CEO Vol 1
Issue 8
November 2014 `100
ROYAL FABLES
explore indian royalty’s cherished lifestyle
SHAPe UP!
get expert opinion on bridal diets
Wedding WOWS
7 destinations to get hitched in style
Design Diva
Neeta Lulla
www.kudoslondon.co.uk
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PEOPLE
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Style Check
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Fusing the best of both worlds
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Life outside the mobile cloud
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Deal of A Lifetime
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Create the perfect wedding memories with these wedding photographers
A successful woman entrepreneur’s journey from Wall Street to the world of films
The MD of Asia South at NVIDIA talks to CLS about golf, Spanish omlettes and technology
The CEO of Mydala who works hard and parties harder
Styling Brides, Timelessly Beautiful An exclusive with Neeta Lulla on bridal trends this season
Bridal Bijoux
Bridal jewellery? Check out these gems
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PANACH E
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Brand Factory
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The Trousseau Treasure Hunt
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Lean, Mean Driving Machines
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Bring The Box Office Home
The elitist’s library of new launches
Our pick of India’s best trousseau stores
We take a look at the best driver’s cars in India
Looking for a home theatre system? Take a look at our pick
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P L AC ES Happily Ever After
Getting hitched? Exchange vows at our pick of the most exotic wedding destinations
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Nouveau Chic at Novotel, Chennai
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Of Tea and Tranquillity
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Reviving Royal Threads
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Chennai’s newest luxury hotel set to wow elite travellers
Become one with nature at this beautiful nature resort in Dooars
At the 6th edition of Royal Fables, we find out what Indian royals love
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WINE & DINE
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Where Cuisine Turns Creative
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No Monkey Business, This
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A New Spin To Your Cocktail
What Mumbai’s newest restaurant has to offer
Chef Manu Chandra’s twist on Asian cuisine
Liqueurs? We tell you how to enjoy them better
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H E ALT H
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Bridal Fitness Mantra
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A Grande Experience
CLS brings expert tips on fitness for brides-to-be
An afternoon of getting pampered in a royal fashion
e ve n t s
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Sites & Sounds
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Mark your calendar
Giddy up in Vegas Christmas with Dickens
What we are looking forward to next month
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CEO Vol 1
Issue 8
November 2014 `100
ROYAL FABLES
explore indian royalty’s cherished lifestyle
SHAPe UP!
get expert opinion on bridal diets
Wedding WOWS
7 destinations to get hitched in style
Design Diva
Neeta Lulla
RAADIA MUKADAM GROUP EDITOR & BUSINESS HEAD raadia@eyeballmedia.in ASSISTANT COPY EDITORS
FEATURE WRITERS
ART DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
General Manager Sales
Neha Malude Arathi M. Rekha Shanmugham Nifty Jacob Isha Sharma Veeranandhan Kittappa Narayanan Sathish M. Ashok R. Rajasekar rajasekar@eyeballmedia.in
Sales Co-ordinator
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,
Whilst Goa, Jaipur and Udaipur have been hot favourites for destination weddings, Indians have been relentless in exploring new avenues for their D-Day
The Indian wedding industry is currently over Rs. 100,000 crore and is growing at 25 to 30 per cent annually. A person in India spends one-fifth of the wealth accumulated in a lifetime on a wedding ceremony. That means, a tremendous opportunity for retailers to capitalise on. It is the only industry, I dare say, where the spending party is not microscopically analysing their ROI (Return on Investment). Lavish weddings have moved from a trend to a compulsion, and amazingly, no one is complaining. The traditional Indian wedding has been replaced by its swanky customised counterparts. With each passing decade, the Indian weddings are getting grandeur, presenting lucrative business opportunities to players involved. Wedding planners, photographers, stylists, decorators, caterers, jewellers, fashion designers, florists and event managers are cashing in on the flourishing wedding market. There are wedding planners in the country who are ready to make all the arrangements for a whopping amount. I, for one, am a sucker for planning weddings. Yes, you got that right, “begaani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana” style. And the options out there today leave you spoilt for choice. CEO Lifestyle has had a really fun time putting this issue together. We bring to you Neeta Lulla’s wedding collection, along with handpicked jewellers showcasing their wedding ware. That’s not all, whilst Goa, Jaipur and Udaipur have been hot favourites for destination weddings, Indians have been relentless in exploring avenues for their D-Day including Thailand, Dubai and Mauritius. We have presented you with some new options you may want to consider while planning your destination wedding. When you put so much effort planning the wedding, why allocate such little time to capture it. Curated, styled photo shoots are in vogue and many couples are opting for specially stylized shoots with a stylist, set designer, makeup artist and hairstylist. They say ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’; my personal favourite in this issue is the section on wedding photography and you will understand why, magnificently captured, each image has a story to tell. I sign off now, allowing you to enjoy this issue as I would like to take a moment as I walk down memory lane.
Raadia Mukadam
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Contributors Bhisham Mansukhani Saving the world one pour of sublime ferment at a time, Bhisham hopes to retire to life amongst the vines someday. Until then he parts time between a battered keyboard, deadline violations and a smattering of wines.
Aparna Kaistha 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.
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.
Abhishek Baxi Abhishek Baxi is an independent digital consultant and technology columnist. He lives on the Web and speaks incessantly on Twitter as @ baxiabhishek.
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Jyoti Balani
Kingston David
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 !
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.
Prachi Joshi
Rahul Dutta Gupta
Prachi writes about food, travel and lifestyle for various publications. She loves exploring new places and cultures, and will travel anywhere for good food.
A recovering workaholic, a beer connoisseur, a self confessed dare devil and maggi master-chef, Rahul has a penchant for losing/ breaking/accidentally flushing down outrageous expensive smartphones the only reason why doesn’t dare treat himself to the iPhone 5S.
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PEOPLE
STYLE CHECK
You’re being framed A picture is worth a thousand words, so the ones clicked on your D-Day should be nothing short of perfect. We bring you ideas from renowned photographers so your album will forever echo with beautiful memories
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Things are not like they once used to be, and the same goes for wedding photography that has taken a 180 degree turn. With couples keen on preserving their special moments, it has become more important to find the right photographer. Sephi Bergerson is an award winning wedding photographer who has spent over a decade in India, perfectly capturing those splendid moments on his lens, the look in her eyes as she gets married, the second he sneaks a look at her, the enchanting chants and just about everything else. “Candid has become the new tradition,” says Sephi and we concur. Enjoy a pre-wedding shoot to encase the jubilant environment or the fussy make-up among other things. So, while planning on how to get your ideal wedding gallery, Sephi advices to “find a photographer you connect with. Go with someone who seems to be able to understand you and who you are.” And if you love what you see, Sephi can be contacted via email or a phone call to discuss your details. For more information, visit http://weddingphotography.sephi.com/
Picture Courtesy: (c) Sephi Bergerson
STYLE CHECK
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Do you remember the first time you met your special someone, the colour of his/her clothes, the tense smiles, the romantic location and the pleasant weather that added a few brownie points to the meeting? Well, how about retracing those initial moments. “Date shoots are catching up,” says Pushpendra Gautam, an acclaimed wedding photographer. Add to your collection of special moments by introducing a ‘Save the date’ shoot. Go on your first date, all over again (aww) and let the pictures do the talking as you book yourselves a slot for some quality time. It gives you the chance to rekindle your chemistry, as your photographer captures those candid moments. Going past the norms of traditional wedding photography, it is a great way to complete your love story. Of course, the wedding shots cannot be far behind, the joyous look on the bride’s face as she adjusts her maang tika, the solemnity as the red vermillion makes a touch down and so much more. If you fancy the images, Pushpendra can be reached via email, a contact form or a phone call. For details, visit http://www.simplypush.com/
Picture Courtesy: Simplypush.com CEO LIFESTYLE
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TITAN TALK
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Fusing the best of both worlds In marrying her Wall Street-gained expertise with the nuances of film marketing, trailblazer Tanaaz M Bhatia has created an impression like none other. Rekha Shanmugham knows not if she is more amused by the body of work or the empire of shoes, a certain Carrie Bradshaw number included.
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The legendary Wall Street must only be too familiar with anyone tuned into the mind boggling world of finance, or even American movies and tele-serials for that matter. The picture is that of a bustling epicentre of all things finance, where men and women in crisp suits scurry past each other, one hand clutching perhaps a bagel and the other a stack of papers, surrounded by an air of importance. A few years back, Tanaaz Bhatia, Managing Director/ Founder Bottomline Media Pvt Ltd, immaculately dressed in her Brooks Brothers suit, Burberry workbag and her favourite Manolo Blahnik shoes would traverse this very place, in the highly coveted capacity of a successful investment banker. Life wasn’t a bed of roses, she says, for she would start sometimes as early as eight in the morning, wrapping up work only well past midnight. Bhatia, however, was only living her reverie. “To work on Wall Street was my dream,” she says, “ever since I understood finance.” We can only imagine what it must have been like to be rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the intimidating world of finance. Even though an introvert, when the situation demands, the woman is a complete go-getter. A few minutes of talking to her easily leads us to conclude that she is what one would call the cream of the society. She is chirpy and speaks with cheerful enthusiasm belying the years of experience, while enumerating inspiring occurrences from her life with a nonchalance that befits the ordinary. To quote a notable instance from her childhood, at the age of six, Bhatia was the youngest in the state of Maharashtra to have given the first level of Trinity College London piano exam. The examiner was quite amused that the little girl, who had to be carried and plonked on the seat, could deftly traverse the breadth of the piano with her tiny fingers. Her perseverance prompted her to ace all the eight levels, making her a qualified teacher. This was only a trailer of what was to become of her later.
TITAN TALK
“Shoes are the love of my life,” says the owner of almost 250 pairs of shoes. The bonuses received even during her Wall Street days went towards Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks, only these days, Christian Louboutins have joined them
CEO LIFESTYLE
During her stint at Sydenham College where she was pursuing a degree in economics, Bhatia dabbled in theatre (a reflection perhaps of her inclination towards English classics in her early years), writing, emceeing and was also a part of the Student Council. “I was just trying to figure out who I was,” she says. The real battleground, however, proved to be Wall Street. The MBA graduate, who majored in Media and Finance from the highly prestigious NYU Stern School of Business during a time of economic crisis, had to extensively network and make sure she connected with each and every one of her Wall Street alumni before she secured a spot for herself as an analyst at Merrill Lynch. Enough battling one would think, but after a little short of a decade, the next chapter was to begin in Mumbai, at the Gloria Jean’s in Bandra. Attempting to marry her extensive knowledge of the realm of finance with the fascinating world of Bollywood, Bhatia ventured into film investments. “One thing led to another and in due course we found ourselves specializing in film marketing,” she says, her first being the Sanjay Dutt-starrer Lamhaa. Film strategy followed closely by way of Shah Rukh Khan’s Always Kabhi Kabhi. The extremely special camaraderie she shares with the Badshah of Bollywood, whom
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she looks upon as her teacher and guide, is quite evident even as she mentions his name. “The sky is the limit when you work with him,” she says. “He pushes you to do better, never says no and builds upon your ideas to come up with something fascinating. The energy is infectious.” Incidentally, she considers his Ra.One, which “broke all the norms of marketing” as her best project till date. She also fondly remembers the women-centric drama Gulaab Gang and Vicky Donor, which she marketed along with her friend and school senior John Abraham, as her other interesting projects. A complete ego-booster, however, was when the company was given the opportunity to work independently as a consultant for the English movie The Zero Theorem, thus becoming the first in India to do so. “It was a fabulous experience,” she remarks. As is clearly evident, work often demands her to pack her huge Tod's bags and sometimes even cross the Atlantic. In addition to this, Bhatia clocks a new destination every year. While Gstaad and other such locales have provided fodder for her wanderlust in the past, Tuscany, Rome and the Winter Wonderland in London seem to be on the bucket list for the year. She also reminisces about her trip to Milan last year, CEO LIFESTYLE
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talking especially about the delicious Burrata and morning jogs she took to explore the city. Yes, Bhatia falls in the oftdifficult-to achieve bandwagon of foodie cum stickler for gym routine. Skewed especially towards the Oriental and Japanese cuisines, restaurants Nido and Wasabi By Morimoto are her frequented spots back home. Being a champagne aficionado, the woman also loves her limited edition Dom Pérignon. While speaking of the other things she did in Milan, shopping springs up of course, especially since she is a selfconfessed shopaholic. “Shoes are the love of my life,” says the owner of almost 250 pairs of fine shoes. The bonuses received even during her Wall Street days went promptly towards Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks, only these days, Christian Louboutins have joined them. “My first pair of shoes, I clearly remember were Carrie Bradshaw’s blue Manolo Blahnik pumps from Sex and the City!” she says, with obvious passion. Well, it is endearing indeed to sense fervour and enthusiasm, whichever sphere the woman chooses to tread. A new venture is on the cards, a brand she is about to launch, regarding which she says it is too soon to reveal much (another reason for her to visit Milan). Well, all we can say is that we already see another success story in the offing. NOVEMBER 2014
TITAN TALK
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Life outside the mobile cloud Spanish omelettes are his speciality, golf is his passion and technology, his forte. The Managing Director of Asia South at NwA, Vishal Dhupar talks to Rekha Shanmugham about his life and many loves.
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Vishal Dhupar’s childhood is easily one of the most nomadic ever. It isn’t really much of a surprise either, considering that he hails from a defence background. From Bhutan to Meerut, to the lush and extremely picturesque valley of Udhampur between Jammu and Srinagar in the far north, to the extreme east, little Dhupar was fortunate enough to have tread various landscapes, thus earning a wealth of experiences even as a child. “It got me really close to nature,” he says. Contrary to what one would expect of the head of a tech juggernaut, Dhupar’s childhood was synonymous with the outdoors. His father would often play squash while his cousins dabbled in tennis. Dhupar himself wielded the willow along with classmates and even represented his school in hockey. “Somewhere along the way I started getting interested in golf,” he says, of the sport which he religiously plays till date. There were tough times too. Violence and hostility erupted sporadically and the kids would have to be escorted to and from school. They would gingerly peddle their bicycles from one colony to another, fear gripping their chests. “My childhood was a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” he adds. Post completion of his DBA in marketing from the Bangalore University, Dhupar went on to secure his first position as the Territory Sales Manager for DCM Data Products. “That is where my tryst with technology started,” CEO LIFESTYLE
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says Dhupar. “I started to understand how to do business with technology,” he adds. That was indeed the genesis for an extremely illustrious career which was to unravel. Coinciding with a drastic shift in the paradigm of technology, what with the globalization and major overhaul in foreign policy, his career grew from strength to strength, the ‘experience’ space in his LinkedIn account standing testimony to that. In early 2010, the search to find the right person to spearhead NVIDIA in the country ended with the then Managing Director for India and SAARC region at Symantec, Dhupar. The man’s part in positioning brand Symantec and the accolades that resulted from the effort played a major role in him landing the plum position. “It felt great to have been chosen,” he says. The opportunity to develop the young company into a bigger brand thrilled him as did the prospect of being part of the new order of the day ‘mobile cloud’. “I wanted to get a feel of the revolution,” he says. As is true of everyone, life seems to have moved on and changed a lot for Dhupar. However, the nomad in him is still alive and surfaces from time to time. After all, once a wanderer, always a wanderer. As is customary of such positions, work ensures that Dhupar is on his feet all the time. But he makes sure that he takes time out to holiday with his wife Ruchika and two teenaged kids, Angad and Manya. The NOVEMBER 2014
TITAN TALK
As a way to preserve his golfing holiday memories, Dhupar takes back a memorabilia from each and every golf course he visits abroad. It could even be a score card, but he treasures them
family has a holiday home in Goa that they often visit to bask in the glory of the Goan sun and shores, sometimes taking friends along. Dhupar also talks highly of Austria, Auckland and the Jim Corbett National Park in India, for pampering the nature lover in him. The man tried his hand at bungee jumping in Auckland. However, London scores top marks when it comes to being the family’s favourite international destination. “We are absolutely in love with London, a great place to enjoy and unwind,” he says, adding that it is a beautiful amalgamation of the old and new. The man loves exploring the city in his favourite RM Williams boots, stopping at little eateries to sample the fare. “Anything of high quality attracts me,” he says. Back home however, he prefers Yauatcha, considering his inclination towards pan-Asian delicacies. Does he don the chef’s hat ever, we ask, to which he laughs before replying, “I am good at giving breakfast to the kids, Spanish omelettes and cold coffee being my speciality.” His typical day begins with dropping the children to school and then heading to work during which time he might listen to music or audio books, his current fascination being ‘Chanakya’. “Bangalore’s traffic can really test your patience,” he sighs. Dhupar is also an avid reader of business books and is currently into ‘Built to last’ by Jim Collins. And as far as possible, he tries to pack in some physical activity during the week by way of visiting the gym. “I try to hit the gym at least four to five times a week,” he says. The weekends, on the other hand, are spent teeing away amidst lush expanses. “I have literally lived out of the Karnataka Golf Association,” he says, his passion for the game evident. “It is my ‘me’ time.” International golfing destinations beckon Dhupar as well, and he specifically talks about his experience at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland. “It was ‘mission accomplished’ when I set foot there,” he says, “it is the place where golf was born. The light drizzle made it even more beautiful.” As a way to preserve these golfing holiday memories, Dhupar takes back a memorabilia from each and every golf course he visits abroad. It could even be a score card, but he treasures them. And though he is on the move most of the time, Dhupar makes it a point to follow the open golf tournaments on his NVIDIA tablet, something that he fits into his back pocket and absolutely can’t do without. Be it e-mails, television or photography, his NVIDIA tablet is the one-stop destination for him. A shutterbug perhaps, we ask him. “Not really, but I might get into photography at some stage in my life,” he says. Well, he surprised us there! CEO LIFESTYLE
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Painting by Bob Freimark (1922-2010)| Sculpture by JD Hansen & Cheryl Ekstrom
HOHMANN FINE ART
73-660 El Paseo | Palm Desert, CA 92260 | U.S.A. | +1.760.346.4243 | art@hohmannfineart.com | www.hohmannfineart.com | International Shipping CEO LIFESTYLE 37 NOVEMBER 2014
TITAN TALK
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NOVEMBER 2014
Deal Of a Lifetime
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One of India’s youngest entrepreneurs, Mydala’s Anisha Singh knows how to work hard and party even harder. Rahul Dutta Gupta meets the woman who is offering Indians deals that they just can’t refuse.
Leading one of India’s hottest online startups, making it profitable hasn’t been a cakewalk. However, Anisha Singh, CEO of Mydala, India’s answer to Groupon, candidly admits that when she is on the Internet, trial and error is the path she chooses. Says Singh, “We keep experimenting with our format while figuring out newer, more efficient ways to reaching out to more people. With an average of 1.2 lakh vouchers sold on any given day, I guess most of our R&D seems to have struck gold.” In every potential CEO’s life, there comes a turning point which propels them towards their destiny. Singh admits that during her teenage days she had rather limited vision about herself, and was voted numerous times as the first girl to get married within her circle of friends. “I never envisioned myself as a super successful corporate honcho but took things as they came. Along the way, life offered me some great spring boards, which changed my outlook by giving me the inspiration, know-how and the drive to try different things and take a few risks.” CEO LIFESTYLE
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Armed with a Master’s Degree in Political communication as well as an MBA in Information Systems, she bagged a job at Capitol Hill and worked with the Clinton Administration. As a part of her profile, she had to assist and guide women entrepreneurs in raising funding for innovative business projects. That is where she admits she caught the entrepreneurial bug. “It was truly inspiring to meet women, often single mothers, working hard to start their own businesses. Just talking to them was so inspiring and I guess that really changed me as a person and as a result Mydala was born.” Singh doesn’t run a typical business outfit. Her employees, mostly young girls, believe in working hard and partying harder. “After the day ends, the party starts! Sipping wine and dancing to Honey Singh can be an excellent stress buster.” But what does she do when her day unofficially ends? “I am a hardcore Sardarni who loves to party. I am also a wine aficionado and going out and chatting with friends over a well-aged glass of red is an evening well spent.” NOVEMBER 2014
TITAN TALK
From parties, the conversation takes an obvious turn towards food, and Singh is only too happy to confirm that not only is she a complete foodie, but also takes great pride in having a well-travelled palette. She certainly loves fish in all its forms, be it cooked in the traditional Bengali style with loads of sorche (mustard) or as delicately filleted sushi. She has also developed a taste for authentic Ethiopian cuisine (simultaneously lamenting the lack of good Ethiopian joints in Delhi) and believes that one can never go wrong with spicy Mexican street food. However, with Singh, food truly begins and ends with fish. She loves vacationing in Goa not so much for the beaches, but for its delectable seafood. When she does get to travel, which Singh admits her choc-a-block schedule doesn’t permit often, her favourite holiday destination is, without a doubt, Italy. “We went backpacking through Italy and covered almost the entire country. Their countryside is truly ethereal and seems to be straight out of a picture book. But what really took my breath away was their glorious architecture, not just the monuments but almost everything you see. It’s a country which is completely comfortable with its history and proud of its present. I would definitely like to pay another visit to Italy, whenever I get some time on my hands.” Travelling might not be a big part of life now, but there was a time during her stint with the Clinton administration when she was shuttling from the East to the West Coast on CEO LIFESTYLE
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a daily basis. This, however, she admits with a grin, didn’t teach her much about packing smart. In fact, her travel bag is in is, in her own words, “very anti-survival”. Singh might forget her laptop charger, but she would always remember to carry several pairs of shoes, even for a weekend trip. That might suggest to some that she is a fashion buff. “Not really, but I do have some hardcore favorites. I love the dresses and business suits of Ann Taylor and the tops and tees of WHBM (White House| Black Market). These are two of my favorite brands. I am also a very aggressive online shopper and rarely miss any of their sales.” What about Indian brands? “I have grown rather fond of Anokhi in recent years. The way they fuse the contemporary and the traditional in their dresses takes a lot of skill.” She is as passionate about her health as she is about food and travel. Apart from being a dedicated yoga practitioner, (something that she believes helps her stay calm and focused throughout the day), Singh also swims regularly. “Swimming is truly a complete exercise, and relaxes and invigorates me at the same time.” But when she is not doing pranayams or perfecting her butterfly strokes, you would most likely find her playing badminton with her friends, and now that she has perfected her drop she has become a really hard player to beat. What with her unabated enthusiasm for everything, be it sports, work or travel, Singh would be a tough cookie to beat at anything, we think. NOVEMBER 2014
calonge
LIFESTYLE 41 NOVEMBER 2014 www.calonge-group.comCEO - calonge@calonge.in - www.facebook.com/calonge.group
TAILOR MADE
From bespoke bridal couture to breathtaking jewellery designs and bridal home furnishings, Neeta Lulla is a master in the art of creating luxury. The iconic fashion designer shares her bridal couture journey with R Vandana.`
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Remember those exquisite clothes from Devdas, Bride & Prejudice and the more recent, Jodhaa Akbar? Lulla has to her credit more than 300 blockbuster Bollywood flicks, and during her 34 years of career, she has styled almost every diva, be it Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Sushmita Sen or Bipasha Basu. “My career in both, fashion and films started simultaneously, almost 30 years ago. And, so far it has been a great experience.” Her collections represent luxurious charm and unique craftsmanship. For Lulla, inspiration comes from diverse sources around her. As a designer, she never bound herself to one particular thought. Perhaps that is the reason all her collections are distinct and different from each other as well. Lulla makes all her collections exclusive by following her heart and design sensibilities rather than exacting a concept or idea. In fact, her philosophy of design is beyond boundaries. Lulla’s creations reflect romance, comfort, magnanimity and sensuality. “For me, fashion is a statement that defines you. It is something that creates your personality and aura,” she says. Lulla’s latest collection at IIJW (India International Jewellery Week) 2014 symbolises simplicity, richness and traditional opulence. The bridal expert revealed full finery in white bridal attire, designed in rich tulle and lace, paired with sequin and Swarovski elements. The splendid collection creates a romantic drama for the modern bride. Opulent lehengas in rich fabrics such as silk, brocade, tulle, lace and velvet with intricate zardozi and a contemporary blend of mirror work, gota and zari add a touch of vintage classic and chic to the CEO LIFESTYLE
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bridal attire. The collection is categorized into three different themes – prêt, diffusion and luxurious heritage of srikalahastikalamkari. The prêt collection employs uncomplicated cuts to create easy silhouettes. With a tropical colour palette and muted mokaish embellishments, the diffusion collection showcases an array of elegant monochromatic ensemble with the occasional aztec accent. The luxurious heritage of srikalahastikalamkari showcases gorgeous contemporary Indian wear in tulle and velvet. It is popular for its appliqué work teamed with elaborate zardozi embroidery, creating traditional couture. Another creation by Lulla, ‘Brides of Heaven’ was displayed at India Bridal Fashion Week, Mumbai edition. Based on ‘The Bridal Goddess’, it was a dazzling mix of classic, contemporary and resort bridal wear. The collection unfurls distinctive styles and vintage yet edgy charm. Lulla uses various materials while working on a collection as she lets her vision and inspiration run carefree. However, lycra is one of her favourite materials to work with. One can also see a lot of fitted and figure hugging garments in several of her collections. She uses net to add a soft and sensual factor, whereas tulle and brocade are her tools to bring some texture in the garments. Of late, she has also been working with khadi, kanjivaram and kalamkari. In ‘Radha’, one of her extravagant collections showcased in 2012, she used brocade, net and bright colours such as yellow, orange, pink and purple. These designs complement the Indian bridal look, for say, kundan necklaces, chandelier earrings, maang-tika and bangles. The collection has a wide range of bridal wear including lehengas,
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TAILOR MADE
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cholis and dupattas. Her kalamkari collection introduced at Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2011, embodies the south Indian charm with net sarees, georgette ghaghras and sequined kurtas. According to her, designing a collection and working on movies are two different things. When she is designing a collection, there are various inspirations that tickle her creative mind, and the designer lets them flow and take shape. However, when she is working on a Bollywood project, she has a certain character assigned and needs to think around that. There are set parameters woven around the project, certain colour schemes that the director wants to project and fine details that a cinematographer wants to capture. “It is like creating fashion that will become a statement in the near future once the movie is released,” she says. For all you brides-to-be who want to know what’s hot this bridal season, Lulla says that in India the trend of destination weddings is picking up, so the contemporary classic bride is making an impact. Ornate, kalamkari and crystal work is quite popular this season. The colour palette revolves around bordeaux, ivory, burgundy and Persian green. She adds that ‘bridal trends’ almost always tend to conjure images of North Indian brides, but there is so much more to bridal wear than that. During her career, she has styled brides from all parts of the country. In Devdas she styled the look for a Bengali bride, in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, a Gujarati bride, in Jodha Akbar, a Rajasthani bride and a south Indian bride in Kochadaiyaan. Her USP lies in contemporising, traditionalising and customising the bridal wear. Under her bespoke creations, Lulla offers customisation options with detailed finishing and tailoring as per individual needs. Each garment is impeccably tailored for a once-in-alifetime experience. The designer takes almost two months to execute a made-to-order bridal wear. However, on special demand it can be prepared within 48 hours. “Always consider all the details of the wedding, right from the venue to the time and the season. If it is a destination wedding, choose the ensemble accordingly because the geographic conditions play a major role. It is also important to consider your ensemble depending on whether you have a day wedding or night. Be very careful while choosing the colours and always keep your skin tone in mind. Stay in your comfort zone and feel confident,” she advises. “At times, designers share what is ‘trending’ but you should always choose a garment that complements you and your skin tone,” Lulla says. And buy those wedding shoes well in advance to ensure that they are comfortable, she adds. “Many a time, brides ask the timeless question of what should be bought first, clothes or jewellery? It’s like asking whether you should buy furniture first or the house,” she quips, adding, “Brides must choose jewellery first and then find an outfit that complements it.”
Luxe Central
Bridal Bijoux
There is nothing like traditional Indian jewellery to complete a wedding outfit, is there? In fact, we would even go so far as to say that jewellery is more important than the outifit. Or, maybe not. It’s a difficult argument. So, let’s just leave it aside and have a look at some of the best bridal jewellery designers in India that R Vandana dug up for you, shall we?
Picture Courtesy: Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers CEO LIFESTYLE
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Picture Courtesy: Anmol Jewellers
Anmol Jewellers
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The bridal jewellery collection from Anmol showcases a range of large-sized diamonds set in classic motifs and beautified with alluring colours. The founder of this luxurious jewellery label, Ishu Datwani, reveals that this time he has taken inspiration from colours. “We have used coloured stones like emeralds, rubies and tanzanites with coloured diamonds in bridal jewellery,” Datwani says. Classic designs with diamonds and coloured gemstones are quite a rage this wedding season. A new trend that is catching on quite fast is the combination of yellow and white diamonds with a dash of pink gold. A stunning choker with diamonds and coloured gemstones, matching earrings, bangles, maang tika and rings are a few essential jewellery pieces that complete the bijoux box of a bride-to-be. In terms of materials, yellow and white gold are everyone’s favourite as they complement diamonds, uncut diamonds and coloured gemstones. Anmol offers bespoke bridal services in which the jewellery is customised as per the bride’s requirement. As and when required, the founder himself interacts with the client and makes the jewellery selection process easy for the bride. It takes about 60 days to complete an entire bridal set. Datwani advises that a brideto-be should always buy jewellery before finalising her wedding outfit. The wedding jewellery should be chosen in a way that accentuates her features and camouflages the flaws. Moreover, the jewel pieces should be timeless and shouldn’t look old even after 10 years. Anmol has designed wedding jewellery for celebrated divas of tinsel town, Malaika Arora Khan, Shilpa Shetty and Lara Dutta, to name a few. The bridal jewellery range at Anmol starts from Rs. 25 lakhs onwards.
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Manubhai Jewellers
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To celebrate the bridal and festive season, Manubhai Jewellers have come up with Utsavi collection that symbolises festivity. Inspired by the royal heritage and vast culture of India, the collection offers ethnic kundan and jadau jewellery. Samir Sagar, Director, Manubhai Jewellers, shares that this season the bridal jewellery trend will be high on jadau. The royal Rajwada neckpieces to south sea pearl kantha’s and demure kundan karas and bangles will be popular. Sagar describes that for the wedding day, brides are looking for elaborate jadau chokers with semi-precious stones with a central floral design or paisley motifs. For the pre-wedding ceremonies, they prefer lighter neckpieces with long earrings in jhumka styles or even multiple lined neckpieces teamed with several bangles. Weddings in India are dominated by gold and in the recent years, the metal has transformed with creative and artistic designs. Gold jewellery with precious and semi-precious stones like ruby and emerald potas, onyx and jades are adding colours to the bride’s trousseau. Often, the brand customises wedding jewellery for its clients. Each product is handmade, exchanged upto six to seven hands (at times) with various karigars specializing in a particular line of craftsmanship. Thus, each piece could take around 15 to 45 days to make, depending on the complexity of the designs. Price of the jewellery depends on various factors such as weight, craftsmanship and design. For instance, jewellery pieces range from as low as 80 gms to 100 gms in light weight and sometimes upto 900 gms in an elaborate neckpiece. Accordingly, prices also ranges from Rs. 1 lakh to 20 lakhs. Manubhai Jewellers have styled divas like Deepika Padukone, Karisma Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Chitrangada Singh and Lisa Haydon with their exclusive and intricate designs.
Picture Courtesy: Manubhai Jewellers CEO LIFESTYLE
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Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers
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Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers has introduced two bridal collections this season, Svara (gold) and Soundaraya (diamonds) to sweep you off your feet. These collections have been designed considering the market trends and customers’ demands. According to them, the wedding season will celebrate elegant designs like diamond and polki fusion sets. Jewellery pieces like uncut diamonds and heritage jewellery will remain popular as women find largesized polka in contemporary setting very fascinating. One of the finest jewellery labels of India, Shree Raj Mahal shares that polki is the most popular material used in bridal jewellery. It is further combined with south-sea pearls and coloured stones that make the jewellery extraordinary. All it takes is a month to 45 days for the brand to customise bridal jewellery. Because a bride’s jewellery is such a special part of the day, the brand ensures that every aspect of its design is discussed with the client. The price range varies as per the jewellery created. Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers as a brand caters to the needs of all brides. The jewellery is unique as every peice is carefully crafted to attain perfection for which the brand is known. While finalising the jewellery for the special occasion, they suggest that the bride-tobe must consider a few essential points like whether it is a day wedding or a night wedding, colour and elements of the jewellery, etc. Accordingly, one should decide the other aspects such as make-up and wedding attire. Celebrities like Chitrangada Singh and Bipasha are frequently seen flaunting Shree Raj Mahal jewellery at fashion events, and the brand also caters to several television stars.
Picture Courtesy: Shree Raj Mahal Jewellers
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Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas
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A historical jewellery brand, Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas reveals that the wedding season bridal jewellery goes high on unusual and bright coloured stones. In fact, usual designs have taken a backseat and each design must divulge an interesting story. For instance, a jewellery piece might have a simple design, but with a contemporary twist, explains Yash Agarwal, Creative Director, Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers. Bold statement pieces are in vogue, so chokers and bold rings have been witnessing a rising demand. Apart from statement necklaces and earrings, head jewellery such as the maang tika is setting a trend. It has become an essential jewellery piece that completes the look of the bride. When it comes to stones, then ruby, emerald, diamond, sapphires, gold and other precious and semi-precious stones define the demand. The jewellery brand also customises bridal jewellery as per the need and demand of the customer. The process of designing customised jewellery begins with understanding the philosophy of the client. The design gets approved by the inhouse teams and then goes into pipeline. It takes almost 45 days to design a tailor-made bridal jewellery collection. Price for the customised jewellery depends on the design and the demand of the customer. However, the bridal jewellery range at Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas jewellers is priced between Rs. 20 and 80 lakhs. The brand’s designs have been worn by Bollywood celebrities like Sushmita Sen, Malaika Arora Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Kangana Ranaut, etc. and we think it is time you joined the club.
Picture Courtesy: Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas CEO LIFESTYLE
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PANACHE
BRAND FACTORY Style Unparalleled NOVA by Rolf Benz speaks of unmatched style and comfort. Designed by Joachim Nees, experience a new mode of relaxation as the charming furniture effortlessly adjusts as you lounge and is available in more than 230 fabrics and 80 leathers. Get yours soon. Prices start at Rs. 6,20,000
Work It French luxury brand S.T. Dupont introduces Line D ElysĂŠe, a luxurious collection of leather goods. Hand-crafted with the finest choice of leathers and traditional methods of stitching and assembling by hand, dyeing, inspecting and cleaning, the range of briefcase, wallets and billfolds portray elegance and are ideal for those on the go. Price on request
Colour Pop Inspired by the charm of Santorini, the uber-cool groove of Manhattan and the upbeat spirit of Berkeley, Viari bags are crafted by Londonbased designer, Silas Grant. With an interesting range of bright hues, which one do you fancy this season? Prices up to Rs. 17000
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Wedding Gifts Galore The season of officially getting hitched is here and that means it’s time you went on a shopping spree for the perfect wedding gift. Fret not, for ‘Wedding Laurels’ by Frazer and Haws is replete with Midnight in Paris-themed bowl, cheese platters, stallion wine cork, medusa wine glasses and many more products that will leave you spoilt for choice. Prices up to Rs. 79,200
Bling It On TILISMAT by Shaheen Abbas is a juxtaposition of vintage charm and designs with modern aesthetic. Structured with diamonds, precious stones of rubies and emerald, pearl and 18 karat gold, these elegant pieces are smart, savvy and just right. Price on request
Timeless Treasures Jonathan Charles, available at International Furniture Brands, offers exquisite antique reproductions of the highest quality in traditional cabinet-making and carpentry, handmade by skilled artisans. Be it the stunning coffee tables or the intricate desks, we just love these pieces of art. Price on request
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BRAND FACTORY Go Bohemian Bohème by Montblanc puts together a self-confident expression reflecting distinctive style, elegant design for the contemporary and sophisticated woman in you. With floral Arabic numerals, diamond paved dials and bezels of diamonds or mother-of-pearl to choose from, the collection is exquisite. Price on request
Smart Styling Corneliani, the luxury Italian men’s wear brand by OSL Luxury Collection Pvt. Ltd, introduces its new range of accessories comprising a sophisticated selection conceived to enhance and complement the gentleman’s wardrobe. Team your look with the pure silk tie, palladium finished brass tie pins or the leather belts to give the finishing touch to your look. Price on request
Chic Collectibles Italian luxury brand, Visionnaire introduces a spectacular Wellness & Beauty range redolent of the Victorian age. Beautiful products comprising Duke Separe, an intriguing double face divider screen in wallpaper and mirrors, the Windsor bathtub and the Windsor Mobile Trucco Vanity Table available in pearl-coloured lacquer with triple adjustable mirrors makes for the essential collectible. Price on request
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The Trousseau Treasure Hunt As the wedding season comes closer, preparations are in full swing and there is mad rush to get everything in order – the decorators, stylists, DJs and more. For the bride, though, nothing is of more significance than her wedding ensemble – the perfect dress matched with the ideal jewellery, shoes and accessories. But hey, that’s what we are here for. CEO Lifestyle picks out seven Indian trousseau stores that will fulfil your every little wish, no matter what you are looking for.
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Sabyasachi Splendour
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When it comes to bridal couture, very few can claim to better Sabyasachi, isn’t it? While the designer’s much-famed flagship bridal store in Kolkata has always been a favourite, he recently opened a new flagship store in Mumbai as well. Located in the heart of Mumbai's art precinct, Kala Ghoda at Fort Mumbai, the store is an overview of Sabyasachi’s vision of Indian luxury. From imposing historical pieces to modern quirk like the Amul book, cluttered romance of Parsi and Bengali homes, to regimented structure of cantonment bungalows, the store has it all. Twenty two vintage hand painted chandeliers, an Iranian carpet that has passed many hands, Ittar bottles painstakingly collected from the bylanes of Hyderabad and Lucknow, antique rugs, beautifully framed period calendar art from the 20s and courtyard pillars from Gujarat and recycled colonial furniture. Step inside and you are sure to feel as if you have stepped into a completely different era, the era of kings and queens (after all, this is CEO LIFESTYLE
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Sabyasachi we are talking about). Here, a bride will find what her heart desires and more. Just be careful you don’t lose track of time in here! Apart from the exquisite wedding sarees and dresses that Sabyasachi is world famous for, there is something for the grooms as well – a dedicated section of menswear which is becoming quite popular with discerning men seeking out cultured Indian clothing. To complete your trousseau, the new Sabyasachi store also houses bespoke bridal jewellery for the first time which is designed by Kishan Das and Co of Hyderabad, heritage jewellers since 1870 and curated by Sabyasachi himself. Need we say more? Sabyasachi retails in Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana and Jaipur. To know more, visit http://www.sabyasachi.com/ Mumbai flagship store: Ador House, 6 K Dubash Marg, (Kala Ghoda) Fort Mumbai – 1. NOVEMBER 2014
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Elegance with Anita Dongre
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If you count Anita Dongre’s unique style sense among your favourites, then why not check out her collection of bridal wear at the newly opened Anita Dongre in Delhi? Situated in the city’s haute luxury destination, DLF Emporio, the sprawling 3000 sq ft. luxury store exudes the charm and vivacity of Rajasthan, whilst offering a unique selection of bridal, couture and prêt ensembles to the luxury connoisseur. Dongre’s love for Rajasthan is known fully well, so it comes as no surprise that her new flagship bridal store also reflects the vibrant colours of the state. Accents of hot pink pop out from gentle curves of elegant arches on the walls. Tranquil, grey, block printed panels and an abundance of rich shades of blue pottery, contrast with the quiet charm of geometric black and white chequered floor and lavish ottoman seating. Marble inlay and chic CEO LIFESTYLE
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upholstered chairs juxtapose with refined silver furniture, and a thoughtful selection of photographs on deep rose pink coloured walls. The store aptly combines heritage with a modern and sophisticated intricacy of style and design. Soak in the luxurious atmosphere as you discover the beautifully curated selection of Anita Dongre bridal, couture, prêt, and a bespoke line of gold jadau and silver jewellery, PINKCITY, along with an eclectic range of Anita Dongre Menswear. The ensembles are lightweight, versatile and modern, yet reflect the soul of India’s wonderful crafts and heritage – perfect for the bride who wants something elegant and traditional. For details, visit http://shop.anitadongre.com/ Anita Dongre store: Anita Dongre, Unit 422, 3rd floor, DLF Emporio, 4, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi- 70. NOVEMBER 2014
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Harmony at Ensemble
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Finding an amalgamation of the traditional and the state-ofthe-art is every bride’s true desire. Well, look no further as Tarun Tahiliani’s Ensemble provides just that. At the helm of the organization, which boasts of being the first haute couture store in the country, are Tarun and his wife Tina Tahiliani, who ‘strike a balance between our legacy and the modern-day’. Located in the plush areas of Mumbai and Delhi, Ensemble stores have dedicated space for bridal wear complete with brightly-lit studios and ornate mirrors, making you feel royal. There is no middle course to be taken when it comes to looking your best on the special day. Ensemble’s in-house Design Studio will be completely at your service. The dedicated team will help you select, alter and personalize stunning creations by titans such as Sabyasachi, Rohit Bal, Manish Malhotra and of course, CEO LIFESTYLE
Tarun Tahiliani himself. But if that does not satisfy you, there is another action plan. The Design Studio also creates customized outfits, thus devising the perfect look for you. Too busy to go out and scout for outfits? Fear not. Their expert personalized service will send across a capsule collection of about 8 to 10 dresses according to the need of the hour. Yes, this is for real. The only condition they have is that you will have to pay as soon as you make a purchase. The stores also boast of a striking collection of bridal jewellery, enough to warm any bride’s heart. Ensemble stores are in Bandra, Kemps Corner and Lion Gate in Mumbai and Santushti at Race Course and Emporio at Vasant Kunj phase II in New Delhi. To know more, visit: www.ensembleindia.com Flagship venture in Mumbai: Great Western Building, 130/132 Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai – 23.
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Regal With Ritu Kumar
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She is the queen bee when it comes to the Indian fashion industry and no bridal trousseau can be complete without a touch of her magic. The veteran fashion designer whose works have been on many red carpets is mainly known for her bridal wear. Textile history and craft are her main motivations and Kumar draws her influences from the rich Indian culture. And that is the reason every collection of the designer, and mainly the bridal collection, is replete with Indian motifs. From classy and light anarkalis for the morning functions to intricately embroidered lehangas and sarees with work that exude elegance is Kumar’s signature style. Catering to various occasions centered around a wedding, the collection comprises exquisitely designed attire for the morning and evening. The Ritu Kumar bridal range is a recollection of the rich Indian heritage that combines CEO LIFESTYLE
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elegance and sophistication in the designs. Brides-to-be can even walk into a Ritu Kumar store and request for a customized wedding outfit that is then designed as per their wish. Of course, you will need to inform the designer at least three to four weeks in advance. Her latest collection launched this year has been created using rich fabrics including net, chiffon, lace and georgette set in interesting palettes of bright red, lime green, fuschia pink, royal blue and hues of yellow. Her forte lies in formulating designs that imbibe the perfect combination of unparalleled craftsmanship and contemporary silhouettes, a Ritu Kumar ensemble is perfect for the modern Indian bride, don’t you think? Ritu Kumar stores are available in all metro cities. To know more, visit www.ritukumar.com Ritu Kumar store: South Extension II: M-4, South Extension Part 2, Delhi - 110049, Near Kotak Mahindra Bank. NOVEMBER 2014
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Bespoke at Bhumika Grover
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Ace designer Bhumika Grover’s creations are an apt combination of royalty and glamour. To get the sensation of this elegance with a bit of eccentric thrown in and amalgamated with a contemporary twist, make a muchworthy visit to Grover’s store in Shahpur Jat, which is a sprawling fashion coliseum in New Delhi. Georgette, sequined fabric, raw silks – you name it, you wear it. The former interior designer has sought inspiration from regal Indian silhouettes to create a collection. Her latest collection, rightly named ‘The Bridal Finery’, is for the modern-day bride, who apart from looking like a queen also wants a touch of au courant. Eye-popping colours add delight to the baroque designs on flowing sarees, lehengas, shararas as well as anarkalis. Ornate golden thread work in exhaustive CEO LIFESTYLE
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detail is undoubtedly the feather on the cap. The entrance of the store culminates in a chandelier-lit alley, either side of which is adorned by dazzling outfits. In between various collections are gorgeous clutches and bridal accessories. The intricate thread work on the clutches adds to the imperial aura of the store. The studio is also replete with exotic matching jewellery to go with the bridal wear, thus faultlessly completing the trousseau. And hey, she doesn’t forget the bridesmaids either. In addition to the bridal collection, Grover has fashioned ensembles for them as well. The beauty of the bride in all its glory is brought out by Bhumika Grover’s talent to combine the best of both worlds. Bhumika Grover store: S1, Jungi House, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi, DL 110049. NOVEMBER 2014
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Ethereal with Niki Mahajan
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This one is for the puritans who patronise traditional arts and culturally rich garments. Designer Niki Mahajan knows how to weave magic by combining age old Indian crafts with plush fabrics to bring together an ethereal collection that is guaranteed to win you over. With exquisite crafts sourced from local artisans across the country from Bihar to Rajasthan and Lucknow, the detail is certainly in the intricate designs. Collections at Niki Mahajan follow a pattern of simplicity, maintaining clean lines and neatly worked details and are certainly a refreshing change from the usual over-the-top, cluttered bridal outfits. Another forte of the brand is the beautiful prints that are beautifully impressed from wooden blocks upon modern silhouettes, garnering rustic charms with a contemporary edge to them. You will find rich colour palettes splashed with traditionally hand crafted techniques, fit for the princess in you. CEO LIFESTYLE
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The brand has a flagship store in New Delhi, along with a store in Mumbai that you can visit to pick from an interesting range of trousseau collection. A bespoke collection, on the other hand, could take anywhere between two and three months depending on the style and detailing involved. The Prive collection has a generous ensemble of couture bridal wear that embodies Indian crafts with modern designs in an elegant manner. You can also pair your trousseau collection with your choice of handbags or clutches created from raw materials and stamped with Indian accents, while at the same time conjuring a global appeal. Seamlessly merging cultural elements with a cutting edge silhouettes, Niki Mahajan awaits you. For details, visit http://www. nikimahajan.com/ Niki Mahajan store: Niki Mahajan Design Studio, 27, Basant Lok Vasant Vihar, New Delhi – 110057, India. NOVEMBER 2014
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Modern with Madsam Tinzin
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Time and again we see generation ‘x’ take over and step in to revive the classics while adding a contemporary twist to it. Madsam Tinzin is your go to brand if you are in search of the ideal wedding garment that is a juxtaposition of classic and quirky. If you are that girl who is deeply rooted in tradition but would also like to complement it by bridging the gap to modern cuts and styles, the brand promises you just that. There are anarkalis with playful colours, smart handiwork and broad circumferences, the kind that makes it easier for the bride to twirl, twist and dance at her wedding. And then there are the eponymous asymmetrical cuts that add an element of the contemporary to your D-Day and beautiful drapes to adorn you. The brand’s take on design is a shift from the clichéd norms of heavy weight work to something that is light yet sophisticated. While marrying timeless works of art in a modern silhouette, young brides CEO LIFESTYLE
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have the option of teaming the exquisitely crafted garments with ornate jewellery, in a way that the beauty of neither is camouflaged and instead brings out the best in them. The store based in Shahpur Jat, New Delhi, offers elegant, ready-to-wear outfits and for those who want something more intimate and personal, you can simply walk in and speak to one of the charming designers, or even get in touch via the traditional telephone call or drop in an e-mail. The girls tell us that it would take anywhere from 20 days to a month to craft a beautiful bespoke outfit, depending on the intricacies you would like. Apart from the bridal wear, you can also find surreal garments for your bridemaids too. So, head over to create timeless ensembles for you and your girls. For details, visit www.madsamtinzin.com Madsam Tinzin:5K/2, Ground Floor, Near BSES Power House, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110049. NOVEMBER 2014
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Cars, for some people, are a fashion statement. There are others, however, for whom driving is a passion that cannot be expressed in words or put on paper – it is an art, it is their life. Kingston David finds out the answer to the million dollar question in every motorist’s mind: what is the ultimate driving machine that money can buy in India?
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A couple of decades back, the Indian automobile industry had less than a dozen cars on sale and the fastest car available then was a Honda. Things have changed now and you can even buy a Bugatti Veyron or a Koenigsegg Agera if you have the dough. Most of these exotic cars are imported to India as CBUs – Completely Built Units. CBUs attract a hefty import duty from the government. This added to a flurry of other taxes and charges, which made serious inroads in your bank account even before you could take your prized possession out for the first spin. If that does not deter you, our not-sosupercar-friendly road conditions will. The top speed of a Bugatti or a Lamborghini does not really matter in India and you will not find the perfect ghat section to do a flat-out rush in your Ferrari Italia. The biggest deterrent is that even though your imported car will be serviced here at a local showroom, any spares will have to be imported which means your precious might be sitting idle in the garage for a long time should anything go wrong. Nobody wants to own a Maserati and not be able to flaunt it at a party just because the clutch plate was fried at a track day the previous week. Taking all that into consideration, the ultimate driving machine for India might not be the fastest or the most exotic, but has to be the most practical to drive as well as own. So, does the sensible Indian side of our thought process really make us any less of a motorist? The answer would be a no, CEO LIFESTYLE
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for it is not how fast you get to the destination that matters, but how you get there. Here are a few exciting yet sensible cars that you can buy and have fun with. Mercedes AMGs Mercedes has been the pioneers of the industry since the advent of the automobile. Though it has been known for luxury and safety, a section of the company has always been given the license to go big on whatever they do. A result of this is the AMG series which has been rightly marketed with the catch phrase –The ‘Ah My God’ feeling. The AMG offerings that would get enthusiasts interested are the ones based on the SLK and the C-Class. The SLK 55 AMG is a hard-top convertible powered by a 5.5 litre V8 engine, which is a considerable upgrade compared to the puny 1.8 litre engine that powers the standard SLK. Anyone with the taste for powerful convertibles should definitely give the SLK 55 AMG a serious thought. It is priced at Rs. 1.26 crores which is an understandable 50 lakh premium over the regular version. Those of you who like to be a bit more subtle can look at the C63 AMG, which is the beefed-up version of the humble C-Class. There is nothing subtle about the power though, because it has a 6 litre, 457 bhp engine coupled with a 7 speed sports transmission and rear-wheel drive which will put a big smile on the driver’s face. The C-Class has been one of NOVEMBER 2014
the cheaper ways to enter the 3-pointed club but the C 63, no sir. It costs a whopping Rs. 1.08 crores . Mercedes has also taken into account the mileage obsession Indians seem to have. The CLA 45 AMG could be the right mix of both power and practicality. The comparatively smaller 2-litre engine is turbo-charged and somehow manages to pump out 360 horsepower, which by itself is a technical achievement (most power derived from a 4 cylinder engine). Mercedes claims that the car will deliver up to 17 kmpl on the highway. It can also reach 100 kmph in around 4.6 seconds . At Rs. 68 lakhs, it is considerably cheaper too. BMW M-series An article about driver-centric cars can never be complete without the mention of a BMW. All BMWs are focussed on driving pleasure but the M-series has always put in the extra yard of effort to excite the enthusiast within us. Sadly, the M3, which has been the global benchmark for driver-centric sedans, is not available in India. The slightly larger, yet equally impressive M5 and the regal M6 grand coupe are on offer though. The M5 is based on the 5 series and therefore, is spacious compared to the AMG offerings, mentioned earlier. On the other hand, the V8 pumps out 560bhp, which makes it an absolute screamer both on open roads and on the track. The M6 coupe has the same engine at its heart while carrying a more mature look and is more suited for munching miles on the highway. Priced at Rs. 1.3 crores and Rs. 1.75 crores respectively these are for the hardcore enthusiasts, who like to take it hard at the corners. Audi Quattro Audi’s Quattro system has been renowned for its supreme grip levels while being reliable at the Le Mans 24 hour races. This four wheel drive system has been implemented across all of Audi’s offerings in India (except the recently launched A3). With everything from the fantastic Audi R8 to the mighty Q7 running on this All-Wheel Drive System, one car catches our attention the most. The Audi S4 is perhaps not as powerful as the M series from BMW, but then it is not as heavy as the competition. It is based on the A4 which makes it lighter while still being able to push out 330bhp. The throaty V6 and a silky smooth dual clutch gearbox make it extremely addictive. It is no tarmac scorcher like the AMGs but it is not priced (Rs. 52 lakhs ) to give you a heart attack either. In India, it all comes down to reliability and the Audi Quattro system has passed the gruelling Le Mans 24 hour race more than anyone else, making it the most practical yet fun choice. For the power-craziness and the rubber-burning, the AMGs and M series await you with open arms.
Tech tracker
Bring The Box Office Home Whether you are a movie buff or prefer to watch your favorite sport, setting up a home cinema or home theatre system is a great way to indulge in immersive entertainment with family or friends. While there are a variety of home cinema setups and accessories to choose from, here are Abhishek Baxi’s top five picks that he thinks will give you the best home cinema experience.
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With options from brands like Sony and Samsung to LG, we bring to you some of the best home theatre set ups to enhance your prime-time experience. Sony BDV-N590 The BDV-N590 combines style and substance for a complete, great value home cinema system in recent times. Borrowing style elements from Sony PS3, there is a soundmounted disc slot, a series of touch-sensitive buttons, and a recessed display. The inverted-ice-cream-cone design speakers might be awkward for some, but can be cleverly twisted for easy wall mounting. There are two HDMI inputs, a USB connection for the bundled iPod dock, and analogue and digital audio inputs. CEO LIFESTYLE
Of course, it offers fantastic sound and picture quality too. The pictures are detailed, whether playing a Blu-ray or streaming from one of the many built-in services, and the sound, impressive and loud. Jacking up the volume retains the sound clarity and composure, which is pretty neat. The Sony BDV-N590 is exceptionally well-equipped for its price, and the comprehensive feature set and stylish curves makes it one of the best options available in the market. Harman Kardon BDS 570 The shoebox-sized Harman Kardon BDS 570 clearly stands out amongst the options and positions itself as a crossover device between the conventional ‘all-in-one’ systems and the larger and more complex separates-based set-ups.
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The BDS 570 includes a 3D-capable Blu-ray drive, which of course plays older disc formats like DVD and CD. The audio quality is ace, with five channels of digital amplification rated a 65W each. Compared to other home cinemas in a box system, the Harmon Kardon offers generous scale and impressive agility. The only disappointing omission is the support for online media streaming. You could buy separate accessories to allow for such a feature, but it is a significant miss in a modern home cinema system. Sonos Playbar It is fair to say that for multi-room music streaming systems, Sonos is revered as much as Apple in consumer smart devices. The California company aims to improve your TV’s sound with the Sonos Playbar, but doesn’t limit itself to just that. While the styling is elegantly minimalist, the build quality of the soundbar is exemplary. There are quite a few neat touches like the accelerometers to position and adjust the sound. Then there is the built-in IR repeater, so that signals from your remote get to the TV even if the Playbar is blocking the television’s sensor. There are two Ethernet ports allowing other devices like your Smart TV to piggy-back on the Sonos network to connect to the internet. The Playbar, of course, packs in all the features of a full Sonos player, allowing access to a variety of streamed music. CEO LIFESTYLE
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The LG BH8220B is expensive for a home cinema setup, but the aluminium design and solid build quality would have you flash your credit card with no regrets. It packs in a 3D Blu-ray player and comprehensive smart TV offering with DLNA
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Tech tracker You can play music stored on your computer or NAS device, send directly from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, or Internet radio via Spotify, Napster, Last.fm, and more. Only a Sonos device can offer such breadth and depth of content. As with other Sonos components, there is no remote control for the Playbar and all functions are handled by their simple and functional iOS or Android app. The Sonos Playbar is quite an improvement over even the best-sounding TVs. The detail and width that it delivers is impressive, and if a soundbar satiates your home cinema needs, you can pick this one without any doubts. LG BH8220B The LG BH8220B is expensive for a home cinema setup, but the aluminum design and solid build quality would have you flash your credit card with no regrets. It packs in a 3D Blu-ray player and comprehensive smart TV offering with DLNA. There are a couple of HDMI inputs, a 3.5mm connection, and an optical input allowing you to play from anything and everything. Like the Sonos, LG, too, offers a remote app for basic controls, but it could do better. The Smart Share feature allows you to connect wirelessly or plug in an HDD or USB stick to play your music and videos. Additionally, LG packs in an impressive list of internet content like Blinkbox, Lovefilm and Netflix. The
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picture quality is impressive and the bright, vivid pictures packed with detail catch your eye in an instant. The sound quality though is not the best we have seen in home cinemas. It is agile and neat, but disappoints in terms of breadth and quality. Samsung HT-E5530 When you talk about the Samsung HT-E5530, the first thing you need to mention is the sound punch it delivers. There are two floor-standing speakers, a chunky sub, and some jargon-laden sound-processing features that deliver the ultimate sound for a home cinema kit. Then there are top of the line specifications on a Smart Hub with catch-up TV and movies, a wired iPod dock, DLNA and Bluetooth streaming, twin HDMI inputs, a digital audio input, and a USB connection. Samsung's AllShare Play wirelessly links your DLNA-ready devices so that you can stream music, photos, and videos from anything with a DLNA app. Of course, all that means that the E5530 is bigger than most of the other one-box home cinema systems. Each component is well built, and there is a solid feel to it. The picture quality is brilliant. The colours are nice and the details are excellent. The sound quality is brilliant for the big sound, but you might find it lacking when playing something subtle.
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Lifestyle Holidays
Happily Ever After Getting married this year? In a swanky hotel in Delhi, at a church in Bengalureu or perhaps a temple? While we all love traditional weddings, more and more couples are opting for faraway destinations where they can have an intimate ceremony with just their loved ones. The idea is to have a relatively stress-free affair and an adventure, all in one package. Neha Malude brings you seven such exotic paradises to say your vows in and make it the most memorable day of your lives.
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Picture Courtesy: Rebecca Davidson CEO LIFESTYLE
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Lifestyle Holidays
Picture Courtesy: Jeanne Marie
Picture Courtesy: Derek Wong Photography CEO LIFESTYLE
Picture Courtesy: Jeanne Marie
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Say ‘I do’ in Hawaii
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Picture this: A ukulele plays a lovely, cheerful tune in the background as you are walking down the aisle, with the nearby sea waves kissing the shore. Where else but in Hawaii could this be? The islands Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Hawaii and Lanai are paradises on earth. Here, you can either go for a luxurious wedding at a five-star hotel (Four Seasons Resort at Maui, Andaz Maui or the spectacular St. Regis Princeville) or a simpler beachy wedding at a resort (Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa or Turtle Bay Resort). With an unending number of venues, it can be rather daunting to decide where you want to get married. Mira Savara, owner of Indian Weddings in Hawaii, is a pro at planning traditional Indian weddings. Considering how elaborate Indian weddings are and the sheer number of ‘functions’ (especially in a north-Indian wedding which has sangeet, mehndi, bidai and more), couples can find solace in the hands of Savara. Although the company specializes in Hindu, Vedic and Sikh weddings, there isn’t anything they won’t do. We’re talking Bollywood dancers, a fun mehndi session, typical Indian band baja – the works. So you can plan a vintage themed Christian wedding in a luxury hotel or a traditional Sikh wedding on a beach and rest assured that Savara will do the rest, everything from flowers to the music, stylists, food and of course, the mandap. And hey, if you want that extra, extra touch of extravagance – perhaps a helicopter flower drop as the bride walks towards the mandap – that can be arranged too. It is like that saying, ‘Anything can happen here.’ To get in touch with Mira, visit http:// www.indianweddingsinhawaii.com/
Picture Courtesy: Derek Wong Photography CEO LIFESTYLE
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Lifestyle Holidays
Cayman Islands Calling
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There are few things better than sun, sand and aqua blue seas to be near to, right? And how much more amazing would it be to have a beautiful wedding in such a gorgeous setting? We can practically hear you sighing. An hour away from party destination Miami, lies the Cayman Islands, a perfect blend of comfortable and exotic. Cayman Islands has always been labelled as one of Carribean’s finest and most cosmopolitan. All you have to do is find the wedding style you are most comfortable with. Will you go with the classic or the contemporary? Would you rather have a proper, traditional wedding or a casual affair where there are no heels but just sand beneath your feet? Cayman Islands starts by giving you a fun quiz of the eight questions you need to answer to understand the kind of wedding you have in mind – the number of guests, the flowers, the kind of cake, the music and so on. Depending on your answers, you will be recommended the venue (that’s right) that is most suited to your choices. So it could be the Cayman Castle or Kaibo Yacht Club. Of course, if your style is more ‘beachy’, you might be recommended the Caribbean Club, the Little Cayman Beach Resort or you can opt for one of the numerous pristine beaches Cayman Islands has to offer, for the perfect setting where you promise your life to a loved one as the sun sets on the horizon. What could possibly be more romantic? For more information, visit http://www.caymanislands.ky/caymanvows/ whycayman/weddings/destinationweddings.aspx For legal requirements, visit http://www.caymanislands.ky/caymanvows/ legalrequirements.aspx
Picture Courtesy: Rebecca Davidson
Lifestyle Holidays
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Royal It Up in Rajasthan
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What, you thought we would be talking destination weddings and not talk about Rajasthan? Easily the most romantic venue, what with unending sand dunes and grand palaces, Rajasthan is the place you get married in like a true princess. Flashback to Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar’s Jodhpur traditional Indian wedding. Who says you can’t have that too? Nothing spells royal like the jaw-dropping magnificence of Rajasthan’s many forts and palaces. Be it Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhavan, Udaipur’s City Palace or the even the deserts of Jaisalmer (well, why not?), one thing is for sure, your wedding will be nothing short of memorable. And no one does it better than Regal Weddings, owned by Ankit Bhargava. Right from day 1, your personal wedding planner sits with you and designs a custom-made plan, suited to your wishes to the tee. Ideally, you should start planning your wedding at least 8-12 months in advance (whether you are based out of India or anywhere abroad) and book the venue. After that, the company will help you plan everything dot on the time so you don’t have to make any compromises. Not only does the wedding planner manage the venue, florist, photography and music selection, but also assist you with accommodation for you and your guests. Nowadays, having a wedding website is another touch couples to like to incorporate and the company creates that for you too, in addition to managing mails and chat plus phone support for the website. You could also choose to have an elaborate evening of entertainment planned to add a local touch of Rajasthan – we are talking folk dances, fireworks, puppet shows, fire acrobats, the works. A traditional palki (palanquin) will carry the bride, while the groom has decorated, majestic elephants and a royal procession of lance men and dhol players – could it be more fairytale-like than that? To get in touch with Ankit, visit http://www.regal-weddings.com/rajasthan.htm
Picture Courtesy: Regal Weddings CEO LIFESTYLE
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Lifestyle Holidays
Picture Courtesy: The Wedding Bliss by Nanya (planner), Darinimages (photographer)
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Tying the Knot in Thailand
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Thailand’s most popular party destination after Phuket is also one of the best for destination weddings now. And if you are looking for a venue that isn’t too far, yet far enough to be ‘exotic’, Koh Samui is your best bet. An island in the land of lagoons and Buddhist temples, Koh Samui, a heaven of white, sandy beaches and tropical weather, is the perfect wedding getaway from the crowded, busy streets of Thailand. Start planning a year in advance by finalizing the location, a wedding coordinator, checking out hotels for the guests and scouting for a photographer, florist, caterer and a band (if you like). You can even have a traditional Buddhist wedding ceremony (but you have to get legally married as well, of course) if you wish. But hey, there are plenty of other locations that you might have your heart set on too right? Enter The Wedding Bliss By Nanya, a top notch wedding planner agency based in Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and Huahin. If you want to get married in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, that’s possible too. Right from the concept and theme creation of your D-Day, stylists and reception to performance and entertainment (fire spinner, for instance), the planner arranges everything to the last detail. Their onboard lawyer will even make sure you have everything you need to legalize your marriage. The best part about getting hitched in Thailand is that there are numerous styles you can pick from. Of course, the beach wedding concept is easily the most popular but hey, fancy a villa? Or how about a yacht wedding? Perhaps an underwater wedding, then? Well, why not? Marriage is an adventure, after all, isn’t it? Whatever your choice may be, Thailand will not disappoint. It is the perfect mix of easy and exotic. To get in touch with Nanya, visit http://www.theweddingblissphuket.com/
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Lifestyle Holidays
Picture Courtesy: Marry Me In France/John Armstrong Millar
Picture Courtesy: Wedding Luxe/Gabi Alves Photography
Finding Fabulous in France
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Few places can personify romance like Paris, wouldn’t you agree? And yes, we know exactly what you are thinking: Eiffel Tower. But surprise, surprise, there is so much more to France than Paris, really. Apart from the stunning architecture of Paris, there are quaint yet grand chateaux (Chateau De Massillan, perhaps), a five star hotel (ShangriLa, Paris), a vineyard or a beautiful old church that you could get married in. The possibilities are endless. Yes, admitted that it is an enormous country and it might make your head spin to see a map and not know where to go but hey, that is what wedding planners are for. For those of you who would like to get married while sailing on the Seine river with the Eiffel Tower in the background, look no further. Fernanda Silva, founder of Wedding Luxe, which specializes in sophisticated destination weddings all over Europe, will come to your rescue. She’s also the one you call if a chic five-star hotel like the luxurious George V is what you have in mind. The company offers elopement packages in Paris too, if you want your wedding to be an intimate affair. Once decided, you have nothing to worry about, since all the services will be provided for – the photographer, flowers, selection of the DJ, hairdresser and even fireworks! ‘Marry Me In France’ is another of France’s most reputed wedding planners which offer a large selection of handpicked venue listings that, according to them, have been selected with a ‘bride’s eye view’. The company owned by Beth Stretton has continual offers on wedding packages in different kinds of venues, be it a chateau or a villa and you have to see the selection to believe it. Because let’s face it, the venue is the most crucial part of a wedding. Once you finalize the venue, the company takes care of everything, right from event dynamics and stationery design to furniture and favours. With so many options, getting married in France should be a worry-free affair, we think! To get in touch with Fernanda, visit http://wedding-luxe.com/ To get in touch with Beth, visit http://www.marrymeinfrance.com/ CEO LIFESTYLE
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Picture Courtesy: Wedding Luxe/Gabi Alves Photography
Picture Courtesy: Wedding Luxe/Gabi Alves Photography CEO LIFESTYLE
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Lifestyle Holidays
Picture Courtesy:BeA – Al Fresco Wedding CEO LIFESTYLE
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Fairytale Wedding in Italy
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A lustrous heritage, rich cultural history, marvellous locales and of course, the food – what’s not to like in Italy? Choosing a beautiful venue to get married in Italy is like having to name your favourite child. But hey, if you know exactly what kind of setting you are looking for, matters become much easier. Some of the favourite places where couples love getting hitched include the gorgeous Amalfi coast, Florence, Tuscany, Sicily and of course, Venice. BeA Alfresco Wedding, the brainchild of Beatrice, is a small wedding company based in the heart of Tuscany. And that means you can get the dream wedding you want – be it in a rustic yet charming Tuscan cottage, in a Renaissance castle like the Castle Lemonaia, at a villa (say, the Il Borgo Garden), in a wine resort (Brunello Wine Resort) or at any of the numerous beaches lining the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The company will help with all the usual requirements of wedding preparations, plus the rehearsal (if you need one) and even your honeymoon planning. Another superb wedding planner company, Wedding Planners Italy, owned by Cindy Salgado is a specialist in Tuscan weddings, but also plan weddings elsewhere in Italy. Those interested need to do a quick consult where you choose the venue style, the ceremony style, etc., which is followed by a chat over Skype with Cindy herself. According to the choices, the couple is then suggested a perfect venue, followed by details of all the suppliers, which you can assess for yourself. From then on, you can pick and choose how much you want to do yourself and hand over the rest to the planner – customized is the operative word here. To get in touch with Beatrice, visit http://www.alfrescowedding.it/ To get in touch with Cindy, visit http://www.weddingplannersitaly.com/
Picture Courtesy:BeA – Al Fresco Wedding
Picture Courtesy:Wedding Planners Italy, Alessandro Ghedina
Lifestyle Holidays
Swiss Bliss in Switzerland
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Switzerland is undoubtedly one of India’s favourite destinations, be it for a vacation or for a Bollywood film shoot. But wouldn’t you want to explore the beautiful country for your destination wedding? If you are truly adventurous, a winter wedding would be absolutely magical. But unless you want to risk getting frostbitten, a summer wedding would probably be the best way to go. Large green mountains, unending stretches of lush greenery and serene, mirror-like lakes – the beauty of this Swiss country is indescribable. Needless to say, the same goes for your wedding. How about Castello di Morcote, a castle from the 15th century that overlooks the small town of Morcote and is a great venue for a fairytale wedding? Perhaps you would like to have a small, intimate wedding near the Lake Lucerne or a sophisticated, vintage themed wedding at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace would be more to your taste. Either way, once you have chosen the venue and the wedding planner, you are set. In Switzerland, the wedding planners offer you several venue choices that include Montreaux, Gstaad, St Moritz (a favourite with the Indian elite), etc. You will be taken through locations, ceremony logistics, photographers, florists, musicians, food and anything else that your heart desires, really. So, can we hear you clicking on Switzerland already? To know more, visit: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-in/getting-married-inswitzerland.html CEO LIFESTYLE
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Living IN-STYLE
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Nouveau Chic at Novotel, chennai Lined with the ubiquitous tall edifices and clear patches on the stretch of OMR, the IT hub with its late night buzz and long hours can now boast of a much-needed getaway. Nifty Jacob discovers Novotel Chennai SIPCOT, a blend of class and comfort, and the perfect sojourn to let your hair down.
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Living IN-STYLE
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It was a rather breezy noon, one that comes with a blue moon if you are well-versed with the weather forecasts of namma Chennai. The drive down the road was dotted with skyscrapers and company logos on the wide two-way lane. Bang in the world of dot coms, codes and computers, there is little that seems alluring, save the standing elevation past a medium-sized gate. The ride slowed down and pulled over in the driveway, with a green lawn perched across the glass doors that welcomed me to Novotel Chennai SIPCOT. My eyes scanned the reception and locked gaze with the walls, speckled with shades of red, blue and beige, running in broad horizontal and vertical patterns. An adaptation of the conspicuous ‘Madras checks’, it is an appreciative juxtaposition of the modern with classical, thoroughly embodying the spirit of Chennai. The same can be said of the lounge, sidelined towards a separate section in the right, avoiding any obtrusion from the busy reception. The low-rise sofas sport a continuing colour code, which complement the light, wood tapered walls. A huge black flower mould on the narrow breadth along with black lamp shades is a stunning showpiece. Quite unusual, the setting was a refreshing mesh of gothic and contemporary, a rare feat when it comes to CEO LIFESTYLE
business hotels. The decor is beyond the regular, over-thetop interiors, translating the paradigm shift of the young nine-to-five crowd. A virtual concierge LED enables you to personally attend to the formalities. It also helps you find tourist attractions, your flight status or just about anything else your travel may require. Right across was Le Baguette, the patisserie. Chocolate mud pies, sugar-crusted donuts and a handful of delights, sitting pretty behind the glass case called out to me, but heeding the calorie counter ticking in my head, the cause of delivering myself from temptation was won over. A pair of Mac desktops set at the corner made for an ideal work station. Having already made a number of mental notes on the very first floor, I learned that the hotel comprised eight stories with 119 Superior rooms, 55 Premier rooms and six Suites. Past the reception, the corridor gave way to a Banquet Hall, split into three sections by electric dividers with a seating capacity of 200 guests. The interiors flashed a combination of blue and cream walls, taking after the theme of checks. There is also a pre-event section, for small groups who would prefer to have a quick meeting. I looked forward to a quick bite as I was guided to the
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multi-cuisine restaurant, The Square. As you enter, Le Bar greets you, the perfect place to grab a drink on the high stools or lounge on the sofa. I could almost picture the tired and wrung out folks loosening the knot of a caveat, rolling up sleeves and leaning back to unwind and have a relaxed conversation. Moving on, the restaurant with its interiors, were starkly different from the reception, mixing shades of black marble against vibrant honey-gold patterns on crossed walls. The chairs came dressed in red, black and ivory floral prints, adding to the creative setting. As I waited for the chef to whip up his handiwork, I unconsciously tapped my feet to the groove of pop music playing in mild tones. I was instantly taken in by the contemporary appeal, which merges a sense of elegance with fun, definitely tailored for the modern day crowd. My train of thought was interrupted when a freshly made, whole wheat sandwich, loaded with chunky bits of chicken, grilled peppers and a side of apple salad arrived. Good things are meant to be savoured so I dug into the crispy goodness, silently pronouncing it one of the best I’ve ever had. A warm drink of lemon and honey tea followed, which made for a delightful evening snack. Feeling satisfied, I thought it best to head to my room and recharge my sore muscles before I go scouting around. CEO LIFESTYLE
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Making my way to level two, I entered the spartan but elegantly designed room which was to be my sojourn before I retired for the night. Largely dominated by shades of grey and green, there was pretty much everything one could need – a desk with a comfortable chair, a mini bar, my new favourite black lamp shade and a chaise lounge next to the glass windows with a tiny table top, a perfect alternative for breakfast in bed. Full points for the apt positioning of bed lamps that stem from either sides of a cushioned headboard, which was quite appealing to the bibliophile in me. It gets even better with the Bluetooth woofers that also double as a charging station. A sucker for good music, I couldn’t carry on without listening to a track or two. After a while, I made my way towards the poolside decked with sun beds. An alfresco setting came right beside the fully-equipped gym, complete with treadmills, weights, lockers and separate changing rooms outside. Not one to indulge in a workout session, I grabbed a chair in the open seating, picked up a paper and set to work on my all-time favourite game of Sudoku, content with the joy that comes with the cool evening breeze while sipping a warm cappuccino, one that is often undersrated. I would have kept at it, if it were not for the craving signal from my tummy NOVEMBER 2014
Living IN-STYLE
Picture Courtesy: Novotel Chennai SIPCOT
A virtual concierge LED enables you to personally attend to the formalities. It also helps you find tourist attractions, your flight status or just about anything else your travel may require
CEO LIFESTYLE
demanding to be satisfied. As I headed to the restaurant, I couldn't help thinking that if the snack was anything to go by, dinner would be a feast. For those who like variety, the buffet came with delectable starters including lentils, creamy pasta, and fresh vegetables. With chicken salads, pork sausages, beef roulades and the like, it is surely a heaven for meat lovers. From Dal Thadka to Thai Green Curry, Grilled Fish, and the Chinese staple of Hakka Noodles, the main course had a variety of options that could leave one spoilt for choice. Having decided to try a delicacy, I opted for a Grilled Salmon. Soon, a gorgeous dish of soft and flaky salmon under a bed of boiled vegetables greeted me. Cooked perfectly with the right blend of flavours and buttered veggies, it was a true delight. With dinner done, it was time to dive into desserts. And what better than a Tiramisu with Chocolate Souffle to satiate my taste buds follwed by soft mascarpone cheese with a hint of coffee alongside the warm chocolate, but perhaps I shouldn’t tempt you anymore. The thoroughly comfortable stay at Novotel has taken the business hotel benchmark a level up. If nothing else, a visit simply for the wonderful plateful of goodness served here is definitely worthwhile. In a nutshell, Novotel is just the place if you want a great ambience with comfort and of course, some fun while you are at it.
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CELEBRATE WHERE EVERY SIMPLE OCCASSION, BECOMES A GRAND CELEBRATION. Celebrate business success at the Crowne Plaza Kochi with a touch of leisure and panoramic views of backwaters, combined with exquisite cuisine and rejuvenate at our Sohum Spa. Our variety of authentic culinary outlets, extensive spa and leisure facilities, and high-tech meeting spaces for up to 900 people, all within a tranquil waterfront setting, makes Crowne Plaza Kochi the preferred international brand for business, leisure and events.
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On a much-needed break from a hectic schedule, Neha Malude rediscovers nature’s beauty and finds her sanity at Sinclairs Retreat Dooars, West Bengal. Wildlife sighting, black tea and the warmth of the people at the resort leaves her wishing she could stay there forever. CEO LIFESTYLE
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About 600 kilometres from Kolkata lies Dooars (meaning ‘doors’), a perfect getaway for those wanting to escape from the sometimes humdrum life of the city. And this little town, which is the gateway to Bhutan from India, is also home to a gorgeous resort, Sinclairs Retreat. For those coming here from other states, the quickest way is by a flight to Bagdogra, which is how I travelled. The two-hour road journey from the airport to the resort was enchanting. As I crossed the small city of Siliguri, the terrain switched from plain to hilly and the majestic Teesta showed itself in all its glory, with the eastern Himalayas in the backdrop. A little later, all I could see for miles were beautiful tea estates on both sides of the road. By the time I reached the gates of Sinclairs Retreat Dooars, I was invigorated rather than tired by my drive. Situated atop Chalsa Hilltop, Sinclairs is a 20-acre lush green paradise. Age-old banyan trees and green bushes flank the brick pathways that lead to the lobby, which boasts of a large garden with a view of the entire valley. Thus far, the resort lives perfectly up to its USP ‘come and live with nature’. After completing the check-in formalities, I was led to my room, one of the 66 suites on the property. If you are looking for something more luxurious, choose from the three luxury suites that are decorated with different themes. The Burra Sahib Kothi has a distinctive colonial feel, while the Bandook Babu Kothi, as the name suggests, embraces the beauty of a forest featuring a wildlife themed bedroom with matching furnishings and the Nouveau Ville is inspired by nature but with a modern, contemporary twist. My room, though minimalist, was elegant and sleek. All the suites have an attached balcony and a private garden that overlooks the rest of the resort. A quick shower later, it was time for lunch at the resort’s only restaurant, The Banyan Tree. I started off with the Crispy Fried Babycorn, the restaurant’s speciality in appetizers, and wanting to try something with a more local flavour, followed it up with a Fish Curry that was not on the menu but is prepared specially for guests who want to be recommended something from the region. The curry, tempered with Indian spices, and the tender fish with steamed rice, was simple yet delicious. The secret probably lies in the organic farm that the resort maintains in their backyard. With everything, right from cherry tomatoes and broccoli to bell peppers and celery, what better way to be one with the nature? I polished my lunch off with a Gulab Jamun which, if you have a really sweet tooth, will love. Utterly full, there was only one thing to do: walk it off. If you don’t mind cycling, the resort has cycles that you can hire by the hour. As I set off at a leisurely pace, I took in the sights and sounds. No high rises or dusty tar roads,
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just greenery as far as the eye could see. No honking cars or heavy trucks, there was just the chirping of birds and a melodious Bengali song drifting in and out from a distance outside the resort. Outside The Banyan Tree is the resort’s cafe, Bamboo Grove Cafe where you can head in the evenings for a small snack or a cup of coffee. If you are in the mood for a quick cocktail before dinner, The Tusker Bar is at your service. Adjoining the restaurant is also a cosy library, where you can relax with a novel from the resort’s small yet great collection of books. For corporate companies who would like to plan an offsite, the resort boasts of three conference cum banquet halls and also The Pavilion, an outdoor space where you can organize a party or have a barbeque dinner amidst the flora. The resort also offers special services, if you would like to organize a birthday party or a special anniversary party. As I walked on, I chanced upon the pool and made a mental note to squeeze in a quick lap before dinner. Just adjacent to the pool is the Laya Spa, where you can step in for a session of pampering. Or if you are a fitness freak and can’t afford to miss a day of working out, hit the gym, complete with a treadmill, cycles, elliptical, rower and free weights. After a quick dinner of a hearty Butter Chicken and Naan, it was time to retire. The next day, at the crack of dawn it was time for a short jeep ride to the nearby Gorumara National Park, at the suggestion of Moloy Sarkar, the resort’s General Manager. After all, this trip was going to be all about getting CEO LIFESTYLE
in touch with nature, no? As we marched deeper into the forest, the foliage got thicker and it felt like a different world altogether. The forest guide led me atop a watching tower where a few minutes later, I sighted bison, a few elephants and even rhinoceros, grazing in green fields a safe distance away from us, as the sun rose slowly in the horizon. To say that it was magical would be an understatement. If you harbour love for wildlife, there is plenty to explore around Dooars – the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary where, if really lucky, you can even spot a Bengal tiger, the Buxa Tiger Reserve, etc. For those wanting to see Bhutan whilst being in India, Alipurduar is the perfect place. Here, you can climb to the Chota Sinchula, the highest peak in Jalpaiguri, where you will spot the Bhutan Valley. If a picnic is what you love, head to Neora Valley National Park, where you can also spot red panda and the Himalayan black bear. An hour later, warmed by a hot and sweet cup of black tea, I returned to the resort. Breakfast at The Banyan Tree included a fluffy Masala omelette with toast and another hot cup of tea. As I sipped my chai, gazing over the green expanse that lay before my eyes, I felt a sigh of contentment. I was taking back great memories – the peace, the sound of chirping birds, the sight of the Teesta, the hospitality of Sinclairs, and of course, the charm of Dooars. As I drove out of Sinclairs Retreat, I couldn’t help but look back, silently promising myself that I would be returning, very soon.
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Reviving Royal Threads What better way to rediscover the rich heritage of India than meeting the royalty and the artisans of each state and that too, all under one roof? Aparna Kaistha checks out Season 6 of Royal Fables, a two-day exposition that retells the fabled lifestyle of the Indian elite.
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The Raj era is synonymous with many a tale, how Maharajas patronized the art and craft of their regions, how the royal durbars resonated with enchanting music, the cars they drove, the palaces they lived in, the costumes they wore and the cuisine that was nothing short of a work of art. All of these became fables across regions and time and this is what led to the ideation of Royal Fables. A one of its kind exhibition, Royal Fables showcases a rich repertoire of heritage-inspired creations by Indian royals themselves, such as bespoke textiles, art, crafts, costumes, jewellery, home accents and objects d’art. Founded by Anshu Khanna, a communications professional who has a penchant for promoting good design, Royal Fables, through the last four years, has successfully showcased many cultural forums that together add to the mystique of imperial India and has also helped revive the beauty of an era gone by. It was instrumental in helping HH Maharaja Brajraj Singh of Kishangarh revive durbar music recorded by his father, the Late HH Kishangarh in the royal courts of the fifties and to showcase the royal cuisine of Avadh in association with Raja Syed Muzaffar Ali of Kotwara. The Royal Fables team has also curated a costume installation from the maharani’s personal wardrobe at Umaid Bhawan, Udaipur for a visiting delegation of Moet Chandon. According to Khanna, “Royal Fables today has become like CEO LIFESTYLE
the annual festival that some of our most celebrated royals await and participate in, with full gusto. It is their platform and my attempt to salute the creative outpourings of the scions of the erstwhile princely families, who have not forgotten their vital role as craft patrons even in the hustle and bustle of life.” Chief Guest, HH Maharaja Gaj Singhji II of Jodhpur launched the rare dance music of Kishangarh presented by HH Maharaja Brajraj Singh of Kishangarh, which was followed by a recital by noted classical musician Vidya Shah. This was followed by a fashion show, showcasing a royal costume collection by Umang Hutheesing, a costume collector and craft revivalist. A regal dinner followed, inspired by rare recipes from the royal kitchens. At the ceremonial dinner, the chefs presented a culinary feast of traditional recipes prepared with a harmonious coexistence of ingredients, cooking techniques, aromas and flavours. The lavish spread constituted of signature dishes of the four princely states, such as Achari Meat and Gatte Ki Curry from Kishangarh, Chicken Shabdeg and Yaquti Halwa from Rampur, Jheenga Pulao and Fish Coconut Kadi Rasa, Khubani Ka Meetha from Sandur, and Machchhi Kebab and Baghara Baingan from Sailana, to name a few. The two-day exhibition began at the grand and luxurious Imperial Hotel in Delhi. In store was a vibrant float of art,
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Picture Courtesy: Royal Fables craft, textiles and costumes as well as restored artefacts such as a glittering new, piece from a famed Indian palace by French chandelier restorer Regis Mathieu and Raja Ravi Varma oleographs reproduced by HH Maharani Radhika Raje Gaekwad of Baroda. As we went through the exhibition, there were golden nuggets of information everywhere. Did you know, for instance, that the original zari work which is quite famous in India was made out of real silver thread and polished with gold, unlike the imitation zari work that exists now and is of plastic thread and copper finish? “The difference,” says Thakurani Darshana Kumari of Mandawa and owner of the label Sri Tana Bana, “is visible in the fact that plastic zari gives the fabric a more starched look. As Gujarat (where they originally come from) has a lot of South East Asian influence, given that it is on the trade route, the one thing that stands out is the animal figures in all the works, from elephants to lions and even parrots.” From Rani Sandhya Kumari of Khajurgaon we learnt of the chatta under which lies a seat called Gadamassan where the eldest of the family sits during Dussehra prayers, and which is made of velvet and had real silver and gold stitches. There is also a chawar, a sort of fan made with hair of Himalayan ox, to complete the set. We also met with Rani Vinita Singh of Patiala of the brand ‘Patyala Royal Couture’, who is working towards the revival of phulkari work which was originally done by CEO LIFESTYLE
Marasins or folk singers of the town and one piece took at least six months to create. Now, though, it is a lost art as most people use machines to make phulkari work. She is now training and working with women from Umeed Sangrur, an NGO that works towards women empowerment to create products. The royals of India have found many other innovative ways of reinventing tradition in this day and age. Rajkumari Alka Rani of Pratapgarh, for instance, is a self-taught artist who started by using white chiffon as her canvas and creating bold and colourful designs for women to wear. Now, they also create hand-painted ‘lehriya’, a contemporary version of an old, traditional form of dying fabric. Finally, we met with Princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh, a graduate from NIFT and post graduate from SOAS University, UK. She recreates miniature art in a funky, modern style and mentors traditional miniature artists at Atelier Studio, which helps them sustain themselves and preserve this long-forgotten form of art. With a wide range of products from home décor to apparel, the Royal Fables event was definitely worth a visit and if you have a penchant for all things vintage, we strongly recommend you check out the next one. A must-attend in the calendar of leading Indian royal families, the next exhibition will be held on November 7th at The Palladium Hotel in Mumbai and the last one this year will be at The Palace Marrakech from December 11th-14th.
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WINE & DINE
PERFECT BITE
Where Cuisine Turns Creative Mediterranean all-day diner, Terttulia, aims to engage Mumbai’s gastronomes just as it did Pune’s, and has hitherto hit a relatively high note with an amalgam of creative cooking and laid back, casual dining, says Bhisham Mansukhani. CEO LIFESTYLE
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Picture Courtesy: Terttulia, Mumbai CEO LIFESTYLE
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The restaurant business has never been an easy one to thrive in, especially when it is a crowded house of competitors targeting the same pie of customers, worse if many of them are trying to do the same thing. Terttulia’s distinction is rooted in both, its approach and choice of location. A smorgasbord of Mediterranean pickings combined with comfort foods in the order of burgers and sandwiches based in a part of the city (Shivaji Park) where no fine diner of its ilk has dared base itself. Contemplating this, we sat on art house furniture observing walls that encourage an illusion of white paper pulled across them and then burnt through to reveal internal brickwork. The ambient aromas invariably stoke an appetite for the melange of dishes, some of which interestingly also include some doffs to local cuisine. In the pecking ‘order’, cocktails must come first and Terttulia’s cocktail menu is anything but typical or packed with age old classics. In name and aesthetic, some of them merit contemplating slowly before the establishment’s edible array is sampled. The first arrival, Terttulia’s signature, betrays a dense, off-white concoction called Pear and Ginger Martini that admittedly packed a wallop of contrasting flavours, overwhelming the vodka base in the bargain, but that works for some. The Orange and Basil Mojito works in a similar view, the rubbed basil’s herbaceous character countered the orange juice’s sweetness, while a reasonably low ambient temperature kept the ice from melting and diluting the cocktail. The White Wine Melon Sangria was a surprise given how wrong most restaurants get theirs. This sangria uses relatively drinkable wine mixed in with apple juice, peach and mint and freshly cut lops of musk melon bobbing on surface is a nice aesthetic. Arriving subsequently at Terttulia’s cuisine spread, Her First Foot Forward was its broth of the day, which at that point was mushroom chicken and thyme, predominated by mushroom with thin slivers of the white bird meat. Points scored on the light and flavourful mushroom soup though it could have used just a little more salt. Among the restaurant’s clutch of salads, Panzanella — fresh mozzarella, Plum tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella with Bloody Mary dressing and roasted beets, goat cheese with fresh lime make for scrumptious treats. Before committing to the mains, though, there are some of Terttullia’s distinctions that warrant breaking into. The Karari Roti, known to most Indian barflies as the crispy roomali (an inverted crispy, buttered orb sprinkled with red chilli powder) and the Couscous Upma (breakfast menu) introduce a very Indian dimension while there is a menu section dedicated to that one carb loaded veggie, Potato Heads that includes the likes of house cut sweet potato fries and gun powder potatoes NOVEMBER 2014
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Pineapple glazed salmon with vegetable cous cous and fried okra, Roasted beets goat cheese with fresh lime dressing, Creme Brulee Cheescake, Signature Terttulia Pizza
that are mercifully turned out from freshly sliced potatoes rather than a frozen Canadian pack. And then there is the comfort food selection of sandwiches and burgers, chief among its picks being the Aphrodite Panini (spinach, feta, black olives, artichoke and walnuts grilled in tomato), an ominously christened Phat Farm (grilled tomato, courgette, emmental and basil pesto with arugula on wheat bread) and the Philly Cheesesteak “whiz wit” (tenderloin, onions, jalapenos and melted cheddar atop a baguette). Another notable side that earns a mention is the platter of dips that include mushroom and chicken liver pate, olive tapenade and cucumber yogurt. Terttulia hits a high note with its delightfully thin and brittle pizzas made with strikingly light dough, namely the Pepperoni and signature Terttulia-aah (scarmoza, spinach andruccola). A varied yet light fare of appetizers leaves just about enough room for a round of mains, which as most restaurant geeks will vouch for, is the real acid test for any establishment. And the first dish of the substantial course the kitchen sent out was the Three Mushroom Brown Rice Risotto with Mascarpone. As with the white wine sangria, many restaurants have struggled often without hope to serve up anything resembling the classic Italian rice dish. By Indian standards, Terttulia has managed to stay above the mediocre lot with a risotto that is creamy and retains that essential crunch to go with the rich mushroom flavours. Perhaps a merciless al dente approach by Terttullia’s chefs might go some way further towards achieving a crackling, almost toothy character that defines a perfect risotto. The good form continues with an elegant plating of tenderloin, red wine jus, balsamic rucola and choice of potatoes. Proof that Indian beef is upping the quality bar, the doneness of the beef medallion impressed us. The journey to desserts is a perilous one, given all the edible allures that have sated the appetite. But for those who still have the proverbial room to take it in, the Crème Brulee Cheesecake is a hands down winner, a crisp, caramalised shell atop a rich creamy base, loaded with a punch of sweet, buttery flavour. Having opened in Pune almost six years ago, Terttulia’s recent Mumbai opening, according to owner Imrun Sethi, defines his aspiration towards understanding and further refining the Indian palate. To that end, he plans to push that very European culture of wine and food matching by putting a standard, affordable mark up on international wines. It could well be another attribute that could endear Tertullia to its burgeoning lot of foodies. CEO LIFESTYLE
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Picture Courtesy: Monkey Bar
No MONKEY BUSINESS, this Manu Chandra, the chef behind some of the swinging gastropubs in Delhi and Bengaluru, is turning Asian food on its head and giving it a quirky twist. Prachi Joshi recounts her gastronomical adventure with his creations.
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It is Monday evening, just going on to 7 p.m. and Monkey Bar is already more than half full. Located in a predominantly residential suburb of New Delhi, the gastropub has been the scene of action ever since it opened in Vasant Kunj. Half its charm lies in the glass pyramid architecture, reminiscent of a similar structure outside Paris’ Louvre Museum. But what keeps bringing in the hungry and thirsty folks to the door every day is definitely the food and cocktails. “Asian is the new Italian,” says Manu Chandra, Executive Chef & Partner, Monkey Bar & The Fatty Bao. “In less than a couple of years the food-loving folks are better versed with Har Gows, Chee Cheung Fans, Baos and the nuances of Tamari versus normal soy sauce, a clear departure from the Hot and Sour, Chowmein and Hakka Noodles days,” Chandra CEO LIFESTYLE
adds. The cuisine at both Monkey Bar in Delhi and The Fatty Bao in Bengaluru is an innovative take on Asian cuisines. While Monkey Bar plays around with Indian flavours in unexpected combinations, The Fatty Bao is all about giving a spin to Vietnamese, Burmese and other South East Asian cuisines. The interiors at both the restaurants are quite eclectic. Monkey Bar in Delhi is spread over three levels, with a pool table, brick walls and a few tables downstairs, a bar area in the middle and an upstairs dining area. The glass pyramid lets in plenty of light and the gastropub is the perfect place to unwind under the changing colours of a Delhi evening. The Fatty Bao, located in Indiranagar, is on the third floor of the building that houses Monkey Bar, Bengaluru, and is enclosed,
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Picture Courtesy: Monkey Bar with glass in the terrace area. Brightly coloured walls, Pantone chairs in vivid reds, blues and greens, whimsical panda murals, (plastic) dragonflies cascading from the overhead lights, all very kitsch. Cocktails are the highlights at both gastropubs. At Monkey Bar we had the much-recommended Mangaa, a potent mix of vodka, aam panna, sweet lime and cumin salt. The raw mango flavour shone through and the cumin underlined the Indian-ness of the drink. We also tried Lotta Mango Eshkar, a play on the ‘nightingale of India’, which came in an actual steel lotta and was a delightful mix of ripe mango and tequila, with a slice of mango leather as garnish. We much preferred this one to the Mangaa, which was a tad sweet. At The Fatty Bao, we guzzled a large glass of Bora Bora, a light, fruity cocktail of vodka, gin and coconut water with fresh passion fruit and pieces of green apple. The sweet and tart flavours of passion fruit and the crunchy green apple made an interesting combination of taste and texture. The Fatty Bao menu is a mix of small plates (generously portioned starters) and large plates (mains). There is a variety of sushi, dumplings, baos, ramen and curries to choose from. We tried the Asparagus Tempura and Cream Cheese Rolls (sushi stuffed with crunchy asparagus) and the California Roll (with crab meat). The Har Gow or dumplings had a thin, almost transparent casing (as it should be) and both the Vegetable and Water Chestnut Har Gow and the Shrimp and Pork Har Gow were top notch. The Kam Heong Calamari was a particular favourite, with the calamari getting a South Indian twist stir fried with curry powder and coconut milk, tempered with chillies and a handful of curry leaves. At Monkey Bar we tried the Galouti Killer, a super-soft spiced tenderloin kebab that positively melted in the mouth. The menu also offers some unusual meat options such as Liver on Toast (chicken liver pate on toast, with an additional helping of Cajun spiced liver) and Chilli Brain (brain cutlet with chilli and fenugreek). You should definitely get Chef Chandra’s signature MoBar Burger, a massive 300 gm beef patty with bacon, onions, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Pork seems to be Chef Chandra’s favourite meat and he certainly knows how to treat it well, extracting the maximum flavour, without overcooking the meat. The Sorpotel Jam Pot (at Monkey Bar), is a classic Goan dish adapted into a CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Butterfly Chicken , Monkey Bar, Sorpotel Jam Pot, Tikki of Joy
sweet and sour pork belly ‘jam’, served with warm pao. The Char Siu Bao (at The Fatty Bao), again with pork belly, but this time barbequed and seasoned with hoisin sauce and stuffed inside a bao (Chinese steamed bun) along with scallions and green apple kimchi are fantastic. Pork, in the form of chorizo, also finds its way in The Fatty Oysters, a dish that drives home the fact that oysters can be turned into a full-bodied, flavourful dish. The broiled oysters are served with a chorizo, ponzu sauce and soy butter filling and it is impossible to stop eating at one. However, the availability may be sporadic, so keep your fingers crossed. Pork is also the star of the Chasu Ramen, another signature dish of Chef Chandra, a hearty (slightly fatty) pork broth, choc-a-bloc with bacon, braised pork belly, soft-boiled eggs and bean sprouts. This is almost a one-pot meal, so order to share. Vegetarians need not despair as both gastropubs have large number of vegetarian dishes with mushroom, tofu, asparagus and veggies as options. At Monkey Bar, the Chubby Mushrooms are especially recommended, fat mushroom caps stuffed with a delectable combination of onions, feta cheese and herbs, served with a balsamic reduction. The Flutterfly is also worth a try, butterfly shaped crisp shells with chilli and herbed paneer and cheese filling. The dessert menu at both places is slightly limited but it will be a wonder if you arrive at that section without being stuffed already. We tried the Chocolate Pot de Crème at Monkey Bar, a silky smooth dark chocolate mousse served with crunchy, salted caramel coated popcorn and a slice of lemon poppy cake. At The Fatty Bao, we decided to skip the chocolate desserts and ordered the Slow Cooked Apples & Filo Pastry Slice, two layers of thin, flaky filo sheets with a sandwich filling of apples and crème mousseline (buttercream), served with a scoop of spectacular cinnamon gelato and a touch of soy caramel sauce that cut through the sweetness of the apples. “My food philosophy has been to keep it fresh and keep it fun. Taste overrides all other parameters and experimentation is the key,” says Chef Chandra. It is a philosophy that is amply demonstrated in both the gastropubs, bringing a touch of innovation and modernity to Indian and other Asian cuisines. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Char Siu Bao, Bora Bora, Broiled oysters and chorizo in ponzu sauce, The Fatty Bao
Picture Courtesy: Goa Portuguesa
Picture Courtesy: The Fatty Bao CEO LIFESTYLE
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In High spirits
A New Spin To Your Cocktail Bored of the same old pint of beer or tequila shot? Try a cocktail for a change, says Jyoti Balani, but with a liqueur. Liqueurs elevate cocktails to a whole new dimension and add an element of sensuality and intrigue to your tipple.
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As celebrity bartender, Shatbhi Basu says, liqueurs are so much more exciting than the staid old whisky and soda or a rum and coke, they are versatile, intriguing, romantic even. “They open up a whole new world of permutations and combinations to work with or even to be enjoyed as they are. Liqueurs, however, might overwhelm the uninitiated. I have often been asked whether or not liqueur was just another way of spelling liquor. It is not. The misunderstanding is CEO LIFESTYLE
understandable, considering the dearth of recognizable liqueurs in our market till recently. The lack of user-friendly information on the subject compounds the problem,” says Basu. India’s first woman bartender asserts that without getting carried away by history or technicalities, a liqueur is simply an alcoholic concoction, sweetened and flavoured with fruits, fruit juices, seeds, herbs, even flowers, and sometimes a subtle combination of all. She also points out
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that liqueurs may be light and fresh or fairly potent, used to be mostly drunk neat in small quantities, usually as after-dinner drinks. “Sometimes they can be drank frappe, that is, poured over a glass of crushed ice and sipped through short straws. This old style made people stay away and the practice of post dinner drinking went away with this modern, working generation,” she adds. While in hotel management school, Basu remembers having a whole chapter on liqueurs given the significant role they play in cocktails. Liqueurs are of various types, some of them such as Curacao and Crème de Framboise have a distinct single flavour and then there are the blends such as Campari and Drambuie. She lists out some of her favourites that include Bailey’s Irish Cream (a creamy liqueur with a toffee flavor), Archer’s Peach Schnapps (a clear peach flavoured liqueur) and Southern Comfort (an American aperitif liqueur that is smooth, round and wonderfully aromatic, and is based on bourbon with peach and citrus hints). Among international flavours, she names some favourites like the coffee flavoured Kahlua and Tia Maria, chocolate flavoured Godiva and herb flavoured crème de menthe, Benedictine, Chartreuse and Pimm’s No. 1. “These days, however, we like to see liqueurs rather as flavoured or mixable spirits, to be had in many ways — on ice, in a long drink mixed with juices, tonic, ginger ale, lemonade or in cocktails. A lot of them are fresh, flavoured and low in alcohol like Alize, Hypnotiq and Passoa, all of which are flavoured with fruit juices and taste great on-the-rocks or spritzed. Even the classic whiskey flavoured ones like Drambuie and Southern Comfort taste brilliant on ice or even as long drinks with your favourite mixer. If you want to tone it down to cut the sweetness, you can pour in a little scotch or bourbon. For those of you who like a bit of history, the existence of liqueurs was recorded as early as the 14th century. They are attributed to experimenting monks and alchemists, probably for use as medicines or even magic potions. Italy and France both lay claims to its origin, but it was supposedly Catherine de Medici who introduced flavoured liqueurs to the French court when she arrived there in 1533 to marry Henry II, thus establishing a general fashion for them,” elaborates Basu. Liqueurs that are imported in India by Aspri Spirits are Amarula Marula Fruit Cream, which originates from Southern Africa, is a smooth distinctive cream liqueur. This liqueur teases the taste buds with flavours of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, citrus and exotic spices served in cocktails, specially coffees, food preparations and desserts or can simply be enjoyed on-the-rocks. Molinari, Sambuca Extra is a sweet, strong liqueur CEO LIFESTYLE
Shatbhi Basu shares two unique recipes for cocktails B 52 Glass: shooter Ingredients: 15ml Kahlua 15ml Bailey’s 15ml Cointreau/triple sec Garnish: Flaming Cointreau Method: • Pour all three liqueurs gently in the order listed by sliding down the wall of the glass or over the back of a spoon. • Warm the top layer with a lighter till it catches fire. • Serve with two straws. Down at top speed. • Alternately, pour all three over rocks and sip. Arrowhead Glass: tall Ingredients: 45ml Smirnoff 15ml Archer’s Peach Schnapps 2 wedges of lime 5/10ml Campari tonic water/lemonade to top Garnish: slice of orange, mint leaves Method: • Fill glass with ice. Drizzle in the Campari. • Add Smirnoff, Archer’s. • Squeeze wedges and drop in. Top with tonic or lemonade.
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In High spirits
Used in a classic Margarita, Cointreau is a popular choice of liqueur for exciting cocktails. The glamorous Cointreaupolitan, a contemporary twist on the popular Cosmopolitan is a favourite with many
CEO LIFESTYLE
from Italy and has a strong aroma of anise and is soluble in the pure state. Molinari, Sambuca Caffè is a secret and wondrous blend of the most select, premium espresso coffees with a precise amount of super premium Molinari Sambuca Extra. “The changing face of India and the consumer within is undergoing a transformation in purchase and consumption patterns. Liqueurs, which belonged to a small category with a few brands, are now more in demand with multiple options available. The upward trend in our opinion has been due to increased awareness, cocktail offerings, accessibility, lifestyle, and mood and occasion-based consumption. Though the category is still small, we are confident that the positive trend will continue,” says Arun Kumar, cofounder of Aspri Spirits. Used in a classic Margarita or Cosmopolitan, Cointreau is a popular choice of liqueur for various recipes of exciting cocktails. The glamorous Cointreaupolitan, a contemporary twist on the popular Cosmopolitan is a favourite with many. In 1948, socialite Margarita Sames combined Cointreau, tequila and lime to create the original Margarita. Rukn Luthra, the Managing Director of Remy Cointreau, Indian sub-continent and Gulf, says, “Cointreau is the world’s most awarded orange liqueur, made with sweet and bitter orange peels. Its texture and fruity flavour along with the use of natural ingredients make it a perfect cocktail ingredient. The liqueur has received an overwhelming response from bartenders and mixologists of India. Increasingly more professional and home bartenders today understand Cointreau’s importance at the heart of most classic cocktails of the world like the Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Side Car and Kamikaze. We are also very excited about the resurgence of the classic French cocktail of the 50’s, The Cointreau Fizz, across India.”
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HEALTH
BODY BASICS
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BRIDAL Fitness Mantras The wedding season will soon be upon us and that can mean only one thing to all the ladies out there waiting to be brides – shopping and getting into shape. And while shopping can be fun, the latter is most definitely not. So, what are the health hacks for all those ladies waiting to tie the knot? Shivi Saxena has the scoop.
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Marriages maybe made in heaven but for most brides-tobe, getting into perfect shape for that beautiful saree or that exquisite gown is sometimes no less than a journey to hell. Stringent diets, swearing off chocolate and what not. However, does ‘the feel good, look perfect’ syndrome come with months of preparation or a crash diet? What works best, a skin detox or botox? Dr. Rd. Smita Nanda, one of India’s most renowned registered dieticians and nutrition consultants under Indian Dietetic Association, believes in safe weight management and weight loss without any crash dieting. Having been a part of the Medical Nutrition Therapy Team with leading hospitals like Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Medanta-The Medicity and the like, she has worked closely with the team for implementing and evaluating medical nutrition therapies. “If one is overweight or obese, they should start the diet regime well in advance. I recommend losing not more than 2.5 kg every month, rapid weight loss is not desired before wedding,” she advises.
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BODY BASICS
BRIDAL MANTRA • Do not raid the fridge every time hunger pangs hit. It will make a huge difference as you will be conscious of what to eat. • Try to avoid vegetables like potatoes, yam and pulses at night. • Steer clear of juices and desserts. • Eat an early dinner and get plenty of beauty sleep. • Use smaller plates so that you do not overeat. • Eating five small meals a day speed ups metabolism, which is important to lose weight. • Avoid alcoholic beverages which have at least 100 calories or more. • Beware of salads with fatty dressings. • Avoid crash diets or untested diet pills. • Two weeks before wedding,cut down on salt and sugar to avoid bloating. CEO LIFESTYLE
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Start by calculating your BMI. The Body Mass Index is a measure of body fat based on height and weight and the ideal range for Indians is between 18.5 and 23. Once the bride-to-be has identified that number, the next step is to break her regime into slots so as to review changes in the body at regular intervals. The diet has to be rich in fiber, fluids, and low in caffeine and sweets. “I do not advocate a drastic change in the habit, as it can make you feel depressed. If you are habituated to a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, just take a step forward to keep it light,” asserts Dr. Smita. Add variety in vegetable and fruits which are not only rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals but also a very good source of fiber. Include flax seed, walnuts, almond, soya and fish oil for Omega 3 fatty acids. Try different cooking oils, such as olive, canola, sesame and rice bran oil. “Hang out with friends, shop and celebrate your upcoming married life, but refrain from consuming alcohol and caffeine,” adds Dr. Nanda. Needless to say, as the day approaches, tension levels start soaring as well, and this could lead to unwanted stress. “Stress releases more stress hormones in the body. It has great impact on digestion and skin. Many feel heartburn, increase in frequency of stool, increased hunger, restlessness, pimples, lack of sleep, etc. So the diet is adjusted symptomatically. My personal nutrition mantra is to be moderate and listen to the body,” says Dr. Nanda. Dr. Amita Dhar, HOD & Chief Dietician at Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai, suggests a supervised weight loss diet plan, at least three to four months before the wedding. The bride’s diet should include nutritious snacks throughout the day, mainly of milk products (low fat), sprouts, soya, egg whites, oats bran, lentils, chicken or fish and lots of green vegetables or salads and fruits. Bananas, chickoo, mangoes and pineapple are a strict no-no. With a clientele from all across the country, Dr. Amita feels that it is important that every bride feels special about herself. Dr. Amita believes in the saying “People who love to eat are the best people” by Julia Child. “I strongly abide by Julia Child because I know the essence of a good diet in our day-to-day life. All you need is love. A little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt”. So fret not, all ye beautiful brides to be. Getting in shape is not an easy journey, especially when it is your day but it doesn’t have to be stressful either. Eat what you like, eat in moderation and try to find ways to keep yourself happy and at peace. Yes, it is that simple.
NOVEMBER 2014
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HOLISTIC HEALING
Defying the merciless noon sun of Chennai, Nifty Jacob sets out to bask in a session of tender care and pampering at Jiva Grande Spa, Taj Coromandel Chennai. The verdict? A mix of relaxed senses and an invigorating relief. CEO LIFESTYLE
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There is something quite assuring about gently sipping the warm concoction of ‘Holy Grail’ from a green and beige clay goblet. Although it may sound like a page from the best-selling book Da Vinci Code, it certainly is not. Made with the most refreshing combination of basil, honey and lime, the drink was warm and soothing, just what was required to soothe my frayed nerves. Clad in an ivory robe, which resembled a kimono splashed with floral motifs, I was in the relax lounge of Jiva Grande Spa at Taj Coromandel, enjoying the aftermath of a rejuvenating spa treatment. I glanced around at the soft, white shades that separated my pod from about five others in the room. The sleek white pods, with their reclining curves compliant with an ergonomic design, reminded me of the neo-tech products that are shown in futuristic movies. Setting down my warm beverage, I checked the settings to try various modes like Relax, Serene and Silent and noticed a hint of chromotherapy at work, as the colour from the contour of the pod changed accordingly. Placed on the table top was a clay tray of cold fruit, the perfect detox snack. I leaned back and shut my eyes, encompassing myself with the tranquillity that comes after a 60-minute session of the Indian Aromatherapy (Rs. 3,500). My consultation with Dr. Hemanth, the spa manager, led me to pick the treatment which uses specialized blends of Indian oils. I chose the Orja Dayaka, a deep muscular massage as compared to Vishram or Pavithri, that used more gentle strokes, and (whistle), it was the perfect pick for a vigorous walker like me. I was soon ushered away from the reception, set in shades of white and timber, but not before I had a cold face towel to wipe away the streak of summer from my skin, and of course, a drink of Holy Grail to begin with. After a while, I was escorted to level two and made my way to the room with wooden flooring that looked classy against the white walls. The setting was spacious with the spa bed taking centre stage, a wooden cupboard and dressing mirror, along with a separate bath and restroom. Of the many things that are underrated, the most obvious is the Foot Ritual, I thought to myself. ‘Never again’, I decided as my heels, rough and sore from the everyday jaunt across city sidewalks and morning rush, softened in the cauldron of warm water infused with herbal oils, and almost seemed grateful for the scrub that followed. The spa began with Metshe’s feather touch, running in vertical strokes, a method used to weed out negative energy and identify the tensed areas. After a rub of warm oil blends laced with Indian herbs of Agarmotha, Tulsi, Patchouli and Ashwagandha, I felt Metshe start with soft, elongated strokes. Swedish, I thought to myself of the technique. But after a while, a unique set of methods that I was not acquainted with came into play, ranging from ‘the walk’, a technique of gently applying pressure to kneading motions, to the hook-and-pick method. Balinese? Thai? Well, none of the above, but a unique formula of therapy that has been developed, tried and tested exclusively for the Jiva Spa. The massage did deliver, as I felt my skin soften and the weight lifted off my tired shoulders,
HOLISTIC HEALING
Picture Courtesy: Jiva Grande Spa, Taj Coromandel
Picture Courtesy: Park Hyatt Hyderabad CEO LIFESTYLE
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The couple spa suite comes with the luxury of indulging in a candle lit therapy, followed by a rose petal bath in the Jacuzzi, and a bottle of champagne for some quality time
(it had felt more like the weight of the world then), and so I thought it best to let go, just as my knots gave away and my muscles relaxed. What definitely worked wonders was Metshe’s touch of heated oils, gently rubbed onto my back after the routine, followed by wrapping me with a hot towel. The effect came close to feeling like a child, wrapped up and tucked in for a night of sweet slumber, as the warmth spread and eased my muscles. A little later, jasmine oils were dabbed on my face, as she smoothed my forehead and gently massaged, followed by prodding my head softly. Bliss found its way yet again, when my lids were held down with an eye cap and I was grateful for the calm. Metshe gently roused me a while later and offered a glass of water with slices of lemon. “A drink to hydrate,” she said, hinting the end of my wonderful session. The Jiva Grande is set across 12,000 sq ft and three floors. When you plan a visit there, (which you must), do try out their signature treatments. The services are centred on age old Indian therapies, provided in the comfort of an urban setting. It gets even better if you have a romantic agenda in mind. The couple spa suite comes with the luxury of indulging in a candle lit therapy, followed by a rose petal bath in the Jacuzzi, and a bottle of champagne for some quality time. If you would like to experience a traditional session, there are Ayurvedic treatments administered by a set of professionals. You can also opt for urban retreats like Yoga, meditation or simply head to the lap pool on the terrace. Of course, to retain the detox effect, there is the Spa Menu, which offers healthy food served with a gastronomic appeal. The products used at Jiva Grande, starting from the vessels made from indigenous clay to hand combed linens, herbal-dyed robes, and uniquely crafted oil blends, deserve a mention. I relaxed in the lounge, awaiting my ride back home and felt my irritant headache disappear, along with the pain in my calves. The evening seemed warm and inviting, the beeline to my bed, even more so. Until next time, I thought, silently justifying my reason for a second visit.
EVENTS
SITES & SOUNDS
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Picture Courtesy: Tom Donoghue
Giddy up in Vegas
Jeans, knee-length boots, cowboy hats and country music. If these words entice you, then the place you need to be this December is Las Vegas. From December 4 till 13, the party capital of the world will play host to the 2014 National Finals Rodeo, a 10-day event showcasing the talents of 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Popularly known as the Super Bowl of the rodeo world, Vegas will witness heart-pounding events, which will include cowboys riding bareback on steeds or wrestling bulls as well as women attempting barrel racing in which the horse and the rider try to cover a clove-shaped pattern in the fastest time possible. The prize money for the competitions varies as each event has its payouts. The tickets for all the shows can be bought online from the NFR official site, but buck up lest you be late. If you love music (well, who doesn’t?) CEO LIFESTYLE
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book your tickets as Las Vegas will also swing to the music of Lady Antebellum, Shania Twain, Alabama, Heart, etc. during this period. If concerts come, can after parties be far behind! Many parties has been organized in the city, some of which have free admission, while some need the benefit of a ticket, which, rest assured, can be found at the official site. Another don’t miss in this season is the Miss Rodeo America Pageant, the main aim of which is to promote the western style of living. The NFR is held concurrently to the Cowboy Christmas 2014, which brings together the masters in a wide range of products such as western wear, boots, customized hats, saddles and pottery to name a few. With the exhibitors space up to a sprawling 300,000 square feet, having around 400 vendors this is the ideal cowboy paradise. So, pull up those cowboy boots, buckle in and yee-haw! To book tickets, visit: http://www. nfrexperience.com/
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Picture Courtesy: (c) Rich Yee
Christmas with Dickens
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For those who have had their fair share of classics by Dickens and enjoyed it, we suggest you take a trip to San Francisco where The Great Dickens Christmas Fair welcomes you for five weekends of fun from November 22nd to December 21st. If you think this is just another literary event with reading sessions from excerpts of The Christmas Carol, hang in there, because it is a lot more than that. A unique adventure that takes you back to Victorian times, the fair is set across three acres that is bustling with theatre performances, music halls, dance floors, pubs and shops. You could put on a costume, add a fancy bonnet to that and enjoy partying with the folks from history, or simply walk down the winding alleys and hop into the lamp-lit shops for some ornaments and nut crackers to jazz up the festivities. There are also apothecaries with the finest of hand blend herbal oils, soaps made from natural recipes, balms, perfumes, and so much more. For the classic lovers, there is Fitz-Gerald CEO LIFESTYLE
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Manor Shop, a treasure of a library with unique poetry, antique maps and other fancy books. Hardcore Dickens fans can get crafts relevant to the classics like tiles, ornaments, shoulder capes and even hand-painted portraits at The Curious Wonder Cabinet. Speaking of portraits, don’t forget to get your own made at Nuyens Art Studio. If you are looking for something more dramatic, Mrs. Piper’s Photo Parlour lets you pick a fancy costume and save the moment. And when the hunger pangs take over, set off on a culinary journey with scrumptious food, draft ales, wine and champagne. Grab yourself a hot cross bun, add to it a cupful of English high tea to enjoy a taste of the English times. Of course, there are fish and chips, meat pies, popcorn, pasta and more to entertain any delicacy you may crave. Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield and all your favourite characters are going to be there, so don’t forget to purchase your tickets, say hello and click a snap with them. For details, visit www.dickensfair.com NOVEMBER 2014
Mark Your Calendar 09 07 07 What: 100 Drum Wangala festival: Be amidst beating drums, blowing horns and traditional dancing as the Garo tribes pay tribute to their Sun god. When: Nov 07 , 2014 Where: Garo hills, Meghalaya
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What: Yi peng and loy krathong festival: Do not miss this beautiful festival of lights. Thousands of people converge during this spellbinding spectacle to release lanterns into the night sky When: : Nov 07, 2014 Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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What: Cannabis Cup: Widely called the world’s premium drug fest, the city of Amsterdam What: Krampusnacht Festival: Stare in invites budding awe as thousands horticulturalists and of contestants dress visitors to the Cannabis themselves up as Cup. child-kidnapping furry When: Nov 23 - 27, 2014 devils during this alcohol-fueled festival Where: Amsterdam, to welcome Austria’s Netherlands holiday season.
Where: Dubai
When: Nov 14, 2014
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Where: Melbourne, Australia
What: Budapest Christmas fair: Enjoy mulled wine, chimney cakes and Hungarian jazz? Be there at one of Europe’s loveliest Christmas fairs.
When: Dec 04 - 07, 2014 Where: Miami, United States
Where: Klagenfurt, Austria
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What: Art Basel Miami: A true celebration of art. If you are looking for truly affordable and When: Nov 27 - Dec 31, 2014 forward-thinking art pieces, rush there to Where: Budapest, Hungary buy them.
When: Nov 24 , 2014
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What: Speciality food festival: Get ready for the largest food What: Melbourne Cup and beverage event Carnival: This second in the Middle East as richest turf race in the the dedicated gourmet world brings in the event for fine food most well-bred horses takes centre stage this from around the globe November. to compete against When: Nov 09 - 11, 2014 each other.
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