Celebrating Europe

April 19, 2014

Our correspondent, Richa Tilokani dines at L’amandier in Chennai and comes away impressed.

I have always enjoyed European cuisine during my travels, so when I heard about a new European bistro in town, I was game to check it out. So on a beautiful sunny afternoon, I head to L’amandier- The European Bistro on 2nd Main Road, R.A. Puram.

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L’amandier celebrates the spirit of Europe, serving home- style slow-cooked dishes made with a twist by experienced chefs. The music is upbeat and the ambience lively. The restaurant has a ground and first floor seating and I settle comfortably on the first floor to take in the view. I notice a lot of expat crowd enjoying the European fare and am tempted to try out the set menu. The set menu consists of one choice each from soups, salads, main course and dessert.

Tasty and healthy

I skip soup and start with the salade L’amandier consisting of roasted vegetables with lettuce and olive oil. It is delicious and healthy and I follow it up with green peas risotto with parmesan. I also try the roasted Mediterranean vegetable pancake and find it very yummy. I polish off the meal with a coffee and chocolate mud cake, which as the name suggests is heavenly. Oh, and did I mention I also had a fresh watermelon juice which was fresh and bursting with flavour, just like all the other dishes.

There are a lot of options for meat lovers too, like the herb-crusted Indian pomfret with couscous, the toasted sandwich of chicken stroganoff with walnuts and apples or the pan-fried herb chicken with loads of veggies. There are lots of dessert options too which I have decided to taste the next time round- like the strawberry crepe with toffee sauce. The soups are also on my to-try list – the choices range from creamy broccoli and cheddar soup, to the classic minestrone (also with chicken ) and the thyme and roasted zucchini soup for weight watchers.

Celebrating the senses

L’amandier is perfect for the globe-trotting Indian who wants to enjoy international cuisine on Indian soil. I had a great time at lunch and will be definitely going back for the much-recommended weekend brunch.

L’amandier is located at 57, Chamiers Road, RA Puram, Chennai. Ph: 044 42827882

March ’14 – The apple of our eye

April 19, 2014

Porcelain skin that needs very little makeup, a sensuous size 2 figure, mesmerizing eyes and to top it all, the coveted title of a beauty queen! The very English Amy Jackson has all this and much more. No wonder, shooting with Amy was everything plus fun. Off camera she is a giggling, fun-loving tween. But once the arc lights are on, her personality takes on an aura that is at once enigmatic and surreal. She captured hearts in ‘Madrasapattinam’, and forayed into Bollywood with ex-boyfriend Prateik Babbar in Gautam Menon’s ‘Ek Deewana Tha’. The film flopped, but Amy continued her journey in South cinema. After UTV’s Thaandavam, the lovely lass will now be seen in director Shankar’s magnum opus Ai. Over to Amy Jackson.

Being part of Shankar’s film is a huge high for Amy Jackson. Well, any actress for that matter. After all, he is one of India’s most successful and sought-after directors. “2013 has been a busy year for me, mainly because of Shankar’s Ai. I have shot for close to 18 months for the film and I am very excited about it.” Amy is contractually bound to not reveal much about the film. The actress had posted a picture on her micro blogging page recently with just her face visible and a bindi on. “I play an Indian girl, called Diya in Ai. It is a great role. The film is packaged beautifully. There is action. There is romance. All things considered, working for Shankar’s Ai has been a life-changing experience. I am happy I got to work with Vikram again, post Thaandavam; and collaborating with PC Sreeram and Shankar makes me feel very fortunate indeed. Having worked with them for over 200 days, I can say that the crew is like my Indian family.” Chennai is like second home to Amy, no doubt. “Yes, the city is my second home. I like to keep to myself post work. I believe in separating my work from my personal life. I have got a great support system – my mum accompanies me on my visits to India, Chennai in particular. My dad was here recently too. My relationship right now is with my work.” Amy refuses to talk about her ex-flame Prateik, or the tattoo that she is trying her best to get rid of. We ask her about why she hasn’t been seen in Hindi films of late. “The roles are good here, so is the remuneration. I have no complaints because I love the work I am getting in South Indian films. I hear scripts and if I hear a great script, I scrutinise the character and the storyline. If it appeals to my heart I make the decision to go ahead with it. Whether Bollywood, or Kollywood, China or Timbuktu, I am ready to go anywhere,” she responds. That she has had a steady stream of offers in South India is proof enough of broadening visions and horizons in cinema. But how intense is her competition as a foreign actress, with Indian stars? She quips safely, “I guess you are your own competition. You do what you are expected to do, in your best possible way. As an actress, I believe that creating an impact on the audiences is the biggest challenge.” Amy has a hearty laugh when asked about her take on the fairness trend in India and our crazed obsession with fair skin. “Back in England, people want to get a tan, they invest in creams and spend hours in the sun to get a lovely tan. In India it is different. A lot of people want fair skin. Stars like Shahrukh Khan endorse fairness creams. I guess the grass is greener on the other side,” she chuckles. A while ago, Amy had adopted a dolphin, named Smoothie. “She still swims along the coast of England where I am told there are no restrictions. I have seen her couple of times but now it is love from a distance because I have been away on work for so long.” Signing off, Amy makes a theatrical wish to God, to bestow 35 days to every month this year, because work is keeping her really busy. You go, girl!

Sashaying back in Retro

April 18, 2014

We love all things vintage and those that ooze retro charm. Retro styles from the ever-so-haute William Vintage proved to be head turners at the BAFTA Awards 2014. Gilian Anderson’s haute 1949 Balmain couture gown and Joely Richardson’s 1978 Bob Mackie creation both from William Vintage seemed so futuristic and made us realise “Retro is now”

Anavila Misra’s ‘The Secret Life of the Forest’ collection

April 15, 2014

Kiran Rao presented Anavila Misra’s very successful collection ‘The Secret Life of the Forest’ that was very well received at the recent Lakme Fashion Week.

Anavila Misra, a graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi has worked with leading apparel brands of India. A few years into the industry, she got drawn to the rich heritage of Indian crafts and textiles. In 2004 she was chosen to manage a CRAFT CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, in collaboration with NIFT, New Delhi, as a project consultant and design studio manager.

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During the course of the project Anavila interacted with rural and tribal Indian artisans throughout the length of the country. The beauty and immense possibilities trapped in these far out remote areas stayed with Anavila even after the project was concluded. As a result she started working with a few craft clusters across India under her own brand ‘Anavila’. Her sareesare available in the price range Rs.12,500/- to Rs.35,000/-.

‘Anavila’ means “pure” in Sanskrit, a historical Indo-Aryan language and that’s what the brand stands for: pure, sustainable, luxurious products. The relationship with the artisans doesn’t end at creating a unique product, it starts there. Anavila makes an effort to work on techniques and products that are innovative and sustainable. Her idea is to be true to the craft and the creator.

Over the last few years, Anavila has created a design vocabulary that is unique and contemporary. She has showcased at independent exhibitions in various cities in India and is supplying to a few select boutique stores.

AMAARA’s ‘Beat The Heat Cottons’

April 12, 2014

AMAARA presents an exclusive collection of ‘Beat The Heat Cottons’, showcasing the summer cool favourite cotton insalwar sets and kurtis in ikat, bagru and mangalgiri available from Rs.2,950/- onwards, from 10am to 7.30pm at AMAARA, 27/14, C.V RAMAN ROAD, Alwarpet, Chennai. Phone + 91 44 24988293/044.

Actor Surya unveils Malabar Gold Jewelry

April 11, 2014

Some of the snapshots from the event :

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The Jeelani Diaries

April 11, 2014

Hyderabad’s rich gastronomical heritage owes a lot to the Nizams and their love for food. Rustling up truly authentic food made by a chef whose father was the official cook of the Nizam, Vivanta by Taj – Begumpet is hosting a unique Nizami Food and Cocktail pairing promotion called The Jeelani Diaries at Viva, the all day diner at the hotel.

Chef Abdul Khadeer Jeelani learnt how to cook at an early age thanks to his father who cooked for the Nizam. With over 25 years of experience, Chef Jeelani has compiled a four course menu which comprises of exotic, fresh and authentic ingredients. The menu is created in keeping with the essence of customized cocktails and their versatility and profusion of flavour. The various cocktails and mocktails served in little test tubes were a refreshing addition to the food. Flavours from cumin to Kahlua, ginger and mint to guava were colourfully blended with rum or vodka to add a twist to the food.

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Chef Jeelani has put together a unique compilation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies reflecting the rich culinary legacy of the Nizami lifestyle. We tried starters like the Kale Chane ke Kebab served with a Kahlua and milk cocktail called Falak and a mint refresher.; the delicious Aloo Shikampoor served with firangi nariyal/vodka shikanji. The non veg starters included Machhi ke Shammi paired with adraki andaz/azraq-e-sama ; the complex and difficult to make Murgh Lapeta paired with nasile tadka/amrudi jeera ka pyala and the best of the lot, the Mutthi Kebab served with mirch mumtaz/kala khatta daiquiri added a zing to the entire experience. The Mirch Mumtaz is a drink not to be missed.

This was followed by a Chicken Biryani that was flavoured with delicacy but was rich and full bodied in its taste. Desserts include unusual preparations like Palak ka Halwa which except for the green colour gives no indication of being a spinach based sweet and Chilli Halwa and there is even a Gosht ka Halwa.

This promotion called the Jeelani Diaries can be experienced over lunch & dinner at Viva, Vivanta by Taj Begumpet from 12.30 pm to 3.00 pm &7.30 pm to 11.00 pm. After the 10-day promotion, these dishes will be part of the a la carte menu so we strongly recommend you ask for them the next time you are at Viva.

For more information or reservations, please contact: 040-67253642

Cherry Tin uneveling wide range of Wedding Souveniers

April 10, 2014

The Great Big Indian Wedding gets bigger every year. Often, in the frenzy of it all, the little things that make all the difference get overlooked. At CherryTin we know that in the middle of all the wedding rush, gift-shopping can seem like a last-minute concern, which is why we decided to simplify the process with a line of carefully selected, premium wedding souvenirs.

Gifts play a vital role in the celebration. They serve a myriad of purposes – as time honoured bearers of tradition now embracing the new world, and as memory keepers that act as mascots of this time in the life of newly-weds. With a little thought and planning, gifts can elevate a bridal event to one that will be remembered for a long time. Whether you need help realising an idea or are just getting started, we can help create gifts that make lasting memories.

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Kanika Subbiah, founder of CherryTin says, “Every wedding is unique. What makes it unique are the people involved, their personal preferences, their idea of how they want their guests to remember the wedding. At CherryTin we understand this, and have created a line of souvenirs that can be made unique with a personal touch.”

Our bespoke and curated selection includes classic and contemporary invites, gifts to accompany them, hospitality gifts ranging from gourmet boxes to pampering spa options, gifts for special celebrations like cocktail evenings and sangeets, personalized Thank You notes and special mementos from the couple to guests. And of course a wide range of gifts for the newly-weds: sublime silver pieces, handcrafted jewellery and sterling silver cufflinks, mother of pearl home accents and custom home linens.

Join us on the 11^th of April, 5 pm at Amethyst for the unveiling of our range of wedding souvenirs. We will be joined by the masters of comedy, Evam, as they present a hilarious stand-up comedy in tribute to the Indian wedding. Described by media as a laugh riot, Evam’s Stand-Up Tamasha takes a shot at the Big Fat Indian Wedding with its quirky customs, over-the-top hospitality and hilarious wedding gifts! For anyone who has a wedding coming up or is interested in the perfect wedding gift, our launch presents a rare opportunity. There is even a special giveaway for all the brides-to-be.

www.cherrytin.com sells premium gifts for personal, bridal and corporate needs. Our key categories are Jewellery, Silver, Home, Baby, Gourmet and Personalised Stationery. CherryTin’s focus is twofold. One, to simplify the process of picking the right gift and making it enjoyable through the intuitive website, expansive product selection, helpful reviews, recommendations and customer service. And two, to delight the receiver of the gift through its superior product quality, relevance, and packaging.

Evam stand-up tamasha is a 3 year old stand-up comedy ensemble, with 5 repertory artistes and over 200 shows to its credit, at corporate and cultural events across India and Singapore.

To register for the event please get in touch: 99529 13025, or emailinfo@cherrytin.com

Meru cab service launch at Chennai

April 3, 2014

Meru cab service launched by Actress Sneha Prasanna at Chennai. Some of the snapshots from the event :

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The Great Food Show 2014 held at Nehru Centre

April 1, 2014

The first edition of Nutrela presents ‘The Great Food Show’ in association with BBC Good Food India magazine powered by Crispetts was held at Nehru Centre, Worli on March 29 & 30.

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15 International and Indian award-winning chefs and patissiers were present to conduct masterclasses over the weekend. Each masterclass was indeed a fun and informative cooking session where the participants interacted with their favourite chefs and learnt a few cooking tips and tricks from them. The show had the best names in the business such as Abhijit Saha, Alex Gares, Sanjana Patel, Pooja Dhingra, Kunal Kapur, Vicky Ratnani, Manu Chandra, Manish Mehrotra, Gresham Fernandes, Kelvin Cheung, Ajay Chopra, Himanshu Saini and many more. They shared their cooking secrets with everyone present. They all prepared sumptuous dishes at the various demos conducted at the Masterclass Theatre exclusively for ‘The Great Food Show’.