ARTS & CULTURE
THE Daily OBSERVER SUPPLEMENT Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Game-Changing Restaurants Indians are eating out a lot more and restaurants are plating up fun games and activities to maximize business Karishma Jayapaul
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he culture of eating out in India has changed over the past couple of years. We don’t really need an occasion to step out of the house to enjoy a nice meal but do it simply to experiment with food. We gape at pictures and take every chance we get to try out the new restaurant on the block. According to the India Food Services report 2016, brought out by the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) and consulting firm Technopak Advisors Pvt. Ltd., Indians prefer quickservice restaurants (QSR) over fine-dining restaurants. The report also suggests that Indians eat out with their families about 75 per cent of the time which includes about 14 per cent of casually meeting friends over a meal. Those who like to socialize over good food, spend about Rs.6,500 a month eating out four times a month. About 41 per cent of socialisers prefer going to a QSR while only 36 per cent would choose a fine-dining restaurant. With the food services market in India projected to grow at an annual average rate of 10 percent to approximately Rs.4.98 trillion by 2021, according to the NRAI-Technopak report, the restaurant business is surely booming. The restaurant business is always buzzing with new ideas to make people come back to them for a good meal. Restaurants are now offering a wide variety of cuisines on their menu. Eateries are now upping their game with the help of games, art and crafts to keep the crowd coming back. The Grill House on Brigade Road, Bengaluru, has UNO cards, mini snooker board, jenga and crossword to
keep their customers engaged while enjoying their meal. Known for their big portion sizzlers, The Grill House serves alcohol and co-owner of the restaurant, Nihal Peres thinks it is a good way to keep them out of trouble and help them have a good time. “We were first located around a college and had a lot of young students coming to us so we decided to keep a few games,” says Peres. The Grill House first
opened in 2015 and they only started with board games a year after. “We have definitely seen a greater footfall since we introduced our customers to the best of both worlds, board games and good food,” adds Peres. Hoppipolla, a restaurant and bar opened its first branch in Bengaluru in 2012 and now has franchise spreading till Mumbai, Pune and Chennai. Gaurav Sharma,
the manager at Hoppipolla in Indiranagar said the restaurant began with keeping in mind customers of all age groups. “We have all the old board games like ludo, snakes and ladders and chess so that everyone can feel at home,” says Sharma. With chalkboard tables, their customers can scribble and interiors with high stools and pebble laden floors. “We keep our guests coming back for more with our beer chugging competitions and good service. These things do play a major role in the restaurant business apart from the food we serve,” says Sharma. A lot of people go out looking for new experiences than just a good meal. Lakshmi Nagarajan, a popular lifestyle blogger describes her experience in Claytopia to be one where she could get away from the tumult of the city. Claytopia started in 2007 and it was never just about food. Here they have scores of premolded earthen clay pots which you can paint. The prices of the clay pots and cups you want to paint will be displayed alongside and the whole experience is made to give the customers a chance to unleash their creative side. The B-square pieces of clay are first painted by the customers, with paint that is non-toxic, say Sampath Prajapati, manager of Claytopia in Koramangala, Bengaluru. “We then take these pieces, dry them, bake them and then call the customers to collect them when it is ready,” adds Prajapati. Claytopia believes painting goes hand in hand with fellowship and bonding much like what sharing a meal stands for. “We have tables waiting every weekend and it has to be because of our unique concept,” says Prajapati. The changing face of restaurants is now also about how you can engage your customers with not just lip-smacking food but an experience that they will always treasure.
Breakfast in Bengaluru Looking for a healthy start to a busy day? Manasvini Paul Begin your day with a perfect breakfast that Bangalore has to offer. Each of these breakfast places have something yummy to offer and keep you full till one is hungry again for lunch. Think eggs, sausages, waffles, hash browns, delicious omelettes and much more. 1. Koshy’s Koshy is one of Bangalore’s oldest restaurants situated on St. Marks Road. It was founded in 1940 by the Koshy’s family who hail from Mavelikkara in Kerela. The restaurant has transformed to become a common meeting point for journalists, artists, theatre groups and many foreigners. Koshy’s breakfast menu has everything on offer, from different types of eggs, such as poached eggs, scrambled eggs to ham sandwiches and fries to charm the hungry. Not only that, their famous breakfast platter consists of fried sausages, omelettes and baked bean toasts. If one feels too heavy after eating all this, they can have Koshy’s famous coffee to bring it all down. 2. 154 Breakfast Club The Breakfast Club spoils foodies with a variety of options to choose from. The vegetarian platter strives to delight as it includes mushroom ragout, baked beans and potatoes, grilled tomatoes which are served with toast and fresh salad. The non vegetarian platter doesn’t disappoint either teasing customers into having sausages, bacon, baked beans, potatoes, grilled tomatoes and eggs. Are your taste buds tickling already? Visit 154 Breakfast Club in Koramangala 3rd Block.
3. Cafe Noir Located on Lavelle Road, Cafe Noir treats hungry foodies to a French and American breakfast. The English breakfast is out of this world but is only available on the
different breakfast in comparison to its competition. They will give you mini pancakes with whatever toppings and sauce you would like. Along with the pancakes you would also be rewarded with mushrooms, eggs, chicken ham sausages and potato hash. This meal will keep you full the entire day. 5. Connie’s Restaurant The Connie’s restaurant is situated in St Thomas Town in Kammanahalloi. This restaurant has three types of breakfast for one to choose from. Their menu offers the ‘Lazy Breakfast’ which includes juice, a club sandwich and a coffee. If you want to have a breakfast like the queen then you should go for the queen breakfast. The queen breakfast includes four chicken cold cuts and sausages along with unlimited eggs, bread, juice and cold coffee to beat the heat. However the king’s breakfast is what is known as the ultimate breakfast. This breakfast has two pork cold cuts plus the queen’s breakfast to accompany it.
weekends. It is worth the wait and your money as it consists of two eggs loaded with mushrooms, cheese, ham, bacon or bell peppers or a simple cheese omelette. If you would like more meat on your platter then do order for sausages and chicken ham. 4. Lot Like Crepes Lot like Crepes is located in Koramangla and serves a
6. A Cafe. The A Cafe in Koramangala serves all day breakfast for those who can never seem to decide as to what to eat and when. The Belgian waffles dripped with honey and served along with bananas and whipped is something that you should start with. If you want to skip something sweet and eat something in the savoury section then one should look at their salads where the sandwiches are placed. According to LBB, one should try their Pesto Mesto Chicken Sandwich. This sandwich is served with bell peppers, chicken, tossed in pesto and olive oil and stuffed into crispy toasted bread.
ARTS & CULTURE
THE Daily OBSERVER SUPPLEMENT WEDNESDAY, April 5, 2017
The Walls are Your Canvas Md. Tausif recounts his journey from a welder in a factory to a locally known graffiti artist Abhishek Mitra
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or a 29-year-old Md. Tausif, following his passion for drawing and origami was a distant dream coming from a small town Khardah near Kolkata. Now a famous street artist in Khardah doing graffiti, he was born in a slum where life was not a walk in the park for him and his family. He completed his schooling from Saraswati Vidyamandir and later attended Mahadevananda College. He dropped out mid way as his only aim was to become an artist. Tausif participated in numerous competitions in school and won accolades for his artistic skills. He learnt to draw on his own and never watches and copies another art-work; it is his imagination is his greatest inspiration. “I was born to draw and I love to draw. Nothing except art interests me. My parents never supported me completely as they always wanted me to complete my studies and work in some factory,” says Tausif. He began his career as a wielder in a small wielding company close to his house after completing his schooling. Six months later, he joined Texmaco as a laborer in the factory for a year and left his
workplace without informing anyone. Pressure from home mounted to find a job and he went to Visakhapatnam to study at an institution to learn some skills. Within three months Tausif was back home from Vishakapatnam and a completely a changed person. He
was ready to do work sincerely and support his family. He started working at a Metro construction site in Howrah, Kolkata for four years. According to him, that was the perfect time to leave the job and start his drawing career seriously. He began freelancing and never stopped chasing his
dream. Gradually he became a famous artist in his locality; he started creating small statues with thermocol and now designs for mosques walls during their festivals and celebrations. “I cannot survive or do anything which never interests me, but at the same time I care for my family, So I worked for 4 years and earned few thousand rupees which I handed to my mom for my younger sister’s marriage. My father retired years ago and always needed a helping hand at the same. He wants me to work outside India as a wielding expert but I have never fulfilled his expectations,” Tausif added. His father, Md. Iqbal Aslam says, “I have never supported my son but I never stopped believing in his extra ordinary talent and from a house where everyone is illiterate. Tausif started drawing from very early age; he never went to any drawing school or never learned from experts. He gradually developed his talent as he grew up but I still feel he should work, earn and look after his family.” Tausif is now a famous street artist in Khardah doing wall art and graffiti with the support of local NGOs and his friends. His only focus is to draw and earn through his works. Tausif wants to show his father and others, no talent is wasted in this world.
Tejo Doodles His Own Path
From coffee tumblers to cafe walls to cars, a doodle artist makes his way in the world Konica Kamra Tejo Guna, a master at doodling and a straddling artist was able to create his own path after dropping out of VNIT Nagpur, where he was completing his degree in engineering. Born in Nakrekal, where he was schooled, Tejo decided it was time to move from place to place to showcase his artwork. Tejo believes doodling is not just a product of an artist holding a marker but rather the interest an artist has for what he/she is creating. “For me, doodling is about drawing whatever you can think of, or better yet, don’t think,” he said. He doodles to combat boredom, realizing that his ability lies in speaking to people with his drawings than with his words. From customizing coffee tumblers, to doodling on the walls of cafes and restaurants, to doodling on cars and mobile phones, Tejo has been successful in completing more than 200 gigs. His striking attention to detail makes each piece unique and original. “The highlight of my work lies in the details to tell a story through my artwork” he said. Talking to blank walls when he's not capturing his improvised art in a sketchbook, Tejo has become famous for his on-the-spot epic doodle masterpieces. “I have loved drawing since I was a child and surprisingly my parents didn’t expect me to try and be anybody else but an artist” he said giggling. Apart from doodling, Tejo also practices photography.
Traveling has become like routine for Tejo with his restless nature taking him from one place to another in search for work. "Srilanka is the next place on my wish list," he says. Tejo was once asked ‘Isn’t it unnerving, though, to draw on walls with permanent markers, without a means of erasing mistakes?’ to which he replied “If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not likely to make anything. I usually en-
courage everyone to look at mistakes as opportunities to improve.” His work stems from incessant doodling, often laced with wild detailing shapes and patterns. “Tejo enjoys challenges and strives to take the road not taken. He puts his heart and soul into his work. Dropping out from his engi-
neering college was a brave decision he made. I always found him drawing on the walls, books, desk and he is very passionate about what he does,” Visarg Shah, a senior of Guna at VNIT said. Finding satisfaction in filling his sketchbook or drawing on a wall, Tejo is slowly receiving attention from various states across the country, though he's been drawing all his life. “I get calls from different states for my work, with plenty of offers that come from start-up companies. Presently, I’m working with K-Hub, a digital marketing company, for the past six months.” He added “I wanted to pursue fine arts after grade 12, but my parents were weaving different dreams for me. I locked my dreams, temporarily, in some obscure corner and started chasing marks. I could no longer take it! I had to find and make my own path,” “As I started believing in my abilities and gradually began to produce work I wanted to create, I was able to gain my parent’s trust. It truly is the greatest reward I have received because it took me seven years to convince them to be the person I knew I wanted to be. I never gave up,” he said. Tejo enjoys watching cartoons, though manga’s and anime’s have not fascinated him the same way. He is addicted to the television show ‘Family Guy’ and likes listening to folk studio songs. He dreams of creating his own comic universe someday, where he could express his thoughts through his characters he creates. He is looking to study art in colleges abroad while also working towards an internship with Marvel or Disney. “Following your passion is the ultimate happiness and satisfaction one can get in life,” Guna preaches.