Brew May'2015

Contemplate. Create. Live.

THE SUMMER SPECIAL Gabriella demetriades is red-hot, inside and out So what’s her story? >> 18

SUNNY SIDE UP, ALWAYS

Anu hasan gets candid >> 24

CATCH THE SUNSET WITH A SUCCULENT MEAL Review of the wharf >> 34

MaY 2015 `40

The summer special was designed keeping in mind that every issue of The Brew Magazine has to astound its readers. We have the stunning model and international designer, Gabriella Demetriades on the cover to suit our mantra. She talks about her popular clothing label ‘Deme By Gabriella’, her fitness regime and more. We also have a breezy interview with actress and writer Anu Hasan, who pipes about her role in the new BBC Television series that she has signed up for. As a part of the Live section, we have a travel memoir of Radisson Blu Temple Bay with a detailed review of its seaside restaurant, ‘The Wharf’, which I am positive you all will enjoy.

Have a pleasant read.

Vilani Senthamil Editor

Currently running five years, The Brew Magazine is almost in par with the content of international magazines. With one of the top international models on the cover of this issue, we have every feature to go with the scorching summer season. Every story in all the three divisions- Contemplate, Create and Live, have interesting stories you can delve into. Read on and write to us with your feedback, to help us work towards achieving the best of products.

Sameer Bharat Ram Publisher and CEO

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CONTRIBUTORS & ADVISORY BOARD Thota Tharani (A senior Indian film art director and production designer who has worked in Tamil cinema, Telugu cinema, Malayalam cinema and Bollywood. He has won two National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. His work consists of paintings, murals, paper collages, wooden montages, installations and so on)

G Venket Ram (A leading Indian fashion photographer, who has shot principal photography stills for several notable films as well as portfolios. He quit his engineering studies to work with cinematographers for a while, after which he joined a course in Visual Communication at Loyola College. He then worked with photographer Sharad Haksar and in 1993, started his own studio)

Mallika Sarabhai (Educated as an economist and business manager, she is one of India’s best-known classical dancers. She has taken her work and her company ‘Darpana’ to not only over 90 countries around the world, but also to the most remote parts of India)

Neeru Nanda (A graduate from Delhi University, she’s passionate about writing.

She freelanced as a feature writer for ten years before switching to publishing.

Author of a collection of short stories titled ‘IF’, she has also worked on novels and short stories of children)

Ashok Verghese (One of the youngest education entrepreneurs who is making a great difference in this field in the country. He is the Director of the Hindustan group of Institutions, one of the pioneering educational groups in the country. He supports the cause of promoting young talent in art and music)

Veejay Sai (An award-winning writer, editor and a culture critic. He has written and published extensively on Indian classical music, fashion, theatre, food and art, and loves traveling, researching literary and cultural history. He is an editorial consultant with over 40 brands and designers in and outside India and is on the jury for several prestigious awards in the arts sector across the country)

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COVER CREDITS Photographer Preyen Moodley

INTERNAL TEAM Senior Designer Jesu Durai Junior Designer Vijay Singh Nathawat Photographers Johan, Kiran Koushik & Rajesh Circulation Head Seeman Elumalai

Mail to editor.thebrewmagazine@gmail.com for advertisement queries/feedback

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C ontents

Contemplate SUMMER BREAK? WATCH THESE MOViES Here’s why you cannot miss out on these six underrated movies >> 11

Create FIERY TUNES Vishal Dadlani, Farhan Akhtar & Anurag Rao croon for a number composed by Skrat, the band >> 17

HELLO, SUNSHINE! International designer & model Gabriella Demetriades showcases that beauty is not only skin-deep >> 18

SUNNY SIDE UP, ALWAYS She’s evermore all smiles & full of ideas. How does she do it? Anu Hasan gets talking >> 24

PAINTING WITH FIRE Artist Swarnalatha Chandrasekaran’s work is as scorching as the sun is this month. She reveals why she does what she does >> 30

Live SUN & SEA A review & a few recipes of The Wharf in Radisson Blu Temple Bay, the finest grill restaurant by far >> 34

A RECIPE FROM THE GREAT FOODIE CALENDAR Learn how to make the Kari Dosa in simple & easy steps >> 40

BEAT THE HEAT Make hay while the sun shines with a brief getaway to Radisson Blu Temple Bay, Mamallapuram >> 42

SUMMER DESTINATIONS Best international tourist spots to visit during the month of May >> 44

GLITZ &GLAMOUR Did you miss out on what happened at the cover launch of the April issue? Let’s rectify that >> 54

BREW PICKS SIZZLING HOT Audi has a scathing hot car for the season >> 56

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6 WATCH ew Br

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INDIAN FILMS YOU MUST

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There are underdogs when it comes to films, too.

Some of them, despite being good, are subject to certain prejudices or do not get noticed because of the absence of stars or big budgets. So here’s a collection of six most underrated Indian films of recent times which are worth your time. Take a look at the list that Jithin Thomas has compiled

Saivam (Tamil)

Saivam is to Indian films, what ‘Children of heaven’ was to Iranian films.

It revolves around the rescue plan by a little girl when the village chief announces that her rooster will soon be sacrificed to the local deity.

Saivam is starkly different from regular Tamil films which are generically created for mass consumption. The performances are so good that one does not even get to realize that the children have actually acted.

It almost feels like these were videos shot as children were going about their lives in the normal course of things. The theme of this film involuntarily promotes Veganism as a way of life but the director does it with such craft that neither does it become preachy nor does it become force-fed at any point. The film also deals with several sub themes such as family bonding, love for animals, infatuation and teamwork. In short, Saivam has everything in it that a good film must have.

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Ulidavaru Kandante (Kannada) A thrilling mystery in several parts, As Seen By the Rest (Ulidavaru Kandante) is a bold leap forward for the cinema of Karnataka, India. The film is both completely comfortable in its own skin and

with its identity as popular Indian cinema, and well aware of its influences, which it wears proudly on its sleeves. The director pays homage to the Master Akira Kurosowa with brilliantly integrated

tributes from the Japanese film, Rashomon. The structure of this film is modeled around a series of cliffhangers. The audiences are not omnipresent in the proceedings like they are in other films. The film is revealed as a series of stories, all eventually weaving together to make one coherent narrative of an event that isn’t unveiled until the end. Apart from its brilliant story, this film is also power packed with great performances and captivating music. The director is quite brash about his inspiration throughout the film. Overall Ulldavaru Kandante is a brilliant representative of the evolving talent from Kannada Cinema.

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Amen (Malayalam) Half-way through the film, there comes a scene when the full moon is portrayed with a huge smiley. That is precisely how one feels at the end of this spectacular film. In Amen the director Lijo Jose, endeavors a contrast from his earlier thrillers and takes you to the backwaters of Kumarangari – a land where Church rules supreme with the divine powers of Saint Geevarghese. The primary objective of the films under this art-movement called Magical Realism is to create an illusion to the viewer despite the existence of some supernatural being or something bizarre to be blended with.

This film also employs non living objects such as a clarinet, a church, etc and makes them crucial to the story.

The director is extremely successful in making us part of this fantasyland. The actors and other technicians have well played their parts. Amen comes from a genre of films that have not been exploited successfully in Indian films. And hence they come across as new and refreshing.

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1 Nenokkadine (Telugu) Watching the trailer, one would expect it to be another of that typical, stereotyped Telugu movie that would channelize the star strength of a Super star. But the film turns out to be a valiant attempt to blur the difference between mainstream and art house cinema.

The movie is a first of its kind attempt in Telugu film’s.

The basic plot is about a person who has a mental disorder because of few things that happened during his childhood. Owing to it, he fails to recognize the difference between his assumption and things that happen in reality.

Even though it is a big-budget film, the director has not compromised it to mass preferences. Mahesh Babu gives the performance of a lifetime. The CGI and graphics are world class. The visuals are on par with any Hollywood film and are a feast to the eyes. The movie was not well-received at the time of release as the audience had a completely different expectation of the film. On watching the film without any pre-conceived notions one would rate the film on par with several international crime thrillers.

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Dum Laga ke Haisha (Hindi) There are some films that you watch with zero expectations but they blow your mind of. Dum laga ke heisha belongs to that league. In its essence this film is an anti-thesis of the traditional plot structure of bollywood Rom-coms. An arranged marriage brings together a handsome man with a plump girl. How they find love forms the crux of the story. Even though the plot sounds simple, it has been written intricately to avoid every possible cliche associated with the Romance Genre. The story takes place in the Northern belt of the country and the time period is in the mid-90’s. This gives the film an opportunity to present some outstanding real characters.

The film is catchy for the two hours that it runs and each scene has something new to offer. The central theme of the film is that love is between the hearts and looks have a minimal role to play in this.

The film has some beautiful songs reminiscent of the songs of the 90’s. The performances by Ayushman Khurana and Bhumi Pednekar are top-notch. The lack of star presence and a fat leading lady did not encourage much viewers at the time it was released. It has gained much appreciation since then. Watch this film or you will be missing one of the most well-made love stories from India.

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Elizabeth Ekadeshi (Marathi) Over the last few years there have been quite a number of Marathi films made on the rustic village life in Maharashtra. Elizabeth Ekadeshi raises the bar for films of that genre. An aesthetically constructed film, it can make us laugh and cry along, because the core theme is about how good life was when we were smaller children. At its core, its a simple story of children trying to protect their cycle named ‘Elizabeth’ in times when the family is entangled in deep financial troubles. The mother of the family has no other option but to sell of the cycle. The treatment is what makes this film different from the lot. Though the story is centered on the financial crisis of a poor family, the beauty is that there is absolutely no unnecessary melodrama. The film is all about the kids and how they deal with life in their own unique way.

The visuals are a delight to watch and so are the way they are cut to momentum. The performances are very natural, with special mention for Shrirang Mahajan, Nandita, Dhuri and Pushkar Lonarkar – the child actors.

They are at ease and make the film a joy to watch. To cut it short, Elizabeth Ekadeshi is simplicity at its best. A must-watch.

Courtesy of www.longlivecinema.com

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FarOut Media in collaboration with Farhan Akhtar and Anurag Rao, is all set to launch a song with Star Movies for the TV premiere of X-Men - Days of Future Past this summer.

Vishal Dadhlani has played an integral role in the vocals of this song composed by Skrat, titled Mutant Macha.

It’s is a game changing song with a purpose says Vishal Dadlani, in an interview with Brew

What got you to play a part in this song?

I have a huge amount of respect for Skrat, the band. I have been witnessing their work for a long time now! They were the ones who composed this song and I must add that all credits have to go to them. I played only a small part, which was in the vocals of Mutant Macha.

Tell us about the whole idea behind Mutant Macha.

It was a result of a lot of jamming and hanging out in reality! Farhan, Anurag, Skrat and I got it all together quite breezily. The essence of the song is to inspire people to overcome their respective fears.

That’s also the reason it was timed

with the premiere of X-MenDays of Future Past. Heroes and superheroes inspire people to do the same, right? Similarly, this is one such song that reinstates you have to be fearless, that you are braver than you think you are.

Do you think innovative numbers like this will be received well?

It might be surprising to add, but I think Indians are looking for innovations to come their way.

Indian music has a lot of scope to be received well not only by people here, but internationally as well. We just have to work more conciously towards it. In fact, the independent music scene here is changing rapidly now, it’s going through a massive change for the better.

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HELLO, SUNSHINE! Ranked as one among the top ten sexiest women of the world and a designer with an international clothing label of her own,international designer & model Gabriella Demetriades undisputably has something to shout about! Read on, as she speaks about how she launched her brand Deme By Gabriella, her encounter with the modelling industry, her obsession with being mentally as well as physically fit and more.

By Vilani Senthamil

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S

he’s breathtakingly gorgeous, yes. But I bet you must be asking yourself what her story is. Well, she certainly has a solid one. This lady from South Africa has seen success in both the fields she very clearly chose for herself. Many souls believe that beauty is only skin-deep, but this woman proves that it can go farther than that too. She enunciates that her sensible ideals are what have helped her ger this far, so let’s see how.

HER HOLY GRAIL Born in Port Elizabeth, Gabriella began her modelling stint at the age of 16. However, she was always more passionate about becoming an established designer. Even as a kid, she had her eyes on only one prize she says. “Design was always the plan. I didn’t just wake up one morning and go ‘Hey, I’m going to be a designer’.

It’s a part of my DNA. My mom is an artist and a designer, so I grew up with a pencil in my hand and a magazine on the other. My play time was most of the time in her giant walk-in closet”.

As we all bear witness to, her dream has become reality. She has her very own clothing label for women, named ‘Deme By Gabriella’ that is extremely popular internationally. Top celebrities in India and elsewhere consider it a privelege to own garments from this label of hers.

ROLE REVERSAL Her history with modelling is enough evidence to state that she is a successful model. She was selected as the second sexiest woman in the world, in a recent poll. “Well, I came second. And if you’re not first you are last!”, she laughs. “Just kidding.

It was a good feeling obviously and it definitely aided my modelling career”.

She is also popularly known in India for she contested in the ‘Miss IPL Bollywood’ on behalf of the Deccan Chargers. Her modelling career also led to her starring in music videos in many movies across the nation, one of which

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“Design was always the plan. I didn’t just wake up one morning and go ‘Hey, I’m going to be a designer’”

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“Contrary to what most people seem to believe, exercise is not about weight loss at all. It makes you healthy and at your best, both mentally and physically” was in Tu hi Pyar hai. When quizzed on how she balances both these careers, she responds promptly “I’ve had to cut back on modelling a bit and only take select work which is great for me. This is because my true love is definitely in clothing and design”. The biggest lesson that modelling taught her was that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.

“Make exercise an undeterred part of your life. Never as a maybe. It should be like having breakfast, a habit. Contrary to what most people seem to believe, exercise is not about weight loss at all.

It makes you healthy and at your best, both mentally and physically”, she says.

TIMELESS BEAUTY How did the label srike gold in such a short time period, when it usually takes decades for a brand to become popular? She explains, “I think instinctively, as a designer, you know what will work and what won’t. I strongly believe trends don’t work for everyone. That’s why I make sure my label produces clothing that is timeless.

Deme By Gabriella is a ready-to-wear women’s clothing label that focusses on sensual silhouettes, to be precise.

Though I don’t follow trends aptly, I am inspired by them in small ways when I work. For instance, this season I do love the use of texture and form-fitted silhouettes. I will continue to work at making sure my label shines better”, she signs off.

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Photography by Johan

Sunny side up,

PERPETUALLY With her vivacious smile and witty demeanour, it’s of no surprise the multi-faceted Anu Hasan is as successful as she is. Read on as we bring to light why the Actress, Presenter, Businesswoman and now, Writer, is full of joys of the spring!

By Vilani Senthamil

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Did you always have a writer in you? Tell us about how your book ‘Sunny Side Up’ came about.

Technically speaking, I started writing when i was 9 years old, I think. It was a silly poem about a coconut tree! I continued writing poems and as i grew older they became seriously silly! About ten years ago I started writing the odd article for newspapers and it was only about 8 years ago I that I started writing regularly for a monthly column about quirky episodes in my life. Post this, I decided to put these episodes together and my book ‘Sunny Side Up’ happened.

It was a funny yet thought provoking anecdote of episodes from your life that you put down in ink. Do you believe in writing only real-life episodes or you might delve into writing fiction too?

Funny you should ask this now-just a few days ago i was mulling over the idea of a second book and had asked for suggestions on my Facebook page. There was an overwhelming request for an attempt at fiction! So that is what i think i will try next.

Any favourite authors you would like to pick as an inspiration?

I don’t mean to sound arrogant or pompous - but inspiration has to come from within. I admire a lot of people but they don’t inspire me. I guess i am weird like that. But, I love reading books where the hero is invincible and the bad guys get their come uppance. The hero getting the girl is an added bonus! I love the work of Matthew Reilly, James rollins, Alistair Maclean, Wilbur Smith - the list is endless, really.

Your role in the new BBC TV series ‘Eastenders’ seems to be interesting. Is it anywhere close to your personality in real life?

“I don’t mean to sound arrogant or pompous - but inspiration has to come from within. I admire a lot of people but they don’t inspire me”

I play the role of Fatima Inzamam. She is warm, affectionate and someone who can keep a secret.

It is a lovely character and I’d like to think there are facets of Fatima that reflect my personality. I always enjoy playing all the roles given to me - and this was no exception. Plus the people I worked with were such fun. I really enjoyed it.

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“I like to try many things.

Win or lose, it is worth the experience” Do you like labelling yourself with tags like ‘Writer’, ‘Actor’ or ‘Businesswoman’? Or you simply identify yourself as a person who indulges in many creative ventures?

I am me. I don’t really know which tag fits me though, even my name - I am Anu to some people and Radha to others. If you ask me if I am Anu or Radha – I wouldn’t know which to choose. Maybe both, maybe neither. As for creative pursuits or any pursuit at all - I like to try many things. Win or lose, it is worth the experience.

How is it shuttling between the UK and Chennai?

Tell us about your experience and what you do to unwind.

Shuttling between the UK and Madras is much easier than you think - at least for me. I just pick up a flight and hop across. I don’t think I unwind. There is always something that needs to be done. Also, since i enjoy doing most of the things on my list, I don’t consciously look to unwind. But I think I really should instead of jumping from one deadline to another. so if i were to unwind, that would be a long drive, beautiful country side, a meadow, a picnic and a book. Butterflies would be nice too!

Seeing what you have accomplished in the past, we are very curious about what you have in store for the future. Can you reveal some of your future plans?

I never plan. I just jump into whatever catches my fancy. At the moment I am going to start working on my next book, get back into shape, (I’ve been very lazy the past few months), close on a few business deals in Europe, and see how the acting in British Television goes- thats about it, I think.

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Ever heard the soliloquy of a woman in distress? Look at Swarnalatha Chandrasekaran’s paintings and they sing to you.

Read on to find out how hues, shapes and expressions combine to create order out of cacophony on the canvas of this prolific artist. By Sanjana Ganesh

PAINTING WITH

Fire Choosing a canvas

It all started on a day like any other when the painters refused to work on time in Swarnalatha Chandrasekaran’s newly bought house. She took it upon herself as a project to bring life to her walls. She went on to produce magic. It goes without saying that the thought of a Ravi Varma painting will transport you into a world of serene Keralite women unaware of their pious sensuality, going about their daily duties, unconscious of being captured on a canvas. Inspired by these paintings from a very young age, Swarnalatha used them as mimeses for her creative work and became popular due to the emulation she made. The simple infusion of Tanjore’s glittering gold foil and Raja Ravi Varma’s muses led to Swarnalatha’s success. What started on the wall, went on paper.

After much thought and contemplation, she put up her first show at Vinyasa Gallery in Chennai upon the encouragement she received from her husband. “I was a young girl and never expected my hobby to be received this widely. It gave me immense joy upon seeing so many art lovers validating my work. I did not know the size of my canvas. I didn’t even know what rate to sell my paintings at!

I was quite ecstatic after the show as every single painting was sold and orders flooded in.” Her popularity rose and so did her awareness about the world of art.

The lack of formal education in drawing or painting was beginning to gnaw on her artistic sensibility. She came to understand that she needed to create a name for herself. She set out to discover a style but before that, she had to build a stronger foundation. “After a relentless 90 day struggle, Mr. Karuppaiya (popularly known

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Photography by Kiran Koushik as Kudhurai Karuppaiya) agreed to teach me the basics of painting. I practised every single day.

It has definitely been the key to my success. I used at least one sketch book a day to practice.

I observed all his strokes and it astounded me when he could finish a painting within seconds.

I learnt to make sculptures. This gave me a great sense of the structure of the human anatomy and paved my path into contemporary art. After converting my old car garage into an art gallery, there was no stopping me.” Just like that, she found her canvas in her journey through fine art.

Finding a stimulus “If you understand the anatomy of a being, you can break it in any way you want. (On paper, of course). Picasso’s work inspired me to pursue contemporary art in full swing. The postmodern era along with Picasso’s cubism led to several depths and layers of my understanding of art.

I decided to break the human anatomy and explore it through my work. However, each piece I did needed to speak a language of its

own. Society’s problems revealed to me that I was deeply affected by the plight of the have-nots. I believe that each blot of paint on my board is my feeling that I have expressed.” She said when asked if she puts herself into her painting.

Her strong convictions about the rights and wrongs of the world, aided her. Her unique style of contorted figurines suited her new style. A statement was made every time she felt strongly about problems such as war, acid attacks, child abuse and substance abuse, especially smoking as she used different materials and techniques. The most prominent feature in all her paintings remained the sufferings of women in this society in lieu with nature. A coincidental trip to Delhi a few days prior to the brutal gang rape in the winter of Delhi in 2012 moved Swarnalatha to tears. She was shocked by the number of women who took to the streets to protest against such a heinous crime. Sadly, she also got a whiff of the fear that arose when the women felt that their fate may find a similar end. As a tribute to the fallen hero, she painted the Nirbhaya collection. A total of forty paintings were displayed at the prestigious Indian Habitat Center in New Delhi the following year and was inaugurated by Justice Ranjana Desai.

The paintings showed the deplorable state of affairs in a country that is considered “developed”. Swarnalatha feels that women still remain caged in their very homes. “There is a loss between the self and the soul as women are expected to

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parrot the male’s opinion. There are several cases of female infanticide; cyber stalking is on the rise, and women still lie on a bed of thorn. Imagine how that poor girl must have felt a few moments prior to her death. The image of those four monsters will haunt me all my life. We all have a responsibility. All is not well and will not be until we take a stand.” She says fiercely. The angst of this lady is immense and this has been communicated through her paintings. Looking at her famous interpretation of the agonised Gandhi proves to us, that a long march still remains until his true sense of freedom is achieved.

What’s a painting without a frame?

“I never use a single penny of my income for personal use and I am always open to teaching anyone who needs help. I wish to help many others and bring a great sense of awareness about women to women”

Swarnalatha’s life is filled with a colourful pallet of people. Her house is her sanctum and her family, she worships. She strongly advocates the need for a perfect work-life balance as she feels that one must never tread on a fine line when reduced to two important entities. Being a mother gives her great joy and says that her son helps her whenever necessary. Her caring in-laws have supported her throughout her journey and have been her pillar of strength. She attributes her success to her husband who made the effort to understand art and help Swarnalatha as she painted through several shows. Her benevolent heart has driven her to help innumerable people as she teaches young, poor students to draw and paint. She sponsors their education. She has also been involved in many charitable activities and feels that though art may not be lucrative, it will give you a satisfaction like no other.

“I never use a single penny of my income for personal use and I am always open to teaching anyone who needs help. I wish to help many others and bring a great sense of awareness about women to women”, she says.

The trinities of philosophy- Sathyam, Shivam and Shantam i.e. Truth, beauty and goodness are an integral part of Swarnalatha’s paintings in which the representative bird is an understanding of the feline spirit. Here’s to hoping that the sky is her limit and that her wings never fail.

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Inspired by the elements of nature, The Wharf in Radisson Blu Temple Bay, Mamallapuram is the finest grill restaurant in the city. Leaf through, as we reminisce the experience of dining there

By Vilani Senthamil

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Driving through the gates of Temple Bay, the first thing we noticed was how airy it was.

Driving out of the city for a meal wasn’t a bad idea after all. As we got out of the car and made our way to the restaurant with the help of quirky directions at every fork, we looked upon the well-kept gardens overlooking the Bay of Bengal. The lush green gardens were an apt compliment to the serene environment. A sense of relaxation took over right then, and continued right up until we were done with the feast to come. ‘The Wharf’ is another word for a seaside shack. To go with it’s name, the place was themed with outdoor seats under small huge hut-shaped dorms scattered aesthetically around a huge one. It has a scrumptious spread, which you can divulge into right by the sea. One more thing that came as a surprise to us was the number of vegetarian dishes on the menu. Only rarely do you discover a seaside restaurant serving great vegetarian food, and ‘The Wharf’ falls among this small category.

Every dish has an exquisite wine paired with it in the menu, which we can choose to order or skip, if need be. With a huge grilled cuisine, the place boasts of having two types of grillsthe charcoal grill and the matchless lava grill.

Executive Chef Mr. Vijaya Kumar ordered a

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non-vegetarian platter so we could have a bite of the different starters offered. The luscious chicken, succulent lamb, tender fish and mammoth jumbo prawns looked good and tasted better. As we dug in to our meal, the Chef spoke about the many other services offered by the restaurant. Within a day’s notice, the restaurant can set-up a meal for 2 or more right by the waves, with a personalised waiter serving on them too. That would be a perfect meal, wouldn’t it? I have to add that the waiters were more than worthy of credit. As we feasted on the main course, it struck us that all the elements of nature were very subtly themed around us- the waves crashing on the beach, the wind in our hair, the fire on the nearby grill, the sand our seats laid on and the brilliant blue sky above us. It is a splendid location accompanied by the most delicious food. ‘The Wharf’ was lovely in its every aspect. With its very saintly atmosphere, this place is apt for any occasion- anniversaries, family get-togethers, catching up with a friend after a while or even if you want to have some alone time!

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MURGH HAWAL MAHAL

INGREDIENTS n Chicken tikka, 1 Kg n Butter, 250 gms n Besan flour, 150 gms n Pepper, 50 gms n Salt, 30 gms n Cheese cheddar, 250 gms n Egg, 10 nos n Saffron, 1 gms n Coriander chop, 20 gms n Ginger paste, 25 gms n Garlic paste, 25 gms n Green chilly, 20 gms n Garlic chopped, 20 gms

METHOD n Heat butter in a pan, add the Besan flour, crushed pepper, chicken pieces cook until it is half done. n Skewer the chicken pieces in skewer. n Apply over the chicken with stiffly beaten egg, cheese, chopped coriander, saffron. n Cook until golden brown in colour, finish with a coat of melted butter on top of the chicken. n Garnish with coriander leaves.

CORN FED CHICKEN WITH LEMON PEPPER INGREDIENTS n Corn fed chicken breast, 4 nos

MARINATION n Corn paste, 25 gms n Dijon mustard, 10 gms n Olive oil, 15 mls n Mixed herbs, 10 gms n Worcestershire sauce, 10 mls n Salt, to taste n Lemon juice, 15 mls n Pound garlic, 10 gms n Lemon rind, 5 gms n Crushed black pepper, 5 gms

METHOD n Make a marinade by mixing corn paste, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, herbs and olive oil

n Marinate the chicken breast with the above marinade n Mix the crushed black pepper, pound garlic and the lemon rind

n Rub over the chicken breast on both sides over a hot grill. Finish cooking the chicken in an oven at 200 degree centigrade for 10 minutes n Serve along with vegetables tossed with herb and butter

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HARISSA MARINATE GRILLED JUMBO PRAWNS INGREDIENTS n Jumbo prawns, 5 nos n Whole red chilli, 5 nos n Garlic cloves, 3 nos n Fennel seeds, 5 gms n Olive oil, 50 ml n Coriander seeds, 5 gms n Salt, to taste n Caraway powder, 5 gms n Cumin, 5 gms n Red pepper, 5 gms n Tomato paste, 50 gms

METHOD n Soak the dries chillies in hot water for 30 mins and drain, removing stems and seeds

n In a food processor combine chill, peppers, garlic, coriander, cumin, fennel, salt and blend

n Add in the tomato paste, olive oil and blend to form a smooth paste

n Store in air-tight container, drizzle a small amount of olive oil on top to keep fresh

n Marinate the jumbo prawns and leave it at least for 20 mins

LAWA GRILLED RED SNAPPER WITH MAHABS MARINATION FISH INGREDIENTS n Red snapper (300 gms), 1 no

MARINATION n Kashmiri chilli powder, 10 gms n Chilly flakes, 5 gms n Besan flour, 20 gms n Rice flour, 20 gms n Corn flour, 20 gms

METHOD

n Jeera powder, 5 gms n Sounf powder, 5 gms

n Scale the fish, clear the all-internal organs, wash it and pat dry.

n Green chillies (chopped), 5 gms

n Make a marination with all the ingredients mentioned in the list.

n Curry leaves (chopped), 7 nos n Tamarind pulp, 30 ml

n Rub the fish with ginger, garlic paste and lemon juice, leave it for 20 mins (minimum) in the fridge.

n Garlic paste, 10 gms

n Marinate the fish with the Mahabs Marination.

n Ginger paste, 10 gms

n Serve the fish in hot grill, finish cooking the fish in a medium hot oven.

n Lemon juice, 10 ml

n Serve with lemon wedges and salad.

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CAPPUCCINO MUD CAKE INGREDIENTS MUD CAKE n Butter, 400 gms n Chocolate, 500 gms n Coffee powder, 10 gms n Sugar, 900 gms n Baking powder, 15 gms n Baking soda, 15 gms n Salt, 5 gms n Vanilla essence, few drops n Flour, 350 gms n Cocoa powder, 50 gms

n Chocolate, 500 gms n Butter, 500 gms

METHOD MUD CAKE n Melt the chocolate and butter.

n Egg , 10 nos

MARQUISE

CHOCOLATE MARQUISE

n Whip sugar and egg until the sugar dissolves. n Add coffee powder and fold all the dry ingredients. n Bake the mix for 15 mins at 20 degree Celsius, reduce the temp for 180’c and bake for 20 mins.

MARQUISE n Melt the chocolate and butter. n Mix with egg yolk and fold in whipped cream gently. n Spread the marquise mixture on top of mud cake and set in refrigerator. n Apply a layer of chocolate sauce on top and serve.

n Egg yolk, 5 nos n Cream, 375 gms

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RECIPE FOR THE MONTH MAY

KARI

DOSA METHOD Kari Filling n Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves, chopped onion, green chilli and sautĂŠ till light brown. n Add tomatoes and shredded lamb along with spice powders and salt. n Stir-fry till the raw flavour goes off and the mixture is cooked. n Keep the Kari filling separate.

Kari Dosa

INGREDIENTS Spice Powder Kari Filling n 200 gm shredded lamb boneless n ml oil n 100 gm chopped onion n 50 gm chopped tomato n 5 gm chopped green chilli n 50 gm chopped curry leaves n Salt to taste

n 2 gm turmeric powder n 3 gm chilli powder n 3 gm coriander powder n 3 gmgaram masala n 3 gm cumin powder

Dosa n 600 ml dosa batter n 4 sprig of roughly chopped curry leaf n 50 gm idly chutney powder n Oil for griddling May 2015 | Brew lIFE STYLE & entertainment | 41

n On a moderately hot tawa, make a 3-4 inch dice sized thick dosa using the batter. Spread the lamb mixture on top of the dosa and sprinkle idly chutney powder and curry leaves. n Cover and cook for a couple of minutes. n Turn the dosa on the other side and continue cooking until done. n Present the kari filling side upwards with coconut chutney or salna.

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A summer escapade to radisson blu

Temple bay

By Sameer Bharat Ram

T

he moment I decided that I would write on travel, the first property that came to my mind was Radisson Blu Temple bay. I have been there many times since it’s an hour’s drive from chennai and since I have also heard of its seafood restaurant- The Wharf, which is known to be one of the finest sea food restaurants in the country. Vikram Cotah, a dear friend who is the Vice President of the GRT group was kind enough to send me on a short break to Temple Bay over a weekend last month. I have written all about the memorable vacay below, do read on.

overwhelming that we completely forgot about the car breakdown and the gruesome weather. The check-in proceeded very smoothly, after which we were greeted by the General Manager, Mr.Elango who has been with the GRT group for over a decade.

We were escorted to our poolside Chalet and when the door opened, I was definitely taken by surprise. The sheer size of the room amazed me. The Chalet overlooking the 70,000 odd square feet swimming pool is exactly what we wanted, to unwind over the weekend. Also, I was not surprised when I was told that it was the largest swimming pool in Asia!

The two successive days sped by, as I felt

As my wife and I began driving towards Mahabalipuram, my car unfortunately broke down with a pipe burst, kudos to the Chennai heat. I called the Mechanic over and ordered for a Cab to take us to Mahabalipuram.

After a little less than an hour’s journey, we reached the resort. To my incredible relief, the hospitality extended by the resort staff was so

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like i was stranded on an unexplored island. There was so much more to Temple Bay than what I had anticipated. The infinity pool overlooking the Bay of Bengal is a beauty. You can spend hours there looking at the sea, wishing that time stood still. Apart from that, we got adventurous and ventured into the sea in the Catamaran ride that the resort offers. The waters on that day were choppy, however, with the trained local fisherman manning the Catamaran, there was nothing for us to worry about. It goes without saying that the all the necessary precautions including the life jackets were taken due care of, too. The trained fishermen steered the motorised Catamaran towards the six Pagodas (ancient temples) of Mamallapuram that are now under the ocean because of years of sea erosion and Tsunamis over the last thousand years. It was magical to see the tips of the Pagodas tops atop the water. Being very passionate about Tamil History and Culture, this was spellbinding for me to witness.

We spent both evenings at The Wharf feasting on some grilled specials (that they are known widely for) and sipping on chilled beer. The 24-hour-coffeeshop was always bustling with guests during lunch and breakfast,who like us were having a quaint time. Also, I must add that the spread in both these restaurants was large and I can say for sure one would never be able to taste everything in the buffet.

Being a spa zealot, I pampered myself with an aromatic massage in the spa on the second day after having enjoyed a head massage at the Ayurvedic Spa on the first day. All in all, the entire experience ended leaving us amazed and satisfied, right by the city.

I now wonder and regret in equal measure for not visiting this property much earlier. It’s a resort so consummate by all means - an hour’s drive from the city, right by the Bay of Bengal, overlooking the historic shore temple, offering Catamaran rides with glimpses of the historic Pagodas, all of it complemented by world class cuisine and the most courteous service. I definitely think you should pay a visit, because I am most certainly coming back for more!

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DESTINATION

SUMMER

It’s agreed by most travellers that the most exquisite destinations in the world are nonpareil during the month of May. Here are some highlights of hotspots not to be missed

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ISTANBUL With its fancy hotels, magnificient mosques, quaint night-spots and glamorous vistas, Istanbul is faultless as a romantic getaway. The Eastern tinged city has a thriving contemporary face to it, from its sleek bars, embellieshed restaurants to the new Istanbul Modern Gallery.

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SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS You can witness the amazing wildlife and take part in some thrilling outdoor pursuits of Scotland. The Highlands really is a beautiful and inspiring region of ancient landscapes with a fascinating history. In addition, you can explore the many mountains and glens, the stunning islands and stretches of coastline and follow the country’s only Malt Whisky Trail.

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PHILIPPINES Making itself heard through its very many resorts ranging from the most luxurious to the most tranquil, Philippines is an easy-to-get-to destination. White sand beaches and crystal clear seas to look upon make Philippines the perfect summer destination.

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FRENCH POLYNESIA Its five-star resort hotels have recently made French Polynesia the Holy Grail of luxury travel. Tahiti encompasses 118 far-flung islands that make up French Polynesia, and has long beguiled outsiders with its promise of languid sensuality, tropical seas and carefree days. People visit French Polynesia’s remote Marquesas Islands in search of Polynesian authencticity, but the ‘the real Tahiti’ is nearer at hand.

May 2015

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ALGARVE, PORTUGAL Algarve, with its red-cliffed coastline and idyllic whitewashed Moorish villages dotted with lattice chimneys and orange groves is a beauty to behold. For a real escape, the secret is to head to the deserted lagoons east of Faro, or head west to the untouched seaboard where Portugese explorers honed their skills before setting off to discover two thirds of the world; or inland to the pine-covered hills.

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GLITZ AND

GLAMOUR

M

any popular faces from the film and art fraternity witnessed the cover launch of the April Issue of The Brew Magazine. The spotlight was on the entrepreneur Charles Martin and Actress Pooja Kumar, and both of them pulled it off gracefully. Cheerful voices, buoyant faces and a long night of good food, music and dance made the night one to remember.

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OF Class

A TOUCH

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S

parks certainly flew by car enthusiasts and critics alike as the well known heavyweight in luxury automobiles unveiled their latest prized flower, the pristine ‘Audi TT Coupe’ in Chennai’s exclusive showroom. German engineering has never made itself more viable and appealing, as the words ‘Comfort’ and ‘Singularity’ have been given new ideas to ponder upon with the release of this masterpiece. It enticed the large crowd gathered in downtown Chennai with much

glamour and panache. Indeed, with a highly extendible and customizable boot, interiors more lavish than one could imagine and a rock solid powerhouse of the finest technology of smooth travel- all perfectly consolidate Audi’s claim as one of the leading giants in the industry.

The charming duo Akshara Hassan and Chennai’s own racing hero Aditya Patel graced the proceedings on the night of the event, managing to gain a spotlight in par with the mighty beast of a vehicle.

By Naveen Akshar

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