy lamb pieces with mushroom in a rich gravy topped off with mashed potato crust, this dish has an interesting pop to it. When asked about it, we were told that it’s their secret recipe and we could enjoy it at The Moon and Sixpence. Vegetarians can delightfully indulge in their Open Ravioli, another specialty. It is a flat pasta dish with filled with various vegetables and cheese in red coulis. Their portions are perfectly-seized, not too much and not too little. With such fabulous food, it would have been easy to just fall into a deep slumber, but what is a meal without a dessert? Blueberry cheesecake it was! It tasted great, as the cheesecake was very soft, but the crust was soggy; a close-to-perfect ending to the meal nevertheless. To say that we were full would be a gross understatement. We personally wanted to try so many other things as well at the pub like their short eats. Even with ever present hunger, we could not as our stomach did not even have an inch of space left. The pub has potential as their drinks and food are good. A little tweaking in desserts can go a long way. They score full on presentation and by far, the ambience would easily draw crowd, and the subdued lighting, quaint tables and chairs and the music is simply brilliant. The Moon and Sixpence is open from 11 am till 12 midnight.
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In High spirits
A Tipple of Thai Thailand has, for long, continually surprised the world with its diverse natural and cultural stock but none come close to its endeavour of producing wine. The country hasn’t just shone a light on a new terroir but has fundamentally changed the art of growing and fermenting grapes, says Bhisham Mansukhani.
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To presume wine as an idea and product of the west would be as erroneous as taking Thailand to be only the country of the fiery curry and exotic massages. The two misplaced misgivings were together dispelled for us on a maiden day excursion in Thailand’s resort destination of Hua Hin, home to one of Thailand’s four chief wine regions. Now, while Thailand slots into the tropical category – long humid summers and mild winters – and isn’t your most likely candidate for the new world wine producers, it has put itself firmly on the world wine orb with drinkable, consistent wines that have risen in quality on the back of each vintage. Thailand’s young wine industry traces its beginnings back to the mid 1980s when its king commissioned an experimental wine production venture which subsequently encouraged the plantation of vineyards across the regions of Phu Rua Valley, Khao Yai, Samut Sakhon and Hua Hin, CEO LIFESTYLE
where a certain Siam Winery set up vineyards in 2003. The Thai wine making approach has the underlying philosophy of the new ‘Latitude’ wines which is to flip conventional wisdom about wine making which predicates that the 30th to the 50th latitude are the most ideal wine producing areas. The increasing success of Thai and Indian wine is compelling experts and oenophiles to debunk the notion that wine cannot be grown nearly 1770 kilometres south of where it was earlier thought ideal and to revisit the earlier latitudinal deduction. Thailand’s proximity to the equator does however have its massive climatic challenges that substantially reduce the variety of grapes her producers can plant but an extended dry season between November and March gives the grapes enough time to ripen and evolve varietal expression. And as Thailand’s ferment has gotten better and earned international credibility, it has become an exotic draw for tourists keen to
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tick off as many wine countries of their list. Hua Hin, which is just a few hours’ drive from Bangkok, has the trappings of tropical getaway that is mercifully bereft of garish accompaniments but is imbued with easy going rustic Thai hospitality and a smogarsbord of local sea food. A slew of restaurants and pubs crank up the small town’s social scene while the beach unlike the overrun Thai beaches of Phuket and Pattaya, still wears an inviting, reclusive look. An ideal itinerary would entail landing up in Hua Hin on a late afternoon and soaking in its local attractions and then setting out the next morning, for a long indulgent day at Hua Hin’s only and internationally acclaimed Monsoon Valley Vineyards. The landscape leading up to the vineyard sits in stark contrast. The coastal vegetation gives way to manicured, tall trellises stretching across undulating planes and slopes around the wooded tourism centre. Located 210 metres above sea level, Hua Hin Valley Vineyards occupies 560 acres of land abounding in a top soil of loam, sand and slate and is planted with more than 20 varietals, chief among them being Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Colombard. We couldn’t believe the reality of this verdant, vinous venture in the heart of South East Asia. Yet there it thrives. Monsoon Vineyards has, in fact, become Thailand’s apex wine tourism attraction, complete with a fine dining restaurant perched just right to give diners a sweeping view of the vineyards and a well appointed visitor centre that welcomes thousands of curious oenophiles yearly. Monsoon Vineyard’s indelible highlight and unmistakably Asian giveaway is the vineyard tour, wait for it, on elephant back. It is a rather historically appropriate choice of transport through the vineyards since there used to be an elephant corral where the vineyard is now. This eco-friendly new world approach got us to hark back to when we fearfully clutched at the hairy neck of our escort pony while surveying Chilean vineyards. A scenic tour of Bobby vineyard tour is followed by a tasting of Hua Hin
Valley Vineyards, Monsoon Valley range of ferments at the vineyard’s chic Sala Wine Bar & Bistro. As touched up on earlier, Thailand’s climate presents a number of challenges for wine production. While the grapes ripen sufficiently through months of uninterrupted sunshine, the humidity takes its toll by rotting out some parcels of fruit. There is, however, still enough fruit to yield grape to produce over 300,000 bottles a year at Siam’s winery nearby in Samut Sakorn under the able watch of resident wine maker, Kathrin Puff from Germany. Given the set of unique weather driven challenges, the chosen varieties are unsurprisingly ones with a reputation to adapt to harsher weather conditions and still turn out a distinctive indigenous style. The Monsoon Valley hits high notes on this account with the Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, both consummately bearing the hallmarks of an overt, new work style, abound in upfront tropical fruit and crisp acidity. Rather interesting, Monsoon Valley also produces a white wine blend (uncommon for new world producers) of Chenin Blanc, Colombard and Malaga Blanc. Amongst the reds, the Shiraz is a star, turning out a ripe red with a palate of cherries, plum, coffee and a hint of spice with perhaps some more room for tannin expression. The shiraz features prominently across all of Monsoon Valley’s ranges, right from its classic to uber premium flagship range where it has been blended with Sangiovese and aged in French oak. Monsoon Valley also features a clutch of sparkling wines and fortified sweet wines produced from Chenin Blanc and Muscat. While the wines have some way to go before besting the old school peers like France and Italy, Thailand’s journey towards becoming a notable new world producer continues in earnest. Tastings done, it was an opportune time then to buy our favourite ferment from the lot, pick out a table at Sala’s bistro with a view of the elephants grazing in the vineyard and pair the wine with some freshly plated Pad Thai. Wine at this new latitude is compelling enough hook to come back and sip em’ for a little longer.
HEALTH
BODY BASICS
The M-word? Me-No-Pause! Sudden mood shifts, erratic sleep, depression and fatigue – if you experiencing these frequently, don’t attribute them to work stress or lack of a healthy diet. It could be time to take a closer look, says Neha Malude. Menopause is a much dreaded word but that doesn’t mean you have to press the pause button on your life.
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Remember Kim Catrall from Sex And The City? The spunky actress who played Samantha Jones was recently in the news when she teamed up with Pfizer to send a message to all the ladies out there to “define their own menopausal style”. Catrall, whose character goes through menopause in the popular series, is encouraging women to consult experts who can help them sail through the tough time. The question we are asking today, though, is this: why is menopause such a traumatic journey for women? Biologically, menopause means that your ovaries have stopped producing an egg every month, which in turn puts an end to menstruation. Menopause doesn’t occur suddenly, it is preceded by a condition called perimenopause, a period during which the production of oestrogen reduces gradually. During this time, a woman might experience irregular periods or none for a stretch of two months also. When it has been a year since a woman had her last menstrual period, that point is termed menopause. Although a natural result of aging, menopause can also be brought on early in women who have undergone a major surgery like hysterectomy or chemotherapy. Premature ovarian failure can also lead to menopause. “Menopause can result naturally with age, removal of ovaries, after chemotherapy and some medical conditions with auto antibodies like rheumatoid arthritis and also in girls with chromosomal abnormalities like down mosaicism, etc,” says Dr. Sandeep Chadha, Executive Consultant, CEO LIFESTYLE
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Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida. If you have entered your 40s, keep a close eye on your health and menstrual cycles. If you experience symptoms of menopause, the best way to find out is to consult your doctor. “The best option in this case is to seek medical advice. Too many symptoms may confuse the person. However, it is the doctor who will be able to decide after a clinical examination,” advises Dr. Bhawna Mangal, Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Columbia Asia Hospital, Kharadi, Pune. Many women describe the post-menopausal time as being very traumatic, so much so that it hinders their daily activities. In fact, in a recent study in Australia, numerous women found the effects of menopause so tiresome that they were unable to focus at work to the point of wanting to quit and retire. Insomnia, joint aches (due to reduced bone density), mood swings, low sex drive, wrinkling, and hot flashes are some of the most common effects during this time. “During the early stage, night sweats, irritability and mood swings are frequent. In the intermediate stage, women might be prone to urinary tract infection and incontinence and during the long menopause stage, their tendency to suffer from heart and bone diseases increases,” says Mangal. Can menopause be postponed? “No, menopause cannot be postponed but we can give artificial hormones so that a woman keeps having her periods and it can keep her bones strong. However, these hormones have their own side effects and cannot be given for a long time,” says Chadha. But is there a solution? Of late, several doctors (outside India) seem to recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to compensate for the loss of oestrogen. Mangal, though, doesn’t recommend it. “Hormonal replacement therapy is not advisable in case of menopause. However, there are traditional CEO LIFESTYLE
If you have entered your 40s, keep a close eye on your health and menstrual cycles. If you experience symptoms of menopause, the best way to find out is to consult your doctor
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Menopause: What to do Sleep in a cool room Wear clothes that ‘breathe’ Do deep breathing exercises to relieve stress Have a regular sleeping cycle and stick to it Talk to your doctor about your discomfort
What not to do Not exercise Eat heavy meals before bed Take medication without consulting your doctor Ignoring problems/symptoms Smoking and drinking
CEO LIFESTYLE
remedies that must be followed under a doctor’s supervision only,” she says. However, according to a WHI study, hormonal replacement therapy where oestrogen is balanced with progestin, HRT can work wonders and relieve women from distress. But, it uses synthetic hormones so it doesn’t come without its set of problems. Another concept, called bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is said to work for those suffering from breast or uterine cancer and those with high blood pressure. It is a cream based therapy that uses soy and yams which, although popular in the USA for a decade, hasn’t yet made its mark in India. Needless to say, every woman’s body reacts differently to treatments and consulting your doctor is imperative before trying anything. Women can also avoid falling prey to hot flashes by steering clear of triggers such as caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, heat and cigarettes. “Regular walks, weight bearing exercises, adequate milk intake, regular calcium intake, high soya diet and check on weight gain are a few preventive measures that women can take to stay healthy during menopause,” says Chadha. But menopause needn’t be a time to dread. For many, it is the beginning of a new part of their lives, believe it or not. Freedom from menstrual cycles and birth control are two the biggest advantages women count. The trick is to approach this time of your life positively and talk about it. Unfortunately, menopause is still a condition that women just ‘put up with’. Many don’t realize that it has a huge impact on their well being. True, not every woman will suffer from the debilitating effects of menopause but one can’t turn away from the fact that one’s body is undergoing a significant change. The most important thing is not to ignore all the signs, especially once you have entered your 40s. Don’t treat any kind of discomfort as trivial. Talk to your gynaecologist and ask for help, half the battle is won right there. Yes, menopause is akin to a speed bump along the way but who says your life has to come to a screeching halt? Don’t say menopause, say me-nopause!
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BODY BASICS
Eating right on the go! Some are born with a hard-to-rein-in wanderlust. But, what happens when it gets in the way of your healthy lifestyle? Arathi M takes you through the do›s and don’ts of having food on the go.
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A trip to France is not complete without devouring the Pain au Chocolat, and neither is a trip to Switzerland thorough without a generous helping of Emmental cheese and bread. So what happens to the diet plan that you have been religiously following for long? Food and travel go hand in hand. A recent survey by the travel website TripAdvisor reveals that even though Indians claim to focus on ‘physical and mental health’ during a vacation, only 14% tried to maintain the diet they were on. In addition to this, thanks to the expeditious lifestyle nowadays, eating healthy can be gruelling. While rushing between flights or conferences, people forget to keep track of what they eat and how it is gradually taking a toll on their well being. The primary consternation here is not just what people eat after they reach their destination, but how eating healthy flies out of the window while they are travelling. Be it a flight or a road trip, it is best to pack your own meal. The meal provided on the flights, or in restaurants you stop to fulfill your craving, will be abundant in calories. This is where fruits, yoghurt or salads will come to your rescue. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, but stay far away from carbonated soft drinks as they do nothing but make your calorie clock tick. If there is a possibility that you won’t get time to pack a meal, scout for it in the station or airport. There’s a good chance of finding healthy options here as these places have started going out of their way to provide them.
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BODY BASICS
Once you reach your hotel, you are presented with the most appealing but intoxicatingly decadent cuisines ever. And it gets worse. The restaurant’s helping would be two to three times bigger than what you would prefer at home. The best thing to do in such a situation is to share a meal or get the extra food packed for later. A buffet doesn’t help your diet any further. The urge to eat all the assorted delicacies can become a health hazard. Refrain from wolfing down enormous portions of everything in front of you. A simple bite of a chocolate soufflé will have nothing less than 100 calories, while all a normal human being needs in a day is something between 1000-2000 calories. Eating everything, but in moderation, is the golden rule here. Nowadays, every hotel room has its own mini fridge. And, they generally do stock healthy snacks such as vegetables, low-cal biscuits, granola bars and fruits to rescue you in case you have a case of the midnight munchies or are feeling famished. Buck up and eat healthy as you do not want to gain four
CEO LIFESTYLE
pounds on a four-day holiday. While on a vacation, people let go of their abstinence from alcohol and adopt the phrase, drink and make merry. A piña colada may lead to a bottle of vodka and you wake up the next day with a terrible hangover. But it is not just the hangover that you need to be weary of. Generally, a cocktail comprises not only calories, but also fat. Here again, the moderation rule comes into focus. A glass of wine has never really done anyone any harm. Not a fan of wine? You could try rum or whisky which are not only waist-friendly, but will also assuage your thirst for relaxation. Getting up in the wee hours of the morning to exercise or perform yoga is not always a feasible option when you are travelling. “Squeeze in as much workout as you can. Walk up and down the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Do some push-ups or sit-ups before taking a bath in the morning. A walk after a heavy lunch also works wonders,” adds Khosla. The ultimate dream is to eat and not gain weight. So, dig in, eat limited quantities and live the dream!!
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HOLISTIC HEALING
Goodbye, Wintry Woes Indulge yourself with a spa treatment this winter to get rid of winter blues and that overall lack of radiance. Jyoti Balani brings you some winter-inspired therapies that will enhance your mood and make your skin glow.
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In a country like ours, everyone eagerly waits for the winters to set in. Chilly evening are perfect for pulling out all your warm woollens, enjoying a drink in the evening without feeling guilty and indulging in kebabs and biryanis. But at the same time, winters also bring with them low humidity, dry air and skin that is flaky and itchy. Cold winter air lacks humidity and dries up natural oils in the skin, causing it to lose its moisture. This leads to rough, cracked skin that can feel tight and uncomfortable. One solution is to choose skincare routines keeping in mind the weather. Apart from that? A wonderful session of pampering at a spa, of course. Situated in Vivanta by Taj President, a bustling business hotel in the busy locality of Colaba in Mumbai, Jiva Spa is located on the pool level. As one enters the spa, the sight of pristine whites and soft edges infused with Indian motifs sets the mood for relaxation. The entire spa consists of five treatments rooms out of which one is a room for couples. Jiva Spa is done up aesthetically using pottery which is influenced by ancient Indian earthen ware. Treatments rooms are equipped with hot beds for those who wish to go for heat therapy to relieve back aches. It is the only branded Indian spa in the subcontinent and all the treatments are conceptualized from traditional Indian rituals from different rural parts of India such as The Pehlwan Malish, The Jagr Massage, Jivaniya, Trupti, Shudhikara and The Mangal Snan, for instance. The therapy oils are a signature blend from the Indian herbal plants. “We recommend the Jivaniya Invigorate for winters, a treatment that lasts for 120 minutes. This is an energizing treatment to relieve muscular tension and improve blood circulation. It includes an exfoliating herbal scrub of exotic spices and herbs from the hills of India, a heatstimulating wrap, followed by a revitalizing massage. The
HOLISTIC HEALING
scrub and wrap provides heat and the energizing massage helps to increase the blood circulation which will help to keep the body warm in very cold winters. The blend that is used in the foot bath is a combination of lemon (refreshing), ajwain (stimulant) and Ashwagandha (rejuvenator),” says Pankaj Sampat, General Manager, Vivanta by Taj President Mumbai. The treatment starts with the application of a masala spice scrub which is a mixture of Indian spices. After the application, the scrub is washed off with plain warm water. A clay wrap consisting of 22 Indian herbs is applied and covered in a plastic sheet for 20 minutes. This is followed by Orja Dayaka (an energizing massage) using a blend of Tulsi (gives clarity of mind), Nagarmotha (uplifts spirits) and fennel (a stimulant). This is a deep-muscular massage to lift one’s spirits and revive inner vitality. A special blend of oil laced with fragrances of Nagarmotha, Pachouli, Tulsi and Ashwagandha works on the body’s deep-seated aches releasing trapped nerves and balancing the flow of energy in the body. “The second option which works best for winters is the Narikela, a treatment that lasts for 45 minutes. This is a scrub with coconut milk and coconut powder, which is a natural softener. Winters a city like Mumbai may not Pictureskin Courtesy: Park HyattinHyderabad CEO LIFESTYLE
be very cold, but the weather does dry the skin and this scrub will gently help to exfoliate and moisturize and cool your body,” says Sampat. On the other hand, the aroma of essential oils takes over your senses and you can feel the stress vanishing as you step into the massive 17,000 square feet Quan spa at the JW Marriott Pune. Warm, appealing hues blend perfectly with elegant sheers, couches in stylish silhouettes and diffused lights. Quan Spa, which means ‘a source of pure water’, draws on the restorative properties of water to offer an oasis of healing and rejuvenation. Thirteen exquisite treatment rooms including Ayurveda, Thai massage, Vichy shower rooms and a relaxation room ensure that there is something to cater to everyone’s needs. The expansive menu offers a range of therapies including body polish, body wraps, touch, Ayurvedic and facial therapies, and foot and hand reflexology. “A spa treatment should always be done with utmost care and consultation for any individual regardless of the age. However, there might be some treatments which are best suited for different climates. Ingredients like ginger, papaya, clove oil, cinnamon, etc., have warming effects on the body and hence, are preferred for any spa treatment for winters.
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Also, body wraps are very popular during the winter season. Body wraps are a great way to detox the body as the use of thermal blankets enhances the overall spa experience,” says Mahima Sharma, Director, Quan Spa in JW Marriott, Pune. Sharma recommends the Tropical Essence Massage which uses rare and exotic blends of tropical essential oils. It uses warm lime and ginger with pure lavender oil which has a calming effect on the body, keeping the base oil as almond. The massage is followed by a cinnamon foot scrub. She also suggests the Abhyanga Ayurveda package in which warm herbal oils are best recommended for treatments in cold climates. Believed to balance the doshas and revive much needed warmth into the body, this treatment is designed to keep the body, mind and soul in perfect harmony. It includes two different types of rejuvenation therapies, Abhyanga Indian Body Massage and Shirodhara (continuous pouring of warm oil onto the forehead at the point which is believed to be the third eye). Shiro is a Sanskrit word which means head and dhara means a stream. Ginger tea is served after the treatment which is believed to have many healing and warming properties. Unlike the bustling streets of Ahmedabad outside, the interiors of the Spa in Hyatt CEO LIFESTYLE
Ahmedabad are tranquil. With seven treatments rooms that are well-equipped with steam and shower amenities, this spa offers a wide range of treatments. For those who prefer to go for a spa treatment with their partners, there is a treatment room for couples too. “Recommended spa treatments for the winters are Relaxing Salt Scrub and Aromatherapy. As the skin gets dry and dehydrated in the winters, the Relaxing Salt Scrub therapy helps remove the dead skin cells, keeping the skin soft and smooth. The salt is carefully massaged all over the body to remove the outer layer of the dead skin and clean blocked pores. This is a superb way to either begin or end the day. The Aromatherapy massage is a holistic experience in which blended essential oils are used by lymphatic drainage and pressure point massage technique to promote physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing. Both treatments are ideal for the winters to rejuvenate and relax the mind, body and soul,” suggests Krishna Patel, the Spa Manager of Hyatt in Ahmedabad. A hot cup of joe, a cosy chair and a warm blanket sure are a cheery way to putting up with the chilly winters but this time, we suggest you try indulging in one of these absolutely enriching spa treatments. So, which one will it be?
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SITES & SOUNDS
EVENTS
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Kites ho!
If you want to kick off your new year with flying colours, literally, then Uttarayan festival in Ahmedabad will definitely lure you. The festival of ‘Uttarayan’ or ‘Makar Sankranti’ is celebrated as International Kite festival on 14th and 15th of January. The transition of the Sun to the North on 14th January is the reason behind this joviality. On these days, Gujarat greets the Sun with pools of coloured, funky kites and bowls of foods. The blue January sky changes colour with supple kites hovering all over the state. Thin paper, bamboo strips and reels of strings blended with glass powder paste are all that the people want, on this two-day revelry, to push the boat out. Spinning the strings of the kites in their hands, the flyers untiringly soar them up.
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The festivities, thankfully, do not end here. The most exciting and entertaining part of the festival is the kite match. The streets, beaches and parks of Ahmedabad, this day, teem with raucously energetic crowd cheering on the enthusiastic fervent players, who take part in the match. They rush and leap and rave around to cut down kite strings to win the game. The match also sees the kites getting entangled as well as the strings getting collided. Does this stop here? No, the city is also abuzz with well-lit lanterns which are tied up to the strings and the uproar of delight goes on and on. So you want to fly high along with kites this January? Get ready for your trip to Gujarat. For more details visit www.gujarattourism.com.
DECEMBER 2014
Turn up the volume in Goa
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For all those music junkies who revel in techno, Goa’s Sunburn 2014 is just the place for you to be this December. Asia’s largest electronic dance music festival, Sunburn, brings the festive beats to Goa from December 27 to 29. Air filled with vibrant electronic beats, enthralling crowd going crazy to the music and grand dance floors are all back with a bang this winter. The Vagator venue is all set to swing in action this year, with Sunburn planning eight different stages, with each event catering to the diverse genres of electronic dance music. Legendary artistes such as Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, Michael Woods, Krewella, Danny Avila, Bauuer, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike are all geared up to rock the magnificent stages. With 150 reputed artistes, largest multiple stages ever constructed in Asia and experimental zones, a spectacular production and a whole host of fun activities, the electronic fest is expected to be a massive hit this year. Sunburn Goa
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2013, turned out to be the grandest with 120 artistes, seven monolithic stages, 1,60,000 people across the globe and the most popular DJs. If you thought Sunburn was all about the music, you could not have been more mistaken. A host of activities such as stunt-biking, bunjee jumping, volleyball and zorbing are also being presented to the crowd all set to rock it out this December. Fret not, free -spirited party lovers, for there are on-site camping facilities and the famed Sunburn after parties, spanning over 50,000 sq.mts of Vagator, to welcome you on board. Also, you have the pleasure of exploring the exotic Sunburn cruises, flea markets, activity zones, open air theatres, libraries and artiste villages in Goa during your three-day stay there. So, get surrendered to the wild beats and party hard this winter in the Vagator shores. To book your tickets online, log in to http://sunburn.in/.
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Mark Your Calendar 23 10 11 14
What: Be a part of Mevlâna What: Chocolate Festival What: Gets dressed up as Festival and know It is Geneva City’s Santa for Santacon more about the largest festival. along with thousands Islamic World. The Who can say no to of Santacon friends festival is celebrated chocolates and when it and crank up this commemorating is a festival dedicated Christmas! Mevlâna’s death on to chocolates, it is When: Dec 14, 2014 December 17, the definite a must attend! day which is now So, get set for Geneva Where: San Francsico, United States celebrated as wedding to indulge yourself. night with Allah. When: Dec 11, 2014 When: Dec 10 - 17, 2014 Where: Geneva, Switzerland. Where: Konya, Turkey
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What: Visit Russia for What: a ll night with colour, the Russian Winter music, passion festival that starts after and cultural flair at Christmas and goes on Nassua’s Junkanoo till past the New Year. Parade. The crowd can enjoy When: Dec 26, 2014 troika rides through the snow, hear folk music Where: Nassua, Bahamas performances and enjoy the scenic view of the ice sculptures that stands in the shadow of St. Basil’s Red Square. When: Dec 26, 2014 Jan 10, 2015
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When: Dec 23 - 27, 2014 Where: Douz, Tunisia
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What: Plan a trip right away What: The best destination to celebrate New to Edinburg for the Year’s Eve party is Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Rio de Janeiro. Freak street party, which out this New Year at is one of the most Copacabana beach spectacular events where everyone comes celebrated to ward together and party hard off the winter spirits. all night with stunning Be ready for amazing crowds bands, parades and breathtaking fireworks When: Dec 31, 2014 to welcome the New Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Year. When: Dec 30, 2014 Jan 01, 2015 Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
Where: Moscow, Russia
What: How about venturing into the Sahara deserts this winter with camel races, rabbit hunts and much more? Head to Tunisia to be a part of the Festival of Sahara and celebrate the nomadic culture.
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